NHA Minutes 2025-12-17
Meeting Minutes National Heritage Area Advisory Committee
Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 1 p.m.
Rio Vista Community Center
45 Main Street, Rio Vista, CA 94571
1. Call to Order – Amanda Bohl, NHA Advisory Committee Chair
Chair Bohl called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Clerk Heather McClure called the roll. Present at roll call were Chair Bohl; Vice Chair Elizabeth Patterson; members Colin Coffey, Carol Jensen, Michael Campbell, David Stuart, Jack Johnson (for Oscar Villegas), and Stuart Walthall; alternates Douglas Hsia and Jennifer Chapman; and Ex Officio members Chris Lim, Annie Merritt (for Jeff Henderson), Mike Moran, and Trevor Rice.
It was noted that Member Don Nottoli arrived at 1:05 p.m., just after roll call. Member Morris Lum arrived at 1:18 p.m., and Ex Officio member Karen Buhr arrived at 1:21 p.m., both during Item 5.
3. Public Comment
Chair Bohl asked for comments on any items not on the agenda, and there were none.
4. Approval of August 20, 2025, and October 29, 2025, Meeting Minutes
It was noted that the October meeting date needed to be added to the October minutes. With that change, Vice Chair Patterson moved to approve the August and October 2025 meeting minutes. Jack Johnson seconded. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
5. Rio Vista Heritage Presentation
Tom Surh, RioVision’s liaison to the NHA Advisory Committee, gave a presentation on the work of RioVision. The group recently launched an Asian Heritage Project, noting the importance of the Toy family as the Chinese community there grew. He said Rio Vista would be holding its lunar new year festival on February 28, avoiding conflict with Locke’s on February 14 and Isleton’s on March 7. He also highlighted the creation of its signature art gallery – still volunteer-run – in 2016, and major events like Hog August Bites and the Riverfront Arts Fest.
Chair Bohl asked if there were any comments from the public. There were none.
6. 2026 Meeting Schedule
Chair Bohl said staff was proposing moving from bimonthly to quarterly meetings to give members more time and capacity to participate. There was extensive discussion about many aspects of meetings, including times of day, rotating locations, potential for tying meetings to community events, and remote participation. Staff was directed to take the discussion into consideration and to bring back the 2026 meeting schedule for consideration at the March advisory committee meeting.
Bohl asked if there were any comments from the public. There were none.
Motion: Vice Chair Patterson moved to schedule the next meeting for March 25, 2026, and to note the intention to meet quarterly, including one evening meeting. Nottoli seconded. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
7. Update on NHA Activities
Program Manager Blake Roberts updated the committee on development of the Brand and Marketing Plan, the Commission’s receipt of an award for the NHA’s Management Plan, the growth of the NHA partnership program, the status of the NHA’s Passport Program (delayed by the prolonged process of receiving the needed custom stamps), deadlines for upcoming issues of the Delta Heritage Courier, and the status of federal government funding.
There was extensive discussion about options for the Passport Program in the event the delay did not resolve.
Chair Bohl asked if there were any comments from the public. There were none.
8. Report on Delta 250 Ad Hoc Task Group
Program Manager Roberts reported on behalf of member Dwayne Eubanks that an Anza Expedition 250th anniversary symposium date had been set: April 11, 2026. He said he and Chair Bohl would be reaching out to local tribes about how to navigate issues such as how tribes in 1776 experienced the Anza Expedition.
9. Report on Water Tour Ad Hoc Task Group
Vice Chair Patterson said the Task Group had met at the Cal Poly Solano Maritime Academy, which predates World War II. The meeting revealed many partnership possibilities, and the value of potentially partnering with a member of the California State University system.
Conversation moved to water trails and Rice noted that the kayak launch in Martinez had just been designated a water trail trailhead. Patterson noted that kayaks can be launched from Rush Ranch in the Suisun Marsh. Hsia recalled that at the last Delta Protection Advisory Committee meeting, someone had mentioned a flotilla for celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
Chair Bohl asked if there were any comments from the public. There were none.
10. VisitCADelta.com Events Calendar
Information Officer Holly Heyser demonstrated the new Events Calendar on the VisitCaDelta.com website, noting that staff had created the calendar at the request of committee members. Staff kept design and information simple so its quality and currency would not fluctuate with staffing changes.
Heyser noted the calendar is being promoted very effectively from newsletters. Committee members asked about other opportunities for promoting it, and Heyser said she would be developing materials to promote it in communities, rather than relying on newsletters.
Chair Bohl asked if there were any comments from the public. There were none.
11. Member Announcements and Adjourn
Chair Bohl announced the Delta Leadership Program 2026 cohort had been chosen and member designee Jack Johnson was among the chosen.
Coffey noted that East Bay Regional Park District had signed an agreement with the Department of Water Resources for providing access to the Dutch-Slough project. East Bay Parks will operate 3.5 miles of existing trails in the project.
Buhr noted that the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy would not likely have funding to disburse until July. However, the Conservancy hopes to learn about potential projects before funding is available so there would be strong projects in the pipeline.
Bohl asked if there were any comments from the public. There were none.
Bohl adjourned the meeting at 3 p.m.