CONTRA COSTA COUNTY  
Committee Meeting Minutes - Final  
Fish and Wildlife Committee  
3:00 PM  
Wednesday, October 16, 2024  
40 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553  
Construction Conference Room  
ZOOM LINK  
https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/86277677520  
| Dial: 888-278-0254 |  
ACCESS CODE: 198675  
The public may attend the Fish and Wildlife Committee meeting in person and remotely via  
call-in or Zoom.  
AGENDA ITEMS may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the  
Committee Chair.  
1.  
INTRODUCTIONS AND STATEMENT OF CONFLICT  
A member who has a conflict should, prior to consideration of the decision: (1) publicly identify  
in detail the financial interest that causes the conflict; (2) recuse himself/herself from discussing  
and voting on the matter; and (3) leave the room until after the decision has been made.  
Nicole Balbas, Roni Gehlke, Susan Heckly, Kathleen Jennings, Brett Morris and Jamin Pursell attended  
the meeting. Danny Pellegrini and Cass Rogers provided advance notice that they would be absent. Sean  
Burke (Save Mount Diablo), Phillip Cardenas, Phil Kohlmetz (International Bird Rescue), Olivia Ortega  
(City of Pittsburg), Jenni Shaw (Lindsay Wildlife Experience) and Richard Unger (John Muir Chapter of  
Trout Unlimited) attended the meeting. Raquel De La Torre (CCC Department of Conservation and  
Development) and Maureen Parkes (CCC Department of Conservation and Development) attended as  
staff.  
This was approved.  
REVIEW and consider APPROVING the Fish and Wildlife Committee  
September 18, 2024 draft meeting minutes.  
2.  
24-3400  
Draft 09-18-24 Minutes  
Attachments:  
Brett Morris' Grant Recommendations  
Roni Gehlke's Grant Recommendations  
IBR-Tuff Shed Quote  
The Committee reviewed the draft minutes. A motion to approve the minutes was made  
by Balbas, seconded by Heckly, and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.  
3.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
Includes public comment on topics on the agenda and items not listed on the agenda. The FWC  
shall also accept public comment on agenda items at the time they are discussed.  
There were no public comments.  
4.  
UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (Presented by Staff and FWC Members)  
Includes discussion of implementation of actions authorized previously, correspondence  
received, and upcoming meetings of interest to the FWC.  
Maureen Parkes updated the Committee on the following items:  
• Danny Pellegrini and Cass Rogers provided advance notice that they would not be able to attend the  
meeting today.  
• The November 18th Internal Operations Committee meeting has been rescheduled to November 14th.  
• The FWC applications are due by November 4. Nine applications have been received to date.  
Correspondence forwarded to Committee Members:  
• Email from Supervisor Ken Carlson regarding Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek Community Services  
Days.  
• Emails from Supervisor Candance Andersen regarding the Resource Conservation District Seeking  
new Members for the Board of Directors (2), upcoming vacancies on the FWC, and the Watershed  
Restoration Plan Outreach Meeting in Pleasant Hill.  
• Email from Supervisor Burgis regarding Nutria sightings in Contra Costa County.  
• Emails from Supervisor John Gioia about Coastal Cleanup Day and a community event regarding  
learning about protecting our shoreline.  
• Emails from Supervisor Glover regarding Envision Contra Costa 2040. - 2  
• Email from Heather Rosmarin regarding a community outreach meeting in Pleasant Hill on Monday,  
October 7, 2024 , to discuss the Walnut Creek Watershed Restoration Plan.  
• Emails from Staff with an updated roster and a quorum check.  
Newsletters and Announcements forwarded to Committee Members:  
• Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase. - 4  
• California Department of Water Resources - 5  
• California Fish and Game Commission - 5  
• California Oaks -1  
• Golden Gate Bird Alliance - 2  
• John Muir Land Trust - 1  
• Kids for the Bay - 3  
• Save Mount Diablo -2  
• Urban Tilth - 1  
CONSIDER CONSENT ITEMS (Item(s) listed as C.5)  
REVIEW and consider APPROVING a request from the John Muir Chapter  
of Trout Unlimited to modify the usage of approved grant funds for their  
2024 "Wildcat Creek Water Quality and Fish Habitat Monitoring Study"  
project.  
C.5.  
24-3401  
Trout Unlimited - Request for Modification  
Attachments:  
The Committee reviewed Item C.5. A motion to approve the item was made by Balbas,  
seconded by Gehlke, and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.  
6.  
DISCUSS outcome of the September 26, 2024 Fall Forum and consider plans and potential  
speakers for next year.  
The Committee discussed the successful outcome of the Fall Forum: the interesting speaker, the venue and  
the great food prepared by Danny Pellegrini and his crew. Approximately 100 people attended the event.  
The Committee tentatively set September 25, 2025 the 2025 Fall Forum.  
REVIEW and consider APPROVING the draft 2024 Work Plan and Annual  
Report to the Board of Supervisors.  
7.  
24-3402  
2024 Advisory Body Annual Report-draft 10-11-24  
Attachments:  
The Committee reviewed the 2024 draft work plan and annual report. Balbas made a  
motion to approve the item. After discussion, it was agreed to include updates to the FWC  
members' volunteer activities to be provided by Committee members. Morris seconded the  
motion, which carried unanimously.  
CONTINUE TO CONSIDER the 12 Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund  
grant applications submitted by August 1, 2024. Consider making a  
recommendation to the Internal Operations Committee of the Board of  
Supervisors on this matter.  
8.  
24-3403  
B-Bringing Back the Natives - Additional Information  
C-Things that Creep - Additional Information  
F-LWE Mammal Pen - Additional Information  
L-LWE Bear Den - Additional Information  
Attachments:  
Grant applicants in attendance contributed additional verbal information in response to the  
Committee’s questions. The Committee completed their review of the grant applications.  
Heckly made a motion to approve the recommendations for the 2025 grants and to  
authorize staff to report to the Internal Operations Committee on this matter. Gehlke  
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. A copy of the memo provided to the  
Internal Operations Committee for consideration is attached.  
9.  
DETERMINE the Fish and Wildlife Committee 2025 meeting schedule.  
The 2025 FWC meetings will be held on March 19, May 21, July 16, August 20, September 17, and  
October 15, with the Fall Forum planned for September 25, which may be adjusted based on speaker and  
venue availability.  
10.  
DETERMINE the agenda for the next meeting.  
Possible agenda items for upcoming meetings include:  
• Election of Officers  
• Informational brochure on invasive species  
• 2025 Fall Forum Planning  
• 2026 Grant RFP  
• Draft Annual Report/Work Plan  
• Delta Conveyance Project Update  
The date of the next meeting is March 19, 2025. The Committee discussed possible future possible  
speakers and a field trip to Point Molate.  
The Committee will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities planning to attend  
the Committee meetings. Contact the staff person listed below at least 72 hours before the meeting. Any  
disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and distributed by  
the County to a majority of members of the Committee less than 96 hours prior to that meeting are  
available for public inspection at 30 Muir Road in Martinez during normal business hours. Staff reports  
related to items on the agenda are also accessible on line at www.contracosta.ca.gov. Public comment  
may be submitted via electronic mail on agenda items at least one full work day prior to the published  
meeting time.  
For Additional Information, Please Contact: