Welcome to your employee newsletter featuring District news, updates, and more.
Don't miss the fun trivia question at the end of the newsletter.
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GENERAL MANAGER'S MESSAGE |
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Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
In May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage with themed educational programs, hikes, and stories of community members whose contributions have impacted both the success of our parks and communities. Watch for your newly-designed AAPI month employee pin, shown here.
AAPI Heritage Month also commemorates the beginning of Japanese immigration to the United States on May 7, 1843, and marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, and the recognition of the many railroad workers who were Chinese immigrants. We celebrate the rich diversity of Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders in our community. More Info
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Memorial Day (Monday, May 29, 2023)
Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of the busy season for Regional Parks, with warm weather, schools being out for the summer, and most swim facilities open daily. I would like to thank park staff for their commitment to providing safe and quality parks for the public.
CA Wildfire Preparedness Week (First Week of May)
In early May of each year, public agencies in California work together on wildfire safety and the need to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season, including creating defensible space around properties and minimizing wildfire fuels. For the Park District that work includes a lot of weeding around trails, fire roads, and picnic areas.
In deep appreciation for all you do,
Sabrina
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Featured Photo – Ready, Set, Go |
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On April 19, 2023, the Park District's Fire Department held its annual meeting to prepare for the upcoming fire season. |
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Welcome & Congratulations |
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Please give a warm welcome to new colleagues who recently joined the Park District. Congratulations to the staff serving in new roles!
Here are new hires, roles, and retirees from 3/25/2023 - 4/22/2023. Email brief bios and photo submissions to [email protected].
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NEW HIRES:
Janielyn Bayona, Budget Manager
Evan Bulcao, Park Services Worker
David Davies, Employee & Labor Relations Manager
Melissa Graham, Support Services Supervisor
Michael Milne, Park Ranger
Stacy Munroe, Executive Assistant
Phillip Saenz, Police Officer
Elizabeth Tucker, Executive Assistant
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NEW ROLES:
Logan Aronsen, Park Service Worker
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NEW RETIREES:
Thomas Anderson, Equipment Service Manager
Michael Sweany, Fire Captain
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Swim Season Begins Memorial Day Weekend:
The 2023 swim season is almost here. Most of the Park District's swimming facilities and shorelines, including six open-water lakefront beaches, three chlorinated lagoons, two pools, and two bay beaches are projected to be open for this year’s swim season. Some facilities are open weekends and holidays before Memorial day.
Expected to Open – Del Valle, Lake Temescal, Lake Anza, Quarry Lakes, Don Castro Lagoon, Cull Canyon Lagoon, and Castle Rock Pool.
Not Expected to Open – Contra Loma Lagoon and Roberts Pool.
The Park District will begin pumping water via the Arroyo Valle to refill Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in early May to return recreational opportunities, including swimming, fishing, and boating, to the lake this summer.
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Deer Valley Regional Park Planning Award:
Congratulations to staff and community partners on garnering the Award of Excellence (1st Place) in the Resilience and Sustainability category for Nor Cal American Planning Association (APA) for the Former Roddy Ranch Golf Course Habitat Restoration and Public Access Plan! Kudos to all!!
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Conceptual Site Plan for the McKay Avenue Expansion at Crown Beach Approved by Board:
On March 7, the Board of Directors approved a conceptual site plan for the McKay property and directed staff to move forward with the environmental analysis of Phase 1, which includes overflow/event parking, four meadow areas with picnic tables and other recreational activities, group picnic areas, outdoor educational programing space, and new elevated segment of San Francisco Bay trail to protect against future sea level rise.
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Briones Pilot Project Launch
The Briones Pilot Project launched on Friday, April 21. The pilot is limited to a specific zone in the northeast corner of Briones Regional Park and establishes specific rules limiting trail use withing that area. The pilot project provides restricted/designated access to some trails, while restoring illegally constructed "bootleg" trails to protect wildlife and natural habitat. More Info.
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SAVE THE DATE – Volunteer Appreciation Event Scheduled for July 27, 2023:
If you work with volunteers, please save the date for this year's Volunteer Appreciation Event on July 27. Please also consider letting your dedicated volunteers know about the event date. A formal invitation and event details will be sent out closer to the event date to staff and volunteers who qualify. The event celebrates and recognizes the valuable contributions made by the District’s dedicated volunteers. The 2023 Volunteer Appreciation Event is scheduled for July 27, 2023, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at the Bridge Yard Building.
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Recent News and Press Releases:
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Employee Appreciation Committee Update |
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The EAC’s mission is to create, inspire, and foster inclusive and diverse opportunities for all employees to connect and celebrate one another! Below are just a few of the upcoming events!
Wednesday, May 3, 11am – 2:30pm, at Elderberry and Cove Picnic Site at Lake Chabot Regional Park
(If you did not RSVP, you may attend, but lunch is not guaranteed)
Wednesday, June 21, 11am – 2pm at Diablo Foothills
Pizza will be provided! RSVP’s will open mid-May.
Trails Challenge – Staff Hike (Led by Brian Wyatt, Park Craft Specialist)
Wednesday, June 28, 11am – 1:30pm, at Big Springs Parking Area, Tilden Regional Park
Sign-ups will be open mid-May.
Interested in joining the EAC to help plan events to appreciate staff? Please contact [email protected]. Participation in the EAC is primarily on Park District time.
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Health & Safety Fair
Don’t forget to RSVP for the Health & Safety Fair scheduled for October 11, 2023. Registration can be confirmed by clicking on the link. All employees are encouraged to participate and drop in between 10 am-3 pm. Human Resources is excited to see this event return.
Recruitment Announcements:
Human Resources is currently recruiting for several positions including Lifeguards, Gate Attendants, Student Laborers, Assistant General Counsel I/II, Police Officers, and many more. Please use this link for all job, acting, and transfer postings.
Public Employee’s Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) Rate Update
Under Public Employee’s Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) law, members hired on or after January 1, 2013, are subject to rate changes to their member contribution rate based on CalPERS’ annual actuarial valuations. On July 1, 2023, PEPRA members will see an increase in their contribution rate because of the 2021 actuarial valuations. Currently, PEPRA Miscellaneous (non-Safety) members contribute 7.00% towards their retirement. Effective July 1, 2023, the rate will increase to 7.75%. PEPRA Safety (for both Fire and Police) currently contributes 13% and the rate will increase to 13.75%. More information will be provided to those affected, by CalPERS and the Human Resources Division as we approach the July 1 deadline.
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Featured Trainings:
Are You Resilient? – How Resilient Are You? Resilience is our ability to bounce back when things don’t go as planned. Duration: 4 mins
Customer Service: Little Things Matter – Sweeping changes and flashy re-designs might get all of the attention, but small improvements to customer service can make just as big an impact. Duration: 3 mins
First Aid/CPR/AED for Pediatric and Adults – The Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED course incorporates the latest science and teaches attendees to recognize and care for a variety of first aid emergencies such as burns, cuts, scrapes, sudden illnesses, head, neck back injuries, heat, and cold emergencies and how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies to help victims of any age. This training is a blended-learning offering. Offered May 10. Click the link to register.
Anti-Racist Allyship – LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER. An ally is a person who stands up for others to proactively build inclusion in our communities. Learn about all the ways you can be an effective ally for racial justice and how you can promote racial equity within your workspace. Offered May 11. Click the link to register.
Summer Kick Off Training – Target Audience: This training is mandatory for all new seasonal staff and new park supervisors. This 3-hour training is designed to welcome new seasonal staff in the Operations Division to the Park District, with focused themes on safety and customer service. Returning seasonal staff as well as supervisors are strongly encouraged to attend. Offered: May 31 and June 6. Click the link to register.
Summit Training Tip:
Not on a District computer? Visit https://ebparks.csod.com and click on "Forgot Password?". Enter your District username, for example ebparks\jdoe, to receive an email with a link to establish a password.
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What was the East Bay Regional Park District’s first shoreline park?
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Winner(s) will be recognized in the next employee newsletter. |
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April Trivia Question Winners:
Catherine Bernal, Victoria Perez, Monica Hernandez-Juarez, Alex Collins, Katie Quick, Paul Ferrario, Mycile Cahambing, Shannon Rice, Neoma Lavalle, Amita Prasad, Aaron Roth, Jesse Yung, Joy Light, Matt McDonell, David Sumner, Michele Hammond, Bridget Calvey, Susan Ramos, Mona Koh, Terisa Jackson, Mitchell Noonen
April Question:
What tiny animal found in our parks can fly up to 2,700 miles when migrating?
April Answer:
Monarch Butterfly
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