Regional park and open-space districts.

In Assembly Member Wilson’s measure, the governance and land-management authority of regional park districts is restructured to streamline leadership roles and expand how property can be exchanged or conveyed, while preserving board oversight and a public-process framework.

The bill consolidates and modifies board-appointed officer roles and compensation, clarifying that the board appoints the district’s general manager as chief administrative officer and sets duties and pay. It preserves the board’s authority to contract for professional services and to bind the district for purchases or other obligations within set limits, with board policy established in open session. For districts with populations of 200,000 or more, the measure allows the general manager to bind the district for equipment, supplies, and materials for any purpose, including new construction, up to an annual aggregate of 150,000 dollars, excluding labor and services, again subject to board approval and reporting to the board.

On land transactions, the bill increases the voter-consent threshold for conveying land actually dedicated and used for park or open-space purposes from leases exceeding 25 years to 50 years, while retaining exceptions for certain legislatively authorized conveyances. It adds new authority for land exchanges: the board may approve exchanges by a two-thirds vote, with provisions that, if a direct exchange is not feasible, the district may accept monetary compensation from another public agency to be used to acquire park or open-space property. In addition, the bill caps per-calendar-year exchanges at 10 acres for most districts, while allowing the three named districts to exchange up to 80 acres per year, with certain adjacency requirements for acquisitions.

The measure also broadens leasing and exchange provisions specific to the East Bay Regional Park District and certain neighboring districts. It authorizes long-term leases of up to 99 years by these districts without voter consent, provided a two-thirds board vote and a finding that the lease serves park, open-space, historic preservation, recreation, climate-resiliency, social equity, or compatible purposes. It repeals several existing authorizations and requirements and adds a legislative finding that a special statute is necessary for the East Bay Regional Park District’s land exchanges. The package accompanies these changes with updates to definitions and administrative provisions, including flood-control cooperation authority and the requirement that actions be considered in the context of board-approved policies enacted in open meetings.