Welcome to your August employee newsletter featuring District news, updates, and more.

Don't miss the fun trivia question at the end of the newsletter.

Thank you all for the work you are doing during our busy season. I am in the parks almost every day, and I hear great things from the public about all the work that you are doing to provide a positive experience for visitors.

Our work also includes leading the way on California’s 30x30 initiative to conserve 30 percent of the state’s lands and waters by 2030. We are conserving and restoring more land than ever, implementing a new model of conservation that includes climate impacts and equitable access, and dealing with ongoing fire dangers. Mitigating the impacts of climate change in our parks and visitor facilities is critical to the Park District's future.

Thank you again for the all the work you do to make our Park District a model for the nation and a gem of the Bay Area.

In deep appreciation for all that you do.

Sabrina

“I am where I want to be.”

- Naturalist Paula Urtecho

Tilden Nature Area

Paula feels that she is in the right place as a naturalist with Interpretation and Recreation (I&R) under Operations. She is very happy to be at Tilden Park where she enjoys interpreting the Wildcat Creek watershed and environs, animals like Charlotte (pictured), a French alpine goat, and the children’s garden that she worked to create at the Little Farm.

Featured Photos: National Night Out

On August 1, 2023, the Park District held its first National Night Out event at Lake Chabot Regional Park. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign to promote public safety-community partnerships. The event included fire trucks, police horses, kids' activities, a photo booth, police/fire/lifeguard/Regional Parks Foundation booths, and FREE hot dogs and ice cream.

Photo Album

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, new roles, and retirees from 6/27/2023 - 7/28/2023.

NEW HIRES:

Tomas Balogh, Police Officer Recruit, Police-Field

Sarah Barnes, Park Ranger, Hayward Shoreline

Kyle Biggs, Farmer II, Ardenwood

Michael Dyogi, Police Officer Recruit, Police-Field

Jeremy Grubb, Park Services Worker, Del Valle

Rourke Healey, Planner, Interagency Planning Unit

Lauren Kaufman, Administrative Analyst II, Public Affairs

Scott Pero, Police Officer Recruit, Police-Field

Mel Satuito, Office Assistant, Office Services

NEW ROLES (Transfers & Promotions):

Joshua Carlson, Park Craft Specialist, East Contra Costa Trails

Eugene Kang, Park Ranger, Cull Canyon

Robert Mesina, Park Ranger Sunol

Jason O'Connor, Park Ranger, Contra Costa Trails

Alexander Olmedo, Firefighter II

Justin Rice, Police Sergeant

Seleney Sanchez, Park Supervisor II, Pleasanton Ridge

Joseph Stoney Jr., Park Services Worker, East Contra Costa Trails

Lonnie White, Park Ranger, Alameda County Trails

Maeron Yeshiwas, Naturalist, Mobile Education Program

NEW RETIREES:

Jessica Lau, Administrative Analyst II, Grants

Robin Secrist, Office Assistant, Office Services

August 18 Doolittle Bay Trail & Shoreline Improvements Project Ribbon-Cutting:

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Friday, August 18, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. to celebrate the completion of the Doolittle Bay Trail and Shoreline Improvements Project at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline. The new trail segment closed a half-mile gap in the SF Bay Trail, significantly improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. The project also included renovation of the boat, kayak and paddleboard launch area, repaving of staging area parking lot, ADA improvements, and one acre of marsh habitat restoration.

Jim O'Connor Retirement Celebration:

Park District staff and board members enjoyed a special retirement celebration for Jim O'Connor on July 18 at Peralta Oaks. Jim is retiring after 12 years at the District, first as the Assistant General Manager of Operations and, most recently, the Deputy General Manager in the General Manager's office. His leadership and contributions to the Briones Pilot Project, the eBike policy update, and the Trails Program Strategic Plan were invaluable to their success. We thank Jim for his commitment to teamwork and many years of hard work which benefit our park visitors and District staff for years to come. Congratulations and enjoy your well-deserved retirement!

Officer Saunders Receives Lifesaving Medal:

On May 24, 2023, Park District Police Officers Alec Saunders and John Gallegos witnessed a vehicle collision on I-580 near the San Ramon/Foothill Rd. off-ramp. They immediately assessed the condition of the drivers and determined one driver was unresponsive without signs of life. Officer Saunders retrieved the Automatic External Defibrillator from his vehicle and worked with sheriff deputies on scene to perform CPR. After several minutes of lifesaving measures, the victim regained a pulse. An ambulance arrived shortly after and continued medical care. Officer Saunders was acknowledged for the exceptional actions of saving a life, receiving the Police Department’s lifesaving medal in July. He received this award on July 12, 2023.

Park District Launches New System to Make Police and Fire Activity More Accessible:

Public Safety Dispatch has launched a new system to provide information about police and fire activity.

The new system allows anyone to sign up for daily or weekly email updates. The system also includes an interactive webpage with near-real-time mapping of police and fire activity, including location, date and time, a general description, and outcome.

The new system, provided by Citizen RIMS through Crimegraphics.com, replaces the Daily Bulletin/Public Safety Media Log received by some District staff. The Log emails will stop being distributed on August 4th.

View Police & Fire Activity/Sign Up for Updates

Service Awards Events - RSVP by September 7th: (supervisor approval needed).

Celebrate and recognize your Park District colleagues who have accomplished service year milestones. Service Award events will be held at multiple Regional Parks throughout the District in September and October. See which event your colleagues are attending by clicking here. 

All events will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and include refreshments and small bites.

• Thursday, September 21, Tilden – Padre Picnic Area
• Thursday, October 5, Shadow Cliffs – Lakeside Picnic Area
• Thursday, October 19, Castle Rock – Pool Oak Terrace
• Thursday, October 26, Lake Chabot – Elderberry & Cove Picnic Areas

We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at 510-544-2156 or email DistrictTraining@ebparks.org.

Public Affairs Division - Good to Know:

Please see Public Affairs email addresses below for media inquiries and public inquiries.

Media Inquiries - Direct inquiries from reporters, journalists, and writers can be directed to mediainquiries@ebparks.org.

General Public Inquiries - Park visitors or community members can be directed to info@ebparks.org or (888) 327-2757.

Police Department Swearing-in Ceremony:

July 12, 2023 was a happy day in the Park District Police Department as they welcomed two new dispatchers, a support services supervisor and five new officers into the department family. At the ceremony, they also promoted a dispatch supervisor and a police sergeant, and presented a lifesaving medal to Officer Saunders who saved a woman’s life by performing CPR (see above). Welcome and congratulations to all!

Event to Thank Park District Volunteers:

Thank you to everyone that made our Volunteer Appreciation event at the Bridge Yard a success. Over 133 volunteers and staff attended, including our General Manager Sabrina Landreth and Board President Dennis Waespi and Directors Dee Rosario, Colin Coffey, Elizabeth Echols, and John Mercurio. The memorable evening was full of laughter, connections, delicious food, and appreciative words for our honored volunteers.

Photo Album

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.

August Employee Appreciation Hike:

Wednesday, August 16, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline, 1600 Neptune Dr, San Leandro, CA 94577. Meet at the end of Neptune Drive. (Carpooling is recommended; parking is limited.

Wear comfortable clothing, sun protection, and good hiking shoes.

Bring a snack and water bottle. RSVP by August 14.

Oyster Bay Brochure/Park Map

Employee Appreciation Hour:

Wednesday, August 30, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ghost Town Brewing, Laurel District, 3506 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94619.

Flyer | www.ghosttownbrewing.com/taproom

Autumn Movie Night:

Details coming soon!

SAVE THE DATE - Holiday Party:

Wednesday, December 6, 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Bridge Yard Building.

Interested in joining the EAC or have feedback? Please contact EmployeeAppreciation@ebparks.org.

Employee Benefits - 2024 Open Enrollment:

Open Enrollment takes place from September 18th through October 13th this calendar year. All changes made will take effect January 1, 2024. Rates for medical plans will be released by CalPERS. Overall, there is a planned increase of 10.95% for all basic plans. Members enrolled in CalPERS medical will receive an annual health plan statement on September 11th. Please visit CalPERS, for more information and login into your myCalPERS account to review your medical plan options

For all things benefits-related, visit the Benefits SharePoint Site.

New ID Badges:

New Park District ID badges will be rolled out District-wide for all permanent staff and for limited temporary staff. ID badges will have important Disaster Service Worker language on the back. In the event of an emergency and for daily operations, Park District employees must be readily able to identify themselves. A reminder for all employees to please wear ID badges while at work. The project will start in August and over the course of the next few months. Stay tuned for more information from Human Resources. 

Safety Fair:

Don’t forget to RSVP for the Health & Safety Fair scheduled for October 11, 2023. All employees are encouraged to participate and drop in between 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Please make sure to get your supervisor’s approval. We are all excited to see the return of this event.

Performance Management is coming to Summit:

The District is taking its first step to digitize the performance appraisal process to make it online and easier to complete. The initial roll-out will launch in October starting with performance appraisals for managers and confidential employees. Digital performance appraisals through Summit for all other employees will follow in 2024. Stay tuned for more information, including helpful training and supporting documents.

Job Recruitment Announcements:

Human Resources is currently recruiting for several positions, including Police Officer - Helicopter Pilot, Information Services Support Technician, and many more. Check out Current Job Opportunities on SharePoint for all job, acting, and transfer postings.

Required Trainings:

Cybersecurity - Data, Safety, and Culture of Security

Cybersecurity criminal activity is an ongoing threat to everyone in our community and the world, with an increase of this activity in public agencies. In order for us to stay vigilant against these threats, all District employees are required to complete the Cybersecurity Essential and Awareness trainings. Click here to get started. Duration: 44 mins

Featured Trainings:

Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace - Assess your own level of emotional intelligence and use powerful 5-second strategies for overcoming negative emotions, including de-escalating anger. Duration: 2 hours

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 August 24. Click to register. 

Maximizing Supervisory Skills for the First Line Supervisor (LCW)

This workshop will help new and experienced first-time supervisors develop and enhance their skills with practical strategies to address common supervisory challenges, and much more! Presented in two half-day sessions on September 13 & 27| 9:00 am-12:00 pm. Click to register. 

Hands-on approach to Weed Science School – Most of us learn best by doing, which is why Weed Science School 2023 promises to be better than ever this year. This course offers hands-on training and will include four rotations where participants can be involved in week identification, spray nozzle demonstration, an adjuvant demonstration, and an herbicide symptomology lab. In addition, we provide several lectures on weed biology, ecology, organic weed management techniques, herbicides action and resistant management and prevention discussions, as well as various aspects on environmental impacts. Use your training benefits, there are early bird registration fees! Offered September 19-21. For full agenda click here.

Summit Training Tip:

Curious about other course offerings not featured. Click here to see the calendar of events.

How many former Nike Missile Sites are on Park District property?

July Winners:

Ruby Tumber

July Question:

What is the smallest bird found in the Park District?

July Answer:

Allen's Hummingbird (about 3 grams)