[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:02]
I AM GONNA CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
IF EVERYBODY COULD PLEASE HAVE A SEAT BEFORE MIDNIGHT AND WE'RE TRYING TO GO.
THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, FEBRUARY 27TH, 2023.
UH, WE'VE GOT, UM, VICE CHAIR, FAUST PRESENT.
PRESENT BOARD MEMBER PATRICK MOORE.
UH, BOARD MEMBER FLOWERS HERE.
BOARD MEMBER HAMAN PRESENT BOARD MEMBER BERNARD PRESENT.
AND I'M GONNA MAKE A NOTE THAT DON LEWIS HAS ROLLED OFF THE BOARD THAT SHOULD SAY VACANT FOR DISTRICT 10.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE SINCE WE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF LAST MEETING LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE THREW THE DOORS OPEN AND LET EVERYBODY SPEAK.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR REGULAR FIRST 10 SPEAKERS HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR GENERAL COMMUNICATION, AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS TO TAKE A QUICK VOTE.
I MOVE THAT WE, UM, WE GIVE ONE MINUTE PER PERSON FOR ITEMS THAT ARE BEING SPOKEN.
UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE SPEAKING TO AGENDA ITEMS LATER AFTER THE ORIGINAL 10 SPEAKERS.
DO I HAVE A SECOND, UH, BOARD MEMBER HAMAN SECONDS.
UH, ALL OPPOSED, THAT WOULD BE BOARD MEMBER, UH, CHAIR FA, VICE CHAIR.
FAUST, UM, PATRICK FOR YOU IN FAVOR? I'M SORRY, I FORGOT TO LOOK IN FAVOR.
UM, NO, I THINK I'M OPPOSED TO THAT.
THE, UM, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, IT PASSES.
SO, UH, WE WILL BE TAKING, AND I'M SORRY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER LIMITED PUBLIC COMMENT TO ONE MINUTE.
UM, WE JUST HAVE SO MUCH THAT WE NEEDED TO GET THROUGH THAT I NEED TO, UM, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WRITE TO US.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WRITE OR, OR, UM, TALK TO US AFTER THE MEETING IF YOU'RE STILL AROUND.
UH, WE DO REALLY WANNA HEAR FROM YOU, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE TURNOUT.
WE KNOW THESE ARE IMPORTANT MATTERS, SO THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
OKAY.THE FIRST, THE FIRST SPEAKER ON GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION IS ROBIN GOLEMAN.
IS IT POSSIBLE IT'S ROBERT CORBIN? NO,
THE SECOND SPEAKER IS RALPH WEBSTER.
THAT'S, UH, THESE ARE WEBEX SPEAKERS.
IS RALPH WEBSTER ONLINE FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL COME BACK.
THE NEXT PERSON IS DAVID HICKSON.
IS DAVID HICKSON AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? THE NEXT PERSON IS MIKE
SO, MR. KANI, ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT THE ZER PARK VISION PLAN? BECAUSE IF SO, WE'D PREFER YOU TO SAVE YOUR COMMENTS FOR THAT AGENDA ITEM, OR, I'M SPEAKING ON TOPIC OF GENERAL, NOT, NOT AGENDA SPECIFIC, AND YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING ON AGEN WHEN WE CALL AGENDA LATER.
SIGNED UNDER I APPLI FOR A MINUTE.
WE, WE ALREADY LIMITED PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO SPEAK DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
WE LIMITED THIS TO 10 SPEAKERS, SO WE'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
I SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL COMMUNICATION.
I SIGNED UP FOR BOTH, WHICH I BELIEVE I'M ALLOWED TO DO.
AM I? WELL, WE'VE CHANGED THE RULES TONIGHT.
YOU ARE PROCEED, BUT PLEASE DON'T SPEAK ABOUT ANY, ANYTHING THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
UH, BOARD CHAIR, UH, BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, I WAS GONNA WELCOME OUR TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS, UH, COMMISSION, UH, BOARD MEMBER LOKS, AND I GUESS, UH, HOLLY REEB, BUT SHE'S NOT HERE NOW.
BUT I'M EXCITED THAT WE HAVE SOME NEW FOLKS COMING ON THE BOARD.
AND I, I WANT TO, UM, SPEAK TO YOU AS A FELLOW APPOINTEE.
I'M ON THE TOURISM COMMISSION.
I'M NOT HERE IN THAT CAPACITY, BUT I, I THOUGHT IT WAS USEFUL FOR OUR COMMISSION AND HOPEFULLY FOR Y'ALL TO ALWAYS REFER BACK TO THE, THE PURPOSES AND DUTIES THAT THE BOARD BYLAWS HAVE FOR THE PARKS BOARD.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE PARKS PURPOSE IS TO ADVISE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE ACQUISITION, DEVELOPMENT IMPROVEMENT, EQUIPMENT PROGRAMMING AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL LAND FACILITIES
[00:05:01]
MANAGED BY PART.IN ADDITION, THE PARKS BOARD SHALL QUOTE, PROMOTE CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND ALL PRIVATE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, AGENCIES INTERESTED IN CONDUCTING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
UM, WITH THESE PURPOSES IN MIND, I'M HOPING THAT THE PARKS BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO BE A POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE FORCE FOR WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, I WANTED TO POINT TO THE TESTIMONY, SORRY THAT WAS A MINUTE.
UH, I DID WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO AN EXAMPLE OF WORKING POSITIVELY WITH THE PARKS BOARD WAS WHAT, WHAT I PROPOSED TO DISCUSS AT OUR LAST PARKS BOARD MEETING ABOUT THE NATURAL RESOURCE SURVEY THAT WAS PREPARED BY BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY AND THE SIGLO GROUP SO THAT THE VISION PLANNING PROCESS WOULD HAVE GOOD INPUT.
UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SOME PEOPLE APPARENTLY WERE CONCERNED.
WE WERE, WERE ONLY TOUTING BECAUSE IT HAD PRETTY PICTURES IN IT.
BUT I REALLY WANTED YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PLAN WAS ACTUALLY REQUESTED BY THE CITY STAFF AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS.
THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND OF KEY DOCUMENTS THE VISION PLAN WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S A HIGH QUALITY DOCUMENT.
AND THE BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY WAS TOLD WE, WE, WE NEED AN, AN ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY.
SO THAT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN PROVIDED BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO FUND IT.
AND THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HELPING BEING POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE.
AND I, I WILL STOP THERE AND SAVE THE TIME, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
THE NEXT SPEAKER'S ROBERT CORBIN.
IT'S POSSIBLE Y'ALL HAVE HEARD SOME OF THIS BEFORE, BUT I SUPPOSE Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE DESPICABLE STREET TAKEOVERS A WEEK AGO HERE IN AUSTIN.
PERHAPS THE NASTIEST ONE OCCURRING JUST FOUR BLOCKS FROM ZILKER PARK.
AND I PRESUME THAT NONE OF Y'ALL PLOTTED OR EVEN APPROVED OF THOSE TAKEOVERS.
BUT RIGHT NOW, AS I SPEAK THROUGHOUT AUSTIN'S PARKS ARE GROUPS OF BULLYING LAWBREAKERS, WHO BY THEIR BULLYING ACTIONS AND BULLYING WORDS ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THOSE BULLYING ELEMENTS WHO LAST WEEK TOOK OVER AUSTIN'S STREETS.
AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR A LONG TIME.
AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF THOSE BULLIES.
SO AWARE IN FACT THAT YOU SET UP A JOINT TASK FORCE WITH AAC TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
WELL, YOUR JOINT TASK FORCE MET FOR ONE ENTIRE YEAR TO PUT OUT BY ACCOUNTS.
I HAVE READ NOTHING BUT ISSUED DODGING CONFUSIONS.
IF CARING CREATIVITY HAD BEEN PRESENT, YOU WOULD HAVE, AFTER ONLY ONE MONTH OF CONSIDERATIONS, PUT OUT A STATEMENT, SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
PEOPLE HAVING DOGS OFF LEASH IN AUSTIN'S PARKS AND PRESERVES ARE A HUGE SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.
AND EACH YEAR, THOUSANDS OF OUR CITIZENS, INCLUDING MANY CHILDREN, ARE INJURED AND TERRORIZED AND EVEN FORCED OUT OF OUR PARKS.
MANY DOG OWNERS SHOW NO RESPECT FOR OUR CITY OR FOR THE SAFETY OF ITS CITIZENS AND SHOWING SHOW A CONTINUING DISDAIN FOR OUR LAWS AND CARE NOTHING ABOUT THE FOUNDATIONS OR FUNDAMENTALS OF CIVILIZED SOCIETY.
THEREFORE, WE CONCLUDE THAT WHAT IS NEEDED IS IMMEDIATE VIGOROUS, NO NONSENSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OF OUR LEASHED LAWS, MEANING QUICKLY WRITTEN CITATIONS ISSUED TO ALL OFFENDERS.
FURTHERMORE, LAW ENFORCEMENT'S RESOURCES TO PROTECT AUSTIN PARKS AND CITIZENS ARE PRESENT ALREADY AS A P D HAS AN ANIMAL CRUELTY DIVISION CONSISTING OF THREE FULL-TIME OFFICERS AND ONE CIVILIAN.
AND WE ARE CERTAIN THAT A P D AND E EVERY BOARDING COMMISSION WITH OWN AUSTIN, INCLUDING OUR CITY COUNCIL, WOULD BE EXCITED AND IT'S SUPPORTED TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE OFFICERS FULLY DEDICATED TO GOING PARK, TO PARK TO QUICKLY ISSUE CITATIONS TO ALL LAWBREAKERS.
SO THAT SEMBLANCE OF LAW AND AND DECENCY RETURNS TO OUR PARKS.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE AN EMERGENCY CRISIS SITUATION, AND SO WE BELIEVE IN FACT DEMAND THAT WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING MUST BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY.
I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT IS NOT JUST DOGS OFF LEASH THAT ARE A PROBLEM, BUT SO OUR DOGS ON LEASH.
I'VE HAD MY OWN BAD ENCOUNTERS OR WITNESSED SOME AND I KNOW A 70 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO HAD HER LEG BLOODIED BY A PASSING LEASHED LARGE DOG.
AND I MET ON MATT, I MET A MAN ON THE GREEN BELT WHO WAS BLOODY TWICE BY DOGS ON THE GREEN BELT AND ONE OF THOSE DOG ATTACKS SWABS BY AN UNLEASHED LARGE DOG.
I WOULD GUESS THAT 80% OF REGULAR GREEN BELT USERS THAT I HAVE MET AND CONVERSED WITH HAVE BEEN INJURED BY DOGS FOR THAT REASON.
THE ONLY KINDS OF OFF-LEASH DOG AREAS SHOULD BE FENCED IN ONCE AND THE GREEN BELT AND THE ZILKER GREAT LONG AND BELOW BARTON SPRINGS POOL SHOULD ALL BE NO DOGS ALLOWED AT ALL AREAS.
GEORGE COFER IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
IS GEORGE COFER AVAILABLE? I THINK YOU IN TRAFFIC.
[00:10:03]
OKAY.CAN YOU TELL ME, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T HAVE THE LIST WITH ME.
SO WHOSE NAME IS IT? MAC RAGSDALE.
ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO GIVE YOUR COMMENT? MAC RAGSDALE.
UM, HELLO PARKS AND REC BOARD.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THANKS TO AUSTIN AND PARKS FOUNDATION.
UH, I'M MAC RAGSDALE BOARD MEMBER WITH ZER THEATER PRODUCTIONS, AND WE'RE THE FOLKS WHO PUT ON THE FREE SUMMER MUSICALS EVERY YEAR AT THE ICONIC ZER HILLSIDE THEATER.
WE'RE ALSO ONE OF THE ENTITIES THAT RECEIVE CRITICAL FUNDING FROM A P F AS WE LIKE TO SAY ON THE HILLSIDE.
THE MUSICALS MAY BE FREE TO SEE, BUT THEY ARE NOT FREE TO PUT ON.
UM, THE COST OF A SUMMER MUSICAL CAN RANGE UPWARDS OF $300,000.
AND, UH, AND THAT'S JUST FOR THE SHOW VENUE IMPROVEMENTS AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CAN ADD ANYWHERE FROM 10,000, UH, OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS DEPENDING ON WHAT IS NEEDED.
WITHOUT THE CRITICAL FUNDING FROM SPONSORS AND DONORS LIKE APF F OUR SHOW WOULD MOST LIKELY NOT GO ON.
WE LOVE OUR APF F JUST LIKE WE LOVE OUR H E B, THIS FUNDING DOESN'T JUST BENEFIT Z TP, IT ALSO BENEFITS THE MANY OTHERS WHO USE THE VENUE.
WHILE Z ZT P IS THE BIGGEST GORILLA, THERE ARE OTHERS, UH, WHO USE THE VENUE, UH, LIKE AUSTIN, SHAKESPEARE BALLET, AUSTIN RIVER, CITY POPS, AND MANY MORE.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU A P F FOR HELPING US BRING JOY TO THE HEARTS OF THOUSANDS OF AUSTIN FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS FOR ALL THESE MANY YEARS.
AND, UH, QUESTION THE PARKS BOARD.
HAVE YOU ANY OF YOU ACTUALLY SUFFERED THROUGH THE SUMMER HEAT TO ATTEND ONE OF THE HILLSIDE MUSICALS? THE SHOW OF HANDS.
WELL, UH, WHETHER OR NOT YOU'VE BEEN, UM, I, I HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS YEAR.
UH, THE SHOW IS MATILDA KIND OF A DARK COMEDY, AND, UH, IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO COME AND DO A WALK ON ROLL, I WILL SEE TO IT THAT YOU ARE ACCOMMODATED.
WE'LL GO TO OUR WEBEX SPEAKER.
RYAN GOLEMAN, ARE YOU AVAILABLE? RYAN GOLEMAN.
PLEASE PROCEED WITH YOUR COMMENTS.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES ALL MADAM CHAIRMAN.
UH, THIS IS ABOUT ZILKER PARK.
IS THIS GONNA BOTHER YOUR ITINERARY? I'VE BEEN TOLD YOU SHOULD PROCEED.
DO YOU DEAR PARKS MEMBERS, YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE COVERED UP WITH AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION AND DOWNRIGHT LIES FROM GROUPS AND VARIOUS MISINFORMED INDIVIDUALS.
TRUST ME, THIS AIN'T MY FIRST RODEO.
I'M A LONGTIME PARKS WORKER AND SUPPORTER.
I SPENT EIGHT YEARS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE, OF THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION AND I'M PAST PRESIDENT OF THAT BOARD.
I AM CURRENTLY ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BARTON SPRINGS CON CONSERVANCY.
THE NEW ZER PARK VISION PLAN IS FAR FROM PERFECT, BUT IT IS NOT ALIGNED.
ZER PARK IS NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
IT IS A METROPOLITAN PARK, IT'S A PARK FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
YOU REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THAT IS NOT AN EASY JOB.
THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN A BENEFICIARY OF ACL FEST FUNDING FOR ABOUT THE PAST 18 YEARS.
AND I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INFORMED THAT THE NEW TOTAL FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE PAST 18 YEARS HAS NOW JUMPED TO 57 MILLION FOR VARIOUS PARK PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY.
ALL THIS MONEY GOES TO VARIOUS PARK PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT AUSTIN.
THIS MONEY DOESN'T GO TO THE GENERAL FUND AND IS NOT SHARED WITH THE ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT OR LIBRARIES.
NOT TO MENTION THE TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT.
A C L FEST HAS BEEN ON THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NOW ESTIMATED AT OVER 2 BILLION.
CAN ANYONE ELSE SAY THAT? CAN ANY OTHER GROUP MATCH THAT? IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHEN THIS RELATIONSHIP BEGAN 18 YEARS AGO, C3 PRESENTS AND A C FEST SPENT ABOUT 2.8 MILLION
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BUILDING THE GREAT LAWN AT ZER PARK.THEY HAVE SOILED ENHANCEMENTS, REPLANTING A, A HARDY BERMUDAGRASS CONTOURING THE LAND AND BUILDING A BRAND NEW FRESH WATER IRRIGATION SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR THE LAWN THAT DOESN'T USE TREATED CITY WATER.
IT USES FRESH WATER, WATER FRESH OUT OF LADYBIRD LAKE, ZER PARK, AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS NEED TO BE EXTREMELY PROUD AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE JOB THAT C3 A C L FEST AND AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION ARE DOING FOR ALL THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I NOTE FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, A SIGNIFICANT PART OF APF FUNDING GOES TO PARK PROJECTS EAST OF INTERSTATE 35.
AND SO, TO BE CLEAR, WE DID HOPE THAT PEOPLE WOULD SIGN UP ON THE AGENDA ITEM AND LEAVE THE CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATION FOR THINGS NOT ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
AND I'M NOT ALLOWED TO CENSOR PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UM, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA PROCEED CUZ THIS IS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT'S DIRECTION THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
KARA BRUMBLE BRUMBLE, IF YOU ARE SPEAKING ON THE ZER PARK VISION PLAN AND CHOOSE TO LIMIT YOURSELF TO ONE.
I HAVE A, I HAVE A NON AGENDA ITEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT, A GREAT LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT IS WORKING TO CREATE A GREENWAY OF PROTECTED LANDS BETWEEN AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.
RECENTLY, THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT PRESENTED A SHORT FILM NARRATED IN SPANISH BY N B A CHAMPION AND BIKE ENTHUSIAST MANU GENK IN ENGLISH AND IN ENGLISH BY MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY.
THE SHORT FILM ENCAPSULATES WITH THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT IS IN HOW THEY ARE WORKING TO CREATE A GREEN WAY OF PROTECTED LANCE BETWEEN AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AND HOW, AND, AND ALSO TELL US ABOUT HOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN GET INVOLVED.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A NONPROFIT DOING GOOD IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WANNA COMMEND BILL BUNCH FOR HIS FORMATIVE ROLE IN CREATING THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT, WHICH RAISES PRIVATE FUNDS FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES.
UH, MY COMMENTS ARE REALLY MORE GENERALLY ABOUT CLIMATE, BUT I DO USE THE EXAMPLE OF THE VISION PLAN IF YOU WANT ME TO LIMIT IT TO ONE MINUTE RIGHT NOW.
SO, UH, MY COMMENTS ARE ABOUT CLIMATE RELATED POLICY FOR ALL OUR PARKS AND ESPECIALLY FOR ZILKER PARK RIGHT NOW, WHERE FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS, UH, ACTUALLY, DID YOU HAVE MY SLIDES,
UH, FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS I'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER.
I'VE LED A VOLUNTEER ADOPT A CREEK, UH, THAT'S NOT MY SLIDE.
I'VE, UH, FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS I'VE LED A VOLUNTEER ADOPT CREEK, UH, PROJECT IN ZER PARK.
AND I JUST TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT UP THIS SLIDE TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE, GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE OF OUR, OUR HANDY WORK OVER THE YEARS.
UH, THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, THE BACKUP FOR THIS MEETING INCLUDES THIS SLIDE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
AND REALLY ALL I WANNA SAY ABOUT THAT IS THAT 28%, WHICH SHOWS, UH, THE IMPROVEMENT IN NET CARBON BETWEEN THE EXISTING LAND USE AND WHAT WOULD WE, WHAT WE WOULD SEE UNDER THE PROPOSED PLAN.
TWO POINTS ABOUT THAT WE COULD MOST CERTAINLY DO BETTER IF WE USED REALLY WILDING TECHNIQUES WHEN WE RESTORED THE LAND AND THE RIPARIAN ZONE, UM, WHICH WOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE, MORE DURABLE, AND DEFINITELY MORE CLIMATE FRIENDLY.
AND SECONDLY, THIS IS NOT THE FULL STORY ON CLIMATE WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPING THIS PARK OR ANY OF OUR PARKS.
WE NEED TO SEE SOME ESTIMATE FOR ALL OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF, UH, SOME, UH, CARBON, UM, ANALYSIS FOR ALL OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS, ESPECIALLY THESE LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE TRANSPORTATION AND CONGESTION THAT'S CAUSED BY INCENTIVIZING PARKING, THE PARKING GARAGES ARE ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC.
UM, SO I'M ASKING YOU FOR FOUR THINGS.
ONE, TO SUPPORT THE TWO KEY CLIMATE FRIENDLY ELEMENTS OF THE CURRENT PLAN, SPECIFICALLY
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THE WORK ALREADY DONE AROUND TRANSIT AND THE WORK ALREADY DONE AROUND LAND AND RIP RIPARIAN RESTORATION, I ASK YOU TO REJECT THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE COUNTER TO A CLIMATE FORWARD PLAN, ESPECIALLY THE PARKING GARAGES TO BE ADAMANT IN AVOIDING POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON THE SPRINGS THAT CONSTRUCTION OR DRILLING MIGHT PRESENT.AND FINALLY, TO NOT SETTLE FOR FALSE CHOICES, BUT TO INSIST ON CLIMATE FORWARD POLICIES THAT MATCH THE SCALE AND THE SCOPE OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOY KANSKY.
HI, GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M JOY KOVSKI, CHIEF MISSION OFFICER WITH AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.
AND IF YOU GUYS DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO ON SATURDAY, I'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU AND ABOUT 3000 OF YOUR NEIGHBORS.
IT IS THE SPRING, IT'S MY PARK DAY.
WE HAVE THIS PARK DAY TWICE A YEAR, ONCE IN THE SPRING, ONCE IN THE FALL, THE FIRST SATURDAY OF MARCH.
AND ON SATURDAY WE'VE GOT ABOUT 84 PROJECTS, UM, SPANNING ALL ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A FEW OF THOSE PROJECTS WITH YOU.
IN DISTRICT ONE, WE'VE GOT COLONY PARK, UM, AND BOGGY CREEK ARE TWO, UH, THE PARKS AS WELL AS DOTTY JORDAN AND MOVING ON TO DISTRICT TWO, PALM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND KENDRA PAGE WILL ALSO HAVE A WHOLE SLEW OF VOLUNTEERS WITH PROJECTS.
DISTRICT THREE PARK WILL BE, UM, SPREADING MULCH ON HERITAGE OAKS AND YOU CAN ALSO STOP BY FESTIVAL BEACH TO HELP WITH THEIR FOOD.
FOREST DISTRICT FOUR, BARRINGTON SCHOOL PARK HAS JUST BEEN A NEWLY ADOPTED PARK.
THEY'RE GONNA BE GETTING OUT THERE AND GETTING BUSY, HELPING CARE FOR THEIR PARK IN DISTRICT FIVE PEAS, COMMUNITY FARM AND URBAN OR ORCHARD WILL BE HOSTING A SPRING FARM EVENT.
MARY MOORE, SEAWRIGHT PARK, SLAUGHTER CREEK, TRIBUTARY, AND LITTLE ZER WILL BE HAVING A MOAMA.
MOUNTAIN VIEW PARK IS PARTICIPATING AS WELL AS DAVIS SPRING PARK DISC GOLF COURSE IN SEVEN.
WE'VE GOT WALNUT CREEK METRO PARK, GILLETTE SCHOOL PARK, BRENTWOOD PARK, UM, UM, BALCON PARK.
AND THESE ARE NOT ALL THE PARKS.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS IN CASE, IN CASE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO ON SATURDAY.
AND THEN IN DISTRICT EIGHT LOT MORE WE'VE GOT THE GREEN BELT AND WE'VE ALSO GOT THE AUSTIN NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER, THE ROWING DOCK, THE VE AWAY DICK NICHOLS, DISTRICT NINE, WE'VE GOT SHE PARK, UM, ADAM HEMPHILL, GOLDEN CREEK AND DISTRICT 10.
THERE WILL, UH, DEFINITELY BE SOME VOLUNTEERS AT PERRY PARK WHERE THEY ARE HOSTING THEIR 59TH PARK DAY.
THERE ALSO WILL BE, UM, ACTIVITIES IN PEACE PARK AND IN GREAT HILLS.
THERE ARE STILL OPPORTUNITIES TO SIGN UP.
YOU CAN GO TO AUSTIN PARKS.ORG/IM P D.
IT'S MY PARK DAY, SO WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT THERE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME, PLEASE DO AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR PARK SYSTEM.
UH, WE'RE GONNA TRY ON THE WEBEX.
DAVID HICKSON ON THE LINE TO GIVE COMMENT ARE, DO WE THINK THE WEBEX PEOPLE CAN HEAR US? ALL RIGHT.
DAVID HICKSON, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? CAN YOU GIVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT, I'M NOT HEARING ANYTHING.
UM, SCOTT COBB, JUST ONE MINUTE HERE.
HOW MANY? YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES, PLEASE PROCEED.
I PUT MY, JIM, CAN YOU PUT UP MY THING? SORRY.
I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE, UH, LIFEGUARDING STAFFING ISSUE IF THE SUMMER OF 2023.
WE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS SINCE THE LAST SUMMER WHEN HALF THE POLLS WERE CLOSED, BASICALLY ALL SUMMER, 42% STAYED CLOSED THE ENTIRE SUMMER.
WE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS WITH, UH, RAISING THE LIVING WAGE, $20 AN HOUR AND THAT IS REALLY GONNA HELP HIRE A LOT OF LIFEGUARDS.
BUT, UH, $28 WAS NOT THE GOAL LAST YEAR WAS 22.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU WHEN YOU SEND YOUR RECOMMENDATION NEXT MONTH TO THE COMMISSION TO ENDORSE A $22 LIVING WAGE, WHICH WAS MENTIONED IN THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL AS THE GOAL TO GET THERE AS SOON AS FEASIBLE, SO SOON AS FEASIBLE WOULD BE FISCAL YEAR 24.
[00:25:01]
ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT BONUSES FOR SUMMER 2023.LAST YEAR WE HAD $1,250 AVAILABLE IN BONUSES, WHICH IN THE MEMO FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID THAT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE IN GETTING PEOPLE HIRED.
THEY HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER PEOPLE WORKED LESS DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER AND THEN CAME BACK ON IN THE END.
SO I HAVE MADE A PROPOSAL FOR THIS SUMMER, UH, A $500 START OF SUMMER BONUS, UM, $500 BONUS FOR THE FIRST, UH, ENHANCED CERTIFICATION, WHETHER THAT'S OPEN WATER, LIFEGUARDS OR LGI.
YOU NEED A LOT OF LGI IN ORDER TO TRAIN THE NEW LIFEGUARDS.
AND THE, UM, GET 800, UH, AND THEN, UH, $250 BONUS FOR IF YOU GET A SECOND ADVANCED CERTIFICATION LIKE YOUR OREGON BARTON SPRINGS AND YOUR, UH, TEACHING LIFEGUARDING TRAINING.
AND AT THE END OF THE SUMMER, I TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT, SAVED A LITTLE MONEY, BUT BASICALLY IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO END UP THE, THE SAME TO VARY THE END OF SUMMER BONUS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED OVER THE SUMMER, WHICH ARE, THEY'RE ABOUT 10 WEEKS, REALLY 11.
BUT GET PEOPLE A WEEK OFF FOR VACATION, 10 WEEKS AND SUMMER.
IF PEOPLE WORK UP TO 100 HOURS, THEY WOULD GET $250, 100 TO 300 HOURS, THEY WOULD GET 500.
MOST PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY GET 500 AND REALLY, UM, PEOPLE WHO REALLY WORK A LOT WOULD GET A THOUSAND IF THEY WORK FULL, BASICALLY FULL-TIME ALL SUMMER.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A, A GOOD PROPOSAL FOR THE BONUSES FOR THIS THIS YEAR.
UM, UM, THE OTHER THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS THE PAID TRAINING.
I WAS TOLD BY KIMBERLY MCNEALLY AND LUCAS MASSEY LAST YEAR IN AUGUST THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE PAID TRAINING OF LIFEGUARDS, GET THEM ON PAYROLL THE FIRST DAY OF A LIFEGUARD COURSE.
THEY DO THE LIFEGUARD COURSE, THEY CLOCK IN EACH OF THOSE HOURS.
THE 40 HOURS THAT COMES STRAIGHT, $800.
WHERE THERE IS, THEY GO TO ANOTHER JOB.
UH, THEY'RE GONNA GET PAID FOR TRAINING ANYHOW AT THOSE OTHER JOBS.
SO THEY GET PAID, THEY SHOULD GET PAID FOR LIFEGUARD TRAINING.
I'M UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT PROPOSAL.
I SAW A PROPOSAL FOR A $400 END OF TRAINING BONUS, WHICH IS NOT PAYING PEOPLE FOR TRAINING, IT'S PAYING THEM FOR HALF OF THE TRAINING AND ASKING THEM TO VOLUNTEER THEIR LABOR TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR 20 HOURS, UH, FOR THE REST OF THE TRAINING.
SO TRAINING SHOULD BE TRAINING, SHOULD BE PAID TRAINING.
AND UH, YOU CAN READ MY PROPOSAL.
UH, OUR NEXT SPEAKER'S, GEORGE COFER.
YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES PLEASE.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY ON ALLOWING ME TO ARRIVE LATE.
I'M HERE IN BOTH A PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY.
I WORK FOR HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCY.
WE PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SUNSET VALLEY, TRAVIS COUNTY, HAYES COUNTY, OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD THE VIOLET CROWN TRAIL.
SOMEDAY THE VIOLET CROWN TRAIL WILL GO FROM ZER PARK WHERE WE PLAN TO BUILD A NEW TRAIL HEAD NEXT YEAR IN THIS PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ALL THE WAY DOWN IN HAYES COUNTY, ABOUT A 30 MILE ONE WAY VIOLET CROWN TRAIL IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE PARKS BOARD DESIGN WORKSHOP, HAVING SUCH A ROBUST PROCESS.
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS.
ONE OF THOSE BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WALK BACK AND FORTH THEN, AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS PARTICIPATING.
I SUPPORT THE PLANNING PROCESS.
I THINK IT'S BEEN A GOOD PROCESS.
IS IT PERFECT? NO, I'VE LIVED HERE 74 YEARS.
I HAVEN'T SEEN A PERFECT PROCESS IN AUSTIN YET, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
ALL RIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR GENERAL COMMUNICATION.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
GONNA PROCEED NOW TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES, UM, FROM THE JANUARY 23RD, 2023 MEETING.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OR DO I HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THE MINUTES? APPROVE APPROVAL, MOVE APPROVAL.
AND WE HAVE A SECOND FROM, UM, BOARD MEMBER BERNARD AND HAMAN.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
YOU LOOKS LIKE IT PASSES WITH ONE ABSTENTION, SIR.
[2. Staff Briefing on the draft Zilker Park Vision Plan. ]
ARE MOVING ON TO THE STAFF BRIEFINGS.UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, STAFF BRIEFING ON THE ZILKER ON THE DRAFT ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN WITH PRESENTERS.
GREG MONTEZ PRO, UH, FROM PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND CLAIRE HEMPEL, PRINCIPAL
[00:30:01]
WITH DESIGN WORKSHOP.UM, GREG MONTE WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION.
GREG MONTEZ WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UM, SERVING AS THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE ZER PARK VISION PLAN.
JOINED BY CLAIRE HAMPEL WITH DESIGN WORKSHOP, WHO IS THE LEAD CONSULTANT ON THE VISION PLAN.
SHE ALSO OVERSAW A TEAM OF SUB-CONSULTANTS THAT, UM, ARE EXPERTS IN CERTAIN AREAS OF, OF PLANNING.
SO, UH, TONIGHT WE'LL BE PRESENTING ON, UH, THE ZUCKER VISION PLAN, WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
AND, UH, WITH THAT I'LL HAND IT OVER TO CLAIRE SO WE CAN GET THE PRESENTATION STARTED AND WE'LL ANSWER SOME CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AFTER GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR, UH, ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
MY NAME'S CLAIRE HEMPEL AND I'M A PRINCIPAL AT DESIGN WORKSHOP IN OUR AUSTIN STUDIO, AND I'VE BEEN SERVING AS A LEAD CONSULTANT, AS GREG MENTIONED, WORKING ON, UH, WITH CARD ON THE ZK PLAN SINCE IT OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF IN FEBRUARY OF 2021.
I ALSO SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT I AM NOT REPRESENTING THAT BODY HERE TONIGHT.
I'LL SPEND ABOUT 15 MINUTES PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE DRAFT PLAN AND THE PROCESS, AND WE'LL ANSWER CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
UM, TO START OFF OUR OVERVIEW TONIGHT, YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE, ARE THE RESULTS TO A QUESTION ASKED BY A THIRD PARTY UNRELATED TO OUR PLANNING PROCESS, ASKING WHAT PEOPLE THINK THE MOST CRITICAL IMPROVEMENT TO ZILKER PARK SHOULD BE.
THIS WAS PUBLISHED ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 2023.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE ANSWERS ARE SPLIT AND THERE IS NOT ONE RESOUNDING RESPONSE OR IDEA ABOUT WHAT THE MOST CRITICAL IMPROVEMENT SHOULD BE.
THIS IS THE CHALLENGE FACING THE CITY WITH ZER PARK TODAY.
IS IT BELOVED SPACE WITH MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT HOW IT SHOULD BE USED AND IMPROVED? NEXT SLIDE.
ZILKER PARK HAS BEEN A DRAW FOR GENERATIONS OF AUSTINITES AND THOSE THAT LIVED HERE BEFORE.
IT IS THE HOME OF ECOLOGICAL TREASURES, GATHERING SPACES, PLAY AREAS, AND HOME TO MANY BELOVED FACILITIES AND EVENTS.
EARLY IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, EVEN BEFORE THE CONSULTANT TEAM WAS UNDER CONTRACT, THE FIRST SURVEY TOOK PLACE AROUND THE TIME OF THE START OF THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS IN 2020.
QUESTIONS ASKING HOW WELL ZUCKER PARK IS MEETING PEOPLE'S NEEDS, UM, AND WHY PEOPLE DON'T VISIT.
WERE ASKED AMONG OTHERS, HIGHLIGHTING THE CHALLENGES THAT WERE TO BECOME CENTRAL TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED IN THE DRAFT.
NATURAL AREAS AND TRAILS ARE SOME OF THE CURRENT ELEMENTS OF THE PARK THAT MEET PEOPLE'S NEEDS.
BUT PARKING ISSUES, CROWDING ISSUES, AND ACCESS WERE INDICATED AS PROBLEMS TO SOLVE FOR.
OTHER ISSUES ARE EVIDENT AS ONE WALKS AROUND THE PARK, SOME ARE OF WHICH ARE PICTURED HERE, LIKE AREAS THAT SEE INTENSE STORM DRAINAGE AND EROSION PROBLEMS IN INACCESSIBLE AREAS ALONG THE CREE.
THE ZILKER METROPOLITAN VISION PLAN'S MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE A VISIONARY FRAMEWORK TO DIRECT THE PRESERVATION.
FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN CARE OF ZILKER PARK.
ZER PARK NEEDS A VISION PLAN TO MAKE SURE IT IS VIABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
IT INVOLVES IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR RECREATIONAL AMENITIES, RECOMMENDING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARKS, CURRENT FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS, AND PUTTING AN EMPHASIS ON PRESERVING THE HISTORIC, CULTURAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS.
SUSTAINABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, NATURE, AND ECOLOGY AND HISTORY AND CULTURE ARE THE FIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE GOALS.
THE BEGINNING OF OUR PLANNING PROCESS INCLUDED ESTABLISHING THESE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND GOALS AND PULLING FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONTEXT FROM AFFILIATED CITY ADOPTED PLANS SUCH AS THE I'M AT AUSTIN, CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, THE LONG RANGE PLAN, THE WORKING GROUP REPORT, AND MANY OTHERS.
THE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE VISION PLANNING PROCESS SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2021.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN CENTRAL TO THE PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE TWO YEAR TIMEFRAME, WHICH PROVED ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING DUE TO COVID AREA RESTRICTIONS.
DURING THIS TIME, OUR TEAM HAS CONDUCTED OVER A HUNDRED POP-UPS, DOZENS OF SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS, TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP MEETINGS, FIVE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE, SIX COMMUNITY SURVEYS, AND ADDITIONAL WORK WITH THE PARKS BOARD WORKING GROUP.
TONIGHT'S BRIEFING IS ONE TOUCHPOINT IN THE FINAL STAGES OF THE PROJECT WITH A SERIES OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
PUBLIC HEARINGS CONCLUDING WITH CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION BY CITY COUNCIL LATER THERE THIS SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER.
THE CITY USES THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SPECTRUM OF PAR PARTICIPATION AS A GUIDE TO FORMING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY.
FROM THIS STRATEGY, THE PLANNING TEAM USED DIFFERENT METHODS OF OUTREACH TO REACH DIFFERENT GROUPS BASED ON THE SPECIFIC GOAL FOR THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT AS SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE.
THE DRAFT PLAN WAS RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022.
THE PLANNING TEAM HELD A VIRTUAL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7TH, AND AN OPEN HOUSE ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 10TH.
THERE ARE 148 VIRTUAL MEETING PARTICIPANTS AND 130 OPEN HOUSE ATTENDEES AT THE OPEN HOUSE.
THERE WAS REPRESENTATION FROM ALL 10 COUNCIL DISTRICTS WITH ABOUT A QUARTER OF THOSE ATTENDEES FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
ALMOST 300 WI WRITTEN COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED AT THE OPEN HOUSE AND ALL WERE DIGITALLY DOCUMENTED THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS OF DECEMBER.
[00:35:01]
THE FINAL COMMUNITY SURVEY NUMBER SIX, THERE WERE NEARLY 27,000 VIEWS OF THE DOCUMENT WITH ALMOST 3000 PARTICIPANTS AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS, 2300 LEFT COMMENTS AND ABOUT 30% OF THOSE COMMENTS ARE FROM THE ZIP CODES.THE TEAM ALSO RELEASED A SEVEN MINUTE VIDEO TO EXPLAIN THE PLAN IDEAS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WITH MORE THAN 6,000 VIEWS.
FOLLOWING THE FINAL PHASE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, THE PLANNING TEAM WAS WORKING THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF JANUARY TO UPDATE THE PLAN BASED ON FEEDBACK AND PART, UH, LEADERSHIP GUIDANCE.
THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THOSE UPDATES, INCLUDING MOVING THE SPORTS AREA AND REDUCING ITS FOOTPRINT, LEAVING DISC GOLF AND ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION AND THE INCLUSION OF A DISC GOLF WARMUP AREA.
THE ROWING DOCK WILL REMAIN IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION AND ON THE SOUTH SIDE THE SIZE OF THE PLAY SCAPES WAS REDUCED TO KEEP THE MONKEY TREE LAWN SIZE INTACT.
TONIGHT'S BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PLAN, THE DRAFT PLAN.
FIRST, THE EXTERNAL SHUTTLE AS SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE, IS CRITICAL TO SUPPORT THE ANTICIPATED INCREASE IN ZILKER VISITORSHIP AS THE CITY'S POPULATION GROWS OVER THE YEARS.
THE TWO PROPOSED LINES WILL CONNECT TO THE THE PARK TO TRANSPORTATION HUBS AND THE EXTERNAL PARKING GARAGES LIKE ONE TEXAS CENTER, REPUBLIC SQUARE AND CITY HALL.
A SHUTTLE WAS PILOTED LAST SUMMER WITH AROUND 500 RE RIOTERS GETTING FREE LIFTS FROM THE GARAGE AT ONE TEXAS CENTER TO ZILKER.
REGARDING VEHICULAR CIRCULATION, THE PLAN RECOMMENDS HOLDING THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES WITHIN THE PARK AS THERE ARE TODAY, BUT BY CONCENTRATING PARKS IN GARAGES, IMPERVIOUS COVER IS REDUCED FROM 36 ACRES TO 27 ACRES.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WILL BE AN INTERNAL SHUTTLE CIRCULATOR AS SEEN IN THE ORANGE LINE, AN EXPANSION OF THE ZILKER EAGLE TRAIN ROUTE TO THE NORTH AS SEEN SEEN IN THE TEAL COLOR TO SERVE AS BOTH A RECREATIONAL ELEMENT IN A WAY TO GET AROUND THE PARK.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PLAN SERVE AS A COMPREHENSIVE WAY TO ADDRESS ACCESSIBILITY AND MOBILITY WITHIN THE PARK, INCLUDING HIGHLIGHTING SHARED PARKING SOLUTIONS, CAPITALIZING ON PARKING GARAGE INVESTMENTS ADJACENT TO THE PARK LIKE THE NEW DOHERTY ART CENTER AND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES FROM THE NORTH AND THE EAST INTO THE PARK FOR EASIER, SAFER ACCESS.
TODAY, BARTON SPRINGS ROAD DIVIDES THE PARK AND PRESENTS CHALLENGES TO SAFETY AND ACCESS TO ALL PARTS OF THE PARK.
THERE IS SUPPORT FOR SLOWING VEHICLES AS THEY TRAVEL THROUGH THE PARK.
THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN REPORTED ON JANUARY 12TH, 2023 THAT IN 2022, AUSTIN BROKE ITS TRAFFIC DEATH TOLL RECORD THAT WAS SET ONLY A YEAR EARLIER.
IN FACT, THERE WAS A PEDESTRIAN DEATH DUE DUE TO A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON BARTON SPRINGS ROAD IN AZ MORTON.
IN 2022, THE PLANNING TEAM WORKED WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ON WAYS TO SLOW SPEEDS AND PROMOTE PARK CONNECTIVITY.
THIS CONFIGURATION AS SHOWN HERE, WHICH IS ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION WITH PROTECTED BIKE LANES AND PARALLEL PARKING AND A SHARED USE PATH ON EACH SIDE IS BEING CONSIDERED.
BUT ONLY AFTER OUR TRAFFIC STUDY AND PILOT PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED AND PROVES TO BE SAFE AND BENEFICIAL, THIS CONFIGURATION WORKS WITHIN THE EXISTING PAVEMENT SECTION OF BARTON SPRINGS ROAD AND DOES NOT INCREASE IMPERVIOUS COVER.
REGARDING PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE CIRCULATION, THE PLAN ENHANCES AND INCREASES TRAIL CONNECTIVITY, INCREASING CONNECTED TRAILS BY 55% WITH THREE TRAIL HEADS.
THE VIOLET CROWN TRAIL BEING ONE THAT IS ALREADY EXISTING IN FIVE CROSSING POINTS ALONG BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, INCLUDING THE LAND BRIDGE.
THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE ABOUT NATURE AND ECOLOGY WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FOCAL POINTS FROM THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
THE PROPOSED ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT WILL BENEFIT THE PARK AS IT RELATES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE GOALS SET FORTH IN THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT HAPPENS BY REPAIRING AND RESTORING THE NATURAL SYSTEMS THROUGH ACTIVE MANAGEMENT.
MANIFESTATIONS OF ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT IN ZILKER PARK CAN INCLUDE INCREASING BIODIVERSITY THROUGH THE PLANTING OF POLLINATOR PLANTS THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
ENHANCING CLIMATE RESILIENCE THROUGH INCREASES IN TREE CANOPY AND SHADE THAT MITIGATES AND ALLOWS FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
THE PLANT INCREASES AREAS OF ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT THROUGHOUT THE PARK, RESULTING IN 92 ADDITIONAL ACRES OF NATURAL AREA.
IN A HIGH LEVEL ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS VERSUS THE PROPOSED CONDITIONS STORED AND SEQUESTERED CARBON INCREASED BY 25%.
THE PLAN ALSO SUPPORTS SEVERAL GOALS OF THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN BY INCREASING TREE CANOPY BIODIVERSITY, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, REMOVING IMPERVIOUS COVER IN ENHANCING PUBLIC TRANSIT, BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS WITHIN THE PARK.
NOW WE'LL ZOOM IN FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS.
YOU'LL NOTICE SMALL ICONS ON THE DESIGN ELEMENTS TO LINK THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND GOALS TO THE ELEMENT.
THE NORTHERN AREA OF THE PARK IS MOSTLY UNTOUCHED WITH THE ZILKER NATURE PRESERVE.
IN THE AUSTIN NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER REMAINING IN PLACE, THE LANDFILL ON EITHER SIDE OF MOPAC IS RESTORED TO NATURAL AREAS TO BETTER CONNECT VISITORS TO THE WATER.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE ROWING DOCK REMAINS IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION WITH PEDESTRIAN
[00:40:01]
CONNECTIONS FROM ENS CREEK UNDER STRATFORD TO CONNECT THE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER AND TRAIL USERS TO THE WATER, THERE IS A TRAILHEAD FOR THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL BESIDE THE PARKING GARAGE LOCATED UNDERNEATH MOPAC.THIS IS A VIEW FROM THE MOPAC INTERSECTION WITH A Z OR BOTANICAL GARDEN AREA LOOKING OUT TOWARDS DOWNTOWN AND LADY BIRD LAKE WITH A RESTORED NATURAL AREA IN PLACE OF THE BUTLER LANDFILL.
THE CENTRAL PART OF THE PARK INCLUDES AN UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE CONNECTED TO THE LAND BRIDGE THAT ALLOWS FOR SAFE, SAFE PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE CROSSING OVER BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.
THE SPORTS AREA IS NOW MORE CLOSELY LOCATED TO THE POLO FIELD LAWN AND THE DISC GOLF AREA REMAINS IN ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION.
THE ZER HILLSIDE THEATER IS LOCATED AT THE NORTH END OF THE LAND BRIDGE.
THIS IS A VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE LAND BRIDGE LOOKING TOWARDS THE GREAT LAWN IN DOWNTOWN.
ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PARK, LUNA ROAD IS CLOSED TO EVERYDAY VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
THERE ARE NEW PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE LAKE IN BARTON CREEK.
THIS IS A VIEW OF THE ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATER CONNECTED TO THE LAND BRIDGE.
THE THEATER'S CURRENT LOCATION DOESN'T ACCOMMODATE GROWTH OF THE THEATER'S PROGRAMMING AND PRESENTS CHALLENGES FOR ACCESSIBILITY, PARKING, AND UTILITIES.
BY RELOCATING IT TO THE PROPOSED AREA IN THE GREAT LAWN, THE THEATER PRODUCTION CAN BETTER ACCOMMODATE ALL USERS AND THIS LOCATION ALL PROVI ALSO PROVIDES FOR PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE ZILKER BOTANICAL GARDEN AND THE AUSTIN NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER.
NEXT SLIDE, SOUTH OF BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.
THE PLAN INCLUDES CONNECTIONS ACROSS BARTON CREEK ON EITHER SIDE OF THE POOL, A WELCOME PLAZA AND NEW AND ENHANCED PLAY AREAS AT THE EXISTING PLAYGROUND NEAR THE POOL AND NEW PLAY AREAS SOUTH OF THE, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PARK.
THE SIZE OF THE PLAYGROUNDS IN THE SOUTH AREA WAS REDUCED TO KEEP THE CURRENT MONKEY TREE LAWN INTACT.
THE PARKING GARAGE HAS SHOWN HERE ON AZ MORTON WOULD BE THE LOWEST PRIORITY OF THE PARKING GARAGES AND MAY POSSIBLY NOT EVEN BE NEEDED AS OTHER PARKING SOLUTIONS LIKE SHARED USE PARKING OPTIONS OUTSIDE OF THE PARK BECOME AVAILABLE.
THIS IS A VIEW OF THE AREA TO THE EAST OF BARTON SPRINGS POOL, THE SPILLWAY.
THIS SHOWS ACCESSIBLE PATHS TO THE WATERS EDGE RE-VEGETATED AREAS IN DEFINED AREAS FOR WATER ACCESS TO ALLOW FOR HEALING BACK OF THE BANES.
THE WEST SIDE OF THE PARK FEATURES NEW TRAILS IN THE FORESTED AREA NEAR THE MACBETH RECREATION CENTER AND GIRL SCOUT CABIN COLUMBUS DRIVE FROM THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY SOUTH TO THE VIOLET CROWN TRAIL HEAD WILL BE CLOSED TO EVERYDAY VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, ALLOWING FOR UNIMPEDED ACCESS FROM THE GREEN BELT AND VIOLET CROWN TRAIL ACROSS THE LAND BRIDGE ONTO THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
THIS IS A VIEW OF THE CHILDREN'S PLAY SPACE WITHIN THE SPORTS AREA.
THE REASON FOR HAVING MULTIPLE PLAY AREAS WITHIN THE PARK IS TO BETTER DISTRIBUTE VISITORS ACROSS THE PARK.
THE PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DIVIDED INTO SMALLER PROJECTS TO ALLOW FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH IMPLEMENTATION.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS GENERALLY FALL INTO THE CATEGORIES THAT ARE SEEN HERE, ADMINISTRATION, ACCESSIBILITY, ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT, AND FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE, TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROJECTS MAY BE PRIORITIZED, THE PLANNING TEAM DID A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS BASED ON COMMUNITY INPUT RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT AND DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS ON THIS QUADRANT.
THE HIGHER THE BENEFIT, THE LOWER THE COST PROJECTS ARE CLUSTERED AT THE TOP LEFT AND THE LOWER BENEFIT HIGHER COST PROJECTS ARE AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT NEXT SLIDE.
AND FROM THAT, THE PROJECT TIMELINE WAS ESTABLISHED BASED ON THE COST AND BENEFIT ANALYSIS.
HOWEVER, IT IS INTENDED TO BE FLEXIBLE BASED ON AVAILABLE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT IS THE CORRELATION AMONG PROJECTS THAT ARE CO-DEPENDENT FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
UM, AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS SURFACE PARKING WILL ONLY BE REMOVED WHEN THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO ACCESS THE PARK, EITHER THROUGH ANOTHER PARKING SOLUTION OR MORE FREQUENT TRANSIT OR SHUTTLE SERVICES.
NEXT LINE TO CONCLUDE THIS MEETING TONIGHT AS THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETINGS THAT THE PLANNING TEAM WILL ATTEND AND PRESENT TO CONCLUDING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION FOR ADOPTION.
AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS.
UM, JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING, WE ARE NOT TO BE COMMENTING TONIGHT ON THIS PROPOSAL.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO THROUGH THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND COME BACK TO THE PARKS BOARD.
BUT, UH, THAT SAID, ANY PARKS BOARD MEMBERS TONIGHT THAT HAVE HAVE CLARIFYING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESENTATION, UM, MAY SPEAK.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? UM, DO YOU WANNA GO VICE CHAIR FAST? I HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE COME FIRST.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SORT OF TOWARDS THE END, YOU MADE THIS, READ THIS STATEMENT ABOUT
[00:45:01]
THE SURFACE PARKING WON'T BE REMOVED.CAN YOU TELL ME HOW IN THE PLAN, AND YOU ALSO DESCRIBED THAT THE PARKING PROPOSED PARKING GARAGE ON AZ MORTON IS LIKE THE LEAST IMPORTANT AND SO LOWEST PRIORITY.
SO HOW, SORT OF JUST EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THOSE TWO THINGS WORK TOGETHER.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THE CONCEPT IS.
CUZ THERE WASN'T REALLY ANYTHING IN WRITING, RIGHT? THIS WAS PICTURES AND THEN A FEW STATEMENTS AT THE END, BUT, SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THEIR SURFACE PARKING.
CURRENTLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE POOL, UM, THERE'S THE PART THAT'S CLOSE TO THE POOL AND THEN IT KIND OF STRETCHES OVER AND BECOMES MORE INFORMAL.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME MORE FORMAL PARKING.
AND I KNOW YOU D IN HERE TALK ABOUT FORMAL VERSUS INFORMAL PARKING.
SO I'M ASSUMING THOSE PAVED LOTS ARE FORMAL PARKING.
UM, BUT THEN YOU'VE GOT THESE PLAYGROUNDS ON THE SOUTH SIDE, UM, THAT ARE WHERE THE PARKING CURRENTLY IS.
SO WHAT IS, I DON'T, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT ALL WORKS TOGETHER.
LIKE SURFACE PARKING WON'T BE REMOVED UNTIL THERE'S ALTERNATIVE PARKING.
BUT WILL THE PARKING THAT'S ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE POOL STAY UNTIL THE UM, UML AZ MORTON GARAGE IS BUILT? NO.
SO THE IDEA IS NOT JUST A FORMAL PARKING SPACE FOR A FORMAL PARKING SPACE.
THERE'S THE SHARED USE PARKING OPTIONS.
UM, SO THERE'S THIRD PARTY PLATFORMS THAT THE CITY COULD CHOOSE TO, UM, DO BUSINESS WITH THAT CAN HELP MAP OUT WHERE ADDITIONAL PARKING OUTSIDE OF THE PARK COULD BE LOCATED.
SO THAT'S, I'M SORRY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS? I I'M NOT FOLLOWING THAT.
SO IF YOU'VE BEEN TO, UH, A GAME AT Q2 STADIUM OR, UM, EVEN ANY OF THE EVENTS AT ZILKER PARK, THERE'S A WAY FOR YOU TO RESERVE A PARKING SPOT, SAY AT AUSTIN HIGH, THAT YOU THEN CAN USE THAT AS A PARKING SPACE.
SO IS THAT, IF THAT BECOMES A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS THE PARK ON A REGULAR BASIS, THEN PARKING SPOTS COULD BE REMOVED FROM WITHIN THE PARK OR, OR, OR AN OFFSITE PARKING GARAGE THAT HAS SPACES LIKE THE DOWTY ART CENTER WILL HAVE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC PARKING SPACES.
YOU DON'T NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR THOSE SPACES WITHIN THE PARK.
BUT THESE ARE KIDS PLAYGROUNDS, WELL, OR PEOPLE TRYING TO GO TO THE SWIMMING POOL AND THERE'S REALLY NO PRIVATE PARKING IN THAT AREA.
I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT GONNA PARK AT AUSTIN HIGH TO GO IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE POOL OR USE THAT, USE THAT FIELD OR GO TO THE MONKEY TREE.
SO THERE'S A SURFACE LOT THAT REMAINS IN THE PLAN.
AND THAT WOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR PEOPLE WITH, UM, LIMITED MOBILITY.
SO IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN, YOU, THERE'S NO PARKING TO USE BARTON SPRINGS POOL ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE POOL UNLESS YOU THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.
THERE'S A SURFACE LOT THERE AND SAY THE PLAYGROUND WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE BUILT THERE UNTIL THERE WAS ANOTHER PARKING SOLUTION FIGURED OUT.
SO WHETHER THAT'S MORE FREQUENT BUS ROUTES, IF YOU A STUDY IS DONE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEIR BIKE TO ZER OR PARKING OFFSITE, THEN THAT IMPROVEMENT CAN BE MADE AND TAKING OUT THOSE PARKING SPACES.
WHAT WAS THE PART YOU JUST SAID ABOUT PRIORITY FOR USING THAT SURFACE LOT? I'M SORRY, WHAT, WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION? YOU DESCRIBED SOME SITE, SOME TYPE OF MOBILITY LIMITATION TO ACCESSING THAT LOT.
YES, BECAUSE THE, THE ACCESSIBLE ROUTE INTO THE POOL IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
I'M SORRY, I'M JUST NOT QUITE FOLLOWING.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PHASING, HOW MUCH SURFACE PARKING THAT'S STILL THERE WOULD STAY.
I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.
HEY, HEY, HE, LET'S TRY TO HAVE SOME DECORUM AND LET HER ANSWER PLEASE.
I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH AN ANSWER FOR YOU.
UM, I, I'M NOT SURE IF I'M QUITE UNDERSTANDING YOUR QUESTION.
WELL, YOU, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THE WAY THE PLAN KIND OF IS SET OUT, SURFACE PARKING ISN'T REMOVED UNTIL THERE'S A, A PARKING ALTERNATIVE.
AND I THOUGHT THAT MEANT THE PARKING GARAGES BECAUSE THE NUMBERS SHOW IT KIND OF BEING EVEN ON FORMAL PARKING.
AND SO I GUESS I'LL JUST, I MEAN, SO MY CONCERN IS THEY'RE BEING PARKING AVAILABLE AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE POOL FOR PEOPLE THAT WANNA GO SWIMMING.
THERE'S NOT REALLY A, AN A, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO PARKING THAT'S BE BECOME GOING TO BECOME AVAILABLE.
THERE'S NO GAR, THERE'S NO OFFICES, THERE'S NO HIGH SCHOOL,
[00:50:01]
THERE'S NOTHING OVER THERE.SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW LONG THAT PARKING IS GONNA STAY THERE AND WHETHER OR NOT A PLAYGROUND COULD BE BUILT THAT WOULD USE THE PARKING.
AND THEN THERE'S NO MORE PARKING THERE.
IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE CREEK, UM, BEING ACCESSIBLE AND, AND BUILT THAT ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO CROSS OVER THE WATER INSTEAD OF HAVING TO MAKE A LARGE DETOUR AROUND THE POOL TO GET FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER.
SO YOU, SO IF YOU WERE COMING FROM SOUTH, THE SOUTH SIDE, YOU WOULD DRIVE AROUND AND THROUGH THE PARK AND PARK IN THE GARAGE IN THE MAIN PART, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? BECAUSE I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ACCESS THE POOL FROM AZ MARTIN AND FROM SOUTH LAMAR.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.
I'M NOT TRYING TO FLUMMOX YOU.
I JUST DON'T, I DIDN'T FOLLOW WHEN YOU SAID THE, THAT'S A LOW PRIORITY PARKING GARAGE.
I WANT TO, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, DOES THAT MEAN THE PARKING WILL STAY THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE? THE PARKING WOULD STAY UNTIL THERE'S ANOTHER VIABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR IT TO BE REMOVED FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO THE PARK.
AND WHAT'S VIABLE IS A DISCUSSION FOR A DIFFERENT DAY.
HOW WILL THAT GET DETERMINED? IT, IT'S OUTLINED IN THE PLAN, UM, ABOUT THESE OTHER OPTIONS OF MORE FREQUENT BUS SERVICE.
SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE WHEN PROJECT CONNECT AND THE LIGHT RAIL STATION IS BUILT, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING FOR PEOPLE TO COME THAT WAY, ALTHOUGH IT'S A BIT OF A FARTHER OF A DISTANCE, THERE'S NO LIGHT RAIL FROM SOUTH LAMAR THAT'S NOT PART OF IT.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S A LITTLE BIT FARTHER OF A DISTANCE, BUT PEOPLE WILL RIDE THEIR BIKE OR SCOOT OVER THERE FROM THAT DISTANCE.
OH, I DON'T TAKE THE SCOOTERS.
THEY'RE VERY DANGEROUS AND I CAN'T TAKE MY KIDS ON THEM.
I'M JUST TRYING TO, LIKE, I'M FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
SO WE'RE, I'M JUST TRYING TO LIKE UNDERSTAND AS FAR AS THOSE RESIDENTS WHAT THIS PLAN AND HOW IT WOULD WORK OUT.
SO, AND, UH, PLEASE DON'T TAKE YOUR CHILDREN ON THOSE SCOOTERS.
UM, I'M, I'M REALLY AM JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
SO LET ME JUST SEE, UM, IF
I HA HAVE TWICE HAD BIKES STOLEN IN BARTON SPRINGS AREA AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET ABOUT BIKE LOCKERS OR A MEANS OF MAKING BIKES SAFE.
IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO TRAVEL BY BIKE, HOW ARE YOU INTENDING TO KEEP THOSE BIKES FROM BEING STOLEN? ESPECIALLY WITH E-BIKES? IF I DON'T TAKE THE CITY'S VERSION OF THE E-BIKE, IF I HAVE MY OWN E-BIKE OR MY OWN BIKE, WHERE AM I GOING TO KEEP THAT, THAT IT'S SAFE? UM, I DON'T THINK WE HA GET INTO THE SPECIFICS OF BIKE LOCKERS IN THE PLAN, BUT THAT'S A, A COMMENT THAT WE'LL TAKE NOTE OF AND CONSIDER ADDITION FOR INTO THE FINAL DRAFT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS, AS, UH, DISTRICT TWO REPRESENTATIVE IS THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST INPUT FROM 7 8 7 0 4 AND 7 8 7 4 5.
DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHY, UH, THERE WAS A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF INPUT FROM THE 45? AND IF YOU DON'T, UM, YOU, YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME LATER ON THAT MM-HMM.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE WAS A REASON OR IF THERE WAS A GENERAL THEME AND THE FEEDBACK THAT, UH, RESIDENTS WHO LIVED IN THE 45, UH, WERE GIVING Y'ALL.
THOSE ARE THE ZIP CODES ADJACENT TO THE PARK.
SO THOSE WERE THE MOST ACTIVE, UH, PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS.
AND SO DURING THE PROCESS, WHETHER IT WAS A SURVEY COMMUNITY MEETING OR WHETHER WE WERE OUT AT POP-UPS AND SMALL GROUPS, UM, THOSE PARTICIPANTS FROM THOSE ZIP CODES WERE MOST PREVALENT IN THE PLANNING PROCESS.
AND THEY HAD PARTICIPATED MORE THAN ANY OTHER ZIP CODE, UM, IN OUR, OUR DATA GATHERING.
MAY I FOLLOW UP ON THAT? SINCE YOU MENTIONED THE POP-UPS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN INFORMATION ON IS WHAT PEOPLE WROTE DOWN IN THE POP-UPS.
AND SOME PEOPLE WERE TELLING US THAT THEY HAD BEEN REFERRED BACK TO THE SURVEY ONLINE.
AND I, I HAVEN'T SEEN RESULTS FROM THE POP-UPS.
WE HAD PUSHED BACK AGAINST YOU GUYS LAST SPRING ABOUT NOT HAVING ENOUGH, UH, DISPARITY IN THE RESULTS THAT WERE, UM, PEOPLE BEING PULLED ABOUT THE PARK.
AND THERE WERE POPUPS THAT WENT TO ALL, ALL THE, ALL KINDS OF GOOD PLACES, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN DATA FROM THOSE.
COULD YOU TELL ME WHERE THAT DATA IS? THE DATA FROM ALL OF THE POP-UPS THAT WE HAD, RIGHT.
THAT'S ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU GUYS LOGGED IN AS WELL AS WE DID.
SO THE STAFF LOGGED IN, ALL OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTED AT THE POP-UP SERIES, WE HAD THREE SERIES OF POP-UPS THAT ALL OF THE INFORMATION
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THAT WAS LEFT THERE, UM, AT OUR MEETINGS OR AT THE POPUP LOCATIONS WERE THEN ENTERED INTO OUR DATABASE SO THAT WE COULD LOG IN WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM AND WHAT INFORMATION THEY WERE LEAVING WITH US, DEPENDING ON THE POPUP.BECAUSE EVERY POPUP WE HAD FOLLOWED A COMMUNITY MEETING.
SO EVERY COMMUNITY MEETING HAD A DIFFERENT FOCUS.
SO THE POPUP MIRRORED WHAT WE WERE DOING AT THAT COMMUNITY MEETING.
SO THE, THE INPUT WE COLLECTED WAS INPUT INTO OUR DATA SO THAT THE DESIGN TEAM, THE PLANNING TEAM COULD PROCESS ALL THAT INFORMATION, WHICH FED INTO THE PLAN, THE CREATION OF THE PLAN, BECAUSE WE DID GET REPORTS OF PEOPLE TELLING THAT, TELLING US THAT THERE WERE, UH, PEOPLE IN THE POP-UP BOOTH TELLING 'EM THEY HAD TO GO FILL OUT SOME ONLINE SURVEY INSTEAD OF COLLECTING THEIR INFORMATION AT THE POP-UPS.
IS THAT TRUE? AT THE FIRST SERIES OF POP-UPS, WE HAD A SURVEY OPEN.
AND SO WHEN PEOPLE CAME TO THE POP-UP, WE WERE THERE TO INFORM AND EDUCATE THEM ON WHAT THE VISION PLAN WAS.
WE WERE GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT IT SO THAT WE COULD GET PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
WHEN PEOPLE SAID, HEY, WHAT I'D LIKE TO LEAVE COMMENTS, WE SAID, OKAY, WELL WE HAVE A PAPER SURVEY HERE, OR YOU CAN DO IT ONLINE AT YOUR OWN CONVENIENCE AND YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS IN THERE SO THAT THEY'RE DOCUMENTED.
WHEN IT'S DOCUMENTED IN THAT SURVEY, THEN IT GETS LOGGED INTO OUR, OUR DATABASE OF INFORMATION THAT WE'RE COLLECTING.
SO PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO LEAVE, LEAVE THEIR COMMENTS AND THEY DID THAT IN THE FORM OF THE, UM, ACTUAL SURVEY, SUBSEQUENT POP-UPS THAT FOLLOWED THE ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS WE HAD.
THE FORMAT OF THOSE POP-UPS CHANGED BECAUSE THEN PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO LEAVE, YOU KNOW, COMMENTS ON THE STICKY NOTE OR IF WE HAD A DOT, UM, SELECTION EXERCISE FOR THEM, THEY COULD DO IT THAT WAY AS WELL.
SO WHAT IF THE INPUT WAS COLLECTED AT THE FIRST POP-UP SERIES? OKAY.
AND WHEN THEY HAD TO FILL OUT THE ONLINE SURVEY, THE THINGS THAT I SAW, CUZ I CAME TO ALL THE MEETINGS, THE THINGS THAT WERE GIVEN TO YOU AS A, AS A PARTICIPANT IN THIS SURVEY WERE THESE THREE SCENARIOS, RIGHT? THEY, YOU THREE OPTIONS, THERE WAS LIKE A CAP AND STITCH AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAMES OF THEM, BUT ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAD AND ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I, I HAVE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE SAY IS THAT NO ONE HAD ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN IT AT THE SAME TIME.
AND, AND I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW YOU SUSSED ALL THAT INFORMATION OUT WHEN YOU TOOK SURVEYS THAT, DID YOU LIKE SCENARIO ONE, SCENARIO TWO, SCENARIO THREE, HOW DID YOU DETERMINE WHAT ABOUT THOSE SCENARIOS PEOPLE LIKED AND DIDN'T LIKE? WELL, THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THEM.
SO WHEN THEY LEFT THEIR PREFERENCES AND IT WASN'T AN EITHER OR, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO SELECT LIKE THE STITCH OR, YOU KNOW, THE EDGES OPTION, YOU COULD SELECT WHAT YOU LIKED ABOUT ALL THREE OF THEM.
AND FROM THAT INPUT, THE TEAM WAS ABLE TO SAY, OKAY, HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING IN THE SURVEY, HERE'S WHAT THEY SAID AT THE POP-UPS, HERE'S WHAT WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH IN TERMS OF THE SMALL GROUPS.
SO ALL OF THAT INFORMATION WAS GATHERED AND THEN AS CLAIRE SHOWED IN THE PRESENTATION EARLIER, WE HAD TO USE ALL THE OTHER RESOURCES, WHICH WERE THE OTHER PLANS HAD BEEN DONE, THE LONG RANGE PLAN, ALL THE MOBILITY PLAN, THE WATERSHED PLAN.
SO WE HAD TO ASSESS EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD COLLECTED WITH THOSE PLANS AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION 23, WHICH IS BEING UPDATED NOW.
SO WE HAD A WEALTH OF INFORMATION TO HAVE TO USE AS A RESOURCE TO HELP CREATE THE VISION THAT'S HERE BEFORE YOU, WHEN THERE WERE QUESTIONS, THESE WERE MULTIPLE CHOICE SURVEYS.
SO WHEN THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHICH THING ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT, IF YOU DIDN'T SEE YOUR OPTION, WHAT WERE YOU SUPPOSED TO ANSWER? I THINK IN SOME OF THE OPTIONS