Jan 25, 2022 Parks and Recreation Board

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

OKAY, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START.

SO BECAUSE IT'S 6 0 5.

SO LET'S SEE, WE ARE, THIS IS THE PARKS BOARD RECREATION, EXCUSE ME.

THIS IS THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.

AND, UH, WE, I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER ON JANUARY 25TH AT 6:05 PM.

WELCOME EVERYBODY.

I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY BREAK.

IT'S SIR.

GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY AND SEE, UM, EVERYBODY ONLINE AS WELL.

SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL ROLE.

SO WE HAVE A BOARD MEMBER, RENALDI BOARD MEMBER MOORE HERE, BOARD MEMBER BELT, BOARD MEMBER, UH, BERNARD VICE CHAIR, DEPALMA RESIDENT, UM, BOARD MEMBER COTTONS.

CYBIL PRIVATE BOARD MEMBER DECARLO.

SHE'S I GUESS NOT HERE.

UH, BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR.

IS SHE THERE? OKAY.

OKAY.

CAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME BOARD MEMBER DECARLO? I SEE, I SEE YOUR NAME HERE.

OKAY, PERFECT.

A BOARD MEMBER.

TAYLOR.

IS SHE HERE? UM, NAN, DO YOU KNOW IF KIM TAYLOR'S HERE? I DON'T SEE HER, BUT MAYBE SHE HASN'T CALLED IN YET.

OKAY.

AND, UM, BOARD MEMBER HUG, MAN, I THINK IS, IS OUT TODAY.

OKAY.

SO NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN

[CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (Part 1 of 2)]

THANK YOU, CHAIR.

UM, REAL QUICK, UH, POINT OF BUSINESS.

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE ALL CITIZENS COMMUNICATION IN THE BEGINNING? OR DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ALSO TAKE THIS OR WAIT FOR THE SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS WHERE THERE IS THIS COMMUNICATION? RIGHT? WELL, WE HAVE, WE HAVE GENERAL AND WE HAVE, UM, YESTERDAY AND ARE MOST OF THEM FOR, FOR B, FOR B ONE, OR FOR, I MUST HAVE WHAT'S RIGHT.

AND THEN WE HAVE A GOOD ASSORTMENT ON THE AGENDA ITEMS. OKAY.

OKAY.

WELL, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND, UM, AND DO GENERAL AND THEN WE'LL DO MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL DO THE OTHERS.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT AT THE JANUARY 5TH, 2022 BORDER.

UH, ME SAY IT, WHAT A REC PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

MY NAME'S RICHARD HALL, VICE CHAIR.

AND THIS IS JUST A REMINDER.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR OPEN GENERAL ASSISTANCE COMMUNICATION.

DURING WHICH TIME WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GO ASK ANY QUESTIONS AND IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE DON'T CARE, BUT THAT THE FACT THAT IT WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF OPEN MEETINGS.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL SHARON BLYTHE WITH FRIENDS OF AUSTIN MEMORIAL PARK.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING.

IN THIS LIFE, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME.

UM, JUST TO JUST KIND OF A GENERAL BACKGROUND OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON OR CEMETERY SINCE ABOUT 19 90, 91.

UM, IN 91 PART ATTEMPTED TO DEDICATE 3.2 ACRES OF THE CEMETERY TO GIVE THAT, SELL THAT LAND TO A CHURCH, RIGHT BY THE CEMETERY THERE, UH, THAT WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT BY NOTICING THE PAPER AND, UH, HAD 400 PEOPLE AT A MEETING IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS IN TO STOP THAT ATTEMPT.

UM, AND, UH, DIDN'T PLEASE THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO TAKE OVER THE PART OF THE CEMETERY, BUT WE DID WE'RE, WE'RE SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT IN 90 91.

UM, THEN IN, UH, 2004, THE SAME GROUPS BACK TRYING TO THROW A LOT OF MONEY AT THE CITY, SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS TO AT LEAST THAT PART OF THE CEMETERY FOR 99 YEARS.

THERE AGAIN, WE STEPPED IN AND, UH, STOPPED THEM FROM, UH, UH, SUCCESSFULLY TAKING OVER THE CEMETERY.

UM, AND, UH, THEN IN 2007, THE CITY MANAGER LEASED THE CEMETERY PART OF THE CEMETERY FOR 18 MONTHS TO THE SAME GROUP, THEY TORE UP THE NORTHERN PART OF THE CEMETERY, UH, AND, UH, FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION

[00:05:01]

OF COURSE WE TOOK EXCEPTION TO THAT, BUT THEY WENT AHEAD AND DID IT ANYWAY.

UH, THEN IN, UH, 2010, I GOT INVOLVED WITH TXDOT AND, UH, ALL THE MOPAC EXTENSION OF, OF THEIR, UH, EXPANSION OF THEIR, UH, UH, LANES THERE, WHICH ABUTTED THE CEMETERY.

AND I WAS, I WAS DEDICATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE THE CONSULTING PARTY ON THAT PROJECT.

SO I HAD A LOT OF INPUT INTO IT.

UH, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON GETTING THAT PROJECT STARTED, BUT IT WAS APPROVED BY THE CTA MRA BOARD TO GO AHEAD AND PLANT 55 TREES ALONG THE WHOLE PACK THERE TO, UH, UH, PROTECT THE CEMETERY FROM THE NOISE OF THE CITY OF THAT, OF THAT TRAFFIC.

UM, SO, UM, UH, I HAVE ABOUT EIGHT PAGES OF ACTIVITIES OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS ON THAT CEMETERY.

AND, UH, IT'S GETTING A LITTLE BIT TIRESOME TO HAVE TO BE ALWAYS ON GUARD AND PROTECT AND TRY TO BE FLAGGED ATTEMPTS, UH, OF, UH, TAKING OVER THE CEMETERY.

SO CURRENTLY THERE A GROUP IN ALLENDALE THAT WANTS TO USE A CEMETERY FOR THEIR PER PRESERVATION.

I HAVE NOTHING, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH WILD FLOWERS AND, UH, THAT TYPE OF THING, BUT NOT IN THE CEMETERY.

I MEAN, IT'S ACTUALLY IN STATE LAW THAT CITY GOVERNMENT HAS TO TAKE CARE OF THE CEMETERY.

THEY HAVE TO MOW IT AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

AND, UH, THIS, THIS PROJECT WOULD, UH, VIOLATE THAT STATE LAW.

SO I HAVE GIVEN THIS TO, UH, TO YOUR LIAISON THERE AND SHE, SHE HOPEFULLY WILL SEND IT OUT TO EVERYONE, ALL OF THESE EIGHT PAGES OF ALL, ALL THIS HISTORY, BUT, UH, I JUST WANT HIM TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION THEN.

UM, WE'RE GETTING JUST A REAL, REAL TIRED OF, OF, UH, OF, UH, HAVING TO CONVINCE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, NOT TO DO THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

THANKS A LOT.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, MS. SPLAY.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. SCOTT COB BARTON SPRINGS POOL LIFEGUARD.

THANK YOU, MR. COBB FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

APPRECIATE IT.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

HELLO.

MY NAME IS SCOTT COBB.

I WORKED AS A LIFEGUARD AT BARTON SPRINGS POOL AND, UH, I WAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID IN DECEMBER TWO DAYS AFTER ATTENDING AN IN SERVICE WHERE WE WERE TOUCHING EACH OTHER IN CLOSE PROXIMITY DURING THE TRAINING, UH, WE RISK OUR HEALTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.

AND SO I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION TODAY THAT I BELIEVE THE AQUATICS DIVISION HAS TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT WE NEED.

THE LAST BUDGET OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

EVERYONE IN THE CITY GOT A 2% RAISE, BUT WE DID NOT YEAR BEFORE EVERYONE GOT A 2% RAISE.

WE DID NOT THE YEAR BEFORE EVERYONE GOT 2.5.

WE DID NOT.

I CAN SHOW YOU IN THE BUDGET.

THEY HAVE SOME STRANGE LANGUAGE PAGE 19 FOR ALL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, OUR FISCAL YEAR 20 21 21 22 INCLUDES A 2% BEACH B'S BASE WAGE ADJUSTMENT.

THAT IS FOR ALL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ALSO PAGE 1 72, THE BUDGET INCLUDES BASE WAGE INCREASES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

I AM AN EMPLOYEE.

I DID NOT GET A INCREASE.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CITY BUDGET.

THE LAST INCREASE WE GOT WAS THE LIVING WAGE.

IN 2019, IT WAS PASSED FIRST FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES IN 2018 AND ADDED IN FEBRUARY, 2019, RAISING OUR RATE WAGE FROM 13 TO 15, WE HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE SINCE THEN INFLATION THE FOLLOWING THREE YEARS, 1.8 1.27 FOR A TOTAL OF 10%, OUR FOOD HAS GONE UP.

OUR RENT HAS GONE UP.

EVERYTHING I GO TO BUY IS MORE EXPENSIVE, 10%.

NOW THE BUDGET THAT WILL BE PASSED IN THIS YEAR, WE'LL GO UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2023, MORE THAN LIKELY.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THESE 5% EACH OF THOSE YEARS.

SO BY THE TIME THE END OF THAT NEXT BUDGET, WE COULD BE BEHIND 20%.

WE'RE OUT THERE RISKING OUR HEALTH SAVING PEOPLE.

AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON TO INCLUDE US IN THESE REASONS.

THERE ARE ALSO SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I CAN TALK ABOUT.

WE DON'T GET HOLIDAY PAY.

WHAT'S THE POINT OF HOLIDAYS? WHY DOES IT, WHY DOES ANY COUNTRY HAVE A HOLIDAY HAVE NATIONAL HOLIDAYS? WHAT IS THE POINT OF OBSERVING LABOR DAY

[00:10:01]

YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

WE'RE INSTILLING VALUES IN EACH OTHER.

THESE ARE THE VALUES THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM STORMING THE CAPITAL BECAUSE THEY SAY, I BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.

IF YOU EXPLOIT THE LOWEST PAIGE LOWEST WAGE EMPLOYEES WITH NO HOLIDAY PAY, YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS CLIMATE.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER, MR. REYNA'S, KEVIN RAINA'S WITH AUSTIN ROWING CENTER, ROWING CLUB.

SORRY.

YEAH.

HELLO.

AGAIN, KEVIN RAINEY IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB, WHICH IS OPEN TO ANYONE BY THE WAY, IT'S JUST THE NAME.

AND, UH, SINCE WE LAST SPOKE, I'M PLEASED TO SAY A COMMUNITY MEETING WAS HELD ON JANUARY 12TH REGARDING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PUBLIC BENEFIT AND AMENITIES OFFERED BY ARC AT THE BOATHOUSE.

THE RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS AMAZING.

IT WAS ACTUALLY, I WOULD SAY PERSONALLY, ALSO VERY HUMBLING THAT OVER 300 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATED.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT'S PROBABLY THE LARGEST COMMUNITY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT CONNECT HAS HAD.

AND I THINK IT JUST SPEAKS TO THE COMMUNITY INTEREST IN THE AMENITIES AND SERVICES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY ARC FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS VERY CLEAR.

THIS IS MY OPINION.

ARC IS A COMMUNITY ASSET.

THERE'S VERY STRONG FEEDBACK AND OPINION THAT THOSE SERVICES AND PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED TO AUSTIN FOR OVER 40 YEARS SHOULD NOT BE WIPED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH VIA PROJECT CONNECT AND AARC SHOULD REMAIN THE OPERATING ENTITY OF THE BOATHOUSE AND WHEREVER OUR FUTURE LOCATION ENDS UP BEING MY SINCERE THANKS TO DIRECTOR MCNEELY AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR CALLA VOCA FOR THEIR PRESENTATION OF POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES FOR ARC AND A NEW BOAT HOUSE.

MY THANKS AS WELL TO PETER MILAN, WHO YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM LATER FOR ORGANIZING THE MEETING AND ENABLING US TO HAVE SUCH A PUBLIC FORUM.

AND IT WAS A VERY POWERFUL EVENT FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT PARTICIPATED.

AND I'D LIKE TO THANK MANY OF YOU ON THE BOARD WHO DID PARTICIPATE.

UH, IT WAS A VERY, IT WAS FANTASTIC ALONG WITH COUNCILWOMAN TOBO PROGRAM MANAGER, KIM MCKNIGHT, AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN CITY AFFAIRS AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT WAS WONDERFUL TO HAVE.

SO I DEEPLY APPRECIATE PARD STAFF, THIS BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL FOR REMAINING ENGAGED IN DILIGENT, WHICH I BELIEVE STILL NEEDS TO BE.

OUR APPROACH IS ENGAGED IN DILIGENT IN THE MATTER TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF PUBLIC BENEFIT NRC PROVIDES TO AUSTIN NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE, WHATEVER LOCATION WE ENDED UP BEING IN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. RINUS, OUR NEXT SPEAKER AND OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR GENERAL ASSISTANCE.

COMMUNICATION IS MR. MIKE AND NAUGHTY.

AND IS THAT CORRECT? YOU'RE LISTED AS GENERAL CITIZEN, THE COMMUNICATION VERSUS THE AGENDA ITEM.

UH, THIS IS A NON AGENDA ITEM, BUT I HELPED SPEAK LATER TO AN AGENDA ITEM.

OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU.

DO I NEED TO PUSH THIS? ARE WE GOOD? OKAY.

IT'S ON, YOU GOT THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

PARKS BOARD.

UH, JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO A GROUP NOW.

MAYBE YOU'VE SEEN SOME INFORMATION FROM THIS NEW GROUP CALLED THE, UH, ZILKER PARK COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORKING GROUP, REALLY TRIPS OFF THE TONGUE.

DOESN'T IT.

UH, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL WERE AWARE THAT THIS GROUP WAS FORMED BASICALLY THROUGH THE COURSE OF CONVERSATIONS IN THE PAST YEAR THAT HAVE BEEN CENTERED AROUND THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN.

UM, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION AND BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY HAVE JOINTLY BEEN WORKING TO GET 17 OF THE NONPROFIT PARTNERS IN THE PARK TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE, THE NEEDS OF THE PARK CAN BE BEST SERVED IN THE FUTURE.

AND I, I TRUST YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE FROM US DOWN THE ROAD, UH, BUT MORE IMMEDIATELY, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VISION PLAN DESIGN TEAM, UH, HAS BEEN GETTING INTO IT FROM THE PARK USERS.

UH, WE JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE THE AMENITIES AND PROGRAMS IS OPRAH PARK FOR PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER TOWN, HAVE THEIR VOICE REFLECTED IN THE, IN THE VISION PLAN PROCESS.

UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF GOALS WE'RE FOCUSING ON STARTING WITH, UM, PROMOTING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR THE VISION PLAN, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS AND GO TO THE SURVEYS AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE A REFLECTION IN THE INPUT THAT REFLECTS THE ENTIRE CITY OF THIS METROPOLITAN PARK.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN PROMOTING, UH, THE IDEA OF MAKING EQUITABLE ACCESS

[00:15:01]

UM, WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON SUSTAINABLE PARKING, UH, ACCESS, IMPROVED BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

UM, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE DIFFERENT GROUPS IN THE PARK WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEIR CLIENTS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS COME IN.

UM, THIS WAS REALLY DRIVEN BY THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR PARK USERS WHO VISIT THE PARK FROM ALL ACROSS TOWN.

AND AS YOU MAY KNOW, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A SURVEY DONE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SHOWING THAT 67.8 OF THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS ACTUALLY TRAVELED BY A PERSONAL CAR TO THE PARK.

UM, WHILE THAT IS ONE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE VISION PLAN.

WE ALSO THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS AND THE NATURE OF THE PARK BE ENHANCED.

AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE SIMULTANEOUSLY TRYING TO SAY BOTH OF THESE THINGS NEED TO BE SOLVED WITH THE VISION PLAN PROCESS.

SO OUR HOPE IS THAT THE DESIGN TEAM CAN HELP CRACK, YOU KNOW, A VERY COMPLEX PROBLEM, BALANCING ACCESS, EQUITABLE NEEDS, UH, NATURE PRESERVATION ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

AND, UM, I ACTUALLY, I THINK I SAW IT WAS ATTACHED AS AN AGENDA ITEM.

I'M NOT SH I'M NOT AS A, AS A BACKUP ITEM.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE AGENDA ITEM IS FOR, BUT WE DID SUBMIT A LETTER TO, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND I THINK TO Y'ALL THAT BASICALLY IT'S TWO LETTERS TO THE VISION PLAN TEAM ANNOUNCING OR DESCRIBING WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE THE IMPORTANT VALUES AND PRIORITIES FOR THE VISION PLAN.

AND THEN WE ALSO TOOK A LOOK AT SOME OF THE MOST RECENT, UH, MEETING, UH, PRESENTATIONS THAT THE DESIGN TEAM PUT OUT AND WE GAVE THEM SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT.

SO WE MAY, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S, THERE'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT WE DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE AWARE ABOUT WHO THE SCRIP IS, ZILKER PARK, COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORKING GROUP, AND, UM, APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AND FOCUSING ON THE VISION PLAN.

WE'LL BE INVOLVED WITH THAT TOO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MR. CANADY CHAIR.

THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL ASSISTANCE COMMUNICATION.

OKAY.

[A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THEM THE MINUTES, AND IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS, IF NOT, IF WE COULD GET SOMEBODY TO MOVE TO APPROVE, I MOVED TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 30TH.

THANK YOU.

I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? THANK YOU.

BOARD MEMBER, COTTON SEIBEL.

ALL IN FAVOR.

ANYBODY OPPOSED? NO.

AND SO, UM, NOW BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR IS HERE NOW, SO, OKAY, PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

[CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (Part 2 of 2)]

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR WHAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY, AND THEN WE'LL GET THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, CHAIR.

WOULD YOU WANT TO DO THE IN-PERSON LET'S DO THIS SINCE THEY THEY'RE HERE IN CASE SOMEBODY HAS TO LEAVE.

MAYBE THAT WILL BE BETTER.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU CHAIR.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JULIE HAYES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, MY NAME IS JULIE HAYES.

I AM AN ALLENDALE RESIDENT AND MOM OF THREE ELEMENTARY AGED KIDS.

ONE OF WHICH IS HERE WITH ME AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM HER IN A MOMENT.

UM, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BIKE PLAYGROUND AT BEVERLY SHEFFIELD PARK IN ITS CURRENTLY PROPOSED LOCATION NEAR THE RDF STREET AND STUDENTS.

I UNDERSTAND THE ALLENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSED LOCATION OF THE BIKE PLAYGROUND.

I DISAGREE WITH ALLENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UM, AND STRONGLY BELIEVE THE PROPOSED LOCATION NEAR THE ARDATH ENTRANCE IS IDEAL.

I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN EXPRESSED IN THE ANA NEWSLETTER, WHICH I UNDERSTAND WAS ALSO SHARED WITH THE PARKS BOARD.

UM, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE AS TO WHY THE PROPOSED LOCATION IS IDEAL.

FIRST, THE CONCERN POSED BY ANA IS THAT THE PROPOSED LOCATION FOR THE BIKE PLAYGROUND IS CURRENTLY OPEN GREEN SPACE AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE THERE WILL BE DISPLACED.

I DO NOT FIND THIS CONCERN COMPELLING BECAUSE THE VISION PLAN FOR THE NORTHWEST PARK INCREASES MULTI-USE GREEN SPACE THROUGHOUT THE PARK FROM 1.3 ACRES TO 2.1 ACRES.

THIS IS A 62% INCREASE IN MULTI-USE GREEN SPACE, WHICH MEANS ANY ACTIVITY CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE.

AND THE PROPOSED BITE PLAYGROUND LOCATION WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE AVAILABLE SPACE AS AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION.

UH, NEXT I'D LIKE TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING PLAYGROUNDS TOGETHER.

THE PROPOSED LOCATION FOR THE BIKE PLAYGROUND IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE TWO TO FIVE YEAR OLD AND

[00:20:01]

KEEPING THE BIKE PLAYGROUND THERE, UH, MEANS THAT, UM, FAMILIES AND GROUPS OF CHILDREN CAN STAY TOGETHER WITHIN ONE LARGE VISUAL FIELD, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR ANYONE TRYING TO SUPERVISE MULTIPLE CHILDREN SAFELY, WHICH IS ME.

UM, FURTHERMORE KIDS GAIN THE INDEPENDENCE TO MOVE BETWEEN MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES, MORE FLUIDLY WHEN THEY ARE ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER IN THE CURRENT VISION PLAN, MY THREE KIDS COULD PLAY ON THREE DIFFERENT PLAYGROUNDS, UH, AND I CAN SAFELY SUPERVISE ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO ME, INCREASING PLAY OPTIONS FOR KIDS WITHIN A SINGLE VISUAL FIELD IS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL FOR FAMILIES OR GROUPS OF KIDS, UH, BEING SUPERVISED BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR EVEN A SMALL GROUP OF ADULTS.

SO I ASK YOU FROM ALL OF THE OUTNUMBERED PARENTS OUT THERE, PLEASE BUILD STRUCTURED PLAYSCAPES LIKE THE BIKE PLAYGROUND FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND PLEASE KEEP THE PLAYGROUNDS TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER, ARE YOU READY? ZOE SUMMIT, ZOE OR ZO IS THAT WAY.

PERFECT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

YOU CAN TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

THIS CAN BE NERVOUS.

I'M MORE NERVOUS THAN ANYBODY AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

UM, I AM ZOE.

I AM 10 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE TWO SIBLINGS.

UM, ONE IS FOUR AND SHE JUST LEARNED HOW TO RIDE A BIKE.

AND IN MY OPINION, WHEN, IF THERE ISN'T A PLACE THAT KIDS CAN SAFELY RIDE A BIKE, THEN THEY'RE BASICALLY JUST RIDING THEIR BIKES ON THE STREET, RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THERE, RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOUSE, WHICH IS USUALLY WHERE THERE ARE LOTS OF CARS.

AND I FEEL LIKE THE RISK OF BEING OF DRIVE OR RIDING YOUR BIKE RIGHT OUT OF YOUR RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE ON THE STREET IS A HIGHER RISK THAN MAYBE FALLING ON THE BIKE PLAYGROUND AND SCRATCHING YOUR KNEE.

SO IF MY LITTLE SISTER WANTED TO GO RIDE HER BIKE AND MAYBE MY LITTLE BROTHER WANTED TO GO ALSO GO PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEN ONE OF MY PARENTS COULD TAKE US AND MY SISTER WOULD HAVE A PLACE WHERE SHE CAN LEARN HOW TO RIDE HER BIKE.

AND SHE'S NOT JUST RIDING ON THE STREETS, WHICH, UM, THERE'S A HIGHER RISK, LIKE I SAID, BUT ALSO I, I RIDE BIKES AND I LIKE TO GO LIKE MOUNTAIN BIKING.

AND I LIKE RIDING JUST AROUND MY HOUSE, BUT ALSO THERE'S ALWAYS LIKE MY PARENTS TAKE PRECAUTIONS.

LIKE WE HAVE THESE STREET CONES THAT WE PUT OUT ON THE STREET BECAUSE CARS DO GO PRETTY FAST ON OUR STREET.

SO WE TRY TO KEEP IT TO WHERE THEY'RE THERE.

WE ONLY HAVE LIKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SPACE OR WHEREVER WE'RE GOING TO RIDE OUR BIKES.

AND THERE AREN'T, UH, AND THE CARS WILL MOST LIKELY SLOW DOWN BEFORE THEY GET TO WHERE WE ARE.

SO, UM, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

AND IN MY OPINION, SAFER IF THERE WAS A PLACE WHERE FIRST OF ALL, THERE AREN'T ANY CARS, BUT ALSO OUR PARENTS HAVE PROBABLY MOST LIKELY LIKE A BETTER PLACE TO BE ABLE TO WATCH MULTIPLE KIDS WHO HAVE MULTIPLE LIKES OR DISLIKES.

LIKE IF THEY DON'T REALLY LIKE, LIKE RIDING A BIKE, BUT THEY LIKE GOING TO PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND.

THEY CAN DO THAT.

OR IF THEIR BROTHER OR SISTER LIKES TO GO RIDE A BIKE, THEY CAN GO RIDE A BIKE AND THE OTHER SIBLING CAN GO, UM, PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND.

SO, RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY WELL.

SHE DID A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU.

HAVE A NEW VICE CHAIR.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DONOVAN MILLER, ALL OF THAT GOOD LUCK FRIENDS.

UM, WELCOME TO THE PARKS BOARD AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK.

AND I WOULD SAY, UM, SPECTACULAR JOB, BOTH OF YOU DATA AND GOOD ARGUMENTS.

AND THEN THIS IS STILL YOUR THREE MINUTES.

YEAH.

SO, UH, I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BOSTON.

I LIVE IN ALLENDALE AS WELL.

UM, I ALSO RUN A 5 0 1 C3 CALLED CAPITAL CITY BMX, WHICH IS THE BMX TRACK RUN WITH TRAVIS COUNTY ON IT, NORTHEAST METROPOLITAN PARK, WHICH WAS A LONG PROCESS TO GET THAT IN PLACE.

UM, I ALSO RUN A 5 0 1 C3 FOR, UH, A CYCLING TEAM FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES TO DO BMX.

THEY DO OFF-ROAD UNICYCLING, THEY DO EVERYTHING.

SO A LOT OF MY LIFE IS DEDICATED TO, UH, TO GETTING KIDS ON BIKES, GETTING THEM ACTIVE.

UM, I HAVE TWO KIDS IN, IN ALLENDALE.

WE DEAL WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM YOU JUST HEARD.

UM, AND

[00:25:01]

I'VE WRITTEN TO THAT PARK A MILLION TIMES AND DO NOTHING, BUT THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IT PRESENTS FOR EVERYONE.

NOT JUST KIDS, NOT JUST THE ELDERLY, BUT EVERYONE IT'S A GYM.

AND SO WE HAVE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY HERE.

MY GOAL TONIGHT IS ONLY TO MAKE ONE CLEAR MESSAGE AND I THINK THERE'S A MISSING VOICE.

UM, AND IT'S THE KIDS.

AND SO TO SEE, THIS IS WHY I'M SITTING HERE.

UM, MY KIDS COULDN'T BE HERE AT PRACTICE AND ALL THOSE THINGS, AND THAT'S THEIR LIFE.

THEIR LIFE IS NOT OUT THERE FIGHTING FOR OPPORTUNITY OR FOR PUTTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE FOR THEM TO HAVE PLACES TO GO THAT ARE SAFE, BUT ALSO TEACH AND ENRICH THEIR LIVES AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT THAT GIVES THEM INDEPENDENCE.

AND WITHOUT THOSE THINGS THEY FIND OTHER THINGS TO DO.

RIGHT? SO WE'RE IN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

THE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE TO HELP PULL THIS TOGETHER, TO BRING KIDS IN AND, AND GIVE, UH, THE PARK BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WHAT THEY WOULD WANT.

UM, I THINK THAT'S A MISSING PIECE.

I HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT, UM, MESSING UP THE GREEN SPACE WITH NOISE AND THE KIDS RUNNING AROUND AND PEOPLE THAT WALK IT EVERY MORNING AND HOW IT'S GOING TO DESTROY THEIR DAY.

BUT IF YOU GO TO PLACES LIKE BENTONVILLE, IF YOU GO TO PLACES, THERE'S THINGS GOING ON IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW AROUND THE SAME THING THAT ARE INTEGRATING THESE ACTIVITIES ALONGSIDE WALKWAYS, RIGHT? SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO JUST BE SECTION 17 AT THAT PARK.

WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THESE TYPES OF FEATURES SURROUNDING THE PARK SO THAT FAMILIES ARE OUT MOVING TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE MULTIMODAL MULTIMODAL OPPORTUNITIES, WALKING, SCOOTERING, UH, BIKES, ALL THESE THINGS CAN BE DONE TOGETHER AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S SUPPOSED TO SAFE AND ENRICHING FOR THE KIDS.

UM, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LEAVE IT OTHER THAN IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO WORK, TO BRING THOSE KIDS TOGETHER.

I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARY FARROW.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING.

HI, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

OKAY.

UM, I'M MARY FARROW.

AND, UM, I ALSO HAVE LIVED IN, IN ALLENDALE FOR QUITE SOME TIME SINCE 88.

UM, I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE PARKS COMMITTEE, UM, AFTER WITNESSING SOME GIANT FISH KILLS AT THE POND.

AND SO THE POND DREW ME IN AND IT IS MY PASSION.

UM, UM, IT'S WHAT GOT ME INVOLVED IN, BUT ON BOTH THE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BOARD AND, AND SHARING THE PARKS COMMITTEE.

UM, SO I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS PROCESS FROM THE BEGINNING, OR REALLY BEFORE THAT, SINCE THE FISH KILLS IN 2016, UM, WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT'S GONE INTO THIS VISION PLAN.

WE APPRECIATE THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THUS FAR TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE CITIZEN FEEDBACK THAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED THROUGH THE PROCESS.

UM, WE ALSO KNOW THAT, UM, THERE ARE, WE FEEL THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT STILL ARE SORT OF PENDING AND CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE AS WAS MENTIONED.

UM, ALSO RECOGNIZING THOUGH THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO FINE TUNE SOME OF THESE THINGS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE THERE ARE MAJOR PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING.

THE SHELL CREEK DAM RESTORATION PROJECT, THE SWIMMING POOL REPLACEMENT, A MAJOR SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT THAT IS GOING TO GO THROUGHOUT THE PARK.

AND EACH OF THESE THINGS CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON VARIOUS PROPOSALS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS VISION PLAN.

SO WE URGE THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS ONGOING COORDINATION AMONG THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE WORKING TOGETHER TO AFFECT THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF THE PROPOSALS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE PLAN.

AND ALSO THAT YOU REQUIRE PERIODIC REPORTS AND ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS INFORMED AND INVOLVED AS ALL OF THESE PROJECTS GO FORWARD IN A MULTI-YEAR PROCESS THAT WILL NOT BE COMPLETED UNTIL PROBABLY ABOUT 2026.

UM, WE WANT TO, UH, ENCOURAGE THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER PRESERVE THE INHERENT NATURAL FEATURES OF THE PARK.

UM, THE POND, AS I MENTIONED, IT IS SLATED FOR A VARIETY OF STUDIES TO DETERMINE THE MOST BENEFICIAL WAYS TO RESTORE WATER QUALITY AND PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL WATER.

THE BOARDWALK, WE STILL BELIEVE IS OUTSIZED

[00:30:01]

IT'S LOVELY AT MUELLER, BUT, UH, WE THINK THAT A MORE NATURAL APPROACH AS EXISTS NOW COULD BE, UH, UH, PREFERABLE.

THE BIKE PATH TRACK WE UNDERSTAND IS, IS, UM, IS, IS FAVORED BY A COMMUNITY.

I WOULD SAY THAT MOVING DOG TRAINING, FOR EXAMPLE, TO THE OPEN SPACE NEAR THE POND WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE THAT WILL DISTURB THE BIRD HABITAT AND THE OTHER HABITAT THAT'S THERE.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO MOVE DOG TRAINING OVER TO THE POND.

AND AS FAR AS THE PLAYGROUNDS AND ACCESS TO THE BIKE BIKE TRAINING AREA, THEY'RE PROPOSING TO MOVE THE PLAYGROUNDS FURTHER AWAY FROM THAT ENTRANCE.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT, THAT THERE WILL BE A LINE OF SIGHT THAT WILL BE MAINTAINED AFTER THE PLAYGROUNDS ARE MOVED FURTHER WEST IN THE PARK.

UM, WE WE'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE FURTHER, UM, EVALUATIONS, AS I SAY, AND DO WHAT WE WOULD ASK THAT THE, AS THE DETAILS ARE CONSIDERED, UM, THAT WE DO WHAT WAS MENTIONED MOST OFTEN DURING THIS PROCESS BY CITIZENS.

AND THAT IS, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR BRUCE SPARROW SO SHE CAN FINISH MAYBE A RESPONSE TO THAT.

IT IS TO PRESERVE THE PARK IN AS NATURAL A STATE AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT, SIR.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SORRY, THIS MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE STAFF, BUT, AND LOOKING AT THE PRESENTATION, IT SEEMS LIKE THE PLAYGROUNDS ARE IN THE SAME PLACE.

IS THAT, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE THEM CLOSE, FURTHER WESTWARD.

UH, YOU CAN GET THE STAFF TO CLASSIFY THAT.

YEAH, IT MIGHT BE JUST THAT THIS IS A SMALL SCHEMATIC, AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MORE DETAILED THING YOU CAN TELL, RIGHT.

OKAY.

THANKS.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, CHAIR.

NOW WE ARE MOVING TO, THANK YOU.

SAYS, YEAH, WE'RE MOVING TO THE PHONE.

OKAY.

THIS IS WHERE I GET TO PUT ON MY RADIO VOICE.

UM, OUR FIRST AM I CORRECT? UH, IT'S PAUL MADRANO IS OUR FIRST CALLER.

OKAY.

THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE TOLD ONE MINUTE.

OKAY.

HI, PAUL, CAN YOU HEAR US, PAUL? MADRANO CAN WE TRY THEN CALEB AND THEN MOVED BACK TO PAUL IF HE COMES ON.

OKAY, ONE SECOND.

HELLO, KAYLA, CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? PERFECT.

WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.

CALEB SAYS VICE CHAIR, DEPALMA.

AND DO YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES? ALL RIGHT.

WELL, UH, MY INTEREST IS IN THE BICYCLE PLAYGROUND AS WELL.

I GO A LITTLE BIT WITH ZOE AND I BELIEVE JONATHAN DONOVAN MENTIONED, UM, I'D WORKED WITH MARY ON THE, UH, THE PARKS COMMITTEE A FEW YEARS AGO AND A RESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND, UM, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, INCREASING TRAFFIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, KIND OF DRIVES THAT WE'VE, WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT SPACE WHERE, WHERE IT'S CURRENTLY SLATED, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE INITIAL PLANNING AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS A GREAT FIT.

IT DIDN'T SEGREGATE THE LARGEST AREA OF SPACE, BUT I THINK THE OTHER BIT OF INFORMATION THAT HASN'T BEEN SUBMITTED AS TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN WE FIRST CONTEMPLATED A BICYCLE PARK IN THE AREA, I DID A, UM, A POLL ON THE NEXT DOOR KIND OF WEBSITE FOR KIND OF COMMUNITY, UM, KIND OF COMMENT.

AND SO I WAS ABLE TO GET ABOUT 233 VOTES IN A POLL AND, UM, CLOSE TO 70% OF THE, UM, BUTTERS WERE IN SUPPORT OF, OF A PROJECT LIKE THIS.

AND SO, UM, IT KIND OF ENCOURAGED US IN THAT PROCESS TO CONTINUE TO FIND A WAY TO KEEP THIS SCOPE WITHIN THE VISION PLAN.

UM, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, UM, SEEING WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN HAVE DONE THAT AREN'T ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

UM, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, THE TRAVIS COUNTRY NEIGHBORHOOD IS BUILT ONE ON VOLUNTEER EFFORTS.

THERE'S A BIKE PARK GOING IN EAST AUSTIN.

IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT VOLUNTEER.

AND, UM, IT SEEMS TO BE A GREAT WAY TO UTILIZE THE RESOURCE WITH, UM, IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY THAT, UM, PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS, ESPECIALLY TO RECREATE ON, ON BICYCLES, UM, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING EXPOSED TO TRAFFIC RISK.

SO THAT'S, UH, THAT WAS ONE OF MY COMMENTS

[00:35:01]

GREAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT.

DO WE HAVE MR. PAUL MADRANO ON THE LINE YET? OKAY.

YEP.

AND THEN AFTER MEDRANO, WE'LL HAVE DAVID RISKIN.

PAUL, CAN YOU HEAR US OKAY? YES.

YEAH.

HI PAUL, THIS IS RICH DEPALMA, VICE CHAIR OF THE PARKS BOARD.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

UM, SOMEONE SPEAKING RIGHT NOW, I'M SORRY, WHAT DO YOU SAY? YES, PAUL IT'S IT'S YOU? SO PAUL, THIS IS THAT YOU'RE ON LIVE.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

IS THERE A BATH? OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

UM, SO LET ME SPEAK.

CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, WE CAN.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PICKLE BALL COURTS AND, UH, REGARDING TO THE DIVISION PLAN, HOLD ON AND GOING TO PROBABLY DO.

OKAY.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE, UH, PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE CONSULTANTS, AND ESPECIALLY MS. DARCY NUPUR WITH PARTS.

SHE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

UM, AS I SAID, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE PICKLEBALL COURT, UH, PROPOSAL, AS IT RELATES TO THE VISION PLAN.

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE FOUR TENNIS COURTS, TWO COURTS, A MARK FOR PICKLEBALL MAKING POOR PICKLEBALL COURTS.

UH, A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION WITH THE TENNIS PLAYERS, UH, FOR THE COURTS IT'S FIRST COME FIRST SERVE NO PUN INTENDED.

AND SO THERE'S BEEN SOME ISSUES ABOUT TENNIS PLAYERS THINKING THEY OWN THE COURTS NOW IN THE PROVISION PLAN IS TO PROPOSE DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS, WHICH IS GREAT.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FOUR COURTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS THANKS FOR THE TWO PROPOSED DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS, BUT WE LIKE TO LEAVE THE OTHER TWO TENNIS COURTS THAT ARE MARKED FOR PICKLEBALL TO BE LEFT AS BEING MORE PREDICABLE CAUSE OTHERWISE WE WOULD JUST HAVE TWO COURTS.

AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FOUR AND WE'LL USE IT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN OUT THERE WHEN, UH, IF WE CAN HAVE ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO 22 PICKLEBALL PLAYERS, AND THERE'S ONLY LIKE ZERO TO FIVE TENNIS PLAYERS OUT THERE THIS AFTERNOON, THERE WERE 10 PICKLEBALL PLAYERS AND SIX TENNIS PLAYERS.

TWO OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE A COACH HAVING A PRIVATE LESSON, WHICH IS NOT REALLY ALLOWED.

SO THERE'S A GREAT NEED FOR PICKLEBALL COURTS OUT THERE.

SO WE APPRECIATE THE TWO DEDICATED COURTS.

WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S A FENCE SURROUNDING THE TYPICAL BALL COURTS AND THAT THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE BETWEEN THE COURT SURFACE PLAYING AREA AND THE FENCE TO ALLOW FOR SAFE PLAY.

UM, ALSO THE VISION PLAN IS NOT MENTIONED RESURFACING THE TENNIS COURTS RIGHT NOW, THE TENNIS COURTS HAVE BIG CRACKS ON THE SURFACE FROM WATER PENETRATING THE WATERPROOF MEMBRANE UNDER THE COURTS, ALL THE WATER FROM THE HILL AND THE POOL AREA RUNS DOWN UNDER THE TENNIS COURTS TO THE CREEK AND DRAINAGE.

AND THE COURT DOESN'T WORK VERY WELL.

EITHER PONDS HAVE CREATED AFTER A RAIN AND THE WATER CONTINUES TO SEEP UP THROUGH THE CRACKS.

IT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

SO WE WOULD ASK THAT PART ALSO CONSIDER RESURFACING THE TENNIS COURTS, AND AGAIN, LEAVING TWO OF THE TENNIS COURTS MARKED FOR PICKLEBALL AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

GREAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID RISKIN AND I, MR. RISKIN HAS THREE MINUTES ALSO DONATED TO HIM FROM JANICE RANKIN.

DAVID, ARE YOU THERE? HELLO, DAVID, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES.

DAVID, ARE YOU THERE? YEAH.

PERFECT.

YEAH, DAVID, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE YOUR THREE MINUTES AND THEN ANOTHER THREE MINUTES OF DONATED TO YOU FROM JANICE RANKIN FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.

THANKS, JANICE IS THE DONATION.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.

UH, I'M A RETIRED ECOLOGIST, UH, LIVE WITHIN A BLOCK OF THE PARK AND HAVE SO FOR CLOSE TO 40 YEARS, MOST OF MY COMMENTS HAVE TO DO WITH THE PAUSE BECAUSE THAT'S THE ICONIC FEATURE OF THE BAR.

AND SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO THE POND, WE'RE PLEASED TO SEE THE REVISED APPROACH IS TO ESSENTIALLY RETAIN THE CURRENT PYLON AND ITS ASSOCIATED HABITAT NO LONGER DOES THE VISION PLAN CONSIDER MODIFICATION

[00:40:01]

SINCE THIS NORTHWEST PARK PROJECT IS PROJECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 25 OR 26 AT THEIR EARLIEST, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASSURE THE INTENT IS THE VISUAL PLAN TO MAINTAIN PROJECT CONSISTENCY AND TRANSPARENCY WITH STAKEHOLDERS.

UH, NONE OF US KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN FOUR OR FIVE AND SIX YEARS, FYI, SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO THE POND AND THE VISUAL PLAN.

IT SEEMINGLY IS LEFT PENDING FURTHER STUDIES, WHICH MAY LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN TO GROW OR SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED THE PROJECT.

SO WE PREFER SOME LANGUAGE, PERHAPS IT IS BOARD MOTION, LIMITING SUCH AN EVENTUALITY IN WHICH WOULD ASSURE THE CONSERVATION, THE POND ESSENTIALLY, AND ITS CURRENT CHARACTER AND CONFIRMATION IMPROVEMENTS OF COURSE ARE WELCOMED, BUT KEEPING IT WITHIN IT TO ESSENTIAL CHARACTER AND CONFIRMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE POND AND GOOD COMPATIBILITY AND INTEGRATION INTO THIS OVERALL MULTI-PHASE PROJECT.

IT'S VITAL TO CONDUCT SEVERAL LINES OF INVESTIGATION VERY EARLY ON AMONG THEM THAT CEMETERY OF THE POND, WHAT ARE ITS CONTOURS? WHAT ARE THE SEDIMENTS AND ENTAIL AND WHAT SHOULD BE REMOVED TO RESTORE, MAINTAIN THE POND TO ITS INITIAL DESIGN.

ALL OF THESE REALLY RELATE TO THE WATER QUALITY, THE QUALITY OF THE EXPERIENCE AND THE QUALITY OF THE HABITAT AND THE POND AS WELL.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THIS WORK UP FRONT WATER QUALITY IS THE POND SUFFERING FROM CONTAMINATION, FROM LINKING WASTEWATER OR FOR RUNOFF OR THE SEDIMENTS CONTRIBUTING TO EUTROPHICATION OF THE POND AND THE EVOLUTION OF ITS AESTHETIC CHARACTER AND WATER QUALITY.

WE DON'T KNOW.

SO WE WAIT, NONE OF THESE STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE IT'S DAILY SINCE THE POND WAS BUILT 1986, HYDROLOGY, WHAT IS THE WATER BUDGET FOR THIS POND? AND WHERE DOES IT GET ITS WATER INPUT? ARE THERE OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL WATER CAPTURE AUGMENTATION? SO A HYDROLOGICAL STUDY WOULD, WOULD, WOULD INFORM, UH, UH, AND ALSO PROBABLY INFORMED THE DESIGN OF THE POND OR OF ANYTHING AROUND THE POND, BECAUSE THINK ABOUT IT, IT TAKES EVERY PART OF THE PARK EXCEPT THE BASEBALL THAT I WAS, EVERYTHING YOU SEE, ALL THE ACTIVITY DRAINS INTO THE POND.

SO THAT'S WHY THE WATER QUALITY HYDROLOGY IS SO IMPORTANT.

THE GEOPHYSICAL ASPECT, WHAT IS THE UNDERLYING GEOLOGY? AND COULD IT SUPPORT ANY DEEPENING OF THE POND WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE PONDS, WATER HOLDING CAPACITY? AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE DETERMINED BY STUDIES.

SO STUDIES ARE NEEDED TO INFORM ADDITIONAL EFFORTS TO APPROVE IT, MAINTAIN THE PAWN, ASSURE ITS INTEGRATIONS AND THE OVERALL MULTI-PHASE PROJECT, AND TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE POND, THE CURRENT THEY SUGGESTED STEP ONE IS TO INSTALL.

AERATORS IS AN EXAMPLE.

UH, I THINK WE NEED TO DO A LOT MORE WORK BEFORE WE MAKE THAT DECISION.

ALTHOUGH THAT IS PROBABLY AN IMPORTANT DECISION.

WE KNOW THAT FAIRCLOUGH BECAUSE THE WATER QUALITY COULD, COULD IMPROVE SOME OXYGENATION.

THE POND WILL ALSO REQUIRE A MANAGEMENT PLAN AND AN OPERATING BUDGET.

UH, BOTH OF THOSE ARE LACKING NOW AND THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.

AND AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS PROJECT WILL INVOLVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS AND DEPARTMENTS.

IT IS VITAL THAT THE NORTHWEST PARK PROJECT HAVE AN OVERALL PROJECT MANAGER.

UH, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY DISCUSSION OF THAT YET, BUT I SUSPECT IT WILL BEGIN FAIRLY SOON.

YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY, AS THIS PROJECT STILL HAS CONSIDERABLE DETAIL TO BE ADDED AS IT PROCEEDS FROM THE RFP TO DESIGN ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION, WE REQUEST THAT WE BE KEPT INFORMED WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW COMMENT AND INPUT AS APPROPRIATE.

AND I'VE ALSO SUBMITTED SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE VISUAL PLAN TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION AND FOR THE RECORD.

AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS COLIN MCMORROW TO BE AUSTIN RIDGE RIDERS.

DOES THAT LOOK LIKE HE'S CALLED IN YET? UH, COLON IS NOT CURRENTLY PRESENT.

OKAY.

ME, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON CHAIR.

[00:45:01]

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.

[B.1. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Department Director for approval of the Beverly S Sheffield Northwest District Park Vision Plan.]

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.

CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME OKAY? YES.

GREAT.

UM, THANK YOU, CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS.

UM, YOUR COMPANY AND I ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT THE BEVERLY SHEFFIELD NORTHWEST DISTRICT PARK VISION PLAN, INCLUDING THE PROCESS OF LED TO THE FINAL DRAFT CONCEPT AND TO ASK FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO THE PARKS DIRECTOR FOR APPROVAL OF THE PLAN AND DIVISION PLAN WAS INITIATED IN 2020 FOR A COUPLE OF COUPLE OF REASONS.

NUMBER ONE, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AS RECEIVING MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE PARK, UM, SUCH AS AN IMPROVED TRAIL SYSTEM AND REHABILITATION OF THE POND AND, AND THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS REALLY REQUIRE MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND NEVER TWO, THERE ARE SEVERAL LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT ON THE HORIZON FOR THE PARK, INCLUDING THE POOL REPLACEMENT, THE SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT BY AUSTIN WATER USABILITY, AND ALSO THE DAM REHABILITATION PROJECT.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PARK AND THE HOPE PARK ITSELF IS ESSENTIALLY A LARGE REGIONAL DETENTION FACILITY WITH A DAM ON THE WESTERN EDGE ALONG SHOAL CREEK.

UM, AND THE REAL PURPOSE OF THIS VISION PLAN IS TO PROVIDE AN OVERALL FRAMEWORK TO COORDINATE THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND ALSO GUIDE THE OTHER RECOMMENDED FUTURE PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, UM, AND ALL THE PROJECTS THAT YOU'LL SEE RECOMMENDED THIS EVENING IN ENVISION PLAN, WE'LL GO THROUGH A MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS AND DESIGN PROCESS, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO DREW, TO TAKE US THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS AND THE DESCRIPTION OF THE VISION PLAN.

SO, UH, THANKS CHARLES, AND, UH, THANKS PARK BOARD MEMBERS AND EVERYBODY HERE.

UM, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, THE PRESENTATION IS UP HERE.

I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN SEE IT OR NOT YET.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE IN PRESENTER MODE AND DO THE PRESENTING A PRESENTATION YOURSELF, OR WOULD YOU LIKE CITY HALL TO DO IT FOR YOU? UM, SEE HOW I CAN DO IT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN, UH, THE THERE I'M SEEING, I WAS KIND OF SAYING TWO OF THEM.

UM, YOU SEEM TO, YEAH.

UH, OKAY.

UH, OH, HERE WE GO.

UM, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, OKAY.

I, YEAH, CITY HALL CAN DO THAT.

I THINK I'VE GOT IT IN A, IF NOT, I CAN PUT YOU IN PRESENTER MODE TOO, SO, UM, OKAY.

COULD YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? SURE.

OKAY.

SORRY.

I'M TRYING TO PULL UP ON MY SCREEN.

OKAY, THANKS.

UM, SO JUST FOR SOME CONTACT, I'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS, UM, OR PALPABLE, BUT JUST FOR SOME CONTEXT, AS CHARLES SAID, THIS IS, UM, UH, A REALLY IMPORTANT PART.

AND, UM, IT'S STILL IN THE FIFTIES AND NOTABLY THOUGH THE, UH, THE PART AND THE PARK'S TIMELINE, W WE UNDERWENT A MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT IN THE EIGHTIES, UM, RESPONDING TO THE 81 MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD.

UH, SO NOW THE PARKS, IT'S SEVERAL FEET BELOW THE ORIGINAL HEIGHT, UM, UH, AND THE ENTIRE PARK, EXCEPT FOR THE POOL.

UM, GENERALLY ACTS AS A STORM WATER FACILITY DURING MAJOR FLOOD EVENTS.

UM, NEXT, OKAY.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, CAN I, CAN I SUGGEST SOMETHING CITY HALL I CAN SEE ONLY THE BIG VISION PLAN ON THE BIG VIEW.

IS THERE A WAY TO FIX THAT? NO, NOT WITH IT ALSO BEING SHARED WITH THE VIRTUAL MEMBERS.