[CALL TO ORDER]
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[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
SPEAKER IS WENDY TODD, AND SHE IS ONLINE.TODD, ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO GIVE YOUR COMMENTS? YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
TODD PRESIDENT OF SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I SERVED ON THE STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH GROUP THAT DEVELOPED THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT VISION FRAMEWORK PLAN AND AS A NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP REPRESENTATIVE TO THE CHEF'S CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD.
UM, I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ON TWO MATTERS.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE STATEMENT PUD.
UM, I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE CONCERNS OF THE DISTRICT NINE REPRESENTATIVE IN PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD CHAIR, LAURA
GET A DEVELOPMENT UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR 3 0 5 SOUTH CONGRESS, THE 18 ACRE STATESMAN SITE LAST WEEK, THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP OF SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO OPPOSE THE PUD FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS THAT THE FRAMEWORK VISION PLAN WAS THE PUD.
THE PROPOSED PIPE FAILED TO MEET THE INTENT OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT FRAMEWORK VISION PLAN, AND THE CRITERIA, THE PUD CRITERIA FOR SUPERIOR DEVELOPMENT DID NOT MEET THAT.
IT REQUESTED DEVELOPMENT BONUSES IN OUR ESTIMATION EXCEEDED THE, UM, COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS WERE REDUCED IN TERMS OF PARKLAND, WHICH IS YOUR PURVIEW AND YOUR MISSION PARKLAND IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT AT A CERTAIN INCOME LEVEL RESTRICTED INCOME LEVEL AS AN EXTENSION OF BARTON SPRINGS ROAD PUT UP AND THIRDLY, THE PUT APPLICATION FAILED TO PROVIDE JUSTIFICATION FOR A PUBLIC INVESTMENT.
AND THAT LASTLY, THAT OTHER PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS, UM, IN THE SAME AREA, ONE THAT'S COMPLETED AND TWO THAT ARE UNDER REVIEW RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN ABLE TO MEET THE INTENT OF THE VISION FRAMEWORK, PLAN AND CITY CODE WITHOUT A REQUEST FOR PUBLIC SUBSIDY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION ON THAT MATTER.
AND ON BEHALF OF SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS AND THE USER'S A LITTLE SPACEY PARK AND THE BLIND CREEK GREENBELT, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE STAFF AND CREW THAT MAINTAIN REPAIR AND KNOW THE, UM, PLAY THE TRAILS, THE BASKETBALL AND TENNIS COURTS, THE PLAYING FIELDS AND PLAYGROUND.
AND FURTHERMORE, INVITE YOU TO JOIN US ON SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 28TH AT 9:00 AM.
WHEN WE DEDICATE THE NEW INTERACTIVE SCULPTURE BY JAMES TALBOT, THAT WAS FUNDED BY THE LITTLE SPACEY RENOVATION PROJECT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE.
TODD DAVID TODD, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? YOU'RE IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO SPEAK.
ARE YOU READY? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN SPORT FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME.
UM, SO MY NAME IS DAVID TODD AND I COORDINATE A NONPROFIT GROUP CALLED THE BLIND PIG PARTNERSHIP, WHICH LOOKS AFTER STACEY PARKS IN THE BLIND CREEK NATURE PRESERVE AND OTHER OPEN SPACE IN, UM, IN THE BLOND WATERSHED.
UH, WE'VE WORKED FOR 17 YEARS TO RAISE FUNDS AND ORGANIZE, UH, VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE PUBLIC PLANS.
AND, UM, I WANTED TO APPROACH THE PARKS FOR TODAY TO JUST, UH, ASK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED FOCUS ON ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PROTECT, UH, ANY OPEN LANDS IN BOND CREEK AND PARTICULARLY, UH, THE HEADWATERS OF THE CREEK.
UM, AS YOU MAY KNOW, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER SEIBEL AND TO PALMER ARE VERY FAMILIAR SINCE THEY'VE BEEN VERY KIND TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE BEFORE.
UH, BUT SINCE THE HEADWATERS OF THIS STREAM ARE OWNED BY AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THEIR TRACKS ABOUT A 12 ACRE PARCEL AT 700 EAST ALPINE, JUST EAST OF SOUTH
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CONGRESS AND NORTH OF BEN, Y IS IN A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING AREA.AND I LEARNED JUST LAST WEEK THAT ANOTHER TRACK, UH, HAS BEEN RAISED AND, AND, UH, CONSTRUCTION IS PROCEEDING THERE.
UM, FOR MANY YEARS WE HAD FEARED THAT AISD MIGHT SELL THIS TRACK AND, AND DEVELOP IT, UM, IN TURN.
AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO URGE THE PARKS BOARD TO SORT OF KEEP THIS TRACK ON HIS RADAR AND TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON, TO SET THIS TRACK TO SIDE.
WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR MITIGATING FLOOD FLOWS.
SO REDUCING WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS, UH, FOR SECURING OPEN SPACE FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE MOVING INTO THAT AREA AND FOR PROVIDING ROOM FOR OUTDOOR EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND THEN FINALLY TO KEEP, UH, POSSIBLE ROUTES TO FUTURE HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS THAT MIGHT RUN FROM LADY BIRD LAKE ALL THE WAY UPSTREAM THROUGH STACEY PARKING BLOND PRESERVE, UH, AS, AS REALLY VERY CLOSE TO, UM, BEN WHITE BOULEVARD.
SO, UM, THANKS ONCE AGAIN FOR, FOR YOUR WORK IN AUSTIN FOR SUPPORT, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND THANKS FOR ENTERTAINING MY COMMENTS THIS EVENING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NICK GARRETT.
UH, I WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS FIRST ON THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.
UH, TODD I'VE VOLUNTEERED FOR THREE YEARS AS THE SRC REP FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT DISTRICT OUTREACH AND PLANNING PROCESS.
UH, EVERY SINGLE STAKEHOLDER WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS OVER THAT THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
UM, EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR NEEDS AND CONCERNS.
WE HAD PROFESSIONAL URBAN DESIGNERS THAT HELPED US CRAFT A PLAN THAT ALLOWED FOR A MORE PROFITABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PARCEL THAN WHAT WAS ALLOWED UNDER CURRENT LAW.
UM, AND ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, HONORED THE CONCERNS OF THE NEIGHBORS, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.
NON-PROFITS EVERYBODY SEEMED TO COME TOGETHER AND BE HAPPY WITH, WITH WHAT WE HAD DONE.
UH, I THINK THAT, UH, WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED IS, UH, A 180 ON THAT, UH, AND THE NAMES THAT I'M HEARING MENTIONED COMING TO THE TABLE AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME, UH, DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS.
UH, HAVING, YOU KNOW, RICHARD SUTTLE OR OTHER, YOU KNOW, HIGH POWERED LAWYERS SHOW UP AT THE 11TH HOUR AND START DEMANDING ALL THESE CONCESSIONS IS REALLY PRETTY INSULTING TO ALL THE HUNDREDS OF HOURS THAT WERE VOLUNTEERED TO GET TO THIS POINT.
I HOPE THAT YOU REJECT THIS PROPOSAL AND FORCED THEM TO COMPLY WITH WHAT WAS AGREED UPON BACK THEN, THE OTHER ISSUE, UH, I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE TALK ABOUT OFF-LEASE DOG WORKING GROUP.
I'VE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THAT GROUP.
UM, AND WHILE I READ THROUGH THE 2016 PER PART PROPOSAL FOR OFF-LEASH AREAS, UH, AND GENERALLY AGREE WITH THE STANDARD SET, MOST NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS DO NOT MEET THOSE STANDARDS YET.
MOST NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE CURRENTLY OVERRUN WITH OFF-LEASH DOG ACTIVITY THAT DEPRIVED THE OTHER USERS HAVING EQUAL AND SAFE ACCESS TO THEM.
UH, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING AS A PARENT TO TRY TO WALK YOUR CHILD ACROSS THE PARK AND HAVE DOGS RUN UP IN BARK AND GROWL AT YOUR CHILD, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY CURRENT, UM, ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LEASH LAWS.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE ANY ADDITIONAL OFF-LEASH AREAS CREATED UNTIL THERE'S MORE ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LEASH LAWS.
BECAUSE AS MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT THERE'S NO INCENTIVE WITHOUT ENFORCEMENT FOR ANYONE TO USE NEW PARKS.
SO IF THIS, IF ONE PARK IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS MORE CONVENIENT THAN DRIVING THREE BLOCKS TO ANOTHER AREA, THAT'S LEGAL, THOSE SAME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REFUSE TO USE IT UNTIL THEY'RE TICKETED.
AND THOSE LAWS ARE, ARE ENFORCED YOUR EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH THOSE OFF-LEASH AREAS ARE REALLY GOING TO FALL ON DEAF EARS, ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE CREATION OF THOSE PARKS, AS WELL AS, UM, EXISTING LEASE LAWS.
I BELIEVE THEY ALL SHOULD BE REACHING OUT MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO ALL OF THE ADOPTION CENTERS, PET STORES, BECK CLINIC, AND OTHER PET RELATED SERVICES, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE INFORMED AND THAT THEY SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT LEASH LAWS AND ABOUT POOP LAWS.
IF YOU GO TO THE AUSTIN PETS ALIVE WEBSITE, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE MENTION ANYWHERE ON THAT WEBSITE ABOUT LEISHA LAWS YET THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE TASKED WITH GETTING THESE PETS OUT INTO HOMES WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE CURRENT LAWS ARE THE SAME FOR THE CITY'S OWN WEBSITE.
IT'S ALMOST COMPLETELY VOID OF ANY SORT OF USEFUL INFORMATION CONCERNING RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DO SURE, GARRETT, YOUR THREE MINUTES HAS EXPIRED.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIAM T MAZE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW TO PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME.
[00:10:01]
PLEASE COME UP.HOW DO YOU SAY YOUR NAME? NICE.
MY NAME IS WILLIAM MAYS AND I LIVE ACROSS, UH, FROM THE BUTLER PITCH AND PUTT AT TWO 10 LEITE BARTON DRIVE.
UH, ALSO KNOWN AS BRIDGES ON THE PARK CONDOMINIUMS. UM, I'VE BEEN AN OWNER AT THE CONDOMINIUMS FOR OVER FIVE YEARS AND LOVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, LOVE ALL OF THE OPTIONS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND, AND FITNESS.
UM, BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF SOME COMPLAINTS, UM, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE ELEVATED, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, THE LEVEL THAT, UH, THEY'RE REQUIRING YOUR OVERSIGHT.
AND SO WHILE I'M NOT A GOLFER AND HAVE NO VESTED INTEREST IN, UM, YOU KNOW, BUTLER PITCH AND PUTT, UM, I DO FEEL COMPELLED TO SPEAK UP ON, UH, AND, AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT IN WITH REGARD TO THESE COMPLAINTS.
UM, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THESE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE BEING FILED, UM, AND THERE ARE MANY, UM, ARE BEING FILED BY A SMALL NUMBER OF RESIDENTS AT BRIDGES ON THE PARK, A SELECT FEW, UM, AND THEY PRIMARILY DON'T REPRESENT THE VIEW, UM, OF THE MAJORITY OF THOSE RESIDENTS WHO RESIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND PRIMARILY THEY JUST DON'T LIKE THE VIEW OUTSIDE OF THEIR CONDO WINDOWS.
UH, THEY DON'T LIKE LOOKING AT THE BACKSIDE OF THE OUTBUILDINGS OR THE FACILITIES.
UM, AND AGAIN, THEY JUST DON'T REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF OUR, OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED AND NO VIOLATIONS HAVE BEEN FOUND, UH, MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS, UM, WHICH HAVE BEEN SIMILAR IN NATURE HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED BY, UH, CODES, ENFORCEMENT, UH, INSPECTORS.
UM, AND IN MY OPINION, THEY'RE TRYING TO BULLY OUR NEIGHBOR BUTLER PIGEON POT, AND IT JUST DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT.
I SERVED AS THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE HOA PREVIOUSLY, AND AT THE TIME, UM, PRIOR TO OPERATIONS, BY THE CURRENT OWNER OPERATORS OF BUTLER PITCHING POT, UH, THERE WERE NO FACILITIES, UH, THE PUBLIC WAS ALLOWED TO BRING OUTSIDE ALCOHOL.
UM, SO FOLKS WOULD HANG OUT ON THE PROPERTY AFTER HOURS.
UH, THEY WOULD BE DRUNK BELLIGERENT.
UM, THERE WERE NO NO RESTROOM FACILITIES, SO THEY WOULD BE GOING ON THE GOLF COURSE.
UH, AND NOW THAT THE NEW OWNER OPERATORS THERE, THEY HAVE PROVIDED FACILITIES MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GOLF COURSE.
SO A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE WERE PREVIOUSLY HAVING ARE NO LONGER ISSUES, MANY WERE IN FACT, MANY RESIDENTS LIKE HAVING THE GOLF COURSE ACROSS THE STREET, UH, WITH FOOD OPTIONS AND LIVE MUSIC.
AND TO POINT OUT THAT, THAT THE, THAT THE BUTLER PITCHING POT HAS BEEN MORE THAN ACCOMMODATING TO THE CONCERNS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE WAS A LEARNING CURVE EARLY ON WHEN THEY FIRST JOINED, UH, OUR FIRST STARTED OPERATING WITH LIKE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SCOTT COB.
UM, I'M BASICALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SUCCESS WE HAD IN THE BUDGET AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND, UH, WHAT TOOK A LONG TIME.
AND I WANT TO THINK DIRECTOR MCNEELY IS PLAYED A ROLE IN ACHIEVING WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE AND CERTAINLY THE PARKS BOARD AND THE PATRONS AT THE POLLS HELPED OUT BY WRITING.
I'VE BEEN APPROACHED IN THE LAST FEW DAYS BY PATRONS AND MY COWORKERS.
SO THEY'RE ALL VERY, VERY HAPPY.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A $20 LIVING WAGE AND WE HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME FULL-TIME LIFEGUARDS 13 OF THEM, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE.
AND, UM, WE HAVE PAID TRAINING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO THAT I KNOW OF IN ANYWHERE IN THE U S AS FAR AS LIFEGUARDING.
SO WHEN YOU GO TO THE TAKE, THE LIFE GUARD LEFT CARD CLASS USED TO HAVE TO VOLUNTEER THAT TIME, BUT NOW YOU GET PAID ON DAY ONE.
IF THEY WORK OUT THAT, AND I THINK THEY ARE, THE OTHER ONES ARE TENTATIVE BONUSES IN 2023, DEPEND ON, THEY CAN SEE SAVINGS AND NEXT YEAR THEY'LL, THAT WAS THE RIDER THAT WAS PASSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND, UH, KIND OF PROUD OF THAT LAST ONE.
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SNUCK THAT ONE IN WITH THE OPTIONAL DENTAL INSURANCE WITH, UH, AND KITCHEN AND PAY JEALOUS.SO THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GET IN THERE TOO, FOR ATTEMPTS WHO ALREADY HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, THEY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO BUY DENTAL INSURANCE.
YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UM, ANYHOW, WE MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FLINT IS, UH, LIKE IN APRIL NEXT ONE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER AVAILA, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FULL-TIME LIFEGUARDS.
WELL, ME, I WANTED THAT HASN'T BEEN DETERMINED YET IS WHAT THE PAY SCALE IS GOING TO BE.
AND IN THE PAST, THERE'S BEEN TWO SMALL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A LIFEGUARD 15 YEAR OLD LIFEGUARD AND A BARTON SPRINGS LIFEGUARD.
THE DIFFERENCE IS ONLY A DOLLAR 25 AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REGULAR LIFEGUARD, MOST LIFEGUARDS ARE LG THREES, 17 AND UP THEY'RE ALL LG THREES, UNLESS YOU'RE OPEN WATER CARD.
AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REGULAR LIFEGUARD AND BEING A FACILITY MANAGER AT DEEP EDDY OR BARTHOLOMEW IN THE PAST HAS ONLY BEEN 50 CENTS.
AND THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE THAT THOSE JOBS ARE REALLY DIFFICULT.
SOME IT'S COMPLICATED AND MANAGING ALL THOSE PEOPLE.
AND SO IT SHOULD BE A COUPLE OF DOLLARS MORE AT LEAST, AND OPEN MORE LIFEGUARDS.
SO THE PAY SCALE, BUT WE'RE SUGGESTING IS LG ONES.
WHEN YOU'RE 15 TO GET THE LIVING WAGE OF $20, LG TWOS OR 16, ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME BACK, RAISE IT ANOTHER DOLLAR, LG 3 22, AND, UH, OPEN WATER 24.
AND THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO COME BACK EVERY YEAR.
AND IT ALSO HAS A BIGGER DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AREAS, THE RESPONSIBILITY LEVELS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS.
SO ARE THEY CONSIDERED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS? THAT'S OUR SUGGESTION.
YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES OUR GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATION CHAIR.
I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE TWO OTHER PEOPLE WAITING TO PROVIDE REMOTE COMMENT.
UH, KEVIN REYNA'S AND, UH, RIGHT.
NEVERMIND DOES NOT CONCLUDE KEVIN READINESS.
ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO GIVE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.
KEVIN RAIN IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB, AND JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A COUPLE OF UPDATES AS A US OLYMPIC SPORT.
UM, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADULTS AT ANY AGE TO COMPETE AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.
AND SO THAT EVENT JUST RECENTLY OCCURRED AND WE'RE PROUD THAT THERE WERE OVER 40 ADULTS, THE AUSTIN AREA THAT COMPETED BROUGHT BACK 45 METALS.
THEY HAD METALED IN 70% OF THE EVENTS ENTERED, WHICH WERE 60, 70 EVENTS.
AND, UH, PROUD TO SAY THAT THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB MASTERS TEAM CAME IN THIRD PLACE OVERALL MEN'S AND WOMEN COMBINED, UH, AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.
SO THAT WAS VERY EXCITING TO SEE, UM, THE JIGGER SIDE OF OUR PROGRAMMING.
WE HAD OUR OPEN HOUSE ON SATURDAY, UH, TONIGHT WAS GOING TO BE THE START OF THE JUNIOR SEASON, BUT WE CANCELED THAT WITH THE, UH, THE WEATHER.
AND WE EXPECT SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR TEAM SIZE WAS BEFORE OVER 90 STUDENTS.
AND WE PULL ESSENTIALLY FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE BROADER METRO AREA OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND WE CONTINUE TO SCHOLARSHIP ANYONE WHO'S IN NEED.
AND WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A INCREASE IN THAT, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SUPPORT FAMILIES THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN PARTICIPATE.
AND WE PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO DO THAT ON THE LAKE CLEANUP SITE.
AND WE'LL CERTAINLY HAVE A LITTLE MORE TO DO AFTER THIS RAIN, BUT GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE RAIN.
WE, UH, HOSTED FOUR LAKE CLEANUPS IN THE LAST MONTH, UH, VOLUNTEERS, WE PROVIDE THE PADDLE EQUIPMENT AND THE GRIPPERS AND THE BAGS OVER 150 BAGS OF TRASH WERE COLLECTED.
AND WE PARTNER WITH THE KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL AND PEACE LOVE RIGOROUS ORGANIZATION.
AND IT'S TURNED OUT TO BE QUITE A POPULAR EVENT, ACTUALLY, WHICH IS GREAT.
AND THEN FINALLY I'LL MENTION EVERY THURSDAY MORNING, WE STARTED A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF THE PHOENIX, WHICH IS A NATIONAL SOBRIETY ORGANIZATION.
AND SO EVERY THURSDAY MORNING WE OFFER FREE PADDLING TO THEIR MEMBERS IS PHYSICAL EXERCISE BEING OUTDOORS AND ENJOYING NATURE IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE PHOENIX'S PHILOSOPHY AROUND SOBRIETY.
AND, UM, WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO BE PARTNERING WITH THEM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN CARTER.
ARE YOU READY? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
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EVENING.MY NAME IS KAREN CARTER AND I'VE BEEN AN OWNER OF A CONDO AT BRIDGES ON THE PARK SINCE 2012, BECAUSE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AT BUTLER PATIENT CUT.
I BEGAN GOLFING AGAIN, THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THAT LITTLE KITCHEN PUTT, AND I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THE NEW MANAGEMENT UPDATES AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY ONE OF AUSTIN'S ICONIC ESTABLISHMENT.
I RECENTLY RECENTLY BECAME A WINNER AS A MINORITY OWNERS IN MY BUILDING HAVE SUBMITTED AND INORDINATE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING LIGHTS, MUSIC STRUCTURE, AND ET CETERA.
WITH THE STATE DATES, MINORITY RESIDENTS DO NOT REPRESENT SOME MAJORITY OF OWNERS IN OUR BUILDING.
THEY ARE IN FACT, A SMALL GROUP OF OWNERS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO EXERT THEIR INFLUENCE REPRESENTING BRIDGES ON THE PARK AS A HOME.
AND IN MY OPINION, THEY ARE DEFINITELY MS. INFORMED ME YOUR BOARD.
I CONSIDER BUTLER PIGEON, PAT, AND ASSET TO OUR AREA.
MY FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES HAVE EXPRESSED HOW LOVELY THE VENUE IS AND HOW LUCKY I AM TO LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I'LL HELP.
YOU WILL CONSIDER MY SUPPORT FOR THE LOCATION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER UNLISTED SPEAKERS OR DO YOU THINK WE'RE DONE? OKAY.
I THINK WE'RE DONE WITH GENERAL COMMUNICATION CHAIR.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON ONLINE.
[1. Approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of July 25, 2022.]
UM, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM ONE, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, UM, FROM THE JULY 25TH MEETING, DO I HAVE A MOTION? OKAY.BOARD MEMBER, UH, VICE CHAIR, FAUST MOVES APPROVAL ANY SECOND.
[2. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department Community Engagement Events, Planning Updates, Development Updates, Maintenance Updates, Program Updates and Administrative updates. ]
I BELIEVE WE HAVE DIRECTOR MCNEILLY GONNA SPEAK FIRST THIS EVENING WITH HER DIRECTORS REPORT.SO BOARD MEMBERS, I'M GONNA START OFF WITH, UM, FOLLOW-UP ITEMS THAT WE, UH, FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING, SO THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF, UH, WHERE WE ARE, UM, HAVE HAVING RESPONDED TO THOSE THINGS THAT WERE REQUESTED.
WE DID SEND AN EMAIL ABOUT ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT VERSUS GAS EQUIPMENT.
WE SENT AN EMAIL ABOUT COOLING CENTERS AND IT WAS AN OVERVIEW OF COOLING CENTERS.
UM, WE ALSO SENT AN EMAIL WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE, THE, UM, IT WAS NOT PART OF YOUR FOLLOWUP, BUT WE DID SEND AN EMAIL ABOUT BECOMING MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS RECREATION AND PARKS SOCIETY.
AND IF THERE IS AN INTEREST IN THE BOARD MEMBERS, UM, BEING, UH, OFFICIAL, UH, MEMBERS OF THIS PARTICULAR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION, IF YOU COULD JUST FORWARD THAT INFORMATION TO TIM, WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE YOU SIGNED UP.
UH, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A, A UP ABOUT, UM, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OFF-LEASH DOG ITEM.
I KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THAT LATER, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE PLANNING, UM, THE RELEASE OF THOSE MUSICAL MESSAGES THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT ON SEPTEMBER 30TH WITH, UM, OUR ARTISTS THAT CREATED THOSE MUSICAL MESSAGES TO ASK PEOPLE, TO KEEP THEIR DOGS ON LEASH, UM, FOR THERE TO BE A CAMPAIGN THAT WOULD BE OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'RE ALSO, UM, IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR WEBSITE, UH, PARK MAPS THAT WILL SHOW YOU NOT JUST THE MAPS, WHERE WE HAVE ESTABLISHED DOG PARKS, BUT NEW DOG PARKS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ONLINE AS PART OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH, UM, WITH DEVELOPERS HAVE CREATED PARKS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND NOW HAVE PUBLIC DOG PARKS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY CROSS THE CAMP, AGGRESS THE CITY.
ALSO, I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ON OUR WEBSITE, THERE IS A LINK TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DOGS.
UM, AND THAT WOULD BE THANKS TO THE WORKING GROUP WHO'VE WORKED TO PUT TOGETHER, UH, THE TEXT ABOUT, YOU CAN FIND A LINK THERE JUST FOR FOLLOW UP, AND THERE'S STILL MORE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AS A WORKING GROUP.
AND I'M SURE, UM, BOARD MEMBER LOUIS AND THE TEAM WILL LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT.
UM, AS A FOLLOW-UP, THERE'S A COUPLE OF OUTSTANDING ITEMS. UM, ONE IS DICK NICHOLS AND PROVIDING INFORMATION AND WE'RE WORKING ON A MEMO FOR THAT.
AND THE SECOND IS, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT PROPOSITION B, WHICH, UM, AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, WE'RE JUST NOT IN A POSITION TO TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT, BUT AS SOON AS WE ARE, WE'LL DEFINITELY PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE.
AND THERE'S ONE OTHER ITEM, WHICH WAS ABOUT, UM, IRAQ, RIGHT? AND THAT, THAT CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT REAL ESTATE PURCHASES AND RECREATION CENTERS.
AND I HAD SENT AN EMAIL ON 7 27 AND PERHAPS IT DIDN'T COVER EVERYTHING THAT THE BOARD WAS HOPING THAT THEY WANTED TO KNOW.
SO PERHAPS POST-MEETING SOMEONE COULD JUST SHOOT US AN EMAIL ABOUT WHAT ELSE YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT SITUATION.
AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO, UM, PROVIDE YOU ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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IF YOU'RE LEAPING THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR REPORT.IF YOU START ON PAGE ONE, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF CEREMONIES, UH, AND, UH, EVENTS THAT HAPPENED AT THE DUB SPRINGS, THE GEORGE MIRALIS DOVE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER.
SO THERE WAS A RENAMING AND BACKPACK GIVEAWAY, RENAMING CELEBRATION AND BACKPACK GIVEAWAY, AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER
UM, PLEASE KNOW OF ON PAGE TWO TARRYTOWN, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PLAYGROUND PARK REPLACEMENT.
THERE WILL BE, UH, THERE WILL BE A, UM, A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON AUGUST 27TH TO TALK ABOUT THAT REPLACEMENT PLAYGROUND.
THERE'LL ALSO BE A, A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON SEPTEMBER 13TH TO TALK ABOUT THEM.
ON TOP OF THIS POOL PROJECT, THEY'LL ALSO BE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 28TH TO TALK ABOUT THE BEVERLY SHEFFIELD NORTHWEST POOL.
UH, AND PLEASE ALSO KNOW THAT PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE WAS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 1ST.
AND SO THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC UPDATES RELATED TO THE PARKLAND DEDICATION THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AT THIS TIME.
BUT, UM, AS THINGS PROGRESS, WE'LL CERTAINLY PROVIDE AN UPDATE, UH, AS THE COUNCIL TAKES ACTION.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SOME LIKELY IN SEPTEMBER WE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD THE BRODY OAKS PUD, UH, AND IT IS A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL BE LOCATED AT 360 LOOP, 360 IN SOUTH LAMAR.
AND SO WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU INFORMATION ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR PUD, IF YOU CAN JUST SKIP THROUGH TO PAGE SEVEN, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AT ROY G. GUERRERO AND THE CHANNEL IN BRIDGE REPAIRS.
AND SO THERE'S SOME DETAIL THERE, AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, THIS PROJECT'S BEING LED BY WATERSHED PROTECTION, BUT OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE IT RUNS THROUGH, UM, ROY G. GUERRERO PARKINS BISECTS, THE CRAIG FIELDS, THE TRAIL, AND GREY G GUERRERO, IT CERTAINLY HAS IMPACTS ON OUR USERSHIP.
AND IF YOU'RE SKIPPING THROUGH, UM, IF YOU GO TO PAGE 10, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT, UM, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DISTRIBUTED OVER 30,000 POUNDS OF FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FROM OUR RECREATION CENTERS THIS YEAR TO HELP FAMILIES, UM, AND WE CALL IT WHAT YOU DON'T CALL IT.
WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BRIGHTER BITES THAT ALLOWS US TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE, UM, THAT TO, TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE, UM, WOULD BENEFIT FROM THOSE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
UM, IF YOU'RE SKIPPING THROUGH TO PAGE 13, WE ALSO, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH MULTIPLE ENTITIES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE BACKPACK GIFT GIVEAWAYS AT THE CARVER MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER AT THE PAN-AM RECREATION CENTER, GIVENS RECREATION CENTER, AND THE GEORGE MORALES DOVE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER.
AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE WAS LOTS OF END OF THE YEAR EVENTS THAT OCCURRED BECAUSE SUMMER CAMP ENDED, UM, JUST BEFORE THE WEEK OF SCHOOL.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE LOTS OF CULMINATING EVENTS WITH, UM, CELEBRATIONS WHERE CHILDREN WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER IN LARGER GROUPS TO HAVE, UM, FUN FESTIVAL TYPE OF EXPERIENCES OR, UM, PUT ON PLAYS OR A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT SUMMER CAMP.
ONE THING OF PARTICULAR INTEREST WITH OUR SENIOR POPULATION ON PAGE 17, WE BEGAN A CLASS CALLED THE LEGACY MEMORY CLASS, AND THIS CLASS BEGAN ON AUGUST 15TH AND IT'S TEACHING OUR PARTICIPANTS WAYS TO DOCUMENT SOME OF THEIR MEMORIES THAT THEY CAN SHARE WITH THEIR FAMILY AND THAT THEIR FAMILY WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND IT'S IN MULTIPLE MEDIUMS, EVERYTHING FROM PRINT TO VIDEO, TO AUDIO MEDIUM, SO WE CAN RECORD MESSAGES AND PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT FAMILIES WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OF THEIR LOVED ONE FOR YEARS TO COME.
UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF, UH, UH, OF, UH, EVENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING TO CELEBRATE ARTISTS ON PAGE 21.
YOU'LL SEE THE WATERLOO PARK AND THE MOODY AMPHITHEATER RECEIVED A ENERGY AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING AWARD CEREMONY.
AND YOU'LL SEE OUR OWN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, LIANA CALLA VOCA WAS THERE TO ASSIST OR TO ACCEPT THE AWARD ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH AUSTIN ENERGY.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING, UH, BARTON CREEK, UH, BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE RAIN.
AND WE'RE SEEING THAT THE FLOOD GAUGES ARE GOING UP.
AND SO OUR STAFF HAS ALREADY, UH, BEGAN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING BARTON CREEK, I'M SORRY, BARTON SPRINGS FOR IF BARTON CREEK FLOODS.
AND WE WON'T HAVE AN UPDATE AS TO THE STATUS OF ITS OPENING UNTIL EITHER LATER TODAY OR EARLY IN THE MORNING.
BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE ALREADY IN THOSE PREPARATIONS.
UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM, OTHERWISE THAT'S THE END OF THE REPORT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH DIRECTOR NILI ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE DIRECTOR? ALL RIGHT.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE
[3. Discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation from the Off-Leash Dog working group.]
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS NOW.UM, THIS IS THE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION
[00:30:01]
REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE OFF LEAF OFF, SORRY, NOT OFF LEAF OFF LEASH DOG WORKING GROUP.SO I TURN THE DISCUSSION OVER TO A BOARD MEMBER LEWIS AND BOARD MEMBER BERNARD THANK YOU.
UH, BOARD MEMBER BERNARD, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK FIRST OR DO YOU WANT ME TO, YOU CAN GO AHEAD.
SO AS, AS YOU PROBABLY RECALL, BOARD MEMBER BARNARD NIGHT, UM, GAVE A PRESENTATION AT A MEETING A WHILE BACK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'D ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE OFF-LEASE DOG WORKING GROUP.
AND IF I'M NOT SURE IF YOU RECALL EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD TO SAY, BUT WHAT, WHAT WE DID DO IS WE WENT THROUGH AND KIND OF LOOKED AT THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT, AS AUSTIN CONTINUES TO GROW AND WE, WITH THAT GROWTH, OF COURSE COMES MORE PET DOG OWNERS AND PET OWNERS.
THIS AWFULLY STOG ISSUE HAS JUST KIND OF EVOLVED INTO, UM, A PROBLEM.
AND THERE'S LOTS OF WHETHER IT'S BATTLES BETWEEN DOG OWNERS OR AWFULLY STOCK OWNERS OR SAFETY CONCERNS, OR, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST ISSUES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE CODE.
THERE'S, THERE'S LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH US.
AND SO WE LOOKED AT THAT AND WHAT WE UNFORTUNATELY CAME TO REALIZE IS THAT THERE REALLY ISN'T AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM AT THIS TIME.
I KNOW THAT THE SPEAKER WHO SPOKE TO US AT CITIZENS COMMUNICATION, UH, REFERENCED THAT THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT APD, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY, NOR DOES THE PARTS DEPARTMENT.
WE ONLY HAVE, I BELIEVE IT'S 21 PARK RANGERS WHO HAVE A HOST OF ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE TO, TO DEAL WITH.
AND THEN, UM, THE, UM, ANIMAL, UM, CENTER DOWN AT, UH, NOT AT TOWN, LIKE IT'S 11 TO LIVE NOW, ALSO DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT EITHER.
SO WE WERE TRYING TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE OFF-LEASE DOGS TO TRY TO, UM, SO THAT MAYBE WE INCREASED SIGNAGE, THE, UH, PSA JINGLES THAT ERECTOR MCNEILLY REFERENCED EARLIER THAT ARE GOING TO COME OUT AND THE OTHER, UM, ONE OTHER STRATEGY WAS TO, UM, TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME MORE OFF-LEASE DOG PARKS AND, AND DO THAT IN A WAY THAT WE COULD PROVIDE EDUCATION THEM, MAYBE HAVE GRAND OPENINGS, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE THEM.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE ONLY HAVE, I BELIEVE 12 OFFICIAL, AWFULLY STALLED PARKS.
AND MOST OF THEM ARE, I THINK I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER HOW MANY ARE FENCED.
UH, DO YOU REMEMBER A BOARD MEMBER? BERNARD? I THINK JUST A FEW, ACTUALLY WE DO.
I DON'T KNOW TIM, IF YOU HAD THAT, UM, THAT ONE GRAPHIC THAT I SENT TO YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD PULL THAT UP OR NOT, OR DID, WERE YOU ABLE TO GET THAT TO, TO ANTHONY? OKAY.
WELL, LET ME INTERRUPT JUST ONE MINUTE, BECAUSE I FORGOT TO ASK IF THERE WERE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM, WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER AND LET ME JUST FINISH MY SENTENCE AND YES, WE ACTUALLY ARE REALLY, UM, WHAT'S REALLY GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.
THAT'S LISTENING IS THAT WE HAVE THE PERSON WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF OUR JOINT COMMITTEE.
UM, JOANNE NORTON, WHO'S ON THE SERVICE ON THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION, AND SHE IS KNOWS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT ABOUT THIS AND CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD MUCH BETTER THAN, UM, UM, BOARD MEMBER BERNARD AND I, AND AS WELL AS DIRECTOR MCNEELY ALSO IS VERY WELL VERSED ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.
SO WE WERE REALLY LUCKY BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO GREAT RESOURCES, BUT HERE IS THE GRAPHIC THAT JUST SHOWS THE LIST OF AWFULLY STALK AREAS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW TO MAKE IT ANY BIGGER, BUT THE ONES THAT ARE GREEN, WHICH YOU PROBABLY YOU'RE EVERYBODY'S EYES PROBABLY BETTER THAN MINE, BUT YOU CAN, UM, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE GREEN AREAS, WHICH IS WHERE THE FENCE DOG IN AREAS ARE.
SO WE, WE HAVE, UM, JUST A FEW OF THOSE.
SO HAVING SAID THAT WE DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION ABOUT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF OFF-LEASE DOG PARKS, BUT BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THAT, IF, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF BOARD MEMBER BERNARD WANTED TO ANSWER, I MEAN, TO ADD SOMETHING.
AND THEN OF COURSE I WOULD LOVE FOR JOANNE NORTON TO, UM, TO JUMP IN HERE TOO BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE YOU CONTINUE, WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON WHO'S SIGNING UP JUST NOW AS YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF DISCUSSION, IF YOU WOULD PREFER, IF YOU WOULD BE, IF YOU WOULD BE
[00:35:01]
AMENABLE TO ALLOWING HIM TO SPEAK TO OFF-LEASH DOG ISSUES.UM, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT IT? IS THAT OKAY? WARD MEMBERS.
ACTUALLY, HE'S STILL SIGNING UP.
SO WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD, BOARD MEMBER BERNARD.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? NO, I DON'T REMEMBER LOUIS, UH, COVERED ALL OF IT.
SO IF HE'S, IS HE READY? HE'S HE'S MAKING HIS WAY TO THE PODIUM.
I JUST THOUGHT I'D INTRODUCED THE SPEAKER, UH, UH, BOARD.
UH, I JUST ACTUALLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS A FEW MINUTES AGO.
UH, IT'S ABOUT ITEM THREE, ABOUT THE DOGS AND NEEDING MORE EDUCATION AND MORE OFF-LEASH AREAS.
AND, UH, IT SOUNDS GREAT, BUT I DON'T REALLY AGREE WITH IT.
THE EDUCATION SOUNDS GOOD, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE VERY HARD TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AND ABOUT THE OFF-LEASH AREAS, HAVING MORE OF THEM, ACTUALLY, YOU WILL FIND OUT THAT YOU HAVE GREATER PROBLEMS NEAR EXISTING OFF-LEASH DOG AREAS.
THEN YOU HAVE FAR AWAY FROM THEM IS AN EXAMPLE, RIGHT OVER HERE AT AUDITORIUM SHORES.
THERE'S AN OFF-LEASH DOG PARK, BUT JUST ON THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER, RIGHT OVER HERE, WHERE, UH, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, LAMAR AND CESAR CHAVEZ.
THERE'S ALWAYS, ALWAYS DOGS RUNNING OFF LEASH THERE, AND THERE ARE ALSO DOGS RUNNING OFF LEASH, NOT AS MUCH AS THERE USED TO BE, BUT THERE ARE AT A AUDITORIUM SHORES, NOT WORTHY, ACTUALLY OFFICIAL OFF-LEASH AREA IS, AND THAT'S THE CASE PRETTY MUCH ALL OVER THE CITY.
IF YOU GO TO MARY MAR, UH, C WRIGHT PARK, WHERE THEY HAVE A LARGE OFF-LEASH DOG AREA, YOU CAN GO IN THE OTHER PART OF THE PARK AND GUESS WHAT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DOGS OFF LEASH.
SO IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY PARTICULAR BEARING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE OFF-LEASH DOG AREAS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM.
AND, UH, AND THE, THE EDUCATION PART YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE IS MY UNDERSTANDING FOR A LONG TIME.
AND THAT HASN'T WORKED VERY WELL.
IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE OFF-LEASH DOG PROBLEM IN THIS CITY, YOU TICKET PEOPLE AND THE ANIMAL ADVISORY OR THE ANIMAL SERVICES THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO THAT.
THE ONLY TIME I EVER SAW ONE OF THEM IN AN AREA WHERE THERE WAS AN OFF-LEASH DOG THAT HAD BEEN CALLED IN UPON, THEY RESPONDED, I THINK IT WAS TWO OR THREE DAYS AFTERWARDS.
AND I ASKED THEM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? AND THEY SAID, WE'VE HAD A REPORT ABOUT AN AGGRESSIVE DOG.
AND I SAID, REALLY, WHEN THE REPORT CAME, COME IN AND THEY SAID, OH, IT WAS ABOUT TWO OR THREE DAYS AGO.
SO IF YOU SENT THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF ALL THE, WHAT ARE THEIR 20 TRUCKS, IF YOU SENT ONE OF THOSE TRUCKS, JUST OUT TO PLACES WHERE PEOPLE BREAKING THE LAW, JUST ONE OUT OF 20 AND HAD A BRIGHT TICKETS, YOU WOULD DO MORE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAN EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THIS ITEM HERE.
I COULD GO ON PROBABLY FOR AN HOUR, BUT THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR COMING DOWN IN THE, IN THE WET RAIN.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED THEN? UM, BOARD MEMBER, UH, LOUIS, DID YOU HAVE A SPEAKER TOO, THAT YOU WANTED TO INTRODUCE? YES.
AND I, I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKER.
I, I AGREE IN PORCELAIN WOULD BE GREAT.
WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT THAT'S JUST LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK WHAT, WHAT WE WANT TO DO MAY NOT BE PERFECT, BUT WE CAN EITHER DO NOTHING OR WE CAN TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM.
AND WE SPEND SOME TIME LOOKING AT BREATHTEC DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS, BUT I THINK IT'S JOANNE NORTON.
IS SHE ON THE LINE? YES, I BELIEVE SHE IS A GREAT MS. NORTON, WOULD YOU, ARE YOU THERE? CAN YOU HEAR US? YES, I AM.
UM, AS BOARD MEMBER LEWIS SAID, I'M A MEMBER OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION AND WAS CHAIR OF THE OFF-LEASH DOG WORKING GROUP.
UM, WE WERE, UM, THRILLED TO JOIN WITH THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD WORKING GROUP, UM, FOR THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF OUR CITIZENS.
UM, OUR WORK SHOWED THAT AUSTIN DOES NOT
[00:40:01]
HAVE ENOUGH AWFULLY DOG AREAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.THIS HAS LED TO CITIZENS CREATING THEIR OWN OFF-LEASH DOG AREAS LIKE THE AREA CALLED LITTLE ZILKER NEAR ZYCLARA ELEMENTARY AREAS OF STACEY PARK, LONGER VIEW PARK OVER AN ENFIELD.
THE LIST JUST GOES ON THESE INFORMAL YET OFTEN ORGANIZED BY NEIGHBORS.
OFF-LEASH DOG AREAS HAVE LED TO ALARMING INCIDENTS, SUCH AS THE DOG BOLTING FROM LITTLE BOOKER AND ATTACKING A DOG, BEING WALKED BY A FAMILY.
UM, THESE OFFICIAL OFF-LEASH AREAS ARE PITTING NEIGHBORS AGAINST NEIGHBORS.
THOSE WHO WANT THE PARKLAND SAFE FOR THEIR FAMILIES USE WITHOUT FEAR OF ATTACK BY AN OFF-LEASH DOG.
AND THOSE WHO FEEL THEIR DOGS ARE FRIENDLY AND NEED TO RUN, AND DON'T WANT TO TRAVEL TO AN OFF-LEASH AREA.
UM, I CONDUCTED A CITIZEN FOCUS GROUP THAT REVIEWED THE PARKS GUIDELINES FOR ADDING OFF-LEASH DOG AREAS, COMMENTS AND CONCERNS WERE SHARED WITH OUR WORKING GROUP AND PASSED ALONG TO THE PARKS TEAM.
SO THIS TOOL IS IN PLACE, INCLUDING HYBRID OPTIONS.
THE GUIDELINES RECOMMEND NEW OFF-LEASH AREAS BE FENCE WITH SEPARATE LARGE AND SMALL DOG AREAS, OBVIOUSLY SHERRY'S ARE PARTICULARLY NEEDED IN THE HIGH DENSITY SECTIONS OF THE CITY.
THE SEAHOLM AREA IS VERY DOG-FRIENDLY YET.
THERE IS NO FENCE AWFULLY SHERIA WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.
I REALIZED MANY CITIZENS FEEL ISSUING CITATIONS IS THE ANSWER, BUT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS MAKE THAT ALL BEEN IMPOSSIBLE.
PARK POLICE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.
ANIMAL PROTECTION IS LIMITED IN WHAT THEY CAN TICKET FOR AND COVER 900 SQUARE MILES OF TRAVIS COUNTY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
THERE JUST NOT ENOUGH OF THEM PARK RANGERS CANNOT ISSUE, UM, UH, OBLATES DOG TICKETS.
AS FAR AS I KNOW OUR WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS REQUESTED CITIZEN ACTION, SUCH AS CALLING 3 1, 1 TO REPORT OFF-LEASH DOGS.
SO THE DATA COULD BE USED TO DETERMINE WHERE NEW AWFULLY STOCK AREAS ARE NEEDED AND RAISING AWARENESS THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS.
MANY PEOPLE DID FEEL, UM, WHAT DOWN, UM, BUT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN AND TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT.
AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE MUSICAL MESSAGING AND THE PRINT MESSAGING THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT WE ALL COLLABORATED TOGETHER.
UM, WITH AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, BOTH, UH, THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION AND THE PARKS BOARD AND, UM, THE STAFF AT, UM, AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO I SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDATION AND ALL EFFORTS BY PARKS AND RECREATION TO PROVIDE SAFE OFF-LEASH AREAS FOR CITIZENS.
AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THAT'S ALLOWED THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE, ESPECIALLY ABOUT WHAT WE DISCUSSED WITH HYBRID OPTIONS FOR AWFULLY SERIOUS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
I'LL HAND IT BACK OVER TO YOU BOARD MEMBERS, UH, BERNARD AND LOUIS.
WELL, AS I, UM, AS I SAID, AS SHE MENTIONED, JOANNE, IS IF YOU DO HAVE QUESTIONS, I HONESTLY FEEL LIKE SHE WOULD BE A BETTER RESOURCE THAN WE ARE.
SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR, FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS JUST A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THAT AND DID A GREAT JOB AS, AS CHAIR OF OUR WORKING GROUP.
SO, UM, AND I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO ASK ANYTHING BEFORE WE PULL UP THE RECOMMENDATION, I CAN GO AHEAD AND PULL IT UP AND WE CAN OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION, OR IF PEOPLE HAD QUESTIONS, NOT RELATED TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY'D LIKE TO ASK, CARLOS HAD HER HAND UP.
I JUST HAD A CLARIFICATION IS SO, UM, CAN WE CONFIRM IF PARK RANGERS ARE ABLE TO ISSUE TICKETS FOR THE OFF-LEASH DOGS, DIRECTOR, MCNEELY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO ANSWER THAT KIMBERLY MCNEALY, THE LEVEL OF AUTHORITY FOR PARK RANGERS IS A VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE TICKETS.
THAT PARTICULAR AUTHORITY LIES WITH THE AUSTIN PART.
I'M SORRY, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO WITH ANIMAL CONTROL, I'M SORRY, ANIMAL PROTECTION.
THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS EVEN THOUGH ANIMAL PROTECTION IS ABLE TO WRITE TICKETS.
THEY ARE NOT, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO, UM, REQUEST THAT SOMEBODY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES.
AND SO IF YOU WERE TO WRITE A TICKET FOR SOMEONE AND THAT INDIVIDUAL DID NOT TELL THE ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICER WHAT THEIR REAL NAME WAS OR THEIR REAL ADDRESSES, THAT TICKET WILL GO ON.
UM, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT WORD IS, BUT UNPAID, RIGHT? BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUCH PERSON OR NO SUCH ADDRESS, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE BOUND TO PAY THAT TICKET.
WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION IN THE, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY YET, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING IF ANYBODY ELSE HEARD IN THE DISCUSSION THAT THE COUNCIL IS HAVING ABOUT BUDGET IS ANY RETURN, UM, OF A PARKS POLICE ON THE HORIZON.
DOES ANYBODY KNOW MY RECOLLECTION OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION ABOUT BUDGET DID NOT INCLUDE, UH, THAT PIECE, BUT I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EACH ACCOUNT, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THAT BEING A, UM, UH, AN ITEM THAT THEY DISCUSSED.
AND JUST TO ADD ONTO THAT, I TALKED TO SOMEBODY WITH THE POLICE ASSOCIATION
[00:45:01]
WHO ALSO ABOUT THIS, AND HE ALSO SAID THAT THEY, UM, HAD NO PLANS TO, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE, NOT JUST THE FUNDING, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO RECREATE, UH, UH, PARKS POLICE FORCE AT THIS TIME.SO, BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL RECRUITING FOR THEIR CADET CLASSES AND THEY'RE STILL NOT ABLE TO FILL ALL THE CURRENT POSITIONS THEY HAVE.
SO, SO NO, I THINK AT LEAST NOT NOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO, TO HAPPEN.
I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION AND THIS MIGHT BE FOR JOANNE.
I DIDN'T CATCH THE LAST NAME OF OUR SPEAKER.
UM, SO I'VE BEEN IN PLACES WHERE I HAVE SEEN THE LARGE AND THE SMALL DOG PARKS, AND THIS SEEMS TO REALLY WORK WELL.
IS THAT A PARTICULAR EXTRA EXPENSE IN BUILDING DOG PARKS OR IS THAT JUST SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES MAYBE ONE EXTRA FENCE OR DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS THERE? UM, I CAN'T SPEAK TO IT TOTALLY.
I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE GUIDELINES AND MOST OF THE PLACES THAT I'VE SEEN, PROBABLY LIKE YOU'VE SEEN AS AN EXTRA PIECE OF FENCE RUN IN THE, IN BETWEEN AND, UH, A THICK FENCE, SO THEY CAN'T GET THEIR SNOUTS IN AND ALSO WOULD REQUIRE AN EXTRA ENTRY AREA.
SO AN EXTRA CATCH PEN AND ENTRY AREA, BUT IT, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A HUGE COST TO DO THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY, GO AHEAD.
SO I GUESS AT THIS POINT, WE'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND, UM, DO YOU WANT TO JUST GO OVER THE RECOMMENDATION BOARD MEMBER BERNARD OR SURE I CAN READ IT.
WHEREAS SECTION THREE DASH FOUR DASH ONE OF THE AUSTIN CITY CODE STATES THAT EXCEPT IN DESIGNATED OFF-LEASH DOG AREAS, AN OWNER OR HANDLER OF A DOG SHALL KEEP THE DOG UNDER RESTRAINT.
AND WHEREAS WITH AUSTIN'S GROWTH, THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN VIOLATIONS OF THIS CODE IN PARKS AND GREEN SPACES.
AND SINCE OCTOBER 1ST, 2022 PARK RANGERS HAVE HAD OVER 21, 2,101 CONTACTS WITH PARK VISITORS WHO HAD THEIR DOGS OFF THE LEASH TO REQUEST COMPLIANCE WITH LEASH LAWS AND AUSTIN THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE CALLING CONSISTENTLY RECEIVES NOTIFICATIONS OF LEASH LAW VIOLATIONS AT CITY PARKS.
AND WHEREAS A WORKING GROUP WHICH INCLUDED ARD AND THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AND MEMBERS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, UM, SORRY, IN THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION EVALUATED THE GROWING COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND CREATED RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS THE GROWING OFF-LEASH DOG ISSUE.
AND WHEREAS OFF-LEASH DOGS CAN POSE A THREAT, BOTH TO DOG SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHER PARK USERS.
AND WHEREAS PARKS AND GREEN SPACES SHOULD BE SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS CURRENTLY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE AUSTIN ANIMAL SHELTER AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE THE OFF-LEASH DOG ORDINANCE.
AND WHEREAS IN AUSTIN, WHICH HOLDS A POPULATION OF OVER A MILLION, THERE ARE ONLY 12 OFFICIAL PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
OFF-LEASH DOG AREAS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND NOT ALL AREAS ARE FENCE.
NOW, THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD ENCOURAGES THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO EXPLORE ALL AVAILABLE MEANS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND TO EXPAND FENCED OFF LEASH DOG AREAS, PRIORITIZING THE HIGH DENSITY AREAS THAT LACK THESE FACILITIES.
UM, WOULD PEOPLE, DO I HAVE COMMENTS IN FAVOR YOU WANT TO GO WITH IN FAVOR FIRST? IS THAT BEST? ANY COMMENTS IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION OR THAT I HAVE, WE MOTIONED WE DIDN'T MOTION.
UM, DO WE HAVE MOTION TO APPROVE? I MOVE TO APPROVE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS THERE.
UM, DO WE HAVE COMMENTS IN FAVOR? I WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS I'M GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT.
I WANTED TO JUST NOTE THAT, UM, ALTHOUGH THE RESOLUTION STATES THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE THE OFF-LEASH DOG ORDINANCE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT REALLY CLEAR THAT WE THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ORDINANCE AS A PARKS BOARD, AND IT'S STILL AN EFFECTIVE ORDINANCE AND IT'S STILL THE LAW AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND SO, UM, I DON'T LOVE THE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS.
IT'S STILL VERY MUCH A VIABLE AND IMPORTANT LAW AND WE SHOULD BE ENFORCING IT.
AND IF THERE IS A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S A POLICE OFFICER WITH AUTHORITY, HE SHOULD BE ENFORCING IT.
[00:50:01]
OUR PARK RANGERS TO FOCUS ON VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.AND I KNOW THE, THE RESOLUTION DOES THAT BY ENCOURAGING EDUCATION.
BUT I THINK THAT, UM, EVEN WITH, YOU KNOW, THE PARK RANGER RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, THIS SHOULD BE IMPORTANT.
IT'S, UH, IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE WITH HOW OUR PARKS ARE USED AND EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PARKS.
UM, ONCE THE PARK HAS TAKEN OVER BY OFF-LEASH DOGS AND THEIR USERS, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ANYBODY ELSE TO USE IT FOR THE, UM, THE OTHER NEEDS.
SO I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE TWO REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS I WANT TO MAKE TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS.
I ALSO HOPE THAT AS PART OF THIS EDUCATION, THAT PARK RANGERS CAN FOCUS ON, UM, SOME OF THE HOTSPOTS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE WHERE PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, BEING VERY FLAGRANT WITH OFF-LEASH DOGS.
THERE'S ONE AREA THAT ROBERT CORBIN MENTIONED.
UM, THAT'S RIGHT OVER HERE BY CESAR CHAVEZ IN LAMAR ON THIS SIDE WHERE, YOU KNOW, I SEEN THE GUYS AFTER WORK WITH THEIR DOGS AND HE'S LIKE LEANING ON THE NO OFF-LEASH DOG SIGN, LIKE THROWING THE DOG THING.
AND THEY'RE ALL RUNNING AROUND.
SO, I MEAN, EVERYBODY KNOWS THERE'S PLACES, LITTLE MILKERS, TONS OF OFF-LEASH DOG.
SO PARK RANGERS, CAN'T GO THERE.
AND I THINK IF PARK RANGERS SHOW UP AND TALK TO PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY, YOU CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE WORKING GROUP MEMBERS FOR DOING THIS WORK.
THIS IS A BIG CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
AND I THINK THESE ARE REALLY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, SO I SUPPORT THEM ALL, BUT I ALSO HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE TOOLS THAT WE DO HAVE TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.
I JUST WANNA SAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CODE, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LAW, THEN IT SHOULD BE ENFORCED BECAUSE WHAT IS THE, WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING IT, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE TO COMPLY WITH IT.
AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY HAVE THEIR DOG OFF THE LEASE, THE CHANCES OF ANY CONSEQUENCES FOR THEM ARE VERY MINIMAL.
SO THEY ARE GOING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU JUST NINA, THAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU JUST GAVE HER, THE GUYS STANDING THERE NEXT TO THE SIGN.
I, I WISH WE COULD FIX THAT AS I SAID, I, SO WE DID SAY IN THE RESOLUTION CURRENTLY, IF YOU WANTED TO AMEND IT TO, YOU KNOW, PUT ANY LANGUAGE IN WITH THAT, YOU'VE MORE THAN WELCOME TO DO THAT.
BUT I DO, I DO AGREE WITH YOU.
IT'S JUST, WE THEY'RE JUST, AT THIS POINT AT THIS RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE JUST NOT THE RESOURCES TO DO TO IMPROVE ENFORCEMENT.
THERE'S JUST NOT, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO ACTUALLY STRIKE THAT LANGUAGE THOUGH, THAT TALKS ABOUT WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET AND MAYBE TO SAY, OH, WE NEED TO, OKAY.
MAYBE WE SHOULD MAYBE WHAT WE SHOULD DO TO PUT SOME TEETH IN IT IS SAY, AND I DON'T, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE PAPER IN FRONT OF ME TO WRITE IT DOWN TO MAKE SENSE.
I'M JUST SORT OF PULLING IT OUT OF MY HEAD, BUT MAYBE IF WE CAME UP WITH SOME LANGUAGE THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO FIND THE BUDGET OR FIND THE MEANS TO ENFORCE THE EXISTING OFF LEASH LAWS.
SO WOULD THAT MAKE SENSE? WHAT DO YOU THINK? UM, BOARD MEMBER BERNARD? UM, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE, CAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY GOING OVER BUDGET STUFF RIGHT NOW.
LIKE, I MEAN, DOES IT, WHAT'S THAT, I'M SORRY, THE BUDGET APPROVED ON FRIDAY.
SO THE LANGUAGE WAS APPROVED ON, ON FRIDAY MORNING, YOU GUYS PROVIDE A RESOLUTION AND IT'S GOOD AND IT'S STRONG.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT IT'S STILL AN EFFECTIVE ORDINANCE AND IT CAN STILL BE ENFORCED, WHICH, AND AGAIN, IT'S FINE.
THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK WITH ANOTHER, UM, RECOMMENDATION AS WELL IN THE FUTURE.
IF WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY FOR MORE ENFORCEMENT FROM WHATEVER RESOURCE, WHETHER IT'S THE POLICE OR WHETHER IT'S THE ANIMAL, UM, UH, THE ANIMAL CENTER.
ANY, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, ANY OPPOSING COMMENTS? UH, UH, BOARD MEMBER DEPALMA.
DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? OKAY.
UM, THIS IS A LONG TIME ISSUE WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH.
I THINK WE FIRST STARTED HEARING ABOUT THIS.
WE WERE MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD SINCE WE STARTED, I THINK ME AND MEMBER LEWITT.
AND, UH, IT'S BEEN, WE THOUGHT WE HAD SOME MOMENTUM IN 2017.
I BELIEVE AUSTIN PETS ALIVE HAD, HAD SAID THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO BE PART OF THIS.
AND I THINK ACTUALLY THEY DID, UH, WERE PART OF A, LIKE A SIGN INITIATIVE THAT WE PUT A TRAIL HEADS, BUS, LIKE PARTS TRYING TO REINFORCE, YOU KNOW,
[00:55:01]
I'LL BE ON LEASH.AND, UM, AND IT'S JUST, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAS TO BE AN ONGOING AND ONGOING EFFORT.
AND I AGREE WITH, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBER, UH, CORBYN, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU GET SO MANY NEW PEOPLE COMING TO AUSTIN OR THEY JUST GET THEIR DOG AND YOU HAVE, WE HAVE SOME REAL BEHAVIORAL ISSUES WITH WE'RE ABOUT THE DOG OWNERS.
WHO'VE BEEN THE DOGS, FRANKLY, WHERE THIS ENTITLEMENT, UM, IN THIS CONFRONTATION THAT MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN ATTACKED BY DOGS AND THEY GET CONFRONTED BY A DOG RUNNING UP TO THE MIDNIGHT AND YOU KNOW, OF COURSE THEY HAVE PTSD FROM IT, OR IF, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THEIR CHILD OR IF THEY HAVE THEIR DOG ON LEASH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND MAYBE THEIR DOG ON LEASHES FOR SPECIFIC REASONS.
AND, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT I REMEMBER WANTING TO GO AND LOOK AT THE LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE TO SEE HOW WE COULD NOT INCREASE IN DEPARTMENT.
SO IT LOOKS SIMILAR TO, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE, UH, LIKE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO THE CITATION AND HAVE A NEW CLASSIFICATION.
SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING I'D HATE TO USE, UH, YOU KNOW, VALUABLE POLICE OFFICERS.
AND WE HAVE, SO MATE'S A LITTLE ABOUT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OUTSIDE OF WHEN THERE BECOMES A, LIKE A BELLIGERENT CASE, SOMEBODY GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE COMING, IT LOOKS, THERE MIGHT BE SOME PHYSICAL NATURE THAT'S GOING TO BE INVOLVED, BUT OVERALL I SUPPORT IT.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT.
I WAS LOOKING TO SEE, I BELIEVE WE DID PASS A RESOLUTION IN EITHER 2017 OR, OR EARLY 2018, BUT I WAS ABLE TO FIND IT IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SO, UM, I SUPPORT IT AND THEN, UH, HOPEFULLY A PLAYER THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HOPEFULLY, OKAY.
IF THERE ARE NO MORE COMMENTS, THEN SHALL WE CALL THE BOAT? ALL RIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR AND IT LOOKS UNANIMOUS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS BOARD MEMBER LEWIS AND BOARD MEMBER BERNARD.
AND ALSO IF SHE'S STILL ON THE LINE TO JOANNE NORTON, THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THE WORK.
[4. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding changes to the 305 S. Congress PUD.]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING CHANGES TO THE 3 0 5 SOUTH CONGRESS.UM, AND I, I THINK THAT WE MIGHT HAVE SOME SPEAKERS.
UM, OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS BOBBY LAVINSKY BOBBY AT THREE MINUTES.
THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, I WANTED TO COME AND SPEAK IN FAVOR OF YOU TAKING THE ACTION, UM, AND THEN RECONSIDERING THIS TONIGHT.
I THINK THAT JUST WHAT THE NATURE OF PUDGE, YOU LEARN THINGS OVER TIME AND NEW INFORMATION COMES TO LIGHT, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT JUST TO HAVE THESE CONTINUAL CONVERSATIONS.
SO, UM, THIS IS A VERY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PARKS BOARD TO DO THAT WITH THE PUT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE STAGE OF THE PROCESS, YOU LEARN A LOT WHEN YOU START READING THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE.
UM, AND I WAS GETTING A LITTLE NITPICKY EARLIER.
I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY AND THEN SHE REMINDED ME TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.
AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS WHERE WE REALLY HAVE TO REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS PIECE OF LAND IS.
UM, THIS IS A, A UNIQUE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT COULD HELP ENSURE WE HAVE A GREAT PARK SYSTEM INTO THE FUTURE ALONG LADY, BIRD LAKE.
THE CITY HAS BEEN YEARS AND YEARS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DOING PLANNING EFFORTS.
AND I REALLY THINK AFTER READING THE ORDINANCE, HEARING THE PITCHES, THIS IS JUST ONE WORD, JUST SIMPLE, SIMPLE TO SAY, COMPLY WITH THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE, COMPLY WITH THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY, COMPLY WITH THE SOUTH LAKE SHORE PLAN.
WE DON'T NEED NECESSARILY SUPERIORITY CAUSE THOSE ARE SOME PRETTY GOOD PRODUCTS RIGHT THERE.
UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE APPLICANT NEEDS HEIGHT.
THAT'S GREAT, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO KEEP MODIFYING ALL THE STANDARDS AND WEAKENING OUR POSITION AS A CITY, UM, IN WHAT WE ARE, UH, ESTABLISHING AS OUR VALUES FOR EVERY PROJECT THAT COMES TO BE, UM, THIS IS A VALUABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY.
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
UM, THAT'S, SHOULDN'T BE A CONCERN HERE.
SO LET'S JUST, JUST, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER OUR VALUES AND I THINK OUR VALUES ARE ALREADY ADOPTED.
SO THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANTED TO SAY HERE.
UM, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE COMMENTS AS WE GO ON THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT'S THE BIG PICTURE.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD SUBTLE.
ADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PARKS BOARD.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE STATESMAN PROJECT.
[01:00:01]
OF THIS TONIGHT, SO WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE PURPOSE IS, BUT WE'RE HERE IN THE EVENT THAT YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR US, OR IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO YOU IN YOUR, UH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TONIGHT, BUT WHATEVER IT IS, WE'RE HERE IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BILL BUNCH.
GOOD EVENING AND CARE, UH, CHAIR, CONDOM, SEIBEL, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'M BILL BUNCH, UH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UH, MADAM CHAIR FOR BRINGING THIS BACK TO THE BOARD TONIGHT.
I THINK WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THIS ALMOST A YEAR AGO, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION, OBSCURITY OF INFORMATION.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A DRAFT ORDINANCE.
WE NOW HAVE A DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT.
WE'VE HAVE A LOT MORE INFORMATION, AND IT'S NOW OVERWHELMINGLY CLEAR THAT THIS DRAFT ORDINANCE WOULD SET A HORRIBLE PRECEDENT, MULTIPLE POINTS, UM, FOR ACROSS OUR CITY, FOR OUR WHOLE PARKS AND HOW WE DEVELOP.
UM, SO PLEASE, IT'S, IT'S A SO CLEAR THAT IT IS FAR FAR INFERIOR WHEN IT COMES TO THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE ITSELF.
IT'S NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO COMPLYING.
IT'S, UH, BASTARDIZING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY CALLING THE, WHAT THEY ARE CALLING DEDICATED IS NOT REALLY DEDICATED AND THEY'RE CALLING IT PUBLIC PARKLAND.
IT'S NOT PUBLIC, THEY'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER IT LARGELY AND HOW IT'S MANAGED AND OPERATED.
AND THE ORDINANCE WOULD LET THEM DO THAT, UH, IN SORT OF ONE-ON-ONE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PARKS DIRECTOR, UH, BUT WITH THEM IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.
AND THE LANGUAGE IS VERY CLEAR ON THAT.
IT WOULD CUT OFF PUBLIC ACCESS.
IT'S LONG ESTABLISHED ALONG CONGRESS AVENUE BRIDGE.
IT WOULD BUILD A BOARDWALK WHERE WE DON'T NEED ONE AT TREMENDOUS EXPENSE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF LETTING THEM CUT OFF ACCESS TO THE LAND TRAIL FOR PRIVATE EVENTS AND PRIVATE ACTIVITIES WITHOUT INFURIATING THE PUBLIC AND, AND, AND CUTTING OFF THE, UH, THE FULL TRAIL ACCESS.
WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD NOT SET THE PRECEDENT OF BUILDING BOARDWALKS EXCEPT WHERE THERE'S A BLUFF.
AND WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO, WE SHOULD NEVER SET A PRECEDENT WITHOUT A TREMENDOUS ABOUT CONSIDERATION OF LETTING THEM BUILD THEIR WATER QUALITY CONTROLS IN THE PARKLAND AND STILL CALLING IT PARKLAND.
UM, AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN HERE.
UH, THE ORDINANCE IS DRAFTED TO SAY IT'S 0.9 ACRES, BUT IT'S ALSO SAYS IT'S CONCEPTUAL.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU REALLY NEED TWO ACRES, THEN YOU GIVE UP A WHOLE NOTHER ACRE OF PARKLAND.
AND THIS IS FENCED AND UNUSABLE PARKLAND.
UH, OR DO YOU GIVE UP GETTING THE WATER QUALITY TREATMENT THAT YOU NEED FOR THE WATER GOING INTO LADY BIRD LAKE? UM, I KNOW YOUR MAIN FOCUS IS PARKLAND ORDINANCE WITH THE OVERLAY ORDINANCES DESIGNED TO PROTECT OUR CROWN JEWEL OF PARKS RECREATION, THE PARK, THE LAKE ITSELF UH, NEXT TO BARTON SPRINGS.
SO THAT'S WITHIN YOUR JURISDICTION AND THE SUBSIDIES THAT ARE BAKED INTO THIS ARE OFF THE CHARTS AND RIDICULOUS.
THIS IS WELFARE FOR BILLIONAIRES, LITERALLY IT'S, IT'S, IT'S SO OFFENSIVE IN SO MANY WAYS AND THAT'S MONEY THAT WOULD BE DIVERTED FROM THE GENERAL FUND AWAY FROM PARKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT PUBLIC NEEDS FOR THE WHOLE CITY.
SO THAT'S SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, UM, I SEE ROY GETTING UP, BUT DID YOU FILL OUT A FORM? ALL RIGHT.
UM, I'M SURE I'VE GOT IT SOMEWHERE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROY WHALEY.
HOW DO Y'ALL? MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BEING THE CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB'S CONSERVATION COMMITTEE.
AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FOLLOW THIS AS WELL AS POSSIBLE, UH, FOR A YEAR NOW.
[01:05:01]
I HAD QUESTIONS IS AFTER REREADING MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS AND THE SYNOPSIS OF OTHER MEETINGS, HAVING WATCHED THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TWICE, UM, FROM LAST FEBRUARY, THANK GOODNESS THEY HAD THE PHENOMENA ON THE SIDE SO I CAN FOLLOW ALONG.IT WAS A VERY LONG AND VERY CONFUSING MEETING.
UM, SO I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND SO I RE-READ REWATCHED AND CAME AWAY WITHOUT ANSWERS.
UM, WHAT DID SEEM CLEAR IS THAT THE PARKLAND DEDICATION, UH, AS APPLIED HERE, IT WAS VERY CONVOLUTED.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING SCREWED.
UM, AND WHEN I SAY WE, I MEAN THE CITIZENS OF BOSTON, THIS COULD BE A JUUL RIGHT HERE DOWN THE STREET FROM THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS.
THIS COULD BE A SHOWPLACE PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR RESIDENTS BUSINESS, BUT PARTICULARLY PARKS.
AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO PASS THIS UP.
UM, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC PARKLAND, UH, ONE GROUP THAT'S PARTICULARLY GETTING LEFT OUT OF THE ADA COMMUNITY.
UH, LOOKING AT OVER IT IS HARDER AND HARDER FOR THE ADA COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS ANY OF THIS PARKLAND, PARTICULARLY IF THERE WERE THE BOARDWALK NOW AS A CYCLIST, THE BOARDWALK, AND, UH, THAT GOES UNDER I 35 TURNED OUT MUCH BETTER THAN I HAD ANTICIPATED, BUT IT'S STILL UGLY.
IT'S JUST THAT THERE WAS NO LAND AVAILABLE TO DO THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM HERE.
THE, THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL GOES THERE AND IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO GO ACROSS THERE.
AND AS FAR AS THE AESTHETICS OF IT, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE LAKE HAS BEEN CONSULTED OR EVEN AWARE OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE.
UM, KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE IDEA IS TO KEEP THE HOLY POINT OFF OF THEIR, THEIR PARK.
UM, ANOTHER ITEM THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY A PARKS ITEM.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE THEM A NO TRESPASSING OR KEEP OUTSIDE TO PUT UP A BROUGHT TO YOU BY PART.
UM, BUT NOT ONLY FROM WHAT BOBBY AND BILL WERE SAYING, I DON'T HAVE THEIR LEGAL MIND, BUT THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT WHAT WE HAVE FOR PARKS AND THE FUTURE.
THE OTHER PART IS NOT PARTS BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH RICHARD.
HE IS TALKING ABOUT MOVING YOUR NET OFF.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD DO BETTER THAN 80% MFI.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GO A LITTLE BIT LONG AND THANK YOU JUST FOR BEING HERE.
WE'VE ALSO GOT ROBERT CORBAN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
ROBERT, YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES.
WELL, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING THAT I COULD ADD TO WHAT BOBBY OR BILL OR ROY SAID, EXCEPT I'M JUST GOING TO SECOND EVERYTHING THEY SAID, BECAUSE I THINK THEY DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS.
SO, UM, I HAVE SOME MATERIALS HERE.
UM, MR. BUNCH HAS PUT OUT, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS, BUT I'M GOING TO, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I WANT TO JUST SORT OF UPDATE YOU GUYS WHERE THIS IS AT THE MOMENT.
SO, UH, FOR BOARD MEMBERS THAT MAY NOT KNOW THE PUD PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT CAN BE GIVEN BY THE CITY.
AND ONCE THAT'S GRANTED, THAT SORT OF TURNS OVER THE CONTROL OF THAT AREA, TO THE DEVELOPER THAT HAS APPLIED FOR THAT PUTT.
SO WHAT'S BEFORE CITY COUNCIL THIS NEXT WEEK, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE IF YOU WOULD.
SO HEADED FOR COUNCIL, THERE'S A WORK SESSION ON AUGUST 30TH AND THERE'S A SEPTEMBER 1ST COUNCIL MEETING.
AND SO ONE OF MY POINTS TONIGHT TO BRING THIS UP WAS BECAUSE THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU, WHETHER YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF THIS BUD, OR WHETHER YOU'RE AGAINST THIS PUB, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY.
AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SOLICITATE AS SOLICIT EVERYBODY'S OPINIONS.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT COUNCIL HEAR FROM YOU.
I'VE BEEN SORT OF JUMPING UP AND DOWN ALL YEAR ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS FLYING UNDER THE RADAR OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO ON THESE, ON THESE SLIDES, WHAT I'VE DONE IS SORT OF, I GAVE YOU PAGES AND PAGES FROM
[01:10:01]
THE ZONING.UM, UH, THERE WAS A ZONING, I FORGET WHAT IT'S CALLED AND IT'S NOT IN FRONT OF ME.
UM, THERE WAS A ZONING AMENDMENT THING, AND THERE WAS A, THE ACTUAL PUD ORDINANCE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS PUT FORWARD.
BUT I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS.
AND THAT IS THE, UM, COUNCIL HAS GIVEN A READING AND THEY'VE WRITTEN A DRAFT.
THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWO DRAFTS AND I WASN'T SURE WHICH WAS THE MOST PREVALENT OR LIKELY TO GO FORWARD.
BUT, UM, MS. RHODES FROM WHOSE WHO'S IS ON THERE, GAVE ME THIS ONE.
SO I PUT THAT 47 PAGES OUT THERE FOR YOU IN CASE YOU WANTED TO READ THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF IT.
AND I WANTED TO FOCUS TONIGHT JUST ON THE PARKS PIECES.
SO IF YOU'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, THESE ARE SOME SLIDES THAT WERE PRESENTED TO US AT THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT THAT HAD GONE BEFORE THE COUNCIL AT THEIR LAST WORK SESSION.
AND IT'S HARD TO SEE EVERYTHING, BUT BASICALLY WHAT I WAS HOPING THAT YOU WOULD STUDY IN THESE SLIDES BEFORE THE COUNCIL, BEFORE OUR MEETING TONIGHT, WAS JUST TO SEE SORT OF WHAT THE VISION PLAN WAS IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION.
THAT, AND I CAN'T EVEN READ THESE MYSELF, BUT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HOPE FOR THE, FOR THIS VISION PLAN AND WHAT IT WOULD BUILD FOR THE CITY.
AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE STATISTICS THERE.
I WON'T, I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND THESE ARE DRAWINGS BY THE WAY, FROM THE VISION PLAN.
UM, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE BUILDINGS ARE DIFFERENT HEIGHTS.
ORIGINALLY, THESE BUILDINGS WERE SLATED TO BE 90 TO 400 FEET.
UM, AND THIS WAS PART OF THE WORK DONE BACK IN, UH, THERE'S A TIMELINE THERE, BUT I THINK IT'S 2012 TO 2016, THERE WAS A TIMEFRAME IN THERE THAT PEOPLE WERE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.
SO GOING ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE WEEDS ON THE FINANCING BECAUSE THAT'S NOT OUR BAILIWICK, BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE ORIGINAL FRAMEWORK WAS ENCOURAGING THE CITY TO USE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO FINANCE THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LAND.
SO THEY WERE HOPING THAT THERE WOULD BE, UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, APPROPRIATIONS TAX, INCREMENT FINANCING, WHICH IS THE, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S THE TERSE, RIGHT? THAT'S TAX ENGINE, TIF, TIF, SORRY.
UM, NEW VETTER APPROVED BOND FUNDING.
ECONOMIC INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS FROM THE DEVELOPER.
THAT IS, THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, UM, THAT WOULD BE BOUGHT INTO, BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THAT DISTRICT AND MUNICIPAL MANAGE DISTRICT, WHICH IS LEGISLATIVE STUFF THAT WE CAN'T CHANGE.
UM, SO WHAT KEEPS COMING UP IS THAT THE TERS, WHICH IS WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT TO FUND THIS.
SO THEIR IDEA WAS THAT THE DEVELOPERS WOULD COME IN AND OFFER SOME THINGS AND THEN THE CITY COULD NEGOTIATE.
IF THEY HAD SOME FINANCING OF THEIR OWN, THEY COULD SORT OF NEGOTIATE DEALS WITH THE DEVELOPERS.
AND I THINK ORIGINALLY, IF I'M CORRECT, THEY DIDN'T PLAN ON PUDS BEING PART OF THE PROJECT.
THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A REGULATING PLAN PUT INTO PLACE THAT WOULD GIVE THE DEVELOPER SO THAT THE REGULATING PLAN, SORRY, THIS DOES GET INTO THE WEEDS A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE RAGGEDY LIGHTING PLAN WOULD GIVE REGULATION HEIGHTS, SETBACKS, ALL THAT SORT OF MEASUREMENT TOOL.
UM, BUT WHAT HAPPENED IS THE CITY COUNCIL TIED THAT TO CODE NEXT.
AND WHEN CODE NEXT WAS DERAILED, UM, WENT TO COURT AND IS NOT GEARING FORWARD.
AND WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE REGULATING PLANS TOGETHER.
SO AS THIS POD GOES FORWARD, UM, THIS PUD IS AN AMENDMENT TO AN AMENDMENT.
THERE WAS ORIGINALLY AN AMENDMENT MADE FOR THE STATESMAN TO BE THERE.
THE STATESMAN IS LOCATED JUST ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, OBVIOUSLY, AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND I, MR. SADDLE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, BUT I BELIEVE THE REASON THAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE 1989 AMENDMENT IS TO GRANDFATHER AND POSSIBLY SOME OF THE REGULATIONS THAT WERE IN PLACE IN 1989, WHICH IS A CONCERN TO ME.
DO YOU WANT TO, COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT, MR. SUTTLE JUST QUICKLY, THE PUD PROCESS IS THE ONLY PROCESS AVAILABLE TO CURRENTLY TO OPT IN TO THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLAN BECAUSE WE HAD A PUD.
YES, IT IS THE, UM, BECAUSE WE HAD A PUD, WE JUST AMENDED, WE JUST FILED AN AMENDMENT TO THAT PREVIOUS.
BUT THE ONLY THING THAT WE GOT OUT OF THAT WAS THE PROCESS AND THE NEW PUTT ORDINANCE.
SO WHY DIDN'T YOU START A NEW POD THEN? WHY WOULD WE, WHAT ARE YOU GAINING BY USING THIS AS AMENDMENT? WE CAUSE WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN EXISTING BUD AND ALL WE HAD TO DO IS DO AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING POD.
WELL, JUST, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? WHAT IS, WHAT DOES THE EXISTING PUD ALLOW INTERESTING PUD ALLOWS FOR BASICALLY WHAT YOU SEE OUT THERE, THE INDUSTRIAL USE OF, UH, OF A NEWSPAPER
[01:15:01]
PLANT WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL SQUARE FEET THAT WE COULD ADD TO THAT PLANT.IT WAS IN ABOUT 600, 660,000 SQUARE FEET FOR INDUSTRIAL.
PARDON ME FOR INDUSTRIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND OFFICE.
YEAH, IT WAS, IT'S KIND OF A WEIRD DEAL.
IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A SINGLE USE STATESMAN NEWSPAPER.
AND SO WE'RE CHANGING THAT NOW TO BE SIX BUILDINGS.
SIX BUILDINGS RANGING IN HEIGHT FROM, UM, I KNOW IT GOES UP TO 5 25.
NOW WHAT'S THE LOWEST ONE TO TWO 50 TO 5 25.
BUT THE OTHER THING HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN IS WE'VE, WE'VE ALSO PASSED A, UH, UH, MASS TRANSIT BILL THAT REQUIRES DENSITY AND WE'VE GOT THE TRAIN TRACK AND THE TRAIN STATION THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S JUST A, IT'S A PUSH POOL.
A LOT, LOTS OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE PLAN WAS ADOPTED.
SO MOVING ON, I'M GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME UP JULY 28TH.
AND YOU SEE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE STAKEHOLDER AS RCC HAD, WHICH IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS ONE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THAT, IN THAT AREA.
AND THEN YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT, UM, WENDY TODD SPOKE TO THAT CALLED IN EARLIER.
SHE WAS JUST EXPLAINING THE CONCERNS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ABOUT THIS, UM, THAT HAS TO DO WITH, I CAN'T READ IT.
IS THIS THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU'RE A PART OF IT IS, BUT I AM, I AM, I HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING MEMBERSHIP DUES AND I HAVE NOT BEEN PART OF IT BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OKAY.
SO, UH, THERE'S THERE THEIR CONCERNS.
SO IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, NEXT SLIDE, THERE WE GO.
UM, THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE EMOTIONS THAT KATHY TOVO MADE, WHOSE DISTRICT THIS IS IN.
SO I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AT SOME OF THIS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PULL OUT A FEW OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD AND I'M SORRY, CAUSE I DON'T HAVE MY COMPUTER IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF THE RAIN.
BUT, UM, THIS IS TALKING ABOUT THE PARKLAND SIZE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE VISION PLAN ASKED FOR WAS NINE ACRES OUT OF THIS 18 ACRE SITE TO BE PART OF THE PARKLAND.
AND THE NUMBER THAT'S BEING THROWN AROUND IS ABOUT 6.53.
IF I'M GETTING IT RIGHT AND ONLY 1.6, SEVEN ACRES, AM I READING THAT CORRECTLY? CAN YOU SEE IT? YEAH.
IS, IS, UM, FULLY, FULLY CREDITED PARKLAND.
THERE'S A LOT OF PARKLAND THERE THAT IS GOING TO BE, THERE'S A 0.8, SIX.
THAT'S ACTUALLY UNDER THE LAKE.
UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ACRES THAT ARE IN THE FLOOD, PLAIN THAT HAVE TO, NOT THAT THEY CAN'T BE BUILT.
SO 1.6 ACRES ARE UNENCUMBERED AND THAT'S FULL CREDIT.
THERE ARE 4.07 UNENCUMBERED ENCUMBERED LANDS, WHICH IS FLOODPLAIN GETS HALF CREDIT FOR THE DEVELOPER.
UM, 0.8, SIX IS THE INUNDATED LAND.
I'LL SHOW YOU A MAP IN A MINUTE FULLY DEEDED LAND IS 6.53.
SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO SORT OF POINT THOSE THINGS OUT AS WE GO FORWARD TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND THAT'S THOSE NUMBERS I GAVE YOU SO WE CAN JUST KEEP GOING.
SO I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THESE POINTS, BUT THE DEVELOPER IS HOPING THAT THE TOURISTS WILL PAY FOR THE PARKLAND, WHICH IS A CONCERN FOR US.
UM, BECAUSE I DON'T, I SEE THAT THE DEVELOPER IS GETTING LIKE THE, THE MAYOR HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE HEIGHTS OF THE BUILDINGS BEING ENTITLEMENT, BEING INCREASED ENTITLEMENTS.
BUT WHAT WE'RE NOT SEEING IS FUNDING OF THE PARK, WHICH IS OF CONCERN TO ME.
UM, THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS COMING FROM THE DRAFT OF THE COUNCIL, WHICH THEY'VE PRESENTED, BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN AGREED TO BY THE DEVELOPER.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS THE PROGRAMMING AND THE PROGRAMMING HERE.
UM, IT SAYS LANDOWNER MUST PROVIDE THE DIRECTOR OF PARD WITH AN ANNUAL PLAN FOR PROGRAMMING THE PARK LANDS.
SO THIS MEANS WE'RE PUTTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROGRAMMING IN THE HANDS OF THE DEVELOPER PUBLIC PARKLAND.
AND I THINK THERE'S A CONCERN THAT'S HAD THERE THAT MAKES THAT FEEL LIKE IT BECOMES MORE PRIVATIZED, RIGHT? IF THAT LAND OWNER IS TAKING THE CONTROL OF THE PROGRAMMING OF THE PARKLAND, UM, AND THEN IT GETS A LITTLE COMPLICATED WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
UM, THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL PROGRAMMING PLAN FOR THE FIRST FULL CALENDAR YEAR AND THEN THERE'S EXCEPTIONS.
AND THEN THE DIRECTOR MAY NOT APPROVE THE ANNUAL PROGRAMMING PLAN UNTIL THE DIRECTOR OBTAINS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.
THIS IS VERY CONVOLUTED PLANNING.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS VERY USUAL TO THE WAY WE DO PARK PLANNING.
[01:20:01]
HOW DOES PARK PLANNING USUALLY HAPPEN? IT'S NOT COMPLETELY CONSISTENT, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A PUD, THAT'S THE, THAT IS WHAT A PUD DOES, RIGHT? IT SETS OUT THE, THE UNIQUENESS OF THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF LAND AND IT DICTATES HOW THINGS SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU HAVE HERE CAME FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT FOR SURE.
I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT MY NOTES, BUT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS UP FOR DISCUSSION, BUT THAT THAT'S HOW IT, THAT'S HOW IT PUD WORKS IS THAT THINGS ARE, ARE PUT IN THE ORDINANCE THAT THEN TELLS YOU HOW TO, HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PARTICULAR.
AND I THINK THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE GROVE, BUT I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK EXACTLY AT THE GROWTH ORDINANCE.
I'M SORRY, I CALL ON YOU JUST A MINUTE, PLEASE.
WHAT'S THAT THE STUFF YOU'RE READING, THEY HAVEN'T EVEN AGREED TO WRITE AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN AGREED TO THIS YET.
SO I'M JUST WHAT I'M READING TO YOU IS WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS SET FORTH FOR SECOND READING AND POSSIBLY THIRD READING ON THE FIRST, UM, IT TALKS ABOUT THEY WANT THE, THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS THE LANDOWNER TO CONSTRUCT THIS, THE GREAT STEPS, THE GREAT LAWN, THE PEER AMENITIZED WATER QUALITY PONDS, WATER STEPS IS IDENTIFIED.
UM, AFTER DEDICATION OF THE PARKLAND OF THE CITY, THE LANDOWNER SHALL KEEP AND MAINTAIN THE PARKLAND IN GOOD STATE OF APPEARANCE AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING.
SO THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS I WANTED TO LAY OUT THERE FOR YOU.
MOSTLY MY POINT WAS TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S GOING ON AND I'VE GIVEN YOU THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE SO THAT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE FURTHER WHAT THERE IS AVAILABLE, YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
SO I BROUGHT ALSO TO THIS, UM, SLIDE, THIS SLIDE SET THE, UM, THE MAPS HERE, AND I CAN SHOW YOU SOME OF THE SETBACKS.
UM, IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, NEXT SLIDE TO THE MAPS SLIDES.
SO THIS SHOWS THE, UM, WHAT IS CONSIDERED PARKLAND, I GUESS THAT YOU GUYS, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT HOME, YOU CAN SEE IT UP CLOSE A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
UM, AND I DON'T HAVE A WAY TO REALLY POINT IT OUT, BUT IT SHOWS THE UNDERWATER.
I'M GOING TO POINT TO YOU THE DARK UNDERWATER PART OF THE LAND THAT IS PART OF THE 8.1 8.86.
PARDON ME? UM, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO THIS SLIDE SHOWS YOU, THESE ARE THE, UM, I'M SORRY.
THIS SHOWS YOU THE WATER GARDENS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE PUBLIC PARKLAND.
SO IF YOU LOOK, THERE IS A CISTERN TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE.
THERE'S A VERY, UM, KIND OF, UH, UH, ROUNDED SQUARE ON THE BOTTOM SHAPE THAT IS GOING TO BE THE SISTER AND THAT THEY PLAN TO BUILD FOR RETENTION WATER.
UM, THERE IS ALSO A SERIES OF RAIN GARDENS KIND OF IN THE CENTER.
AND THEN TO THE FAR RIGHT, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL RAIN GARDENS.
THERE'S A PLAYGROUND TOO, BUT THEN ON THE FAR, RIGHT, YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE THAT THERE IS A PART OF THE PARK THAT MAY DISAPPEAR BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO POSSIBLY BE PART OF THE BLUE LINE STATION.
SO I'M GOING TO GET UP AND POINT TO THAT RIGHT OVER HERE, WHICH WOULD TAKE ADDITIONAL PARKLAND.
UM, I WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT ON THIS SLIDE, WHAT YOU START TO SEE ARE SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE PLACES THAT THE PARKS ARE INTERRUPTED BY, UM, PRIVATE ENTRIES TO THE, TO THE, UM, BUILDINGS HERE IN THIS DEVELOPMENT.
ONE OF THEM IS RIGHT OFF OF SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE.
YOU CAN SEE SORT OF WHERE THERE'S A DARKENED S D UM, PIECE THAT GOES INTO SORT OF A TRIANGLE.
SO IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN, LIKE I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, THERE WAS A GRAND STEPS THAT ENTERED THE PARK AT THIS PLACE WHERE THE PUBLIC COULD SEE THE PARK AND COULD COME INTO THE PARK.
IT WAS A WELCOMING, UM, UH, PIECE OF THE VISION PLAN.
AND THIS PART IS ASKING THAT WE PUT A BUILDING RIGHT UP AGAINST THAT AVENUE, AND I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU SOME PHOTOS IN A MINUTE.
WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT PLACE LOOKS LIKE NOW, AND THE STEPS WILL BE, ONCE YOU GO INTO THIS AREA, YOU WOULD GO TO THE GRAND STEPS, PASSING, PASSING SOME OF THE BUILDINGS.
THERE IS A PRIVATE DRIVE NEXT TO THAT GOING UNDER THE BUILDING.
I'M ASSUMING THAT GOES INTO THAT FIRST BUILDING OF CONGRESS.
BIKES ARE GOING TO BE ROUTED DOWN TO THE, IF YOU FOLLOW THE DOTTED LINE DOWN TO THE EXTENSION OF BARTON SPRINGS ROAD AT THE BOTTOM, THAT'S WHERE THE BIKES ARE GOING TO BE ROUTED.
AND THERE ARE TWO ENTRYWAYS TO GARAGE.
IS THERE THAT THE BIKES WOULD NEED TO PASS IN THE BIKE LANE.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU GET IVF PRICING.
THE SLIDE BEFORE I THINK I BROUGHT IT UP, THE GREENS ARE THE FULLY CREDITED PARKLAND.
AND IF YOU REMEMBER ON THE FAR RIGHT-HAND SIDE, PART OF THAT MAY BE DISAPPEARING.
IF THE BLUE LINE STATION IS PUT IN THAT SAME AREA.
[01:25:01]
WANTED YOU GUYS TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.THE PURPLE HASH MARKS ARE THE PLAZA AREAS THAT ARE PUBLIC.
THE RED IS OBVIOUSLY THAT'S THE FLOOD PLAIN LAND.
AND THEN THE BLUE HASH MARKS IS THE UNDERWATER.
SO I JUST SORTA WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND THEN, UM, AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE YOU, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS IS AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD INSTEAD OF GOING TO QUESTIONS.
NOW, I WANT TO REALLY QUICKLY JUST SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
I ADDED SOME SLIDES LATE TODAY.
COULD YOU GO TO THE PHOTOS, THE VERY LAST ITEM ON THE BACKUP, BECAUSE I THINK I'M GOING TO JUST GO THROUGH THESE SUPER QUICKLY.
I'M SORRY THAT I'M, IT'S ANOTHER SLIDE SHOW.
SO YOU CAN PASS THAT FIRST SLIDE.
THIS IS TAKEN ON SUNDAY EVENING AT SEVEN O'CLOCK.
THAT'S THE THAT'S HOW, THAT'S THE PLACE THAT THIS IS GOING TO GO UP, LOOKING FROM THE BRIDGE DRIVING SOUTH.
AND I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR WHEN I TOOK THAT PHOTO, BY THE WAY, FULL DISCLOSURE, BUT ON THE LEFT THERE PAST THE LITTLE BLUE GREEN CAR IS THE STATES AND SITE AS IT IS NOW.
AND THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THIS PAD TAKE PLACE, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS IS THE PATH THAT ALREADY EXISTS ALONG WHEN YOU'RE COMING FROM THE SOUTH, WALKING INTO DOWNTOWN, THERE IS A SIDEWALK THAT GOES UP OVER THE BRIDGE, BUT THIS IS THE PATH ALSO THAT GOES DOWN INTO THE PARK TOWARD THE BATS.
YOU CAN PASS TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WALKING NORTH RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS WHERE THAT SKYSCRAPER IS GOING TO GO RIGHT THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE YETI.
AND IT'S GOING TO BLOCK THE VIEW THAT YOU SEE THERE FROM THE SIDEWALK.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A STAIRCASE THERE THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING TO ACCESS THE PARK FROM THE SIDEWALK THERE.
AND IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE BOTH OF THESE ENTRANCES.
WHEN YOU'RE COMING FROM THE SOUTH.
BOTH OF THOSE INTERESTS IS TAKE YOU TO THE PARK.
THIS IS STANDING AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS AND LOOKING DOWN.
AND IF YOU CAN SEE WHERE ALL THE CARS WERE STOPPED, THAT'S A STOPLIGHT AT BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO EXTEND BARTON SPRINGS ROAD INTO THE BACK.
AND IF YOU GO, THAT'S WHERE THE BITES WILL NEED TO GO.
SO IF YOU'RE COMING ACROSS ON YOUR BIKE, YOU'LL BE GOING ACROSS THERE.
AND THIS IS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE STATESMAN IN THAT PARKING LOT, YOU WILL TAKE YOUR BIKE ON THAT ROAD DOWN.
I MEAN, IT WILL BE BUILT INTO A ROAD.
THIS IS A STATEMENT PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY, BUT THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING THE BIKES GO.
AND IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THERE ARE ALL THESE TREES IN THIS PARKING LOT, AND THERE IS OPEN ACCESS ALL ALONG THE TRAIL AT THIS POINT.
AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO IN THIS PARK.
THIS IS A RANDOM, HOT SUNDAY EVENING.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE, UNLOADING THEIR CARS WITH CHAIRS AND BLANKETS AND KIDS, AND GOING TO SEE THE BATS.
THIS IS A BELOVED ICONIC PARK.
AND I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING HERE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
NEXT SLIDE ARE WE DONE? I THINK THAT'S IT.
SO WHAT I BRING TO YOU TONIGHT, AND I'M SORRY, MR. BUNCH.
I DON'T HAVE TIME OR BANDWIDTH TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE THINGS.
HE HAS COME UP WITH SOME REALLY GOOD IDEAS HERE, BUT I DON'T HAVE TIME TO STOP THE WHOLE MEETING AND READ THEM ALL.
AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT I HAVE PUT FORTH, UM, A DRAFT AMENDMENT THAT I THINK I SAW.
I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN IT.
SO I'M GOING TO READ IT ALOUD.
UM, SO WHEREAS THE VISION PLAIN PLAN FRAMEWORK ADOPTED IN 2016 AND UPDATED IN 2020 AFTER HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS, VOLUNTEERS CALLS FOR A SIGNATURE PARK, THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.
AND WHEREAS THE SPECIAL DOWNTOWN PROPERTY ALONG THE LAKE HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A UNIQUE AND ICONIC SPOT FOR BAT WATCHING AND OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
AND WHEREAS ACCESS TO THIS LAND HAS BEEN RELATIVELY UNFETTERED FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY, SO THAT RESIDENTS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO FREE AIR ACCESS.
THEN THIS PUDDLE WILL OFFER AND WHEREAS THE 3 0 5 SOUTH CONGRESS PUD AMENDMENT FUNNELS, ALL PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS THROUGH AN UPSCALE DEVELOPMENT, REMOVING DIRECT AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE PARK THAT RESIDENTS HAVE APPRECIATED AND FREELY ACCESS FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, PUBLIC ACCESS IS WITH DIRECT CONNECTIVITY OF AUDITORIUM SHORES, CONGRESS AVENUE, AND THE ANDROID BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AND THE BAT VIEWING AREA.
AND WHEREAS THE APPLICANT'S PLAN REQUIRES PEDESTRIANS TO NAVIGATE MULTIPLE SKYSCRAPERS, TO FIND DESIGNATED PARK ACCESSES, A SITUATION FAR LESS EQUITABLE, WELCOMING, AND ACCESSIBLE TO AN AREA THE PUBLIC HAS USED AS A COMMUNITY GATHERING SPOT AND TOURIST DESTINATION FOR YEARS.
[01:30:01]
PARKLAND IS LESS THAN HALF OF THE ACREAGE RECOMMENDED IN THE VISION PLAN AND PARK AMENITIES ARE NOT FUNDED BY THE PUTT APPLICANT TO THIS POINT.AND WHEREAS THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ALLOWS THE APPLICANT TO DEVELOP PARK PROGRAMMING RATHER THAN MAINTAIN PARK PROGRAMMING FOR THIS PUBLIC PARKLAND, THROUGH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AND WHEREAS FOR APPROVAL, ANY PUDGE SHOULD BE DEEMED SUPERIOR, PROVIDING AMENITIES BEYOND WHAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY WITHOUT APPLICATION, WITHOUT THE APPLICATION.
AND WHEREAS THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO DEVELOP A SIGNATURE PARK TO BENEFIT ALL AUSTINITES OFFERING RESPITE IN THE DENSITY OF A GROWING CITY.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HOLD THIS 3 0 5 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE PEDIMENT THE APPLICANT, LIKE ALL OTHERS TO FULL SUPERIORITY AS DETAILED IN THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD, THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE AGAIN RECOMMEND MORE VISIBLE, WELCOMING, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR CITY RESIDENTS TO THIS ICONIC PARK.
WE AGAIN RECOMMEND THE PROGRAMMING FOR THIS PUBLIC PARKLAND BE GUIDED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT STAFF RATHER THAN BY THE DEVELOPER FOR PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESS.
WE RECOMMEND THAT WATER CONTROL FEATURES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, NOT BE CREDITED AS BOTH PARKLAND AND AS ENVIRONMENTAL OR WATERSHED REQUIREMENTS.
WE RECOMMEND THAT ALL NEEDED PARKLAND SHOULD BE FULLY AND CLEARLY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL RESIDENTS, NOT COUNTING AS PARKLAND.
ANY PARCEL SEPARATED FROM THE PARK IS ENTRY TO THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, SUCH AS ELEVATED WALKWAYS TO ENTER THE DEVELOPMENT OR PARCELS BETWEEN THE BUSINESS BUILDINGS THAT GIVES THE APPEARANCE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
WHAT DO I SAY? I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE SO MOVE.
HOW ABOUT THAT? DO I HAVE A SECOND, UH, BOARD MEMBER LOUIS IS WAVING HER HAND.
SO BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN ANY COMMENTS, ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT? UM, BOARD MEMBER DEPALMA, ACTUALLY MINE ARE MORE, MORE QUESTIONS.
AND THEN FAVORITE I'M DEFINITELY IN FAVOR AND SUPPORTIVE ORIGINAL 2016 VISION PLAN.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE CONCERN I HAD WHAT WAS BROUGHT UP LAST YEAR, WHICH IS WHY I WANTED TO COME BACK BEFORE WE MADE A VOTE ON PARKLAND SUPERIORITY.
SO WE'D ACTUALLY HAVE MORE OF A, UH, DIFFERENT MAKE MORE OF A DIFFERENCE, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS WILL DO AS WELL.
WE HAVE LOOKING AT, UM, I DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THAT OR WITH THEIR ORDINANCE WHEN HAVING THE, UH, PLANNING BEING DONE.
I DO WANT TO THINK ABOUT WITH WORD CLARIFYING SOME ITEMS ON THAT.
AND ONE IS THE PLAN, THE BARK PRINT PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE PARTS BOARD.
UH, ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE PARKS DIRECTOR IF I'M READING THAT 47 PAGES CORRECTLY.
DOES THAT, IS THAT RIGHT? UM, SO BOARD MEMBER DIPLOMA, I'M WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE, UM, THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS POSTED THAT YOU LOOKED THROUGH.
I DON'T THINK THAT, I THINK THAT'S A BEST CASE SCENARIO IN TERMS OF WHAT'S ON THE TABLE.
UH, THE DEVELOPERS HAVE AN EVEN AGREED TO PRESENTING PROGRAMMING THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WOULD APPROVE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, BEFORE YOU GO TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD ON MODIFYING WHAT'S IN THERE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD THAT.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE ORDER THAT WOULD BUY FROM STAFF OR COUNCIL WAS NOT WHAT'S BEING CONSIDERED.
IT IS GOING TO BE THAT'S, WHAT'S GOING TO BE CONSIDERED ON SEPTEMBER 2ND.
THEY HAVE A WORK SESSION ON AUGUST 30TH AND THEY HAVE A SECOND READING ON, ON SEPTEMBER 1ST.
AND THEN WHO PUT FORWARD THE, UM, ORDINANCE WHERE THE TAB OR WHERE THE HEAD COUNSEL COUNSEL WROTE THIS ORDINANCE? OKAY.
SO IN THERE SOMEWHERE, I HAD THOUGHT ALL THE GREAT THINGS, UH, BUT THE OTHER THING WAS THAT THEY DID PUT IN THE STARE, RIGHT? THE STAIRS HAVE BEEN MOVED FROM THE VISION PLAN, WHICH WAS RIGHT THERE WHERE THE STAIRS ARE NOW, THAT'S WHERE THE ORIGINAL GRAND STAIRCASE WAS ENVISIONED TO INVITE PEOPLE INTO THE PARKS.
AND IT HAS BEEN MOVED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CALLED NOW THE GREAT STAIRS.
BUT WHEN THEY'RE RIGHT, WHEN THEY'RE DISCUSSING THE GRAPE STEPS, DID THEY LOOK AT LAND OWNER SELF CONSTRUCT, A GREAT STEPS, GREAT LAWN PIER, AMATIZ WATER, QUALITY PONDS, WATER STEPS THAT THEY IDENTIFIED WERE THING WE DON'T WANT THE GREAT STEP.
WE WANT TO GO BACK TO THE VISIONING DOCUMENT FROM 2000.
[01:35:01]
UM, AND THEN WHAT'S THE SETBACK FROM WHERE IT'S CURRENTLY GOING TO THE, WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW.I LOOKED, IT LOOKED LIKE ABOUT 60 YARDS.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PUT NEXT TO CONGRESS AVENUE, BUT ABOUT 60 YARDS.
MR. SIDELL, COULD YOU TELL US HOW MANY YARDS THAT IS? AND THAT WAS JUST LOOKING UP, GOOGLE HER, I THINK I MISSED THE QUESTION.
THE QUESTION IS WHERE, HOW FAR WILL YOU HAVE TO WALK TO GET TO THE GREAT STEPS? WHAT IS THE YARDAGE BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK ON CONGRESS AVENUE TO THE GREAT STEPS THAT YOU ENVISION IN YOUR DEVELOPMENT? WE HAVE THAT MEASUREMENT, WHAT'S THE SIZE OF THAT BUILDING THAT WILL TELL US THE ANSWER.
DO YOU KNOW? WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A BUILDING DESIGNED, WE HAVE AN ENVELOPE DESIGN.
WE CAN PULL THE PLAN UP AND SCALE IT OUT FOR YOU IF YOU WANT.
I MEAN, IF YOU COULD, CAN YOU LOOK THAT UP WHILE WE, WE, WE CAN GET IT CLOSE, BUT WHAT IS YOUR, IS THE CONCERN THAT THE ACCESS WE'RE PROVIDING IS FARTHER AWAY FROM THE PARK THEN? I BELIEVE IT'S FARTHER AWAY FROM CONGRESS AVENUE.
IS THAT YOUR QUESTION, MR. DEPALMA? NO, IT'S WELL, IT'S MORE ABOUT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCESS AND FLOW AND SO I WANT A GOOD, A GOOD UNDERSTANDING.
ARE WE TALKING? I MEAN, I COUNT IT AT 63.6 YARDS WHEN I USE GOOGLE EARTH AND I DID AN OVERLAY OF WHAT THE CONCEPTUAL OPEN SPACE PLAN IS TO WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
AND SO JUST KIND OF THAT FRAMEWORK, OR AM I WRONG ON THAT? IS THAT MUCH FURTHER IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT ACCESS AND HOW PEOPLE WA YOU KNOW, WRAP AROUND? UM, I ALWAYS HAD SOME QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN THE BAT VIEWING HAPPENS, I ALWAYS WAS CONCERNED WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ON THE BRIDGE, TRYING TO GET DOWN STAIRS WHILE THERE'S NOT ONGOING TRAFFIC.
UM, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE, ARE WE GOING TO BE SPACING PEOPLE OUT OR ARE WE CREATING OTHER ISSUES? I'D LOVE, I LOVED THE ORIGINAL 2016 VISION.
I WISH WE COULD DO THAT, BUT I WOULD, THAT'S MY PREFERENCE FOR SURE.
BUT, UM, I'M JUST, I WANT TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE FACTS ARE.
WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THAT.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU HAD? YEAH.
IS THERE, UH, THAT BACK NOW FROM THAT BUILDING, OR IS THAT RIGHT UP AGAINST THE CURRENT PEDESTRIAN PATH? MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S RIGHT UP AGAINST THE SIDEWALK.
AM I CORRECT THERE? THEY'RE WORKING ON YOUR OTHER QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE SECOND QUESTION THAT I HAVE.
CAN WE GO TO SOMEONE ELSE AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT ONE.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ARE AWFUL.
QUIET? ANY, ANY, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I DO HAVE, UM, I THINK, UM, I'VE, I'VE LEARNED ENOUGH, BUT I, I, I DO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, UM, WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO AUSTIN, I WAS, UM, DID A LOT OF RUNNING AND I CAME FROM DC AND IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO RUN BECAUSE YOU COULD RUN AMONG THE NATIONAL MONUMENTS AND WAY THAT ABE LINCOLN.
AND IT WAS REALLY COLD WHEN I MOVED TO AUSTIN, SOMEBODY SHOWED ME THE LAKE AND THE TRACK AND SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN COME HERE.
AND EVEN THOUGH, UM, IT WAS DIFFERENT.
IT WAS, I REALIZED IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL.
AND SO THAT'S WHEN I FIRST KIND OF INTRODUCED TO THE TRAIL ON THE LAKE AND REALIZED WHAT A, UM, WHAT A VALUABLE, INCREDIBLE PIECE OF AUSTIN THAT WAS.
AND THEN THAT LITTLE PIECE OF LAND THAT WERE REFERENCED AT WE ARE REFERENCING RIGHT NOW WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, EVEN MORE SPECIAL BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY TIMES WHEN I AM TAKING MY FRIENDS TO GO SEE THE BATS AND RUN ALONG THERE, AND YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE, YOU'RE AT THE LAKE AND YOU DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN THE CITY, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH, MANY BUILDINGS REALLY CLOSE BY A MISSTATEMENT IS KIND OF LOUD.
SO ALL THAT IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO CHANGE WITH THIS PUD.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY APPARENT WHAT BEST WHAT'S THE NEW REALITY OF IT.
BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS PROCESS HAD JUST SEEMS TO ME, LISTENING TO EVERYTHING THAT I'VE HEARD OVER THE PAST YEAR, FROM THE TIME THAT THEY CAME TO THE PARKS BOARD TO ASK FOR SUPERIORITY, UNTIL NOW, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT HASN'T BEEN TRANS TRANSPARENT.
AND THE BOTTOM LINE THOUGH, IS THAT THIS IS SUCH
[01:40:01]
A SPECIAL, ICONIC PLACE THAT HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO GENERATIONS OF AUSTINITES AND TO OUR COMMUNITY NOW AND WILL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.AND I FEEL LIKE AS A PARKS BOARD, WE JUST OWE IT TO THE COMMUNITY TO SAY THIS PIECE OF LAND.
WE NEED TO HAVE A SUPERIOR PARK HERE.
THIS IS JUST TOO VALUABLE, TOO IMPORTANT TO JUST LET THIS BECOME A PARK WHERE YOU IT'S W FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN THERE, THE ASSETS POINTS, ALL THE OTHER PIECES THAT YOU'VE POINTED OUT, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE OF A PRIVATE PARK.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S JUST NOT OKAY.
I WILL YOU WORRY ABOUT IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR WAIVERS FOR WATER QUALITY, IF YOU'RE ASKING THAT TO DO THINGS EXEMPTIONS FROM PARKS, THAT'S THAT'S, THOSE ARE BIG RED FLAGS.
AND I THINK WE, WE OWE IT TO THIS COMMUNITY TO, TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO, TO, TO, UM, TO ASK FOR THAT AND SAY, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU, UM, CHAIR, COTTON SEIBEL, YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK ON THIS AND SPEND SO MANY HOURS, UM, GOING TO MEETINGS AND RESEARCHING AND TALKING TO PEOPLE AND DOING YOUR VERY BEST TO KEEP US INFORMED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT, AND I TOTALLY SUPPORT YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
DO WE HAVE AN ANSWER FROM THE APPLICANT ON THE SPACE WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE PARKS BOARD, WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND UP HERE TONIGHT AND TRY TO SCALE OFF STUFF ON DRAWINGS.
WE WERE NOT PREPARED TO PRESENT TONIGHT BECAUSE WE WERE GIVEN NO NOTICE THAT THIS WAS COMING UP OR THAT THERE WOULD BE A MOTION, BUT I WILL EXTEND THE HEARTFELT AND CONTINUED WILLINGNESS TO SIT DOWN WITH THE PARKS BOARD AND SHOW YOU THIS STUFF, BECAUSE THERE'S JUST A LOT OF MISINFORMATION BEING FLOATED AROUND, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ON THE RECORD ON AND PLAY STUMP THE CHUMP TONIGHT.
WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO DO IT.
AND IT WAS, IT WAS POSTED PUBLICLY FOR EVERYBODY.
SO PARDON ME? IT WAS POSTED PUBLICLY AS REQUIRED FRIDAY.
THAT'S ALL, ANYBODY GETS THE APPLICANT.
IF YOU REALLY WANTED INFORMATION FROM US, YOU WOULD ENGAGE US.
YOU STARTED NO, YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE SCHWAB BOARD MEETINGS AND I HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH ALL OF THIS STUFF.
DO WE, HAVE I GOT TO SOLVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR MCNEELY? YES.
AND SO WHAT I DO APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION DEFINITELY WASN'T GEARED TOWARDS BEING STUMP THE CHUMP.
UM, IT WAS JUST TRYING TO GET SOME CHARTS ON PERSPECTIVE, AND THEN ON PARKLAND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS AN ONGOING CONCERN WITH WHAT I'M NOT CONCERNED WITH THE BOARDWALK, UM, I DON'T HAVE THOSE, THOSE CONCERNS.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE THE ENDS OF THE LAKE OR, UH, CREATE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION.
UM, BUT WHAT I AM CURIOUS AS TO, AGAIN, DIRECTOR MCNEILLY, THAT DELTA BETWEEN THE BOARDWALK AND THE, THE, THE LAND EDGE, WHY DOES THAT IN BETWEEN GET COUNTED TOWARDS, OR GET COUNTED AS BLING THE WATER I'LL HAVE TO, UH, TALK WITH, UM, WITH OUR TEAM, UM, OUR PARKLAND DEDICATION TEAM.
AND I WILL, I WILL PUT THAT IN WRITING BACK TO THE ENTIRE PARKS BOARD.
I SIMPLY DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.
AND I THINK THAT MAYBE SOMETHING WE WANTED, I MEAN, I'D LIKE YOU TO DECIDE IF THE RUTS, OUR OVERALL POLICY, LIKE, HOW DO WE TREAT IT JUST IN TERMS OF THIS, BUT HOW DO WE APPLY IT TO OTHER PARKS? BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PLANNING PURPOSES, I THINK THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL, NOT JUST FOR THIS CASE, BUT IF YOU PREACH YOUR CASES AND THEN DOES, CAN ANYBODY ANSWER ME THE SETBACK? WHEN I LOOK AT THAT THE, WHICH DESIGN AM I LOOKING AT? WHEN I LOOK AT THE CONCEPTUAL DETAIL, IT SHOWS, AND THIS IS ALL CONGRESS HAS SHOWED DASH LINES.
WHAT LOOKS LIKE TO BE A BUILDING.
AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A SETBACK AROUND IT.
I COULD BE WRONG BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO, WHEN I SEE THE GREAT STEPS THAT'S EARLY DEFINED, AND THAT GOES RIGHT UP TO A BILL, LIKE RIGHT UP TO THAT LINE.
ANYBODY KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? I'M HAPPY TO SHARE MY SCREEN.
I THINK, I THINK PART OF WHAT YOUR CONCERN IS, UH, IS ADDRESSED BY THE ANSWER THAT THERE IS NO SPECIFICITY ON A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION.
AND THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US ALREADY, UM, WITH, FROM THE COUNCIL HAS STILL NOT GONE TO COUNCIL
[01:45:01]
FOR SECOND READING, STILL NOT BEEN NEGOTIATED WITH THE, WITH THE DEVELOPER.AND I THINK MY INTENT IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD IS JUST SO THAT WE CAN SORT OF TAP COUNCIL ON THE SHOULDER AND SAY, OUR CONCERNS HAVE STILL NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.
AND THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE TO DO THAT.
SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE AFTER HERE TONIGHT.
SO I CAN'T GET ANY OF MY ANSWERS.
I MEAN, I SAW THIS POSTED AS WELL.
I MEAN, AND I WAS LIKE, UM, I WAS HAPPY THAT IT FINALLY CAME BACK.
YOU KNOW, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I WANTED IT TO COME BACK LAST YEAR AND NOT GIVE THE PARKLAND SUPERIORITY, NOT MAKING ANY JUDGEMENTS SO WE CAN HAVE THAT DIALOGUE AND HAVE IT COME BACK.
AND HE TOOK THE CARROT, THE VOTE DIDN'T GO MY WAY LAST YEAR.
AND SO I FEEL LIKE, HEY, WE'RE IN THIS POSITION, BUT I FEEL A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I ALSO AGREE THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT PARKLAND, BUT NOW I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY GET THE ANSWERS.
WELL, I THINK YOU'RE IN THE SAME SHOES, RICH.
I THINK YOU'RE IN THE SAME SHOES AS EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU CALLED IT A HALF-BAKED KICKED ON LIKE BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
AND REALLY WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE THE FINAL DETAILS YET.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, AS COUNSEL GOES INTO THESE FINAL READINGS IS JUST TELLING THEM WHERE WE STAND.
AND I'M LOOKING AT THESE ORDINANCES AND LOOKING AT THESE, UM, DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE AND SAYING, HEY, I STILL DON'T SEE THESE CONCERNS ADDRESS THAT THE PARKS BOARD BROUGHT UP THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD BROUGHT UP, THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION BROUGHT UP.
THEY'RE NOT ALL ADDRESSED YET AND THE PUD NEEDS TO BE SUPERIOR.
AND SO WE ARE ASKING THAT THE PUD AT THE COUNCIL TREAT THIS PUD AS IF IT IS ANY OTHER PUTT AND IT NEEDS TO BE SUPERIOR TO BE APPROVED BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS CAN GET BUILT.
THESE PEOPLE OWN THIS PROPERTY, THESE PEOPLE OWN THE PLANS.
THEY'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE REG, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW THE REGULATING, YOU KNOW, PLAN.
SO IT'S NOT, WE'RE SAYING YOU CAN'T BUILD HERE.
IF WE DENY THE PUD, WE'RE SAYING THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PUD AMENDMENT.
IT'S GOING TO BE FOLLOWING THE REGULATING PLANS AS YOU BUILD.
DOES THAT MAKE MORE SENSE? A LITTLE, UM, I'M WILLING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT REPORT THE EMOTION.
AND THEN, UM, I'M ALSO WILLING TO VOLUNTEER, TO MEET WITH MR. SUTTLE AS AN ALTERNATIVE EAR, AND TO SEE IF WE CAN FURTHER IMPROVE THAT.
UH, THE GOAL IS THE PARK AND PERSONALITY THAN EVERYTHING ELSE WAS DEFINITELY NOT PART OF ANY OF OUR EQUATIONS.
SO HOW DO WE MAXIMIZE AND CREATE ART LAND THAT IS GOING TO BE BEYOND US.
AND I'M SURE HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES.
UH, YEAH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND I WANTED TO JUST PROVIDE A COUPLE OF SOURCES TO THE REST OF THE PARKS BOARD THAT I FOUND HELPFUL.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO MENTION, UM, YOU KNOW, BOARD MEMBER DEPALMA, I THINK HAS SOME, HAD SOME REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS, SOME REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, TO BE, UM, FRANK ABOUT IT.
LIKE THERE'S NO STAFF SUPPORT FOR THIS WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, THIS WAS, IT'S NOT THAT ANYBODY BROUGHT THIS BACK TO THE PARKS BOARD, UM, OTHER THAN CONCERNED PARKS, BOARD MEMBERS TRYING TO GET THIS ON THE AGENDA AND FOLLOWING THE PROCESS, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR OWN VOLUNTEER TIME.
UM, WE'VE ALSO HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CITIZEN COMMUNICATION COMING TO THE PARKS BOARD.
SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE MEMBERS WHO, YOU KNOW, USE THEIR OWN EFFORT TO GET THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S VERY LITTLE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US BECAUSE THAT'S THE STATUS OF THE PROPOSAL.
LIKE IT'S MOVING THROUGH COUNCIL IN A WAY THAT HAS VERY LITTLE SPECIFICITY WITH MANY, MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
AND IN MY MIND, THAT'S WHY IT'S INAPPROPRIATE AND SHOULD NOT BE APPROVED.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, TO THE EXTENT BOARD MEMBER DIPLOMA, YOU HAVE CAPACITY TO MOVE FORWARDS AND NEGOTIATE OFFLINE AND, UM, OR NOT NEGOTIATE, BUT DISCUSS THIS OFFLINE AND, UH, WITH THE APPLICANTS, I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOOD AND GOOD FOR YOU.
I WISH THAT THERE WAS MORE FRANKLY CITY SUPPORT HERE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THIS AND THAT.
UM, THE ACTUAL, LIKE VALID CONSIDERATION OF THE PARKS BOARD HAD BEEN A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
AS YOU ALL RECALL, WE VOTED ON THIS IN SEPTEMBER AND IT WAS A VERY RUSHED PROCESS.
IT WAS A LATE MEETING AND WE WERE TOLD THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS MOVING FORWARDS IMMEDIATELY.
THIS WAS OUR ABSOLUTE LAST CHANCE TO HAVE ANY SAY ON IT.
AND THEN IN FACT, THE NEXT STEPS DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN, WHAT IS THAT 12 MONTHS THAT 11 MONTHS OR SOMETHING SINCE THAT THIS HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED.
SO JUST, JUST TO ADDRESS THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURE, I KNOW YOU'RE FRUSTRATED.
[01:50:01]
AND JUST TO BE HERE IN PERSON, YOU WOULD SEE LIKE, THERE'S NOBODY HERE.THIS IS A BOARD MEMBER INITIATED ITEM.
UM, I WANTED TO JUST QUICKLY LIKE GIVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS OF CONTEXT.
SO, UH, I THINK THIS IS THE SECOND OR THIRD PUD THAT WE'VE DONE SINCE I, MAYBE JUST THE SECOND SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE PARKS BOARD.
UM, SO JUST TO GO BACK FOR ONE SECOND AND READ, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE ORDINANCE THAT IMPLEMENTS PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE CITY.
UM, SO THIS IS A CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE TWO SUB B ARTICLE TWO DIVISION FIVE.
AND IT SAYS THAT, UH, THIS DIVISION PROVIDES PROCEDURES AND MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT ZONING DISTRICT TO IMPLEMENT THE GOALS OF PRESERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, ENCOURAGING HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND ENSURING ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES.
SO VERY FIRST GOAL LISTED PRESERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND THEN THE COUNCIL INTENDS PUTT DISTRICT ZONING TO PRODUCE DEVELOPMENT THAT ACHIEVES THESE GOALS TO A GREATER DEGREE.
AND THAT IS THEREFORE SUPERIOR TO DEVELOPMENT UNDER CONVENTIONAL ZONING AND SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS.
SO THAT'S JUST LIKE THE VERY FIRST PARAGRAPH OF WHAT A, WHAT A PUD SHOULD BE.
AND I WANTED TO READ THAT BECAUSE I'M A VOLUNTEER IN A SORREL, OTHER MEMBERS WHO DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE EXPERTISE IN THIS.
AND I THINK IT'S HELPFUL JUST TO GO BACK TO WHAT THE SOURCE IS, WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE DOING? WE GET SO FAR INTO THE WEEDS AND JUST GO BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTENDED TO PRODUCE DEVELOPMENT THAT ACHIEVES THE GOALS OF PRESERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, ENCOURAGING HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND ENSURING ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES.
IT ACHIEVES THOSE GOALS TO A GREATER DEGREE THAN THAT, AND IS SUPERIOR TO DEVELOPMENT UNDER CONVENTIONAL ZONING AND SUBDIVISION.
SO I SAY THAT BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE HEARD MANY TIMES FROM MANY PEOPLE IS THAT THE PARKLAND DEDICATION IS INADEQUATE.
WE'RE LOWERING THE STANDARD BELOW WHAT IT IS IN OUR CURRENT ORDINANCES, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT A POD IS INTENDED TO DO.
UM, ALSO JUST, I WAS VERY INTERESTED TO SEE IN OUR DIRECTOR'S REPORT, THE STAFF NOTES ON THIS, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT EVERYBODY CAUGHT THAT.
SO I WANTED TO READ IT REALLY QUICK.
UM, SO THIS IS IN THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT THAT WAS ISSUED, UH, LIKE THURSDAY OR SOMETHING IT'S IN THE BACKUP.
UM, THE DEPART, THE DEPARTMENT HAS THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS WITH THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.
IT CONTAINS SOME BASELINE COMMITMENTS, BUT DOES NOT CLARIFY WHETHER CAN RECEIVE CREDIT FROM PARKLAND FEES AND STATES THAT FISCAL WILL BE POSTED, BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE A TIMELINE.
SECOND BULLET, THE ORDINANCE LACKS A COMMITTED PARK PLAN OR A ROADMAP TO GET TO ONE.
THE GROVE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A PUD WITH A ROADMAP, THIRD BULLET.
IT FALLS FAR SHORT OF THE PARK PLAN OR INVESTMENT LEVEL OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT PLAN.
IT REMOVES ONE CURRENT ACCESS PARALLEL TO SOUTH CONGRESS.
WHICH MANY OF YOU AS A LOSS FIFTH BULLET, IT CONTAINS AN OVERLY CUMBERSOME PROCEDURE FOR PARK PROGRAMMING, WHICH THE APPLICANT ALSO DOES NOT AGREE WITH.
SO THAT WAS FROM THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
THAT WAS SOME STUFF, COMMENTS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PARKS DEPARTMENT STAFF HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM, BUT I DID JUST WANT TO READ THAT FOR YOU GUYS IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, IT'S A LONG REPORT.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, BIG PICTURE, I THINK IT'S BEEN SAID IT'S JUST AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ICONIC PIECE OF PROPERTY.
IT'S NOT EVEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT, IT IS WHAT AUSTIN IS.
EVERY PICTURE INCLUDES LADY BIRD LAKE AND THE TRAIL, THE BATS.
YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE A BEAUTIFUL PARK FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD.
THE PARKLAND DEDICATION IS, IS INADEQUATE.
THE PROGRAMMING IS UNACCEPTABLE.
IT SHOULD START WITH THE COMMUNITY WITH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCEDURE, THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND MOVE THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THEN INTO DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER.
UM, IT FALLS FAR SHORT OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT WATERFRONT PLAN.
AND FRANKLY, WE COULD DO BETTER IF THEY COMPLIED WITH JUST OUR STRAIGHT ADOPTED ORDINANCES, WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN VETTED.
THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROCESS, THEY EMBED OUR COMMUNITY VALUES AND THEY WERE ALREADY INFLUENCED BY ALL THE POLITICAL BIGWIGS IT'S THERE LET'S, YOU KNOW, WE COULD JUST DO THAT.
SO I ACTUALLY, I LIKE YOUR ORDINANCE.
I DON'T THINK IT GOES YOUR RESOLUTION.
I DON'T THINK IT QUITE GOES FAR ENOUGH TO STATE HOW INADEQUATE THIS IS.
AND I'M WONDERING IF, UM, SOME OF IT IS ALMOST LIKE YOU COULD SQUINT AND SAY, OH, I THINK WE ADDRESSED THE PARKS SPORTS ISSUES.
DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MR. BUNCH BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION? I DON'T KNOW.
UM, I'M A LITTLE STRUGGLING WITH THE PROCEDURE, CAUSE WE'RE
[01:55:01]
NOT QUITE RECONSIDERING OUR PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION, BUT I DO THINK IT SHOULD SAY HAVE, UM, LANGUAGE AND COULD WE POSSIBLY PULL UP THE, HER DRAFT RESOLUTION IN THE WORD DOCUMENT SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE LOOKING AT IT AT THE SAME TIME? I DO WANT IT TO SAY THAT SUBSTANTIAL NEW INFORMATION HAS, UM, DEVELOPED SINCE THE PARKS BOARD CONSIDERATION TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT'S A CHANGED A CHANGE CIRCUMSTANCE AND WAS NOT, YOU KNOW, OUR PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION.SO SHOULD THAT BE UP AT THE FRONT, MAYBE AT THE SECOND, WHEREAS MAYBE AFTER THE, UM, NICE TO US, COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT THE WHAT'S YOUR PUT DOING? UM, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE.
SO I GUESS I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE TABLE.
AND THAT MOTION IS GOING TO ADD A WHEREAS CLAUSE THAT SAYS WE'RE UP.
WHEREAS SUBSTANTIAL NEW INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED ON THE STATESMAN PUD THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL PARKS BOARD REVIEW.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE IT TO SAY, UM, WHEREAS THE RECOMMENDATION, WELL, I WOULD LIKE IT TO SAY THAT IF PRESENTED TODAY TO THE PARKS BOARD, IT WOULD BE DENIED AS INFERIOR.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT IF THE PUD ORDINANCE AS CURRENTLY DRAFTED WAS PRESENTED TO THE PARKS BOARD, IT WOULD BE DENIED AS INFERIOR.
AND I WOULD PUT THAT IN ADDITION TO THE PARAGRAPHS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE IN THE RESULT SECTION.
DO WE NEED TO VOTE? SO, UM, CAN I SEE EVERYBODY AGAIN ON SCREEN? I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF ADDING THAT LANGUAGE, THAT THE EMOTION THAT, THAT, UM, VICE-CHAIR FASTEST PUT ON THE TABLE ALL IN FAVOR TO ADD THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE IT LOOKS UNANIMOUS.
SO NOW I THINK WITH THAT ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE, DO WE DECIDE WHERE TO PUT IT WE'LL WORK IT IN RIGHT NOW.
SO WITH THOSE ADDITIONAL, UH, WHEREAS CLAUSES, UM, THE VOTE NOW, ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION OR RECOMMENDATION, SORRY AS AMENDED.
THAT WAS ITEM FOUR AND WE, AND WE ARE GETTING CLOSE.
[5. Discussion and possible action regarding the formation of a Homelessness Working Group.]
AT ITEM FIVE UNDER DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE FORMATION OF A HOMELESSNESS WORKING GROUP.UM, BOARD MEMBER HUFFMAN HAD ASKED TO DO A WORKING GROUP AND I BELIEVE BOARD MEMBER FLOWERS AND MY CORRECT BOARD MEMBER FLOWERS IS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING AND BOARD MEMBER DEPALMA.
ARE YOU STILL INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING? SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE CREATE, UM, A HOMELESSNESS WORKING GROUP UNDER THE, UNDER THE, UM, LEADERSHIP OF BOARD MEMBER HUFFMAN.
AND SHE HAD A REPORT TONIGHT, BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO POSTPONE THAT UNTIL SHE'S BACK.
AND THE ONLY THING I WOULD ASK THIS WORKING GROUP TO DO IS TODAY, WE GOT A MEMO.
UM, I THINK THAT THERE WAS WASN'T IT, UH, FROM THE CITY MANAGER THAT HAD COMMISSIONED SOME SORT OF, UH, HOMELESSNESS.
UM, IT WAS A COORDINATION EFFORT.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS CALLED, TIM? COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT WAS CALLED? THAT CAME UP THIS AFTERNOON WAS A HOMELESSNESS ENCAMPMENT PROCESS.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT THAT GROUP BEGIN BY TOUCHING BASE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CREATING TOO MANY ADDITIONAL WHEELS ON THAT VEHICLE.
[02:00:01]
UM, BUT I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF A WORKING GROUP.UH, AND SO, YEAH, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I GOT TO SAY, BOARDMAN BARD NEVER HUGGED MAN HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF, UH, MEETING WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT FOLKS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
AND IT HAS A REALLY HOLISTIC VIEW ON HOW TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THESE, THESE ISSUES AND THESE CHALLENGES.
SO I'VE BEEN REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT AND THAT THE TOP LINE IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THE BOARD FROM ALL THESE VETERANS STAPLE.
THERE'S FOUR SANCTIONED CAMPGROUNDS, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND SO REALLY WANTING TO ADDRESS THAT.
BUT, UM, THIS IS ALL GOES TO BACK JUST THROUGH THE HEAVY CONSTITUENT CONCERNS RELATING TO, UH, CABINETS IN OUR PARKLAND AND THE, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS MAKING THE SHIRT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THESE FOLKS ARE, ARE, ARE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, ACTUALLY GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED AND THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
AND SO WITH THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO EXAMINE THE LEVEL OF HOMELESS ACTIVITY IN THE PARKS, THE EFFORTS THAT THE CITY AS HOMELESS OUTREACH STREET TEAM POST, UM, AS WELL AS THE HOUSING FOCUS AND CABIN ASSISTANCE LINK, JUST ALL AGAIN, IT'S CALLED PEEL INITIATIVE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
AND THE BOARD MEMBER AUGMENT IS ACTUALLY ALREADY REACHED OUT TO MANY OF THESE FOLKS.
UM, AND SO HAD SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE HOST TEAM THAT THE WHAT'S, WHAT THE SERVICES ARE BEING OFFERED.
AND, AND IN MANY INSTANCES THAT LITTLE SERVICES ARE BEING OFFERED.
AND SO, UH, ACCORDING TO WHAT THAT REPORT IS, AND SO IS JUDGE FOR THE MOST SEVERE ENCAMPMENTS, AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE ENCAMPMENTS, MANY OF OUR PARKS, AND, UH, JUST MOST WON'T BE SERVED BY HEEL.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR WHAT THAT GAP IS.
UH, SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGED CAPSULE, UH, CONSTABLE STACY, UH, SUITS AND TO DEPUTY CONSTABLE DREW MCGAIN IS, UM, WITHIN OUR PRECINCT HERE IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN, UM, OR TRAVIS COUNTY.
SO THE REMARKABLE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE IN HELPING HER ENGAGE SPECIFICALLY WITH CAMPERS IN OUR PARKS AND HAVING A REALLY HELPFUL DISCUSSION, DAVID GOMEZ WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE I, I GAVE A SHOUT OUT TO, WITH THE OTHER ONE, IS FOUNDATION BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN FORMING OR AS ON THE NATURE OF THE CHRONIC, THE NATURE OF CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND, UH, THE SPECIFIC SERVICES THEY REQUIRE AND IS OFFERED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE WORKING GROUP.
AND SOME OTHER FOLKS THAT SAYS CHARLES GLUTEN FELT THE CREW CONTRIBUTED TO THE DISCUSSION STAGE SANDERSON, LORI SHAM BELONG WITH THE SALVATION ARMY ADULT REHABILITATION CENTER AND FOR THE, JUST SO MUCH THERE.
AND SO WE HAVE A, A GREAT EFFORT UNDERWAY AND A GREAT GROUP OF RESOURCES.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO TURN INTO SOME MEANINGFUL ACTION AND THAT'S WHERE WE STAND.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ESTABLISHING THAT WORKING GROUP CHAIR, WHO IS THE RECORDED SECOND FOR THIS MOTION.
DID I GET A SECOND? UH, THANK YOU.
[6. Discussion and possible action regarding the formation of an Aquatics Working Group. ]
SIX, UNDER DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE FORMATION OF AN AQUATICS WORKING GROUP.THIS WAS BROUGHT UP BY A BOARD MEMBER BARNARD.
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT, UM, WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS ITEM.
UM, SCOTT COP, YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UM, SO YES, I THINK THAT, UH, BOARD MEMBER BERNARD BROUGHT THIS UP.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE GO FORWARD? UM, THANK YOU.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO FORM AN AQUATICS WORKING GROUP JUST BECAUSE, UH, STAFFING, YOU KNOW, AND LIFEGUARDS CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE, UM, PRETTY MUCH EVERY SUMMER.
AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE RIDICULOUS HEAT POOLS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER I THINK, TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I JUST KNOW A LOT OF US HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS.
SORRY ABOUT, UM, ABOUT POOL ISSUES, ABOUT POOLS, OPENING LATE ABOUT LACK OF STAFF.
UM, BUT ALSO SEVERAL OF THE SWIM TEAMS HAVE DISAPPEARED.
AND I'VE HEARD SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT AS WELL, TOO.
SO I JUST KINDA WANT TO GET AHEAD OF NEXT SUMMER AND, UH, MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE EXPLORE WHATEVER STRATEGIES WE CAN COME UP WITH TO ENSURE THAT OUR POOLS ARE OPENED AND STAFFED APPROPRIATELY WHEN NEXT SUMMER ROLLS AROUND.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON THAT GROUP?
[02:05:05]
NOT EVERYBODY AT ONCE, PLEASE.I KNOW EVERYBODY'S STRETCHED PRETTY THIN.
SO, UM, SO I THINK ALL IN FAVOR OF ESTABLISHING THAT WORKING GROUP, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
AND WE'LL TALK TO THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WHEN THEY GET BACK ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AQUATICS WORKING GROUP ANONYMOUS, ANONYMOUS, ANONYMOUS, ARGUING, INTERRUPTING, WHO WAS THE MOTION.
AND SECOND, THE MOTION WAS BERNARD AND THE SECOND WAS ME.
UM, JUST LOOK AT THE PAST RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE PATH RELATING TO AQUATICS AND OUR PLANNING.
I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN? YEAH.
IF YOU COULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THE WORKING GROUP LOOKS AT THE PAST RECOMMENDATIONS, THE PARKS BOARD HAS MADE OVER THE LAST.
I THINK THAT THERE WERE A FEW IN LIKE 2017 AND 18, RIGHT? YEAH.
WE PUT TOGETHER A PRETTY GOOD THAT, A RECOMMENDATION MYSELF BOARD MEMBER LOUIS, AND THEN SOME PAST BOARD MEMBERS.
[7. Update from South Central Waterfront Advisory Board.]
SO WE ARE, UM, DOWN TO THE WORKING GROUP COMMITTEE UPDATES.UH, I'M GOING TO PASS SINCE YOU GUYS GOT TO ALREADY HEAR A LOT ABOUT SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD, UM, BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR,
[8. Update from Downtown Commission.]
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FROM THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION? NO, NOT REALLY.IT JUST, WE TALKED ABOUT THE SAFER SIX ALLIANCE AND, UM, THE ARTS EXHIBITION, BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES AND THE SAFER SIXTH STREET INITIATIVE, BUT, UM, I CAN SHARE THOSE MORE DETAILS ABOUT THOSE THINGS WITH THE NEXT MEETING.
[9. Update from Joint Sustainability Committee]
COMMITTEE, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING MR. DEPALMA LAST MEETING WAS CANCELED AND THERE'S ANOTHER MEETING, UM, THIS WEEK AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE COUNSELING.I'M A BIT FROM ZILKER PARK, VISION PLAN, WORKING GROUP, UM, LOUIS DE PALMA FAUST.
AND TAYLOR, IS THERE ANYTHING, NO UPDATES, NO MEETINGS? NO, NO.
INFORMATION'S GONE UNDER THE RADAR.
[11. Update from Crime and Law Enforcement in Parks Working Group.]
UH, UPDATE FROM CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE PARKS WORKING GROUP.DO WE HAVE ANY REPORT FROM THAT? YEAH, WE HAVE A BRIEF UPDATE.
WE, UM, WE HAVEN'T MET OFFICIALLY YET.
WE'VE HAD, WE'VE KIND OF SAT DOWN AND MADE SOME PLANS.
AND SO I CAN JUST KIND OF TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A, UM, PRESENTATION FROM STAFF ABOUT, UH, THE NEW CRIME DASHBOARD THAT, UM, THAT THEY'VE CREATED.
AND THEN AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE, UM, CRIME GROUP, WE HAVE SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF THE, I THINK, AND FORMER BERNARD HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS AS WELL.
WE'RE GOING TO PARTNER WITH SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION AND TRY TO GARNER SOME INPUT FROM THEM AND, UM, AND JUST KIND OF BRAINSTORM ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
AND THEN I ALSO, WE HAVE SOMEBODY COMING FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO THAT IS GOING TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME INSIGHTS AND WE'RE WORKING ON TRYING TO GET A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME, UM, INFORMATION THAT'LL HELP INFORM US AS WE TRY TO MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD A BIG OFFICIAL MEETING YET.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, I WILL START WITH, I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM BOARD MEMBER TO CARLA IN A WHILE.WOULD YOU LIKE TO START? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'VE GOT? UM, I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NOT AT THIS TIME.
TAYLOR, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING I DO WANT TO ASK IF ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE MY PLACE IN THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, DO YOU WANT TO TELL US SORT OF WHAT THEY DO? MAYBE YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, SPICE IT UP FOR US.
IT'S REALLY, IT'S REALLY EASY.
I MEAN, ALL THINGS THAT HAPPEN DOWNTOWN AND IT'S, UM, AND SHE MAKES IT, UH, THE WOMAN WHO ORGANIZES IT IS SO EFFICIENT.
IT MAKES IT REALLY EASY TO GET ON THE MEETINGS AND TO, UM, IT JUST REALLY IT'S IT.
AND THEY'RE RELATIVELY SHORT AND, UM, I DUNNO, IT'S NOT A BAD CONDITION.
I JUST, QUITE FRANKLY, I'M OVEREXTENDED RIGHT DOWN, SO.
SO EVERYBODY THINK REAL HARD ABOUT THAT.
IF YOU'VE GOT TIME IN YOUR SCHEDULE AND I'LL RUN IT AGAIN PAST, UM, THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE ABSENT TODAY.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING, NOTHING AT THIS TIME, JUST HOPING FOR A PRODUCTIVE, UH, FINANCE COMMITTEE AND EARLY IN SEPTEMBER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH BOARD MEMBER DEPALMA.
THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER BERNARD.
[02:10:01]
BOARD MEMBER LOUIS.UH, YOU KNOW WHAT I DO THINK FOR THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEM, I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GET A REPORT OUT AS FAR AS WHAT OCCURRED DURING THE BUDGET, WHETHER THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WERE FUNDED AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL FTES, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE UTILIZED AND ANY OTHER THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE BUDGET.
AND I KNOW THAT I THINK THE NUMBER ONE, THE DIRECTOR READ SAID THAT A COMMERCIAL PARK OPEN DEDICATION WILL BE UP IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL AS WELL.
SO, UM, I PLAN ON BEING THERE TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.
AND I THINK WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT AND IT FELL OFF THE AGENDA THIS TIME THAT THE UPDATES ON THE BUDGET WOULD BE GREAT.
AND THE, UM, PARKLAND DEDICATION TO UPDATE WHEN AND GET WHEN WE GET NEWS.
IF THAT IS ALL, THEN THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
I HOPE YOU WERE WARM AND COZY AND THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY TO VICE CHAIR TO COME AND ASSIST ME IN PERSON TONIGHT AND TO THE STAFF WHO DROVE THROUGH THE RAINY STREETS TO GET HERE.
AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAME AND TALKED TO MY, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY.