Apr 25, 2022 Parks and Recreation Board

THANK YOU, CHAIR.

APPRECIATE IT RIGHT FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

AND, UH, WE ARE GOING TO BE LINING UP.

DO YOU HAVE SPEAKERS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? AND AS I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND NAME THREE AND YOU CAN LINE UP YOU'LL EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES.

SORRY, HERE WE GO.

OUR FIRST, FIRST IT WILL BE JOE, TOM THOMPSON.

SECOND WOULD BE KEVIN AND THEN ON DECK AFTER THAT SHARON LIFE, AND THEN WE'LL GO, WE'LL CALL THE, THE ACTUALLY THEN, AND THAT, SORRY, AFTER SHARON PLIGHT, THERE'LL BE SCOTT COP.

AND WITH THAT, YOU ALL KNOW THAT IF IT'S A NON POSTED AGENDA ITEM, THEN WE ARE ENABLED TO TALK BACK AND FORTH AND ASK QUESTIONS.

AND SO IF WE JUST SMILE AND NOD, THEN PLEASE DON'T TAKE OFFENSE.

GROUPS OF KIDS, IT CAN BE HARD TO COVER LIKE LARGE AREAS WHILE WALKING.

SO MR. THOMPSON, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND COME UP RIGHT OVER HERE.

DO WE HAVE THAT MIC ON? HELLO? THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

I'M SORRY.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE DONE THIS.

SO MY NAME'S JOE THOMPSON.

I WORK FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE AUSTIN AREA.

UM, AND I'M HERE NOT ONLY, UH, FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO ON BEHALF OF SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING AT THE CLUBS WITH OUR KIDS.

UM, SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

WE HAVE 19 CLUBS AROUND THE AUSTIN AREA.

UM, WE ARE IN AISD SCHOOLS.

WE ARE IN, UH, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND WE ARE ALSO IN A HOUSING COMMUNITY SIZE, UH, AROUND AUSTIN.

SO THOSE SITES ARE, UH, BOOKER T WASHINGTON CHARMAZ AND MEADOWBROOK.

SO THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE ARE PRIMARILY, UM, UH, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FROM ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS.

UH, MY COLLEAGUES THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY, UH, OFFICER CASTILLO, UM, WHO WORKS AT, UH, HAKKA SITES.

SO HE'S A CLUB DIRECTOR FOR ALL OF OUR HOUSING AUTHORITY SITES AND KENDRICK JEFFERIES WHO, UM, OVERSEES ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE AUSTIN PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, UH, ON THESE ELCA, UH, VISIONING PLAN.

SO THEY'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO US, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE INCORPORATED INTO THAT PLAN.

UM, SO WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A, A SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION WITH THEM, WHERE WE WENT THROUGH, UH, EACH OF THE PLANS AND WERE ABLE TO KIND OF GIVE OUR PERSPECTIVE BOTH AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT TAKES KIDS, UM, TO ZILKER PARK EACH SUMMER.

AND, UM, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF OUR FAMILIES AND OUR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THEM.

UM, OUR CASTILLO HAS 16 YEARS PLUS EXPERIENCE.

UH, CADRE HAS 10 AND I HAVE FOUR.

SO, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS, SOME OF OUR MAIN TAKEAWAYS WERE THAT WE TAKE ALL MEMBERS HERE EACH SUMMER, UH, PRIMARILY FOR SWIMMING AND PICNICS.

UM, WE LIKE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE SPACE, UH, A PARTICULAR ELEMENT OF THE NEW DESIGN THAT WE REALLY LIKE WAS TO INCORPORATE, UM, STORIES AND KIND OF THE TELLING OF ZILKER HISTORY.

UH, WE THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR KIND OF OUR KIDS AND OUR FAMILIES TO, UM, TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.

UH, SOME KEY CONSIDERATIONS, UH, THAT WE WOULD LIKE NOTED ARE, UM, COACH PARKING AND DROP OFF THAT WOULD MAKE IT, UM, YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBLE FOR US AS AN ORGANIZATION TO BRING OUR KIDS DOWN THERE, UM, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIONS, SO BOTH ROUTES AND FREQUENCY, UM, AND THAT CONNECTION WITH THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY.

SO WORKING WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, THE AGENCIES THAT CAN KIND OF MAKE THAT HAPPEN IS CRITICAL TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO THESE SPACES.

UM, CONNECTEDNESS WHEN INSIDE THE PARK, IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND WITH BIG

[00:05:01]

SO THE SHUTTLE AND THE TRAIN ARE, UH, SORT OF KEY ELEMENTS OF THE DESIGN THAT WE LIKED AS WELL.

UM, WE THINK REDUCED RATES SLASH PACE OVER TIME, YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. THOMPSON.

NEXT SPEAKER, KEVIN RAINA'S AND THEN FOLLOWING KEVIN SHARON BLIGHT.

I'M GOING TO START USING YOUR TIME, MR. SERENENESS.

YOU GOT THREE MINUTES.

HELLO.

I'M KEVIN IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB, UH, GIVING YOU A BRIEF UPDATE.

UH, ONE THING IS WE'RE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING DOWN THEM DOWN WITH US AGAIN THIS SUMMER, AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO LAUNCHING A NEW STEM INITIATIVE WITH THEM AS WELL AT THEIR MAIN CAMPUS, IN ADDITION TO, UH, INDOOR ROWING AS PART OF A FITNESS AND HEALTH PROGRAM THERE AS WELL.

SO, BUT FIRST I'M GOING TO THANK KIMBERLY AND LEANNA FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN PUTTING TOGETHER THE ASSESSMENT AND THE RESOURCES THAT LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR ARC TO STAY AT THE CURRENT LOCATION AT, OR NEAR THE CURRENT LOCATION OF THE WALNUT CREEK BOATHOUSE.

THAT WAS LOOKED AT THAT EXTENSIVELY.

WE WERE KIND OF PUSHING IT PRETTY HARD, BUT THEY CAME BACK WITH A VERY WELL-DEFINED CHRIS' ANSWER, UH, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS THAT WON'T BE POSSIBLE.

AND, UM, WE'RE FULLY EMBRACING WHAT PART HAS OFFERED US THE NEW HOME FOR THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB, WHICH IS THE YOUTH HOSTEL, UH, EAST OF 35.

SO I WONDER, WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUTFIT AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THE DILIGENCE.

THAT PART IS PUT IN PLACE TO IDENTIFY ANOTHER LOCATION, TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC BENEFIT.

AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING THAT PUBLIC BENEFIT EAST OF 35 AND CONTINUE THE PROGRAMMING AND IMPACT THAT WE'VE HAD FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS IN A NEW SPOT.

AND MY THANKS TO VICE CHAIR TO, FOR THE RESOLUTION FROM THE LAST PARKS BOARD MEETING.

AND THAT WAS HUGE AND APPRECIATE THE PARKS BOARD SUPPORTED THAT RESOLUTION IN TERMS OF, UH, STAYING WHERE WE ARE, AND THEN MOVING INTO AN OWN IMMIGRATION FOR THE NEW YOUTH HOSTEL.

SO MY SINCERE THANKS FOR THAT.

AS PART OF THE YOUTH HOSTEL MOVE, UH, LEANNA AND ATP HAVE PUT TOGETHER A COMMUNITY MEETING, WHICH IS MAY 16TH, AND IT'S A DEDICATED FEEDBACK SESSION TO THE BOATHOUSE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

UH, YOU MAY RECALL THE LAST COMMUNITY MEETING WE HAD AT THE, FOR THE BOAT HOUSE, THERE WERE 300 PEOPLE ATTENDING THAT CALL.

IT WAS, I THINK, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY MEETINGS THEY HAD.

AND SO KIMBERLY AND LEANNA HAD FELT IT TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO COME BACK TO THAT SAME COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE THAT UPDATE.

I JUST MENTIONED, WHICH IS OKAY, HERE'S WHAT WE LOOKED AT.

HERE'S THE ISSUES WITH CURRENT LOCATION, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HERE'S THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE NEW LOCATION.

SO I'M SUPER EXCITED TO BE PARTNERING WITH PART AND ALL OF YOU ON PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

AND, UH, THE LAST COMMENT I'LL MAKE IS WE HAD OUR APRIL 16TH FITNESS FESTIVAL ON FESTIVAL BEACH.

FIRST TIME WE EVER DID IT, WE HAD ABOUT 15 NONPROFIT PARTNERS THERE ON HEALTH SERVICES.

WE HAD THREE REC CENTERS.

WE HAD THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER.

WE HAD THE TRAIL FOUNDATION, CANCER SURVIVORS TEAMS, SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTER, DRAGON BOAT, YOU NAME IT.

IT WAS A FABULOUS EVENT.

WEEKS AGO, WHICH HAS NEVER COME MY WAY.

AND SO NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SHARON BLIGHT AND THEN SKY COBB, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR PHONE AND THERE'LL BE ERIC PAULUS AND THEN LOOP A GARCIA.

HI, I'M SHARON .

UM, THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT.

UM, I HAVING TO FOLLOW THESE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, UM, I WISH SOMEDAY I COULD COME UP HERE AND SAY SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE AUSTIN MEMORIAL PARK.

UM, I FOUND OUT RECENTLY THAT THEY CUT DOWN 70 TREES WITHOUT ANY NOTICE TO ANYBODY AND CLAIMING THAT THEY WERE A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.

I SAW, I SAW THE TREE STUMPS.

THEY, THEY WERE NOT DEGRADED TREES AT ALL.

SO, AND, AND REALLY IF THE THING TONIGHT IS THIS IS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WHEN IT COMES TO AUSTIN MEMORIAL PARK, YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE EMAILS COMING OUT OF THAT OFFICE SAYING, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE, WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

AND WE'VE GOT THESE PEOPLE IN ALLENDALE WANTING TO TAKE OVER THE CEMETERY FOR THEIR PRIVATE GARDENS.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

AND KIMBERLY MCNEALY PROMISED ME SOME KIND OF COMMUNICATION

[00:10:01]

SO WE'RE JUST KIND OF LEFT IN THE OZONE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND IT WOULD BE SUCH A SIMPLE THING TO REALLY COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC, TELL THEM WHAT'S GOING ON BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS OUT THERE.

UM, CHOP CHOPPING DOWN TREES OR GIVING AWAY THE CEMETERY TO THE PRIVATE GROUPS.

UM, SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND AND, UH, SEE IF WE CAN'T WORK SOMETHING OUT WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO GET BETTER COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT NEXT SPEAKER, MR. SCOTT COB, AND THEN WE'LL BE GOING TO ERIC PALACE 4 43 AFTER MY NAME IS SCOTT COBB.

I'M A LIFEGUARD AT BARTON SPRINGS BALL.

AND I JUST WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT, UH, GIVE YOU A KIND OF AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE AT $22 LIVING WAGE AND OTHER BENEFITS.

UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR UNANIMOUSLY VOTING FOR THAT RESOLUTION FOR $22.

UH, WE HAVE TALKED TO VARIOUS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE SPENT AN HOUR SPEAKING WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE CITY, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

UH, WE'VE TALKED TO THE MEDIA, UH, WE HAVE A PETITION WE'VE INTERACTED WITH THE PUBLIC, BOTH OUTSIDE THE POLL AND ONLINE.

AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF COMMENTS THAT I EVENTUALLY I'LL, UM, SUBMIT TO CITY COUNCIL.

UH, THE PEOPLE WHO VISIT BARTON SPRINGS ARE VERY UPSET THAT IT CONTINUES TO BE CLOSED MONDAY AND WEDNESDAYS.

AND BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH LIFEGUARDS AND THE $1,250 THAT HAS BEEN OFFERED, UH, IS INSUFFICIENT.

WE THINK TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN ENOUGH LIFEGUARDS OPEN ALL THE POOLS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, INCLUDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS.

AND IF THEY OFFER 1250, THEY NEED TO OFFER ANOTHER $1,550 TO OVER THE SUMMER EQUAL A $22 LIVING WAGE.

OF COURSE, THAT DISAPPEARS AT THE END OF THE SUMMER.

AND WE'RE BACK TO ZERO AGAIN, WHERE WE ARE STARTING POINT AT 1625.

HE HEARD, THEY MAY SUBMIT A $1 A POSSIBLE INCREASE THIS SUMMER.

MAYBE NOT UNTIL THE FALL.

IF THEY DO THAT $1 INCREASE, THEN YOU ONLY NEED $1,150 MORE IN BONUS TO REACH, UM, 22.

UH, IF THEY ONLY GO WITH 1250, THEN WHAT'S, YOU'RE ASKING YOU THE CITY LOWEST-INCOME CITY EMPLOYEES TO DONATE SOME OF THEIR HOURLY WAGES TO THE REST OF THE CITY AND TO THE BUDGET.

IT COMES OUT TO ABOUT 12% OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BONUSES CURRENTLY AND WHAT ARE 22% WAGE? $23 WAGE WOULD BE SO 12% OVER AN EIGHT HOUR PERIOD.

WE'RE DONATING 57 MINUTES, UH, TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND OUR LABOR.

AND WE DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE DONATING ANYTHING.

WE THINK WE SHOULD BE PAID THE FAIR MARKET WAGE LIKE THEY DO IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THE CITY OF PHOENIX, PHOENIX OFFERING A $2,500 BONUS MASSACHUSETTS STARTING PAY IS 21 GOES TO 26.

IN ADDITION, THEY HAVE A A THOUSAND DOLLAR BONUS.

SO THIS IS NOT A COMPETITIVE WAGE THAT AUSTIN IS OFFERING.

I KNOW I APPRECIATE YOUR GUYS' SUPPORT, BUT WE'RE STILL MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL, TRY TO GET A MEETING WITH THE MAYOR.

AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL, UM, GET A LIVING WAGE FOR THE SUMMER AND DEFINITELY WORKING TOWARD IT IN THE, IN THE FALL.

SO HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WILL BE RUNNING UP AND RUNNING.

THEY, I WILL MENTION THAT THEY DID LOWER THE STANDARDS FOR WORKING AT BARTON SPRINGS USED TO HAVE TO BE 17.

THEY LOWERED IT TO 16.

THEY ALSO LOWERED THE STANDARDS FOR THE SWIM TEST, USED TO HAVE TO DO 200 METERS AND 300, THREE MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS.

THEY MADE THAT FOUR MINUTES LOWER THE STANDARDS.

YOU CAN AVOID THAT BY INCREASING THE WAGE.

15 POLICE CARS AND FIRE AND RESCUE, AND THEY HAD THE HELICOPTER OUT THERE.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE ERIC PAULISTS AND THAT'S THE 4, 4, 3.

PERFECT.

HI, GOOD EVENING, MR. PAULUS, YOU ARE ON A, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

HI, MY NAME'S ERIC PAULUS.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ECOLOGY ACTION, AND WE HAVE A NATURE PRESERVE.

THAT'S ADJACENT TO GROW A PARK, AND WE ALSO DO SOME RESTORATION AND, UH, CLEANUP PROJECTS IN THE PARK.

AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ALL TODAY ABOUT A COUPLE OF SAFETY ISSUES IN THE PARK.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET PARTS OUT FOR A FEW YEARS AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN MUCH TRACTION.

UM, THE FIRST ONE IS THE RELEASES THAT LONGHORN DAM, UM, THE LCRA RELEASES WATER BASICALLY DAILY.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT PEOPLE GO DOWN TO ACCESS THE WATER IN THE MORNING AND WALK OUT AND GET STUCK OUT ON THESE, UM, BANKS AND, AND THE LITTLE ISLANDS OUT THERE.

AND SOME FOLKS CAN'T SWIM AND THEY GET STUCK OUT THERE.

UM, JUST ON EASTER SUNDAY, SOMEBODY GOT SWEPT AWAY.

THEY HAD TO GET ABOUT

[00:15:01]

UM, I THINK THIS IS A PREVENTABLE WITH SOME SIMPLE SIGNAGE IN, UM, ENGLISH, SPANISH AND BURMESE.

I THINK, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S A PRETTY EASY SOLUTION THAT I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S TAKEN PART OVER THREE YEARS NOW AT THIS POINT TO, TO GET ANYWHERE.

UM, AND THE OTHER ISSUE IS ALONG THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS, UH, JUST EAST OF THE PLAYGROUND ABOUT 200 FEET IS A OLD BRIDGE IN THE PARK THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY SAFETY RAILINGS.

AND THERE'S ABOUT A 25 FOOT DROP ONTO CONCRETE.

AND I'VE, UH, I'M IN THE PARK ALL THE TIME AND I'VE SEEN MANY KIDS, UH, PICKING THEIR HEAD OVER THERE.

AND I THINK IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I THINK SAFETY RAILINGS NEED TO GO UP.

AND SO I'M ASKING THE COMMISSION TO, UH, TO KIND OF WORK WITH PARDES, UM, AND, AND GETTING THESE ISSUES RESOLVED.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LUPA GARCIA AND MS. GARCIA, IF YOU'RE THERE, YOU'RE ON AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

WE'RE GOING TO DO ONE LAST CHECK AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE.

SHARE THE ONLY CALL IN, UM, WAS ERIC WALLACE.

SO, UM, THAT IS CONCLUSION OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

SO MOVING ON, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

[A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

SO IF, UM, EVERYBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT, IF, HOPEFULLY YOU LOOKED AT THE MINUTES AND IF YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS, THIS IS YOUR TIME TO ADDRESS THOSE.

AND IF NOT, THEN IF I COULD GET, UH, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES, I HAVE ONE QUICK COMMENT, PLEASE.

CHAIR.

YES, PLEASE.

I'D LIKE IT.

AND THEN THE RECORD THAT YOU GOT A COMMENDATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA, I MEAN, AT CAL ALTER, I THINK THAT WOULD, THAT'S VERY KIND OF, WELL, IT WAS HAPPENED AT THE MEETING.

I MOVE, WE ADD IT.

OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO I HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY, UM, BOARD MEMBER MORE? OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR.

I'LL I'LL HAVE MY MOM AND, AND, AND LIGHTS.

SO THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO NOW LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS, YES.

SORRY TO INTERRUPT THAT.

JUST NOTICING THAT BOARD MEMBER HAWKMAN, WASN'T DONE A VIDEO FOR THAT BOAT.

SO HER LIFE HAS NOT BEEN RECORDED, BUT REMEMBER HAGMAN, THERE SHE IS.

SHE VOTED.

SO NOW WE NEED TO MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED, CORRECT? OR DID WE JUST DO THAT? THIS IS WHY IT'S WE CAN CALL THAT A VOTE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.

FIVE, THE BRIEFING ON THE CREATION OF NEW PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE.

MOVING ON BEF I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK CHANGE IN THE, UM, ORDER OF THESE EVENTS FOR, AND I'M GOING TO MOVE ITEM

[B.5. Briefing on the creation of a new parkland dedication ordinance for commercial developments, as described in this presentation and associated Study, for adoption by City Council.]

FIRST, THAT'S A BRIEFING.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS NOT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HEAR THAT FIRST.

AND THE STAFF IS HERE, SO WE NEED A MOTION.

I DON'T THINK WE DO.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO, CAN I GET A SECOND, SECOND? THANK YOU.

SO ALL IN FAVOR.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I KNOW MR. SCOTT APPRECIATES IT.

SO THIS IS A BRIEFING ON THE CREATION OF A NEW PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PRESENTATION AND ASSOCIATED STUDY FOR ADOPTION BY CITY COUNCIL.

WE VOTED ON THIS AT OUR LAST MEETING, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UM, TO REALLY SHARE.

UM, WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM.

CAN WE HAVE THAT FOR A BRIEFING OF SPEAKER? OH, UH, I APOLOGIZE.

NO, THERE CAN BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, DURING A BRIEFING.

I APOLOGIZE TO THE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC BECAUSE IT'S POSTED AS A BRIEFING.

THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT ITEM.

MY APOLOGIES.

UH, I ALSO WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD IN ADDITION TO THERE NOT BEING ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ALOUD ON A BRIEFING, UM, ANY DISCUSSION OR ANY QUESTIONS, UH, ASKED BY THE BOARD OF STAFF, UH, MUST BE, UH, CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AND THERE CAN BE NO DISCUSSION AMONG THE BOARD ON THIS ITEM AND NO ACTION TAKEN BY THE BOARD ON THIS ITEM.

I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MR. SCOTT, YOU HAVE THE PRESENTATION, THAT'S IT.

SO WITH THAT PREFACE,

[00:20:01]

MADAM CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS.

I'M RANDY SCOTT, A PARKLAND ACQUISITION PARKLAND DEDICATION PROGRAM MANAGER.

UM, ON FEBRUARY 20TH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE HOME, FEBRUARY 25TH, 2020 PARKS BOARD PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT DIRECTED CITY COUNCIL TO, UH, UH, LOOK AT DEVELOPING A COMMERCIAL PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE.

THEN ON MARCH 28TH, 22, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REAFFIRMED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THAT FIRST RESOLUTION.

AND ON MAY 7TH, 2022, UH, CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO, UH, DEVELOP A COMMERCIAL PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

THIS TEAM BEHIND ME, UH, PAUL BOOKS, ROBIN HAYMANS, TOM ROWLANDSON AND TWO OTHERS, UH, JUSTIN STEWART AND, UM, NO THAT OTHER GUY BACK THERE, SCOTT GRANTHAM, UH, HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY IN DEVELOPING A, UH, COMMERCIAL PARKLAND DEDICATION STUDY THAT IS IN YOUR BACKUP TONIGHT.

UH, WE ALSO DEVELOPED A PRESENTATION TO OUTLINE THAT STUDY AND, UH, TONIGHT WE WERE PRESENTED TO YOU, UH, ROBIN HAYMANS, WE'LL BEGIN WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THAT.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ROBIN HAYMANS WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

IT'S GREEN.

I JUST NEED TO GET CLOSER.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY.

THE EXISTING PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE OR PLD, WHICH IS APPLIED TO NEW RESIDENTIAL HOTEL AND MOTEL UNITS, SUBSTANTIALLY ADVANCES OF PUBLIC INTEREST IN PROMOTING HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF AUSTINITES BY PROVIDING AN EXPANDING CRITICAL PARKLAND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY.

IN FACT, SINCE 2018, PLD HAS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TOWARD HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF PARKLAND AND OVER 40 NEW OR EXPANDED PARKS, THE BENEFITS AND NEED FOR CRITICAL PARK INFRASTRUCTURE IS WELL, ARE WELL-ESTABLISHED IN AUSTIN CITY CHARTER.

THE IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE PAR LONG RANGE PLAN AND NUMEROUS COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS, INCLUDING ONE STIPULATING THAT ALL AUSTINITES BE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF A PARK, CREATING A NEW PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE FOR OFFICE RETAIL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT WOULD BETTER REFLECT IMPACTS OF NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THE CITY'S PARK SYSTEM.

A NEW COMMERCIAL PARKLAND DEDICATED DEDICATION ORDINANCE WOULD CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREENBELT AND TRAIL CONNECTIONS THAT ARE LOST UNDER TODAY'S REQUIREMENTS AND BETTER SERVE AUSTIN'S RAPIDLY GROWING WORKFORCE WITH RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH IN TURN WILL MAKE AUSTIN MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.

THE COMMERCIAL PARKLAND DEDICATION DEDICATION ORDINANCE MUST BE LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE WITHIN ESTABLISHED ESSENTIAL NEXUS, WHICH IS A DIRECT IMPACT OF A POPULATION ON CITY SERVICES.

AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH US CASE LAW, A CITY MAIN ACT REASONABLE REGULATIONS TO PROMOTE HEALTH SAFETY IN GENERAL, WELL WELFARE OF ITS PEOPLE AND PROVIDING A CENTRAL PARK SERVICES HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.

AND ESSENTIAL NEXUS IS ESTABLISHED BY RECOGNIZING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN NEW COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT BRING ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES, CLIENTS, AND CONSUMERS, AND, AND THEIR USE OF THE CITY'S PARKS.

THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION CONDUCTED A STUDY, WHICH FOUND THAT PARKS PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN DETERMINING COMPANY LOCATIONS AND THEREFORE WORKFORCE WORKFORCE GROWTH IN A CITY PER THE LATEST CENSUS INFORMATION.

58% OF THE CITY'S WORKFORCE COMMUTES INTO AUSTIN, ADDING PARK USERS THAT DO NOT CURRENTLY FACTOR INTO THE, INTO THE CURRENT PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS BY ESTABLISHING A COMMERCIAL PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE, THE CITY WOULD BETTER BE ABLE TO PROVIDE PROPORTIONATE RECREATION SERVICES TO THE WORKFORCE NEAR THEIR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.

CLEAR DURING OUR BRUSH, OUR TRAFFIC, THE CITY'S PARK LEVEL OF SERVICE DIMINISHES TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT AMOUNT OF PARKLAND FOR US AND SERVICE POPULATION, WHICH IS THE COMBINATION OF EXISTING RESIDENTS.

ANOTHER PART OF ESTABLISHING A LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE ORDINANCE IS ACCOUNTING FOR ROUGH PROPORTIONALITY.

THIS TIES A LANDER FEE REQUIREMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS ANTICIPATED IMPACT ON THE PARK SYSTEM AS THE CITY'S POPULATION SWELLS DURING THE WORKDAY WITH THE COMMUTER WORKFORCE COMING IN FROM OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN'S JURISDICTION, THAT WHICH IS ABUNDANTLY

[00:25:01]

PLUS THE COMMUTER WORKFORCE, NEW DEVELOPMENTS WOULD NEED TO PROVIDE 6.8 ACRES OF NEW PARKLAND PER THOUSAND PEOPLE, WHICH IS A FORMULA WE GO INTO MORE DETAIL IN, IN THE PROCEEDINGS, SLIDES, JUSTICE WITH THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE FACTORS, SUCH AS OCCUPANCY RATES, HOURS OF OPERATION PARK OPERATION HOURS ARE ALL CONSIDERED TO ESTABLISH A TRULY PROPORTIONAL PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE.

TOM WILL NOW PROVIDE SOME MORE DETAILS ON HOW THE LANDED FEE CALCULATIONS WERE DERIVED.

GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS TOM ROBINSON.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

UH, IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO I'LL BE COVERING THE METHODOLOGY BUILDING OFF OF, UH, THE ESSENTIAL NEXUS AND ROUGH PROPORTIONALITY THAT ROBIN SPOKE TO JUST NOW.

SO DIVING INTO HOW THIS REQUIREMENT WOULD WORK.

WE DIVIDED COMMERCIAL USES INTO THREE CATEGORIES.

UH, THE REASONING IS THAT EACH OF THESE USES ARE DISTINCT AND FUNCTION.

AND NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, WE WANT TO ACCURATELY CAPTURE THE ANTICIPATED USE OF THE PARK SYSTEM AND BELIEVE THAT THESE THREE CATEGORIES BETTER ACHIEVE THAT AT THE SAME TIME, THE CATEGORIES ARE INTENDED TO BE BROAD ENOUGH TO BE EASILY UNDERSTOOD AND CAPTURES THE VARIETY OF USES THAT FALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF COMMERCIAL.

THESE CATEGORIES ARE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER PARKS REQUIREMENTS ACROSS THE U S THAT INCLUDE A COMMERCIAL COMPONENT.

AND THE THREE CATEGORIES THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU ARE OFFICE RETAIL AND INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE, AS WELL AS THE SORT OF SUB USES THAT FALL UNDER THOSE THREE CATEGORIES.

24 7 BUSINESSES REVIEWING THE SLIDE, UH, YOU ULTIMATELY CALCULATE THE FUNCTIONAL POPULATION, TAKING THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES BASED ON A NEW PROJECT SQUARE FOOTAGE, THEN DISCOUNT THAT NUMBER BY THE OCCUPANCY RATE AND OUR, UH, OPERATIONS TIME.

SO THIS FORMULA IS REALLY THE EXPRESSION OF, OF WHAT THEIR REQUIREMENT COULD BE.

UH, IT'S A, AN EXPRESSION OF WHAT THE CITY NEED IS FROM COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS FOR PARKLAND IS CLOSELY MODELED ON OUR CURRENT RESIDENTIAL AND HOTEL REQUIREMENTS IN EFFECT TODAY.

WHAT THE FORMULA PROPOSES IS THAT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT LEVEL OF PARK SERVICE, THAT IS THE SAME AMOUNT OF PARKLAND.

AS THE CITY GROWS, THEN WE WOULD NEED 6.8 ACRES OF PARKLAND PER THOUSAND PEOPLE.

THAT 6.8 ACRES REPRESENTS HOW MANY ACRES OF PARKLAND THAT WE HAVE TODAY FOR 1000 PEOPLE MINUS OUR METRO AND DISTRICT PARKS.

THAT EXCLUSION IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR CURRENT RESIDENTIAL AND HOTEL REQUIREMENTS OF THE EXCLUSION OF THE METRO AND DISTRICT PARKS.

I MUST NOTE THAT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE FACTORS, BOTH RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND INBOUND COMMUTERS FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY EQUAL TO APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN ALL.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE CALLED THE SERVICE POPULATION AS DISCUSSED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION, THE TERM FUNCTIONAL POPULATION THAT'S IN THIS EQUATION MEANS THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES FROM A COMMERCIAL USE DISCOUNTED BY OCCUPANCY RATES AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY MAY BE AT A PLACE WITH EMPLOYMENT THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT THE NEXT SLIDE YOU COULD GO TO IT.

SO GOING INTO GREATER DETAIL ON HOW THIS FORMULA WOULD WORK HERE, WE SEE HOW THE FUNCTIONAL POPULATION FOR A GIVEN COMMERCIAL PROJECT WOULD BE EXPRESSED BY THE THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES I DISCUSSED EARLIER.

FIRST, WE DETERMINE HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WOULD BE IN A GIVEN COMMERCIAL USE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SQUARE FEET USING THE U S GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL FIGURES OFFICE HAS THE GREATEST NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES PER SQUARE FOOT, UH, OR AS WAREHOUSE AND INDUSTRIAL HAS THE FEWEST NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES PER SQUARE FOOT.

THEN WE FACTOR IN THE OCCUPANCY RATE OF THOSE DIFFERENT USES.

IT'S RARE THAT A COMMERCIAL SPACE, UH, WILL BE, UH, OR COMMERCIAL SPACES RATHER ARE 100% OCCUPIED AND INSIDE SOME SPACES REMAIN VACANT, WAITING TO BE LEASED.

WE ACCOUNTED FOR THAT TO MORE ACCURATELY DERIVE THE ACTUAL IMPACTS ON OUR PARK SYSTEM.

THEN WE ALSO FACTOR OCCUPATION TIMES OF THE DIFFERENT USES.

MOST BUSINESSES AREN'T OPEN 24, 7, AND EMPLOYEES OFTEN SPEND MAYBE 10 HOURS A DAY AT WORK BECAUSE EMPLOYEES SPEND LESS TIME AT WORK.

THEY LIKELY WON'T HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT PARKS AS THEY WOULD AT HOME.

SO WE FACTORED THE OPERATIONS TIME TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT AS WELL, WHILE WAREHOUSE AND INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE PARKS OUTSIDE OF THOSE TIMES.

ANYWAY, UH, SO WE ADDED A CAP TO THOSE INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE USES TO REFLECT, UH, THE PARKS HOURS OF OPERATIONS.

EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE

[00:30:01]

FROM THERE, YOU CAN DETERMINE HOW MANY ACRES OF PARKLAND IS NEEDED.

BASED ON THAT 6.8 ACRES OF PARKLAND PER THOUSAND PEOPLE DISCUSSED IN THE LAST SLIDE.

PAUL WILL NOW COVER SOME HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES OF THIS FORMULA IN ACTION.

HELLO MEMBERS OF BOARD.

MY NAME IS PAUL BOOKS.

UM, I'M GOING TO GO OVER A FEW HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES.

UM, IF YOU COULD JUST GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO THIS FIRST EXAMPLE IS A HYPOTHETICAL DOWNTOWN HIGH RISE OFFICE BUILDING OF OVER 665,000 SQUARE FEET ON A FULL CITY BLOCK USING THE FORMULA.

TOM JUST EXPLAINED THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE A FUNCTIONAL POPULATION OF JUST OVER 485 PEOPLE.

THIS WOULD REQUIRE A 3.3 ACRES OF PARKLAND TO BE DEDICATED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE CITY'S CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE.

THE FUNCTIONAL POPULATION IS ALSO USED TO CALCULATE THE FEE IN LIEU OF DEDICATION, AS WELL AS THE PARK DEVELOPMENT FEE, THE FEE AND LEWIS BASED ON A PARKLAND COST FACTOR PER PERSON WHILE THE PARK DEVELOPMENT FEE IS BASED ON A PARK DEVELOPMENT COST FACTOR PER PERSON, THE PARKLAND COST FACTOR IS THE AVERAGE PER ACRE COST OF PARKLAND.

OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS DIVIDED BY THE SERVICE POPULATION.

THE PARK DEVELOPMENT COST FACTOR IS THE AVERAGE DEVELOPMENT COST OF THE LAST FIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS DIVIDED BY THE SERVICE POPULATION.

ADDITIONALLY, WE ASSUMED THE 15% LINE CAP WITHIN THE URBAN CORE THAT APPLIES TO THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE WOULD BE APPLIED TO OUR COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENT AS WELL.

IN THIS EXAMPLE, YOU SEE A QUARTER ACRE PARK ON THE CORNER OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

HOWEVER, A MAJORITY OF DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT COULD BE SATISFIED THROUGH FEE AND LOO.

UM, BUT PARKLAND DEDICATION IS STILL NECESSARY TO FILL CRITICAL GAPS IN PARK INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO CREATE PARKLAND PROPORTIONATE TO GROWTH IN DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT.

STAFF AND DEVELOPERS MAY ALSO LOOK TOWARDS OTHER CREATIVE WAYS TO PROVIDE PARK SPACE TO THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS INTERIOR, PUBLIC PLAZAS, OR MINI DECKS ON UPPER FLOORS TO SATISFY REQUIREMENTS, SIMILAR TO WHAT IS SEEN IN PRIVATELY OWNED PUBLIC SPACES OR PARK POP'S PROGRAM IN NEW YORK CITY.

UM, AND WE CAN GO ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND THIS EXAMPLE, WE LOOK AT A TYPICAL RETAIL STRIP CENTER OF 50,000, SORRY, ONE SLIDE BACK, UM, TYPICAL RETAIL STRIP CENTER OF 50,000 SQUARE FEET.

THE PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO SECURE CONNECTIONS ACROSS.

WE TELL DEVELOPMENTS TO PREVENT GAPS IN PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE IN GREEN BELTS.

IN THIS EXAMPLE, THE 0.2, TWO ACRES OF PARKLAND OWED WOULD ALLOW FOR EXEMPTION TO AN EXISTING PARK ON THE OTHER SIDE DEVELOPMENT ENSURING THE FUTURE OCCUPANTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS THE WIDER COMMUNITY MAINTAIN ACCESS TO PARKLAND.

THE NEW PARK SPACE WOULD ENABLE RETAIL WORKERS TO WALK TO PARK AMENITIES ON BREAKS OR BEFORE AND AFTER THEIR SHIFTS, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS WILL HELP TO INFORM WHAT TYPES OF AMENITIES WOULD BE, WHAT BEST SERVE USES OF THIS PARK SPACE ADJACENT TO RETAIL AND OTHER COMMERCIAL USES I'LL THEN GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND THIS NEXT EXAMPLE, WE LOOK AT A TYPICAL SUBURBAN WAREHOUSE WHERE PROPOSED REQUIREMENTS WOULD ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUATION OF A GREEN BELT ON LAND THAT WOULD OTHERWISE SIT UNUTILIZED BY THE DEVELOPMENT.

OFTENTIMES THESE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPED DEVELOPMENTS ARE SITED IN AREAS, COMPLETELY DEVOID OF PARKLAND, AND THIS REQUIREMENT WOULD HELP SECURE PARKLAND AS AN AMENITY TO EMPLOYEES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AT LARGE PROMOTING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF SOME OF THEM HAVE SOME AUSTIN'S MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES CREATING THIS GREENBELT CONNECTION.

IT'S A PRIORITY.

AND THE IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN AND THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION, 23 AND AS NECESSARY REGARDLESS OF LAND USE, IF THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE GREENBELT AND URBAN TRAILS SYSTEMS ARE TO BE REALIZED, UM, WE CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT EXAMPLE.

SO IN THIS EXAMPLE, WE LOOK AT HOW A NEW COMMERCIAL ORDINANCE WOULD WORK IN TANDEM WITH THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL PARK PARKLAND REQUIREMENTS ON A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.

THE COMMERCIAL USE IN THIS EXAMPLE OF 136,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE A WILL, WOULD FOLLOW THE COMMERCIAL FORMULA.

WE JUST EXPLAINED THE RESIDENTIAL PORTION WOULD FOLLOW THE EXISTING TITLE, 25 PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS COMBINE THE TWO REQUIREMENTS EQUATE OVER FIVE ACRES OWED WITH THE URBAN CORE CAP OF 15%.

THIS WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR A PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION TO RIGHT AWAY, AND TO EXTEND THE GREENBELT SYSTEM THROUGH UNDER-UTILIZED AREAS ON THE BACK OF THE SITE, AS AN AMENITY TO RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EXAMPLES AND THE RATIONALE AND BASIS FOR EACH COMPONENT OF THE FORMULA CAN BE FOUND IN THE ADJOINING STUDY.

RIGHT? YOU CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, WE ALSO RESEARCHED A NUMBER OF CITIES IN TEXAS AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO UNDER, TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE FOR COMMERCIAL PARKLAND, DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS AND IMPACT FEES IN TEXAS ALONE, EL PASO HUDDLE COLLEYVILLE AMONG OTHERS HAVE PARKLAND REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS SETTING THE PRECEDENT FOR THIS REQUIREMENT IN THE STATE AND OTHER STATES SUCH AS CALIFORNIA AND GEORGIA EXISTING IMPACT THE REGULATIONS PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF HOW TO MEASURE THE IMPACTS OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON THE PARK SYSTEM, AND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW AN ORDINANCE CAN BE CRAFTED TO BE ROUGHLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE IMPACT OF THE

[00:35:01]

DEVELOPMENT.

UM, AND ON THE NEXT, UH, SLIDES, TOM IS GOING TO GO OVER THE NEXT STEPS AND ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

SO WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OUR, UH, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT UNIT TO PRODUCE A COMPREHENSIVE ENGAGEMENT EFFORT TO ENSURE THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS ARE HEARD IN THIS PROCESS.

SOON, WE WILL BE LAUNCHING A WEBSITE AND ONLINE SURVEY, UH, MADE BROADLY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR, OF YOU AND INPUT.

WE ANTICIPATE MORE MEETINGS WITH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING PARKS, BOARD, AS WELL AS CITY COUNCIL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPEAKERS TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS NEW PROCESS.

UH, PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON PART SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE WE WILL BE SHARING ALL THIS INFORMATION AND MORE, UH, FINALLY WE INTEND TO HOLD ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS, UH, WHO WOULD BE MOST IMPACTED SUCH AS PARK ADVOCATES AND REAL ESTATE REPRESENTATIVES.

UH, TOMORROW WE WILL BE BEGIN DEVELOPING AN ORDINANCE BASED ON THE STUDY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PRESENTATION.

WE CAN GO TO THE LAST SLIDE.

SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS EVENING TO LISTEN TO THIS BRIEFING.

UH, YOU CAN CONTACT, UH, ANY ONE OF US.

UH, IF YOU DO HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE FOLLOW UP.

UH, THE STUDY WAS POSTED IN BACKUP.

UH, WE REALIZED THIS PRESENTATION INCLUDED A LOT OF INFORMATION, SO IT GOES INTO GREAT DETAIL ON HOW WE DEVELOP THIS METHODOLOGY BASED ON THE, UH, PRECEDENCE IN CASE LAW THAT WE COVERED TONIGHT.

EXCUSE ME.

WE CAN ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND, UM, SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY OF THOSE, I'LL START WITH YOU BOARD MEMBER, COTTON CYBIL SHEET, BOARD MEMBER MORE THANK YOU.

UM, I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF THE BACKGROUND ON THE, UM, THE PARK DEVELOPMENT FEES, UM, HOW THOSE ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE KIND OF BEEN COLLECTING DATA FOR THOSE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND HOW THOSE MIGHT, UM, CHANGE AND EVOLVE OVER TIME.

I CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

SO IT'S BASED ON, YOU KNOW, THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE OF WHAT IT COSTS US TO DEVELOP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND POCKET PARKS.

SO IN THE, UH, STUDY, IT DOES GO INTO THE DIFFERENT PARKS THAT WERE USED AS PART OF THAT CALCULATION.

UM, SOME OF THE MORE RECENT PARKS THAT WERE USED WERE FOR EXAMPLE, BROWNIE PARK, UH, NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN.

SO THE FEES THAT ARE YOU SEE BEFORE YOU ARE REALLY A REFLECTION OF WHAT IT COSTS TODAY FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO, UH, DEVELOP THOSE PARKS AND RANDY, YOU'RE WELCOME TO ADD TO THAT.

I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD IT'S THE LAST FIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT WE DEVELOPED THIS DAY.

UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR THE YES, VERY DETAILED, UM, INFORMATION.

UM, I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION AND I COULD HAVE MISSED IT AND YOUR BACKUP, BUT, UM, IS FOR THE NEW ORDINANCE FOR THE COMMERCIAL, UM, PARKLAND, ARE, IS IT PLANNING ON BEING THE SAME REQUIREMENTS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DO THE FEE IN LIEU AS OPPOSED TO THE LAND DEDICATION? YES, WE'RE, WE'RE INTENDING THAT TO, TO BE PART OF THE ORDINANCE AS WELL, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD APPLY SOME OF THE SAME CRITERIA AS POTENTIALLY THAT WE USE WITH RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS, BUT THAT A FEE IN LIEU WOULD STILL BE A PART OF THAT ORDINANCE AS WELL.

UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, STAKEHOLDER AND PUBLIC INPUT IS MAYBE WHAT THOSE CRITERIA ARE AND WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE THE SAME AS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, PARK DEFICIENCY, UH, CRITICAL CONNECTIONS, UH, YOU KNOW, CRITICAL NEEDS IS IDENTIFIED IN OUR LONG RANGE PLAN ARE ALL CRITERIA THAT WE USE.

MAYBE THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMERCIAL ORDINANCE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO, UH, USE AS PART OF THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION IS WHAT THOSE CRITERIA ARE.

UM, BUT SEE HUFFMAN, THANK YOU.

NO QUESTIONS.

BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR, NO QUESTIONS NOW.

EXCUSE ME.

BOARD MEMBER BERNARD.

[00:40:04]

NO QUESTIONS.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

YOU MENTIONED AMENITY DECKS ON UPPER FLOORS, UM, SATISFYING PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THIS POSSIBLE DRAFT ORDINANCE.

AND MY QUESTION WAS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S ALLOWED FOR RESIDENTIAL? UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE EXPLORED IN THE PAST.

UH, RIGHT NOW THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL, UH, ARE CLEAR THAT THE LAND EITHER NEEDS TO BE DEDICATED FEE SIMPLE, OR IT NEEDS TO BE CONVEYED IN SOME KIND OF EASEMENT.

SO WE HAVE EXPLORED IT.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY PROJECTS WHERE IT'S, UH, BEEN REALIZED, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT BEFORE, WHERE IF IT WAS GOING TO BE CONVEYED IN AN EASEMENT THAT ENSHRINED PUBLIC ACCESS, IT'S A POSSIBILITY, BUT I CAN'T THINK OF ANY SPECIFIC EXAMPLES WHERE THAT'S BEEN ACHIEVED RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE OTHER PLACES IN AUSTIN.

UH, RADY HAS ONE THAT HE LIKES TO BRING UP WHERE IT'S PRIVATELY, UH, OWNED AND MANAGED, BUT IT IS KIND OF A PARK ON TOP OF A FORMER PARKING GARAGE THAT WE'VE TAKEN INSPIRATION FROM.

AND OF COURSE THE, UH, PO P S IN NEW YORK IS ANOTHER GREAT CASE FOR THAT.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STILL KIND OF EXPLORING RIGHT NOW, BUT SOMETHING THAT MAY POTENTIALLY BE POSSIBLE UNDER THE RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS.

SO IT WOULD HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS.

IT WOULD, IT HAS, YES, IT HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS.

VICE TREAD DEPARTMENT.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE CLARIFICATION ON THE PRIVATELY OWNED PUBLIC OPEN SPACES, PUT BOASTS FAMILIAR WITH THEM IN NEW YORK CITY AND SAN FRANCISCO.

AND FORTUNATELY, I THINK WE'VE EMBRACED THEM IN THE PAST AND JUST NOTHING'S HAPPENED WITH IT.

UM, SO VERY SUPPORTIVE.

NOW I LOOK, HERE'S MY CLARIFYING QUESTION.

UM, IT RELATES TO THE OVERVIEW AND SO ON, THE OVERVIEW HAS ON BOLD NUMBER THREE, CREATING A NEW PARKING DEDICATION ORDINANCE FOR OFFICE AND RETAIL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS WOULD BETTER REFLECT THE IMPACTS OF NEW DEVELOPMENT TO THE CITY'S PARK SYSTEM.

AND THAT IS WHAT, THAT'S THE KEY THING THAT WE NEED FOR NEXUS.

AND THERE SEEMS TO BE ANOTHER BENEFIT.

DO YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN PUT IT IN THERE WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT CREATING OPEN SPACE FOR WORKERS ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE? AND JUST WANT TO SEE IF THIS IS, YOU KNOW, YOU GET CLARIFICATION ON THOUGHT, NOT ON FOLLOWING PAGES IS ON PAGE SIX WHERE WE HIGHLIGHT OFFICE, RIGHT? LIMITED GENERAL OFFICE USE COWORKING SPACES, MEDICAL OFFICES, RETAIL RESTAURANTS, RETAIL, GYMS, COFFEE SHOPS, BARS.

AND OF COURSE IN INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, WAREHOUSE PLACES WHERE THAT WORKERS ARE REALLY IMPACTED THEY'RE ENCLOSED SETTINGS.

UM, AND SO IS THERE A WAY THAT IN CRAFTING IT, OR AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGING IT IN THERE THAT THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT, BECAUSE IN SOME INSTANCES WE'LL REQUIRING THIS PARKLAND DEDICATION ON THE, ON THESE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, IT WILL NOT ONLY ADDRESS WHEN THERE IS A PARK CLOSE BY AND THEIR IMPACT ON THAT PARK, BUT IT ACTUALLY IS A WORKER HEALTH COMPONENT.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS ABLE TO, OR BY VIRTUE OF THE CASE LAW WE NEEDED TO KIND OF STAY AWAY FROM, I THINK YOU WOULD CALL THAT MAYBE AN ANCILLARY BENEFITS.

SO WE, IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CLOSE A GREENBELT GAPS AND MAKE THESE TRAIL CONNECTIONS, BUT IN DOING SO, YOU CREATE A WAY FOR THE EMPLOYEES TO GET TO WORK ON AN ALTERNATE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION, RIGHT? OR YOU CREATE SPACES.

YOU KNOW, WE SEE IT WITH OUR RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT ALL THE TIME THAT EVEN OUR TRAIL CONNECTIONS ARE SO HEAVILY USED BY THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.

THAT IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE CASE THAT YOU'RE CREATING PARK SPACE FOR THE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE, TO THE NEW DEDICATION, AS WELL AS ALLEVIATING THE IMPACT ON EXISTING PARKS.

AND THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY GET TO IT, SAY, IF YOU'RE HAVING TO GET TO AN ELEVATOR OR STAIRWAY THAT'S NOT CLOSED UP AND THAT YOU'RE THERE AT 6:00 AM AND YOU COULD BE THERE TILL 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, WHEREVER OUR CURRENT PARK RULES ALLOW.

DOES THAT CLARIFY? IT DOES.

AND ONE MORE CLARIFYING QUESTION, AND THIS RELATES GOING BACK TO THE PRIVATELY OWNED PUBLIC OPEN SPACE NOW, AS YOU WOULD INVESTIGATE THAT COMPONENT, WOULD YOUR THOUGHT BE THAT IT WOULD HAVE THE SAME ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, BOTH IN TERMS OF THE TIME OF DAY THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS IT

[00:45:01]

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED? YEAH, IT WOULD FALL APART.

RULES IS IN TERMS OF THE TIMES OF DAY OF OPERATION.

AND THEN I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE SORT OF WAY THE POP'S OPERATES IS IT'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, LIKE TYPICALLY THEY'RE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OR YOU HAVE LIKE ONE FLIGHT OF STAIRS AND AN ELEVATOR JUST, IT'S LIKE ONE STORY ABOVE THE PUBLIC REALM.

AND IT'S K SO YOU CAN LOOK AT THE ELEVATED ACRE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE LOWER EAST SIDE ALONG.

AND THAT'S LIKE, SORT OF, IT'S KIND OF ABOVE, IT'S UTILIZING A ROOFTOP AREA, BUT IT'S ONLY ONE KIND OF LEVEL ABOVE THE PUBLIC REALM.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC IS REALLY EASILY INVITED INTO.

AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY PART OF THE CRITERIA THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THESE MORE CREATIVE WAYS TO SATISFY THE, AND I DO HAVE A THIRD ONE PO APOLOGIZE CHAIR, JUST TO EXPAND ON THAT REAL QUICK.

AND YOU MENTIONED, UH, TWO QUESTIONS HAVE COME UP ON THAT.

UM, WE ALSO, WE HAD, DO HAVE ONE THAT WE'VE NEGOTIATED AND IS THIS WORKING? IT IS OKAY.

WE DO HAVE ONE THAT WE'VE, UH, NEGOTIATED AT BROADMORE, UH, WHICH IS, UH, UH, NORTH, UH, ALONG THE RED LINE.

AND WE HAVE A PARKING GARAGE, UH, PARK THAT WE WILL CONDO EASTMAN TO THAT LEVEL OF ELEVATION AND IT WOULD BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SO ON THE THIRD QUESTION, IT GOES BACK TO PARKLAND, DEDICATION ON THE FEES IN LIEU.

SO RIGHT NOW, IN OUR CURRENT SYSTEM, WE, WE HAVE THESE LITTLE ACCOUNTS, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THAT PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT AND THAT'S THE MONEY RECEIVED.

AND WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEND IT YET, IT SITS IN THAT ACCOUNT UNTIL IT'S ACCESSED WITH A PREFERENCE OF A NEARBY, WITHIN LIKE AS A QUARTER MILE OR ON THE PROJECT SITE GOING OUTWARDS TO TWO MILES.

THAT SEEMS TO BUILD UP IN SOME CASES, NOT AS MUCH AS PEOPLE THINK.

UM, CAUSE WE ARE, I THINK WE DO REALLY WELL AT SPENDING IT AND GETTING IT, UM, UTILIZED, BUT WHAT'S THE THOUGHT IF THERE'S, IF WE DO THE ABSORPTION, SO CLARIFYING ON, WE GET THAT PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE, WE DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARILY CONNECTIVITY ISSUE IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM EXISTING GREEN SPACE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT THE, THE USAGE FOR THAT FEE WOULD LOOK LIKE? AND HERE, I APOLOGIZE, I'LL GIVE YOU THE EXAMPLE, UH, GOOGLE, RIGHT, RIGHT.

OUR NEW BUILDING RIGHT OUT FRONT THAT'S RIGHT ON THE LAKE HAS ACCESS TO A ROBUST TRAIL SYSTEM.

UM, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL GREEN SPACE THAT CAN BE PURCHASED.

WELL, MAYBE THERE IS, I'M NOT SURE, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S CLOSE BY.

SO THAT'S USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, IF YOU COULD.

WELL, UH, JUST AS THAT, FOR AN EXAMPLE, GOOGLE, UM, THAT FEE IN LIEU OF WHAT COULD BE UTILIZED ON TOWN LAKE OR TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS, TRAIL EXPANSION, A NEW BRIDGE CROSSING, UH, SHOAL CREEK, A LITTLE FURTHER NORTH, UM, SO WIDE RANGE, UH, WE ALSO ENTER INTO A LOT PARK IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENTS.

SO WHEN, UH, DEVELOPMENTS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, A LOT OF TIMES SINCE THEY'RE ALREADY MOBILIZED, IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR THEM TO CONDUCT IMPROVEMENTS ON PARKLAND.

SO WE ENTER INTO A PARK IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS THE DEVELOPER TO ACTUALLY DO IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PARK, UH, WHILE THEY'RE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

SO WE DON'T COLLECT ANY FEE IN LIEU OF THEY MAKE ACTUAL IMPROVEMENTS.

AND, UH, THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE REALIZED BY THE TIME THE BUILDINGS OPENED.

SO IN THIS CASE, WHAT YOU HAD JUST SAID UNDERNEATH THIS ORDINANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE, YOU WOULD HAVE THE CHOICE NOT TO ACCEPT THE COMMERCIAL FI AND LOO OR THE COMMERCIAL PARKLAND DEDICATION AND THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY PIVOT FOR PARK IMPROVEMENT.

THAT'S CURRENTLY.

YES, WE DO.

AND YES, WE WOULD POSE THAT IN THE FUTURE.

MARCH, 2020, AND I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID.

THANK YOU, MR. SCOTT.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

APPRECIATE ALL THE GOOD WORK.

I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT, HONESTLY, Y'ALL DID A REALLY GOOD JOB EXPLAINING A COMPLICATED FORMULA AND EDUCATING US ON THIS ORDINANCE.

AND I, I, UM, I KNOW WE ASKED FOR THIS IN

[00:50:01]

I KNOW IT MUST HAVE TAKEN A LONG TIME TO DO THE RESEARCH AND FIGURE OUT THE CALCULATIONS AND DO THE WORK THAT YOU DID.

AND I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT IT DOES COME TO FRUITION.

UM, I'M NOT GOING TO ASK, UM, ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

I MAY SEND YOU SOME DOWN THE ROAD, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, SO, OKAY.

DO YOU MANAGE YOUR BOARD MEMBERS? THANK YOU.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR ZILKER METROPOLITAN PARK VISION PLAN.

AND I THINK WE HAVE, UM, DO WE HAVE GREG ? YEAH, I HAD A, UM, A QUESTION ABOUT THIS WORK BETTER TO DO THE PRESENTATION ON THE REWILDING FIRST.

AND THEN I FEEL LIKE THAT MIGHT BRING UP QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE CONSULTANTS, OR, UM, MIGHT TIE INTO THEIR PRESENTATION A LITTLE BETTER IF WE, IF WE REVERSE THOSE TWO.

THE ONLY, UM, THIS IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH.

I THINK THERE'S THIS MAYBE A BROADER VERSION OF WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR FOR, UM, IN THE ZILKER PARK ISN'T PLAN.

OH YEAH.

I'M, I'M OPEN TO EITHER WAY.

I JUST THOUGHT THAT THE, IF WE GO FROM A MORE SPECIFIC TO BROADER, UM, THE REWILDING, WE MIGHT HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT REWILDING THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN SPEAK TO AND THEN THE CONSULTANTS CAN SPEAK TO IF THEY GO AFTER THE THREE WELLBEING PRESENTATION.

I, YOU KNOW, IF, IF PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY, I'M PERFECTLY OPEN TO THAT.

UH, DO WE HAVE THE PRESENTERS FOR THE REWILDING HERE? YES, WE DID.

YES, WE DO CHAIR.

MOVE TO, TO SWITCH YOUR YOU'RE WELCOME TO, AND WE CAN VOTE ON IT.

SO IF YOU WANT TO

[B.2. Presentation, discussion and possible action on Zilker Park Re-Wilding plan]

I, SO MOVE SECOND, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER DEPALMA ALL IN FAVOR.

IT'S FINE WITH ME.

SO DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSED, SO WELCOME.

UH, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

UH, THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING I'VE BEEN IN PERSON SINCE JULY OF LAST YEAR.

AND I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S JOYFUL.

SORRY, SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM WITH THE VICE CHAIR THAT WE, UH, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, UM, PUBLIC, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

SO WE NEED TO SPEAK THE SENTENCE.

CAUSE I WAS FRANTICALLY DIGGING, LOOKING FOR THINKING THAT THAT WAS THE CASE.

SO WE ARE ON B2.

WE ARE ON ACTUALLY, YES, WE'RE ON B2 PRESENTATION, DISCUSSING IMPOSSIBLE ACCIDENT ON SILICA PARK, REWILDING PLAN.

PERFECT.

AND WE ARE SPEAKERS ARE ROBIN RATHER, AND GAIL ROSS AND MADAM CHAIR.

WE HAVE SEVEN IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON THIS AGENDA ITEM AND THAT'S IT.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL A GRUBHUB.

YOU ALL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

YOU CERTAINLY DO NOT HAVE TO USE ALL YOUR THREE MINUTES BUT MINUTES, BUT WE, WE ABSOLUTELY, UM, ARE THRILLED IF YOU DO.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND NAME THE FIRST FEW FOLKS, ELIZABETH MCGREEVEY, BEN THOMPSON, GAIL RAH, AND LISA AUDRA.

AND THEN AFTER WE GET DONE WITH THAT LIST AND I'LL GO INTO THE LAST THREE.

SO ELIZABETH MCCREEVY ARE YOU HERE? THERE YOU ARE.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

EXCUSE ME.

I JUST SWAPPED UP A BUNCH OF OAK PAULA.

I WORKED ON A SAINT SAVA RANCH PROJECT THAT COST $150,000 USING THE CONVENTIONAL LANDSCAPE, A LAND RESTORATION ON ONE ACRE IN CONTRAST ON THE SAME RANCH.

HI, I'M ALYSSA WITH MCGREEVEY AND I'M GOING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

WHY SHOULD WE REWILD SINKER THE REWILDING ZILKER PARK PLAN, STRONGLY PROPOSES USING THE REWILDING PROCESS TO REESTABLISH NEW NATURAL AREAS.

CONVENTIONAL LAND RESTORATION PROCESSES RELY ON PEOPLE TO PREDETERMINED AND PLAN WHAT THE VEGETATION COVER WILL BE.

THIS CAN MAKE IT A LESS SUSTAINABLE APPROACH THAT TENDS TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE AND USES MORE SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION TO BECOME ESTABLISHED.

I'M AN ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PLANNER AND ALL THAT.

SO I ACTUALLY DO THIS OUT IN THE FIELD.

REWILDING ALSO CALLED ECOLOGICAL REGENERATION IS THE BETTER PROCESS.

REWILDING ALLOWS NATURE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE VEGETATION COVER SHOULD BE, SHOULD BE NATURE.

THEN DOES MOST OF THE WORK, BUT IT'S MICROMANAGED USING ADAPTIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.

THIS PROCESS SAVES MONEY IN WATER, CREATES A MORE RESILIENT ECOSYSTEM AND INTEGRATES THE NEEDS OF WILDLIFE.

FOR EXAMPLE,

[00:55:01]

IT COSTS $5,000 TO REWILD FIVE ACRES, UH, AND THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN.

THE TERM ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT IS USED A LOT.

THIS IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH LAND RESTORATION OR ECO ECOLOGICAL REGENERATION.

IT IS MERELY A WAY TO REFERENCE A QUANTIFIABLE WAY TO MEASURE RESTORATION SUCCESS.

BY RELYING ON THIS TERM, IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT ECOSYSTEM REESTABLISHMENT PROCESSES HAVE NOT YET BEEN CONSIDERED.

UM, DURING ECOLOGICAL SITE STUDIES AT ZILKER, IT WAS PREDICTED THAT THE COVER TYPES SHOULD BE MOSTLY FOREST AND DENSE WOODLANDS WITH SMALL INTEGRATED GRASSY MEADOWS.

UH, THE DESIGN WORKSHOP PROPOSAL IS THAT, UH, ONLY 18 TO 31% OF NEW NATURAL AREAS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE WOODED ALLOWING THE REWILDING OF FOREST AND DENSE WOODLANDS OVER CARBONATE KARST LIMESTONE WILL BE MORE SUSTAINABLE AND LESS EXPENSIVE AS WELL AS MORE EFFECTIVELY MITIGATE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, INCREASED GROUNDWATER STORAGE CAPACITY.

THE PROCESS CALLED LIMESTONE DOES SOLUTION IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, DECREASED DREAM BANK EROSION AND DOWN.

SO FLOODING AND ALSO SUPPORT THE CITY'S CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN TO EXPAND, TREAT COVER.

AS CITIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE EMBRACING AND IMPLYING THE REWILDING PROCESS.

I ASKED THAT THE PARKS BOARD HAD THE VISION TO ADD THIS REWILDING STRATEGY PROCESS TO THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN AND EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE CITY.

AND I'M DONE.

OKAY, COOL.

AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO DIVE INTO THESE ISSUES AND WE ARE READY.

SO THE NEXT SPEAKER HAS BEN THOMPSON.

GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

UH, MY NAME'S BEN THOMPSON.

UM, I'VE HAD SOME INPUT ON THE REWILDING PLAN AND I FULLY SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OVERALL.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO TALK BRIEFLY SINCE I HAVE THREE MINUTES ABOUT, UM, JUST MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE PARK.

UM, I WAS FORTUNATE TO GROW UP WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO THE PARK BIKING DISTANCE, UH, SPENT MY SUMMERS AT THE POOL.

THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S MY HOME.

UH, RIGHT NOW I LIVE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AWAY AND I HAVE TO DRIVE AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A UNIQUE EXPERIMENT EXPERIENCE AMONGST PEOPLE WHO, UH, WHO VISIT ZILKER.

AND, UM, THE REALITY IS THAT, UH, GETTING TO THE PARK AND PARKING THERE IS, UM, SOMETHING HAS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S, UH, OPTIONS ON THE TABLE IN THE, IN THE VISION PLAN.

UH, BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT WE CAN'T HAVE JUST AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL VEHICLES PARKING IN THE ACTUAL PARK.

UM, WE HAVE TO HAVE OFFSITE PARKING SHUTTLES, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, TO, AND FROM NOT JUST ZOCOR, BUT THE REST OF THE PARK SYSTEM AS WELL.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO REWILD IF THE WHOLE HALF THE PLACE IS A PARKING LOT.

AND, UH, THERE'S, I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS READY TO, UH, GET ON THE BUS TO GO TO THE PARK, UH, GET ON A SHUTTLE, UM, PARKING IN AN EMPTY PARKING GARAGE.

IT'S NOT BEING USED ON THE WEEKENDS.

UM, THERE'S PLENTY OF CREATIVE SOLUTIONS OUT THERE OTHER THAN JUST, UH, LETTING EVERYBODY WHO FEELS LIKE IT DRIVE TO THE PARK BY THEMSELVES.

UH, WHAT PART OF TOWN ARE YOU IN? OH, I LIVE, UH, SOUTH OF BEN WHITE, UH, FIRST STREET, UH, BETWEEN WILLIAM KENNAN AND STASTNY, IT'S ABOUT A FOUR MILE DRIVE.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GAIL ROTH, I AND GALAS WITH ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, RIGHT.

UM, GAIL, IT'S HOW I PRONOUNCE MY NAME.

OF RESOURCES COMING FROM A LOT OF PLACES, BUT IN TOTAL, UH, NOT THAT MUCH.

UM, AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU DO HERE AND FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR ALLOWING US TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS, WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT, UH, THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY AND THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.

I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF POINTS.

ONE IS IN ADDITION TO BEING ON THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PARKS COMMITTEE, I'VE ALSO LED A VOLUNTEER GROUP IN THE PARK UNDER THE ADOPTER CREEK PROGRAM.

WE'VE DONE THAT FOR SEVEN YEARS AND WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY REWILD IT A PART OF THE PARK.

IT'S THE PART OF THE PARK OFF OF AZZIE MARTIN.

AND WE'VE JUST SEEN A REAL TRANSFORMATION OF THAT PART OF THE PARK WITHOUT A LOT OF RESOURCES ARE A LOT

[01:00:01]

SO VERY INEXPENSIVELY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRANSFORM THAT PART OF THE PARK AND IT HASN'T MET THAT WE'VE EXCLUDED PEOPLE QUITE THE CONTRARY.

MORE PEOPLE HAVE COME IN.

I'VE SEEN IT OVER THE YEARS, I'M DOWN THERE ALL THE TIME.

THERE'S MORE BIRDERS.

THERE ARE MORE WALKERS, THERE ARE MORE KIDS PLAYING IN THE CREEK.

SO THAT CAN, IT'S THE SAME KIND OF THING THAT CAN HAPPEN AT THE PARK IN THE PARK.

AT LARGE, I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED IN, UH, ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE DESIGN PROCESS, UH, IS THAT AS AN URBAN PARK, ZILKER SHOULD ACHIEVE BALANCE BETWEEN METROPOLITAN USE AND ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL.

AND I THINK THAT SETS IT UP AS A COMPETITION BETWEEN THAT.

AND I THINK UNDER THE REWILDING SCENARIO, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S NOT IN COMPETITION THAT REWILDING THE PARK CAN BRING PEOPLE INTO THE PARK FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF USES.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF RESTORATIVE USES, UM, THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT NOW, WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY SECOND POINT, WHICH IS ABOUT CLIMATE.

I FEEL LIKE CLIMATE MUST BE ELEVATED.

THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE MUST BE ELEVATED IN THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE PLAN.

UM, IT'S BURIED IF THE FIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES 29 GOALS, IT'S ONE OF 29 GOALS.

I THINK IT'S GOT TO BE A GUIDING PRINCIPLE AT A MINIMUM, PERHAPS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE.

WE CAN'T GO FORWARD WITHOUT CONSIDERING THAT AND NOT JUST ABOUT THE MITIGATION, BUT ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE NEED GOING FORWARD.

AND AS THIS REGION GETS DRIER AND HOTTER, WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO NEED? THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A NICE GREEN SPACE TO GO TO, SO THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS LISA OFF RED OUGHTA FRED ON A FRIEND.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

UM, MY NAME IS LISA AND I AM HERE SPEAKING AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, ALTHOUGH IT ALSO HAPPENED TO BE A MEMBER OF SEVERAL LOCAL ENVIRONMENT GROUPS AND PRESIDENT OF THE MASTER NATURALIST IN AUSTIN.

UH, I SPEND MOST MORNINGS VOLUNTEERING DOING ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION WORK IN VARIOUS PARKS AND PRESERVES AROUND THE CITY.

A LOT OF WORK IS REPAIRING DAMAGE TO OUR SPACES, CAUSED BY DEVELOPMENT AND OVER USE OF THE SPACE.

I REALLY CARE DEEPLY FOR THE GREEN SPACES IN MY COMMUNITY AND THEIR FUTURE.

THE VISION PLAN WHILE IT HAS MANY POSITIVE ASPECTS IN ALL OF ITS ITERATIONS FAILS TO CREATE A SPACE THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FAILS TO SUFFICIENTLY CONSIDER OR ADDRESS ISSUES OF WATER QUALITY, CLIMATE MITIGATION AND ECOLOGICAL HEALTH FIRST.

WHEREAS THE EQUITY, THIS PROJECT SHOULD BE PAUSED UNTIL WE HAVE TRULY SOUGHT OUT AND RECEIVED INPUT FROM ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE TAKEN THAT INPUT SERIOUSLY, ALSO ACCESS TO THE PARK INSTEAD OF ADDING TO THE NUMBER OF LEGAL PARKING SPACES ALREADY EXISTING AND ENCOURAGING MORE PEOPLE TO GET ON THE ROAD, FILL OUR PARK WITH CARS, DEGRADING THE LAND AND INCREASING POLLUTION.

LET'S FIND A WAY TO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT OR SHUTTLES TO GET FOLKS FROM ALL OVER AUSTIN TO ZILKER AND OTHER METRO PARKS, ESPECIALLY DURING PEAK USE TIMES FOR FREE, THEREBY ENABLING MORE PEOPLE ACCESS TO THESE SPACES.

HAVING PARKS CIRCULATORS IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA, BUT WE NEED TRANSIT TO THE PARK.

FIRST, NEXT MORE ATTENTION TO CLIMATE AND WATER.

THE PLAN SHOULD FOCUS MORE ATTENTION ON REWILDING WITH SPECIFIC PLANS AND PROCESSES OF IMPROVING THE BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION, NOT UNDEFINED ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT MENTIONED IN THE VISION PLANS.

WE WANT A PARK THAT PROTECTS OUR WATER QUALITY HELPS MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENCOURAGES WILDLIFE AND REGROWTH.

ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN EXIST WHILE STILL PROVIDING PLENTY OF SPACE FOR RECREATION BY PARK USERS.

SOME OF THE MAIN BENEFITS OF REWILDING INCLUDE INCREASED TREE CANOPY, THEREFORE SHADE, SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY NEED AT THE PARK HEALTHIER SOIL, WHICH BRINGS WITH IT A MYRIAD OF OTHER BENEFITS, LESS MAINTENANCE AND LOWER COST, LESS MOWING, LESS WATERING, LETTING NATURE TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

AUSTIN IS KNOWN FOR ITS GREEN SPACES, NOT FOR ITS EASE OF PARKING AND THAT'S OKAY.

WE NEED PARKS MUCH MORE THAN PARKING LOTS.

AS AUSTIN CONTINUES TO GROW MORE AND MORE PEOPLE EXPECT TO SWIM IN BARTON SPRINGS, ENJOY FESTIVALS IN THE PARK AND RECREATE EVERYWHERE.

WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES WHILE ENJOYING THEM.

WE CAN FIND MORE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO NAVIGATE AND SOLVE PARKING ISSUES, PROVIDE BETTER BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN OPTIONS FREE TRANSIT TO AND FROM THE PARKS AND MAINTAIN OUR REPUTATION AS A GREEN CITY.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CITY'S PLAN TO USE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE, TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS AND INTEGRATE NATURE INTO THE CITY.

INSTEAD IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO INTEGRATE MORE CITY INTO OUR VANISHING NATURE.

I USED TO KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS INGRID.

INGRID.

WE CAN GO CAN GOOD.

AND

[01:05:02]

HI, I'M GOING TO BLAME COVID.

INGRID'S GOOD ENOUGH IN GOOD, VIBRANT.

UM, I'M A MEMBER, I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOLDEN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PARKS COMMITTEE.

BUT I AM SPEAKING HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE ZILKER PARKS COMMITTEE.

I HAD THE HONOR ON BEING THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT GROUP.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IS THE FACT THAT THE REWILDING IDEA IS THE IDEA THAT TRULY, TRULY EXPRESSES THE 50 YEAR VISION THAT THE ZILKER PARK WAS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, CLIMATE CHANGE HAS ALREADY STARTED IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

THERE WILL BE TREMENDOUS CHANGES AND GREEN SPACE AND CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER WILL BE A PREMIUM AS WELL SPACES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE AND MORE LIVING IN APARTMENTS AND CONDOS IN PLACES THAT DO NOT HAVE THEIR OWN GREEN SPACES, THEY WILL ALL BE RELYING ON SOMETHING LIKE ZILKER PARK TO FIND A PLACE, TO RELAX, TO EXPERIENCE NATURE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO BUILD TOWARDS.

AND REWILDING IS ONE WAY OF GETTING THERE IN 50 YEARS, I WOULD GATHER NOBODY IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION ANYMORE IN FORM OF AN AUTOMOBILE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS GOING TO BE, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PARKING GARAGES, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY BE EMPTY BY THEN.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE MORE ASPHALT ON THE ROADS.

AND THE TASK FOR THIS PLAN HAD BEEN TO THINK FORWARD, NOT TO MANAGE AN EXISTING PROBLEM.

AND I DO KNOW THAT PARKING IS A PROBLEM, BUT THE TASK WAS NOT TO MANAGE AN EXISTING PROBLEM.

THE TASK WAS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE NOW TO GET WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS? AND I REALLY THINK THAT WE WILDING IS THE WAY TO GO AND IT NEEDS TO BE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

THAT NEEDS TO BE THE PRIMARY.

THE PRIMARY GOAL DRIVER NEEDS TO BE CLIMATE AND ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE NOW TO PROTECT THE CLIMATE AND TO MITIGATE WHAT'S COMING AT US.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT SPEAKER, MIKE CANADY.

UH, I'M MY CANADIAN WITH THE BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY.

AND I'M ALSO WITH A GROUP CALLED THE ZILKER COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORKING GROUP.

I'VE TOLD YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PAST.

MOSTLY I'M HERE TONIGHT OUT OF CONCERN THAT THIS MATTER WAS POSTED FOR ACTION BY THE PARKS BOARD.

UM, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD ENTERTAIN INPUT FROM SOME OF THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE ACTION TONIGHT.

AND I THINK MAYBE IT'S NOT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE FRACTURED OR NOT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE WITHDRAWN, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GROUPS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING TO YOU.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE TAKING ACTION AT THIS POINT, THE DESIGN WORKSHOP FOLKS THAT THE CITY IS HIRED TO PREPARE THE VISION PLAN.

HAVEN'T CREATED A PLAN YET THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRAFTING IT, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO HEAR FROM THE PARKS BOARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PROCESS.

I KNOW YOU'LL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO PROVIDE INPUT ONCE THEY GET TO A FINAL RESULT.

UM, BUT WE WOULD, UH, WE WOULD ASK TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO PRESENT TO YOU BEFORE YOU TAKE ANY ACTION ON THIS.

AND I SAY WE BEING THE SILVER PARK, UH, COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORKING GROUP, UM, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR VIEW OF HOW THE PARK IS USED AS A NATURAL SPACE FOR MILLIONS OF AUSTIN.

AUSTINITES FROM ALL ACROSS TOWN TO ENJOY NATURE AND OUTDOOR AND RECREATIONAL USES.

UH, WE WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU THAT THE NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY THAT WAS PREPARED BY THE SIGLO GROUP AND IS GUIDING THE CITY'S DESIGN WORKSHOP PROCESS, JUST RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS JUST THIS MONTH.

UM, AND THIS IS A VERY HIGH QUALITY REPORT THAT, UH, WE, THE BAR TRAIN CONSERVANCY HELPED COMMISSION AND THAT A LOT OF ARCS GROUPS HAVE BEEN VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

SO PLEASE, I URGE YOU TO, UH, GET SOME ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM OTHER FOLKS.

THIS IS ALL EXCELLENT INPUT, UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, BUT PLEASE, UH, GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO YOU BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION ON THIS MATTER.

PARK AND LESS PARKING, GET MORE PEOPLE TO THE PARK, NOT MORE CARS TO THE PARK.

THANK YOU, MR. CANADY, MR. ROY HALLEY.

HOW DO Y'ALL? MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE SIERRA CLUB, AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP.

AND WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT REWILDING BECAUSE OF THE CARBON SEQUESTRATION ELEMENTS OF IT.

WE HAVE TO CLEAN UP OUR AIR AND THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW TO DO THAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PRESENTED WITH, UH, THREE CONCEPTS.

NONE OF THEM WERE ACCEPTABLE IN AND OF THEMSELVES, BUT WE THINK THEY CAN BE MERGED TOGETHER TO BE A GOOD PLAN.

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE WANT IS MORE

[01:10:01]

THIS MEANS TRANSIT IS CRITICAL.

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH GETTING EAST AND WEST CONNECTIONS IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW.

AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET EVERYONE TO ZILKER.

THAT MEANS TRANSIT, YOU KNOW, AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, I LOOKED THIS UP PARKED ZARA GOSA, UH, THE MARTIN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK GIVENS, UH, MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, DOTTIE JORDAN, ALL OF THE POOLS ON THE EAST SIDE OF ARE NOT GOING TO OPEN.

SO WE'RE ARE WE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE SWIM? THIS IS, THIS IS AN EQUITY PROBLEM.

LOOKING AT THE DATA ON ALL OF THE, UM, MEETINGS THAT WERE DONE, THE ZOOM MEETINGS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE HOW UNSUCCESSFUL THEY WERE, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND THAT'S A, NOT A KNOCK ON THE CONSULTANTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT RAN THE MEETINGS.

IT'S JUST THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INFORMATION, IT SHOULD BE A WHITE VISION PLAN FOR ZILKER BECAUSE THERE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT PAST PREDOMINANTLY, WHO'S, WHO'S PARTICIPATING IN THIS.

NOW I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET OUT THERE AND GET PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING TWO, THREE JOBS AND HAVE KIDS AND SCHOOL AND ALL OF THAT.

YOU DON'T JUST SAY, WELL, WE WENT OUT THERE AND NO ONE SHOWED UP.

YOU GO AND YOU ACTIVELY SOLICIT THAT INPUT AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

IT'S REALLY NOT A, I DON'T MEAN TO BASH THE CONSULTANTS ON THIS.

UM, BUT IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THIS INFORMATION.

THIS IS A 50 YEAR PLAN.

WHEN WE LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS AND SEE THE DIFFERENCES 50 YEARS AGO, WE STILL HAD LET A GAS THAT'S CHANGED 50 YEAR FROM NOW, EVEN 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE PEOPLE DRIVING INDIVIDUAL CARS AS MUCH.

WE HAVE TRANSIT IS CRITICAL TO THIS.

I NEVER HEARD ANY PART OF PROJECT IN THAT MENTIONED IN ANY OF THESE MEETINGS.

IT'S AS IF IT'S HAPPENING IN A VACUUM, JUST REAL THREE MINUTES.

THE LAST FIVE WEEKENDS ARE WAY LIKE POLLING PEOPLE 750 PEOPLE DOMINANTLY.

THEY HAVE SEX AT HIS, I HAVE A TRANS THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, MADAM CHAIR.

THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.

THERE ARE TRAGICALLY, TRAGICALLY, UNDERFUNDED, TRAGICALLY UNDERFUNDED.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.

YOU'RE UP.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING OUR TEAM SPEAK FIRST.

I THINK YOU CAN SEE WHY WE'RE, I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM.

THEY'RE ALSO KIND OF HUMBLE.

GAIL HAS VOLUNTEERED IN THE PARK, BUT SHE ALSO SPENT 19 YEARS AT TCEQ.

INGRID IS, IS, UH, THE PARKS REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BOLDEN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT SHE'S SPENT MORE THAN 15 YEARS AT AUSTIN ENERGY.

BEN THOMPSON, ONE OF THE UP AND COMING BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE AUSTIN.

NEXT GENERATION ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST YOUNG TEXAS LAWYERS IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE A TEAM THAT'S FULL OF EXPERTISE.

THAT'S FULL OF ENERGY.

THAT'S FULL OF PASSION.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND.

WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE PART.

GREG HAS DONE A FABULOUS JOB, MANAGING A VERY DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX PROCESS.

DIRECTOR.

MCNEELY, ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER.

SHE'S ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING PUBLIC SERVANTS WE'VE EVER SEEN.

TIM.

I UNDERSTAND HIS NEW DID A FABULOUS JOB, HELPING US UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TONIGHT AND PREPARE FOR IT.

CONSULTANTS.

I'M SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT CLAIRE AND JONATHAN ALDRIN FROM THE, UM, ZIGLAR GROUP HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.

NO ONE HERE IS CRITICIZING ANYONE.

WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN.

ALL OF US PARTS, BIGGEST PROBLEM.

SO WHEN WE LOOKED AND SAW THAT Y'ALL WERE GOING TO DO THIS GREAT ZILKER PARK PLAN, WE QUICKLY REALIZED, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S A BIG LIFT.

IT'S THE MIDDLE OF COVID.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IT, BUT THERE'S ALMOST WORLD WAR THREE.

WE THOUGHT WE BETTER PUT THE BEST SQUAD TOGETHER THAT WE COULD.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE.

AND WE'RE STILL INCREDIBLY HOPEFUL.

THIS PLAN FOR ZILKER PARK, DOESN'T JUST AFFECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT EFFECT IT AFFECTS EVERYONE IN AUSTIN, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, IT AFFECTS EVERY OTHER PARK AND WE KNOW IT.

AND SO WE'VE TRIED TO PUT OUR ABSOLUTE BEST.

WE'VE SPENT OVER 300 HOURS SO FAR IN COUNTING, VOLUNTEERING TO TRY TO MAKE THE PLAN THE BEST IT CAN BE.

YET.

WE HAVE REALLY DEEP CONCERNS.

YOU'VE HEARD THEM TONIGHT.

WE ACTUALLY HIRED ELIZABETH MCGREEVEY, WHO IS

[01:15:01]

A FANTASTIC, UM, LANDSCAPE COLLEGES WHO HAS A MASTER'S IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE.

WE HIRED HER.

WE, WE PASSED THE HAT AND WE HIRED HER TO DO THE REWILDING PLAN BECAUSE THE EXISTING TEAM IS NOT PUTTING THE ENERGY AND VISION INTO WATER PROTECTION, CLIMATE TRANSIT OPTIONS TO THE PARK.

THEY'RE NOT PUTTING ANY ENERGY INTO THINGS LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE WANT TO BE HELPFUL, BUT WE NEED YOU ALL TO HELP US UNDERSCORE WHY THESE ISSUES LIKE WATER PROTECTION CLIMATE ARE SO IMPORTANT.

WE'RE ASKING FOR FOUR THINGS FROM YOU TONIGHT.

I'M JUST GOING TO SUMMARIZE THEM REALLY QUICKLY.

NUMBER ONE, PLEASE HALT THIS PLAN.

AND I DO MEAN HALTED.

COME TO A COMPLETE STOP UNTIL THE EQUITY AND INCLUSION ISSUES, WHICH ARE EMBARRASSINGLY.

ATROCIOUS ARE REMEDY.

THEY'RE NOT DIFFICULT TO REMEDY WILL HELP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN WILL HELP.

IS THAT MY 10 MINUTES? NO.

IT REALLY CAPTURES PEOPLE'S IMAGINATION.

SHE'S A PRESENTER.

I'M SORRY.

I REALLY AM TRYING TO GO QUICK.

NOW.

I WANT TO RE-EMPHASIZE THAT POINT SINCE WE GOT INTERRUPTED, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO HALT THIS PLAN BECAUSE WE'RE SO MUCH BETTER.

WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THIS AND IT'S NO ONE'S FAULT.

EVERYONE'S TRIED.

THEY DID A LOT OF POP-UPS ALL OVER TOWN.

I CAN SHOW YOU THE LIST OF PLACES.

THEY DID ALL THE RIGHT PLACES FOR THEIR POP-UPS, BUT THEY DIDN'T GET ONE SPECK OF DATA.

IF YOU ASK FOR THE POP-UP DATA FROM METS, FROM DUB SPRINGS, FROM ALMOST ANY LOCATION IN EAST AUSTIN, THERE'S NOT ONE SINGLE PIECE OF DATA.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT IN THAT'S FIXABLE.

THE ZOOMS, WE HAVE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS SHOULD BOYCOTT THE ZOOMS BECAUSE TIME AFTER TIME, IT'S ALL WHITE.

WE CAN'T Y'ALL.

WE CANNOT HAVE THIS.

SO NUMBER ONE, PLEASE STOP THE PLAN, HELP US FIX THESE PROBLEMS. AND LET'S GET ON DOWN THE ROAD, ASK NUMBER TWO, WE REALLY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THE REWILDING PLAN, JONATHAN AUGHRA.

AND I WOULD GIVE HIM AN AWARD FOR THE INVENTORY THAT HE DID IN THIS SIGNAL REPORT.

IT'S THE BIGGEST GIFT TO THE CITY.

IT'S A TREASURE FOR US.

ALL IT INVENTORIES EVERY BIRD, EVERY PLANT, EVERYTHING.

BUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY'RE REALLY WEAK.

WE TOOK THE REPORT OUT TO THE FIELD, OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE WERE LIKE, WELL, THAT'S A GREAT INVENTORY, BUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TOO WEAK.

THAT'S WHY WE HIRED ELIZABETH.

THE REWILDING.

IT'S AN EASY SELL PEOPLE.

GET IT, THEY GET WATER, THEY GET CLIMATE, THEY GET ACCESS, THEY GET SHADE.

THEY GET REDUCING THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

THAT'S WHY THE ANC, WHICH REPRESENTS 80 DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED IT.

SO WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT BE THE CENTRAL PART OF THE VISION.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY THAT HARD TO DO.

IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE TO DO THIRD.

PLEASE ADVISE PART AS MUCH AS YOU CAN TO LIMIT THE LEGAL PARKING IN THE PARK TO WHAT IT IS NOW, IT'S A THOUSAND SPACES.

THAT'S ENOUGH AND LET'S FLOOD IT WITH AS MANY DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES AS WE POSSIBLY CAN TO KEEP THE CLIMATE EMISSIONS.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER ON CLIMATE.

LET'S KEEP THE CAR EMISSIONS AS LOW AS WE CAN.

WE, ONE OF THE BEST IDEAS WE THINK WE'VE COME UP WITH AND WE'RE GOING TO CREDIT JAMES RUSSELL FROM AND TRAIL OF LIGHTS.

WITH THIS IDEA, THERE SHOULD BE A FREE SHUTTLE TO ZILKER FROM ALL OVER THE CITY.

ONE IDEA WE HAD WAS YOU COULD HAVE A FREE SHUTTLE FOR EVERY METRO PARK DURING THE SUMMER AND ON THE WEEKENDS.

IT'S NOT THAT EXPENSIVE.

WE COULD LEVERAGE ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT ACL HAS DONE IN SHOWING HOW WE CAN GO.

CARLOS.

AT VARIOUS TIMES OF THE YEAR, WE THINK THAT'S AN EQUITY ISSUE.

WE'VE TALKED TO AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION.

UH, WE'VE TALKED TO, UH AND OTHER, UM, JUSTICE GROUPS ABOUT THE TRANSIT ISSUE.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD REALLY GET SOME TRACTION.

I THINK THAT COULD BE TRANSFORMATIVE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO HAVE A CIRCULATOR IN THE PARK IF PEOPLE CAN'T GET TO THE PARK.

AND WITH THAT, I THINK I'LL JUST SAY THIS PLAN REALLY MATTERS.

IT MATTERS FROM A WATER PROTECTION STANDPOINT, IT MATTERS FROM CLIMATE.

IT MATTERS IN EQUITY.

AND I THINK WORKING TOGETHER, WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO ANYONE IN THIS ROOM OR ANY OTHER GROUP.

THESE IDEAS CAN EASILY BE PUT TOGETHER IN A THOUGHTFUL FORWARD-THINKING WAY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT A CHANCE TO DO IS TO ACTUALLY MAKE THIS PLAN SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WOULD LOVE THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

AND THAT WOULD REALLY HELP NOT JUST THE PARK, BUT THE WHOLE CITY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING US DOWN HERE AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT ANY ASPECT OF IT.

THIS MEMO I KNOW IS KIND OF LONG IT'S PROVIDED IN THE BACKUP.

WE DID COMMENT ON EVERY SINGLE IDEA THAT THE CONSULTANTS OFFERED.

AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO THEM FOR DOING AS MUCH WORK AS THEY'VE DONE, BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE WE'D LOVE TO ANSWER THEM.

YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THANK

[01:20:01]

I'M GOING TO START ON THIS SIDE BOARD MEMBER.

TAYLOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, YOU SAID, DID YOU SAY FOUR POINTS OR THREE POINTS? CAUSE I WROTE DOWN THREE.

I'LL JUST IT THE PLAN.

YEAH, GO AHEAD.

SO IT'S HALT THE PLAN TILL WE GET THE EQUITY INCLUSION, RIGHT.

UH, DO THE REWILDING LIMIT THE LEGAL PARKING TO A THOUSAND SPACES AND LET'S GET THAT FREE SHUTTLE ROCKING.

SO THE FOURTH ONE WOULD BE THE SHUT.

I PUT THAT UNDER THE THIRD.

THAT'S THAT'S ALL I HAD.

UM, BOARD MEMBER BERNARD, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

WELL REMEMBER, FAST.

I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU COULD TRY TO HELP ME VISUALIZE REWILDING A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN A WORD, TREES, SHADE.

UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK, UM, HAS BEEN HARD FOR PEOPLE IS THE NOTION THAT YOU COULD HAVE WILD OR YOU CAN HAVE RECREATION AND PROGRAMMING, BUT NOT BOTH.

WE THINK THEY'RE TOTALLY COMPATIBLE.

AS GAIL SAID THAT THE DEMO REWILDING THAT WE DID ACTUALLY ATTRACTED ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.

THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON IN THE PARK TODAY THAT COULDN'T HAPPEN WITH REWILDING.

IT WOULD JUST BE SHADY OR IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR WATER QUALITY, BETTER FOR CLIMATE.

IT WOULD BE CHEAPER THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IN THAT THAT'S THE GENIUS OF REWILDING AND THAT'S PROBABLY AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION, BUT PICTURE ALL THE SAME THINGS GOING ON IN THE PARK, MORE TREES GREENER, A MORE NATURAL.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

ZILKER PARK BACK IN THE DAY WAS A FOREST.

SO BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT WATER, WATER, QUALITY WATER PROTECTION AREA WITH NOT JUST BARTON SPRINGS POOL, BUT THE WHOLE RIPARIAN AREA BY THE LAKE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO LET NATURE DO WHAT IT DOES.

AND WE'LL JUST KIND OF FIT ALL THE OTHER ACTIVITIES IN BETWEEN IT.

I HOPE THAT'S NOT TOO SIMPLISTIC, BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT IS.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE MAPS AND THAT KIND OF THING, WE CAN SEND THEM TO YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, ELIZABETH DID SOME REALLY COOL MAPS OF WHERE WE THINK THE BEST PLACES FOR REWILDING IS, BUT THAT'S ALL SORT OF, WE CAN COLLABORATE ON THAT AND TALK ABOUT THAT.

IT MAKES IT MAINLY LOOKS SHADIER.

I THINK THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

UM, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED THAT IT'S, IT'S STILL INCLUDES A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT USES OF THE PART THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

THEY'VE ALREADY INNOVATED.

PICNICS SOCCER, UM, ACL PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WELL, GOSH, YOU CAN'T HAVE ACL AND REWILDING.

Y'ALL FORGET.

ACL IS THE GREENEST CONCERT PROMOTION COMPANY IN THE WORLD.

THEY HAVE A FANTASTIC DECARBONISATION PLAN.

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, CHECK IT OUT.

THEY WERE DOING CARBON SEQUESTRATION BACK IN 2013.

I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO DO EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING NOW.

JUST WAY GREENER, WAY MORE CARBON AND CLIMATE SENSITIVE, WAY MORE WATER SENSITIVE, EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING, NO ONE'S SAYING STOP ANYTHING.

WE CAN DO IT ALL.

WE JUST NEED TO BE 21ST CENTURY ABOUT IT AND NOT STUCK IN THE 1950S.

WELL, AND THE, THE SHADE COMPONENT THAT YOU MENTIONED, I THINK IS REALLY CRITICAL BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE, UM, CHALLENGES.

A LOT OF PARTS OF THAT PARK ARE RIGHT NOW, VERY BARE AND JUST IN THE, THE BLATANT SENTENCE.

SO I THINK THAT'S A CHALLENGE TO USING SOME OF THE PARTS I WANTED TO ASK ON YOUR, UM, ALSO ON YOUR TWO POINTS.

UM, I MEAN, WHAT, LIKE PROCEDURALLY, YOU'RE SAYING THE VISION PLAN, CONTRACTORS AND STAFF COULD INCORPORATE REWILDING.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A FORMAL RESPONSE? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IT TO BE, UM, INCLUDED IN THE FUTURE SURVEYS? LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE VERY SPECIFICALLY, OH, REWILDING STRATEGIES TO BE MAXIMIZED RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THE CONSULTANTS HAVE BEEN OPEN MINDED, BUT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL CONCEPTS THEY PUT ON THE TABLE, WE THINK THEY COULD GO MUCH FURTHER.

BY THE WAY, I WANT TO POINT OUT SOMETHING ABOUT THE TIMELINE AND OUR COLLEAGUE MIKE'S POINT ABOUT MORE INPUT.

WE 100% FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE BETTER IF WE HAD MORE TIME.

THERE'S ONLY ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE, AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW.

THERE'S ONLY ONE MORE COMMUNITY MEETING IN MID JUNE.

THEY'RE NOT READY.

THERE'S NOT A SINGLE COST ESTIMATE ANYWHERE NEAR THIS.

IF YOU ASK US HOW WE FEEL ABOUT A LAND BRIDGE, IF WE HAVE $20 MILLION, WE DON'T FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT.

YOU GOT $2 BILLION, IT MIGHT BE, WE LOVE IT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE COST DATA.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE HAVE ONE MORE MEETING AND, AND WE'RE DONE.

I, I, I, I THINK THERE IS A LOT MORE INPUT

[01:25:01]

AND A LOT MORE COLLABORATION LET ALONE THE EQUITY INCLUSION THAT WE NEED TO DO.

I THINK WE CAN GET THERE IF WE WORK TOGETHER AND HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO DO IT.

UM, AND WE HAVE THE THEM COMING UP LATER, SO WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR GROUPS.

I THINK TRYING TO, UM, THE BEST YOU CAN RECOGNIZE AND ACCOMMODATE THE FULL NEEDS OF ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT JUST YOUR OWN, THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED.

IT'S IN THE VISION TO HAVE THEIR VISION INCLUDE IT ALL.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT PART IS INCREDIBLY UNDERSTAFFED.

WE'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT FOR THERE HAVING MORE STAFF OR PARK RANGERS, IT'S A BUDGET ISSUE, BUT WE ARE ALSO READY TO HELP.

THERE ARE A LOT OF GROUPS HERE THAT COULD HELP US FIX THAT EQUITY INCLUSION.

WE'VE TALKED, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED TO SOME OF THEM.

WE CAN TOTALLY SOLVE THAT ISSUE AND DO IT FAIRLY QUICKLY AND MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.

I GUESS I JUST DO HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION I WAS THINKING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO REWILDING AND SAFETY, ARE THERE CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED SOME SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARK, BUT WELL, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF MAYBE, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S MISUNDERSTOOD ABOUT, WELL, WELL, THERE'S ACTUALLY IN OUR, IN OUR MEMO, THERE'S A WHOLE SECTION ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE STUDIED FIVE YEARS OF APD DATA ON CRIME IN THE PARK.

WE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY.

WE WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO APD, EMS AND OTHERS ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE.

WE FEEL THAT REWILDING DOES NOT INCREASE OR DECREASE SAFETY.

IT INCREASES NATURE AND, AND THE WAY THAT PEOPLE RELATE TO NATURE, BUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES ARE PROFOUND.

WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THOSE SO FAR IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, BUT WE COULD BE, AND WE SHOULD BE IN, THERE ARE SOME GREAT IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE CAN USE A YOUTH CLIMATE CORP TO DO SOME OF, OF THE WAYFINDING AND HELPING TOURISTS AND, YOU KNOW, PROTECTING THE ECOLOGY.

THERE'S SOME, WE REALLY BADLY NEED MORE PARK RANGERS TO DO THE KIND OF DEESCALATED WORK THAT THEY COULD DO.

THERE DOES NEED TO BE AN APD RESPONSE.

THERE'S A REAL CRIME IN THE PARK.

THERE'S BEEN A HOMICIDE, THERE'S BEEN MULTIPLE ASSAULTS.

THERE'S A LOT OF SMASH AND GRAB.

SO, BUT WE CAN, THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE CAN HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE.

AND SO I REALLY CARE AND I KNOW YOU DO TOO.

I DO.

AND, UM, AND THE GENES RUN STRONG AND YOUR FAMILY, I ACTUALLY MAY JUST CORRECT YOU THERE.

PRACTICE RUNS DEEP IN MY FAMILY.

YEAH, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.

SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF, UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I HAVE IN ONE WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT DIVERSITY AND YOU CAME IN AND APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY'S DONE.

AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY AND THE ZILKER PARK COLLECTIVE IMPACT DONE, AND ALL THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE ENGAGED IN THIS TO PROVIDE DATA INTO THE MASTER PLAN, TO THE VISION PLAN THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND IT DOES TAKE ALL THAT INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS SOURCES TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THOSE GREAT IDEAS THAT ARE ACTIONABLE AND THEN PUTTING IT BACK AGAINST WHAT I'M HOPING WILL BE AN EQUITY LENS.

AND YOU MENTIONED SO MUCH ON THAT EQUITY, WHICH I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE BECAUSE IT REALLY IS ABOUT ACCESS.

HOW DO WE MAKE IT, WHERE WE DON'T CREATE ADDITIONAL BARRIERS IN ORDER TO GET TO THE PARK.

AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SHUTTLE AND IT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA, ABSOLUTELY GOING TO THINK UP THROUGH IT AND LOOK AT IT.

YOU KNOW, LIKE FOR ME BEING IN CIRCLE C AND I GO TO ZILKER PROBABLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER PARK RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND EVEN OVER TO SLAUGHTER.

BUT SO IF I TOOK A SHUTTLE, HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE, SO RIGHT NOW I CAN TELL YOU TAKING ON A BUS, YOU WOULD TAKE TWO HOURS.

WELL AWARE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A TRAVESTY.

WE SHOULD HAVE A 15 MINUTE.

IT SHOULD BE 15, BE SOMETHING.

THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING FOR SURE.

SO WHEN WE LOOK ABOUT THAT, THAT DIVERSITY, I, YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST, I CAN'T HELP, BUT NOTICE THERE WAS, I DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S ANYBODY OF DIVERSITY WITHIN THE TEAM THAT YOU BROUGHT IN.

WELL, WHO IS NOT HERE TONIGHT THAT HAS BEEN ADVISING US FOR MONTHS IS, IS PAUL SALDANIA.

I BELIEVE YOU GOT A LETTER FROM HIM, UH, AT YOUR MEETING.

I THINK IT WAS THE MEETING BEFORE LAST, ALL WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US TONIGHT.

HE HAS BEEN ADVISING US ALL THE WAY JP CONNOLLY OF THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION HAD A DEATH IN HIS FAMILY.

HE'S BEEN OUT OF TOWN IN BRAZIL FOR WEEKS.

HE HAS ADVISED US, ESPECIALLY ON THE TRANSIT ISSUE.

AND I APOLOGIZE, HE IS NOT HERE WHEN WE GO TO AMC.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE 80 NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OVER THE CITY, INCLUDING THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN, IN SOUTHEAST AND EAST AUSTIN THAT ARE MOST DISADVANTAGED.

SO, AND THERE'S A, AND I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.

IT'S AN ORGANIZATION.

[01:30:01]

A AND C IS AN, ORGANIZATION'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

YES, I KNOW.

AND A VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT.

I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE ATTENDANCE THAT IT RECEIVES AND WHICH IS A LITTLE ON THE SMALL SIDE.

ACTUALLY, WHEN WE PRESENTED THIS, IT WAS THE SAME MEETING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FOR WINTER HAS PRESENTED ON THE BOIL WATER ISSUE.

AND SHE'S, BY THE WAY, SHE DID A FABULOUS JOB, RIGHT? THAT MEETING HAD, I BELIEVE SEVEN 60 OR 70 PEOPLE ON IT, INCLUDING OVER 40 DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS.

WHAT I CAN SAY IS ZILKER IS NOT ZILKER ITSELF AS A NEIGHBORHOOD.

ISN'T THE MOST DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT NEVER HAS BEEN.

OUR DISTRICT IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE DISTRICTS IN THE ENTIRE CITY, ECONOMICALLY AND RACIALLY WE'RE IN A VERY DIVERSE DISTRICT, BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS NOT JUST FOCUSED ON OUR DISTRICT, BUT TRIED TO GO TO OUR PEER ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS LIKE PODSHARE TO OUR COMMUNITY LEADER GROUPS LIKE ABA AND AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION.

AND HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENED.

THIS IS NOT THE TOP PRIORITY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR US.

BUT FOR SOME OF THOSE GROUPS, THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF COVID, THE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF COVID THERE, HAVE THEY HAVE TO FOCUS ON OTHER ISSUES.

SO HOW WE TEAM UP AS WE PLAY SECONDARY TO SOME OF THEIR ECONOMIC AND HEALTH ISSUES, AND THEY PLAY SECONDARY WITH SOME OF OUR PARK ISSUES, BUT WE ARE DOING ALL THE TEAMWORK THAT WE, THAT WE CAN DO AND WE'LL DO MORE.

AND I, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND I'LL TELL YOU JUST OUT OF MY OWN CHALLENGE, THE SAME THING.

I MEAN, PERSON OF COLOR AND HAVING CONNECTIONS IN EAST AUSTIN, IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, IN SOUTH AUSTIN AND TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY DON'T, THEY'RE THE COMMUNITIES THAT I'VE TALKED WITH, FEEL THAT THIS IS THEY'RE THERE.

THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE IN, IN ZILKER PARK.

AND WE'VE SEEN THIS AND WE'VE HEARD THIS AS A REOCCURRING THEME.

AND IT IS ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT YOU GET THERE.

AND I CALLED PAUL EARLIER TODAY, WHEN I SAW HIS NAME ON THE DOCUMENT, I DIDN'T GET AHOLD OF HIM, BUT WANTED TO RUN THROUGH IT.

AND I CALLED JAMES RUSSELL.

WHEN I SAW HIS NAME ON THE DOCUMENT.

HE WAS VERY SURPRISED BY THAT, UM, THE TRIP, BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THE TRANSIT IDEA.

HE BROUGHT TO US FIRST.

HE WAS THE VERY FIRST PERSON EVER TALKING ABOUT FREE SHUTTLE TO THE PARK RIGHT NOW.

AND, AND I CAN APPRECIATE IT.

SO I'M GOING TO KEEP GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE, THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.

BUT CAN I JUST SAY, CAN I JUST SAY ONE THING THAT EQUITY, THE EQUITY AND INCLUSION, WE MAY NOT BE THE VERY BEST AT DOING IT, BUT WE WILL, WE WILL DIE TRYING THAT'S A HILL WILL DIE, WILL METAPHORICALLY DIE ON.

AND WE REALLY BELIEVE WITH THE CONSULTANTS, THE CONNECTIONS THAT WE HAVE, THE, THE, THE CITY AS A WHOLE, ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS WE CAN'T LEAVE THE BAR THIS LOW ON THAT ISSUE.

WE CAN ELEVATE THAT TOGETHER AND WE CAN DO IT QUICKLY.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IT A QUICK QUESTION ON THAT.

SO WHEN WE GET THIS INFORMATION AND ASSUME WE GET ROBUST INFORMATION, RIGHT, WE GET SOMEWHERE IN, IT EQUALS THE IMPACT THAT DNA AND SOS HAS ON REACHING THE POPULATION THAT IT HAS, RIGHT.

WHEN WE SEE IT IN THE SURVEY RESULTS.

AND WE SEE IT IN THE COMMENTS.

SO 7, 8, 704, I MEAN REPRESENTS BY FAR, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT IS BUYING BARTON SPRINGS PASSES, YOU KNOW, THE SWIM PASSES, OR IF IT IS THE ENGAGEMENT SHOULD, WHEN THE DATA ALL COMES IN SHOULD 7, 8, 704 BE WEIGHTED IN ORDER TO, TO BALANCE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THERE ARE, UM, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I, I'VE DONE CONSULTING FOR AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION, CONGRESS FOR NEW URBANISM, FROM SEVERAL REGIONS, COUNTIES, AND CITIES ON ENGAGEMENT.

AND ABSOLUTELY WE SHOULD BE WAITING.

WE SHOULD BE WAITING.

SO THAT IT'S PROPORTIONATE.

WE COULD DO THAT.

WE COULD DO THAT IN TWO HOURS.

GIVE ME THE SURVEY DATA.

WE HAVE WAIT, THE DISPROPORTIONATE VOICES DOWN THE MISSING VOICES UP, AND YOU'D GET A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S NOT HARD.

AND THIS ISN'T ABOUT TRAVEL, THE LIGHTS AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL HAVE TO MAKE THE, I THINK IT WAS MR. BUNCH HAD SAID SOMETHING THEY'LL HAVE TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS IF IT IMPACTS IT.

THAT'S BASIC POLLING.

THAT'S BASIC CALIBRATION, AS I BET, YOU KNOW, WHAT REALLY KILLS ME, THOSE POP-UPS THAT THEY DID WERE SO GOOD WHERE THEY PICKED TO DO THE WAS SO GOOD.

THAT WAS THE RIGHT PLAY.

WHY YOU COULDN'T TAKE AN INDEX CARD OLD SCHOOL AND WRITE DOWN THE FEEDBACK YOU GOT AND THEN PUT IT IN EXCEL.

THAT'S WHAT MOST OUTREACH, THERE IS NO ARGUMENT TO THAT.

I HAD DONE THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT EVERYBODY'S DONE WELL, I THINK.

AND, UM, AND I THINK THAT HAS DEFINITELY WAS A MISSTEP, YOU KNOW, REAL QUICK WHEN I LOOK AT SO, AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR REGARDING ACL AND, YOU KNOW, CAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I LOOK FOR JUST AS ONE PARKS BOARD MEMBER IS A ROBUST PARK SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS FOR THE PASSIVE AND ACTIVE RECREATION FOR ALL OUR DIVERSE NEEDS.

AND HOW DO WE DO THAT SYSTEM? AND SO EARLY ON, I HAD HEARD THAT, THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT ACL AND IT'S NOT ABOUT, UH, THE KITE FESTIVAL

[01:35:01]

BUT THEN I DID MY OWN LITTLE LAYOVER AND ALL THE REFORESTING.

WHAT, I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY COULDN'T BE UP ON THAT, BUT ALL THE REFORESTING WAS EXACTLY WHERE THE STAGES WERE.

WELL, THE REASON FOR THAT IS, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THOSE AREAS.

I'M PRETTY SURE ACL DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT THE STAGES IN THE MOST SENSITIVE RIPARIAN AREAS, BUT THEY DID.

BUT, BUT HERE'S MY POINT.

I THINK THERE, WELL THERE'S, I MEAN, ALL I'LL SAY IS I THINK THAT IF WE SAT DOWN WITH ACL, I ACTUALLY, I WANT TO REPEAT ACL IS THE GREENEST CONCERT PROMOTION COMPANY IN THE WORLD WITH A GREAT DECARBONISATION PLAN.

THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND, IF WE SAT DOWN TOGETHER AND SAID, LOOK, HERE'S WHERE THE RIPARIAN AREAS HERE ARE THE BEST PLACES FOR REWILDING.

HOW CAN WE, HOW CAN WE WORK THIS? SO YOU CAN STILL DO THE BEST CONCERT THE WORLD'S EVER SEEN IN THE PARK, BUT MAKE IT GREEN SO THAT IT DOESN'T TOTALLY DESTROY THE SOIL AND MESS UP THE ENTIRE NATURE, SCAPE ECOLOGY OF THE PARK.

WE CAN DO THAT WORK.

WE'RE WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THIS IS THE MOST INNOVATIVE CITY IN THE WORLD.

WE CAN DO HARD THINGS OF THE HARD THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.

I, I I'VE BET MONEY TWO OR THREE HOURS.

WE COULD HAVE THAT DONE AND I'M NOT IN DISAGREEMENT.

WHAT WE CAN DO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, THEN HAVE A CONVERSATION ACROSS THE TABLE.

I WELCOMED THAT CONVERSATION.

I'M STILL WAITING FOR MR. WHALEY AND I'M NOT DONE YET.

CHAIR.

THE OTHER THING IS THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

SO ON THE AUSTIN EQUITY CLIMATE PLAN, WHICH IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE EQUITY ISSUE.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATED WHEN WE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT THE EXISTING TREE CANOPY COVER AND THAT'S 36% IN THE PLAN.

IT SAYS EAST AUSTIN SEES CONSIDERABLE LOWER, LOWER RATES OF TREE CANOPY COVERAGE THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.

WHAT ELSE? IT GOES IN THE PLAN CALLS FOR NEW APPROACH TO PUBLIC LAND INVESTMENTS THAT PRIOR TO THIS COMMUNITY VALUE AND FOCUSES ON PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT, PROTECTING, EXPANDING, AND RESTORING THE NATURAL AREAS, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE LANDS, TREE CANOPY COVER IN PARKS AND HALSTON IS AN INVESTMENT, BUT IT REFERENCED SPECIFICALLY THE EASTERN CRESCENT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE, THE, THE HEAT SINK, WHAT WE SEE IS NOT WEST AUSTIN, IT'S NOT ZILKER, IT'S THE CORRIDOR WITH CONCENTRATION AND ROUND DISTRICT FOUR.

RIGHT? AND I GUESS MY CONCERN, AND I'M JUST WANTING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU IS, YOU KNOW, THE CONCERN IS HISTORICALLY WHEN WE'VE MADE INVESTMENTS AS ITS CITY, IT'S BECAUSE OF GREAT INFLUENTIAL INDIVIDUALS COMING FORWARD AND MAKING THE ASK AND GETTING THE FUNDING TO DO THESE FANTASTIC PROJECTS AND WHO IT USUALLY COMPETES AGAINST IS FOLKS WITH LESS INFLUENCE.

EFFECTIVE WE CAN BE IN BUILDING ZILKER PARK BACK UP, UM, FROM THE SORRY STATE IT'S IN RIGHT NOW, THE MORE WE CAN SPREAD THE PIE OVER TO THE OTHER METROPOLITAN AND OTHER, OTHER PARKS.

AND INCREMENTALLY THIS, I BELIEVE HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON AUSTIN WHERE WE SEE THE CURRENT CONDITION.

SO THAT IS MY CONCERN.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT PARTICULAR FOCUS AND JUST, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I, I LEARNED A LOT.

I, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M JUST A REGULAR GREGOR'S GIRL FROM 7, 8, 7 0 4.

I DID TAKE THE UNDOING RACISM WORKSHOP, UM, SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED WAS EXACTLY THE POINT THAT YOU'RE MAKING.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU WON'T SEE US SUPPORTING THE LANDBRIDGE IN SOME OF THE OTHER BIG TICKET ITEMS IN THE PLAN IS BECAUSE WE'RE WELL AWARE.

THE MORE FUNDING THAT ZILKER SUCKS OUT OF THE ALREADY BELEAGUERED AND TOTALLY INADEQUATE PART BUDGET, THE MORE WE TAKE THE LESS THERE IS FOR EQUALLY OR MORE DESERVING PARKS, METRO AND OTHERWISE IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.

IN, IN, IN ALL OF THE UNDERSERVED PARTS OF THE CITY, I HAVE BEEN WATCHING OPEN SPACE FUNDING SINCE THERE WAS OPEN SPACE FUNDING AND THINGS LIKE BOND PACKAGES, AND IT'S INCREDIBLY INEQUITABLE.

BUT WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING HERE IS A VIEW.

AND I THINK IT'S FAIRLY ALIGNED WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, SIR, WE'RE BRINGING THE VIEW.

WE SHOULD NOT TAKE MORE THAN OUR SHARE.

IN FACT, WE SHOULD MAYBE TAKE A LITTLE BIT LESS SO WE CAN MAKE UP FOR SOME OF THE HISTORIC INEQUITY, BUT THE WAY YOU START THAT IS YOU DON'T GO DOING POP-UPS AND NOT BRING HOME ANY DATA SO THAT YOU CAN INFUSE THE PLAN WITH, BUT HOW DOES REFORESTATION FIT INTO THAT REWILDING FITS IN BECAUSE IT'S A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE PUMP.

REMEMBER? WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT REWILDING? WELL, IT'S SHADE, IT'S LESS HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

IT'S CLIMATE, IT'S WATER PROTECTION, BUT IT'S ALSO, IT'S WAY MORE COST-EFFECTIVE WAY MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AND THE MORE COST

[01:40:01]

WE'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT FOR THAT.

AND IF, IF, IF IT CAME DOWN TO IT, IF YOU SAID, LOOK, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR ZILKER, NO MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS PLAN IS, BECAUSE WE NEED ALL THE MONEY FOR THE OTHER PARKS.

WE'LL BE OKAY WITH THAT BECAUSE WE ABSOLUTELY GET IT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

MOVING ON BOARD MEMBER, COTTON SEIBEL.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? AM I ON? YES.

UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY, I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY HAS THEIR HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.

IT REALLY RINGS TRUE AS SOMEONE WHO TOOK THE KIDS OVER THERE AND THEY ALWAYS LEFT THE PLAYGROUND AND WENT AND PLAYED IN THE TREES.

AND, UM, I APPRECIATE THE EMPHASIS ON THE SHADE.

A LOT OF THE THINGS, UM, THAT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MYSELF AND WATCHING THE ZILKER, UM, PLAN GO THROUGH I HERE.

AND, UM, I, I, I HEAR A LOT OF THINGS COMING BACK INTO THIS ISSUE, I GUESS THIS ISN'T REALLY A QUESTION.

JUST A POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND ANYONE LISTENING THAT I THINK TONIGHT WE'RE COMING UP AGAINST COSTS.

WE'RE COMING UP AGAINST TRANSPORTATION.

THAT WHOLE, I KEEP GOING BACK TO THE DILLO BUS.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DELIVERABLES? BECAUSE THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT WE NEED TO TRANSPORT EVERYBODY TO THE PARK.

AND IT'S EXACTLY LIKE, UM, VICE-CHAIR DEPALMA POINTED OUT TO GET FROM WHERE I AM TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THE POOL IT'S, IT'S THREE BUS TRANSFERS AND I DON'T HAVE THAT TIME AND NEITHER DID ANYBODY ELSE.

AND, UM, I LIKE THE FOCUS ON GETTING PEOPLE TO THE PARK.

I CAN TELL YOU TOO, THAT EVEN WE NEED BETTER LANES FOR BIKES TO GET TO THE PARK.

AND I THINK, UM, THE REWILDING, AS YOU SAID, THE THING THAT I HEAR AND I HAVE READ IN NUMEROUS OTHER PUBLICATIONS, I'VE JUST BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS FOR AWHILE, BUT THE REWILDING IS MORE, MORE, MORE COST EFFICIENT, BUT IT ALSO DOES THE FILTRATION.

SHE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT HOW IT HELPS THE WATER QUALITY AND WHAT IT DOES IS THOSE KINDS OF ROOTS, ALL THE SOIL IN PLACE, HAVING THE RIGHT KIND OF VEGETATION HOLDS THE SOIL IN PLACE AND HELPS DRAIN AND PURIFY THE WATER LIKE IT SHOULD BE.

AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN ADD INTO THIS VISIONING PLAN THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT AND THE EQUITY, I THINK WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

SO I, I REALLY LIKE WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

I REALLY HOPE THAT THE POWERS THAT BE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TONIGHT, YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER AN EXCELLENT TEAM AND A LOT OF GOOD DATA.

AND I HAD READ THIS EARLIER AND, AND WAS, YOU KNOW, MAKING MY OWN HIGHLIGHTS WITH YOUR HIGHLIGHTS.

SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE THIS TO HEART AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN WORK WITH THE, WITH THE CONSULTANTS AND THE CITY PLAN THAT'S IN PLACE.

THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER.

MORE.

THANKS FOR COMING.

NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT IT.

JUST A QUICK FOLLOW-UP ON THE EQUITY INCLUSION TOPIC, UM, ASIDE FROM POTENTIALLY REV REVISITING THE POPUPS AND, AND, AND HOW THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY DOCUMENTED.

UH, WHAT OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, IF YOU PICK JUST ONE OR TWO RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW PARKS COULD LOOK AT THAT ISSUE, ENHANCE THAT IN THE FUTURE.

I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.

UM, SO WE'RE MAKING SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS ON PAGES 11 AND 12 OF THIS MEMO REAL QUICK.

UM, YES.

OH, I'M SORRY.

UM, SO ON PAGES 11 AND 12 OF THIS MEMO, WE'RE MAKING SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS REAL, REAL QUICK.

THE NUMBER ONE, UM, IS IF THEY WOULD JUST ASK QUESTIONS IN THE SURVEY THAT SPEAKS TO LIVE EXPERIENCE IN DIFFERENT CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS.

THERE'S NOT A SINGLE QUESTION IN ANY OF THE SURVEYS THEY'VE DONE THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO LIVE, TO EXPERIENCE OR SEE OR CULTURE.

AND THAT'S AN EASY, PRETTY, PRETTY EASY FIX.

IT'S JUST ADD SOME QUESTIONS TO THE SURVEY.

NUMBER TWO, WHAT'D YOU, WOULD YOU SAY THAT ARE THESE IN ORDER, WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION OUT OF THE SEVEN, NINE? THAT'S THE EASIEST, THAT'S THE EASIEST, I MEAN, AND, AND ON, AND HONESTLY, IN MY, AS SOMEBODY THAT'S DONE, A LOT OF POLLING IS PULLING ONE-ON-ONE IT'S POLLING ONE-ON-ONE, I'M ACTUALLY HAVING A PROFESSIONAL POLLSTER AND WE'LL, WE'LL PR IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ME.

WE'LL GET ONE FOR FREE TO ACTUALLY REVIEW THE QUESTIONS SO THAT THEY ARE, UM, INCLUSIVE.

WE'LL WE COULD DO THAT TONIGHT.

THAT'S EASY.

UM, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT REDOING THE POP-UPS.

I WOULD INSIST ON THAT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ALL OF THEM, BUT I WOULD REDO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 15 OR 20 OF THEM.

AGAIN, WE WILL HELP WE'LL VOLUNTEER.

WE'LL GET VOLUNTEERS NOT HARD TO DO IT SHOULD BE DONE.

LIKE YOU CAN'T BELIEVE WE HAD A WHOLE QUARTERLY MEETING.

UM, THE NEXT ONE IS THE ACTUAL ONLINE SURVEYS SHOULD BE RECALIBRATED AS, AS OUR VICE CHAIR MENTIONED.

UM, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IS THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES ARE LONG, OVERLY COMPLICATED, FULL OF JARGON.

PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WERE PUSHING BACK.

[01:45:01]

RAISE YOUR HAND.

IF YOU WERE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE SURVEY, NO HANDS UP, RAISE YOUR HAND.

IF YOU COULDN'T UNDERSTAND MORE THAN HALF OF IT, I MEAN, THIS IS IN ZILKER.

SO JUST SIMPLIFYING THE QUESTIONNAIRES, MAKING THEM ACCESSIBLE, THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY.

THAT IS NOT, THAT'S NOT HARD AND IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE.

UM, THE ZOOM CALLS WERE SAYING, YOU SHOULD QUIT DOING ZOOM CALLS.

IF YOU CAN'T GET PEOPLE OF COLOR TO COME TO THEM, PERIOD, JUST STOP DOING IT.

ZOOM IS GREAT FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

IF YOU CAN'T GET A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP, QUIT DOING IT PIECE OF CAKE BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING JUST SO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND IT IS THEY HAVE THE ZOOM CALLS.

THEY'RE RIDICULOUSLY UNREPRESENTATIVE.

THEN THEY TAKE THE STATISTICS FROM THE ZOOM CALLS AND THEY POPULATE ALL THE MATERIALS WITH THIS BASICALLY UTTERLY UNREPRESENTATIVE, STATISTICAL MUMBO JUMBO, THAT BASICALLY PUSHES PEOPLE INTO CERTAIN ANSWERS.

AND IT'S JUST A PERPETUAL IT'S PERPETUATING AN INCREDIBLY UNFAIR, VERY BIASED SITUATION.

AND HONESTLY, WE'VE BEEN THE FIRST TIME WE WEIGHED IN ON THIS WAS IN DECEMBER.

IT JUST KEEPS HAPPENING.

ZOOM AFTER ZOOM, WE HAVE TO STOP THAT.

THAT'S EASY TO STOP.

IT'S CHEAP TO STOP BASICALLY BOGUS ZOOM CALLS NEXT.

UM, ACTUALLY DO A DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF ZILKER.

WHEN I GO TO ZILKER, ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT IT, AND I GO ALMOST EVERY DAY.

IT'S INCREDIBLY DIVERSE.

IT'S IT'S BESIDES THE HEB ITSELF FIRST, AND CONGRESS IS THE MOST DEMOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE PUBLIC SPACE.

MAYBE MUELLER IS MORE DIVERSE POSSIBLY, BUT ZILKER ON THE WEEKEND.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

IT'S IT REPRESENTS ALL OF AUSTIN IN AND PLUS ALL THE VISITORS THAT COME HERE, IF WE COULD JUST UNDERSTAND WHO'S REALLY IN ZILKER, IT WOULD GO THAT JUST ONE SIMPLE THING WOULD GO, WOULD REALLY GO A LONG WAY.

BY THE WAY, WE DID ATTEND THE FIRST ROUND, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE FIRST ROUND OF POP-UPS.

WE HAD OUR INCREDIBLE INTERN THAT GOES TO, I THINK HE GOES TO AUSTIN HIGH.

HE WENT TO EVERY POP-UP.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE THINK THAT TRANSIT IDEA IS SUCH A GOOD ONE IS WE WERE PRETTY SURE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE POP-UPS WAS THE BUS IS TOO SLOW TO THE PARK.

CAN YOU, CAN YOU GET A FASTER WAY FOR US TO GET THERE? NOT PLEASE GIVE US MORE PARKING, BUT WE CAN'T CONFIRM THAT THAT'S WHAT OUR LITTLE INTERN HEARD, BUT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THE DATA TO BACK THAT UP BECAUSE IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.

FOLKS IN FAR AWAY COMMUNITIES ARE USING THEIR PARPS.

UM, BOARD MEMBER, UM, I'M JUST LOOKING AT YOU GOING LISA AND THE SUB MEMBERS HUG MEN.

GO AHEAD.

THAT'S OKAY.

UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOUR PASSION.

I LOVE YOUR PASSION.

I THINK I HAVE A KINDRED SPIRIT ON PLANTING TREES AND SHADE.

AND, UM, SO I LOVE THAT I'M TRYING TO TAKE ALL OF THIS IN THROUGH THE LENS OF IN AUSTIN.

WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL GOAL THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF A PARK.

AND I LOVED SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID THAT I BELIEVE YOU WERE ADDRESSING, UM, CHAIR TO PAULA.

WHEN, WHEN YOU SAID, IF, IF YOU WERE TOLD TOMORROW THAT ALL THE RESOURCES WERE GOING TO GO TO PARKS OF THE EAST SIDE TO, TO PLANT TREES, ET CETERA, AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN IN ZILKER THAT YOU WOULD BE FINE WITH THAT.

SO I'M JUST THINKING I'M AT ZILKER A LOT.

AND YOU KNOW, JUST IN THE LAST YEAR, UM, IT TAKES ME PROBABLY 15 MINUTES TO DRIVE THROUGH THE ZILKER PARK ON A GIVEN WEEKEND, ANYTIME A DAY, IT IS SO CLOGGED AND SO CROWDED.

AND I'M LISTENING TO YOU ALL TALKING ABOUT DROPPING OFF A BUS LOAD OF PEOPLE SOMEWHERE, AND THAT THAT BUS IS TAKING SO LONG TO GET THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

UM, IF I LIVED FARTHER AWAY FROM ZILKER THAN I DO, I DON'T THINK I'D WANT TO TAKE A BUS TO GET THERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I'D WANT TO GO THERE BECAUSE IT'S SO CROWDED.

IT'S A GEM IT'S, IT'S THE GEM OF AUSTIN'S PARKS.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD PARKS AND I'M ALMOST THINKING, UM, LET'S DO THE REFORESTATION IN THE REPORT.

UM, THE NATURALIZATION IN ALL THE PARKS SO THAT EVERYBODY IS IN WALKING DISTANCE TO A WONDERFUL PLACE.

AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY THERE WEREN'T MORE COMMENTS AT THE POP-UPS BECAUSE PEOPLE DO WALK TO THE PARKS, CLOSE TO THEIR HOUSE AND THEY USE THOSE PARKS AND THEY ENJOY NATURE AND THEIR CHILDREN PLAY AMONG THE TREES AND SO FORTH.

SO I JUST WONDER IF WE'RE PUTTING THIS HEAVY, HEAVY LIFT IN FRONT OF US AND MAYBE TAKE THIS PRACTICAL APPROACH, WHICH YOU HAVE ALLUDED TO.

UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE EQUITY AND INCLUSION, MAYBE

[01:50:01]

WELL, I THINK YOU'RE MAKING A GREAT POINT AND I REALLY MEANT IT.

I WILL, I'M ONLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, BUT IF, IF PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT FOR REBALANCING.

THE HISTORIC INEQUITIES THAT AUSTIN HAS PERIOD, FULL STOP.

I WILL, WELL, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT MY COLLEAGUE, ROY WAS WHISPERING IN MY EAR.

WE STUDIED THE GRERRERO CLAN, EVERYTHING THAT THEY SAID THEY WANTED IN THAT PLAN.

WE WANTED OUR PLAN, A VERY NATURAL, WE MAY BE USING THE REWILDING TERM, BUT WE'RE PRETTY SURE THAT PEOPLE ALL OVER AUSTIN ARE LOOKING FOR THE SAME KIND OF NATURAL, UH, WATER, PROTECTIVE CLIMATE, PROTECTIVE FAMILY, FRIENDLY, EASY TO GET TO PARK.

AND SO THERE SHOULD BE EQUITY BETWEEN ALL THE METRO PARKS.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF METRO PARKS AND YOU'RE TOTALLY RIGHT.

WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL USED LESS BECAUSE OF THE WATER THERE'S THERE.

ZILKER IS NOT JUST ANOTHER PARK, BARTON SPRINGS AND THE LAKE FRONT PART OF IT.

I MEAN, IT'S A RIPARIAN, NIRVANA, AND PEOPLE ARE NATURALLY ATTRACTED TO IT.

WOULD WE MIND IF WE STEERED PEOPLE TO THE OTHER METRO AND OTHER PARKS, OBVIOUSLY AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WE'D LOVE IT.

BUT I THINK THE POINT HERE IS CAN WE LOOK HOLISTICALLY AND CAN WE DREAM BIG, NOT JUST FOR ZILKER, BUT ALL THE PARKS AND, AND BE CLIMATE MINDFUL, BE EQUITY MINDFUL.

THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING FOR ALL THE PARKS.

NOW WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL FAVORS FOR ZILKER.

ALTHOUGH ZILKER GETS MORE VISITORS AND IS MORE DENUDED AND DESTROYED BECAUSE OF WHAT GOES ON THERE.

AND IT DOES NEED, IT NEEDS SOME TLC, BUT NOT MORE THAN ITS SHARE AND LESS THAN ITS SHARE.

IF THAT'S WHAT REBALANCES BOARD APOLOGIES FOR INTERRUPTING.

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK TIME CHECK THAT WE HAVE TWO HOURS LEFT IN OUR SCHEDULED MEETING AND FOUR MORE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S SO REALLY QUICKLY WITH THAT BOARD MEMBER IN ALDI, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES.

THE WHOLE REASON IS THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS VERY, VERY DRY DESECRATED, DEGRADED LIMESTONE IS THAT THESE CONTOUR BIOSWELLS, THEY ALLOW WATER TO SOAK INTO THE GROUND.

I HAVE THREE, UM, THREE BIG QUESTIONS HERE.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME AND SHARE, UM, MORE ABOUT REWILDING.

UM, I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT I STILL, I NEVER REALLY FELT LIKE I HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANT.

UM, AND I HAVE TO ADMIT, I STILL DON'T REALLY QUITE UNDERSTAND LIKE WHAT IT MEANS.

SO CAN YOU TALK ABOUT IT? LIKE, WHAT IS REWILDING VERSUS ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT AND WHERE, WHAT ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU PROPOSING THIS? AND THE FIRST REAL QUICK, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THAT JONATHAN OGDEN, WHO, WHO IS HERE AND I WANT TO JUST REPEAT INCREDIBLE INVENTORY OF ZILKER.

AND I BELIEVE HE UNDERSTANDS THE ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT TERMINOLOGY MORE THAN MOST.

IF YOU'D LIKE, I COULD HAVE GAIL SINCE SHE'S ACTUALLY, HANDS-ON DONE REWILDING AND ZILKER, IF YOU WANT, SHE CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

OR IF YOU'D LIKE, OR ELIZABETH MCGREEVEY, THE REPORT, AUTHOR, WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, UM, WE'D BE HAPPY TO DO IT, WHICH, WHICH ONE OF Y'ALL WANTS TO COME UP REAL QUICK.

AND THAT'S GREAT, BUT I JUST, YOU KNOW, HE JUST SAID WE HAVE TWO HOURS.

SO IF YOU COULD JUST TRY TO KEEP KNOWING YOU CAN COME UP, BUT JUST TO KEEP IT AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE, JUST SO WE, UM, CAN I, I CAN ONLY DEFINE REWILDING.

I DON'T WANT TO DO A COMPARISON SO MUCH WITH ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT, BUT REWILDING IS ALLOWING NATURE TO GUIDE YOU IN THE RESTORATION.

IT'S MUCH LESS, UM, DIRECTED THAN SAY A LOT OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION.

SO IT'S REALLY USING THE NATURAL PROCESSES, WORKING WITH THE NATURAL PROCESSES, WHAT GROWS, WHAT MAKES SENSE TO GROW HERE.

THAT'S WHAT GROWS HERE.

YOU KNOW, THE BIG CHALLENGES ARE ALWAYS CONTROLLING INVASIVE SPECIES.

UM, WE DO A LOT OF THAT IN OUR PROJECT, IN THE PARK AND, BUT THEN PLANTING AND THEN ALLOWING A LOT OF THE VOLUNTEERS TO GROW UP.

SO THAT'S REALLY, I THINK REWILDING IN A NUTSHELL IS, IS THAT IT'S LESS DIRECTED AND MORE LOOKING TO NATURE TO GUIDE YOU IN, IN WHAT, HOW, HOW THE PARK WOULD BE RESTORED.

SORRY.

UM, LET ME JUST GIVE LIKE A QUICK EXAMPLE, IS THAT WHEN YOU DO A REGULAR LIGHT LAND RESTORATION, LIKE I GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF LIKE ONE ACRE, YOU'LL COME IN AND ADD SOIL, YOU'LL DO ALL THESE THINGS.

YOU ADD A COMPOST TEA, YOU ADD A MULCHING, YOU SEE THE ENTIRE AREA, YOU PLANT EVERYTHING.

BUT WHEN YOU DO REWILDING, YOU MIGHT COME IN FOR ONE ACRE AND INSTALLED TWO THINGS CALLED CONTOUR BIAS WALES, WHICH THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY IS CURRENTLY STUDYING SAINTS VERY EFFECTIVE.

[01:55:01]

AND THEN YOU CREATE LIKE A LOW BERM ON THE DOWN SLOPE SIDE.

AND THAT'S THE PART THAT YOU ACTUALLY RESTORE YOU.

AND I SEED THAT YOU MULCH THAT THEN YOU ALLOW IT TO FAN OUT FROM THERE.

DO YOU SEE HOW THAT CREATES A MUCH MORE COST-EFFECTIVE APPROACH? AND ALSO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL PROCESS, A RESTORATION PROCESS.

INSTEAD IT, UH, IS A WAY TO QUANTIFY SUCCESS SO WE CAN ACTUALLY APPLY ECOLOGICAL, UPLIFT THE REWILDING AS IT PROCEEDS.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

UM, YEAH, SO, UH, THAT'S A GREAT SEGUE TO MY NEXT QUESTION, WHICH IS, DO YOU HAVE EXAMPLES OF OTHER PUBLIC PLACES NATIONALLY OR INTERNATIONALLY THAT HAVE UNDERTAKEN A KIND OF EFFORT THAT YOU'D LIKE TO EMULATE? YES, IT WOULD IT BE ALL RIGHT IF WE, SO WE DO HAVE QUITE A LARGE NUMBER OF EXAMPLES, COULD WE EMAIL YOU THOSE LINKS BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE PRETTY INTERESTING AND THEY'VE, I THINK THERE'LL BE ILLUSTRATED.

UM, AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW REWILDING IS MORE, COULD BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE THAN MAYBE A TRADITIONAL PARK.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T THINK THAT COST-EFFECTIVENESS IS YOU'VE PAINTED A VERY COMPELLING PICTURE HERE OF, YOU KNOW, THE POSSIBILITIES AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF COST-EFFECTIVENESS IS NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT COMPELS ME ABOUT IT.

I, YOU KNOW, I, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT URBAN, YOU KNOW, URBAN WILDLANDS MANAGEMENT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S LABOR INTENSIVE IN ITS OWN WAY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF MAINTENANCE THAN GOING TO, YOU KNOW, MOWAT LAWN, BUT YOU'D STILL HAVE SOME, UM, UH, THERE'S STILL LABOR INVOLVED IN MANAGING WILD LANDS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE A STREET RUNNING THROUGH IT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THE LEVEL OF USE THAT ZILKER PARK WOULD BE GETTING.

SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN, YEAH.

IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT, LIKE WHAT, YEAH.

LIKE WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT IT WILL BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE IN THE LONG RUN, RIGHT? A COUPLE OF THINGS YOU, BY DEFINITION NEED LESS WATERING AND YOU NEED LESS, UM, MOWING.

BUT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR INGRID, WHO I JUST WANT TO REPEAT IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN, UH, SCIENCE EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT IS THE WORK THAT GAIL'S BEEN DOING, KIND OF DEMOING REWILDING.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING FOR VOLUNTEERS, BOTH RETIRED FOLKS, NEW PEOPLE TO AUSTIN, AS WELL AS KIDS TO ACTUALLY HELP WITH THE REWILDING.

AND IT'S, IT'S HIGHLY SCIENCE.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE NIRVANA FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION.

SO PART OF OUR VISION IS UNDERSTANDING THAT PART HAS VERY LIMITED.

I'M GOING TO UNDERSCORE AGAIN, TRAGICALLY, UNDERFUNDED RESOURCES.

WE THINK WE CAN FILL IN WITH SOME REALLY INTERESTING ALL CITY, UM, VOLUNTEER EFFORTS THAT ARE ALSO EDUCATIONAL.

WE THINK THERE'S A REALLY INTERESTING ROLE FOR THE CLIMATE CORP, THAT THE, UM, THERE THERE'S ALREADY A GROUP THAT I THINK THE CITY HAS, HAS AWARDED A CONTRACT TO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, VERY EQUITY AND INCLUSIVE ORIENTED THAT CAN LEARN THESE SKILLS AND CAN, CAN TEACH THEM TO OTHERS AND ALSO HELP DO THEM IN THE PARK.

SO WE THINK THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU COULD DO REWILDING ON A SUPER COST EFFECTIVE BASIS.

AND WE WE'D LOVE TO JUST KEEP COLLABORATING ON THE IDEA OF THAT AND BRING MORE PARTNERS IN TO SEE WHAT THEY MIGHT OFFER.

PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

I'D LOVE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT OVER EMAIL.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

UM, YOU'LL OBVIOUSLY HAVE A LOT OF GREAT POINTS, A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS, UM, AND YOUR HARD WORK HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED.

UM, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, UH, FOLLOWING UP ON THE, THE TERMS OF REWILDING, ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT RESTORATION.

UM, DO WE THINK THAT THE DEFINITIONS THAT THAT Y'ALL HAVE FOR ALL THOSE TERMS ARE SHARED BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT STAFF? UM, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO TELL.

UM, I REALLY DEFER AND I WANT TO UNDERSCORE JONATHAN'S ROLE IS, IS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE.

UM, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, WHEN THE REPORT CAME OUT LAST SUMMER, WE, OUR TEAM, WE CHEERED AND WE ACTUALLY ORGANIZED A ZOOM SO THAT WE COULD, UM, BRIEF CITY LEADERS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTALIST'S ON THAT REPORT.

BUT THE REACTION TO THAT REPORT W REALLY SURPRISED US BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT INVENTORY, BUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT, THEY DON'T GET TRACTION.

WAIT A SECOND.

WHAT ABOUT CLIMATE? WAIT A SECOND.

YOU KNOW, W WHAT ABOUT WATER PROTECTION THERE? THERE'S SOME REALLY INTERESTING IDEAS IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THEY'RE THIN.

[02:00:01]

AND SO, I DON'T KNOW, AND I'M NOT SURE PART KNOWS YET WHAT ITS DEFINITION OF REWILDING IS, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT I, I I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THE, WITH, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE'S A WONDERFUL WAY FOR US TO MARRY UP AND COMBINE SOME OF THESE IDEAS, THE BEST INNOVATIONS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE TECH INDUSTRY OR ANY OTHER, THEY COME FROM DIVERGENT OPINIONS AND PERSPECTIVES COMING TOGETHER WITH AN EVEN BETTER IDEA THAN ANY ONE GROUP HAD COMING IN.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED HERE IS THAT BIG LEAP UP WHERE WE COMBINE OUR IDEAS TO AN EVEN BETTER ONE.

AND I'M SURE THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

UM, AND THEN YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE SOME MAPS, UM, REGARDING THE AREAS THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE GOOD FOR REWILDING.

UM, I CAN, IF I COULD, I'D LIKE TO RECEIVE THOSE VIA EMAIL TOO, IF WE CAN ABSOLUTELY EMAIL YOU THE MAP.

IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE REWILDING REPORT, I HAVE A BLACK AND WHITE COPY WITH ME.

THAT'S NOT THAT GREAT, BUT WE CAN SEND YOU A BEAUTIFUL COLOR PICTURE SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S JUST AN IDEA.

WE'RE NOT MARRIED TO IT.

THERE MAY BE BETTER WAYS TO DO IT.

UM, AND THEN FINALLY, JUST WANT TO ASK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UM, THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND AS WELL AS THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, UM, I'M NOT SUPER FAMILIAR WITH THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL.

YOU MENTIONED THE MEETING IN WHICH YOU ALL DISCUSS THE REWILDING PLAN.

THERE WERE ABOUT 60 TO 70 PEOPLE PRESENT.

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MANY DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS WERE REPRESENTED? AND MY PR ON THAT AGENDA WAS NOT JUST COUNCIL MEMBER FOR WINTERS WHO WAS FANTASTIC, BUT THE NEW APD, UH, I BELIEVE THE LIEUTENANT FOR ENGAGEMENT, UH, WAS ALSO ON THE AGENDA.

SO IT WAS A PARTICULARLY PACKED AGENDA.

UM, MY COUNT WAS, THERE WERE AT LEAST, I'D SAY THERE WERE AT LEAST 40 DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS FROM WHAT I COULD SEE.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE, THERE WERE A FEW APD FOLKS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, WINCES HAD SOME PEOPLE FROM AUSTIN WATER, SO IT WASN'T ALL JUST NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE, BUT IT WAS A VERY DIVERSE GROUP.

I CAN GET YOU A LIST OF EXACTLY WHO VOTED ON THAT VOTE.

IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO YOU AT ALL IN WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS THEY WERE FROM.

IF THAT'S INTERESTING.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT.

UM, THAT'S ALL HAPPENED.

ALRIGHT.

IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION.

I'M ACTUALLY GRATEFUL TO BOARD MEMBER RINALDI.

WHO'S NOT HERE FOR ME TO TELL HER HOW GRATEFUL I AM, BUT THAT SHE ASKED US TO PUT THIS FIRST BECAUSE I THINK IT HELPS US HAVE SOME INSIGHT INTO, UM, THE NEXT PRESENTATION.

AND I REALLY WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU THAT ARE VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE JUST SPENDING SPENT OBVIOUSLY A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME PULLING THIS TOGETHER AND BRINGING UP THESE REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS OF EQUITY AND TRANSIT AND WATER PROTECTION AND, UM, COMMUNICATION AND CLIMATE, WHICH OF COURSE IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

SO, YOU KNOW, I KINDA CAME TO THIS MEANINGFUL.

UM, CAN I INTERRUPT YOU JUST REAL BRIEFLY? UM, GREAT MONSTERS, PARKS AND REC, UH, PLANNING DIVISION.

I KNOW THAT I KNOW A BOARD MEMBER RENAULD IS NOT HERE, BUT SHE DID ASK FOR DEFINITION OF WHAT OUR ECO UPLIFT IS.

CAN I JUST SAY ONE THING AND THEN I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE FLOOR TO DO THE PRESENTATION.

IS THAT OKAY? WELL, THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THIS ITEM, RIGHT? BUT DO YOU WANT HER TO COME BACK SO SHE CAN HEAR YOUR ANSWER OR NOT? THAT'S FINE.

BUT WE HAVE JONATHAN OGLING WITH SIGLO HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT BOARD UNDERSTAND WHAT EQUAL UPLIFT IS BECAUSE IT WAS ASKED EARLIER AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT.

RIGHT? NO NO.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY FINE.

WHAT I DID WANT TO SAY IS THAT I PARDON? YES.

WHAT I DID WANT TO SAY IS, UM, I CAME HERE AND I WAS THINKING, OH, MY LAST MEETING, I'M NOT GOING TO STAY TILL 10 O'CLOCK, BUT IT'S NOT FOR ME ASKING QUESTIONS.

SO JUST THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU, UM, IF YOU JUST, NOT THAT I DON'T, I, SO I LOVE THAT WE HAVE A BOARD THAT IS SO ENGAGED AND SO INTERESTED IN WANTS TO DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS AND ARE SUCH GREAT ADVOCATES, BUT I, WE ALSO END UP STAYING HERE TILL 10 O'CLOCK.

SO I JUST WANT TO JUST THROW THAT OUT THERE.

SO, UM, ANYWAYS, WE'RE ONTO THE

[B.1. Presentation and discussion related to the community engagement and outreach efforts for Zilker metropolitan Park Vision Plan.]

NEXT PRESENTATION.

AND SO, GREG, ARE YOU, ARE YOU GOING TO BE LEADING THAT? I KNOW THIS IS THE, UM, PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSING RELATED TO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR ZILKER METROPOLITAN PART VISION PLAN AND BOARD.

AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ON THIS AGENDA ITEM AS WELL.

WELL, GOOD JOB.

THE FIRST SPEAKER WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS.

UH, YES, MADAM CHAIR, WE DO THIS.

WE ARE ON A AGENDA ITEM B ONE FOR THOSE WHO ARE TURNING IN ON, ON TV.

AND SO THE,

[02:05:01]

FIRST ONE IS MIKE CANADY, BARTON SPRINGS, CONSERVANCIES, ZILKER PARK, COLLECTIVE IMPACT GROUP.

GOOD EVENING, MR. CANADY.

AGAIN, YOU GOT THREE MINUTES.

SHE MAY BE GONE AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WERE A PART OF IT.

BUT SHORT, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL GOT AN UPDATED SENSE OF THE, UH, WE THINK IS PRETTY AMAZING AMOUNT OF OUTREACH THAT THE CITY AND THE DESIGN TEAM HAD PUT TOGETHER.

AND, UH, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK SUMMARY AND I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM MR. MONTEZ.

BUT, UM, AS OF, UH, THE LAST COUNT ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, WHICH YOU CAN GO TO AND VIEW A LOT OF THE MEETINGS, THERE WERE 17 SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS, UH, INCLUDING THREE MEETINGS WITH THE ZILKER IN BARTON HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAPPENED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS.

THERE WERE FOUR CITY-WIDE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UH, ZOOM MEETINGS, UH, FIVE ASSOCIATED ONLINE SURVEYS.

UM, THAT'S APPARENTLY GOT INPUT FROM 7,100 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU COUNT THE DIFFERENT SURVEY RESPONSES THAT WERE TALLIED THERE.

UH, THERE WERE 26 POP-UP MEETINGS AROUND THE CITY, THIS PAST WINTER, UH, 19 POP-UP MEETINGS AROUND THE CITY, THE PAST SUMMER AND 34 POP-UP MEETINGS.

UH, THIS PAST FALL KIND OF HAD THAT IN BACK ORDER.

UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DATE DETAILS ARE AND WHAT DATA WAS COLLECTED.

UH, BUT I, I TRUST THAT ACTUALLY THERE WAS INFORMATION COLLECTED AND, AND THAT, THAT YOU'LL YOU'LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

UM, THERE WAS ALSO A ZILKER PARK COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR OUTREACH PROGRAM WHERE THEY CONDUCTED 40 MEETINGS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PRIORITIZE THE ADVANCEMENT OF EQUITY IN THE ZILKER PARK PLANNING PROCESS.

I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THAT.

I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT I'VE SEEN ON THE CITY'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, REPORT.

UM, THERE WAS ALSO SIX DIFFERENT TECHNICAL ADVISORY, UH, TAG MEETINGS IN 2021 AND 2022.

AND THEN JUST THIS PAST, THIS YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN THREE MEETINGS WITH THE LEADERS OF THE ZILKER, UH, PARTNERS, UH, THE ZILKER COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORKING GROUP.

UM, AND I THINK ONE MORE MEETING.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE LAST ONE WAS IN 2022, BUT ALTOGETHER THERE'S 150 COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE FOR THIS METROPOLITAN PARK THAT SERVES THE ENTIRE CITY.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING TO NOTE, Y'ALL HAD A PRESENTATION A LITTLE WHILE AGO ABOUT THE SHEFFIELD DISTRICT PARK, UH, IN THE MASTER PLAN PROCESS THAT THEY WENT THROUGH OR THE VISION PLAN PROCESS THAT THEY WENT THROUGH AND THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS THERE WAS SMALLER, WHICH REFLECTS THE FACT THAT IT'S A SMALLER PARK.

AND THIS ONE TO ME IS IT'S IMPRESSIVE BY HOW MUCH EFFORT THAT THE CITY AND THE DESIGN WORKSHOP FOLKS HAVE PUT INTO COLLECTING.

UM, YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY MAKE EVERYBODY SHOW UP AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO HAVE.

AND WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO A REALLY BROAD, DIVERSE REPRESENTATION OF THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE CITY, AS ROBIN SAID, THE ENTIRE CITY USES THIS PARK.

UH, WE WANT TO HAVE THE PARK VISION REFLECT THAT VISION, THAT USAGE.

UM, AND I, AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOME INFORMATION HOPEFULLY, UH, ABOUT WHAT THE CITY CAN DO TO ADVANCE THAT, UH, I'LL STOP THERE TO GET YOUR HOME EARLIER.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANGELA RICHTER, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, I FIRST WANT TO NOTE THAT AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION IS SO EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS ON THE COMMERCIAL PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE.

DIDN'T GET TO SAY THAT EARLIER, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK MOVING THAT FORWARD.

UM, SO APF IS WORKING WITH THIS SILK OR COLLECTIVE IMPACT GROUP, AS YOU KNOW, AND THE GROUP IS REALLY RALLYING BEHIND ZILKER.

UM, AS A METROPOLITAN PARK THAT SERVES THREE KEY PURPOSES.

ONE IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO NATURE, AND SOME OF OUR GROUPS HAVE A STRONG, UM, A STRONG PULL TO DO THAT.

SO THE GIRL SCOUTS, FOR EXAMPLE, BRING KIDS OUT THE SUNSHINE CAMPS.

AND SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL OF THAT PROGRAMMING SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT GETTING KIDS TO EXPERIENCE NATURE.

UM, THE PARK ALSO SERVES RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, BOTH MY HUSBAND AND MY SON PLAYS SOCCER IN ZILKER PARK, UM, AND HOSTING FANTASTIC COMMUNITY EVENTS, UM, LIKE THE KITE FESTIVAL, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE LAST ONE THAT I WENT TO.

AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD, UM, APF TO SEEING A PLAN THAT WE HOPE WILL RESPECT EACH OF THESE IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE AND WELCOMING TO ALL EVERYONE SHOULD ACCESS NATURE.

EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECREATE THEIR, EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEND, UM, THOSE TYPES OF AWESOME COMMUNITY EVENTS.

AND, UM, WE HAVE REALLY APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

WE'VE DONE SOVIETS, THE SURVEYS, THOSE, UM, ZOOM MEETINGS, THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND ALSO AS PART OF THE COLLECTIVE AT THOSE SMALL GROUP MEETINGS.

UM, AND ALSO THE ABILITY AND RECEPTIVENESS FOR DESIGN WORKSHOP TO ACCEPT LETTERS, UM, FROM APF AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

LET'S SEE.

SO JUST A COUPLE FINAL NOTES.

UM, THIS IS ALL BUILT OVER MANY YEARS ON A PREVIOUS, UM, ZILKER WORKING GROUP THAT WAS, UH, FORMED BY COUNCIL.

I WAS A PART OF IT, YELLOW WITH A PART OF IT.

[02:10:01]

AND A LOT OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE HAVING NOW, UM, HAVE HAPPENED.

I THINK THERE WAS BROAD SUPPORT IN THAT GROUP, WHICH INCLUDED NEIGHBORHOOD, FOLKS, ENVIRONMENTAL FOLKS, EVERYBODY, UM, TO REMOVE CERTAIN, TO DO ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT IN CERTAIN AREAS, ESPECIALLY TO REMOVE PARKING ON THE POLO FIELDS AND ON STRATFORD, UM, AS, UH, AS ALTERNATIVE PARKING SOLUTIONS CAME ON BOARD.

AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS AGREED TO, TO THAT WITH THAT GROUP.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STILL HOPING WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.

UM, LET'S SEE.

YEAH, I THINK, I THINK THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY, BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED, UM, BOTH AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, BUT THEN ALSO THE ZILKER PARK COLLECTIVE TO REALLY CONTINUE TO BE STEWARDS OF ZILKER PARK.

AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT A VISION PLAN THAT WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT WILL COME OUT AND WE'LL ALL BE ABLE TO START FOCUSING ON IMPLEMENTATION.

NEXT SPEAKER, MR. ROY LEE, COME ON DOWN.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

HOWDY.

Y'ALL I'M STILL THE CONSERVATION.

THE OFTEN SIERRA CLUB REGIONAL GROUP.

UM, AND I'M WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I DON'T WANT Y'ALL TO TAKE ANYTHING I SAY IS DISPARAGING ANY OF THE PEOPLE WITH WHOM I DISAGREE, BUT LIKE, AND RESPECT VERY MUCH.

UM, WE JUST HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

WOULDN'T IT BE A WONDERFUL WORLD IF EVERYONE JUST AGREED WITH ME ANYWAY, I, I, UM, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT ROY GUERRERO THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS VISION PLAN RIGHT NOW.

AND YET THERE ARE SO FEW PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO THAT EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT.

ALMOST.

NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT THE ROY GUERRERO VISION PLAN.

THAT'S ON THE, ON THE ROTISSERIE, BUT HASN'T COME AROUND YET.

UM, AND I THINK THAT'S A SHAME.

AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO DISPARAGE THE FOLKS THAT, THAT HAVE DONE ALL THE WORK HERE, BUT WITH ALL THE POP-UPS AS KIND OF LIKE DEADHEADS, YOU KNOW, DEAD HEADS, FOLLOW THE GRATEFUL DEAD AROUND THE COUNTRY AND GO TO ALL THE CONCERTS.

WELL, YOU GOT A BUNCH OF INVIRO HEADS THAT GO TO ALL THE DIFFERENT, POP-UPS SAY THE SAME THING, GET THE LITTLE GREEN DOTS AND ALL SAY, WE WANT THIS.

IT'S NOT NEW INFO.

I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION ON HOW TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ENGAGED BECAUSE IT'S, THEIR WORLD IS ON FIRE RIGHT NOW.

THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO CARE ABOUT A PARK THAT, THAT THERE ARE JUST SO MANY THINGS IN THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR LIVES.

THEY'RE THEIR ECONOMICS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO ENGAGE IN PARK CONVERSATIONS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE THAT AREN'T JUST THE SAME OLD FOLKS.

NOW I'M A CRUSTY OLD BUZZARD.

I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND I'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN THIS STORE OR A LONG TIME.

AND I, I I'M ONE OF THOSE DEAD HEADS THAT GOES TO DIFFERENT POP-UPS.

AND SO, YEAH, THERE WAS A POP-UP AND, AND SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, I WONDER WHAT ROY WHALEY THINKS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE HE KNOWS SO MUCH ABOUT SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.

THERE HAS TO BE A WAY TO REALLY ENGAGE.

THIS IS A LONG PROCESS.

I HOPE IT'S A LONGER PROCESS BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF AUSTIN BECAUSE OF BARTON SPRINGS.

I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES ZILKER SUPERIOR TO ROY GUERRERO IS BARTON SPRINGS.

ROY GUERRERO, IF Y'ALL, HAVEN'T BEEN, THAT IS A FANTASTIC PART AND THERE WON'T BE ANY NEED FOR REWILDING.

JUST KEEP THE WILDNESS THERE.

DON'T GO IN AND CUT DOWN ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL TRUTHS.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY MAIN THING.

I JUST WANT TO SEE DEEPER, FULLER OUTREACH.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CREATIVE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CREATIVE PEOPLE ON THIS OUTREACH TEAM FIND A WAY TO REALLY ENGAGE.

I MEAN, ROBIN TALKED ABOUT THE AGB.

THERE ARE OTHER PLACES WE GOT TO GET THERE TO COME TO OUR MEETINGS, GO TO THEIR MEETINGS.

MADAM CHAIR INCLUDES.

OH, RIGHT.

SO MR. MONTES, YOU'RE UP.

TO CLAIRE, SO SHE GETS STARTED.

UH, GREG MONTES WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PLANNING DIVISION, I'M JOINED BY, UH, CLAIRE HEMPHILL, THE PRINCIPAL FOR A DESIGN WORKSHOP WHO WAS THE PRIME CONSULTANT.

SHE WILL BE LEADING US THROUGH A PRESENTATION, UM, REGARDING OUR, UM, ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH EFFORTS THUS FAR WITH THE VISION PLANNING PROCESS.

WE'VE ALSO ARE JOINED BY CLAUDIA CONNOR, WHO IS WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UNIT.

SHE ALSO WILL BE SHARING SOME INFORMATION IN THE PRESENTATION.

IT'S A HUNDRED OVER

[02:15:01]

UM, BOARD MEMBERS.

UM, MY NAME'S CLAIRE HEMPHILL.

I AM A PRINCIPAL WITH DESIGN WORKSHOP OUT OF OUR AUSTIN STUDIO.

I'M ALSO AN AUSTIN RESIDENT.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND, UM, I ALSO SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT I AM NOT HERE REPRESENTING THAT GROUP HERE TONIGHT.

SO, UM, THE PURPOSE OF OUR MEETING HERE IS TO RECAP THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT TO DATE ON THE VISION AND PLAN.

NEXT SLIDE, WE BEGAN THE PROCESS ABOUT A YEAR AGO IN FEBRUARY OF 2021, UM, RIGHT IN THE HEART OF COVID.

AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE HOSTED FOUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, THREE POP-UPS SERIES, AND MANY SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS.

OUR FIFTH AND FINAL MEETING WILL OCCUR IN THE FALL.

THE DATES STILL TO BE DETERMINED BECAUSE WE ARE, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO BEFORE THEN.

UM, AND THEN IN EARLY 20, 23, WE WILL HAVE OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETINGS FOR THE APPROVAL PROCESS.

SO AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND AGAIN, WE'RE JUST FOCUSING ON THE ENGAGEMENT AS PART OF THIS PRESENTATION.

UM, BUT WE'RE, WE HAVE JONATHAN HERE, IF ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS COME UP.

SO THE VISION FOR THE ENGAGEMENT PIECE IN PARTICULAR IS THAT A TRANSPARENT AND WELL-DOCUMENTED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, WHICH ENGAGES A CITY, BUT ALSO SEEKS AND CONSIDERS THE INPUT OF INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES WITH DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE PARK AND OR PARTIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE PARK.

THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS SHALL INCLUDE GUIDING VALUES, DIRECTION, AND FEATURE A CLEAR STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDES PRESENTATION OF THE VISION PLAN PROCESS.

AND I PROMISE, I WON'T READ ALL OF THE TEXTS ON THE REST OF THIS SLIDE, BUT WE DO HAVE GOALS, 10 GOALS, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, UM, RELATED TO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, UM, THERE'LL BE REFERENCED IN SUBSEQUENT SLIDES.

SO YOU'LL SEE AN ORANGE NUTS SERIES OF NUMBERS AND CERTAIN SLIDES THAT RELATE BACK TO THESE GOALS.

AND THIS PRESENTATION WAS PROVIDED IN YOUR BACKUP.

SO YOU CAN REFER BACK TO IT.

WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE A ROBUST GROUP OF EXPERTS FROM VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS, AS YOU CAN SEE LISTED HERE, AND THE TEAM MEETS WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, TYPICALLY AFTER EACH ENGAGEMENT MILESTONE TO REVIEW THE PLAN IDEAS AND GAIN DIRECTION ON THE PLAN.

SO CLAUDIA HAS BEEN HIGHLY INVOLVED WITH THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND SHE HAS OFFERED SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS PART OF THE PROCESS.

REMEMBER, THESE DAYS MASKS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT I AM ELATED TO BE HERE.

IT IS A PRIVILEGE ACTUALLY TO BE HERE ON THE SIDE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE AS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY LIAISON FOR WELL OVER 15 YEARS DURING THE GOOD, BAD, AND THE UGLY OF OUR DYNAMIC CITY, I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED UNDER REPRESENTED RESIDENTS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND NONPROFITS.

AND AS YOU CAN TELL, I GET VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT TOOK TO GET AUSTIN, TO BE WHERE IT IS.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO CONTINUE TO CULTIVATE AND TO INFORM NORTH SOUTH, EAST AND WEST AUSTINITES IN AN EFFORT TO BE CERTAIN THAT ALL COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES ARE WELL INFORMED AND UNDERSTAND THEIR VALUE IN SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES, INSIGHT, AND THEIR VOICES ON BEHALF OF ALL OF AUSTIN, ALL OF AUSTIN'S CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, OUR FUTURE, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO MARRY.

SO WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR EVERYONE, PREPARE FOR THE WELLNESS AND ACCESS TO ACHIEVE A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HUMANITY.

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SHARE DURING SMALL GROUPS, SMALL GROUPS HAS BEEN A HUMAN AND PRACTICAL APPROACH, MODIFYING BARRIERS LIKE DIGITAL INEQUITIES AND ACCESS MAGNIFIED BY MORE THAN EXTREME HARDSHIPS

[02:20:01]

OF A PANDEMIC.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING THE SMALL GROUPS TO REPRESENT VOICES THAT CONTINUE TO BE VAGUE AND UNSEEN.

AUSTIN HAS BEEN STRETCHED AND OPENED Y THROUGH CHANGE.

IT IS OUR HOPE FOR INNOVATIVE THINKING AND OPEN HEARTS TO RE-IMAGINE THE SPIRIT OF AN ALL INCLUSIVE COLLABORATION FOR OUR CROWN JEWEL ZILKER METROPOLITAN PARK TO BECOME GREENER AND INTENTIONALLY WELL-BALANCED FOR HUMANITY.

AND I SAY ONWARD PARD ONWARD, SOME OF THE SMALL GROUPS, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA AT HAKA, THAT PICTURE REPRESENTS HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN GOING IN, BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO COME OUT, BUT WE WILL NOT LET THAT STOP US FROM GETTING INFORMATION IN AND TO YOU.

WE HAD CITYWIDE PRESENTATION BY ZOOM RESIDENT, COUNCIL PRESIDENTS REPRESENTING THE NORTH, SOUTH EAST AND WEST A NEW PROGRAM CALLED I MOMS TO BE ABLE TO ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN LOW-INCOME GIRLS, WOMEN, PEOPLE, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEIR CHILDREN FOR THEMSELVES.

AND FOR GRANDPARENTS, STILL MANY ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THE DEVASTATION OF COVID.

ONE OF THE RESIDENTS WAS GOING TO BE ON THE CALL TODAY, BUT THINGS HAPPEN DON'T THEY, WE WERE WITH METAL BROOKE, WHICH IS SOUTH AND WEST BOULDIN OAKS GOODRICH TO SOUTH PROPERTIES, THE CARVER BOOK CLUB BY ZOOM HEARING WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE BLACK WOMEN WHO KAYAK THERE ARE? AND WE HAD A ZOOM CALL WITH THEM.

WE HAD THE SMALL GROUP WITH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE MANAGER, AND WE ALSO HAD STEPHEN BROWN ON THE CALL FOR A SMALL GROUP.

AND STEVEN BROWN HAS BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR MANY YEARS.

ON BEHALF OF JOAN MEANS KOBI LA, WHO WE CELEBRATED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO FOR DESEGREGATING ZILKER, METROPOLITAN PUCKS, BARTON SPRING POOLS.

WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ON K A Z GUY, YOUR COMMUNITY RADIO.

WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING AND FACILITATING AND HEARING THE EXPERIENCES OF MANY COMING UP.

WE'LL BE JOINED WITH THE AUSTIN AREA, URBAN LEAGUE, AND MANY MORE.

THERE ARE VOICES TO BE HEARD, THEY'RE EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE BEEN HAD.

AND I WILL NOT SAY TO YOU WHAT THEY'VE SAID TO US, BECAUSE IT WILL BE SHOWN AND GIVEN TO YOU IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER WHEN IT'S TIME.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT MANY HAVE SAID, HOW CAN YOU BRING A PICNIC AND YOUR CHILDREN ON A BUS? HOW CAN YOU AFFORD A RIDE SHARE WITH A FAMILY? AND YES, THEY KNOW ABOUT ZILKER PARK BECAUSE MANY OF THEM WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE.

AND THEY HAVE STORIES ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES TAKING THEM TO ZILKER PARK AND THEY SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GENERATIONS TO

[02:25:01]

COME.

SO IF WE DON'T CREATE CHANGE, OH, WELL, THANK YOU.

WE'VE ALSO USED ONLINE ENGAGEMENT, UM, INCLUDING MULTIPLE DIGITAL WAYS FOR INTERACTION, THE PROJECT WEBSITE, WHERE ALL OF THE PROJECT MATERIALS ARE UPLOADED IN REAL TIME, INCLUDING SURVEYS, MEETINGS, PRESENTATIONS, THE SURVEY, RAW DATA.

WE HAVE SPEAK UP AUSTIN AS A WAY FOR COMMENTING OUTSIDE OF THE SURVEYS AND THE STORY MAP AT RIGHT, WHICH WE'VE LINKED TO VIA YARD SIGNS IN THE PARK AND NOT JUST SILK OR PARK, BUT ALL OVER THE CITY.

SO PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS WITHIN THE PARK.

ADDITIONALLY, THE TEAM HAS BEEN VERY THOUGHTFUL AND INTENTIONAL TO BE TRANSPARENT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS FAR BEYOND ANY OTHER PROJECT STANDARDS.

FOR EXAMPLE, POSTING RECORDINGS OF TAG MEETINGS, THE PARP WORKING GROUP MEETINGS MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS, SUCH AS ZILKER PARK COLLECTIVE, AND THE DNA, SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND RESPONDING TO REQUESTS VIA PROJECT EMAIL.

THE TEAM IS SCOPE FOR A TOTAL OF FIVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

FOUR OF WHICH HAVE BEEN COMPLETED WITH COVID.

THE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN VIRTUAL, BUT YOU CAN SEE OUR ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN ROBUST WITH THIS FORMAT.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IN SPINE.

SPANISH INTERPRETATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR NEARLY ALL OF THE VIRTUAL MEETINGS.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MEETING FORMAT DOESN'T WORK FOR EVERYONE, UH, THAT WE'RE LIMITED WITH THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN ATTENDANCE.

UH, BUT THAT IS WHY THEY ARE PAIRED WITH A SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS, WHICH CLAUDIA JUST REFERENCED, WHICH HAVE LESS ATTENDEES, BUT THE, THE DATA, THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE HAD, AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN REALLY VALUABLE.

NEXT SLIDE, THERE'VE BEEN TWO SCOPED POPUPS SERIES.

THE FIRST SERIES WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT TO GAIN FEEDBACK ON THE GOALS AND CHALLENGES.

AND WE WENT TO EACH DISTRICT DURING THE SUMMER, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE.

THE SECOND SERIES FOLLOWED THE FALL MEETING TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE SURVEY AND WALK PEOPLE THROUGH THE INTERACTIVE MAP AND SURVEY INFORMATION, CITY STAFF SUPPLEMENTED THE DESIGN TEAM'S EFFORTS.

SO WHERE THE DESIGN TEAM WENT TO ALL 10 DISTRICTS, CITY STAFF WENT OUT EVEN MORE BECAUSE THEY SAW THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

NEXT TIME, THE THIRD SERIES OF POPUPS WAS PERFORMED ENTIRELY BY PARD STAFF TO REACH AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE IMMEDIATE ZILKER PARK AREA AND WITH EVENTS THAT WERE ALREADY HAPPENING.

NEXT SLIDE, TO GET THE WORD OUT AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE PLAN, THE ENGAGEMENT SURVEYS AND ALL THE OTHER ENGAGEMENT THAT'S BEEN DONE.

THE TEAM HAS BEEN ON RADIO AND LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS.

THE CITY'S SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN UTILIZED TO SHARE UPDATES AND MEETING DETAILS AND EMAIL NOTICES GO OUT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS VIA MAILING LISTS AND SIGNS AND BANNERS ARE UTILIZED THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THE CITY'S PARKS.

SO FAR, THERE HAVE BEEN A TOTAL OF FIVE SURVEYS DURING THE PLANNING PROCESS, INCLUDING ONE DONE AS A BASELINE BEFORE THE DESIGN TEAM WAS FULLY UNDER CONTRACT, ALMOST 5,500 PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED AND NEARLY 8,000 COMMENTS RECEIVED.

YOU CAN SEE THE SCHEDULE OF THE SURVEYS OPENING AND CLOSING DATES.

ON THIS SIDE, THERE WILL BE A SIXTH SURVEY FOLLOWING OUR FINAL COMMUNITY MEETING IN THE FALL.

AND AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, CITY STAFF HAS PERFORMED INTERCEPT SURVEYS, MEANING PEOPLE FROM PARD STAFF, GOING OUT TO THE PARKS WITH PAPER COPIES, UM, AT VARIOUS PARKS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT ONLY IN ZILKER NEXT SLIDE FOR EACH COMMUNITY MEETING AND SURVEY, WE'VE TAKEN DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.

AND COMPARED THAT TO THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF AUSTIN, YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN FOR EACH MEETING HERE, INCLUDING HOW IT STACKS UP ON RACE AND ETHNICITY, AGE AND GENDER.

EVEN WITH THIS ROBUST OUTREACH AS DESCRIBED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDES, WE UNDERSTAND WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO TO ENGAGE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND OUTREACH.

THAT PART ENGAGEMENT TEAM HAS HELPED TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT THE DESIGN TEAM HAS BEEN SCOPED TO DO.

ZILKER, THE DARKER, THE COLOR, THE MORE PEOPLE FROM THAT ZIP CODE THAT ARE VISITING ZILKER AND THE LIGHTER, THE LESS PEOPLE FROM THAT ZIP CODE, VISITING ZILKER, AND THEY LOOSELY PARALLEL WHERE WE'RE HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN THE SURVEYS.

ONE OF THE DRIVERS BEHIND OUTREACH IS ENGAGING WITH ALL 10 DISTRICTS.

NOT EVERY ONE KNOWS WHICH DISTRICT THEY'D LIVE IN.

SO WHEN WE ASKED THAT QUESTION IN THE SURVEY, WE ALSO ASK ABOUT ZIP CODES.

AND THE MAP AT RIGHT IS A BREAKDOWN SHOWING WHERE SURVEY TAKERS LIVE IN AUSTIN AND THE DARKER COLORS, THE DARKER, THE COLOR, THE MORE SURVEY TAKERS FROM THAT ZIP CODE, YOU CAN SEE THE COLORS ARE DARKER, CLOSE TO ZILKER, BUT YET LIGHTER.

THE FARTHER OUT YOU GO FROM THE CORE OF THE CITY.

THE MAP AT LEFT SHOWS, CELLULAR DATA SHOWING WHO IS VISITING

[02:30:01]

AND ALL OF THIS IS TO SAY THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ALREADY VISIT VISIT SILKA ARE ENGAGING, BUT THOSE WHO DON'T VISIT FREQUENTLY ARE LESS ENGAGED ON THE PROCESS.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT REASON, THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ALSO WHY THE TEAM HAS BEEN OUT TO EVENTS LIKE THE KITE FESTIVAL IN APRIL.

THE STATESMEN HAD AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE EVENT AND INCLUDED A STATEMENT FROM SOMEONE WHO HAD NOT YET BEEN TO ZILKER QUOTE.

WE'VE HAD THIS KITE FOR 20 YEARS, IGNACIO ARENIA SAID IN SPANISH, I BOUGHT IT FOR MY DAUGHTER DURING A TRIP IN CORPUS CHRISTI, AND WE NEVER GOT TO FLY IT UNTIL NOW.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS PARK WAS.

WE HAD BEEN WANTING TO COME OUT HERE FOR SO LONG MIRA ARENIA SAID IN SPANISH, THIS IS JUST SO WONDERFUL.

SEEING ALL THE KITES HERE.

WE'RE GLAD WE GOT TO DO THIS NEXT SLIDE.

SO THE VISION FROM THE ENGAGEMENT PANIC PLAN AS RELATED TO INCLUDE EQUITY AND INCLUSION TALKS ABOUT KEY STAKEHOLDERS BEING ENGAGED DIRECTLY.

AND I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAIL HERE.

I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING SHORT ON TIME, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE, NOT ONLY TO THE PLAN ITSELF, BUT TO THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING HAS BEEN GUIDING US SINCE THE BEGINNING.

IN ADDITION TO POPUPS AND SUPPLEMENTAL OUTREACH, MULTIPLE LANGUAGES HAVE BEEN ACCOMMODATED THROUGHOUT IN MEETINGS, SURVEYS IN-PERSON POP-UPS AND ADDITIONAL OUTREACH IN THE FORM OF COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS HAS BEEN UTILIZED.

NEXT SLIDE, WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE ZILKER PARK PLANNING DID NOT START FROM SCRATCH.

SOME OF THE STAGE WAS SET DURING THE LONG RANGE PLANNING PROCESS, WHICH SOME OF YOU ARE A PART OF AND COUNSEL'S STRATEGIC DIRECTION, 23 OR SD 23.

THOSE SOLID CIRCLES HERE RELATE DIRECTLY TO ZILKER.

AND THE OTHER IDEAS RELATE TO THE PARK SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

THE FIRST SURVEY WENT LIVE DURING THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS OF 2020, WHICH WAS A, UH, CAR DRIVE-THROUGH EVENT.

THE QUESTIONS ASKED WERE ABOUT WHAT ACTIVITIES PEOPLE ENJOY THE MOST IN SILKA, WHICH PREVENTS THEM FROM VISITING AND DESIRED AMENITIES.

THIS HELPED OUR TEAM GET A REALLY GOOD BASELINE OF CONDITIONS AT THE START OF THE PROJECT.

DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS, WE UTILIZE THE FEEDBACK WE'RE GETTING FROM THE ENGAGEMENT TOWARD THE DESIGN.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS A SNAPSHOT OF THOSE WHO ARE PROVIDING DESIGN DIRECTION FROM THE BROADER COMMUNITY TO THE CITY DEPARTMENTS.

NEXT SLIDE, THIS NEXT SERIES OF SLIDES IS SHOWN TO ILLUSTRATE HOW WE'RE UTILIZING THE INPUT FOR THE DESIGN.

WE'VE SELECTED A FEW OF THE ELEMENTS UNDER CONSIDERATION IN THE THREE CONCEPTS.

AND, UM, YOU'LL GET THE IMPRESSION OVER THIS NEXT SERIES THAT IT'S, THERE'S NOT A CLEAR ANSWER.

THERE'S A LOT OF DATA ANALYSIS TO DO, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED THAT TIME UNTIL THE FALL FOR THE FIFTH MEETING.

SO FOR BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, THE THREE CONCEPT SHOW DIFFERENT ROAD SECTIONS, NO PARKING PARALLEL PARKING LANE REDUCTIONS.

SO ON, THERE IS FEEDBACK FROM THE SURVEY RELATED TO THIS ELEMENT, AND IT WAS ASKED IN VARIOUS WAYS SO THAT WE COULD THINK ABOUT THE QUESTION IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

THERE WAS ALSO THE QUALITATIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE TAG PART LEADERSHIP, VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND COMMENTS LEFT IN THE SURVEY IN THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS.

SO WITH ALL OF THIS INFORMATION, OUR INTERPRETATION OF THE VARIOUS DATA POINTS, THE PLAN, WE'LL EXPLORE TWO LANES OF TRAVEL WITH PARALLEL PARKING.

AS WE GET INTO THE MORE DETAILED LEVEL OF DESIGN, WHICH IS WHAT WE'LL BE DOING OVER THE SUMMER.

WE MAY FIND THAT THIS DOES OR DOESN'T WORK ALONG THE ENTIRETY OF BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, BUT THIS GIVES US A STARTING POINT BASED ON COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.

THE SURVEY DATA HERE TELLS US THAT THERE ARE SUPPORT FOR EXPLORING MULTIPLE OPTIONS FOR STRATFORD.

THIS EXAMPLE IS ABOUT THE BARTON SPRINGS ROAD CROSSING ALL FOUR OPTIONS SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE RANKED SOMEWHAT EQUALLY, BUT WE HAVE CROSS-REFERENCE THAT WITH THE COMMENTS FROM THE MULTIPLE SURVEYS, NOT JUST THE LATEST, SO YOU CAN SEE IT LEFT.

WE GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE FIRST SURVEY.

IN ADDITION TO LOOKING AT SURVEY COMMENTS FROM NUMBER FIVE, AND ALONG WITH CONVERSATIONS WITH PARTY LEADERSHIP, THIS WILL NEXT LINE INFORM US WHERE WE TAKE THIS ELEMENT POTENTIALLY IS THAT OTHER FACTORS TO HELP DECIDE DIRECTION, OUR COST EVALUATION AND PHASING CONSIDERATIONS.

AGAIN, ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'LL BE DOING THIS SUMMER, NEXT SLIDE REGARDING STRAP FOR DRIVE.

THAT'S THE ROAD THAT HUGS THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.

WE ASKED PEOPLE WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT REALIGNING THE DRIVE ALONG MODE PACK, OR KEEPING IT IN ITS CURRENT ALIGNMENT AND FUNCTION OF CARRYING CARS.

NEXT ONE,

[02:35:01]

SO THE TEAM WILL BE GETTING MORE INTO THE DETAILS ALONG WITH THIS PARTICULAR ELEMENT, TO UNDERSTAND FURTHER IMPLICATIONS OF EACH ALTERNATIVE.

NEXT SLIDE REGARDING THE SPORTS FIELD LOCATIONS FROM THE OPTIONS PRESENTED IN THE THREE CONCEPTS, THERE IS SUPPORT FOR SPORTS FIELDS IN THE EDGES CONCEPT, BUT WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE VARIOUS COMMENTS WE'VE RECEIVED AS WELL.

SO AS A TEAM, WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE ISN'T A CLEAR ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION AND MANY, MANY OF THE OTHER SURVEY QUESTIONS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AND OUTLINE THE ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES FOR EACH NEXT SLIDE ON THE PROPOSED LOCATION OF THE HILLSIDE THEATER THERE'S SUPPORT FOR KEEPING IT WHERE IT IS.

IF YOU REMEMBER IN THE THREE CONCEPTS, THERE WAS A MOVE TO THE GREAT LAWN POTENTIALLY OVER BY THE LAKE AND THEN KEEPING IT WHERE IT IS.

BUT WITH THE OTHER LOCATIONS, THERE IS SOME SUPPORT FOR EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS, THE FIELDS, THE FACILITIES GROUPS THAT WE SPOKE WITH AT WORK IN THE PARK.

WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION.

SO WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF ENGAGEMENT ON THIS ONE, THE DESIGN TEAM WILL SHOW THE OPTIONS IN GREATER DETAIL WITH MORE INFORMATION AROUND THE ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES FOR EACH LOCATION, INCLUDING WHERE IT'S CURRENTLY LOCATED.

SO I TRIED TO GO AS QUICK AS I COULD.

I WENT OVER A LOT OF INFORMATION.

UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING AND WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU FOR EXPEDITING IT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SO I'LL JUST GO AROUND AND SEE WHO HAS QUESTIONS.

AND, UM, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, UM, REMEMBER HAGMAN.

UM, THANK YOU.

UM, GREAT PRESENTATION ON THE, ON THE LANES THROUGH THE, THE IDEA OF TWO LANES THROUGH THE PARK.

IS THERE, HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ON, UM, DOING SORT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, TUNNELING INTO THE ROAD SO THAT THE ROAD WOULD BE LOWER THAN THE, THE ACTUAL PARK AND YOU'D HAVE BIKE LANES AT THE PARK LEVEL AND THE, YOU KNOW, SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING BIKES RIGHT NEXT TO THE AUTOMOBILES, RIGHT? THE ONLY THING I D WE ARE TRYING TO FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUT YOU GO AHEAD AND ASK THE QUESTION, BUT WE'RE, I THINK, OH, BUT THAT'S OKAY, GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD.

AND IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER REAL QUICK, THAT'S FINE.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DISCUSSED VERY EARLY ON WAS, UM, PUTTING ALL OF THE IDEAS ON THE TABLE AND ULTIMATELY WHAT SHOOK OUT WAS THOSE THAT WE FELT HAD, UM, MORE REALITY TO THEM.

NOW, IF WE HEARD THAT IDEA, UM, COMING FROM OUR DIFFERENT POINTS OF ENGAGEMENT, THE COMMUNITY, AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ON THIS ONE AS A BIG STAKEHOLDER, UM, WE WOULD THINK ABOUT REINVESTIGATING THAT, BUT AS FAR AS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, THAT IDEA IS NOT WHERE WE ARE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO.

AND DEFINITELY READ THROUGH BOTH THE PLAN, THE MEMO, THE SEVERAL MEMOS FROM THE, THE GROUPS THAT PRESENTED HERE TONIGHT.

UH, REMEMBER, UM, COTTON SEIBEL.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I GUESS MY ONLY QUESTION WOULD BE NOW THAT WE'VE, WE'VE JUST HAD THE REWILDING PRESENTATION AND I'M WONDERING WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT YOU GUYS COULD COMMUNICATE WITH THEM AND SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT SOME OF THOSE IDEAS, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OF THAT PRESENTED.

I WAS AT ALL OF THE MEETINGS THAT WERE ONLINE AND I ATTENDED A POP-UP AND I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OF THAT PRESENTED.

AND I ALSO DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE ZILKER, THE, UM, UH, OH, IT'S BLANKING ON ME THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, AS IT GETS SO LATE.

SO THE CAFE ZILKER CAFE.

SO I, I, A LOT OF THE THINGS DIDN'T COME UP IN THIS PROCESS, BUT THEY DO SEEM RELATED.

SO I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW YOU GUYS ARE COORDINATING ALL THAT.

AM I CLEAR ON MY QUESTION? YES, I THINK SO REGARDING THE CUP FOR ZILKER CAFE.

SO WE'RE AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL FOR THE MASTER PLAN AND THE ZILKER CAFE CUP IS, IS A VERY, UM, DISCREET ISSUE.

AND THAT, THAT IS AN ENTIRELY SEPARATE PROCESS.

OUR NEXT PHASE, OUR NEXT MEETING, THIS WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, WE HAVE STARTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT FOOD AND BEVERAGE, AND IF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE THAT IN THE PARK.

SO WE ARE WORKING OUR WAY TOWARDS THAT QUESTION ABOUT ALCOHOL, BUT FOR WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW, WE JUST WEREN'T THERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CUP PROCESS WAS GOING ON.

I THINK WE WERE MEETING TWO AND WE WERE STILL PRETTY HIGH LEVEL, UM, REGARDING THE REWILDING, UM, AND THE IDEAS THERE.

WE HAVE BEEN IN RECEIPT

[02:40:01]

AND WE ARE, HAVE JONATHAN OGRIN, UM, WITH SIGLO WHO IS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT.

SO WE'RE NOT ABSENT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT ON OUR TEAM.

WE HAVE THAT IN HOUSE.

UM, BUT WE ARE TAKING THE REWILDING COMMENTS ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER GREAT COMMENTS THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE COMMUNITY INTO CONSIDERATION.

OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM SUCH AS THE LIFEGUARDS, SUCH AS THE JOBS THAT'S AVAILABLE.

UM, BOARD MEMBER MORE, THANKS.

GOING BACK TO THE EQUITY INCLUSION TOPIC, UM, AND THE GROUP THAT PRESENTED PREVIOUSLY THAT HAD THE SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW THAT PROCESS COULD BE ENHANCED.

HOW DO Y'ALL FEEL ABOUT THAT? DID YOU LOOK AT ANY OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND HAVE ANY IDEAS TO WHETHER THEY WERE USED DURING THIS PROCESS OR NOT? UM, MAYBE JUST SPEAK TO THOSE GENERALLY, IF YOU COULD, I'LL SPEAK GENERALLY.

I DON'T HAVE THAT LIST IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW.

UM, BUT AS WE PRESENTED ON ONE OF THE SLIDES, THE DEI ASPECT OF THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN VERY, UM, PROMINENT AND ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS, UM, WE EVEN HAVE A DEI CONSULTANT ON OUR TEAM.

UM, AND ALONG WITH PARDES FANTASTIC STAFF, UM, I DON'T KNOW, GREG, IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO SOME OF THE ENGAGEMENT THAT YOUR, THE CITY STAFF IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND AS A CONSULTANT, WE'RE ONLY SCOPED TO DO SO MUCH.

SO YES.

SO OUR EFFORTS WITH OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UNIT WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR PLANNING STAFF HAS, AS THE PRESENTATION LAID OUT, UM, TARGETED SPECIFIC, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICTS IN ZIP CODES WHERE WE KNEW COMMUNITY OF COLORS, UH, RESIDENTS LIVED IN AND RESIDED.

AND SO WE WENT TO THOSE AND, AND I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT WHEN OUR STAFF GOES OUT TO A POP-UP, IT IT'S NOT ABOUT NOT US COLLECTING DATA.

WE, WE HEARD WHAT FOLKS WANTED AND WE HAD PAPER SURVEYS AND WE HAD IPADS THERE SO THAT PEOPLE COULD TAKE THE SURVEY.

AND IN THOSE SURVEYS, THEY WERE ABLE TO LEAVE COMMENTS.

SO THE WAY WE HANDLE THAT WAS YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, COME TO OUR TABLE, WE'RE THERE, WE CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS, WE HAD MAPS.

WE COULD INFORM YOU, IT, IT WAS ABOUT BRINGING AWARENESS TO OUR, OUR PROCESS BECAUSE WE WERE GOING OUT TO THOSE ZIP CODES AND DISTRICTS.

AND SO WE WERE BRINGING AWARENESS.

AND WHEN WE HAD THEM THERE, WE HAD THOSE, UH, MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

AND SO WE HAD THEM ABLE TO DO IT ON AN IPAD OR CELL PHONE OR A PAPER.

AND THEN IF THEY'D LEFT IT WITH US AS THIS PAPER SURVEY, THEN WE ENTERED THAT DATA.

UM, IN TERMS OF OUR STAFF GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND, IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY FOR US BECAUSE WE REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO WORK OUT THERE IN NEIGHBORHOODS, CLAUDIA.

I SPOKE ABOUT SOME OF THE, UH, WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE WITH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UNIT IN REACHING OUT TO CERTAIN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

WE ARE, WE'RE NOT DONE, WE'RE NOT STOPPING THAT.

SO THAT'S EVOLVING.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ON THE FLY DURING THIS PROCESS, WE REALIZED AS A STAFF AND A DEPARTMENT THAT WE NEEDED TO DO.

AND SO WE WERE JUST SUPPLEMENTING WHAT WE HAD ALREADY SCOPED IN THE PLAN.

I MEAN, THE SCOPE FOR THIS PLAN, UM, I MEAN, IF THE, THEY WOULD ASSOCIATION WANTS TO ASSIST WITH THAT, UM, UM, THEY CAN CERTAINLY ASSIST IN DOING THAT WITHIN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND ZIP CODE AND MAKING AWARENESS OF THOSE VISION PLANNING.

I KNOW WHEN WE WERE AT THE POP-UPS, THEY HAD SOME TABLES AND THIS WAS SPECIFICALLY THE SOS GROUP THAT HAD TABLES NEXT TO OURS.

AND WE WERE AT THE POOL BRINGING AWARENESS OF THEIR, THEIR WORK, AND THEN SAYING, HEY, SOAKER PLANNING, STAFF AND CONSULTANT TEAM ARE HERE.

YOU SHOULD GO AND TALK TO THEM AS WELL.

SO THAT'S WHERE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND CONVERSATIONS WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO CULTIVATE AND MAKE AWARENESS OF OUR PLANNING EFFORTS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, I MAY SAY THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BEING HERE.

THAT WAS FROM OUR SMALL GROUP, THE BOYS GIRLS CLUB, THEY ARE IN HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THEY ARE IN THE COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S THE TARGET MARKET.

AND NOT ONLY ARE WE JUST SEEKING INFORMATION FOR THE ZILKER PLAN, BUT WE'RE CONNECTING TO THEM TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEIR PROGRAMS AS WELL.

AND THEREFORE WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, GIVING INFORMATION, SHARING INFORMATION, AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE AWARE

[02:45:01]

SO WHEN WE GO OUT AND WHEN WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS, WE TALK OF COURSE FOR WHAT OUR PURPOSE IS, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN YOUR FAMILIES AS WELL THAT WE CAN DO WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION? JUST TO REMEMBER MORE, JUST REAL QUICKLY TO ADD TO THE SURVEY DATA THAT WE'RE COLLECTING.

THE RAW DATA IS ON OUR PROJECT WEBSITE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.

AND IN LOOKING AT THAT RAW DATA, YOU WILL SEE THAT.

UM, I THINK ONE OF THE LAST TIMES I LOOKED SURVEY TWO FOR INSTANCE, HAD LIKE OVER 800 PARTICIPANTS AND THERE WERE ALMOST 250, UH, PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT HAVE COMMENTS.

SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR WORK IS, IS EVOLVING, BUT WE'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD.

AND THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UNIT, WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE THAT WORK.

UM, BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK.

MAY I ASK ONE QUICK QUESTION.

I THOUGHT OF AFTER, UH, ONE THING THAT I THINK WAS CONFUSING TO SOME PEOPLE, AND I WONDER IF YOU'VE RETHOUGHT THAT, OR IF YOU'VE REWORKED, IT IS THE WAY THAT THE THREE PLANS, AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU ARE ATTEMPTING IN THIS LAST MEETING TO MAYBE CLARIFY THAT, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE, UM, THAT WAS SORT OF LIMITING FOR PEOPLE.

LIKE IT WAS HARD IN SOME OF THE, IN SOME OF THE SURVEY QUESTIONS, IT WAS SORT OF HARD TO DETERMINE, CAN I PICK THIS ONE AND THIS ONE? AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF, AS IT COMES TO THE LAST MEETING, THERE WILL BE SOME RECONFIGURING OF THAT, OR IF YOU'RE STICKING WITH THOSE THREE PLANS.

SO THE INTENT WITH THE MEETING NUMBER FOUR WAS TO PRESENT THE THREE CONCEPTS, WHICH WE, AND I, WE SAID THIS IN THE MEETING, WE WEREN'T ASKING PEOPLE TO PICK ONE OF THE PLANS AND THAT WAS THE WINNER.

AND WE'RE GOING WITH THAT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF IDEAS THAT COULD BE MIXED AND MATCHED.

AND SO THE, UM, THE PLAN AND THE MEETING IN THE FALL WE'LL HAVE A PLAN THAT PULLS THOSE IDEAS TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING WITH THROUGH, WITH THE ANALYSIS PIECE NOW.

UM, AND THERE WILL BE SOME IDEAS, LIKE I MENTIONED, THE HILLSIDE THEATER WHERE WE MAY HAVE SOME ILLUSTRATIONS SHOWING HERE'S WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE IN MORE DETAIL.

SO PEOPLE HAVE MORE INFORMATION TO THEN THINK ABOUT AND LEAVE COMMENTS AND THEIR FEEDBACK.

WE'RE MOVING RINALDI.

NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK THE SAME THING THAT BOARD MEMBER CAUGHT HIM SEIBEL ASKED ABOUT THE, UM, UM, ABOUT THE, UM, THE THREE CONCEPTS I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE, HOW DO YOU LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY DON'T JUST HAVE TO PICK ONE OF THE THREE? UM, I THINK EVEN IF YOU TELL THEM OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE SEE THREE CHOICES AND INSTINCTIVELY, THEY THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO PICK ONE.

SO, UM, SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.

REMEMBER, UH, THE CARLA, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION ABOUT THE, UM, THE POP-UPS AND, AND POINTING PEOPLE TO TAKE THE ONLINE SURVEY OR THE PAPER SURVEY.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.

UM, ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD ON THE POP-UPS IS, UH, WAS THERE LIKE A PROCEDURE IN PLACE FOR STAFF WHO WERE WORKING THOSE EVENTS TO, UM, TO RELAY ANY INFORMATION THAT THEY GATHERED FROM PEOPLE TAKING THE SURVEYS, LIKE THINGS THAT WERE QUESTIONS THAT WERE CONFUSING, THAT THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND TO REALLY THAT BACK TO PART STAFF.

WHEN WE HAD PAPER COPIES, UM, MOST OF THE TIME THEY SAT THERE AND DID THOSE, UM, IF THEY WERE QUESTIONS AND THEY NEEDED CLARIFICATION ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS, WE WERE THERE TO ASSIST THEM.

UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE, UM, TOOK IT VIA THEIR CELL PHONE BECAUSE WE HAD QR CODES FOR CONVENIENT.

UH, WE HAD IPADS AS WELL.

SO IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS, STAFF WAS THERE AND SOMETIMES THE CONSULTANT, BECAUSE THEY WERE THERE AS WELL DURING THE EARLY POP-UPS.

SO WE WERE THERE AS RESOURCES.

UM, AND I DON'T RECALL THAT MANY PEOPLE HAD MANY QUESTIONS, BUT I MEAN, WE WERE THERE AS A RESOURCE.

SHOULD THEY HAVE ANY, OKAY.

YOU KNOW, AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE SURVEYS, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS, BUT SOMETIMES I JUST WONDER IF THERE'S A PROPER, ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROPOSED ROAD CHANGES.

THAT'S A WONDERFUL TO HEAR.

UM, I WAS HOPING TO GET INFORMATION AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING Y'ALL CAN SEND TO US ABOUT, UM, THE DIFFERENCE IN NUMBERS BETWEEN ALL THE DIFFERENT SURVEYS, UM, RELATED TO ZIP CODE.

SO WE COULD SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW MANY PEOPLE FROM EACH SHIP CODE ANSWERED, UH, IN SURVEY FOUR, AND THEN GO INTO SURVEY FIVE.

UM, I TRIED TO GET THE WORD OUT, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY DIFFERENCE IN, IN, IN MY AREAS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

UM, AND THEN,

[02:50:02]

UM, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OBVIOUSLY AWARE WHERE BARTON SPRINGS IS, BUT DON'T REALLY KNOW THE NAMES OF THE ROADS THAT ARE OFF SHOOTING FROM BARTON SPRINGS, LIKE STRATFORD LANE.

UM, AND SO I GUESS I'M WONDERING IF MORE INFORMATION CAN BE GIVEN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT IS LOCATED.

UM, FOR INSTANCE, IF I WERE TO, UM, MEET UP WITH A FRIEND AT ZILKER PARK AND I SAID, LET'S MEET UP AND PARK ALONG STRATFORD LANE.

I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW, MIGHT SAY WHERE'S THAT.

AND I WOULD SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE ROAD, UM, WHERE THE AUSTIN NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER IS AND WHERE THAT HUGE GRAVEL PARKING LOT PARKING LOT IS.

AND THE, AND THEN THEY'D SAY, OH YEAH, YEAH, I KNOW WHERE THAT IS.

UM, BECAUSE THE PROPOSED CHANGES ALL ARE MAKING, YOU KNOW, MOVING A ROAD AROUND.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO, TO THROW THAT OUT THERE, JUST MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A EXACT UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE PROPOSED CHANGES.

SO I JUST WANT IT TO ADD TO YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION ABOUT THE SURVEY DATA AND HOW IT WAS BROKEN OUT IN TERMS OF, UM, ZIP CODES, THE RAW DATA THAT WE HAVE ON OUR PROJECT WEBSITE, UM, JUST SHOWS THAT, SO NOT ONLY ZIP CODES, BUT ALSO THE COUNCIL DISTRICT, WHICH MIGHT BE MORE BENEFICIAL TO YOU.

IT'S UP.

I MEAN, IT'S UP TO YOU, BUT I KNOW ZIP CODES IN COUNCIL DISTRICTS KIND OF CROSS, RIGHT.

SO IF YOU'RE MORE INTERESTED IN WHO, IN YOUR DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE, YOU CAN FIND THAT ON THE WEBSITE, IT'S ALL RAW DATA THERE.

I DIDN'T YES.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND VICE-CHAIR DIPLOMA.

THROUGH WITH THE VARIOUS, HERE'S HOW WE THINK ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS WITHIN THE PARK.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION PRESENTATION.

THE PRESENTATION WAS GREAT, AND I THINK IT HELPED EXPLAIN AND PULL EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, WHERE THE DATA HELPS INFLUENCE AND THAT THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS, THAT'S MY TAKEAWAY WAS THAT WE'RE IN THIS PROCESS AND IT'S FEEDING INTO IT AND WE'RE STILL COLLECTING THE DATA.

AND I KNOW IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR A LOT OF FOLKS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SEE THE THOUGHT WHAT, THIS IS, WHAT IT IS, HOW MUCH OF REWILDING IS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT, HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE THE LAND BRIDGE? DO WE HAVE THE PARKING GARAGE? WHERE'S THE SHUTTLE GOING TO BE? AND PEOPLE WANT THOSE ANSWERS.

THEY WANT TO SEE IT, AND THEY RUN OUR SPOT.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE PLANNING PROCESS, THIS IS A REALLY STANDARD PLANNING PROCESS, BUT EXCEPT FOR BEING MORE ROBUST, SO STANDARD, AS FAR AS YOU BRINGING THESE CONCEPTS FOR PEOPLE TO RESPOND AND GET BACK TO YOU.

SO AM I CORRECT? AND THEN WE BRING IT TOGETHER AND THEN WE HAVE THAT RESPONSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, GOING TO, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I, I LOOKED AT, WHAT AM I LOOKING AT WHEN I SEE THESE ONLINE COMMUNITY SURVEYS? WHERE DO I FIND IT COUPLED IN WITH OTHER SURVEYS THAT WERE TAKEN, LIKE THE DATA THAT YOU GOT, THAT WE RECEIVE FROM POP-UPS AND THIS IS WHERE I'M GOING WITH IT.

I KNOW THERE'S THE ONE PAPA, THE ONE SERIES OF POPUPS THAT SAY, HERE'S A QR CODE, GO AND TAKE THE GAZILLION LONG SURVEY.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT WAS IT GOT, WE GOTTA BE, WE GOTTA CALL IT WHAT IT WAS FOR THAT SURVEY.

IT WAS LONG, IT WAS TEDIOUS.

AND WHEN I WENT TO THE POP-UPS, I DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE ENGAGED, BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE IT STOPPED THAT WASN'T THE END ALL BE ALL.

IT WAS IMPORTANT.

I THINK IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY HOW WE DO IT DIFFERENTLY PERSONALLY, GOING FORWARD.

BUT THEN WHEN I LOOK AT THE KITE FESTIVAL, RIGHT, WHEN WE SEE THE DOT, THEY CALL IT DEMOCRACY, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU PUT YOUR.VOTING, AND THERE YOU SEEING ALL THESE CONCEPTS THAT COME TO FLOURISH, RIGHT? THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF, AND NOW, LIKE WE'RE GETTING THE FEEDBACK ON THESE INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS.

SO THERE, I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT LIKE THERE WASN'T ANYTHING.

I MEAN, IT FEELS PRETTY ROBUST, BUT WHERE DO YOU CAPTURE THAT INFORMATION? SO YOU'VE, WE'VE GONE TO THIS LAST SERIES OF POPUPS.

YOU QUOTE, PULLED THE DATA AND WHERE DOES THAT GO? RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE, WE'RE COLLECTING IN A SHARED DOCUMENT WITH THE CITY STAFF, EVERY EMAIL COMMENT THAT WE RECEIVE, EVERY COMMENT FROM THE BOARDS, FROM ALL OF THE POP-UP SERIES THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT IS ALL COLLECTED INTO ONE DOCUMENT AND WILL BE PART OF THE VISION PLAN AS AN APPENDIX AT THE END OF THE PROJECT.

BUT THE TEAM IS REVIEWING ALL OF THESE COMMENTS AS THEY COME IN.

AND THAT PROCESS THAT WE WENT

[02:55:01]

WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AT THAT TIME.

SO IT'S, IT'S NOT AS EASY AS DO YOU LIKE ONE, TWO OR THREE, THERE'S THESE LAYERS OF DIFFERENT FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE POP-UPS FROM TAG, FROM PARTS.

SO, AND THIS GOES BACK TO THE GEOGRAPHIC NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW, THIS WHOLE EQUITY AND OUTRAGE ON WHERE WE'RE GOING.

SO IN ONE CASE, YOU CAN GO AHEAD.

AND, AND SO IF IT'S OVER AD HOC, I, YOU CAN SAY THIS IS A HAKA DATA SET, YOU KNOW, OR IF THIS IS SOMETHING IN SOUTHEAST, SOUTHEAST, BUT THERE'S OTHER, HOW DO YOU CLASSIFY? WE'RE LOOKING AT ZIP CODES AND KNOWING THAT, YES, THIS IS WHO WE'VE ENGAGED WITH.

AND RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE 7, 8, 7 0 4 HAS JUST BEATEN EVERYBODY WITH A BAT, BUT MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, IS IT LIKE, SAY WHATEVER ZILKER, HOW DOES THAT, DO WE TRACK THE ZIP CODES THAT FROM THE DATA SET THAT WE GET IN OR THAT FEEDBACK WE DO YES.

AND THAT INFORMATION, THE RAW DATA IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE, BUT THAT'S WHAT OUR TEAM IS IN THE MIDST OF RIGHT NOW WITH ANALYZING THESE DIFFERENT DATA SETS, YOU COULD PARSE IT A MILLION DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND SO, AS WE'RE GETTING INTO THE PHYSICAL PLANNING OF IT, SO THE DESIGNS THAT WE SHOWED IN FEBRUARY ARE A PART OF IT, THE PLAN THAT WE ENROLL IN THE FALL, AND THEN LATER NEXT YEAR WILL BE NOT JUST THE DESIGN, BUT ALSO THE PROGRAMS, THE POLICIES AND THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WILL MAKE THE PLAN COME TO LIFE.

AND THAT THE, THE COMMENTS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO AT THE TIME WITH THE DESIGN QUESTION THAT WE'RE ASKING, BUT THEY REALLY HAVE TO DO A LOT WITH OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE THAT WILL BE UNDER CONSIDERATION AS THE PLAN COMES TOGETHER WITH THAT.

AND SO I, AND I APPRECIATE IT.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ENGAGEMENT, WHAT'S THE GAUGE MEANT GOING FORWARD, RIGHT? AND THIS IS A REALLY GOOD AS FAR AS HOW WE GOT THIS MOMENT IN TIME AND WE SEE THE PREVIEW ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

SO IF WE CAN GET THAT, HERE'S THE ENGAGEMENT GOING FORWARD.

THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO BE ADDRESSED.

THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO, TO ACCESS.

AND THIS IS THE QUESTION QUESTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SOLVED, OR, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT THE PURPOSE, THE PURPOSE BEHIND IT, THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.

UM, AND I THINK SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR RESPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, STAKEHOLDERS.

THIS IS, THIS IS WHERE IT'S AT.

WE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD YOU OR THE DEPARTMENT'S HEARD YOU, THE CONSULTANTS HEARD YOU, WE'RE TAKING MORE INFORMATION TAKING ADDITIONAL TIME.

AND THIS IS WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS FOR TIMELINE.

AND I DON'T KNOW, IS THAT ON THE WEBSITE RIGHT NOW? SO THE SCHEDULE THAT WE SHOW, WHICH IS PRETTY GENERAL RIGHT NOW IS WHAT'S ON THE, ON THE WEBSITE, BUT WE ARE PRESENTING AT THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION NEXT WEEK.

AND WE WILL BE GOING INTO THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING IN BETWEEN WHERE WE ARE NOW AND HOW WE GET TO THE END.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND THEN GOING BACK TO MR. CANADY, WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SHEFFIELD PARK AND JUST GIVE CONTEXT, I THINK CONTEXT IS SO IMPORTANT.

UM, THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS, THEN THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS SURVEY 1, 423 SURVEY 2, 111 SURVEY 3 97.

WALT'S THREE LONG, SO MUCH LARGER BILLION DOLLAR PLAN, BASICALLY.

UM, OPEN HOUSE NUMBER ONE 50 PLUS ATTENDEES OPEN HOUSE IN RICHIE TO 65 PLUS ATTENDEES, OPEN HOUSE NUMBER 365, PLUS ATTENDEES, OPEN HOUSE NUMBER 410 PLUS A 10, B 10 DAYS.

I HAD 5,000 SURVEY RESPONSES.

HOW MANY TOTAL SURVEYS RESPONSES ARE WE AT RIGHT NOW? THAT'S A COMPLETED PROCESS BY 5,500.

AND THEN PEACE PARK, THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH AN AVERAGE TENDANCE OF 71,000 SURVEY RESPONSES.

SO THOSE SHEFFIELD'S A DISTRICT PARK WALL, THREE LONG PEACE PARK OR METROPOLITAN PARKS, JOHN TREVINO, METROPOLITAN PARK, VERY LOW.

VERY, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO SAY IT ON TV, VERY LOW, BUT A HUNDRED.

AND SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT 150 PLUS COMMUNITIES IS WHAT I'M HEARING.

SO CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING DOESN'T DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE NEED TO GET OUT THERE MORE.

I'VE BEEN ARGUING AND CRYING FOR REPRESENTATION AND AN ACCESS AND EQUITY.

AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I'M, I'M HEARTENED BY THE, A LOT OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE HAD FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS ON MAKING SURE THAT DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND BROUGHT FORWARD.

I HOPE THAT WHEN WE SEE THAT FINAL DATA SET, IT IS WEIGHTED AND I APPRECIATED THE COMMENT BECAUSE I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE WEIGHTED.

SO, UM, APPRECIATE IT.

REMEMBER FAST.

I'LL TRY TO DO MY BEST, BUT, UM, AS FAR AS THE, THE SURVEY, I THINK THESE ARE THE ONLINE SURVEYS.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF, UM, CLARIFICATION, CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INFORMATIONS IN THIS SLIDE.

UM, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE SLIDE NUMBERS ON THESE, SO

[03:00:02]

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

5,468 PARTICIPANTS IS, UM, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT TOOK A SURVEY.

BUT IF YOU TOOK A SURVEY FIVE TIMES, YOU'RE COUNTED FIVE TIMES IN HERE.

SO ISN'T UNIQUE SURVEY TAKERS, I GUESS IS ANOTHER WAY TO SAY IT.

UM, WE DON'T HAVE JUSTIN SCHNEIDER HERE TONIGHT WHO, YOU KNOW, HE'S INTO THE MECHANICS OF THE SURVEY ITSELF.

SO I, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

SO YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 5,000, 468 DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE SURVEY OR IF SOMEBODY HAS BEEN COUNTED FIVE TIMES, CAUSE THEY TOOK ALL FIVE SURVEYS.

I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE.

THERE'S DIFFERENT METHODS WITH THE SURVEYS, BUT WE CAN'T SAY WE CAN'T HAVE ONE SURVEY TAKER PER URL THAT WOULD THEN ELIMINATE FAMILIES TAKING THE SURVEY.

SO IF YOU HAD KIDS IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE THE SAME COMPUTER.

I'M JUST ASKING IF YOU KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER MEANS.

SO, BUT WE NEED TO TALK TO JUSTIN'S WHAT YOU YOU'RE IN.

AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP, WE'VE BEEN TAKING NOTES ON SOME OF THESE OTHER CLARIFYING.

SO LIKE LIKEWISE, UM, IT SAYS COM ANOTHER SIMILAR QUESTION AS LIKE COMPUTER COMMUNITY SURVEY, NUMBER FIVE IS 708 PARTICIPANTS, AN 858 COMMENTS.

SO THAT IF SOMEBODY LEAVES A COMMENT TO ME THAT INDICATES LIKE THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC, UM, OR THAT QUESTION SOMETHING RESONATED WITH THEM OR THEY WANTED TO RESPOND.

AND SO IS THAT THE SAME KIND OF QUIT? DO YOU KNOW? IS THAT LIKE 858 DIFFERENT PEOPLE LEFT A COMMENT? OR IS IT THAT 400 PEOPLE LEFT? YOU KNOW, TWO COMMENTS EACH IT COULD BE EITHER, BUT OKAY.

I CAN GET YOU THAT MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.

IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE, UM, IS AN ON THE COMMENTS.

ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD IS LIKE, DO YOU, CAN YOU TELL US, UM, CAN YOU SEE LIKE WHAT, I MEAN, WHICH ARE THE TOPICS THAT LIKE SORT OF SPARKED PEOPLE'S INTEREST THE MOST BY THE NUMBER OF COMMENTS LEFT ABOUT THAT TOPIC? DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF LIKE, THESE ARE THE THINGS PEOPLE ARE MOST INTERESTED IN BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY QUESTIONS.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO SORT OF IDENTIFY THE YEAH.

THAT'S A CONCEPT TO FOCUS ON.

UM, AND THE VARIOUS SURVEYS HAVE HAD DIFFERENT RESPONSE RATES ON DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

UM, I WOULD SAY ON THIS LAST SURVEY, UM, AND YOU CAN KIND OF UP VOTE A COMMENT.

SO IF YOU AGREE WITH IT WITHOUT HAVING TO RE-TYPE THE EXACT SAME SENTIMENT, YOU COULD JUST KIND OF LIKE IT.

UM, AND WE SAW A BIG UPTAKE OF, UM, PEOPLE INTERESTED IN SPACES FOR DOGS AND, AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE DON'T GO AWAY IN ZILKER.

UM, THE, THE RUGBY FIELD WAS ONE WHERE, UM, THERE WAS ONE OF THE CONCEPTS THAT, UM, TAKES OVER THE RUGBY FIELD WITH SOME DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING.

AND THERE WAS COMMENTS ABOUT DON'T TAKE AWAY THE RUGBY FIELD.

THAT'S JUST A SMALL SAMPLING.

THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT, YOU KNOW, OVER 800 COMMENTS ON JUST THIS ONE LAST SURVEY.

UM, BUT YOU DO SEE TRENDS ON CERTAIN THINGS.

AND THEN WITHIN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU GAVE US SOME EXAMPLES OF COMMENTS ON YOUR INPUT TO DESIGN SLIDES.

I THINK LIKE, I DON'T KNOW THIS FIRST ONE'S COMMUNITY SURVEY, NUMBER FIVE COMMENTS, AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO BULLETED POINTED COMMENTS.

AND HOW ARE THOSE CHOSEN WHERE THEY, UM, CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY'RE REPRESENTATIVE OF A LOT OF COMMENTS THAT WERE RECEIVED OR ARE THEY JUST INDIVIDUAL EXAMPLES, LIKE POSSIBLY ONE PERSON OUT OF 800 HAD THIS THOUGHT THESE WERE CHOSEN TO SHOW THE DIFFERENT IDEAS ON ONE, SAYS TERROR PARALLEL.

PARKING'S A TERRIBLE IDEA.

THE OTHER PERSON IS SAYING IT WOULD ACTUALLY HELP TO SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN.

SO IN THIS INSTANCE, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION WAS JUST TO SHOW THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF COMMENTS THAT WE'RE GETTING.

SO YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO INDICATE THAT THESE ARE, UM, COMMON COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC.

IT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF ONE PERSON'S COMMENT, RIGHT? THE LAYERS OF COMMENTS.

SO, UM, I WANTED TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WEIGHTING OF THE DATA.

UM, WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY WAITING THE SURVEY DATA.

UM, ARE YOU DOING THAT? DO YOU HAVE ANY WAITING FORMULAS YOU'RE USING? I NEED TO DO MORE RESEARCH INTO THAT.

THERE'S A WHOLE INDUSTRY AND A SPECIALTY SUBS CONSULTANT THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY NEED TO BE BROUGHT ON

[03:05:01]

TO DO THAT WORK.

IT'S VERY, VERY SENSITIVE WITH THE DATA, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

UM, SO I DON'T EVEN WANT TO VENTURE TO, TO TALK ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD BE DONE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT, IT WOULD, IT'S JUST VERY SENSITIVE.

UM, WE DID INVESTIGATE BRINGING ON A STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY CONSULTANT, UM, REALLY OUT OF BUDGET WITH THE PROVIDED SCOPE AND BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.

UM, BUT THAT IS ALWAYS, UM, UH, AN AVENUE THAT COULD BE PURSUED.

UM, BUT IT'S IN THE REALM FOR A CITY, THE SIZE OF AUSTIN, ABOUT $30,000 TO DO A STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY.

UM, SO IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT NEED IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ANOTHER CONTRACTOR.

SO WE MIGHT NEED TO LOOK AT ASKING FOR MORE MONEY FOR THAT, OR IN SOME TIME TO BRING IN ANOTHER CONSULTANT POSSIBLY.

UM, AND THEN I WANTED TO, UM, I'M SORRY, CLAUDIA.

I DID NOT GET YOUR LAST NAME.

COULD YOU TELL ME IT'S CONNOR, CLAUDIA CONNOR.

WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR DESCRIPTION OF THE, UM, THE SMALL GROUP MEETINGS.

I APPRECIATED HEARING ABOUT THAT.

AND, UM, THAT WAS ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD, SORRY, JUST ON CLARIFICATION.

CAUSE WE'VE USED THE WORD POP-UP AND WE'VE USED THE WORD SMALL GROUP MEETING AND THOSE ARE, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, AND YOU HAD, YOU HOSTED A LOT OF SMALL GROUP MEETINGS WITH VARIOUS, UM, COMMUNITY GROUPS.

I IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

AND THEN I DON'T KNOW SOMEONE, I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS YOU HOSTED SMALL GROUP MEETINGS WITH, UM, LIKE YOU HAD SOMETHING ON OUR TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP.

DO YOU CALL THAT? WHAT DO YOU, WHAT IS THAT CALLED? UM, WELL, SMALL GROUPS OR GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS THAT COME TO THE TABLE TO SHARE ON THEIR OWN, FOR INSTANCE, ON THE WEBSITE THERE UNDER THE EQUITY INCLUSION, THERE'S SMALL GROUPS WHERE ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE AND THEN WE DO TARGETED MARKETING, NOT MARKETING.

I'M SORRY, THAT'S SORT OF A BACKGROUND, UM, OUTREACH, FOR INSTANCE, TO, AS I MENTIONED, THE BLACK WOMEN WHO KAYAK, GOING TO THEM, DOING THE RESEARCH AND LOCATING THOSE INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER THEY'RE ENTREPRENEURS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, OR RESIDENTS.

AND WE'VE TOUCHED IN EVERY AREA THAT I JUST MENTIONED.

SO WITH THE SMALL GROUPS, WE BRING THE CONVERSATIONS FORWARD WITH COVID, THEY'VE BEEN ONLINE BY GOOGLE OR BY ZOOM AND THE OTHER OUTREACH COMPONENT REFERRING TO THE POP-UPS, WHICH IS RELATIVELY NEW TO ME AS FAR AS COMMUNITY, BUT EVERYTHING DOES CHANGE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO FOR INSTANCE, WE HAD POP-UPS AT THE CARVING MUSEUM WHEN THEY HAD EVENTS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, FOR INSTANCE, THEY HAD A BLOCK, A BLOCK PARTY.

AND SO WE HAD A TABLE AT THE BLOCK PARTY.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THE HARD COPY SURVEYS AND OF COURSE GIVE THE CODE SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY TAKE IT AT THAT TIME.

OR THEY CAN TAKE IT AT ANY TIME.

WE, UM, PROACTIVELY WENT INTO SOUTH AUSTIN AT THE LIBRARY TO GATHER INFORMATION.

SO WE'VE BEEN THAT'S WHAT A POP-UP WE POP UP THE POP-UP IS THE TABLING EVENTS WHERE THEY CAN TAKE THE SURVEY.

THE SMALL GROUP MEETING IS LIKE A DISCUSSION.

TAKE THE SURVEY AT ANY TIME, JUST REAL QUICKLY TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE TAG.

THE TAG IS A TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP MADE UP OF CITY DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER ENTITIES LIKE CAP METRO STATE .

THOSE GROUPS ARE, UM, UH, REPRESENTATIVE OF MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN UMBRELLA.

AND THOSE MEETINGS, UM, ARE HOSTED VIA ZOOM AND THOSE MEETINGS ARE ALL ON THE PROJECT WEBSITE.

AND THOSE ARE CONSIDERED STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.

CAN YOU JUST DESCRIBE THAT, THAT PROCESS, LIKE THE STORIES THAT CLAUDIA IS HEARING AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT SHE'S HAVING, YOU KNOW, IS THAT INFORMATION, FIRST OF ALL, AVAILABLE TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND, OR MAYBE THERE'S REASONS WHY IT'S NOT, BUT HOW IS IT, HOW IS IT INCORPORATED IN YOUR INPUT TO DESIGN? BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT WHERE A LOT OF, UM, CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING, WHERE WE WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE GETTING THAT INFORMATION.

THAT'S ALL VERY HELPFUL.

SO, CAUSE I'M TRYING TO DETERMINE LIKE, SORT OF ON THESE EXAMPLES YOU GAVE US FROM INPUT TO DESIGN.

UM, I SEE INFORMATION ABOUT SURVEY RESULTS, RANKED A ON THE TOP FIVE ELEMENT QUESTION FROM A STITCH AS AN EXAMPLE.

SO I SEE SURVEY RESULTS.

I SEE TAG MEETINGS AND I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND HOW THE SMALL GROUP INFORMATION IS REALLY BEING INCORPORATED IN THIS INPUT TO DESIGN.

UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE,

[03:10:01]

YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL OF THE REASONS WHY THOSE ARE SO IMPORTANT.

RIGHT? SO, UM, WE ONLY HAD SO MUCH ROOM ON THESE SLIDES, THE SMALL GROUP COMMENTS.

WE HAVE EXTENSIVE MEETING NOTES FROM EACH ONE OF THOSE, AND WE'RE CHEATING THOSE AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY COMMENTS.

SO BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT, UH, UH, W CHECK 1, 2, 3 CHECK, YES OR NO, IT'S IT'S DIALOGUE, IT'S STORYTELLING.

AND SOMETIMES THOSE COMMENTS ALIGN WITH SOME OF THE OTHER COMMENTS OR THINGS WE'VE SEEN FROM THE SURVEYS AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE NEW IDEAS.

UM, HMM.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT THAT PART OF IT IS, UM, MORE ART THAN SCIENCE INCORPORATING.

UH IT'S I THINK IT MAKES IT HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND AND MAKE SURE THAT WHAT'S, UM, WHAT'S BEING SAID IS BEING INCORPORATED.

UM, SO I MEAN, I GUESS WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT, WELL, OH, ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD IS AS FAR AS THE SMALL GROUPS, LIKE THE THREE, THE THREE PLANS, I THINK THAT CAME OUT IN MAYBE FEBRUARY AND THEN THERE WAS COMMUNITY SURVEY FIVE.

AND SO WHAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A, QUITE A LONG LIST OF MEETINGS AND I'M SURE YOU CAN'T RECREATE ALL THOSE, BUT IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE, UM, IT WOULD BE REALLY VALUABLE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE, UM, EVALUATION OF LIKE THE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS.

CAUSE A LOT OF THE MEETINGS SEEM LIKE THEY TOOK PLACE A LOT EARLIER IN THE PROCESS.

IS THERE, IS THERE ANY PLANS GOING FORWARD TO REVISIT THE SMALL GROUPS? WELL, THOSE ARE ONGOING, LIKE GREG AND CLAUDIA MENTIONED.

SO WE'VE GOT, WHAT DID YOU SAY? YOU'VE GOT URBAN, YEAH, THE URBAN LEAGUE, THE AUSTIN AREA, URBAN LEAGUE.

WE'RE IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SMALL GROUPS.

RIGHT? SO OUR, OUR MEETINGS HAVEN'T STOPPED AND WE'LL CONTINUE AS THE DESIGN TEAM IS GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE DATA.

WE'RE, WE'RE STILL RECEIVING EMAILS WITH COMMENTS.

I GOT ONE OR TWO TODAY.

UM, WE ARE GEARING UP.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO COLLECT DATA, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO THEY PLAN THAT WILL HAPPEN SOMETIME IN THE FALL.

SO THAT INCLUDES COST ESTIMATION AND PHASING STRATEGY AND OUTLINING IN NARRATIVE FORM IN ADDITION TO THE DESIGN, HOW TO MAKE THE PLAN COME TO LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.

UM, I'LL MOVE ON.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE POINT, I HOPE AT THE VERY END, IF WE HAVE A MINUTE, WE CAN LET JONATHAN, OGRIN GIVE HIS DEFINITION OF ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT AND IT RELATES TO THE SURVEY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT AND THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES ABOUT IF PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND IT IN THE SURVEY.

UM, AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU ALL ARE DOING.

I ALSO APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM THE EARLIER GROUP.

I THINK EVERYONE'S TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH, UH, A REALLY HARD PROBLEM.

UM, IT'S COMPOUNDED BY COVID, BUT IT'S ALSO, UH, A PROBLEM THAT AUSTIN'S HAD FOR A LONG TIME AND WE NEED TO NEED TO BE, UM, DEALING WITH IT FACE FIRST.

AND I KNOW FOR MY OWN SELF, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, WELL, 7, 8, 7 0 4 IS, YOU KNOW, IN ALL THESE, UM, SURVEY RESULTS.

AND IT'S LIKE, RIGHT, HOW DO I DEAL WITH THAT? DO I POST THIS TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP OR NOT? LIKE WE WANT PEOPLE WHEN, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT AND YOU WANT INPUT, BUT, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK SOME OF THE IDEAS ABOUT HIRING THE CONSULTANTS THAT ARE REALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT REALLY KNOW I'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.

AND IF WE NEED TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY OR DO SOME FUNDRAISING TO, WITH, TO SOME OTHER ENTITIES, I'D BE HAPPY TO HELP WITH THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S RIGHT.

THAT IF WE NEED TO TAKE A BREAK AND GET THIS RIGHT, WE SHOULD DO THAT.

AND IF WE NEED MORE RESOURCES, THEN WE SHOULD TRY TO GET THEM.

SO THANK YOU.

THEY KNEW PEOPLE WOULD BE OUT THERE BY BARKING SPRINGS AND THE POOL.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UM, I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

UM, I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD TELL ME ABOUT THE INTERCEPT SURVEYS AND HOW THEY DIFFER FROM POP-UPS AND MAYBE GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF, UH, WHEN YOU DID AN INTERCEPT SURVEY.

RIGHT? SO, UM, BOBBY FROM THE CITY STAFF, UM, COMES TO MIND AS SOMEONE WHO WAS ABLE TO GO OUT AND TAKE AN AFTERNOON.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AT ZILKER PARK.

[03:15:01]

AND SO WE TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY.

BOBBY WENT DOWN AND WALKED AROUND WITH BOTH THE QR CODE AND THE PAPER SURVEY AND ASKED PEOPLE TO TAKE THE SURVEY.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S AN INTERCEPT SURVEY.

UH, A POP-UP IS KIND OF WHERE YOU HA YOU HAVE A TABLE SET UP AND YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO COME AND SEE WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

BUT AN INTERCEPT SURVEY IS COMING RIGHT TO THE PERSON.

AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON'T WANT TO BE BOTHERED, BUT SOMETIMES THEY'RE HAPPY TO TAKE THE SURVEY.

SO IT'S, UM, MORE OF, UM, GOING TO THAT PERSON INDIVIDUALLY.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO, UM, PARKS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, UM, FROM WHICH YOU'RE NOT REALLY GETTING A LOT OF RESPONSES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, UNDERREPRESENTED AREAS.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

YEP.

AND WE PUT UP YARD SIGNS THAT TALK ABOUT THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN AND LINKED TO THE WEBSITES, UM, QR CODE FOR, UM, INFORMATION.

IF THE SURVEY IS LIVE, THEY CAN SEE THAT.

SO THOSE HAVE BEEN, THOSE HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UM, THANK YOU.

AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS, UM, I KNOW THE ONLINE SURVEY IS REALLY LONG.

UM, IF YOU GO ON AND START THE SURVEY AND THEN ABANDON IT FOR SOME REASON, ARE THOSE ANSWERS STILL RECORDED OR ARE THEY ONLY RECORDED IF YOU COMPLETE THE SURVEY IN ITS ENTIRETY, THOSE ANSWERS ARE STILL RECORDED.

SO YOU CAN SEE CERTAIN QUESTIONS, GET MORE RESPONSES TO THEM.

UM, OTHERS MIGHT SKIP IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, OR THEY WANT TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER CALL OR A QUESTION, BUT ALL OF THE ANSWERS ARE RECORDED.

I'LL MAKE THIS REAL QUICK.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

UM, I HAPPENED TO DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH PART, PART OF THE THING I DO FOR MY, IN MY BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE AND TELLING US ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE TO DO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE, ARE YOU FINISHED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH? DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU STILL HAVE SOME MORE THAT YOU CAN DO AND REPORT BACK FIRST? JUST ANSWER THAT ONE.

AND THEN I'LL FIRST QUESTION.

YES, THAT IS OUR, UH, WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT DONE WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE STILL ABOUT A YEAR OUT FROM KNOW OPTIMISTICALLY SPEAKING, THIS PLAN BEING IMPROVED.

SO, UM, WE'RE DOING OUR MEETINGS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS.

UM, THOSE WHO WANT TO PROVIDE INPUT ARE WELCOME TO EMAIL, TO, TO PROVIDE INPUT, TO SPEAK UP AUSTIN.

AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE THE, THE FIFTH MEETING, UM, WE'RE STILL, UM, GETTING INTO THE DETAILS ABOUT HOW WE WILL DO THAT.

HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE AN IN-PERSON MEETING.

WE REALLY, REALLY WOULD LOVE TO CLOSE THE PLAN OUT AND HAVING AN IN-PERSON MEETING.

UM, BUT THAT WILL ALSO BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH THE ONLINE PORTION.

WE'LL LIKELY PAIR AN ONLINE MEETING WITH AN IN-PERSON EVENT AND THEN HAVE A SURVEY OPEN.

FOLLOWING THAT, UM, ALONG WITH THE PLAN DOCUMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO READ ALL, HOWEVER MANY PAGES IT'S GOING TO BE, UM, IN DETAIL, OR JUST TAKE A LOOK AND GLANCE THROUGH IT.

BUT WE DO WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT ABILITY.

WE'LL HAVE HARD COPIES AT CITY HALL IN LIBRARIES IF, IF THEY WOULD CHOOSE TO GO AND LOOK AT A HARD OF THE PLAN.

SO STILL LOTS OF, UM, ROOM FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

WE'RE SCHEDULED TO GO BEFORE A SERIES OF EIGHT MEETINGS WHEN WE GET THERE.

SO THAT'S BASICALLY EIGHT PUBLIC HEARINGS ON, ON THE PLAN.

THAT'S A LOT OF WORK AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO SAY IT HAS TO GO ON BECAUSE WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED REALLY, UM, WITH THE SMALL GROUPS, ESPECIALLY, UM, JUST THIS WEEKEND I WAS WITH, UM, EXECUTIVE WOMEN, UM, IN TEXAS SOMETHING EWT, AND THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN THE ZILKER PAL.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT IT.

SO IN A SENSE, IT'S LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND, UM, THERE'S MORE THERE, BUT THE COLLABORATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE.

AND, UM, SO HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

THERE'S IT'S HALF IT'S STILL, IT'S CONTINUING AND WE DO HAVE SOME TIME TO, UM, MAKE THESE SMALL GROUPS TAKE PLACE.

PERSONALLY, TO DO, TO, TO GET DONE, TO, TO ADEQUATE DO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH YOU THINK YOU NEED TO DO? I MEAN, THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS INTERNALLY WITHIN OUR PART LEADERSHIP.

THAT'S THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR.

SO, UM, MY SECOND QUESTION IS, DO YOU NEED MORE MONEY

[03:20:02]

I MEAN, THEY WOULD BE THE ONES TO, TO DISCUSS THAT WITH OUR STAFF AND OUR CONSULTANT DEMON, YOU KNOW, LIKE A DECISION ON THAT.

WELL, I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU COULD JUST REPORT BACK, IF YOU DO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND A REPORT BACK TO US, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT, IF WE CAN FIND YOU MORE MONEY, LET'S FIND YOU MORE MONEY.

BUT, UH, UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

I KNOW IT'S A, IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT JOB.

UM, IT'S HARD TO DO, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE STILL SORT OF IN THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

UM, SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

THAT'S ALL.

I HAVE ONE MORE THING THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP WHILE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF MORE MONEY AND ADDING TO THE BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT AND TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT THE DATA AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU SAID $30,000.

I THINK I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE THAT MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE IF WE DEDICATE MORE MONEY TO, YOU KNOW, ENHANCING AND FURTHERING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE WAYS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN, THAT WE FOCUS IT ON ACTUAL OUTREACH AND GETTING, BRINGING MORE PEOPLE IN, RATHER THAN SPENDING MONEY ON A CONSULTANT TO COME AND LOOK AT THE DATA THAT WE'VE ALREADY COLLECTED.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE A BROADER DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS.

AND SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE ANY EXTRA RESOURCES DEVOTED DIRECTLY TO THAT INSTEAD OF WORKING FURTHER WITH, WITH WHAT WE'VE HAPPENED TO ALREADY HAVE COLLECTED.

I HAVE A COMMENT TOO.

I NOTICED THAT THE EARLIER GROUP TALKED ABOUT HAVING SOME EXPERTISE AND I WONDER IF WE COULD EVEN REACH OUT IF THERE COULD BE MAYBE SOME CROSS-POLLINATION AND DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS, THE WHAT REWILDING GROUP AND YOU GUYS TO TALK ABOUT.

IF THEY DO HAVE SOME EXPERTISE ALREADY ON THEIR TEAM THAT MIGHT AVERT AN EXTRA COST JUST TO THOUGHT WITH A PRESENTATION.

AND I CAN IT AS A BOARD MEMBER, TAYLOR ALLUDED TO, I KNOW IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING WORK IN Y'ALL HAVE CERTAINLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN AND, AND DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

I DID WANT TO BRING UP ONE POINT THAT I PROMISED PEOPLE THAT I WOULDN'T MENTION ABOUT THE SURVEY.

AND I THINK THAT, AND I'M NOT SURE WITH YOUR SURVEYS, IF YOU DO PILOTS FIRST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT ACTUALLY IS GOING TO BE THE KIND OF SURVEY THAT'S GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE AND THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO UNDERSTAND AND COMPREHEND AND WORK OUT.

BUT I HAVE, UM, I TRY I IN MY JOB, I, I MEAN, I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10, BUT I WORK IN A JOB WHERE I MEET PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE CITY.

AND I HAVE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO TAKE THE SURVEY BECAUSE I WANT AS MUCH INVOLVEMENT AS POSSIBLE.

LIKE ALL OF US DO.

AND I DID GET SOME FEEDBACK THAT PEOPLE, ONE THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WERE WORDED, UM, IN A WAY THAT THAT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND SOME OF IT.

BUT THE BIGGER CONCERN WAS THAT IT WAS JUST SO LONG.

AND I KNOW THERE WAS, YOU WERE TRYING TO GARNER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION BECAUSE SILVER PARK IS COMPLICATED AND THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT PIECES OF IT, BUT THESE PEOPLE WERE GOING WITH YEAH, YEAH.

I STARTED DOING IT.

AND BY HALFWAY THROUGH, I WAS LIKE, GET ME OUT OF HERE AND JUST PUTTING DOWN WHATEVER, JUST TO CHECK OUT.

SO I DO THINK THAT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT.

SO MAYBE WHEN YOU MOVE FORWARD, YOU CAN MAYBE TRY TO THINK ABOUT THE DESIGN AND WAYS TO MAYBE MAKE IT A LITTLE BRIEFER.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF ISSUE COME UP BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS A LONG SURVEY AND IT TOOK A CHUNK OF TIME AND PEOPLE, SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO HAVE SPENT AS MUCH TIME ON IT.

SO JARED, WE, WE ALSO, UM, HAD AN, A BRIDGE VERSION OF, I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY REFERRING TO THE THIRD SURVEY AND THAT WAS IN A GREAT VERSION OF THAT.

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE ONE THAT I WAS ENCOURAGING YOU TO, BUT IT WAS STILL A LITTLE BIT LONG, I THINK FOR, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE MORE CHALLENGING, UH, POINTS IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE WE WERE DEALING WITH SO MANY THINGS ZOCOR APPROXIMATE COMPLEX PACK.

AND SO I'M NOT ARGUING WITH YOU ABOUT THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY I SAID, I KNOW IT'S COMPLICATED, BUT I, THAT WAS WHAT THE FEEDBACK I GOT FROM COMMUNITY.

SO OF COURSE I WANTED TO SHARE IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR JOB IS TO DO THAT AS BOARD MEMBERS.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE SHARING THE LINK WITH MANY OTHERS.

UM, I KNOW BOARD MEMBER FAUST MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS HESITANT TO SEND IT OUT TO OH FOUR BECAUSE THAT'S HER DISTRICT.

THERE'S NOTHING SAYING YOU COULDN'T CROSS POLLINATE AND PROMOTE IN OTHER DISTRICTS.

I KNOW THERE'S ZIP CODES.

I MEAN, THIS IS A BOARD THAT'S, YOU KNOW, APPOINTED BY COUNCIL.

SO IT'S REALLY A METROPOLITAN PARK THAT'S USED BY EVERYBODY.

SO I THINK THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO STAY IN YOUR DISTRICT.

[03:25:01]

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE REST OF YOUR ENGAGEMENT.

HE'S STILL HERE AND WE HAVE, UM, JUST REAL QUICKLY, JONATHAN O'BRIEN.

I KNEW THAT YOU HAD PROMISED HIM AN OPPORTUNITY.

UM, I'LL GO QUICKLY.

UH, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.

ZILKER IS INCREDIBLY COMPLEX IN SO MANY WAYS, CULTURALLY, POLITICALLY ENVIRONMENTALLY, UM, TO YOUR POINT AND YOUR QUESTION, WHAT IS REWILDING VERSUS ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT.

UM, PLANTING POLLINATOR PLANTS.

I WASN'T EVEN GOING TO BRING UP THIS SLIDE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT'D BE TOO MUCH, BUT THAT SLIDES PERFECT.

UM, THESE ARE TWO DEFINITIONS THAT YOU ALL CAN LOOK AT.

UM, THE REWILDING ONE IS FROM THE REWILDING ZILKER PARK PLAN.

THE FIRST ONE IS OUR DEFINITION OF ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT.

REALLY? IT IS ABOUT BRINGING NATURAL SYSTEMS BACK WHERE THEY'VE BEEN DEGRADED, WHERE THEY'RE NOT WORKING, WHERE THEY'RE NOT TOTALLY FUNCTIONING, AND IT COULD BE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS HOW WATER GOES INTO THE GROUND.

BUILDING SOIL, CREATING PLANT COMMUNITIES, CREATING NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES, CREATING WILDLIFE HABITAT.

IT COULD BE IN A PARKING LOT.

IT COULD BE RESTORING AN ENTIRE PLANT COMMUNITY WHERE YOU HAVE A CANOPY, UNDERSTORY TREES AND A GROUND COVER.

UM, UH, AN IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS IN EACH OF THE THREE OPTIONS, WE PASS AN EXCEEDED WHAT THE REWILDING PLAN WAS SUGGESTING.

THEY SAID THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST A MINIMUM OF 75 ACRES RESTORED OR REWILDING.

WE RESTORED IN ONE OF THEM, 81.

AND I THINK THE TOP ONE WAS 91 ACRES.

UM, A LOT OF THAT IS WOODLAND.

A LOT OF THAT AREA IS RIPARIAN WOODLAND.

IT MAKES SENSE.

THERE'S ALSO UPLAND WOODLAND THROUGHOUT, UH, THREE PLACES.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT IN THE PARK THAT ARE REALLY SIGNIFICANT AND MOVING BEYOND ONE IS WHERE EVERYBODY GOES TO SWIM RIGHT BELOW THE ACTUAL POOL.

PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO GO INTO THE POOL OR DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THE POOL, GO DOWN THERE.

IT'S GETTING LOVED TO DEATH.

IT'S ALSO STORMWATER COMING DOWN.

SO IMPROVING THAT SITE, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT THAT.

THE LANDFILL WE HAVE ABOUT 17 ACRES OF LAND ON LADY BIRD LAKE.

THAT IS AN OLD LANDFILL THAT WE'RE USING AS A TEMPORARY PARKING LOT.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? AND ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE SO MUCH VALUE AND WEALTH COMING TO THIS AREA, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? AND IS THERE BETTER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO? I ALSO WANTED A COMP COMMENT AND COMPLIMENT ON MY CANADIAN BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY.

THEY WENT TO THE CITY AND SAID, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU ALL MAKE ZILKER PLANS, ZILKER VISION PLAN SUCCESSFUL.

THEY SAID, DO AN INVENTORY.

UH, WE GOT TO WORK WITH THEM TO DO THAT.

THEY WERE COLLABORATING WITH THE CITY AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION WAS HERE EARLIER.

THEY'RE DEDICATING RESOURCES TO DOING RESTORATION ACTIVE RESTORATION IN THE GREEN BELT CURRENTLY.

AND IN PARTS OF THE BOUNDS OF THIS PARK, UH, WITH TEXAS CONSERVATION CORPS.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON THAT AS WELL.

THE CONCEPTS DESCRIBED IN THE WHEAT REWILDING DESCRIPTION EARLIER, THEY'RE ALL FOUND WITHIN THE PLAN THAT IS BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY.

IT'S ON THEIR WEBSITE.

YOU ALL CAN SEE THAT.

AND THEY'VE ALSO MOVED TO THE VISION PLAN.

AND I AM SO SORRY THAT YOU DIDN'T HEAR SOME OF THAT DURING THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, BECAUSE WE DID TRY TO PUT IT IN THERE.

SO WE HAVE, UM, THREE ITEMS LEFT ON OUR AGENDA AND WE ARE NOW AT, LET ME CHECK MY WATCH 9 38.

SO WE NEED TO PROBABLY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE, IF WE PLAN TO GET OUT OF HERE BY 10 O'CLOCK, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING.

SO NUMBER SIX IS NON-NEGOTIABLE SO RIGHT.

AND WE BOUGHT THE BRIEFING ON THE DOVE SPRINGS HEALTH FACILITY AS BOARD MEMBER.

THE CARLA REMINDED ME IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE TRIED TO BE ON OUR G ATTENDED TWICE.

SO IF THAT COULD BE A FAIRLY BRIEF BRIEFING, WHY DON'T WE JUST GO WITH THAT AND, UH, FOLLOWED UP WITH THE PRESENTER BEFORE THIS MEETING.

AND THEY SAID THAT THEY CAN DO THE PRESENTATION ABOUT 10 MINUTES WITHOUT QUESTIONS.

AND SO LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

AND THEN WE'LL, WE MAY HAVE TO RESCHEDULE THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ONE.

UM, KIMBERLY MADDOX BRIEFING ON DOVE SPRINGS HEALTH FACILITY.

SO PLEASE GO AHEAD.

[B.3. Briefing on Dove Springs Health Facility]

[03:30:27]

IT EVENING IF I'M ON AS A PANELIST NOW, UH, GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

UH, APPRECIATE THE FEW MINUTES.

I CAN DO THIS IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES.

UM, SO, UH, IT'S WHEN I GO AHEAD AND PUT UP THE PRESENTATION OKAY.

AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO THIS IS JUST AN AERIAL OF THE AREA.

THIS IS A REMINDER OF THE PROJECT SITE IS WHERE I NEZ AND PALO BLANCO DRIVES, UH, DRIVING LANE, UM, COINCIDE JUST, UH, ABOVE WHERE THE DOVE SPRING GEORGE MORALES DOVE SPRINGS REC CENTER IS.

SO THE BACKGROUND, THIS IS NOT NOTHING NEW.

THIS IS AN AREA THAT'S HAD MANY, UM, ISSUES WITH FLOODING EVENTS.

UM, THEY HAVE, UM, OTHER NEEDS IN THAT AREA.

UM, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HAS PROVIDED SOME LIMITED SERVICES TO THOSE RESIDENTS THROUGH THE REC CENTER IN COOPERATION WITH PARD.

UH, THE NEW FACILITY THAT WE WILL BE BUILDING IS FUNDED BY 2018 BOND MONEY.

UH, AND AS I FULL SERVICE NEIGHBORHOOD, PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY, AND THE USE OF PARKLAND, UH, JOINING THE GEORGE MIRALIS DOVE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER WAS APPROVED BY THE PARKS BOARD.

AND THE CITY COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019 NEXT SITE.

SO, UH, WHAT WILL BE IN THE FACILITY IS A FULL-SERVICE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, WHICH IS A BASIC NEED SERVICES LIKE FOOD PANTRIES.

WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE ON SITE.

UH, WE CAN DO HEALTH SCREENINGS, UM, SOCIAL SERVICE, SOCIAL WORKERS WILL BE ONSITE, UM, AS WELL AS SEASONAL PROGRAMS THAT JUST BLUE SANTA'S THANKSGIVING BASKETS, UM, COATS FOR KIDS, THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.

UH, THERE WILL BE A WOMEN IN FINANCIAL BURDENS CLINIC, UM, WITHIN, UH, THE CENTER.

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THE CLINIC THAT'S CURRENTLY ON WILLIAM CANNON AND I 35 AND THAT HEB SHOPPING CENTER.

UM, AND SO THIS IS MOVING BETTER INTO THE COMMUNITY.

IT WILL BE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND EASIER FOR FOLKS TO GET THEIR SERVICES.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE AN IMMUNIZATIONS CLINIC WHICH WILL HAVE SHOTS FOR TOTS FOR OUR KIDDOS AND BIG SHOTS FOR ADULTS, UM, OVER 18.

UM, AND THAT IMMUNIZATIONS CLINIC IS CURRENTLY ON STASSNEY LANE, UH, WEST OF , UM, AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET TO BY PUBLIC TRANSIT.

UH, SO THAT WILL BE RELOCATED TO THIS FACILITY IN THE HEART OF THE DEAD SPRINGS NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE THAT WILL BE IN THIS FACILITY AS A HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE CENTER, UM, THAT IS ESTIMATED TO SERVE APPROXIMATELY 75 CHILDREN FROM INFANT TO PRE THREE, UH, THERE'LL BE SOME MULTIPURPOSE SPACE.

UM, WE'LL BE LIGHTING THE SOCCER FIELDS AND DOING SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SOCCER FIELDS, CONSTRUCTING TRAILS, THAT'LL CONNECT THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE DISTRICT PARKS WITH THIS PROJECT AREA.

UM, AND THEN WE WILL MANAGE APH STAFF, WE'LL MANAGE THE HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS, BUT WE WILL SOLICIT AN OPERATOR TO MANAGE THE HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE CENTER.

AND NEXT SLIDE, JUST AN OVERVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THAT WE'VE, UM, BEEN WORKING ON.

SO WE HAVE CREATED A DOVE SPRINGS TASK FORCE, WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC.

UM, AND YOUR COMMISSIONER, THE KARMA IS ONE OF THOSE AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF HER WORK ON IT.

UM, IT'S A MIXTURE OF ALL FOLKS.

THEN THE NEXT SLIDE WE'LL GIVE YOU THE MEMBERS OF THAT.

WE HAVE HAD EIGHT, UH, PUBLIC MEETINGS, FOUR WERE IN-PERSON FOUR WERE VIRTUAL DUE TO COVID.

WE'VE ALSO HAD 10 MEETINGS WITH OUR TASK FORCE.

UM, WE ALSO DID SOME SURVEYING.

UH, WE RAN US AN ONLINE SURVEY, UM, FROM DECEMBER, 2020 THROUGH, UH, EARLY FEBRUARY, 2021.

AND WE'VE ALSO DONE A LOT OF, UM, OUTREACH THROUGH THE MAIL POSTCARD MAILINGS, UH, PROMOTING THE SURVEY AND WHATNOT AND GIVING PEOPLE THE QR CODE OR THE ABILITY TO DO IT, UM, BY OTHER MEANS.

AND THEN WE'VE ALSO PRESENTED AT A COUPLE OF EVENTS.

THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS IN NOVEMBER 21 WHEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HAD HER DISTRICT TWO EVENT AT THE REC CENTER.

AND THIS IS JUST A LISTING OF OUR WONDERFUL TASK FORCE MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN LIFESAVERS THROUGH COVID TO HELP THIS PROJECT KEEP MOVING.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

[03:35:01]

SO WHAT WE'VE COMPLETED.

SO WE DID OUR PRELIMINARY PLANNING.

WE HAVE DONE OUR DESIGN CRITERIA MANUAL AND THEN WENT OUT AND SOLICITED OUR DESIGN BUILDER FROM, UM, THAT FROM IS SPYGLASS.

UM, WE HAVE NOW COMPLETED SCHEMATIC DESIGN AND ESTIMATE AND THE FULL DESIGN DOCUMENTS HAD NOW BEEN COMPLETED.

UH, AND SO WE ARE CURRENTLY IN PERMITTING.

UM, SO EXCITINGLY, THIS, THIS PROJECT IS MOVING ALONG, UM, AND IT'S GETTING TO A REALLY EXCITING PLACE.

OUR NEXT STEPS ARE THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE, UM, WHICH IS IN PROGRESS WE'RE EXPECTING TO DO GROUNDBREAKING THIS FALL AND CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION IN WINTER OF 23.

SO WE ARE IN OUR PERMITTING SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT OR BUILDING PERMIT IS IN PROGRESS.

UM, RESIDENTS, UM, UH, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE GETTING NOTIFIED BY THE CITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHEN THIS PROJECT DOES COME BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS PART OF THAT PROCESS.

AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THE PERMITTING PROCESSES WILL ALL BE COMPLETED THE SUMMER.

SO THIS IS THE ORIGINAL PLAN.

THE FIRST TIME WE CAME IN FRONT OF YOU AND SHOWED YOU OUR LITTLE BLOCK DIAGRAM OF WHAT MIGHT BE A VERY CRUDE AND RUDIMENTARY I'M SURE.

BUT NOW IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, HERE'S THE FANCY PRETTY ONE.

UM, SO THIS IS THE CURRENT SITE PLAN, UM, WITH THE FACILITY.

UM, UM, WE DID DO SOME MAJOR CHANGES FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN IDEAS.

UM, SO THE SOCCER FIELDS ORIGINALLY WERE PROPOSED TO BE MOVED.

WE HAVE NOW CHANGED THAT AND ARE GOING TO LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY ARE, UM, WHICH HAS LESS DISRUPTION TO THE PARK, UM, THAT WAS IN CONSOLIDATE, UM, CON CONSULTATION WITH PARD STAFF AND OTHER FACTORS THAT, THAT MADE THAT JUST MAKE MORE SENSE.

UM, WE WILL BE, UM, WE PROPOSED A LARGE PARKING LOT IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN THAT IS NOW YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S NO PARKING LOT.

ALL THE PARKING IS ALONG THE DRIVE, UM, WHICH AGAIN IS LESS PART OF DISRUPTION.

UM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE EXACT SAME NUMBER OF SPACES.

UM, WE REMOVED EMERGENCY ACCESS UP AT THE TOP.

YOU'LL SEE HICKORY DRIVE CONNECTS IN UP THERE THAT IT'S NOT A ROAD, IT'S NOT AN ENTRY, BUT THERE IS A WHERE, AND THERE WAS ORIGINAL, UM, PROPOSAL TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY, UM, ACCESS POINT THERE FOR FIRETRUCKS AND WHATNOT.

UM, AND WE HAVE CHANGED THAT THERE WILL NOT BE AT A VEHICLE ENTRY AT HICKORY DRIVE, AND WE HAD A GRASS PAVE TURNAROUNDS.

WE'VE WORKED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND, AND THE, UH, PERMITTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS MEETS, UH, SO WE'LL HAVE A GRASS PAVE TURNAROUND FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES INSTEAD.

UM, WE HAVE A PAVILION THAT ART IN PUBLIC PLACES HAS TAKEN ON AS ONE OF THEIR PROJECTS, WHICH I THINK IS FANTASTIC.

UM, SO, UH, THEY WILL BE DESIGNING THAT AS PART OF THEIR PROCESS OF THE HOVER AND WHATEVER THAT PAVILION MIGHT, MAY LOOK LIKE FOR THE COMMUNITY'S USE.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE TAKEN AWAY, WE'D ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO HAVE A PUBLIC PR, UM, PLAYGROUND ON THIS SITE.

UM, BUT IN CONSULTATION WITH PARD, IT WAS DECIDED THAT WOULD BE BETTER TO, UM, PUT SOME INCLUSIVE EQUIPMENT ART IN THE DISTRICT PARK PLAYGROUND.

AND SO WE HAVE DONE THAT AND WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THAT AT THE END OF THIS, OF THE, UM, WE GO ROUND THAT WAS INSTALLED IN THE PARK.

AND, UM, WE ALSO, UM, FEEL THAT A LOT OF THESE CHANGES MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES TO THE OVERALL PROJECT.

UM, WE HAVE MODIFIED MATERIALS INSTEAD OF DOING BRICK AND METAL.

WE HAVE MOVED TO STUCCO AND METAL, UM, WHICH GIVES THE COMMUNITY A LOT MORE INPUT AND COLORS AND PATTERNS, UM, TO MAKE THE BUILDING REALLY THEIR OWN.

UM, WE MODIFIED THE FRONT ENTRY FROM TWO-STORY TO ONE STORY, AND WE ARE WORKING AGAIN WITH ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES ON THE PAVILION, AND YOU CAN SKIP THE NEXT TWO SLIDES CAUSE I LEFT THE SITE PLAN UP SO THEY COULD SEE IT WHILE I TALK THROUGH THOSE POINTS.

SO, UM, THIS IS A RENDERING OF WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, UM, AT PALO BLANCO AND ON AS THAT, THE MAIN ENTRY OF THE SITE, NEXT SLIDE.

UM, THIS IS JUST THAT THIS IS THE MAIN ENTRY.

UM, JUST ANOTHER ANGLE OF THAT SAME BUILDING YOU WERE SEEING AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTERS THAT WOULD BE ATTACHED TO THE CHILDCARE CENTER.

UM, AND THIS IS THE ONE CLOSEST TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH BUILDING.

SO I BELIEVE THIS IS THE, UM, THE INFANT AND TODDLER AREA.

IS THE ENTRY TO THE CHILDCARE CENTER.

THIS

[03:40:01]

SO WE'VE DESIGNED A SEPARATE ENTRY FOR THAT FACILITY.

UM, SO IT IS COMPLETELY, UM, ABLE TO OPERATE INDEPENDENT OF THE CITY BUILDING.

SO OUR, UH, CHILDCARE OUTDOOR LEARNING AREAS, WE HAVE THREE OF THEM.

UM, EACH OF THEM FOR THE VARIOUS AGE GROUPS, UM, WE HAVE APH AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH HAS A HEALTHCARE CONSULTANT AND WE, THEY ARE ADVISING SPYGLASS AND THEIR TEAM AND THEIR CONSULTANTS AS WELL ON THE OUTDOOR LEARNING AREAS.

AND THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, WE'LL JUST GIVE YOU SOME DESIGN ELEMENTS.

THAT'S CONCEPTUAL, WE HAVEN'T DONE THE EXACT, WHAT EXACT EQUIPMENT IS GOING TO GO INTO EACH LEARNING AREA ENVIRONMENT.

BUT, UM, BUT THESE ARE JUST SOME IDEAS OF WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

SOME GO TO THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, A LOT OF NATURAL PLAY, UM, INTERACTIVE FANNED, UM, AREAS.

AND YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE AND YOU CAN GO ONE MORE.

AND THE LAST ONE, AND THERE IS FRANCIS AKUNA, WHO IS ONE OF OUR TASK FORCE MEMBERS, UM, IN THE WEEK AROUND THAT IT HAS BEEN INSTALLED IN THE DISTRICT PARK.

DID I DO IT IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS BECAUSE THAT'S IT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE? YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

UM, JUST WANT TO SAY REAL QUICKLY, THANK YOU, KIMBERLY TO PRESENTING.

UM, I ASKED KIMBERLY IN AUSTIN, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO COME GIVE OUR BOARD AN UPDATE BECAUSE AS Y'ALL KNOW, BACK IN 2019, UM, WE DID APPROVE THE USE OF PARKLAND FOR THIS FACILITY AND MUCH NEEDED, UH, CHILDCARE CENTER.

AND UNDERSTANDABLY THE BOARD WAS HESITANT TO GIVE UP THAT PARKLAND AND WANTED TO ENSURE THAT APH GAVE US UPDATES AND, UM, ESTABLISHED A TASK FORCE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT I THINK THEY'VE BEEN A REALLY GREAT JOB OVER THESE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

UM, WE'VE HAD REGULAR TASK FORCE MEETINGS.

UM, THEY'VE UPDATED COMMUNITY LEADERS ON WHAT'S GOING ON AND GAVE US OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT INTO THE DESIGN LAYOUT OF THE BUILDING AND CHILDCARE FACILITY, UM, AND THE LANDSCAPING.

AND I THINK WITH THIS PROJECT, THEY REALLY TRY THEIR BEST TO INCORPORATE WHAT THEY CAN AS FAR AS FITTING INTO THE ALREADY PARK ENVIRONMENT.

UM, AND I'VE REALLY TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND NEEDS.

SO THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GREAT.

WELL THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR STAYING SO LATE AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, FOR DOING, UH, FOR HAVING, UM, BOARD MEMBER DECARLO ON THE TASK FORCE TO, I KNOW THAT SHE, UH, WAS VERY COGNIZANT OF WHAT THE BOARD'S CONCERNS WERE AND I'M GLAD SHE WAS A PART OF THAT.

SO, AND IT LOOKS GOOD.

SO THANK YOU, KIMBERLY.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S 9 52, IS THAT WE POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER FOUR BECAUSE WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO HAVE TIME UNLESS PEOPLE WANT TO STAY TILL 10 30 AND YES, PLEASE DO.

SO MY SUGGESTION, BECAUSE

[B.4. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding the Parks and Recreation Department community engagement process.]

I'LL MOTION THAT WE POSTPONE.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR SECOND, SECOND, SECOND.

SO ALL IN FAVOR.

AND I APOLOGIZE TO, UM, SUZANNE, IF SHE'S IN JOHN NIXON, THE CLEAR OR STAYED UP LATE TO TALK TO US.

NUMBER SIX, AND LIKE SENT UP THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.

SO GUESS WHAT? THAT LEAVES ITEM

[B.6. Election of the Chair and Vice-Chair to the Parks and Recreation Board, and committee appointments]

AND I DO WANT TO, UM, BEFORE WE HAVE THE SELECTION, I PERSONALLY, I WANT TO JUST THANK EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD, YOU GUYS, UM, FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME AND YOU GUYS IT'S LIKE HAVING THESE WONDERFUL, EVERYBODY BRINGS ALL THESE STRENGTHS AND THEY'RE SUCH GREAT ADVOCATES FOR PARKS AND GREEN SPACES AND CONTRIBUTES SO MUCH AND BEEN LIKE COPILOTS AND ALL OF THIS.

AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING ME, UM, GET THROUGH THIS, NOT GET THROUGH, BUT HELPING ME AS CHAIR.

I COULD NEVER HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THIS WONDERFUL TEAM.

SO SHARE, WE MIGHT WANT TO EXTEND LIKE 10 MINUTES FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA BY IF YOU WANT TO I'LL MOVE THAT.

WE EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL 10 15, AND I DON'T THINK WE'LL GO THAT FAR.

YEAH, WE WON'T, BUT LET'S JUST, JUST SO WE HAVE THAT LITTLE WINDOW ALL IN ALL SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR.

[03:45:02]

AYE.

OKAY, PERFECT.

SO GIVEN THAT, AND ALSO, I ALSO WANT TO THINK, UM, STAFF FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE DURING, UH, CHAIRMANSHIP.

SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON AND TO, UM, SEE IF WE HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR.

OH, OKAY.

SO WE HAVE TWO NOMINATIONS CAUSE SHE SEES IT AT THE SAME TIME.

I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE A BOARD MEMBER, CAUGHT HIM SEIBEL FOR CHAIR.

AND I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND PUT A, I HAVE SOMETHING TO READ INTO THE RECORD.

GO AHEAD.

UH, POINT OF ORDER NOMINATIONS DON'T USE SECOND.

THEY DON'T.

SO I THINK THE OTHER THING IS, UM, VICE TRADER PAMA IS, UM, THIS CHAIR AND SHE WAS RAISING HER HAND AND I WAS ABOUT TO GIVE HER, YEAH, TH THIS HURT.

I, I EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT SAME THING IF YOU REMEMBER THREE YEARS AGO.

MAYBE COULD WE JUST BACK UP AND JUST GET AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT THE PROCESS IS? SO WE ALL KNOW WHAT I AM NOT, UH, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS THAT WE USUALLY HAVE, UM, UM, A NOMINATION AND THEN WE VOTE ON THAT PERSON.

AND SO WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE, UM, THREE YEARS AGO IS AN IMPROPER PROCESS.

IT WAS GREAT, THE RESULT, BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE ALL WELL, NO, WE DIDN'T HAVE A CHAIR.

AND SO IT WAS DONE.

STAFF HELD THE NOMINATION, BUT THEY DIDN'T TAKE ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS.

THEY VOTED ON THE, NOT THE FIRST NOMINATION RECEIVED.

SO, WELL, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND I WILL, I'M GOING TO MAKE A STATEMENT.

CAN I JUST UNDERSTAND THAT ANYBODY CAN MAKE A NOMINATION AND THEN WE VOTE? WELL, I I'M GOING TO BE TOTALLY FRANK ABOUT THIS.

I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS ONE TIME.

INITIALLY WHEN I WAS, AND THEN EVERY OTHER TIME WE HAVE SAID, DOES ANYBODY HAVE A NOMINATION? AND I'VE BEEN REELECTED.

SO WE HAVE NOT, I HAVEN'T BEEN THROUGH WITH A NEW PROCESS BEFORE.

AND THE PAST, THE WAY IT WORKS IS WE HAVEN'T.

SOMEBODY NOMINATED SOMEBODY AND THEN WE VOTE.

WE, I HAVE NOT SEEN IT WHERE THERE'S BEEN MORE THAN ONE NOMINATION.

SO I'M NOT TRYING TO PREVENT YOUR STATEMENT.

I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO HERE.

AND SO THEN WILL PEOPLE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY YOU GO THROUGH AND EVERYBODY CAN SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ONE NOMINEE AND THEN ONLY WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, ANOTHER NOMINEE, OR LIKE, WHAT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SPEAKING? WE'RE JUST GOING TO GIVE UP.

I THINK AT THIS POINT WE PROBABLY, UM, YOU'VE NOMINATED YOURSELF.

YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE BOARD MEMBER, COTTON SEIBEL.

WE KNOW WHAT THE CHOICES ARE.

I MEAN, MY HOPE IS WE WILL, BOTH PEOPLE WILL GET A VOTE AND HOPEFULLY NOBODY'S FEELINGS WILL GET HURT AND WE WILL, UM, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD AT THIS POINT.

THAT'S THE BEST I CAN DO CAROLYN OR, OR LIKE OUR CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HAVE.

AND ALSO, DO WE HAVE ANY DIRECTION FROM STAFF? BECAUSE AS I JUST SAID, I AM NOT EXPERIENCED WITH THIS.

I'M JUST AM.

I'M JUST EMULATING WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

UH, REVIEWING THE PARK BOARD, BYLAWS, ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION B OFFICERS SHALL BE ELECTED ANNUALLY BY A MAJORITY VOTE THE BOARD AT THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING AFTER APRIL 1ST.

SO THERE'S NO SPECIFIC LACKING.

UM, YEAH.

UH, IF THERE ARE ONLY TWO NOMINEES, THEN I WOULD RECOMMEND A STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN VOTE OR THE EVENT OF MORE THAN TWO NOMINEES.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHICHEVER TWO NOMINEES GET THE MOST VOTE AND BOTH IN AN INITIAL ROUND SHOULD GO TO RUNOFF.

SO I'D STILL LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT.

I THINK WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO A STATEMENT.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS POINT.

I WILL PUBLISH MY STATEMENT ONLINE.

AND IT'S NOT FAVORABLE.

THAT'S FINE.

IF YOU WANT TO PUBLISH IT ONLINE, IT WAS EXACTLY TO THIS ISSUE.

AND THIS IS PART OF THE INSPIRATION I PR I WANT TO APPRECIATE A BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR POSTING THIS CAUSE THIS WAS THE ABSOLUTE INSPIRATION.

SO WITH THAT, THIS IS AN EQUITY ISSUE.

I GO AHEAD.

WITH THAT, WE, UM, WE HAVE, UM, VICE TRADE DIPLOMA HAS, UM, AND WE DON'T NEED A SECOND.

IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? WHO TALKED TO? WHO SAID THAT? I THINK SHE WAS THINKING, I THINK SHE WAS SUGGESTING THAT WE MIGHT NEED A SECOND FOR EACH NOMINATION.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE SUGGESTING?

[03:50:01]

BOARD MEMBER FILE.

THEN WE HAVE VICE-CHAIR DIPLOMAS.

UM, NOMINATION.

DO WE HAVE SECOND? I DON'T KNOW.

I'M TRYING TO READ THE RULES RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT, I DID NOT STUDY THE NOMINATIONS.

DON'T HAVE TO BE SECONDARY, BUT IT'S NOT OUT OF THESE ARE NOMINATIONS FROM THE, USUALLY WE HAVE GOTTEN THE SECOND IN THE PAST.

IT'S NOT OUT OF ORDER FROM MEMBERS THE SECOND AND NOMINATION, THE SIGNAL, THEIR ENDORSEMENT.

YOU CAN NOMINATE HIMSELF OR HERSELF.

MOVING FORWARD.

DO WE HAVE A SET? WELL THEN IF WE DON'T NEED A SECOND, THEN WE CAN VOTE SO I HAVE A NOMINATION AND ALL IN FAVOR OF, UM, VICE CHAIR, DIPLOMA IN CHAIR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

I DON'T THINK THAT ONE PASSED.

SO GO AHEAD.

AND I HAVE ANOTHER, UM, NOMINATION FOR FOUR MEMBER COTTONS, AND WE DON'T HAVE A NEED A SECOND FOR THAT ONE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF FOUR MEMBER COTTON CIBO PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

SO WE HAVE AN BOARD MEMBER, UH, MORE.

DID YOU, ARE YOU NO, I'M STAYING STAY.

SO, SO THAT PASSES.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

UM, CHAIR-ELECT CON CYBIL WE, UM, NOW WE NEED, UH, A VICE CHAIR NOMINATION.

I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE BURN MEMBER FAST.

WE HAVE A NOMINATION FOR BOARD MEMBER FAST.

WE DON'T NEED SECONDS.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? UM, YEAH.

NOW THAT YOU HAVE THE DATA TO A NEW CHAIR, I THINK THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE NEW CHAIR TO RUN THE SECOND PART OF THE VOTE.

WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, BUT THEN IT SAID THERE TERM DOESN'T START TILL MAY 1ST IN THE, OKAY.

MY BAD.

I WAS LOOKING, I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS.

OR THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT, UM, THAT CLARIFICATION, I THINK IN THE PAST, WE'VE USUALLY NOMINATED AND THEN LET THE NEW CHAIR TAKEOVER, BUT I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

AND I'M SORRY THAT YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO TOO LATE.

OH, OKAY.

SO, UM, NOW I'M TOTALLY FLUSTERED.

SO VICE CHAIR, UM, I CANNOT FIND, SORRY.

SO ALL IN FAVOR OF, UM, VICE CHAIR.

UM OKAY.

AND YOUR, UH, BUDDY? NO.

ARE YOU ABSTAINING? NOT HIM.

SO WE HAVE ONE THOUGH.

SO WE HAVE A NEW CHAIR AND NEW VICE-CHAIR.

CONGRATULATIONS.

AND GUESS WHO AGAIN, MESSED UP HIS CHAIR.

DID YOU WANT ACCEPT THE NOMINATION? I DO ACCEPT THE NOMINATION AND, AND YOU, UH, UH, REMEMBER COST.

SUPPORT BEFORE WE GO AND DO FUTURE ITEMS, NO BODY REMEMBERS.

SO MOVING ON PAST THAT WE HAVE, UH, LET'S SEE, WE HAVE OUR ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS.

THE ONLY THING I DO WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE, UM, THE JOINT, THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION THAT WE DO WANT TO DO A PRESENTATION BOARD MEMBER, UH, BERNARD AND I, BUT IT'S KIND OF A LONG, I MEAN, IT'S NOT LONG, BUT IT'S LONG ENOUGH THAT WE CAN'T DO IT NOW.

SO I DO WANT TO MAYBE TRY TO GET THAT ON THE AGENDA AT THE NEXT MEETING.

SO, UM, AND THAT'S IT.

I THINK WE'LL JUST MOVE ON IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO KNOW, UH, DIRECTOR MCNEELY FROM THE, UH, DIRECTOR

[D. DIRECTOR’S REPORT ON PROGRAM AND PROJECT UPDATES AND EVENTS]

I THINK THAT, UH, AS, AS WE USUALLY SAY THAT THERE'S, UH, UH, X NUMBER OF PAGE REPORT THAT YOU CAN READ AT YOUR LEISURE AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PRETTY IMPORTANT, WE HAVE BEEN SENDING OUT ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS TO YOU, SO WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

ITEMS FOR MEMBER COTTON, SEIBEL, UM, BOARD MEMBER, UH, TAYLOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY FUTURE ITEMS? NO.

SO WITH THAT, LET'S DO, UM, FUTURE

[E. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]

GET SORT OF A REPORT OR AN ACCOUNTING OF THE 20, 21 AUSTIN CITY LIMITS FESTIVAL.

WE'RE A MEMBER OF BERNARD, NO NEW ITEMS. REMEMBER FAUST.

I HAD ASKED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, UM, WHEN WE COULD

[03:55:01]

AND, UM, WHAT WAS THE TICKET FEES COLLECTED? ALL THE FEES COLLECTED UNDER THE CONTRACT.

AND I DON'T THINK WE, I THINK IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE SPRING.

SO I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER.

UH, I MEAN, BY SECURED, UPON, LIKE TO, UH, FIGURE OUT WHEN WE'RE GETTING THE CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER TO COME AND PRESENT ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING WITHIN THE CITY.

AND THEN I BELIEVE WE ALSO HIRED SOMEBODY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR IT FOR THAT PLAN AS WELL.

I THINK WE NEED IT.

UM, BOARD MEMBER, THE CARLA, YES.

UM, I'D LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT MS. SHARON BLIGHT HAD MENTIONED IN HER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE, UM, CUTTING DOWN OF 70 TREES.

SHE MENTIONED AT AUSTIN MEMORIAL PARK.

UM, SO IF WE COULD JUST GET AN UPDATE ON THAT.

UM, AND THEN I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE INFORMATION, UM, REGARDING WHAT A GENTLEMAN, I DIDN'T GET HIS LAST NAME.

ERIC, THE DIRECTOR OF ECOLOGY ACTION CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT AT ROY GUERRERO PARK AND KIND OF THE SAFETY ISSUES THERE WITH, UM, THE LONGHORN DAM WATER RELEASES AND THE, UM, BRIDGE THAT'S ON THE TRAIL NEXT TO THE, UH, PLAYGROUND.

AND I, I DO WANT TO LET THE BOARD KNOW THAT THERE'S, UH, A MEMO ON, UH, AUSTIN MEMORIAL PARK AND THE TREE ISSUE, UH, IN THE WORKS.

I, UM, YOU STAFF VERY KINDLY PROVIDED A MEMO, UM, UPDATING US ON THE STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT FOR JOHN TREVINO, UH, METRO PARK AND WALTER ELONG METRO PARK.

UM, I'D LIKE TO JUST HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE TIMELINE ASSOCIATED WITH BUILDING OUT.

THE FIRST PHASE OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE GOING TO BE WHERE WE'RE AT WITH FUNDING.

UM, I'D BE HAPPY WITH A MEMO OR A PRESENTATION, BUT, UM, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF, UM, THE IMPLEMENTING THOSE VISION PLANS.

REMEMBER MORE, NOTHING FROM ME JUST SEEMS LIKE WE ALWAYS HAVE SUCH COOL ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.

WE NEVER GET THROUGH ALL OF THEM.

SO NOTHING FROM ME AND BOARD MEMBER COTTON'S TITLE.

I COUNTED MINE AND A BOARD MEMBER TO CARLO ALREADY MENTIONED.

I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE SIGNAGE AND ROY GUERRERO AND THE ISSUE WITH THE DAM RELEASE.

INITIALLY ADJOURN THIS MEETING.

UM, AND I HAVE ONE THING AND THAT IS, UM, AFTER SERVING ON THIS AWFULLY STALKED COMMITTEE, I AM KIND OF, WE'D LIKE TO KIND OF GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT, OR AT LEAST GET A REFRESHER ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE AUSTIN PETS ALIVE IN THAT PARKLAND AND HOW THEY'RE FULFILLING THEIR OBLIGATIONS.

I JUST WANT TO CHECK IN ON THAT AND THAT IS IT.