[00:00:03]
FOR, UM, FOR COMING, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE, WE HAVE A QUORUM AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S IT.
WE UNFORTUNATELY ARE, UM, ARE MISSING SOME MEMBERS TONIGHT, SO I'M GLAD EVERYBODY SHOWED UP.
[CALL TO ORDER]
AND GET STARTED.UM, SO THIS IS I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE AND TAKE ROLL.
THIS IS THE, UM, PARKS AND RECREATION, UM, BOARD MEETING.
WE'RE MEETING VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE AT 5:35 PM.
AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND, UM, CALL RO, UH, VICE CHAIR, DEPALMA PRESENT BOARD MEMBER, RINALDI, PRESIDENT, UH, BOARD MEMBER, DICARLO, PRESIDENT BOARD MEMBER BERNARD PRESENT, OR MEMBER COTTON CIBO PRESENT.
SO I HAVE BOARD MEMBER AND BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR ARE NOT PRESENT AND WE HAVE THREE VACANT SEATS.
YOU HAVE THAT SAMMY? YES, CHAIR.
SO TONIGHT WE HAVE A PRETTY FULL AGENDA AND WE HAVE SOME PRETTY, UM, INTERESTING ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
AND WE, UM, ARE, ARE LUCKY TO HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND COMPASSION, CARE AND CARE ABOUT OUR PARKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO, UH, PART CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.
AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
WE ARE ALWAYS WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR CITIZENS AND OUR, FROM OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE DO HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME AT THIS MEETING.
WE ARE DOING IT, UM, VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE AND OUR TIME IS LIMITED.
[CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ONGOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE CUT BACK ON THE, UM, AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO SPEAK AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO, UM, STILL GET THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS IF WE GIVE IT A 90 SECONDS INSTEAD OF THREE MINUTES.SO, YES, REAL QUICK, IF YOU DON'T MIND, YOU COULD, COULD STAFF LET US KNOW WHAT OUR TIME CONSTRAINTS ARE TONIGHT IN THE AMOUNT OF SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE SIGNED UP VERSUS SINCE COMMUNICATION.
LOUIS OUR TIME LIMIT IS FOUR HOURS.
WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT 9:30 PM.
UM, WHILE I TRIED TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE WHOLE LIST, WE HAVE TWO GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.
WE HAD, UH, 32 SIGN UP FOR ITEM B3 AND WE HAD NINE FOR ITEM B SIX.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS HAVE THOSE WHO SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL CAN CITIZENS COMMUNICATION GET THEIR FULL THREE MINUTES, BUT I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE, UM, LIMIT THE OTHER SPEAKERS TO A MINUTE AND A HALF.
SO, SO THAT WE WILL OTHERWISE, I THINK WE WILL TAKE UP A CHUNK OF OUR TIME ON CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THAT WE DO THAT.
CAN I GET A SECOND? I WOULD SECOND THAT, THANK YOU.
CAN WE VOTE ON THAT? EVERYBODY I'M IN FAVOR AND I CAN'T SEE EVERYBODY FOR SOME REASON.
I SEE BOARD MEMBER RINALDI AND BOARD MEMBER BERNARD AND, AND VICE-CHAIR DIPLOMA, BUT I CAN'T SEE, UH, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE CARLO OR, UM, ANYWAYS, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY OPPOSED? OKAY.
SO I'M GONNA, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, UM, DO THAT.
AND AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE THAT YOU DON'T GET YOUR FULL THREE MINUTES AND I, AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU, UM, BUT WE DO WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
SO I'M GOING TO NOW TURN IT OVER TO, TO VICE-CHAIR DIPLOMA TO GO AHEAD AND LEAD CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.
WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT WITHOUT A LIST IN FRONT OF ME.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW THE FAMILY, BUT FOR PURPOSES OF B3 AND BENIGN, IF YOU WANTED TO EMAIL THAT TO ME, I DO HAVE THE PARKS BOARD EMAIL ADDRESS OPEN.
UM, OR IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY, IF YOU JUST WANT TO HANDLE IT, UM, WHATEVER IS MOST EFFICIENT.
AND, AND SO GETTING READY FOR THAT IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.
AND JUST FOR A REMINDER, UM, YOU HA YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR THE GENESIS COMMUNICATIONS SINCE IT'S NOT A POSTED
[00:05:01]
BOARD AGENDA.UM, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO LISTEN AND NOT ABLE TO RESPOND IF IT IS NOT YOUR MAIN TO THE POSTED AGENDA.
SO DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL IF WE, IF WE DON'T GET ANY INSTANT FEEDBACK WITH THAT SAMMY, WHO IS THE FIRST PERSON WE HAVE FOR GENERALIST AS COMMUNICATION.
KEVIN, KEVIN, ARE YOU ON THE CALL? I AM.
THERE'S A PRETTY BIG EXTRA, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S EFFECTIVE, I'M BEING HEARD.
SO FIRST ON A GOOD NEWS FRONT ON WHAT TO DO ANNOUNCE WE LAUNCHED A MAJOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE GREATER AUSTIN AREA.
BE PART OF OUR ONGOING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVE AT ARC.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD HAD A NUMBER OF KIDS DOWN AT THE BOATHOUSE, AND THEY HAD A FABULOUS TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THREE WEEKS OF CAMPS AT NO COST, AND WE'LL ALSO BE EXPANDING OUR ROWING IN SCHOOLS EXPERIENCE PROGRAM, WHICH WE STARTED IN EAST AUSTIN TO THE MAIN CAMPUS OF BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN NORTH AUSTIN.
SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
ANOTHER NEW INITIATIVE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KICK OFF BECAUSE OF BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS WONDERFUL NEW SPINAL CORD REHAB PROGRAM, HELPING THOSE INJURED, RESTORE THEIR HEALTH.
SO WE'RE GLAD TO BE ABLE TO GET OUTREACH GOING AGAIN.
UM, ON, UH, THE NEXT NOTE, I'LL TRY AND MOVE QUICKLY.
HERE IS CAT METRO, LOTS IN THE PRESS.
I KNOW, UH, PART LEADERSHIP HAS ALREADY REPORTED ON THIS.
UH, THE BLUE LINE IS GOING TO GO RIGHT THROUGH THE BOATHOUSE.
AND AS I'VE TALKED WITH KIMBERLY AND EXECUTIVES OF CAP, METRO, I VIEW A DISRUPTIVE EVENT AS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REINVISION HOW WE CAN CONNECT TRANSPORTATION WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH.
AND GIVEN THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO KEEP AIR C ON LADY BIRD LAKE, AND THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BLUE LINE WORK, WE'LL HAVE TO RESTORE SOMETHING SOMEWHERE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH PART LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY AND CAP METRO, UH, TO MAKE THAT A REALITY.
UH, THE LAST TOPIC IS THE RETRO BOAT INCIDENT.
UM, I'M SURE MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE MEDIA REGARDING THE INCIDENT.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENTS GET INTO ALL THOSE FULL DETAILS, BUT I DO WANT TO COMMUNICATE THAT, UM, THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE.
HAD IT NOT BEEN THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND TRAINING THAT WE HAVE AT THE BOATHOUSE THAT ENABLED A STAFF MEMBER TO GO AND SECURE THE SITUATION IN TIME FOR APD TO RESPOND AND RECOVER THE SITUATION FULLY.
UH, FRANKLY, THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH ANY TYPE OF WATERCRAFT, ANY TYPE OF PERSON ON THE LAKE.
UM, AND WE'RE VERY GLAD THAT WE APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORTIVE APD FIRE QUICKLY TO THAT WE'VE PROVIDED PART LEADERSHIP INFORMATION TO COMPLETE YOUR ASSESSMENT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO RESUMING NORMAL OPERATIONS SOON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. REYNA'S, UH, WHO IS OUR NEXT VACATION VICE CHAIR? THAT WOULD BE CONNOR.
ARE YOU ON THE LINE? CONNOR KENNY? YES, I'M HERE.
CAN I, SHOULD I START? YES, SIR.
THAT'S NOT A, SOMEBODY HAS A YES, PLEASE.
I THINK I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
UH, MY NAME IS CONNOR KENNY WITH CIVILITY AND ENGINEERING AND PLANNING FIRM ARE HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENTS FOR PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UH, BOTH MY OWN HOME AND CIVILITY OFFICES ARE WINDSOR PARK.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF WINDSOR VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER, WHICH IS A 12.3 ACRE SITE IN THE HEART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU, UH, DURING PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE YOUR AGENDA WAS FULL, BUT I HOPE TO BE BACK BEFORE YOU IN MORE DEPTH DURING EITHER THE REGULAR AUGUST OR A SPECIAL JULY MEETING ABOUT WINDSOR VILLAGE.
THE DEVELOPER AT WINDSOR VILLAGE TRANSWESTERN IS PLANNING A PHASED REDEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTIRE SITE, BUT CURRENTLY ONLY HAS SUBMITTED PLANS FOR ABOUT SIX ACRES OR HALF THE SITE.
THE DEVELOPER IS WITHDRAWING THE SUBDIVISION APPLICATION THAT WOULD HAVE SUBJECTED THE ENTIRE 12 ACRE SITE REVIEW FOR PARKLAND DEDICATION, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
[00:10:01]
AS THE PARKLAND DEFICIENT AREA.I HATE TO STOP YOU, BUT THERE'S SOME FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE CALL, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE MUTED OR STAFFED.
WE ARE, WE ARE HEARING DISRUPTION.
UM, AND IT'S NOT ME DISRUPTING.
SO PLEASE, AND THEN IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND ADD BACK TO THE TIME I JUST TOOK AWAY FROM THIS I POSITIVE OR WHOEVER THAT IS RIGHT THERE NEEDS TO BE MUTED.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, MR. MCKINNEY.
OKAY, WELL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND JUMP BACK IN.
SO WE HAVE THIS 12 ACRE SITE, UH, IF, UH, THE, THE SITE WAS SUBDIVIDED AS WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED, UH, THEY WOULD APPLY PARKLAND DEDICATION TO THE ENTIRE SITE.
INSTEAD, THE DEVELOPERS JUST FILED A SITE PLAN FOR ABOUT HALF THE SITE, WHICH HAS THE IMPACT OF GETTING AROUND THE 15% CAP, UH, FOR, UH, PARKLAND DEFICIENT AREAS.
THIS IS A PARKLAND DEFICIENT AREA.
UH, IT IS ALSO ADJACENT TO, UH, THE WINDSOR PARK LIBRARY.
SO, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS THE CITY CODE.
UH, AND WE HAVE SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO DIRECTOR MCNEELY TO INVOKE A SECTION 25 DASH ONE DASH 6 0 2 J OF THE DEDICATION ORDINANCE, UH, AND REQUEST THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN YOU AND THE PARKS BOARD PERMISSION TO DEDICATE LAND IN EXCESS OF 15% OF THAT.
JUST HALF THE SITE THAT IS PHASE ONE.
UM, THE DEVELOPER IS PLANNING ON, UH, ADDING ABOUT 405 HOMES JUST TO THIS HALF THE SITE.
UH, THE EVENTUAL DEVELOPMENT COULD SERVE 800 FAMILIES, UM, JUST FOR THE 400 FAMILIES, THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE CALLS FOR SIX AND A HALF ACRES OF PARKLAND.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY PROPOSING 1.25, WHICH HAS ONLY 10% OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, UH, SO WE HAVE FILED THIS REQUEST TO THE DIRECTOR, MCNEELY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HER RECEPTION.
I'M SURE YOU'RE HEARING FROM SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS, UH, IN COMMUNICATION.
AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE PARK BOARD IN HELPING US GET THIS KIND OF CRITICAL LAST PIECE OF PARKLAND.
THAT IS PROBABLY THE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO GET PARKLAND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BETWEEN MAYNARD AND CAMERON ROAD.
AND, UH, I'M SURE YOU'LL BE FALLING HEARING FROM MY NEIGHBORS.
AND I'LL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH, UH, WITH EACH OF YOU COMMISSIONERS, UH, WITH MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. KEN, RIGHT? SO THAT ENDS GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATION CHAIR.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND FALL TO THE AGENDA AND JUST HAVE EVERYONE YOU'LL SPEAK FOR THE ITEM.
SO THE FIRST ONE, UM, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF MINUTES, TIM LEWIS.
MA'AM ALL CITIZEN COMMUNICATION IS TAKEN OUT THE START OF THE MEETING.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT IN FRONT OF THE ITEM THIS TIME.
NO, WE'RE DOING IT PER OUR NORMAL RULES.
SO SAM, WERE YOU ABLE TO SEND ME THE LIST OF FOLKS? ARE YOU JUST GOING TO READ THEM OFF, SIR? I SENT IT TO YOU, BUT I'M HAPPY TO READ IT OFF AS WELL.
NO PROBLEM ON GO BACK INTO IT.
YEAH, LET'S SAY IT MUST BE SOME LISTS BECAUSE IT IS TOOK A WHILE TO COME UP IN A DEAD HEAD.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING GENERAL, NOT GENERAL SAYS COMMUNICATION, BUT CITIZENS COMMUNICATION RELATING TO ITEMS, B3.
AND THEN B SIX, IF YOU ARE HOLDING ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW, WAITING TO TALK, ASSUME THAT YOUR MICROPHONE IS NOT OFF AND THAT WE CAN HEAR YOUR CONVERSATION.
SO IN ORDER TO NOT BE DISRUPTIVE FOR THOSE WHO ARE PROVIDING INPUT INTO THESE AGENDA ITEMS, I'D ASK YOU TO BE QUIET UNTIL YOU WERE ACTUALLY CALLED WITH THAT AGENDA ITEM.
B3 IS PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION RELATED TO A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE SALE OF WINE AND BEER AT SILVER
[00:15:01]
CAP.BACK WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO START CITIZENS' COMMUNICATION WITH MR. MARK GENTLE.
I'M JUST DOING AN AUDIO CHECK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE SPOKEN IN THEIR NEW MEMBERS, JUST BY INTRODUCTION.
I'VE BEEN A REGULAR SWIMMER AT BARTON SPRINGS SINCE 1983.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE OPPOSE THIS PERMIT.
IT IS JUST GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION ON SO MANY LEVELS.
I'M SURE YOU'LL HEAR FROM OTHER PEOPLE THERE.
JUST A FEW THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE CONTRACT TO LOOK AT.
IT WOULD BE, UM, IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT IT WOULD ALSO BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE ACTUAL PROPOSER, UM, PROPOSAL MADE BY THIS, UH, PROPOSED VENDOR ON THE WEBSITE DEDICATED TO THIS PERMIT.
IT'S STATED THAT PART OF THE PROCESS IS A JUNE EIGHT PRESENTATION TO THE CONTRACTS AND CONCESSION COMMITTEE.
THAT MEETING, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, BASED ON THE PUBLIC INFORMATION AVAILABLE WAS CANCELED.
SO IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THIS CONTRACT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN PRESENTED TO THE CONCESSION COMMITTEE OR IS IN EFFECT OR HAS BEEN SIGNED.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW THE STATUS OF THE UNDERLYING CONTRACT ON WHICH S WERE SPEAKING DURING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND AGENDA.
NUMBER TWO, A QUESTION WAS ASKED, WILL THERE BE POSSIBILITIES TO SELL THROUGHOUT THE PARK? THE ANSWER WAS NO ANYTHING SOLD FROM THE BUILDING.
HOWEVER, A LOT OF SPEAKERS THAT UNFORTUNATELY YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AND WE RECEIVED YOUR CORRESPONDENCE VIA EMAIL.
NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS HEIDI ARMSTRONG.
I'M A BARTON SPRING SWIMMER, AND I WANT TO OPPOSE ALCOHOL SALES AT BARTON SPRINGS POOL.
ACCORDING TO THE CDC WEBSITE, 70% OF DROWNING DEATHS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO ALCOHOL.
UH, THERE ARE SCIENTIFIC DATA THAT CONCLUDES THIS AS WELL.
I THINK THIS IS A GALACTICALLY BAD IDEA TO SELL ALCOHOL 90 FEET FROM A POOL ENTRANCE.
AND I ATTENDED THE MEETING LAST WEEK.
I ASKED HOW MUCH TIME THE TEAM SPENT REVIEWING THE SCIENTIFIC DATA ON HOW ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION CONTRIBUTES TO DROWNING.
AFTER SEVERAL PREGNANT PAUSES, THEY RESPONDED THAT THEY HAD SPENT NO TIME LOOKING INTO THAT.
SO THE CITY IS PROPOSING SELLING ALCOHOL 30 STEPS FROM THE ENTRANCE TO THE POOL, BUT THEY HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO THE DATA ON THE CORRELATION BETWEEN ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND DROWNING.
I THINK THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND RECKLESS.
I ALSO ASKED, UH, WHAT, WHAT THE LIFEGUARDS THOUGHT OF THIS, UH, CONSIDERING THEY'RE GOING TO BE EFFECTIVELY MADE BOUNCERS.
AND, UH, AFTER ANOTHER PREGNANT PAUSE, UH, SOMEONE FROM THE CITY RESPONDED THAT THEY HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO THE LIFEGUARDS ABOUT IT.
UH, AND THEY SAID THAT THAT WAS CERTAINLY A CONSIDERATION.
SO PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, THE SIDNEY SAID HE HADN'T SPOKEN WITH THE VERY PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF INTOXICATED PEOPLE ENTERING THE POOL.
THIS IS A HUGE POOL ON ANY GIVEN SUMMER MORNING.
I SEE ONE TO TWO RESCUES DURING MY SWIMS. DROWNINGS ARE FAST, THEY'RE SILENT.
I WAS ACTUALLY PART OF A DROWN, OH, UH, UH, UH, DROWNING.
UM, I WAS I AN A RESCUE MYSELF WHEN I WAS SWIMMING, I WAS PULLED UNDER WATER BY A SWIMMER AND HAD TO BRING HIS HEAD ABOVE WATER AND TRY TO NOT DROWN MYSELF.
AND, UH, THIS GUY HAD BEEN DRINKING, SO HE ALMOST CAUSED HIS OWN DROWNING AND MINE.
THE LAST DEATH AT BARTON SPRINGS POOL WAS ATTRIBUTED TO DROWNING.
THIS IS A HORRIFYING PROPOSAL.
IT ADDS BURDENS TO ALREADY OVERWORKED LIFEGUARDS.
UM, AS EXPRESSED BY THEIR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THE CITY WOULD MAKE THE SUPPORT DECISION TO CREATE A BURDEN TO LIFEGUARDS.
AND, UH, THE CITY'S GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO A TWITTER POLL FROM KTU OR SCIENTIFIC DATA ON HOW LIFEGUARDS FEEL ABOUT THE DECISION.
I DON'T THINK TWITTER POLLS ARE A BASIS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY AND SCIENTIFIC DATA.
MR. COBB, YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS.
[00:20:01]
FOR FOUR YEARS.ALL RIGHT, MR. BOB, YOU HAVE YOU, YOU, YOU BROKING UP, BUT THE POINT WAS MADE, UH, THERE HAS BEEN NO SURVEY OF THE LIFEGUARDS AND, UM, WITH THAT RUNNING BLUE BAGS.
YEAH, YOU'RE STILL BREAKING UP.
SO NICK, CAN WE GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO JENNIFER RABINOW AND THEN ON TECH WOULD BE ALYSSA MAGNUM.
AS A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND BARTON SPRINGS, YEAR-ROUND SWIMMER, I REALLY WANT TO URGE YOU TO BE THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF SULFUR PARKS AND BARTON SPRINGS POOL.
UM, FOR GENERATIONS, THIS SPACE HAS BEEN A FAMILY FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS A SENSE OF WELLBEING, SAFETY, JOY, AND GOOD HEALTH ATTRACTING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES, AND RELIGIONS.
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT, I STARTED A PETITION ON CHANGE.ORG TO GAUGE OPPOSITION TO THE SURFING OF ALCOHOL AT THE CAFE USING ONLY FACEBOOK AND LESS THAN 72 HOURS, 156 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED THIS PETITION WITH PRIMARY CONCERNS AROUND SAFETY AND LIABILITY.
SO I WAS COMPROMISING THE SPIRIT AND VISION OF THE AREA.
ACCORDING TO RECENT GUIDANCE FROM THE CDC, ALCOHOL SHOULD NOT BE CONSUMED DURING OR JUST BEFORE SWIMMING OR WHILE SUPERVISING CHILDREN.
THEY GO ON TO SAY THAT ALCOHOL CAN REDUCE BODY TEMPERATURE AND THROUGH ITS EFFECTIVE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CAN IMPAIR, UM, SWIMMING ABILITY IN THE CALL LAST WEEK.
UM, I DID BRING UP THIS POINT, ALCOHOL MAY UP THE CASH FOR THE CAFE AND PROVIDE ALCOHOL SALES REVENUE TO THE CITY, BUT NO COST ANALYSIS HAS YET BEEN PERFORMED TO SEE HOW MUCH WE'LL HAVE TO ESCAPE FOR ADDED SECURITY AND LIABILITY.
ALSO, DO WE REALLY NEED MORE PEOPLE DRINKING IN PUBLIC IN AUSTIN? IT'S EXTREMELY HARD TO FIND PUBLIC SPACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT DRINKING.
THIS SPINNY IS ALWAYS CATERING TO ADULT PATRONS, BUT VERY FEW FAMILY SPACES ARE BEING PRESERVED.
SO WE FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT TO PROTECT THAT.
DO WE REALLY NEED TO CHANGE THE HISTORY, CULTURE AND VIBE OF A PLACE THAT WORKS PERFECTLY BEAUTIFULLY WE'RE GENERATIONS AS TO HAVE SUCCESSFUL ENJOYMENT.
AND SO OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALYSSA BACK ROOM, AND THEN AFTER WILL BE ELIZABETH WILLIAMS. MS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFT TO TIME AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOCAL WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION ORGANIZATION.
COLLINS HOPE I'M ALSO CO-CHAIR OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS DROWNING PREVENTION ACTION TEAM, VICE PRESIDENT OF ST.
KITTS, AUSTIN BOARD, AND A MEMBER OF STATE AND NATIONAL DROWNING PREVENTION ORGANIZATIONS AND BOARDS.
ALL OF THAT, TO SAY THAT I DO DROWNING PREVENTION 365 DAYS A YEAR, AND OFTEN WHAT FEELS LIKE 24 HOURS A DAY.
WE WORK AROUND THE CLOCK TO EDUCATE ADULTS AND CHILDREN ABOUT THINGS THEY CAN DO TO BE SAFER AROUND WATER.
ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE WORK REALLY HARD TO EDUCATE ABOUT IS THE SIMPLE FACT THAT NOT MIXING ALCOHOL WITH SWIMMING, HOT TEMPERATURES AND ADD IN COLD WATER, THIS PR PROPOSAL.
UM, I'VE OBVIOUSLY SPEAKING AGAINST, UM, THIS, THE PROPOSAL WOULD UNDO THE WORK THAT WE DO LITERALLY BY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO CONSUME ALCOHOL, GO SWIM IN COLD WATER WHILE INTOXICATED IN SOME FASHIONABLE IT'S RISKY TO PROSUMERS AND MYSELF INCLUDED LIFEGUARDS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ADDITIONAL BURDENS, WHICH WERE MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT PLACED ON OUR INCREDIBLE CITY, BOSTON AQUATIC TEAM OF GUARDS AND AQUATIC PROFESSIONALS.
UM, THEIR JOB IS TO SAFEGUARD THAT WATER.
IT IS NOT TO BE A BOUNCER OF SECURITY OR ANY TYPE OF, UM, DEALING WITH INTOXICATED PEOPLE.
I'VE TRAINED THOUSANDS OF LIFEGUARDS AND AQUATIC PROFESSIONALS, AND I'VE HEARD TESTIMONIES TALKING ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE STRESS AND CHALLENGES THEY ENCOUNTER WITH DEALING WITH SWIMMERS WHO ARE DRINKING ALCOHOL.
THEY'VE SHARED STORIES OF HAVING TO MOVE, TALK TO PEOPLE FROM THE FACILITY, AND I'VE HEARD THEM, UH, PEOPLE, LIFE CARDS, MAKING RESCUES, AND
[00:25:01]
I OFFER MYSELF AS A RESOURCE MS. PADRON.THE NEXT SPEAKER IS THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MS. ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS.
AND THEN ON DECK IS, UH, MEGAN MEISENBACH, THEY'RE LIKE THE, HEAR ME? YES.
UM, I'M HERE IN OPPOSITION TO THE ITEM TO ADD ALCOHOL TO THE BARTON SPRING.
UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE, BUT AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS, UH, SIX FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE, UH, AN ARE CURRENTLY STRUGGLING WITH, UH, ALCOHOL ADDICTION, THE NAVY, UM, THE IDEA OF CHANGING A PLACE THAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN FOR MY FAMILY AND EXTENDED FAMILY, A PLACE OF FAMILY COMMUNION, WHERE THOSE PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR ALCOHOL ADDICTION AND THEIR SOBRIETY TO COME TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILY IN A SAFE SPACE.
UM, IT IS VERY CONCERNING, UH, TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AND IDENTITY OF A PLACE THAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN IN PLACE OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO BEING A PLACE WHERE THEY ARE, UH, TEMPTED WITH ALCOHOL AND POISON, UM, SOMETHING THAT, UM, CHANGES THE WAY THAT THEY INTERACT AROUND THEIR FAMILY AND REALLY NEGATIVE WAY AND CHANGES THE WAY THAT THEY INTERACT WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN REALLY NEGATIVE WAYS.
SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH TAKING AWAY ONE OF THE LAST LOCATION, WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILY, UH, PROVIDED BY THE OFTEN IN A SAFE AND HEALTHY MANNER, UH, VERY, UH, CONCERNING, UM, AND DISAPPOINTING.
SO I'D LOVE, LOVE FOR THE BOARD TO OPPOSE THIS CLEARLY, UH, ILL THOUGHT OUT CONSIDERATE REGION.
AND THEN AFTER, UH, MEGAN IS BRIAN BIRD, VICE CHAIR.
IF YOU'LL GIVE US A SECOND, MS. MEISENBACH, UH, ASKED THAT WE PUT UP SOME SLIDES FOR HER.
SO IF WE CAN JUST HAVE TWO SECONDS TO DO THAT.
MS. MEISENBACH ARE YOU ON THE CALL, MEGAN? ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL KEEP THE SLIDES OPEN AND YOU GET THEM TO GET ON THE PHONE AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE ON TO BRIAN RIGHT NOW.
HOW ARE YOU DOING FOR YOUR SERVICE? MY SLIDES ARE NOT TIMED TO MY, UM, SPEECH, SO YOU CAN JUST GO THROUGH THE SLIDES QUICKLY STAFF IF YOU'RE ABLE.
UM, SO I'M JUST WONDERING, IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO REZONE FOREVER HALF OF WHAT I CALL THE COURTYARD, WHICH IS IN BETWEEN WHERE THE PEOPLE WAIT TO GET INTO THE POOL AND THE CAFE IS REZONING THAT FOREVER A GOOD IDEA FOR $70,000 A YEAR.
MAYBE DO WE WANT TO KEEP THE ENTIRE GRAVEL COURTYARD TO PRESERVE IT AS A FREE AND OPEN POUND SQUARE FOR ITS OWN VALUE? THE CAFE HAD DISCRIMINATE.
I FEEL AGAINST SOME AUSTINITES WOULDN'T IT BY EXCLUDING THEM FROM THE SEATING AREA.
AND THERE'S A POOL VIEW, UH, ON SLIDE SIX THAT THEY WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO SEE ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE FENCED AWAY FROM IT.
DOES THE AVERAGE POOL PATIENTS PATRON AND RUN OR BENEFIT FROM OFFENSE, EXCLUDING THEM FROM HALF OF THE CAFE COURTYARD AND WILL THE PATRONS OF THE ZILKER TRAIN WHO USE THIS AS A PATHWAY TO GET THEIR BENEFIT FROM HAVING HALF OF THE AREA FENCED OFF.
IN OTHER WORDS, IS THIS A PROPOSED 6,500 SQUARE FEET RESERVED FOR CAFE PATRONS, MAKE IT EASIER TO GET THE TRAIN AND TO GET TO THE PLAY AREA.
SO THAT IS THE CRUX OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
AND WHILE I WAS THERE ON SUNDAY, THERE WAS THE EMS AND THE FIRE TRUCKS TO HELP SOMEBODY.
AND IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD MIX.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL VOTE AGAINST THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
SO THE NEXT WE HAVE BRIAN BRAZE AND THEN AFTER PETER HETTY.
YEAH, I, ALL OF THE OPPOSITIONS THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE POOL.
UM, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS ABOUT ZILKER PARK AS FAR AS, UM, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE POOL IS, UM, FOOD AND BEVERAGE ACTUALLY
[00:30:01]
AREN'T ALLOWED IN THE POOL.UM, SO I, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE'S SO MUCH OPPOSITION TO THIS.
EVERY TIME I'VE GONE TO BARTON BARTON SPRINGS POOL, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE IN THERE DRINKING.
SO WHETHER IT'S LEGAL OR ILLEGAL ALCOHOL IN THE POOL, I MEAN, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE ALCOHOL IN THE POOL.
UM, I THINK IT'S EASIER TO ACTUALLY REGULATE THIS.
IF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S A PLACE WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO AND BUY ALCOHOL.
UM, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY ABOUT ZILKER PARK AND SELFISHLY, YOU KNOW, WE USE THE PARK THREE OR FOUR TIMES IN THE SUMMER AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO GO AND HAVE A BEER.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE DOWN THERE ARE GOING TO BE DRINKING RESPONSIBLY.
MR. UH, UH, OUGHTA HETI IS NEXT.
AND THEN AFTER THAT IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, KALE STOOP.
SO MR. ED AHEAD, ARE YOU THERE BADGER HEADING? COULD YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR.
UM, I'M GOING TO ECHO THE SAME SENTIMENTS AS THE PREVIOUS INDIVIDUAL IN THAT I THINK THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES THAT ARE GOING ON HERE, THIS POOL VERSUS THE PARK.
UM, I THINK THE OPPOSITION IS, UH, BLENDING THE TWO TOGETHER.
I THINK THERE'S TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.
EVERY TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN TO, UM, THE POOL, I HAVE A FAMILY OF THREE YOUNG CHILDREN.
UM, I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE AND THEY WOULD DRINK WITHIN THE PARK ALLOWED IN THE, UH, FLORAL AREA THAT SHOULD BE REGULAR FISH RELATED.
YOU SH YOU SHOULD NOT BE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ENTER WITH THAT, UM, IN YOUR HAND.
AND, UM, THE REGULATIONS WOULD BE SUCH THAT THE VENDOR WHO IS OPERATING SO FOR A CAFE WOULD BE, UH, MONITORING THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL THAT IS BEING CONSUMED BY WHOEVER IS CONSUMED VERSUS PURCHASING IT.
SO I FEEL LIKE, UM, THOSE ARE TWO VERY SEPARATE ENTITIES AND I, AS A FAMILY MAN WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A BEER AND I'M RESPONSIBLE ABOUT IT.
SO, UM, FOR THE, UM, CONSUMPTION FOR THE PERMIT PROCESS TO GO THROUGH.
UH, MR. STOOP, KALE, STEVE, AND THEN ON, AFTER, UH, STUPID AS PATRICK LIFE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH Y'ALL, UH, TODAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS KALE STUBBY, AND I'M SPEAKING FOR THE PROPOSAL.
UM, LIKE OTHERS HAD MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, ONE ITEM THAT I WANTED TO NOTE THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS FOR US HERE, UH, ZILKER PARK AND NOT FOR BARTON SPRINGS POOL, UH, AS FOOD AND BEVERAGE IN THAT AREA IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE POOL.
UM, ALSO, UH, AS OTHERS HAD MENTIONED, UH, ALCOHOL IS ALREADY, UM, PRETTY PRESENT, UH, UNTIL KURT POLAR, BOTH LEGALLY AND ILLEGALLY.
UM, AS MANY KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF CONTENT SERIES THAT COME THROUGH ZILKER PARK, YOU KNOW, GET ACL BLUES ON THE GREEN, UH, ALONG WITH OTHER EVENTS.
UH, AND THEN AS WE'VE ALL SEEN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UH, ALCOHOL THAT'S ILLEGALLY AND STUFFER PARK, UM, AND EVEN DOWN BY THE POOL AREA.
UM, SO LIFEGUARDS, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
UM, AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ALCOHOL BEING SOLD NEXT TO A POOL, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT HOW MANY HOTELS ARE IN AUSTIN AND HOW MANY OF THESE HOTELS HAVE POOLS IN THEM.
AND THEY ACTUALLY SELL ALCOHOL AT THOSE POOLS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS IN THE AUSTIN AREA ARE VERY RESPONSIBLE, UM, AND ARE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE DOWN IN THAT AREA WHILE DRINKING ALCOHOL, UM, AND, AND NOT BINGE DRINKING.
UH, AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, SINCE, SINCE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THE ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, MONITOR, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS ARE DRINKING, UH, THIS WILL HELP LIMIT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, YOU KNOW, BINGE DRINKING, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T, UM, YOU KNOW, MONITOR HOW MUCH EACH CUSTOMER IS DRINKING, UM, THEN THERE'S HEAVY FINES THAT COME ALONG WITH IT.
SO, LIKE I MENTIONED, I START, I'M DEFINITELY FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POOLS THAT SELL ALCOHOL.
UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY NOT ABOUT THE POOL.
IT'S MORE ABOUT, UH, ALCOHOL BEING SOLD AT FILTER PARK, WHICH IS ALREADY BEING DONE TODAY.
UH, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS, WILL, UH, YANKEES AND THEN AFTER, UH, IS GOING TO BE DAN UPDIKE.
I THINK I WAS PREVIOUSLY NEXT.
NO, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY NEXT TO SORRY
[00:35:01]
ABOUT THAT, SIR.UM, SO I'M SPEAKING IN FOR OF THIS PROPOSAL.
UM, I AGREE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES PARK VERSUS POOL, BUT I'D LIKE TO SPEAK FROM THE STANDPOINT OF, UM, I WAS A COMPETITIVE SWIMMER FOR 20 YEARS.
I WAS A LIFEGUARD FOR SIX, UM, BOTH AT PRIVATE AND PUBLIC POOLS THAT SERVED ALCOHOL AND MANY TIMES OVERSERVED ALCOHOL.
UM, NEVER DID IT RESULT IN A ALTERCATION DROWNING OR DID IT PLACE GREATER LIABILITY ON ME TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM MY DUTIES AND IN THAT ROLE, UM, OFTENTIMES IT WAS DEALING WITH TEENAGERS WHO WERE DRINKING ALREADY ILLEGALLY.
UM, WE KNOW THAT HAPPENS CURRENTLY AT BARTON SPRINGS.
UH, I'M A FREQUENT VISITOR AS WELL AS SWIMMER THERE.
UM, AND, UM, WOULD RATHER SEE IT PROVIDED ON A REGULATED BASIS.
UM, DAN SEE IT CONTINUE TO, UH, CONTINUE ON AN UNREGULATED BASIS FURTHER.
THE VENDOR OF THIS PROPOSED PARKSIDE PROJECTS, UM, HAS PROBABLY SOME OF THE BEST EXPERIENCE IN THE CITY FROM, UH, A HOSPITALITY GROUP AND THAT ONE OF THEIR BEST RESTAURANTS IS IN THE HEART OF THE SIXTH STREET DISTRICT.
UM, THEY KNOW MORE THAN ANYBODY, HOW TO DEAL WITH BOTH RESPONSIBLE AND IRRESPONSIBLE, UH, DRINKING ON THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS.
UM, SO I HAVE GOOD FAITH IN BOTH THE OPERATOR AS WELL AS ON MY PAST EXPERIENCE, UM, JUST IN THE AREA AROUND POOLS AND DRINKING, UM, AND FULLY SUPPORT.
AND THEN OUR NEXT SPEAKER, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE PRINTER IN THE BACKGROUND.
SO I'M PUTTING THIS LIST OFF IS, UH, WELL, YANKEES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, I AM AT FOUR, UH, AT FAVOR AT THE PROPOSAL.
I AGREE THAT, UH, IT SEEMS THE AGAINST ARE VERY FOCUSED ON THE POOL.
UH, THE POOL IS SEPARATE FROM SOUTH PARK.
UH, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN FOR 15 YEARS AND WE HAVE ENJOYED THE PARK.
UM, AND AS A FORMER LIFE PART AS WELL, UH, HAVE, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT YOU HAVE IS A VERY SEASONED OPERATOR, UH, AND VENDOR WHO WILL CREATE A RESPONSIBLE, UH, ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY THE PARK, UM, AND SEPARATE FROM THE POOL.
AGAIN, AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE STATED, UH, FOOD AND BEVERAGES ARE NOT ALLOWED, THERE ARE, PEOPLE'S THINK TO MEN.
UM, I THINK THIS WILL GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THEMSELVES WITHOUT FEELING THE NEED TO BRING ALCOHOL ONTO THE PARK.
AND, UH, SO I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I FEEL THAT THE PARK IS SEPARATE FROM THE POOL.
IT'D BE NICE TO ENJOY IT, HAVE LUNCH, DINNER, AND A BEVERAGE.
UH, AND I DON'T FEEL THAT THEY NEGATIVES OUTWEIGH THE POSITIVES IN THIS CASE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, RIGHT.
NEXT IS MR. DAN UPDIKE FOLLOWED BY MS. ANGELA, VICTOR.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, SIR.
UH, I'M UH, OPPOSED TO THIS PROPOSAL, I AGREE THAT THE PARK IS SEPARATE FROM THE POOL BY, UH, AS A PREVIOUS COMMENT OR MENTIONED EXACTLY 90 FEET.
UH, I'VE GOT A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.
MOST OF MY COMMENTS ARE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT JUST JUST ONE AREA TONIGHT.
I'VE APPRECIATED THE OTHER COMMENTS.
UH, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WILL BE A RULE THAT THE ALCOHOL WILL STAY INSIDE A DESIGNATED AREA.
UM, HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF RULES AT ZILKER PARK THAT ARE ROUTINELY IGNORED, LIKE, LIKE DOGS ON LEASHES.
WE HEARD AT THE PARK COMMUNITY MEETING LAST WEEK THAT THE VENDOR HAS PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE THIS ALCOHOL STAYING WITHIN THE DESIGNATED AREA.
AND SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS HOW'S THE VENDOR GOING TO ENFORCE THAT RULE? AND IF THE VENDOR DOESN'T ENFORCE THE RULE, WHAT'S THE PENALTY AGAINST THE VENDOR.
I'D APPRECIATE THE CITY STAFF ANSWERING THIS QUESTION.
WE ALL KNOW WHEN THERE ARE RULES WITH NO PENALTIES, THEN THOSE RULES DON'T MEAN ANYTHING.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RULES ARE AND WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH A COMMON UNDERSTANDING, UH, SEVERAL OF THE COMMENTERS TONIGHT APPEAR TO KNOW THE VENDOR.
I DON'T, I, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE VENDOR AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST THE VENDOR, A VENDOR.
I HOPE YOU MAKE A LOT OF MONEY SELLING FOOD.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MS. ANGELA RICHTER FOLLOWED BY GEORGE CANARD.
I DID NOT SEE THAT NUMBER ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW.
AND SO AS WE, UH, WAIT FOR, UH, MRS. RICHTER TO, TO GET ON THE PHONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO MR. GEORGE CANARD
[00:40:03]
FOR THE SALE OF ALCOHOL AT ZILKER PARK CAFE YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO A PARK SIDE PROJECT, RAN RESTAURANT IS RUN TOP-NOTCH, THERE'LL BE DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE CHECKING THINGS OUT.I MEAN, I JUST THINK THAT WE'RE REALLY ROBYN, THE CITY HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY GO DOWN TO THAT PART.
SO I AM FOR THE SOUL OF A ALCOHOLIC ZILKER CAFE.
UH, DO WE HAVE MS. MRS. RICHTER ON THE PHONE YET? I CAN DOUBLE CHECK HERE, BUT I STILL DON'T SEE THAT NUMBER ON THE LINE.
YOU WANT TO GIVE ME THREE SECONDS TO CONFIRM I CAN, BUT I STILL DON'T SEE IT.
UM, I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT THREE UP JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE THAT WE'LL BE, UH, JULIE MAY FOLLOWED BY ERIC BRAMLETT AND THEN DAVID MAY MS. MAY YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS CHAIR? JULIE MAY AS I'M MUTED, RIGHT? MS. MA YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS.
AND WE'LL COME BACK TO MS. MAY AND MR. BRAMLETT, ARE YOU THERE? UH, THE PLANNER? YES.
SO I GOT A MESSAGE THAT SCOTT CUB DIDN'T GET HIS FULL 90 SECONDS BECAUSE OF COMPLICATIONS IF HE COULD.
SO IS MR. COBB BACK ON THE PHONE? OKAY.
WE'LL CIRCLE BACK TOWARDS THE END AND CAPTURE.
WHOEVER ELSE HAD SIGNED UP HAS NOT GONE.
WE HAVE NOT, THEY'VE NOT BEEN PRESENT.
MAY MR. MAYOR, ARE YOU THERE? YES, I'M HERE, RIGHT? YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS.
YEAH, I'M FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE FOR THE SALE OF A BEER AND WINE IT'S OKA PARK CAFE.
UH, I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 29 YEARS AND RAISED THREE KIDS HERE.
UM, WE ALL ENJOY ZILKER PARK, BARTON SPRINGS, THE GREENBELT.
I MEAN, WE PLAYED FRISBEE GOLFER HAS A LOT TO DO.
WE'VE BEEN TO THE KITE FESTIVAL, YOU KNOW, ALL THE, ALL THE FESTIVALS AND, UH, GO THERE QUITE OFTEN.
AND, UH, I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM WITH HAVING A CAFE WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES THERE THAT HAVE GREAT AMOUNT OF ME AMENITIES FOR THE PARK, UM, FOR THE PROPOSAL.
AND NOW MOVING ON TO CHRIS MARTINEZ, ALAN
AND IT WOULD BE AN, A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR AUSTIN TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY, TO HAVE A GLASS OF WINE, A GLASS OF BEER.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HARD LIQUOR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEER OR WINE, AND AS THESE VENDORS, AND I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE STAFF THAT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE TABC.
AND SO THEREFORE THEY WILL HAVE RULES THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW.
AND NOT ONLY THAT PEOPLE DRINK RESPONSIBLY IN AUSTIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEATHS THAT HAVE BEEN IN AUSTIN COMPARED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY OF THE UNITED STATES, WE'RE LIKE NUMBER 50, ACCORDING TO 2019.
YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS RESPONSIBLY AND LEGALLY, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN GOING ON, WHETHER IT'S BEEN INSIDE THE POOL OR ON THE GROUND, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING ALL THE FESTIVALS THAT GO ON AT ZILKER PARK IT'S HAPPENING ALREADY.
IT'S JUST, IT WOULD BE NICE TO ENJOY A BEVERAGE, YOU KNOW, WITH MY FAMILY, WITH MY BROTHER, WITH MY DAD.
SO YES, I AM IN FAVOR OF AUSTIN STOKER PARK, HAVING A BEER AND WINE BEVERAGE BEING SOLD.
WE'LL CIRCLE BACK AROUND TO MR. PETTA.
[00:45:01]
OKAY.THE NECK AND THE CIRCLE BACK TO MR. NAZER.
THE NEXT THREE NAMES WAS SHAWN.
TRENT IS JONES AND THEN DIRECTED GARRETT, MR. UH, SEAN KIRKVILLE.
ARE YOU THERE MR. TRENTON JONES? ARE YOU THERE CHAMPION, GIVE ME ONE MINUTE TO FIND THIS NUMBER I'M YOU DID.
UH, UH, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THEM SPEAK IF THAT'S OKAY.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHO, UH, WHICH NUMBER AND I WILL, I CAN GO BACK.
ALL RIGHT, MR. CIRCLE, YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS.
MY NAME IS SEAN
AND WE ARE, UH, AS WELL AS HUTTO HERE IN TOWN, OUR JUICE BAR, AND WE ARE A PARTNER AT SPRING-FED AND WE ARE SUPER EXCITED, UH, TO BRING THIS TO ZILKER PARK.
UM, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN AUSTIN AND IN BUSINESS SINCE THE FORTIES, UM, MY GRANDFATHER STARTED ON AIRPORT BOULEVARD, MOMS, BUSINESS WOMEN HERE IN TOWN.
AND THEN OF COURSE, I'M IN A RESTAURANT AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO SHARE THIS GIFT, UM, WHICH IS A HEALTHY FOOD, A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, UH, WITH THE CITY THAT, AND THE PARTS THAT I'VE GROWN UP WITH FOR IT.
UH, MR. TRAVIS JONES, ARE YOU THERE? HANG ON ONE SECOND.
AND THEN AFTER CONFIRMATION ON MS. JONES, WE'LL HAVE RICK GARRETT, LAUREN STEVENSON IN BRIAN BERGER FOR GIAN, UH, MR. TRANS JONES.
I'M BORN AND RAISED, UM, UH, IN AUSTIN.
I, WITH OVER A DECADE OF MY LIFE, UH, BEING SPENT IN THE BARTON HILLS, UH, ZILKER COMMUNITY, I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE SALE OF WINE AND AT ZILBER CAFE.
UM, I FIND IT IRONIC THAT SOME IN OPPOSITION TO THIS MEASURE APPEAR TO BE DRUNK OFF SOME SCARE TACTICS.
UM, FIRST OFF, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ZILKER CAFE, NOT THE POOL.
UM, SECONDLY, UM, NO ONE IN MY OPINION IS GOING TO SHOW UP TO ZILKER PARK TO OCCUPY PARKING SPACES.
UM, JUST BECAUSE BEER AND WINE IS, IS GOING TO BE SERVED THERE THAT DOESN'T REALLY VIBE WITH REALITY.
UH, THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY LOCATIONS IN AUSTIN THAT HAVE ALREADY, UH, ALREADY OFFERED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AS THAT OPTION WITHOUT A PROBLEM.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, THAT THOSE SEEKING TO OVER-SERVE THEMSELVES ARE ALREADY ILLEGALLY BRINGING IN HEAVILY MIXED DRINKS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL, BUT ALLOWING MY WIFE AND I TO HAVE A GLASS OF WINE WHILE WE WATCHED HER A LITTLE GIRL PLAY ZILKER, UM, WOULD ADD TO THE EXPERIENCE, UM, IN, IN CONCLUSION, UH, CHANGE HAPPENS IN MY OPINION, IT'S BEST TO EMBRACE IT AND AN APPROACH THAT ALLOWS WELL-NEEDED FUNDING FOR THE CITY TO BE GENERATED AND CREATE SOME TABC STRUCTURE, UH, TO ENFORCE, UH, THE SAFE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IS A GOOD IDEA.
UM, ON TOP OF THAT, I THINK THAT, UM, HAVING A MINORITY ON MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS, RUNNING THIS, UM, RUNNING THIS BUSINESS, RUNNING THIS, THIS, UM, SPACE, UM, IS A BENEFIT TO A CITY THAT IS ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH LEVELS OF GENTRIFICATION.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION.
AND WE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE BACK.
UH, MR. GRAMLIN IS ON THE PHONE AND SO IS MR.
SO WITH THAT, UH, MR. BRAMLETT, ARE YOU THERE? GIVE ME A SECOND VICE CHAIR.
THAT SHOULD BE 2 8, 9 NUMBER ERICA, IF I STARTED.
UM, SO YEAH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR ZILKER CAFE I IN AGREEMENT WITH, WITH EVERYBODY ELSE WHO HAS POINTED OUT THAT, UH, FOLKS ARE CONFUSING, UH, THE POOL WITH, UH, WITH THE PARK AND THERE ARE ALREADY MANY, MANY LEGAL AVENUES THAT THEY'RE ALLOWED TO, UH, SERVE ALCOHOL AT PARK
[00:50:01]
RESPONSIBLY.UM, THERE'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS EXPERIENCE WILL LOOK LIKE.
A BRIT POOL BURGER AND D BETTY, UH, NO INCIDENTS OVER THERE WHATSOEVER.
UH, I'M PERSONALLY VERY EXCITED TO HAVE A VERY HIGH QUALITY RESTAURANT AND HIGH QUALITY FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVED AT AT SOAKER.
I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING MY SEVEN YEAR OLD AND MY WIFE DOWN THERE TO GET SOME FOOD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
ARE YOU ON THE LINE? HELLO? GREAT.
MY NAME IS ANTHONY SIGORA S E G U R A.
OH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR ALAN'S STEP HAT.
AM I HAVE I BEEN A MUTED? I KNOW I WAS MUTED FOR AWHILE.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE WAY YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS STARTING NOW.
I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT FOUR YEARS WITH MY WIFE AND WE HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND, YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS AT ZILKER PARK, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, OF THE, OF THE PERMIT, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE BRING IN THEIR OWN DRINKS, BROWN BAG OF IT ALL THE TIME.
UM, IT'D BE NICE TO GO TO A PLACE WHERE IT IS REGULATED.
YOU KNOW, WE RECENTLY WENT TO THE SOCCER TEAM GAME AT Q2 STADIUM.
YOU KNOW, IT IS REGULATED THERE.
YOU CAN PURCHASE MORE THAN TWO DRINKS AT A TIME.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE SORTS OF RULES AND REGULATIONS IN PLACE, IT DOES MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOME OF THESE ACCIDENTS OR, UM, SOME OF THESE CONCERNS THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAVE.
UM, I REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING TO DO, UM, TO, TO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE BEER AND WINE.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HARD HEARTBREAKER, JACK DANIELS AND VODKA AND, AND LOADING UP A BIG, A YETI, A THERMAL CUP, WENT WITH US AND THEN GO INTO TOWN, YOU KNOW, BEER WINES, VERY RELAXING.
THEY CAN HAVE IT WITH A SANDWICH WITH IT, WITH A SLICE OF PIZZA.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY ISN'T GOING TO AFFECT, UM, ANY SORT OF CRIME WHATSOEVER.
SO AGAIN, TO REITERATE, I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING, UH, PARTS OF THEIR PROJECTS.
ALL RIGHT, MI CHUCK IS MR. NASER ON THE PHONE? YES, I'M HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. UH, MR. NASER, YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS.
UH, MY NAME IS KURT NASER AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE HOS THE SIERRA CLUB.
AND RECENTLY THE OFFICE HERE AT CLUB.
WE HAD A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND WE HAVE VOTED AGAINST, UM, ALLOWING ALCOHOL SALES THAT CLOSE TO BARTON SPRINGS POOL IN ZILKER PARK.
THE POINT IS WE DO LOTS OF OUTINGS AND WE HAVE ALL AUDI LEADERS ARE TRAINED AND STAYED.
THERE WAS NOT OUTGOING LEADER.
AND IN OUR WHOLE GROUP THAT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND OUTING DRINKING.
AFTER WE'RE FINISHED PEOPLE GO AND THEY DRANK.
THEY MAY GO OUT AND HAVE A DRINK AND DRINK RESPONSIBILITY AT PLACES THAT ARE, THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY SET UP FOR SERVING DRINKS, WITH EXPERIENCE ABOUT DEALING WITH THE OCCASIONAL PERSON THAT MIGHT DRANK TOO MUCH.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS I COME FROM A FAMILY OF ALCOHOL AND I'M NOT AN ALCOHOLIC, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF ALCOHOLICS OUT THERE.
AND, UH, IT CREATES, UH, A DIFFERENT KIND OF EXPERIENCE IN YOUR LIFE.
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO THINK OF GOING TO A PARK.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME WETTING MY GUARD DOWN.
AND THEN WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND WHO ARE DRUNK AT THAT, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE ACTING BADLY.
THEY'RE JUST HAVE TO BE ACTING TRUMP.
YOU KNOW, ALL YOUR LITTLE FEELERS, GO UP.
YOU'RE SAYING, WHAT'S THIS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF PLACES SELL ALCOHOL DOWN THE STREET.
IF YOU WANT TO GO SWIMMING, YOU WANT TO GO TO THE PARK, HAVE A GOOD TIME.
JUST GO DOWN THE STREET AND, AND DRANK AT THESE PLACES FOR YOUR TIME.
VERY MUCH I'M GOING TO CIRCLE BACK AROUND IS, IS MR. COVID TO MAKE IT ON SCOTT COB.
THAT WOULD BE A FIVE, FIVE TO NUMBER.
HOW ABOUT THIS IS THE ANGELA RICHTER? THAT'S A 2, 5, 4.
[00:55:04]
OKAY.MR. COBB, I BELIEVE IS ON THE LINE.
ARE YOU ON THE LINE? YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
IS IT MY TURN? YES, YES, YES, SIR.
AND IN YOUR, WHERE YOU HAVE A GOOD CONNECTION.
I WORKED AS A LIFEGUARD CURRENTLY AT BARTON SPRINGS, AND A LOT OF US WERE SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL BECAUSE ONE OF OUR MAIN DUTIES KIND OF A DISTRACTION FROM OUR LIFESAVING DUTIES IS TO ENFORCE THE RULES AGAINST HAVING ALCOHOL AT THE POOL.
UH, ALCOHOL IS METALED OUT OF THE POOL BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DRINKING POSED A SAFETY RISK TO THEMSELVES, I GRABBED THE PATRONS AS WELL AS THE LIGHT GUARDS.
UM, YOU BEGIN SO NORMAL WHOLE AT THE CAFES.
SOME OF THAT ALCOHOL IS GOING TO END UP INSIDE THE GATES OF THE POOL, BECAUSE IT WILL BE INSIDE PEOPLE'S BELLIES WHEN THEY ENTER YOU ALREADY, OBVIOUSLY CORRECT PEOPLE COME INSIDE.
BUT, UH, SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DRINKING OR NOT OBVIOUSLY TRAPPED, BUT STILL THEY'RE THE PRIORITY OF LIFE CARDS IS FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF EVERYONE AT THE POOL, BOTH PATRONS AND EMPLOYEES.
WE CURRENTLY CATCH A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHOUT A LOT OF THE POLE AND SELLING IT OUTSIDE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE GATE, SINCE THE CONTRADICTION AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE BY HAVING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL TRY TO HIDE THEIR, THEIR ALCOHOL UNDER TOWELS AND BLANKETS AND STUFF.
SOMEONE WILL, WILL LIE TO YOU WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN YOU ASK THEM IF THEY'RE DRINKING ALCOHOL.
UM, SO I THINK THAT DRINKING AT SILKWOOD PARK AND THE POOL, CINDY IS ALREADY A MAJOR PROBLEM, AND IT WILL JUST GET WORSE IF YOU START SELLING IT AT THE CAFE.
THANK YOU, MR. COOK, MR. COP, WE APPRECIATE IT.
WE'RE GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO COME BACK ON AND JOIN US.
UM, ABOUT MS. IS MR.
YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE ALL YOUR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD.
DID WE OKAY THEN THAT I MAY, I MAY HAVE NOT THAT, THAT MAKES SENSE.
HOW ABOUT, UH, MRS. JULIE MAY I'M HERE.
UM, I AM FOR THE SALE OF BEER AND WINE AND AT ZILKER CAFE IN BOCA PARK, UM, I BELIEVE IT WILL BE A GREAT AMENITY THAT WILL ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF PARK GOERS WITH SO MANY ATTRACTIONS IN ONE AREA OF THE PARK.
PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THE PARK FOR QUALITY FOOD AND ADULT BEVERAGE.
UM, I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 22 YEARS.
WE'VE SPENT MANY HOURS IN SILVER PARK, UM, DOING ACTIVITIES.
AND I MEAN, HONESTLY, AFTER ALL MY YEARS OF LIKE LUGGING COOLERS AND HOT CHILDREN AND WHATEVER, I LOVE THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO LIKE GO TO A RESTAURANT AND BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A GLASS OF WINE.
UM, SO I SEE IT AS BEING A POSITIVE BENEFIT FOR THE PARK.
UH, HAVE WE, WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM MR. RICK GARRETT.
AM I CORRECT CHAIR? IT'S A NEW NAME.
SO THE NEXT THREE, UH, CALLING ACTUALLY NEXT FOR CALLING YOU UP JUST SO YOU CAN ALL START PREPPING MR. RAY, GARRETT, LAUREN STEVENSON, BRYAN BERGEY, NOT BERGERON.
SO MR. GARRETT, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? YES MA'AM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
I AM ONE OF THE, THE BUSINESS OWNERS, UH, WITH SPRING CENTER, LLC.
UH, BOTH SEAN AND I, UM, ARE THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF SPRING-FED.
UH, I AM A LOCAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN, UH, WITH, UH, SEVERAL RESTAURANTS IN THE AUSTIN AREA, UH, BETWEEN SEAN AND I.
WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS IN SOME OF THOSE RESTAURANTS AND SOME OF THOSE RESTAURANTS WE ARE ON OUR OWN.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE WANT IT TO BE ON THIS CALL BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE ALSO WANTED TO, AT LEAST IN 90 SECONDS, BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE BOTH FOR AND AGAINST US.
[01:00:01]
UH, WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE CONCERNS, ALTHOUGH WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH ALL OF THEM.YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, UH, AND WE CAME TOGETHER WITH THIS CONCEPT TO BRING LOCAL VENDORS.
WE MADE THIS CONCEPT AND WE CREATED THIS CONCEPT SPECIFICALLY FOR BARTON SPRINGS POOL.
IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS FOR A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
WE STARTED THIS PROCESS IN APRIL.
UH, IT WENT THROUGH THE PART, UM, A BOARD APPROVAL.
IT WENT THROUGH CITY COUNCIL ON OUR CONTRACTS WERE FINALIZED IN 2019, ABOUT OCTOBER OF 20, 20 19.
UM, AND SO CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ASSOCIATIONS BEHIND US IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY TO RALLY TROOPS, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN VETTED THROUGH PART A AND PART HAS A GREAT, A GREAT HISTORY OF VETTING, THE SELECTING VENDORS TO SELL ALCOHOL RESPONSIBLY.
I THINK MAYBE THE COMMENTS ARE BASED ON FEAR AND I DON'T EXPECT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND HOW RICH RESTAURANT.
AND TO SAMMY INTIMACY, UH, TO MR. GARRETT, YOU MAY HAVE QUESTIONS, INSTANCES OF THE POSTED AGENDA ITEM.
THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS DIRECTED TO YOU FROM THE BOARD.
AND SO IF YOU CAN STAY ON THE LINE, DO YOU AND MR. UH, SEAN CIRCLES, AND THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO THE BOARD.
HI, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME CAM? THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME TONIGHT.
UM, I WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
I HAVE TWO KIDS MYSELF, SO I SPEAK TO UNITE AS A MOM OF A YOUNG FAMILY.
UM, I AM FOR THIS ITEM, THE CAFE WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE AT THE PARK AND ENJOY OURSELVES.
UH, THERE WERE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF RESTAURANTS WITH PLAYSCAPE HOTELS WITH POOLS, UM, MONTHS LIKE THIS SITUATION.
AND I TAKE SAFETY VERY SERIOUSLY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AS DO A LOT OF AUSTINITES.
WE, AS IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, WE DRINK RESPONSIBLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO, UM, THIS CAFE WILL HELP THE PARK REGULATE THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.
UM, IT'S THERE, WHETHER WE WANNA ADMIT IT OR NOT, FOLKS ARE BRINGING IT IN THE LIVE EVENTS ARE HAPPENING.
UH, THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SIT DOWN AND LIKE I SAID, HAVE A GLASS OF WINE AND BE WITH OUR FAMILY.
UM, I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO, UH, TAKE THAT AWAY FROM, FROM PEOPLE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND BE SAFE OUT THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. VERGE, ARE YOU THERE MR. BRIAN BERGERON? HEY, A SECOND.
VICE CHAIR, ME, FIND THEM REAL QUICK, PLEASE.
AND THEN MIKE CAN STAND ON DECK AND TARA DAVIES THEN ROY WAITLEY.
I DON'T SEE THAT NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OF RYAN BERG BERGEN RIGHT NOW.
AND THE NEXT IS MR. MIKE CANADY, ARE YOU THERE OR SPEAK OVER SOMEBODY FASTER? I DON'T SEE THAT NUMBER RIGHT NOW, EITHER.
ALL RIGHT, MS. TARA DAVIES, VICE CHAIR.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR PARKSIDE PROJECTS OR THE COMPANY THAT'S PART PRESS THE PERMIT FOR BEER AND WINE CONSUMPTION AT ZILKER, UH, PARKSIDE PROJECTS HAVE THE PRINT ACTIVE CONTRIBUTOR IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
FOR OVER 13 YEARS, WE TAKE PRIDE IN PARTAKING IN OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK TO LOCAL FOOLS NONPROFITS AND THE LOCAL RESTAURANT SCENE AS A WHOLE.
UM, AS PART OF GETTING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY ALSO INCLUDES TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE ALCOHOL SERVICE.
SERIOUSLY, WE TRAIN ALL OF OUR STAFF RESPONSIBLE FOR SERVING ALCOHOL THOROUGHLY AND REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE AN UP-TO-DATE TDP CERTIFICATION AT ALL TIMES WE ALWAYS EXPECT, AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE SUPPORT OUR STAFF IN RECOGNIZING AND THEN EXECUTING THE SWELLING OF SERVICE OR COMPLETE HALTING OF SERVICE TO INTOXICATED PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT ONLY BE A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO THEMSELVES.
OUR STAFF IS TRAINED IN BEST PRACTICES ON HOW TO HANDLE ALL OF THESE SITUATIONS.
AND AGAIN, HAVE ALWAYS HAD FULL SUPPORTIVE AND MANAGEMENT TEAM IN ORDER TO UPHOLD TABC GUIDELINES.
[01:05:02]
NEXT SPEAKER ANNOUNCED THE NEXT THREE.SO MS. CAN BE MR. ROY WHALEY THEN MS. AMY JONES, AND THEN MS. JENNIFER DISPEL, UH, THE BEST GAL, THE MR. WHALEY.
HOW DO Y'ALL? MY NAME IS ROY WAILING AND I AM A LONG TIME.
AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTALIST AND ADVOCATE FOR ZILKER PARK.
I AM ON THE, UH, I'M A MEMBER AND I'M ON THE BOARD OF SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS OPPOSED SAVE OUR SPRINGS, WHICH IS OPPOSED.
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE STILL WITH US.
UM, UM, UH, THERE, THERE ARE THOUSANDS.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PLACES TO GET A BEER IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THERE IS ONLY ONE BARTON SPRINGS.
IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY THE FOCUS IS ON BARTON SPRINGS IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE GREATEST LIABILITY YET.
THIS IS AN UNFAIR BURDEN TO PUT ON A BUNCH OF TEENAGE LIFEGUARDS AND AQUATIC STAFF.
MANY OF THEM HAVING THEIR FIRST JOB WE WERE IN SEEING PEOPLE PUSH BACK AGAINST THE MASS MANDATE.
WHAT IF YOU'RE A 17 YEAR OLD HAVING TO PUSH BACK ON SOMEONE THAT A LITTLE BIT TIPSY, AND YET THERE ARE RULES.
THE OTHER THING, TALKING LIKE THIS AS A PLACE TO FIT INSIDE.
IT IS AN AREA UNDER THE TREE COURT THAT SHOULD BE OPEN TO EVERYONE.
THERE WAS NO DRINKING ALLOWED IN THE PARK.
ANYWAY, AS FULLER EXPLAINED IT, YOU CAN'T CONSUME ALCOHOL OWN OR IN PARK FEATURES LIKE SWIMMING POOLS, RECREATION AREA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. AMY JONES, ARE YOU PRESENT? I NEED TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
UH, MY NAME IS AMY JONES AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM THREE FOR SALE OF WINE AND BEER AT ZILKER CAFE.
UM, I DID A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AND FOUND 58 BREWERIES, 24 DISTILLERIES AND THOUSANDS OF RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE ALCOHOL.
UM, IT HAS BECOME THE NORM FOR FAMILIES TO PLAY AND GET TOGETHER THAT BREWERY, THE RESTAURANT FOR KIDS AND ADULTS CAN BE ENTERTAINED AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, AND FINDING A LOT OF THE OPPOSITION IS GOING TO THE EXTREME OF TALKING ABOUT INTOXICATION, WHERE IT'S MORE SO FAMILY JUST COMING TOGETHER TO ENJOY A GLASS OF WINE OR BEER.
PEOPLE ARE ALREADY BRINGING IN ALCOHOL TO ZILKER PARK LEGALLY AND ILLEGALLY.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A RESPONSIBLE STEP TO ALLOW THE SALE OF BEER AND WINE AT ZILKER CAFE.
WE ARE HEADING BACK TO, UH, MR.
WHO HAS A 5 0 8 NUMBER? THAT'S RIGHT.
ALTHOUGH I HAVE FIVE WAIT NUMBER.
I'M RELAUNCHING OFTEN RESIDENT AND I HAVE BEEN A SEASON PASS HOLDER TO BARTON SPRINGS IN THE DEEP END FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
UM, I ENJOY ZILKHA PARK, RUNNING, BIKING, AND EVEN SWIMMING DOWN AT BARTON SPRINGS.
I AM FOR, UM, ALLOWING ZILKER CAFE TO SELL BEER AND WINE AFTER LOCATION.
I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF AUSTIN AND A WONDERFUL BENEFIT TO ENJOY RESPONSIBLY A GLASS OF WINE OR A COLD BEER AFTER BIKE RIDING ON THE GREENBELT, ENJOYING A SHOW AT THE HEALTHLINE THEATER OR WEAVE AFTER PLAYING SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL AND SOCCER PARK.
AND THEN NEXT IS, UH, MS. JENNIFER DFS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME.
I'M IN FAVOR OF BEER AND WINE SALES AT THE CAFE IN ZILKER PARK, HAVING A RESTAURANT WITH TABC, EVER SIDES IN THE PAPER ENVIRONMENT THAN THE ILLEGAL DRINKING THAT IS ALREADY TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
EVERYTHING PARKSIDE PROJECTS DOES AS FIRST RATE, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE MAKE A HUGE ASSET FOR ZILKER PARK.
THE POOL IS A SEPARATE AREA WHERE FOOD AND DRINK IS NOT ALLOWED IN, BUT YET IT DOES HAPPEN.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES THROUGHOUT AUSTIN THAT HAVE ALCOHOL SALES, UM, AND POLES AS WELL, HOTELS, COUNTRY CLUBS, AND THE LAKE.
UM, AGAIN, I'M IN FAVOR OF THE ALCOHOL SALES AT
[01:10:01]
RESTAURANTS.NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, PATRICIA.
CAN YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS? EXCELLENT.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
I AM LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION AND I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT WE ARE CONFUSING THE PARK WITH THE POOL.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE CAFE IS ADJACENT TO THE PARKING LOT.
AND I THINK THAT HAVING ALCOHOL THAT'S CLOSE TO A PARKING LOT THAT HAS A LOT OF SMALL CHILDREN MOVING THROUGH AND IT'S GOING TO CAUSE A DISASTER SOONER OR LATER, AND IT'S GOING TO HURT A VERY INNOCENT PERSON.
UM, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE DRINK RESPONSIBLY, BUT WE HAVE TO ADMIT THERE'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT DO NOT.
THE ANOTHER POINT THE, UH, THE PRO PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED IS THAT THE REGULATION OF ALCOHOL WILL REDUCE SOMEHOW THE UNREGULATED USE OF ALCOHOL AT THE POOL.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS REALLY TRUE IF ALCOHOL IS BEING CONSUMED AT THE POOL AND NOT THE NO ALCOHOL RULE IS NOT BEING ENFORCED.
WHAT MAKES ANYONE THINK THAT PEOPLE LEAVING THE CAFE WHO HAVE HAD MAYBE WONDERING TOO MANY WON'T CAUSE PROBLEMS GO INTO THE POOL, ET CETERA.
I'M ALSO SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT PARKSIDE VERSUS SPRING-FED.
THE ONLY INFORMATION I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN ON SPRING FED IS THAT THEY HAD ONE $56,000 CONTRACTS WITH THE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, DO WE HAVE MS. ANGELA RICHTER? THIS IS ANGELA RICHARD ON THE PHONE VICE CHAIR.
LET ME LOOK UP THE NUMBER REAL QUICK.
AND MS. RICHTER, UH, YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO TEXT ME IF FOR SOME REASON YOU WERE GETTING THROUGH NOT GETTING THROUGH OR MICHAEL
ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, MR. MIKE CANADY, AND IT SAYS FOR BETTER SLEEP FOR US.
AND I HAVE NO IDEA THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH, UM, MR. CANADY, WHO IS AN ATTORNEY.
DO I HAVE EITHER OTHER SPEAKERS? ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT? UM, THAT IS, IS ALL THE SPEAKERS.
HEY, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY? APPRECIATE EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH AND APPRECIATE THE CHAIR, YOU KNOW, AND THE BOARD MAKING THE DECISION FOR 90 SECONDS.
UM, WE'D BE HERE UNTIL, YOU KNOW, EIGHT O'CLOCK AND WE'D STILL HAVE A BIG BOARD AGENDA.
WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE ON THE PUBLIC CITIZENS SIDE, GIVING TESTIMONY AND HAVING BEING LIMITED WHEN WE HAVE SO MUCH TO ADD AND SO MUCH TO GIVE.
SO WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME.
I WISH WE CAN GET MORE, BUT WE'VE RECEIVED A TON OF EMAILS, BOTH PRO AND FOR PRO AND AGAINST.
AND, UM, WE'VE GONE THROUGH, I THINK MOST OF US, YOU KNOW, DARING AS MUCH AS WE COULD PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
AND WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH IS ITEM B SIX, AND IT IS A PRESENTATION AND IT'S FOR PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE RESULTS OF THE HANCOCK GOLF SURVEY AND NEXT STEPS RELATED TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REGARDING IMPROVED, SHARED USE OF THE GOLF COURSE IN PARKS SPACE.
AND THE FIRST NAME I SEE IS MR. ADAMS SPARKS, MR. SPARKS, AND REAL QUICK FOR CLARIFICATION, UH, MADAM CHAIR.
THIS IS, THESE ARE ALSO 90 SECONDS, CORRECT? MR. SPARKS, ARE YOU PRESENT? YES, I AM.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS WORK AND FOR HEARING EVERYBODY TODAY, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
UM, I AM THE HEAD OF THE HANCOCK CONSERVANCY AND I RUN A GROUP OF A COUPLE DOZEN VOLUNTEERS.
LET'S CREATE THE NEXT GREAT PARK IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THAT'S 51 ACRE GREEN SPACE IN THE HEART OF AUSTIN'S COURT.
UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
AND TODAY THE CITY IS GOING TO BE PRESENTING TO YOU ON POTENTIAL SHARED USE OPPORTUNITIES.
[01:15:01]
WE SUPPORT THIS STRONGLY, UH, IN PARTICULAR, WE THINK THAT THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS STRETCH OF WALNUT CREEK AND INSTITUTE WATERSHED PROTECTIONS, ALREADY ESTABLISHED CREEKSIDE RESTORATION PROGRAM.UH, WE HAVE THE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP OUT WITH THAT.
WE ALSO WANT TO DO A LOT OF NEW TREE PLANTINGS AND POLLINATOR PLANTINGS AND SHRUBS, AND, AND ADD TO THIS EXPERIENCE IN A WAY THAT WON'T ATTRACT FROM GOLFERS, BUT WE'LL ALLOW THE PEOPLE WHO USE THE TRAIL AND POTENTIALLY USE IT FOR A FUTURE PARK BENEFIT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY KEY IN ALL THIS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT PART HAS SUPPORTED AND I'VE HEARD THE GOLFERS SUPPORT AND THE HANCOCK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SUPPORT THIS PARK DAYS, ONCE QUARTERLY DAVE, WHERE REGULAR CITIZENS CAN GO AND USE THE PARK AND OUR VOLUNTEERS CAN GO IN AND WORK ON THE CREEK AND DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, I'LL JUST MENTION ON THE SURVEY, WE WOULD LOVE A SURVEY THAT ASKS PEOPLE.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SEEING THE SLANT BECOME A PARK, SOMETHING IN THE POSITIVE LIKE THAT? UM, IN PARTICULAR, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO USE HANCOCK ON THE OPEN SURVEY, THE ONE THAT ANYONE COULD ANSWER, 75% OF ALL GOLFERS AT HANCOCK COME FROM THESE 19 ZIP CODES RIGHT AROUND HANCOCK, AND THEY ANSWERED 46% NOTE.
THE QUESTION OF, DO YOU WANT THIS TO BE MAINTAINED AS A GOLF COURSE? WE THINK THAT'S PRETTY NOTABLE.
AND THEN ON THE OTHER SURVEY, UH, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THIS CHANGE ARE BEING HEARD.
WE THINK IT COULD BE AN AMAZING 21ST CENTURY, NATURAL GREEN SPACE, UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE IN AUSTIN.
AND IF THE TIME COMES IN THE FUTURE, WHEN HANCOCK ISN'T POSSIBLE, WE CAN BE READY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MR.
MY NAME IS HARD AND I REPRESENTED PLANNING OUR COMMUNITIES AND I'M ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.
THAT ORGANIZATION, WE ARE PART OF A COALITION WITH AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION AND THE AUSTIN DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA THAT ARE WORKING IN INNOVATION.
I COULD HAVE A FUTURE FOR THE HANDCUFF GOLF COURSE.
WE SENT A LETTER TO YOU EARLIER THAT EXPLAINS OUR FULL POSITION AND REQUESTS, BUT I PARTICULARLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR CONCERNS IN RELATION TO THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR THIS PROJECT WE ASKED FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN COULD THEN CONDUCT EQUITABLE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE PLANNING FOR HANCOCK GOLF COURSE, SINCE IT DO OPEN HOUSES ON THIS ISSUE WERE CANCELED.
NO SUBSEQUENT OPEN ENGAGEMENT HAS OCCURRED.
ALL ENGAGEMENT IS BASED ON MEMBERSHIP WITH ONE OF THE IDENTIFIED STAKEHOLDER GROUPS OR BY INVITATION OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT STAFF.
CONSIDERING THAT HANCOCK IS A PUBLIC ASSET THAT BELONGS TO ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY ENGAGEMENT MUST INCLUDE ALL RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND NOT JUST RESIDENTS OF ADJOINING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE PART OF CIT AND DEFINED STAKEHOLDER GROUPS BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE MUST ENGAGE WITH RESIDENTS OF THE EASTERN CRESCENT AND VALUE THEIR VOICES.
WE ALSO HAVE SEVERE ISSUES WITH THE NEUTRALITY OF THE SURVEY IN TERMS OF WHAT QUESTIONS WERE ASKED THE PHRASING USE FOR QUESTIONS, THE WAY THE SURVEY WAS DISSEMINATED AND THE DATA THAT WAS ANALYZED, WE MUST UTILIZE COMMUNITY WIDE ENGAGEMENT TOOLS, SUCH AS SPEAKER BOSTON AND OTHER ACCESSIBLE AND LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE TOOLS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ENGAGEMENT.
THE SURVEY RESULTS CANNOT BE SEEN FOR FOCUS, EQUITABLE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND NEED EITHER A REDO OR SEVERE IMPROVEMENT.
AND ADDITION TO THIS PROCESS, PLEASE ASK YOURSELF WHY THE DEPARTMENT'S OWN SURVEY ON SLIDE NINE OF THE PRESENTATION SHOWS THAT RESIDENTS OF RUNDBERG NORTH LAMAR AND EAST MLK, SOME OF OUR HISTORICAL COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES OPPOSE THE USE OF THIS EQUITABLE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
AND WE HOPE THAT THE PARKS BOARD WILL SUPPORT THAT REQUEST.
AND THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER SCHEIBEL FOR HAVING AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. SAM OSBORNE, AND THEN MS. SMILE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME.
UM, SO MY NAME IS SAM ENCORE AND I'VE LIVED IN AWESOME, BASICALLY MY WHOLE LIFE, UH, DRIVEN BY THE HANCOCK GOLF COURSE FOR DECADES.
AND I'VE ALWAYS WANTED IT TO BE, YOU KNOW, A PARK WHERE, YOU KNOW, ME AND MY FAMILY COULD, COULD ENJOY, UH, THE GREEN SPACE AND TIME IN THE SUN.
UM, MY WIFE'S GIVING BIRTH TO OUR FIRST, UH, BOY HERE IN AUGUST.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST, WE'RE NOT GOLFERS, BUT WE WERE DEFINITELY, UH, USE THE, YOU KNOW, THE PARK DAYS THAT ADAM SPOKE ABOUT, UM, THE, THE OPEN PARK DAYS THAT ARE, ARE SUPPORTED BY ALL THE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
SO, UM, I JUST, WOULD, I SECOND WHAT ADAM SAID, I THINK COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE ENGAGED MORE DIRECTLY ON, DO WE SUPPORT COMPLETING THIS BASE TO A PARK OR NOT? AND, AND, UH, AND YEAH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME AND WE JUST WANT TO PUSH FOR MORE ENGAGEMENT AND, UH, AFFORDING THE PARK SPACE.
[01:20:01]
THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU.THANKS FOR, UH, NEXT SPEAKER, MR. JUSTIN GREEN, MR. GREEN, ARE YOU HERE? I'M HERE, RIGHT? YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS.
HI, MY NAME IS JUSTIN GREEN AND I'M WITH THE AUSTIN DSA AND THE HANCOCK FOR ALL COALITION.
SO I LIVE RIGHT BY THE GOLF COURSE AND THROUGHOUT QUARANTINE ON WANDER OVER THERE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN GOLFERS PACKED IT IN WATCHING THE SUNSET WITH THE OTHER FRIENDLY FACES WHO CAPITALIZE ON THE BRIEF BEAUTIFUL WINDOW, AND THAT LAND ACTUALLY BECAME ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE MADE ME REALIZE HOW MUCH BETTER THAT LAND COULD SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
IF IT'S REPURPOSED AS A PASSIVE PUBLIC PARK FROM AN EVEN BROADER STANDPOINT, I THINK ABOUT NOT JUST WHO HAS ACCESS TO HANCOCK GOLF COURSE, BUT WHO HAS ACCESS TO HANCOCK.
THIS IS AN AREA WITH GREAT SCHOOLS, GREAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND A LARGE GROCERY STORE NEARBY.
AND AUSTIN REMAINS THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE U S WE MUST ALSO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN FIGHT HIGHER COST OF LIVING AND DO RIGHT BY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY PUSHED OUT FROM THE SIDE OF
THIS ISN'T JUST A GREAT SPACE FOR A PARK, BUT ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE PUBLIC LAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT THAT'S ALL JUST MY OPINION.
UH, ULTIMATELY IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE TO DECIDE WHAT'S BEST FOR THIS LAND.
WE NEED REAL TRANSPARENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND THE SURVEY PART IS PRESENTING TODAY AS EVIDENCE FOR A MAJORITY DEMAND FOR CONTINUED GOLF USE IS LAUGHABLE IT'S CLEAR WITH EVEN A CURSORY LOOK THAT THE SURVEY'S GOAL WAS TO ARRIVE AT A PREDETERMINED PRO GOLF RESULTS.
WE LOOK AT THE ONE QUESTION THAT ASKS ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN GOLF, AND IT READS SOMETHING LIKE, ARE YOU REALLY IN FAVOR OF DESTROYING THE PRECIOUS JUUL THAT IS HANCOCK GOLF COURSE? DO YOU HATE HISTORY? HAVE YOU KNOWN RESPECT FOR TRADITION? I WONDER WHAT RESULTS WE SEE FROM AN ACTUAL UNBIASED SURVEY THAT ASKED A SIMPLE QUESTION.
LIKE, ARE YOU IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC PART? I URGE YOU ALL AS MEMBERS OF THE PARKS BOARD TO DISREGARD THE BIAS DATA THAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO YOU AND DEMAND TO ACTUAL EQUITABLE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
SO THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ACTUALLY I'LL GIVE MY WINDING UP THE REBEL, THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS.
SO THIS ITEM, SO IT'S, UM, AT THE GET TN DENNIS, THEN A SUI ROBERT FOSTER CAROLINE BAILEY, ELI CRAB.
I SHARED DID NOT SEE IT IN DENNIS ON THE CALL.
AT THE END, DENNIS, ARE YOU THERE? I DID NOT SAY THEM ON THE CALL.
UM, YOU WANT TO MOVE ON, SO WE'LL KEEP THAT IN.
HOW ABOUT, UH, MR. BEN
UH, SO I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT, CHERRYWOOD AND HYDE PARK.
UH, I'M RECENTLY A MEMBER OF THE HANDCUFF HANCOCK CONSERVANCY.
UH, I'M ALSO A PARAMEDIC FOR THE CITY AND I'VE WORKED IN EVERY PART OF THE CITY.
MY JOB LETS ME INTERACT WITH PEOPLE FROM EVERY INCOME LEVEL, EVERY CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC DEMOGRAPHIC.
AND IT MAKES ME THINK A LOT ABOUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
I DON'T SEE THAT SAME LEVEL OF DIVERSITY IN MY PERSONAL LIFE, LIKE WHEN I'M AT THE GROCERY STORE, BUT I DO SEE THAT LEVEL OF DIVERSITY IN OUR PARKS.
WHEN YOU GO TO A PARK, YOU SEE PEOPLE OF ALL TYPES HAVING COOKOUTS AND PLAYING REC LEAGUE SPORTS, KITE, FLYING, PLAYING WITH THEIR KIDS, A SINGLE PLEAT PEOPLE PLAYING WITH THE DOGS, FISHING, UH, JUST ANY TYPE OF ACTIVITY THAT YOU COULD IMAGINE, AND THEN ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED.
UH, SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ENJOY PARKS A LOT MORE THAN THE SINGLE ACTIVITY, BUT AUSTIN'S NEARLY 1000 ACRES OF GOLF COURSES PROVIDE.
UH, AND I THINK THE SURVEY THAT DOESN'T SHOW THAT, UH, IS FLAWED.
I THINK THAT IF WE HAD A SURVEY THAT WAS ACTUALLY INCLUSIVE OF AUSTIN'S DIVERSITY, WE'D SEE, PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED MORE PARKS.
UH, THE CITY POPULATION HAS GROWN, BUT OUR PARKS, UH, REALLY HAVEN'T, UM, ARE GETTING SO CROWDED.
THEY CAN'T, UH, GO TO THEM ANYMORE.
UH, AND I ALSO THINK PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED BECAUSE WE DON'T REALIZE THE ZILKER OR PEACE PARK EASILY COULD HAVE NOT HAPPENED IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR, UH, A BOLD VISION OF THE PEOPLE TO HELP TO BRING THEM INTO EXISTENCE.
AND I THINK THAT WE COULD BE THAT COALITION OF OFFICIALS AND VOLUNTEERS THAT MAKE THAT POSSIBLE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. ROBERT FOSTER.
HEY, MY NAME IS ROBERT FOSTER.
I'M A PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE, UM, MEMBER OF THE YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY GROUP, SUNRISE, AUSTIN, REMEMBER PROFIT AND DSA PARK AMBASSADOR.
AND ALSO I'VE BEEN ON VERY PART, VERY ACTIVE PART VOLUNTEER SINCE MY MOTHER HELD DOWN AND RAN GRATEFULS PARK FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
UM, I'M CALLING TO ASK THAT YOU DO NOT PRIORITIZE SOME OF THE LIMITED PUBLIC SPACE, LESS THAN CENTRAL AUSTIN BY ANDY AND COSTS OVER TO THE THEY'RE OFTEN GOLF MASTER PLAN TELLS US THAT FROM RAPIDLY JUST FINDING POPULARITY.
SO WHY TAKE SO MANY COURTS AND PRECIOUS THAT LAND ALSO AS A NEIGHBOR AND INVOLVED COMMUNITY MEMBER, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO PARTICIPATE, BUT I'VE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OUTSIDE OF THE SURVEYS TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT THE FUTURE WILL BE SO FAR.
[01:25:01]
ONLY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHICH ONE MUST PAY TO BE A PART OF.AND THERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY WIDER, RICHER, OLDER, AND MORE CONSERVATIVE COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE AUSTINITES AND COMPARED TO THE MANY PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN APARTMENTS AND MULTIFAMILY STRUCTURES LIKE I DO THAT WOULD MOST BENEFIT FROM HAVING A PUBLIC PARK HERE.
UM, AND THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO A FEW DIFFERENT PEOPLE ABOUT FURNITURE PARKS.
WE CONSISTENTLY BEEN TOLD WHERE'S THE MONEY, AND THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE AN IGNORANT OR BAD PAGE ARGUMENT.
CONSIDERING OFTEN THE, THE PARK PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1996 AND GIVEN THE WEALTH AROUND THAT PART COULD BE EASY TO FUNDRAISE
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PLEASE DON'T STOP THE PROTOTYPE.
AND THANKS THE SPEAKER, UH, CAROLINE BAILEY LAST YEAR.
I DID NOT SEE THAT NUMBER AVAILABLE, RIGHT.
ANGIE, HOW ABOUT ELI? ELI MCCRAY ON THE CREEK.
UM, MY NAME IS, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM YES.
SO HI, MY NAME IS ELLA, UM, AND I'M A PART OF THE HANCOCK CONSERVANCY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, UH, WHAT I FEEL LIKE IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, FOR THE HANCOCK GOLF COURSE, MOSTLY AROUND CONSERVATION AND WALLER CREEK, UH, PLANTING HIS TREES AND NATIVE SPECIES TO CONTINUE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BEAUTY THAT IS HANCOCK, UM, MORE PASSIVE PARK USE AND, UH, THIS IS BROADLY SUPPORTED BY, UH, EVERYONE.
UM, AND THAT ALSO GIVES US TIME, UH, REST VOLUNTEERS TO DO SOME OF THE CONSERVATION AND PLANTING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
UM, ALSO, UH, LEADING CONSERVANCY IN GENERAL.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT BEHIND IT.
UM, AND WE HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OUT OF HAVING A DOOR KNOCKING CANVAS, VERY LARGE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, DOING PARK CLEANUP.
UM, AND WE WANT MORE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP MAKE THAT SPACE, UH, THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE.
UM, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, UM, I USED TO LIVE LIKE THREE HOUSES DOWN FROM THERE.
I NOW LIVE A COUPLE MORE BLOCKS AWAY, UM, BUT, UH, LIVING THERE THROUGH COVID, UH, IT REALLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION HOW THE SPACE COULD BE USED IN A WAY THAT'S MORE INCLUSIVE, UM, AND WOULD GET BROADER USE.
UH, IT WAS A HUGE, UH, BOOM TO ME PERSONALLY, THROUGH COVID WE'D GET UP AND DO A LITTLE WALK AND GREEN SPACE SPEAKER.
LET'S UH, WHO DO WE HAVE TO CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU? DO WE HAVE ANY OF THE SPEAKERS IN THE BOTTOM? RIGHT.
NOT HEARING ANY CHAIR ARE, ARE VICE CHAIR.
DO YOU WANT ME TO RUN THROUGH ANY OF THE ONES THAT I HAVE ON MY LIST? THERE'S STILL A FEW PHONE NUMBERS THAT I'M NOT IDENTIFYING ON THE SCREEN.
THAT WAS ON A PREVIOUS AGENDA ITEM THOUGH.
THE ONLY ONE THAT I HAVE OUTSTANDING IS ETN DENNIS AND CAROLINE BAILEY, RIGHT? WELL WITH THAT, WE ARE DONE WITH CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHEN I MET THAT WITH, UM, A LOT CITIZEN COMMUNICATION, WHICH WE'RE ALL, AGAIN, REALLY GRATEFUL THAT EVERYBODY TAKES THE TIME TO, TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES.
WE APPRECIATE HEARING THOSE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
[A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
SO HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE MINUTES AND, UM, ANYBODY MAKE ANY CHANGES OR WE CAN, OR, UM, VOTE TO APPROVE.SO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
I'LL MOTION TO APPROVE FROM BOARD MEMBER COTTONS CIBA.
DO I HAVE A SECOND, LIKE A COUPLE OF SECONDS I THINK REMEMBERED TO CARLA HAD HER HAND UP FIRST.
AND SO THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED.
[B.1. Discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to the City Council approving the renaming of Payton Gin Pocket Park to Heron Hollow Pocket Park. (PARD Long Range Plan Strategies – Operational Efficiency; SD23 Outcomes – Health & Environment, Government that Works for All)]
ONTO NEW BUSINESS.THE FIRST ITEM IS THE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION
[01:30:01]
TO THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVING THE RENAMING OF PEYTON GIN POCKET PARK TO HERON HOLLOW POCKET PARK.AND WE HAVE A DIRECTOR MCNEELY.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A VIDEO.
I'M GOING TO ASK, UM, SANDWICH TO BRING UP THE PRESENTATION AND IF SHE COULD TAKE US JUST TO, UM, I'M GONNA ASK HER TO TAKE US TO SLIDE FOUR.
THE PRESENTATION IS PRIMARILY THE SAME AS WE ARE AS, AS WAS PRESENTED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING.
AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT AT YOUR SUGGESTION, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, AS IT RELATES TO, UH, THE RENAMING.
AND ALTHOUGH I MADE THE CASE THAT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAD BEEN CONDUCTED MANY YEARS AGO, BUT AT THAT TIME, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DID NOT FORMALIZE OR OFFICIALLY FORMALIZED, UH, THE RENAMING.
UH, IT WAS YOUR SUGGESTION AND WE ABSOLUTELY TOOK THAT SUGGESTION THAT WE WOULD WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE CODE SAYS THIS TIME AROUND INTO PLEASE FOLLOW.
UM, PLEASE CONDUCT SOME ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO BE, UH, IN LINE WITH, WITH, UH, WITH WHAT OUR CODE SAYS CURRENTLY.
AND SO JUST AS A REMINDER, UM, THE, UH, NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION REQUESTED THAT THE PARK WOULD BE OFFICIALLY NAMED KAREN HOLLOW AND THAT WE HAD CONDUCTED RESEARCH THAT SHOWED US THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS, UM, CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, OTHER SORTS OF MINUTES THAT WERE TAKEN THAT THIS PARTICULAR PARK WAS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS HEAR AND FOLLOW.
AND SOMETIMES IT WAS ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY REFERRED TO AS PEYTON GIN PARK.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT THE REASON WHY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PUT UP A SIGN ABOUT PEYTON JIM IS BECAUSE IT WAS A, UM, IT HAD NOT, IT WAS NOT ABOUT THE HISTORY, ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME SIGNIFICANT HISTORY, BUT IT WAS REALLY GEOGRAPHICAL AND THAT IT WAS OUR INTENTION OR OUR DESIRE TO HONOR WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAD DONE IN THE PAST, UH, TO RENAME IT HERON HOLLOW.
AND SO THE, UM, NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION, THEY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY ON MAY 20TH TO REAFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO THE NAME.
AND THEN ON MAY 21ST, 23RD, THAT YEAR IN DIRECTION, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED A, AN ONLINE SURVEY THAT RAN JUNE 2ND THROUGH JUNE 16TH.
AND WE ALSO HAD TWO ONSITE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS ON JUNE 5TH AND JUNE 12TH AT THE ACTUAL PARK.
UM, I DID GO TO PART OF THE ENGAGEMENT ON JUNE 12TH, BUT I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NO ONE WHO GAVE US FEEDBACK.
WE SAID, HELLO TO SOME FOLKS, BUT THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY PROVIDE US FEEDBACK.
I DIDN'T STAY THE WHOLE TIME, BUT I'M JUST DOING TRUE CONFESSIONS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, OF THE SURVEY THAT WE TOOK, THERE WERE 62 PARTICIPANTS.
THERE WAS A NUMBER OF RESPONSES.
I TRIED TO SEND THAT TO THE PARKS CHAIR AND ALSO TO ALL THE PARKS BOARD MEMBERS TO LET YOU BE ABLE TO SEE THE COMMENTS THEMSELVES, 85% OF THE FOLKS SUPPORTED THE RENAMING OF PARENT FOLLOWED PARK.
AND THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE IN THE CURRENT BUDGET TO UPDATE THE SIGNAGE.
AND, UM, WITH YOUR DECISION TODAY, WE WILL BE MOVING THIS FORWARD, UH, WITH, WITH WHATEVER THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU BRING FORWARD.
WE'LL STILL BE MOVING IT TO COUNCIL FOR JULY 29TH.
AND SO CME, BECAUSE THAT'S THE NEXT SLIDE WE WANT.
WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE RENAMING OF PEYTON GIN POCKET PARK TO HERON HOLLOW.
HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO, UM, DEFER TO BOARD MEMBER DIPLOMA BECAUSE HE WAS, UH, HE HAD SOME SPECIFIC COMMENTS LAST TIME AROUND, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW HIM TO SPEAK TO THOSE, UM, BEFORE OFFER, ASK YOU TO VOTE.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY TAKING THE TIME.
AND THIS HAS REALLY COMES OUT OF EXTRA SENSITIVITY FROM PAST NAMING CONSIDERATIONS ALSO TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THE, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY OF THE PARK AND MAKE SURE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUTREACH WAS DONE IN THE WAY AS A SIGN UNDERNEATH THE ORDINANCE.
UH, AT LEAST MY INTERPRETATION OF THAT, I DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION, UH, TO BE MADE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THIS IN TIME FOR BACKUPS.
I'LL, I'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU ALL.
IF YOU WANT TO JUST DO THE RECOMMENDATION AS PRESENTED OR, UM, I'M HAPPY TO EITHER DO A SHARED SCREEN AND GO THROUGH IT IF ABBY WANTS OR TO READ IT, IF YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR SCREEN, THAT'S, THAT'S FINE.
IF YOU THINK THAT'S EASIER, CAN DO BOTH.
IF, UH, IF AMY CAN GO AHEAD AND GIVE ME, I'M SORRY, WHO, AND WHO'S, WHO'S RUNNING AB RIGHT NOW.
AND SO, SO ADAM, I CAN GIVE YOU PRIVILEGES.
[01:35:05]
AND, UM, AND SO THIS IS AN EDIT, WHEREAS THE RECOMMENDATION IS INTENDED TO CORRECT A PARK NAME AND DOCUMENT, AND TO DOCUMENT SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.WHEREAS CURRENTLY THE NAME OF THE PARK LOCATED AT 8 0 1 PEYTON JENN ROAD IS INADVERTENTLY LISTED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS PEYTON GEN PARK.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN NEVER OFFICIALLY NAMED THE PARK PEYTON JENN PARK.
WHEREAS THE SITE NAMED WAS PERRON HOLLOW PARK BY THE COMMUNITY PRIOR TO BECOMING A PARK WAS THE SITE, SORRY, THIS IS HOW BUSY I'VE BEEN, WAS NAMED HARRISON HALL PARK BY THE COMMUNITY PRIOR TO THE TWO BECOMING PARKLAND OR AS THE CITY PROPERTY WAS NOT DEDICATED PROPERTY UNTIL THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION IS NOT DEDICATED PARKLAND PROPERTY UNTIL THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION ADOPTED THE AREA AND MADE THE INCREMENTS THE NOW PARKLAND IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS.
WHEREAS THE FIRST MEETINGS OF THE NACA, WHICH IS THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION, HEROINE HOLLOW IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE WERE HELD ON MAY 10TH, 2001, MAY 31ST, 2001, JUNE 13TH, 2001, JUNE 25TH, 2001.
WHEREAS THIS NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION SIGNED IN OCTOBER 11TH, 2002 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY AT IT WAS, IT WAS ORIGINALLY DETERMINED, 88, 30 NORTH LAMAR, UH, WHICH IS NOW SORRY.
AND THEN, WHEREAS THE NACA AND PARTY AGREEMENT WAS REFERRED TO YOU IN A 2003, 2004 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS GRANT APPLICATION.
AND THE SITE WAS REFERRED TO YOU AS HERON HOLLOW.
WHEREAS NACA HAS LED THE BEAUTIFICATION AND ALL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SITE, WHICH INCLUDE DESIGNATED WILDFIRE AREAS, PLANTING TO BLACK WALNUT TREES TO TEXAS RED BUDS, TO MEXICAN BUCKEYE TREES, CREATING A WALKING TRAIL AND ERECTING A CHIMNEY SWEEP TOWER.
WHEREAS THE PARK WAS NAMED HERON HOLLABACK COMMUNITY VOTE BY HELD BY THE NON-PAID PARK COMMITTEE.
WHEREAS THE PARK WAS NAMED AFTER THE BLUE HERONS THAT VISITED THE PARK PRIOR TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PRI UH, IS THAT THE PARK JUST LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD THEN? YEAH, THAT VISITED THE PARK.
WHEREAS THE OTHER NAMES UNDER CONSIDERATION WERE FISCAL FISCAL BILL GREEN, LITTLE WALNUT BEND IN PEYTON JENN NATURE AREA.
WHEREAS THE SITE IS RECOGNIZED BY THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION AS THE SITE OF FISKVILLE.
HE SETTLED SETTLEMENT FOUND IN 1857, THAT EXISTED UNTIL THE CITY OF HOSTON ANIK'S COMMUNITY IN 1963.
WHEREAS THE COMMUNITY, ACCORDING TO THE LATE TRAVIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, FRITZ ROBINSON IN 1826 AND IN AN 18TH OF APRIL, SORRY, APRIL 26TH, 1980 AUSTIN, AMERICAN STATESMAN COLUMN INCLUDED THE ROBINSON GENERAL STORE.
UH, FORGET THAT AND THEN, SORRY.
WHEREAS THE DAYTON BROTHERS COTTON GIN WAS ONE OF 27 COTTON GINS THAN TRAVIS COUNTY IN TRAVIS COUNTY AS LISTED IN OCTOBER 11TH, 1910 ARTICLE IN THE AUSTIN STATESMAN.
WHEREAS BEN AND ANDREW PEYTON WERE THE GRANDSONS OF THE FREDERICK.
AND HARRY HAD EMILY JORDAN, ONE OF THE FIRST FAMILIES, TEXAS FOR FAMILY SETTLED IN TEXAS.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, SORRY ABOUT THAT, EVERYBODY.
AND NOW THEREFORE IT SCRATCH THAT NOW.
THEREFORE WE RESOLVED THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD RECOMMENDS TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO NAME THE PARK LOCATED AT 8 0 1 PEYTON JENN ROAD HERE IN HOLLOW PARK.
I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT THE ENTIRE HISTORY, SO IT'S HARD TO FIND THESE HISTORIES AND THERE'S MUCH MORE, BUT I COULDN'T GET CLEAR CONCISENESS AND I JUST DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO, TO GIVE IT A BIT MORE, BUT THIS, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO ONCE AGAIN, TO FINALIZE THAT, YES, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS PARTICULAR SPACE, KNOWLEDGE, THE WORK DONE BY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION TO ALSO CAPTURE THE, THE PLACE IN WHICH THIS PARK TAKES, YOU KNOW, RESIDES IN THE HISTORY THERE, BECAUSE I THINK MANY OF US, I MEAN, I KNOW, I KNOW A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY BECAUSE OF RESEARCH I DID ON TA
[01:40:01]
BROWN, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, FISKVILLE FOR MANY FOLKS AREN'T VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT, PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, NEW AUSTIN NIGHTS.SO THAT'S REALLY THE INTENT TO CAPTURE THAT AT THIS POINT ORIGINALLY WAS TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THE OTHER HISTORY.
UM, I JUST DECIDED TO EXCLUDE THE HISTORY OF TALKING ABOUT BEFORE IT'S A, WASN'T REALLY GERMANE TO THE PARK.
NAMING WAS INTERESTING, BUT, UM, SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT AND I'M GOING TO STOP SHARING.
WELL, I WILL, UM, GO AHEAD AND SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY, UM, COMMENTS THEY WANT TO ADD TO THIS.
SO START WITH YOU, UM, BOARD MEMBER DECARLO.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR MCNEELY AND PARK STAFF FOR GOING AHEAD WITH THAT EXTRA COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO GET US, UM, FOR, TO GET THIS PROPOSAL UP TO DATE WITH THE CURRENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, AND THANK YOU VICE CHAIR TO PALMA FOR ALL THE HISTORY THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED.
UM, I GUESS I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OTHER THAN I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THOSE, THE DAYS DIRECTOR MANIPULATED THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT Y'ALL VISITED THE ACTUAL PARK AND, UM, IT FEEL HAD, I KNOW YOU SAID ONE DAY, YOU DIDN'T, Y'ALL DIDN'T REALLY SPEAK WITH ANYONE, BUT WAS REALLY ABLE TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE ON THE OTHER DAY.
WAIT, RAISE, ALLOW ME TO CLARIFY.
I WOULD SAY THAT I WENT ON THE 12TH AND THAT I DIDN'T SPEAK TO ANYBODY BECAUSE I DIDN'T STAY LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS NOT VERY, IT WAS NOT HEAVILY VISITED BY INDIVIDUALS ON EITHER DAY.
SO IT WAS, I WOULD SAY NO MORE THAN 10, UH, ON THE FIRST DAY AND LESS THAN THAT ON THE SECOND DAY, THEY WERE PRETTY HOT DAYS.
SO, UM, BUT IT WASN'T BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO DO NOT, I, I JUST PERSONALLY DIDN'T SPEAK TO ANYONE CAUSE I DIDN'T STAY LONG ENOUGH TO, I WAS VISITING A NUMBER OF PARKS ON IT'S MY BIRTHDAY.
THAT'S UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE AND I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION.
UH, BOARD MEMBER, UM, TOM SEIBEL, NO QUESTIONS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE AS WELL FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS AND I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL.
WELL, I DID, I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR, UM, TO READ TO MCNEILLY WITH YOUR, THE SURVEY.
IT SAID, I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I ALWAYS AM INTERESTED IN HOW WE IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
AND WITH THIS SURVEY, YOU GOT 553 VIEWS ON IT.
AND HOW WAS THAT SENT OUT? LIKE WHERE DO PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE SURVEY? I BELIEVE THIS WAS DONE VIA SPEAK UP AUSTIN.
UM, THAT HONESTLY I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE.
UM, SHAME ON ME FOR NOT HAVING THAT CLEAR.
I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY OUTREACH ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE AN ISSUE THAT WE, UM, WE TALK ABOUT EQUALLY, UM, WITH THIS BOARD.
AND SO I'M, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SEE HOW LEARN, HOW TO DO IT AND MAKE SURE YEP.
UM, IT'S REFERENCED AS THE SURVEY TOOL AND OUR COMMON SURVEY TOOL IS SPEAK UP AUSTIN, BUT I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE EXACT TOOL.
UM, IF YOU STILL FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD, POST THIS MEETING.
BUT I, UM, AND I DO WANT TO, UM, JUST SAY, UH, VICE CHAIR DIPLOMA, I'M REALLY IMPRESSED THAT YOU WENT TO ALL THIS EFFORT AND PULL TOGETHER.
THEY, UM, RESOLUTION WITH ALL THE DETAIL ABOUT THE HISTORY SO EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND ABOUT IT AND WHERE IT CAME FROM.
BECAUSE I THINK WE, WE LOSE A LOT OF THAT INTERPRETIVE HISTORY, A LOT OF TIMES WITH OUR PARKS AND I REALLY DO, AND THIS IS A PARK THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT.
SO I DO REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT TO THE FOREFRONT.
I KNOW THAT TOOK SOME, UM, SOME RESEARCHERS.
AND SO DO WE WANT TO GO AHEAD? DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THEM WITH YOU? YOU DID MOVE WITH YOUR MOTION, RIGHT? UH, YES.
WELL, I, YOU KNOW, I READ THE RESOLUTION, BUT YEAH.
AND SO, UM, I'VE MOVED THAT, THAT WE ACCEPT THE, WE MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION, I GUESS.
WE JUST MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
THE NAME OF THE PARK LOCATED AT 8 0 1 PEYTON CHIN ROAD.
DO I HAVE A SECOND BOARD MEMBER? KAY.
SO WE HAVE A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR, ANYBODY OPPOSED? OKAY.
[01:45:01]
IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.[B.2. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to City Council to approve the Permanent Wastewater Use and Temporary Work Area, not to exceed 11 Months, on parkland located at Davis White Neighborhood Park (6705 Crystalbrook Dr.) and Southern Walnut Creek Greenbelt (6013 Loyola Ln.). Total Mitigation is $42,189.]
ON TO ITEM TWO, WHICH IS PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND ACTION REGARDING THE RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE PERMANENT WASTEWATER USE AND TEMPORARY WORK AREA, NOT TO EXCEED 11 MONTHS IN PARKLAND LOCATED AT DAVIS WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND SOUTHERN WALNUT CREEK.THE TOTAL MITIGATION IS 42,189.
I HOPE I SAID YOUR NAME, RIGHT? JASON TWO FOR THE PRESENTATION OR MAYBE NOT.
OH, WE STILL HAVEN'T RICHARD DIPLOMA, UH, SHARE THE PRESENTATIONS OR WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO IT? I'M SORRY.
YOU ARE ON NOW AND YES, YOU CAN.
I DON'T THINK VICE-CHAIR DIPLOMA WANTS TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
ALL OUR PRESENTATIONS GETTING PULLED UP AS THE, UH, EAST PARK, UH, PRESENTATION.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND START US OFF.
I SHOULD HAVE, UM, SCHWARTZ, I PENNED AROUND G WITH AUSTIN WATER ON WITH US.
THAT'LL BE ON STANDBY FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, SHOULD ALSO HAVE ADRIAN ROSA GUESTS AND NADIA GANZER, UH, WHO ARE THE DESIGN CONSULTANTS WITH THE, UH, WITH THE PROJECT? UM, I'LL GO AHEAD AND JUST GET THE, GET US INTRODUCED AND THEN HAND IT OVER TO THE DESIGN CONSULTANTS FOR, UH, FOR AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT.
UH, THIS PROJECT PROPOSES TO INSTALL A PUBLIC WASTEWATER MAIN, WHICH WILL BE OWNED, OPERATED, AND MAINTAINED BY AUSTIN WATER.
UH, THE GENERAL PATH OF THE PROPOSED AUSTIN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WAS DETERMINED BY CITY COUNCIL APPROVED SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST, OR A SER, UH, CERVIX EXTENSION REQUESTS.
NUMBER 3, 9, 8, 6, UH, DUE DILIGENCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY AUSTIN WATER AND THE DESIGN ENGINEERING FIRM TO ENSURE COMPLIANT, CONSTRUCTABLE AND MAINTAINABLE FACILITIES.
UH, THIS ASSESSMENT BY AUSTIN WATER AND THE DESIGN CONSULTANT HAS INCLUDED COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE CHAPTER 26, AUSTIN WATER PIPELINE ENGINEERING HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE'S NO FEASIBLE OR IMPRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF PARKLAND AND THAT THE PROJECT INCLUDES ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE LAND, UH, BECAUSE OF THESE CHAPTER 26 QUALIFYING CONDITIONS.
AUSTIN WATER HAS AGREED TO SPONSOR THAT EAST PARK LIFT STATION AND WASTEWATER PROJECT, AND I WILL PASS IT OFF TO ADRIAN AND NADIA FOR THE PROJECT PRESENTATION.
BOARD MEMBERS, NADIA GANSER WITH TRANE ASSOCIATES.
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, I HAVE JOHN JANSING AND ADRIAN ROSES OF TRAIN ASSOCIATES REPRESENTING THE IMPROVEMENTS FOR EAST PARK LIFT STATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH SCR 39 86 R AND IN SPONSORSHIP BY AUSTIN WATER.
THE, THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE LOCATED ALONG ED BOOSTING BOULEVARD BOULEVARD, UM, HIGHWAY 180 3 AND LIEU YOLA LANE.
MOST SPECIFICALLY, UH, THE ADDRESS IS 53 24 IN A HALF LOYOLA LANE, AND IS SHOWN THERE ON YOUR SCREEN.
AS TAKE SOME MENTIONED, THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVED S E R 3,986.
OUR PHASE ONE, THE BOTH PHASES OF THIS SCR WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL ON MAY 21ST, 2020 WITH THE SCR.
WE HAVE TWO PROPOSED REF OPTIONS, ONE ALONG THE NORTH LOYOLA LANE RIGHT AWAY, AND ONE ON SOUTH LOYOLA LANE, RIGHT? UH, UH, SOUTH LOYOLA LANE RIGHT AWAY.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE AFTER EXPLAINED BOTH, UH, ROUTE OPTIONS AS NORTH AND SOUTH AND IN COORDINATION WITH AUSTIN WATER AND OUR PARK PLANNING CONTEXT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ONLY FEASIBLE PATH WOULD BE THE NORTH ALIGNMENT.
THIS IS AS SHOWN ON THE APPROVED AS YOU ARE 39 86 PHASE ONE.
IT WAS ALSO CONCURRED BY AUSTIN WATER AND OUR PLANNING CONTACT.
THE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE 462 LINEAR FEET OF GRAVITY LINE IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH PARKLAND OF THOSE 365 LINEAR FEET WILL BE INSTALLED WITH BORING.
[01:50:01]
79% OF THE TOTAL LENGTH WILL BE BOARD.IF, UH, THIS ONE, THIS IS A NORTH OPTION HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN AS THE GRAVITY SEWER LINE DITCH WOULD CROSS, UH, PARKLAND AND IN ORANGE IS THE PROPOSED FORCE MAIN FOR BOTH THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH OPTION.
THE FORCE MAIN DOES REMAIN THE SAME.
SO THE ORANGE LINE IS EXACTLY THE SAME FOR BOTH OPTIONS, BUT THE ONE THAT WOULD CHANGE WOULD BE THE GRAVITY SEWER LINE IN GREEN.
HERE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PHOTOGRAPHS TO SHOW THE LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS.
AGAIN, ONE IS IN THE NORTH AND ONE IS IN THE SOUTH.
SO THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN, UH, ALONG THE MILL RACE RIGHT AWAY FACING LOW YELLOW LANES.
SO THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS FOR RIGHT ALONG THE EDGE OF THE SLOPE, MORE OR LESS WHERE THE POWER POLE IS, BUT, UH, WITH SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO NOT HARM THAT FAR POLE ALSO, UM, THEY WOULD BE BORED.
SO THEY WOULD GO UNDERNEATH THE TREES.
THIS IS ANOTHER LOOK, THIS IS LOCATED ALONG, UH, AT THE INTERSECTION OF MILL RACE AND LOYOLA LANE FACING EAST TOWARDS ED BOOSTING HERE FOR YOUR REFERENCE, THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE MORE OR LESS, UH, WHERE BETWEEN THE TREES AND AGAIN, THEY WOULD BE BORED, NOT OPEN CUT TRENCH.
AND THIS IS THE LAST PHOTO FOR THIS OPTION.
SO HERE WE ARE LOOKING ALONG AGAIN, LOYOLA LANES FACING EAST TOWARDS A BLUE SCENE.
THE BOARD, THE PROPOSED BOARD PIT WOULD BE LOCATED TO YOUR RIGHT OF THE PORT POWER POLE, AND THE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD RUN MORE OR LESS BETWEEN THE TREES, BUT AGAIN, THEY WOULD BE BORN NEXT SLICE SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS IS THE SECOND OPTION THAT WE CONSIDERED THE SOUTH OPTION.
THE ORANGE FORCE MAIN REMAINED THE SAME.
THE ONLY OTHER THE CHANGE HERE WOULD BE THE GREEN HIGHLIGHTED PORTION OF THE GRAVITY LINE.
AND THIS ONE WOULD RUN SOUTH OF THE LOYOLA LANE RIGHT AWAY.
HERE IS A LOOK AT THE TERRAIN AT THE SOUTH LOYOLA RIGHT AWAY, AND THIS IS LOOKING, UH, WEST ALONG THE LOWLY ALLELE AND PARALLEL TO THE LOYOLA LEE.
SO IN CONCLUSION BOARD MEMBERS, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THE NORTH ALIGNMENT.
THE SOUTH SOUTH GRAVITY LINE ALIGNMENT IS NOT FEASIBLE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR DUE TO THAT GRAVITY DROP THAT I SHOWED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
SO AUSTIN WATER WOULD NOT BE TO ACCESS IT, TO MAINTAIN IT OR REPAIR IT.
THIS WOULD ALSO PUT THE GRA THE LINE, THE GRAVITY LINE IN THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
AND IT WOULD ALSO CAUSE THE LIFT STATION WALL TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY DEEPER, WHICH WOULD ALSO COST MORE.
AND, UH, AT THE MOMENT IT IS ESTIMATED TO BE AT 2.5 MILLION AND WE DO HAVE A COST PARTICIPATION WITH THE CITY.
SO, UM, ALSO THE NORTH GRAVITY LINE ALIGNMENT IS MORE FEASIBLE BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE WITHIN THE PARKLAND WILL BE INSTALLED VIA BORING, NOT OPEN CUT TRENCH, THEREFORE MINIMIZING THE IMPACT ON PARKLAND AND WATERSHIP.
THAT RESTORATION INCLUDES NATIVE GRASSLAND AND SEEDING AND PLANTING PER CITY OF AUSTIN STANDARDS SPECIFICATIONS.
AND THE NORTH GRAVITY LINE ALIGNMENT HAS AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF 2.3, WHICH WOULD DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF CITY COST PARTICIPATION.
AND I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT, UM, WELL WE WERE APPLYING FOR SITE PLAN.
WE DID POST A FISCAL SURETY IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NOT COMPLETED OR ABANDONED.
THERE IS A POST POSTED FEES OR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE AREA TO BE PUT BACK TO ORIGINAL CONDITIONS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, FOR A COMMUNITY AND AN ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THE EXISTING SYSTEM, THE EXISTING AUSTIN WATER SYSTEM IS BOTTLENECKED AND CANNOT SUPPORT ANY MORE DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE AREA AROUND THE PARKS CONSTRUCTION OF THIS GRAVITY LINE AND LIFT STATION WOULD ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, THE IMPROVEMENTS ALLOW FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SURROUNDING AREA CURRENTLY AND HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT, AND THIS WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE TAX VALUE OF THE AREA.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, HERE IS A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROPOSED AREA IN A CITY OF BOSTON PARKLAND.
THIS IS THE NORTH ALIGNMENT AND THEY ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED AND IN GREEN WOULD BE THE PROPOSED EASEMENT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE GRAVITY LINE IS WITHIN THE RED PORTION AND THE MAJORITY OF IT IS GOING TO BE BORED.
YOU CAN SEE THE TWO BORE PITS IDENTIFIED AS THE DARKER SQUARES WITHIN THERE.
[01:55:01]
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.AND THIS ILLUSTRATES THE FORCE MAIN, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE THE SAME FOR BOTH OPTIONS, THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH OPTIONS WOULD BE THESE SHOW, THE PROPOSED EASEMENTS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO JASON INCHED TO CONCLUDE OUR PRESENTATION.
AND JUST TO CONFIRM, UH, WITH THAT, UH, WITH THAT PREVIOUS SLIDE, UH, AWESOME WATER IS IN SUPPORT, UH, FOR SPONSORSHIP OF THIS PROJECT AND THAT IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STIPULATIONS, THE, UH, TEXAS CODE CHAPTER 26, UH, CONDITIONS FOR, UH, UTILIZING PARKLAND FOR NON PARKLAND USE.
I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR, UH, FOR LENDING US MIKE'S PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE QUESTIONS.
SOME OF THIS, I MAY JUST NOT UNDERSTAND, CAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF LEXICON THAT IS NOT FAMILIAR TO ME.
SO COULD YOU TELL US WHAT IS THE GRAVITY LINE SPECIFICALLY? IT IS THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM THAT FLOWS VIA GRAVITY.
AND THEN WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOU'RE CALLING IT BOARD? ARE YOU PUTTING IT IN ONE PLACE AND RUNNING IT THROUGH? OR HOW DID, HOW DID THE BOARD THE UNDERGROUND? SO WE PLACED TWO BORE PITS AND WE BORE UNDERGROUND.
SO IT WOULD NOT AFFECT ANY OF THE SURFACE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS.
SO IT IS MY QUESTION THEN IS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE TREES BECAUSE I JUST SO HAPPEN TO HAVE JUST WATCHED SOMETHING LIKE THIS OCCUR AND IT JUST ABOUT KILL THE TREE.
AND SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW ALL THAT WOULD WORK AND I HAVE TWO CONCERNS.
ONE OF THEM IS THAT, AND THE OTHER ONE IS I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT IS A HEAVILY USED PARK.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IT'S THE ONLY PARK IN THE AREA AND PEOPLE ARE DOING A LOT OF WALKING, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING AND THE EVENING THERE.
AND SO I'M WONDERING HOW THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT PARK USERS.
AND THEN I'M ALSO WONDERING HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THOSE TREES.
SO WHEN WE DID APPLY FOR A SITE PLAN APPROVAL, WE DID HAVE THE CITY ARBORIST LOOK AT OUR PLANS AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT WE ARE FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE CRITICAL NEEDS ZONE.
SO THOSE TREES AT PORTING UNTIL THE CITY ARBORIST, WE ARE NOT IN DANGER FROM THE IMPROVEMENT SINCE WE'RE BORING FAR ENOUGH UNDERNEATH THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE AFFECTED BY THE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THEN WHAT ABOUT THE WAY THAT THE PARK USE IS AFFECTED BY THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE AND HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO BE THERE? WE HAVE A PROPOSED STAGING AREA IN THE AREA ADJACENT TO PARKLAND.
SO, UM, IT IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND IT'S LOCATED CLOSER TO 180 3.
SO ALL THE EQUIPMENT IN STAGING AREA WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF PARKLAND.
THE ONLY ISSUE WOULD BE THE BOARD PITS AND THEY, UM, WERE OUT OF NOT TOO FAMILIAR, HOW LONG THEY TAKE ADRIAN, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN IF, UH, YOU KNOW, MORE OR LESS, HEY, WOULD PROBABLY TAKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO INSTALL THAT LINE, UH, WITHIN THAT AREA.
UH, BUT AGAIN, AS NADIA SAID, SINCE IT'S GOING TO BE ALL BOARD, UH, UNDERGROUND, THEY CAN STAGE THEIR PIPE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND SO THERE'LL BE MINIMAL IMPACT TO THAT AREA ON THE SURFACE, OTHER THAN THE BORE PIT THAT'S RIGHT THERE AT THE CORNER OF LAYOLA AND MILL RICE.
AND THIS IS PREFERABLE, I'M SORRY.
THIS IS PREFERABLE TO IN DOING THE SOUTH SIDE BECAUSE IT'S JUST MORE ACCESSIBLE.
SO THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL EVENTUALLY BE TURNED OVER TO AUSTIN WATER TO MAINTAIN AND, UH, THEY WOULD NOT OF THE DROP ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEY WOULD HAVE NO WAY TO GET THEIR EQUIPMENT OR WHETHER IT SHOULD THERE BE EVER A PIPE BREAK OR LEAK OR JUST FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT LINE.
I THOUGHT THAT COULD BE ACCESSED FROM 180 3 ON THE SIDE RIGHT THERE NOW BECAUSE OF THE GRADE DROP, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TAKE THEIR BIG TRUCKS ONTO IT.
UM, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT, UH, MAINTENANCE REGARDING THIS, UH, PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE ABOUT HOW OFTEN AND WHAT KIND OF MAINTENANCE ARE WE GOING TO SEE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO DIG THIS UP, TO GO WORK ON IT AND WILL THAT, YOU KNOW, DOES THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT, UM, THE PARK USER EXPERIENCE, UM, FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT, UH, THIS IS, UH, JASON ANGELES, AUSTIN WATER PIPELINE ENGINEERING, UH, THE, UH, THERE, THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY, UH, FORESEEABLE REASON TO, TO BIG UP ANY, ANY OF THE, THE PARK.
UH, THESE, UH, GRINDING, UH, GRAVITY LINES ARE RELIABLE AND, AND GENERALLY DESIGNED
[02:00:01]
FOR A 75 OR A HUNDRED YEARS MINIMUM, UH, FOR, UH, IN SERVICE LIFE USE, UH, BASICALLY, UM, UH, THE VACUUM TRUCKS AS THE MOST, UH, COMMON, UH, PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE THAT, UH, THAT HAPPENS ON A ROTATING SCHEDULE.I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THEIR FREQUENCY IS, BUT, UM, UH, UNLESS THERE WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME UNFORESEEN NEED, IT WOULD BE, UH, UH, SOME ROUTINE MAINTENANCE POSSIBLY EVERY 10 YEARS.
AND THEY'VE, UH, SHRESTHA PENTA RONGJI IS, IS, UH, AVAILABLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE FEEDBACK ON THAT AND ALSO BOARD MEMBERS, THE PIPE WILL BE ENCASED IN ANOTHER STEEL PIPE.
SO IT'S A PIPE WITHIN A PIPE, PROVIDE EXTRA SECURITY, RIGHT.
IT'LL BE LIKE INVISIBLE FROM THE, UH, FROM THE SURFACE.
LIKE IF YOU WENT TO THIS PARK A YEAR FROM NOW, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TELL THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU DUG DOWN, BUT THIS PIPE IN, IS THAT, AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? YES, MA'AM I, YEAH.
I MEAN, I, I APPRECIATE THIS PRESENTATION.
I KNOW IT'S, UM, THIS ISN'T DISTRICT ONE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY DEVELOPING AREA AND THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS OF PARK NEEDS, AND THERE'S ALSO LOTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
UM, SO I CAN DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGE OF NEEDING TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH OF BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS PROPOSAL DOES A GOOD JOB OF ACCOMMODATING, UM, YOU KNOW, BOTH, BOTH OF THESE URGENT NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT YEAH, I'M WELCOMED ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD.
THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER COTTON SAY, WELL, DID YOU HAVE A FOLLOWUP QUESTION WITH WHAT BOARD MEMBER RENALDI WAS ASKING? I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE'S NO MAINTENANCE REQUIRED.
THAT'S NOT REALLY A PARK IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, THEN WE WOULD NEED ACCESS TO IT.
WE ARE HOPING THAT WE WOULDN'T, OR THAT AUSTIN WATER WOULDN'T IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, BUT WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UH, UH, BARNARD, MY QUESTIONS WERE JUST ABOUT TERMINOLOGY, WHICH I'VE ALREADY BEEN IN.
REMEMBER, UM, I MEAN, VICE CHAIR, UH, DIPLOMA, UM, I, I FORGOT.
HOW FAR ARE YOU BORING UNDERNEATH THE CRITICAL ROOT ZONE CHECK? WE ARE ABOUT 15 FEET.
OH, YOU'RE LIKE REALLY, REALLY DOING UNDERNEATH.
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY THE CITY ARBORIST.
DIDN'T, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT EVEN IN THE REALM OF BEING CLOSED.
BOARD MEMBER AT THE CARLYLE, UH, MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
SO I, ACTUALLY, MY QUESTIONS WERE ALSO ANSWERED.
I, I, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE TREES BRAIN SPACE AND THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, BE NOT BE IMPACTED BY THIS KIND OF WORK.
AND I KNOW IT'S NECESSARY, BUT IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH PARKLAND.
SO, BUT I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
SO I THINK, UM, AT THIS WE CAN, UM, SEE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE USE.
I'LL MAKE I'LL MOVE TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBER RENALDI.
DO I HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY FOUR MEMBER DIPLOMA? ALL IN FAVOR.
THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR THE CRISP.
[B.3. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to the Planning Commission related to a Conditional Use Permit for the sale of wine and beer at the Zilker Cafe.]
THREE, WHICH IS THE PRESENTATION DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION RELATED TO A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE SALE OF WINE AND BEER EPISODE OR CAFE.I HOPE I'M SO BAD WITH NAMES PFIZER BEES.
AS CHRISTINA BRINGS UP HER PRESENTATION BOARD MEMBERS, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I PROVIDED THIS BOARD A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYBODY WAS ON THE BOARD WHEN, WHEN THIS PROCESS FOR THE ZILKER CAFE STARTED.
[02:05:01]
IN THE CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS, UH, SOME CONCERN ABOUT NOT UNDERSTANDING OR KNOWING MUCH ABOUT THIS CONTRACT.SO I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU THAT HISTORY AND THE HISTORY OF THE CONTRACT IS THAT, UH, IN JULY OF 2018, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY CAME TO THE CONTRACTS AND CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE AND PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE ZILKER CAFE RENOVATIONS.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART BECAUSE THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CAFE HERE FOR DECADES, A CONCESSION STAND, A CAFE.
HOWEVER, HOWEVER, WE'D LIKE TO REFERENCE IT, BUT IT'S BEEN HERE FOR DECADES AND WE HAD A BREAK FROM ACTUALLY SERVING FOOD THERE BECAUSE WE WERE RENOVATING IT, IT IS A HISTORICAL STRUCTURE, IT REQUIRED, UM, SOME SPECIAL PERMITTING AND SOME SPECIAL CARE IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE RENOVATED.
UH, AND THAT WHOLE PROCESS STARTED IN 2018.
AND THEN IN, UM, APRIL OF 2019, UH, THE, THE APARTMENT CAME TO THE CONTRACTS AND CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE AND DISCUSSED, UH, A DRAFT SCOPE OF WORK OF WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY GO INTO A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR THE ZILKER CAFE.
AND AS PART OF THAT CONSIDERATION, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE REASON WHY THERE IS, UM, ANYTHING THAT HA THAT THERE IS AN ACTION FOR THERE TO HAVE ALCOHOL SALES IS BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN A SURVEY COMPLETED WHERE SOME CONSTITUENCIES HAD SAID THAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY OR THAT ACTION TO MAKE THAT PURCHASE AT THIS CAFE.
SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UH, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM MADE A HASTY DECISION THAT MADE A DECISION BASED UPON SPECIFIC FEEDBACK.
AND WE ALSO BROUGHT IT FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION AND COMMENT DURING THAT PARTICULAR TIME IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019, THIS CAME BEFORE THE PARKS BOARD AND THE PARKS BOARD MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO GO AHEAD AND NEGOTIATE THE EXECUTION AND THE AGREEMENT OF AN AGREEMENT, UH, WITH THE SUCCESSFUL PROPOSER, WHICH WAS SPRING FED.
AND PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS PROPOSAL WENT THROUGH THE STANDARD AND APPROPRIATE PURCHASING PROCESSES AND THE 24, THE PARKS BOARD MEMBERS, I'M SORRY, THAT WAS THE CONTRACTS AND CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE.
AND THEN ON THE 24TH ON THE 24TH OF SEPTEMBER, THE PARKS BOARD MADE THAT SAME RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL.
SO CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THIS CONCESSION YEAR AGREEMENT, UM, OR THIS CONTRACT WITH SPRING FRED ON OCTOBER 3RD, 2019.
AND WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE RENOVATIONS AND THEN WE ALL KNOW THAT COVID HIT.
AND NOW WE'RE READY TO OPEN THIS CAFE AND ALLOW THE VENDOR TO BEGIN.
AND THE QUESTION THAT'S ON THE TABLE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS TO BE ZONED PUBLIC, WHICH MEANS THAT IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE THE SALE OF ALCOHOL, IT HAS TO BE THROUGH A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
AND THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT COMES TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND THEN IT WILL GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION.
I WANT IT TO HELP, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE.
AND I THINK YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ARE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING LIFEGUARDS WHO PERHAPS, UH, ARE IN OPPOSITION OF THIS.
AND WE RESPECT THAT AS A DEPARTMENT.
UH, THERE, THIS IS A PUBLIC PROCESS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS AS TO HOW THIS PARTICULAR CAFE SHOULD BE SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND SHOULD BE SERVING ZILKER PARK.
UM, I WANTED TO INDICATE THAT, UM, I THINK I ALREADY SAID THAT CAFE'S BEEN EXISTENCE FOR DECADES.
WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE OPPOSITION.
WE CAME BEFORE YOU WITH THIS INFORMATION, OR WE CAME BEFORE YOU WITH THIS CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS STARTED SINCE 2018.
I'LL STOP TALKING AND TURN IT OVER TO CHRISTINA.
AND THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS FOR LISTENING TO OUR PRESENTATION AND DOING THIS CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.
UM, I WAS JUST, I'M GOING TO GO AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.
I'M SURE THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE HAD TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION.
UM, IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO THE REHABILITATION PROJECT WAS COMPLETED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE YET, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THERE IS A NEW SIDEWALK WHICH CONNECTS THE TRAIN DEPOT, THE CAFE AND THE BATH HOUSE, WHICH IS COMPLETELY ADA COMPLIANT.
AND WE EVEN PUT IN A NEW ADA COMPLIANT PARKING STALL.
UM, AS KIMBERLY MENTIONED, WE SOLICITED FOR A FOOD VENDOR BASED ON PUBLIC SURVEY RESULTS AND THAT SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDED LANGUAGE TO ALLOW FOR THE SALE OF YOUR UNWIND WITH APPROVAL.
AND THE SELECTED VENDOR IS LOOKING TO PURSUE THAT ENDEAVOR.
UM, ARD WILL BE SHEPHERDING THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION AS THE LANDOWNER.
AND THE PROCESS USUALLY TAKES ABOUT SIX MONTHS.
AND THERE IS A LITTLE EXCERPT TIER FROM THE LAND
[02:10:01]
DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHICH STATES THAT THE LAND USE COMMISSION MAY NOT CONSIDER THE SITE PLAN UNTIL IT RECEIVES A RECOMMENDATION FROM YOU ALL NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.UM, THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WILL CHANGE THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY.
IN THIS CASE, IT WILL BE A SMALL AREA.
UM, AND I WAS CORRECTED THAT IT IS NOT PARK SPECIAL USE IN THIS INSTANCE, THE TECHNICAL TERM IS PARK AND RECREATION SERVICES SPECIAL, AND THAT ZONING CHANGE WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE LAND.
AND OR, UM, SO THE PROCESS IS TO SUBMIT TO YOU THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UM, AN APPLICATION, A DRAWING SET IT'S REVIEWED FOR COMPLETENESS, WHICH IS BASICALLY AN ADMINISTRATIVE CHECKLIST.
AND ONCE THAT IS CLEAR, THE APPLICATION WILL BE SENT TO VARIOUS REVIEWERS OF DISCIPLINARY FOCUS.
AND THOSE REVIEWERS WILL REVIEW THEIR AREA OF EXPERTISE AND SUBMIT, UM, COMMENTS TO THE APPLICANT.
THIS IS THE PHASE THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO THESE REVIEWS WILL GO BACK AND FORTH AS MANY TIMES AS NEEDED UNTIL THE APPLICATION IS FOUND TO BE SATISFACTORY.
AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS, A NOTICE WILL BE SENT TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT A PLANNING COMMISSION DATE.
SO HERE IS OUR ANTICIPATED TIMELINE.
YOU WILL SEE THAT WE ARE NOW AT JUNE 22ND.
UM, WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN AUGUST, IF ALL THINGS GO WELL.
UM, THIS TIMELINE IS OF COURSE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE FINGER TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO HERE IS AN AERIAL IMAGE, UH, WHICH SAYS THIS IS THE CAFE AND THE SURROUNDING AMENITIES WITHIN ZILKER PARK.
THE ZILKER CAFE IS A DESIGNATED AMENITY FOR PARK USE USERS AND TRAIL USERS, NOT JUST THE POOL.
UM, THE THICK GREEN LINE SHOWN ON HERE IS THE VENDOR DESIGNATED AREA.
AND THAT IS THE AREA THAT IS REPRESENTED ON THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION FOR THE SALE AND CONSUMPTION OF WINE AND BEER.
AND THEN THERE'S TWO STARS, WHICH INDICATE THE POINT OF SALES FOR THE CAFE.
AND YOU CAN ALSO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE NO DIRECT SALES TO THE POOL AREA FINGER TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UM, SO HERE'S JUST A BLOWN UP VIEW OF THE SAME ARIEL.
THE VENDOR AREA WE'LL HAVE A DEFINED PERIMETER, WHICH DESIGNATES THE AREA IN WHICH WINE AND BEER CAN BE SOLD AND CONSUMED.
AND THE DEMARCATION OF THIS AREA CAN VARY WITH FUTURE VENDORS, BUT IT WILL LIKELY INCLUDE RAILINGS, FENCES, PLANTERS, AND SIGNAGE, ET CETERA.
UM, THIS AREA IS ROUGHLY 6,500 SQUARE FEET, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT 0.4% OF ZILKER.
UM, SO THIS VENDOR AREA WILL BE ENCLOSED AND DEMARCATED WITH STANCHIONS AND OR SIGNAGE.
UH, TABC REGULATIONS WILL BE MET AND THE SIGNAGE WILL BE POSTED, UM, AT BOUNDARIES AND IT WILL ALSO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES IS ALL OF OUR OTHER PARKS.
UM, AND THEN REFUSE COLLECTION WILL OCCUR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE VENDORS OPERATIONAL PLAN.
UM, SO THE OPERATIONAL PLAN INCLUDES THAT PARK RULES ARE ENFORCED AND THAT INCLUDES OPERATIONAL HOURS TO OCCUR WITHIN THE HOURS THAT THE PARK IS OPEN.
SO THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A CAFE OPEN UNTIL 1:00 AM OR 2:00 AM.
IT'S ONLY OPEN WHEN THE PARK IS OPEN, THE VENDOR MUST ADHERE TO TABC GUIDELINES AND SERVE RESPONSIBLY.
THE VENDOR'S RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE EMPLOYEES ARE TRAINED NOT TO SERVE OUT OVER-SERVE ALCOHOL AND SELL TO MINORS.
UM, VENDOR EMPLOYEES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO KEEP ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WITHIN THE DEFINED AREA AND REPETITIVE REPORTED VIOLATIONS COULD CAUSE THE VENDOR'S TABC LICENSE TO BE REVOKED.
UM, AGAIN, THERE WILL BE NO DIRECT ACCESS FROM THE CAFE TO THE POOL.
THE POOL HAS A STATE CODE COMPLIANT FENCE THAT COMPLETELY SURROUNDS IT.
UM, THERE ARE NO FOOD OR BEVERAGES ALLOWED IN THE POOL AREA AND POOL AND STAFF LIFEGUARDS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO BOUND ARE BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH ENTRANCES OF THE BULL.
HERE'S A DEFINITION FROM A TABC OF A RETAILER DEALERS ON PREMISE LICENSE, AND THEN JUST A COUPLE OF NOTES.
[02:15:01]
UH, JVC PERMITS MUST BE RENEWED EVERY TWO YEARS.UH, APV CAN ISSUE CITATIONS FOR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL OUTSIDE OF DEFINED BOUNDARIES.
AND ALSO NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 EMPLOYED BY THE VENDOR CAN SELL ALCOHOL.
UM, SPECIAL EVENTS THAT WERE MENTIONED EARLIER AT ZILKER, METRO PARK OFTEN INCLUDE THE SALE OF BEER AND WINE SUCH AS ACL AND SOME OF THE GREEN CHANNEL BLIGHTS AMONG OTHERS.
AND THIS AVAILABILITY TAKES PLACE ON THE GREAT LAWN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.
AND IN 2015 PRIOR TO THE SOLICITATION OF THE ZILKER CAFE PARD CONDUCTED A PUBLIC SURVEY THAT INCLUDED THE OPEN-ENDED QUESTION REGARDING POSSIBLE MENU ITEMS AND RESPONDENTS REPLIED WITH VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS AND INCLUDED THE OPTION OF BEER IN LINE BASED ON STAKEHOLDER INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM THE SURVEY PART RELEASED AN RFP WITH LANGUAGE IN THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT INDICATED THE CONCESSIONAIRE MAY SELL BEER AND WINE PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM THE PAR DIRECTOR.
AND IT IS PART OF THE INTENTION TO HAVE A CAFE SERVE NOT ONLY AS A CONVENIENCE FOR PARK USERS, BUT ALSO AS A DESTINATION, THE AVAILABILITY OF BEER AND WINE TO COMPLIMENT THE MENU ITEMS COULD ENHANCE THE OVERALL PARK USER EXPERIENCE.
I MEAN, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
I'M GOING TO GO OVER THESE PRETTY QUICK.
UM, BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, SPRING-FED LLC IS THESE VENDOR TO OPERATE THE CAFE.
THEY ARE EXPERIENCED RESTAURANT TOURS.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THEIR PROPOSED MENU, WHICH INCLUDES HEALTHY OPTIONS AND SOME VARIETY.
AND IT ALSO SHOWS AN EXAMPLE OF A STANTION, WHICH MAY BE USED TO HOLD SIGNAGE AND THE MARKET BOUNDARIES.
UM, AND HERE IS A SHORT SNIPPET TO SHOW YOU THE PROPOSED SIGNAGE.
THE SIGNAGE IS SUBJECT TO HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION APPROVAL.
UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, BACK TO THE FOCUS OF THIS AGENDA ITEM.
WE ARE REQUESTING PART TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION REGARDING THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE ZILKER CAFE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND AS EVERYBODY'S AWARE, WE CERTAINLY HAVE HEARD A LOT BOTH VIA EMAIL AND CITIZEN COMMUNICATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
SO I I'M SURE WE, UM, PEOPLE, PROBABLY SOME QUESTIONS AND SOME COMMENTS, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND, UM, JUST START GOING AROUND AS WE USUALLY DO.
SO I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU BOARD MEMBER RENALDI.
UM, YEAH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, UM, AND A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
UM, SO TO CLARIFY, THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS NOT NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAFE CONCEPT AS A WHOLE.
IF YOU WANT TO SERVE THE BEER AND WINE, YOU NEED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UM, AND IS IT GOING TO BE ON TAP OR IN CANS OR, OR WHAT, UM, SPRING-FED DOES HAVE OPTIONS ON THEIR MENU? I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS EXACTLY DEFINED BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
BUT AS I MENTIONED, IF SPRING FED LEAVES AT SOME POINT IN TIME, IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT VENDOR.
UM, BUT I BELIEVE THEY STILL ARE ON THE CALL IF YOU NEED THEM TO ANSWER THAT.
I, I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT SEEMS LIKE HAVING, UM, HAVING BEVERAGES ON TAP MIGHT BE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SITUATION FROM HAVING THE BIN CANS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO, LIKE, IF WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE BUYING A BEER AND CARRYING IT OUT OF THERE OR SOMETHING, YOU CAN'T DO THAT IF IT'S AN, A PINT GLASS, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER IF IT'S IN A CAN.
UM, SO JUST, JUST MAYBE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER THERE.
UM, I THINK, UM, YEAH, OR THE, UM, IF THE, THE FOLKS, THE VENDORS ARE STILL ON THE LINE, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THEM SPEAK TO THAT.
ARE WE ABLE TO GET RICK GARRETT OR SEAN SERGIO ALON? I BELIEVE I STARED UP ON MY TEST IF THEY COULD REMAIN IN THE MEETING.
HEY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR LETTING LETTING ME IN.
THIS IS SEAN
UM, WE, UH, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO CRAFT A VERY SPECIFIC, UH, EXPERIENCE AT ZILKER
[02:20:01]
PARK IN BOTH FROM AUSTIN, UM, AND GROWING UP HERE, UM, THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE WAS, UH, BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM PART, WE WERE VERY HEAVILY FOCUSED ON CREATING VEGETARIAN OPTIONS, VEGAN OPTIONS, HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR BOTH BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER.UM, WE ALSO INCLUDED, UH, COFFEE BEVERAGES AND ALMOST ALL OF OUR INGREDIENTS, WHETHER FROM THE FOOD OR THE BEVERAGE PROGRAM, UM, ARE PRIMARILY SOURCED THROUGH LOCAL AUSTIN VENDORS.
UM, AND THE BEVERAGE PROGRAM AS WELL, HAS ALL BEEN SOURCED THROUGH, UM, LOCAL BREWERIES, UM, LOCAL KOMBUCHA, UM, LOCAL SODAS AND WATERS.
AND WE WERE VERY HYPER-FOCUSED ON, UH, REAFFIRMING KIND OF ALL, ALL THAT AUSTIN WAS.
UM, WE, WE CURRENTLY I BELIEVE HAVE ONE ON ONE BEER ON TAP.
UM, AND, AND THEN THAT WILL BE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS ROTATING AS WELL.
UM, ALSO IT REAL QUICK, ALL THE, UM, SERVICE WHERE, UM, JUST THAT, LIKE ALL OF OUR OTHER RESTAURANTS IS ALL EITHER COMPOSTABLE OR RECYCLABLE, THERE'LL BE NOTHING THAT WILL BE PLASTIC OR THROW AWAY.
SO WE WERE VERY CONSCIOUS OF REPRESENTING WHO WE ALL ARE.
UM, I KNOW SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED OVER EMAIL BROUGHT UP THE CONCERN THAT IT WASN'T CLEAR HOW, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE REVENUE IMPACT OF THE ALCOHOL SALES WOULD DIRECTLY BENEFIT, UM, THE PARK OR MAYBE THE FIRST APARTMENT.
AND SO I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR STEPS, SPEAK TO THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW THAT REVENUE WILL, WILL BE IMPACTING THE PARK AND YOU KNOW, WHAT THE MAGNITUDE OF THAT WILL LOOK LIKE.
SO AS FAR AS I KNOW, AND I DID GET SOME INPUT ON THIS FROM OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, ALL OF THE REVENUES SHARES GAINED FROM THIS, THE PROCEEDS FROM SPRING FED THAT WOULD BE GOING TO CAR WOULD GO BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
AND HOWEVER, THE GENERAL FUND DOES THAT.
YOU'RE MORE HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE PUT BACK INTO ANY TYPE OF SYSTEM.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE QUIT CHRISTINA, IF I CAN HELP YOU OUT, AS YOU WILL RECALL EACH YEAR, YOU GET A, A, UM, A CONCESSION REPORT, RIGHT? OR YOU GET A CONCESSION REPORT OF THE REVENUE.
THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN, UM, THE MAJORITY OF THE OTHER CONCESSIONS WHERE IT GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE GENERAL FUND AND THE GENERAL FUND.
THEN IT IS NOT GO SPECIFICALLY BACK INTO A GIVEN PARK, RIGHT.
IT'S PART OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE THAT WE COLLECT.
UM, YEAH, I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS PEOPLE HAVE.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, IT, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE LIKE A LOT OF EMOTIONS RUNNING HIGH ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, UM, YOU KNOW, ON, ON DIFFERENT SIDES.
I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, I REALLY, I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA.
I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY FAIR TO, UM, YOU KNOW, PAINT ALL PLACES THAT SERVE ALCOHOL WITH, YOU KNOW, THE SAME KIND OF BROAD BRUSH.
LIKE THERE ARE LOTS OF RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE ALCOHOL AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME WAY ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU KNOW, THE PARTY END OF THE SPECTRUM, AND THEN JUST SOME RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE ALCOHOL, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE SOMETHING THAT YOU DRINK WITH FOOD.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE LOTS OF EXAMPLES OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY PLACES, BOTH ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAND, UM, IN AND OUT OF THE PARK SYSTEM WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALCOHOL SALES, UM, ALTOS CAFE COMES TO MIND, THEY SERVE BEER AND WINE.
UM, BUT THEY'RE NOT LIKE KNOWN AS A BAR ON LADY BIRD LAKE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT THE VIBE OF THE PLACE.
UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE I'VE MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LOTS OF FAMILY FOCUSED RESTAURANTS IN AUSTIN THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE PLAYSCAPES WITH BEER AND WINE, LIKE AFRICA BURGERS, CENTRAL MARKET, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE PLACES LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE PRIVATE SECTOR REALIZES THAT THERE IS DEMAND FOR.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL PAY TO GO TO THESE PLACES WHERE THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, WATCH THEIR KIDS PLAY AND DRINK BEER AND WINE.
I JUST DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING INHERENTLY THREATENING ABOUT THAT, BUT I ABSOLUTELY, I, I AM REALLY, I DO SYMPATHIZE WITH THE CONCERNS THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SEE PARTYING AND IN THE PARK OR BARTON SPRINGS POOL, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF ROWDY LIKE VIBE.
AND I THINK WHETHER OR NOT, UM, AN AMENITY LIKE THIS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH LIKE HOW IT'S MARKETED, HOW THE URINE Y IS INTEGRATED INTO THE MENU, HOW IT'S PRESENTED.
[02:25:01]
UM, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S, UH, I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A REALLY LIKE ALCOHOL FORWARD BUSINESS, UM, IN, UM, OR I SHOULD SAY AN ALCOHOL FORWARD BUSINESS THAT LIKE REALLY PROMOTES LIKE HEAVY DRINKING AND PARTYING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF BUSINESS THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN A PARK.
UM, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE FROM WHAT I CAN UNDERSTAND OF THIS PROPOSAL, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THOUGHT PUT INTO IT.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH TRYING, UM, TO SEE IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK AS LIKE A, UH, FAMILY FRIENDLY, UM, DESTINATION.
SO, UM, SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS, AND I'M, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL.
THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER AND BOARD MEMBER.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT'S PROVIDED THEIR, THEIR INPUT SO FAR.
I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION AND THEN I'LL, UM, SHARE MY COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT IT.
UM, JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM, I KNOW THE, THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS WITH THE CONTRACTS COMMITTEE AND THE FULL BOARD WERE MENTIONED.
UM, SO W W THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE PROVIDED FOR THE CONTRACT, UM, APART FROM THE SURVEY RESULTS WHERE WE, UM, SHOWED INFORMATION OR GIVE HER AN INFORMATION THAT ALCOHOL COULD, OR, OR WOULD BE SERVED BY THE SPRING-FED VENDOR AT THAT TIME, OR REMEMBER, BECAUSE THE, IT WAS PART OF THE SCOPE OF SERVICES, RIGHT? IT WAS WRITTEN INTO THE SCOPE AS, AS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE SOLICITED AS PART OF, UH, SOMEBODY PUTTING FORWARD A PROPOSAL.
I WOULD, I, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT ABSOLUTELY YES.
OF THAT THE, THE GROUP WAS PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION.
UM, I THINK SUZANNE, UH, SOME, SOMEBODY FROM OUR CONTRACTS COMMITTEE IS ON THE LINE WHO MAY BE CONFEDERATE ANSWER, OR COULD CONFIRM THAT A QUESTION AND JUST TRYING TO SEE WHO WAS THERE, BUT THE SCOPE WAS WRITTEN WITH THE FEEDBACK OF THE OTHER CONTRACTS AND CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE.
SO, UH, SORRY, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS RICK ERIC.
UM, I CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROPOSAL IF YOU GUYS, IF YOU WANT IT TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE.
UM, SO WE ACTUALLY DID PROPOSE, UM, UH, TO SELL A BEER AND WINE IN OUR PROPOSAL.
UH, AND WE ACTUALLY, UM, PROVIDED THAT AND, UH, OUR PRESENTATION, WE WERE FINALISTS, WE TALKED ABOUT THE SALE OF BEER AND WINE.
IN FACT, WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FOLKS THAT WERE SCORING THE FINALISTS, UH, ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD BRING BEER AND WINE AS PART OF OUR MENU SAMPLE FOR THE FOLKS THAT WERE, UH, JUDGING THE PROPOSAL, UH, TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON.
AND CERTAINLY WE WERE TOLD, NO, WE CAN'T BRING ALCOHOL TO THAT.
BUT, UM, WE, WE CERTAINLY HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE ENVISION IN THIS PLAN.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, UM, BOTH SEAN AND I HAVE, UH, FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPERATIONS ALL THROUGH THE CITY.
UM, I THINK BETWEEN BOTH OF US, WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY AROUND 16, UH, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE STREET SIDE LOCATION, SIDE LOCATIONS.
UH, SOME OF THOSE ARE AIRPORT LOCATIONS, AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF LOCATIONS THAT ARE KNOWN FOR, UH, FAMILY FRIENDLY LOCATIONS.
THAT'S NOT IN OUR BUSINESSMEN, OUR BUSINESS MODEL, OUR BUSINESS MODEL, CAN'T SUPPORT BARS, WHICH IS WHY WE OPTED FOR BEER AND WINE AND NOT LIQUOR.
UM, BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE, WE DON'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO BE QUITE HONEST.
UM, WE DIDN'T WANT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO JEOPARDIZE OUR OTHER 16 LOCATIONS BY SELLING ALCOHOL ALCOHOLIC IN SPACE, UH, SELLING, SELLING HARD LIQUOR AT THIS SPACE.
WE DIDN'T WANT TABC TO JEOPARDIZE OUR OTHER, UM, RESTAURANTS, THIS, OUR BEER WINE, UM, FOR JUST ONE LOCATION.
THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT SMALLER THAN MOST OF OUR, OUR OTHER OPERATIONS.
AND SO WE WERE VERY CONSCIOUS ABOUT HOW WE DECIDED TO PROPOSE, UM, THE MENU ITEMS THAT WE'VE DECIDED TO PROPOSE.
AND THAT ALSO TOOK IN CONSIDERATION HOW MUCH RENT AND HOW MUCH REVENUE SHARE WE PARTNER WITH THE CITY ON.
UM, BECAUSE THAT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT AS A WAY WE WE'RE IN LINE SALES HAVE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER PROFIT MARGIN.
UH, I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO THE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK, AND WE'VE PROVIDED THE GAF SCOPE OF WORK TO THE CCC PRIOR TO TAKING THE SOLICITATION HAVE ON THE STREETS.
AND I EVEN MENTIONED IT IN THE PRESENTATION WHEN I DID THE FIRST ONE TO THE CCC.
SO YOU WERE AWARE OF IT, BUT YOU WERE NOT ON THE PANEL AT THAT TIME.
YOU WERE NOT ON THE BOARD AT THAT TIME.
[02:30:01]
HONESTLY COULDN'T EVEN REMEMBER.SO, UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT CONFIRMATION.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.
UM, AND SO, YEAH, I DID WANT TO, YEAH.
JUST SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE CITIZENS WHO TOOK TIME TO, TO SHARE THEIR OPINIONS WITH US TODAY, UM, ON THE MEETING AND T AND THROUGH EMAILS AS WELL.
UM, BEFORE THIS MEETING, I HADN'T REALLY HEARD FROM ANYONE WHO WAS AGAINST THE PERMIT.
SO I DO APPRECIATE HEARING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, UH, FOR THOSE, FROM THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF IT.
UM, I, I FEEL LIKE I CAN SEE BOTH SIDES.
UM, I'M, I'M A MOTHER, I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AND, YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY LIKES TO GO OUT AND DO THINGS AND ALSO BE ABLE TO, TO HAVE A DRINK, A BEER, A WINE.
UM, SO I, I GET THE, I GET THAT DESIRE TO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT IS, YOU KNOW, NICE AND CONVENIENT.
UM, AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE DO ALREADY DRINK AT BARTON SPRINGS AND ZILKER PARK.
UM, I DON'T, I MEAN, NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE, BUT I DON'T SEE IT AS A DIFFICULT RULE TO BREAK.
UM, AND I'M SURE THAT WILL CONTINUE.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS, UM, MAINLY THAT IT IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE POOL.
UM, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE FREQUENTING THE CAFE ARE THERE AT THE PARK TO VISIT THE POOL.
UM, SO I GET THE SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE BURDENING OF STAFF AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MOSTLY YOUNG LIFE GUARDS.
UM, SO I, I GUESS I, I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER TO THE DESIRES AND WANTS OF, OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, UM, ACTIVE USERS OF THE POOL.
AND IT DOES SEEM LIKE ALL THE ONES, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD FROM ARE, ARE OPPOSED TO THIS.
UM, AND I GUESS, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT, I'M NOT AGAINST SERVING OR HAVING ALCOHOL AVAILABLE WITHIN THE PARK, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE PROXIMITY TO THE POOL IS, IS FOR ME THE MAIN CONCERN.
UM, SO I GUESS I WOULD SAY PEOPLE ARE IN SUPPORTIVE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF SERVING BEER, WINE WITHIN SOCCER PARK, THEN I THINK, AND I KNOW THIS ISN'T A POSSIBILITY RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK THERE COULD BE A BETTER LOCATION FOR IT RIGHT AWAY FROM THE POOL.
UM, THE PLAYGROUND, THE TRAIN, UM, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET OF BARTON SPRINGS, UM, LIKE I SAID, I KNOW THAT'S NOT A POSSIBILITY RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT MAY BE SOMETHING FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER TO CARLIN.
UM, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO AHEAD WITH BOARD MEMBERS.
YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY WHEN THIS, I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN I CAME UP THROUGH CONTRACTS, CONCESSIONS, UM, BUT I'VE BEEN LIKE, WELL, AFTER BEING SAD, I VAGUELY REMEMBER, AND I DO, I SUPPORTED IT THEN BECAUSE AS A REGULAR SWIMMER OF BARTON SPRINGS, SOMETIMES I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO WITH A FRIEND AND AFTERWARDS WE WANT TO HANG OUT AT BET AND WE DID NOT BRING OUR DOLLAR 50 BEERS, AND WE DID NOT BORE ANY ALCOHOL INTO A YETI CUP.
UM, AND SO WE USUALLY DISPERSE, BUT AS ROWAN ADULTS, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A GLASS OF WINE AND WE PAY A PREMIUM FOR THAT GLASS OF WINE.
WE PAY A PREMIUM FOR THAT BEER, BUT OVER ALL THE SAFETY CONCERNS.
AND WE HAD SO MANY EMAILS GOING ON BOTH SIDES, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE SAFETY WAS BROUGHT UP AND OF COURSE THAT'S A HUGE CONCERN.
AND SO DID SOME LITERATURE REVIEW.
AND AS MUCH AS I COULD APPRECIATE THE OTHER REGULAR SWIMMERS WHO HEAVILY USED THE POOL, UM, A LOT OF THEM COMING FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS DELKOR AND EVERYBODY ELSE, I MEAN, THIS IS A, A, A COOL AND A PARK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FOR EVERYBODY.
AND SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE LOOK TO SEE, OKAY, HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE TOTALITY? AND, YOU KNOW, HOW IS IT UNSAFE FOR THE FAMILIES COMING IN FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN? UM, I ACTUALLY MADE SOME CALLS AND ONE OF THE ONES WAS IF I CAN DO A SCREEN SHARE REAL QUICK TO THE ABA STAFF, HANG ON ONE SECOND, VICE CHAIR, THANK YOU.
I ALSO GO THERE WITH MY, MY KIDS.
AND, UM, THERE'S PLENTY OF TIMES THAT WE GO GRAB, UH, YOU KNOW, IN LONG AGO AT THIS POINT, BUT I WOULD, WE GRAB A BITE AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE A BEER AS WELL.
[02:35:01]
SAND CASTLE, SAND CASTLE IS AT LAKE NOKOMIS AND IS RUN BY THE MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD.THIS IS A BEACH, THAT'S THE LAKE.
WHY ACTUALLY THEY HAVE A HUGE SELECTION OF ALCOHOLIC.
UM, THAT'S ANOTHER VIEW OF THE LEG.
AND SO I ACTUALLY CALLED OVER THIS WEEKEND AND SAID, HAVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY INCIDENTS, YOU KNOW, UH, INCIDENTS OF MISBEHAVIOR, HAVE YOU HAD ANY DROWNINGS? AND THERE, UNFORTUNATELY THERE HAD BEEN A DROWNING, BUT AS TO SO MANY OTHER THINGS, IT WAS TO UNDERCURRENT.
AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SAFETY, WHICH I AM ABSOLUTELY CONCERNED ABOUT FOR ALL OUR PARK PATRONS, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE WHO HAVE DROWNED WITHIN OUR SYSTEM, IT HAS BEEN UNDERCURRENT WHETHER FROM A MANMADE, UH, INLET OR WHETHER IT WAS UNDER CURRENT FROM THE LAKE, AND THEN WITHIN THE POOL, THE BIG THING IS BEING OVERCROWDED AND HAVING VISIBILITY INTO THE POOL.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, IF THIS IS GOING TO BE RELATED TO SAFETY, THEN, AND AS THE ARGUMENT, THEN I WILL LOOK FOR A SECOND TO PUT THE POOL CAPACITY ON A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.
AND SO WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON SAFETY AND LOOK AT THE RECORD, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS AGENDA ITEM.
THIS AGENDA ITEM IS SAFETY RELATING TO ZILKER AND, AND THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, WHETHER WE APPROVE IT.
SO WE LOOK AT THAT, THEN I LOOK AT IT.
I CAN'T HELP, BUT THINK ABOUT SANTA CRUZ, BEACH BOARDWALK, MURDOCH'S IN GALVESTON FOR EVERYBODY.
WHO'S BEEN DOWN TO GALVESTON OVER AT THE BEACH DURING A HOT SUMMER, AND YOU GO INTO MURDOCH'S AND GRAB A DRINK RIGHT OFF THE PIER, THINK OF BRIGHTON BEACH, CONEY ISLAND, UM, AUSTIN ROWING CENTER, OVER, OVER AT THE CAFE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT AFTER YOU GET DONE, YOU KNOW, ON ONE OF THE KAYAKS AND THEN THE ROW, YOU CAN, YOU COME UP WITH A BUDDY AND YOU, YOU KNOW, GRAB A GLASS OF WINE OR GRAB A BEER AND YOU ENJOY THE VIEW.
YOU HAVEN'T HAD INCIDENTS THERE AND THAT'S INVOLVING WATER.
AND WE HAVE KIDS CLASSES OVER THAT'S COMING OVER THERE.
SO THESE ARE ALL AT THE BEACH CHALET, A BREWERY AND RESTAURANT THAT'S, THAT IS A CONCESSION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND RIGHT OFF OCEAN BEACH, SIMILAR ISSUES.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEER AND WINE.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HARD ALCOHOL.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANY OF OUR FANCY POOLS THAT ARE DOWNTOWN.
AND OUR HOTEL IS WHERE SO MANY FOLKS WHO GO TO DRINK AND THEY COME RIGHT OUT OF THE BAR AND GRAB THEIR MIXED DRINK.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CHEAP ALCOHOL, THAT SOME OF THE FOLKS WILL GET, YOU KNOW, BUY A SIX PACK OR A 12 PACK RODE IN SOME ICE AND HEAD DOWN TO BARTON CREEK TO ACT LIKE FOOLS.
SOME OF THEM THAT'S NOT WHO THE CLIENTELE IS.
SO, UM, I THINK IF WE ASKED ANY ONE OF THOSE FOLKS THAT WE FEAR AND I WOULD FEAR TOO, I WOULD SHUT IT DOWN IN A HEARTBEAT IN A HEARTBEAT.
IF WE GOT SOME OF THE BEHAVIOR THAT I SEE OVER AT BARTON CREEK, BUT I DON'T SEE THEM PAYING $7, A BEER OR $7 FOR, OR HAVING, I DON'T SEE A LOT OF WINE DRINKERS OUT THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.
UH, WHEN WE LOOK ABOUT THE NATURE AND WHAT THE PARK HAS BECOME, I CAN'T HELP.
BUT THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LUCKY THAT THE ENTIRE CITIZEN CITIZENRY OF AUSTIN IN 1917, VOTED FOR THE BOND TO PAY FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, SO THEN THE, YOU KNOW, SO IT COULD BE PURCHASED FROM THE, THE SCHOOL, UH, SCHOOL SYSTEM AT THE TIME, SO THEY CAN GET THE MONEY AND WE GET THE PARK.
AND THEN EVEN ANDREW ZILKER AT THE TIME THAT SAID IT'S FOR THE CITY TO DECIDE HOW TO USE IT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY WERE ORIGINALLY LOOKING AT IT AS BEING JUST A RESOURCE FOR WATER.
SO I'M GLAD IT WENT THE DIRECTION OF IT IS IT'S A LONG STORY JUST SAYING, THIS IS THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.
YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE CONCERNS, I DO THINK THERE'S SOME OPTIONS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE COULD LIMIT THE SALE OF BEAL BEER AND WATER, UH, I WONDER WHY DIDN'T, WHY TO THOSE WHO ONLY MAKE A PURCHASE OF FOOD AND YOU COULD OWN AND PURCHASE OF FOOD WITH EACH SERVING OF BEER AND BEER WINE.
I THINK THAT'S A WAY TO LIMIT, UH, USAGE OR YOU, YOU, YOU KNOW, CONSUMPTION.
I THINK, UM, WE COULD REQUIRE THAT THE CONTRACT CAN BE AMENDED AT THE PARK.
YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS AT THE PARK DEPARTMENT, CONCESSION FEE, BE THREE BUCKS, THINK WE COULD HAVE IT WHERE THE CONCESSION FEES GOING FOR THE SALES OF BEER AND WINE, UH, CAN BE REDUCED
[02:40:01]
BY AN EQUAL PAYMENT, YOU KNOW, TO AN AUSTIN, AUSTIN NON-PROFITS SERVINGS OVER PARK.I THINK WE CAN ALSO PUT IT IN THE CONTRACT OR MAKE A, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT GOOGLE'S INITIALLY LIMITED TO ONE YEAR UNDERNEATH THE CONTRACT.
AND THAT'S TO BE ASSESSED FOR SAFETY, THE IMPACT TO THE ENJOYMENT OF THE SPACE AFTER A PERIOD OF NINE MONTHS, AND THEN PRIOR TO ANY APPROVAL TO SELL IN WINE AND BEER IN THE SECOND YEAR, YOU KNOW, UM, UNDER THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, THOSE ARE JUST THINGS I KIND OF BULLETED OUT WHILE WE WERE HAVING THE PRESENTATION.
SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME OPTIONS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, BUT I DON'T HAVE THIS FEAR IF, IF I REALLY THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BASED UPON THIS ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, I'D BE THE FIRST TO SAY NO, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER BERNARD.
UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, I'M ALSO A MOM AND I HAVE THREE KIDS, AND I LOVE GOING TO PLACES WHERE THERE'S PLAYGROUNDS AND I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A GLASS OF WINE OR WATCHING MY CHILDREN PLAY.
UM, AND SO I TOTALLY GET WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM WHEN THEY, UH, TALK ABOUT, UM, ENJOYING THE POSSIBILITY OF DOING THAT AT SOCCER PARK.
BUT I THINK THE BIG DIFFERENCE FOR ME IS THE FACT THAT THERE IS A POOL, UM, JUST STEPS AWAY.
UM, AND THAT MAKES ME REALLY NERVOUS AS A PARENT.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT IF EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, DID RESTRICT THEIR DRINKING TO AFTER THEY WENT SWIMMING.
BUT I THINK THE VERY FACT THAT IT'S SO CLOSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A REALLY GOOD CHANCE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE A DRINK OR TWO BEFORE THEY GO INTO THE POOL.
UM, AND SO I GUESS LIKE THAT, THAT'S MY MAJOR CONCERN.
AND I GUESS I'M REALLY CURIOUS IS TO HOW MUCH TRAINING THE LIFEGUARDS RECEIVE IN DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN DRINKING.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THEY RECEIVE ANY TRAINING ABOUT THIS AT ALL, BUT, UH, THAT WOULD BE MY MAJOR QUESTION.
NOPE, I'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT I DO WANT TO REMIND US THAT WE'RE NOT, THAT WE'RE NOT POSTED TO TALK ABOUT LIFEGUARD OPERATIONS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS JERMAINE, SINCE I WILL SAY TO YOU THAT OUR LIFE CARDS GO THROUGH A REGULAR LIFE CARD TRAINING, WHICH IS, AND THIS PARTICULAR LIFEGUARDS THAT BARTON SPRINGS POOL GO THROUGH AN EXTRA TRAINING FOR OPEN WATER, UH, WHICH PROVIDES THEM WITH, UH, ADDITIONAL, UM, ADDITIONAL WAYS TO RESPOND TO INDIVIDUALS.
BUT I WOULD TELL YOU THAT I THINK THEY'RE VERY HIGHLY SKILLED INDIVIDUALS, RIGHT? THEY'RE VERY HIGHLY SKILLED INDIVIDUALS.
THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO SAVE INDIVIDUALS LIVES.
UM, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE PERFORMED, WE OFTEN CALL THEM FIRST RESPONDERS.
THEY ARE NOT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EMS INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE NEED YOU TO CONSIDER THEM FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND THEY HAVE DONE THINGS THAT HAVE, UM, PUT PEOPLE ON A PATH OF BEING TO, UH, BE TRANSPORTED BY EMS. BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, WHO ARE DRUNK, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF OUR FOUR WHO ARE INTOXICATED OR ARE BEHAVING IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE, UM, OUTSIDE OF WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER NORMAL SOBER BEHAVIOR.
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE HAS SPECIFIC TRAINING RELATED TO THAT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO BE OPERATING THE CAFE ARE REQUIRED TO, UM, FIRED TO HAVE TCBA, UM, APPROVAL.
AND THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA ABOUT SERVING AND UNDERSTANDING, UM, THE LIMITS OF SERVING.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF A LIFEGUARD'S TRAINING.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GREAT LIFESAVERS, BUT I DON'T THINK ANY STAFF MEMBERS HAVE OF, UM, TRAINING ABOUT INTOXICATED OR POOR BEHAVIORS SPECIFICALLY.
I HAVE A LOT TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, I CAN'T REALLY BELIEVE IN, IN ALL HONESTY.
I, THE ONLY ARGUMENT I HEAR IN FAVOR OF THIS IS THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT THING THAT HAVE TO GET OUT AND HAVE A GLASS OF WINE, OR HAVE A GLASS OF BEER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.
I'M NOT CRITICIZING THAT, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO TEACHES CRITICAL WRITING AND THINKING, IT IS NOT AN ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF HAVING BEER AND WINE AND PARK, WHERE YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE DRIVING HOME, WHERE YOU HAVE A POOL WHERE YOU HAVE LIFEGUARDS, WHO ARE YOUNG.
I HAD THREE CHILDREN WHO WERE LIVE CARDS FOR THE CITY, AND NONE OF THEM WERE TRAINED TO GO TO BARTON SPRINGS.
THEY ALL, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T, DIDN'T GO TO THE, OR, BUT THEY, I, I KNOW HOW THIS LIFE GUARDS LOOK OLDER TO SOME OF YOU WITH YOUNGER CHILDREN, BUT THEY
[02:45:01]
ARE SCARED TO TALK TO ADULTS WHO ARE A BELLIGERENT.AND I KNOW THAT THEY HAD TO FACE SOME PEOPLE WHEN THEY WERE WORKING IN THE PARKS THIS SUMMER, THIS PAST SUMMER, WHEN THEY HAD TO, YOU KNOW, FACE PEOPLE WITHOUT MASKS AND THINGS, IT'S VERY UNNERVING FOR THEM.
I THINK IT IS DISINGENUOUS TO SAY THAT THERE'S THIS, THIS ARBITRARY MARK AROUND WHERE THE BEER AND ALCOHOL CAN'T BE CARRIED OUT THAT IS COMPLETE AND UTTER NONSENSE BECAUSE THE ALCOHOL WILL BE INSIDE OF THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY LEAVE AND WHO IS GOING TO KNOW, SOME PEOPLE CAN CARRY THEIR WINE AND BEER JUST FINE.
AND THEN THEY GO AND THEY GO IN THE POOL.
OR THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS A BIG CONCERN, WHICH I HAVE UNFORTUNATELY EXPERIENCED FOR MYSELF IS THAT PEOPLE WHO DRINK SOMETIMES HAVE LIMITED IN AT THE END AMBITIONS AND THEY ARE INAPPROPRIATE WITH CHILDREN.
AND I THINK THAT IS A HUGE CONCERN THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT HERE.
I READ TODAY, I SAT FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS AND I ANSWERED EVERY ONE OF THE EMAILS.
THERE WERE NOT A LOT OF EMAILS THAT WE GOT FROM PEOPLE IN FAVOR OF SELLING WINE AND BEER.
THERE WERE OVER A HUNDRED THAT WERE AGAINST THIS IDEA.
AND I THINK THAT WASN'T REPRESENTED TONIGHT.
I THINK THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT.
THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT TRIED TALK THAT DIDN'T GET THEIR FULL TIME.
MISTER GENERAL, FOR EXAMPLE, HAD LESS THAN A MINUTE.
UM, AND HE ALSO SENT A NOTE AND SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD ALSO BROUGHT UP SOMETHING ABOUT PARTS RUBBING AROUND AND WOULD THERE BE ALCOHOL IN THOSE? SO MY IDEA IS, I'M LOOKING AT THIS, THIS THING, AND I'M THINKING THE PEOPLE WHO GET THIS VENDORSHIP, THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD DEAL.
I HAPPEN TO LOOK UP THIS AFTERNOON, A COUPLE OF OTHER RESTAURANTS FOR RENT.
AND FOR EXAMPLE, ONE ON WAY OUT ON MONTOPOLIS FOR 1600 SQUARE FEET, 1,611 SQUARE FEET, UM, OF SPACE, THEY IT'S $119 AND 20 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT PER YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE A TOTAL OF RENT OF 190, 2030 $1 AND 20 CENTS FOR A YEAR.
UM, ANOTHER PLACE, UH, UP ON NORTH GUADALUPE CAMPUS WAS 2146 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL SPACE AT $45 A SQUARE FOOT PURCHASE FOR US PER YEAR IN RENT WOULD BE 96,570.
SO IN COMPARISON, UM, MR. KEEL AND MR. I'M SORRY, IS IT GANETTE? I'M NOT SO SURE I'M SAYING IT CORRECTLY, BUT 6,500 SQUARE FEET.
I SEE OF THE BARTON SPRINGS CAFE AREA.
UM, IT'S REALLY CHEAP RENT BECAUSE EVEN AT THAT $45 SQUARE FOOT PER YEAR, IT WOULD BE $292,500 IN RENT IF IT WERE SOMEPLACE ELSE.
SO HERE THEY ARE BEING GIVEN PRIME LOCATION.
THIS FACE DOES NOT NEED A DRAW.
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THE POOL THAN WE CAN HANDLE.
IT IS UNEVEN PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT COLD WATER ARE OFTEN TAKEN ABACK BY IT.
PEOPLE SOMETIMES GET CAUGHT IN THE, IN THE WEEDS.
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS ON THE PLATES OF THE LIFEGUARDS THAT THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN AND BRAIDED.
SO EVEN IF THEY COME IN AND THEY DON'T MEAN TO BE TROUBLEMAKERS, I THINK THIS IS ABLE REALLY ILL, CONCEIVED IDEA.
I AM COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO IT.
IT IS NOT THE SAME AS GOING TO A BEER GARDEN WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO BE IN THE COMPANY OF ALCOHOL.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRAUMATIC INSTANCES IN THEIR FAMILY OF ALCOHOLISM, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN ACCOSTED.
DON'T WANT TO BE IN THIS PLACE.
THIS IS A PUBLIC PARK, TEXAS STATE PARKS, NATIONAL PARKS.
YOU MAY NOT BRING BEER AND WINE INTO THE PARK AND THEY DON'T SELL IT IN THE PARK, EXCEPT IN VERY CLOSE, CLOSELY GUARDED INCIDENCES.
IT IS NOT WHERE YOU CAN GO HIKING AND HURT YOURSELF ON THE GREENBELT.
IT IS NOT WHERE YOU CAN BE IN THE COMPANY OF CHILDREN AT A PLAYSCAPE OR GETTING ON THE NEWS OCHRE TRAIN.
I THINK THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE TO EVEN CONSIDER.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, I HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS HERE THAT I GOT, NOT ONLY FROM MY OWN IDEAS, BUT FROM SOME OF THE LETTERS POLICING, THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL POLICING BEING PUT INTO PLACE FOR THIS RESTROOMS. THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL RESTROOM BEING PUT INTO PLACE FOR THIS CLEANUP.
IF THEY HAVE A BEER IN THEIR HAND AND THEY WALK, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE, IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN THROW AWAY THERE, WE ARE ALREADY SHORT ON LIFEGUARDS.
WE ARE MAKING MORE OF A MESS FOR OURSELVES.
I THINK THE CITY IS PUTTING ITSELF AT SERIOUS RISK HERE FOR LIABILITY ISSUES.
WHEN YOU ASK, WHEN YOU WIN, IT'S ONE THING TO BE AT ACL.
THIS IS A PLACE THAT IS A PARK THAT SHOULD BE SAFE FOR ANYONE TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN COME AND ENJOY THE DAY AND NOT HAVE TO FACE SOMEONE WHO HAS BEER BREATH AND NOT HAVE TO FACE SOMEONE WHO MIGHT SAY INAPPROPRIATE THINGS TO THEIR DAUGHTER WHO DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, NO THAT SHE SHOULDN'T WEAR A STRING BIKINI IN THE PRESENCE OF COLLEGE AGE, MEN.
I'M JUST SAYING, THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA, GUYS.
UM, I THINK THAT WE, THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS WERE NOT ANSWERED IN THAT COMMUNITY CHAT.
HE READ THAT WHOLE COMMUNITY CHAT.
THERE WERE A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
I SAID ALREADY, UH, DRINKING AND SWIMMING.
THAT'S JUST, IT'S RIDICULOUS TO THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO
[02:50:01]
INTERMINGLE IT'S THERE.THEY JUST SAID THERE'S A PATHWAY FROM THE CAFE TO THE FRONT OF THE POOL.
IT'S SILLY TO PRETEND THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
UM, ADJACENT TO THE TRAIN DEPOT, WHATEVER IT'S NOT NEEDED, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE NEED.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, JUST TWO BLOCKS FROM THE POOL, THERE IS AN ENTIRE ROW OF RESTAURANTS AND ALL OF US HAVE HAD FUN AT THOSE RESTAURANTS.
I WENT THERE IN COLLEGE, WE WENT TO THE POOL, WE GOT HOT, WE GOT TONGUE TAN.
AND THEN WE WENT OVER TO CHILI'S AND THAT IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
AND ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALL THE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE BEER GUN SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE CHOICES TO GO TO THOSE PLACES.
BUT IF YOU PUT BEER AND WINE HERE, YOU ARE LIMITING THIS PUBLIC AMENITY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND I THINK IT IS IN REALLY, I THINK IT'S REALLY ILL-ADVISED AND DISINGENUOUS TO THINK THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE, SO.
I ACTUALLY, WE HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND, BUT THEY BOTH WANTED ME TO, UM, SUBMIT THEIR STATEMENTS THAT THEY WOULD, IF THEY COULD BE HERE, WHICH THEY WISH THEY COULD.
THEY, UM, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
SHE BASICALLY SAYS, SHE'S SORRY, SHE CAN'T BE HERE, BUT IF SHE WERE PRESENT, SHE WOULD VOTE NO ON THE PERMIT TO SELL ALCOHOL, THE ZILKER CAFES, SUPPOSE IT POSES THE PERMIT BECAUSE IT'S AN UNNECESSARY SAFETY RISK.
AND THAT WOULD DETRACT FROM ONE OF THE FEW FAMILY FRIENDLY EXPERIENCES REMAIN IN AUSTIN.
MANY OF US KNOW THAT ALCOHOL CAN BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN DROWNING, BUT IN LOOKING INTO THIS, I LEARNED THAT IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT ARE EXTREMELY DRUNK, THAT DROWN SMALL AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL AND NOT CONSUMED WITH ENOUGH FOOD CAN CAUSE CONFUSION, DISORIENTED.
SO LIKE A SNOOZE, AN INABILITY TO REGULATE BODY TEMPERATURE, ESPECIALLY IN COLDER WATER, THE RISK TO SWIMMERS, NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CONDITIONS AT BARTON SPRINGS.
THAT'S REAL BOTTOM SLIPPERY POOL AND CONSISTENT DEPTHS IN COLDWATER ARE WAY TOO HIGH TO JUSTIFY ANY CLAIM BENEFIT FROM SELLING ALCOHOL AT THIS LOCATION, THE PLAN IS TO NOT ALLOW ALCOHOL TO LEAVE AN ENCLOSED AREA.
NOT ONLY DOESN'T HELP IT MAY IN FACT HURT FIRST.
THERE IS NO WAY TO EFFECTIVELY POLICE PEOPLE SNEAKING DRINKS OUT IN A BAG, BUT THE RISKIER ACTION THAT WILL BE TAKEN MORE OFTEN IS FINISHING OFF A BEER OR WINE FASTER THAN YOU SHOULD BECAUSE YOUR GROUP IS READY TO GO FOR A SWIM AND YOU CAN'T DRINK TEA.
ABC RULES HAVE ALWAYS PROHIBITED LEAVING BARS WITH A DRINK IN YOUR HAND, BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO PREVENT DRUNK DRIVING.
WHY WOULD THE SAME RULE HERE PREVENT DRUNK SWIMMING? THE LOGO FOR THE CAFE INCORPORATES THE BARTON SPRINGS DIVING BOARD, VISUALLY DEMONSTRATING THE INTERCONNECTED ACTIVITIES OF VISITING THE CAFE AND VISITING THE POOL.
I FEAR THAT NO AMOUNT OF RULES OR SIGNS WILL PREVENT THE TRAGEDY OF A SWIMMER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL BOUGHT AT THE CAFE SLIPPING UNDERWATER AND NOT REEMERGING.
MY FINAL CONCERN RELATES TO THE USE OF THE SPACE IN FRONT OF THE CAFE.
PRIOR TO THE PATIENTS, THE PICNIC TABLES WERE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WITH A PICNIC FROM HOME, OR THAT HAD PURCHASED FOOD AT THE FORMER BURGER STAND WITH THE ENCLOSURE, THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE NEW CAFE TO CREATE A BEER GARDEN.
IT SEEMS THE CARRIE WILL BE OFF LIMITS TO FAMILIES THAT PACK THEIR PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY AND GULLFOSS PRACTICE FOR A PICNIC BREAK FROM THEIR DAY AT THE POOL.
AFTER RIDING THE ZILKER TRAIN, I'M OPPOSED TO PRIORITIZING YET ANOTHER PLACE TO SIT OUTSIDE AND HAVE A DRINK AT THE COST OF LOSING A PLACE THAT HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY BEEN A PLAY AND PICNIC SPACE FOR FAMILIES.
IF YOU LIVE IN AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT SURE ON PLACES TO SIT OUTSIDE AND DRINK.
WE ARE SHORT ON PLACES TO PLAY IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR VISITORS, OUR LIFEGUARDS AND OUR REGULAR SWIMMERS AND FAMILY ALCOHOL SALES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN THIS LOCAL CAFE.
SO THAT WAS, UM, UM, BOARD MEMBER FAUST.
AND, UM, THE ONE FROM BOARD MEMBER, UM, TAYLOR IS SHORTER.
AS I MENTIONED, I WILL BE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE BOARD MEETING AS I HAVE A CONFLICT.
THAT MEANS THAT I'D LIKE TO VOICE MY OPINION ON THE PROPOSED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE SALE AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL NEXT TO BARTON SPRINGS POOL.
I AGREE WITH MANY OF THE EMAILS WE RECEIVED ON THIS ISSUE AND AS MINE AND THE FOREIGN SPRINGS TO REMAIN A SAFE SPACE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN'S TO SWIM AND TO LEARN ABOUT AND CONNECT WITH NATURE WITH THE LAX NATURE OF OUR GUN LAWS IN TEXAS, IN A LOT OF THE RECENT SHOOTINGS ON EAST SIXTH STREET, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE INHERENT DANGERS OF ALCOHOL AND GUNS IN PUBLIC PLACES WHERE CHILDREN FREQUENT.
IT IS ONE THING TO SERVE ALCOHOL AT SPECIFIC EVENTS IN THE PARKS WERE PURSES AND BAGS WERE SEARCHED, BUT ANOTHER TO HAVE OPEN ACCESS TO ALCOHOL, IT IS MY
[02:55:01]
FEAR THAT TWO INDIVIDUALS COULD HAVE TOO MUCH ALCOHOL SERVED TO THEM ON ANY GIVEN SUMMER DAY, GET INTO AN ALTERCATION AND THEN PULL OUT A GUN WITH DIRE CONSEQUENCES IN THIS SCENARIO, PLAY OUT ON TOO MANY OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST DECADE.AND THERE I'M NOT COMFORTABLE CONDUCTING, PROMOTING ALCOHOL USE IN OUR PARKS HERE IN TEXAS.
SO THAT WAS FROM BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, FIRST, DO YOU WANT TO SAY, I LOVE ALL THE FOOD ON THAT MENU ON THIS.
IT'S, IT'S JUST SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT WE'D HAD BEFORE AND I'M JUST THRILLED WITH THE, THE VENDOR AND THAT I SEE, I THINK IT'S JUST, UH, A REALLY JUST, I JUST LOVE WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THAT, BUT I'VE LISTENED TO A LOT OF THIS AND I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT, AND I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE AND I'VE DONE, UM, A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE, AS A MEMBER OF BOARD, MY DUTY IS REALLY TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WANT PARKS TO BE A SAFE HAVEN.
THEY WANT OUR PARKS TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE, THE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS THAT KIND OF PERMEATE THROUGH OUR SOCIETY.
THEY WANT TO GO TO SILVER PARK AND THEY WANT TO RIDE THE TRAIN AND THEY WANT TO PLAY SCAPE AND THEY WANT TO GO SWIM AND THEY WANT TO DO ALL AND GO HIKE AND DO ALL THE REALLY GREAT THINGS THAT PARKS HAVE TO OFFER.
AND, AND JUST TO MAKE IT JUST A TIME WITH NATURE, A TIME WITH FUN, A TIME WITH FRIENDS.
AND I, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT PARKS SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT.
AND I LOOK, THERE ARE 17 PLACES WITHIN A TWO MILE RADIUS OF SILVER PARK WHERE YOU CAN GO GET YOURSELF A BEER AND POUR A GLASS OF WINE AND SIT DOWN AND DRINK A SHORT HI TO MANY OF THEM.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO CROSS THE RIVER.
THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE JUST RIGHT THERE.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT, UM, AS MUCH AS I, I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE THINK IT'S A REALLY NICE IDEA TO SIT AND HAVE A GLASS AND WATCH THEIR KIDS PLAY.
I UNFORTUNATELY WAS NEVER ONE OF THOSE PARENTS.
MY KIDS WOULD NEVER LET ME SIT FOR FIVE MINUTES WITHOUT HAVING TO SHOW ME SOMETHING OR DEMONSTRATE SOMETHING OR BANGING THEIR HEAD AGAINST SOMETHING.
AND IT WAS, I NEVER HAD RELAXED IN TIMES LIKE THAT AT THE PARK, BUT I'M SURE THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT DO, AND I TOTALLY TOTALLY GET THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO OPEN THE STORE FOR US TO SET A PRECEDENT THAT SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT SILVER PARK AND THEN GO DOWN THAT ROAD OF OFFERING IT AT OTHER PARKS.
I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
UM, I'M DEFINITELY NOT THERE YET.
UM, AND SO I, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE SO MANY OTHER PLACES TO GO, IF IT WASN'T THAT THIS COULD BE A PLACE THAT CAN BE SMOOTHIES AND ALL THAT REALLY GREAT FOOD AND ALL THE HEALTH STUFF OBS HEALTHY OPTIONS, AND THEY CAN GO SWIM AND DO THINGS HEALTHY AND LIGHT.
I'M VERY AWARE THAT PEOPLE COME INTO THE PARK AND SNEAK ALCOHOL AND THEIR WATER BOTTLES OR WHATEVER IT IS.
THAT'S JUST KIND OF THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.
I'M ALSO VERY AWARE THAT WE THERE'S NO WAY WE REALLY WOULD BE ABLE TO THIS WEEK, WE HAVE ENOUGH AS SOMEBODY WHO SAID, WE CAN'T MAKE DOGS ON LEASHES IN OUR PARKS, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
WE UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH OUR GRANGERS AND WE HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE IN SOCCER PARKS.
SO I AM JUST, HONESTLY, I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT AT THIS POINT.
SO I, I I'M, I I'M JUST IN NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT AT THIS TIME.
SO HAVING SAID ALL THAT, ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM ANYBODY? YEAH, I HAVE ONE MORE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT CAME UP IN BOARD MEMBER
UM, IF ANY, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO US TO COMMUNICATE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS A BOARD.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS WAS YOUR INTENTION BOARD MEMBER IN, UM, IN USING THIS TERMINOLOGY, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T LIKE WE ARE HERE, UM, TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AND TRY OUR BEST TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY'S INTEREST.
AND SO IF YOU'RE A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO'S SPEAKING TO US AS A CITIZEN, YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE A PERFECT, YOU KNOW, WELL-THOUGHT OUT CRITICAL THINKING SORT OF REASON FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE IN A PARK, IT'S OKAY TO COME TO US OR TO COME TO ANY BORDER COMMISSION OR COME TO YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT I WANT BECAUSE I WANT IT.
AND IT'S, UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO SEE IN MY COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T NEED TO OVERTHINK IT.
YOU DON'T NEED TO MAKE IT PERFECT.
YOU DON'T NEED TO WRITE A PAPER.
THAT'S GOING TO GET YOU AN A IN YOUR CRITICAL THINKING CLASS.
YOU CAN JUST COME IN AND TELL US WHAT IT IS THAT YOU DESIRE.
SO I THINK, UM, I THINK THAT'S, I WANTED TO GET THAT OUT THERE IN TERMS OF JUST AN ACCESSIBILITY AND MESSAGE OF WELCOMING TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS YOUR INTENTION TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY HAD TO BRING US A PERFECT STATEMENT, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE FOR US TO BE EXPLICIT
[03:00:01]
ABOUT THAT.AND I DID NOT MEAN IT THAT WAY.
WHAT I MEANT I'M KEEPING, I WAS KEEPING NOTES HERE.
AND I HAVE BEEN SAYING, I LITERALLY SPENT THE LAST TWO DAYS WRITING BACK TO EVERYBODY THAT I COULD WRITE BACK TO.
AND I WAS MAKING NOTES OF WHAT THEY SAID, AND THERE WERE NO COMMENTS EXCEPT FOR I WANTED THERE.
AND, AND, AND JUST THINKING ABOUT THE DOWNSIDES VERSUS THE, YOU KNOW, PRO SIDES, THAT'S HOW I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING TO WANT.
IT IT'S ONE THING FOR IT TO BE CONVENIENT, BUT IN MY OPINION, IT DOES NOT OUTWEIGH.
AND IT DOES NOT GIVE US A SOLID FOOTING TO START SERVING ALCOHOL IN A PARK, ESPECIALLY NEAR PLAYSCAPE AND NEAR A POOL.
AND SO I APOLOGIZE IF THAT CAME OFF ANY OTHER WAY THAN THAT.
I DON'T, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY I TEACH ENGLISH, BUT, BUT THAT'S, I WAS JUST MAKING, I'M SORRY THAT I, IF I MADE ANYBODY THAT THAT WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE IN A FRONT AND I APOLOGIZE IF I WAS OFFENSIVE AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ABSOLUTELY YOUR PREROGATIVE AND OUR PREROGATIVE AS BOARD MEMBERS TO WEIGH THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, OPINIONS WHEN WE'RE MAKING A DECISION.
SO YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, I TOTALLY RESPECT THAT.
UM, THEN I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE? GO AHEAD.
SO I APPRECIATE, UH, BOARD MEMBER AND ALDI BRINGING THAT UP IN A SIMILAR VEIN.
I WAS TAKEN ABACK BY THE USE OF DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DISINGENUOUS REGARDING MY POSITION.
UM, AND SO HAVING MADE THAT COMMENT, AND THEN THE OTHER COMMENTS RELATING TO, YOU KNOW, CHAIR LEWIS WITH YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, OR YOU REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY.
UM, I, THEN I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
I'M A COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE BOARD MEMBER.
MR. PALMER IS SOMEBODY WHO TRIES TO REPRESENT COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHO IS TRYING TO REPRESENT WELL, NO, NO, I KNOW, BUT I MEAN, I THINK WE, I, HOPEFULLY WE ALL ARE.
I MEAN, ME AS THE AT-LARGE, I DEFINITELY TRY TO HAVE A COMMUNITY LENS, A SYSTEM LENS.
SO WE HAD A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AND I RESPECT YOUR OPINION ON IT.
I RESPECT BOARD MEMBER COTTON'S SEIBEL'S OPINION ON IT, BUT IT, I GOT TO SAY IT DIFFERENTLY FELT THIS CONVERSATION WASN'T AS COMFORTABLE.
UM, AS I WOULD HAVE HOPED AS FAR AS HAVING A DISCUSSION FOR ME PERSONALLY, MAYBE SOMEBODY HAD THE DIFFERENT DIFFERENCES, RIGHT? WELL, I DID, LET ME JUST SAY REALLY QUICKLY.
I CERTAINLY DIDN'T MEAN TO IMPLY THAT EVERYBODY HAD TO FILL, GET THE SAME SENSE FROM COMMUNITY THAT I DID.
I WAS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY.
AND I PROBABLY DIDN'T SAY IT AS ARTICULATELY OR WELL, AS I SHOULD'VE, I WAS TRYING TO SAY THAT I FEEL LIKE I'M TRYING TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT DO NOT FEEL LIKE THIS MAKES PARKS SAFER.
IT MAKES THEM A BETTER PLACE AND WANT PARTS TO BE A SAFE HAVEN.
THAT'S THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE ACROSS.
I WAS CERTAINLY NOT TRYING TO SAY I REPRESENT EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'M TALKING FOR EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT CAME HERE TODAY AND DID NOT AGREE WITH ME.
SO I, I, IN FACT, DIDN'T COME OUT.
AND I CERTAINLY WAS TRYING TO DENIGRATE ANYTHING THAT YOU SAID, OR ANYBODY ELSE SAID THAT WAS DEFINITELY NOT MY INTENTION.
SOMETHING BOARD MEMBER, COTTON CYCLE.
OH, I JUST THINK, I THINK WHAT I SAID WAS DISINGENUOUS IS THE ARGUMENT THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT LITTLE PERIMETER IS GOING TO KEEP THE ALCOHOL THERE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT TRUE.
AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT, SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M REFERRING TO.
I DIDN'T HAVE IT IN THAT CONTEXT.
I ACTUALLY HAD TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT ARGUMENT, BUT, UM, APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION.
SO ANYWAYS, NO, I MEAN, I, I TOTALLY RESPECT EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD AND I CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT TO, I PROBABLY JUST WAS, DIDN'T SAY CLEARLY, SO.
SO LET'S, NOW THAT WE'RE THERE, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? NO.
DO WE HAVE, UM, ANYBODY WANT TO, UM, PUT FORTH A MOTION? YEAH, I'LL PUT THE MOTION FORWARD.
I WAS GOING TO PUT A MOTION TO, OKAY.
I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THIS NOT GO FORWARD AT THIS CUP.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER BENARD.
SO WE WILL, UM, SO LET'S VOTE ALL IN FAVOR OF WARMER COTTON SEIBEL'S MOTION.
WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4 IN FAVOR, SO THAT, AND WHO HAVE ANY OPPOSED? I POSE BOTH TWO OPPOSED.
[03:05:03]
WHICH IS ALWAYS WELL, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY, AND I PLAYED IT.I TALKED TO YOU, UH, WHEN Y'ALL EARLIER ABOUT THIS, BUT I DO THINK IT'S GOOD FOR US TO, TO HAVE THOSE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS, SO, OKAY.
UM, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT IMPORTANT STUFF WHEN IT GETS UNCOMFORTABLE.
SO YES, AND WE DO HAVE RECORD OF, OF NOT ALWAYS DISAGREED.
[B.4. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Department Director regarding the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy's naming of new park features within Waterloo Park.]
TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS, UM, PRESENCE, PATIENT DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR REGARDING THE WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCIES, NAMING OF NEW PARK FEATURES WITHIN WATERLOO PARK.AND WE HAVE, UH, LISA STORE AND EVIE NAZARE I THINK, GIVE US TWO SECONDS.
WE'RE CLEARING OUT THE OLD AND BRINGING IN THE NEW.
WE WERE JUST MOVING A PRESENTERS BACK.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVIE, UH, FROM THE WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY WAS ALSO NOW ABLE TO SPEAK AS WELL.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME RIGHT? GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.
I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT OUR INTERIM CEO, KATHY MILLER IS WITH US TONIGHT AS WELL.
AND WE'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE WATERLOO PARK.
WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, UM, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN BEFORE YOU A FEW TIMES IN THE RECENT MONTHS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, UM, INFORM YOU ALL OR SORT OF GO BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THE HISTORY OF THE CITY'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY.
UM, AND WHEN THAT WAS FORMED, AS WELL AS OUR SORT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT IN 2014, THE CITY FORMALIZED ITS AGREEMENT WITH THE, THEN THE WALNUT CREEK CONSERVANCY.
BUT, UH, NOW KNOWN AS THE WATER IN GREEN CONSERVANCY, UM, IN OUR JOINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH IS THE JDA, UM, AND IT ALSO FORMED THE, UH, WALNUT CREEK LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION AS OUR GOVERNING BOARD AS, AS DELEGATED BY COUNCIL.
SO THAT THAT BODY FOLLOWS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS RULES.
IT MEETS MONTHLY IN PUBLIC AND CONTAINS FIVE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE CITY AND FIVE BY THE CONSERVANCY.
UM, IT ALSO AUTHORIZES FOLKS SUPPORT FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, OPERATIONS, AND MAINTENANCE, AND IT OVERSEES AND GOVERNS SORT OF THE PUBLIC USE AND OPERATIONS OF EVERYTHING THAT WE CALL THE WATERLOO GREENWAY.
AND PART OF THE REASON THERE, UM, IT'S REALLY A LITTLE BIT BROADER THAN THE TYPICAL, UH, PARTNERSHIP THAT WE DO WITH OTHER CONSERVANCIES THAT ARE ONLY AROUND, LET'S SAY ONE PARK, UM, BECAUSE THIS CONTAINS LAND ALL ALONG THE CREEK SHED OF, OF WALLER CREEK.
UM, AND IT CONTAINS REALLY TWO SPONSORING DEPARTMENTS FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
ONE OF THE, ONE OF THEM IS THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, BUT THE OTHER ONE IS THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE, IT'S JUST REALLY THE ROLES OF THE CITY.
[03:10:01]
UM, IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS OF THE WATERLOO GREENWAY OVERALL KIND OF VARY THE WATER.THE GREENWAY, UH, IS GOING TO BE TAKING OVER ALL OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING WATERLOO PARK, UM, WHICH WILL BE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF TOMORROW.
WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL THE MISSION OF WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY, UM, AND TO EMPHASIZE THAT IT IS OUR MISSION TO CREATE AND MANTECH MAINTAIN AN EXTRAORDINARY URBAN PARK SYSTEM AND A RESTORED WALLER CREEK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE CONSERVANCY RENEWS, THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT PROMOTES PLAY HEALTH AND WELLNESS, ECONOMIC VITALITY, AND MOBILITY, AND ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTREACH EDUCATION, CULTURAL EVENTS, AND THE ARTS NEXT SLIDE.
WATERLOO GREENVILLE IS A PARK SYSTEM THAT IS 1.5 MILES LONG AND IS A CONNECTION OF FOUR PARKS AND TRAILS FROM 15TH.
AND BETWEEN TRINITY AND RED RIVER DOWN TO LADY BIRD LAKE WATERLOO PARK IS THE LARGEST PARK IN THE PARK SYSTEM AND IS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PARK SYSTEM TO OPEN.
AND AS LISA MENTIONED, WE'LL BE OPENING LATER THIS SUMMER ON AUGUST 14TH.
SHE WAS KIND OF, WELL, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT PUT TOGETHER A REALLY HELPFUL GUIDE, UM, THAT OUTLINES THE NAMING OF ALL SORTS OF PARK FEATURES, UM, PARKS, THEMSELVES, ET CETERA, AND THE STEPS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO DO THAT.
WE'VE ATTACHED THAT, UH, TO THIS ITEM AS BACKUP.
SO I THINK YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THAT BEFORE, BUT WE ALSO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE AREA HERE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS BEING OF NEW PART OF FEATURES.
SO EITHER ELEMENTS WITHIN WATERLOO PARKING THAT WERE CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF OUR PROJECT, UM, THAT DID NOT EXIST PREVIOUSLY.
AND SO THESE ARE THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING, UM, MOONING SPARK BECAUSE OF THIS PROCESS, UH, REALLY IT REQUIRES, IT REQUIRES ACCORDANCE WITH THE CODE.
UM, IT REQUIRES AN APPLICATION BEING SUBMITTED TO THE PARKS DIRECTOR.
A FORM THAT CHRISTINE PUT TOGETHER, WHICH IS FABULOUS.
UM, THE NOTIFIES, THE PARKS BOARD AS BEST PRACTICE AND MAY ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED THESE THINGS.
IN ADDITION, AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE GOT A JOINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT OR JDA WITH THE CONSERVANCY.
IT INCLUDES THE SECTION ON NAMING AUTHORITY, WHICH GRANTS, THE CONSERVANCY, THE RIGHT BETWEEN OUR PARTNERSHIP TO NAME PARKS, FACILITIES, AND FEATURES WITHIN THE GREEN WAY THAT ARE NOT ALREADY NAMED.
IT STILL REQUIRES US TO MEET CITY CODE REQUIREMENTS.
SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE WOULD BE DOING.
SO FOR ANY OTHER PARK FEATURE, BUT, UM, IT REQUIRES THAT THOSE PROPOSED NAMES BE APPROVED PER CITY CODE.
AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE FUNDED VIA TAX EXEMPT FUNDING.
SO THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE PARK FEATURES THEMSELVES.
UM, AND AS I SAID, IT FOLLOWS THE PROCESS OUTLINED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, UH, WITH OUR DIRECTOR APPROVAL.
SO NEXT SLIDE, OR BEFORE WE GO THROUGH THE LIST OF NAME FEATURES.
I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, EXTRAORDINARY PARK SYSTEMS AND PUBLIC SPACES LIKE WATERLOO, GREENWAY, UM, ARE, ARE REALLY REQUIRE NOT ONLY PUBLIC SUPPORT, BUT ALSO PRIVATE, PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT AND NAMED FEATURES ARE KEY TO WATERLOO, GREENWAY CONSERVANCIES, PRIVATE FUNDRAISING, AND KEY TO OUR ABILITY TO NOT ONLY KEEP OUR COMMITMENT TO PART, BUT TO KEEP OUR COMMITMENT TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THE FIRST NAME FEATURE, UM, THAT WE, UM, HAVE A PROPOSED NAME FOR IS THE AMPHITHEATER ITSELF.
AND THAT IS NUMBER ONE ON THE MAP YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
AND OUR PROPOSED NAME IS MOODY AMPHITHEATER IN RECOGNITION OF A GIFT FROM THE MOODY FOUNDATION.
THE SECOND FEATURE IS THE AMPHITHEATER PLAZA.
IT'S NUMBER TWO ON THE MAP AND OUR PROPOSED NAME IS MATTSON MCHALE PLAZA IN RECOGNITION OF A GIFT FROM THE MATTSON MCHALE FOUNDATION.
[03:15:02]
NUMBER THREE IS THE CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND.THE PROPOSED NAME IS KITTY KING POWER LAWN IN RECOGNITION OF A GIFT FROM KITTY KING POWELL.
NUMBER FOUR IS THE HILL COUNTRY GARDEN.
THE PROPOSED NAME IS THE JOHNSON FAMILY HEAL COUNTRY GARDEN IN RECOGNITION OF A GIFT FROM LUCY BAINES JOHNSON.
NUMBER FIVE IS THE COMMUNITY PLAZA.
THE PROPOSED NAME IS LOWELL H LEVERMAN JR PLAZA IN RECOGNITION OF A GIFT FROM THE LEVERMAN FOUNDATION.
NUMBER SIX IS THE SKYWALK THE PROPOSED NAME, SUZANNE DEAL BOOTH SKYWALK IN RECOGNITION OF A GIFT FROM SUZANNE DEAL BOOTH.
NUMBER SEVEN IS THE HERITAGE TREE DECK AND WITH THE PROPOSED NAME OF MEREDITH PLAZA IN RECOGNITION OF A GIFT FROM LYNN AND TOM MEREDITH.
NUMBER EIGHT IS THE 12TH AND TRINITY STREET ENTRANCE TO THE PARK, THE PROPOSED NAME, THE ROSEMARY AND RUSSELL DOUGLAS FAMILY GAIT AND RECOGNITION OF A GIFT FROM ROSEMARY AND RUSSELL DOUGLAS.
NUMBER NINE IS THE 14TH STREET BRIDGE ENTRANCE TO THE PARK TO BE, UH, THE PROPOSED NAME IS FARMER BRIDGE IN RECOGNITION OF A GIFT FROM SUSAN AND GARY FARMER.
AND NUMBER 10, THE WETLAND TERRACE OR PROPOSED NAME IS THE WINKLER FAMILY WETLAND TERRACE IN HONOR OF IN RECOGNITION OF A GIFT FROM PEGGY AND MATT WINKLER.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR, OUR PRESENTATION HERE IS THE MAP THAT I WAS REFERENCING, UM, THAT SHOWCASES ALL OF THOSE NAMED FEATURES.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION AND ARE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE, UM, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
SO YES, LET'S SEE IF WE DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
I, UM, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH, UM, BOARD MEMBER, UM, UH, THE CARLA, THANK YOU.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF GRIEF QUESTIONS, UM, OR THE FEATURES, UM, ARE WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR, FOR RECOGNIZING THOSE INDIVIDUALS, WE HAVE PLAQUES AT THOSE SPECIFIED PLACES OR, OR SOMETHING ELSE.
AND THEN, UM, WHAT ARE THE PROPOSED COSTS FOR THOSE AND, AND, AND I GUESS WHO WAS COVERING THOSE? YES.
YEAH, THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS.
UM, THE CONSERVANCY IS COVERING THE COSTS FOR THE SIGNAGE AND THE FABRICATION FOR THE SIGNAGE.
THE SIGNAGE WILL BE AT EACH LOCATION AND IT'S THEIR, THEIR LETTERS ON, ON THE STONE, UM, NEAR THE SITE.
SO TH THEY ARE DIFF DIFFERENT IN SOME LOCATIONS, BUT THE MAJORITY ARE ENGRAVED IN THE STONE, UH, NEAR THE SITE AND BOARD MEMBER TO CARLO.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, IT'S ALSO BEEN DESIGNED INTO THE PARK.
SO, UM, THESE ARE ELEMENTS THAT OUR DESIGN TEAM, UH, LED BY MICHAEL VAN VALKENBURGH ASSOCIATES, BUT ALSO WITH BRUCE MOUND DESIGN, UM, AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER HAS WORKED VERY CAREFULLY INTO THE PARK.
IT'S INTEGRATED INTO THE PARK.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE STONES THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED? YES.
THEY'RE A PART, THEY ARE IN THE DESIGN OF THE PARK.
THE STONES ARE PART OF THE PARK DESIGN AND WE'RE ENGRAVING INTO THAT EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THEN JUST ONE MORE KIND OF RANDOM CURIOUS QUESTION.
I JUST NOTICED THAT LIKE THE PLATE CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND IS, IS BEING NAMED AS THE LAWN.
UM, DOESN'T REALLY SEEM INDICATIVE OF WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.
SO JUST WONDERING WHAT, WHAT THAT IS ABOUT, UH, IT WAS JUST THE, THE CHOICE TO NAME THAT LAWN THAT IS ALSO THE, THE, THE SOUTHERN WALL ON, IN THE PARK.
AND, UM, AND IT IS, UH, IT DOES HAVE CHILDREN'S PLAY FEATURES ON IT, BUT THERE IT IS ALSO A GREEN LAWN.
UM, AND SO, UH, WE, WE CHOSE TO NAME IT THAT THE KITTY KING POWELL LAWN.
THAT'S THE, ALL THE QUESTIONS I
[03:20:01]
HAVE.UM, REMEMBER RINALDI, UM, WORK NUMBER DECARLO, UM, ASKED WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SO MANY CONVERSATIONS REGARDING DONOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND SURROUNDING EQUITY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL NAMES IN AUSTIN.
UM, AND SO IT'S, UH, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHY THEY WANT, YOU KNOW, OR NOT THEY'D WANT, BUT WHY ARE THEY, WHY AN APPLICATION HAS BEEN SENT IN, UH, WHAT THEIR NAMES ATTACHED TO IT AND IN ORDER TO RECOGNIZE THEM FURTHER, NOT JUST THE DONATION, BUT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
UM, I AM KIND OF CURIOUS NOW KIND OF REALLY CURIOUS ON HOW DID, HOW DO ALL THESE NAMES IN ANY FUTURE NAMES REALLY ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON? YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE BORDERLINE GOING TO EAST AUSTIN.
AND, UM, HOW DOES, HOW WHAT'S THE PLAN TO MAKE THIS PARK FEEL INCLUSIVE WHEN YOU WALK AROUND AND YOU DON'T SEE ANY LATINO NAMES, YOU KNOW, IT'S, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S SOME AFRICAN-AMERICAN NUMBER, SOME ASIAN NAMES.
I DIDN'T SEE ANY, SEE ANYTHING, BUT IS THERE A PLAN FOR THAT OR, I MEAN, THAT'S MY TROUBLE, I'M REALLY CONFLICTED HERE.
UM, AND I RESPECT ALL THESE PEOPLE BEING NOMINEE.
I MEAN, THAT HA HAVE HAD AN APPLICATION FILED IN FILE.
UM, THEY REALLY HAVE DONE A LOT AS AT THIS PARK HAS BEEN A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A LEGACY PARK OR THE NEW RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN, BUT I STILL JUST HUNG UP ON THIS.
WILL I FEEL WELCOMED, OR MY KIDS FEEL WELCOMED WITH IT WILL FAMILIES FROM SOUTHEAST AUSTIN FEEL WELCOME OR FAMILIES FROM EAST AUSTIN, BUT WE'RE BASICALLY ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE A CAUCASIAN SOUNDING NAME.
WILL THEY FEEL WELCOMED IN THIS PLACE? WELL, UM, OUR INTERIM CEO, UM, KATHY MILLER, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
AND SO IF WE COULD UNMUTE HER, I WOULD LIKE FOR HER TO SPEAK AND, AND DRESS THIS IMPORTANT QUESTION.
I THINK THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
UM, I AM THE INTERIM CEO FROM CATHY MILLER, SO HI EVERYBODY.
UM, I THINK THERE'S A FEW THINGS TO NOTE HERE.
UH, ONE, THERE ARE FEATURES IN THE PARK THAT REMAIN UNNAMED AND CAN BE NAMED, AND I THINK WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR CITY OF AUSTIN PARTNERS TO THINK THROUGH THE ABILITY TO NAME THOSE FOR, UM, OTHER IMPORTANT FIGURES, MAYBE IN A NON PHILANTHROPIC WAY.
UM, WE HAVE NOT DEVELOPED THAT PROCESS IN ALL HONESTY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST CAME IN THREE MONTHS AGO, BUT I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.
AND I GUESS THAT'S THE CHALLENGE LIKE ACROSS THAT IT'S ALWAYS THE AFTERTHOUGHT AND IN COMING INTO IT AND YOU KNOW, YOU DO, I MEAN, THERE IS THE WEALTH HERE.
I MEAN, THIS DEFINITELY REPRESENTS AUSTIN'S WEALTH.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS THE, YOU KNOW, THE PARK, THE, THE BOARD DOES THE CONSERVANCY BOARD, BUT THE CONSERVANCY BOARD STILL DOES HAVE SOME FOLKS WHO, WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL, WHO HAVE TO HAVE A TEAM, FINANCIAL SECURITY, I DON'T KNOW THEIR WEALTH STATUS, BUT THAT ARE DIVERSE.
AND SO, BUT EVEN JUST THAT TIE IN, AND I'M JUST, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED, UM, FRANKLY, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR WATERLOO AND WALLER AND THE CONNECTIVITY TO EAST AUSTIN.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED TRYING TO RESOLVE ISSUES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THIS CONSERVANCY IN THIS PARK.
AND SO, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT'S THE EVENING, BUT I FEEL, I FEEL A LITTLE LET DOWN ON, ON THE WHOLE THING AND THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ACTIVE PROCESS THAT THEY MAYBE THERE SHOULD'VE BEEN A SOLICITATION COMING FOR THE DONUT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IF WAS IN YOUR POSITION, KATHY I'D HAVE DONE THE SAME BOARD MEMBER DIPLOMA.
I, UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'VE ONLY BEEN AROUND, THIS IS ONLY MY SECOND, UM, PARKS AND REC BOARD MEETING.
UM, HOWEVER I HAVE HEARD YOUR ADVOCACY FOR WATERLOO AND GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
[03:25:01]
AND REALLY TO ALL OF YOU, YOU'VE ALL BEEN INCREDIBLE ADVOCATES FOR WATERLOO, AND YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT A CAN BRING.I MEAN, ON THE ONE HAND, WE HAVE TO FACE THE REALITY THAT THE PHILANTHROPIC GIFTS MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR PARK TO BE MORE WELCOMING FOR EVERYONE AND WILL ALLOW US TO DO PROGRAMMING AND ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE THIS PARK, UM, WELCOMING TO ALL OF AUSTIN.
ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU'RE 100% CORRECT THAT TO DATE.
UM, THE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY BASED IN THE PHILANTHROPIC SIDE AND HAVE NOT BEEN BASED IN THE OTHER PUBLIC SPACE MIGHT HAVE SELF NOMINATED TO JOIN THE COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE WORKING ON THAT.
YEAH, I MEAN, IN PROBABLY PART OF IT, IT'S THAT THE NOMINATION PROCESS, I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST THE COMMUTATION PROCESS, BUT LIKE EVEN THE DONOR RECOGNITION COMPONENT, LIKE THIS IS LIKE HOW MANY OF THESE NAMES ARE BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, THEY WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO HELP ME WITH THAT FROM ONE TO TWO OR FORUM ACTUALLY, OR FORMER BOARD MEMBERS OR BOARD MEMBERS.
IS THAT RIGHT? FOUR, I'M SORRY.
I, BUT YOUR, I THINK YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN.
I ACTUALLY FEEL BETTER THE FACT THAT IT'S ONLY FOR THE 10, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT IT EQUAL SITUATION.
HI, THERE'S A FORMER BOARD MEMBER.
UM, SO THERE WERE FIVE, SO HALF OF THE NOMINATIONS ARE FORMER OR CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, AND SO IT'S LIKE THAT ACCESSIBILITY TO DO THE DONATION.
AND I THINK THAT'S MY, KIND OF THE CHALLENGE.
LIKE THEY'RE PART OF THE, YOU KNOW, THEY NEAR THAT BOARD MEMBER, PART OF IT IS THAT WE DO SHARE A DUTY AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL THEM THAT THEY THEY'RE ON EVERY BOARD, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S THAT FIDUCIARY DUTY AND THAT, THAT GIFT, BECAUSE IT ALIGNS WITH YOUR PASSION AND YOUR MISSION, SIMILAR TO WHY WE SERVE ON THE PARKS BOARD, ALIGNS WITH OUR PASSION AND WE SUPPORT THE MISSION.
UM, AND SO, AND I KNOW I DON'T WANT TO KEEP DRUMMING THIS, BUT I FEEL COMPELLED TO DO IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO WHEN WE'RE OUTWARD LOOKING AS FAR AS, HEY, WE WERE LOOKING FOR, AND I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN, I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE WHEN YOU'VE APPLIED TO, FOR THE MOODY FOUNDATION FUNDING, YOU'VE APPLIED FOR THE, YOU KNOW, THE LIEBERMAN FOUNDATION, YOU KNOW, FUNDING, BUT LIKE THAT, BUT LIKE THAT OUTSIDE THE HERE'S THE OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO PARTICIPATE TO, YOU KNOW, SPONSOR THIS CAPITAL PROJECT.
UM, YEAH, WE PUT IT IN THE GUIDELINES IF YOU CONTRIBUTE.
SO I'M GOING TO ALL VOTE FOR IT, YOU KNOW, UH, BECAUSE WE'VE HAVE IT IN THE GUIDELINES, BUT IN THESE GUIDELINES, YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE SAY, IF YOU CONTRIBUTE THIS MUCH MONEY, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO KNOWLEDGE AS SOON AS, YOU KNOW, MEET X, Y, AND Z, BUT I DO HAVE A PROBLEM, LIKE WHO GETS INVITED TO GIVE.
SO ANYWAY, YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO, TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME WAY, AND I'LL BE QUIET FROM NOW, SO I CAN LISTEN TO THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES BOARD MEMBER DIPLOMA.
I WANT TO, I WANT TO BOTH, UH, FIRST THANK YOU.
UM, AND ACKNOWLEDGE, THIS IS A, THIS IS A TROUBLING THING FOR STAFF MEMBERS AS WELL, BUT TO ALSO SAY THAT ONCE THE PARK IS OPEN, RIGHT, AND THE PROMISE THAT IT OFFERS, I THINK THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTRACT MORE FOLKS.
SO THE FACT THAT FIVE OF THEM ARE BOARD MEMBERS OR FOUR FORMER BOARD MEMBERS.
ISN'T SURPRISING BECAUSE THERE WASN'T THIS, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFUL THING THAT FOLKS COULD SEE AND I'M HOPING FOR THE ORGANIZATION WHILE I'M, WON'T BE THERE FOREVER THAT, UM, TH THE, THE PARK BEING OPEN AND IT BEING ACTUALLY GOING TO BE GOOD.
AND IT BEING PROGRAMMED WILL OPEN THE DOOR TO, UM, BOTH WATERLOO, GREENWAY CONSERVANCY, CASTING, A BROADER NET, AND SOME MORE FOLKS RIGHT.
EXPERIENCING WHAT IT BRINGS TO THE CITY AND, AND PARTICIPATING IN THAT WAY.
SO THAT'S ONE WAY TO NAME, BUT ANOTHER WAY TO NAME IS TO JUST, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT HONORING AUSTIN FOLKS AND OUR CULTURE AND OUR HISTORY THROUGHOUT THE GREENWAY.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS, AND I DO WANT TO REITERATE EVERY SINGLE, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, BUT THAT THE AUSTINITES THAT I DO KNOW.
I MEAN, THEY, THEY DESERVE THE HONOR FOR THE HONOR ITSELF FOR WHAT THEY'VE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND IT'S JUST, IT'S REALLY, I, I HAVE, MY BRAIN IS A COMPLEX, A COMPLEX MESS RIGHT NOW, BRIAN, TO WRAP AROUND THESE CONFLICTING IDEALS THAT I HAVE
[03:30:01]
SOME, SORRY.WELL, ONE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY A BOARD MEMBER DEPALMA IS THAT, UM, THAT, UH, THE, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT AND HELP BUILD THIS PARK SYSTEM FOR WHICH WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 47 MILLION LEFT TO RAISE IS OPEN TO EVERYONE.
AND IT, THAT IT, THAT IS VERY TRUE.
UM, AND IT, IT IS TRULY OPEN TO EVERYONE AND WE ARE SEEKING SUPPORT, UM, AS BROADLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, UM, BECAUSE IT'S A, IT'S A VERY LARGE NUMBER WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO, TO COMPLETE THIS PARK SYSTEM AND, AND REVITALIZE WALLER CREEK.
SO I DO WANT TO SAY, UM, BOARD THAT IT IS NOW, UH, 9 0 5, AND I THINK WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT NINE 30.
AND SO WE JUST, WE MAY HAVE TO MOVE A COUPLE OF THESE ITEMS, UM, TO A LATER MEETING.
AND I, I KNOW I HAD TALKED TO VICE CHAIR, THE PAMA THAT WE MAY NEED TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING UNTIL I, WE NEVER SEEM TO BE ABLE TO COVER EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO COVER BOTH FOR WHAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT NEEDS FOR US TO COVER AS WELL AS OTHER ISSUES THAT POP UP.
SO WE TRADITIONALLY DON'T MEAN IN JULY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY HAVE TO, AND WE MAY HAVE TO, TO MOVE, UM, AT LEAST ONE OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE STILL ON THE AGENDA TO THAT MEETING, AS WELL AS A COUPLE OTHER THINGS, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL GO BACK TO, UM, ANYBODY'S QUESTION FOR MEMBER.
YEAH, I HAD, I HAD, UM, I HAD WRITTEN DOWN SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT BOARD MEMBER DEPALMA BROUGHT UP, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT FEATURES ARE NAMED AFTER PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK, AS I'M LISTENING TO THIS CONVERSATION IS I'M WONDERING, I MEAN, THIS IS THE SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR THIS, RIGHT.
BUT WE HAD, AS A BOARD TALKED ABOUT HOW, UM, UH, BOARD MEMBER TO CARLO LED ACTUALLY A RENAMING PROCESS, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT IS IF IT GOT IN ACTED OR NOT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WAS, UM, FINDING WAYS TO HONOR IN THE PARKS, YOU KNOW, HISTORY, THE HISTORY OF THE CITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO I'M THINKING, AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE STILL OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS IS, THIS IS PROBABLY NOT EXACTLY THE RIGHT THING, BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE UT HAS THE BRICKS WHERE YOU CAN DONATE TO THE, YOU KNOW, TO THE ALUMNI CENTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I'M WONDERING IF SMALL DONATION, IF THERE'S A PLACE TO MARK SOME OF THAT NOW TOO, TO LET PEOPLE BE A PART OF IT IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN'T, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T ALL BE A LITTLE LEVERMAN, YOU KNOW, BUT PERHAPS WE CAN MAKE A HUNDRED DOLLARS DONATION FOR A BRICK OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT INTO PLACE.
AND THE OTHER WAY, I THINK, TOO, THAT WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BREAK THIS CYCLE, THIS SYSTEM OF ONLY NAMING IT AFTER THE WEALTHY WHITE FOLKS.
AND, UM, I'M WONDERING IF MAYBE WE SHOULD THINK OF A DIFFERENT WAY TO HONOR THOSE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF NAMING EVERYTHING AFTER THEM.
SO I KNOW THIS IS SORT OF RADICAL TO THINK ABOUT, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF, OF, OF CONSIDERING HOW TO HONOR THESE PEOPLE GOING FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, I REALIZED THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE SOLICITING THESE DONATIONS AND THAT IT'S NICE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, BUDDHI AUDITORIUM AND I KNOW THE MOODY'S HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY GENEROUS.
I'M NOT KNOCKING ANY OF THESE PEOPLE, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF WAYS THAT WE CAN FUND, YOU KNOW, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT BUILT THE CITY TOO, THAT MAY NOT BE WEALTHY, YOU KNOW, CAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER WAY THAT PEOPLE GET LEFT BEHIND US NOT BEING, YOU KNOW, ECONOMICALLY ADVANTAGE.
SO THAT WAS MY YES, AND THOSE ARE VERY, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT POINTS.
AND WE, UM, THE INSCRIPTION ON THE GREAT WALL OF THE MOODY AMPHITHEATER IS THAT WILL BE, UM, YOU KNOW, A PART OF THE PARK IS A CELEBRATION FOR EVERYONE IN AUSTIN HELP HELPING TO BUILD THIS PARK.
UM, AND IS IT W IS MEANT TO BE A GREAT, UM, RECOGNITION OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE WATERLOO POSSIBLE.
AND THAT WATERLOO IS FOR EVERYONE.
SO WE HAVE HAVE SOME REAL INTENTIONALITY IN THAT, IN THAT RESPECT.
UM, WE ALSO DO HAVE OTHER GIVING OPPORTUNITIES AND PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR MARK IN THE PARK.
AND SO I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT AS WELL.
WE WILL BE, UM, UNVEILING A PROGRAM THAT IS SORT OF OUR VERSION OF THE BRICK PROGRAM THAT YOU MENTIONED.
UM, WE'RE CALLING IT AUSTIN STORY WINE, AND PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A GIFT AND INSCRIBE A MESSAGE TO CELEBRATE, UM, YOU KNOW, A MAJOR LIFE MILESTONE OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND, AND IT WILL BE A LONG, THE CURB SIDE ALONG
[03:35:01]
THE PATHWAYS IN THE PARK.AND SO OVER TIME IT WILL BECOME A GREAT STORY OF, OF ALL OF THESE INCREDIBLE, UM, MILESTONES IN THE LIVES OF ALL OF AUSTINITES.
AND SO IT'S, IT IS MEANT TO BE A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN, UM, CAN, CAN FEEL WELCOME AND, AND MAKE THEIR MARK SO TO SPEAK AND BOARD MEMBERS.
CIBO, THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IN PHILANTHROPY TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES AREN'T, UM, A CARROT THAT IS SUCCESSFUL.
AND, UM, I CAN SAY THAT WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY IS VERY COMMITTED TO WORKING TO, UM, KIND OF BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE PHILANTHROPIC STRATEGY.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS TREMENDOUSLY ALL THE WAY FROM, YOU KNOW, COUNTING VOLUNTEER HOURS TOWARD MEMBERSHIP AND, YOU KNOW, THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP THROUGH THE STORYLINE THAT EVIE HAS TALKED ABOUT, BUT THIS IS A CHALLENGE.
AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S A VERY BIG CHALLENGE FOR FOLKS TRYING TO RAISE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CAPITAL.
HOW ARE YOU DOING THE OUTREACH, UH, OUTREACH FOR FUNDING OR OUTREACH IN GENERAL, BUT THE, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MAKING IT MORE INCLUSIVE.
AND SO I'M CURIOUS WHAT KIND OF OUTREACH YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT TO MAKE THAT MORE INCLUSIVE.
SO WE'RE BRINGING IN AN ANNUAL FUND COORDINATOR WHO CAN HELP US DO A LOT MORE KIND OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PARTNER WITH OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS SO THAT WE CAN BE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF IN COMMUNITY AS A PARTNER AND NOT LEAD WITH THE ASK, BUT LEAD WITH PARTNERSHIP, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE GIVE TO EACH OTHER.
UM, AND THAT WILL BE AN ENTIRE POSITION WITHIN, UM, AN A DIRECTOR LEVEL POSITION WITHIN WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY.
UM, WE'RE ALSO BUILDING OUT A VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AND HONORING PROGRAM WHERE HOURS YOU GIVE MERIT MONEY, YOU GIVE RIGHT.
SO, UM, THE WHO WE'RE ASKING IS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE NOT LAUNCHED FULLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I'VE DONE NONPROFIT WORK IN AUSTIN FOR, UH, 32 YEARS, UM, WE, I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE, BUT WE HAVEN'T LAUNCHED FULLY, BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN FOCUSES OF OUR ANNUAL GIVING PROGRAM TO BE, TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO AUSTIN NIGHTS.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU CAN GIVE $25 AND BE A PART OF THIS PARK, AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL THAT AND CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE IT DOESN'T JUST FEEL LIKE GIVING, BUT IT FEELS LIKE PARTICIPATING IN THIS THING THAT IS WATERLOO PARK AND THE GREEN BAY IN GENERAL.
UM, BOARD MEMBER, UM, BERNARD, UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I REALLY LIKED THE IDEA OF, UM, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE AT ALL INCOME LEVELS TO BUY IN AND FEEL LIKE THEY GET TO PARTICIPATE IN, UH, BUILDING THE PARK AS WELL, TOO.
UM, SO I REALLY LIKED THAT IDEA.
AND BOARD MEMBER DID A HOOK, RIGHT? DID I SKIP ANYBODY? I'M SORRY.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO JUST KIND OF ECHO OR REALLY REITERATE WHAT, WHAT, UM, VICE CHAIR DIPLOMA SET.
I THINK THE POINTS THAT HE RAISED IN THAT ALSO BOARD MEMBER AT COTTON SEIBEL RAISED ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND TO MAKE, BECAUSE IT'S ART, IT'S A CITY PARK, MINE WANT EVERYBODY TO FEEL WELCOME AND YOU DON'T HAVE EVER HAVE YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS OR FEEL RECOGNIZED BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY TO GIVE IT JUST KIND OF DETRACTS A LITTLE BIT FROM PEOPLE'S COMFORT LEVELS.
SO IT'S, UM, I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY AND ALL OUR PRODUCTS THAT I FEEL IT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE.
AND I DO WAS THERE A, UM, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
SO WAS THERE A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT YOU DONATE IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO HAVE SOMETHING NAMED AFTER YOU? IT IS THE DISCRETION OF THE CONSERVANCY.
UM, BUT THERE, THERE IS, THERE ARE GIVING AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN NAMING OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, BUT IT'S ULTIMATELY THE DISCRETION OF THE CONSERVANCY.
AND SO I DO WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE ACTUALLY STARTED THIS CONVERSATION PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.
THERE ARE REMAINING NAMING OPPORTUNITIES IN WATERLOO
[03:40:01]
PARK, AND WE WILL CERTAINLY COME BACK TO YOU ALL.UM, WHEN, WHEN WITH OUR NEXT BATCH, WITH ALL OF THIS THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION IN MIND, SO THERE ARE REMAINING NAMING OPPORTUNITIES LEFT IN WATERLOO PARK, BUT I ALSO, EXCUSE ME, CHARCUTERIE LEWIS.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THE, UM, THERE'S AN INDEPENDENT DOCUMENT THAT WAS POSTED AS BACK UP FOR THIS ITEM THAT LISTS EACH OF THE NAMES.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE WAS A PARTICULAR AMOUNT.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IS UP TO THE DISCRETION.
SO WE, WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE COULD RECOGNIZE SOMEONE WITH A NAMED FEATURE FOR REASONS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO PHILANTHROPY.
AND SO, AND THESE SIGNAGE AND ALL THIS STILL FOLLOWS ALL PARK DEPARTMENT RULES AND SPECIFICATIONS, RIGHT.
SO WE, UM, ANY MORE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ABOUT THAT? DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION? OKAY.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO RECOMMEND, TO EXCLUDE.
I'M JUST CLARIFYING THAT THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED NAMING OF THESE, UM, THESE 12 PARK FEATURES, RIGHT? I THINK I'M SORRY.
BOARD MEMBERS FOR ONE QUICK CLARIFICATION, THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO RECOMMEND THEIR APPROVAL TO THE DIRECTOR, TO THE DIRECTOR.
DIRECTOR IS THE ONE WHO APPROVES THIS.
SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND FOR PEOPLE TO THE DIRECTOR? WE DO HAVE A MOTION BOARD MEMBER RINALDI.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE DO HAVE A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBERS TO CARLA.
DO WE HAVE, UM, ALL IN FAVOR? SO WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, WE HAVE FIVE IN FAVOR.
SO WE HAVE FIVE AND FAVOR ZERO OPPOSED ABSTAINED.
AND I, I DO HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THAT YOU REALLY PUT SOME CONSIDERATION INTO THE POINTS OF THAT VICE CHAIR MADE AND WE ALL AGREED WITH, SO THANK YOU.
SO AT THIS, WE, IT IS NOW NINE 17 LADIES AND ONE GENTLEMEN.
SO I THINK WE REALLY JUST DON'T REALLY HAVE, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TIME TO DELVE INTO THE, EITHER ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
IF ANYBODY'S WAITING, I APOLOGIZE TO STAFF WHO, IF YOU SAT AND WAITED THROUGH THIS MEETING TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION, I APOLOGIZE TO ANY COMMUNITY PERSON THAT SAT AND WAITED FOR THIS TOO, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THEM, UM, SUFFICIENT JUSTICE, IF WE, SO HAVING SAID THAT WANTED TO HOLD THIS MEETING AT THE END OF JULY, UM, DIRECTOR MCNEILLY, ARE YOU, YOU'RE THERE, RIGHT? IS THERE WITHOUT BEING STAFF AND PRESENTATIONS BEFORE WE PLANNED THAT, REMEMBER OUR CHAIR WE'LL MAKE IT WORK.
WE JUST NEED TO, UM, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS.
UM, I MEAN, I THINK WE KNOW WHICH THINGS WILL BE PUSHED FROM HERE.
AND I, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT.
UM, WE WANT TO HONOR THE REQUEST FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO, I THINK NOT JUST ONE BOARD MEMBER, BUT MANY BOARD MEMBERS.
AND SO, UH, IT COULD BE THAT PARTICULAR AND I WORK ON THE AGENDA AND THE TWO THAT WE DIDN'T GET TO TODAY, ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD? RIGHT.
AND I, AND IT MAY BE, AND I, WE CAN TALK, BUT I THINK THE ONES THAT WE UP ON A FEW EMAILS ABOUT REGARDING THE WINDSOR PARK, UM, PARKLAND DEDICATION SITUATION, I KNOW THAT, UM, BOARD MEMBER, I MEAN, VICE-CHAIR DIPLOMA HAS, HAS BROUGHT UP.
SO THAT'S WHAT, UM, I ANTICIPATE WE WOULD, WE WOULD HAVE AT THAT MEETING.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT NINE 19, SO IF IT'S, UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING URGENT FROM ANY OF THE WORKING GROUPS THAT SOMEBODY WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, UM, WHICH WOULD BE, UM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING URGENT THAN TELL US THE BOARD MEMBER COTTON CYBIL ABOUT BUSTLE
[03:45:01]
AND WE HAVEN'T MET THE SUPER PART BUSINESS PLAN WORKING CAPACITY MET YET.SO, UM, I DON'T, IF ANYTHING, URGENT WITH ANIMAL ADVISORY.
I THINK WE'RE, UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING WITH JOINT SUSTAINABILITY, IS THERE ANYTHING URGENT THAT WE NEED TO Y'ALL NEED TO BRING UP, UH, VICE CHAIR DIPLOMA? WE HAVE NOT MET YET.
IN THAT CASE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND
[E. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO FUTURE ITEMS. AND THEN IF THERE'S ANYTHING DIRECTLY MCNEELY THAT YOU WANT US TO KNOW ABOUT FROM THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, THEN LET'S DO THAT.SO FUTURE ITEMS, BOARD MEMBER, AND DECARLO, UM, I, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR FUTURE ITEMS. UM, I JUST DID JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY, UM, JUST SAY A THANK YOU TO A FORMER BOARD MEMBER, MASON MURPHY FOR HER SERVICE ON THE BOARD.
UM, I HAVE REALLY ADMIRED AND APPRECIATED HER PASSION FOR THE CITY FOR PARKS, UM, AND HAVE ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW HER.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SEND HER A SHOUT OUT AND SAY, THANK YOU.
AND WE ALSO, AND AS YOU KNOW, BOARD MEMBER, UM, FIRST I'LL BE RETURNING TO BE THERE WITH US TOO.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? UM, I ASKED LAST TIME AND WE GOT A MEMO WITH THE MOST UPDATED POOL THINGS, BUT I'M WONDERING ACTUALLY, IF WE COULD GET JUST A MEMO ABOUT, UM, WHAT IS ANTICIPATED AND I'M KIND OF ALSO ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK FOR HOLES.
THERE ARE LIKE, THERE WERE 30 PEOPLE.
I KNOW IT'S GOTTEN BETTER THIS WEEK BECAUSE D BETTY OPENED AN EXTRA COUPLE OF HOURS, BUT, UM, THERE WERE 30 PEOPLE WAITING OVER AN HOUR TO TRY TO SWIM LAPS.
AND SO, UM, THERE'S A, THERE'S A MOURNING PERIOD WHERE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH LANES.
AND SO I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN HAVE SORT OF A COMPARISON OF WHERE THAT IS NOW AND HOW THAT MIGHT IMPROVE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND I HAVE A SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS, WHICH IS JUST, UM, IT WAS INTERESTING THAT MR. REYNA'S BROUGHT UP THE RETRO BOAT BECAUSE I WANTED TO HAVE A LITTLE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, THOSE, THOSE, THE MOTORBOATS ON TOWN LAKE.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? UM, YEAH, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TO TALK ABOUT THE WINDSOR PARK VILLAGE, UM, PARKLAND ISSUE, WHETHER IN JULY OR WHENEVER THAT'S KIND OF WHENEVER THE TIMING IS RIGHT FOR THAT.
UM, I MEAN, I WAS CHAIR DIPLOMA.
WHAT A GREAT COMMENTS THAT I THINK SOME I'M ALSO WANTING TO SUPPORT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WINDSOR PARK, I MEAN, WINDSOR VILLAGE AT WINDSOR PARK IS DEFINITELY ON MY FOREFRONT OF MY HEAD.
AND I'VE BEEN TO THE SITE AND GIVEN THE LACK OF PARKLAND THAT WE HAVE IN THE AREA THERE, WE'VE GOT A STRONG OPPORTUNITY HERE TO ACTUALLY MAKE A REAL SUBSTANTIVE DIFFERENCE.
SO, UM, I, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, THIS STRONG DISCUSSION, AND I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT YALE IS, IS SENDING THESE EMAILS ON.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION.
THE OTHER ONE IS ONE TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE FOLLOWUP ON THE POOLS ON AQUATICS AND PARTICULARLY ON, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW PEOPLE ARE ACCESSING THEM RIGHT NOW.
IS THERE EQUITY IN HOW PEOPLE ARE ACCESSING, UH, YOU KNOW, IS IT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HAD SAID THERE WAS LIKE A, I DON'T THINK IT WAS THE CASE, BUT THERE'S LIKE A SET ASIDE FOR, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN SWIMMERS VERSUS OTHER SWIMMERS.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS RIGHT.
I WANT TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON HOW PEOPLE ARE USING OUR VERY LIMITED RESOURCES RIGHT NOW.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO DISTRIBUTE THAT LIMIT OF MT, WHICH WE WEREN'T ABOUT BY THE WAY, THE PARKS BOARD WEREN'T ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS HAVING THESE LIMITATIONS WITH OUR SYSTEM.
UM, AND SO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND THEN IF WE CAN THROW SOME SAFETY CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO THAT AS WELL, UM, THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE SOME SAFETY REPORTS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT OVERCROWDING.
WELL, WE TALKED ABOUT ON, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOKED THE RESEARCH, IT'S REALLY HAVING VISIBILITY INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL.
AND SO ONE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO THAT'S WHERE, OKAY.
I, UM, I DON'T WANT TO REALLY ADD ANYTHING.
I JUST, THE ONLY ISSUE THAT I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY IS JUST A CONCERN FOR THE, THE, HOW MANY POOLS ARE ACTUALLY OPEN THIS SUMMER FOR, UM, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HAVE ASSETS TO, BECAUSE WE ARE SHORT THE SUMMER FOR, I KNOW THERE'S A VARIETY
[03:50:01]
OF FACTORS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP AT SOME POINT WITH THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS FOR THAT, WHETHER IT'S THE LIFEGUARD SITUATION OR OTHER THINGS.SO DIRECTOR MCNEELY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT US TO, UM, BE SURE TO CITE FROM THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT? I WOULD, I, I KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS SPECIFICALLY IN THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT INDIVIDUALS THAT IT IS IN THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, PAGE 10 AND 11, WHERE WE TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND HOW THE PARK SYSTEM IS RESPONDING BASED UPON THE FACT THAT THE, UM, CAMPING BAN HAS BE, HAS BEEN READ.
AND SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE PHASE PLAN THAT WAS OUT, THAT WAS OUTLINED BY THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH MEANS THAT THE VERY FIRST PHASE WENT FROM, UH, JUNE.
I'M SORRY, YOU WENT FROM SOMETIME IN MAY.
CAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE UNTIL JUNE 11TH, WHERE WE VISITED APPROXIMATELY 110 TO THE 140 AND CAMPS.
I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER, UH, TO, UH, TO EDUCATE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
I'M NOT THOSE ENCAMPMENTS KNOW THAT THEY COULDN'T BE IN THE PARK SYSTEM, UH, FROM JUNE 11TH UNTIL APPROXIMATELY AUGUST 11TH, WE'LL BE REVISITING THOSE CAMPS AND PROVIDING WRITTEN WARNINGS THAT EXPLAIN TO INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY WILL, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE BE IN THE PARK SPACE.
AND THEN IT IS AFTER THAT TIMEFRAME, THAT APD WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY US IN SOME CASES FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT SUCCESSFULLY VACATED THE AREA AND THEY WILL HELP, UH, PROVIDE THAT ENFORCEMENT THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT THIS PARTICULAR TIME BECAUSE WE'RE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
UM, I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE OF THE 4TH OF JULY, UH, EVENT THAT WE'LL BE DOWNTOWN, WHICH PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE, UH, FIREWORKS THIS YEAR WHERE WE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT LAST YEAR.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF LADY, BIRD LAKE CLOSE TO WHERE THE LIBRARY IS DOWN TO CESAR CHAVEZ AND LOSING CABINETS ARE BEING REMOVED FOR VERY SPECIFICALLY FOR SAFETY PURPOSES BECAUSE OF THE PYROTECHNICS THAT IS, THAT ARE IN THAT AREA.
AND TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS, UM, EVERYBODY WILL REMAIN SAFE.
UH, AND SO THAT IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE THE PHASED APPROACH BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY.
I KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS ADEQUATELY BEEN ABLE TO CLEAN UP AFTER AND CANNONS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, I'M JUST QUICKLY ADDING IT IN MY HEAD, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER 20,000 POUNDS OF TRASH THAT WAS REMOVED FROM VARIOUS GREEN BOUTS AND OTHER PARKS THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I DO WANT TO JUST CAUTION YOU.
THIS IS THE LAST THING I'LL SAY SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN HAVE A MEETING ON TIME.
I JUST DO WANT TO CAUTION US THAT AS WE ARE ASKING INDIVIDUALS TO REMOVE THEMSELVES, UM, I SUSPECT, AND I, I, UM, MY EXPERIENCE TELLS ME, AND I WOULD PREDICT THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL VACATE A PARTICULAR LOCATION, BUT THEY MAY MIGRATE TO ANOTHER PARK LOCATION.
AND SO I I'M, I'M LETTING YOU KNOW THAT WHILE WE MIGHT RESOLVE AN ISSUE IN ONE GIVEN AREA, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE ISSUE MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY RESOLVED UNTIL THEN.
UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY, UH, SPECIFIC SPACES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE TO.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE THING THAT HAS BEEN ON A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL'S MINDS OF, THAT'S THE THING THOUGH, REAL, REAL QUICK TO THIS DIRECTOR, MCNEELY, I'M GETTING A REPORT GETTING LOTS OF REPORTS AND TAGGED IN SOCIAL MEDIA ONLINE INCREASE IN INCIDENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOMELESS AND, AND CRIME AND DRUG USE.
ARE YOU SEEING THAT IN THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHAT CLAIMS AT VERSUS REALITY.
I MEAN, VICE CHAIR, I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT SPECIFICALLY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ANECDOTAL OR IF WE WOULD HAVE ANY SORT OF, UM, ANY SORT OF DATA THAT WOULD, UM, SUPPORT THAT.
SO PLEASE ALLOW ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE THAT DOWN AS SOMETHING I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK THEM.
AND I'LL FORWARD YOU SOME OTHER REPORTS THAT, THAT, LIKE I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, IN, IN GRANTED I'VE JUST BEEN IN THOSE SPACES AND SAW NOTHING.
SO, UM, I DON'T WANT TO NEGATE THE FACT THAT MIGHT BE OKAY.
WELL, REALLY, I KNOW I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO, TO KEEP US UPDATED.
SO I THINK I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S TIME.
I KNOW THIS IS A LONG MEETING FOR HOURS AND, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND YOU GUYS, AND I DO AGAIN, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND SAY, I, WE DID APPRECIATE THE SERVICE OF BOTH, UH, BOARD MEMBER, UM, MASON MURPHY, AND, UM, BOARD MEMBER, UH, FORESAW.
[03:55:01]
BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE RETURNING, WE WILL BE GETTING SOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS.SO WE'LL, UM, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WE'LL WELCOME THEM.