[00:00:07]
[CALL TO ORDER]
PACKED MEETING TONIGHT.SO IF EVERYBODY CAN PLEASE QUIET DOWN.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TRY TO GET STARTED.
UM, THE FIRST THING I'M GONNA DO IS CALL ROLL.
I'M LAURA KOCHEK, CHAIR OF THE PARKS BOARD.
IT IS SIX O'CLOCK BY MY WATCH, SIX OH ONE BY MY PHONE.
UM, AND THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONERS.
PLEASE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE PRESENT.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON THE, UM, AGENDA AND THE, THE PUBLIC SPEAKING, CUZ I SEE THERE'S STILL PEOPLE SIGNING IN.
UM, THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE ROLLING OFF OUR BOARD AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS SOME THANKS TO THOSE.
THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, NINA RANALDI.
IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT AND IT TAKES A LOT OF PREPARATION TO BE ON THIS BOARD AND DO THINGS RIGHT.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK NINA FOR ALWAYS BEING HERE AND BEING PREPARED.
AND, AND THE FLOWERS ARE FROM BOTH, UH, MYSELF AND THE DIRECTOR MCNELEY, SO THANK YOU.
AND THE OTHER PERSON THAT WE HAVE TO THANK NOT ONLY HAS BEEN PREPARED AND PRESENT, BUT SHE ALSO DID THIS HARD JOB OF CHAIR FOR THREE SOLID YEARS WHEN SHE DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO ANYMORE.
AND SHE HAS BEEN STILL WORKING ON A CRIME WORKING GROUP THAT HAS TAKEN UP AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND SHE HAS BEEN A MENTOR TO ME WHO I TRULY APPRECIATE.
AND SO WE ARE REALLY GONNA MISS DON LEWIS.
AND I PROMISE WE'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH BEFORE THE TULIPS MELT.
DO WE HAVE COMMUNICATION STARTED? THANK YOU.
UM, AS FAR AS COMMUNICATION, THE GENERAL COMMUNICATION WILL BE THE FIRST, THE FIRST FEW PEOPLE.
UM, THERE IS ALSO ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE ZUCKER PARK VISION PLAN.
UM, I AM NOT LIMITING THOSE SPEAKERS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HEAR THEM.
WE HAVE, UH, FELT THAT WE DID NOT HEAR ENOUGH OF THE PUBLIC VOICES THROUGH SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND SO THE LAST MEETING THAT THEY HAD ON DECEMBER 7TH, THEY TOLD PEOPLE, GO TO YOUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IF YOU HAVE INPUT.
AND SO WITH THAT, LET'S START WITH
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
THE GENERAL SPEAKERS, PLEASE.I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE BEFORE WE START THAT THERE'S A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT AND YOU'LL HEAR A BUZZER GO OFF WHEN YOUR THREE MINUTES EXPIRES.
AND PLEASE CONCLUDE YOUR THOUGHT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET TO HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS.
UM, OUR FIRST SPEAKER ON GENERAL COMMUNICATION IS MILES AND LAUREN TARNO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND YOUR TIME.
HE STARTS THE TIMER WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
MY NAME IS, OR GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF DEBOARD.
MY NAME IS MILES TARNO AND I'M 10 YEARS OLD.
I'M A FIFTH GRADER AT BLAZER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND I'M WORKING ON MY ARROW OF LIGHT RINK AND CUB SCOUTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS TWO MAJOR ISSUE ISSUES REGARDING MY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
ONION CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK IS FIRST IT'S DANGEROUS TO CROSS FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD SAXTON PLACE, PLACE TO PARK.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PARK ENTRANCE IS AT THE END OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND IS CLOSE TO A BLIND CURVE.
THIS IS A VIDEO OF MY NEXT SLIDE OF MY DAD AND I AND I ATTEMPTING TO CROSS MULTIPLE TIMES.
THERE HAPPENED TIMES WHEN CARS DO NOT SLOW DOWN AND PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT.
I PROPOSE THAT THERE IS, THERE WOULD BE A FLASHING CROSSING SIGN SIGNS AT OUR CROSSWALK OR FLASHING STOP LIGHT AND A REDUCTION IN THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT.
THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IS 40 MILES PER HOUR WITH THE SUGGESTION OF 20
[00:05:01]
MILES PER HOUR.THE SECOND THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IS THAT THE PARK HAS NEVER BEEN FINISHED.
THE ORIGINAL PLAN INCLUDED PLAYGROUNDS IN NATURE CENTER AND OTHER AMENITIES THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS EXCITED ABOUT.
WE HAVE MANY DEAD AND UNFINISHED TRAILS IN AN OPEN AREA.
THIS IS, THERE IS NO PLAYGROUND OR ANY OTHER AMENITIES THAT WERE PROMISED TO OUR COMMUNITY.
A RECENT POOL ON NEXT DOOR FOUND THAT NEIGHBORS WANTED TO ADD A PLAYGROUND, A SPLASH PACK, A DISC GOLF COURSE, A DOG PARK, AND FINISH THE TRAILS.
I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE ONION CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK ACHIEVE ITS FULL POTENTIAL AND BE A BEAUTIFUL GATHERING PLACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS HESSLE.
CHRIS HESSLE, ARE YOU AVAILABLE? OKAY, AFTER, UM, NEXT IS SHARON BLYTHE.
AM I ON NOW? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD FOR THEIR SERVICE AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING IN THE LIVES OF THE AUSTIN CITIZENS OVER THE YEARS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARKS THAT WE HAVE SEEN.
I'M THE CFO OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL AND WE HAVE THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
HAVE BEEN THRILLED TO INVEST IN THE EAST SIDE'S PERSONAL WATERCRAFT, ACCESS VIA FESTIVAL BEACH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING, UH, LONG-TERM FACILITIES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE HARD TEAM ON.
WE HAVE ESPECIALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH MAGGIE PAT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH KAREN IN THE, THE UPCOMING TIME AND WORKING WITH HER SINCE SHE'S JOINED.
UM, WE'VE ENJOYED, WHILE WE HAVE ONLY INTERIM AND TEMPORARY FACILITIES, UH, THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THERE AT AUSTIN HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT.
AND TO RECAPTURE SOME HIGHLIGHTS, WORKING WITH UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS, ADAPTIVE POPULATIONS, NONPROFIT GROUPS.
DURING THE CITY'S FISCAL 20 21, 22 YEAR OVER 1,645 PARTICIPANTS WERE SERVED WITH FREE OR SIGNIFICANTLY LOW COST SERVICES.
WITH OUR SLIDING PRICE CAL SERVICES, AT LEAST 1,150 OF THOSE SESSIONS WERE TOTALLY FREE TO THE PARTICIPANTS.
IN ADDITION, DURING THIS YEAR, THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL WAS ABLE TO HOST GLOBAL GROUPS FROM ASIA, AFRICA, AND FORMER FORMER SOVIET BLOCK COUNTRIES ON LADYBIRD LAKE.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE HELPED REMOVE OVER 9,500 POUNDS OF DEBRIS, WASTE, AND RECYCLING MATERIALS FROM THE PARK, WORKING WITH OTHER VARIOUS PARTNERS AND WITH MANY OF THOSE NONPROFIT GROUPS WHERE WE HAVE HELPED SPONSOR THEM.
IN ADDITION, TWO THINGS STAND OUT OF GREAT MERIT TO ME.
UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED LATER ON, I THINK PROVIDES A GREAT START AND ALLOWS US TO BETTER UTILIZE AND BE BETTER STEWARDS OF LADYBIRD LAKE GOING FORWARD.
WE ARE ALSO EXCITED AT THE PROPOSED ZILKER IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND APPRECIATE THE DESIRE TO ENGAGE DIVERSE COMMUNITY VOICES AND THE PLANNING AND INCORPORATING THOSE VOICES SO THAT THEY ARE HEARD AND INCORPORATED IN.
UH, WITH THAT, I TURN OVER MY TIME.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHARON BLYTHE.
DO YOU WANNA TELL HIM WHO'S AFTER THAT UP? GOOD EVENING.
I'VE BEEN A CEMETERY ADVOCATE FOR OVER 33 YEARS, AND, UH, I HAVE CON SOME CONCERNS ALONG WITH OTHERS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY AND LEGALITY OF THE DRAFT PROPOSED CEMETERY RULES.
FIRST, I CALLED THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE BECAUSE I COULD NOT FIND THE DRAFT CEMETERY RULES ON THEIR WEBSITE.
THE CLERK'S OFFICE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY WERE.
THEY DID CALL ME BACK AND SAY THEY'RE UNDER THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
WELL, CEMETERIES ARE NOT LAND DEVELOPMENT.
CLEARLY, THE CEMETERY RULES WERE NOT EASY TO FIND BECAUSE THEY WERE BURIED, NO PUN INTENDED, WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
THEY NEED TO BE REPOSTED UNDER A SEPARATE HEADING UNDER THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WHERE CITIZENS CAN FIND THEM WITH EASE.
SINCE THE CEMETERY IS UNDER THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
THE THIS, UM, I'LL BE SENDING YOU THIS PRESENTATION, UH, AFTER THIS MEETING TO YOUR EMAIL BOXES.
I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE CEMETERY RULES
[00:10:01]
NEED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL CEMETERIES, WHICH WE BELIEVE THE DRAFT RULES DO NOT CURRENTLY REFLECT.YOU HAVE TO CLICK THROUGH THREE WAY, UH, PAGES ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE UNDER LAND DEVELOPMENT RULES.
THEN YOU CLICK ANOTHER SITE THAT SAYS THE PUBLIC NOTICES.
THEN YOU CLICK ANOTHER PAGE THAT SAID, UH, LAND DEVELOPMENT RULES.
UM, UNDER THE PARS DEPARTMENT, UM, THE, UM, THE PROPOSED RULES CONTRADICT STATE LAW RULES SAY THAT CEMETERY OPERATIONS RESERVE THE RIGHT AND TO, UM, PERFORM, UH, THINGS OF MAINTENANCE, SUCH AS, UH, THE, THE, UH, RE REPAIRING THE BUILDINGS AND THE ROADS AND RELEVELING THE MONUMENTS STATE LAW SAYS THAT THEY MUST DO ALL THOSE THINGS.
THE CITY MUST DO ALL THOSE THINGS.
IT DOESN'T SHALL DO ALL THOSE THINGS.
IT DOES NOT SAY THAT THEY HAVE A DISCRETION TO DO THEM.
AND THE PROPOSED CEMETERY RULES CONTRADICT STRAIGHT LAW.
AND THE DRAFT RULES SAY EARN EARN.
OWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE MEMORIALS ACTUALLY UNDER STATE LAW, THE CITY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
SO, UH, I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE HELP REWRITE THE CEMETERY RULES WHERE THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW AND HAVE THEM POSTED APPROPRIATELY SO THE CITIZENS INVITE THEM.
NEXT IS MARY FARROW, AND AFTER MARY IS JASON SAVO OR SAVO.
AND, UM, I AM HERE JUST TO TALK ABOUT NORTHWEST PARK FOR A MINUTE.
MY, MY HOME, UH, PARK AND PASSION.
UM, I WANNA THANK, UH, THE DEPARTMENT AND THE BOARD FOR APPROVING A $16,000 MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR THE POND THIS YEAR.
AND, UH, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT BEING AWARDED, UH, WITH, UH, COOPERATION FROM WATERSHED PROTECTION.
I ALSO WANNA TELL YOU THAT WE'RE PREPARING AN, UH, ADOPT A CREEK, UH, PROJECT FOR THE PARK ITSELF.
THERE'S A LITTLE SLEW THAT RUNS THROUGH THE PARK, WHICH IS ACTUALLY AN OLD MEANDER OF SHOAL CREEK, AND IT'S CONSIDERED A WATER, UH, CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THAT.
AND, UM, JUST WANNA ALSO THANK, THANK THE BOARD FOR, UM, STEPPING UP TO WORK ON CRIME AND PARKS RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THAT THAT IS PERVASIVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, AND, UM, WE APPRECIATE THAT TOO BECAUSE WE'VE CERTAINLY EXPERIENCED THAT.
AND WHILE WE'RE, WHILE I'M SAYING THANKS, ALSO WANNA THANK THE RETIRING BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR SERVICE BECAUSE, UM, ANY KIND OF VOLUNTEER WORK IS A BIG COMMITMENT AND THIS IS A HUGE COMMITMENT.
UM, AND LASTLY, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UM, ONE PARK IN PARTICULAR TONIGHT AND, UM, AND PARKS IN GENERAL.
AND I THINK THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE ALL LOVE OUR PARKS.
WE LOVE THE NATURE THAT, THAT WE CAN FIND IN PARKS, AND THAT'S THE THING THAT'S DISAPPEARING IN OUR CITY AS IT'S GETTING DEVELOPED SO MUCH.
AND SO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO HELP MAINTAIN THE NATURAL QUALITY OF OUR PARKS, UM, I DON'T THINK WE NEED MORE CONCRETE OR CONCESSIONS AS MUCH AS WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE PRESERVE NATURE IN OUR CITY.
THAT'S WHAT AUSTIN WAS KNOWN FOR, AND I, I HOPE WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT IN THE FUTURE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL, IF HE SPEAKS UP, WE'LL COME BACK.
I'M THE ADVOCACY MANAGER OF ARC, UH, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.
I WANTED TO UPDATE THE BOARD ON, UM, SOME EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE, AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.
UM, SO FIRST PALMER LOU POCKET PARK IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION DISTRICT FOUR.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT WILL BE COMPLETE BY APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
UM, A P F HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT AND THE COMMUNITY SINCE 2018, WORKING ON THE VISION PLAN DESIGN AND NOW CONSTRUCTION.
UM, THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY APF, AN URBAN FOR FORESTRY GRANT AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES.
UH, IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, WE AWARDED AN ACL MUSIC FESTIVAL COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT OF 16,000 TO THE AUSTIN ROLLER DERBY.
THIS MONEY WILL BE USED TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY AND COST IMPLICATIONS OF ADDING A SHADE CANOPY AND LIGHTING OVER THE ROLLER DERBY
[00:15:01]
TRACK AT BARTHA LEU DISTRICT PARK IN DISTRICT FOUR.THE ROLLER DERBY TRACK, UM, IS THE ONLY PUBLIC ROLLER DERBY TRACK AND THE ONLY SPACE THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY PART AND THE CITY EXPLICITLY FOR THE USE BY LOCAL DERBY LEAGUE.
SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL END OF THE YEAR COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS WE PROVIDED INCLUDE AN, UM, 75,000 TO THE ZILKER BOTANICAL GARDEN CONSERVANCY TO RESTORE THE ICONIC BUTLER WINDOW, 22,000 TO CITIES CONNECTING CHILDREN IN NATURE, UM, FOR JOINTLY MANAGED A I S D AND PAR PARK AMENITIES FOR NECESSARY THINGS LIKE TRASH CANS, PICNIC TABLES, RECYCLING CONTAINERS, ET CETERA.
AND WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO AWARD SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS AT THE END OF 2022 TO NORTH OAKS COMMUNITY GARDEN, PATTERSON PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN, GEORGIAN ACRES, AND BROWNIE PARKS.
I ALSO WANTED TO BRING IT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION THAT OUR SPRING, IT'S, MY PARK DAY IS GOING TO BE ON SATURDAY, MARCH 4TH.
AND VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION OPS ON OPENS ON FEBRUARY 6TH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIAM WEAVER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER AFTER WILLIAM IS MIKE CANDI.
I HOPE WE'RE RUNNING UP PROMISE MR. GREEN TO YOU AT A PREVIOUS MEETING.
I'LL KEEP MY MARKS AS QUICK AS I CAN.
ARE WE EACH SUPPOSED TO HAVE OUR OWN? I, I, I TRIED TO BRING ONE FOR EVERYBODY.
PUSH, UH, CAN YOU FILL UP THE SLIDE? YOU DID.
I'M WITH THE BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY, AND I'M WANTED TO TELL Y'ALL LAST YEAR, UH, MY BIRTHDAY, I WAS TESTIFYING BEFORE YOU TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY REPORT THAT WAS PREPARED BY THE SIGLO GROUP, AND I PROMISED TO BRING YOU A COPY.
NOW I HAVE BROUGHT YOU THIS COPY.
UM, AS YOU RECALL, SIGLO IS RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EXPERTISE IN LAND USE PLANNING, UH, DESIGN AND CONSERVATION WORK AROUND A NUMBER OF PARKS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THEY CAME UP WITH THIS ANALYSIS OF ZUCKER PARK, UH, THAT WE COMMISSIONED THE, WE BEING THE BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY TO HELP THE VISION PLAN PROCESS WORK IN ALL THESE, THESE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL DETAILS, UM, WHEN THEY BEGAN THE WORK IN STUDYING THE PARK.
UM, THIS IS JUST THE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ITS 200 PAGE REPORT THAT IS NOW IN YOUR HANDS.
AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL KNEW THAT THIS REPORT, AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS, ACTUALLY HAS RECEIVED SOME VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK AND SOME AWARDS.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY LAST YEAR, THE UNDER AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS FOR THIS VERY REPORT.
UM, THE SIGLER GROUP RECEIVED THAT, UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND THEY ACTUALLY RECEIVED TWO AWARDS THAT DAY, INCLUDING A MERIT AWARD FOR A QUOTE, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STRENGTHS AND GAPS ASSESSMENT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT FEEDBACK ON THIS REPORT FROM, UM, A PRESENTATION WE MADE TO THE AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.
IT WAS IN A ZOOM CALL ON JUNE OF 2021.
IN FACT, AFTER OUR PRESENTATION, THE LEADER LEADERSHIP FROM ZUCKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SAID THAT THE REPORT WAS ASTOUNDINGLY GOOD.
THIS IS A GREAT PIECE OF WORK, AND I REALLY WANT Y'ALL TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE DESIGN TEAM THAT WORKING ON THE ZUCKER PLAN HAD SOME FANTASTIC MATERIAL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON IN ZUCKER PARK IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE NATURAL ASPECTS AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GOING FORWARD.
TELL YOU WHAT, I'M GONNA STOP WITH THAT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
I GUESS YOU CAN'T ASK QUESTIONS, BUT, UM, THIS IS A, THIS IS A REPORT THAT HAS BEEN USED BY THE DESIGN TEAM TO COME UP WITH 91 ACRES OF ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT THAT WE'RE GONNA HEAR MORE ABOUT LATER TONIGHT.
SO I GUESS I WON'T GO INTO THAT, BUT I DID WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT.
AND IF, UH, ANYBODY WANTS TO KEEP IT, YOU MAY.
IF ANY OF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO READ IT, I'LL TAKE IT BACK.
WE CAN HAVE YOU GOOD USE FOR THESE.
UH, BUT I'LL LET YOU KEEP IT UP THERE FOR NOW.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
KAREN, JUST SO YOU CAN BE READY AFTER KAREN IS KEVIN RAINIS.
MY NAME IS KAREN IAN AND I CAME HERE TO INFORM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, ALL OF YOU ON THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, I LIVE ACROSS FROM BUTLER PITCH AND
[00:20:01]
PUTT, AND IT'S OFTEN HELD UP AS SORT OF ONE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACES HERE IN AUSTIN.BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF, OR IF YOU DIDN'T LIVE ACROSS IT AND YOU DIDN'T REALIZE, AT SIX 30 TO SEVEN EVERY MORNING, THEY USE A TWO-STROKE LEAF BLOWER, TWO-STROKE ENGINE LEAF BLOWER TO CLEAR THE LEAVES OFF THE COURSE.
THEY RUN THAT LEAF BLOWER FROM TWO TO FIVE HOURS.
IF IT'S A LEAFING, UH, SEASON AS IT JUST IS, WE COULD GO UP TO EIGHT HOURS, AS WE ALL KNOW, TWO LEAF, UH, I MEAN, TWO STROKE ENGINES HAVE BEEN OUTLAWED IN MANY COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF THE KNOWN CARCINOGENIC CARCINOGENICS THAT THEY SPEW INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.
UM, APPROXIMATELY 30% OF THE GAS AND OIL THAT'S PUT INTO THOSE TANKS ARE RELEASED INTO THE AIR UNBURNED.
SO NOT ONLY ARE WE FACING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FACING THE PARK, THE BUTLER PIGEONING PARK, UM, HAVING TO CLOSE OUR WINDOWS BECAUSE OF THE NOISE, ALSO THE POLLUTIONS AND THE POOR PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THE MACHINES.
I'VE GONE OVER AND TOLD THE PEOPLE AT THE PARK AT THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL SAYING THAT THIS, YOU'RE DOING IR IR REVOCABLE HARM TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY USING THESE, THAT ARE STANDING UP AND USING THEM.
UM, AND I JUST THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THIS ISN'T THE GREEN SPACE THAT EVERYONE IS ALLOWING IT TO BE.
AND I WOULD LIKE ALSO FOR THE, UH, PARKS DEPARTMENT TO MAYBE LOOK IN A LITTLE BIT TO THE MAINTENANCE, WHAT IS EXPECTED, WHAT KIND OF, UH, EQUIPMENT CAN BE USED ON OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT WE'RE ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH NOT USING CARCINOGENIC UH, EQUIPMENT.
UH, THE EPA HAS A BRILLIANT REPORT ON THIS AS WELL AS EDMONDS.
UM, JIM, UH, JAMES FALLON OUTTA WASHINGTON DC WRITES BEAUTIFUL REPORTS ALSO ON THE DAMAGES OF, OF LEAF BLOWERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KEVIN RAINES.
AFTER KEVIN IS ADAM SHEDLOSKI.
HI, KEVIN RAINES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.
AGAIN, THANK THE BOARD FOR THE SERVICE AND UM, FOR THE GENERAL COMMUNICATION.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF INTRODUCTIONS AS WE HAVE SOME NEW MEMBERS THAT HAVE JOINED THE BOARD OF ARC.
AND AS YOU KNOW, ARC IS A 5 0 1
AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 40.
AND, UH, NAVINE, ROGER SHEKAR IS JOINED OUR BOARD, KEEGAN WARREN.
AND, UH, WANTED TO MAKE THE INTRODUCTION CUZ YOU MAY SEE SOME NEW FACES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR IN CASE YOU GET TIRED OF SEEING MINE.
AND, UH, AUBREY RODIER IS ALSO HERE, WHO'S SPOKEN BEFORE AS OUR GENERAL MANAGER RENTALS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ADAM SHEDLOSKI.
AFTER ADAM IS SINGH, HELLO AND GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.
WE HAVE, UH, SOME PHOTOS THAT WE'LL BE COMING UP SHORTLY THAT YOU GUYS CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH AND JUST SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS ADAM SHEDLOSKI, EDUCATOR GUIDE AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE KIMERY DUDA FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
UH, BY THE WAY, KIMERY SENDS HER REGARDS, SHE'S LECTURING THIS EVENING AT THE EMS ACADEMY AND UNFORTUNATELY CANNOT BE, BE HERE TO JOIN US TONIGHT.
SHE DOES WISH THE BEST TO THE BOARD, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND TO ALL WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TO BRING THE BEST TO THE COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN THROUGH THE SAFEST OUTDOOR EDUCATION, RECREATION, AND AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE ENJOYMENT OF OUR PARKS.
AT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL, WE'RE COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMATIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR THE COMMUNITY WHO WE WORK WITH THROUGH EDUCA, THROUGH CONNECTION TO THE OUTDOORS.
WE, THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL ARE PROFESSIONAL GUIDES, OUTDOOR EDUCATORS, AND EXPERIENTIAL FACILITATORS DEDICATED TO SETTING THE STANDARDS AND SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, OUTDOOR ETHICS AND CONSERVATION FOR ALL.
AT THE CORE OF THIS IS ACCESSIBILITY AND USE OF LOCAL LAND AND WATERWAYS AND ONGOING PARADOX IN ALL OUTDOOR PURSUITS TO HAVE THE SPACE TO RECREATE WITH OTHERS AND THE CAREFUL ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES.
SO IS NOT TO PUT UNDUE STRESS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO CREATING AND PROVIDING PROGRAMS WHICH REDUCE AND OFFSET OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
OUR PROGRAMS EDUCATE ON THE ECOLOGICAL CONCERNS OF URBAN WATERWAYS, UNDERSCORING THE URGENT NEED OF CONSERVATION IN THE UNFOLDING CLIMATE CHANGE.
EACH OF OUR PROGRAMS PARTICIPATE IN ON THE WATER SHORELINE AND PARKLAND TRASH CLEANUPS AND RECYCLING, WHICH THEN PROTECTS RIPARIAN ZONES, RESULTING IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP THAT NOT ONLY TEACHES, BUT ENCOURAGES A CULTURE OF ACTION AND
[00:25:01]
RESPONSIBLE USE OF PARKLAND.FURTHER, WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO STAY ABREAST OF THE MOST CURRENT RESEARCH AND SCIENCE SO THAT WE BRING THE BIGGEST IMPACT TO THE REGIONS WE ENJOY TOGETHER OUR COMMUNITY, STUDENTS AND GUIDES ALIKE COMMIT TO PARTICIPATING IN CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW FOR STUDIES LIKE THE ONE DESIGNED BY DR.
THOMPSON OF HOUSTON TILTS AND UNIVERSITY TO HAVE MORE DATA TO DRAW UPON.
THE DEMOGRAPHICS WE SERVE ARE DIVERSE.
WE SUPPORT UNIVERSAL, AFFORDABLE, AND OR FREE ACCESS THROUGH OUR WORK WITH ADAPTIVE RECREATIONALISTS, SPECIFICALLY COMMUNITIES WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS AND THOSE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
IN ADDITION, WE WORK WITH LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS, SCHOOLS, NON-PROFITS, BUSINESSES, AND OTHER OUTDOOR INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS.
WHAT'S MORE AT OUR BOATHOUSE, WE SEE LOCAL AND GLOBAL DIVERSITY FROM ALL REGIONS OF THE WORLD.
THE WORK IS PROVIDING AN INCREDIBLE CULTURAL EXCHANGE, GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE FOR US FROM THEIR WORK AND LOCAL INSPIRATION FOR THEM THROUGH OUR LOCAL WORK.
THIS SUMMER WE HOSTED ROSE A MANDELA FELLOW FROM KENYA.
SHE'S A CONSERVATIONIST WHO CAME TO PADDLE WITH OUR ADAPTIVE PROGRAM.
SHE'S ALSO DEAF AND SHE WAS SO INSPIRED BY THE WORK SHE THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO THAT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL IS NOW TEACHING RANGERS AND RESEARCHERS IN EMERGENCY WILDERNESS MEDICINE TO HELP SAFEGUARD THE PARKS IN ZIMBABWE.
COST IS NEVER AN ISSUE FOR ACCESSING THE OUTDOORS.
AT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL, WE'RE FISCALLY SENSITIVE IN HOW WE PRICE OUR PROGRAMS FOR OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
AND THIS ENSURES EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ASSET LIMITED AND INCOME CONSTRAINED POPULATIONS.
FURTHER, WE'RE PROUD TO OFFER FREE PROGRAMS WHEN NECESSARY.
THE AFOREMENTIONED STUDY LAID BY DR.
THOMPSON OF HOUSTON TILLESON UNIVERSITY IS THE MOST THOROUGH AND ACCURATE STUDY THAT CAPTURES THE, THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR LOCAL GEMS. THANK YOU.
WE, THE EXPEDITION THANK SCHOOL ARE THRILLED THAT OUR CURRENT POLICIES ARE IN FULL SUPPORT AND ALIGNMENT WITH THE RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS STUDY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, YAY SINGH.
AFTER HIM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SCOTT COBB.
MY NAME IS AD SINGH AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE, UH, EXPEDITION SCHOOL, UH, BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED GROUP.
WE GO OUT ON EXCURSIONS, UH, WHICH INVOLVE A VARIETY OF OUTDOOR VENTURE ACTIVITIES, UH, FROM SKIING TO WHITEWATER RAFTING TO WA OR, UH, ROCK CLIMBING, MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, AND VARIOUS DIFFERENT TYPES OF TERRAIN.
UH, I'M ALSO A STUDENT EMPLOYEE OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW.
UM, SO I WANNA TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW I BECAME INVOLVED IN THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
UH, MY PARENTS INTRODUCED ME TO THIS ORGANIZATION AND I WENT ON MY VERY FIRST TRIP AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT IN 2015.
I WAS IN MY LAST YEAR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, SINCE THEN, I HAVE TRIED TO BE INVOLVED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN EVERY TRIP THAT I CAN GO TO AND EVERY EXCURSION I CAN TAKE PART IN, BECAUSE SUCH OPPORTUNITIES EVEN IN A CITY LIKE AUSTIN ARE RARE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, TO BE ABLE TO JOIN, ACT, UH, JOIN AND DO ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD'VE OTHERWISE BEEN CONSIDERED DIFFICULT FOR THE BLIND.
UM, I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT I'M A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THIS IS A CITY THAT'S VERY, VERY OPEN AND ACCEPTING OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
UH, THANKS TO THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND AND THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS THAT EXIST TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE, UM, I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL AND TO EVERYONE THAT'S HELPED ME ON MY JOURNEY.
I AM NOW A SECOND YEAR STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
AND WHENEVER I CAN, I ALSO WORK PART-TIME AT THE BOATHOUSE IN EXPEDITION SCHOOL IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SIMILAR SERVICES TO THOSE LIKE ME.
UM, SO I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, UH, IN SEVERAL ORGAN, UH, SEVERAL TRIPS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TO.
I ATTENDED ONE IN 2015, A FEW MORE THROUGHOUT MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, AND NOW I REGULARLY GO TO THE COLORADO TRIPS AS A STUDENT AND SOMETIMES ALSO AS A GUIDE.
UH, IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
YOU WILL SHORTLY BE, UH, VIEWING A VIDEO OF MYSELF AND A FEW OF MY TEAMMATES WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED GROUP, UH, SKIING DOWN, UH, DOWN THE FACE OF A MOUNTAIN IN, IN, IN, UH,
[00:30:01]
CRESTA BUTTE, COLORADO.UM, BUT YES, I WANTED TO THANK YOU KNOW EVERYONE OF YOU AT THE AUSTIN PARKS AND WILDLIFE RECREATION COMMISSION FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
AND THANK YOU TO ADAM AND THE REST OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL CREW.
AND, UM, MY HOPE IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TOP-NOTCH SERVICES TO A, A VARIETY OF PEOPLE, UM, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHERS WHO NEED OUR SERVICES AND WHO JUST WANT TO GET INVOLVED AS WELL.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO SPEAK HERE TONIGHT.
YOU'RE ON THE BAKE SCREENS KING RIGHT NOW.
WE WERE ABLE TO VIEW THE VIDEO WHILE YOU WERE SPEAKING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SCOTT COBB.
IT WAS A VERY DISMAL TIME WHEN I FIRST STARTED TALKING TO THE PARKS BOARD BECAUSE WE FACED A DIRE SITUATION OF A LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE THAT EVENTUALLY ENDED UP BEING VERY, UH, DISMAL.
WE ONLY OPENED, UH, ABOUT HALF THE POOLS LAST SUMMER, BUT IT LOOKS VERY BRIGHT THIS THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE ADVOCACY OF THE PARKS BOARD, THE LIFEGUARDS, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ADVOCATED FOR A 2222 LIVING WAGE, WHICH ENDED UP AT 20.
WE GOT 13 LIFEGUARDS FULL-TIME WITH FULL BENEFITS, WHO WILL BE HIRED SHORTLY.
UM, BUT THERE IS STILL SOME WORK TO DO.
WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF BEING THE ABSOLUTE BEST AQUATICS DEPARTMENT DIVISION IN THE UNITED STATES.
BUT WE NEED TO DO A FEW MORE THINGS.
WE NEED TO GET THE BONUSES BACK THIS SUMMER THAT WERE IN EFFECT LAST SUMMER, WHICH IS WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER PAGE ELLIS ADVOCATED FOR.
WOULD WE PASS THE BUDGET? SO 500 TO START, 500 AT THE END, TWO 50 FOR ADVANCED CERTIFICATIONS, WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR BECAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA HIRE MORE THAN 800 LIFEGUARDS, YOU NEED A LOT OF LIFEGUARD INSTRUCTORS.
FOR THOSE LIFEGUARD INSTRUCTORS, YOU NEED TO PAY THEM AN EXTRA $250 BONUS.
ALSO, PART OF THE, AND I WAS ASSURED BY BOTH KIMBERLY MCNEELY AND, UH, LUCAS MESSI, THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN.
AND THAT IS PAID TRAINING DURING THE LIFEGUARD COURSE AND PAID TRAINING DURING THE, UH, LIFEGUARD TRAINING COURSE.
RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE TO TAKE FIVE DAYS OFF, NOT GET PAID.
PAY A HUNDRED DOLLARS A PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP TO BE A LIFEGUARD INSTRUCTOR.
THAT SHOULD BE, YOU GET PAID AND IT'S NO COST.
AND IT SHOULD BE WHEN YOU SIGN UP TO BE A LIFEGUARD, YOU GET PAID FROM DAY ONE OF TRAINING JUST LIKE YOU WOULD AT MCDONALD'S IF YOU'RE LEARNING HOW TO DO THE, THE FRENCH FRY MACHINE.
SO THAT HELPS GET PEOPLE ON BOARD SO THAT THEY START RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A LAG.
THERE WAS A LAG LAST SUMMER BETWEEN WHEN PEOPLE FINISH THE LIFEGUARD COURSE AND WHEN THEY FIRST DAY OF WORK.
IF YOU PUT PEOPLE ON PAYROLL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LIFEGUARD COURSE, YOU SHORTEN THAT.
SO MAYBE THEY CAN ADDRESS THAT LATER ON.
UM, UM, UH, WE ARE HAVING A DISCUSSION IN THE AQUATICS DEPARTMENT ABOUT A UNIFORM POLICY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ABOUT IT, BUT LAST SUMMER THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE, UH, STAFF MEMBER UPPER MANAGEMENT CAME TO BARTON SPRINGS POOL AND SAW THE LIFEGUARDS, DID NOT LIKE SEEING HOW SOME OF THEM FIT INTO THEIR UNIFORMS AND THREATENED TO SEND THEM HOME, WRITE THEM UP, THREATEN THEIR JOBS.
PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO FEEL GOOD WHEN THEY'RE AT WORK.
THEY DON'T NEED THEIR BOSS COMING AROUND CRITICIZING HOW THEY LOOK.
SO I SUPPORT A UNIFORM POLICY CHANGE THAT ALLOWS ALL THE GUARDS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AT WORK NOT HAVING TO WEAR SHORTS OVER THEIR SWIMSUITS FOR VARIOUS REASONS THAT I RAN OUTTA TIME TO TELL YOU ABOUT.
OUR OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHASE WRIGHT.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUNGARY HILL FOUNDATION.
UH, WE ARE A HOLISTIC WORK PROGRAM, UH, GRASSROOTS BUILT IN EAST AUSTIN.
UH, OUR FOCUS IS BRINGING UNHOUSED UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN THESE DIFFERENT PARKS AND THESE DIFFERENT AREAS.
WE BRING THEM WORK OPPORTUNITIES.
OUR MAIN FOCUS IS GETTING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO REINTRODUCE INTO SOCIETY AND
[00:35:01]
GET THEM INTO HOMES.FIRST STEP IS PROVIDING THEM WORK OPPORTUNITIES.
THROUGHOUT THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN IN EAST AUSTIN WORKING AT SPRINGDALE PARK AS WELL AS GIBBONS PARK.
UM, A AREA THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR OR COMFORTABLE GOING TO.
UH, AND THESE INDIVIDUALS, WHICH ARE OVER 131 CLIENTS NOW, THEY TAKE TIME.
THEY TAKE THE EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THESE PARKS AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE WATERSHEDS ARE CLEAN, UH, FOR THESE SPECIFIC PARKS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PRESERVING, UM, OUR WILDLIFE THAT WE DO HAVE LEFT THERE IN EAST AUSTIN.
UM, WE ARE ASKING FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE WORK OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, THIS IS ONE OF THE YEARS THAT WE'VE SEEN SO MANY DIRECT, WELL, ONE DIRECTOR SPECIFICALLY COME TO EAST AUSTIN AND ASK THE COMMUNITY WHAT DO WE NEED, UH, SO THAT WE CAN BETTER HAVE, UH, BETTER RESOURCES FOR OUR PARK IN OUR UNDER-RESOURCED AREA.
UH, EAST AUSTIN GIBBONS PARK HAS BEEN UNDER-RESOURCED FOR YEARS.
WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THAT AND IT'S GONNA TAKE, UH, SOME OVER SOURCING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
WE APPRECIATE THE DIRECTOR COMING UP WITH POSITIVE WAYS, UH, THAT WE CAN ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY, UH, SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO GET MORE RESOURCES TO THESE AREAS.
UM, WE ARE ASKING THAT THE PARK BOARD CONSIDER, UM, MAYBE REACHING OUT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY TYPE OF WORK OPPORTUNITIES.
MAYBE, UH, ZILKER ZILKER HAS AN UNHOUSED PROBLEM THERE AS WELL.
UH, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX THIS IN THESE AREAS.
BRING THESE INDIVIDUALS OPPORTUNITIES, MOVE THEM OUTTA THESE PARKS, UH, SO THAT WE CAN GIVE 'EM BACK TO OUR KIDS.
UM, AS A DIRECTOR HERE IN HUNGARY HILL, UH, THIS YEAR, OUR MAIN FOCUS IS, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE TOUCH EVERY PARK THAT HAS AN UNHOUSED POPULATION, OUR ENCAMPMENT POPULATION, MAKE SURE WE GET THESE WORKERS OUT THERE TO CLEAN THEM UP, UH, AND KEEP DOING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR GENERAL COMMUNICATION.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR COMING.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, WHICH IS NEXT ON THE AGENDA.UM, I'VE GOT ONE SPELLING CORRECTION, AND THAT IS THE ENDEAVOR UNDER ITEM FIVE IS E N D E A V O R.
SO THAT'S JUST A MINOR SPELLING CORRECTION.
IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENT ON THE UH, YES, THERE'S MINUTES.
MY NAME IS SPELLED WRONG IN THE MINUTES.
SO WITH THOSE CORRECTIONS, UM, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES ONLY TO APPROVE? SO MOVE FROM, UH, BOARD MEMBER LEWIS, UH, SECOND SECOND FROM PATRICK MOORE.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED.
[2. Discussion and possible action on the draft Zilker Park Vision Plan public engagement process.]
ARE GOING BACK TO, UM, MOORE PUBLIC COMMENT, I BELIEVE, BECAUSE THE NEXT ITEM IS DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM NUMBER TWO, DISCUSS AN DISCUSSION IMPOSSIBLE ACTION ON THE ZILKER IN THE DRAFT ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.OUR FIRST SPEAKER ON ITEM TWO IS BILL BUNCH.
AFTER BILL WILL BE TERRY ADAMS, BILL BUNCH.
HE, I SAW, WE'LL COME BACK TO HIM.
IS TERRY ADAMS AVAILABLE? TERRY? OH, HI.
UM, SO I'M TERRY ADAMS. UM, I'M PART OF A GROUP THAT IS STUDYING THE VISION PLAN WHERE THE ZILKER PART VISION PLAN STUDY GROUP.
UM, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE OUTREACH THAT WAS DONE.
UM, I KNOW THAT IT STARTED IN FEBRUARY OF 2021 AND IT EXTENDED UNTIL JANUARY, 2023.
I WENT TO THE LAST POPUP AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A MEETING AND IT WAS JUST A GIRL WITH A TABLE AND A BINDER.
AND, UM, SHE REALLY COULDN'T ANSWER ANY OF MY QUESTIONS.
SO BASICALLY I FEEL LIKE THE OUTREACH DIDN'T HAVE MUCH REACH, UM, WHEN THE DRAFT PLAN WAS RELEASED IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN THE FINAL PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE HELD IN DECEMBER.
UM, LIKE THE CHRONICLE DID A STORY, K U T DID A STORY, SOUNDED THE ALARM OF LIKE, THIS IS HAPPENING BY THE WAY.
AND THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TELLING MY FRIENDS LIKE, DID YOU KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING? DO YOU KNOW IF THIS IS HAPPENING? AND THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF THEM DID NOT KNOW.
SO BASICALLY THERE WAS LIKE ALMOST TWO YEARS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A FINANCIAL MATERIAL INTEREST IN THE PARK GETTING TO REALLY INFLUENCE THE DESIGN, UH, TEAM, THE, UM, THE CONSULTING FIRM THAT DID THE VISION PLAN.
AND THEN THERE WAS LIKE A MONTH AT THE END WHEN WE WERE DOING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S AND EVERYONE IS DISTRACTED THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET ALL OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTARY IN.
[00:40:01]
NOT HEARD ABOUT IT EVEN YET, AND I'M THE ONE BREAKING THE NEWS TO THEM.SO, UM, YEAH, THAT'S, UH, I'M, I'M VERY, UM, SAD THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS SOONER CAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT I CARE ABOUT VERY MUCH.
AND IF I HAD KNOWN THAT SUCH A RADICAL PLAN WAS UNDERWAY, LIKE I WOULD HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN MORE ENGAGED.
SO I HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL CONSIDER THAT.
UM, THERE MIGHT BE OTHER PEOPLE WHO FEEL SIMILARLY PASSIONATE THAT DON'T HAVE A FINANCIAL TIE TO THE PARK.
YEAH, YOU'RE, WE CALLED YOU AND YOU WERE, I CALLED YOU AND YOU WERE OUT OF THE ROOM.
SO JUST TAKE ONE SHEET OF THAT.
SO VICE CHAIR, PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ASKING TO BE ABLE TO DONATE TIME TO MR. BUNCH.
YOU WANNA HELP ME? YEAH, I THINK THESE ARE THE SAME THING, RIGHT? NO DIFFERENT THINGS ARE TWO THINGS.
IT'S TWO THINGS I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN SOMEBODY ELSE.
ARE, ARE YOU ALMOST READY OR SHOULD WE HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE SPEAK WHILE YOU'RE SETTING UP? UH, YEAH, MAYBE ONE MORE.
UM, SCOTT COBB, IF YOU, YOU'RE NEXT.
IF YOU WANNA SPEAK WHILE THEY'RE PREPARING THEIR MATERIALS, WE COULD SAVE SOME TIME.
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE AND THEN THREE MINUTES.
ALL GOT, OH, THEY RUN THIS ONE.
SO THERE'S A LOT ABOUT THE BERG PARK VISION PLAN THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.
UM, I WAS OUT IN THE PARK WITH TERRY SETTING UP A TABLE AND LISTENING TO PEOPLE COME BY AND TALKING TO THEM AND ENGAGING WITH THEM.
AND WE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS.
AND WE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW, HAD NEVER HEARD ABOUT THE ZUCKER PARK VISION PLAN.
UH, THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE CATEGORY.
THEY TOTALLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
NUMBER TWO, THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.
AND NUMBER THREE, THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT PARTICULAR ITEMS, PARTICULARLY THE PARKING GARAGES.
UM, THE, ALL THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GONNA BE NECESSARY TO MOVE THE THEATER TO BUILD A WELCOME CENTER.
I MEAN, IN MY VIEWPOINT, THE WELCOME CENTER IS THE PARK.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME.
NOT A BUILDING WHERE YOU GO IN AND IT'S THIS ARTIFICIAL ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S THE NATURE AND THE ANIMALS AND THE PEOPLE, THE DIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE.
I SEE THE DIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT GO THERE.
THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME WHEN THEY SEE THE PEOPLE OUT THERE ENJOYING THE GREAT LAWN.
I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE GREAT LAWN.
UM, BECAUSE EVERY OCTOBER I SEE THE FENCES GO UP.
THAT'S THE SADDEST MONTH OF THE YEAR FOR ME BECAUSE PEOPLE CANNOT GO AND ACCESS THE PARK CUZ ACL IS GOING ON.
IT'S CLOSED DOWN FOR A MONTH, FOR A MONTH, A ENTIRE MONTH.
THE ACCESS TO THE PARK WHILE C3 LIVE NATION TICKETMASTER OR PROFITING PART OF THAT PROFIT, A LOT OF IT COMES FROM THE PARK.
THE ANIMALS, THE PEOPLE, THE LAWN, THE WATER.
IT ALSO COMES FROM EXPLOITING PEOPLE.
THEY, THEY, A PRIVATE COMPANY CANNOT HIRE, CANNOT USE VOLUNTEER LABOR.
THE NONPROFIT DOESN'T PAY A LIVING WAGE.
THEY UNDERPAID PEOPLE OR THEY DON'T PAY THEM ANYTHING.
[00:45:01]
A C WOULD NOT FUNCTION IF PEOPLE HAD TO GET PAID A LIVING WAGE.AND THAT IS ONE OF THE CORE VALUES OF AUSTIN.
EVERYBODY HAS DIGNITY, EVERYBODY'S WORK HAS DIGNITY AND IT SHOULD BE PROPERLY PAID.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO OCTOBER.
I THINK THE VISION OF THIS CITY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PLAN THAT AT SOME POINT WE CONSIDER MOVING A C L TO SOME OTHER LOCATION OR SETTING A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO GO TO ANY EVENT IN ZER PARK.
SOMEWHERE AROUND 25,000, MAYBE NOT 75,000, NOT A HALF A MILLION.
TRAMPLING ALL OVER THE GRASS, DISTURBING THE BIRDS AND THE PEOPLE.
WE NEED ACCESS 12 MONTHS OF THE YEAR TO THE PARK AS A PARK.
UM, YOU GUYS, I'M GONNA ASK EVERYBODY IF YOU CAN PLEASE TRY TO CONCLUDE YOUR THOUGHTS RIGHT WHEN THE BUZZER GOES OFF CUZ WE HAVE MANY, MANY SPEAKERS TO GO AND WE WANT EVERYBODY TO GET THEIR FULL-TIME.
UM, THANK YOU, UH, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M BILL BUNCH, I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UH, I'VE ALSO BEEN A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND PARTICIPATING WITH OUR PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.
THAT INCLUDES SEVERAL OTHER, UH, ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB, AND, UM, SEVERAL OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.
UH, I REALLY WANNA THANK MS. FARROW FOR, UH, DONATING THREE MINUTES TO MY TIME.
JUST WANNA START BY IDENTIFYING WHAT I PASSED OUT SO YOU CAN REFERENCE IT.
THE FIRST ONE IS ON OUR REWILD ZILKER, UH, WEBSITE.
UM, AND IT'S A REALLY GREAT COMPARISON OF THE REWILDING PLAN THAT WE'VE PUT TO FORWARD AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE CITY CONSULTANTS PROPOSED PLAN.
AND EACH OF THE KEY CATEGORIES, JUST SUPER SIMPLE, YOU CAN ABSORB THAT, UH, IN, YOU KNOW, TWO MINUTES OR LESS ON THE BACK OF THAT, THIS IS ACTUALLY AN EXCERPTED PAGE FROM OUR CITYWIDE OUR PARKS, OUR FUTURE LONG RANGE PLAN, AND SPECIFICALLY THE PUBLIC INPUT.
AND IT SHOWS VERY CLEARLY WHAT OUR PARKS GOERS AND THEY SPECIFICALLY WERE REACHING OUT TO PARKS GOERS, WHAT THEY WANT FROM OUR PARKS.
AND JUST, UH, I'LL TOUCH THE TOP.
NUMBER TWO, PLACES TO CONNECT TO NATURE.
JUMP DOWN SIX PLACES TO EXERCISE OR BE ACTIVE.
SEVEN QUIET PLACES AND PLACES TO RELAX.
THE PLAN FROM THE CONSULTANTS DOES VIRTUALLY NONE OF THOSE AND IS HOSTILE TO ALL OF THEM.
THEIR PRIORITIES FOR INVESTMENTS, EXPANDING PARKLAND, BUYING LAND, ADDING TO OUR PARKS, ESPECIALLY UPSTREAM OF THE SPRINGS THAT ARE THREATENED.
THE SPRINGS ARE THE SOUL OF OUR CITY.
THE WHOLE REASON WE HAVE ZILKER PARK.
WE NEED TO BE BUYING AND PRESERVING MORE WATERSHED LANDS, UPSTREAM POST-HASTE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE BEFORE THEY GET PAVED OR DEVELOPED.
UM, THERE'S NOT A DIME IN THIS ZUCKER PARK PLAN FOR SAVING THE MOST CRITICAL ELEMENT OF THE PARK AND REALLY LITERALLY THE SOURCE, OUR LIFE SOURCE FOR THE WHOLE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, THE NEXT DOCUMENT IS THREE PAGES PUT AND THESE ARE PUT TOGETHER ALSO BY OUR REWAL ZER PARK GROUP.
FANTASTIC FAQ, FULLY DOCUMENTED.
THIS IS ON THE WEBSITE SO YOU CAN GO TO IT AND GET HIT THE LINKS.
UM, ADDRESSING THE KEY ISSUES AND ESPECIALLY, UH, ADDRESSING THE, UH, THE ELEPHANT THAT'S PRETENDING TO NOT BE IN THE ROOM.
UM, THE LIVE NATION TICKETMASTER MEGA MONOPOLY, UM, THAT, UH, IS THE PRIMARY OWNER OF ACL THESE DAYS.
UM, THEY ARE UBIQUITOUS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THEY'RE UNDER JUSTICE APARTMENT INVESTIGATION FOR ANTITRUST BEHAVIORS AFTER VIOLATING A PREVIOUS UH, ANTITRUST AGREEMENT WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, YOU MIGHT KNOW THEM FROM THE ROUTE NEW MOODY AMPHITHEATER IN WALLER CREEK PARK THAT THEY CONTROL AND MANAGE.
UH, SOME PEOPLE THINK IT'S ABOMINATION, SOME PEOPLE LIKE IT.
UM, THREE OTHER PUBLIC PIECES OF PROPERTY.
THEY MONOPOLIZE THE, UH, AUSTIN FOOTBALL CLUB ON FREE CITY OF AUSTIN
[00:50:01]
LAND, UH, WHERE THEY HANDLE TICKETING AND PROBABLY SOME OF THE TALENT AS WELL.UH, THE MOODY, UH, CENTER ON UT PROPERTY, UM, AND THE, UH, MOODY, UH, THEATER, UH, ACROSS THE STREET FROM CITY HALL IN THE W HOTEL, UH, WHICH IS ALSO CITY OWNED PROPERTY.
UM, I THINK IT'S ABSURD AND AS WE STATE HERE THAT THEY'RE NOT IN THE ROOM AND THAT THIS PLAN WAS NOT DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY TO EMBED THEM IN THE PARK AND TO ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND.
THEY STARTED WITH ABOUT 30,000 A YEAR OF PUBLIC ATTENDANCE.
UH, THEY REPORTED THIS LAST YEAR, 450,000 ATTENDEES.
UM, AND JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS IS PLANS WRITTEN FOR THEM, UH, TO THE HILLSIDE THEATER THAT NOBODY ASKED FOR CLEARLY WOULD GIVE THEM A YEAR-ROUND VENUE IN THE PARK BY MOVING IT AWAY FROM BARTON SPRINGS.
THE BRIDGE OVER THE LAKE, UM, IS RATHER CLEARLY, UH, MEANT TO SERVE LETTING THEM EXPAND ACROSS THE RIVER CUZ THEY'VE ALREADY JUMPED ACROSS BARTON SPRINGS ROAD WITH NO PUBLIC INPUT, NO APPROVAL FROM YOU OR THE CITY.
THEY JUMPED ACROSS BARTON CREEK ONTO THE EAST SIDE OF BARTON CREEK TO INHABIT THAT SMALL PART OF THE PARK OVER THERE.
UM, AND NOW THEY'RE PREPARING TO JUMP ACROSS THE LAKE TO THE NORTH SIDE.
UM, THEY'VE CLEARLY OUTGROWN THE PARK AND WE WOULD WELCOME THEM STAYING IF THEY COULD, UH, ADJUST THEIR, THEIR PROGRAMS TO ALLOW THE REWILDING, THE RESTORING OF THE PARK, UM, AND PRIORITIZING PEOPLE AND DAILY PARK USE RATHER THAN COMMERCIAL EVENTS.
THE PLAN REALLY IS PROPOSING A COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR DISTRICT.
UH, WE PUT TOGETHER THESE MAPS, WHICH ARE THESE, THESE ARE THE FIVE MAPS THAT ARE IN THE PARK PLAN.
AND WE JUST WENT AND CIRCLED ALL THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
UH, AND WE SHOWED THESE TO PEOPLE OUT AT, AT THE POOL AT NEW YEAR'S DAY AND OTHER DAYS RECENTLY.
REGULAR PARKS GOERS ARE ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS ABOUT THIS.
AND YOU CAN STARE AT THESE MAPS AND WITHOUT THE GIANT RED CIRCLES SAYING, LOOK AT THIS, YOU DON'T SEE IT.
SO EVEN PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO PARTICIPATE HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
UH, PLEASE RECOMMEND THAT THIS GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
THIS REALLY SHOULD NOT GO FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
AND PLEASE RECOMMEND CLEARLY NO MORE PRIVATIZATION.
WE DO NOT WANT THE UMBRELLA PRIVATE, UH, MANAGEMENT CORPORATION.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LISA ADARE ADARE.
AFTER LISA IS BOBBY RIGNEY, YOU'LL BE NEXT.
GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND HEARING US ALL OUT.
MY NAME IS LISA OTRE AND I'M HERE TODAY SPEAKING AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, A MEMBER OF THE ZURA RE WILD GROUP AND OTHER COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
I MOSTLY FOCUS ON ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION WORK THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
IN AUSTIN'S MANY PARKS AND PRESERVES, I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THESE PROPERTIES.
THEY'RE CONTINUED STEWARDSHIP AS WELL AS CREATING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THESE NATURAL SPACES FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
I WANNA VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE REWILD ZILKER MESSAGE AND THE CRITIQUES OF THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
SO FAR THOUGH, EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY BY HOSTING IN-PERSON POP-UP SESSIONS.
IT SEEMS THAT LITTLE TO NO DATA ON THE PUBLIC'S CONCERNS WAS RECORDED AT THESE ENGAGEMENTS.
THE ONLINE SESSIONS WERE EXTREMELY UNREPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY'S POPULATION, AND THE ONLINE SURVEYS WERE EQUALLY DISAPPOINTED, DISAPPOINTING AS THEY WERE NOT EASY TO FIND OR NAVIGATE, AND THE QUESTIONS WERE CONFUSING AND MISLEADING.
THIS PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS SUPPORT.
LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC'S VOICE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ZER VISION PLAN MENTIONS THAT A MA MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO DID RESPOND TO THE ONLINE SURVEYS, AS BILL SAID, DID NOT WANT TO RELOCATE THE HILLSIDE THEATER.
AND OTHERS COMMENTED HOW MOVING IT WOULD BRING POTENTIAL DISRUPTIONS TO ATTENDEES, YET FRONT AND CENTER ON THE DRAFT PLAN.
THIS ONLY MAKES IT FEEL MORE AND MORE THAT OUR VOICE, WHEN HEARD STILL DOES NOT MATTER AS SUPPORT KEEPING ZER PARK, A PUBLIC PARK STEWARDED AND MANAGED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, NOT BY A PRIVATE NONPROFIT.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF ZER PARK BECOMING MORE COMMERCIALIZED VENUE SPACE.
THIS MAY NOT BE THE PLAN, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY UNCLEAR AT BEST ALREADY.
[00:55:01]
THE PARK LIKE ACL, DISPLACED NORMAL PARK USERS FOR SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME FOR SETUP THE EVENTS AND THE MANY REPAIRS NEEDED TO RESTORE THE PARK AFTER SUCH A STRAIN.I ENJOY GOING TO THE PARK TO BE IN NATURE.
AND ACCORDING TO AN EARLIER CITY OF AUSTIN SURVEY, WHICH WAS ON ONE OF THE HANDOUTS YOU GOT, I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS.
WHEN ASKED WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT AUSTIN PARK'S, TOP ANSWERS WERE TRAILS, NATURE, FACILITIES, MOST IMPORTANT TRAILS, WATER FEATURES, NATURAL AREAS, INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, MORE LAND, MAINTAIN IMPROVED FACILITIES, VALUES, NATURAL BEAUTY, PLACES TO CONNECT TO NATURE.
SOUNDS LIKE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE NOT ASKING FOR MORE BUILT ENVIRONMENTS, NOR ARE WE ASKING FOR MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, PARKING GARAGES, OR COMPLETELY REARRANGING A WELL-FUNCTIONING PARK AT UNSPECIFIED FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS.
WE ARE ASKING FOR MORE NATURAL AREAS TO ENJOY BETTER PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENDANGERED SPECIES.
AND WHILE THERE ARE A LOT OF POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL UPLIFT FEATURES IN THE DRAFT, IT'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH.
UH, WE ASK FOR ANOTHER LOOK AT REWILDING AS AN OPTION TO PRESERVE AND REPAIR THIS LAND.
UH, AGAIN, THANKS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED FOR ALL OF THE TIME AND ENERGY SPENT SO FAR ON THIS PROJECT.
IT'S NOT EASY TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY, BUT WE HAVE TO TRY.
YOU'RE THE NEXT SPEAKER AFTER BOBBY.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO MARK WEILER, WHO I BELIEVE IS ONLINE.
I'M BOBBY RIGNEY WITH THE, UH, Z NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UM, AND ACTUALLY THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS NEARBY AND, UH, SOS AND SOME OTHER GROUPS.
UM, SO I HAD WRITTEN SOMETHING HERE.
I WANTED TO FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU ALL, ESPECIALLY FOR, UH, NINA AND FOR UH, UH, DON LEWIS.
SO FOR YOUR, YOUR, UH, SUPPORT IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, I GUESS YOU'VE BEEN HERE.
UM, TO BE CLEAR, THE PARCEL OF THE PLAN DO HAVE SOME MERIT.
AND THE THREE THINGS THAT ARE BIG THAT ARE MISSING INCLUDE A PLACE FOR REWILDING AND AN ACTION PLAN TO FOCUS AND TEACH CLIMATE MITIGATION TO SUPPORT NATURE.
AND ALTHOUGH THE DRAFT PLAN VIDEO THAT'S ONLINE STARTS OUT BY REFERRING TO PRESERVATION, AND THESE, A REAL DEDICATION TO PRESERVING ARE OPEN SPACE IN THE METROPOLITAN PARK THAT IS MISSING.
SO AFTER ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THE PARK, WHEN THEY, THEY SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, BESIDES, UH, BARTON SPRINGS IS THE GREAT LAWN THAT THEY'RE REFERRING TO, THE OPEN SPACE THAT NOW HAS A NAME.
SO, BUT REALLY THERE'S A FOURTH THING, A GREAT BIG THING THAT WE'VE, THAT THAT SHOULD HAVE ALMOST STOOD OUT ALONE AS A FRAMEWORK.
AND THAT IS THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
THAT'S WHAT WHAT WAS REALLY MISSING WAS PLENTY OF FOCUS THERE AND, UH, ENGAGEMENT AND UH, AND IN THAT REGARD, UM, IT'LL NEVER EXPLAIN THE INCOMPLETE FRAMEWORK NOR THE INCONSISTENCIES THAT'S MADE.
IT MADE ITS WAY INTO THE DRAFT PLAN.
IT'S INCOMPLETE BECAUSE BESIDES THE INEQUITY IN FOCUS FOR FUNDING FOR ALL THE OTHER HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED PARTS OF TOWN, THERE ARE 11 METRO PARKS.
LET'S SEE, THE LIST INCLUDES JOHN TREVA, 330 ACRES, ROY, UH, GUERRERO, UH, 394 ACRES, WALTER LONG, 1,165 ACRES.
SO THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL SIX THAT ARE OF EQUAL OR COMPARABLE SIZE.
AND ONE OF 'EM IS THREE TIMES THE SIZE.
SO, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THIS.
YOU PROBABLY DO, BUT I DIDN'T UNTIL IT WAS THE, UM, UH, LET'S SEE.
IT WAS A, THE MCBETH CENTER THAT WAS THE LAST IN-PERSON, UH, PLACE TO GO TO, TO SEE THE PLAN REVEALED.
AND I TALKED TO A PRESENTER THERE AND SHE WAS GOOD.
UM, I WON'T SAY HER NAME, BUT, UH, SO I, I WENT UP AND ASKED HER, SHE WAS, WAS BEHIND ONE OF THE BOOTHS.
SHE, UH, IF THE CONCEPT ABOUT HAVING LESS IMPERVIOUS COVER WAS APPLIED CONSISTENTLY, UH, AND SHE'S, IT'S, I'M REFERRING TO THE PARKING GARAGES.
SUPPOSEDLY WE HAVE LESS IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THEY'RE MUL, YOU KNOW, AFTER ALL.
AND A GARAGE THAT WAS CENTRALLY TO HAVE LESS IMPERVIOUS COVER, I SAID, WELL, BEAN MULTI-LEVELS, WHY NOT GO GET FURTHER FROM THE SPRINGS TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS? AND SHE SAID, BOTANICAL GARDENS IS OFF LIMITS OUT OF THE PLANT.
WELL, THE CENTRAL GARAGES FOR THE, AMONG OTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE OVERLOADED.
[01:00:01]
YOUR COMMENTS.UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK WEILER.
MARK WEILER, ARE YOU ONLINE? YES.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
UM, I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND USER OF PARK SINCE THE, UH, SEVENTIES AND EVEN YOUNGER AS A CHILD.
UM, I'M JUST A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
I DO LIVE IN THE ZER NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WANT TO TALK REAL QUICK ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS.
UM, ONE IS THIS, I'M JUST GONNA TALK ABOUT THE, THE SOUTH SIDE OF BARTON SPRINGS.
THE WHOLE PLAYS GATE PLAN, THE PARKING GARAGE OVER THERE.
UM, ALL THAT'S GONNA BRING A LOT MORE TRAFFIC, UH, UH, TO THAT SIDE, UH, OF THE POOL.
AND IT'S GONNA MAKE THE AZ MORTON ACCESS TO BARTON SPRINGS EVEN WORSE.
UM, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS I THINK THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED, UM, UM, IS THAT I SEE, DON'T SEE SOMETHING GARDENS BEING GIVEN.
WHAT IT REALLY SHOULD BE GIVEN AS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
IT'S ONE OF THE ORIGINAL HISTORIC SPOTS IN THE, IN THE AREA, UM, WITH THE OLD GRIST MILL IF YOU DO YOUR, YOUR HOMEWORK.
UM, AND I ALSO DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PULL BARTON SPRINGS ROAD DOWN TO ONE LANE, UM, BECAUSE IT IS ALSO A NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, UH, FEEDER THERE AS WELL.
UM, SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE, ON THE TOP OF MY MIND.
I KNOW THERE'S A, THERE'S A A, A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE REWILDING, WHICH I COMPLETELY SUPPORT, BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I I I DON'T, I I JUST HAVE TO WONDER IF THE PEOPLE THAT GREW UP THIS PLANT ACTUALLY USED THE PARK.
I WENT FOR A BEAUTIFUL WALK AND A PICNIC ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON OVER ON THE GREAT LAWN.
IT HAS JUST, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE.
THE PEOPLE WERE PLAYING VOLLEYBALL OVER ON THE COURTS NEAR THE LAKE.
YOU KNOW, YOU GONNA MOVE THAT.
UM, I, I JUST THINK THERE'S A LOT WRONG WITH THE PLANT AND I AGREE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO, TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND, AND START OVER, UM, UH, IN A LOT OF, IN A LOT OF THE AREAS.
UM, BUT ONE THING I DO WANT TO MENTION TOO, ALSO JUST REAL QUICK IS, UH, WHEN I, I, I TALKED TO, I, I TALKED TO, UM, AT THE LAST POPUP, THE ABOUT THE PARKING GARAGES, UM, WHICH I DO NOT LIKE AT ALL, RIGHT? THERE'S, THE PLAN IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE TO PAY TO PARK IN THOSE.
AND THERE'S PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO I CAN AFFORD TO 5, 7, 8 BUCKS TO, TO, TO PARK.
BUT THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT THIS PARK BELONGS JUST AS MUCH TO AS ME THAT CANNOT AFFORD THAT, AND IT'LL KEEP THEM FROM COMING TO THE PARK.
AND THAT IS ACTUALLY CALLED, UM, ECONOMIC PREJUDICE, RIGHT? SO ANYTIME WE MAKE IT WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO, TO UH, UH, SPEND THEIR MONEY THAT MAYBE THEY CAN'T AFFORD, THAT FAMILY'S GONNA STAY AWAY FROM THE PARK AND WE CAN'T HAVE THAT.
WE, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE LEAST, UH, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, NOT, NOT PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF MONEY.
AND THE OTHER THING I'LL, I'LL JUST SAY, AND I'LL BE DONE IS I, I COULD NOT AGREE MORE OF THAT.
ACL FEST HAS OUTGROWN ITSELF IN ZPA PARK.
UM, I WENT TO IT MANY TIMES WHEN IT WAS FIRST STARTING UP AND UH, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE LIKE THE CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS.
IT HAS NO BUSINESS AT THIS POINT IN ITS LIFE, UH, BEING IN ZER PARK AND TAKING THE PARK AWAY, UH, FROM US.
THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE POINTS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SYLVIA GATES.
SYLVIA GATES, ARE YOU ONLINE? MAKE SURE I DIDN'T, SO DO WE HAVE SYLVIA ONLINE? NO.
SO I JUST WANT TO, UM, SECOND AND THIRD EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS BEEN SAYING SO FAR IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ZER REVISION PLAN.
AND I'VE LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR GOING ON 20 YEARS NOW, AND THE REASON WHY I MOVED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ZER PARK AND, UM, ZER, THE NEW ZER REVISION PLAN, UM, IS GOING TO MAKE A HUGE, UH, MISTAKE IF IT'S BROUGHT OUT AND, AND EVERYTHING IS DONE.
I FEEL LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PARKING GARAGES ON AZZIE MORTON, UM, AND TEARING DOWN THE BASEBALL FIELD THAT ALL OF OUR KIDS PLAY AT, UM, THERE, THERE'S JUST NO REASON
[01:05:01]
FOR IT.AND THEN, UM, ALL OF THE CONCRETE THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ADDING, UH, COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH ALL THE PARKING GARAGES, MAKING IT INEQUITABLE FOR EVERYONE TO COME TO THE PARK.
SO I'M NOT GONNA TAKE MY FULL THREE MINUTES, BUT I JUST JUST WANT TO, UM, ALSO SAY THAT THE TRAFFIC GOING IN AND OUT OF THE PARK, I TAKE THAT ROAD MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY AND GOING DOWN TO ONE LANE WOULD BE DEVASTATING, UM, TO THE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA.
AND ALL OF THE NEW TRAFFIC ON ASIE MARTIN, IT'S ALREADY VERY CONGESTED WITH NEIGHBORHOOD CHAP TRAFFIC.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND, UM, I HOPE YOU GUYS DON'T GO THROUGH WITH IT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID KING, ONLINE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA AGUIRE.
ANNA, ARE YOU AVAILABLE ONLINE? YES.
UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED WITH YOUR COMMENTS.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I CURRENTLY SERVE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, BUT I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR OR ON THE BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION.
NOW, BEFORE I START ON MY MESSAGE, I NEED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.
I CALL MYSELF A COUNTRY PUMPKIN.
I GREW UP IN WEST TEXAS IN A TINY TOWN WHERE I GREW UP PICKING COTTON AND CHOPPING COTTON.
I GOT INVOLVED IN EXTRACURRICULAR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES JUST THAT I COULD GET OUT OF TOWN, WHICH LED TO A FEW TRIPPS TO AUSTIN.
DURING THOSE TRIPS, WE WOULD ALWAYS VISIT BARTON CREEK POOL.
I WAS ALWAYS IN AWE OF HOW GREEN EVERYTHING WAS.
IF YOU DIDN'T GROW UP IN AN AREA WITH NO TREES, FLAT FARMLAND, AND LOTS OF SANDSTORMS, I CAN'T EXPECT YOU TO UNDERSTAND.
IT WAS NOT UNTIL I HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE TO AUSTIN, BUT I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE POOL WE VISITED WAS THE PART OF THE Z IMMEDIATE APPOINT TO TAKE MY KIDS TO ZER PARK AS MANY AS MANY TIMES AS I COULD.
NOW, BACK TO WHAT I NEEDED TO SAY, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALSO NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL, WHICH REPRESENTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
ON MARCH 23RD, 2022, WE VISITED AND PASSED A RESOLUTION.
THIS PROCESS REQUIRES US TO REPRE TO PRESENT AND READ THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE AND POSTED TO OUR WEBSITE MY APOLOGY, UM, AND POSTED TO OUR WEBSITE IN ALLOWING OUR MEMBERSHIP TO REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THE RESOLUTION.
THE FOLLOWING MONTH, THE MEMBERSHIP ACT ACTION VOTES ON THEIR, ON THEIR RESOLUTION.
THE RESOLUTION VOTED AND APPROVED WAS TITLED RESOLUTION ALSO NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.
REGARDING THE REWILDING APPEAL PART, WE ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL AT THAT TIME TO INCLUDE THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE RE RESOLUTION IN THE FINAL DRAFT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR RESOLUTION REFLECTS THE INVOLVEMENTS OF MANY ORGANIZATIONS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY REFLECTS AT 82% OF THE Z FOR SURVEY RESPONDENT SUPPORTED EXPANDING NATURAL AREAS IN THE PARK.
I AM ALSO THE IMMEDIATE PASTOR OF THE SOUTHEAST COMBIN NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
THIS SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER DICARLO WHO BROUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THIS PLAN TO THE CONTACT TEAM.
LAST HERE, OUR GROUP IN RESIDENTS IN ESOPS AND HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN LACK OF DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS SAFE ACCESS TO PARKS.
WE VOICE CONCERNS THAT ANY CHANGES IN Z PARK COULD RESULT IN RESIDENTS IN ESAU AND NOT HAVING FREE ACCESS TO THE PARK.
SO THE QUESTION WAS HOW CAN ALL RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY CONTINUE TO BENEFIT AND HAVE FREE ACCESS TO THE PARK? PLEASE MAINTAIN THE NATURAL ASPECTS AND IMPROVE UPON THE PARK'S NATURAL FEATURES.
THIS IS A JEWEL THAT AL ROUGH EDGES SHOULD BE PRESERVED BECAUSE THEIR FEET IS ALTERED.
BELIEVE THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN EAST AUSTIN, WE KNOW THE LACK OF PRESERVING OUR NATURAL FEATURE SERVICE LOCATED IN AN EXTREME HEAT WARNING ALERTS TARGETING ONLY LAST, UM, EAST AUSTIN DUE TO THE LACK OF, OF TREE CANOPY IN THE HEAT ISLAND.
THOSE WARNINGS WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR DURING THE SUMMER.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOU DO FOR US FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BEN LIVINGSTON.
BEN LIVINGSTON, ARE YOU ONLINE? NO, BEN.
OUR NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER IS HEIDI ANDERSON.
HEIDI, GOOD EVENING CHAIR, KABEL AND BOARD MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT AND ALL OF US, AND GIVING US SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.
I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A LONG NIGHT FOR YOU ALL WITH BIG DECISIONS TO BE MADE.
UH, I AM AS I'VE MET MOST OF YOU, HEIDI ANDERSON WITH THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M ALSO ACTIVE IN THE ZILKER COLLECTIVE, A GROUP OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN ZILKER PARK, 14 OF THE 16 OF WHICH ARE NONPROFITS PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE USERS.
IN FACT, I WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE INITIAL ZILKER WORKING GROUP PRE PANDEMIC THAT CALLED FOR THE VISION PLAN TO BE DEVELOPED.
DURING THOSE MANY MONTHS OF THE ORIGINAL WORKING GROUP, IT BECAME VERY CLEAR QUICKLY
[01:10:01]
THAT THE OPINIONS OF WHAT THIS PARK SHOULD BE OR NOT BE VERY DEEPLY.WE WERE A GROUP OF CITIZENS TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF ALL THE NEEDS, PRESSURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESTRICTIONS THAT EXISTED IN THE SPACE MUCH LIKE YOU TONIGHT.
AND SO IT ALSO BECAME VERY CLEAR THAT THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THAT PARTICULAR GROUP SHOULD BE TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY INITIATE A FULL VISION PLAN FOR THE PARK.
IT WAS TRUE THEN AS IT IS NOW, THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDED AN OUTSIDE PARTY, SUCH AS DESIGN WORKSHOP HAS BEEN TO SIFT THROUGH THE OVERWHELMING DATA AND COMMUNITY INPUT TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THAT PIECES THIS INTRICATE PARK PUZZLE TOGETHER FOR THE BEST BENEFIT AND USE OF THE SPACE.
ZILKER PARK IS A MUNICIPAL PARK.
IT IS MEANT FOR THE USE AND RECREATION OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.
AND COMING UP WITH THE PERFECT PLAN THAT BLENDS ALL OF THESE NEEDS WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL STRAINS OF TODAY IS NO SMALL FEAT.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE HARD WORK OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND DESIGN WORKSHOP, AS WELL AS BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY FOR, UH, COMMISSIONING THE STRONG AND CONSTRUCTIVE SIGLO REPORT AND ASK YOU TO ALLOW THIS PROCESS TO PLAY ITSELF OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE ORIGINAL WORKING GROUP ASKED TO HAPPEN IS INDEED HAPPENING.
THERE HAS BEEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OVER SEVERAL YEARS NOW, AND MANY OF THE GROUPS HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO YOU HAVE BEEN HEARD.
I WOULD BE PERSONALLY AND SINCERELY CURIOUS TO SEE A REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED IN DEVELOPING THE ALTERNATIVE REWILDING PLAN.
IF YOU CAN DROWN OUT SOME OF THE NOISE, I BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL FIND A COMMITTED TEAM WHO'S STRIVING TO HEAR FROM OUR FULL COMMUNITY AND ADDRESS EVERYONE'S NEEDS IN THIS COMPLICATED PUZZLE.
I BELIEVE YOU WILL SEE A PLAN THAT SUPPORTS BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY NEED THIS SPACE IN AN EVER-GROWING CITY.
I DON'T PERSONALLY UNDERSTAND THE MISLEADING INFORMATION THAT IS CIRCULATING.
I JUST READ AN ARTICLE THAT SAID THERE WAS GOING TO BE A HUGE INCREASE IN PARKING SPACES, WHICH IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
MY OWN DAUGHTER CALLED ME FROM SEATTLE LAST WEEK ASTOUNDED THAT SHE HAD SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT ZILKER PARK WAS GOING TO BE CONVERTED INTO AN AMUSEMENT PARK THROUGH THE VISION PLAN.
UNLESS YOU ACT NOW, ALSO NOT TRUE, BUT IF YOU ARE NOT KNEE DEEP IN THE PROCESS, THESE DANGEROUS STATEMENTS CAN SABOTAGE THE GOOD WORK WE ARE ALL TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PEARL BARBADOS AND PEARL, YOUR FOLLOWED BY MARK MAY PEARL, BARBADOS.
IS MARK MAY AVAILABLE AFTER MARK WILL BE BARBARA MACARTHUR.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, TIME AND LETTING ME COME AND, UH, SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON, ON, UH, THE PLAN.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE OUTLINE SLIDE I'M GONNA DO AND I GUESS I CAME UP WITH THIS, UM, JUST TO SORT OF GIVE YOU A DEEP DIVE INTO SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY USES, USES THE PARK ON WHAT I THINK.
I I ACTUALLY WOULD SIGN UP TO AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, BUT I CHOSE TO KIND OF DEEP, DEEP DIVE MY OWN LITTLE LIFE HERE.
SO, UH, UH, FIRST, YOU KNOW, I'M A LONG TIME AUSTIN NIGHT.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AT THE PARKS BOARD AND I'M ONLY SHARING MY OWN, UH, VIEWS HERE.
UM, I GOT INVOLVED CAUSE I WAS PANICKED WHEN I FIRST SAW, UH, THE PLAN AND SAW WHAT IT, WHAT IT DID TO THINGS THAT I CARE A LOT FOR.
UH, THE TWO THINGS I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT HERE ARE THE AZZIE MORTON FIELDS ON THE DISK, UH, GOLF COURSE.
AND SO I NEED YOUR HELP TO SAVE THESE.
AND SO I'M GONNA ASK FOR HELP FROM THE PARKS BOARD.
I'M ALSO GONNA ASK FOR HELP FROM THE NON UH, PROFITS THAT ARE PART OF, UH, THE ZILKER WORKING GROUP.
I'M ALSO GONNA ASK FOR HELP FROM ALL OF THE, UH, CITIZENS.
AND THEN IF I STILL HAVE TIME, I'D JUST LIKE TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS SINCE I HAVE THE STAGE ON WHAT I WOULD DO WITH LIKE THE BIG PICTURE PLAN.
SO JUST, UM, KIND OF SOME NOTES ON ME.
I'M A LONGTIME USER OF THE PARKS.
I'M A PASSIONATE ULTIMATE, UH, UH, GUY IN THE PARK SINCE LIKE 1992.
UM, I RIDE MY BIKE TO WORK ON THE BOLTER ON THE BUTLER TRAIL.
I, UM, ACTUALLY SWIM IN THE SPRINGS.
I'VE, I'VE BEEN GOING TO ACL FOR 15 YEARS AND, UM, I WOULD NOTICE A SIDELIGHT.
I WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE IT UP TO SAVE, SAVE, UH, THE PARK.
UM, I'VE ALSO DONE ALL THE OTHER FUN THINGS WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, OTHER, THE KIDS AT THE PARK.
UM, I ALSO GIVE, UH, GIVE, UH, SUPPORT TO, UM, TRY TO FUND THE PARKS THROUGH THE AUSTIN PARKS, UH, FOUNDATION, SOSS AND THE TRAIL A FOUNDATION, UM, WITH SOME FREE TIME I DO IN, IT'S MY PARK DAY IN THE TREE, FOLKS.
SO I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT I ACTUALLY AM A PATRON OF SELLER, SEVERAL OF THE GROUPS THAT HELPED TO MAKE THE PLAN, BUT
[01:15:01]
I ALSO STRONGLY, UH, BELIEVE THE PAN PLAN MUST BE CHANGED AND CAN BE CHANGED NEXT PAGE.SO WHY DID I GET INVOLVED ULTIMATE ON THE GREAT LAWN AND, UH, THE RUGBY FIELD? THIS IS AWESOME.
UM, SO THIS IS A SHOT OF OUR GAME FROM LAST WEEK.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE NORMALLY PLAY ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE PARK, BUT DURING A C L AND TRAIL OF LIGHTS, WE HAVE TO GO TO AZZIE, MORTON FIELDS.
THOSE FIELDS ARE TRASHED IN THE, UH, PLAN NOW.
AND SO IF THERE'S NO FIELDS, THERE'S NO PLAYING AND I'M SAD.
ANYONE WHO'S WELCOME TO STOP BY AND CHAT WITH US, UH, TUESDAY, THURSDAY BETWEEN 1212 AND TWO.
SO, SO THIS IS WHAT THEY DID TO THE AZZIE MORTON FIELDS.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S TWO LINED LIT, UH, FIELDS THERE THAT ARE THE RED BOX AND THEY PUT A PLAYGROUND WISELY ON EACH ONE.
SO NEITHER ONE IS ACTUALLY USABLE AS A FIELD ANYMORE.
DID THEY EVER GO OUT THERE? I THINK PROBABLY NOT.
UM, I DON'T EVEN THINK WE REALLY NEED THESE.
I THINK I HAVE NINE, NINE A MINUTES, RIGHT? THREE MINUTES.
UNLESS SOMEBODY DONATED TO 'EM TO YOU.
YEAH, I, YEAH, I HAD TWO DONORS.
OKAY, WHAT ARE THE NAMES, SORRY.
AND THEN YOU HAD MARK HAD, UH, BARBADOS, BUT I DON'T THINK, OH, THAT'S WHY SHE WAS, YEAH, I CALLED THAT PERSON, SO, OKAY.
SO ANYWAY, I I'M NOT SURE WE NEED THESE.
THERE'S, THERE'S THREE ONES THAT ARE NEAR NEARBY AND THE PRESENT PLAN ALSO ALSO INCLUDES THREE NEW PLAY PLAY AREAS.
SO THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS A SHOT OF THE FIELDS THIS LAST WEEK THAT SHOWS ANOTHER, UH, OF SOME OTHER FOLKS USING, USING, UH, THE FIELD.
SO IT'S NOT JUST US THAT CARE.
UM, ONE THING I REALIZED WHEN I WAS TRYING TO DIG IN AND FIGURE OUT HOW THAT THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED, THERE'S NO ONE IN THE WORKING GROUP THAT'S LOOKING OUT FOR, FOR LIKE THE PARK USERS LIKE ME.
THE WORKING GROUP IS COMPOSED OF NON UH, PROFITS AND, YOU KNOW, OTHER BUSINESSES, BUT THERE'S NO ONE THAT'S THINKING ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL PARK FOLKS.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS THE DISC GOLF COURSE.
THERE'S A VIBRANT, UH, COMMUNITY AROUND THIS.
THIS, UH, COURSE IT'S GOT HILLS, IT'S GOT TREES.
WHY YOU WOULD PUT A SPORTS AREA ON IT IS MIND BOGGLING.
THERE'S SO MANY OTHER PLACES THAT, THAT, THAT COULD GO WHERE WE WOULD NEED TO CUT DOWN TREES SLOWER, YOU KNOW, LESS OF A LESS OF A GRADE.
THIS IS, THIS IS A SHOT OF THE CORNER OF THE DISC GOLF, UH, COURSE THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED.
I NEED YOU ON THE BOARD TO INSIST THAT THE PLAN UNDERGO MAJOR CHANGE.
TO LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC, UH, FEEDBACK, ADDRESS THE OBVIOUS THINGS THAT ARE WRONG WITH THE PLAN, SUCH AS THE TWO THINGS I JUST, UH, TALKED ABOUT.
WE NEED TO EXPAND THE, UH, WORKING GROUP TO INCLUDE A MORE, A DIVERSE SET OF PARKED FOLKS AND BALANCE OF INFLUENCE FROM THE NON UH, PROFITS AND OF THE BUSINESSES.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THEIR INFLUENCE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE BALANCED.
PLEASE DON'T KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND COUNT ON A FUTURE CITY, CITY COUNCIL VOTE OR SOME FUTURE BOND TO, UH, A REJECT AN EXPENSIVE POORLY THOUGHT OUT PLAN.
THE SOONER THE BETTER TO CHANGE CHORUS.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE TIMELINE AND, UH, AND OTHER PROCESS MOVING ON.
CAUSE THIS HAS VERY BEEN INCREDIBLY A CONFUSING NEXT SLIDE FROM THE NON UH, PROFIT GROUPS, YOU NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE WITH OUTSIDE ACCESS AND INFLUENCE THAT WENT INTO THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PLANET.
I DIDN'T HAVE, YOU NEED TO GO INTO THE DETAILS AND STOP SAYING YOU OF SUPPORT THE PROCESS.
YOU NEED TO INSIST ON CHANGES TO FIX POOR CHOICES.
DON'T JUST STAY IN YOUR LANE AND WATCH THIS STUFF LIKE THE AZZIE, MORTON FIELDS AND DISC GOLF COURSE.
YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND YOUR DONORS LIKE ME.
NAIVE AS I AM, EXPECT YOU TO ACT IN THE BROAD PUBLIC GOOD.
NOT ONLY FOCUSED ON YOUR NARROW LITTLE INTERESTS.
YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE TOTAL PRICE TAG AND CARE ABOUT THE PUBLIC DOLLARS.
SO KEEP IN MIND THAT IF THIS PLAN IS SO UNPOPULAR THAT THE PARK BOND FAILS, WELL WE ALL LOSE.
SO FROM, FROM OTHER FOLKS HERE, WE NEED TO REMAIN ENGAGED AS THE PROCESS MOVES FORWARD.
YOU NEED TO REACH OUT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND EDUCATE THEM ON THE DETAILS AND THE DOLLARS OF THIS PLAN.
WE NEED TO PREPARE TO OPPOSE UPDATED PLAN IF IT DOESN'T HAVE REAL CHANGES IN LIKE A DECENT BUDGET.
WHAT THIS MEANS IS GOING TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND VOTING NO ON THE BOND.
AS MUCH AS I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M STANDING UP HERE SAYING THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WE ALSO NEED TO, UH, UH, SUPPORT THE PLAN.
IF A NEW PLAN UP ADDRESS WILL, IF AN UPDATED PLAN WILL ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OTHER PARK.
[01:20:01]
IF I WAS GONNA CHANGE THINGS, OBVIOUSLY I'D SAVE THE SPORTS FIELDS AND THE DISC GOLF COURSE.KEEP, KEEP BY THE GOOD THINGS AND THE PLAN, THE MAINTENANCE, THE MORE GREEN AND SHADE.
I MEAN, ANYONE THAT GOES TO ACL WOULD KILL FOR MORE SHADE, RIGHT? ANYBODY WOULD, I LIKE THE SHUTTLES, THE BIKE STUFF.
THE IMPROVED, YOU KNOW, THE IMPROVED ACCESS TO THE PARK.
I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO LEAVE THE, UH, SURFACE LOTS, TWEAK SOME STUFF, OR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S WATER WASHOUT.
I'D EVEN BE WILLING TO COMPROMISE AND SOME SPOTS SOMEWHERE IF IT MADE SENSE TO GET RID OF THE STUPID, UH, GARAGES.
UM, I'D LIKE TO UPGRADE THE LAND, THE LANDFILL.
I'D EVEN LOBBY FOR SOME MORE SPORTS FIELDS.
UM, WE NEED TO RETHINK AND MINIMIZE A CONSTRUCTION.
THESE LARGE, UH, PROJECTS ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, COST A TON AND THEY CLOSE CLOSE OF THE PARK.
WE NEED TO ONLY DO THAT WHEN THERE'S A CLEAR, BROAD, UH, COMMUNITY BENEFIT.
UM, WE NEED TO CREATE A FEASIBLE PLAN WITHIN A DECENT BUDGET.
I'D FULLY, UH, SUPPORT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR PLUS PRICE TAG ACROSS ALL PARKS, UH, CITYWIDE.
HOW ABOUT THE POOLS ARE OPENING OF THE SUMMER, RIGHT? WATER FOUNTAINS, SHADE WATER, THE GRASS, THE PAR STAFF, RIGHT? WHAT I'M NOT FOR IS $100 MILLION IN ONE PARK.
IT VIOLATES MY SENSE OF FAIRNESS.
EVEN IF YOU GAVE ME A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ULTIMATE FIELDS, I'D SAY NO.
HECK, THANK YOU BARBARA MACARTHUR.
OKAY, ROY WHALEY, YOU HAPPEN TO BE UP NEXT.
OKAY, SO ROY HAS SIX MINUTES CUZ BARBARA DONATED TIME.
HOW TO Y'ALL? MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE OF THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP, THE SIERRA CLUB.
AND I LOVE GOING IN THIS BATTING ORDER CAUSE I GET TO HEAR ALL THESE GREAT SPEAKERS.
ON THE SPORTS ISSUES, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I'VE BEEN OUT TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT AND YOU KNOW, NOBODY'S CAR WANTS TO GO TO THE PARK.
PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO THE PARK.
SO WITH THE 50 YEAR VISION PLAN, WE SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING 50 YEARS BACK.
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING 50 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE WHEN WE ARE DRIVING LESS AND LESS AND WE ARE WORKING ON PROJECT CONNECT TO MOVE PEOPLE NOT VEHICLES.
AND SO THE IDEA OF HAVING ALL OF THESE PARKING GARAGES, AND I HEARD THIS IN ONE OF THE, UH, SESSIONS ALSO THAT WILL BE CONVERTED TO, UH, OFFICE SPACE AFTER THEY'RE NO LONGER NEEDED, BUT THEY'RE ALL UNDERGROUND.
SO I GUESS WE'LL BE SAFE IN CASE OF NUCLEAR FALLOUT.
SO LET ME LOOK HERE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT TO SAY TONIGHT.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, YOU KNOW, WE, LIKE I SAY, WE'RE MOVING AWAY FROM FROM SINGLE OCCUPANCY AND THAT'S THE REASON WE NEED TO WORK ON THE SHUTTLE.
NOW THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DID SET UP A SHUTTLE LAST SUMMER.
HOW DO I KNOW? I WENT OUT AND ASKED THEM, GUESS WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY FIGURED OUT.
I'M NOT AFRAID TO TALK TO PEOPLE.
I SPENT FOUR CONSECUTIVE WEEKENDS OUT AT THE PARK LAST SUMMER TALKING TO PEOPLE AS THEY WERE SHOWING UP AND I TALKED TO OVER 250 PEOPLE.
I LISTENED MORE THAN I TALKED, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
WHAT I HEARD AGAIN AND AGAIN WAS, WE'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PARKING.
AND PARKING WAS EVERYWHERE, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PARKING.
WELL, ONE QUESTION I WOULD ASK IS, IF THERE WAS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO GET HERE, WOULD YOU DO THAT? IT WAS A RESOUNDING YES, BY AND FAR, UH, FAR AND AWAY PEOPLE SAID, YES, WE WOULD USE TRANSIT TO GET HERE.
YES, WE WOULD DO PARK AND RIDE TO GET HERE AND THEN HOPE THAT WE HAVE A SHUTTLE BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO BRING OUR, OUR, OUR ICE CHEST.
WE WANNA BE ABLE TO BRING OUR LAWN CHAIRS, OUR KIDS, OUR PETS, OUR EQUIPMENT.
AND SO THIS IS WHAT'S BEING ASKED FOR.
THIS IS WHAT THE VISION THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE WORKING FOR IS WHAT THE CITY IS ALREADY DOING WITH PROJECT CONNECT.
THEN WE TALK ABOUT THE EQUITY ISSUE.
AND I THANK CHASE VERY MUCH FOR WHAT HE SAID AND THE OTHER THINGS, OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
BUT WE LOOK AT THE LAND BRIDGE, THE LOW END OF IT IS 20 MILLION AND MAYBE 30 MILLION AND THAT NEVER WORKS OUT.
AND WHAT IS THE LAND BRIDGE ANYWAY TO GO OVER TWO LANES WITH PARALLEL PARKING.
NOW IF YOU'RE GOING SOMEWHERE, YOU'D BETTER REPLAN YOUR ROUTE.
CUZ IF I HAVE TO PARALLEL PARK, YOU'RE GONNA BE
[01:25:01]
THERE FOR A WHILE.SO THAT'S, THAT'S JUST FOOLISH TO HAVE PARALLEL PARK.
UM, THE TWO LANES I LEAVE ARE OTHERS TO DEBATE, BUT ON THE LAND BRIDGE, BESIDES THE 30 MILLION THAT COULD GO TO PARKS IN NORTHWEST OR NORTHEAST AUSTIN AND PARKS IN EAST AUSTIN IN POOLS THAT NEED TO BE OPEN, WE COULD SEND THAT MONEY THERE.
SAME THING WITH THE PARKING GARAGES.
IT'S A HUGE WASTE OF MONEY AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, EXCEPT FOR WITH THE LAND BRIDGE, IT WILL CREATE A NEW HILLSIDE FOR THE NEW HILLSIDE THEATER NEXT TO WHERE THE CARS ARE DRIVING AND CREATE A NEW STAGE, WHICH GUESS WHAT WOULD PROBABLY WORK OUT GREAT FOR A C L AND IT WOULD BE EXCLUSIVE SEATING FOR THE ACL PATRONS.
SO THE, THE LAND BRIDGE IS JUST, I, AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T BRING THE, THE NUMBERS, I LOOKED IT UP AGAIN TODAY, IT IS MINUSCULE TO PUT IN ANOTHER PUSH BUTTON CROSSWALK AS COMPARED TO 30 MILLION.
SO, AND WE'VE ALREADY HEARING ABOUT THE, UH, THE, UM, ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT, A K A REWILDING, UM, ON THE PARKING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE, HEMP AND FAMILIES, THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOBILITY IMPAIRED.
THEY HAVE OLDER FOLKS, AND SO WE NEED TO KEEP THE EXISTING PARKING WE HAVE.
DON'T ADD TO THE PARKING, KEEP THE EXISTING PARKING AND MAKE IT SPECIFIC FOR THOSE USES.
NOW THAT MEANS WE EITHER HAVE TO HAVE THE PARKS POLICE COME BACK, OR WE HAVE TO GIVE OUR PARK RANGERS TICKETING POWER.
AND AS YOU PULL INTO THE PARK, YOU GET A STICKER, YOU GET SOMETHING TO SHOW THAT YOU BELONG IN THAT PARKING AREA.
AND THAT'S THE WAY WE COULD ENFORCE THAT.
NOW THEN WHEN I, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, WE'RE WE'RE, YES, WE, WE HAVE TO SPREAD THE MONEY AROUND.
AUSTIN ZER IS NOT THE ONLY PARK WE HAVE.
THERE ARE GREAT PARKS ACROSS THE CITY THAT ARE SUFFERING.
WHAT I WANT TO ASK Y'ALL TO DO TONIGHT IS Y'ALL TAKE A STRONG ACTION ON THIS.
THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW PARKS BOARD BEFORE TOO LONG.
GET THIS ON THE RECORD NOW SO THAT FOR OUR NEW CITY COUNCIL, OUR NEW MEMBERS, THIS HAS NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, UNPLED FIELD.
THEY COME IN KNOWING THAT IT'S BEEN ADDRESSED, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDATIONS MADE, AND WHATEVER GOES FORWARD, THEY CAN ADD TO THEIR BASE OF KNOWLEDGE ON WHICH THEY WILL MAKE DECISIONS.
SO PLEASE MAKE A STATEMENT TONIGHT AS A BOARD, MAKE A STATEMENT TONIGHT.
AND I WILL END WITH SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S GREAT THAT WE'VE GOT A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PARK.
THE, THE ZILKER ALTERNATIVE VISION PLAN IS A DIFFERENT GROUP.
WE'RE NOT THE ZILKER WORKING GROUP THANK ISRAELI, BUT PLEASE CONCLUDE.
THANK NONE OF US ARE GETTING PAID, LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY.
WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS, WE'RE CITIZENS.
I GOT THROWN IN THE BARTON SPRINGS POOL WHEN I WAS FIVE, FIVE YEARS OLD IN 1959.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBERT CORBIN.
ROBERT CORBIN, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, AFTER ROBERT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE KAREN BLIZZARD AND AFTER KAREN IS INGRID WK.
WELL, IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.
I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT TAKE, BUT I AGREE WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVE SAID.
THE VISION PLAN CONTAINS A FEW GOOD IDEAS, BUT ALSO HORRIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS.
LIKE A FEW THAT REALLY STAND OUT TO ME ARE THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER BARTON CREEK, BETWEEN THE POOL AND BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.
A BRIDGE THERE WOULD DESTROY ANY REMAINING NATURAL BEAUTY OF BARTON CREEK.
A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE WEST OF THE POOL, A MUCH LOWER COST, LOW WATER CROSSING WOULD SUFFICE 90% 5% OF THE TIME IF ONE WAS NEEDED AT ALL.
VISITORS WELCOME CENTERS, THEY ARE UNNEEDED IN OUR SMARTPHONE.
AGE, FOOD DRINK, CONCESSIONS OF ANY KIND.
A VENDING MACHINE DISPENSING PROTEIN BARS TO TIDE ONE OVER WOOD.
[01:30:01]
EXCEPT MAYBE ONE UNDER MOPAC, NEAR A RIVER REROUTING.STRATFORD TO A LONG MOPAC, IN MY OPINION, WOULD THEN BE A GOOD IDEA.
REWILDING SOME AREAS IS A FEEL-GOOD CONCEPT, BUT LIKELY TO YIELD LITTLE.
MY ZILKER HOOD SPENT A THOUSAND WORK HOURS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REWILD AREAS SOUTH OF THE POOL.
AND THE RESULT WAS A VERY LITTLE POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.
SO SUCCESSFULLY REWILDING BARTON CREEK, WHICH OFTEN FLOODS WOULD BE A LONG SHOT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PROPOSALS.
HOWEVER, TWO ACTIONS WOULD IMMEDIATELY AND ENORMOUSLY HELP THE CREEK AND POOL TWO BAN ALL BANK RIPPING APART, BARKING, POOPING DOGS FROM THE AREA AND CUT THE CANCEROUS CANOE RENTAL FOOTPRINT BY HALF.
GET RID OF BOOM BOXES TOO SIMPLE, EASY, CHEAP REWILDING.
PARTS OF THE GREAT LAWN ALSO WOULD LIKELY YIELD LITTLE, HOWEVER, BANNING DOGS FROM THAT AREA AND THEN POLICING THE BAND WOULD BRING FAMILIES AND KIDS BACK INTO THE AREA TO SAFELY PLAY AND PICNIC WITHOUT ANXIETY, THEN WE'D HAVE A REAL GREAT LAWN, A REAL PARK.
SOMEHOW THIS RECOMMENDATION DID NOT MAKE IT INTO THE SIEGAL VISIT PLAN.
I STAY AWAY FROM THE NOXIOUS GREAT LAWN, BUT I DID SPEND AN HOUR THERE YESTERDAY, SUNDAY TO OBSERVE AND TO WITNESS ONLY ONE COUPLE PICNICKING AS THEY RARELY DEALT WITH APPROACHING DOGS.
SOCCER TEAMS HALTING PLAY TO WAIT FOR INTRUDING DOGS TO GO AWAY.
QUIDDITCH PLAYERS LOUDLY YELLING DOG FOLLOWED BY HALT OF THE GAME.
A PLAYER ON THE SIDE LINES EXPLAINED TO ME THAT DOG INTERRUPTIONS HAPPEN TO THEIR GAMES IN AVERAGE OF THREE TIMES PER PARK VISIT.
THE BEST AND LOWEST COST REWILDING IS TO PROTECT ALREADY SO-CALLED WILD AREAS.
BUT IN THIS AUSTIN FAILS MISERABLY AND NOT JUST, OH, THAT'S TOO BAD.
THANK YOU, KAREN BLIZZARD, YOU'RE NEXT AFTER KAREN'S INGRID WK AND THEN BEN THOMPSON.
GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR LISTENING TO US THIS EVENING.
I KIND OF GREW UP IN ZUCKER PARK, PLAYING ON THE FIRE ENGINE, RIDING THE TRAINS, SWIMMING IN BARTON SPRINGS.
I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE PROJECT MANAGER OF THE ZILKER COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORKING GROUP, WHICH IS MADE UP OF 16 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND TWO BOAT RENTAL CONCESSIONS THAT OPERATE WITHIN OR ADJACENT TO ZILKER PARK.
THESE GROUPS PROVIDE PROGRAMS, AMENITIES, EVENTS, AND SERVICES TO PEOPLE ALL OVER AUSTIN.
AND DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, C3 LIVE NATION AND TICKETMASTER ARE NOT PART OF OUR GROUP AND WE HAVE NOT MET WITH THEM.
THE MEMBERS OF OUR GROUP INCLUDE ABC KITE FESTIVAL, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, AUSTIN SUNSHINE CAMPS, BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY, FRIENDS OF THE AUSTIN NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER, FRIENDS OF BARTON SPRINGS POOL AND GIRL SCOUTS, ZER CABIN HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCY, ROWING DOCK, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION, LOFT SCULPTURE, GARDEN AND MUSEUM, WATERLOO DISC GOLF CLUB, ZUCKER BOTANICAL GARDEN CONSERVANCY, ZER PARK BOAT RENTALS, AND ZER THEATER PRODUCTIONS.
WE'VE BEEN MEETING SINCE 2021 AND OUR CONVERSATIONS HAVE FOCUSED ON EVERYDAY PARK NEEDS.
WE PARTICIPATED IN THE PUBLIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THE VISION PLAN, ALONG WITH DOZENS OF GROUPS ACROSS AUSTIN.
THERE WAS OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE.
WE WROTE A SERIES OF PARTNER LETTERS TO DESIGN WORKSHOP IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL SMALL GROUPS, STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WITH DESIGN WORKSHOP, AND TOOK THE ONLINE SURVEYS.
OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE VISION PLAN PROCESS HAS BEEN PART OF THE PUBLIC PROCESS AND THE PUBLIC RECORD.
IN ADDITION, OUR WORKING GROUP HAS SUPPORTED PARS COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS BY SHARING INFORMATION AND ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION THROUGH THE NETWORKS OF OUR 16 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE VISION PLAN PROCESS.
I'D LIKE TO JUMP OVER QUICKLY AND SHARE SOME REMARKS ON BEHALF OF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF CENTRAL TEXAS, BECAUSE CHARISE ROBESON COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.
SHE'S GOT A SICK KIDDO, GIRL SCOUTS OF CENTRAL TEXAS IS A MEMBER OF THE ZORE COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORKING GROUP AND IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE OVERALL DIRECTION OF THE VISION PLAN.
WHEN THE FIRST DRAFT WAS RELEASED, WE SHARED THE PLAN WITH OUR GIRL SCOUT MEMBERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THEM TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS AND THE PLANS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GIRL SCOUT CABIN LOCATED WITHIN ZILKER PARK.
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FEEDBACK TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, RESULTING IN INCREASED CLARITY AROUND THE PLAN FOR THE CABIN.
WE HAVE ALSO ALSO ADVOCATED FOR THE PLAN TO CONTEMPLATE INCREASED SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES
[01:35:01]
WITHIN THE PARK, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE CHALLENGES THAT THE GIRL SCOUT CABIN HAS EXPERIENCED WITH VANDALISM AND BREAK-INS IN RECENT YEARS.AGAIN, WE FEEL LIKE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS ALLOWED FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO SHARE THE PLAN WITH OUR MEMBERSHIP AND FOR GIRL SCOUTS TO PROVIDE SUCH FEEDBACK TO DESIGN WORKSHOP.
AS NOTED ON PAGE ONE 10, THIS IS ME SH HER PART IS FINISHED NOW AND I'M BACK TO ME.
BUT, UM, AS NOTED ON PAGE ONE 10 OF THE DRAFT VISION PLAN, UM, THE PROCESS IS INCOMPLETE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO NOT TAKE ACTION UNTIL THE PROCESS IS COMPLETE AND DESIGN WORKSHOP IS PRESENT.
NEXT WAS INGRID WI WAND YOU'LL SAY, TELL ME GAN VIANT.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF US.
HI, MY NAME IS INGRID WEIGAND.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BALD CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION'S PARKS CHAIR.
AS SUCH, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ZILKER PARKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP AND THE ZILKER VISION PLAN.
I AM SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE EXECUTIVE TEAM OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS NOT TAKEN A VOTE ON THIS CURRENTLY.
I DID SERVE ON THE 20 15 20 16 PARKLANDS EVENTS TASK FORCE, WHICH SOME OF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER.
WE SPENT TWO YEARS TALKING ABOUT THE USE OF PUBLIC PARKLAND BY PUBLIC CITIZENS VERSUS COMMERCIAL ENTITIES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS IS WHEN A COMMERCIAL EVENT TAKES OVER A PARK, THE PARK IS NOT ONLY CLOSED OR MOSTLY CLOSED FOR THE DAYS OF THE EVENT, BUT FOR THE DAYS LEADING UP WITH A MOVE IN AND FOR THE DAYS AFTERWARDS WHEN IT GETS CLEANED UP.
IN SOME CASES THAT COULD BE WEEKS.
IN SOME CASES LIKE ACL, WE COULD TALK ABOUT A PARK THAT'S BEING CLOSED FOR OVER A MONTH.
WE HAD LOTS OF INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC AT THE TIME OF THE PARKLAND EVENT TASK FORCE THAT BASICALLY SAID, WE WANT ACCESS, THE RESIDENTS WANT ACCESS TO THE PARK TO ENJOY IT.
ONE THING THAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND OR THAT ACTUALLY THAT ALL OF YOU KNOW, THE AUSTIN IS GETTING MORE AND MORE COMPACT, PEOPLE ARE HAVING LESS CHANCE TO LIVE IN A HOUSE WITH A PARK.
THEY'RE LIVING IN APARTMENTS, THEY'RE LIVING IN CONDOS, AND GREEN SPACES ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT FOR REGULAR CITIZENS WHO WANT TO EXPERIENCE NATURE, WHO WANT TO TAKE THEIR KIDS SOMEWHERE, WHO WANT TO HAVE SOME QUIET TIME, WHO WANT TO SEE A WILD SPACE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BIG URBAN AREA.
THE REASON I'M BRINGING ALL THIS UP IS BECAUSE ON THE PLAN, THERE IS NO PRECISE MONEY FOR HOW MUCH ALL OF THIS WILL COST YET, BUT IT IS ALREADY CLEAR THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND ON THIS PARK WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO IMPLEMENT EVERYTHING ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT IT WOULD BE TOTALLY UNFAIR TO SPEND ALL THE CITY'S MONEY ON ONE PARK AND NOT ON ANY OTHER PARK.
SO WHAT THEY OFFERED AS ONE PROPOSAL IS THE UNIFIED NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT OF ZUKA PARK.
AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WOULD WORK IS IF A UNIFIED NONPROFIT COMPANY COULD MAKE MONEY.
THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR WHATEVER THE CITY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR.
AND THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN PAY FOR THIS IS TO HAVE MORE EVENTS IN THE PARK.
SO I WOULD VERY MUCH URGE YOU TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
PLEASE DO NOT PERMIT THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF WHAT IS A BEAUTIFUL PARK.
SAY, DO NOT DO IT FOR ALL THE OTHER PARKS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SIX MONTHS I BELIEVE I WAS GIVEN, REMEMBER? I DID.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? MY NAME'S INGRID POWELL.
UM, I'M PART OF THE REWILD GROUP AND I'M ALSO, UH, ON THE BOARD OF SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, BUT I'M, I'M HERE SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF WITH MY OWN THOUGHTS.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION OR, OR TRY TO MAKE THE POINT THAT ON THE QUESTION OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NONE OR THAT IT THERE WAS ZERO THAT WAS, THAT WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT OR THAT EDITS TO THE PLAN AS, AS WE SEE IT, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, HAVEN'T BEEN RESPONSIVE ON SOME POINTS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, LEGITIMATE PUBLIC FEEDBACK.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN HARD AND WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, BELABOR THE POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, COVID AND JUST THE TIMING OF THIS PROCESS MAKES PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, UM, HARDER THAN, HARDER THAN IT WOULD'VE BEEN, UH,
BUT, UH, THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE SPEAKING, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I I ADVOCATED FOR WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, IN LIEU OF, OF EXPANDED PARKING AND PARKING GARAGES WAS TO HAVE,
[01:40:01]
UH, OFFSITE PARKING PARK AND RIDE SHUTTLES.AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IS ACTUALLY IN THE PLAN.
I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY DEVOTED TWO PAGES TO IT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT EXPANDED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MAY MAYBE A LITTLE MORE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.
UM, BUT I LOVE SEEING IT IN THERE.
UM, A LOT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUFF, UH, IS, IS, IS REALLY ADMIRABLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S EASY TO GET HUNG UP ON THE, THE CONCRETE STRUCTURES AND THE, YOU KNOW, NEGATIVES.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE PUT FORTH, UH, YOU KNOW, AN OVERALL VISION THAT IS GREENER WITH MORE TREES AND SHADE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT REMAINS IS THE DETAILS THAT WE'RE ALL GONNA HAVE TO WORK OUT AND HOW DO WE ACTUALLY GET THERE.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WAS, WAS, UH, NON-EXISTENT.
IT WAS JUST LACKING IN CERTAIN AREAS.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THAT CERTAIN ELEMENTS SEEM TO BE MAYBE NON-NEGOTIABLE OR, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BAKED INTO THE PLANT FROM THE START AND NOT SUBJECT TO PUBLIC INPUT.
UM, CASE IN POINT, AND OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED IT IS THE ZER HILLSIDE THEATER.
SO IF YOU GO TO PAGE, UH, 1 53 AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD TITLE FOR, UH, FOR THE AGENDA ITEM HERE, HOW ENGAGEMENT SHAPED THE DESIGN.
WELL, THEY ASKED EVERYBODY AND 58% SAID, UM, LEAVE THE THEATER WHERE IT IS AND MAKE UPGRADES TO IT.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THOSE 58% OF RESPONDENTS DIDN'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS, AND THERE WERE OTHER OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY HAVE BEEN LEGITIMATE.
UM, BUT THE ONE WE GOT IN THE DRAFT PLAN IS THE ONE THAT WAS, UH, SUPPORTED BY 13% OF RESPONDENTS.
UM, AND IT'S LIKE, OH, WELL, WHY, WHY DID WE GET THERE? I'M, I'M WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE THE WILL OF 58% ISN'T NECESSARILY THE RIGHT ANSWER, BUT YOU'VE GOTTA EXPLAIN YOURSELF.
AND SO, WELL, HERE'S WHAT WE GOT.
WE GOT A VARIETY OF PEOPLE KIND OF QUOTING, UH, BACK AND FORTH.
UH, SOMEONE FROM PAR CERTAINLY WANTS TO MOVE IT FROM ITS EXISTING LOCATION.
AND, UH, AND GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN, UM, THE GREAT LAWN AND THE LANDFILL, UH, THE THEATER PEOPLE LIKE, UH, THE, UH, THE GREAT LAWN AREA THAT THAT'S, THAT'S ON THE MAP THAT WE HAVE.
UM, I, I DIDN'T SEE A COMMENT FROM THE HILLSIDE THEATER PEOPLE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PROBLEMS OR, OR NEEDS OF THE CURRENT LOCATION OR, YOU KNOW, THE NOTION THAT THE, THE CURRENT LOCATION OF THEATER IS, UH, IS, IS JUST IMPRACTICAL IMPRACTICABLE, OR, UH, NEEDS TO CHANGE.
UM, SO ANYWAY, THAT, UH, IT, IT'S, SO WHEN YOU'RE SITTING HERE AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS, IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
UM, IT HAS ME ASKING, YOU KNOW, REALLY WHY WERE THEY ASKING US IN THE FIRST PLACE? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION? IF THE RESULT SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN ALREADY DECIDED, AT LEAST THE RESULT IN TERMS OF MOVING THE THEATER FROM ITS CURRENT LOCATION, UM, YOU KNOW, IT JUST TELL US THAT IF THAT'S, IF THAT, IF, IF, IF THE POWERS THAT BE THAT BE HAVE DECIDED THE THEATER NEEDS TO MOVE, UM, JUST TELL US THAT, TELL US WHY, BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT.
AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD TAKE THAT TYPE OF APPROACH A LOT BETTER THAN, HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK? WELL, GUESS WHAT, IT DOESN'T MATTER
SO ANYWAY, AND I'D LIKE TO ALSO ADDRESS ONE OTHER ISSUE.
UM, IT'S KIND OF SEPARATE, BUT RELATED TO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A FACEBOOK POST I THINK ON JANUARY 5TH.
UH, SOME MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMENTS ON IT, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS THE HARD AND, YOU KNOW, NOT TO, UH, BE TOO HARD ON THEM, BUT SOMEONE IN THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA DEPARTMENT SHARED A POST FROM AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, WHICH GENERALLY WOULD BE TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE.
BUT IT WAS THE POST IT, IT DEFINITELY WAS ADVOCATING, UH, FOR THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE PLAN.
AND IN THE CONTEXT OF ASKING PEOPLE THEIR OPINION, I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO POINT OUT, HEY, UM, ARE WE GONNA GET EQUAL TIME, UH, IN THE FUTURE ON THESE TYPES OF
[01:45:01]
ISSUES? I THINK THE POST HAS BEEN DELETED SINCE THEN.I'M NOT SURE THAT WAS A RIGHT DECISION EITHER.
SORRY, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE KATI.
MIKE KATI, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY.
AND AFTER MIKE IS KAYLA REESE.
UM, APPRECIATE Y'ALL TAKING THE TESTIMONY TONIGHT.
I JUST WANTED TO START OFF WITH A QUOTE FROM ANDREW ZER, WHEN HE DONATED THE LAND OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, HE SAID IT WILL BE WRONG FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL SPOT TO BELONG TO ANY HE ONE INDIVIDUAL OR I MIGHT ADD NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT OUGHT TO BELONG TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
AND WITH THIS SENTIMENT, THE BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE 15 OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AT ZUCKER PARK TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE ZUCKER MORE ACCESSIBLE, MORE INCLUSIVE AND GREENER AND MORE ECOLOGICALLY HEALTHY.
UM, THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF A, A LOT OF WHAT THE, THE, THE DESIGN TEAM HAS DONE RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE TRANSIT ACCESS.
THEY'VE COME UP WITH AN ALL OF THE ABOVE SOLUTION FOR PEDESTRIAN BIKE, PEDESTRIAN VEHICLE ACCESS, AND PARKING.
THIS SHOWS FOUR OF THE NEW BIKE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES TO GET PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF THE PARK, NOT ON CARS, BUT ON FOOT AND BY BIKE.
THE DRAFT PLAN ALSO LAYS OUT A NEW, UH, PEDESTRIAN BIKE NETWORK AND INTERNAL CIRCULATOR IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE'S, UH, ALSO SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRANSIT CONNECTIONS, AND AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, THE TRANSIT PLAN PIECE OF THIS IS A BIG WIN.
IT IS ROBUST AND EXCITING AND OUTLINES PLANS THAT MANY WOULD CONSIDER EVEN IDEAL.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP.
THEY HAD THIS POSITIVE COMMENT.
SO I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR THE BOARD TO PROVIDE SOME COMMENTS, CONTEXT.
MY NEXT QUESTION, I WONDER, HOW MANY OF YOU TOOK A BUS TO GET TO THE MEETING TONIGHT? CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? OKAY, SO I THINK THAT MIGHT SHOW WHY VEHICLE PARKING ACCESS ALSO NEEDS TO BE PART OF WHAT WE HAVE AT ZUCKER PARK.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE, THE PLAN HAS DONE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS IN PET ED, BED, BIKE, AND, AND TRANSIT.
BUT ALSO THERE NEEDS TO BE A STRAIGHTFORWARD PARKING SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO COME TO THE PARK IN THEIR CARS OR CHOOSE TO.
SO, UM, ONE WAY THAT THEY HAVE PROPOSED TO DO THIS, AND I WANNA MAKE THIS CLEAR, THEY HAVE PROPOSED ADDING UP TO THREE PARKING GARAGES.
AND IF YOU READ THE PLAN DETAILS, IT DOESN'T SAY THEY ALL GO IN TOGETHER.
THEY SAY, WE'RE GONNA PHASE THIS AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT ONE AND THEN TAKE A PAUSE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT IS THERE MORE NEEDED? MAYBE PEOPLE HAVE STARTED FLYING CARS OR USING TRANSIT OPTIONS MORE EFFECTIVELY AND WE DON'T NEED MORE GARAGES.
THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK IS IMPORTANT ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT THE GARAGES THEY'RE PROPOSING ARE ALL GREEN OR BURIED.
THEY'RE TRYING TO HIDE THE PARKING AND MAKE MORE ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT.
MORE, MORE PERVIOUS COVER, IF YOU WILL.
UH, I WOULD JUST KIND OF POINT HERE THE, THE, THE PLAN IS VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT PHASING IN THE GARAGES AND THE KIND OF FACTORS THAT WOULD BE USED TO REDUCE THE TOTAL COUNT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ALARM WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS BIG THING AND THEY DON'T REALIZE THERE HAS BEEN RESPONSE FROM THE PLANNERS LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS, THIS CONCERN.
UM, I WAS GOING TO TRY TO SHOW JUST IN A GENERAL SENSE THAT THE, THE PLAN IS MAKING THE PART GREENER.
UH, SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE ALL THE PARKING AREAS ON THE GARAGE ON THE LEFT WITH THE PARKING.
CAN I GET ONE MORE SLIDE JUST TO SHOW YOU, UH, THREE MINUTES PLEASE.
WE, WE'LL GET, WE'VE STILL GOT PEOPLE TO GO.
I WAS JUST GONNA SHOW YOU THAT THE PLAN IS REDUCING IMPERVIOUS COVER BY EIGHT ACRES OVER WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS, AND IT'S INCREASING THE ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT BY 91 ACRES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KAYLA REESE.
HI, I'M THE ADVOCACY MANAGER FROM AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.
UM, THE ZILKER COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORKING GROUP AND APF F'S APF SUPPORT THE GOALS AND GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE VISION PLAN, WHICH INCLUDE TREATING THE PARK AS AN ECOLOGICAL TREASURE AND PROVIDING A WELCOMING PARK CULTURE WITH EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ALL.
ZILKER IS NOT JUST A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, BUT IT IS A METROPOLITAN PARK THAT BELONGS TO ALL OF AUSTIN.
MANY OF AUSTIN'S FAVORITE OUTDOOR LOCATIONS, UM, ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS ARE LOCATED WITHIN ZILKER, BUT ZILKER PARK IS BEING LOVED TO DEATH AS THE CITY'S POPULATION INCREASES.
WE MUST TAKE MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL BE, BE ABLE TO ENJOY AN ECOLOGICALLY HEALTHY ZILKER PARK.
ZILKER PARK NEEDS INVESTMENT AND STEWARDSHIP TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY THIS BELOVED PARK AS WE HAVE.
WE SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE VISION PLAN AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING
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PAR AT AS STEWARDS OF THE PARK NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THE VISION PLAN THAT DESIGN WORKSHOP WILL PRESENT IN FEBRUARY BASED ON THE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT HAS HAPPENED.
AND WE ENCOURAGE THE PARK BOARD TO NOT TAKE ANY ACTION UNTIL THE UPDATED PLAN IS REVEALED AND DESIGN WORKSHOP IS ABLE TO PRESENT AND ANSWER QUESTIONS WITH DATA OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT HAPPENED.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MACK RAGSDALE.
ARE YOU HERE? AFTER MACK IS STEPHANIE HOFFMAN.
HELLO, HONORABLE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.
I'M A BOARD MEMBER WITH ZILKER THEATER PRODUCTIONS.
WE'RE THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN PUTTING ON THE FREE SUMMER MUSICALS FOR AUSTIN FAMILIES AT THE ICONIC ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATER, UH, FOR SOME 64 YEARS.
AND I'D LIKE TO EMPHASIZE AS FREE THEATER.
WE ARE NOT A COMMERCIAL INTEREST AND WE NEVER WILL BE.
ZILKER THEATER PRODUCTIONS IS A SUPPORTER OF THE GOALS AND THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE VISION PLAN, UM, AND A MEMBER OF THE ZILKER COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORKING GROUP.
WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH DESIGN WORKSHOP THROUGH THEIR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, AND WE SUPPORT THE RELOCATION OF THE ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATER.
THE PROPOSED CENTRAL LOCATION OF THE THEATER RELIEVES THE OVERCROWDING AT OUR CURRENT LOCATION, AND IT FACILITATES ACCESS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE PARK.
WITH THE LAND RIDGE, THE PROPOSED PARKING GARAGE ON BARTON SPRINGS ROAD WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR PATRONS TO ATTEND WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND STROLLERS AND COOLERS, BLANKETS, AND DOGS FOR A NIGHT ON THE HILLSIDE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME GETTING RID OF THAT GOD AWFUL PARKING IN THE POLO FIELDS.
AND, UH, THE PARKING GARAGE WOULD SERVE OTHERS BESIDES US, LIKE THE NEARBY NATURE CENTER AND ALL THE OTHER USERS OF THE PARK IN A CENTRAL LOCATION.
SO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, DESIGN WORKSHOP HAS HAD A ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, WHICH ZILKER THEATER PRODUCTIONS HAS SUPPORTED.
WE'VE ADVOCATED FOR THESE CHANGES THROUGH OUR THEATER SUPPORTERS AND MEMBERS, UH, REACHING OUT TO VISITORS FROM ALL PARTS OF AUSTIN WHO COME TO ZILKER PARK FOR SUMMER MUSICALS.
WE'VE DISTRIBUTED THE VISION PLAN OUTREACH TO OUR NEARLY 10,000 SUBSCRIBERS IN OUR NEWSLETTER EMAILS IN ZT P'S EXPERIENCE.
THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN ADDRESSING OUR NEEDS WITH THEIR PROPOSAL AND LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO ADDRESS THEM WITH THEIR RESPONSES.
DESIGN WORKSHOP IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF COMPILING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND REVISING THE VISION PLAN.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT THIS BOARD NOT TAKE ANY ACTION UNTIL THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO PRESENT THEIR WORK AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
FROM ALL THE EXPERTS YOU'VE HEARD FROM TONIGHT, YOU HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM YET.
OKAY, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STEPHANIE HOFFMAN.
HOW MANY MORE, HOW MANY MORE DO WE HAVE AFTER STEPHANIE IS KAREN KREPPS? OKAY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND VOLUNTEERING TO BE, UH, ON PART.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE IN EAST AUSTIN, AND, UM, REALLY APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO SHARE OUR OBSERVATIONS WITH YOU.
UM, I AM A PART OF REW ZKO PARK, AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THIS PLAN WAS AND STILL IS DEEPLY FLAWED BY THREE THINGS.
A CONTINUED LACK OF CLEARLY DOCUMENTED EQUITY CONCERNS FROM AUSTIN RESIDENTS OF COLOR AND YOUNGER RESIDENTS.
I THINK SOMEONE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
UM, WE DID NOT SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN THIS LAST ROUND.
WE ASKED THAT THE PARKS BOARD LOOKED DEEPLY AT HOW MANY RESPONSES CAME FROM THESE CRITICAL AUDIENCES, UH, A STRONG RELENTLESS BIAS TOWARDS COMMERCIAL CONCESSION RELATED GROUPS.
AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, AT THE EXPENSE OF THE FEEDBACK FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND EVERYDAY PARK USERS, THE COLLECTIVE APPEARS TO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY EMBEDDED EVERY ONE OF THEIR DEMANDS IN THIS PLAN.
FEEDBACK SURVEYS THAT WERE POORLY DESIGNED AND DIFFICULT TO USE, MAKING THEM DIFFICULT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO GIVE THEIR
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FEEDBACK.FOR EXAMPLE, THE SURVEYS FAILED TO EVEN FOLLOW BASIC GOOD SURVEY PRACTICES, SUCH AS OFFERING NONE OF THE ABOVE OPTIONS, UH, IN THE MULTI-CHOICE QUESTIONS.
FURTHER, THE SURVEYS FAILED TO ASK OBVIOUS QUESTIONS SUCH AS THE DESIRE FOR A UNIFIED NONPROFIT OR WHAT THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNTS OF THE DOLLAR INVESTMENT SHOULD BE.
SECONDLY, THE NEW PLAN INCLUDES MORE ACRES FOR ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT, BUT NOT REWILDING.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE INCREASED UPLIFT, HOWEVER, WE'RE ASKING THE CONSULTING TEAM TO INCLUDE ACTUAL REWILDING, WHICH IS A TWO TO SIX TIMES LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE, THE MORE LANDSCAPED APPROACH THEY FAVOR.
WE ARE ASKING THAT THE FINAL DRAFT INCLUDE A MAP OF AREAS TO BE REWILD AND LANGUAGE THAT INCLUDES THE WORD REWILDING, WHICH IS A GLOBAL TREND RIGHT NOW.
DUE TO THE EXCELLENT CLIMATE MITIGATION AND WATER PROTECTION ADVANTAGES, REWILDING ABSORBS CARBON PARKING GARAGES EMIT CARBON.
THE JANUARY 8TH SURVEY RESULTS INDICATE SEVERAL ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN.
WE STRONGLY OPPOSED NEW PARKING GARAGES REPRESENT IN REPRESENTED ON PAGES ONE 17 THROUGH 1 29 OF THE DRAFT PLAN.
WERE STRONGLY OPPOSED, REDUCING AND MOVING.
THE DISK GOLF COURSE, AS HE MENTIONED A LITTLE WHILE AGO, IS ABS ALSO HEAVILY DISLIKED AND WERE REPRESENTED ON PAGE 1 48, 1 58 IN THE DRAFT PLAN.
WE REALIZE THE ENGAGEMENT IS NOT A VOTE, BUT THE DISPARITY BETWEEN PUBLIC FEEDBACK AND WHAT IS IN THE PLAN IS GLARING AND DISTURBING TO US AS CONCERNED RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
I LOVE ZILKER PARK AND I WILL GET THERE THROUGH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIONS PROVIDED.
WE HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
KAREN KREPPS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JOE GEISELMAN.
COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
I LIVE FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES ON SPYGLASS DRIVE AND WALKING DISTANCE AT BARTON SPRINGS POOL.
FOR 25 OF THOSE YEARS, I'VE BEEN GOING ALMOST DAILY YEAR ROUND TO SWIM AT BARTON SPRINGS.
I MANAGE THE EMAIL LIST THAT HAS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO SUBSCRIBE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE POOL.
AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT ALMOST NOBODY WHO GOES SWIMMING INTO THE COOL KNOWS ABOUT THIS PLAN OR HAS, OR IF THEY'VE LOOKED AT IT, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
I'VE ATTENDED SEVERAL OF THE OPEN HOUSES FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND I REALLY FOUND THEM TO BE DOG AND PONY SHOWS ON THE SURVEY.
THERE WAS ONE QUESTION ASKING, WHICH PART OF THIS PROJECT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT? NONE OF THE, WHICH PART OF THIS PROJECT FILLS YOU WITH DREAD AND FEAR? AND THE PARTS THAT I WORRY ABOUT MOST ARE THE SINGLE LANES EACH WAY THAT YOU WANNA PUT ON BARDON SPRINGS ROAD.
AS IT IS, THE TRAFFIC ON WEEKENDS ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THROUGH.
AND MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND MY POOL AND MY PARK GET HIJACKED EVERY YEAR BY THE A C L FESTIVAL AND BY THE OTHER PRIVATE ENTERPRISES THAT GO ON IN THE PARK.
WE DON'T NEED MORE FOOD CONCESSIONS, WE NEED MORE SHADE, WE NEED MORE WATER FOUNTAINS.
WE NEED A MEN'S BATHHOUSE TOILET THAT WORKS BY THE POOL.
AND, AND SEEING HOW POORLY THE BATHHOUSE OPERATION HAS BEEN PLANNED, IT HASN'T BEEN DONE.
IT'S PRICE HAS GROWN FROM 3 MILLION UP TO 10 MILLION, I BELIEVE.
UM, I, I DON'T TRUST THAT ANY OF THE PLANS IN THIS VISION PLAN ARE GOING TO GO ANYWHERE IN BUDGET IN TIME.
I SAW DURING THE FIVE YEAR MASTER PLAN HOW MUCH CONSTRUCTION DISRUPTED THE PARK.
AND I BEG YOU AS PEOPLE WHO OBVIOUSLY HAVE SERVED IN AS VOLUNTEERS ON THIS BOARD AND LOVE THE PARKS, TO TURN THIS BACK TO THE VERY BEGINNING, DON'T PASS IT ON TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
DON'T BE THE PERSON WHO DRIVES THE STAKE THROUGH THE HEART OF ZILKER PARK.
YOU GOT ME OFF THE COUCH ON A MONDAY NIGHT.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 50 YEARS.
MY NOW ADULT KIDS BASICALLY USED EVERY PART OF ZER PARK FROM THE PLAY SCAPE TO YOU NAME IT, THE SOCCER FIELDS, THE BASEBALL FIELDS.
I CONTINUE TO SWIM AT BARTON SPRINGS AND WALK THE TRAIL DAILY, AND I APPRECIATE YOU LIMITING ME TO THREE MINUTES.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, REDUCING BARTON SPRINGS ROAD TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION WITH ON STREETE PARKING IS JUST A BAD IDEA.
UM, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PART AND WHAT YOU WANT IS THE, THE, UH, PARK ENVIRONMENT.
BUT THAT IS A, UM, UH, A MAJOR ARTERIAL THAT SERVES THE CITY, PARTICULARLY MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
[02:00:01]
HAVE TWO WAYS IN AND OUT OF BARTON'S, BARTON HILLS AND ZER.UH, ONE IS BARTON'S HIGHWAY AND ONE IS AZ MARTIN TO BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.
AND AZ MARTIN RIGHT NOW IS A CHOKE POINT.
SO IF YOU ADD MORE, UH, TRAFFIC TO THAT ROADWAY BY THE GARAGE, NUMBER THREE, IT'S JUST GOING TO MAKE THINGS EVEN WORSE.
I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF THE, UM, THE LAND BRIDGE AND THE UNDERGROUND PARKING.
IF YOU'RE GONNA CREATE MORE USABLE SPACE FOR RECREATION, YOU NEED TO PUT THE GARAGES UNDERGROUND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANT.
UH, IF YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PLANT OF, UM, ACTUALLY, UM, FLAMINGO, UH, PARK AND RIO ERO, THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, BURLEY MARKS INTEGRATED A ROADWAY INTO THE DESIGN OF A COASTAL PARK.
AND HE DID IT WITH BERMS AND, UH, UH, UH, UH, PEDESTRIAN OVERPASSES, MUCH LIKE YOU SEE IN THIS PLANT.
SO IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE BOTH YOUR MOBILITY AND YOUR PARK ENVIRONMENT, UH, IF, IF IT'S DONE WELL TOGETHER.
UH, THE OTHER, UH, ISSUE I HAVE, UM, IS, UH, IN, PARTLY IN THE, UH, SOUTH AREA, THE, UM, SUNKEN GARDENS.
I WALK BY THERE EVERY DAY AND IT'S LIKE A, UM, A HIDDEN JEWEL.
UH, I ENVISION THAT AS BEING ALMOST LIKE AN ANNEX TO THE UNL UH, SCULPTURE GARDEN, UH, WITHOUT DAMAGING THE, THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE AREA, INTEGRATING, UH, ANOTHER USE AND ARTISTIC USE OF THE, UH, OF THE PROPERTY BY REBUILDING THE WALLS AND, AND, UH, ACTUALLY INTEGRATING IT WITH SOME ARTWORK.
UM, I JUST THINK THAT WOULD BE A, UH, AN ADDITIONAL ASK, UH, AN ADDITIONAL ASSET TO THE PARK WITH REGARD TO THE BRIDGE OVER THE, UH, LADY BIRD LAKE.
UM, IT'S GONNA BE EXPENSIVE AND I'M NOT SURE IT REALLY ADDS A WHOLE LOT TO THE, UH, TO THE BENEFIT OF THE PARK.
UH, IF YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT ROUTE AND SPEND THE MONEY TO DO IT, I DO THINK YOU'RE GONNA NEED ADDITIONAL PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE TO ACCOMMODATE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE DRAWING INTO THE PARK BY THAT PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.
SO, UM, AND I THINK, UH, IN THE PRIORITY OF THINGS, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY, UH, THE LOWEST PRIORITY IN MY OPINION.
THE LOOP, UH, ONE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE SERVES THAT PURPOSE NOW AND I THINK, UH, ADEQUATELY.
SO EVEN ON MAJOR NEWS WEEKENDS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM TWO.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO MADE THE TIME AND THE EFFORT TO GET OUT HERE AND SPEAK.
IT IS SO MUCH, UM, WORK AND I KNOW IT AND I APPRECIATE IT AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR LISTENING SO PATIENTLY FOR SO VERY LONG.
I THINK THIS WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HEAR WHAT THE PUBLIC HAD TO SAY.
UM, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO THE BOARD IF THERE ARE COMMENTS.
I HAVE, UM, DRAFTED A THOUGHT, SOME THOUGHTS, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
I KNOW THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS AND I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY IF YOU'VE HAD CONSTITUENTS WRITE TO YOU THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS.
ANYBODY ON THE BOARD? NINA, ARE YOU ASKING IF WE HAVE COMMENTS ON THE PLAN? I JUST, YEAH, IN RESPONSE, I THINK MOSTLY WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS, SO JUST FYI, WE INVITED YOUR DESIGN GROUP TO COME AND ANSWER QUESTIONS NOT HAVING TO PRESENT BECAUSE THEY'RE PRESENTING, THEY WANNA PRESENT NEXT MONTH.
WE INVITED THEM JUST TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR TO LISTEN TO SPEAKING TODAY.
AND I INVITED MR. SOLI, NEITHER OF WHOM ANSWERED MY EMAILS, SO THEY WERE INVITED TO BE HERE AND THEY ARE NOT HERE.
BUT I FELT LIKE IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.
AS YOU CAN HEAR, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD AND HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS, IN THIS VISION PLAN.
SO I WANTED TO SORT OF LOOK AT THE PROCESS.
I KNOW THIS BOARD BROUGHT UP LAST YEAR CONCERNS ABOUT THE, UM, ORIGINAL ENGAGE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND THEN WHEN THEY SENT, WHEN WE SENT THEM BACK AND THEY DID THE POP-UPS, THEY DID NOT COLLECT OR REPORT THE MATERIALS THAT THEY GOT BACK AT THE POP-UPS, WHICH WERE PUT IN PLACES THAT WE HAD ASKED THEM TO, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAD SAID WE NEED MORE EQUITY.
AND THERE WAS APPARENTLY NO DATA CAPTURED, AT LEAST NOT THAT I HAVE SEEN AND I DON'T BELIEVE HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US.
UM, I HAVE SOME MORE CONCERNS, BUT I'LL SHUT UP AND LET YOU GUYS, IF YOU'VE GOT COMMENTS ALONG THOSE LINES, COME BACK TO ME.
NO, ANY COMMENTS, CATHERINE? ANY COMMENTS? NOT AT THIS.
HANNAH, UM, UM, IN REGARDS TO, YEAH, COMMENTS FROM OTHER CONSTITUENTS, UM, I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY THAT WERE NECESSARILY VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HEARD TONIGHT.
UM, IS THIS YOURS? THE RECOMMENDATION? OKAY.
[02:05:01]
WOULD, YEAH, LIKE TO SPEND MORE TIME LOOKING AT IT, BUT, UM, I'LL PASS ON TO SOMEONE ELSE RIGHT NOW.SO YOUR FIRST QUESTION IN TERMS OF PASSING ON, UM, COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, WE'VE HEARD I DO REPRESENT A NEIGHBORHOOD IN, UM, WELL, I REPRESENT DISTRICT FIVE AND I HAVE ACCESS TO A NEIGHBORHOOD EMAIL LIST.
UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LIVE IN, I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD EMAILS OR, BUT I GUESS, I MEAN, THERE'S SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT I CAN'T, SO ANYWAYS, I WOULD SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, UM, THE CONCERN ABOUT BARTON SPRINGS ROAD IS HIGH, THE SINGLE LANES, UM, YOU, I'VE HEARD THAT QUITE A BIT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE A, A DIFFERENT WAY TO GET EAST AND WEST, SOUTH OF THE RIVER.
LIKE, THERE'S JUST NOT, THAT'S THE WAY.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY LIKES THAT IT'S A ROAD THROUGH A PARK.
UM, BUT I THINK WHAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S CONFUSING IS THAT I'VE SEEN DISCUSSION ON IS BUILDING A R THIS, YOU KNOW, THE LAND BRIDGE BEING A QUITE EXPENSIVE, ELABORATE WAY TO GET PEOPLE ACROSS AND TURNING BARTON SPRINGS ROAD INTO ONE LANE WITH PARALLEL PARKING.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD'VE, THE PURPOSE OF THE LAND BRIDGE WOULD'VE BEEN TO KEEP BARTON SPRINGS ROAD MOVING.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S, UM, PART OF WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN UNDER THE LAMB BRIDGE IS THAT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF THE LOADING AND UNLOADING FOR THE THEATER AND ANY OTHER EVENT, YOU KNOW, ANY EVENTS THAT GO ON AT THAT VENUE, WHETHER IT'S MUSIC OR WHATEVER.
AND SO THAT'S A CONCERN THAT THAT WOULD FURTHER RESTRICT.
UM, AND I DON'T, I MEAN, I WILL, I'LL JUST SAY BECAUSE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, MENTIONED THAT, UM, DISCOUNTING THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE NEAR THE PARK'S, UM, INPUT AS BEING SOMEHOW IRRELEVANT OR NOT IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A MUNICIPAL PARK, I THINK IT IS A MUNICIPAL PARK.
BUT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS, UM, WE, THEY STILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET IN AND OUT AND ACROSS AND, AND THESE ARE THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ALWAYS IMPACTED BY TRAIL OF LIGHTS, BY ACL, BY ALL THE ROAD CLOSURES.
SO, SO THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, PART OF WHAT I'VE HEARD ALSO, THE, UM, THE CAR STORAGE FACILITIES.
I MEAN, I, I THINK THE IDEA THAT, UM, WE'RE GONNA REDUCE CARS COMING TO ZER PARK BY BUILDING A BUNCH OF PARKING GARAGES.
I'VE SEEN THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.
I THINK SOMEBODY ASKED TONIGHT IF WE, HOW MANY PEOPLE TOOK PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET HERE AND, UM, I THINK THAT THEY BUILT A PARKING GARAGE AT CITY HALL, WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR CARS.
WERE THAT NOT THE CASE? WE ALL WOULD'VE POSSIBLY FOUND A MORE CREATIVE WAY TO GET HERE.
SO, UM, ONE OF THE SPECIFIC THINGS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WHEN I READ THE PLAN WAS, UM, SURPRISING TO ME, AND THIS WAS MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES, BUT THIS IS WHAT CAME UP FOR ME IS THERE'S THIS REALLY STRONG RECOMMENDATION IN THE DRAFT PLAN ABOUT A, UM, UNIFIED, AN, UM, A UNIFIED OR UMBRELLA ZILKER PARK NONPROFIT THAT CAN SERVE AS A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, SERVING AS THE GO-BETWEEN FOR MANY ACTIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERESTED PARTIES.
UM, IT GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT, THERE'S SEVERAL PAGES ON, UM, THIS UMBRELLA NONPROFIT OVERSEEING, UM, CONCESSIONS, FOOD AND BEVERAGE.
I THINK IT'S ALSO RECOMMENDING EVENT, OH, WELL, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT EVENT MANAGEMENT, BUT A, A BROAD, UM, CONTRACT WITH A NONPROFIT THAT WOULD MANAGE EVENTS.
AND I DID NOT IN ANY OF THOSE VIRTUAL MEETINGS OR SURVEYS, I DIDN'T ANSWER A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T REMEMBER BEING ASKED A QUESTION.
I DID MY BEST TO LOOK BACK AND FIND THE QUESTIONS ON THAT TOPIC.
UM, I COULDN'T FIND ANY, I DON'T REMEMBER IT COMING UP IN THE VIR ANY OF THE VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
I THINK I ATTENDED ALL OF THEM.
UM, AND SO I WOULD, YOU KNOW, LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THE PUBLIC RESPONSE IS TO THAT RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE IT GOES ON FOR PAGES AND PAGES IN THE PLAN.
AND IF WE HAVEN'T DONE ASKED SPECIFICALLY WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF ALL
[02:10:01]
KINDS OF SCENARIOS FOR, UM, SEATING MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF THE PARK TO ANOTHER ENTITY, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD DO THAT.WE SHOULDN'T GO ANY FURTHER WITH ANY KIND OF RECOMMENDATION UNTIL WE'VE SURVEYED THAT.
I ALSO THINK THAT PARTICULAR THING HAS A LOT OF SORT OF EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY IMPLICATIONS BECAUSE OF THE, UM, THE APPROACH YOU WOULD NEED FOR FUNDING THAT KIND OF ORGANIZATION.
I MEAN, THERE'S A RANGE OF NONPROFITS THAT HAVE INTERESTS IN THE PARK.
SOME OF THEM ARE SMALL AND VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS.
SOME ARE MUCH MORE COMMERCIAL THAT HAVE MAJOR CORPORATE FUNDING AND NONE OF 'EM HAVE, YOU KNOW, VERY DIVERSE BOARDS ARE REPRESENT, UM, MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE CITY.
SO I, THAT REALLY WAS LIKE A SHOCKING THING TO ME TO SEE SO MUCH CONCENTRATION ON THAT WITHOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, ANOTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POINT THAT I NOTED JUST PERSONALLY WAS I'M ON THE ZUCKER PARK WORKING GROUP FOR THIS PARKS BOARD.
UM, WE HAD TWO MEETINGS IN 2022, EVEN THOUGH, I MEAN, I BELIEVE I ASKED FOR, UM, FURTHER INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I LOOKED, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS, I WANTED TO MENTION THIS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UM, WEBSITE FOR THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN, AND YOU GO TO THE, UM, OUR WORKING GROUP MEETINGS ARE LISTED ON THERE WITH THE VIDEO AND THERE'S A TAB THAT SAYS ADDITIONAL MEETINGS AND INFORMATION.
AND IF YOU GO THERE, YOU CAN SEE DIFFERENT MEETINGS THEY DID INCLUDING LIKE, UM, IT'S GOT ONE, ONE WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, A COUPLE OTHER GROUPS.
AND THERE'S FOUR MEETINGS LAST YEAR WITH THE ZER COLLECTIVE THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM.
AND THEY, THEY HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS AND THEY REPRESENT A LOT OF INTERESTS.
BUT, UM, IF YOU WATCH THOSE VIDEOS, YOU GET A LOT OF EXPLANATIONS OF PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, ASKING THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT.
BUT TO ME IT'S A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, LOPSIDED THAT THERE WAS LIKE FOUR HOUR AND A HALF LONG MEETINGS WITH THESE GROUPS WHEN WE HAD LIKE ONE COMMUNITY MEETING THAT LASTED, I DON'T KNOW, TWO AND A HALF HOURS OR SOMETHING ONLINE FOR HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS.
ALSO, THE, THE, UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM THE, THE DESIGN WORKSHOP AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS FROM THE, UH, MACBETH RECREATION CENTER OPEN HOUSE.
THERE WAS, UM, WELL FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS ON DECEMBER, LIKE EIGHTH OR 10TH.
AND LIKE I KNOW I HAD TO MISS, UH, A HOLIDAY PARTY TO GO TO THAT.
I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE ONLY IN-PERSON MEETING WE HAD, LIKE A BIG PUBLIC MEETING WAS RIGHT THEN IN DECEMBER, UM, AFTER MANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS MEETING TONIGHT.
BUT, SO WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY HAD THESE TABLES IF YOU COULDN'T GO AND IT HAD, YOU KNOW, THESE BIG MAPS AND IT WAS REALLY HELPFUL TO SEE LIKE THE BIG MAPS AND PEOPLE WERE LEAVING STICKIES, UM, YOU KNOW, ON THE MAPS.
AND I THINK IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SORT OF ORGANIZED BY THEME, BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY COME ACROSS.
AND SO PEOPLE WERE LIKE JUST PUTTING DOWN WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT ON WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE MAP.
SO AT THE TIME, I, UM, ASKED HOW ARE THESE STICKIES GONNA BE PROCESSED? CUZ THEY'RE LIKE HANDWRITTEN.
AND I THINK WHAT I HEARD WAS THAT THEY WOULD BE ENTERED, UM, BY ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO GET FOLLOW UP ON EXACTLY WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR ALL OF THAT.
UM, INFORMATION THAT WAS WRITTEN DOWN, OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS GOING ON AND THAT CAN'T BE PROCESSED CUZ IT WAS JUST CONVERSATIONS.
BUT HOW I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN THE MAIN THING THAT I HAD ASKED ABOUT BEFORE, UM, IN DECEMBER, I THINK, OR NOVEMBER WAS OUR LAST MEETING WAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN THEY DO COME BACK, THIS WAS A DRAFT, THERE WAS SOME AMOUNT OF FURTHER ENGAGEMENT, THE OPEN HOUSE AND THE ONLINE MEETING, AND I BELIEVE SOME POP-UPS.
I WENT TO A COUPLE OF THE POPUPS.
UM, BUT IS IS, IS IT REALLY, I, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE HOW THE ENGAGEMENT AND THE COMMENT THAT'S BEEN TAKEN ON THE DRAFT AFFECTS THE OUTCOME.
LIKE, I REALLY WANT IT TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE HEARD AND THIS IS WHAT WE CHANGED FROM THE DRAFT.
UM, WE, YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE WE'RE NOT GONNA GET ANYWHERE.
UM, THERE WAS A MEMO THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT PUT
[02:15:01]
OUT THAT ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD.I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WAS POSTED AS BACKUP FOR THIS ITEM OR HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, IT'S NOT EARTH SHATTERING YOU GUYS, NOBODY'S GETTING THAT SURPRISED.
BUT I JUST THINK IN, IN THE ENTRANCE OF TRANSPARENCY AND LIKE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, THAT WOULD BE GOOD IF IT CAN BE, I DON'T KNOW, POSTED ON THE WEBSITE OR SOMETHING, THE VISION PLAN WEBSITE.
UM, I HAVE A LOT MORE FEEDBACK ON INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN, BUT THIS IS ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND FOR ME, THE BLINKING RED LIGHT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION ABOUT THE NONPROFIT.
UM, AND WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT ENGAGEMENT WAS DONE ON THAT.
AND THEN I WOULD JUST POINT OUT THERE WERE SOME SPEAKERS TONIGHT THAT DID A GOOD JOB THAT HIGHLIGHTED THINGS.
I NOTICED THAT WHERE THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE PLAN THAT'S SO CONSISTENT, SO MUCH AGAINST WHAT'S NO, WHAT, WHERE IT DOES TELL US IN THE PLAN HOW PEOPLE RESPONDED.
AND SO SOME SORT OF EXPLANATION OF THAT, LIKE WHY THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA WOULD BE HELPFUL.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS END OF THE BOARD? YES.
DO THEY HAVE ANY? OKAY, GO AHEAD.
UM, AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING AND, AND SPEAKING OUT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE, UM, BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR A WHILE AND I DO KNOW THAT DURING MY TENURE THAT THIS IS KIND OF A CONSTANT REFRAIN THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IN MY OPINION, WE TEND TO TO STRUGGLE WITH.
BECAUSE MANY TIMES IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENT OR THE DESIGN WORK GROUP OR WHOEVER'S WORKING ON IT GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEY GO, THEY'RE CHECKING OFF THEIR BOX YES.
AND THEN AFTER IT COMES OUT, EVERYBODY'S LIKE, OH MY GOSH, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.
AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT HAPPENS EVERY, EVERY SINGLE TIME.
AND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND TAKING WHAT YOU GET FROM THOSE MEETINGS AND ACTUALLY INCORPORATING THAT INTO THE PLAN.
AND WHAT I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PROCESS IS, IS THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS YOU HAVE THIS GROUP, THIS COLLECTIVE OF ALL THESE, UM, UH, PARK PARTNERS WHO HAVE VESTED INTEREST IN THE PARK AND HAVE, AND PUT, AND I WILL SAY HAVE SOME GREAT PROGRAMS THAT REALLY CAN BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THIS COLLECTIVE AND THEY'RE REALLY WORKING ON THIS PLAN.
AND WHAT THEY'VE LEFT OUT ARE ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHETHER IT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE JUST THE PEOPLE WHO DO TRACK AT THE PARKS, WHATEVER THAT ARE IN, IN A DIFFERENT LEVEL.
IT'S LIKE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE WE'RE AT THE TOP AND WE'RE MAKING THE BIG DECISIONS AND WE'RE GONNA GO TO THESE MEETINGS, BUT WHETHER WHAT YOUR INPUT IS NOT GONNA BE AS VALUED AS OURS.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THAT IS SURE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
AND SO THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO DO PUBLIC INPUT.
I KNOW WHEN WE HAD OUR ZILKER PARK WORKING GROUP THAT WORKED ON PARKING IN THE PARKS, IT WAS NOT JUST THE PARTNERS AT THE PARKS.
THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM ALL KINDS OF, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD SOME INPUT IN TRYING TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AS A PARKS BOARD MEMBER, I ALWAYS FELT LIKE I AM HERE TO BE THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE IS DOING THAT.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, LOBBYISTS, YOU HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALL HAVE INTEREST IN, IN DOING THINGS.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT OUR JOB IS.
AND SO I THINK LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND REALIZING AND SEEING THE FRUSTRATION THAT'S HAPPENED WITH THIS PROCESS, UM, SAYS A LOT TO ME THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO GO BACK AND, AND RETHINK ABOUT, UM, HOW TO, TO DO THIS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE VOICES ARE HEARD BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALSO, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE PAYING THE TAXES TO, TO SUPPORT THIS LAND AND SUPPORT THE STAFF.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE HEARD.
SO I DO HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH THE ENGAGEMENT PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, PROCESS.
I, I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLAN.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS MENTIONED ABOUT THE BRIDGE AND ABOUT THE THEATER MOVEMENT AND ABOUT THE, THE GARAGES AND I UNDER, I, I KNOW THAT PARKING IS A HUGE ISSUE AND, AND IT, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO HELP PEOPLE GET TO THE PARK.
I DO THINK THAT THE EQUITY PART, I MEAN, I KNOW ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS IS THAT WE NEED MORE PS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER CAN COME TO ZUCKER PARK, BUT I ALSO REALLY FEEL LIKE WE WANNA FOCUS ON EQUITY.
WE NEED TO TAKE SOME OF THIS PARK MONEY AND MOVE IT OUT TO GUERRERO AND MOVE IT OUT TO WALTER LONG AND MOVE IT OUT TO TREVINO AND REALLY MAKE THOSE PARKS THE
[02:20:01]
KIND OF PARKS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO, TO GO TO SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL.I DON'T WANNA GET AND DRIVE 10 MILES TO GO TO A PARK.
I'D MUCH RATHER HAVE ONE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO MY HOUSE THAT IS JUST AS WONDERFUL AS ZK.
AND WE CAN DO THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
AND SO I, UM, I DO HAVE, UM, SOME CONCERNS.
I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT THE DESIGN, UM, WORKSHOP AND EVERYBODY DID.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO PULL TOGETHER A PLAN AND I'M NOT TRYING, AND THERE IS SOME PIECES OF IT THAT I THINK ARE, ARE REALLY GOOD, BUT THERE, AT THIS POINT, I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S TIME TO REALLY KIND OF RETHINK THAT AND ESPECIALLY DRAW MORE PEOPLE IN FOR, UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
ANYBODY ELSE? PATRICK? NOBODY COVERED IT.
I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THEY'VE BEEN COVERED.
I DON'T WANNA GET INTO THE WEEDS.
ONE THING I DON'T BELIEVE I HEARD THAT I PERSONALLY FELT WAS A PROBLEM IS IF WE DO SOMETHING LIKE A LAND BRIDGE.
MY DAD WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR FOR 33 YEARS AND AS HE GOT OLDER, MY MOM COULDN'T HAVE PUSHED HIM UP AND OVER A LAND BRIDGE.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT IS A REALLY EXPENSIVE SOLUTION THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE MOBILITY IMPAIRED OR ELDERLY.
AND A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANNA HIGHLIGHT.
I, I GOT A LOT OF LETTERS AND I I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO READ THEM ALL, BUT I DON'T WANNA GO ON AND ON, BUT I'LL JUST SAY I DID HEAR FROM SOME OTHER, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAUGHT MY EYE WERE, UM, THE NUMBER OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS, THE NUMBER OF 70 YEAR OLDS WILL GROW AT THE TIME, UM, AT THREE TIMES THE RATE OF 30 YEAR OLDS.
PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
WE SENIORS CAN'T RIDE SCOOTERS.
AND I THOUGHT THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT BEING TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THIS PLAN, IN MY OPINION.
AND I, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH DON, I, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, BUT I ALSO KNOW AFTER FOUR YEARS ON THE PARK BOARD THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THOSE NONPROFITS, AS GOODHEARTED AS THEY ARE, AND AS TRUSTWORTHY AS THEY ARE IN SO MANY WAYS, DO NOT HAVE THE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS THE PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN COME AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
AND THE PARKS PLACE, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS, IS TRANSPARENT.
THERE ARE LOTS OF, IT'S, IT'S SLOW MOVING BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PLA PIECES OF TRANSPARENCY THAT ARE BUILT IN INTO THAT MECHANISM.
AND SO SOME CONCERNS I HAVE ARE, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A HOLD UP ON THE ZER TRAIN, BUT I'M GETTING ALL THE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ZER TRAIN, BUT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT, THAT BELONGS TO A NONPROFIT.
AND SO MY CONCERN AS, AS VICE CHAIR FAUST MENTIONED, AND AS, AS, UM, EMERITUS CHAIR LEWIS
I'M CONCERNED THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO EVEN THOUGH THEIR HEARTS ARE ABSOLUTELY IN THE RIGHT PLACE, I DO NOT DOUBT THAT.
BUT YOU ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE TO RAISE MONEY FOR PHILANTHROPY, AND YOU ARE RAISING, YOU ARE LISTENING TO THOSE PEOPLE, AND YOU HAVE TO ALSO PAY YOUR STAFF SO YOU HAVE A BOTTOM DOLLAR CONCERN THAT SHAPES YOUR VISION.
AND, AND IT CONCERNS ME THAT WE WOULD PUT, AND WE WOULD SEED CONTROL FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO THE NON-PROFIT COLLECTIVE TO MAKE THESE MANAGERIAL DECISIONS ABOUT A VERY PUBLIC BELOVED AMENITY THAT IS ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL LINCHPIN FOR THIS CITY.
SO I WROTE UP, UM, LISTENING TO ALL THESE COMMENTS IN THAT I HAVE HAD IN MY EMAIL BOX AND CALLS ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND ON AND ON AND ON.
I JUST, I HAVE COLLECTED THOSE IN A, UH, RECOMMENDATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO ACTUALLY MOVE ON THIS TONIGHT.
I, WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION ON IN OUR, OUR FEBRUARY MEETING.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE OF OUR FEBRUARY MEETING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I FELT LIKE THE FIRST THING WE NEEDED TO MAKE CLEAR TO THIS NEW BOARD, WHICH THERE'S ABOUT HALF OF THEM THAT ARE BRAND SPANKING NEW.
UM, I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE THEM A HEADS UP.
THIS IS WE A CONCERN THAT WE HAVE, UM, AT LEAST I'M HEARING A CONCERN ABOUT THIS, UM, SEATING OF THE CONTROL OF THE PARK TO THE NONPROFIT COLLECTIVE.
SO, UM, DO YOU GUYS WANT ME TO READ ALL THIS OUT LOUD
I THINK, YEAH, I THINK SOMEBODY NEEDS TO, NEEDS TO BE IN MOTION BEFORE WE CAN DISCUSS IT.
SO I HAVE TO PUT IT FORWARD FIRST AND THEN WE CAN, SO I'M GONNA MOVE.
WHEREAS ZER PARK WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY OF, UH, FOR THE, BY THE CITY FROM ANDREA ZILKER FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF SECURING BARTON SPRINGS FOR THE CITY'S PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY AND FOR PUBLIC SWIMMING, ESPECIALLY DURING HOT MONTHS WITH CITY'S PURCHASE, UH, FUNDS FLOWING TO AUSTIN ISD TO SUPPORT PUBLIC VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
[02:25:01]
AND WHEREAS BARTON SPRINGS IS A RECOGNIZED NATIONAL WONDER OF THE WORLD WHERE TWO LISTED IN DAN SAN SALAMANDER SPECIES AND A RICH HIGH QUALITY AQUATIC LIFE COMMUNITY COEXIST WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND VISITORS WHO SWIM, SNORKEL, RELAX, PLAY, AND PLAY AT SPRINGS EACH YEAR.WHEREAS BARTON SPRINGS PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR THE CITY'S SENIOR WATER RIGHTS IN COLORADO RIVER FLOWS AND SERVE AS A MAJOR, MAJOR ATTRACTION TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND VISITORS PER YEAR.
AND WHEREAS BARTON SPRINGS AND ITS SOURCE WATERS, THE, THE BARTON SPRINGS EDWARD AQUIFER, THE TRINITY EDWARDS AQUIFER, AND SIX MAJOR TRIBUTARY CREEKS, INCLUDING MOST NOTABLY BARTON CREEK AND ONION CREEK, REMAINS SE SEVERELY THREATENED FROM RAPID DEVELOPMENT, WHICH RESULTS IN INCREASING POINT AND NON-POINT SOURCES OF POLLUTION, INCREASING FLOODING AND STEAM BANK EROSION, AND INCREASING PUMPING OF LIMITED GROUNDWATER.
AND WHEREAS MOST PARTICIPANTS, OBSERVERS, AND CITY OFFICIALS RECOGNIZE THAT ZILKER PARK IS ALREADY OVERPOPULATED WITH TOO MANY LARGE MONEY MAKING EVENTS AND SERVICES THAT DISPLACE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE FROM USING THE PARK FOR NORMAL PARK ACTIVITIES FOR SUBSTANTIAL PERIODS OF TIME AND CAUSE REAL HARM TO ZUCKER'S, UH, NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.
THOUGH SOME LIMITED ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES THROUGH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAJOR EVENTS ORGANIZATION ORDINANCE, AND THE ZUCKER PARK WORKING GROUP.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN'S IMAGINE AUS AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CALLS FOR, AMONG OTHER GOALS PLANNING THAT IS SENSITIVE TO AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES, BIOPHILIC PLANNING THAT INTEGRATES NATURE INTO THE CITY AND PLANNING THAT CONSIDERS THE INTERSECTION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
WHEREAS AUSTIN'S EQUITY CL CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN CALLS FOR IRRELEVANT PART LEGALLY PROTECTING AN ADDITIONAL 20,000 ACRES OF CARBON POOLS ON NATURAL LANDS AND MANAG MANAGING ALL NEW AND EXISTING NATURAL AREAS, APPROXIMATELY 70,000 ACRES TOTAL FOCUSING ON RESILIENCE.
AND WHEREAS THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR AUSTIN'S OUR PARKS, OUR FUTURE LONG-RANGE PLAN REVEALED, AND THERE'S AN APPENDIX IN THERE FOR WHICH PARK GROWERS VALUE MOST ARE NATURAL BEAUTY PLACES TO CONNECT TO NATURE, CLEANLINESS, EASY TO GET TO SAFETY PLACES TO EXERCISE OR BE ACTIVE, QUIET PLACES AND PLACES TO RELAX.
WHEREAS THAT SAME PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY AT THE SAME PAGE REVEALS THAT AUSTIN PARK GOERS TOP AMENITY PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS ARE NATURE TRAILS FOR HIKING AND WALKING NATURE AREAS AND PRESERVES, MULTIPURPOSE TRAILS, WALKING, RUNNING, HIKING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, AND TOP TWO PRIORITIES FOR PUBLIC INVESTMENTS SHOULD BE ACQUIRING PARK LAND AND MAINTAINING THE PARKS THAT WE HAVE.
WHEREAS NONE OF THE ABOVE PLANS CALL FOR A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, CALL FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN ZER PARK, NOR FOR INCREASED PRIVATIZATION OF ZER PARK AND ALL CALL FOR EXPANDING PARKLAND, INCREASING PUBLIC ACCESS TO NATURE IN OUR PARKS, TAKING ACTION TO REFOREST RESTORE OR REWILD OUR CITY AND OUR PARKS TO PROTECT OUR WATER, INCLUDING MOST SPECIFICALLY BARTON SPRINGS FROM POLLUTION AND OVER CONSUMPTION, AMONG OTHER ACTIONS TO CONTINUE BUY, TO BUY AND PERMANENTLY PROTECT LAND UPSTREAM OF BARTON SPRINGS AND ZER PARK.
WHEREAS THE 2005 BESTSELLING BOOK LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS SAVING OUR NATURE FROM NATURE OR CHILDREN FROM NATURE DEFICIT DISORDER BY RICHARD LUV, SETS OUT THE DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN ACCESS TO NATURE AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SETS OFF AN SET OFF A NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT TO RECONNECT CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND COMMUNITIES WITH NATURE.
THE BOOK'S THESIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS MATCH ALMOST EXACTLY WITH THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT RESULTS SUMMARIZED ABOVE FOR OUR CITYWIDE OUR PARKS ARE FUTURE LONG-RANGE PLAN AND GUIDE THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS, CITIES CONNECTING CHILDREN TO NATURE PROGRAM.
WHEREAS THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THE ZER PARK VISION PLAN WAS SERIOUSLY FLAWED AND NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF AUSTIN'S OVERALL RESIDENT PARKS GOERS.
AND JUST TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS ARE INFORMATION FROM PARTICIPANTS AT POPUPS HOSTED ACROSS THE CITY WERE NOT EVEN RECORDED, AND PARTICIPANTS WERE SIMPLY TOLD TO ANSWER THE ONLINE SURVEYS.
AND B, THE ONLINE SURVEYS COULD BE CONFUSING AND HEAVILY BIASED.
PUSH POLLS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FROM ASSET BUILDING PROJECTS INCLUDE LEADING QUESTIONS ON THE FINAL SURVEY, ASKING SURVEY TAKERS TO IDENTIFY WHICH PRODUCTS PROJECTS WITHIN THE PLAN THEY WERE MOST EXCITED ABOUT.
MOST OF THE CHOICES WERE CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT CHECKS WITH NO OPTION TO ANSWER, NONE OF THE ABOVE.
AND WHEREAS, AND I ALSO HAVE TO POINT OUT RIGHT THERE, I JUST HAVE TO SAY I WAS TAKING THOSE POLLS, I SAT IN ON THE ZOOM MEETINGS AND MY MOTHER COULD NOT HAVE POSSIBLY KEPT UP WITH THE WAY THAT WE HAD TO USE OUR SMARTPHONES TO ANSWER THOSE THINGS REALLY QUICKLY.
I EVEN HAD TROUBLE AND I WAS TEACHING ONLINE DURING THE PANDEMIC, IS THAT MY TIME?
WHEREAS CITY CONSULTANTS PREPARED THREE VERSIONS OF A DRAFT PLAN, EACH OF WHICH CALLED FOR MAJOR CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK.
NONE OF THOSE THREE PRESENTED A VISION THAT EMPHASIZED RESTORATION REWILDING OR PROTECTION OF BARTON SPRINGS, BARTON CREEK, OR LADYBIRD LAKE.
ALL THREE OF WHICH, AND INCLUDING THE FINAL DRAFT PROPOSED PLANS ARE IN CONFLICT WITH OUR PARKS ARE FUTURE LONG-RANGE PLAN GOALS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PRIORITIES.
WHEREAS, ALTHOUGH NOTED TO SOME DEGREE IN THE ORIGINAL SITE ANALYSIS REPORT, THE DRAFT PLAN DOES NOT ADEQUATELY IDENTIFY NOR PROTECT CRITICAL NATURAL HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL FEATURES AS BOTH ASSETS AND CONSTRAINTS THAT SHOULD BE RESPECTED, PROTECTED, AND CELEBRATED WHEN CONSIDERING ANY AND ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT MIGHT AFFECT THESE RESOURCES.
[02:30:01]
AND I'M ALMOST TO THE END.WHEREAS AMONG THESE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY DELINEATED AND PROTECTED ARE THE ZILKER PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT, THE ZILKER PARK ARCHEOLOGICAL DISTRICT, THE RECHARGE ZONE FOR THE BARTON SPRINGS EDWARDS AQUIFER, THE REQUIRED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SETBACKS FROM LADY BIRD LAKE, THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES IN WATER QUALITY TRANSITION SOUNDS WITHIN THE PARK, FLOODPLAINS WITHIN THE PARK DESIGNATED CRITICAL HABITAT FOR THE FEDERALLY LISTED ENDANGERED BLIND SAM SALAMANDER, THE HISTORIC BARTON SPRINGS ROAD BRIDGE OVER BARTON CREEK, THE PREHISTORIC DISTRICT WITHIN THE ZEER PARK BOTANICAL GARDENS, POTENTIALLY OTHERS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY'S CONSULTANTS' DRAFT PLAN CALLS FOR THE VERY FIRST TASK OF IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN AS CREATING A PRIVATE NONPROFIT UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION TO MANAGE THE OVERALL MULTIPLE PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT AND NONPROFIT CONCESSIONERS DURING OPERATING WITHIN THE PARK AND LIKELY ADDITIONAL NEW CONCESSIONERS CONCESSION LOCATIONS, PAID EVENTS.
AND WHEREAS NO ONE OR ALMOST NO ONE DURING THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS ASKED FOR OR SUPPORTED THE FURTHER PRIVATIZATION OF ZER PARK MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS.
AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS WAS OPPOSED TO CONTINUED AND FURTHER PRIVATIZATION OF PARK OPERATIONS.
WHEREAS THERE WAS NO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SURVEYING THE P PUBLIC DESIRE TO CREATE AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION, A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT NONPROFIT GROUP TO TAKE OVER ZER PARK DECISION MAKING AND MANAGEMENT SEATING CONTROL THAT SHOULD BELONG TO THE PUBLICLY FUNDED AND ACCOUNTABLE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY CONSULTANT'S DRAFT PLAN CALLS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF VARIOUS FACILITIES THAT SIMILARLY WERE NOT REQUESTED OR SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLIC INPUT RECEIVED, INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, A NEW A CONCESSION LOCATED ABOVE BARTON CREEK, NORTH OF BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, NEW OR RELOCATED ZER HILLSIDE THEATER.
I HEARD FROM THEATER PEOPLE, I RECOGNIZED THAT, THAT SOMEBODY WAS HERE, UM, THAT TALKED ABOUT THAT.
BUT I GOT A LETTER FROM SOMEONE SAYING, WE JUST PUT IN ALL THESE RENOVATIONS, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE MOVING THE THEATER.
UM, NEW ROADS WITHIN THE PARK, INCLUDING A RELOCATED STRATFORD DRIVE PASSING THROUGH THE BOTANICAL GARDEN, A PREHISTORIC GARDEN, A RELOCATION OF DISC GOLF COURSE AND SPORTS FACILITIES, A NEW BRIDGE ACROSS LADYBIRD LAKE, MULTIPLE NEW EXPENSIVE AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING PARKING GARAGES.
I'M WONDERING HOW WE'RE GONNA DO UNDERGROUND PARKING IN AKARD AREA THAT IS RIGHT NEXT TO BARTON SPRINGS.
UM, AND A AND A LARGE PAVED WELCOME PLAZA WITH INDETERMINATE PURPOSES, WHEREAS SPENDING MANY TENS OF MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD PARKING GARAGES IN ZER PARK WOULD BOTH ENCOURAGE MORE AUTOMOBILE DRIVING AND DIRECT CONFLICT WITH CITY GOALS OF REDUCING THE DRIVING AND PARKING OF CARS WITHIN THE CITY AND CAUSE MAJOR AND SUBSTANTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE TO PROTECTED AND CHERISHED PARK RESOURCES.
WHEREAS I GET A LOT OF LETTERS.
WHEREAS UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGES DUG INTO THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE CARS SURROUNDING BARTON SPRINGS ITSELF SEEMS CONTRARY TO THE GOALS OF PRESERVING OUR BEAUTIFUL CLEAR AND NATURAL SPRINGS.
AND WHEREAS THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FAILED TO DISCLOSE THE ESTIMATED COSTS OF ANY OF THE PROPOSED NEW PROJECTS IN THE CONSULTANT'S STAFF PLAN.
AND THE COST OF THESE FACILITIES BOTH TOGETHER IN STANDING ALONE WOULD COMPETE DIRECTLY WITH INVESTMENTS IN PARKS ACROSS THE CITY THAT ALIGN WITH OUR PARKS, OUR FUTURE PLAN AND THE PUBLIC PRIORITIES SET OUT THEREIN FOR PARKS INVESTMENT.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS BOARD SUPPORTS CONTINUED PUBLIC MANAGEMENT OF ZER PARK, ALONG WITH THE INCREASED PUBLIC FUNDING FOR AN APPROVED MANAGEMENT OF THE PARK BY THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND OPPOSES THE FURTHER PRIVATIZATION OF ZILKER PARK OPERATIONS AND MANAGE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED MANAGEMENT, SORRY, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT IF THE CURRENT DRAFT OR SIMILAR PLAN GOES FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE PUBLIC BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, THAT THE REWILDING ZER PARK PLAN SPONSORS BE GIVEN EQUAL TIME TO THE CONSULTANTS AND CITY STAFF PRESENTING THE CONSULTANT CONSULTANT DRAFTED PLAN TO PRESENT THE REWILDING ZUCKER PARK PLAN AND ANSWER QUESTION AS AN ALTERNATIVE VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF ZER PARK IN ALL RELEVANT PUB PUBLIC MEETINGS AND THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER EITHER AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO A, OR IN ADDITION TO THAT APPOINTING A SPECIAL PARKS CITIZEN TASK FORCE TO JOINTLY CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN'S METROPOLITAN REGIONAL PARKS WITH A GOAL OF RECOMMENDING PRIORITY INVESTMENTS AND DOLLAR AMOUNTS OF SUCH INVESTMENTS OF ALL OF OUR METROPOLITAN PARKS AND WILDLANDS WITH SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE APPROVED CITY PLANS CITED ABOVE AND ANY APPROVED VISION PLAN FOR THE RESPECTIVE REGIONAL PARKS AND FURTHER CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S GOALS OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND REDUCING DEPENDENCE ON TRAVEL IN AND STORAGE OF AUTOMOBILES.
AND SEE IN THE EVENT THE CITY COUNCIL CHOOSES, UH, BE AND APPOINTS A SPECIAL TASK FORCE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL TAKE SHOULD CARE TO ASSURE THAT MEMBERS OF SUCH A CITIZEN TASK FORCE ARE NOT EMPLOYED BY OR OTHERWISE REPRESENTING FINANCIAL INTEREST FOR ANY FOR-PROFIT OR NON-PROFIT ART CONCESSIONER.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? THAT'S ALL.
GOT A SECOND FROM NANCY BERNARD.
DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MA'AM.
SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
[02:35:01]
JUST BE CLEAR, I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE I THINK THE PROCESS IS A PROCESS FOR A REASON.I APPRECIATE THAT EVERYONE CAME OUT TONIGHT AND THAT PEOPLE ARE DISSATISFIED WITH HOW THEIR COMMENTS HAVE BEEN HEARD, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD LET THE PROCESS PLAY OUT THE WAY THAT IT IS MEANT TO BEFORE WE MAKE FURTHER COMMENTS.
SECONDLY, AND I'M GONNA, I SAT UP HERE AND THOUGHT, DO I WANNA SAY THIS OR NOT? SO I'M SORRY, BUT IT REALLY DISHEARTENS ME TO HEAR EQUITY AND INCLUSION BROUGHT UP AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
AND YET WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM MANY OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ACTUALLY WEREN'T HEARD THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
PEOPLE LIVING IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT FOUR OR OTHER DISTRICTS WHERE THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE ZILKER PARK IS FOR THEM.
AND YOU CAN READ THEIR COMMENTS IN THE SURVEYS WHERE PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY GIVING EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMENTS AND THOSE WERE NOT BROUGHT UP TONIGHT EITHER.
UM, SO TO ME, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT WHAT WE HEARD HERE TONIGHT WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF A VERY SMALL SLIVER OF FOLKS WHO DO NOT FEEL THAT THEY'VE BEEN HEARD.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF ZER PARK WAS OPEN TO EVERYONE EQUALLY IF PEOPLE FELT WELCOME THERE.
BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE PARK, THAT PART OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WAS A PLANTATION.
MANY PEOPLE MAY NEVER FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING THERE, AND WE DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THROUGH OUR PROCESS.
RIGHT? SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, IT, THIS PROCESS SHOULD PLAY OUT AND WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT CRITICALLY AFTERWARDS, BUT THE PROCESS NEEDS TO PLAY OUT AND I REALLY, IT JUST VERY MUCH UPSETS ME THAT EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS BROUGHT UP TO SUPPORT AN ARGUMENT BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED BY THESE PROCESSES.
I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE PROCESS PART AND THAT IS THAT BY THE TIME WE SEE IT, THE PLAN IS GONNA BE BAKED NEXT MONTH.
IT'S ALREADY GOING TO SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS.
AND MY CONCERN IS THAT IF WE BREAK RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT.
I, THE MEETING HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH ON THIS TOPIC FOR MY TASTE.
I DO NOT NEED TO GET INTO AN ARGUMENT ABOUT HOW THE PLAN IS GOING TO BE BAKED OR NOT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? DID YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS, HANNAH? UM, I HAD A QUESTION ON SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN IT, UM, YOU KNOW, REGARDING THE, YOU KNOW, SO-CALLED BAKED PLAN.
SO ON A BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT A, IF THE CURRENT DRAFT OR SIMILAR PLAN GOES FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION.
SO THAT MEANING THAT WE WOULD LET IT PROGRESS IN THE, WITH THE CURRENT PROCESS, IF THIS DOES, IT IS GOING TO, IT IS PROGRESSING, IT'S GOING TO, UM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION NEXT, AND THEN WE WILL SEE IT NEXT MONTH.
UM, AND THE LANGUAGE KIND OF LIKE, OR SIMILAR, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? OR SIMILAR IF THE CURRENT DRAFT OR SIMILAR PLAN GOES FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION, I GUESS I'M WONDERING HOW SIMILAR IS IS SIMILAR.
WE CAN TAKE THAT OUT IF THAT'S A POINT OF CONTENTION.
I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COULD SEE IT DIFFERENT WAYS.
COULD, DO YOU WANNA STRIKE THAT, INTERPRET THAT DIFFERENT DIFFERENTLY? IF THAT'S CONFUSING, LET'S TAKE THAT OUT.
UM, AND THEN
UM, A SPECIAL PARK CITIZEN TASK FORCE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ALSO FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT OUR PARK SPORT IS.
UM, OR A WORKING GROUP OF THE PARKS BOARD.
I MEAN, AS FAR AS LIKE ALL METROPOLITAN PARKS, NOT NECESSARILY SPEAKING ABOUT SILK PARK.
THAT DID YOU MISS I WAS JUST, SORRY.
I WAS JUST GONNA BE THAT A TASK FORCE IS SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT HAS A STARTING POINT AND AN END POINT AND IT WILL HAVE STAFF SUPPORT IF COUNCIL CREATES IT.
UM, SO IT'S A LITTLE, IT'S DIFFERENT THAN A WORKING GROUP.
AND IT ALSO WOULD HAVE A, WELL THIS DOESN'T SPECIFY THE MEMBERSHIP, BUT THAT WAS JUST THE DIFFERENCE IN LIKE THE PARKS BOARD IS THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT TAKES ON A SPECIFIC TASK AND STARTS AND ENDS.
I MEAN, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT IT'S LIKE MORE SPECIAL RIGHT?
UM, IT DOES FEEL A LITTLE REDUNDANT.
YEAH, I MEAN, I DON'T, I GUESS I FEEL LIKE THIS IS PART OF OUR JOB, SO DON'T, I GUESS WHAT I WAS THINKING OF, I WAS THINKING OF THAT LIKE, WE HAVEN'T EVEN BEGUN TO DELVE INTO, YOU KNOW, SO AS THE LAND BRIDGE PART OF LIKE, LIKE GOING BACK OVER THIS 200
[02:40:01]
AND SOMETHING PAGE PLAN, WE'RE NOT GONNA SIT HERE AT THIS DIAS AND DO THAT.RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S WHERE I FEEL LIKE WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT HERE, AND WE CAN SIMPLIFY IT IF THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
BUT MY PROBLEM, MY CONCERN IS THAT WE HAVE OTHER VOICES AT THE TABLE THAT HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE DETERMINATION OF ZILKER PARK MM-HMM.
SO IF WE NEED TO SIMPLIFY THAT, I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO TRY TO SIMPLIFY THAT IN SOME WAY.
KIND OF BRINGING IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING I'M AGAINST IT.
SO THE REWILDING ZILKER GROUP, IS THAT THE ONLY GROUP THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS EFFICIENTLY? NO, I THINK I BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHEN THEY CAME, THEY CAME AND SPOKE VERY ELOQUENTLY AND THEY HAD ALREADY PUT IN A LOT OF WORK ALSO ON THAT.
AND I RECOGNIZED THAT MR. KTI HAD HIRED AND COME UP WITH THIS SIGLO REPORT, WHICH I HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING MM-HMM.
BUT, UM, I FEEL LIKE I, I SPOKE WITH, UM, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR LEONA CAL BOCA ON THE WAY OUT, AND I SAID, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T HAVE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THESE TWO GROUPS.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY EXPERTISE AND WILLINGNESS TO WORK ON IT FROM THE VOLUNTEER END, BUT THEN IT SEEMED LIKE ON THE PAID END THERE WAS, THERE WAS CONFLICT HERE.
AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS TO FACILITATE, UM, SOME ACTUAL DISCUSSION.
LIKE WE LIVE IN THIS REALLY POLARIZED SOCIETY RIGHT NOW, AND I SEE A LOT OF POLARIZATION RIGHT HERE.
THE US AND THE THEM PEOPLE ARE CHEERING FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS PEOPLE ACTUALLY WORKING TOGETHER TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THINGS IN LITTLE BOXES AND SAYING, THIS IS THE GROUP THAT CAN NOW BE THE POINT PERSON AND MAKE THE DECISIONS ABOUT THE PARK.
I THINK WE NEED BIGGER AMOUNTS OF INPUT AT THE TABLE FROM MORE OTHER, YOU KNOW, FROM MORE GROUPS.
AND I GUESS THAT JUST COMES TO MIND BECAUSE THEY, THEY STRUCK ME WHEN ROBIN RATHER SPOKE IN HER GROUP THAT NIGHT, THEY STRUCK ME AS VERY, UM, VERY IN TUNE WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THAT PARTICULAR LAND.
AND THEY HAD PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT IN COMPLETELY WITHOUT $1 SPENT ON THEIR BEHALF.
SO THAT'S WHERE THAT, THAT'S HOW COME I PUT THAT IN THERE.
SO I'M, I GUESS I'M JUST TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND LIKE THE MAIN CONCERN.
IS IT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT OR IS IT MORE LIKE THE THEATER RELOCATION EXAMPLE OR LIKE 58% VOTED FOR IT? I, AND THEN IT DIDN'T GET IN.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS HERE AND I THINK IT JUST NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED.
I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK AND, AND TAKE A FINE TOOTH COMB THROUGH THIS PLAN, WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO ON A DIAS WHEN WE'RE ON CAMERA AND EVERYBODY HAS, YOU KNOW, A 10 O'CLOCK DEADLINE, YOU KNOW,
SO THAT'S THE THING THAT, YES, WE ARE IN CHARGE OF MAKING THESE DECISIONS, BUT REALISTICALLY, YOU KNOW, I'M HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PEOPLE TO DO THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S OVER COMMITTED AND PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN LIVES AND THEY HAVE CHILDREN AND THEY HAVE THIS AND THAT AND THE OTHER.
AND SO WE ARE, WE ARE COVERING A, A LOT OF BASES ON THIS BOARD MM-HMM.
AND MY CONCERN IS THAT IF WE JUST KEEP GOING FORWARD WITH BUSINESS AS USUAL, WE ARE NOT ADDRESSING SOME OF THE VO VOICES THAT NEED TO BE HEARD.
UM, AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO RECONCILE WITH LIKE THE AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS LIKE SPECIFIC TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MM-HMM.
WE'RE CREATING THE TASK FORCE AND EVERYTHING, BUT IS THE TASK FORCE ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IT LOOKS LIKE THE TASK FORCE IS ABOUT PLANNING HOW TO INVEST ACROSS THE ENTIRE PARK SYSTEM.
WELL, FAIR ENOUGH IS THAT'S, I'M NOT SAYING LIKE, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GERMANE OR IF THERE'S SCOPE CREEP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON HERE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY NOT CLEAR WHICH PART, WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING AT MB AT THE EDGE AT THE END, THE IMPORTANT PART.
UM, BUT YEAH, I MEAN, JUST THINKING ABOUT IT FROM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOCUS, THAT'S ALL.
AND THEN FOR FE FOR FEBRUARY, WHAT'S THE AGENDA FOR FEBRUARY? WE'RE, WE'RE VOTE WE HAVE TO VOTE IN FEBRUARY OR I UNDERSTAND THAT.
AM I CORRECT DIRECTOR THAT THAT'S THE PRESENTATION THAT WE WILL GET FROM THEM? SO THIS IS KIMBERLY MCNEELY SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR.
IT WOULD BE OUR INTENTION TO BRING FORWARD A BRIEFING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAN, BUT WE WOULD NOT BE BRINGING IT BACK FOR ACTION.
YOU CAN MAKE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT WE HAVE TO GO TO ALL THE OTHER
[02:45:01]
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT, UH, WERE REQUIRED TO.OF COURSE, IF YOU CHOSE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION IN FEBRUARY, YOU, I SUPPOSE THAT YOU COULD, BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN PREVIOUSLY IS THAT, UM, THE QUESTION HAS BEEN WHAT HAVE OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SAID? AND IT'S FEBRUARY, WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
SO IT WILL COME BACK TO THE PARKS BOARD LATER ON IN THE YEAR FOR US TO TAKE ACTION ON.
BUT NOT UNTIL THOSE OTHER COMMITTEES ARE DONE WITH IT.
SO LIKE SUMMERTIME, LIKE BALLPARK, BALLPARK FOR WHEN IT WOULD COME BACK.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO, YEAH, I KNOW, KNOW, I UNDERSTAND.
CAN I JUST ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION AND THAT, YES.
SO I THINK WHAT YOU SAID IS THERE'S A, A BRIEFING ON THE AGENDA IN FEBRUARY, BUT THEN YOU SAID WE COULD MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AT THAT TIME, LIKE SAY, BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN TAKE ACTION ON BRIEFINGS UNDER THE CURRENT AGENDA RULES.
SO CAN WE THAT'S THAT'S CORRECT.
WOULD IT BE POSTED FOR POSSIBLE ACTION? THAT THAT'S SOME, THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR PREFERENCE WOULD BE, BUT THE AGENDAS ARE NOT USUALLY PUT TOGETHER BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE PUT TOGETHER BY THE BOARD CHAIR.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT WILL BE MONTHS AND IT WILL HAVE BEEN THROUGH ALL THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WHEN IT COMES BACK FOR AN, AN A VOTE ON OUR RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL.
YOU ALSO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT THAT I BELIEVE, IF I REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID, IF IT WERE TO PASS, YOU ASKED US FOR ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO COMMISS ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN A MONTH AND BRING BACK A COMPLETED PLAN TO THIS BOARD.
I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THE, THE RESOLUTION IS TALKING ABOUT THEN.
I, I MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT THE INTENT WAS.
I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT THE, SO WE'LL GET A BRIEFING IN FEBRUARY AND WE COULD, BUT IF WE COULD WORD THAT SO THAT THERE'S SOME ACTION RECOMMENDATIONS WE COULD TAKE IF THE BOARD CHOSE THAT WOULD KIND OF ADVISE THE REST OF THE PROCESS OR GIVE SIGNALS TO OTHER BOARDS, AND THEN IT'LL BE FINALLY PRESENTED SEVERAL MONTHS LATER.
NINA, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YES, THANK YOU.
UM, YEAH, I HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS.
I WANNA STATE THAT I DO THINK THAT WE CREATED SOME CONFUSION TONIGHT BY PUTTING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME SPEAK ABOUT THIS PARK PLAN AFTER THE DEADLINE FOR THE MOST RECENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PHASE HAD CLOSED.
SO I THINK AS A BOARD, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO INVITE PEOPLE TO GIVE THEIR INPUT IN A WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT IT'LL BE, YOU KNOW, REGISTERED AND COLLECTED BY THE CONSULTANTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE, THE, THE DEADLINE JUST HAPPENED RECENTLY, UM, FOR THE, FOR FOLKS TO GIVE INPUT ON THE MOST RECENT PHASE OF THE PLAN.
SO I DO THINK IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WE'RE HEARING FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, GO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SURVEY.
AND THEN THEY'RE HEARING FROM OTHER SOURCES THAT, WELL, ACTUALLY YOU SHOULD COME SPEAK AT THE PARKS BOARD MEETING TONIGHT.
AND I RECEIVED, UM, I WAS SEEING MANY, UM, PAID ADVERTISEMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, UM, TELLING, YOU KNOW, ASKING ME TO COME SPEAK TO THE PARK AT THE PARKS BOARD MEETING ABOUT THE ZILKER PLAN.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, ADVERTISEMENTS THAT WE'RE STATING, UM, CONCERNING THINGS ABOUT THE PLAN.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THAT MESSAGE HAS KIND OF BEEN OUT THERE, UM, YOU KNOW, DIRECTING PEOPLE TO THIS, UM, THIS ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, SO I, BUT I, I DO THINK THAT THAT MADE THINGS A LITTLE CONFUSING.
WELL, I, I CAN RESPOND TO THAT MM-HMM.
AND THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE AS I HAD BEEN ADVOCATING ALL YEAR LONG ON THE PUD IS THAT MAYOR ADLER HAD CUT ALL THE, THE INPUT TO ONE MINUTE, AND YOU CAN'T EVEN SAY TWO COHESIVE SENTENCES,
AND SO I WANTED TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THEM TO SPEAK, AND BECAUSE WE ARE SPEAKING ONLINE, AND BECAUSE THIS IS RECORDED, IT IS CAPTURED MM-HMM.
AND THAT'S WHY I FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR THESE PEOPLE, BECAUSE I'M GETTING A LOT OF CALLS AND A LOT OF EMAILS AND A LOT OF NEIGHBORS STOPPING ME WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLAN.
AND SO I FELT LIKE THEY FELT THEY HADN'T BEEN HEARD.
NO, I, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT.
AND IT'S, UM, IT'S, YEAH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND IS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, TOUGH TO REACH EVERYBODY THAT WE SHOULD AS IT IS.
UM, AND I THINK THAT JUST ADDING ON ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT AREN'T OFFICIALLY HOOKED INTO THIS, THIS PROCESS, I THINK
[02:50:01]
MAYBE, UM, IN MY OPINION, UM, I RESPECT YOUR REASONS FOR DOING THAT, BUT IN MY OPINION, I THINK IT, I THINK IT MADE THINGS A LITTLE CONFUSING.UM, I ALSO, IN THIS, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST WANNA STATE TOO, THAT WE DID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HEARD FROM, UH, THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE PROPONENTS OF THE REWILDING PLAN BEFORE, UM, AND IN FACT THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, WE INVITED THEM TO COME GIVE A PRESENTATION, UM, AT THE PARKS BOARD WHERE THEY WERE THE PRIMARY SPEAKERS.
I THINK THAT MAY BE THE ONLY TIME THAT WE'VE EVER ALLOWED A COMMUNITY GROUP TO BE THE PRIMARY PRESENTER WITHOUT STAFF.
YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY IT'S STAFF WHO ARE THE, UM, THE PRESENTERS.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, IN ALL MY TIME ON THE PARK SPORT, I DON'T THINK THAT IT EVER HAPPENED.
WE WOULD ALWAYS ASK COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SPEAK AT CITIZENS COMMUNICATION, UM, YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN, THAN, UM, GIVING THEM A PRESENTATION SPOT, WHICH IS TYPICALLY SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE RESERVE OUR STAFF.
UM, AND THEY GAVE A GREAT PRESENTATION.
I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS VERY COMPELLING AND INFORMATIVE.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALREADY REALLY ELEVATED THIS REWILDING PLAN, UM, UH, TO I THINK, UM, A VERY PROMINENT LEVEL.
UM, AND I DON'T REALLY, FOR THAT REASON, I DON'T SEE THE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PLAN SPONSORS, LIKE IT SAYS IN, IN B IT RESOLVED A EQUAL TIME TO THE CONSULTANTS AND CITY STAFF PRESENTING THE CONSULTANT DRAFTED PLAN TO PRESENT THE REWILDING ZILKER PLAN AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AS AN ALTERNATIVE VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF ZER PARK.
SO I THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN ELEVATED.
THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF COMMUNICATING WHAT'S IN IT.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY, WE'VE ALREADY LIFTED THAT AND AMPLIFIED THAT PLAN, UM, QUITE A BIT.
UM, AND I ALSO THINK THAT THE, THE LATEST DRAFT OF THIS VISION PLAN DOES SUBSTANTIALLY INCORPORATE MANY OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF THE REWILDING PROPOSAL.
SO, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT MANY OF THEM, UM, AND MANY OF THE ONES, IN MY OPINION, THAT, THAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THE MOST DISTINCTIVE.
SO, UM, THIS, I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT THE REWILDING PLAN HAS INSPIRED AND INFORMED, UM, THE WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH THE Z CREW VISION PLAN.
THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THIS PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE HAPPY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'VE, WHERE WE'VE ENDED UP WITH RESPECT TO THAT, THAT REALLY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY INPUT FROM THE REWILDING ADVOCATES.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT IN THIS RESOLUTION A COUPLE TIMES WE TALK ABOUT, UM, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IDEA OF THE SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT NONPROFIT GROUP TO TAKE OVER ZUCKER PARK DECISION MAKING AND MANAGEMENT.
AND I WANNA CLARIFY THAT NOWHERE IN THE PLAN DOES IT TALK ABOUT THAT KIND OF UMBRELLA GROUP? YES, IT DOES.
YOU KNOW, SO IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT THAT KIND OF UMBRELLA GROUP, UM, TAKING OVER DECISION MAKING IN, IN MANAGEMENT.
THE PURPOSE AS STATED IN THE PLAN, UM, OF THAT NONPROFIT GROUP WOULD BE THAT, UM, THERE COULD BE AN UMBRELLA GROUP TO SERVE AS A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN PAR AND THE NUMEROUS NONPROFITS THAT OPERATE WITHIN THE PARK.
SO INSTEAD OF PAR HAVING TO COMMUNICATE INDIVIDUALLY WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT EVEN HAVE TIME TO ALL TALK TO EACH OTHER, THERE COULD BE A COORDINATOR THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF THESE NONPROFITS THAT ARE OFFERING SERVICES WITHIN THE PARK, AND THEN THAT SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT WOULD COMMUNICATE WITH PAR.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE PLAN INCLUDES LANGUAGE ABOUT, UM, ANYONE TAKING OVER THE PARK WHO'S NOT PARD, BUT PLEASE DO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
I JUST, THAT THAT CAME UP A COUPLE TIMES IN THE, IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AND IN, IN THE RESOLUTION.
AND, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE FOLKS THAT CAME TO SPEAK AND, UM, AND I, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THAT EVERYONE'S COMMENTS ESPECIALLY ABOUT REWILDING, UM, I, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE INFORMED WHERE WE ARE AT THE PLAN IN A REALLY POSITIVE WAY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE BOARD? SHALL WE TAKE A VOTE? ALL RIGHT.
UM, I KNOW IT'S GETTING WELL, I'M WONDERING IF WE, IF YOU'RE SPECIFICALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE REWILDING, I'M WONDERING IF WE SHOULD STRIKE THAT AND
[02:55:01]
JUST SAY IN THAT, IN THAT A TALK ABOUT HAVE, UM, FINDING WAYS TO HAVE A, A DIVERSE NUMBER OF VOICES AT THE TABLE INSTEAD OF, WOULD THAT MAKE YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT TOO? NO, I, I JUST THINK AS A CONCEPT, THIS ADDS MORE CONFUSION TO THE PROCESS, UM, THAN IT CLARIFIES.SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION.
YOU, YOU WOULD PREFER IF WE, YOU WOULD.
SO, WHAT DID I SAY?
THAT, THAT DIVERSE COMMUNITY VOICES ARE, UM, THEIR VOICES CAN BE CONSIDERED OR HEARD, OR SHOULD BE GIVEN EQUAL TIME WITH CONSULTANTS AND STAFF.
SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA REREAD THIS ANOTHER, ANOTHER QUESTION IF YEAH.
SO HOW, HOW DOES THIS HELP WITH THE ACTUAL VISION PLAN FOR ZILKER, THOUGH? LIKE, IT DOESN'T, LIKE I'M HEARING THAT WE'RE DONE WITH THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS AND I MEAN, DOES THIS LIKE OPEN THE DOOR TO AMENDING THE PLAN OR LIKE, WHAT DOES IT I THINK THIS IS DOING IS TRYING TO, WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO, YEAH.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO HERE IS BRING IN ADDITIONAL VOICES TO THE TABLE AS THEY GO THROUGH THE SPECIFICS OF THIS PLAN.
THEY'VE, THEY'VE SHUT COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY INPUT IS DONE RIGHT, ACCORDING TO THEIR SCHEDULE.
BUT I'M CONCERNED HEARING ALL THESE PEOPLE MM-HMM.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT HERE, SO, SO IT'S FORM, SO IT'S NOT REALLY PART OF THE FORMAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, BUT IT'S, IT'S ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL CONSULTING EXPOSURE TO THOSE GROUPS.
FRONT BY THE COMMUNITY ON, AS THE PLAN IS HAMMERED OUT, WOULD IT BE SIMPLER TO JUST WRITE THAT? YEAH.
HOW ABOUT, YEAH, DO WE HAVE A WORD VERSION OF IT? HUH? DO I HAVE, DO WE HAVE A N WORD? I, WHAT SHE'S TRYING TO DO IS TO SAY, SO SHOULD WE JUST, WOULD IT MAKE IT BETTER IF WE JUST SIMPLIFIED THAT AND SAID THAT, WOULD YOU FEEL BETTER IF I HAD AS THIS, AS THIS PLAN GOES FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE PUBLIC BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND THE CITY COUNCIL, WE NEED ADDITIONAL DIVERSE COMMUNITY VOICES TO BE GIVEN EQUAL TIME WITH CONSULTANTS AND CITY STAFF AS THEY, AS THEY, UM, STEER THE DRAFT PLAN.
SO CAN YOU READ THAT AGAIN? I'M SORRY.
SHE'S WRITING IT DOWN FOR WHATEVER I SAID.
I'M TRYING TO PULL IT UP AS THIS PLAN GOES FORWARD.
CAN YOU SAY IT AGAIN? UM, A, LET'S SAY AS THIS CURRENT DRAFT GOES FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE PUBLIC BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, WE RECOMMEND, OKAY.
I GUESS IT SAYS THAT ALREADY, UH, THAT THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT WE INCLUDE DIVERSE COMMUNITY VOICES, VOICES INCLUDE DIVERSE COMMUNITY VOICES, UM, TO BE GIVEN EQUAL TIME WITH CONSULTANTS AND CITY STAFF.
UM, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GONNA, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA KNOW IF THEY DO IT.
I MEAN, HOW INCLUDE DIVERSE COMMUNITY VOICES TO BE GIVEN EQUAL TIME? OKAY.
THEN MAYBE WE MOVE TO THE SECOND ONE.
SAY THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER AS AN ALTERNATIVE.
THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER APPOINTING A SPECIAL PARKS CITIZEN TASK FORCE TO JOINTLY CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF ZER PARK.
HOW ABOUT IF WE MAKE IT MORE SPECIFIC AND THAT TAKES CARE OF THE PATRICK'S CONCERN WITH THE BIGGER, JUST LOOK AT ZER AND NOT INCLUDE THE YES.
WHAT IF WE MAKE IT MORE SPECIFIC JUST TO THE SPECIFIC PLAN FOR ZER? OKAY.
[03:00:01]
THAT MAKE IT, DOES THAT MAKE IT SENSE? I MEAN, I THINK IT'S, AT SOME POINT I THINK THEY NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE OTHER PARTS THOUGH.CUZ I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
BUT I, I, I, I'LL, I'LL GO WITH THAT.
SO TAKE, REMOVE A, REMOVE A, OR, OR I GUESS MAKE A INTO B SO THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER EITHER AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO, LET'S SEE, CONSIDER, LET'S JUST MAKE IT SIMPLE.
LET'S SAY CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER APPOINTING A SPECIAL PARKS CITIZEN TASK FORCE TO, UM, ADDRESS OR TO JOINTLY CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN'S OF ZER PARK AND BALANCE THAT WITH A GOAL.
OKAY, LET'S, LET'S CUT A AND SAY BE IT FOR THE RECOMMEND.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER APPOINTING A SPECIAL PARKS CITIZEN TASK FORCE TO JOINTLY CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF ZER PARK AND BALANCE THAT WITH A GOAL OF RECOMMENDING PRIORITY INVESTMENTS AND DOLLAR, LET'S JUST SAY PRIORITY INVESTMENTS.
THAT MAKES IT SENSE, UM, FOR ALL OF OUR METROPOLITAN PARKS AND WILDLANDS.
RIGHT? I GUESS MY ONLY CONCERN ABOUT THAT IS THAT THERE WAS ALL THAT WORK THAT WENT INTO THE REWILDING AND IS NONE OF THAT GONNA BE CONSIDERED, I MEAN, IF THAT'S NOT MENTIONED AT ALL, SO WE SHOULD INCLUDE, I MEAN, YOU COULDN'T, WE JUST INCLUDE I E THE REWILDING OR SOMETHING JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT OKAY.
INCLUDING, UM, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT NO RUSH
SO WHENEVER IT COMES TO US TO VOTE ON LATER IN THE YEAR, AT SOME POINT, IS IT JUST TO VOTE UP AND DOWN WHETHER WE APPROVE THE VISION PLAN OR NOT? OR CAN WE GO IN AND MAKE CHANGES TO IT? LIKE WHEN IT, LIKE THE BARTON SPRINGS TAKEN IT TO A SINGLE LANE THING, RIGHT? THAT'S IN THE PLAN RIGHT NOW.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT GETS CHANGED BY ANYONE RIGHT NOW? OR IS, IS THAT IN THERE FOR GOOD? LIKE HOW, HOW IS ALL THIS WORKING? YOU KNOW, OTHER INPUT? WELCOME.
I, I THINK THE WAY IT WORKS IS, WE'LL SAY THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD RECOMMENDS APPROVE, LIKE WE WOULD SAY APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT CONTINGENT ZER PARK VISION PLAN WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HASHED OUT WHAT ARE THE CHANGES WE WOULD WANT.
BUT SO WE, WHEN YOU SAY LIKE, CAN WE CHANGE IT? NO CITY COUNCIL CAN, BUT WE CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHAT THE PARKS BOARD WOULD BE.
WOULD SHE COULD AMEND IT, WE COULD TRY TO AMEND IT OR MAKE SOME CHANGES WHEN YOU GET IT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PO REVIEW, IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE LIKE A, SO THE CONSULTANT GROUP CAN'T CHANGE IT RIGHT NOW EITHER.
PARDON? THE CONSULTANT GROUP CAN'T CHANGE IT ANYMORE.
THIS, WELL, THEY'RE CHANGING IT AS OH, OKAY.
BECAUSE IT, WELL, IT, WELL, THEY SAY THEY ARE, WE DON'T KNOW.
THE PROCESS ISN'T DONE AND THEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO NOW, THEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO REVISE THE DRAFT AND THEN GO PRESENT THAT TO THE BOARDS.
AND, AND WE HEAR FROM THEM IN FEBRUARY ONLY ON LIKE, ASPECTS OF THE ENGAGEMENT AND A SMALL BRIEFING.
WE DON'T HEAR FROM THEM UNTIL LIKE JUNE ON, HERE'S THE PLAN, WHAT DO, WHAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS? SO LIKE, GOING TO ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS FROM EARLIER ABOUT WHY DID THEY NOT GO WITH THE 58%? WHY DID THEY GO WITH THE 13%? DO WE GET ANSWERS TO THOSE IN FEBRUARY OR MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE THAT WE, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW.
IT DOESN'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SCOPED FOR.
IF THEY'RE GONNA DO ADDITIONAL, UM, RESPONSES, MAYBE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT COULD DO IT.
UM, IS IT POSSIBLE, LIKE WHEN ON FEBRUARY 27TH OR MOST OF THESE BOARD MEMBERS GONNA BE HERE, OR IS I THINK ABOUT HALF OF 'EM ARE GONNA BE GONE.
SO IT'S GONNA SAY IT'S, BUT MY, THE 28TH IS WHEN THE TURN IN YEAH, MY REPLACEMENT, MY REPLACEMENT WILL BE HERE.
ISN'T THAT WHEN WE MEET? OKAY.
UM, IF WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANNA PUT ON NOW, BUT ANYWAYS.
[03:05:02]
OKAY.I'M LOOKING AT THE TIME AND I'M LISTENING TO OUR NOT PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION ON THIS.
I AM I AM GOING TO SAY, UM, I, THIS IS A REALLY FRUSTRATING POSITION TO BE IN.
I'M GONNA SIMPLIFY IT AND SAY THAT WE RECOMMEND CITY COUNCIL PAY ATTENTION THAT OR JUST APPOINT THAT.
LET'S, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT A POINT THAT A APPOINT THE SPECIAL PARKS CITI, A SPECIAL PARKS CITIZEN TASK FORCE, INCLUDING, UM, VOLUNTEERS FROM REWILDING, UM, AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH ZILKER.
OKAY, I'M GONNA PULL A MOTION.
I'M GOING TO MAYBE CALL A SPECIAL MEETING
WE STILL HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO TEND TO.
UM, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU GUYS THINKING ABOUT THIS AND SENDING ME INFORMATION ON HOW YOU THINK WE COULD GET TO THE PLACE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GO WITH THIS.
UM, CAN I JUST WAIT ONE, ONE MORE COMMENT? YES.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE.
I MEAN, THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT IN PERSON AND SPOKE ONLINE.
UM, IN ONE, IN THE LAST ONLINE MEETING.
THERE WERE SEVERAL REFERENCES MADE TO, YOU'LL, YOU SHOULD GIVE FEEDBACK TO THE PARKS BOARD AS WELL.
AND I SHARED THE CONCERN THAT THAT MEETING IS GONNA COME VERY LATE IN THE PROCESS AND WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS.
AND SO I, I DO APPRECIATE YOU GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, GET A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO SPEAK THAN WAS GIVEN IN THE, THE, UM, COMMUNITY MEETINGS ON THIS.
AND ESPECIALLY TO EVERYBODY THAT TOOK TIME TO GIVE OPINIONS ON ALL SIDES.
AND I'M SORRY FOR THE TIME DELAY ON THAT.
UM, I, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK JUST TO GET OURSELVES TOGETHER.
I KNOW WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT PRESENTATION.
WHO ARE OUR SPEAKERS? TIM, ARE THE SPEAKERS FROM HOUSTON TILL IT'S IN HERE? CAN YOU POINT OUT WHO THEY ARE? I'M SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITING.
CAN YOU GIVE US A FIVE MINUTE BREAK? ALL IN FAVOR OF FIVE MINUTE BREAK.
PLEASE, PLEASE BE BACK AT LIKE EIGHT MINUTES AFTER NINE AND WE'LL TRY TO FINISH.
SO QUICKLY, BECAUSE I I DO NOT WANNA GO OVER 10 O'CLOCK TONIGHT.
UM, MR. MASSEY, ARE YOU HERE? LUCAS MASSEY? HE WAS IN THE LOBBY.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA PULL IT IN IT, I'M GONNA PULL IT AFTERWARDS.
I THINK I'LL SEE, LET'S SEE HOW THIS GOES.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
[3. Presentation and discussion and possible action on the findings of a comprehensive lake capacity study of Lady Bird Lake.]
I UH, AM MOVING ON.DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS NUMBER THREE, PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FINDINGS OF A COMPREHENSIVE LAKE.
CAPACITY STUDY OF LADY BIRD LAKE.
DID I SAY THAT CORRECTLY? AND DR.
ROHAN, R THOMPSON FROM HOUSTON TILLSON IS NOT HERE.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE THE LOVELY SUSAN PIPER, DR.
SUSAN PIPER AT THE, AT THE, AT THE MIKE.
SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA TRY, THEY HAVE GIVEN US, UH, SOME SUBSTANTIAL INFORMATION AND I HOPE THAT THE PUBLIC WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE ENTIRE STUDY, WHICH IS EXCELLENT AND VERY INFORMATIVE, AND WE'LL DEFINITELY BEAR ON THE ZER PARK VISION PLAN AND ON, UM, OUR CONCESSIONS AROUND THE LAKE.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN OVER TO THE FLOOR.
UM, I THINK YOU, UH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH.
OH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY ABOUT THE TIMING.
SPEAKERS, DO WE HAVE THE SPEAKERS HERE? WE'VE GOT ONE.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? THIS IS ITEM THREE, RIGHT? FOR ITEM THREE.
[03:10:02]
SPEAK SO THEY CAN GO.OKAY, I'M GONNA LET THE SPEAKERS COME FIRST.
WOULD YOU BE OPPOSED TO ME LIMITING YOU TO TWO MINUTES? YES, BUT I'M NOT OPPOSED TO YOU HAVING THE PRESENTERS GONNA FIRST.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE PRESENTATION, PLEASE.
AND DO YOU HAVE THE SLIDES? IS THAT OKAY? OKAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR HEARING FROM ME.
UH, MY NAME IS AMANDA MASSINO.
I'M CHAIR OF NATURAL SCIENCES AT HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY.
UH, I AM PRESENTING THE WORK OF MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES AT HOUSTON TILLSON, UM, DR.
TAN, ALSO IN THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN DR.
THOMPSON FROM OUR, UH, BUSINESS DEPARTMENT AND SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY.
AND AS WE EMBARKED ON THIS REPORT, WE WERE GUIDED BY THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, WHAT IS THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF LADY BIRD LAKE? WHAT DATA ARE NEEDED TO ASSESS THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF LADY BIRD LAKE FOR THIS STUDY AND FOR FUTURE MONITORING? AND THEN HOW CAN PAR USE THIS DATA TO MANAGE THE CARRYING CAPACITY AND ADDRESS CAPACITY RELATED CHALLENGES TO THE LAKE? NOW, THE FIRST PART OF THIS IS WHAT IS CARRYING CAPACITY? AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OVERLAPPING DEFINITIONS OF THIS.
SO WE HAVE THE RECREATIONAL CARRYING CAPACITY, WHICH LOOKS AT THE NUMBER OF WATERCRAFT OR THE AMOUNT OF SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT, AND LOOKS TO SEE WHAT AMOUNT CAN YOU SUPPORT WITHOUT HAVING ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT OR ON USERS OR ON THE WATER ITSELF.
AND THEN SORT OF EMBEDDED IN THAT IS A CONCEPT OF ECOLOGICAL CARRYING CAPACITY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT ANY ECOSYSTEM, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENT AND SEE HOW MANY ORGANISMS CAN BE SUPPORTED BY THAT ENVIRONMENT BEFORE YOU HAVE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS.
THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF THIS THAT HAS TO DO WITH SPATIAL OR CAPAC OR, OR FACILITY CAPACITY, RIGHT? LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE PARKING CAPACITY, WATER ACCESS, SAFE OPERATIONS.
AND THEN THERE'S AN EXPERIENTIAL ELEMENT OF CARRYING CAPACITY, RIGHT? WHAT IS THE USER SATISFACTION LEVEL? WHAT IS THE USER'S PERCEPTION OF CROWDING? SO WE SET OUT TO EXPLORE ALL OF THESE WITH A VARIETY OF APPROACHES.
WE UNDERTOOK A WATERCRAFT CENSUS VIA AN AERIAL AND A GROUND-BASED METHOD.
WE DID A PARKING LOT CENSUS, A LAKE USER SURVEY, STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ANALYSIS, UH, SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS OF SHORELINE AND WATER QUALITY.
AND THEN WE ALSO LOOKED AT EXISTING DATA, UH, FROM PAR, PARTICULARLY THE AUSTIN LAKES INDEX, WHERE THEY ASSESS WATER QUALITY IN LADY BIRD LAKE.
WE LOOKED AT THEIR ALGAE DATA, THEIR PREVIOUS STUDIES, AND FROM, UH, PAR WE TOOK A LOOK AT THEIR DATA ON CONCESSIONAIRES AND ON, UH, VIOLATIONS, PEOPLE WHO ARE VENDORS WHO ARE UNLICENSED AND, AND OPERATING ON THE PARK.
AND SO I'M GONNA TAKE YOU THROUGH, UH, CAN WE GO BACK, TAKE YOU THROUGH SOME OF THIS IN DETAIL AND SOME OTHER PORTIONS.
I'M GONNA SKIP AND, AND JUST DIRECT YOU TO THE REPORT AND INTO THE SLIDES.
FIRST PART IS THE WATERCRAFT CENSUS.
THE TARGET BOAT DENSITY FOR KAYAKS AND PADDLE BOARDS THAT WE FOUND IN THE LITERATURE IS ONE TO 1.3 ACRES PER BOAT.
AND YES, THIS IS A DENSITY, BUT WE'RE EXPRESSING IT AS ACRES PER BOAT RATHER THAN BOATS PER AREA.
THAT'S WHAT'S CONVENTIONAL IN THE FIELD BECAUSE IT'S AN OPERATIONAL DEFINITION, RIGHT? YOU WANNA THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH AREA OF WATER PER CRAFT.
WE EXPLORED THIS WITH THE AERIAL COUNT.
WE DID THE, UH, DRONE SURVEY ON FOUR DAYS AND WE'RE VERY MUCH INDEBTED TO GAVIN TO BONE AT WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
HE WAS OUR DRONE OPERATOR AND VIDEOGRAPHER, AND WE LOOKED AT THREE PEAK DAYS, PEAK USE TIMES.
SO THE SUNDAY OF MEMORIAL DAY, THE SAT THIS WEEKEND, THE SATURDAY OF JULY, FOURTH WEEKEND, ANOTHER SATURDAY IN JUNE.
AND THEN WE LOOKED AT A NON-PE DAY, A WEEKDAY, A FRIDAY.
ON THOSE PEAK USE PERIODS, THE AVERAGE OVER THE LAKE WAS 0.4 TO 0.67 ACRES PER BOAT, RIGHT? SO THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE LESS AREA PER BOAT, MEANING THERE'S MORE CONGESTION THAN OUR TARGET DENSITY.
NOW, THE WEEKDAY LOOKED PRETTY GOOD, 2.34 ACRES PER BOAT, SO PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THE WATERCRAFT OPERATING ON THAT FRIDAY.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU HAVE DETAIL FROM THE MOST CROWDED AND THE LEAST CROWDED OF THOSE FOUR DAYS THAT WE UNDERTOOK THE DRONE STUDY.
SO THE TOP IS FROM THE FRIDAY.
[03:15:01]
UM, IS THAT SEGMENT FROM I 35 TO LONGHORN DAM.AND THEN THE TABLE, THE TOP OF THE TABLE ON THE RIGHT HAS PER SEGMENT OF THE LAKE HOW MANY BOATS AND WHAT THAT DENSITY WAS.
AND SO THE OVERALL DENSITY WAS FAVORABLE, 2.34.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE MOPAC TO LAMAR SEGMENT, EVEN ON THAT DAY WHEN THINGS WERE OVERALL ON THE LAKE NOT CROWDED, STILL HAD AN UNFAVORABLE DENSITY, RIGHT? WE WANNA SEE THAT NUMBER BE ONE, AT LEAST THE SATURDAY.
THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND, SATURDAY, THE OVERALL BOAT DENSITY WAS UNFAVORABLE.
THE WHOLE LAKE AVERAGE WAS 0.4, AND THE SEGMENT THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED, SO EVERYTHING FROM TOM MILLER TO CONGRESS HAD THIS VERY CONGESTED BOAT DENSITY.
THE PICTURE AT THE BOTTOM IS FROM THE MOPAC TO LAMAR SEGMENT.
THAT'S THE MOUTH OF BARTON CREEK, RIGHT? THIS SEGMENT IN ON EVERY DAY WAS THE MOST CROWDED.
AND IF WE LOOKED AT MORE DETAIL, UM, IT WAS NOT JUST THIS SEGMENT THAT WAS THE MOST CROWDED, BUT IT WAS THAT BARTON CREEK AREA.
SO THIS IS LOOKING NOW AT BOATS PER ACRE, JUST COMPARING THE FOUR DAYS.
THE SEGMENTS ARE ALONG THE BOTTOM.
THE BOATS PER ACRE IS ON THE Y AXIS.
AND YOU CAN SEE, REGARDLESS OF WHICH DAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT MOPAC TO LAMAR SEGMENT, UM, IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CROWDED THAN THE OTHER AREAS OF THE LAKE ON THE SAME DAY.
THE NEXT SLIDE FOCUSES IN ON THAT MOPAC TO LAMAR SEGMENT.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT CON CONGREGATION OF BOATS AT THE MO MOUTH OF BARTON CREEK.
AND SO DEPENDING ON WHICH DAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE MINIMALLY MOBILE BOATS, RIGHT, THE BOATS THAT JUST STAY IN PLACE AND ARE FLOATING AS KIND OF AN AGGREGATE WHERE 54 TO 61% OF THE CRAFT IN THAT SEGMENT.
SO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE CROWDING IS COMING FROM THAT FLOTILLA OF WATERCRAFT.
AND THE DENSITY IN JUST THAT SEGMENT IS 12 TO 22 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE DENSITY OF THE WHOLE LAKE ON THE DAY.
SO IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT CONGESTION AND WHAT TO DO TO ADDRESS IT, THIS IS A KEY AREA OF FOCUS, RIGHT? WE ALSO UNDERTOOK GROUND-BASED COUNTS FOR THESE.
WE DID FOCUS MORE ON THE WEEK DAYS TO KIND OF SUPPLEMENT WHAT WE'D DONE WITH THE AERIAL SURVEY.
WE LOOKED AT SOME TIMES OF DAY OUTSIDE OF THAT 11 TO 3:00 PM WINDOW WHEN WE WERE FLYING THE DRONES.
UM, AND THIS ALSO GAVE US THE ABILITY TO BETTER DISCERN WATERCRAFT.
WE COULD DO IT WITH THE VIDEOS, BUT SOMETIMES DISCERNING A PADDLE BOAT FROM A KAYAK ON THAT KIND OF VIDEO FROM A HUNDRED FIFTY TWO HUNDRED FIFTY FEET UP IS A LITTLE LESS, UH, CERTAIN THAN FROM A GROUND BASE COUNT.
SO HERE, UH, WE DID HAVE AN OVERALL BOAT DENSITY.
THE THIRD BULLET POINT ON THE SLIDE THAT REFLECTS MORE COUNTS TAKEN ON THOSE LIGHTER USE DAYS.
AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT WEEKENDS, UH, WEEKDAYS PRIMARILY HERE.
SO 1.91 ACRES PER BOAT, WHICH IS VERY FAVORABLE ON THE WEEKENDS.
HOWEVER, THIS WAS STILL OVERLY DENSE, UM, BY CRAFT TYPE PRI WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT HALF OF THE BOATS ARE PADDLE BOATS AND THEN KAYAKS FOLLOWED BY CANOES, AND THEN OTHER, UH, MOTORIZED CRAFT AND OTHER, UM, I'M GONNA SKIM THROUGH THE PARKING LOT CENSUS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THIS WAS PARTICULARLY INFORMATIVE.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE HERE.
WE LOOKED AT, UH, 20 LOTS, UH, 841 PARKING LOT SPACES.
THE SIZE OF THE LOT WAS ANYWHERE FROM SIX SPACES TO 184.
THEY WERE DISTRIBUTED AROUND THE LAKE AND WERE A COMBINATION OF FREE, UM, PAID IN, UH, PAID LOTS THAT WERE OWNED BY THE CITY AND PAID LOTS OPERATED BY PRIVATE CONTRACTORS.
AND THE OCCUPANCY DIDN'T HAVE A PARTICULAR PATTERN WITH REGARD TO THE FREE VERSUS SMALL LOTS VERSUS LARGE LOTS.
I DON'T THINK WE LOOKED AT ENOUGH SPACES THOUGH TO, TO REALLY BE ABLE TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT PATTERN.
UH, WE DID SEE PRETTY HIGH USE OF ALL OF THE LOTS ON THE WEEKEND.
SO THE TWO SATURDAYS HAD VERY HIGH LOTS.
THE TWO WEEKDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, IN THIS CASE THAT WE SURVEYED, ONE HAD VERY HIGH OCCUPANCY, THE OTHER ONE HAD VERY LOW.
SO THAT'S 28% FOR THAT, UH, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29TH BAR THAT YOU SEE THERE.
UM, THE OTHERS ARE IN THE, UH, 60%, 65, 63, AND 58% FOR THE OTHER BARS THERE.
OKAY, THE SURVEY, WE INVESTED A SIGNIFICANT TIME IN THE SURVEY.
WE DESIGNED THIS TO ASK USERS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE OF THE LAKE, THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL THREATS TO THE LAKE, UM, WHAT DID THEY WANT TO TELL US THAT WE HADN'T ASKED ABOUT.
AND THEN WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS THAT WERE SPECIFIC TO BUSINESS OWNERS.
THEN WE, WE ALSO ASKED DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS SO THAT WE WOULD UNDERSTAND WHO WE WERE TALKING TO, WHO WE WERE HEARING FROM.
UH, WE DISTRIBUTED THIS, UH, THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEANS.
WE REACHED OUT TO, UH, GROUPS THAT WORK WITH THE LAKE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, EDUCATION GROUPS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PART HELPED US TO DISTRIBUTE IT.
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE HELP HELPED US TO DISTRIBUTE IT.
[03:20:01]
WAS OPEN FOR 68 DAYS.AND AFTER WE SCREENED OUT SORT OF OUR, UM, BOT RESPONSES OR RESPONSES THAT DIDN'T COMPLETE, WE HAD 622 RESPONDENTS THAT WE ANALYZED FOR THE SURVEY.
AND THE NEXT FEW SI FEW SLIDES GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHO WE'RE HEARING FROM.
WE DID, UH, BY RACE AND ETHNICITY, MOST OF OUR RESPONDENTS WERE NON-HISPANIC WHITES AT 68.5.
I THINK IF WE LOOK AT OUR RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY ON THIS, ON THIS SURVEY, WE DID ALL RIGHT, LOOKING AT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN OR BLACK POPULATION, 28% OF OUR RES, UH, 4.5% OF OUR RESPONDENTS VERSUS 6.86 IN THE AUSTIN POPULATION.
WE DID NOT DO WELL WITH HISPANIC OR LATINO RESPONDENTS.
WE ONLY HAVE, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AUSTIN POPULATION, THAT'S 32.48.
AND AMONG OUR RESPONDENTS, WE ONLY HAD 5.3.
WE DID HAVE A HIGHER AMOUNT OF MORE THAN ONE RACE.
SO WE HAD 10.2 VERSUS AUSTIN 3.87.
SO THAT YOU KEEP IN MIND WHO WE'RE HEARING FROM IN THIS SURVEY, UH, MORE MALES THAN FEMALES RESPONDED 47.7 WITH MALE, 40.2 FEMALE.
AND WE HAD MORE VETERANS, UH, THAN WE WOULD EXPECT.
WE HAD 20 IN THIS SURVEY AS BY PERCENTAGE, MORE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES THAN WE WOULD EXPECT BASED ON CITY DEMOGRAPHICS AS WELL.
OUR RESPONDENTS WERE MOSTLY EMPLOYED FULL-TIME, 70.3%.
UM, 65 HAD AT LEAST $50,000 ANNUAL INCOME, AND MOST RESPONDENTS OWNED THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENCE, WHICH I THINK AGAIN, TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT THE RESPONDENTS HERE.
THE LAST PIECE OF UNDERSTANDING WHO WE'RE HEARING FROM IS ON THIS SLIDE.
A LOT OF THE RESPONDENTS OF THIS SURVEY BROUGHT SOME KIND OF SPECIALIZED PERSPECTIVE TO THEIR ANSWERS.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE ASK THEM, UH, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU BRINGING? LIKE WHAT LENS ARE YOU BRINGING TO YOUR ANSWERS HERE? AND THIS WAS A SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.
SO SOMEONE MIGHT DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS A BUSINESS OWNER WHO'S ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE, WHO CONSIDERS THEMSELVES A RESIDENT WHO ENJOYS THE LAKE, RIGHT? THEY COULD CHECK OFF MULTIPLE ITEMS. ONLY 140 OF OUR RESPONDENTS OF THAT 6 22 ONLY TICKED OFF WHAT WOULD BE THE KIND OF GENERIC ANSWERS LIKE, I'M A LAKE AND PARK USER, OR I'M A RESIDENT ENJOYING AUSTIN.
MOST OF THEM WERE EITHER ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER OR A CITY EMPLOYEE, OR AN ADVOCATE OR AN INVESTOR OR A NATURALIST SCIENTIST.
ALRIGHT? SO THAT'S WHO RESPONDED.
WHAT DID THEY SAY? MOST PEOPLE ARE USING THE LAKE AT LEAST, UH, ONCE, MULTIPLE TIMES A MONTH.
SO WE HAVE, UH, 61% USING THE LAKE AT LEAST TWO OR THREE TIMES A MONTH, IF NOT MORE FREQUENTLY.
88.6% PARTICIPATED IN MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES AT THE LAKE.
SO THAT WAS BY FAR THE MORE COMMON PATTERN.
UH, RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS ONLY PARTICIPATED IN ONE ACTIVITY THERE.
AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM, YOU CAN SEE THE FREQ, THE MOST FREQUENT ACTIVITIES, WALKING, HIKING, KAYAKING, RELAXING, OUTDOORS, CYCLING, AND DOG RELATED ACTIVITIES.
I KNOW THAT IS AWKWARD PHRASING, BUT WE COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO ASK YOU, HOW DO, DO YOU TAKE YOUR DOG TO THE PARK AND THE LAKE? WHEN WE ASKED FOLKS ABOUT CROWDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, 33% OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THE LAKE WAS EXTREMELY OR SOMEWHAT CROWDED.
AND THEN 36.5% CHARACTERIZED THE SHORE AND THE TRAIL IN THIS WAY.
SO VERY SIMILAR PERCENTAGES FOR LOOKING AT THOSE CATEGORIES OF EXTREMELY AND SOMEWHAT CROWDED IN TERMS OF ONLY A LITTLE CROWDED OR NOT AT ALL, CROWDED.
42.9 FOR THE LAKE AND 44.9 FOR THE SHORE TRAILS.
OKAY? SO THAT'S WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THE STATE OF CROWDING.
DOES IT INTERFERE WITH YOUR ENJOYMENT? NOW IT'S ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
61.4% EXPERIENCE THE LOSS OF ENJOYMENT DUE TO LAKE CROWDING AT LEAST SOME OF THE TIME.
SO THAT'S COMBINING THE SOMETIMES, RARELY, AND NEVER THAT YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE.
60% EXPERIENCE THE LOSS OF ENJOYMENT FOR THE TRAILS.
IF WE ASK THEM SIMILAR QUESTIONS FOR WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, THE PATTERN'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN AN INTERESTING WAY HERE.
UM, VERY FEW OF THE RESPONDENTS BELIEVE THAT THE WATER QUALITY LEVEL IN LADY BIRD LAKE IS HIGH, 2.7%.
AND YOU SEE THAT BIG BUMP IN THE SOMEWHAT LOW QUALITY, VERY LOW QUALITY.
SO 62% ARE FINDING IT TO BE LOW WATER QUALITY, NOT THE SAME PATTERN FOR THE TRAIL.
STILL A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE THINKING THAT IT'S HIGH QUALITY AT 7.5, BUT THE SOMEWHAT LOW, LOW AND VERY LOW IS NOT AS INTENSE.
IF WE LOOK AT THE ENJOYMENT, 61, AGAIN, THAT'S 61% EXPERIENCED, THE LOSS OF ENJOYMENT DUE TO WATER QUALITY, AT LEAST SOME OF THE TIME.
THE SOMETIMES RARELY, AND NEVER, BUT ONLY 53% EXPERIENCING THIS WITH,
[03:25:01]
UM, DUE TO THE TRAIL IN THE SHORE.AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BARS, YOU CAN SEE THAT SHIFT IN THE RARELY CATEGORY RIGHT IN, IN, IN THE, UH, VERSUS THE SOMETIMES IN THE RARELY COMPARING THE WATER TO THE TRAIL.
WE THEN DELVED INTO SOME AGREE, DISAGREE, LEVEL OF AGREE, DISAGREE WITH SOME GENERAL STATEMENTS ABOUT THE LAKE.
UM, A LOT OF THESE I THINK KIND OF GIVE YOU THE, ARE GONNA REINFORCE THE SAME IDEAS THAT PEOPLE REALLY TREASURE THE LAKE, BUT THEY DO HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
THEY DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT CROWDING, AND THEY DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT EQUITY.
SO WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME HERE AMONG THESE STATEMENTS, THE STATEMENT THAT HAD THE STRONGEST AGREEMENT, THE 73 3%, EITHER STRONGLY OR SOMEWHAT AGREEING, IS I TYPICALLY HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE AT LADY BIRD LAKE, RIGHT? SO DESPITE WHAT THEY MIGHT BE IDENTIFYING AS ISSUES, PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING THEIR TIME AT LADY BIRD LAKE.
THE ONE WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF DISAGREEMENT, 21.8 SOMEWHAT, OR SOME STRONGLY DISAGREEING, IS THIS STATEMENT THAT SAYS, LADY BIRD LAKE IS A RESOURCE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY AUSTINITE REGARDLESS OF AGE, INCOME, RACE, OR ETHNICITY.
THESE WERE GENERAL PERCEPTION STATEMENTS.
THE NEXT SET OF STATEMENTS HAVE TO DO WITH MANAGEMENT AND SPECIFIC CONCERNS.
AND FOR THE MOST PART, UM, OUR RESPONDENTS ARE GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF LADY BIRD LAKE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE TOP TWO ITEMS, THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CROWDING.
UM, AND THE NUMBERS ARE ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO HERE, RIGHT? 58.5% WITH LATE CROWDING, 57.2 WITH TRAIL CROWDING.
THEN GOING BACK, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF KAYAKING, BOATING, AND PADDLE BOARDING.
WE SEE A LOT OF AGREEMENT WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? THAT'S THE 70.3%.
UM, VERY FEW HAVE THAT SAME LEVEL OF CONCERN ABOUT BOAT ACTIVITY, PERIOD.
SO CONCERN ABOUT CROWDING, CONCERNED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, NOT REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN ACTIVITY AS A WHOLE.
DIGGING INTO SPECIFIC PROBLEMS, THESE ARE THE TOP FIVE.
SO WE GAVE THEM A PANEL TO RATE, UM, WATER QUALITY, ALGAL BLOOMS, LITTER, TRASH, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, AND DEGRADED HABITAT WERE THE TOP FIVE.
CURRENT PROBLEMS. INTERESTINGLY, LOWEST CONCERN HERE, BUT THIS IS A COMPARATIVE QUESTION.
UH, BOAT CONGESTION, COSTLY AMENITIES AND NOISE.
AND THEN INTERMEDIATE WERE THE PROBLEMS IN THE LAST BULLET POINT.
UM, ACCESS POINTS, PARKING, CROWDING, LOOSE DOGS, PERSONAL SAFETY, POOR COMPLIANCE, PROPERTY CRIME, WATER LEVEL CHANGES.
IN TERMS OF FUTURE THREATS, VERY, VERY SIMILAR TO THE CURRENT PROBLEMS. THE SAME SORT OF AREAS OF CONCERN YOU CAN SEE HERE, POLLUTION, POPULATION GROWTH, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, WATER SCARCITY AND OVERUSE.
NO ONE REALLY THAT CON AS CONCERNED.
COMPARATIVE, COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING WITH LACK OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OF CONCERN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, INAPPROPRIATE ZONING, INCREASED COSTS, AND LACK OF COMPLIANCE.
AND THEN WE HAD A COUPLE OF OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS ON THE SURVEY.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT HAD THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF RESPONSE, AND THIS WAS THE, THE BROADEST QUESTION.
UH, WHAT DO YOU ENVISION FOR LADY BIRD LAKE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? WE HAD 234 OF THE 6 22, RIGHT? END, END ANSWER HERE.
114 MENTIONS OF SOME KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OR ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION WAS MENTIONED HERE.
SO THIS WOULD BE REDUCING TRASH, IMPROVING WATER QUALITY, MAINTAINING GREASE SPACES, ALL OF THAT WOULD FALL HERE.
77 WERE RE REQUESTS FOR SPECIFIC AMENITIES.
AND I MEAN REALLY SPECIFIC, LIKE THEY WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE A PARKING LOT HERE.
SO SPECIFIC THINGS THAT THAT, UH, USERS WANTED TO SEE AT THE LAKE 51 FOR SAFETY AND REGULATORY CONCERNS IN 46 OF MAINTAINING OR INCREASING ACCESS.
AND THIS IS THE SAME PATTERN THAT WE WE'RE GONNA SEE WITH THE INTERVIEWS, WHICH ARE COMING UP.
WE FOLLOWED UP WITH INTERVIEWS, AND HERE WE TRIED TO FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T THINK WE HEARD FROM WELL ENOUGH IN THE SURVEY.
SO, UH, WE HAD 10 FEMALES, 13 MALES.
WE DID A BETTER JOB IN TERMS OF OUR RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY THAN WE DID WITH THE, THE SURVEY ITSELF.
SO WE HAD, UM, NINE PEOPLE OF COLOR, 13 WHITE, ONE PERSON WHO DECLINED TO IDENTIFY.
AND THEN AGAIN, BY PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS A SELECT ALL THAT APPLIES.
SO THESE ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE CATEGORIES.
WE HAD BUSINESS OWNERS, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE OUTDOORS, TWO ENVIRONMENTAL EXPORTS WHO HAVE, UM, ADVANCED DEGREES IN SOME KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD, AND THEN FOUR PEOPLE FROM PAR.
AND WE ASK THEM QUESTIONS TO IDENTIFY NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE LAKE, AND THEN SPECIFICALLY SPEAK TO ACCESS POINTS, DIVERSITY, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, ECONOMIC CONCERNS LIKE CAPACITY AND SAFETY.
AND WHEN WE ANALYZED THIS, WE DID THIS A COUPLE OF WAYS, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL SEEN THESE SORT OF QUALITATIVE, UH, DATA PRESENTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
[03:30:01]
OF THE THINGS WE DID.WE JUST LOOKED FOR OVERALL TONE.
SO ARE PEOPLE AGREEING THAT THERE'S A CONCERN OR DON'T HAVE A CONCERN? WE LOOKED AT THE KIND OF LANGUAGE THEY USED AND THEN WE EXTRACTED THEMES, RIGHT? UM, IF WE LOOKED AT WHETHER FOLKS HAD CONCERNS, 20 OF THE 23 HAD ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, 15 OF 23 HAD ACCESS POINTS CONCERN, AND 13 OF 23 HAD SAFETY CONCERNS.
THIS IS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THE SURVEY, ESPECIALLY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
UM, THE ACCESS POINTS CONCERNS AND THE SAFETY CONCERNS.
I WOULD SAY WE HEARD A LITTLE MORE, UH, INTENSELY IN THE INTERVIEWS THAN WE DID IN THE SURVEY.
AND THEN IF WE LOOKED AT THE LANGUAGE USED, UH, THERE WAS MORE INTENSITY OF NEGATIVE FEELING AT LEAST EXPRESSED IN THE LANGUAGE WHEN DISCUSSING SAFETY ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AS TOPICS.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THEMES, WE GROUPED THESE INTO, UH, THESE FIVE LARGE CATEGORIES.
AND THEN WITHIN THE LARGE, THOSE SMALLER BULLET POINTS ARE SORT OF THE SUB-THEMES, RIGHT? SO WITHIN WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, WE IDENTIFIED MENTIONS OF POOR QUAL WATER QUALITY, MENTIONS OF DECLINING WATER QUALITY, MENTIONS OVERALL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, ET CETERA.
UM, THE GRAPH ARE THE NUMBER OF MENTIONS OF EACH THEME.
SO NUMBER OF MENTIONS, OF COURSE, NOT NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS, AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 23 INDIVIDUALS, BUT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THEY BROUGHT UP A DISTINCT CONCEPT IN THAT CATEGORY IN THEIR ANSWERS.
SO IN ORDER WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY HAD THE MOST MENTIONS, THEN THE NEED TO INCREASE ACCESS, ENJOYMENT OF NATURE CAME UP NEXT, HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND THEN THE NEED TO INCREASE DIVERSITY.
AND THE NEXT FEW SLIDES HAVE EXAMPLE QUOTES FROM EACH OF THE INTERVIEWS.
THERE ARE LONGER QUOTES AND MORE EXAMPLES FOR EACH THEME IN THE REPORT ITSELF, BUT YOU CAN GET A SENSE JUST FROM THESE OF, OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO WITH WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, UM, SOME OF IT WAS CONCERN FOR THE QUALITY OF THE WATER LOOKING FORWARD.
SOME IS CONCERNED ABOUT BEING EDUCATED ABOUT WATER AND BEING ABLE TO, UH, MAKE SURE WE WE PRESERVE THIS RESOURCE.
SOME OF IT IS JUST BEING CONCERNED, LIKE A USER THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY EXPERTISE BUT DOESN'T LIKE THE LOOK OF THE WATER, RIGHT? HAS SEEN IT CHANGE IN THE TIME THAT THEY'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE LAKE WITH ACCESS.
THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT USING INFORMAL ACCESS POINTS AND WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN WOULD BE THERE, DISABILITY ACCESS TO THE LAKE, CONCERN ABOUT, UH, WHAT THE LACK OF ACCESS POINTS DOES.
THIS WAS REALLY A, A STRONG AREA, I THINK THE MENTION OF HOW MUCH PEOPLE ENJOY NATURE AND GREEN SPACES.
TALKING ABOUT LADY BIRD LAKE AS BEING ICONIC.
THAT WORD WAS USED OFTEN BY OUR, UM, RESPONDENTS.
IT, THE, THE JUXTAPOSITION OF A GREEN AREA IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT WAS TALKED ABOUT OFTEN AS BEING A SELLING POINT, SOMETHING THAT WAS PRECIOUS TO PEOPLE AND SHOULD BE PRESERVED.
UM, I PARTICULARLY LOVE THE, THE, THE QUOTE ON THE RIGHT.
YOU DON'T GET TO SEE THE TRUE BEAUTY OF AUSTIN UNLESS YOU ARE ON THE WATER.
SOMEONE WHO CLEARLY LOVES THE PARK IN THE LAKE, VERY MUCH HEALTH AND SAFETY.
SO WE HAVE POLLUTION CONCERNS, TRASH CONCERNS, CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENCAMPMENTS AND THE TRASH THAT MIGHT BE IN THE LAKE FROM THE ENCAMPMENTS.
CONCERN ABOUT THE FLOTILLAS AND SAFETY CONCERNS, NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE SOMEONE DROWNING AND INTERVENE CONCERNS ABOUT ALGAE, RIGHT? AND THEN IN DIVERSITY, MUCH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER IN TERMS OF THE DIVERSITY OF LAKE USERS, UM, TO ENCOURAGE EDUCATION EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE, UH, HAVING MORE WELCOMING EVENTS IN A MORE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE PARK, AND BEING ABLE TO TANGLE WITH, UH, THE HISTORY AND THE GEOGRAPHY AS BEING PARTS OF ELEMENTS OF THE, OF THIS, UH, THE NEED TO INCREASE DIVERSITY.
SO THIS WAS A VERY, UH, RICH PART OF THE STUDY, AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE MORE WITH YOU ABOUT THE INTERVIEWS.
WE REALLY DID PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT WE'RE GONNA PUT IN THE, IN THE REPORT.
WE COULD HAVE DONE A WHOLE SEPARATE REPORT JUST ON THESE INTERVIEWS IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING.
WE FOCUSED ON THE AREAS THAT WERE THE HIGHEST HUMAN USE.
SO WE DID NOT UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF ALL OF THE LAKE WATER QUALITY OR ALL OF THE LAKE HABITAT WATERSHED TESTS, THE WATER QUALITY OF THE WHOLE LAKE FROM A COUPLE OF SITES, A FEW TIMES, SIX TIMES A YEAR, AND THEY WORK WITH TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE TO RANDOMLY SELECT HABITAT SITES.
WE THOUGHT, NO, WHAT WE CAN ADD IS LOOK AT THE AREAS WHERE WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CONGESTION AND SEE WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IS IN THOSE ZONES.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA SEE SOMETHING, WE'RE GONNA SEE IT THERE FIRST.
WE FOCUSED ON THE AREA AROUND BARTON CREEK, THE MOUTH, MOUTH OF BARTON CREEK.
SO WE DID UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM OF WATER, OF LUNE POINT.
WE DID WATER SAMPLING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER ONE OF THESE PEAK USE PERIODS.
AND WE SENT IT TO L C R A SO THAT WE WOULD BE USING THE SAME METHODOLOGY THAT WATERSHED USES.
WE KNOW IT'S CERTIFIED, WE KNOW THAT THE VALUES ARE COMPARABLE.
[03:35:01]
AND WHEN WE DID THAT, UH, WE DID FIND THAT A LOT OF PARAMETERS DID NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES FROM WHAT WE TREATED AS OUR BASELINE, WHICH WAS RED BUD, RIGHT CLOSE TO THE INPUT FROM TOM MILLER DAM.WHERE WE DID SEE SOME, UH, CONCERNING ACTIVITY WAS WITH E COLI, RIGHT? SO COLIFORM BACTERIA REPRESENTING WASTE IN THE WATER STREAM.
AND WE SAW THAT ELEVATED, UM, BOTH UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM AFTER PEAK ACTIVITY AND DURING A HOLIDAY, UM, FOR THAT HOLIDAY WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER.
SO THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE THINK WARRANTS MORE ATTENTION.
UH, WE ALSO HAD ELEVATION OF THIS OTHER MARKER, THIS P AYIN, THAT'S A, A MARKER FOR, UH, PHOTOSYNTHETIC, UH, PLANKTON, RIGHT? SO A KIND OF A, AN INDIRECT WAY OF MEASURING ALGAE HERE.
THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT WILL AFFECT WATER PARAMETERS, LIKE THIS.
HUMAN ACTIVITY WILL BE ONE, BUT SO WILL STORM ACTIVITY RUNOFF TEMPERATURE.
SO THIS IS A LOOK, THIS IS A SNAPSHOT.
WE REALLY THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE COMPREHENSIVE TESTING, PERHAPS CONTINUOUS MONITORING TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH WATER QUALITY.
UM, FOR HABITAT ASSESSMENT, WE DID THE SAME SORT OF THING.
WE DIDN'T RANDOMLY CHOOSE SITES.
WE CHOSE SITES THAT SPECIFICALLY WERE ACCESS POINTS SO THAT WE COULD SEE WHAT THE IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITY WAS.
AND FOR THAT, UM, WE DID LOOK AT, WE USED THE METHODOLOGY ESTABLISHED BY WATERSHED WHERE YOU LOOK AT THE KIND OF, UM, THE KIND OF SUBSTRATE THAT'S THERE, WHETHER THERE'S HUMAN STRUCTURES, HOW MUCH VEGETATION THERE IS, HOW DEVELOPED THE VEGETATION IS.
UM, SO IT IS A, HOW CAN I DESCRIBE THIS? THERE'S A METHODOLOGY TO IT, HOWEVER, IT IS SOMEWHAT DEPENDENT ON WHEN YOU HAPPEN TO GO TO THE SITE.
SO LIKE THE WATER TESTING, IT IS GOOD TO DO THIS IN A REPEATED FASHION OVER TIME, RIGHT? WE HAVE A POINT IN TIME WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE.
AND WITH THAT, WE DID FIND SOME CONCERN, UH, FOR THE RIPARIAN SCORE, WHICH IS THE AREA FROM ONE METER AWAY FROM THE WATER TO 15 METERS AWAY FROM THE WATER.
AND IN THESE AREAS WHERE HUMANS ARE ACCESSING THE WATER, WE HAD RELATIVELY LOW HABITAT ASSESSMENT SCORES.
SO THIS IDEA THAT IF YOU HAVE INFORMAL ACCESS POINTS THAT COULD BE CAUSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, WE HAVE REASON TO WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS BECAUSE OUR DATA, AT LEAST FROM THIS POINT IN TIME, SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THAT'S A CONCERN.
THE SHORELINE LOOKED PRETTY GOOD, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THOSE NUMBERS ON THE TOP.
BUT THE RIPARIAN AREA WAS THE ONE AFFECTED.
THE LAST PIECE IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ANALYSIS.
UM, HERE WE WERE CONCERNED WITH THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FOR FOLKS LIVING ON EAST OF I 35 OR WEST OF I 35.
WE DETERMINED WHO WAS LIVING NEAR THE LAKE A COUPLE OF WAYS.
THE TOP PICTURE IS LOOKING AT CENSUS TRACTS THAT FELL WITHIN, UM, LIKE THE PERIMETER OF THE CENSUS TRACT FELL WITHIN 0.25 MILES OF THE SHORELINE.
AND THEN THE ONE AT THE BOTTOM IS JUST A MILE ZONE FROM THE SHORELINE.
SO WE LOOKED AT 0.2, 5.5 AND A MILE FROM THE SHORELINE, OR WE LOOKED AT THE CENSUS TRACT AND JUST COMPARED DEMOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS.
AND SO THIS IS VERY MESSY, BUT IT'S SHOWING YOU ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT WAYS OF CONSIDERING WHAT CLOSE TO THE LAKE MEANS.
AND BY ALL OF THE MEASURES, WE HAD DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EAST OF I 35 AND WEST OF I 35, WHEN IT COMES TO PERCENT PEOPLE OF COLOR, PERCENT LOW INCOME, UH, LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKING, AND PERCENT WITH LESS THAN A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE POINT DIFFERENCE.
THAT IS FROM 10 TO 29 ON LOW INCOME OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, BASED ON WHICH MEASURE THE 0.25, THE 0.5, THE ONE OR THE CENSUS BLOCK MEASURE.
AND THEN IT'S ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO NINE ON LOW INCOME AND LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKING.
SO THIS DOES POINT TO THE PRESENCE OF A POPULATION WHO LIVES CLOSE TO THE LAKE AND SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THE LAKE, BUT DON'T SEEM TO ALWAYS BE PARTICIPATING IN ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES OF, OF THE LAKE.
OKAY, THE LAST SECTION, UH, LIKE THE PARKING, I THINK THERE'S MORE WE CAN DO HERE.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET A LOT OF DATA ON UNLICENSED ACTIVITY.
WE FOLLOWED UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS TO SEE FOLKS WHO WERE ADVERTISING, WHO WERE NOT LICENSED VENDORS.
AND THAT DID OVERLAP SOMEWHAT WITH VENDORS THAT HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED BY PAR.
UM, THERE WERE A FEW THAT WERE COULDN'T BE IDENTIFIED WHERE THE REPORT CAME IN OF JUST UNMARKED VEHICLES.
SO IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TRACK DOWN WHO, WHO WAS, WHO WAS THE VENDOR.
AND SOME OF THESE VENDORS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVITIES THAT ARE POTENTIAL SAFETY OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS LIKE GOING OUT AT NIGHT OR OPERATING WATERCRAFT THAT ARE GOING ABOVE, UH, THE DEFACTO SPEED LIMIT, RIGHT? WE HAVE A, A HORSEPOWER LIMIT, NOT A SPEED LIMIT, BUT THE HORSEPOWER LIMIT KIND OF CORRESPONDS TO
[03:40:01]
FOUR TO 10 MILES AN HOUR.AND THESE CRAFT ARE EXCEEDING THAT.
SO HERE, THIS IS DEFINITELY AN AREA WHERE WE THINK WE NEED MORE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY TO EVEN HAVE THE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW UP AND, AND TAKE ACTION ON THESE UNLICENSED ACTIVITIES.
OKAY, SO HAVE WE EXCEEDED THE CARRYING CAPACITY? THE ANSWER IS YES, SOME OF THE TIME IN SOME PARTS OF THE LAKE, RIGHT? THE RECREATIONAL CARRYING CAPACITY IS CLEARLY EXCEEDED ON THOSE PEAK TIMES, ON THOSE PEAK DAYS OVERALL.
AND ON NON-PE DAYS IN THAT SEGMENT BETWEEN, UH, MOPAC AND LAMAR IN TERMS OF THE ECOLOGICAL CARRYING CAPACITY, THERE'S CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
WE NEED MORE DATA AND MORE MONITORING TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND ONE OF THE MEASURES THAT WOULD BE MOST USEFUL IS TO LOOK TO SEE HOW THE LAKE RECOVERS AFTER AN IMPACT, RIGHT? WHAT'S GOING ON AT BASELINE? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE COME IN? AND THEN HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RETURN TO BASELINE IN TERMS OF FACILITY? THERE DIDN'T SEEM, IT WAS KIND OF A MIXED RESULT.
OUR PARTICULAR CENSUS DID NOT INDICATE THAT PARKING WAS INTENSELY IMPACTED, BUT USER CONCERNS DEFINITELY BROUGHT THIS UP OFTEN.
AND THE EXPERIENTIAL MEASURE DOES SHOW THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING LOSS OF ENJOYMENT OF THE LAKE DUE TO CROWDING.
SO ALL OF THESE RESULTS ARE A POINT IN TIME, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTEXTUALIZE THIS IN THE FACE OF THE PRESSURES THAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE FACING THE, THE LAKE FACING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, RIGHT? INC INCREASED POPULATION GROWTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, WATERSHED PRESSURES IN TERMS OF POLLUTION AND, AND FLUCTUATIONS AND FLOW.
SO WHILE WE DON'T HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE CARRYING CAPACITY IS UNFAVORABLE EVERY DAY, UM, THIS IS THE TIME TO BE PROACTIVE, RIGHT? IN TERMS OF WHAT, WHAT'S BEING DONE.
SO INTERVENE, MONITOR, AND CONTINUE TO CORRECT.
THERE WERE SEVERAL AREAS THAT WE IDENTIFIED AS ACTION AREAS.
UM, AND THESE ARE VERY SUMMARIZED AGAIN FROM THE REPORT, BUT REDUCING CONGESTION, PARTICULARLY FOCUSING ON THAT MOPAC TO FIRST SEGMENT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL.
UM, ADDING MORE ACCESS POINTS, FORMAL ACCESS POINTS, SO THERE'S LESS OF THIS INFORMAL ACCESS THAT ALSO CAUSES ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION CAN HELP IN MOVING PEOPLE AWAY FROM GET CONGESTED AREAS.
MOVING AMENITIES OUT OF THAT CONGESTED AREAS COULD HELP.
WE MENTIONED THE IDEA OF A BADGE SYSTEM IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TRACK WHICH VESSELS ARE COMING FROM LICENSED VENDORS AND WHICH ONES AREN'T.
HOWEVER, AND I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH, WE DO NOT THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHERE THEY NEED TO PURCHASE SOME SORT OF ACCESS OR BADGE OR PASS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE THAT THE LAKE REMAINS FREE FOR ALL.
UM, CONNECTIVITY WILL HELP WITH REDUCING CONGESTION.
SO THAT'S WHY THIS ITEM IS HERE.
ENHANCING PROGRAMMING, MOVING PROGRAMMING OUT OF THAT CORE AREA, DIVERSIFYING THE PROGRAMMING, MAKING CULTURALLY RELEVANT PROGRAMMING AND LINKING THAT TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SAFETY WILL HELP WITH SEVERAL MEASURES IN TERMS OF THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION.
UM, MANY MENTIONS CAME UP OF WATER SAFETY AND BOATING ETIQUETTE, INCLUDING SIGNAGE.
I KNOW THERE'S SORT OF A SIGNAGE LIGHT APPROACH AT LADY BIRD LAKE, BUT THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR EVERYONE.
AND, AND SOME, THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE IT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE MORE SIGNS ABOUT SPECIFIC CONCERNS.
UM, TRASH REDUCTION EDUCATION, WATERSHED PROTECTION, WATER QUALITY, ALL AREAS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, THE NEED TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IS LAYERED ON ALL OF THIS.
AND PART OF THAT IS THERE CAN BE A MISUNDERSTANDING EVEN AMONG ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES ABOUT WHY YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH DIVERSITY IN THE OUTDOOR AREAS AS YOU WANT.
AND THE LACK OF DIVERSITY SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS A LACK OF INTEREST OR A LACK OF ABILITY, RIGHT? THIS IS COMPLEX.
IT IS HISTORY AND SOCIOECONOMICS AND SYSTEMIC FACTORS.
AND SO HAVING AWARENESS AMONG ADVOCATES, EVEN TO THE POINT OF DEVELOPING A TOOLKIT OR SET OF RESOURCES OR SPECIALIZED TRAINING THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THOSE WHO WORK WITH AND ON AND FOR THE LAKE IS REALLY SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA CHANGE THE DEMOGRAPHICS IF WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED.
UM, SO THERE'S WAYS TO DO THIS EITHER PART ON THEIR OWN PART WITH PARTNERS WITH CULTURALLY RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS AND TRACKING WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH DIVERSITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TOO.
UM, A FEW TIMES WE CAME UP AGAINST THE ISSUE THAT THIS WASN'T BEING COLLECTED SO WELL, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT DATA.
WELL, WHY, WHY HAVEN'T YOU BEEN COLLECTING DIVERSITY DATA, RIGHT? THIS IS CRITICAL.
UM, MANY WAYS THAT YOU CAN LEVERAGE VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS.
[03:45:01]
THERE.THE COMMUNITY IS MASSIVE AS I I'M SURE YOU KNOW, WATER QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND AND DO THIS IN A CONTINUOUS WAY.
MONITOR MORE SITES, MEN MONITOR THE SITES THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED.
IMPLEMENT CONTINUOUS MONITORING.
SO YOU CAN GET AT THIS QUESTION OF WHAT IS THE RESILIENCE OF THE LAKE? AND THE LAST POINT IS A REPEAT.
SO I'M GONNA READ WHAT SHOULD BE HERE.
THIS IS ADDRESS ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.
SO THIS WOULD BE TO, UH, ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF FUNDING, EXPLORING VENDOR FEE MODELS IN OTHER CITIES, PERHAPS FOR COMPARISON INCREASING PATROLS.
THIS CAME UP MANY TIMES IN THE SAFETY DISCUSSION WITH, UH, INTERVIEW AND SURVEY ADDRESSING ENFORCEMENT.
IF YOU DON'T ADDRESS ENFORCEMENT, YOU WON'T DO ANY, BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT UNLICENSED VENDOR OR ABOUT ENFORCEMENT OF AREAS OF CONGESTION.
SO I'M HAPPY TO REVISE THIS SLIDE AND SEND YOU A CORRECTED VERSION WITH THE CORRECT NUMBER EIGHT ON THESE ACTION AREAS.
THEY ARE AREAS THEY ARE IN THE ORDER THAT I THOUGHT THEY WOULD MAKE SENSE TO DISCUSS.
THEY ARE NOT IN ORDER OF PRIORITY.
UM, BELIEVE ME, IF THEY WERE IN ORDER OF PRIORITY, I THINK IT WOULD BE NUMBER ONE, NUMBER ONE, NUMBER ONE, AND NUMBER ONE FOR A COUPLE OF THEM.
WE HAVE ONLY FIVE MINUTES TILL BASICALLY THE LIGHTS GO OUT.
SO IS THERE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO WRAP UP REALLY QUICKLY? UM, THAT'S, THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE.
THANK YOU TO SUZANNE AND PAT AND MAGGIE AND DANISHA AND BRETT AT WATERSHED WHO WALKED ME THROUGH ALL THE DATA THEY HAVE.
AND I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS BY EMAIL TOO IF YOU ALL WANT TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, SO MUCH TIME.
THANK YOU FOR WAITING AND THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING STUDY AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
UM, WE HAVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR ALL THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS BEFORE, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ONE MINUTE A PIECE JUST BECAUSE 10 O'CLOCK IS OUR MEETING DONE? IS HE FIRST? LET'S DO ONE.
I'M THE OWNER OF TEXAS ROWING CENTER, WHICH IS A CITY CONCESSION LOCATED ON THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL BEHIND AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, I HAD A SIX MINUTE PRESENTATION, HOWEVER, I'LL IN, I'LL BOIL IT DOWN TO THIS.
UH, TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT THE CAPACITY OF LADY BIRD LAKE IS.
LIKE A RIDDLE THAT CAN'T BE SOLVED.
NOBODY KNOWS REALLY WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
UH, THERE'S A CITED NUMBER IN THERE, ONE TO 1.3 ACRES PER BOAT.
BUT THERE'S, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT COMES FROM.
IT'S STILL NOT CLEAR TO ME WHAT THE, WHAT THE BASIS FOR THAT NUMBER IS.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT NUMBER BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE BASED ON THAT.
I WOULD POINT OUT THAT, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE BRO THAT COMES OUT OF THE, UH, BARTON CREEK AREA.
I'M GONNA JUST REMIND EVERYBODY HERE THAT THOSE ARE TAX PAYING PEOPLE WHO HAVE PAID THE PARK THROUGH THE CONCESSIONS TO USE THE RESOURCE.
AND SO, UH, BEFORE YOU TAKE ANY, UH, EXTREME ACTION AS A RESULT OF THIS, UH, REPORT, I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT ANYTIME YOU MAKE SOMETHING MORE EXCLUSIVE, YOU'LL RAISE THE PRICE, YOU WILL EXCLUDE THE GROUPS THAT YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO INCLUDE, WHICH I HEAR A LOT ABOUT.
WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE DIVERSITY.
IF WE END UP REDUCING THE SUPPLY, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? PRICES GO UP AND WE HAVE FEWER THANK YOU.
WE'LL HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS AT THE CONTEXT.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE? YEAH, BEN THOMPSON.
ARE YOU HERE? YEAH, I WELL HURRY, PLEASE.
YOU HAVE TO BE SIGNED UP SO IT'S OH YEAH, NO, I CALLED BEN THOMPSON.
KEVIN RAINES, UH, JUST FOR A DIFFERENT TOPIC, BUT I'LL PASS.
I'M JUST CALLING THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP.
WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND I AM NOT GOING PAST 10 O'CLOCK.
[4. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council concerning the creation of a concession in Town Lake Metropolitan Park through the issuance of a Request for Proposal or for the continuation or termination of an existing concessioner in Town Lake Metropolitan Park, including Butler Pitch & Putt, EpicSUP, Expedition School, Lone Star Riverboat Cruises, Rowing Dock, Texas Rowing Center, Waller Creek Boathouse, Zilker Cafe, Zilker Eagle Railroad, and Zilker Park Boat Rentals, for inclusion in the joint report between the Parks and Recreation Board and the Environmental Commission that is provided to the City Council annually.]
ITEM FOUR, WHICH IS ABOUT THE TOWN LAKE CONCESSIONS.UM, I MOVED THAT WE PUT INTO, UH, CONTRACTS AND CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE BACK TO THEM.
UM, DO I HAVE A SECOND ON THAT? IT ALSO COMES APART, BUT GO TO CONTRACT FIRST.
ORIGINALLY WE WERE HOPING TO HAVE THIS PRESENTATION AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY FOR CONTRACTS AND CONCESSIONS AND WE WILL BE ADDRESSING THIS AND THEN HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE C N C FOR THE FULL BOARD AT THE NEXT MEETING.
ALL IN FAVOR? OKAY, SO ITEM FOUR IS TAKEN CARE OF.
UH, ITEM FIVE, PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING, UH, RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN
[03:50:01]
CITY COUNCIL.AUTHORIZED IS EXTEND THE, IT AM GOING TO MOVE THIS ITEM.
I MOVE TO MOVE THIS ITEM TO THE FEBRUARY MEETING.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? ITEM FIVE.
MOVING TO THE FEBRUARY MEETING.
SO, UH, IF I COULD JUST INTERJECT, I APOLOGIZE, WE CAN'T MOVE.
IF, IF THE FEBRUARY MEETING WILL HAVE TO BE BEFORE THE, THE FEBRUARY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING, CUZ THIS IS SCHEDULED TO GO BEFORE COUNCIL THEN.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE I'M SORRY.
THAT'S WHATEVER THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING IS IN FEBRUARY.
I'M LOOKING AT, I THINK OUR NEXT MEETING IS FEBRUARY 22ND, SO THAT SHOULD BE FINE.
THIS GOES BEFORE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 20.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNEW THAT.
[6. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council to authorize the negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Austin Community College to provide heating, ventilation and air conditioning training course instruction at Turner Roberts Recreation Center.]
ITEM SIX IS THE HEATING AND VENTILATION AIR CONDITIONING TRAINING COURSE INSTRUCTOR.IT'S A PRESENTATION DISCUSSION.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE MOVED? IT CAN BE.
IT CAN WAIT UNTIL YOUR FEBRUARY MEETING.
IT GOES BEFORE COUNSEL IN MARCH.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE THAT TO THE FEBRUARY MEETING.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? NANCY BERNARD? ALL IN FAVOR? OKAY.
[7. Staff Briefing on aquatics operations, aquatics vision plan, pool renovations, maintenance, and staffing needs.]
ON NUMBER SEVEN ON AQUATICS AQUATIC VISION PLAN.I DO NOT THINK YOU'RE HELPFUL.
UM, THE STAFF BRIEFING ON AQUATICS, CAN WE MOVE THAT TO FEBRUARY? DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT SECOND? YOU DON'T NEED A MOTION? I DON'T THINK.
I'M, I'M NOT, I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY ANYTHING.
CAN WE MOVE THAT TO FEBRUARY ALL IN FAVOR? OKAY.
[8. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates.]
STAFF BRIEFING DIRECTOR, DO YOU MIND, IS THERE ANYTHING, OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA NOT WORRY ABOUT THAT.[9. Report of recommendations by Crime and Law Enforcement in Parks Working Group.]
NINE, WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS.WE'LL HAVE TO MOVE THAT TO FEBRUARY AND I, I WON'T BE HERE, BUT PATRICK AND NANCY WILL DO A BRILLIANT, GOOD JOB.
WE ARE GONNA MOVE THAT TO FEBRUARY.
SO THE, SHALL WE DO AN UP AND DOWN VOTE ON FIVE MINUTES TO DEAL WITH NUMBER FIVE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED? OH, YES, YOU CAN DO THAT.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA HAVE A, UM, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED IN FEBRUARY, THAT'S ALL.
SO IF YOU HAVE, WELL, THE SPECIAL CALLED IN FEBRUARY IS FOR THE, UM, AUTHORIZING OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE AUSTIN ROWING CENTER.
SO THAT, THAT'S NOT GOING TO CNC IS IT? DON'T YOU MEAN YOUR SPECIAL CALL IS FOR THE YET? I'M SORRY, THAT'S YES.
IF YOU WANTED TO ADD BOTH TO THAT SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AS LONG AS YOU HAD IT BEFORE FEBRUARY 23RD, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT WORK.
DO YOU GUYS WANNA DO THAT SPECIAL CALLED MEETING? SURE.
ALL IN FAVOR? I GUESS, DO WE HAVE TO SAY THAT OR CAN WE JUST SAY WHAT IN FAVOR OF, SORRY, I'M NOT THAT'S OKAY.
[5. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council to authorize an amendment to extend the term of the contract with Austin Rowing Club for the management and operation of Waller Creek Boathouse for a period of up to 36 months.]
NUMBER FIVE, MOVING THE, UM, I KNOW, I'M SORRY, I'M TRYING TO GO REALLY QUICKLY.POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE NON-SCHEDULED SPECIAL CALL MEETING WITH NO DATA.
THAT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE VOTING FOR.
I AM SORRY THAT WE RAN OUT OF TIME.
UM, I'M, ANY URGENT WORKING GROUP UPDATES THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT? ANY URGENT ITEMS THAT WE HAVE GOT TO TALK ABOUT FOR THE NEW BUSINESS? OKAY.
IF YOU'VE GOT NEW BUSINESS, PLEASE SEND IT TO ME AND TIM AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYBODY FOR LISTENING.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT TO 10 O'CLOCK.
I KNOW IT'S A LONG NIGHT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I'M CALLING THIS MEETING ADJOURNED AT 10 0 1.