2. Presentation and discussion regarding concerns for available parks and locations for community services in Districts 3 and 9.

* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.

[00:00:05]

ORDER.

I'VE GOT 6 0 3,

[CALL TO ORDER]

AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD IS CALLED ORDER, UM, SEPTEMBER 26TH.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

AND, UM, FIRST ORDER BUSINESS CALL ROLL.

RIGHT? OKAY.

UM, VICE CHAIR FAST HERE.

UM, BOARD MEMBER ALDI.

UH, BOARD MEMBER DECARLO HERE.

BOARD MEMBER MOORE.

BOARD MEMBER FLOWERS.

BOARD MEMBER HOMAN HERE.

BOARD MEMBER BERNARD HERE.

BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR.

SHE MAY BE LATE.

BOARD MEMBER LEWIS HERE.

THANK YOU.

AND BOARD MEMBER DIPLOMA HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

AND I SEE BOARD MEMBER MORE COMING IN, SO HE IS PRESENT TOO.

OKAY.

UM,

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

THE FIRST THING WE ARE GOING TO DO IS HAVE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.

I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO VICE CHAIR FAUST.

THANK YOU.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MIKE LEVY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

I'M MIKE LEVY.

I'VE BEEN IN ALL SINCE, SINCE 69, BEEN INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES SINCE 76 WHEN THREE DOCTORS AND I GOT AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS GOING, UH, TWO QUICK THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, IN CRIME, PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT IN A COMMUNITY.

BE SAFE, FE FEEL SAFE.

UH, INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO SIMPLY DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING INTO OUR PARKS.

YOUR PARKS.

MY PARKS.

OUR PARKS.

UH, I THINK YOU KNOW THAT A P D, UH, IS DOWN FROM 1800 TO 1500, HEADED TOWARD 1100 COPS.

THEY GOT RID OF THE PARKS UNIT.

UM, UH, I GUY, I WOULDN'T BE ON A, IN ONE OF THE PARKS, SOME TWO, UH, GAVE YOU STUFF ON SCOOTERS.

UH, WE USED TO HAVE BEAUTIFUL PARKS.

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO THINK OUR PARKS ARE BEAUTIFUL WITH SCOOTERS LYING EVERYWHERE.

THEY'RE DANGEROUS TO, UH, EVERYBODY TRIPPING.

BUT ESPECIALLY, UH, FOLKS WHO ARE MOBILITY IMPAIRED.

UH, YOU SEE IT DOWNTOWN WHERE FOLKS CAN'T GET AROUND WITH, UH, WITH MY CHAIRS OR WITH THEIR WALKERS AND SO FORTH.

YOU GUYS WORK FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS OR APPOINTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I ASK YOU TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT A, UH, SAFETY IN PARKS, GREATER POLICE PRESENCE.

COPS DON'T WANT TO, UH, ARREST PEOPLE PRIMARILY WANT TO DETER A CRIME.

THE BEST INSURANCE FOR CRIME IS VISIBILITY.

UH, AND, UH, I THINK THAT AS GOVERNMENTS TEND TO BE MORE REACTIVE THAN PROACTIVE, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE GONNA SEE A A, A GOVERNMENT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE, UH, REACTIVE IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING TO HAVE GREATER POLICE VI VISIBILITY IN OUR PARKS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CLAIRE KREBS.

HI THERE.

UM, I'M CLAIRE KREBS.

I'M PART OF THE FESTIVAL BEACH COMMUNITY GARDEN LEADERSHIP.

I'M A VOLUNTEER JUST LIKE Y'ALL.

UM, GARDENERS AND OTHERS EMAILED YOU THIS WEEK AND LAST ASKING THAT TWO ISSUES, UH, A BOUNDARY DISPUTE AND FOX HABITAT BE ADDED TO THE BOARD'S OCTOBER AGENDA.

I'M HERE TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO THOSE ASKS.

FIRST I WANNA TALK ABOUT OUR SPACE.

SO WE'RE TWO ACRES OF PARKLAND.

THAT'S A MILE EAST OF HERE, JUST ACROSS 35.

AND IF WE CONSIDERED THE ROOM, THE GARDEN, THIS ROOM, OUR GARDEN WITH, UH, YOU LOOKING SOUTH.

ON OUR WEST, WE HAVE THE MAIN ENTRANCE, AND YOU CAN SEE DOWNTOWN DURING THE SUNRISE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

UM, INSIDE WE HAVE 80 INDIVIDUAL PLOTS, BUT IT'S A GARDEN WHERE WE DO A LOT OF COMMUNAL WORK TOO.

SO WE HAVE GRAPES ON OUR DOWNTOWN FENCE LINE THAT WE MAKE IT TO JAM AND WE SHARE WITH EVERYONE.

UM, BUT I'M HERE TO HIT TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE EASTERN BOUNDARY THAT IS THE CENTER OF OUR TWO ASKS.

UH, THE RBJ CENTER ANCHORS ARE SOUTHEAST END, AND WE HOST ABOUT A DOZEN RESIDENTS.

OUR ELDERS WHO GARDEN IN THAT AREA OVER IN THE SOUTHEAST, AND ALMOST ALL, ONLY ALL OF THEM ONLY SPEAK MANDARIN EVERY DAY.

THEY WATER, THEY TEND, THEY GROW FOOD FOR, UM, THEMSELVES AND THE OTHER SENIORS, AND WE HELP WITH THAT.

UM, OUR SHARED AREAS CONTINUE UP ALONG THIS EASTERN FENCE LINE.

FROM THERE, WE'VE GOT HERB GARDENS, AND THEN IN THE FAR CORNER, WE, UH, LEAVE A LITTLE BIT WILD, UH, AS PART OF A CORRIDOR THAT WE, WE LET, THAT LETS OUR GARDEN FOXES USE THAT AREA, UM, AS THEY LIVE IN A DOWNT TREE.

JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE, UH,

[00:05:01]

IN HATCHERY PARK.

AND PASOS IS THE MAMA FOX.

UH, WE CALL HER THAT FOR THE MANY STATE STEPS SHE'S TAKEN TO FIND A HOME.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS CAN HELP HER STAY THERE.

UM, YOU SEE, SHE USED TO LIVE ON THE WOODLANDS THAT WERE ALONG THE EASTERN FENCE LINE.

THOSE WOODS ARE GONE.

UM, MO MARK AND SOUTHWEST STRATEGIES ARE LEADING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT LAND.

AND, UM, THERE ARE ALREADY APARTMENTS.

THERE'S A LOT BEHIND OUR SHARED AREAS OVER HERE THAT WILL BE COMMERCIAL SOON.

BUT HATCHERY PARK WILL REMAIN PUBLIC.

UM, IT'LL BE ALLOWED DEEDED BY EASEMENT FROM THE DEVELOPER DEVELOPER.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS DISCRETION WHEN MANAGING THAT AREA.

THEY TOLD US AS MUCH, UH, WHEN WE ASKED EARLIER IN THE YEAR, THEY AND PART COULD AGREE TO PRESERVE THIS LITTLE THICKET WHERE THE FOX LIVES.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO HELP LIFT OUR VOICES, THE VOICES OF THE PUBLIC TO ALLOW THIS DISCUSSION TO HAPPEN, TO LET US SHOWCASE THE DESIGNS AND THE EXPERT ADVICE WE'VE GATHERED ON HOW PASOS AND OUR FAMILY CAN COEXIST WITH US.

SO WE ASK THAT TO BE ADDED TO THE OCTOBER AGENDA.

THERE'S ALSO A BOUNDARY DISPUTE, AND I HEAR PART IS ALREADY AT WORK.

UM, BUT THERE'S, UM, SOME DEEPER CONTEXT TO THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE WHERE THE DEVELOPER IS ENCROACHING ON OUR PROPERTY AREA.

UH, IN 2019, THE AREA WHERE OUR ELDERS GARDEN, THAT FENCE LINE WAS, WAS TORN DOWN, AND WE THOUGHT THAT THAT FENCE LINE WAS RESOLVED.

THE BO THE, THE DEVELOPERS SAID THAT THE PROPERTY LINE WAS NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

AND SO WE ASKED THAT YOU GUYS LOOK INTO THE ISSUE, RESOLVE THE, THIS BOUNDARY, UM, DISPUTE ON THE EAST SIDE HERE SO THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO GARDENING.

UM, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TRAUMA THAT WE EXPERIENCED IN 2019 WHEN THE, WHEN THE FENCE ON THIS EAST PORTION WHERE OUR SENIORS ARE, UM, HAD THAT TORN DOWN, THEIR, THEIR PLANTS HAD WERE REMOVED.

UM, THESE SCRUBS.

CAN YOU CONCLUDE THIS LITTLE NOTICE? YES.

THANK YOU.

I'M SORRY.

UM, BUT WE'VE EMAILED YOU GUYS WITH THOSE TWO ASKS, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR, UH, UH, HELP WITH THESE ISSUES.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAUL DE FURY.

HI.

GOOD EVENING, Y'ALL.

UM, MY NAME IS PAUL DE FURE.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I'M CURRENTLY A LAW STUDENT AT UT.

FIRST, LET ME SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE CITY.

UH, YOUR TIME AND ENERGY ON THESE ISSUES IS INVALUABLE AND IT SHOULD NOT GO UNRECOGNIZED.

UH, SO BEFORE I ENTERED LAW SCHOOL, UH, THE GOOD OLD DAYS, I LIKE TO SAY I WAS WORKING AS AN ADVOCATE, UH, FOR PODER AND SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT I KNOW ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE EFFORT THAT CLAIRE JUST BROUGHT UP TO PROTECT PUBLIC PARK LAND, UH, FROM ENCROACHMENTS, BIG OR SMALL FROM DEVELOPMENT AND OF EFFORTS GENERALLY TO KEEP AUSTIN'S WILD SPACES WILD.

UH, SO I'M REALLY JUST HERE TONIGHT TO ECHO CLAIRE'S COMMENTS AND, UH, REITERATE HER REQUEST THAT Y'ALL PLEASE ADD A DISCUSSION ABOUT HATCHERY PARK TO YOUR OCTOBER MEETING AGENDA.

AND THEN WHEN YOU CONSIDER IT THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE TO ADVISE THE CITY TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER, UH, IN THIS CASE, NOT TO UNNECESSARILY CLEAR THE LITTLE THICK AT AKA PASOS THE FOX'S HOME, UH, BEFORE TRANSFERRING THAT LAND TO THE CITY.

AND THEN WHEN THE CITY PLANS HATCH PARK, IT SHOULD PRESERVE THE LITTLE THICKET HABITAT.

CLAIRE HAS SOME GREAT DESIGNS FOR HOW THIS COULD WORK.

UH, IT'S NOT A BIG ASK, BUT IT SURE WOULD MEAN A LOT TO THE COMMUNITY GARDENERS.

THEY'RE HUMAN NEIGHBORS, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY'RE NON-HUMAN NEIGHBORS, WHOM WE OFTEN LEAVE OUT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS.

BUT WE SHOULDN'T.

NOT ONLY SHOULD THEY MERIT CONSIDERATION ON THEIR OWN, THEY ARE LIVING BEINGS, BUT ALSO WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM AFFECTS US IN THE END LIVES OR DEATHS OF AUSTIN'S ZERN WILDLIFE, IT'S FLORA AND FAUNA, FROM BIRD COLLISIONS ON WINDOWS TO TREES GETTING CUT DOWN ARE FUNDAMENTALLY CONNECTED TO OUR OWN.

THIS IS ANCIENT WISDOM THAT WE'RE FINALLY GETTING AROUND TO REMEMBERING IN 2022.

WE HAVE A REAL STAKE IN BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS TO FOXES AS MUCH AS BUTTERFLIES AND BEES.

THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

AND SINCE Y'ALL HAVE A ROLE, UH, IN ENSURING THAT PAR IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT PUBLIC INTEREST AND NOT COWTOWING, EVEN IN SMALL WAYS TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, WE ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER PASO'S CASE AND MAKE SURE THE CITY DOES EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO PROTECT HATCHERY PARK FOR ALL AUSTINITES, INCLUDING THOSE THAT DON'T WALK ON TWO LEGS.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LIZ HUNLEY.

OKAY.

SO THERE'S TWO PEOPLE ON THIS PAGE.

ARE THERE TWO SPEAK? I'M JUST GONNA SHARE THE THREE MINUTES.

YOU'RE GONNA SHARE THE THREE MINUTES.

OKAY.

LIZ HUNLEY AND, UM, AUBREY.

AND WE ARE, AND I'M PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN ROWING

[00:10:01]

CLUB.

UM, I CAME TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR PARTNERSHIP, YOUR PATIENCE, UM, TO HELP US PASS THE ORDINANCE, WHICH THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL HAS DONE, UH, MOVING THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB AND OUR OUTREACH FACILITIES DOWN THE RIVER, UM, TO COME.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT NEXT STEP, I WENT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THIS STEP.

IT WAS REALLY APPRECIATED THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DID.

UM, NOT JUST ON OUR BEHALF, BUT IN AUSTIN'S BEHALF ON WHAT AUSTIN OFFERS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE POA THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOWARD TO BE A BETTER PARTNER TO YOU AND NOT JUST A VENDOR RELATIONSHIP.

UM, I THINK THAT MOVEMENT TOWARD THE, UM, ABILITY FOR, UM, NONPROFITS AND OTHERS HERE IN AUSTIN TO WORK WITH YOU MORE PERSONALLY, UM, IT'S GREAT.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO KIND OF DESIGNING THAT AND REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT DESIGNING AND, UM, WORKING WITH NONPROFITS THAT WANT TO, UM, BRING MORE RESOURCES AND OUTREACH TO THE SIDE AS WELL AS TO ALL OF AUSTIN.

UM, FOR US, WE ARE FROM ALL OVER AUSTIN.

WE HAVE 350 MEMBERS THAT LIVE IN EVERY DISTRICT IN THIS TOWN, BUT IT ALSO IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE EAST SIDE THAT, UM, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DESIGN.

SO I WANTED TO PERSONALLY SAY THANK YOU, UM, AS WELL AS KEVIN RAINES, IF HE WERE HERE, WOULD SAY THANK YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE SLAVED WITH HIM FOR A COUPLE YEARS, TRYING TO GET THAT DONE.

UM, JUST AS AN UPDATE, SHE HAS A LITTLE BIT.

UM, YESTERDAY WE HAD OUR OUTDOOR HEALTH AND WELL, UM, WELLNESS FESTIVAL WITH THE VA.

AND IT WAS, UM, TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS.

WE WORKED WITH THE AUSTIN VA CENTER, AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AND, AND HUMAN SERVICES, LOCKED ARMS FOR LIFE AND THE NATIONAL GUARD TO, UM, HAVE A DAY OF SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK SUPPORT, LOTS OF TENTS, LOTS OF RESOURCES, LOTS OF ON THE WATER, OFF THE WATER.

UM, IT WAS A REALLY GREAT DAY.

IT'S OUR SECOND YEAR TO DO IT, AND THEY WERE VERY PLEASED, UM, WITH THE DAY.

SO I'LL LET AUBREY GIVE YOU A, AN UPDATE.

SO, SO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING RECENTLY IS, UH, HOSTING WEEKLY TRASH CLEANUPS.

UH, WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING UP WITH LOCAL, UH, UT AUSTIN CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHERE THEY'VE BEEN COMING OUT AND PICKING UP TRASH.

UH, LAST WEEK WE PICKED UP A LITTLE OVER 50 BAGS OF GARBAGE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING DOING SO.

UH, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN PARTNERING UP WITH THE PHOENIX.

THEY ARE A NATIONAL SOBER ACTIVITY COMMUNITY GROUP, UM, WHERE WE PROVIDE THEM WITH KAYAK AND PADDLE BOARD RENTALS WEEKLY.

AND YEAH, THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN FOR ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO FOR OUR PARKS AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN US.

THANK YOU.

I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

AM I CORRECT, TIM? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

GO ON.

UH, THE FIRST ITEM IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

DO I HAVE ANY, ANY DISCUSSION OF THE MINUTES OR ANY, ANY MOTIONS ABOUT THE MINUTES? MOTION APPROVED MINUTES BOARD MEMBER, UH, MORE OR MOTIONS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? DO I HAVE A SECOND BOARD MEMBER, BERNARD? SECONDS.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? AND THEN THEN ABSTAIN.

AN ABSTENTION.

OKAY, GREAT.

DID YOU GET ALL THAT, TIM? OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

SO MOVED.

UM, I THOUGHT THE STAFF BRIEFING WAS MOVED TO THE END.

AM I, OH, I'M LOOKING AT LAST WEEK.

OH MY GOSH.

I HAVE TOO MANY MINUTES IN FRONT OF ME.

OKAY.

SORRY.

THE AGENDA DISCUSSION ITEM.

[2. Presentation and discussion regarding concerns for available parks and locations for community services in Districts 3 and 9.]

ALL RIGHT.

FOR THE FIRST, UH, DISCUSSION ITEM, IT IS ITEM TWO, PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING CONCERNS FOR AVAILABLE PARKS AND LOCATIONS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND DISTRICTS THREE AND NINE.

UM, THE PRESENTERS ARE MALCOLM YATES, AND I THINK FRED DERKIN IS NOT HERE, BUT ED MILLER FROM OUR HOUSE IS PERFECT.

MY NAME IS MALCOLM YATES.

I'M THE CHAIR OF THE EAST RIVERSIDE OLD TOF COMBINED CONTACT TEAM.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE PARKS BOARD TODAY.

I'M HERE TO TODAY TO REMIND THE PARKS BOARD ABOUT THE NEED FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA.

THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA IS PARK PLANNING AREA 12.

THIS PARK PLANNING AREA IS MAINLY DESIGNATED PARKLAND DEFICIENT.

THE CITY RECENTLY REMOVED TWO LAKE SHORE PARKS FROM THIS PARKLAND DEFICIENT AREA.

THE PAR MAINTENANCE FACILITY ON LAKESHORE AND THE FORMER YOUTH HOST WERE BOTH GIVEN TO PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS.

[00:15:01]

THE IRAQ CONTACT TEAM WAS NOT ADEQUATELY NOTIFIED ABOUT THESE CHANGES IN PARK PROPERTIES.

NEXT WE WILL LOOK AT THE PARKS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE NEWEST PARK EDITION IN THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA, THE ROYAL CREST POCKET PARK.

THIS LAND WAS DEDICATED AS PARK IN 2021 FOR ONE OF THE NEW APARTMENT BUILDINGS BEING BUILT ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE.

NOTE THE STRANGE SHAPE OF THE PARK.

THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE ROYAL CREST POCKET PARK.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ABUSE OF THE DEFINITION OF A PARK.

DEVELOPERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CLAIM CONVOLUTED SHAPES AS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

THIS IS THE WOODLAND POCKET PARK AT WOODLAND AND ROYAL CREST ALSO ACQUIRED IN 2021.

THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL LOT OF ONE THIRD OF AN ACRE.

THIS IS THE STREET VIEW OF THE WOODLAND POCKET PARK.

THIS PARK WAS FUNDED BY THE NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX BEING BUILT AT ROYAL CREST AND RIVERSIDE.

THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX, WHICH IS A SIX STORY BUILDING WITH OVER 100 APARTMENTS.

THE WOODLAND PARK AND THE ROYAL CREST PARK ARE BOTH TO SERVE THE RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS OF THE CURRENT AND NEW APARTMENT COMPLEXES ALONG ROYAL CREST AND EAST RIVERSIDE DRIVE.

THE TWO SMALL SQUARES IN THESE SERIAL PHOTO AERIAL PHOTOS SHOW THESE PARKS.

THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE NEW FOUR STORY APARTMENT COMPLEX BEING BUILT AT WILLOW AND RIVERSIDE.

THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT FUNDED THE HOLLY SHORES AT TOWN LAKE PARK.

THIS PARK IS NORTH OF LADYBIRD LAKE AND IS NOT WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX.

THIS IS RIVERSIDE AREA IS ALREADY THE DENSEST AREA OUTSIDE OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, AND IT IS BECOMING EVEN MORE DENSE.

THE STRIPED AREAS ON THIS MAP ARE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, AND THE BROWN AREAS ARE THE RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR PLAN AREA, WHICH ALLOWS EVEN HIGHER DENSITIES THAN THE CURRENT MULTIFAMILY ZONING.

THE TWO NEW APARTMENT COMPLEXES I HAVE JUST SHOWN THIS BOARD ARE EXAMPLES OF THE FUTURE OF THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA.

THE EAST RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR REGULATING PLAN WILL ALLOW BUILDINGS OF UP TO 120 FEET IN HEIGHT IN TRANSIT HUB AREAS.

ON THIS MAP, THE AREAS IN BROWN ARE WITHIN THE TRANSIT HUBS.

NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE PARKS BOARD A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA.

THIS MAP SHOWS THE INCOME DISTRIBUTION IN THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA, WHICH HAS THE LOWEST INCOME DISTRIBUTION IN THE CITY.

BETWEEN 80 TO 90% OF THE EAST RESIDENTS OF EAST RIVERSIDE AREA RENT A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE EAST RIVERSIDE POPULATION CONSISTS OF IMMIGRANTS.

THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF LENDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GIVE THE MOST ACCURATE SNAPSHOT OF THE AREA POPULATION, 78% HISPANIC, 63% ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, 91% ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.

NOT ONLY IS THE RIVERSIDE AREA LACKING PARKS, BUT THERE IS ALSO NO COMMUNITY CENTER.

THIS LACK OF A COMMUNITY CENTER IMPACTS THE DISTRIBUTION OF NEEDED SOCIAL SERVICES.

ONE EXAMPLE IS THE RIVERSIDE TOGETHERNESS PROJECT.

THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA IS CONSIDERED THE HIGHEST CRIME AREA IN THE CITY AND WAS CHOSEN FOR A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GRANT TO FUND THE RIVERSIDE TOGETHERNESS PROJECT.

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO REDUCE CRIME IN THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA THROUGH COMMUNITY BASED POLICING.

THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY THE LACK OF A PLACE TO MEET.

THERE ARE NO PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN THE TARGET AREA WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN MEET.

MANY OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT OPERATE IN THIS AREA HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

FOR YEARS, THE EAST RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY RELIED ON CHURCHES AS

[00:20:01]

CIVIC MEETING PLACES.

THE LAST CHURCH TO CLOSE IN THIS AREA WAS THE PARKER LANE METHODIST CHURCH.

IN 2019, MANY CIVIC AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS USE THIS CHURCH FOR THEIR OFFICES.

ED MILLER WITH OUR HOUSE WILL SPEAK NEXT ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD OFFICES IN THIS CHURCH.

THIS CHURCH WOULD HAVE BEEN A PERFECT COMMUNITY CENTER.

IT IS CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA.

HAD A GYM WITH A BASKETBALL COURT, A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN OFFICES FOR SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, A CHAPEL FOR MEETINGS, AND LOTS OF PARKING.

IN 2021 WHEN THERE WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNED AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM CIVIC TO MULTIFAMILY, THE IRAQ CONTACT TEAM ASKED CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS CHURCH TO BE RENTED BY THE CITY FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER, BUT THE BUILDINGS WILL BE DEMOLISHED FOR APARTMENTS.

THE IRAQ CONTACT TEAM VOTED TO ASK CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF THE MANY LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA BY ALLOWING THE FORMER YOUTH HOST TO BE USED AS A COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA.

A COMMUNITY CENTER IS WHAT THIS AREA NEEDS AND WOULD BE THE MOST BENEFICIAL USE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA.

THESE ARE THE REQUESTS OF THE EAST RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE ROOMS IN THE YOUTH HOST FOR MEETINGS UNTIL THE FACILITY CLOSES FOR RENOVATION RECOGNITION THAT THE YOUTH HOST AND ANY FUTURE BUILDING ON THIS PROPERTY ARE PUBLIC FACILITIES THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

RECOGNITION THAT THE ERO CONTACT TEAM AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PROCESS TO DECIDE FUTURE USES OF THE YOUTH HOSTILE PROPERTY.

THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES THAT ARE GENERATED IN THIS AREA SHOULD BE SPENT IN THIS AREA.

THERE NEEDS TO BE AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR NOTIFYING COMMUNITIES ABOUT CHANGES TO PARKS IN THEIR AREAS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

ED MILLER WILL SPEAK NEXT ABOUT THE NEED FOR SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE EAST RIVERSIDE AREA.

GOOD EVENING ON THE DIAS.

UH, AS ADVERTISED, I ED MILLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUR HOUSE.

WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE EAST RIVERSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO THE MOST CHRONICALLY UNDERSERVED SECTION OF THE CITY SINCE EARLY IN THIS CENTURY.

WE STARTED OUT IN A PRINCIPE LUTHERAN CHURCH UP ON OLD TURF THAT WAS SOLD, TORN DOWN, AND IS NOW A CAR WASH.

UH, THEN WE MOVED TO PARKER LANE METHODIST CHURCH AND PROVIDED SERVICES THERE FOR YEARS UNTIL THEY DECIDED TO TEAR IT DOWN AND BUILD LOW RENT APARTMENTS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ALREADY HAS MORE THAN 60 LOW RENT APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

THAT WAS THE LAST PLACE WE HAD TO PROVIDE SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING, REHABILITATION, RECOVERY INFORMATION AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE NEEDIEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY.

WE THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE YOUTH HOST HAD BEEN ABANDONED, WELL TURNED ACTUALLY INTO PART OFFICES AND STORAGE.

AND, UH, NOW I UNDERSTAND THERE'S AN INTEREST IN TURNING THAT OVER TO THE ROWING PEOPLE.

UM, I SAW A VERY WELL PROMOTED EVENT ON THE NEWS LAST NIGHT.

WELL PUBLICIZED, UH, AND PERFECT TIMING.

I MIGHT ADD TO LEAVE THAT THE LAST THING ON YOUR MIND BEFORE THIS AGENDA ITEM CAME UP TONIGHT, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EAST RIVERSIDE, AND I'M HERE TO GIVE VOICE TO THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE LANGUAGE.

DON'T HAVE A CAR TO GET DOWN HERE, DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO SPEAK BEFORE A CIVIC BODY.

DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THAT'S JUST COME DOWN HERE AND TELL YOU HOW THINGS ARE OUT THERE.

IT IS THE HIGHEST CRIME, HIGHEST POVERTY, HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT, HIGHEST SCHOOL DROPOUT AREA IN THE CITY.

AND

[00:25:01]

WE USED TO HAVE CHURCHES WHERE WE COULD GATHER AND PROVIDE PROGRAMS. UH, MAYBE HAVE SEEN A HANDOUT HERE WITH OUR LIST OF MORE THAN A DOZEN PROGRAMS ON IT.

THIS IS NOT PIE IN THE SKY.

SOMETHING WE WISH WE COULD DO.

THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND CAN'T NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT MAYBE THE FORMER YOUTH HOST, WHICH USED TO SERVE PEOPLE, MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AGAIN, THIS IS THE MOST CHRONICALLY UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY, AND THE KIDS NEED SOMETHING TO DO OTHER THAN HANG OUT ON THE CORNER SELLING DOPE AND TRYING TO DECIDE WHICH CAR TO BREAK INTO NEXT.

SOUNDS FUNNY.

IT'S NOT, IT'S REAL.

AND THEY NEED SPORTS.

THEY NEED RECREATION AND, AND, AND, AND ROWING AROUND THE LAKE IS NICE, BUT, BUT THAT'S SORT OF AN ODD USE OF PUBLIC TERRITORY FOR NEEDY KIDS WHO COULD PROBABLY FIT BETTER INTO MORE MAINSTREAM SPORTS LIKE, UH, BASKETBALL OR SOCCER.

THERE'S A NEW CRAY THAT'S CALLED PICKLE BALL THAT I UNDERSTAND IS VERY POPULAR COMING UP NOW.

DOESN'T TAKE UP VERY MUCH SPACE, BUT KIDS COULD PLAY IT.

THEY NEED SOMETHING TO DO.

WE NEED A PLACE TO HAVE MEETINGS.

THAT NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS TO BE ORGANIZED.

IT HAS NO POLITICAL POWER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE LANGUAGE.

CERTAINLY NOT POLITICAL CONNECTION.

CERTAINLY NOT MONEY OR FAME OR ANY SOCIAL STATUS WHATSOEVER.

AND SO THE CITY SEEMS TO OVERLOOK EAST RIVERSIDE.

AND WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF GIVING THE COMMUNITY NEXT TO THE YOUTH HOST A PLACE TO ORGANIZE ITSELF, TO HAVE SERVICES DELIVERED TO ITSELF WHERE THEY CAN COME AND MEET AND PLAN AND WORK TOGETHER AND GET THE THINGS THEY NEED TO STOP BEING THE MOST SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOOD IN TOWN.

WE'VE WORKED THERE WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH RIVERSIDE TOGETHERNESS.

UH, RIVERSIDE TOGETHERNESS KIND OF FOLLOWED THE LEAD.

WE HAD ALREADY ESTABLISHED.

THEY GOT A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO COME TRY TO DEVELOP THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY POLICING.

AND, AND OUR HOUSE HAS PUT ON A NUMBER OF EVENTS INTRODUCING COPS AND KIDS INTO MUTUALLY INTERESTING ACTIVITIES.

WE PUT ON HOT DOGS AND HOOPS UP AT TRAVIS HIGH SCHOOL.

WE'VE HAD MEETINGS THAT IT AMOUNTS TO RUBBING PUPPIES NOSES TOGETHER SO THEY DON'T BARK AT EACH OTHER BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE KIDS ARE FRIGHTENED BY THE COLOR DARK BLUE, AND ALL THEY KNOW TO DO IS RUN WHEN THEY SEE A BADGE.

AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYONE, LEAST OF ALL FOR US IN THE CITY THAT HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE WAY AUSTIN GROWS UP.

SO WE'RE HERE PROMOTING THE IDEA OF COMMUNITY COHESION, OF HAVING A GATHERING PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN HAVE MEETINGS FOR DISCUSSIONS CAN RANGE INTO THE PROBLEMS THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE.

I WENT TO A COMMANDER'S FORUM PUT ON BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LAST FRIDAY.

UH, TWO WEEKS BEFORE THAT.

IT WAS COFFEE WITH A COP.

THOSE WERE BOTH IN, UH, THE ONE LAST FRIDAY WAS IN THE MONOPOLI COMMUNITY CENTER BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ONE, AS YOU KNOW, IN EAST RIVERSIDE.

BUT WE BORROWED ONE FROM THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD OVER WHERE WE COULD MEET INSIDE.

IT WAS IN A GYMNASIUM WITH PEOPLE YELLING AND RUNNING AROUND THE TRACK AND HOLLERING AND CARRYING ON AND DROPPING WEIGHTS WHILE WE TRIED TO TALK TO COPS.

BUT BE THAT, AS IT MAY ONE BEFORE WAS IN A PRIVATE COFFEE SHOP, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO MEET.

THERE'S NO PLACE TO EVEN TALK ABOUT WHAT'S WRONG, NOT ALONE, TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO FIX WHAT'S WRONG, NOT ALONE, TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT ARE MISSING.

SO IF I'M BEING A LITTLE OVERLY DRAMATIC, IT, IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT.

I'M TRYING TO GET THE MESSAGE THROUGH THAT WE NEED HELP.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS HELP.

AND IT'S NICE THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER CAN COME DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW AND ROW UP AND DOWN THE RIVER, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEXT TO THE YOUTH CENTER NEED HELP.

AND THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO EVEN A PLACE TO MEET, TO TALK ABOUT

[00:30:01]

WHAT THEY NEED, NOT ALONE TO HAVE THOSE SERVICES PROVIDED TO THEM.

SO I BEG OF YOU, PLEASE CONSIDER THOSE FOLKS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU.

AND MR. EIGHTS BOTH FOR COMING DOWN TO BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.

UM, PATRICK AND I MET WITH THESE, UM, AND ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE OF THE, OF THE IRAQ TELL ME AT EAST RIVERSIDE AND OLTORF COMMUNITY, IS THAT WHAT IT IS? E R O C STANDS FOR EAST RIVERSIDE AND OLTORF COMMUNITIES.

SO, YEAH.

SO WE CAN'T, WE DON'T HAVE THIS AS AN ACTION ITEM TONIGHT, BUT I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD, AND MAYBE PATRICK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN THERE WHEN WE WENT TO VISIT? SURE.

SO THIS IS IN THE DISTRICT, UH, FOR ME, DISTRICT THREE, AND HONESTLY, I WASN'T VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS AREA BEFOREHAND.

UH, BUT GENTLEMEN GAVE US A REALLY GREAT KINDA WALKING TOUR OF THE PARK AREA AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, AND PRETTY MUCH PANS OUT IN, IN A VERY SIMILAR ASPECT FOR HOW THEY PRESENTED IT TONIGHT.

UM, THOUGHT THE DATA THEY SHOWED ABOUT THE CRIME AND POVERTY IN THE AREA WAS REALLY COMPELLING, UM, TO AT LEAST HAVE US CONSIDER LEARNING MORE AND POSSIBLY, UH, YOU KNOW, HOLDING OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF RECOMMENDING FUTURE ACTION ON THIS IN, IN THE FUTURE.

UM, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PLANNING PARKLAND IN THIS AREA, THE, THE, THE PARK, UH, THE MAIN PARK IN QUESTION IS, IS IS NICE, BUT IS VERY UNDERDEVELOPED FOR THE, THE TYPES OF NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY THERE THAT HAVE BEEN ARTICULATED TO US AT LEAST, RIGHT? YES.

YEAH.

UM, YEAH.

SO, UM, SO WHAT HAS GONE IN, IT'S KIND OF A DONE DEAL.

I WENT INTO JUST LIKE A FACT FINDING MISSION FOUNDATIONS COMMUNITY HAS TAKEN OVER THE CHURCH THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SPACE THAT THEY'VE BEEN USING.

UM, AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, IT'S A DONE DEAL.

AND, AND THEY HAVE, UH, OFFERED SOME COMMUNITY SPACE.

AND I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO ALL THOSE DETAILS, BUT I DO HAVE SOME FACTS THAT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU GUYS THAT THEY GAVE ME ABOUT WHO, WHAT THEY WILL HAVE AVAILABLE.

AND THEY ARE TRYING TO LEAVE SOME BUFFER ZONE, AND THEY HAVE A SPACE THAT THE PARKS WILL NEED TO WORK WITH THEM TO DEVELOP AS, AS AN EASEMENT FOR AN AREA ON BURTON DRIVE.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WALKING THROUGH.

SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK ON.

I THINK WE JUST WANTED TO REALLY, PATRICK AND I WANTED TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA TO SORT OF BRING IT TO OUR RADAR BECAUSE I DO THINK THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM.

UM, WHEN THEY FIRST CAME, I THINK MR. YATES CAME LAST MONTH, AND I WENT AND DID A LITTLE DRIVING TOUR, AND THERE ARE JUST APARTMENTS EVERYWHERE.

AND THE APARTMENTS ARE NOT PUTTING IN ANY SPACE WHATSOEVER FOR EVEN ON THEIR PROPERTY, FOR THEIR OWN RESIDENCE.

SO THERE'S JUST NO PARK LAND.

HE'S, THEY'RE, THEY'RE CORRECT.

AND THE TWO PLACES THAT I DID SEE ARE THESE POCKET PARK AREAS THAT THEY WERE MENTIONING ON ROYAL CRESTON.

I'VE FOR, I'VE FORGOTTEN NOW THE NAME OF THE OTHER ROAD, BUT THEY HAD THEM ON THERE.

SO I JUST THINK THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES A LITTLE BIT AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THIS.

AND I JUST WANT YOU ROCK TO KNOW WE'RE LISTENING TO YOU AND WE HEAR YOUR CONCERNS AND WE AGREE WITH, WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THAT YOU GUYS NEED SOME HELP.

AND, UM, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, MR. DALMA? YEAH, I MEAN, I GUESS GOING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, I GUESS THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.

YOU KNOW, THE, I'VE LONG WANTED A REC CENTER IN ROCK, BUT WHERE THE KIDS WERE, AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE NEW APARTMENT COMPLEXES OVER BY ORACLE, THAT'S NOT WHERE THE KIDS ARE.

AND IF WE'RE HAVING THE ADULTS IN THAT AREA WITH ALL THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, THEY ALREADY HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF GOING TO ROY GITO PARK, AND THEN THEY HAVE THE PARKLAND RIGHT IN THERE.

AND SO WHEN I REALLY LOOKED AT IT, I MEAN, I, I STILL FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT THE CONCENTRATION, UM, OF THOSE KIDS ARE, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN EAST RIVERSIDE AND EAST URF, THAT'S WHERE THE KIDS ARE.

UNLESS WE WANT KIDS TO BE ABLE TO CROSS TWO MAJOR STREETS.

AND SO, AND WHEN WE LOOK ABOUT WHAT, WHERE THERE'S A LACK OF SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S IT.

I MEAN, IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR WRAPAROUND SERVICES, SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING NOW WITH DEF DO SPRINGS AND THE, UH, THE HEALTH CENTER THERE, THAT'S THE AREA OF FOCUS.

AND SO AS WE MOVE NEXT YEAR INTO BOND AS A CITY MOVES INTO NEXT YEAR TO BOND PLANNING, I MEAN, I THINK, I HOPE THAT THIS BOARD GETS IN FRONT OF THAT LIST, ASSUMING THAT WE GO TO A BOND NEXT NOVEMBER.

BUT, AND REALLY LOOK TO SEE WHERE DO WE HAVE GAPS IN SERVICE? AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF AREAS OF GAPS IN SERVICE.

AND CERTAINLY, UH, THERO NEIGHBORHOOD IS DEFINITELY THAT.

UM,

[00:35:01]

SO THAT, I GUESS THAT'S REALLY THE BIG PART.

THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS.

JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR ANYBODY WHO'S JUST KIND OF TO CHIMING IN, UM, YOU KNOW, CENTRAL MAINTENANCE COMPLEX.

YEAH, IT'S A DEDICATED PARKLAND, BUT IT'S, IT'S A CENTRAL BUILDING.

IT'S NOT ACTIVATED PARK LAND FOR ACT, YOU KNOW, FOR ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATION.

UH, THE, THE CURRENT YOUTH HOST IS BEING GEARED TOWARDS THE, THE, THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEIRS HAS BEEN TORN, HAS BEEN TORN DOWN AS PART OF, UH, TMP.

ONE THING I'M GONNA JUMP IN THERE REALLY QUICK WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, IS THAT I DID TALK TO DIRECTOR MCNE, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT FOR FAMILY REASONS.

UM, BUT SHE DID MENTION A COUPLE OF THINGS.

AND ONE OF THEM IS THAT SHE IS KEEPING HER EYE ON THE BALL FOR PUTTING A COMMUNITY ROOM AT THE, UM, AT THE HOSTEL, AT THE YOUTH HOSTEL, THE FORMER YOUTH HOST.

SO WE WILL KEEP, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR EYE ON TOO, THAT THERE IS PUBLIC SPACE THERE.

I AGREE WITH RICH, I MEAN, WITH BOARD MEMBER DIPLOMA THAT, UM, CROSSING RIVERSIDE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FIND A SPACE UP THE HILL TOWARD THOSE APARTMENTS.

SO IT'S EASY WALKING FOR STUDENTS AND, AND YOUNG ADULT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO COME TO PLAY PICKLE BALL OR WHATNOT.

SO I, THAT, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I WANNA JUMP IN THERE AND ADD ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SPACE.

YEAH, I MEAN, AND FOR ME, I THINK IT'S, IT'S GOOD TO DO WHERE, WHERE NEAR KIDS ARE AND, AND YOU KNOW, PREFERABLY WHERE NEAR SCHOOLS ARE, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT PAST CLOSINGS, YOU KNOW, SURROUNDING THE AREA WITH A IS D ON SOME OF THE SCHOOLS, UM, THE, THE ROYAL CREST POCKET PARK, I SAW THAT AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF STAFF, UM, AND BE IF COULD ANSWER A QUESTION RELATING TO THAT, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS PART OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE OVERLAY OF THE, THE OLD COMMERCIAL PARCEL, WHICH HAD LIKE, I FORGOT WHAT, THAT'S A CLUB LATINO.

AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THERE'S A NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT THAT'S BEEN CLOSED DOWN AND THEY'RE GOING TO, AND THAT'S WHERE THE PARKLAND IS GOING TO ACTIVATE THAT PARTICULAR SPACE.

BUT I, I'D LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

AND WE REALLY DO NEED TO LOOK AT HOW PARKLAND IS PURCHASED, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S HOW IT IS.

UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY ONLINE BOARD MEMBER LEWIS? OH, WE HAVE A, UM, THANK YOU.

THIS IS TOM ROWSON WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

I CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THE ROYAL CREST POCKET PARK.

SO THAT WAS A PARK LINE DEDICATION CASE.

I BELIEVE THE PROJECT STILL UNDER REDEVELOPMENT, UM, BUT WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.

BUT YEAH, I BELIEVE YOU ARE CORRECT, UH, BOARD MEMBER DIPLOMA THAT IT'S UNDER REDEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW, SO THAT FOOTPRINT EVENTUALLY WILL HAVE, YOU KNOW, PARK AMENITIES IN IT.

GREAT.

APPRECIATE IT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AUDIENCE HAS THE FULL INFORMATION.

THANK YOU.

YES.

UH, BOARD MEMBER, UH, VICE VICE CHAIR PASS.

I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UM, COMMENT IN THE PRESENTATION THAT THERE WAS A DEVELOPMENT WHERE THE PARKLAND FEES WENT TO THE HOLLY SHORES PARK ACROSS THE RIVER.

AND I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD GET AN EXPLANATION FROM STAFF OF HOW THAT WORKS, IF THE DISTANT RESTRICTION DISTANCE RESTRICTIONS OR AS THE CROW FLIES, OR, I MEAN, THAT SEEMS, HELLO, THIS IS LEANNA KAKA.

OH, HINA.

AND HI.

UM, I, WE WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AND SEE ALL THE DETAILS AND WE CAN PROVIDE A RESPONSE REGARDING THE FEES AND HOW THEY WERE SPENT.

YEAH, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

I MEAN, JUST WHAT ARE LIKE THE OVERALL POLICIES SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT SO FAR AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK A CLO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT, UM MM-HMM.

CITYWIDE.

YEAH, WE CAN PROVIDE THE, WE CAN PROVIDE THAT AS WELL.

YEAH, I'LL, I'LL JUST ADD TO THAT, LAURA, YOU SAID IN YOUR TOUR YOU SAW APARTMENT AFTER APARTMENT WITH NO PARKS, AND SO PRESUMABLY THEY PAID A, THE FEE.

SO HOW I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT MORE THAN JUST THE ONE BUILDING, UM, WHY IS IT THAT THERE ARE NO PARKS IN THAT AREA? WHERE DO THOSE FEES GO TO? BOARD MEMBER, DIPLOMA CHAIR, UM, JUST SO YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY CAN GO ONLINE AS WELL.

AND SO IF YOU GO ONLINE TO THE, OUR, THE CITY STAFF OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CREATED A REALLY GREAT S SYSTEM WHERE YOU CAN GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL, UH, PROJECTS AND SEE HOW MUCH WAS DEDICATED AND IF THE MONEY WAS ALLOCATED OR IF IT'S JUST SITTING THERE.

CUZ IN SOME INSTANCES, JUST ENOUGH VOLUME AND THE MORE PARKLAND DEDICATION, WE, AND THERE'S A CRITICISM WE GET OFTEN FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE DON'T SPEND THE MONEY.

WELL,

[00:40:01]

IF WE CHARGE MORE FOR PARKLAND DEDICATION, WE COULD ACTUALLY DO MORE WITH IT.

UM, BUT, AND SO YOU CAN GO AND SEE AND SEE HOW IT WAS ALLOCATED.

DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? I MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

A LOT OF THOSE APARTMENTS ARE VERY OLD AND I SUSPECT THAT THEY WERE BUILT BEFORE PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES WERE AN ORDINANCE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE TOO.

AND THEN ONE OTHER THING I HAD ASKED IF, UH, CHRISTINE KANU, CHANK WAS ABLE TO COME, DID SHE COME TONIGHT? BECAUSE ONE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER AND MAYBE TO HELP, UM, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WITH IS, UH, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL, WAS IT LAST TIME OR THE TIME BEFORE THEY ALL SORT OF RUN TOGETHER THESE MEETINGS? UM, WHERE WE SAW THE WILLIAMSON CREEK DEVELOPMENT THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD PUT TOGETHER AND THE HERITAGE WALLS AND THE BASKETBALL COURTS AND THOSE THINGS.

AND SO I THINK MAYBE WE COULD, UM, PARTNER WITH THEM AND HELP, UM, GUIDE THEM TO GET THERE'S, IT'S CALLED COMMUNITY.

DOES ANYBODY HELP ME? UM, DIRECTOR CAL BOCA COMMUNITY.

WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE THING? THE COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY ACTIVATED PARTNERSHIPS.

THE CAL.

THANK YOU.

YES.

I HAD IT WRITTEN DOWN ON MY NOTEBOOK, WHICH I WALKED OUT OF THE HOUSE WITHOUT TONIGHT.

SO, SO I THINK ALL OF THOSE ARE OPTIONS AND I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP THEM ON THE TABLE.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TALKING BEHIND THE SCENES AND TALKING TO THE PARK DEPARTMENT AND GETTING THIS INFORMATION.

AND, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SPOKESPEOPLE TO COME AND, AND GIVE US THIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT.

SO ANY FURTHER COMMENT? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, ALRIGHT, MOVING ON TO DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. NUMBER THREE,

[3. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to City Council on the Brodie Oaks Planned Unit Development application and whether it is superior with respect to parkland dedication]