Mar 01, 2023 Environmental Commission

HEY, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON? HERE.

COMMISSIONER KREI.

HERE.

UM, COMMISSIONER NICHOLS HERE.

COMMISSIONER SCOTT HERE.

GOT IT.

I AM HERE AS WELL.

UH, FIRST ITEM UP ON THE AGENDA

[1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on February 15, 2023 (5 minutes) (Part 1 of 2)]

IS TO REVIEW PREVIOUS MEETINGS MINUTES, UM, THAT WERE DISSEMINATED VIA EMAIL.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS THAT ELIZABETH SENT AROUND? YES, ELIZABETH, UH, ELIZABETH FUNK WATERSHED.

WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

OH, GREAT.

NEED TO LISTEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE THE MINUTES, BEFORE THE AGENDA, BEFORE THE STANDING AGENDA.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? NOT QUITE YET DO WE? WE

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S, HERE WE'VE GOT ONE GENERAL COMMENTER, UM, UH, SCOTT JOHNSON.

AND SCOTT, YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES AND IF YOU HAVE ANY SLIDES OR ANYTHING, WHICH YOU PLEASE PROVIDE THEM.

THANK YOU, SCOTT.

PRIOR TO THE BUDGET PROCESS TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE BUDGETING FOR FOR AIR QUALITY PROGRAM.

MY NAME IS SCOTT JOHNSON AND I CAME TO MY FIRST ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING IN 1994, AND I'M BACK AGAIN, BUT I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE.

AND I'M COMING TODAY TO YOU TO TALK ABOUT AN EVENT THAT I'M HOSTING, A COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER AND FILM SCREENING OF THE MOVIE CHASING CORAL THAT CAME OUT IN 2017.

I HAVE FLYERS I CAN GIVE TO Y'ALL, AND THOSE FLYERS HAVE A QR CODE.

SO WE KNOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS CHANGING OUR WORLD AND OUR LIFE.

THIS MOVIE IS CONDENSING 500 HOURS OF VIDEO FOOTAGE UNDERWATER TO A SECOND AT 6:00 PM AND THERE'S GONNA BE SOME ENTERTAINMENT, AND THEN THERE'S GONNA BE, UH, ONE OF THE LEADING FOLKS.

AND SHE LIVES IN AUSTIN ON CORALS, IN CORAL REEFS.

SHE'S WRITTEN A BOOK AND SHE'S GONNA BE THERE TO LEAD THE SHORT PRESENTATION AND THEN THE QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION AFTERWARDS.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HER AND ANOTHER WOMAN WHO'S A DOCTORAL STUDENT FROM THE UT GENETICS LAB FOR CORAL.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M DOING AFTER, UH, HAVE PAY SOME FIXED COSTS WITH THE ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE, I'M GONNA WORK TO FUND ON A ONE-TIME BASIS FOR CAUSES.

ONE OF THE CAUSES IS A GOFUNDME SITE FOR THE LATE JACK GOODMAN, HER, HIS HU HIS WIFE JACKIE GOODMAN IS A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER AND THEY HAVE SOME COSTS RELATED TO HIS CARE OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS AS, AS HE WAS THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER.

ANOTHER OF THE CAUSES IS CALLED THE HOMELESS STUDENT FUND, AND THAT FUND IS ON THE UTILITY BILL.

NOW, I UNFORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO TAKE THAT FROM START TO FINISH FROM 2020 UNTIL NOW.

CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IT LAST YEAR.

THE PARKS AND LIBRARIES FUND'S BEEN ON THE UTILITY BILL SINCE 2013, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO ME.

I TOOK THAT START TO FINISH.

THE PARKS PART OF THAT FUNDS HALF THE SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT FOR FAMILIES THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THOSE PARK PROGRAMS SUCH AS CAMPS OR LEAGUES.

AND THE FOURTH ONE IS ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNAGE FOR THE BULL CREEK WATERSHED, WHICH IS A VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA THAT WOULD BE ON RM 2222 THAT GOT KNOCKED DOWN.

THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS TO CARE ABOUT THESE, AND I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER COMING ON THIS SHEET AGAIN THAT I CAN HAND OUT THROUGH, THROUGH STAFF.

THERE'S A QR CODE THAT HAS THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND WHY ON IT.

AND THE THE TICKETS ARE NOT SOLD THROUGH THE ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE.

SO AS THE HOST AND THE ORGANIZER, I DO THAT PART AND ALL THE PROMOTIONS.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE NOW.

IF I HAVE MORE TIME, I AM A RESOURCE FOR, FOR AIR QUALITY, WHICH IS HOW I CAME TO KNOW THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AT THAT TIME AND TALKED TO THEM MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS, ALMOST ONCE PER YEAR SINCE THAT TIME.

NOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CLIMATE, BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT AIR QUALITY AS WELL.

AND THIS BOARD OR COMMISSION NOW DOES HAVE PURVIEW IN RELATION TO AIR QUALITY.

IT'S JUST THAT IT HASN'T BEEN UTILIZED.

IT'S A LOT ABOUT CUT AND FILL AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I WOULD WELCOME YOU TO CONTACT THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.

ZACH BOMBER IS THE NEW INTERIM DIRECTOR REPLACING LUCIA ATHENS.

AND YOU COULD HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION

[00:05:01]

THANK YOU, SCOTT.

YEAH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, PLEASE EMAIL AND GET ELECTRONIC COPIES TO ELIZABETH SO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS CAN GET IT, NOT NOT ONLY US THAT ARE HERE, UH, IN PERSON.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

YES, APPRECIATE IT.

ALL

[1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on February 15, 2023 (5 minutes) (Part 2 of 2)]

HERE A LITTLE BIT, UM, AND PULL UP, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE BECAUSE OF SOME TIME CONSTRAINTS FOR THE APPLICANT.

UM, WE'RE NOW MOVING, UH, BACK, BACK TO THE MINUTES FROM BEFORE.

UH, SO ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DRAFT MINUTES THAT WERE DISSEMINATED? MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

UM, I WAS GONNA GIVE IT TO YOU.

NO, YOU'RE GOOD.

UH, ALRIGHT.

GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE PREVIOUS MEETING'S MINUTES? RAISE YOUR HAND, THOMPSON.

YOU ABSTAINING? OKAY.

ALL ALL THOSE AGAINST ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

SO, UH, ALL VOTE FOR EXCEPT FOR THOMPSON WHO ABSTAINED.

UM, ALRIGHT, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

UM, WE'RE GONNA JUGGLE

[3. Request from the City of Manor to release approximately 48 acres of Austin Extraterritorial Jurisdiction located near 15416 Littig Rd, to be transferred to Manor Extraterritorial Jurisdiction and subsequently annexed into Manor’s Full Purpose Jurisdiction. – Andrei Lubomudrov, Senior Planner, Housing and Planning Department (30 minutes)]

UM, AND, UH, SO WE'RE GONNA PULL UP, UH, NUMBER THREE AND THEN COME BACK AND CIRCLE BACK TO NUMBER TWO.

SO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A REQUEST FROM THE CITY OF MANOR TO RELEASE APPROXIMATELY 48 ACRES OF AUSTIN EXTRA TERRITORY, EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION LOCATED AT 15,416 LITIG ROAD, UM, TO BE TRANSFERRED TO MAYER E T J AND SUBSEQUENT ANNEXED INTO MAYER'S FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION FOR DISCUSSION TO START.

IS THIS MIC WORKING? YES.

UH, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ON THIS, UH, REQUEST FOR A RELEASE OF OUR EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION FROM THE CITY OF MAYNARD.

UH, THE REQUEST IS FOR 48 HOUR, UH, 48 ACRES, AND I WILL GO OVER THE DETAILS THROUGH THIS, UM, PRESENTATION.

AND I WOULD ALSO, I WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS FURTHER.

SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SUBJECT TRACK.

THERE IS, THERE ARE A COUPLE, UM, UH, LOCATION SLIDES LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT JUST TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW, UH, THE PROPOSED RELEASE IS PART OF A LARGER DEVELOPMENT, THE MAYER SPRINGS DEVELOPMENT.

THAT WHOLE PROPERTY IS, UM, PLANNED TO BE ABOUT 388 ACRES, SO ABOUT, UH, 348 AC.

340 ACRES WILL BE, UM, ARE CURRENTLY IN MAIN OR E T J.

THE REQUEST IS FOR THE BALANCE OF THAT TRACK TRACKED.

IT'S ABOUT 12% OR SO OF THE TOTAL TRACK 48 ACRES.

THE ACCESS TO THE SITE, UH, IS THROUGH TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, ROAD, LITIG ROAD.

UM, IT'S, AND THE TRACK THAT'S PROPOSED FOR A RELEASE IS NORTH OF THAT ROAD.

YOU'LL SEE THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE LOCATIONS, UH, SLIDES.

AND ALSO OF NOTE, A PORTION OF THE SITE IS, UH, DOES INCLUDE FLOODPLAIN AND THAT, THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT AS WELL.

AND WE'VE BUILT SOME, UH, STIPULATIONS AROUND THAT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RELEASE.

JUST TO PROVIDE A BIT OF AN OVERVIEW.

THERE'S A, A CITY COUNCIL POLICY THAT GOVERNS PROPOSED, PROPOSED EJ RELEASES.

AND WE, WE REVIEW THOSE IN TERMS OF THE, THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACT ON ANNEXATION.

SO OUR BIGGER JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES, WE LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF RELEASING THAT ETJ, THEN WE LOOK AT PLANNED INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREA.

UH, WE LOOK AT JUST SORT OF, UH, IF THERE'S BEEN A SERIES OF REQUESTS AND HOW THAT ACCUMULATES OVER TIME.

AND THEN WE LOOK AT THE PARTICULAR PROPERTY TO SEE IF THERE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT APPLY THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR CONSIDERATION OF THE RELEASE.

COLLABORATIVELY AS, AS STAFF TO, TO ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED RELEASE.

SO, AS ALLUDED TO, WE LOOK AT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS THAT WOULD APPLY IF THE RELEASE WERE GRANTED.

AND GENERALLY THIS CITY COUNCIL POLICY CALLS FOR EQUIVALENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO BE PROVIDED ON LAND THAT'S RELEASED FROM THE JURIS, THE CITY'S JURISDICTION.

UM, AND, AND WE'VE WORKED

[00:10:01]

AND WE'VE BUILT SOME CONDITIONS AROUND THAT RELEASE THAT I WILL DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO A LITTLE LOCATION MAP OF A LA A LARGER SCALE LOCATION MAP OF THE SITE.

UM, THE, THE SITE YOU CAN SEE IS HIGHLIGHTED AND OUTLINED IN BLACK IN, IN THAT PICTURE, AND IT IS NORTH OF LITIG ROAD.

LITIG ROAD IS THE ROAD THAT RUNS KIND OF EAST, EAST WEST THAT GENERALLY DEMARCATES OUR E T J BOUNDARY WITH, UH, TO THE NORTH.

UM, AND THIS IS NORTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE CITY OF MAYER IS ACTUALLY TO THE, UH, WEST OF THIS PROPOSED RELEASE.

AND IT'S ABOUT, IT'S A LITTLE OVER FOUR MILES FROM OUR EXISTING FULL PURPOSE CITY LIMITS.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

HERE'S A LITTLE BIT, UM, CLOSER IN VIEW OF THE PROPOSED RELEASE AREA.

AND SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S, UH, THE CURRENT USE IS AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE TYPE USES.

UM, AND THE NORTHERN SECTION OF THE SITE DOES HAVE, UM, FLOOD PLAIN ON IT.

UH, THAT IS ABOUT, I'D SAY, I DUNNO, THIRD OR SO TO OF THE TOTAL SITE AREA.

AND, UM, AND THAT FLOODPLAIN RUNS UP ALSO INTO THE MAINER EJ AREA THERE.

SO, SO STAFF WORKED WITH THE APPLICANT TO, I END THE CITY OF MAYNARD TO IDENTIFY CONDITIONS FOR THE RELEASE OF THIS AREA.

AND WE'VE, UM, BUILT CONSENSUS AROUND RELEASING IT.

UH, GIVEN THAT CITY OF AUSTIN SUBURBAN WATERSHED, UH, IN PERUS COVER RESTRICTIONS ARE MAINTAINED FOR THAT AREA, THAT GREEN STORM WATER QUALITY CONTROLS ARE AVAILABLE TO TREAT THE WATER QUALITY VOLUME.

UH, THAT THERE'S A 300 FOOT CREEK SETBACK FOR THE COTTONWOOD CREEK THAT, UM, THAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE, IN THE PHOTOS THAT ARE, IT'S ALSO FLOODPLAIN AND TO PROTECT THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES THAT ARE WITHIN, UM, 150 FEET OF THE SETBACK.

SO JUST AN OVERVIEW.

UH, THIS IS A REQUEST OF FROM THE CITY OF MAYER, UH, FOUR, IT'S ABOUT FOUR MILES FROM OUR CITY LIMITS.

UM, AND SO THAT, THAT WE'VE FOUND TO NOT HAVE A POTENTIAL IMPACT ON ANNEXATION IN THE, AND PART OF THE, THE PUT AGREEMENT AND A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MAYER.

THE LAND THAT WOULD BE RELEASED WOULD BE EVENTUALLY ANNEXED BY THE CITY OF MAYER AND THEREFORE GOVERNED BY CITY OF MAYER FULL PURPOSE REGULATIONS INSTEAD OF JUST MAYER ET J REGULATIONS.

UH, THE RELEASE WOULD ACCOMMODATE, UH, STREAMLINED DEVELOPMENT.

AS I UH MENTIONED, THE, THE RELEASE TRACT IS PART OF A LARGER DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO WE LOOK AT THAT IN TERMS OF THE KIND OF ASSESSING A HARDSHIP OR EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO COMPLY WITH TWO JURISDICTIONAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS FOR ONE DEVELOPMENT, UH, ONE SITE THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED.

SO, SO THIS WOULD ALLOW THE, THE APPLICANT TO HAVE THAT STREAMLINED REVIEW.

AND WE'VE LOOKED ALSO AT THE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS THAT THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE UNDER MAYER FULL PURPOSE.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE COULD BE, THAT THOSE ARE AMENABLE WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED, UM, AS PART OF THE RELEASE.

AND SO OUR, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS FOR SUPPORTING THIS, UM, EJ RELEASE FROM THE CITY OF MAYER, AND WE ASK YOU TO CONSIDER OUR RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT.

UM, IS ANYONE FROM THE CITY OF MAYER OR I GUESS THE, THE PUT UH, APPLICANT HERE TO, TO PRESENT OR YEAH, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, STATE YOUR NAME AND, UH, BEFORE YOU START.

SORRY, I'M A LITTLE BIT SHORT.

GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

UM, AND STAFF.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

MY NAME IS CATHERINE NICELY, I'M WITH MEDCALF WOLF, STEWART AND WILLIAMS, AND WE ALSO HAVE SCOTT DUNLAP, THE CITY PLANNER FROM THE CITY OF MAYNARD ON THE PHONE LINE.

SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO, TO ANSWER.

I HAD A SMALL PRESENTATION.

[00:15:02]

I THINK ANDRE DID A GREAT JOB, BY THE WAY, SO I JUST HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY, UH, FIND INTERESTING.

YEAH, I THINK IT WAS UP A SECOND AGO.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

SO I'M HERE FOR ITEM THREE.

UM, THE 47.6 ACRES IN THE CITY OF MAYER, WE'RE REQUESTING FOR THE E T J RELEASE FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THIS IS THE PROPERTY THAT COVERS MAYER AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AND THE TRACT, WHICH HAS SMALL LETTERS, I SHOULD HAVE MADE THAT BIGGER, IS ACTUALLY HALF IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND HALF IN THE CITY OF MAYER.

YOU CAN SHOW IT THERE, THERE YOU GO.

THAT TRACT HAS, FOR SOME REASON, IT'S HALF AND HALF.

AND SO WE'RE ONLY REQUESTING FOR THE RELEASE ON THE BLUE SIDE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO, UH, CREATE THE WHOLE DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE OWNER, I REPRESENT THE OWNER URBANIST AND THEY WERE, THEY'RE GONNA DEVELOP A PUT, SO WE'RE GONNA GET ANNEXED AND DO A PUT WITH THE CITY OF MAINER.

WE'RE WORKING ON THEM, UH, WITH THEM ON SEVERAL ITEMS, BUT WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNLESS THIS GETS RELEASED.

LIKE, UM, ANDRE MENTIONED NEXT SLIDE.

AND THIS IS JUST, UH, WHAT ANDRE HADN'T MENTIONED.

I DID WANNA ADD THAT THERE'S SOME CRITICAL WATER QUALITY, UH, ZONE THAT IS ADDED THERE, SO WE WON'T BE DEVELOPING THERE EITHER.

AND THERE'S A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFI, SORRY, A WET, A WETLAND THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.

AND SO WE'LL CREATE THE BUFFERS THAT ARE NEEDED BASED ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN CODE.

THAT'S JUST A SURVEY OF THE 47.6 ACRES.

SO, UM, THEY ACTUALLY ACQUIRED MORE LAND AND SO WE'RE AT 549 ACRES OF LAND AT THIS POINT.

AND 167, MORE OR LESS OF THE WHOLE PROPERTY ARE IN THE FLOODPLAIN.

THE PLAN IS TO, UM, BECOME A PUT THAT HAS OVER 30 ACRES OF PARK AMENITIES.

IT HAS OVER 200 ACRES OF HEAVILY AMENITIZED PARKLAND AREAS, AND THE DETENTION AREAS WILL BE ALSO AMENITIZED.

THE IDEA THAT URBANIST HAS IS FOR THIS TO BECOME A HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER WHERE EVERYBODY CAN WALK TO A CENTRALIZED PARK, A CREEK, OR ANY TYPE OF ACCESS TO, UH, NATURE.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY EXCITING PROJECT.

THIS IS WHAT, I KNOW IT'S SMALL, BUT THIS IS OUR PRELIMINARY DRAFT AND THERE'S GONNA BE JOGGING PATHS, EDUCATION CENTER AREAS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, APHY THEATERS, BIKE PATHS, FOREST PLAYGROUND, THERE'S A LAGOON THERE, THERE'S A HUGE PARK AREA.

UM, AND THE IDEA IS TO CREATE THIS WHOLE AMENITY THAT, UH, PEOPLE CAN WALK HALF A MILE AND JUST GET THERE.

AGAIN, I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE THE FEATURES BECAUSE I KNOW THE CITY OF MADE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

WE HAVE, UM, ITEMS FOR FAMILIES TO BE ENTERTAINED, BUT ALSO FOR TEENS THAT WAS HUGE FOR THE CITY OF MAYNOR.

SO WE HAVE TENNIS AREAS, PICKLEBALL, COMMUNITY GARDENS, PLAYGROUNDS, THE SWIMMING LAGOON THAT I MENTIONED, THE AMEN IN POND AREAS AND THE LAKES, UH, THAT WOULD BE FOR BOATING, FISHING IN ROWING.

AND, UM, I JUST DID A, A SNAPSHOT OF THE AREA THAT IS BEING RELEASED, AND SO IT'S THAT BOTTOM SOUTHERN PORTION AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE MASTER PLAN, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU ALL THAT THOSE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES ARE GONNA BE GREEN AREAS WE'RE SETTING BACK FROM THE FLOODPLAINS, UM, SETTING BACK FROM THE WATER POND, ALL THE STUFF THAT, AND ANDREA SAID, WE'RE AGREEING ON THAT AND THAT WOULD BE ADDED IN THE PUT NEXT SLIDE.

AND JUST TO SUMMARIZE, WE'RE ASKING THE CITY MAINERS ASKING FOR THE RELEASE OF 47.6 ACRES OF LAND FROM THE AUSTIN E DK AND WE ARE AGREED ON THE PROVISIONS I JUST MENTIONED.

WE'RE ALSO, UH, IN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON THE, UM, THE TREE ORDINANCE BECAUSE CITY OF MAYNOR APPARENTLY HAS A, A MORE STRICT STREET OR TRUE ORDINANCE.

SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL.

THE NEXT STEPS AFTER YOU GUYS APPROVE THIS AND RECOMMEND THIS, WE'LL GO TO, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN COUNCIL, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF MANOR AND THEIR PUD.

UM, WE ARE, WE'LL ADD THE RECOMMENDATIONS, LIKE I SAID, THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS, UM, MOVED FORWARD WITH, AND THEN WE WOULD DO ANNEXATION AND BE PART OF THE CITY OF MAYER.

AND I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

AND LIKE I SAID, SCOTT IS IN THE PHONE IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS OR REASSURANCE OF WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

YEAH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON PLEASE.

UM, ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, UH, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT OR THE CITY OF MAYNARD OR CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF? UH, WE'LL START REMOTE WITH YOU GUYS.

[00:20:02]

UM, SO IF WE ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT BEFORE THEY'RE ANNEXED, IS THE AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER OR WITH THE CITY OF MAYNOR AND IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD, DO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS STILL HOLD? IF THIS IS BROKEN UP INTO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO WE ARE MAKING THE AGREEMENT WITH.

OH, I, I WOULD, BUT, UM, SORRY.

THANK YOU .

I WOULD CHARACTERIZE IT AS A KIND OF A THREE-WAY AGREEMENT BETWEEN US, THE CITY OF MAYER AND THE APPLICANT.

AND, UH, THE REASON WHY IT HAS TO BE THAT WAY IS BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE CODIFIED IN THE MAYER PUD AND IT IS A BIT OF A CHICKEN AND EGG PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PU CAN'T BE ADOPTED UNTIL THIS AREA IS RELEASED.

IT CAN'T BE, IT CAN'T BE, WE CAN'T SORT OF HANG ONTO THE AREA AND THEN THEY GO FORWARD WITH THE PUT FOR AN AREA THAT'S NOT IN THEIR JURISDICTIONS.

TAKE A BIT OF A LEAP OF FAITH THERE IN THE, IN BEGINNINGS.

BUT, UM, MAYNARD HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE APPLICANT AND I THINK YOU KNOW THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM HOW THEY WILL STRUCTURE THOSE REQUIREMENTS INTO THE POD.

THEY HAVE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND A POD THAT ARE BOTH CURRENTLY, UM, IN THE, IN THE IN PROGRESS, UH, WAS SUBMITTED LAST JULY.

AND SO THAT WILL BE MOVING THROUGH THEIR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND COUNCIL PROCESS AND THEY, THEY MAY BE BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO YOU.

YEAH, I WOULD SAY YES, I WOULD SAY, SCOTT, IF YOU'RE ON THE PHONE, YEAH, PLEASE, UM, KIND OF SPEAK TO THAT IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE.

UH, YES, UM, UM, Y'ALL CAN HEAR ME RIGHT? YES.

UM, ALRIGHT, UM, EVENING COMMISSIONER.

UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND I ALSO THANK YOU FOR REARRANGING YOUR, YOUR AGENDA.

UH, WE HAVE CITY COUNCIL HERE AT SEVEN, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, AND YEAH, CATHERINE AND ANDRE HAVE MENTIONED, UM, THIS IS A PUT FOR US IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND SO THE, THE CONSIDERATIONS YOU'RE LOOKING TO ADD WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PUT AND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, THERE MAY, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITY, I'M NOT SURE, I MIGHT HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR LEGAL ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AGREEMENTS BEFOREHAND TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE KEPT.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE VALUE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA, UM, YOU KNOW, SAY WELL INCLUDE THESE AND THEN NOT, UM, WE, YOU'RE, YOUR, YOUR REQUEST FOR THESE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS AND REGULATIONS IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE TO US.

UM, AND WE WILL CARRY THOSE THROUGH.

OH, OKAY.

I HAVE, UM, I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY HAS GOOD FAITH INTENTIONS, BUT SAY FINANCING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, UM, ARE, WOULD IT REVERT IF THE PEG DID NOT GO THROUGH TO LIKE TRAVIS COUNTY? I MEAN, WHAT WOULD THE RULES BE IF WE RELEASE IT AND IT'S NOT ANNEXED? WHERE WOULD IT BE? IF, IF THE LAND WERE RELEASED AND, AND NOT ANNEXED, THEN IT WOULD BE IN, IN MAIN OR E T J.

SO WE'LL BE RELEASING IT TO MAYER E T J AND THE CONDITIONS COME IN WITH FURTHER ANNEXATION AFTER THAT RELEASE, BUT IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE IN THEIR JURISDICTION.

SO WE WOULD BE LIMITED IN TERMS OF OUR PURVIEW OVER THAT LAND ONCE IT'S RELEASED.

SO MY, MY QUESTION IS THEN COULD WE ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MAYER ON THE PRINCIPLES OF ANNEXATION INSTEAD OF THE PUT? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE, UM, A LOT OF TIMES WE SEEM TO BE ABLE TO TRADE THINGS WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THERE ARE SWAPS THAT GO ON.

SO IN THIS INSTANCE THERE ISN'T.

I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THAT COULD, UM, BE PART OF THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS THAT ARE MENTIONED HERE.

UM, BEING ATTACHED TO THE LAND IS MY REASON FOR QUESTIONING THIS.

EJ, THERE'S AN AGREEMENT FOR THESE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS ON THAT PORTION OF PROPERTY.

SORRY, IF I MAY FOR, FOR MAYER, UM, I MEAN I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK WITH OUR LEGAL AND OUR COUNCIL LOOK DO IT AS WELL.

UM, BUT I, AT THE STAFF LEVEL, YOU KNOW, I'M AGREEABLE TO, UM, AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MANOR AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT WHILE THIS PROPERTY IS STILL IN EJ, UM, AND OBVIOUSLY AFTERWARDS, BUT IN THAT INTERIM, IN THAT INSTANCE, LIKE WHEN IT TRANSFERS FROM YOUR EJ TO MANOR'S

[00:25:01]

SO IF IN THE INSTANCE THIS, THIS PROJECT DOESN'T GO THROUGH AND THE ANNEXATION DOESN'T OCCUR, THAT AGREEMENT WOULD STILL STAND FOR ANY FUTURE PROJECT AND ANNEXATION.

I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

COMMISSIONER SHERA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY, THANK YOU KREI.

HEY Y'ALL, UH, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST HAD A QUESTION.

UM, AS FAR AS LIKE THE LAND USE FOR THIS, I KNOW Y'ALL MENTIONED LIKE, UH, A HEALTH AND AND WELLNESS SORT OF FOCUS AREA.

ARE WE TALKING LIKE PURELY RESIDENTIAL HERE? BECAUSE MY SORT OF QUESTION WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE PARKS LOOK COOL, THE TRAILS LOOK COOL, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU STILL GOTTA DRIVE 10 MINUTES TO THE MAINER WALMART OR YOU KNOW, 15 MINUTES TO THE HEB OR WHATEVER, UM, YOU KNOW, STILL PERHAPS NOT AS GREEN AS IT COULD BE IF LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME COMMERCIAL SPACE ON THAT AREA AS WELL THAT, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS COULD ACCESS, LIKE WHATEVER GROCERY STORE, YOU KNOW, LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD.

UH, THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH MY ONLY QUESTION.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR THE QUESTION.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE BUD, BUT THERE IS A COMMERCIAL MIXED USE COMPONENT, UM, BUSINESS CENTER AND, UM, OTHER COMPONENTS ON IT, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, THE CITY OF MAINER AND THOSE ELEMENTS, UH, WE HAVE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THERE IS A LACK OF DESTINATIONS ALSO TO CREATE WALKABLE COMMUNITIES.

SO THAT'S THE IDEA.

AND THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS WELLNESS IS REALLY GEARED TOWARDS THAT TO MAKE IT A WALKABLE COMMUNITY.

IT IS, UM, NOT TO GET INTO MUCH DETAIL BECAUSE WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PRESENTATIONS FOR THAT, BUT IT IS A, UH, URBANIST, UM, DESIGN AND SO THAT IS THE IDEA AS WELL TO HAVE DIVERSE, UM, HOUSING AND HAVE, UH, THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVE THAT BEAUTIFUL FLOOD PLANE BE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PROCESS.

YEAH, FOR SURE.

I GREW UP IN THE COUNTRY BURBS AROUND HERE, SO, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER GROWING UP IN CAT HOLLOW WHEN THEY PUT AN H E B THERE, IT WAS BASICALLY LIKE OUR LIVES CHANGED OVERNIGHT AND A BLOCKBUSTER, BUT BLOCKBUSTER IS IRRELEVANT NOWADAYS, SO APPRECIATE IT.

UH, YEAH, SCOTT, THANKS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME LANGUAGE, UM, UH, IN OUR, UM, WHEN WE FINALIZE THIS, UH, IF WE, IF WE, UH, DO APPROVE IT TO, UH, THAT IT WOULD INCLUDE, UH, WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, THOMPSON WAS, UH, SUGGESTING THAT THAT, UH, AS A CONDITION OF THE, UH, UM, OF THE TRANSFER OF THE, OF THE, UH, PROPERTY THAT, UH, THE WOULD BE, UH, CONDITIONED ON, UM, THE, UM, SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP.

AND, UH, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, UM, SOUNDS LIKE A EXCITING, UH, PROJECT.

I, I GET THE FEELING WE DIDN'T GET THE FULL SCOPE OF IT.

I ASSUME THAT THIS IS A, UH, LARGELY RESIDENTIAL, UH, DEVELOPMENT, BUT YOU ARE YOUR YOUR'RE ADDING, UM, A PARK AREA AND YOU'RE ADDING SOME, UH, COMMERCIAL AREAS TO HELP MAKE IT MORE, UM, ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE LIVING IN THE AREA.

IS THAT CORRECT? I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY, OH, ANOTHER, YES, COMMISSIONER IN, IN ORDER TO CREATE A WALKABLE COMMUNITY, WE'RE ADDING DESTINATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL MIX USE AND, UH, THE PARK AREAS.

SO WHY AREN'T SHE DOING IT IN AUSTIN? ? NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.

IT'S OKAY.

I'LL, I'LL LET MY CLIENT KNOW AND GET BACK TO YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS GUI? YES.

I JUST HAVE A REAL QUICK QUESTION.

IS ANY PART OF A FLOODPLAIN IN THE TRA ON IN THE AUSTIN ATJ OR IS IT ALL IN THE MAINER? I I CAN ANSWER THAT.

UH, YEAH, IF YOU, IF YOU COULD MAYBE FIND THE SLIDE WITH THE FLOODPLAIN MAP UP, BUT YEAH, PORTION OF THE FLOODPLAIN IS IN AUSTIN, E T J.

SO IS THAT FLOODPLAIN DEFINED BASED ON THE ATLAS 14 OR IS IT THE OLD FORMULA? IS IT USING ATLAS 14? YES.

YEAH, IT'S, IT'S ATLAS 14, THAT'S CORRECT.

UM, I SEE THAT, AND FIRST OFF, THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.

QUESTION, GO FOR IT.

[00:30:01]

UM, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT YOU'VE, YOU'RE PROTECTING A LOT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

THAT'S GREAT.

YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A, UM, AREA ON ONE SIDE THAT'S, UM, KIND OF OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN, I GUESS.

I, I CAN'T SEE ANY CREEK OVER HERE, BUT, UM, AND IT'S, IT'S PART OF YOUR OPEN SPACE THERE.

THIS IS BLACK LAMP PRAIRIE.

AND IS THERE ANY SPACE IN HERE THAT WILL FEATURE OR HIGHLIGHT THE BLACK LAMP PRAIRIE OR PROTECT IT? WE HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO THAT, BUT I CAN, I CAN ASK THE, THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND MY CLIENT ABOUT THAT.

, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE AREAS, YOU KNOW, THAT IS REALLY, UM, BEING, UH, WELL LAID WAYS TO VERY QUICKLY.

UM, AND SO LOOKING AT THE BLACKLAND PRAIRIE, HOW A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PRESERVE A PIECE OF THAT.

AND THEN YOU MENTIONED THE LAKE.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHERE THE LAKE WILL BE AND HOW BIG THAT'LL BE? IT'S, UH, THEY'RE TWO AND, AND, AND YOU HAVE PROBABLY WHAT WE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY OF MAYER, WHICH THAT HAS CHANGED TOO OVER THE, WHICH STILL WORKING ON THE PUT AND THE DESIGN.

BUT IF YOU, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN GET MY SLIDE UP.

THERE IS A LAKE ON THE EAST AND THEN THERE'S A LAGOON ON THE WEST SIDE OF THAT ROAD.

SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY DIFFERENT FEATURES.

UM, LET ME SEE HERE.

UM, THAT'S THE ONE BEFORE, SORRY, THE ONE BEFORE BEFORE ONE MORE ONE.

THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S KIND OF SMALL, BUT THERE IS A LAGOON, UM, THAT GOES WHERE THE PURPLE AREA IS.

ABOVE THAT, THERE'S GREEN AREA.

ALL THAT IS GREEN BECAUSE WE HAD TO SUBMIT IT AS PART OF THE OPEN SPACE.

AND THEN THERE'S LAKES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE ROAD.

UM, THEY'RE NONE IN THE E T J THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE AUSTIN.

IT'S ALL IN THE CITY OF MAINOR ET J AND THEN THERE'S DIFFERENT, UM, DIFFERENT, UH, LAKES AND PONDS THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT.

OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT IS SWA AND THEY'RE GONNA PUT TOGETHER, UM, A WHOLE SET OF, OF, UH, RULES FOR THOSE THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED WITH THE POD.

AND ARE THOSE WITHIN THE FLOODPLAIN OR ARE THEY OUTSIDE OF THE FLOOD PLAIN? THEY ARE OUTSIDE THE FLOODPLAIN.

UM, THE LAGON IS, AND THE LAKES ARE, AND THEN THEY ARE TRYING TO, I THINK THERE'S A PICTURE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT MADE IT IN THERE, THERE IS A PICTURE OF THE FLOODPLAIN AREA WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO MITIGATE AND CREATE MORE OF A, A NICER SLOPE AND MITIGATE A LOT OF THE BRUSH THAT'S THERE.

AND SO THEY ARE RESTORING SOME OF IT, SOME OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

AND, AND SO WILL THESE LAKES ALSO BE PART OF LIKE A, UH, WATER, UH, DETENTION SYSTEM OR RUNOFF SYSTEM, OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? YEAH, , WELL, WE ACTUALLY HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH SCOTT WHO'S IN THE PHONE.

SO , HE DOES NOT WANT THE TENSION PONDS TO BE COUNTED AS FLOODPLAIN AREAS, SO WE ACTUALLY ARE PULLING THOSE OUT AND GRADING FEATURES.

AND SO THE DETENTION PONDS WON'T BE SENT SUNK IN GRASS AREAS.

THEY EITHER HAVE TO HAVE A PROGRAM AND IT'S ONLY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.

AND SO WE'RE WRITING THAT INTO THE POD.

UM, AND THEN, UM, SO IN THE, IN THE MAINER CODE, IS THERE, UM, Y'ALL HAVE A WETLAND PROTECTION, UH, WITHIN THE MAINER CODE? IS THAT, I KNOW WE TURNED IN THE COMPARISON CODES, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER IF, UM, THAT WAS THE CASE.

UM, SO LESLIE LILLY WATERSHED PROTECTION, UM, THERE'S NOT CURRENTLY, UH, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE PROTECTIONS IN THE MAINER LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, BUT WE WILL BE APPLYING THE, UH, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE PROTECTIONS ON THE TRACT THAT IS PROPOSED FOR RELEASE FOR THE CFS THAT ARE FOUND ON THAT SITE, SIMILAR TO, UH, THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY IMPOSED, UM, AND PROVIDE PROTECTIONS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN JURISDICTION.

OKAY, SO JUST WITH THE, JUST WITH THE TRACK THAT'S BEING CONVEYED? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY, GREAT.

UM, MAKE SURE I DIDN'T WRITE DOWN ANYTHING ELSE ON THE OTHER LITTLE SHEET HERE.

I THINK THAT'S IT.

IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT'S THERE.

UM, I, EXCUSE ME, I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION.

I WAS KIND OF WONDERING, UM, IF YOU COULD TELL, TALK MORE ABOUT THE EDUCATION AREAS THAT YOU ARE PLANNING.

YEAH, YEAH.

WELL, THE CITY OF MAYARD, WE'VE WORKED ON SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH THE CITY OF MAYARD.

THAT'S HUGE FOR THEM IN ORDER TO HAVE ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATION AREAS FOR TEENS AND, AND FAMILIES.

SO WE'LL HAVE, UM, COMMUNITY GARDENS, BUT ALSO TRAILS THAT ARE EDUCATIONAL.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT AMPH THEATERS

[00:35:01]

THERE'S GONNA BE TENANTS AND PICKLEBALL, AND THOSE WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SO THAT'S A HUGE PLUS FOR THE CITY OF MAINER.

THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING TOGETHER A MENU OF ITEMS THAT COULD BE ADDED IN THE PUT, UH, I HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY A FOND OF THAT, AND SO WE'RE PUSHING FOR THAT.

, THANK YOU.

I ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S FOR CITY STAFF, BUT THE STAFF CONDITION THAT WAS 300 FOOT SETBACK, I BELIEVE, ALONG THE CREEK.

IS THAT TOTAL 300 OR 300 ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CENTER LINE? IT'S THE 300 FEET ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CENTER LINE.

SO LIKE A, A MAJOR CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, UH, IN THE AUSTIN JURISDICTION.

LAST CALL FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, STAFF MAYER, UH, CITY STAFF AND APPLICANT.

I THINK WE HAVE A DRAFT MOTION.

MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I'M GONNA AT YOUR, AT YOUR LEISURE.

LEISURE.

GOT A LOT TO READ HERE, SO HOLD ON.

UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, PARTICIPANTS FOR, FOR STICKING AROUND FOR THAT.

MARCH 1ST, 2023.

SUBJECT, PROPOSED RELEASE OF APPROXIMATELY 48 ACRES, THE AUSTIN EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION ET J TO THE CITY OF MAYER, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT THE TRANSFER OF THE 48 ACRES IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED POLICY REGARDING EJ ADJUSTMENTS, AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE ANNEX ANNEXATION OF THIS TRACT BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS NOT FEASIBLE IN THE LONG TERM, GIVEN ITS LOCATION OF APPROXIMATELY 4.25 MILES FROM THE FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES RELEASING THIS AREA WOULD NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT ANY EXISTING OR PLANNED CITY INVESTMENT IN UTILITY OR ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT STAFF FROM WATERSHED PROTECTION HAVE REVIEWED THE PUR PROPOSED RELEASE AND FIND IT AGREEABLE WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

NUMBER ONE, MAINTAIN CITY OF AUSTIN SUBURBAN WATERSHED AND PERVIOUS COVER RESTRICTIONS.

TWO, PROVIDE GREEN STORM WATER QUALITY CONTROLS TO TREAT 100% OF THE WATER QUALITY VOLUME.

THREE, ESTABLISHED 300 FOOT CREEK SETBACKS FROM COTTONWOOD CREEK.

FOUR, PROTECT EXISTING CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES WITHIN A HUNDRED AND, UH, FOOT 150 FOOT SETBACK.

THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE APPROXIMATE 48 ACRES OF AUSTIN'S EXTRA EJ TO THE CITY OF MAYER WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS THAT THE CITY OF MAYNOR AND THOSE COMMISSIONS, THOSE CONDITIONS ARE THAT THE CITY OF MAYER INCORPORATE THE CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF CONDITIONS IN THE PARCEL AS IT IS CONVEYED TO THE CITY OF MAYER E T J, IN CASE THE ANNEXATION AND PUD DEVELOPMENT IS NOT FINALIZED BY THE LANDOWNER AND APPLICANT.

TWO, THE PUD DEVELOPMENT LOOK INTO A WAY TO INCORPORATE BLACK LINE PRAIRIE HABITAT INTO THE PUD DEVELOPMENT OPEN SPACE.

THIS IS RANDBERG.

ALL SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION OF THE MOTION? ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

I SEE YOU'RE UNANIMOUS.

UM, ALL RIGHT, AND THANK YOU FOR,

[2. Staff briefing regarding the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative – Laura Dierenfield, Division Manager, Austin Transportation Department, Jana McCann, McCann Adams Studio, Benedick Patrick, HDR Inc (30 minutes)]

UM, SO WE'RE JUMPED BACK UP TO A STAFF BRIEFING, UM, REGARDING THE CONGRESS AVENUE URBAN DESIGN INITIATIVE.

UM, AND, UM, YEAH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND PULL UP THE SLIDES AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

UM, SHE SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE, UM, WHERE WE'RE AT, MAYBE SINCE THE LAST TIME Y'ALL HEARD ABOUT THIS, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.

UH, MY NAME'S LAURA DEERFIELD AND I'M A DIVISION MANAGER WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE VERY, UH, PLEASED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO OFFER YOU AN UPDATE AND INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING ON THE CONGRESS AVENUE URBAN DESIGN INITIATIVE.

AND,

[00:40:01]

SO, UM, THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT TIME TO CHECK IN AND, UH, SHARE WITH YOU WHERE WE ARE.

UM, I'M PLEASED TO, UH, BE JOINED BY A REALLY ALL-STAR TEAM THAT YOU SEE HERE, UH, HEADLINED BY H HDR WITH, UH, MANY VERY, VERY TALENTED CONSULTANTS.

YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR WORK AROUND THE CITY.

UM, AND, UH, MYSELF AND JANET MCCANN WILL OFFER YOU A BRIEFING, AND THEN WE'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

UH, TONIGHT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE VISION PLAN.

THIS WAS, UH, INITIATED IN 2017.

I HOPE SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE, IN THE OUTREACH AND, UH, ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

IT WAS ON THE STREET AND IN VARIOUS OTHER FORMS, UM, TO HELP, UH, CREATE A VISION FOR CONGRESS AVENUE, UM, ONE THAT WAS, THAT IS ROOTED IN, IN MANY OF OUR CITY'S KEY VALUES, INCLUDING, UM, UNDERSTANDING AND CELEBRATING AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE DOWNTOWN .

UM, WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE KEY CONCEPTS OF THAT VISION PLAN, AND THEN WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY SCOPED TO DO AND WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE.

UH, THE PROJECT TEAM, WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, AS I MENTIONED MYSELF, UH, FROM THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN THE URBAN DESIGN DIVISION ARE, UH, SPONSORING THIS PROJECT.

AND THEN WE HAVE AN PARTNERSHIP, UH, AMALIA KIMONA HERE WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.

THEY WERE REALLY THE INITIATOR WITH THE CITY OF THIS PROJECT BACK IN 2017.

UH, ALSO TONIGHT WE HAVE BENEDICT PATRICK, WHO'S LEADING THE HDR TEAM ALONG WITH LEE, UH, FRIEDBERG.

AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE A VERY TALENTED TEAM, UH, ALONG WITH, UH, JENNIFER LUKE MYER, UM, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LEAD, AND JENNA MCCANN WITH KEN ADAMS STUDIO.

GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND IT LOOKS TO, UM, RE REIMAGINE CONGRESS AVENUE FROM 11TH STREET TO RIVERSIDE DRIVE, ABOUT THAT 1.2 MILE, UM, PART OF CONGRESS AVENUE, REALLY IN THE HEART OF THE DOWNTOWN.

UH, THE VISION PLAN IS REALLY THE GUIDING DOCUMENT.

SO TONIGHT WHAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR IS A LOT OF WHAT THE VISION PLAN, UH, IS OFFERING AS GUIDANCE.

AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN IS WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME FUNDING, UH, FOR THIS PROJECT.

IT'S ONE OF, UH, FOUR NAMED LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS OUT OF THE 2020 BOND.

AND, UH, SO THIS IS ENABLING US TO BRING ON A TEAM LIKE HTR TO START LOOKING AT HOW WOULD WE MAKE THAT VISION PLAN REAL, UM, WHAT WE ARE FUNDED TO DO AS AN INITIAL PHASE TO GET TO ABOUT A 30% DESIGN UNDERSTANDING, WHICH DOES ALLOW FOR DEEPER ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO PULL OFF THE PROJECT.

AND THEN, UH, FROM THERE WE WOULD HAVE ONE INITIAL INITIAL PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION DEPENDING ON, UM, WHAT THAT FUNDING AVAILABLE AND, AND, UM, WHAT THOSE COSTS WOULD BE.

SO WE'RE ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS INTO THAT PROCESS.

WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO JANNA MCCANN TO TAKE YOU A LITTLE BIT THROUGH THE VISION PLAN AND KINDA REMIND YOU OF THE KEY ELEMENTS THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS, UM, THINKING ABOUT WRESTLING WITH AND ULTIMATELY, UM, ENVISION FOR, FOR THE AVENUE.

HI, MY NAME'S JANNA AND I'M WITH MCCANN ADAMS STUDIO AND AN ARCHITECT BY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND WORKING AS A SUB-CONSULTANT, UM, LEADING THE URBAN DESIGN ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT.

AND WE LIKE TO THINK THAT URBAN DESIGN IS THAT PLACE WHERE WE BRING ALL OF THESE VALUES THAT YOU SEE TOGETHER IN A KIND OF A HARMONIOUS WHOLE.

AND SO WE'RE VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS PROJECT ABOUT AS MUCH AS THIS PROJECT CAN DO, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL EQUITY, UM, MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY IN LARGE.

PART OF THIS IS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND REBALANCING AND MAKING A MO MULTIMODAL AVENUE OUT OF WHAT TODAY IS NOT QUITE THERE YET.

UM, THERE'S ALSO A REALLY STRONG EMPHASIS ON CELEBRATING HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE AVENUE, MAYBE EX AS EXPRESSED THROUGH ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE OF IT.

AND OF COURSE, FOR YOU ALL YOUR FOCUS BEING ENVIRONMENT, THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA BRING INTO BALANCE WITH THIS PROJECT.

YOU GOT A NEXT SLIDE? SO BALANCE SEEMS TO BE KIND OF THE MANTRA, AND THIS IS A, A LOT OF WHAT YOU'LL SEE TONIGHT ARE IMAGES FROM THE VISION PLAN.

AND OUR JOB IS REALLY TO TEST THE, THAT VISION AFFIRM CONFIRM, AND MAYBE SOMETIMES DISAGREE WITH THAT.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE STAGE THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW ARE VERY EARLY INTO THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN OF THE, THE AVENUE.

AND THIS IS AN IMAGE JUST SHOWING THE NARROWING OF THE WIDTH OF THE

[00:45:01]

VEHICULAR PART OF THE CONGRESS AVENUE RIGHT OF WAY FROM 60 FEET TO 52 FEET, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR A NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, A FIVE LANE CROSS SECTION.

WE HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO IT'S REBALANCED PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY.

AND SO THIS IS JUST A KIND OF A REVIEW ON THE TOP RIGHT IS KIND OF WHAT THE EXISTING CROSS SECTION OF THE STREET WAS BEFORE, UM, WE STARTED INTERVENING ON IT, AND THAT'S SHOWING IT USED TO BE SIX LANES AND NOW WE'RE NARROWING IT TO FIVE, AS SHOWN ON THE BOTTOM OF FIVE VEHICLE LANES BELOW, UM, WITH FLEX LANES, THE POTENTIAL FOR FLEX LANES ON THE FAR OUTSIDE LANES, UM, NORTH OF SEVENTH STREET.

BUT AGAIN, THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO, CAN WE CREATE A SPACE WHERE BICYCLES ARE MUCH MORE PROTECTED, THEY'RE LIFTED UP TO THE SIDEWALK LEVEL WITH A, A VERY SUBSTANTIAL TWO FOOT WIDE BUFFER THAN THE BIKE LANE BIKE AND SCOOTER LANE, AND THEN WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE AMENITY ZONE, WHICH IS WHERE WE'D BE PLANTING, UH, A ROW ROWS OF STREET TREES IN THERE AND HAVE PROBABLY A PERVIOUS PAVER AT THAT ZONE TO ALLOW FOR WATER TO FILTER THROUGH TO THE ROOT ZONES OF THE TREES.

AND WE HAVE, WE'RE PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO HOW, HOW THE TREES WILL BE WORKED WORKING ON THAT.

SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO THIS IS AGAIN, FROM THE VISION PLAN, KIND OF GIVING YOU THE OVERALL CROSS SECTION THAT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED, AND WE HAVE AGREED ON THIS CROSS SECTION AND, AND SORT OF APPORTIONED THE RIGHT OF WAY TO REALLY CREATE THIS MULTIMODAL STREET.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT RIGHT NOW THE PEDESTRIAN ZONE, WHICH IS ON THE, THE GOLD UP NEAR UP AGAINST THE, THE BUILDINGS, IT'S ACTUALLY A STOREFRONT PLUS A PEDESTRIAN THROUGH ZONE IS REALLY THE LARGEST PART OF THAT.

THEN THE AMENITY ZONE, THEN, THEN THE BICYCLES, AND THEN THE ROADWAY.

NOW THIS IS AN IMAGE THAT WE PRODUCED THAT STARTS TO SHOW SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD THIS REALLY LOOK LIKE BASED ON THE CROSS SECTIONS THAT, THAT WE'VE AFFIRMED SEEM TO WORK AND HAVE THROUGH OUR TRAFFIC ANALYSIS ON OUR TEAM HAVE, UM, CONFIRMED.

AND SO THIS IS SHOWING THE 100 BLOCK OF CONGRESS AVENUE.

AND IN THIS CASE, THIS, THIS IS KIND OF AN UNUSUAL BLOCK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ALSO ACCOMMODATE A RIGHT TURN LANE IN IT SO WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL WIDTH OF, OF THE SIDEWALK AREA.

SO THIS IS ONE EXCEPTION, BUT WE STILL HAVE A VERY WIDE SIDEWALK AREA AND YOU SEE A TWO FOOT BUFFER STRIP OF SORT OF TACTILE WHAT WE, WE THINK WE'LL DO SOME COTTON COBBLED PAVERS THERE.

AND THEN THE VERY SMOOTH BICYCLE LANE COM BICYCLE SCOOTER LANE COMING.

AND WHAT YOU SEE HERE, WHICH IS ALSO CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FIRST COUPLE OF BLOCKS NORTH OF CESAR CHAVEZ, AS WELL AS SOUTH OF THE RIVER, IS, UH, AN EXPRESSION OF A AREA THAT'S WE'RE CALLED THE GREEN GATEWAY, OR WHAT THE VISION PLANE CALLED THE GREEN GATEWAY, WHERE THERE'S A REAL EMPHASIS ON, UM, YOU KNOW, STORM WATER INFILTRATION AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND THIS IS, SO HOW WE'RE PRODUCING THAT WOULD TAKE THE, THE, UM, THE FORM OF A, OF A RAIN GARDEN.

AND SO THIS IS AGAIN, A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE VISION PLAN, PROBABLY KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF CONGRESS AVENUE, UH, THE PART OF CONGRESS AVENUE THAT IS, THERE'S ACTUALLY A NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT FROM CESAR CHAVEZ TO 11TH STREET.

AND SO THERE WE HAVE SOME OTHER REGULATIONS THAT WE NEED TO ABIDE BY, BUT UM, SO YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE INFLUENCE OF THAT IN A MOMENT.

BUT THIS IS THE KIND OF HEART OF AUSTIN CHARACTER ZONE.

UH, SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO THIS IS, THIS IS SORT OF HOW THE VISION PLAN PARSED OUT THE DIFFERENT CHARACTER ZONES OF, UM, THE NORTH CONGRESS AVENUE.

AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE GREEN GATEWAY, WHICH AGAIN IS THAT SORT OF INTRODUCTION OR GATEWAY INTO LADY BIRD LAKE.

AND THE, THE HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE VALUE THERE'RE IN AND THE CENTRAL SPACE IS CALLED THE HEART OF AUSTIN.

AND THEN TO THE NORTH, A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM THE CAPITOL UP TO THE CAPITOL IS REALLY THE SORT OF CIVIC STAGE WHERE A LOT OF CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS OCCUR.

SO THERE'S, WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SORT OF WORK ON IS REALLY DETERMINING WHAT OF THOSE ELEMENTS IN THE AVENUES SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WHILE AND WHICH OTHERS COULD VARY THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE DISTANCE OF, OF THE PROJECT.

AND SO A COUPLE OF THE KEY ONES ARE STREET

[00:50:01]

TREES.

WE ABSOLUTELY FEEL LIKE THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THE SPACE AND THE GRANDNESS AND THE CIVICNESS THAT YOU SEE A PICTURE OF THE CAPITOL WASHINGTON DC ARE CAPITAL IS IN A KIND OF A SIMILAR DISPOSITION WITH, YOU KNOW, TREES, THE TREE LINE SPACE OF THIS AVENUE.

SO THAT'S A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ONE FOR US TO MAINTAIN THAT AND TO PROBABLY REPLACE MANY OF THE TREES THAT ARE NOT IN GREAT HEALTH AT THIS POINT.

AND IN THAT WE'LL ALSO HAVE WITH THAT IN THE SAME ALIGNMENT WILL BE THE STREET LIGHTING.

AND THEN WE WILL ALSO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, PAVERS THAT WILL BE PROBABLY CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF THE AVENUE, THE WAY THAT WE'RE TREATING THE WALKING ZONES AND THE, THE DIFFERENT ZONES ALONG THE SIDEWALK AND THE BICYCLE, UM, SCOOTER ZONE.

SO NEXT SLIDE.

AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE STILL IS VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS WITH THE CITY'S ARBORIST AND WATERSHED PROTECTION TO REALLY DEVELOP WHAT WE'RE CALLING AN AVENUE SPECIFIC TREE PLAN.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE A MASTER PLAN TO REALLY SAY, YOU KNOW, TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT TREES ARE WE MOVING, REPLACING, RELOCATING, MITIGATING FOR ET CETERA.

AND MAYBE SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE TREES ARE NOT IN GREAT HEALTH OR THAT THEY'RE UNDER THEIR LIFE, OR THEY'RE NOT A SPECIES THAT PROBABLY BELONGS ON THE AVENUE.

SO IT'S BEEN SORT OF LOOSELY AGREED BY, BY THE CITY ARBORISTS THAT WE WOULD ULTIMATELY REPLACE ALL THE TREES IN A PHASED MANNER.

SO, UM, WE WANNA PLANT THOSE TREES IN WHAT'S CALLED SOIL CELLS, AND YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, BUT THEY'RE UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES THAT ALLOW FOR THE ROOTS TO BE ABLE, ABLE TO EXPAND WITHOUT, UM, BUCKLING THE SIDEWALK AND THEY WILL SUPPORT PAVING OVER THEM.

SO IN THE AMENITY ZONE WHERE YOU SEE THIS GENTLEMAN SITTING ON THE BENCH, THEY'RE UNDERNEATH THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THESE SOIL CELL STRUCTURES THAT ALLOW FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE ROOTS.

SO THE STREET TREES WOULD BE PLANTED LIKE IN A CONTINUOUS TRENCH THAT AGAIN PROMOTE THE BEST AND MOST VITAL SORT OF HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE TREE.

SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO THIS IS A VIEW OF THE OLD BAKERY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES, ONE OF THE, QUITE A FEW HISTORIC PROPERTIES ON THE AVENUE.

AND IT'S RIGHT AT 10TH, BETWEEN 10TH AND 11TH STREET.

AND THIS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, SHOWING HOW THIS PART OF THE AVENUE, WHICH WE'RE CALLING THE, UM, CIVIC, UH, STAGE COULD BE TREATED.

AND YOU'LL NOTICE THERE ISN'T A LOT OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE YOU SAW ON THE FIRST SLIDE, BUT THIS IS BECAUSE THIS IS, THE AREA GETS LAID OUT FOR EVENTS AND PARADES AND THOSE WOULD ACTUALLY GET TRAMPLED.

SO THOSE LAST TWO BLOCKS ARE REALLY THE PLACE WHERE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON CONGRESS AVENUE AND A LOT OF CROWDS CONGREGATE.

SO WE ARE VERY CONSCIOUSLY NOT PUTTING A LOT OF FIXED FURNISHINGS OR A LOT OF PLANTINGS OTHER THAN THE STREET TREES THEMSELVES IN THE ZONE.

LIGHTING IS, UH, STILL A, A BIT OF A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CERTAIN INTEREST IN PERHAPS MAINTAINING SOME KIND OF HISTORIC LIGHT FIXTURE THERE.

ALTHOUGH THE ONES THAT YOU SEE, THE FLUTED GREEN COLUMNS, UM, POLES, STREET LIGHTING POLES ARE NOT ACTUALLY AUTHENTICALLY HISTORIC TO THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS, OF THE AVENUE.

SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDING IS DOING A MORE CONTEMPORARY BUT KIND OF A MINIMALIST POLE TO PROVIDE BOTH ROADWAY HIGH LUMINAIRES AS WELL AS A LOWER LEVEL LUMINAIRE.

AND OF COURSE THESE WOULD CONFORM TO DARK SKY STANDARDS AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY RELATED TO THEM THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR D DIMABILITY, IF THAT'S A WORD.

AND SO FOR THE MORE SORT OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY IN THEIR USE.

AND IN TERMS OF AMENITIES, UM, I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS SOMETHING STILL WE'RE WORKING ON PROBABLY WITH THE DAA AND WHAT CAN INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS OR OR BUSINESSES DO OUT ON THE AVENUE? HOW CAN THEY OUTFIT THEIR STOREFRONT ZONES OR EVEN AMENITY ZONES AND SHOULD THERE BE DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR THAT? SO THERE THOSE TWO SPACES, THE STOREFRONT ZONE AND THE AMENITY ZONE ARE CERTAINLY AREAS WHERE AMENITIES OR PUBLIC ART COULD BE LOCATED.

SO CAN KEEP GOING TO THE NEXT PLEASE.

SO, UM, AGAIN, THIS MAY NOT BE THAT PERTINENT TO YOUR INTEREST, BUT WE'RE WE, BECAUSE OF THIS BEING IN THIS LOCAL OR IN THIS NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT, WE NEED TO, WE'VE GOT OURSELVES A SORT OF SET OF FURNISHINGS THAT ARE ALL PAINTED THIS DARK GREEN AND HAVE THIS SORT SORT OF, THEY GO TOGETHER AND THEY'RE SORT OF A SUITE OF OR A FAMILY OF FURNISHINGS.

AND THE, THE LIKELIHOOD THAT WE'LL STAY WITH SOMETHING THAT'S DARK GREEN AND VERY SORT OF PROMOTES THAT SAME CIVIC IDEA IS PROBABLY PRETTY GOOD.

SO NEXT SLIDE.

[00:55:03]

SO THIS IS JUST A, AN IMAGE THAT WE DID TO SORT OF SHOW WHAT THE EFFECT OF THE VISION PLAN COULD LOOK LIKE IN, IN A, IN AN AREA THAT Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH, WHERE ROYAL BLUE GROCERY IS.

AND THIS IS KIND OF THE HEART OF, UH, AUSTIN OR THE HEART OF AUSTIN'S ZONE.

I THINK YOU'LL RECOGNIZE IT'S NEAR SIXTH STREET, UM, SHOWING SORT OF THAT APPORTIONMENT OF THE DIFFERENT, UH, ZONES OF THE STREET.

SO THIS IS AN IMAGE FROM THE VISION PLAN SHOWING HOW THE BRIDGE COULD BE TREATED AND THE BRIDGE IS REALLY AN IDEA.

THE IDEA THAT WAS TO CREATE A, A MORE ICONIC OR SI SIGNATURE EXPRESSION OF THIS BRIDGE, UM, WHICH HAS GONE, WAS HISTORIC AND IT IS CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

SO, UM, IT'S BEEN WIDENED ALREADY ONCE, IT WAS BUILT IN 1910.

AND THIS IS AN IMAGE SHOWING HOW IT CAN BE AGAIN, REBALANCED SO THAT THE BICYCLE HAS A VERY CLEAR SPACE TO BE IN AND IT'S DIVIDED BY THE, A BARRIER IN THIS CASE OF BOTH SEATING AND PLANTERS AND THEN THE PEDESTRIAN ZONE TOWARD THE GUARDRAIL.

AND YOU SEE THE PRESENCE OF CANOPIES AS WELL FOR SHADE CUZ IT'S A QUITE A LONG BRIDGE.

AND SO THIS IS AN IMAGE THAT YOU'RE SEEING FROM THE VISION PLAN THAT'S TALKS ABOUT THE IDEA OF CREATING SUCH SHADING ELEMENTS ALONG THE BRIDGE AS WELL AS AN IDEA OF THIS, HOW DO YOU EXPRESS GATEWAY? NEXT SLIDE.

UH, WHATEVER WE DO WITH THE BRIDGE, WE MUST RESPECT THE MOST POWERFUL AND STILL REMAINING FEATURE OF IT, WHICH ARE THESE BEAUTIFUL ARCHES THAT MARCH ACROSS, UH, LADY BIRD LAKE.

AND SO WHAT IF WE ARE CREATING SOME SORT OF A CANOPY OR EVEN A, AN OUTLOOK SAY TO WATCH BATS, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING SO IN CONJUNCTION OR IN RE HIGH RESPECT FOR THE GEOMETRY THAT, THAT WE'VE BEEN LEFT WITH WITH THAT, UM, THOSE ORIGINAL BRIDGE BANDS.

THIS IS AGAIN, A PRELIMINARY DESIGN RENDERING, LOOKING AT WHAT YOU KNOW, KINDS OF MATERIALS COULD WE PUT ON THE BRIDGE.

THIS IS SHOWING THE NOTION OF DOING A VERY LIGHTWEIGHT DECK MATERIAL LIKE A WOOD, WOOD OR EPAY OR SOME SUSTAINABLE HARDWOOD, UM, AND A VERY OPEN RAIL MAXIMIZING VIEWS TO THE LAKE AND BEYOND.

AND THEN YOU SEE THE ZONE IN BETWEEN THE BIKE SCOOTER LANE AND THE PEDESTRIAN AREA THAT WOULD HAVE, THAT WOULD BE THE PLACE WHERE LIGHT POLES AND POSSIBLY SEATING COULD OCCUR, AND CERTAINLY THE POLES OF ANY KIND OF CANOPY STRUCTURE WOULD BE THERE.

AND YOU SEE THE, THE BICYCLE SCOOTER LANE IN A SMOOTH TERRACOTTA CONCRETE, AND NEXT TO IT IS A VEHICLE BARRIER THAT IS ABOUT 42 INCHES HIGH THAT PROTECTS THE CYCLIST AND THE PEDESTRIANS FROM THE ROADWAY.

THIS IS KIND OF, I THINK, UM, WHAT A VERY POWERFUL CONCEPT THAT CAME FROM THE VISION PLAN, WHICH IS THIS IS DEPICTING THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF CESAR CHAVEZ, UM, AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN AND CONGRESS AVENUE.

AND THIS IDEA IS TO CREATE REALLY OPEN UP VIEWS FROM THIS POINT TO THE LAKE AND IN, SO CREATING A CASCADING TERRACE WATER, UM, RAIN GARDEN SERIES OF RAIN GARDENS.

SO THIS IS STILL A VERY MUCH A CONCEPT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO EXPLORE ONLY AT A CONCEPTUAL LEVEL AND SORT OF TEST AND SEE IF, IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE, SO WE'RE IN A VERY MUCH AN EXPLORATION STAGE WITH IT.

POWERFULLY THAN THEY ARE TODAY.

AND THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR CORNER, AS WELL AS THE THREE OTHER CORNERS OF THE BRIDGE IS THAT THOSE ARE THE POINTS AT WHICH WE CAN MAKE MUCH MORE EXPLICIT, CLEAR, MORE COMFORTABLE, A WAY TO GET DOWN TO THE TRAIL, WHICH IS VERY MUCH MISSING.

UH, YOU CAN ALMOST MISS THE IDEA THAT YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TRAIL 30 FEET BELOW STREET LEVEL.

AND SO THIS IS AN IDEA OF REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE LINK THOSE TWO LEVELS MUCH MORE

[01:00:01]

SO THIS IS, UM, I'LL BE CONCLUDING SOON.

IT'S, THIS IS JUST THE EXPRESSING NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THE, THE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO DO INTERPRETIVE AND PUBLIC ART ELEMENTS.

NEXT SLIDE, AND YOU CAN KEEP GOING.

ONE MORE SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, THESE WERE JUST SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT CAME OUT OF THE, THE VISION PLAN TO REALLY CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF THESE PARTICULAR STREETS, UH, THROUGH CREATING INTERESTING PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, MAYBE THROUGH ASPHALT ART OR OTHER ELEMENTS.

BUT FOR EXAMPLE, FIFTH STREET IS THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR.

THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE WAY ONE COULD, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT STORY AND KIND OF ILLUMINATE IT THROUGH, THROUGH PUBLIC ART AND THROUGH INTERPRETIVE WAYFINDING.

AND SO I'M GONNA HAND IT BACK OVER TO LAURA ABOUT THANK YOU JANNA.

UH, TO JUST QUICKLY SUM UP AND MAYBE OPEN IT UP FOR ANY DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS.

UM, SO AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE A CONSULTANT TEAM MADE POSSIBLE BY THE INITIAL FUNDING FROM THE 2020 BOND THAT IS ALLOWING US TO DO THAT DEEPER ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS, TRAFFIC ANALYSIS, UH, STREET AND AND BRIDGE DESIGN, AS WELL AS UTILITY ANALYSIS, LIGHTING, HARDSCAPE, LANDSCAPE, ALL OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS WE NEED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND BEFORE WE CAN BRING A CONCEPT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY HOPES TO, UM, EXPRESS THE VISION PLAN, UH, IN A INITIAL DRAFT DESIGN.

UH, THAT IS THE NEXT STEP IN THIS PROCESS, THAT ENGAGEMENT.

UM, WE WERE ACTUALLY PLANNING FOR IT TO BE FAIRLY SOON, HOWEVER, UM, THERE'S MANY OTHER EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING IN TOWN AROUND THAT TIME.

NOT TO MENTION THE DA'S, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN THAT'S READY TO BE DEBUTED.

SO WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT EARLY SUMMER TIMEFRAME PERHAPS TO, UH, SHARE, UH, INITIAL THAT INITIAL DESIGN AS I MENTIONED.

UM, OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO GET TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE ENTIRE AVENUE WOULD, UM, BE EXPRESSED IN, UH, AN INITIAL DESIGN IN THAT KIND OF 30% PHASE WHERE WE CAN REALLY INVESTIGATE A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS AND THEN TAKE A PIECE OF THAT INTO CONSTRUCTION.

UM, SOMETHING LIKE, AS YOU SEE HERE FROM THE VISION PLAN, UH, PHASED APPROACH TO MAYBE FOCUSING ON THE BRIDGE.

AND AS WE GET UP A, A FEW BLOCKS NORTH, UH, FROM THERE, UH, AND REALLY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE OTHER WORK AROUND, UM, AROUND US, THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT FOR EXAMPLE, AND HOW CAN WE REALLY WORK WITH, UH, THOSE, UH, PROXIMAL PARTNERS TO REALLY MANIFEST, UH, THIS, UM, VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE IT AN INCLUSIVE AND INVITING PLACE TO BE.

UM, WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE TO JUST OFFER OUR GRATITUDE TO THE HDR CONSULTANT TEAM FOR, UM, JUST ALL THAT THEY'RE DOING TO, TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

AND WITH THAT WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND JUST OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, UH, FOR THE PRESENTERS? YEAH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, GO FOR IT.

WE CAN'T HEAR YOU QUITE YET.

SORRY.

UM, I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOU MEANT BY INTERVENTION ON THE BRIDGE.

ARE THOSE JUST THE THINGS THAT WERE OVERHEAD? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

UM, I THINK WHAT WE, THE IDEA THERE IS TO UNDERSTAND SORT OF HOW DO WE MAKE THE BRIDGE A A GATEWAY INVITING PLACE.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, UH, DESPITE THE, UH, INTERVENTION IN THE EIGHTIES TO WIDEN THE BRIDGE, IT HAPPENED TO CREATE A VERY GOOD BAT HABITAT.

SO THERE'S, UM, SOMETIMES WHEN THAT BAT VIEWING IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IT'S, IT'S IN THE SEASON OF IT, UM, IT CAN BE JUST PACKED WITH PEOPLE.

SO MAYBE AN INTERVENTION OPPORTUNITY COULD BE WITHIN THE ENGINEERING LIMITS OF THE BRIDGE AND THAT'S WHAT LEE'S ON THE TEAM FOR.

COULD THERE BE A, A LITTLE BUMP OUT, UH, FOR VIEWING LIKE A, UM, UH, A PLATFORM IF YOU WILL? UH, THERE'S A VERY LIMITED SPACE ON THE BRIDGE OVERALL TO, TO GET EVERYTHING FIT IN THERE.

THE OTHER THING, THE CANOPIES, AS YOU MENTIONED, IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR AN INTERVENTION, JUST PLACES WHERE WE CAN OFFER COMFORT, UH, AS WELL AS AS GATHERING AND, UM, AND JUST THAT INVITING, UH, GATEWAY INTO THE DOWNTOWN.

DRIVING, WALKING, BIKING.

MY OTHER QUESTION IS THE BIKE AND THE SIDEWALK.

I THINK I READ SOMEWHERE IN YOUR PLANS FROM RIVERSIDE TO FOURTH.

IS THAT ON HOLD OR, OR WHY IS THAT NOT PART OF WHAT I READ? UH, YEAH, TO CLARIFY THE, THE LIMITS OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE FROM RIVERSIDE TO 11TH STREET.

SO THAT WOULD BE INCLUSIVE OF, OF BRINGING ABOUT A, A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL MODES.

LIMIT IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY.

EVERY, SO NOT THERE.

THAT WOULD BE AN, AN INCLUSIVE, INCLUSIVE

[01:05:01]

WELL, I READ THAT IT WOULD BE CONTINUOUS EXCEPT FROM RIVERSIDE TO FOURTH.

SO I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE SIDEWALK AND THE BIKE PATH FROM RIVERSIDE TO FOURTH.

OH YEAH, IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE CONTINUOUS.

AND SO YOU GUYS ARE HAVING SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON THERE? YOU WILL BE ABLE TO, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LIKE, UM, A BIKE RACK AND SO FORTH AND I'M REALLY HOPING THAT INFLUENCE CAN BE MADE FOR THAT TO STAY.

UM, THE OTHER THING I FOUND INTERESTING IS THAT YOU WERE GOING TO TAKE TREES OUT THAT WERE THERE AND THEY LOOKED, I MEAN, WHEN YOU SHOWED THE BAKERY, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKED LIKE THE TREES WERE HEALTHY.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, EDITED THAT SLIDE OR MADE THEM LOOK HEALTHIER THAN THEY ARE.

BUT, UM, I'M WONDERING, I DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE ALWAYS USED TO SEEING OAK TREES THERE.

AND ALSO THE, I MEAN, THE OAK TREES ARE OLD AND YOU WANNA CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE THAT'S PERIOD.

SO YOU'RE CHANGING THE LAMPPOSTS.

AND I APPRECIATE THE DARK SKIES ON THE NEW LAMP POST AND EVERYTHING, BUT I'M JUST NOT CONVINCED ABOUT THE OAK TREES BEING MOVED.

AND JUST TO ASSURE YOU, THE TREES ARE VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROJECT AND MAYBE JANET CAN BEST SPEAK TO THE INTENT WITH, WITH THAT ELEMENT.

I THINK WE'VE JUST, AGAIN, ARE AT SORT OF AN INITIAL STAGE ABOUT IT, BUT WE'VE JUST FINISHED A VERY EXTENSIVE, UM, STUDY BY AN ARBORIST OF EACH AND EVERY TREE IN THE PROJECT TO ASCERTAIN ITS HEALTH.

AND SOMETIMES SOME OF THEM HAVE STRUCTURAL DEFECTS.

I THINK THE ONES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE IN PRETTY GREAT SHAPE, AND THEY ARE KIND OF A PART OF ALMOST LIKE THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAPITOL.

SO WE'RE STILL, WE HAVEN'T SORT OF, UM, DETERMINED EXACTLY WHICH TREES, SOME OF THEM DO NEED TO BE REPLACED.

AND SOME OF THEM COULD BE.

UM, TYPICALLY WE LIKE TO PUT DES DECIDUOUS TREES ON THE, ON, UH, STOREFRONTS OR STREETS SO THAT YOU CAN GET SUN, SUN DURING THE WINTER.

AND THAT IT SORT OF INHIBITS THE ROOSTING OF GRACKLES ALL THE, ALL THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

BUT AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T MADE A FINAL DETERMINATION OF WHAT THE FINAL SPECIES ARE GONNA BE.

ALTHOUGH THE VISION PLAN RECOMMENDED, UM, A SERIES OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF DECIDUOUS OAKS, BUT NOT LIVE OAKS FOR THE REASONS I STATED.

BUT I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE AN ONGOING DISCUSSION WITH BOTH WATERSHED PROTECTION AND WITH THE CITY ARBORIST.

AND I HAD ONE OTHER QUESTION, AND IT WAS UP, UM, TOWARDS THE RIVER.

YOU HAD, UM, THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THERE WERE TREES AND THEN THERE WERE PLANTS.

AND I PERSONALLY HAVE SEEN, UM, A MAD CRUSH OF PEOPLE THERE WHEN WE HAVE PARADES WHEN, YOU KNOW MM-HMM.

, THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING.

SO I'M WONDERING HOW, IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE LOWER, HOW ARE PEOPLE NOT GOING TO FALL IN THEM WHEN THEY'RE WALKING ALONG THE SIDEWALK AND IT'S LIKE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER? UM, I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE ALREADY HAVE HAD TO PRETTY MUCH PUT A BARRIER AROUND THEIR GREEN, UM, SHRUBS MM-HMM.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS KEEPING THE TRASH OUT OF IT AND SO FORTH.

SO I'M, I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO HAVE IT THERE, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S FEASIBLE WHEN WE HAVE MM-HMM.

, UH, SO MANY PEOPLE USING THAT SIDEWALK DURING CERTAIN EVENTS.

POINT THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS CAREFULLY.

SO I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF POTENTIAL ANSWERS TO THAT.

AND I THINK ONE IS THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE BE INCREASING REALLY SUBSTANTIALLY THE AVAILABLE SIDEWALK WIDTH FROM WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY.

CUZ REMEMBER TODAY IN MOST CASES WE HAVE THE ANGLED PARKING AND THEN THE TREE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT SORT OF, UM, ISLAND BETWEEN PARKING SPACES.

NOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND THERE'S A KIND OF A, UM, A MIX OF DIFFERENT CONDITIONS AS PROPERTIES HAVE REDEVELOPED.

BUT OVERALL WE'RE GONNA HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO BE, AND THAT AMENITY ZONE WILL ALSO PROBABLY HAVE FURNISHINGS THAT WILL HELP TO PROTECT THE TREES, SOME FIXED FURNISHINGS.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, WE MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER THINGS LIKE PLANTING GUARDS, WHICH IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING A RAIN GARDEN WHERE THE LEVEL OF THE SOIL IS LO QUITE A BIT LOWER, IT CAN KIND OF CREATE A TRIP HAZARD.

AND SO WE, WE ARE NOT AT THAT POINT OF DETAIL YET IN THE PROJECT, BUT, UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT

[01:10:01]

YEAH, COMMISSIONER SHEER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND REALLY, UM, ENJOYED HEARING THE PLANS.

I WOULD JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE MORE CLARITY ON MORE ABOUT THE TIMELINE MM-HMM.

AND, UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF DECISIONS TO MAKE, UM, FUNDING TO UNDERSTAND.

SO, UM, I'M WONDERING WHO ALL NEEDS TO STILL PROVIDE FEEDBACK MM-HMM.

, AND THEN JUST A LITTLE MORE CLARITY ON THE TIMELINE.

YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, SO WE WOULD BE TAKING AN INITIAL CONCEPT DESIGN, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, IN A, JUST A WAY A VIRTUAL AND AN IN REAL LIFE WAY.

UM, THINGS LIKE WALKING THE AVENUE WITH OUR DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE COLLEAGUES TO SORT OF IMAGINE WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE, UM, HAVING DONE THE ANALYSIS AND, AND UNDERSTANDING OF, YOU KNOW, SPATIALLY WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH AND, AND OTHER, OBVIOUSLY MANY OTHER DIMENSIONS, UH, LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY.

UM, SO THAT IS OUR NEXT BIG STEP.

UH, THEN YOU CAN EXPECT ANOTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ROUND, UH, AS WE AFFIRM ANYTHING WE HEAR IN THE INITIAL, UH, PHASE OF, OF ENGAGEMENT.

UM, REALLY TAKING, AGAIN, TAKING THAT VISION PLAN INTO SOME KIND OF DRAFT DESIGN, UH, CHECKING AGAIN WITH Y'ALL TOWARDS, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR INTO THE, INTO EARLY NEXT, UH, IN TERMS OF GETTING TO YOUR TIMELINE QUESTION.

AND THEN FROM THERE, UM, WE'D BE SIMULTANEOUSLY BE LOOKING AT SOME KIND OF, UM, STRATEGIC PHASED APPROACH.

CUZ WE CERTAINLY DO NOT, DO NOT HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR ENOUGH TO PULL OFF THE ENTIRE PROJECT, BUT, UM, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO DO SO, SO THAT WE COULD KIND OF BACK INTO WHAT PHASE OF WORK COULD WE DO AND THEN PROCEED WITH THAT AND PROCEED TO A HUNDRED PERCENT PLANS TO BE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT THAT WITH AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

I HOPE THAT HELPS.

THAT DOES.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SCOTT.

YEAH, THANKS FOR ALL THAT INFORMATION IS, UH, REALLY HELPFUL TO SEE ALL THAT.

UM, MY JUST ONE COMMENT IS THAT, UM, IN SUMMER IN AUSTIN, I'M NOT SURE THAT GREEN BENCHES ARE A GOOD IDEA, .

UM, CUZ THEY GET REALLY HOT.

UM, I'M HOPING THERE'S GONNA BE SOME SHADE INCORPORATED, BUT EVEN SO, UM, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S GONNA BE SITTING ON ANYTHING BUT A WHITE BENCH IN THE SUMMER IN AUSTIN.

SO JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

I, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT COMMENT.

HEY Y'ALL, UH, FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

UM, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP IN AUSTIN I ALWAYS THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, E SIX OR NOT, YOU KNOW, SIXTH STREET, FOR LACK OF A BETTER PHRASE, WAS LIKE THE POPPING PLACE TO BE UNTIL I ACTUALLY GOT A JOB DOWNTOWN AND STARTED WALKING AROUND.

I REALIZED SIXTH STREET IS LIKE DEAD DURING THE DAY AND REALLY THE POPPING STREET IS CONGRESS.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MORE RECENTLY WITH THE PANDEMIC AND SORT OF, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THE, UH, THE BIKE LANES ON, ON CONGRESS AVENUE, I FEEL LIKE HAS REALLY CHANGED IT.

I PERSONALLY TAKE THE BIKE TRAIL ALL THE TIME, SO I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO TRY AND GET UP LIKE THE LITTLE RAMP OR LIKE CUT THROUGH THE STATESMAN PARKING THING OR LIKE TAKE THE RAMP AND THEN GO A LITTLE BIT WEST SO YOU CAN GET ONTO THE CONGRESS BRIDGE.

UM, SO I DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE ANY EFFORTS THERE TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO TAKE STAIRS OR CUT THROUGH A PARKING LOT OR WHATEVER, UH, TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE BRIDGE FROM THE TRAIL.

UH, AND ALSO THE BRIDGE IS KIND OF BORING TO GO ACROSS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE ON A BIKE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT COOLER IF YOU CAN LIKE WALK AND LOOK AT THE STUFF.

SO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME, UM, YOU KNOW, I GUESS ACTIVITIES OR SOMETHING, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO INTERFACE WITH THE SPACE MORE IS DEFINITELY, UH, SUPER WELCOME.

UM, I ALSO HAD A QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE, UH, THE PARKING SITUATION.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WIDEN A LOT OF THE STUFF IS SORT OF TAKING AWAY THE SIDE PARKING SIDE BEING REPLACED WITH LIKE THE CONCEPT OF LIKE THE OUTSIDE LANES BEING, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION OR, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC TRANSIT ORIENTED OR ALSO FLEX PARKING.

WHAT FLEX PARKING MEAN? I HAVE NO IDEA.

I WAS WONDERING FOR SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

OH, SURE.

THE IDEA IS, IS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE SPACE AND, AND, AND, AND HOW THE STREET FUNCTIONS DIFFERENTLY, SORT OF IN DIFFERENT LATITUDES, IF YOU WILL.

SO IT'S A KIND OF A VERY DIFFERENT STREET FROM A TRAFFIC OPERATIONS STANDPOINT, MAYBE NORTH OF SEVENTH.

MAYBE SOME REALLY GREAT ENTREPRENEURIAL AND INTERVENTIONS THAT THE DAA MAY BE ABLE TO COOK UP TO REALLY SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND REALLY CREATE A VIBRANT, THRIVING, INVITING ENVIRONMENT.

AND DOES THAT ALLOW FOR MAYBE SOME EXPERIMENTATION WITH THOSE OUTSIDE LANES TO ACCOMMODATE THE VARIOUS NEEDS MAYBE FROM, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING FROM A, A FESTIVAL ENVIRONMENT TO UM,

[01:15:01]

SO THAT'S THE IDEA BEHIND THOSE, THE FLEXIBILITY IN THAT LANE.

UM, AND THEN CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE FUNCTIONS OF A STREET AND, AND HOW WE WOULD ACCOMMODATE THAT AND THINK ABOUT THE STREET IN CONTEXT OF THE DOWNTOWN ITSELF AND APPRECIATING THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA GET TO THE DOWNTOWN IN A VARIETY OF WAYS AND AND NEED PLACES TO PARK.

SO ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS' INITIATIVES IS TO PROVIDE BETTER WAYFINDING FOR PARKING, FOR EXAMPLE, CUZ IT IS RATHER, IT CAN BE RATHER P PLENTIFUL, UH, MAYBE DEPENDING ON THE EXACT MOMENT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SPOT .

BUT IF YOU CAN BE GIVEN ALL THOSE OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE, UM, A WAY TO BE THERE.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVEN BIGGER PICTURE, LIKE HOW CAN YOU, HOW CAN WE INVITE MORE WAYS TO GET IN, YOU KNOW, IN, OUT AND THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE A VEHICLE LIKE THAT, THAT BURDEN OF CAR OWNERSHIP DOES INHIBIT, UH, THE, SOME PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY FROM REALLY, YOU KNOW, GETTING AROUND.

AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THOSE OPTIONS ARE THERE CITYWIDE.

BUT CERTAINLY WITHIN THIS PROJECT, UM, AS MUCH AS IT IS ABOUT EXPRESSING THE COMMUNITY'S VALUES AND DESIGN, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THE STREET CAN OFFER ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS.

SO YEAH, FOR SURE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, MY STORY HESITATION WITH THAT IS THAT SOMETIMES A LOT OF TIMES CONGRESS AVENUE CAN SEEM LIKE A PARKING LOT WHERE YOU'RE JUST STUCK BETWEEN LIGHT AFTER LIGHT AFTER LIGHT AFTER LIGHT.

AND SO IF WE JUST HAVE TWO LANES WITH LIKE THE OUTSIDE LANES BEING USED FOR SOME KIND OF PARKING, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD POSSIBLY, UH, TURN INTO A REALLY STRESSFUL NIGHTMARE FOR ANYBODY DRIVING THERE.

BUT YOU COULD ARGUE THAT THEY DESERVE IT FOR DRIVING DOWNTOWN.

UM, YEAH, AND I GUESS, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, THOMPSON, I HAVE MY APPREHENSION ABOUT TAKING OUT A LOT OF THE TREES ON CONGRESS AVENUE.

UM, IF WE REPLACE THEM WITH NEW TREES, THE TREES ARE PROBABLY GONNA BE PRETTY SKINNY AND SO YOU WON'T ACTUALLY GET ANY SHADE FOR LIKE FIVE, WHATEVER, 10 WHATEVER YEARS.

SO I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, URGE PEOPLE TO NOT BE, BE WILLY-NILLY ABOUT WHICH TREES YOU TAKE OUT AND BE REALLY PURPOSEFUL, UM, AS FAR AS LIKE, YOU KNOW, HEALTH AND WHETHER IT'S REALLY NECESSARY OR NOT.

AND THEN SORT OF MY FINAL COMMENT WOULD BE, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AS SOMEONE THAT TAKES THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AND THEN GOES UP TO CONGRESS TO THE CAPITOL, ONE THING THAT I'VE FOUND TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FUN IS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CONGRESS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CAPITOL AND THEN CUT THROUGH THE CAPITOL SORT OF GOING EAST, I THINK.

AND THEN SORT OF, YOU KNOW, TAKING MY BIKE DOWN, UH, WATERLOO PARK AND THEN UP TO, UH, YOU KNOW, UT CAMPUS.

AND SO IF I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT MAYBE OUT OF Y'ALL'S PURVIEW CUZ THE CAPITOL IS JUST RAN BY SCARY PEOPLE, BUT YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOME WAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SORT OF MAKE THAT REALLY EASY FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR PEDESTRIANS OR, OR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ON BIKES OR WHATEVER, UH, I THINK WOULD BE REALLY COOL.

INCLUSIVE, INFORMATIVE IN THAT.

YEAH, JUST REALLY APPRECIATE ALL, ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS.

THIS HAS BEEN GREAT TO JUST CHECK IN AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK.

SO THANK YOU MR. AGUIGUI.

SO I JUST HAVE SOME, UM, I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE TREES, SO PLEASE PRESERVE AS MANY OF THEM AS WE CAN, YOU KNOW? THANK YOU.

UM, UH, TRANSLATION MM-HMM.

SO I KNOW, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH C CHAVEZ BEING THERE, UM, MEXICAN, MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER THERE, UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT WHATEVER Y'ALL DO AS FAR AS SIGNAGE, WHATEVER BE INCLUDE THE TRANSLATION PIECE AND ALL.

SO, AND MIGHT INCLUDE OTHER LANGUAGES OTHER THAN SPANISH, BECAUSE I THINK AUSTIN IS BECOMING MORE GLOBAL MM-HMM.

AND THERE'S SOME SORT OF MEANS TO, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE INFORMATION AND BE MORE YEAH.

EXPAND IT TO INCLUDE THAT, UH, MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ADEQUATE METHODS OF GETTING DOWN THERE TO ENJOY CONGRESS AVENUE.

THANK, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, PRESENTATIONS.

VERY GOOD.

UM, I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.

UH, YOU SPOKE A LOT ABOUT BICYCLES AND, UH, SCOOTERS, BUT YOU DIDN'T SPEAK AT ALL ABOUT, REALLY ABOUT MASS TRANSIT IN A BROAD SENSE.

UH, IF THEY EVER BUILD IT, UH, THERE'S GONNA BE A, I DON'T KNOW WHAT COLOR IT IS.

I'M COLORBLIND ANYWAY, SO I DON'T CARE.

, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA BE A, A, YOU KNOW, A A RAIL SYSTEM GOING ACROSS THERE AND YOU DON'T MENTION ABOUT THAT.

AND SO THAT'S ONE THING.

AND THEN YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT BUS TRAFFIC A GREAT DEAL IN THAT.

AND YOU KNOW HOW THAT'S GONNA BE INTEGRATED WITH THE OVERALL PLAN.

SO YOU TALK ABOUT A VISION PLAN, YOU, YOU, PART OF YOUR VISION PLAN DOESN'T INCLUDE MASS TRANSIT.

SO I THINK THAT'S A DEFICIENCY IN YOUR VISION PLAN IS LIKE, WHAT MASS TRANSIT.

SO YOU NEED TO

[01:20:01]

, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING AWAY WITH PARKING, THAT'S FINE.

BUT IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THEIR CARS, THEN THEY HAVE TO GET THROUGH THEIR MASS TRANSIT.

AND IF THERE'S NO MASS TRANSIT AND THERE'S NO BUS STOPS, THERE'S NO, THEN, YOU KNOW, NO ONE GOES THERE.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S JUST ONE COMMENT.

UH, THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT, AND PERHAPS YOU ADDRESS THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD A PICTURE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE WIDE SIDEWALKS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, UH, TABLES OUTSIDE IN FRONT OF RESTAURANTS WHO ACTUALLY SAYS WHO GETS TO PUT A TABLE OUT THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN FRONT OF THE ROYAL GROCERY.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, ROYAL, CAN ANYONE JUST THROW A TABLE OUT THERE? YEAH, GREAT QUESTION.

UM, AND IN THE, IN THE PLAN, IN THE VISION PLAN, IT TALKS ABOUT SORT OF CREATING, UH, YEAH, THAT AMENITY ZONE.

AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING IS H HOW CAN YOU CREATE A MAYBE A VERY PERMISSIVE EXPERIMENTAL LIKE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE BUSINESSES TO, TO HAVE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY, UM, THE AVENUE ITSELF AND DWELLING AND BEING WITH OTHERS GATHERING, UH, IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESSES.

AND, AND THAT COULD BE IN THE FORM OF, OF MAYBE SOME STANDARDS THAT THEN, YOU KNOW, ARE WITH, WITH FLEXIBILITY, RIGHT.

FOR THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESSES.

UM, AND THEN, UH, TO YOUR, TO YOUR, WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IF YOU'D LIKE.

AND TO YOUR TRANSIT QUESTION, I JUST REALLY WANTED TO APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S BEEN A RECURRING THEME AS WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS PLAN WITH OTHERS.

AND I DID WANNA JUST MAYBE WIDEN THE APERTURE A LITTLE BIT FROM JUST CONGRESS TO THE DOWNTOWN ITSELF.

UM, TO YOUR POINT, THERE'S GOING TO BE INTERSECTIONS OF SERVICE, UM, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, PROJECT CONNECT OR LOCAL TRANSIT SERVICE, UM, OR THE METRO RAPID PIECE OF PROJECT CONNECT.

SO IF WE THINK ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN GRID AND HOW ALL OF THOSE STREETS INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER TO, UM, PROVIDE THAT TRANSIT SERVICE TO PEOPLE TO ENJOY CONGRESS AND ENJOY THE DOWNTOWN, I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY INCLUSIVE.

UM, OR OUR THINKING IS VERY INCLUSIVE OF THE, OF THAT IN TERMS OF THE GRID ITSELF.

UM, SO IT CERTAINLY DID NOT WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT THAT WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT OR NOT CONSIDERED, BUT, UM, IT'S, IT MAY BE NOT APPARENT, YOU KNOW, FOR JUST THINKING ABOUT THE, THE, UH, 1.2 MILES OF THE AVENUE ITSELF, BUT HOW IT INTERACTS WITH THAT GRID, RIGHT? WELL, WHEN I SEE, YOU KNOW, VISION PLAN AND IT DOESN'T ADDRESS MASS TRANSIT, THEN IT'S NOT A COM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

UH, AND WITH REGARD TO PUTTING TABLES OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE VERY WIDE SIDEWALKS, BUT THEN YOU CONSTRICT IT BY, YOU KNOW, SETTING OUT STUFF.

AND I KNOW THAT MAY BE EX, YOU KNOW, EXPERIMENTAL AND EVERYTHING, BUT HAVING WIDE SIDEWALKS AND THEN HAVE THEM ARTIFICIALLY NARROWED BY BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, DOING STUFF.

AND I KNOW IT'S VERY PARISIAN TO HAVE SIDEWALK DINING, YOU KNOW? UM, AND THAT'S ALL FINDING GOOD.

UM, AND MAYBE JUST AGAIN, TO APPRECIATE THAT, UM, WITH THE ADDITIONAL SPACES JANNA MENTIONED WITH THAT STRUCTURED ANGLED PARKING TO KIND OF OPEN UP THE BREATHING ROOM, IF YOU WILL, FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY THAT, UM, STOREFRONT ZONE, THE SIDEWALK AND THE AMENITY ZONE, THERE'S JUST MUCH MORE SPACE AVAILABLE THAN CURRENTLY.

SO IF WE CAN IMAGINE, AND THAT'S WHAT THAT INITIAL DESIGN, UM, CONCEPT CAN KIND OF HELP US ALL SEE THROUGH THE RENDERINGS THAT JANICE SHOW, BUT ALSO EVEN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF LIKE, HOW WOULD THAT SPATIAL UNDERSTANDING BE SO THAT WE DON'T, AREN'T LEFT WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE'S A, A SUBSTANDARD PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT THE POINT.

IN FACT, WE WANNA UPLIFT AND MAKE THAT SUPER COMFORTABLE, BUT THEN ALLOW FOR THESE OTHER ACTIVITIES, UM, YOU KNOW, IN TIME AND SPACE TO OCCUR ON THE AVENUE TO JUST ENLIVEN AND INVITE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TO ENJOY EACH OTHER AND TO ENJOY THE, THE SETTING.

UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO REINFORCE SEVERAL OTHER COMMISSIONERS MENTION THIS ABOUT, UH, THE TREES.

AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO PRESERVE AS MANY OF THE TREES THAT ARE POSSIBLE.

I KNOW SOME OF 'EM MAY BE DEAD OR DYING OR WHATEVER THE STORY IS, BUT TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, I THINK WE OUGHT TO PRESERVE THE EXISTING TREES AND LET THEM GO THROUGH THEIR NATURAL LIFE AND THEN REPLACE THEM, YOU KNOW, AS THEY NO LONGER ARE VIABLE.

UH, THERE WAS A, A DRAWING THAT YOU SHOWED THE FOUR CORNERS AROUND, UH, YOU KNOW, LAY BIRD LAKE, UH, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S THAT, UH, PUT FOR THE STATESMAN PROPERTY MM-HMM.

, UH, I ASSUME SOMEONE TALKED TO THE PUT PEOPLE FOR THAT AND YOU'RE GONNA INTEGRATE ACCESS FROM WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE DOING TO WHATEVER IT IS THEY'RE DOING.

MOST DEFINITELY MM-HMM.

SO YOU'RE, YOU GOT THEIR PHONE NUMBER AND MM-HMM.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE TALKED TO THEM AND SAID, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, AND THEY GO, RIGHT.

WE'RE FINE WITH THAT.

SO YES, WE'RE VERY MUCH IN COORDINATION.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T DO THESE THINGS.

SO YOU, OKAY.

[01:25:01]

UM, ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A, I WANT TO ASK YOU IF YOU'VE CONSIDERED IT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A BINARY QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU REIMAGINE STUFF, PEOPLE HAVE THESE ARTIFICIAL LIMITS, THEY SET ON THINGS, UH, AND THEY DON'T REIMAGINE WHAT REALLY COULD BE DONE IF THEY REALLY PUSH THE LIMITS.

SO WHAT IF YOU JUST POURED DIRT OVER CONGRESS AVENUE AND ALLOWED NO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON IT AT ALL AND STILL ALLOWED CROSS STREETS, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERED STREETS, CAESAR CHAVEZ RUN EAST WEST, HAD, DID THAT COME UP IN THE DISCUSSION AT ALL? AND JUST CLOSING THE WHOLE THING DOWN TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, EXCEPT FOR, I DON'T KNOW, IF YOU WANNA HAVE A FIREFIGHTER'S PARADE OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU CAN DO THAT, BUT EVERY DAY VEHICULAR TRAFFIC JUST, NO, THAT'S NOT, NOT ON, NOT ON THE TABLE.

REALLY.

JUST UNDERSTANDING CONGRESS AS PART OF THAT BIGGER GRID OF THE DOWNTOWN, IT, I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT STREET THAT NEEDS TO FUNCTION FOR, FOR ALL MODES.

SO, SO NO, BUT CERTAINLY AS IT IS CLOSED FROM TIME TO TIME FOR FESTIVALS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, EVENTS, SPECIAL EVENTS.

SO IT'S NOT THAT THAT NEVER HAPPENS, IT'S JUST MORE FROM A, UH, AN EVENT, YOU KNOW, A SPECIAL EVENT PERSPECTIVE PERHAPS.

BUT, UM, NO VERY MUCH THINKING ABOUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF IT WITH THE OTHER STREETS.

UH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MENTIONED THAT, UH, UM, GOING FROM RIVERSIDE DRIVE UP TO FOURTH, THERE'S GONNA BE SOME WORK DONE.

AND THEN FROM FOURTH TO 11TH, WHY ARE YOU STOPPING AT 11TH? WELL, THAT'S THE CAPITAL.

I FORGOT WHERE THE CAPITAL WAS.

WELL, WE COULD PAVE THAT OVER TOO, BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT PROBLEM, I GUESS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

UH, SECRETARY, YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS? I DO.

UM, COMMISSIONER BRIER, WHEN YOU WERE SAYING THAT, I WAS JUST ENVISIONING, LIKE, WE JUST TURNED THE CONGRESS OVER TO, YOU KNOW, WAGONS AND HORSES AND ANYWAY, UH, MY, I'M A VISUAL THINKER.

UM, YEAH, SO I, DONKEYS AND GOATS.

DONKEYS AND GOATS.

TO SEE, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU HAD MENTIONED ONE, HAVING DECIDUOUS TREES AND STUFF THERE, BUT I WOULD EVEN RECOMMEND, AGAIN, GOING FARTHER THAN THAT, WITH HAVING A VARIETY OF SPECIES THAT SHED THEIR LEAVES AT DIFFERENT TIMES SO THAT YOU'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, SOME SHADE POCKETS, SOME, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE LIGHTS.

UM, SO, UH, I THINK I'M GONNA START WITH THE LIGHTING, UH, FIRST OFF, YOU KNOW, GREAT VISIONING, UH, I LOVE IT.

UM, I'D LOVE TO.

SO FIRST OFF, YOU KNOW, I TRAVEL AROUND TEXAS A LOT.

I TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY A LOT, AND I, I THINK I'M JUST REALLY OVER THE HISTORIC LIGHTING.

I'M JUST SO OVER IT.

I CAN HARDLY EVEN STAND IT.

UM, IT'S, IT IS SO NOT DARK SIZE COMPLIANT.

UM, A LOT OF TIMES IT WASN'T EVEN, YOU KNOW, COPIED, RIGHT? UM, SO, UH, I JUST WANNA REALLY HOPE THAT I CAN, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT I, I WANNA SEE IT DARK SKIES OPEN.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT AUSTIN THEMATIC INSTEAD OF MAYBE JUST SO MINIMALIST, BUT REALLY MAKE IT AUSTIN THEMATIC THAT CELEBRATES THE NATURE, UM, OF, UH, OF, OF, OF THE AREA WITH EITHER BIRTH THEME, BATH THEME, TREE THEME, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

UM, I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THOSE, IF NOT ALL OF THEM, WHERE POSSIBLE, UH, HAVE SOLAR, UM, THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, FOR EACH, UH, LIGHT, UH, MAKE IT AS, AS YOU KNOW, ENERGY EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.

UM, THE, UH, ON THE BRIDGE ITSELF, UH, LOOKS LIKE YOU HAD SOME LIGHTING THAT WAS ON THE BRIDGE.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'D, I'D EVEN LIKE TO GO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TO ECHOING PRIMER'S, UM, THOUGHT OF, YOU KNOW, PUSHING THE LIMITS.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT HAVE OVERNIGHT HEAD LIGHTING, MAYBE NOT HAVE A GIANT POLE THERE THAT OBSTRUCTS FROM THE HISTORIC VIEW OF THE BRIDGE, PUT THAT LOWER DOWN.

UM, SO THAT IT'S JUST ILLUMINATING THE WALKWAY AND THE STREET.

AND AGAIN, THEN THAT IS MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TO THE BATS AS WELL AS THE BIRDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT LIVES, UM, ALONG LADY BIRD LAKE, INCLUDING OUR OWN, YOU KNOW, HUMAN EXPERIENCE WITH, UM, REDUCING, UH, THE, THE LIGHTING, UM, THERE.

UM, AND THEN GOING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CONCEPT OF BALANCE, UM, AND TALKING ABOUT THE TREES A LOT OF TIMES AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, UH, IT IS, IT IS GOLDEN TO WANT TO PLANT EVERYTHING THE SAME, HAVE THEM BEING GROWING THE SAME.

THEN IT CREATES THIS SORT OF ARCHWAY AND IT'S KIND OF THIS NICE THING.

IT DOESN'T REALLY REPRESENT TEXAS WHAT A TREE REALLY IS IN A LOT OF WAYS.

UM, SO I'D LOVE

[01:30:01]

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE PECANS ARE ALWAYS THE LAST TO COME OUT, YOU KNOW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE OAKS ARE, ARE, ARE COMING IN THE, UH, ELMS, YOU KNOW, ALREADY HAVE THEIR LEAVES AT THAT TIME.

SO CREATING A VARIETY OF WHEN THINGS ARE, ARE, UM, BLOOMING OUT.

UM, AND, AND ALSO PICKING A VARIETY OF COLORS, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS THAT ARE MAYBE, UM, CHANGING COLOR IN THE FALL OR IN THE SPRING, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, TO HAVE SOME VARIETY.

I'D ALSO LOVE TO SEE A VARIETY OF SIZE.

SO I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE YOU WANNA HAVE THAT VISUAL OF LIKE, YO, YOU LOOK DOWN THIS LIKE CORRIDOR AND STUFF, BUT CREATING SOME OF THAT SIZE MAKES IT MORE OF AN INTIMATE, UM, EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE.

UM, AND IT ALSO, YOU KNOW, UH, IT CREATES, UM, CHANGES THE SOUND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN, UM, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT VARIETY.

IT ALSO CREATES A DIFFERENT SMELL, YOU KNOW, AS PEOPLE ARE WALKING ALONG.

SO YOU HAVE DIFFERENT SCENTS AND DIFFERENT SENSES THAT ARE YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THERE, UM, IN THOSE LITTLE POCKET AREAS WHERE YOU CAN HAVE SOME, UM, YOU KNOW, LOWER LEVEL, UH, LANDSCAPING.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT BE POLLINATOR FRIENDLY, UM, WHEN AND WHERE POSSIBLE.

UM, AGAIN, WITH ALL NATIVE PLANTS, UM, YOU KNOW, IF I SEE ANOTHER, UH, BOX ELM, I'M GONNA PULL IT OUT MYSELF.

UH, AND THEN, UH, ONE THING I WROTE DOWN HERE THAT I, I'D LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT, CUZ IT WASN'T ON THE VISIONING PLAN, IS THE GONDOLA.

WHERE'S THE GONDOLA ? WELL, WE'LL PROBABLY LEAVE THAT TO OTHERS.

UM, NOT IN THE SCOPE, BUT, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JUST YOUR EXPANSIVE THINKING AND, AND JUST, UM, IDEAS THAT REALLY WANNA APPRECIATE IT AND MAYBE WOULD ENCOURAGE IN ALONG THOSE LINES.

YOU KNOW, LIGHTING DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO JUST BE WITH A, WITH A LIGHT POLE.

THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO EXPRESS LIGHTING IN INTERPRETIVE WAYS, UH, TO HIGHLIGHT AND EXPRESS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE DELIGHTFUL PLACES ALONG THE AVENUE.

UM, SO I THINK IF WE CAN SORT OF, UM, TAKE AN INSPIRATION FROM THE VISION PLAN AND, AND DREAM BIG AND, AND COME BACK TO PRESENT SORT OF SOME OPTIONS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE, I, I THINK OUR CHARGE FROM HERE, UM, TO, TO THEN INC.

YOU KNOW, CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AS WE DEVELOP, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT IS WE CAN DO.

YEAH, I, I HAVE ONE MORE THING TOO, WHERE YOU HAVE THE, UM, THE DIVIDER BETWEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BIKE LANE AND THE PEDESTRIAN AND, AND THERE YOU HAVE LIKE KIND OF A LITTLE COBBLE THING.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE KINDA INTERESTING TO DO SOMETHING WHERE THAT IS, UM, YOU'RE HAVING DIFFERENT ARTISTS, YOU KNOW, CREATE SOMETHING ALONG IN THAT STRIP, UM, AGAIN, THAT FEATURES, YOU KNOW, LOCAL ARTISTS AND WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, TILE OR SOME SORT OF COLORFUL, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EACH, MAYBE EACH BLOCK HAS A DIFFERENT THEME OR WHATEVER.

ANYWAY, JUST DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT GOING WITH PRIMER'S IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING A LITTLE BIT THERE.

UM, AND THAT'S IT.

WITH WHATEVER ELSE WAS HAPPENING ON THE AVENUE.

AND I THINK I JUST WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT AGAIN TO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE FOR ALL THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING TO KIND OF USE WHAT WE HAVE, THE, THE EDIFICES ON THOSE BUILDINGS AND OTHER PLACES TO SORT OF CELEBRATE AND, AND BE CREATIVE WITH THOSE INTERPRETIVE ELEMENTS.

SO YEAH.

AND PARTNERSHIP.

I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PIECES TO THIS THAT COULD EVEN CATALYZE BEFORE A MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT EVEN TO HELP BRING THAT LIFE AND VITALITY AND INCLUSIVENESS THAT THE VISION PLAN CALLS FOR.

SO YEAH, I APPRECIATE IT.

AND, UH, I JUST WANNA ADD ON TO SECRETARY BRISTOL'S IDEA ABOUT THE, UM, LOCAL ARTISTS, UM, SINCE IT'S KIND OF LIKE A CULTURAL AREA AS WELL, LIKE MAYBE INCORPORATE LIKE LATINO ARTISTS OR AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTIST AND JUST KIND OF HAVE IT MORE INCLUSIVE.

I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

AND, UM, THANK YOU.

I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE PHASING OUT OF THE TREES.

LIKE, UH, HAS THAT PLAN BEEN DISCUSSED? UM, LIKE WHAT'S THE, UH, THE THOUGHT PROCESS WITH IT? LIKE, ARE YOU PLANNING ON LOOKING AT THE AGE OF THE TREES AND BEING LIKE, OKAY, THIS ONE'S ON, ITS LAST LEG OUT, SO LET'S FOCUS ON THESE FIRST? OR IS IT KIND OF LIKE, AS YOU BUILD UP ON THE STREET, ARE YOU JUST KIND OF GOING BLOCK BY BLOCK BLOCK? YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WANNA DO AND HOPEFULLY LEAVE YOU ALL HERE, REST ASSURED, YOU KNOW, THE TREES ARE AN IMPORTANT PIECE FOR SHADE, FOR, UM, SYMMETRY, FOR ALL THE OTHER, UM, BENEFITS THAT TREES BRING TO THE SETTING ITSELF AND GENERALLY, SO ANY EFFORT TO REPLACE AND OFFER A MUCH BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THAT TREE TO THRIVE WOULD BE DONE VERY, UM, CAREFULLY AND IN, IN, IN PHASE IN CONCERT

[01:35:01]

UM, AND I THINK SO, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, IT REPLACED IN KIND WITH THE, WITH THE SAME, YOU KNOW, LEVEL OF, OF CANOPY OR MATURITY OR CLOSE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE, RIGHT? SO WE'RE NOT WAITING 50 YEARS TO GET THE SAME BENEFITS, RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT'S A GENERAL IDEA AND JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE TECHNOLOGY FOR, FOR INTEGRATING NATURAL ELEMENTS LIKE TREES INTO STREETS, UH, RAIN GARDENS AND OTHER OTHER ELEMENTS ARE JUST, THERE'S, THERE'S SO, UM, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE ABUNDANT THAN MAYBE WHEN THIS WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, A CONGRESS AVENUE WAS REALLY TOUCHED LAST.

SO REALLY BRINGING ALL OF THOSE TOOLS TO THE TABLE REALLY TO, TO, UM, YEAH, CREATE A SETTING THAT THAT'S BEAUTIFUL AND INCLUSIVE, BUT ALSO THAT CAN WORK WITH WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE IN SO MM-HMM.

APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR QUESTION.

AND I ALSO LIKE THE IDEA OF ADDING, UM, THAT RAIL AGAIN, WELL BETWEEN, TO SEPARATE THE SIDEWALK FROM THE TRAFFIC.

CUZ IT'S JUST BEEN SO MANY INCIDENTS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE LIKE PASSED WELL BEEN HIT AND RUN OR JUST TRAGIC THINGS.

SO, UM, ONE THING I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT WAS HOW THE, IT WAS MENTIONED LIKE LIGHTER WEIGHT MATERIAL TO EXTEND LIKE, THE SIDES OF THE BRIDGES.

AND I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT LIKE, WHEN PEOPLE ARE BAT WATCHING, IT'S USUALLY PRETTY CROWDED MM-HMM.

, AND I WANTED TO, I WAS KIND OF, I WAS WONDERING ARE THERE SIZE LIMITS OR LIKE, UM, FOR EXTENDING THE BRIDGE LIKE THAT, WOULD IT BE KIND OF LIKE SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO BE STATION STATIONED THERE TO BE LIKE, NO MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE GOING IN OR ANYTHING? LIKE, I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT THAT.

YEAH, I, I FEEL COMPELLED TO BRING LEE UP HERE ON THIS ONE .

UM, HE IS REALLY OUR EXPERT ON WHAT THE BRIDGE CAN HANDLE.

UM, SO YOU WANNA TAKE THIS ONE? ABSOLUTELY.

, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

SO YEAH, WE WOULD, UH, WE WOULD DESIGN ANY OVERLOOKS FOR A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

BASICALLY, YOU COULDN'T PUSH ONE MORE PERSON ON THERE AND THEN WE'D HAVE A FACTOR OF SAFETY OF ALMOST TWO IN ADDITION TO THAT.

SO YEAH, THERE WOULD BE NO SAFETY CONCERNS WITH ANY, UH, ANY OVERLOOK SITUATIONS.

AND I HAD JUST ONE LAST QUESTION.

UM, UH, OKAY.

SO WITH WORKING ON, UM, ALTERING THE BRIDGE, ARE Y'ALL AIMING AT LIKE WHEN THE BATS ARE AWAY FROM AUSTIN TO KIND OF DO THAT WORK, OR WOULD IT BE HAPPENING WHILE THE BATS ARE IN AUSTIN? YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND, AND, UM, IF GENERAL WANTS TO SPEAK MORE TO THIS, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY A, A, A MITIGATION PLAN THAT RESPECTS THEIR NESTING SEASON AND YEAH, IT WOULD BE VERY INTEGRAL TO ANY, UH, CONSTRUCTION PHASE FOR THE PROJECT.

I'M GONNA SHARE MORE ON THAT.

SURE, YEAH.

WE ARE WORKING WITH ZARA ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHT NOW TO DEVELOP, UH, AVOIDANCE AND MITIGATION MEASURES TO PROTECT THE BATS, BOTH DURING CONSTRUCTION AND THEN ALSO AFTER CONSTRUCTION.

SO THINKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE VIBRATION OF CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, UH, NOISE AND LIGHT DURING CONSTRUCTION AND AFTER THAT.

SO ALL THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED AND THEY'RE SETTING THE BAT COLONY AND KIND OF FIGURING OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO MINIMIZE IMPACTS.

UM, SEE US LETTING THAT HAPPEN.

SOME, SOME THANK YOU.

UH, SOME OF THE, UH, QUESTIONS THAT OTHERS HAVE RAISED, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, FIRST I, I KIND OF LIKE, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER BERG'S IDEA OF, UH, JUST LET'S JUST GET RID OF THIS CONCRETE ENTIRELY.

UM, UM, AND I GUESS NOBODY'S REALLY GONNA GO FOR THAT, BUT, UM, I, I DO THINK IT'S, IT'S A REALLY GREAT IDEA TO, UM, LET THE TREES LIVE AS LONG AS THEY CAN, INSTEAD OF LETTING SOMEBODY SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS ONE MAY NOT SURVIVE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO IT.

I'D RATHER SEE YOU DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND LET IT SURVIVE ANOTHER 10 YEARS.

UM, I HAD THIS HAPPEN TO A TREE WHERE I LIVED, AND I, IN RETROSPECT, I BOUGHT THE HOUSE BECAUSE IT HAD THAT GREAT BIG TREE THERE.

AND, UH, AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT, THAT THERE WASN'T ANY PAVING.

AND THEN THE CITY OF DULUTH CAME IN AND PAVED IT AND SAID THE TREE COULDN'T SURVIVE, AND THEY, AND THEY PUT IN A 10 YEAR OLD, UH, TREE IN ITS PLACE.

AND, UM, I DON'T WANNA SEE THAT HAPPENING ON THIS PROJECT.

I DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND AN ENGINEER TO SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS TREE ISN'T GONNA SURVIVE HOW WE'RE GOING TO IMPROVE IT.

BECAUSE TO ME, THAT'S NOT AN IMPROVEMENT.

UM, EVERY A HUNDRED YEAR, 200 YEAR OLD TREE THAT CAN LIVE FOR ANOTHER 10, 20, 30 YEARS, I'D RATHER SEE,

[01:40:01]

I THINK IT'S JUST THAT IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE SUMMERS IN THE FUTURE LIKE WE HAD LAST YEAR, AND I EXPECT THAT WE WILL, AND I AGREE WITH ALL THIS STUFF ABOUT THE LIGHTING AND THE, UM, AND, AND THE, UH, AND THE POLLINATORS AND THE, UM, UH, POLLINATOR GARDENS AND, AND, UM, PUTTING IN NATIVE PLANTS AND KEEPING IN MIND, UH, THOSE WHICH WILL HAVE DEEP ENOUGH ROOTS TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE THROUGH THE DROUGHTS THAT WE'RE GONNA EX GONNA HAVE TO EXPECT.

UM, AND, AND KEEPING THAT IN MIND WHEN WE'RE, UM, PUTTING THINGS IN, UH, I DON'T WANNA TAKE UP ANY MORE TIME, BUT BASICALLY ALL OF THESE CONCERNS THAT, THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPRESSED, I'M, I, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH US.

MOVING RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD TO LADY BIRD LAKE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING, GIVING THE PRESENTATION.

UH, THANKS FOR, UH, COMING TODAY AND, AND, AND HAMMERING THROUGH THE SLIDES AND, AND HEARING OUR COMMENTS.

UM, AS YOU CAN HEAR, TREES IS IMPORTANT.

UM, UH, I, I DON'T THINK I NEED TO REITERATE THAT TOO MUCH MORE.

THE, THE ONE ELEMENT I WOULD MAYBE NOTE WAS, OR A COUPLE ELEMENTS WOULD BE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE SPECIES THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE PLANTED 20 YEARS AGO WHEN, WHEN MULTIFAMILY STARTED GOING BACK INTO DOWNTOWN AND, AND WHAT'S WORKED AND WHAT HASN'T WORKED.

UM, AND, AND LOOKING AT, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO THIS COMMISSION WITH PROTECTED TREES, HERITAGE TREATS THINGS, AND, AND WE ALWAYS, UM, GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH THEM.

BUT, BUT I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT THAT IT CAN INCORPORATE OR WORK WITHIN THE ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE, UM, OR, OR HOLD OURSELVES TO THAT SAME STANDARD THAT WE HOLD EVERYONE ELSE TO IN THE CITY.

UM, I THINK WE TRY TO TO BE A MODEL FOR TREE PROTECTION IN, UH, IN THE GENERAL AREA.

UM, AND, UH, AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT ON CONGRESS WOULD BE A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF GETTING IT DONE.

I THINK, UM, IRONICALLY, A LOT OF MY COMMENTS WERE ALREADY NOTED BY OTHERS.

UM, THE, THE ONLY ONE THAT I COULDN'T THINK WAS, I'M SURE YOU'RE REACHING OUT TO THE TRAIL FOUNDATION MM-HMM.

TO INCORPORATE, YOU KNOW, CONNECTING WITH THEM IS THE SAME AS THE STATE'S BEEN PUT, UM MM-HMM.

AND, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT.

AND, AND OF COURSE ANYTIME YOU GUYS WANT TO COME BACK AND GET A, A BATTERY OF COMMENTS ABOUT TREES, UM, WE, WE ARE HERE.

UM, AND WE'D BE EXCITED TO, TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE DETAIL PLAN WHEN IT COMES OUT MM-HMM.

UM, AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING.

WELL, THANK YOU.

WE CERTAINLY WILL WANNA KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP AND, UM, YEAH, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND, AND ATTENTION TONIGHT AND, AND FEEDBACK.

IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY HELPFUL AND VERY INFORMATIVE.

[4. Presentation and discussion on the findings of a comprehensive lake capacity study of Lady Bird Lake. – Dr. Amanda Masino and Dr. Rohan R. Thompson, Huston-Tillotson University (1 hour)]

UM, UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A PRESENTATION, UH, AND DISCUSSION ON THE FINDINGS OF A COMPREHENSIVE LAKE CAPACITY STUDY FOR LADY BIRD LAKE.

UM, IF YOU GUYS WOULDN'T MIND, PULL UP THE SLIDES AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AS YOU COME TO THE MIC, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS SUZANNE PIPER.

I'M THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND I AM JOINED TONIGHT, OR WE ARE JOINED TONIGHT WITH OUR CONTRACTS TEAM OF THEIR SUPPORTING AS USUAL.

UM, WE'RE JOINED TONIGHT BY DR.

AMANDA MASSINO, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF NATURAL SCIENCE AT HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS THE PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY.

AND, UM, OUR DEPARTMENT PARTNERED WITH HOUSTON TILLSON ABOUT MAYBE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, UM, IN A RESPONSE TO, UH, SOME CONTRACTS AND CONCESSIONS, UM, UH, CONCERNS ABOUT CAPACITY ON THE LAKE AND SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED WHEN HOUSTON TILL CENTER, OR WHEN I BECAME AWARE THAT HOUSTON TILLESON HAD AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAM.

SO, UM, WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF, UM, SOME RESOURCES, SOME VACANCY SAVINGS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS , AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONTRACT AND PARTNER WITH, UM, HOUSTON NIELSON.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL HAND THE PRESENTATION OVER TO DR.

MASSINO.

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 MANAGE THE CARRYING CAPACITY AND ADDRESS CAPACITY RELATED CHALLENGES TO THE LAKE? SO TO DO THIS, UM, WE HAD TO EXPLORE SEVERAL DEFINITIONS OF CARRYING CAPACITY.

I'M STARTING MY TIMER SO THAT, UH, I WILL TRY TO CONTROL MYSELF AND NOT GO INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL SO WE HAVE ROOM FOR DISCUSSION.

UM, SO YES, I'M AMANDA MASSINO NATURAL SCIENCES AT HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY.

UM, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM.

UH, IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO THIS WORK WAS CARRIED OUT BY NEXT SLIDE, UH, MYSELF IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND MY COLLEAGUE DR.

TAN.

AND THEN WE HAD TWO COLLEAGUES, UH, ON THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS, UH, DR.

JASON CARTER AND DR.

ROHAN THOMPSON.

SO WE, UH, AS WE UNDERTOOK THIS PROJECT, WE FOCUSED ON THE FOLLOWING GUIDING QUESTIONS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF LADY

[01:45:01]

WE HAVE THE RECREATIONAL C CARRYING CAPACITY, AND IF YOU LOOK AT LITERATURE ON LAKES AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON DEFINITION YOU WOULD ENCOUNTER.

AND THIS DESCRIBES THE NUMBER OF WATERCRAFT THAT THAT BODY OF WATER, UM, CAN, CAN HAVE, OR THE LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT IT CAN HAVE BEFORE YOU START SEEING NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OR, UM, WATER IMPACT, RIGHT? EMBEDDED IN THIS, BUT ALSO DISTINCT ARE THESE NEXT THREE CONCEPTS.

ECOLOGICAL CARRYING CAPACITY REFERS TO THE NUMBER OF ORGANISMS THAT CAN BE SUPPORTED IN A PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT BEFORE YOU SEE, UH, DELETERIOUS CONSEQUENCES EITHER TO THE ORGANISM ITSELF OR THE ECOSYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

THEN WE HAVE, FROM THE MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, MORE OF A SPATIAL FACILITIES DEFINITION, WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCE USAGE THAT CAN BE SUPPORTED, AGAIN BEFORE YOU START SEEING IMPACTS ON, UH, SAFETY OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT.

AND THEN THE THIRD ONE, EXPERIENTIAL OR SOCIAL CARRYING CAPACITY.

AT WHAT LEVEL OF, UH, USAGE DO YOU START SEEING DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON THE USER'S EXPERIENCE ON THEIR PERCEPTION OF ENJOYMENT IN THAT SPACE? SO TO DO, UH, THIS STUDY, WE LOOKED AT A VARIETY OF DATA, SOME EXISTING, AND SOME THAT WE COLLECTED OURSELVES.

IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO WE DID A WATERCRAFT CENSUS, BOTH WITH A DRONE AND A GROUND-BASED COUNT.

UH, WE DID A PARKING LOT CENSUS, A LAKE USER SURVEY, FOLLOWED BY INTERVIEW INTERVIEWS WITH STAKEHOLDERS.

AND THEN WE HAD A WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ANALYSIS AND HABITAT ANALYSIS.

WE ALSO HAD EXISTING CITY OF AUSTIN DATA, UH, FROM PAR.

WE HAD LOTS OF DATA ON, UH, THE VENDORS ON ENFORCEMENT PATTERNS FROM WATERSHED.

OF COURSE, WE HAD MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF DATA GOING BACK YEARS AND YEARS ON THE LAKE ITSELF AND THE TESTING THAT THEY UNDERTAKE.

SO I'M GONNA RUN YOU THROUGH THE RESULTS AND THEN HOW WE INTERPRETED THEM IN RELATION TO THESE CONCEPTS.

AGAIN, THE FOUR CONCEPTS OF CARRYING CAPACITY.

FIRST WE HAVE THE CENSUS.

SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT EX, UH, EXPLAINING WHAT DENSITY IS FAVORABLE FOR A LAKE, THE DENSITY IS EX IS DESCRIBED IN THE LITERATURE AS THE AMOUNT OF AREA PER BOAT, RIGHT? WE MIGHT THINK OF DENSITY AS MASS PER UNIT AREA.

BUT FOR THIS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE AREA PER CRAFT, AND THAT'S, AGAIN, COMING FROM THE MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT? HOW MUCH SPACE DO YOU NEED FOR OPERATION OF EACH BOAT? IT ALSO AVOIDS HAVING FRACTIONAL BOATS.

AND WHEN WE EXPLORE THE LITERATURE, THE DESIRABLE TARGET DENSITY, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT A NON-MOTORIZED CRAFT, LIKE A KAYAK, LIKE A PADDLE BOARD, UH, IT'S ONE TO 1.3 ACRES PER BONE.

AND WE WERE BASING THAT ON A FEW SOURCES, UH, THAT HAVE DONE THESE STUDIES IN LAKES OF DIFFERENT KIND.

MANY TIMES THESE NUMBERS ARE EXPRESSED FOR MIXED USE LAKES.

THIS IS A NUMBER FOR A LAKE FOR, FOR THESE KINDS OF CRAFT, AGAIN, THE NON-MOTORIZED CRAFT.

AND SO WE DID AERIAL SURVEYS, WE DID DRONE BASED COUNTS ON FOUR DAYS.

WE LOOKED AT THREE WEEKENDS, TWO ON THE HOLIDAYS, AND ONE THAT WAS A NON-HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

SO THE SUNDAY OF MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, A NON SATURDAY, A NON-HOLIDAY SATURDAY IN JUNE, AND THEN JULY 4TH SATURDAY.

AND IF WE LOOKED AT THE DENSITY BY DRONE ON THOSE DATES, WE RANGED FROM 0.4 TO 0.67 ACRES PER BOAT.

SO WE WERE MORE DENSE THAN THE TARGET ON THOSE DATES.

ON THE NON, UH, WEEKEND DATE THAT WE LOOKED AT, WHICH WAS A, A A WEEKDAY, A FRIDAY, WE HAD 2.34 ACRES PER BOAT.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE, SO FOUR TAR FOUR DATES THERE, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'RE LOOKING NOW AT THE HIGHEST AND THE LOWEST DENSITY DAYS.

UH, SO THE TOP PORTION, YOU CAN SEE THAT'S OUR LOWER DENSITY DAY, THE SEGMENT.

WE, AND WE LOOKED AT SEGMENTS OF THE LAKE USING THE BRIDGES AS OUR LANDMARKS TO BE ABLE TO COUNT THE BOATS IN EACH AREA.

AND SO YOU CAN SAY EVEN ON THE LOW DENSITY DAY, THAT MOPAC TO LAMAR SEGMENT STILL HAD AN UNFAVORABLE DENSITY.

THE MOST, THE, THE, THE HIGHEST USAGE DAY IN THIS PARTICULAR SET OF FOUR DAYS, ALL OF THE RED HIGHLIGHTS ARE ABOVE THE TAR TARGET DENSITY, RIGHT ON THAT SATURDAY.

AND IT'S ONLY THE CONGRESS TO I 35 AND I 35 TO THE

[01:50:01]

DAM SEGMENTS THAT ARE, UH, HELPING TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT DENSITY BY BEING LESS DENSE THEMSELVES.

IF YOU, AND, AND THE SCREENSHOTS I SHOULD ACCOUNT MENTIONED ON THAT SLIDE DO CORRESPOND.

SO THE TOP SCREENSHOT CORRESPONDS TO THAT FRIDAY.

THE BOTTOM SCREENSHOT CORRESPONDS TO THAT SATURDAY.

NOW, THIS ALLOWS YOU TO COMPARE SEGMENT BY SEGMENT, WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND ON THIS GRAPH, I AM EXPRESSING DENSITY IN TERMS OF BOATS PER AREA, JUST TO BE ABLE TO VISUALIZE BETTER.

AND SO YOU HAVE THE SEGMENTS OF THE LAKE ALONG THE BOTTOM ON THE X-AXIS, AND THEN THE DENSITY ON THE Y EXPRESSED AS BOATS PER ACRE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE MOST DENSE SEGMENT, REGARDLESS OF THE DAY, IS THAT MOPAC TO LAMAR SEGMENT ON ALL OF THE DAYS IT WAS HIGHEST THEN.

NOW THE DRIFT, THE DIFFERENCE IS MOST DRAMATIC ON OUR MOST CONGESTED DAYS, BUT THAT WAS ALWAYS THE MOST CONGESTED SEGMENT.

AND WHEN WE LOOKED EVEN MORE CLOSELY AT WHICH PORTION OF THE, UH, MOPAC TO LAMAR, THERE WAS ONE PARTICULAR AREA THAT WAS VERY CONGESTED NEAR THE MOUTH OF BARTON CREEK.

AND THEN ON ALL OF THE DAYS, RIGHT, THAT SEGMENT BETWEEN I 35 AND THE LONGHORN DAM WAS THE LEAST DENSE.

ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE DUG IN A LITTLE MORE TO THAT MOST CONGESTED AREA, AGAIN, NEAR THE MOUTH OF BARTON CREEK.

SO IF WE LOOKED AT THAT ZONE OF LESS MOBILE CRAFT, RIGHT? THEY, THEY, THEY DON'T TRAVEL MUCH, THEY'RE JUST SORT OF FLOATING THERE.

IT, WE CALLED THE MINIMALLY MOBILE, UH, WATERCRAFT.

IF WE LOOK AT THAT, THAT IS A LARGE PART OF THE DENSITY ON THOSE DAYS.

SO 56.42% OF THE CRAFT ON IN THAT SEGMENT ARE IN THAT AREA AROUND THE MOUTH OF BARTON CREEK.

THIS DENSITY IS GONNA BE 12 TO 22 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE WHOLE REST OF THE LAKE ON THOSE DAYS.

SO AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF DENSITY IN THIS ONE SPOT, WHICH IS MAKING THEN THE WHOLE LAKE AVERAGE.

UH, HIGH.

TO GET THIS OUT IN FRONT OF AS MANY TYPES OF LAKE USERS AS WE COULD.

WE COMPLIMENTED THE AERIAL ANALYSIS WITH GROUND-BASED COUNTS.

AND WE DID THIS FOR A FEW REASONS TO GET SOME MORE DAYS, BUT ALSO TO BETTER DISCERN THE CRAFT TYPE, WHICH WE CAN TELL BY THE DRONE, BUT IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO TELL BY GROUND.

SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT IF WE LOOK AT THE WATERCRAFT TYPE, UM, WE HAVE THE, THE HIGHEST SEGMENT THERE IS KAYAKS ARE THE BIGGEST, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR PADDLEBOARDS, THAT'S THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF OUR, OUR WATERCRAFT.

UH, THIS WAS TAKEN TH UH, FROM THE BRIDGES AND THERE WERE 150 SEPARATE COUNTS HERE.

IF WE LOOK AT THE, THE TIME OF DAY FOR THESE, UH, CRAFTS, AND WE LOOK AT THE DENSITY HERE, UH, WE HAD THE MOST USAGE AFTER 3:00 PM IF WE LOOK AT WEEKENDS AND WEEKDAYS OVER THIS COUNT, WHEN WE DID THE AERIAL CENSUS, WE WERE DOING THOSE MIDDAY WITH THESE GROUND COUNTS.

WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ACCOUNT FOR MORE TIMES OF DAY.

AND SO WE SAW THIS PATTERN, WE HAD THE LOWEST USAGE IN THE MORNING, AND THEN THE HIGHEST USAGE AFTER 3:00 PM.

AND I THINK THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE INCLUDED WEEKDAYS THERE, RIGHT? MORE PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE AVAILABILITY TO GO TO THE LAKE, THEN WE THEN, UM, UNDERTOOK A PARKING LOT CENSUS.

AND THIS WAS DONE SOMEWHAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WATERCRAFT CENSUS.

SO HERE WE LOOKED AT A HUNDRED, 841 PARKING SPACES IN 20 LOTS.

THIS WAS A MIX OF CITY AND PRIVATELY OWNED HOT LOTS, MOST PAID, A FEW FREE.

THEY RANGED IN SIZE FROM SIX TO 185 SPACES.

AND WE SAMPLED ON FOUR DAYS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE PERCENTAGE USAGE, SO AS YOU MIGHT PREDICT FOR THE WEEKDAY WAS LOWER USAGE.

UH, BUT THE, THE USAGE WAS PERHAPS NOT AS HIGH AS YOU MIGHT PREDICT, UH, BASED ON THE, THE DIFFICULTIES THAT PEOPLE REPORT WITH FINDING PARKING.

SO LOTS WERE NOT COMPLETELY FULL.

THAT SAID, WE DID NOT INCLUDE STREET PARKING.

WE DIDN'T INCLUDE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BIG GRAVEL LOT OFF OF LUNA ROAD.

SO WE REALLY DID FOCUS ON PARKING, LIKE ESTABLISHED PARKING AREAS AND ESTABLISHED PARKING LOTS.

UH, SO THIS SPEAKS TO THAT FACILITY DEFINITION OF CARRYING CAPACITY THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THE NEXT PIECE IS THE LAKE USER SURVEY.

SO THIS IS AN ONLINE SURVEY THAT WE LAUNCHED IN ON IN AUGUST.

IT WAS OPEN FOR 68 DAYS, AND WE WERE TRYING TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT PERCEPTIONS AND, UM, HOW PEOPLE USE THE LAKE, WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF CONCERNS AND THREATS FOR THE LAKE.

SO WE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE, QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR AREAS OF CONCERN.

WE HAD THREE OPEN-ENDED ITEMS, A FEW QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO BUSINESS OWNERS.

AND THEN WE HAD OUR DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS.

THIS WAS DELIVERED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND WE WORKED TO GET THIS OUT THROUGH THE VENDORS, UH, THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, SCHOOL GROUPS, UH, ADVOCACY GROUPS, COMMUNITY GROUPS.

WE WORKED WITH PAR, WE WORKED WITH TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE

[01:55:01]

AND THERE WAS AN INCENTIVE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SURVEY.

THERE WAS A DRAWING FOR A GIFT CARD IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.

AND AFTER WE CLEAN THE DATA, IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAD 622 RESPONDENTS.

SO THIS IS AFTER REMOVING, YOU KNOW, BOTS AND INCOMPLETE ANSWERS.

AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THESE NEXT SLIDES IS THE SURVEY, THE SURVEY RESPONDENT PROFILE.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT MOST OF OUR RESPONDENTS WERE NON-HISPANIC, WHITE AT 60, AT 68.5%.

AND THEN I HAVE THE NUMBERS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN POPULATION FOR COMPARISON.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS AND YOU LOOK AT THE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE DID OKAY IN TERMS OF OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN BLACK RESPONDENTS, RIGHT? UM, WE HAD FEWER ASIAN AND MANY FEWER HISPANIC THAN WE WOULD WANT TO SEE IN TERMS OF BEING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY.

AND WE HAD MORE MULTIRACIAL THAN THE CITY THAN IS DESCRIBED IN THE CITY DEMOGRAPHICS.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING, AND I'LL SHOW YOU IN A MOMENT, THAT WE SOUGHT TO CORRECT WHEN WE DID THE INTERVIEWS.

THEN WE DEFINITELY LOOKED TO HAVE MORE DIVERSITY IN OUR STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE INTERVIEWS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT FULLY REPRESENTATIVE IN THIS SURVEY.

UH, BY GENDER, MOST OF OUR RESPONDENTS WERE MALE, AND THE RESPONDENTS, WE HAD MORE VETERANS AND MORE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAN IN AUSTIN CITY DEMOGRAPHICS.

AUSTIN IS 4% VETERANS, 10% PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND WE HAD HIGHER NUMBERS AMONG OUR RESPONDENTS.

UH, THE RESPONDENT PROFILE CONTINUES ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO HERE YOU CAN SEE THE NUM, THE, THE, THE BREAKDOWN BY EMPLOYMENT STATUS, INCOME, AND, UH, THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENTS OR STYLE OF RESIDENTS.

SO MOST OF OUR RESPONDENTS ARE EMPLOYED FULL-TIME, LITTLE OVER 70%, UH, 65.7% OF THE RESPONDENTS MAKE AT LEAST $50,000 A YEAR.

17.3% MAKE LESS THAN 40,000.

AND THEN MOST OF OUR RESPONDENTS OWN THEIR PLACE OF REV RESIDENCE AT 65.4%.

NEXT SLIDE SHOWS YOU WHAT PERSPECTIVE THE RESPONDENTS BROUGHT TO THEIR ANSWERS.

AND SO WE ASK THIS TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, DO WE, ARE WE TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE OR INTERESTS ABOUT THE LAKE? AND THIS WAS A SELECT MULTIPLE.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THE LITTLE BARS HERE DO NOT ADD UP TO 6 22 IN TERMS OF THE RESPONSES.

AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING HERE IS THAT IF WE LOOKED AT HOW PEOPLE ANSWERED, ONLY 140 OF THE 6 22 DESCRIBE THEMSELVES IN WHAT I WOULD SAY ARE NON-SPECIALIST TERMS, RIGHT? I'M A LAKE USER, I'M A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, I'M A TOURIST.

MOST OF THEM ALSO, IF THEY USE THAT, THEY ALSO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS HAVING SOME SORT OF SPECIALIZED PERSPECTIVE BUSINESS OWNER, SOMEONE WHO, UH, AN ENVIRONMENTALIST OR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE, RIGHT? SO THEY'RE BRINGING THIS TO THIS PERSPECTIVE TO THE SURVEY, AND THAT ACCOUNTED FOR 77.8 OF OUR RESPONDENTS BRINGING THESE PERSPECTIVES TO THEIR ANSWERS ON THE LAKE ABOUT THE LAKE.

OKAY? SO THE NEXT SLIDE GETS INTO THEIR RESPONSES ABOUT THEIR USAGE.

SO YOU CAN SEE HERE, UM, HOW OFTEN DO YOU USE LADY BIRD LAKE? 61%.

I'M ADDING UP THE TWO LARGEST WEDGES THERE AT, USE THE LAKE AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH.

AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT HOW MANY ACTIVITIES THEY CARRY OUT, MOST PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN MORE THAN ONE ACTIVITY.

SO IT'S VERY RARE TO HAVE SOMEONE ANSWER THAT.

THEY ONLY GO THERE TO KAYAK OR ONLY GO TO HIKE.

THEY, THEY DESCRIBE MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES.

UH, THAT 80, 88% THAT PARTICIPATED IN TWO OR MORE ACTIVITIES WAS, THAT WAS THE OVERWHELMING PATTERN.

AND THEN IF WE LOOK AT FREQUENCY OF ACTIVITIES, WALKING AND HIKING, THEN KAYAKING, RELAXING, CYCLING, DOG RELATED ACTIVITIES WERE THE MOST COMMON.

THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK.

AND THEN AFTER THAT CAME IN THE NATURE ACTIVITIES LIKE BIRD WATCHING, NATURE WATCHING FISHING, ET CETERA.

SAYING THAT THE AMOUNT OF CROWDING THAT THEY EXPERIENCED INTERFERED WITH THEIR ENJOYMENT, AT LEAST, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SOMETIMES, UH, MUCH OF THE TIME, ET CETERA.

OKAY, SO WE KNOW WHO'S ANSWERING THE SURVEY, AT LEAST WE KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT WHO'S ANSWERING THE SURVEY.

HOW DID THEY FEEL ABOUT CROWDING AND HOW DID THEY FEEL ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY? THESE TWO, UH, THE NEXT TWO SLIDES ARE ABOUT CROWDING.

SO WE ASK THEM FOR THE LAKE AND FOR THE TRAIL, DO THEY EXPERIENCE, DO, WOULD THEY DESCRIBE THIS AS CROWDING? WHERE, WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF CROWDING THAT YOU WOULD SEE HERE? AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE RELATIVELY SIMILAR RESULTS BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE TRAIL.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THAT CROWDING INTERFERED WITH THEIR ENJOYMENT.

AND AGAIN, A VERY SIMILAR PATTERN.

SO YOU HAVE ABOUT 60%

[02:00:01]

THE NEXT TWO SLIDES, SIMILAR FORMAT, WE ASK 'EM ABOUT THE WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

SO FIRST RATE THE QUALITY, AND THEN DOES THIS INTERFERE WITH YOUR ENJOYMENT? AND HERE WE START SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE.

SO IF YOU COMPARE THE BREAKDOWN FOR THE, THE LAKE AND THE BREAKDOWN FOR THE, THE THE TRAIL, YOU CAN SEE THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED OR HAD A HIGHER LEVEL OF CONCERN WITH THE WATER QUALITY THAN WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF THE TRAIL.

HOWEVER, NEXT SLIDE, IF YOU GO TO THEIR ENJOYMENT, THE ENJOYMENT PROFILE LOOKS VERY SIMILAR, RIGHT? WE'RE STILL AROUND THAT 60, CLOSE TO 60% FOR BOTH SAYING THAT THEY, UM, THEY HAD A LOSS OF ENJOYMENT AT LEAST SOME OF THE TIME.

THE NEXT SLIDES THEN GET INTO PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE LAKE, AND THERE WILL BE SOME REPETITION OF THESE THEMES OF CROWDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

SO HERE WE ASK FOLKS TO, UH, AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH STATEMENTS.

THE STATEMENT THAT ELICITED THE STRONGEST AGREEMENT IS MAYBE SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE CAN GET BEHIND.

UM, AND THAT'S THE STATEMENT THERE AT THE BOTTOM.

SO 73%, EITHER STRONGLY OR SOMEWHAT AGREE THAT THEY HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE AT LADY BIRD LAKE, RIGHT? AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A REALLY GOOD LEVEL OF AGREEMENT WITH LADY BIRD LAKE IS ONE OF AUSTIN'S MOST IMPORTANT NATURAL RESOURCES, RIGHT? SO THAT, AND THAT WAS A THEME WE ALSO SAW IN THE INTERVIEWS.

UM, WE HAD THE, THE MOST DISAGREEMENT WITH, UH, THAT THIRD STATEMENT THAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE THAT, UM, LADY BIRD LAKE, OH MY GOODNESS, MY COPY IS TOO SMALL.

LADY BIRD.

IT'S THE, THIS IS THE, THE ACCESS STATEMENT.

SO LADY BIRD LAKE IS AVAILABLE TO EVERY AUSTINITE RE REGARDLESS OF THEIR, UH, STATUS, REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHNICITY.

I CAN, I CAN READ IT FOR 'EM IF YOU WANT ME TO.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

UM, LADY BIRD LAKE IS A RESOURCE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY AUSTINITE, REGARDLESS OF AGE, INCOME, RACE, OR ETHNICITY.

YEP.

AND SO THIS IS GONNA BE A THEME LATER THAT WE SEE AS WELL, RIGHT? THIS CONCERN FOR WHO BENEFITS FROM THE LAKE.

THE NEXT SLIDE CONTINUES THIS.

SO THEN WE HAD A SET, SIMILAR SET OF AGREE, DISAGREE QUESTIONS MORE ABOUT MANAGEMENT AND CONCERNS.

UM, HERE WE HAD GOOD, THOUGH LOWER THAN THAT BLANKET, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATION FOR LOWER FOR LADY BIRD LAKE.

WE STILL HAD GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE STATEMENTS RELATED TO MANAGEMENT.

SO 63.4%, EITHER SOMEWHAT OR STRONGLY AGREEING WITH, I AM GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF LADY BIRD LAKE AND ITS TRAILS IN SHORE AREAS.

UM, AND THEN 56.9% SAYING THAT THEY'RE SOMEWHAT OR STRONGLY AGREEING WITH, I AM GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS OF LADYBIRD LAKE AND HIS TRAIL IN SHORE AREAS.

THE ONE HERE THAT HAD THE MOST EXPRESSED THE MOST CONCERN WAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT STATEMENT, RIGHT? SO 70.3% STRONGLY OR SOME STRONGLY OR SOMEWHAT AGREE THAT THERE'S CONCERN THERE.

AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT 58 AND 57 FOR LAKE AND TRAIL CROWDING, WHICH FITS IN WITH THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ABOUT CROWDING, RIGHT? IN TERMS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

NEXT, WE ASKED FOLKS TO RATE SPECIFIC CONCERNS.

OH, YOU CAN SKIP THIS ONE.

THREAT OR RATE, THE POTENTIAL THREAT TO LADYBIRD LAKE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND HERE FOLLOWING THE SAME PROCESS, RIGHT? SO ASSIGNING A NUMBER SCORE, LOOKING AT THE DISTRIBUTION WEIGHTING THE AVERAGE, WE'RE LOOKING AT POLLUTION, THEN POPULATION GROWTH, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, WATER SCARCITY, AND OVERUSE.

TO RATE SPECIFIC CONCERNS.

AND SO WE HAD A WHOLE MENU OF ITEMS FOR FOLKS TO LOOK AT HERE.

THE ONES THAT YOU SEE, THE DETAILED NUMBERS ARE THE FIVE HIGHLY, MOST, HIGHLY RATED CONCERNS AMONG THESE RESPONDENTS.

SO WATER QUALITY, ALGAE, BLOOMS, LITTER OR TRASH, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND DEGRADED HABITAT.

AND IF WE TAKE THE PERCENTAGE REPLYING, EITHER STRONGLY CONCERNED, SOMEWHAT CONCERNED, NOT CONCERNED, ET CETERA, AND GIVE A NUMBER SCALE OF ONE TO FIVE, WE CAN COMPARE THESE TO EACH OTHER.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

AND SO IN ORDER, THE ORDER THAT YOU SEE THEM IN THE TABLE IS THE ORDER OF CONCERN.

SO WATER QUALITY WAS THE HIGHEST WIDTH SCORE OF 3.75 WHEN WE SCALED EVERYTHING AND, AND CORRECTED FOR THE, THE AVERAGE, THEN THE ALGAE, THEN THE LITTER, TRASH, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, DEGRADED HABITAT, LOWEST CONCERN, USING THE SAME METHOD, UM, BOAT CONGESTION, COSTLY AMENITIES, NOISE, AND THEN INTERMEDIATE BETWEEN THOSE CROWDING, FEW ACCESS POINTS, INADEQUATE PARKING, DOGS, PERSONAL SAFETY, POOR COMPLIANCE, PROPERTY CRIME, AND WATER LEVEL CHANGES.

SO THERE WAS QUITE A MENU FOR FOLKS TO CHOOSE FROM.

AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT CAME TO THE TOP.

THE NEXT SLIDE IS SIMILAR, BUT HERE WE'RE ASKING THEM ABOUT FUTURE THREATS.

SO NOT SOMETHING IS NECESSARILY A PROBLEM NOW, BUT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE A POTENTIAL THREAT IN THE FUTURE.

AND WE GAVE THEM A TIMEFRAME OF FIVE YEARS.

SO WHICH OF THESE IS GONNA BE A POTENTIAL

[02:05:01]

ON THIS LIST, THE LOWEST CONCERN WOULD BE LACK OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND THEN INTERMEDIATE THREATS, CLIMATE CHANGE, INAPPROPRIATE ZONING, INCREASED COSTS, AND LACK OF COMPLIANCE.

THE SURVEY ALSO INCLUDED OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS.

SO WE HAD THREE.

I'M SHOWING YOU JUST THE RESPONSES FOR THE FIRST ONE.

WE HAD THE MOST RESPONSES HERE.

UM, SO YOU 234 PEOPLE CHOSE TO RESPOND TO THIS QUESTION ABOUT THEIR VISION, RIGHT? WHAT DO YOU ENVISION FOR LADY BIRD LAKE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? AND WHAT WE DID HERE IS CATEGORIZE THE, THE GENERAL, UH, AREA THAT THEY EXPRESSED SOMETHING ABOUT.

AND SO WE HAD 114 MENTIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A CALL TO INTRODUCE SOME SORT OF MEASURE.

SO, REDUCE TRASH, REDUCE POLLUTION, OR IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABOUT PRESERVATION, KEEPING THE GREEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE, UM, MAINTAINING THE WATER QUALITY THAT WE HAVE.

THEN WE HAD 77 MENTIONS OF AMENITIES.

THIS MIGHT BE A REQUEST FOR A PARTICULAR AMENITIES.

AND WE HAD SEVERAL OF THOSE, UM, SEPARATING BIKES FROM, FROM PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, ADDING PARKING, ADDING LIGHTING, 51 MENTIONS OF SAFETY AND REGULATORY CONCERNS, PATROLS REGULATION.

AND THEN 46 MENTIONS OF MAINTAINING OR INCREASING ACCESS.

AND BY ACCESS, SOME OF THE ANSWERS WERE ABOUT LIKE TRAIL CONNECTIVITY, TRANSIT CONNECTIVITY.

OTHERS WERE ABOUT ACCESS FOR PEOPLE IN THE SENSE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, RIGHT? ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ACCESS FOR PEOPLE FROM ALL NEIGHBORHOODS, FROM ALL ETHNIC AND RACIAL GROUPS.

OKAY, NEXT SLIDE.

AFTER THE SURVEY, WE FOLLOWED UP WITH INTERVIEWS AND WE USED THE OPEN-ENDED RESPONSES AND THE RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THE INTERVIEW SUBJECTS.

WE CONDUCTED 23 INTERVIEWS, AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE STROVE TO HAVE BETTER DIVERSITY HERE THAN WE DID IN OUR INTERVIEW IN OUR SURVEY RESPONDENTS.

SO NINE OF 23, UM, ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO 40% PEOPLE OF COLOR AMONG OUR INTERVIEW SUBJECTS, UH, 10 FEMALES, 13 MALES.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE RACE ETHNICITY BREAKDOWN THERE.

IN TERMS OF PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE WHO HAD QUITE A LOT TO SAY FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

SO AGAIN, SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE FOR MOST, NOT ALL.

UM, THESE ARE NON OVER OVERLAPPING OR NON-EXCLUSIVE CATEGORIES.

AGAIN, THEY COULD IDENTIFY AS MULTIPLE, BUT WE HAD FOUR BUSINESS OWNERS, UH, SEVEN PEOPLE WHOSE WORK IN SOME WAY INVOLVED THE OUTDOORS.

TWO CREDENTIALED ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS, AND FOUR PART STAFF IN THIS GROUP OF 23.

AND WE HAD 13 QUESTIONS FOR THEM.

SO WE HAD TWO THAT WERE SORT OF GENERAL POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES.

THEN WE ASKED THEM SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCESS POINTS, DIVERSITY, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, ECONOMIC CONCERNS, LATE CAPACITY AND SAFETY.

AND THEN THAT WE HAD QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO BUSINESS OWNERS.

WHEN WE GOT THEIR RESPONSES, WE ANALYZED THEM A COUPLE OF WAYS.

FIRST, WE DID OVERALL SENTIMENT.

SO WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT ITEMS LIKE DIVERSITY, ACCESS, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, DID THEY GENERALLY EXPRESS CONCERN? DID THEY, WHICH WOULD BE LIKE A NEGATIVE SENTIMENT THAT THEY EXPRESS POSITIVE SENTIMENT, OR DID THEY GIVE US A MIXED RESPONSE? AND LOOKING AT THAT, UH, THE MAIN AREAS OF CONCERN WHERE MANY OF OUR SUBJECTS, EXPRE, YOU KNOW, EXPRESSED A, UH, NEGATIVE SENTIMENT, A, K, A, THEY ARE CONCERNED, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, ACCESS POINT, CONCERNS, AND SAFETY.

20 OF 23 WITH ENVIRONMENTAL, 13 OF 23 WITH ACCESS, POINT 13 OF 23 WITH SAFETY DEVELOPMENT HAD THE MOST MIXED RESPONSES.

12, UH, OF THE 23 HAD A MIX OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE, RIGHT? SO CONCERN, NOT CONCERN ABOUT DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN THE MOST NEGATIVE LANGUAGE.

WE ALSO PUT THE LANGUAGE THROUGH, UH, A SYSTEM THAT SORT OF SCORES THE INTENSITY OF EMOTION EXPRESSED IN THE LANGUAGE.

AND BY THAT, UH, THE MOST NEGATIVE LANGUAGE WAS USED WHEN DISCUSSING SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.

SO THE, THE WORD CHOICE, RIGHT, WAS, UH, MORE VEHEMENT.

THEN THE OTHER PART OF THE ANALYSIS, WE LOOKED FOR THEMES, RIGHT? AND THE EMERGING THEMES, THEMES AMONG THESE ANSWERS.

SO WE HAD WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, POOR WATER QUALITY, DECLINING WATER QUALITY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, HAD THE, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF INSTANCES MENTIONED IN THE RESPONDENT'S ANSWERS.

THEN THE NEED TO INCREASE ACCESS WAS SECOND TO FEW ACCESS POINTS OR THE IN, OR THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH INFORMAL ACCESS POINTS.

ACCESS POINTS ARE DAMAGING, CAUSING DAMAGE.

THEN THE ENJOYMENT

[02:10:01]

OF TRAILS IN GREEN SPACES.

HAR HARKENING, BACK TO THAT STATEMENT ABOUT ENJOYMENT OF THE LAKE AND LADYBIRD LAKE BEING A PRECIOUS RESOURCE, RIGHT? THIS CAME UP MULTIPLE TIMES, UH, APPRECIATION FOR THE LAKES, APPRECIATION FOR THE TRAILS THAT THEY HAD IN, THEY ENJOYED THE SCENERY, THAT THIS IS, UH, AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CITY BEING ABLE TO BE IN NATURE.

THEN HEALTH AND SAFETY, RIGHT? HEALTH, HEALTH CONCERNS, SAFETY CONCERNS.

AND THEN THE NEED TO INCREASE DIVERSITY, EITHER NOTING THE CURRENT LACK OF DIVERSITY OR, AND OR, OR SAYING THAT DIVERSITY IS NEEDED.

AND OVER THE NEXT SLIDES, YOU HAVE SOME EXAMPLES OF THESE STATEMENTS, AND I, I DON'T WANT TO READ THROUGH ALL OF THEM, THAT WILL TAKE TOO LONG.

UM, BUT, BUT JUST A FEW.

SO HERE, UH, IN, IN THE WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATEMENT AT THE BOTTOM, I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT THE WATER SEEMS VERY NASTY.

I REMEMBER ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, THE WATER LOOKED BETTER, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE WATER WOULD LOOK LIKE IN ANOTHER 10 YEARS.

AND THIS IS SOMEONE SPEAKING FROM A NON-SPECIALIST PERSPECTIVE.

SO ONE THING THAT DID COME ACROSS WAS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO DO WATER QUALITY TESTING AND LOOK AT THE CHEMICAL VALUES AND KNOW, HMM, THE QUALITY'S ACTUALLY OKAY CONSIDERING FOR THE LAKE.

BUT PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAKE, IT DOES NOT, THAT DOES NOT MATCH, RIGHT? THE WATER CAN BE MURKY, THE WATER CAN BE UNATTRACTIVE, SPECIES ARE MISSING.

SO THERE'S DEFINITELY, UH, SOMETHING THERE ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAKEHOLDERS HAVING DIFFERENT PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE WATER QUALITY IN THE NEXT SET, UM, IN THE, IN THE NEED TO INCREASE ACCESS.

SO AGAIN, ACCESS IN DIFFERENT SENSES.

ONE OF THESE STATEMENTS IS ABOUT ACCESS POINTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

UH, THE ONE IN, IN THE, IN THE TOP RIGHT, RIGHT? THE LACK OF ACCESS POINTS PROHIBITS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM ACCESSING THE LAKES AND ITS TRAILS.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO A CONCERN ABOUT THE FORMAL ACCESS POINTS AT THE BOTTOM, UM, ACCESS POINTS, THE INFORMAL ACCESS POINTS CAUSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION OF THE SHORELINE.

THE NEXT SLIDE HAS SOME COMMENTS ABOUT EN ENJOYMENT OF NATURE AND GREEN SPACES.

UH, AGAIN, THESE COMMENTS WERE EFFUSIVE ABOUT THE, THE NATURE OF, OF LADYBIRD LAKE AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

I THINK MY FAVORITE ONE HERE IS ON THE TOP RIGHT.

THE FACT IS THAT YOU DON'T GET TO SEE THE TRUE BEAUTY OF AUSTIN UNLESS YOU ARE ON THE WATER.

THIS IS THE TRUE PART OF AUSTIN.

THE AUTHENTIC PART WHEN YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY NATURE, TREES, THE HERONS, THE TRAIL'S ALWAYS CLEAN, ENJOYABLE, YOU ENJOY IT SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS.

IT'S A WAY TO EXPLORE AUSTIN TO EXPERIENCE TRUE NATURE AND WHAT NATURE AND WHAT AUSTIN IS ABOUT, THE TRUE BEAUTY OF AUSTIN.

SO THIS WAS ACROSS THE BOARD, THIS APPRECIATION AND CONCERN FOR MAINTAINING THIS, THIS PRECIOUS STATUS.

HEALTH AND SAFETY IS NEXT.

SO CONCERN WITH RUNOFF AND SEWAGE CONCERN WITH THE FLOTILLAS, RIGHT, WITH THE, THE AGGREGATE OF BOATS.

UM, AND THEN CONCERN WITH THE ALGAE CAME UP A FEW TIMES AS WELL.

AND THEN THE LAST SLIDE HAS THE EXAMPLES ABOUT DIVERSITY.

AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SOME IS JUST NOTING THE LACK OF DIVERSITY.

OTHERS ARE CALLS FOR DIVERSITY.

UM, I DON'T THINK THE LAKE USAGE REPRESENTS THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY.

CERTAIN PLACES ARE LESS DIVERSE.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE DIVERSITY IN THE AREA.

WHATEVER GETS PUT OUT THERE, DIVERSE BUSINESSES WILL BRING MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR INTO THIS SPACE.

SO THIS SAMPLING IS ONLY A PIECE.

I KNOW YOU HAVE THE FULL REPORT, UM, AND I, AND I URGE YOU TO LOOK AT THE OTHER QUOTES FROM THAT ARE SAMPLED FROM THESE INTERVIEWS.

WE HAD A LOT OF RICH INFORMATION HERE.

PEOPLE WERE VERY GENEROUS WITH THEIR TIME AND WITH THEIR INSIGHT WITH OUR GROUP, AND, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THEY ADDED TO THE, TO THE REPORT.

UM, SHIFTING GEARS A BIT, WATER QUALITY.

WE DID NOT SEEK TO DO COMPREHENSIVE TESTING.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ALREADY SAMPLING OF LADY BIRD-LIKE BY MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS.

WE REALLY FOCUSED ON THIS HIGH USAGE AREA.

SO WE WANTED TO LOOK AT HOW OUR VALUES COMPARED TO THE WHOLE LAKE VALUES C OBTAINED BY WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND COMPARE IT TO WHAT WE WERE CONSIDERING, A BASELINE OF THE WATER, UM, RIGHT BY, UH, TOM MILLER DAM.

SO WE COLLECTED AT TOM MILLER DAM, AND THEN WE COLLECTED UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE MOUTH OF BARTON CREEK.

AND WE DID THIS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER ONE OF THOSE PEAK USE PERIODS WHEN WE WOULD HAVE THE LARGE CONGREGATION OF BOATS.

UM, THE INSET ON THE MAP THERE SHOWS YOU THE SAMPLING SITES.

AND RIGHT THERE WHERE ON THE, ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MAP, YOU CAN SEE WHERE BARTON CREEK FEEDS IN.

THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THAT LARGE FLOTILLA.

AND WE, UH, WE SAMPLED, WE DID THIS THE SAME WAY THAT, UH, WATERSHED DOES, SO THAT AGAIN, WE CAN COMPARE TO THEIR HISTORICAL VALUES AS WELL.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE A SUMMARY OF OUR PART OF OUR RESULTS.

SO WE TESTED FOR SEVERAL PARAMETERS, UM, 19

[02:15:01]

PARAMETERS.

WE DID NOT SEE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE EVENT.

AND SO THESE INCLUDE, UH, THE BROMIDE, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, FLUORIDE, MAGNESIUM, MANGANESE, SODIUM, ORTHOPHOSPHATE, NITRATE, UH, NITRITE SULFATE, BICARBONATE, HYDROXIDE, SILICA, THE SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE, TOTAL S ALKALINE AND TDS, UH, HARDNESS AND PH.

SO WE HAD FLUCTUATIONS, BUT THEY DIDN'T MATCH UP WITH A PATTERN OF BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER RELATED TO THE EVENT.

THE PARAMETERS, THE, THE VALUES WERE, THE PARAMETERS WERE FAIR TO GOOD, WHERE WE DID SEE DIFFERENCES, OR TWO, THREE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE SAW DIFFERENCES WERE, UH, THERE, WHAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SLIDE.

SO WE DID SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THE E COLI COUNT IN THE COLIFORM BACTERIA.

WE SAW A DIFFERENCE IN THIS PHYT A, WHICH IS A MEASURE OF, UH, IT'S, IT'S A INDIRECT WAY OF MEASURING THE, THE ALGAE GROWTH.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR ALGAE TOXINS, BUT JUST SORT OF A PRODUCT OF THEIR CHLOROPHYLL.

AND THEN WE DID SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE IN ONE OF THE NITRATE VALUES.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE WE DO FEEL, WE, WE, IT'S, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS FLUCTUATION WITH THIS AMOUNT OF SAMPLING.

WE WOULD NEED MORE DATA, BUT WE ARE INTERESTED TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT THIS.

WE HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON WITH LADY BIRD LAKE.

YES, IT IS A, IT'S A RESERVOIR.

IT'S A FLOW THROUGH RESERVOIR THAT HELPS WITH THE WATER QUALITY TREMENDOUSLY.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL, UH, IT, IT'S AN URBAN WATERSHED, RIGHT? AND WE HAVE RUNOFF FROM SEVERAL, UH, CREEKS GOING INTO IT.

AND SO WE, WE LOOK AT STORM EVENTS WHEN WE LOOK AT RUNOFF EVENTS, AND THEN WE LOOK AT THESE USAGE PATTERNS.

YOU NEED A LOT MORE DATA, SORT OF DECONVOLUTE WHAT IS CAUSING THE INSULT, IF ANY, ONE THING.

SO WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON HERE, BUT WE DID SEE SOME VALUES THAT GIVE US SOME CONCERN.

THE NEXT PIECE IS THE HABITAT ASSESSMENT HERE.

WE LOOKED AT THESE HIGH USE AREAS.

UM, PAR AND TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DO LOOK AT THE, THE SHORELINE HABITAT AT 10 SITES AROUND THE LAKE, UH, SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR.

SO RATHER THAN DO A RANDOM, WE LOOKED FOR AREAS THAT WE KNOW ARE HIGH USE, ESPECIALLY THESE INFORMAL ACCESS POINTS.

AND HERE WE COMPARED TO A DOCK, RIGHT? BE, THAT WOULD BE OUR, OUR NEGATIVE CONTROL INNOCENCE.

WE DON'T EXPECT TO SEE VERY ROBUST HABITAT AT A HUMAN DEVELOPED SITE.

AND THE PICTURES THERE, YOU CAN SEE JUST TWO SAMPLES OF THE KIND OF SITES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SHORELINE FROM THE WATER TO A METER IN, AND THEN THE RIPARIAN ZONE, WHICH IS A METER TO 15 METERS IN.

AND WE'RE ASSESSING A, A VARIETY OF PARAMETERS IN THIS PROTOCOL DEVELOPED BY WATERSHED.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE QUALITY OF THE SUBSTRATE, RIGHT? BEDROCK, SAND, SILT, ET CETERA.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TYPE OF VEGETATION.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF, UH, HUMAN BUILT SUBSTANCES STRUCTURES.

WE'RE LOOKING AT INVASIVE SPECIES.

AND THEN THESE THINGS GET GRADED AS SORT OF FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE.

UM, YOU KNOW, IS IT A GENTLE SLOPE OR A STEEP DROP OFF AT THE SHORE? DO WE HAVE, UH, THE KIND OF SUBSTRATE THAT SUPPORTS PLANT LIFE FOR SOMETHING THAT'S BARREN? AND BY DOING THAT IN THE SITES THAT YOU SEE ON THE MAP, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU SEE THE RESULTS.

AND THIS.

SO ALL OF THESE DATA ARE COLLECTED.

SO WE COLLECT ALL THESE PARAMETERS, AND THEN WE SCORE, WE ADD THEM, WE RATE THEM, WE ADD THEM UP.

THE SCORE GOES FROM ZERO TO 100 WITH 100 BEING THE IDEAL, UH, COLLECTION OF, OF FACTORS FOR, FOR A SHORELINE HABITAT OR FOR RIPARIAN HABITAT.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SHORELINE DID FARE BETTER THAN THE RIPARIAN ZONE ACROSS THESE, THESE ZONES THAT WE LOOKED AT.

AND AGAIN, THESE WERE AREAS OF HIGH HUMAN TRAFFIC, UH, THE DOCK ALL THE WAY ON THE RIGHT OF THE GRAPH.

THAT'S AGAIN, OUR NEGATIVE.

SO THE SHORELINE AT THE DOCK SITE GOT A 19.4 OUT OF A HUNDRED, AND THE, THE RIPARIAN IS ZERO, RIGHT? HUMAN BUILT STRUCTURES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE SCORE FOR THE SH FOR THE HABITAT FOR, FOR THE SHORELINE, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THIS RANGE FROM 61 TO 9, 65 TO 92.

IF WE LOOK AT THE SAME TYPE OF SYSTEMS FOR SCORING THE RIP PERIOD, IT'S MUCH LOWER, 18 TO 50.

UM, SO THIS IS ECHOING THAT CONCERN THAT WAS EXPRESSED BY SOME OF OUR SURVEY RESPONDENTS AND SOME OF OUR INTERVIEW SUBJECTS, THAT THESE AREAS OF INFORMAL ACCESS MAY BE BE CAUSING ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE TO THE HABITAT.

THE LAST TWO PIECES, WE ALSO DID AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ANALYSIS.

WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHO LIVES NEAR THE LAKE AND WHO BENEFITS FROM THE AMENITIES OF THE LAKE.

AND TH THIS WAS AN EMERGING THEME IN THE INTERVIEWS AS WELL, THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE CLOSEST TO THE LAKE ARE GOING TO STAND TO BENEFIT MOST EASILY FROM IT.

SO WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THIS IDEA OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ENSURING THAT ALL

[02:20:01]

PEOPLE HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AN, UH, PRECIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE LIKE LADY BIRD LAKE IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY WHO LIVES, YOU KNOW, NEAR THE LAKE.

WE USED THREE DIFFERENT APPROACH, TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT, UH, MILEAGE PARAMETERS.

SO WE LOOKED AT THE CENSUS BLOCK GROUPS THAT HAD ONE BOUNDARY THAT TOUCHED THE LAKE, AND THAT'S THE TOP PICTURE THAT YOU SEE THERE.

AND THEN WE ALSO JUST SORT OF CREATED A ZONE, EITHER A QUARTER HALF OR ONE MILE ZONE AROUND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE LAKE ITSELF.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE BOTTOM.

AND THEN WE PULLED DATA FOR THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE POPULATION AND SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS IN THE DIFFERENT AREAS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE GRAPH, AND I KNOW THIS ONE'S COMPLICATED, SO THE, THE FOUR DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CLOSE TO THE LAKE ARE AT THE VERY TOP OF THIS GRAPH, RIGHT? YOU'RE EITHER LOOKING AT THE 0.25 MILE RADIUS, THE 0.5, THE ONE MILE, OR YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE CENSUS BLOCK GROUPS THAT HAVE ONE BOUNDARY TOUCHING, UH, COMING WITHIN A, COMING WITHIN THE LAKE.

AND THE PARAMETERS THAT WE'RE COMPARING IN TERMS OF DEMOGRAPHICS ARE ON THE FAR LEFT OF THE GRAPH.

SO IF WE COMPARE EAST OF 35 AND WEST OF 35, WE SEE NOTABLE DIFFERENCE WITH RESPECT TO PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PERCENT LOW INCOME.

REGARDLESS OF THE DEFINITION, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 20 TO 29 PERCENTAGE POINT DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, OR 10 TO 24% PERCENTAGE POINT DIFFERENCE FOR LOW INCOME.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE DIFFERENCES FOR PERCENT WITH HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION.

UM, AND FOR THE PERCENT THAT HAVE RESTRICTED ENGLISH SPEAKING, IT'S SMALLER, BUT IT'S THREE TO 7%, OR FIVE TO 9% PERCENTAGE POINT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EAST AND WEST.

WE COMPARED ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS, EAST AND WEST AS WELL.

MANY OF THEM ARE SIMILAR.

UM, THE FEW THAT ARE DIFFERENT BETWEEN EAST AND WEST TRAFFIC, PROXIMITY WAS HIGHER FOR THE WEST, PROXIMITY TO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS AND HAZARDOUS WASTE WAS HIGHER FOR THE EAST.

SO THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL INSULTS IN THE DIFFERENT AREAS WHICH AFFECT THE WATERSHEDS AND, AND SOME OTHER, UH, MANAGERIAL DECISIONS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE ABOUT THE LAKE.

LAST PIECE OF THE ANALYSIS WAS OUR UNLICENSED VENDOR ACTIVITY.

AND HERE, I'M, I'M SORRY TO REPORT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TO REPORT.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET INFORMATION FROM PAR ABOUT ENFORCEMENT AND THAT PROCESS, AND THEN WE COLLECTED DATA THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS, UM, ADVERTISING, RIGHT? TRYING TO GET A SENSE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OPERATING WATERCRAFT ON THE LAKE WITHOUT A PERMIT.

AND HERE, UH, WE, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM WERE SOME OF THE SAME ACTORS THAT PART HAD IDENTIFIED, WE SAW STILL BEING ACTIVE AND STILL ADVERTISING, UH, YOU KNOW, RENTALS ON THE LAKE.

SO WE HAD, UH, FIVE OF THE VENDORS THAT PAR STAFF, NINE OF, OF THE NINE VENDORS THAT PART STAFF IDENTIFIED FIVE OF THEM WE SAW ACTIVELY CONTINUING TO, UH, ADVERTISE.

TWO OF THEM WE COULD NOT IDENTIFY.

ONE OF THEM WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LARGE EVENTS, THE, THE, THE CONGREGATION OF BOATS AT THE MOUTH OF BARTON CREEK.

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE OF THESE VENDORS WAS A NIGHT VENDOR, AND ANOTHER ONE OPERATES BATTERY POWERED MOTORIZED CRAFT THAT REACHED SPEEDS OF 25 MILES PER HOUR.

UH, EVEN THOUGH THE SPEED LIMIT LIMITATION OR THE, THE HORSEPOWER LIMITATION ON LADY BIRD LAKE IS FIVE HORSEPOWER, WHICH IS ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR.

UH, SO BOTH OF THOSE WERE VENDORS WHERE WE HAVE PARTICULAR SAFETY CONCERNS THAT COULD BE DISCUSSED ABOUT THEM.

SO IN THIS AREA, WE THINK THAT WE HAVE A CHALLENGE WITH ENFORCEMENT AND WITH IDENTIFICATION OF WHO THE UNLICENSED VENDORS ARE.

OKAY, SO THE IMPLICATIONS BACK TO THE QUESTION, ARE WE EXCEEDING CARRYING CAPACITY? IF WE USE THAT DEFINITION OF RECREATIONAL CARRYING CAPACITY, AGAIN, OUR TARGET IS ONE TO 1.3, THEN WE ARE INDEED EXCEEDING THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE LAKE ON OUR SAMPLED PEAK DAYS, RIGHT? THE WEEKENDS, WHETHER IT'S A HOLIDAY OR NOT, THE A ON THOSE DAYS, THE AVERAGE WHOLE LAKE DENSITY WAS 0.5 ACRES PER BOAT.

SO ABOUT HALF OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

NOW, WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, IDENTIFY THE MOST HEAVILY USED SEGMENTS AND THE LEAST HEAVILY USED SEGMENTS.

AND SO THAT PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY PERHAPS FOR, FOR MANAGING SOME OF THIS.

UH, THE WHOLE LAKE BOAT DENSITY ON THE NON-PEAK DAYS IS VERY FAVORABLE.

2.34.

UM, THE BOAT, THE, THE BOAT DENSITY IN THOSE AREAS WHEN ON, ON THE HIGHLY CONGESTED AREAS ON THE PEAK DAYS IS VERY UNFAVORABLE 0.075, RIGHT? 13 TIMES MORE CONGESTED THAN THE TARGET IN TERMS OF THE ECOLOGICAL CARRYING CAPACITY.

WE NEED MORE INFORMATION.

WE HAVE SOME, SOME IDEA FROM THE WATER QUALITY TESTING THAT

[02:25:01]

THERE IS MORE TO INVESTIGATE THE KIND OF DATA WE NEED, WOULD NEED MORE CONTINUOUS MONITORING.

SOME LOOK AT THE RESILIENCE OF THE LAKE, HOW LONG IT TAKES TO RETURN TO BASELINE, UH, RATHER THAN THESE SORT OF SPOT INSPECTIONS.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE FACTOR FOR FOLLOW UP.

UM, AND THE CONCERN IS THIS WAS E COLI AND THERE WAS ONE INDICATION OF THE ALGAE GROWTH, WHICH WE KNOW IS A CONCERN AT THE LAKE.

THE HABITAT ASSESSMENT SIMILARLY INDICATED CONCERN AND SOMETHING THAT WE THINK SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE FOLLOWED UP ON AND MONITORED.

IF YOU WOULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHEN IT COMES TO THE SPATIAL OR FACILITY CARRYING CAPACITY HERE, WE HAD MIXED RESULTS.

OUR PARKING SURVEY SEEMED TO INDICATE THAT THERE WASN'T A PARTICULAR PARKING PROBLEM, BUT THAT WAS FREQUENTLY EXPRESSED BY THE USERS, UM, IN THE SURVEY AND IN THE INTERVIEW, THAT PARKING WAS A CONCERN AS FAR AS EXPERIENTIAL OR SOCIAL CARING CAPACITY, IT DOES SEEM TO BE EXCEEDED FOR MANY OF OUR SURVEY AND INTERVIEW RESPONDENTS.

SO WE'RE IN THAT ZONE OF ABOUT 60% OF THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS EXPRESSING STRONGER MODERATE CONCERNS WITH LAKE CROWDING, AND THEN SAYING THAT THAT IN INTERFERED WITH THEIR ENJOYMENT AT LEAST SOME OF THE TIME, ALL OF THESE RESULTS, IF YOU WOULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE DO NEED TO CONTEXTUALIZE THIS NOT JUST IN THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE LAKE, BUT WHAT THE CHALLENGES WE CAN ANTICIPATE TO THE LAKE BEING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, INCLUDING POPULATION GROWTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND INCREASED WATERSHED PRESSURES.

SO WE'RE NOT SEEING CARRYING CAPACITY EXCEEDED EVERY DAY BY EVERY DEFINITION.

UH, BUT WE ARE SEEING SOME, SOME PATTERNS THAT REALLY REQUIRE US TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE, ABOUT MONITORING MORE CAREFULLY AND THINKING ABOUT OUR INTERVENTIONS AND, AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES.

SO THE LAST PART OF THE PRESENTATION HAS A COMPILATION OF THE ACTION AREAS THAT WE PULLED FROM THE SURVEYS, FROM THE INTERVIEWS, AND FROM OUR INTERPRETATION OF THE DATA.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, THESE ARE NOT IN ORDER OF, OH, NEXT SLIDE.

THESE ARE NOT IN ORDER OF PRIORITY.

THEY WERE IN THE ORDER THAT I, I THOUGHT THAT THEY MADE SENSE TO DISCUSS.

SO PLEASE, UH, DO NOT TAKE THIS TO MEAN A RANKING NECESSARILY.

UM, ABSOLUTELY NEED TO THINK ABOUT WAYS TO REDUCE CONGESTION.

THE SEGMENT BETWEEN MOPAC AND FIRST IS THE MOST CRITICAL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE SEE MOST OF THE DENSITY.

UM, AND THERE ARE STRATEGIES THAT CAN BE DONE TO, TO DEAL WITH THIS, RIGHT? ADDING MORE FORMAL ACCESS POINTS AWAY FROM THIS ZONE, ADDING AMENITIES AWAY FROM THIS ZONE, UM, CONSIDERING HOW TO CONNECT THAT TO CONNECTIVITY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COME IN FROM DIFFERENT AREAS AND USE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE LAKE RATHER THAN THAT REALLY CONGESTED AREA, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN, UH, CERTAINLY BETWEEN MOPAC AND FIRST AND EXTENDING TO MOPAC TO CONGRESS AS WELL.

ENHANCING PROGRAMMING WILL ASSIST WITH ONE AND TWO.

SO AS YOU SEEK TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND INCREASE CONNECTIVITY TO ENCOURAGE USE OF OTHER PARTS OF THE LAKE, CONNECTIVITY TO OTHER PARTS OF THE PARK SYSTEM, UM, PROGRAMMING SHOULD REINFORCE THIS.

AND THAT PROGRAMMING GIVES US A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS DIVERSITY AND ACCESS, RIGHT, TO BE MORE CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE WITH THE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE OFFERED, AND LET USERS CHOOSE THE WAYS THAT THEY ENGAGE WITH THE LAKE RATHER THAN DEFINING ALL OF THAT FOR THEM.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, HAND IN HAND WITH THE PROGRAMMING IS PUBLIC EDUCATION.

MANY OPPORTUNITIES HERE THAT SEEM IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE LAKE.

SO WE HAVE EDUCATION ABOUT, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER QUALITY AND WHAT INDIVIDUAL USERS CAN DO TO PROTECT, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH, UH, VENDORS PERHAPS IN THIS, IN SOME SORT OF TRASH REDUCTION STRATEGY USING STRING BAGS, REDUCING PLASTIC ON THE LAKE.

UM, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO EDUCATION ABOUT WATER QUALITY DEFINITIONS, UH, STRATEGIES, WHAT YOU CAN DO AT HOME, WHY PROTECTING THE WATERSHED IS IMPORTANT, AND MAYBE ADDRESSING THIS DISCONNECT BETWEEN, UH, THE APPEARANCE OF THE WATER AND THE QUALITY OF THE WATER.

SOMETIMES THAT'S RELEVANT, BUT MANY TIMES THOSE, THOSE DON'T NECESSARILY GO HAND IN HAND.

UH, THERE WAS A OBSERVATION BY A FEW OF THE FOLKS WE SPOKE TO THAT THERE ARE AREAS THAT SEEM TO BE LIGHT ON SIGNAGE WHERE IT COULD BE IMPORTANT TO ADD SIGNAGE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THE NEED TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IS A THREAD THROUGHOUT ALL OF WHAT I JUST MENTIONED.

LEVERAGING VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS IS A STRATEGY TO DO THIS.

MANY ENTITIES CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE LAKE.

UM, LET'S PUT THEM TO WORK.

LET'S USE THEIR EXPERTISE AND, UH, AND THEIR, AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, TO BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT MORE EXTENSIVE CLEANUPS,

[02:30:01]

INTRODUCE LAKE AMBASSADOR PROGRAMS, ACCESS PROGRAMS, UH, TRAIL MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, EVEN CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS COULD BE HELP HELPFUL IN THIS REGARD.

NEXT ONE IS TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING.

I MENTIONED A LITTLE OF THIS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THE WATER, BUT WE'RE THERE IS A NEED TO KNOW MORE, ESPECIALLY ABOUT HIGH USE AREAS.

SO MONITORING HIGH USE AREAS, HAVING CONTINUOUS MONITORING PUT IN PLACE WOULD BE IDEAL.

BEING ABLE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A PERTURBATION, HOW LONG IT TAKES THE LAKE TO COME BACK TO ITS BASELINE VALUE, WOULD GIVE YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAKE'S RESILIENCE, MUCH MORE THAN THESE SORTS OF INDIVIDUAL POINT, UH, POINT IN TIME SAMPLES.

COULD YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? AND THEN THE LAST ONE, UM, IS TO ENFORCE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT.

UH, MANY OF THE CHALLENGES AROUND CROWDING REQUIRE SOME MORE RESOURCES FOR ENFORCEMENT, RIGHT? FOR IDENTIFYING UNLICENSED VENDORS FOR, UH, IF YOU'RE PUTTING IN SOME SORT OF TRASH MITIGATION ACTIVITIES, THEN FOR ENFORCING THOSE ACTIVITIES AND FUNDING WILL BE NEEDED TO DO ALL OF THIS.

SO THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RE-EXPLORE THE VENDOR FEE MODELS, SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, AND IF WE ACTUALLY HAVE A, A SYSTEM THAT MAKES SENSE FOR OUR SIZE AND FOR THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE INVOLVED.

UM, AND THEN POTENTIALLY INCREASING PATROLS.

AND, AND THIS WOULD HELP WITH THAT SENSE OF SAFETY THAT PEOPLE WANNA HAVE AS WELL AS ADDRESSING ENFORCEMENT.

UM, IF I COULD GO BACK TO THE PIECE ABOUT DIVERSITY BRIEFLY BEFORE WRAPPING UP, UH, I DO THINK THAT THAT IS CRITICAL HERE.

AS MUCH AS THE LAKE IS LOVED, IT, IT ISN'T USED BY EVERYONE.

AND BY ADDRESSING WHERE AMENITIES ARE, BY ADDRESSING ACCESS, BY ADDRESSING THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS AND WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS YOU PUT IN PLACE, YOU HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY OR PART DOES WITH YOU, WITH THE BOARD, UM, TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND IMPLEMENTING THEM IN WAYS THAT INCREASE DIVERSITY, RIGHT? THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE PEOPLE IN TO SHARE THE WORK WITH YOU.

AND SO I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE FORMAL, UM, GUIDELINES, TRAININGS, GOALS FOR DIVERSITY, JUST AS WELL AS THERE ARE GOALS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND, UH, WHAT YOU WANNA SEE ON THE LAKE.

THE LAST QUESTION IS, OR THE LAST SLIDE IS JUST OUR CONTACT INFO, WHICH YOU HAVE ALREADY.

I WANNA THANK PAR FOR ALL OF THEIR ASSISTANCE AND WATERSHED AS WELL.

UM, IN ADDITION TO, WE, THE DRONE PILOT WHO HELPED US WAS FROM WATERSHED, GAVIN TABONE.

HE IS WONDERFUL.

HE IS AN IN-HOUSE RESOURCE IF YOU WANT TO REPEAT THIS KIND OF SURVEY, THAT IS A GOOD THING TO KNOW.

UM, AND THEN BRETT BELLINGER WAS WONDERFUL IN ORIENTING US TO HOW THEY DO THE WATER QUALITY AND HABITAT TESTING.

ALL RIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, VERY, VERY EXTENSIVE STUDY AND VERY CLEAR, UH, PRESENTATION.

SPIKES JUST AFTER A STORM EVENT, A BIG STORM EVENT JUST FROM THAT EMPTYING INTO THE LAKE.

OF COURSE.

UM, COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UH, REMOTE? YOU GUYS GO FIRST, AS ALWAYS.

GOT ANYTHING? YES, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, PLEASE.

UM, I WAS VERY INTERESTED BY THIS STUDY.

I THINK THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY NECESSARY, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS, UM, CLEARER.

UM, ONE THING I WONDERED WAS, UM, WEATHER AND WEATHER WAS NOT REALLY MENTIONED.

UM, SOMETHING THAT HAS OCCURRED TO ME WHEN I'VE SEEN THOSE FLOATING ISLANDS OUT THERE IS, AND I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN THEM STAY DURING, UH, RAIN EVENTS.

SO IF THERE'S LIGHTNING, I MEAN, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THEM OFF THE WATER? AND I MEAN IT, YOU KNOW, CLOSED THE LAKE.

I MEAN, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ME.

SO I WONDERED ABOUT THE WEATHER ON ANY OF THESE DAYS.

WAS IT JUST GORGEOUS ON? WELL, SO CERTAINLY ON THE DAYS THAT WE WENT AND TOOK CENSUS, IT WAS, SO WE WENT OUT WHEN THE, THE CONDITIONS WERE IDEAL.

UM, YEAH, WEATHER IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY CONCERN.

THERE WAS ONE DAY, IT WAS A DAY THAT WE WERE SAMPLING AFTER, IT WAS THE MONDAY AFTER, UH, THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, AND WE WERE DOING OUR AFTER SAMPLE WATER QUALITY, AND I THINK A THUNDERSTORM WAS ROLLING IN THAT DAY, AND WE WERE HUSTLING TO GET OUT OF THE WATER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AND I SAW BOATS OUT THERE, LIKE PEOPLE WERE NOT CONCERNED WITH LIGHTNING COMING IN.

UM, SO YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY A, A SAFETY CONCERN AND THE, FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT AWARENESS MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE THERE, THAT YOU NEED TO, YOU KNOW, GET OUT, CHECK THE WEATHER AND GET OUT OF THE WAY.

THE OTHER REAL IMPACT OF WEATHER ON THE LAKE IS JUST THE RUNOFF.

AND WE DID LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE AS BEST WE COULD NOT SAMPLING AFTER A BIG RUNOFF EVENT, BECAUSE THAT WOULD SKEW THINGS, RIGHT? WE KNOW THAT, WE KNOW THAT THE STREAMS AND THE CREEKS BRING IN EVERYTHING IN THEIR WATERSHED INTO THE LAKE, RIGHT? AND, AND YOU WILL SEE BACTERIAL

[02:35:01]

UM, SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY I REALLY DO THINK WE NEED SOMETHING MORE OF A CONTINUOUS MONITORING STRATEGY FOR THAT, BECAUSE THEN WE COULD SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S A STORM EVENT, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S A MASSIVE PEOPLE, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BOTH OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME, ET CETERA.

AND RIGHT NOW THOSE ARE A LITTLE HARD TO DECONVOLUTE.

I I THINK THAT ANOTHER ASPECT THAT, UM, MIGHT BE HELPFUL IS, UM, SIGNAGE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ENTERING THE LAKE YEAH.

ABOUT SAFETY CONCERNS.

I KNOW THEY HAVE A LOT AT THE, UM, THE PLACES WHERE THEY RENT THE CANOES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND, AND SO FORTH.

BUT IF WE HAVE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ENTER AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT, THEN WE'RE NOT SURE THAT THEY KNOW THOSE THINGS.

SO I, I DON'T KNOW.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS STUDY AND IT'S DEFINITELY LONG PAST OVERDUE AND, UM, THANK YOU.

YEAH, NO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

I THINK THE SIGNS THAT THAT DOES COME UP AND THE, EVEN THE SIGNS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE, BUT ALSO INVITE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND CAN YOU WORK WITH COMMUNITY TO DESIGN SIGNS THAT ARE INFORMATIONAL, BUT ALSO ARE PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT MAKE, MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS INFORMATIONAL, NOT PRESENTING THE DANGER UPFRONT AS IF, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A REALLY HAZARDOUS THING AND YOU'RE TAKING YOUR LIFE IN YOUR HANDS WHEN YOU GO IN THE LAKE.

IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T USE THE WATER OFTEN AND YOUR INTRODUCTION IS LIKE 20 HAZARD SIGNS, RIGHT? THAT CAN BE VERY UNWELCOMING.

BUT YOU CAN WORK WITH PEOPLE TO DESIGN SIGNS THAT HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT ORIENT THEM TO THE SAFETY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS JUST PART OF BEING IN THE OUTDOORS AND WE CAN ALL LEARN TO DO IT SAFELY TOGETHER AND WELL, YEAH.

COMMISSIONER CHAIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THAT WAS A LOT OF GREAT DETAIL INFORMATION AND, AND RESEARCH.

UM, I, IT JUST MADE ME WONDER AND THINK ABOUT THE SEA HOME WATERFRONT PROJECT AND IF THIS, YOU KNOW, RESEARCH HAS ANY IMPACT ON, ON THOSE PLANS.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE EXACTLY THAT PROJECT IS, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE, UM, GOOD TO CONNECT ON AND TO BE AWARE OF, THINK OF AND MAYBE CONNECT WITH THAT, THAT TEAM AND PRESENT YOUR FINDINGS SO THAT THEIR PLANS ARE CONSIDERATE OF THE AC DIVERSITY, ACCESS, UM, CLEANLINESS, CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SO FORTH.

YEAH, NO, I, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND, AND I DEFINITELY AGREE ABOUT JUST PROVIDING ADDITIONAL POINTS OF ACCESS.

IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE A, AN ADVERTISING SORT OF PLAN BY THE VENDORS CURRENTLY, IF YOU'RE SEARCHING TO GO, UM, YOU KNOW, FIND SOMETHING TO DO ON THE LAKE, IT'S, IT'S THE VENDORS WHO ARE ADVERTISING THAT'S KIND OF GUIDING WHAT, WHERE USERS OF THE LAKE MIGHT BE GOING AND ACCESSING THE LAKE.

SO WE MIGHT REALLY WANNA, WANNA THINK ABOUT THAT, LIKE HOW THAT MESSAGE IS, IS GETTING OUT THERE AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY GOING ON THE LAKE.

YEAH, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT.

THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANYBODY HERE? YEAH, COMMISSIONER SCOTT.

YOU, YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK.

VERY IMPRESSIVE.

AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND THE, THE DETAIL WITH, WITH WHICH YOU'VE, UH, RESEARCHED THIS WHOLE PROJECT.

IT'S, UH, IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

I'M NOT AWARE, AND MAYBE I'M JUST DENSE, BUT I'M REALLY NOT AWARE OF WHERE THE ACCESS POINTS ARE TO THE LAKE BESIDES WHERE THE VENDORS ARE.

UM, I WONDERED WHEN I SAW THE INCREASE IN THE E DENSITY IN THE E COLI AFTER THERE WAS DENSE USE OF THE LAKE, UM, ARE YOU AWARE OF WHETHER THERE ARE FACILITIES FOR RESTROOMS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE LAKE FOR, UM, FOR THE, UH, WHERE THERE'S LAKE ACCESS? BECAUSE, UM, I THINK, I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN PLACES WHERE WE KNOW THAT, UH, THE, THE LAKE CAN, CAN, UM, SEEM SO VAST THAT WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DIFFERENCE, WHAT THE PHRASE WOULD IT MAKE, YOU KNOW, IF I HEARD IT JUST, UH, JUST JUMP IN THE WATER.

AND, UM, I THINK YOU'VE, YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED THAT IT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS, UH, IN THE, IN THE RESULTS THAT YOU HAVE.

SO, UM, AND THEN ANOTHER THING IS, UM,

[02:40:02]

I HAVE A TWO CANOES IN A KAYAK, AND I'D LOVE TO BE, UM, ABLE TO ACCESS THE, THE LAKE SOMEWHERE THAT'S NOT BUSY, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THOSE PLACES ARE.

THEY'RE NOT, THERE'S NO, YOU KNOW, ACCESS SIGNS THAT ARE ON THE MAPS THAT I SEE.

SO I THINK, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S AN OBVIOUS WAY TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO, UM, AREAS BESIDES WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING.

UM, ANOTHER POINT I WANTED TO MAKE WAS THAT WHERE YOU SEE ALL OF THOSE BOARDS CLOSE TOGETHER, I THINK THOSE PEOPLE WANTED TO BE CLOSE TOGETHER.

OH, YEAH.

SO, UM, THAT PRESENTS ITS OWN CHALLENGE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ADDRESS THAT.

UM, I THINK IT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT I'M JUST NOT SURE HOW YOU GO ABOUT IT.

YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

UM, YEAH, THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT THERE TO KAYAK.

LIKE, THE ATTRACTION IS THAT THEY WANNA FLOAT, AND SOME OF THE ADVERTISING IS AROUND HAVING A CONCERT, SO THERE'LL BE LIKE A MUSICIAN FLOATING ALONG, PEOPLE BRING COOLERS AND FOOD, AND IT'S LIKE YOU'RE HANGING OUT IN YOUR POOL ONLY, IT'S NOT THE POOL, IT'S THE LAKE.

UM, YEAH, THERE IS, THERE IS ONE PLACE IN, UH, LAKE, I'M SORRY, I INTERRUPTED YOU.

NO, NO, NO, GO AHEAD.

UH, THERE IS ONE PLACE, UH, WHICH HAS BEEN KIND OF CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE, UH, ONGOING, UM, UH, REHABILITATION OF, UH, ROY GUERRERO PARK, WHERE, UM, IT'S BEEN KIND OF AN INFORMAL DOG, DOGS OFF LEASH PARK, AND PEOPLE WILL GO OUT, IT'S SHALLOW AND PEOPLE, PEOPLE, AT LEAST IN THE PAST WHEN I'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO ACCESS IT, PEOPLE WILL TAKE THEIR DOGS OUT THERE AND THEY'LL GO, UM, WITH A LAWN CHAIR IN THE LAKE WITH A, A FLOATING, UH, UH, BEER, UH, CONTAINER BESIDE 'EM.

AND, UM, SO THERE IS, THERE IS THAT ONE SPOT THAT I KNOW OF THAT WHERE THERE'S ACCESS AND, AND IT'S NOT VERY CROWDED.

IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A POINT OF CONCERN, BUT, UM, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, SOME SIGNAGE, UH, THAT SHOWS UP ON THE MAPS.

UM, AND THAT SHOWS UP IN REALITY AS WELL, SO THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THERE IS A, AN ACCESS POINT WHERE YOU CAN GET A BOAT TO THE LAKE, ESPECIALLY, UH, A CANOE, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THAT YOU CAN'T JUST SORT OF SLING OVER YOUR SHOULDER LIKE YOU MIGHT, MAYBE A PADDLE DISABILITIES.

THAT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S A PARTICULARLY A, A BARRIER TO ACCESS.

YEAH, THAT NO, AGREED ON MANY OF YOUR POINTS.

UM, WE DID NOT, SO WE DID NOT MAP THE RESTROOMS. SO I, I NOW REGRETTING THAT WE DID NOT LOOK TO SEE HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO THESE AREAS.

UM, THERE'S SOME REALLY INTERESTING WORK ABOUT, UH, SWIMMING POOLS AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THINK, WELL, I CAN JUST USE THE SWIMMING POOL AS MY TOILET BECAUSE IT'S A LARGE SPACE.

YOU HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THERE, YOU START GENERATING CHLORAMINE, RIGHT? SO THIS IS MUCH, MUCH BIGGER.

THERE'S A LOT OF FLOW THROUGH THE AREA.

IT'S DIFFERENT, IT'S NOT QUITE A POOL, BUT IT ALSO DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NO CONCERN.

SO I THINK, UM, THAT AREA THERE, THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE WITH EDUCATION, WITH HELPING FOLKS CONTRIBUTE TO TRASH PICKUP, MAYBE JUST WITH LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU MIGHT BE ENCOUNTERING IF YOU'RE FLOATING AND CONTRIBUTING TO THAT LARGE AGGREGATE.

UM, AS FAR AS THE ACCESS POINT MAPS, WE WORKED OFF OF THE TRAIL FOUNDA, OR TRAIL CONSERVANCIES MAP HAD MANY OF THEM, AT LEAST THE FORMAL POINTS, BUT THEN THESE INFORMAL POINTS, A LOT OF THAT WAS US WALKING THE LAKE AND LOOKING FOR PLACES WHERE PEOPLE HAD BROKEN THROUGH AND MADE THEIR LITTLE PATHS DOWN TO THE WATER.

COMMISSIONER SCOTT TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT AS WELL, YOU KNOW, REGARD TO THE BROILS, RIGHT? I THINK, UH, IT'S A PRETTY, PRETTY COMMON STEREOTYPE THAT THESE TEND TO BE, UH, YOU COULD DESCRIBE THEM AS LIKE, UH, AQUATIC, UROLOGICAL, UH, HARM ZONES, RIGHT? SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HEY, YEAH.

FIRST OF ALL, UH, I WANTED TO ECHO WHAT PEOPLE SAID AS FAR AS APPRECIATING THE PRESENTATION.

IT WAS VERY THOROUGH.

UM, I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, UH, BETTER SERVE A MORE, YOU KNOW, DIVERSE SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO, TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.

YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW, THE CITY IS GOING THROUGH AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, AND THE LAKEFRONT PROPERTY, UH, IS REALLY THE FIRST TO GO, RIGHT? UM, SO I THINK SORT OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, ANTI DISPLACEMENT STUFF, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH PROJECT CONNECT OR SOMETHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, IN A PLACE THAT'S CLOSE TO THE RIVER OR CLOSE TO A, A PATH THAT YOU CAN ACCESS, YOU KNOW, THE LAKE IS, UH, REALLY IMPORTANT.

UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, UH,

[02:45:01]

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING INCREASED SORT OF ORGANIC MATTER OR PRESENCE THERE.

SO E ECO E COLI OR NITRATE ISN'T REALLY TOO CRAZY, BUT HOW DO WE REALLY STOP THIS? RIGHT? I DON'T THINK THERE'S LIKE A, A EQUITABLE WAY TO BE, LIKE, WE HAVE A CERTAIN DENSITY AMOUNT, RIGHT? UNLESS YOU JUST START SHOOTING CANNON BALLS, RIGHT? WHICH, I MEAN, SOME OF US WOULD NOT BE SUPER OPPOSED TO, BUT, UM, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE YOU CAN STOP HAVING LIKE EVENTS THERE, RIGHT? BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS IT THAT CAUSES ALL THESE PEOPLE TO CRAM JUST THIS PART? IS IT, CUZ IT'S CLOSE TO, TO BARDON SPRINGS.

AND SO YOU HAVE SORT OF LIKE THAT SORT OF AREA AS IT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ABLE TO FLOAT THERE EASIER AND NOT NECESSARILY GET CAUGHT IN A CURRENT, SO EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE IT'S COMFORTABLE.

UM, AND HOW CAN WE SORT OF STOP THIS FROM OCCURRING, RIGHT? BECAUSE APART FROM JUST AN ORGANIC PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT? IT'S ALSO JUST KIND OF LIKE A PR NIGHTMARE.

JUST HAVE LIKE A BUNCH OF BROS JUST FLOATING AROUND IN THE CITY.

IF THERE'S A BETTER METAPHOR FOR THE STATE OF, UH, AUSTIN THAN WEST'S BECOMING, I THINK THIS, YOU'RE KIND OF HARD PRESSED TO FIND ONE.

UM, SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF YOU FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, DURING Y'ALL'S RESEARCH Y'ALL KIND OF FOUND SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD GRASP AT TO BE LIKE, HEY, THIS IS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION.

WELL, I I, I THINK YOUR POINT ABOUT ACCESS IS, IS, UH, PART OF THE EXPLANATION.

SO IT IS THE PROXIMITY TO BARTON THAT IS HELPFUL.

PARKING ALONG MANY PARTS OF THE LAKE IS CHALLENGING, ACCESSING AT DIFFERENT POINTS IS CHALLENGING.

IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO PARK ALONG BARTON CREEK SOMEWHERE AND THEN JUST PADDLE DOWN.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE SAW.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY'RE NOT PUTTING IN DIRECTLY ON THE LAKE TO COME INTO THE ROTELLA.

THEY'RE PUTTING IN, IN BARTON AND THEN MAKING THEIR WAY DOWN.

SO, UM, IN TERMS OF SPREADING PEOPLE OUT, RIGHT, MOVING SOME ACCESS POINTS AND CREATING SOME ATTRACTIVE EVENTS OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THAT AREA SO THAT PEOPLE GET IN THE HABIT OF FINDING A DIFFERENT PLACE TO GET TO THE LAKE COULD REALLY HELP.

UM, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF BREAKING THAT UP WITHOUT THE ABILITY E EVEN IF THERE'S THE DESIRE TO ENFORCE SOME SORT OF SIZE, YOU KNOW, CROWD LIMIT, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE THAT.

AND YOU DO RUN THE RISK THEN I THINK OF TIPPING OVER TOO FAR AND MAKING IT INEQUITABLE AND HARD TO ACCESS, RIGHT? ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT THE LAKE IS THAT IT'S FREE, IT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE IN OUR LESS, LESS, AND LESS AFFORDABLE CITY.

IT IS AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO ENJOY AND RECREATE AND, AND HAVE SOME TIME IN NATURE.

SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO INTERFERE WITH THAT.

UM, ONE OF THE IDEAS, IT'S IN THE REPORT THAT CAME UP A FEW TIMES WAS USING SOME SORT OF LIKE BADGE SYSTEM FOR THE LICENSED WATERCRAFT.

AND AT LEAST WITH THIS THEN, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT AGGREGATE, YOU COULD TRY TO GET A SENSE FOR, IS THERE, ARE THERE UNLICENSED VENDORS REALLY CONTRIBUTING HEAVILY TO THAT GROUP? THAT COULD BE ONE STRATEGY.

YOU STILL WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DISCERN PERSONAL CRAFT, BUT IT WOULD HELP WITH TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND, AND PREVENT UNLICENSED CRAFT FROM CONTRIBUTING TO THAT KIND OF, UH, LARGE FLOTILLA.

I THINK ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS AS THE CITY, ESPECIALLY THE DOWNTOWN AND THE OH FOUR, RIGHT AROUND THIS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, GATHERING POINT BECOME MORE AND MORE DENSE.

I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WOULD IT NOT JUST EXACERBATE THE ISSUE, RIGHT? OBVIOUSLY WE CAN TRY TO SPREAD PEOPLE OUT AND HAVE THEM, YOU KNOW, USE IT IN LIKE ROY GUERRERO OR LIKE, YOU KNOW, FURTHER EAST OR YOU KNOW, WEST OF MOPAC OR SOMETHING, BUT THE DENSER THE CITY GETS AND THE MORE PEOPLE THAT WE PACK INTO THIS AREA, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S GONNA BE A HUGE INCENTIVE TO OH HEY, TRAVEL TWO MILES, YOU KNOW? SO I HAVE A BIT OF SKEPTICISM THERE, BUT I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE ACCESS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE, THE LAKE AS WELL, JUST SO EVERYBODY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

JUST IN GENERAL? UH, WAS THERE LIKE ALAR, WAS THERE A CITY COUNCIL DIRECTIVE? WAS THERE A, IS THIS CONNECTED TO A LARGER PROJECT? I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS IN TERMS OF LIKE THE LARGER CONTEXT OF SURE.

AND, AND MAYBE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE PARK AND TRAIL CONNECTIVITY PART AND INC AND INCREASING AMENITIES ACCESS, UH, APPEAL IN ADJACENT PARKS CAN HELP TOO, RIGHT? SO IF INSTEAD OF GOING TO LADY BIRD, YOU GO TO YOUR LOCAL PARK BECAUSE IT'S JUST AS MUCH OF AN EXPERIENCE AS IN NATURE.

IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

I LIVE IN BARU, I LIVE NEAR BARU.

OH, PARK.

IT'S GONNA BE KIND OF TOUGH TO DO THAT.

, THAT'S, THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

HI THERE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

UM, THIS MIGHT BE A BETTER QUESTION FOR CITY STAFF, BUT I GUESS I'M JUST CURIOUS, UM, WHY WAS THIS STUDY COMMISSIONED, UH,

[02:50:01]

WHY THIS WAS STUDIED.

I HAD A BILLING QUESTION.

, GOOD EVENING.

UH, SUZANNE PIPER, AGAIN FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

SO THE, UH, IDEA OF THE COMMISSIONING, THE REPORT IS WE'VE, WE'VE COME TO THESE, UH, MEETINGS WE REPORTED YEAR AFTER YEAR TO THE PARKS BOARD, TO THE CONTRACTS AND CONCESSION COMMITTEE.

AND WE FINALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, WITH SOME FUNDING FROM, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, VACANCY, SAVINGS, YOU KNOW, FUNDING'S ALWAYS AN ISSUE.

SO WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR TO, UH, PARTNER WITH HOUSTON TILLESON, AND WE WERE ALSO INFORMED AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAM.

SO I THINK IT JUST, UH, THEIR MAJOR.

SO IT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE TIMING WAS RIGHT AND, UM, WITH ALL THE, UM, INTERESTS AND ALL OF THE, UH, THE, THE CONTRACTS THAT WERE COMING DUE.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF, OR EXPIRING, UM, THERE WAS JUST A LOT OF INTEREST AND A LOT OF, UH, WELCOME PRESSURE TO, UM, GET SOMETHING FORMAL.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF ANTI ANTIDOTAL, YOU KNOW, IDEAS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A BASELINE OF REAL DATA.

SO THIS WAS OUR FIRST STEP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MORE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, THIS IS A VERY INFORMATIVE REPORT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

UM, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON SLIDE NUMBER 12.

UM, THERE'S SIX OBSERVATION POINTS THAT ARE REFERENCED.

THERE ARE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE MOST OF THEM ARE, BUT ALL THOSE LOCATED EAST OF 35 OR WEST ON ALL OF 'EM.

LET'S SEE, WEST 35, I'M THINKING NEARLY ALL OF 'EM ARE WEST.

SLIDE 12.

OH, FOR THE, THE GROUND BASED COUNT OF THE WATERCRAFT? YEAH.

WHERE THE A HUNDRED AND PE WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT, IT'S A THIRD.

OH, OKAY.

SO TEXAS ROAD CENTER, LAMAR.

YEAH, MOST OF THOSE ARE WEST.

ALL OF THOSE, MOST OF THOSE ARE WEST OF 35.

ALL OF THEM ARE ARE WEST.

YEAH, SO BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE ABOUT EPIC.

SO FESTIVAL BEACH AND FESTIVAL IS EAST.

THAT WOULD BE EAST, RIGHT? YEAH, BUT WHAT EPIC IS EAST, EPIC IS ALSO EAST AND THEN YEAH, BUT THEN LAMAR CONGRESS.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE WRITTEN AN ORDER FROM WEST TO EAST IN.

OKAY, GOTCHA.

I THINK HOLIDAY INN BOAT RAMP, WOULD THAT, THAT BE WEST? IT'S RIGHT THERE.

IT'S WEST.

IT'S RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S VERY CLOSE TO 35.

IT'S RIGHT UNDER, I THINK EXACTLY PARTIAL.

IT'S ALMOST TUCKED UNDER, YEAH.

, UM, WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE STATISTICAL INFORMATION, UM, IN THE SURVEY AND THE RESPONDENTS, AH, I WAS WONDERING, DID Y'ALL ASK WHAT THE AGE OF THE RESPONDENTS WERE US? BECAUSE I DID, I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT.

I WAS DOUBLE CHECKING.

WE DID, AND I LEFT IT OUT BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON A LOT OF PEOPLE SKIPPED IT.

INTERESTING.

AND, AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS AN ERROR ON OUR PART.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A HAVE TO ANSWER TO PROCEED SORT OF QUESTION.

AND FOR SOME REASON PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO SKIP IT AND CONTINUE.

SO OF THE 6 22, WE ONLY HAVE AGE INFORMATION FOR LIKE 200 OR SO.

SO I, I DIDN'T WANT TO PRESENT IT AS BEING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GROUP WITHOUT KNOWING FOR SURE.

CORRECT.

AND I ALSO WOULD, IF I'D LIKE TO HAVE KNOWN OF THE RESPONDENTS HOW LONG THEY HAD LIVED HERE IN AUSTIN.

OH, THAT, YEAH, BECAUSE THAT WOULD GIVE AN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WOULD KIND OF GIVE US AN IDEA AS TO WHAT REALLY HAS OH, THAT'S INTERESTING.

SO WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE BEFORE WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE MM-HMM.

VERSUS WHAT IT'S NOW, BECAUSE A PERSON THAT'S BEEN HERE A YEAR MAY NOT HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF COMPARISON MAYBE.

SO WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T ASK THAT.

I HAVE ZIP CODE AND I'M HAPPY TO SEND YOU THE ZIP CODE BREAKDOWN IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT.

WE DO HAVE, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE FOR THE INTERVIEW SUBJECTS? OKAY.

GREAT.

UM, ON SLIDE 17, YOU REFERENCED, OR THERE WAS A REFERENCE, I SHOULDN'T SAY YOU, THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO, UM, STATE, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, COUNTY AND CITY EMPLOYEES WERE, WERE THEY ASKED IF THEY WERE, IF ANY OF THEM WERE CITY OR COUNTY EMPLOYEES? IT WAS, IT WAS GROUPED.

IT WAS TOGETHER.

ANOTHER GROUP TO CONSIDER IS STATE MM-HMM.

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE STATE CAPITAL, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CITY EMPLOYEES HERE, SO THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER YEAH.

GROUP THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO CAPTURE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GONNA BE, THERE'S ANY FOLLOW UP STUDIES ON THIS, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO DO SOME ASPECTS OF THE SURVEY ON A REGULAR BASIS.

I THINK IT'D BE INTERESTING TO DO SOME ASPECT OF THE AERIAL CENSUS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND OF COURSE, THE WATER TESTING.

I MEAN, I THINK THOSE THINGS ARE NOT NECESSARILY ASKED AND ANSWERED THAT IT'S SOMETHING YOU WANNA MONITOR OVER TIME SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

GREAT.

BECAUSE IT, I WONDERED IF ANYONE MADE A REFERENCE TO FLOODING? INTERESTINGLY, NOT.

ON SLIDE 27 YES.

I WAS WONDERING, AND THAT'S WHERE I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT HOW LONG DID THESE WERE, THE RESPONDENTS WERE HERE.

UM,

[02:55:01]

BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME SERIOUS FLOODS WHERE I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AGO, YOU KNOW, UM, THE DAM UPSTREAM WAS ON, THEY HAD ALL OF THE, I REMEMBER THINGS OPEN.

SO YEAH, I, AND SO OF COURSE TOWN LAKE WAS LITERALLY SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU KNOW? NO.

SO IT DID NOT COME UP PROMINENTLY.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

IT PROBABLY SHOULD.

UM, SO I, I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT, BUT I WAS, UM, YEAH, I HAD ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AS A RESULT OF THIS, SO THIS WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.

UM, AND I, I DO AGREE, UH, IT SAID, FOR ME IT WAS AN, A AFFIRMATION ABOUT, UM, THE LACK OF DIVERSITY IN THE PEOPLE THAT GET TO ENJOY THE, THE LAKE I USED TO.

UM, I DON'T ANYMORE BECAUSE IT ACCESS BEING WHERE I LIVE AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN FINDING WHERE TO PARK TO ENJOY IT, UM, I WOULD HAVE TO PARK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO WALK TO, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THAT'S HARD.

AND IT ALSO CREATES A BURDEN ON THE NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE YOU'RE IMPOSING ON THEIR PARKING RIGHT.

AREAS, SO RIGHT.

THAT IT'S THE, THE SPREAD OF THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS.

SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THIS, THAT EMERGED WITH SEVERAL OF OUR INTERVIEW SUBJECTS MM-HMM.

, THAT, THAT PATTERN YOU DESCRIBED, THAT THEY EITHER USED TO LIVE NEARBY OR PARKING USED TO BE EASIER, AND THEY WOULD USE THE LAKE FREQUENTLY, SOMETIMES EVEN DAILY.

AND THEN THEY HAD TO CHANGE THEIR PATTERN.

AND MAYBE NOW IT'S ONCE A WEEK OR ONCE A MONTH, BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO, IT'S, IT'S MORE WORK TO GET THERE AND, AND USE IT.

AND I'LL SHARE THIS BECAUSE I'VE SAID THIS ONE, I'VE TESTIFIED BEFORE, EVEN BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, WHEN TALKING ABOUT CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING IN AUSTIN OR, YOU KNOW, PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE, UM, AND SO FORTH.

MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS BEING DONE FOR US, FOR THOSE OF US THAT LIVE HERE, OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING DONE TO US? MM-HMM.

SO IF IT'S BEING DONE TO US, IT'S NOT GONNA BE HELPING US.

RIGHT? SO WHO DOES THIS ULTIMATELY BENEFIT, YOU KNOW, TOWN? LIKE WHO IS IT ULTIMATELY? WHO IS IT FOR? WHO IS IT FOR? YOU KNOW? YEAH.

SO THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT I WOULD ASK.

SO, BUT THANK YOU WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION.

AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES.

OF COURSE.

EXCUSE ME.

IT WAS AN EXCELLENT STUDY THAT YOU DID.

UM, I GUESS SINCE THE PARKS LOOKS LIKE THE PARKS PEOPLE HAVE A REALLY TOUGH ROAD AHOE, UH, WITH ALL THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT IT AND YOU'VE GOT SO MANY PROBLEMS, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START.

BUT, UH, THERE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT HERE THAT CONCERNS ME, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START WITH THAT.

AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE THAT IN A WAY IT FALLS WITHIN OUR, UH, YOU KNOW, ABILITY TO ADDRESS EXCEPT FOR OUR PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS.

YOU KNOW, I PULLED UP THE, UM, MAP OF THE AREA, UH, ON GOOGLE MAPS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU MENTIONED DOING THE STUDIES OF THE, UH, POLLUTANTS IN THE, UH, IN THE THING.

AND, AND THERE'S SO MUCH OF THE, UH, IMMEDIATE SHORELINE THAT IS NOT PROTECTED IN ANY WAY.

A LOT OF IT IS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH PARKS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF IT, UH, YOU KNOW, WEST OF, UH, MOPAC THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, BUILT UP IMMEDIATELY TO THE LAKE WITH HOUSING MM-HMM.

AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY ALONG SOME OF THE TRIBUTARIES, UH, YOU KNOW, WALLER CREEK, SHO CREEK, THAT SORT OF THING, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, DRAIN INTO MM-HMM.

, LADY BIRD LAKE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT TO KEEP THAT DONE.

AND AN I, YOU KNOW, YES, VOLUNTEERS.

I MEAN, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN THE NEWS WHEN YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERS ABOUT TWICE A YEAR GO OUT AND PULL OUT 25 TONS OF GARBAGE OUT OF THE LAKE.

SO THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, WE CAN MAKE MORE USE OF THAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO FIX THAT.

IT, IT'S SO PERVASIVE.

UM, YOU CAN ONLY COLLECT IT OUT OF THERE.

BUT YOUR STUDY WAS EXCELLENT AND IT SHOWS THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS A REALLY TOUGH PROBLEM AHEAD TO, UH, DO THAT.

MY, MY COMMENT IS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, AS SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE MENTIONED IS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S OVERUTILIZED ON THE WEST END, BUT IT PERHAPS UNDERUTILIZED ON THE EAST END AND BY, UH,

[03:00:01]

ENCOURAGING A MORE DIVE, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGING VENDORS THROUGH SOME MECHANISM TO, UH, YOU KNOW, LEGITIMATELY OCCUPY SOME OF THE EAST END OF, OF, OF THE PARK AREAS, GUERRERO, UH, FOR EXAMPLE.

UH, BUT THERE ARE OTHER SITES, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE PARKS WOULD ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, MOVING SOME OF THE CONGESTION IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

AND IF THESE AREAS HAD UNIQUE FEATURES OR OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD DRAW PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE CONGESTED AREAS, UH, THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, SMOOTH OUT SOME OF YOUR CONGESTION PROBLEMS. THE OTHER THING IS THAT I DIDN'T SEE IN THERE, AND MAYBE I MAY HAVE MISSED IT READING IT OR LISTENING TO YOUR PRESENTATION, PEOPLE USE WATER IN A DIFFERENT WAY, YOU KNOW, UH, NOT EVERYONE KAYAKS, I MEAN, I DON'T KAYAK, I DON'T CANOE.

, UH, THERE'S A PARK UP WHERE I LIVE AND WE JUST GO WAITING INTO THE THING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE'S NOT A PLACE WHERE YOU REALLY, AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO IT A LOT, THERE'S NO PLACE WHERE YOU JUST WEIGHED INTO TOWN, YOU KNOW, INTO LADY BIRD LAKE.

NO.

JUST, YEAH.

YOU JUST CAN'T, THERE'S NOT A, A BEACH.

NO, NO.

AND THERE IS A SWIM BAN.

SO THERE IS A, WELL, THERE YOU GO.

THAT, THAT THERE'S YOUR POLLUTION PROBLEM.

AND, UH, BUT YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE GO TO A LOT OF THE CREEKS IN TOWN CUZ THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET IN, GET IN THE WATER.

UH, NOW I, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THAT EITHER, BUT, UH, PEOPLE USE THE LAKE, YOU KNOW, USE WATER DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING UPON THEIR STYLE OF, OF THAT STUFF.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER PARK'S PROBLEM.

BUT YEAH, NO, YOU'RE RAISING MANY INTEREST IMPORTANT POINTS I THINK.

YEAH, IT IS PART HAS A LOT TO, TO WORK ON HERE.

AND HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE ASSISTANCE, YOU KNOW, FROM, FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FROM PARTNERS IN THIS.

UM, YOUR, YOUR POINT ABOUT MO MAKING OTHER AREAS ATTRACTIVE AND I THINK THAT'S ONE IMPORTANT STRATEGY.

UM, AS FAR AS THE WATER, THE WATER USE AN INTERESTING GROUP OF RESPONSES AND I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SEPARATE IT HERE OR FROM FOLKS WHO FISH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT PEOPLE FISH IN LADY BIRD LAKE AND, AND THEY'RE PRETTY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHERE THEY ACCESS IT AND WHAT THEY DO THERE.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER USE OF THE LAKE.

AND THEY'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WATER QUALITY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BECAUSE OF THIS.

UM, THEY'RE, THE SWIMMING BAND IN LADYBIRD IS NOT A WATER QUALITY ISSUE.

IT IS A, UH, BAR, UH, SUBMERGED DEBRIS ISSUE.

SO THERE ARE AREAS OF LADYBIRD LAKE THAT STILL HAVE LIKE CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, UM, IRREGULAR SURFACE THINGS THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, UH, HAZARD TO YOUR FEET.

SOMETHING THAT YOU GET YOUR FOOT TRAPPED IN AND YOU'RE STUCK UNDER THE WATER.

SO THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE SWIM BAN.

THEN THAT CAN BE FIXED AND IF YOU THROW ENOUGH MONEY AT IT OR YOU CAN CORDON OFF AN AREA, CLEAN UP THE BOTTOM BARTON SPRINGS, WERE DIVING WHERE THEY PUT YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THE THINGS OUT AND SAY, OKAY, YOU CAN'T SWIM HERE CUZ PEOPLE ARE DIVING INTO THE WATER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE APPETITE FOR THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE CITY.

BUT IT WAS INTERESTING, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH A COUPLE OF PEOPLE.

UH, WHY ISN'T THERE SWIMMING MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WATER QUALITY AND SWIMMING? WOULD THAT BE A WAY TO YEAH.

CREATE DIFFERENT ACTIVITY AREAS FOR, IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE LAKE THAT ATTRACT MORE USERS AWAY FROM THE CENTRAL AREA.

UM, SO I THINK WORTH DISCUSSING FOR SURE, AND YOU'RE MENTIONING ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WATER QUALITY, UH, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS A SMARTPHONE THESE DAYS.

IF YOU PUT A QR CODE UP BY ACCESS POINTS AND IT POPS UP WITH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH, HOW OFTEN DO YOU DO WATER TESTING, BUT YOU KNOW, LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS THE WATER TESTING YEAH.

DONE ON THIS DAY.

AND SO YOU HAVE THE CURRENT, RIGHT.

WHATEVER DATA YOU'RE TESTING FOR PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT THIS IS GOOD, BAD, OR INDIFFERENT, YOU KNOW? RIGHT, RIGHT.

THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.

THIS IS WHAT IT IS.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND ON MY PHONE, I CAN DO WEATHER AND FIND OUT THE AIR QUALITY.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HARD CAN DO.

THAT WOULD BE PHENOMENAL.

AND ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS PUT UP A, YOU KNOW, A QR CODE SIGN.

HAS REALLY GOT THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR 'EM.

AT EVERY, YOU KNOW, AT EVERY ACCESS POINT, YOU KNOW, VALID ACCESS POINT THAT, SO THIS STUFF JUST ISN'T REALLY HARD TO DO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, PUTTING MORE, YOU KNOW, BOAT RAMPS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE, YOU KNOW, PARTS SYSTEM OR SO FORTH, I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S, IT'S A MESS.

AND PART

[03:05:01]

IT'S COMPLICATED FOR SURE.

UM, SO I WAS LOOKING THROUGH YOUR REPORT.

FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR DOING IT.

THANK YOU FOR THE CITY STAFF TO, UH, WORK WITH HOUSTON TILLSON, UH, TO GET THIS DONE.

IT'S, IT'S VERY, UM, ENLIGHTENING AND, AND, UM, GOOD FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

UM, I DID NOT SEE IN, IN THERE, UM, IF Y'ALL DID, CAPTURED, UM, HOW PEOPLE WERE ARRIVING TO THE LAKE.

ARE THEY TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPLANT? ARE THEY RIDING A BIKE? ARE THEY, UM, YOU KNOW, WALKING DOWN THERE? LIKE HOW ARE THEY ARRIVING, UM, TO USE THAT? WE DID NOT DO THAT IN THE SURVEY ONLY WITH THE INTERVIEWS.

SO THE INTERVIEWS INCLUDED A, A DISCUSSION FOR EACH OF WHERE THEY ACCESS THE LAKE, HOW THEY GET TO IT, HOW FAR AWAY THEY LIVE.

SO WE HAVE THAT FOR THE INTERVIEW SUBJECTS.

AND AGAIN, HAPPY TO SHARE THAT OKAY.

UM, WITH YOU.

I THINK, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, AS CITI IS THINKING ABOUT THAT AS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT THEY WANT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU ADDRESS, UH, SPREADING OUT THAT CAPACITY MM-HMM.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

THROUGHOUT THEIR, AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING MORE, UH, PUBLIC TRANSPORT, TRANSPORTATION OR ABILITY TO, TO RECEIVE, YOU KNOW, BIKES, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS THAT, HOW THEY'RE GETTING DOWN THERE.

UM, GOING TO COMMISSIONER SCOTT'S, UH, QUESTION ABOUT, UM, ACCESS POINTS.

UM, YES.

YOU KNOW, THERE NEED TO BE MORE ACCESS POINTS, OR MAYBE NOT EVEN MORE, BUT BETTER ADVERTISED, UM, FOR HOW DO YOU ACCESS THE LAKE IN A NON VENDOR CAPACITY.

, MM-HMM.

UM, AND SO I THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING, UM, THAT WAS, THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO LOOKING AT THE CAPACITY, UH, QUESTION TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE SAW A HUGE SPIKE DURING COVID OF PEOPLE UTILIZING THE LAKE, UTILIZING THE PARKS IN A WAY THAT WAS MEANINGFUL TO THEM TO GET OUTSIDE.

THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS A PLACE OF SAFETY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND I'M WONDERING, AND WE MIGHT GET TO THIS IN OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, BUT, UM, IS THAT TREND WITH, ESPECIALLY WITH WATERCRAFT STILL STAYING STRONG, OR IS IT GOING TAPERING OFF IT GOING DOWN A LITTLE BIT? UM, SO THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE FUTURE CAPACITY, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS AGO THERE WASN'T EVEN THIS MANY, YOU KNOW, THINGS ON THE LAKE FIVE YEARS AGO.

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GET, START GETTING STANDUP PADDLE BOARDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT BECOMES A VERY POPULAR TREND.

TRENDS GO AWAY.

UM, YOU KNOW, UH, IT USED TO BE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY GOT OUT THERE IN YOUR CANOE AND THAT WAS YOUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY.

THEN YOU HAD A KAYAK, YOU HAD THAT IN THERE.

THEN YOU HAD ADD IN A ROWING, THEN YOU ADD IN, UM, YOU KNOW, STANDUP PADDLE BOARD, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS, WHAT IS NEXT? UM, AND LOOKING AT THAT, UM, AND IS IT BECOMING MORE POPULAR OR LESS POPULAR? MM-HMM.

UM, AND THAT MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR, FOR THE NEXT FOLKS IN THE NEXT PRESENTATION, BUT, UM, AND THEN I DID SEE, UH, IN THE BACKUP HERE THAT YOU DID, YOU HAD 15% OF THE PEOPLE SAY, UM, THAT THEY HAD SOME SORT OF EITHER, UM, LIMITED MOBILITY, UM, OR, UH, IDENTIFIED AS HAVING, UM, SOME SORT OF, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, LIMITATION.

UM, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY SEE THAT, UM, IN YOUR THING HERE.

I THINK, UM, LOOKING AT HOW THE CITY ADDRESSES THINGS, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ACCESS POINTS ACCOMMODATE YEAH.

ALL PEDESTRIANS.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE, WE, WE HAD THAT IN THE RIGHT ENDS.

WE HAD THAT IN THE INTERVIEWS, UM, THAT YEAH.

ACCESS FOR DIFFERENT BODIES, DIFFERENT PHYSICAL ACCOMMODATIONS IS NOT THERE IN MANY PARTS OF THE LAKE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS IF Y'ALL, UM, KIND OF, I GUESS, SURVEYED LIKE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT JUMPED FROM THE BRIDGES BECAUSE LIKE, UM, YEAH.

THEY JUMPED FROM THE BRIDGE, LIKE OFF, THERE'S ONE PARTICULAR BRIDGE THAT THEY JUMPED FROM.

AND YEAH, IT HAS A SIGN THAT SAYS, DON'T JUMP, DON'T JUMP.

AND THEY JUMP AND THEY JUMP, THEY'RE JUMPING RIGHT NEXT TO THE BRIDGE MM-HMM.

OR LIKE, THEY'LL LIKE, HAVE CABLES AND KIND OF SWING DOWN FROM IT.

YEP.

AND IT'S LIKE, JUST LIKE THE LAST SEVERAL TIMES THAT I'VE GONE WALKING, IT'S THE CROWD IS GETTING MORE.

LIKE MORE PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO DO THAT.

I THINK THERE, IT MAY EVEN BE LIKE TIKTOK VIDEOS AND STUFF GOING ON NOW, SO IT MAY BE MORE PEOPLE GOING OUT.

NOT EVERY TIME WE WENT FOR SAMPLING, BUT NEARLY EVERY TIME.

NO, WE, WE SAW, WE DID NOT MEASURE IT IN ANY, YOU KNOW, STANDARDIZED WAY.

THAT WAS, I GUESS TECHNICALLY OUTSIDE OF OUR SCOPE, BECAUSE IT'S ON, ON BARTON CREEK, IT'S THE BRIDGE GOTCHA.

OVER BARTON CREEK CLOSEST TO THE, THE MOUTH THERE AT LUNE POINT.

[03:10:01]

AND, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE, THEY WOULD SOMETIMES FILM THE SIGN MM-HMM.

, LIKE, AND THEN FILMED THE FRIEND WHO'S GONNA JUMP.

YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT WAS THE PART OF THE APPEAL APPARENTLY.

UM, AND THE WATER IS NOT ALWAYS HIGH ENOUGH TO SAFELY DO THAT.

NO, YOU COULD.

THAT IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN.

AND AGAIN, LIKE THE SIGN IS THERE, BUT THE RESOURCES FOR ENFORCEMENT, FOR EDUCATION, FOR INTERVENTION, YOU KNOW, AND THAT, AND THAT WAS, AND THAT WAS ANOTHER ONE OF MY THINGS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF SIGNS ALONG THE TRAIL IS, BUT I SEE OFTENTIMES PEOPLE ARE JUST IGNORING THE SIGNS OR WALKING RIGHT BY 'EM.

LIKE EVEN WHEN THE, LIKE LAST SUMMER HAD GONE WALKING AND YOU HAD ALL THE AL BLOOM SIGNS, LIKE, DON'T GO IN THE WATER, DON'T LET YOUR PET IN THE WATER.

AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE SENDING THEIR DOGS THROWING BALLS RIGHT NEXT TO THE SIGN.

I'M LIKE, AND I DON'T WANNA BE THAT PERSON.

LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? RIGHT, RIGHT.

BUT YEAH.

SO, UM, I GUESS FOR LIKE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, LIKE ONE, A FEW THINGS THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS LIKE, MAYBE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, LIKE GOING AND TALKING TO THE COUNSELORS.

CAUSE I FIGURE IF KIDS ARE LEARNING ABOUT SAFETY OR LIKE JUST ACCESS POINTS OR HOW TO NAVIGATE THE, THE WATER, THEY'RE GONNA TELL THEIR PARENTS OR THEY'RE GONNA BE SUPER EXCITED.

LIKE, I'M GONNA GO DO THIS.

I LEARNED ABOUT THIS AT SCHOOL TODAY MM-HMM.

AND SO I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT LIKE MAYBE WORKING A KID ANGLE MORE, OR BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THE INTENTION IS TO GO OUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING WITH THE KIDS.

AND SO MORE, UM, MORE MENTORS AND ADULT KIND OF BRINGS THE EDUCATION TO THE ADULTS AND THE KIDS.

AND, UM, UH, ALSO LIKE REC RECREATIONAL CENTERS, LIKE MILLENNIUM IS A PROMINENT ONE THAT REACHES OUT TO PEOPLE OF COLOR OR, UH, MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR KNOW ABOUT THAT MM-HMM.

SPACE.

AND SO THAT BE ONE TO KIND OF FOCUS EDUCATION EFFORTS AS WELL.

AND, UM, K A Z I 88.7 MM-HMM.

, LIKE, WELL KNOWN LIKE RADIO STATION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE USED FOR GENERATIONS, LIKE JUST TO GET NEWS ON THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW THINGS THAT I THOUGHT OF.

YEAH, THOSE ARE GREAT.

I, I LOVE THE IDEA ABOUT, UM, WORKING WITH KIDS.

PART HAS SOME PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, AIMED AT SCHOOL-AGED KIDS, AND THAT IS PART OF THE REASON, RIGHT? YOU CAN INTRODUCE TO KIDS AND THEN THEY CAN BEAT THE AVENUE TO GET THEIR PARENTS INTO THE OUTDOORS AND INTO THESE SPACES.

UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, PART OF INCREASING DIVERSITY IN THESE SPACES IS ABOUT MAKING, MAKING THAT PROCESS OF ORIENTATION LIKE AS LOW BARRIER AND AS FRIENDLY AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN, RIGHT? SO THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU'RE COMING INTO THE WATER AND YOU'RE, YOU HAVEN'T GROWN UP KAYAKING OR YOU HAVEN'T GROWN UP CANOEING OR WHATEVER.

UM, BUT IF YOU DO THAT THROUGH FAMILIES, IF YOU DO THAT THROUGH KIDS, IF YOU DO THAT WITH A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, NOT LIKE, HERE ARE ALL OF THE CHECK MARKS ON THIS LIST OF RESTRICTIONS, BUT HERE IS THE WAY THAT YOU CAN OPERATE SAFELY AND ENJOY WITH YOUR FAMILY, AND IT'S PART OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR YOUR KID.

IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF, UH, SENSE THAT, THAT PEOPLE WILL GET AND YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THERE ARE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE MORE WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ORGANIZATIONS.

I LOVE THE IDEA ABOUT MILLENNIUM.

I, WE DO A LOT AT H WITH HT STUDENTS THERE.

UM, SO YEAH, DEFINITELY MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WHAT SOME OF WHAT'S ALREADY BEING DONE WITH SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE MORE, UH, ANCHORED IN COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, AND THE STUDY, UH, I THINK I MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE SQUEAKY WHEELS THAT WAS ASKING FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MANY BOATS ARE ON THE, UH, OR CRAFT ARE ON THE WATER.

SO IF, I HOPE THAT, I HOPE THAT CONTRIBUTED SOME, BUT, UM, A, A COUPLE COMMENTS.

UM, AS ALWAYS, A LOT OF MY NOTES HERE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY OTHERS, BUT, UM, I KNOW THAT THERE'S ON THE HORIZON, THE WISHBONE BRIDGE MM-HMM.

DOWN NEAR LONGHORN DAM, UM, AND THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY KIND OF INCORPORATING THAT.

BUT THAT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ALL YOUR INFORMATION.

A MULTILINGUAL WAY FINDING IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT A LOT IN THIS, UH, HORSESHOE.

AND, UM, AND TO MAYBE BE A DESTINATION OF SORTS OR AN ANCHOR TO DRAW SOME OF THE, UH, TO SPREAD OUT SOME OF THE, THE USE IN THAT AREA.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO SOME OF THE THEMES THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, BE A, UH, A CATALYST FOR MAYBE SOME OTHER,

[03:15:01]

UM, BUT I INVITING AND INTRODUCING INFORMATION, MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE MORE APPROACHABLE TO, TO EVERYBODY.

UM, WOULD BE, WOULD BE A THOUGHT OR A COMMENT.

WE, WE HAVE SHARED THE REPORT WITH THEM.

YEAH, I THINK THAT, UM, OF COURSE THEY'LL BE VERY INSIGHTFUL.

UM, AND THEN AS IT RELATES TO WATER QUALITY, I KNOW WATERSHED PROTECTION DOES A LOT WITH THE ALGAL BLOOMS, BUT, BUT A LOT OF OTHER WATER QUALITY TESTING, TRYING TO FIND SOME WAY TO CONNECT THAT INFORMATION IN TO WHERE YOUR SNAPSHOTS IN TIME ARE KIND OF IN, IN CONTEXT, I THINK WOULD BE GREAT.

UM, IF YOU END UP MOVING FORWARD WITH, WITH MORE TESTING OR MORE, UM, RELYING OR LEANING ON, ON THEIR, UH, ABILITIES AND, AND A LOT OF THEIR DATA WOULD BE HELPFUL, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE STAYING IN TOUCH, UM, IN PART FOR THAT.

SO BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR CONTINUED MONITORING THAT THEY, THEY DO, WE CAN SUPPLEMENT, WE CAN LOOK AT THESE HIGH USE AREAS, WE CAN LOOK AT THE CONTINUOUS MONITORING TO ADD TO WHAT THEY DO, UM, BUT THEY'RE ALSO DOING SOME MONITORING OF POLLUTANTS THAT ACCUMULATE.

SO A LOT OF WHAT THEY TEST FOR ARE THINGS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY GONNA SETTLE IN THE SEDIMENT.

THEY WOULD WASH OUT, YOU KNOW, DOWN AT THE DAM.

BUT THERE ARE MANY POLLUTANTS THAT WOULD SETTLE AND ACCUMULATE EVEN WHEN WE HAVE PASSED THROUGH OF, SAY OUR E COLI GETS FLUSHED OUT, BUT MICROPLASTICS SETTLE.

SO THEY'RE WORKING WITH SOME OTHER RESEARCHERS TO START DOING THAT.

AND WE'RE DEFINITELY STAYING IN CONTACT TO SEE HOW WE CAN ALL SYNC UP PART, THERE ARE SO MANY GROUPS THAT DO DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF WATER QUALITY TESTING, AND IF WE CAN JUST SYNC UP ON STANDARDS AND WHERE WE REPORT, THEN WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE DATA TOGETHER.

SOME CONSISTENCY THAT YOU CAN COMPARE APPLES AND APPLES.

UM, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT AND VERY HAPPY TO SEND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

SO PLEASE REACH OUT IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING.

LET'S TAKE A QUICK FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

UM, I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT TO GET DONE HERE IN THE NEXT 39 MINUTES.

UM, BUT, UH, LET'S GET BACK HERE AT, UH, 9 25.

UH, THANK YOU.

TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS A LONG PARAGRAPH HERE, PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY, UH, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CONCERNING THE CREATION OF A CONCESSION IN THE TOWN LAKE METROPOLITAN PARK THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF AN RFP OR FOR THE CONTINUATION OR TERMINATION OF AN EXISTING CONCESSIONAIRES IN TOWN LAKE METROPOLITAN PARK, INCLUDING BUTLER PIGEON PUTT, EPIC SUP, EXPEDITION SCHOOL, LONE STAR RIVER BOAT CRUISES, ROWING DOCK, TEXAS ROWING CENTER, WALLER CREEK, BOATHOUSE Z CREW, CAFE ZER, EAGLE ROAD RAILROAD, AND ZER PARK BOAT RENTALS FOR THE INCLUSION AND THE JOINT REPORT BETWEEN THE PARKS AND REC BOARD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION THAT IS PROVIDED THE CITY COUNCIL ANNUALLY.

UM, IT'S 9 27.

LET'S RECONVENE THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

UM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR STICKING WITH US HERE.

UM, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD

[5. 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 – Maggie Stenz, Contract Management Specialist IV, Parks and Recreation Department (30 minutes)]

WELCOME.

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

UM, MY NAME IS MAGGIE STENS.

I'M THE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST FOR, FOR THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS FOR ALLOWING US TO PRESENT THE ANNUAL CONCESSION REPORT THIS EVENING, THIS PRESENT, UH, THIS PRESENTATION IS A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT WILL BE PRESENTED IN MORE DETAIL IN A WRITTEN REPORT.

UM, AND BEFORE WE BEGIN THE REPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE STAFF WHO'VE JOINED ME FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

UM, AM I, I RIGHT.

DANISHA COX, SUPERVISOR FOR THE PAR CONTRACTS, GRANTS AND PROCUREMENT GROUP.

WE ALSO HAVE PAT ROSETTE, UM, WHO'S HERE WITH US, AND THEN SUZANNE PIPER, WHO YOU MET ALREADY, UM, WHO'S OUR, UM, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, UM, AS YOU KNOW, PER AUSTIN CITY CODE, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED TO PRESENT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGARDING THE CONCESSIONS IN TOWN LAKE PARK, ALSO KNOWN AS LADY BIRD LAKE PARK.

THE REPORT MUST PROVIDE THE NAMES AND LOCATIONS OF THE CONCESSIONS, THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURES FOR EACH CONCESSION FOR THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, THE NUMBER OF BOATS RENTED ON LADY BIRD LAKE, AND ANY ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS CAUSED BY CONCESSION.

NEXT, UM, SLIDE.

SO THIS MAP SHOWS THE PART OPERATED CONCESSIONS CURRENTLY LOCATED AROUND LADY BIRD LAKE, IN TOWN LAKE PARK.

IT DOES NOT SHOW ALL THE EXISTING CONCESSIONS FOUND ELSEWHERE IN THE PARK SYSTEM, NOR ANY BUSINESSES ON THE LAKE OPERATED BY PRIVATE VENDORS.

SLIDE SHOWS THE TERMS FOR EACH OF THE CONTRACTS.

AND THIS

[03:20:01]

UM, SO OUR GROUP MANAGES THE CONTRACTS FOR THE CONCESSIONS, AND, UM, JUST A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS.

UH, FOR FY 22, THE CONTRACTS WITH ROWING DOCK AND ZILKER PARK BOAT RENTALS WOULD'VE EXPIRED IN FY 22, BUT HOLDOVERS WERE PUT IN PLACE DUE TO THE ONGOING ZER PARK VISION PLANNING PROCESS, WHICH IS NOW KIND OF WRAPPING UP.

UM, UM, ZILKER ZEPHYR, WHAT USED TO BE CALLED THE ZILKER ZEPHYR.

NOW, THE ZILKER EAGLE HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE MAY, 2019, UM, DUE TO EROSION.

AND THE CITY EXECUTED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION TO CONTRACT WITH THE VENDOR TO OPERATE THE TRAIN, WHICH WILL BE CALLED THE ZILKER EAGLE AND TRAIN OPERATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO START IN 2023.

AND, UM, ALSO WITH THE ZILKER CAFE.

THE UPDATE WITH THAT IS THAT IN, UH, 2022, THE VENDOR AND THE CITY MUTUALLY AGREED TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT WITH THE VENDOR THAT HAD BEEN SELECTED TO OPERATE THE CAFE.

THE VENDOR WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

THEN IN 2022, THE CITY AND THE VENDOR MUTUALLY, UM, AGREED TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT AS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO SELL BEER AND WINE AT THE SITE WAS NOT APPROVED.

SO CURRENTLY THERE'S A FOOD TRUCK OPERATING AT THE ZILKER CAFE SITE.

AND THEN, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS FISCAL YEAR 23, UM, THE CONTRACT'S EXPIRING WOULD BE, UM, WALLER CREEK BOATHOUSE, EPIC STEP, AND ROWING DOCK.

AND THEN, UM, THE CONTRACT WITH AUSTIN ROWING CLUB FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE WALLER CREEK BOATHOUSE HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR THREE YEARS, UM, PER A COUNCIL RE RESOLUTION FROM SEPTEMBER, 2022.

AND THE CONTRACT WITH EPIC SUP WAS, UM, EXTENDED ALSO WITH THE SAME RESOLUTION.

AND THEN, UH, THE CONTRACT WITH ROWING DOCK EXPIRES IN MAY, 2023, AND A NEW VENDOR WILL BE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION PROCESS.

SO, UM, NEXT SLIDE.

SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE CONCESSION INCOMES REPORTED EXPENDITURES AND PAYMENTS TO THE CITY FOR FY 22.

SO, UM, THE BLUE BAR IS GROSS SALES FOR EACH CONCESSION.

THE ORANGE BAR IS REPORTED EXPENDITURES, AND THE GRAY BAR IS, UM, WHAT EACH CONCESSION PAID, WHAT THEIR PAYMENTS OR REVENUE SURE WAS.

SO, UH, JUST A BRIEF ANALYSIS.

I THINK, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE GRAPH, TEXAS ROWING CENTER HAS, IS THE HIGHEST REVENUE EARNING, UM, CONCESSION.

AND THEY'VE BEEN THAT WAY FOR, YOU KNOW, OVER 10 YEARS.

UM, THIS CON THIS YEAR, THE CONCESSION EARNED 3.8 MILLION IN SALES.

NEXT OUR ROWING DOCK WITH 3.2 MILLION WALLER CREEK BOATHOUSE WITH 3.1 MILLION BUTLER PIGEON PET WITH 2.5 ZUCKER PARK BOAT RENTALS WITH 1.4 LONE STAR RIVER BOY BOATS AT 1.1 EPIC STEP AT 579,000 IN EXPEDITION SCHOOL.

UH, THE NEWEST OF OUR CONCESSIONS AT 55,000.

SO IN TOTAL CONCESSION GROSS SALES IN FY 22 EXCEEDED 15 MILLION, UM, WHICH IS A RECORD, AND IT WAS OVER 4 MILLION THEN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

SO, AND THEN JUST TO GO OVER PAYMENTS, TOTAL PAYMENTS TO THE CITY TOTALED JUST OVER 1.2 MILLION THIS YEAR, WHICH IS NEARLY DOUBLE THE AMOUNT PAID IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

SO, OF THIS TOTAL AMOUNT, 1 MILLION WENT TO THE GENERAL FUND, 72,000 FROM EPIC SUP WAS PAID TO THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND 184,000 FROM BUTLER PITCHING PUNT WENT TO GOLF ATX, WHICH IS AN ENTERPRISE DIVISION OF PAR.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AND THESE ARE THE NUMBERS FOR ANNUAL RENTALS FOR EACH OF THE CONCESSIONS.

SO WE HAVE THEM, UM, UH, CATEGOR, UM, CATEGORIZED BY THE TYPE OF BOAT THAT THEY RENT.

AND SO YOU'LL SEE THE, THAT'S THE NUMBER OF BOATS FOR FISCAL YEAR 22 FOR EACH CONCESSION.

CONGREGATE ON THE FOOT ON THE, UM, ON THE LAKE BY BARTON CREEK.

UM, THIS, THIS SLIDE TALKS ABOUT SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT, UM, WE HEAR FROM THIS COMMISSION, UM, EVERY YEAR.

UM, AND SO IT'S, UM, SO I'LL JUST GO THROUGH A FEW OF THEM.

UM, THE LAST ITEM THAT, UH, PART IS REQUIRED TO REPORT ON IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS CAUSED BY A CONCESSION.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REPORTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS CAUSED BY ANY CONCESSIONS.

UM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UH, AS YOU KNOW, YOU ANNUALLY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PAR REGARDING THESE, THESE DIFFERENT TOPICS, MARINE WASTE DISPOSAL, LAKE SAFETY, AND OTHER, UH, OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.

SO WE FOLLOW THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IN OUR COMPLIANCE EFFORTS.

AND, UM, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WE KNOW ABOUT THE LARGE GROUP OF BOATS THAT, THAT, UH,

[03:25:01]

AND WE HAD, UM, I WANNA THANK, UH, DR.

MASSINO FOR PRESENTING, MAKING THAT PRESENTATION TONIGHT.

UH, THAT'S GIVEN US A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT, UM, HOW THE WATER, UH, LAKE IS USED AND, UM, THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, SO REGARDING THE LAST, THE, UM, OTHER CONCESSION CONSIDERATIONS.

I KNOW THERE, THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT SEA HOME POWER PLANT.

THERE ARE NO NEW CONCESSIONS CURRENTLY PLANNED FOR SEA HOME POWER PLANT.

SO THERE, THAT'S JUST NOT, UM, THEY'RE NOT IN THAT ANY PHASE WHERE THAT IS BEING INCLUDED OR PLANNED.

UM, AND THEN, UH, THE ZER VISION PLAN WAS SOMEBODY ASKED ABOUT LAST YEAR.

IT'S, UM, JUST COMPLETED.

UM, AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

SO, UM, ANY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS PUT FORTH AT THIS YEAR'S ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE FINAL WRITTEN REPORT THAT WE SEND TO COUNSEL.

SO NEXT SLIDE.

AND, UM, THESE ARE AFTER, AFTER TODAY'S PRESENTA.

OH.

SO WE PRESENTED AT THE PARKS BOARD TWO NIGHTS AGO, AND NOW WE'RE PRESENTING HERE.

AND, UM, AND UP THERE YOU'LL SEE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE, UM, OF THE PARKS BOARD.

UPON EXPIRATION OF CONTRACT ON LADYBIRD LAKE, THAT STAFF CONSIDER FINDINGS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND CAPACITY STUDIES ON LADYBIRD LAKE AND CONSOLE EXPERTS FURTHER RECOMMEND THAT STAFF REEVALUATE THE REVENUE SHARING OF THAT CONCESSIONS CONTRACT AND WEIGH IT AGAINST RECENT RATES AND THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO ENJOY THE PARK.

SO, UM, AND THEN AFTER, LIKE I SAID, WE WENT TO THE PARKS BOARD TWO NIGHTS AGO.

WE'RE HERE TONIGHT, AND THEN WITHIN 30 DAYS OF OUR PRESENTATION, WE WILL SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO BOTH THE PARKS BOARD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

AND THEN THE JOINT REPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD WILL BE PROVI, UM, PROVIDED TO COUNSEL.

SO, UM, SO THE REQUESTED ACTION TODAY IS TO MAKE A JOINT RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING CREATION, CONTINUATION TERMINATION, OR STATUS OF A CONCESSION, INCLUDING ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR A CONCESSION IN TOWN LIKE METROPOLITAN PARK FOR INCLUSION IN THE JOINT REPORT BETWEEN THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION THAT IS PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ANNUALLY.

SO THANKS AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US TO PRESENT THIS INFORMATION TODAY.

WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ON THE RIO RIO H B FOUNDATION'S LOCATED IN SAN ANTONIO.

UM, DO WE HAVE A, DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS? WE HAVE A FEW SPEAKERS.

YEAH, LET'S GO FOR THOSE.

UM, KIMERY DUDA, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK.

I'LL KEEP THIS SHORT AND SWEET.

I ALSO WANTED TO HONOR THE PAR STAFF.

UH, Y'ALL DON'T GET ENOUGH PRAISE FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

I AM KIMERY I THE FOUNDER OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.

WE ARE, WE'RE THE LEAST PRODUCING REVENUE ON THE, ON THE REPORT.

HOWEVER, I BELIEVE WE'RE THE MOST CONTRIBUTED TO THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE ON THE COMMUNITY IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS, BOTH THROUGH CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION, INCLU INCLUSIVITY AND OPPORTUNITY.

AND I GREW UP HERE IN AUSTIN.

MY FATHER HAD POLIO, AND WE WOULD FISH IN TOWN LAKE IN THE EIGHTIES.

AND WE WERE QUITE AWARE OF HOW INACCESSIBLE IT WAS FOR HIM AND HIS DISABILITY, ACCESSING THE WATER.

SO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I FOUNDED THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL WAS TO GIVE ADAPTIVE POPULATIONS ACCESS TO THE WATER.

SO WE PROVIDE FREE OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS, AS WELL AS INTELLECTUALLY DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS WEEKLY.

AND, UM, I WANTED TO SHARE SOME NEWS.

UH, WE WERE JUST AWARDED NOT ONE, BUT TWO RFPS WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND WILL BE THE FIRST CONCESSIONAIRE TO BRING PADDLEBOARDING CANOEING AND KAYAKING TO ELMENDORF FLAKE AND WOODLAWN LAKE IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND IT'S ALL PART OF THE GRAND MASTER PLAN OF JUST GIVING ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY.

FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN GUIDING IN STRIDE WITH THE H HEB FOUNDATION

[03:30:01]

IT'S A BIG COMMUTE FOR, FOR STUDENTS TO DRIVE THREE, TWO HOURS, TWO TO THREE HOURS TO THE RIO RIO TO KAYAK.

AND SO BY US GAINING ACCESS TO THESE TWO BODIES OF WATER IN SAN ANTONIO, IT GIVES YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE PADDLING AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION IN THEIR BACKYARD.

AND WE COULDN'T HAVE OFFERED THAT WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR THE LAST, GOSH, I, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

AND, UM, SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANTED TO READ ONE OF THE MANY ARTICLES BECAUSE COUNCIL ACTUALLY SEALED THAT LAST THURSDAY, AND THEY DID A BIG PRESS RELEASE.

AND, UM, I WANTED TO JUST READ YOU A QUICK EXCERPT FROM THE NEWS.

IN SAN ANTONIO, THE NEWLY APPROVED AGREEMENT ALSO INCORPORATES PROGRAMMING SUCH AS ADAPTIVE PADDLING, HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, CAMPS AND PROFESSIONAL WATER SAFETY COURSES.

VISITORS LOOK CAN LOOK FORWARD TO ACTIVITIES CATERING TO A WIDE ARRAY OF ABILITIES.

FOUNDED IN AUSTIN IN 2006, THE OUTDOOR EDUCATION INSTITUTION DEVOTES ITSELF TO PROVIDING ITS CLIENTS THE BEST AND THE SAFEST QUALITY OUTDOOR EDUCATION EXPERIENCES.

WITH ITS EXPANSION TO SAN ANTONIO, THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL IS EXCITED TO OFFER THE SAME TO THE ALAMO CITY RESIDENTS.

IS THAT MY TIME? YOU CAN FINISH UP.

THAT INCLUDES PROVIDING ADAPTIVE PS FOR INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND DEAF POPULATIONS.

THE SPECIALIZED GEAR ATTACHES TO WATERCRAFT TO SUPPORT THE PEDAL'S WEIGHT, ELIMINATING STRESS ON THE SHOULDERS, BACK, AND JOINTS.

THE ADAPTATION ALLOWS PEOPLE WITH LIMITED STRENGTH OR ENDURANCE TO ENJOY PREVIOUSLY INACCESSIBLE WATER SPORTS QUOTE.

WE ARE THRILLED TO SEE PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES, KAYAKING AND ENJOYING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AT WOODLAWN.

LAKE PARK IN ELMENDORF SAID HOMER GARCIA, DIRECTOR OF SAN ANTONIO PARKS AND RECREATION.

SO WE ARE OFFERING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION HAVE BEEN SINCE 2006.

WE ARE LOCATED AND PURPOSELY SO ON THE EAST END OF AUSTIN, ON THE NORTH SHORE AT A FESTIVAL BEACH.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE OPERATING OUT OF THREE SHIPPING CONTAINERS.

WE HAVE NO ACCESSIBLE DOCK, AND WE WILL BE PRESENTING A PROPOSAL TO BUILD AN ACCESSIBLE DOCK VERY SOON TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO CONTINUE OFFERING THIS TYPE OF PROGRAMMING THAT THE CITY DESERVES.

UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUTSIDE OF, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS WELL, INCLUDING YOUR USUAL, UH, WATER SPORTS, LIKE PADDLE BOARDING, CANOEING, KAYAKING, DOWN LADY BIRD LAKE.

THANK YOU FOR STICKING AROUND TALKING.

AND NEXT UP WE HAVE ADDIE SINGH IS GONNA BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

THE MICROPHONE IS ON STRAIGHT UP.

GOOD.

EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS SINGH.

I AM A SECOND YEAR STUDENT HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEX, UH, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.

AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN A LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOLS, UH, PROGRAM FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUTH AND PEOPLE WITH OTHER DISABILITIES.

UM, I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPACT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL HAS HAD ON MY LIFE OVER THE EIGHT YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THEIR PROGRAM.

UH, I STARTED OFF AT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL AT THE AGE OF 12 WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I HADN'T HAD MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH OUTDOOR ADVENTURE OR ANY KIND OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BEFORE.

UH, AND I USED TO SPEND MOST OF MY TIME READING INDOORS OR JUST AVOIDING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SAFE OR ACCESSIBLE WAY, ACCESSIBLE WAY IN WHICH I FELT SAFE DOING ANY SUCH ACTIVITIES.

AND AT A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS SO YOUNG, I WOULD NEVER IMAGINED MYSELF SUCCEEDING IN, UH, ACTIVITIES WITHOUT SAFETY OR RESTRICTIONS.

UM, MANY OF THE SKILLS THAT, UH, YOU LEARN WHEN IT COMES TO OUTDOOR VENTURE, I LEARNED ONLY AFTER I JOINED THE GROUP WHEN MY MOM HEARD ABOUT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL AND GOT IN CONTACT WITH KIMERY AND ADAM.

UM, OVER THESE EIGHT YEARS, I WOULD SAY I HAVE BECOME QUITE PROFICIENT IN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES.

I HAVE DONE THINGS REACHED HEIGHTS THAT I WOULD NOT, THAT SEEM UNPRECEDENTED OR UNACCOMPLISHABLE TO ME AT THE TIME.

UH, HAD I BEEN ASKED EIGHT YEARS EARLIER, IF I COULD SKI DOWN A HILL, I PROBABLY WOULD'VE SAID NO.

UM, BUT YES, EIGHT ODD YEARS LATER AND, UH, I HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE INVOLVED IN THE ACT SCHOOL.

WE DO A BUNCH OF, UH, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND ADVENTURE STUFF

[03:35:01]

AND WE ALSO DO, UM, UH, TRIPS OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN TO PLACES LIKE COLORADO WHERE WE INVOLVE OURSELVES IN, UH, SKIING, SNOWBOARDING, ICE CLIMBING, OTHER OPOR, OTHER, UH, UH, OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE IN HERE IN AUSTIN.

AND I AM VERY HAPPY THAT I'VE ALSO BECOME MORE INVOLVED, UH, WORKING WITH THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL AS TIME HAS GONE BY, UM, BECAUSE IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BEYOND JUST BEING, YOU KNOW, A STUDENT AND ALSO KIND OF GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, GIVE BACK TO THE ORGANIZATION THAT I'VE, UH, DEVOTED THAT, UM, THAT'S DEVOTED SO MUCH TIME TO ME AND THAT I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM.

UM, I ALSO WORK PART-TIME AS A GUIDE, UH, AND AS A, UH, OUTDOOR VENTURE EDUCATOR AT THEIR BOATHOUSE.

UM, AND YES, I HOPE TO KEEP GETTING MORE AND MORE INVOLVED ALONGSIDE MY SCHOOLING.

UM, THERE ARE MANY, KIND OF MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS I WOULD SAY THAT I WOULD ATTRIBUTE TO MY BEING MORE ACTIVE IN THE GROUP, SUCH AS, UM, MY FIRST TIME SKIING DOWN A STEEP HILL AT MOUNT CRESTON BUTTE AND VEIL, UH, CLOSE TO VEIL, COLORADO.

UM, IS THAT MY TIME? YOU'RE FINE.

YOU CAN KEEP GOING.

SO YES, THERE'S, UM, MANY, MANY ACTIVITIES I'VE, UH, DONE THAT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE AT ONE POINT IN TIME, AND IT'S MADE ME, I'M BETTER FOR IT.

UM, BOTH, YOU KNOW, MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND MORE ENERGIZED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO SPEAK HERE TONIGHT.

IT'S BEEN AN HONOR.

THANKS FOR STICKING AROUND TOO.

ECOLOGICAL, SPATIAL AND EXPERIENTIAL CARING CAPACITIES OF THIS AMAZING WATERWAY.

AND WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER.

ADAM SLOSKY.

HELLO.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME FOR US TO SPEAK.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED WATCHING OTIE.

HE WAS THE LAST IN THE FILM THERE, JUST CRUISING DOWN THE RED LADY AND, AND HOUSTON IN, UH, CREST BUTTE, COLORADO.

AND KIMIE AND I WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET TO SKI RIGHT BEHIND HIM, AND IT WAS, IT WAS QUITE THE EXPERIENCE.

SO THANK YOU AUDI.

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 AT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE WORK WITH.

THROUGH A CONTINUED CONNECTION TO THE OUTDOORS AND SPACES AND ACTIVITIES WE ELECT TO FILL OUR TIME WITH.

WE ARE PROFESSIONAL GUIDES, OUTDOOR EDUCATORS, AND EXPERIENTIAL FACILITATORS DEDICATED TO SETTING THE STANDARDS AND SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY AND OUTDOOR ETHICS.

AT THE CORE OF THIS IS ACCESSIBILITY AND USE OF LOCAL LAND AND WATERWAYS IN ONGOING PARADOX IN ALL OUTDOOR PURSUITS TO HAVE THE SPACE TO RECREATE WITH OTHERS IN THE CAREFUL ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES.

SO AS NOT TO PUT UNDUE STRESS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE WORK HARD TO CREATE AND PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND EXPERIENCES WHICH REDUCE AND OFFSET OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

OUR PROGRAMS DISCUSS ECOLOGICAL CONCERNS OF URBAN WATERWAYS, TRASH CLEANUPS, REPAIRING ZONE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF PARKLAND.

FURTHER, WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO STAY ABREAST OF THE MOST CURRENT RESEARCH AND SCIENCE THAT WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON THE REGIONS WE ENJOY.

OUR STUDENTS AND GUIDES COMMIT TO PARTICIPATING IN CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW FOR THE STUDIES LIKE THE ONE, DR.

MASSINO'S AND DR.

MASSINO AND THOMPSON DESIGN.

TO HAVE MORE DATA TO DRAW UPON.

THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT WE ARE REACHING ARE VARIED AND VAST.

WE SUPPORT UNIVERSAL 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, NONPROFITS, BUSINESSES, AND OTHER OUTDOOR INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS.

WHAT'S MORE AT OUR BOATHOUSE, WE SEE LOCAL AND GLOBAL DIVERSITY FROM ALL REGIONS OF THE WORLD.

THIS WORK IS PROVIDING AN INCREDIBLE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE VISITORS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AS WELL AS A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE AND CULTURAL IMMERSION FOR OUR STAFF AND GUIDES.

COST SHOULD NEVER BE AN ISSUE FOR ACCESSING THE OUTDOORS.

AND SO WE CREATE A SLIDING SCALE AND SENSITIVE PRICING FOR OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR INCOME CONSTRAINED FAMILIES.

FURTHER, WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER FREE PROGRAMS WHEN NECESSARY.

THE AFOREMENTIONED STUDY LED BY DR.

MASSINO AND DR.

THOMPSON OF HOUSTON TILSON UNIVERSITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IS CUTTING EDGE.

LOOK AT THE CURRENT STATE OF ONE OF OUR LOCAL GEMS, TOWN LAKE OR LADYBIRD LAKE.

WE'RE THRILLED THAT OUR CURRENT POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND BELIEFS ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS STUDY.

HOWEVER, WE WILL NE WE WILL NEVER SETTLE.

WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE OUR PROGRAMMING IN A WAY THAT MEETS AND EXCEEDS THE RECREATIONAL,

[03:40:01]

WE'LL CONTINUE TO BUILD LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS TO THE, TO DELIVER THE SAFEST, MOST PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR PROGRAMS, EDUCATION AND ACCESS WITH CONSERVATION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AT THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO AND WHO WE SERVE.

WE HOPE THAT THE WORK BEING DONE IN AUSTIN WILL SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OUTDOOR GUIDES AND EDUCATORS, THE WORLD OVER.

THANKS FOR STICKING A RUN.

IS THAT ALL THE, OKAY.

UM, ALRIGHT.

UM, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR PAR STAFF? UH, ABOUT, UH, THE PRESENTATION OR, UM, THE REQUEST THAT'S BEFORE US? YOU GUYS REMOTE GET TO GO FIRST, AS ALWAYS.

WE'LL KEEP, UH, GO FIRST.

YEAH, YEAH, GO, GO.

SURE.

UM, I GUESS JUST BEING VERY MUCH A NEWBIE, UM, WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE, THE CONCESSION? LIKE WHAT REQUIREMENTS DOES EACH CONCESSION HAVE TO ADHERE TO, AND IS IT ALL THE SAME, THE SAME REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH? UM, OKAY.

WE HAVE SIX CONCESSIONS THAT RENT WATERCRAFT.

TWO OF THOSE ALSO DO ROWING PROGRAMS. UM, WE HAVE, UM, THE LONE STAR RIVERBOAT CRUISES, WHICH IS A EXCURSION BOAT.

AND THEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SO THERE, THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONCESSIONS.

UM, WE TRY AND HAVE A, A SIMILAR SCOPE OF WORK, UM, FOR, FOR ALL OF THEM.

AND THAT INCLUDES LIKE, UM, REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, UM, THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ALL, ALL OF THE CONCESSIONS IN GENERAL OR JUST THE WATER? UM, WATERCRAFT RENTAL CONCESSIONS, YES.

WATERCRAFT.

AND THEN SPECIFICALLY ALSO WANTING TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY LIKE, FEE REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.

UM, HOW DO YOU MEAN FEE REQUIREMENTS? I MEAN THERE, LIKE, DO THEY, ARE THERE ANY, LIKE, DO WE PAY OR DO THEY PAY ANY FEES? DO YOU MEAN DO THE CONCESSIONS? OKAY.

THERE, THERE'S A REVENUE SHARE, UH, REQUIREMENT YES.

WITH THE CONCESSIONS.

UM, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT ALL STRUCTURED THE SAME WAY.

SO SOME OF THEM WILL PAY BASED ON THEIR REVENUE, LIKE ON A MONTHLY BASIS, THEY WILL PAY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THEIR REVENUE.

OTHER ONES HAVE A FLAT MONTHLY FEE, AND THEN THEY'LL PAY A LUMP SUM AT THE END OF THE YEAR BASED ON THEIR REVENUE.

SO THERE'S, ALL OF THEM HAVE A REVENUE SHARE REQUIREMENT.

UM, IT'S NOT ALL THE SAME FOR EACH, EACH CONCESSION, BECAUSE SOME OF THE CONTRACTS, AS YOU SAW FROM THE, THE, UM, THE TABLE THAT I MADE, SOME OF THE CONTRACTS ARE VERY NEW, AND SOME OF THE CONTRACTS ARE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, LIKE ROWING DOCK IS OUR LONGEST ONE RIGHT NOW, UM, THAT IT'S JUST EXPIRING, BUT IT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR SINCE 2000.

SO THE DIFFERENT REVENUE SHARES AND THE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS ARE KIND OF DIFFERENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT CONTRACT, IF A CONTRACT CAME IN IN THE YEAR 2000, THAT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM A CONTRACT THAT WE SIGNED IN, IN LIKE 2020.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE SOME CONSISTENCY, BUT BASED ON THE FACT THAT THESE CONTRACTS ARE LONG-TERM CONTRACTS, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT ALL THE SAME.

I SEE THAT COMMENT HERE NOW IN THE, THE HARD RECOMMENDATION.

AND I GUESS JUST WANTING TO KIND OF BE ABLE TO LEAN INTO THAT REVENUE SHARING AND ANY OTHER REQUIREMENTS TO TRY AND, UM, KIND OF BASED ON THE, OUR PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, TRY AND, YOU KNOW, SPREAD OUT THE USAGE AMONGST THE, THE CONCESSIONS ALONG THE, THE WATERFRONT AND, UM, INCREASED DIVERSITY AS WELL.

AND ALSO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, THE MAP DOES SHOW THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS OF ALL OF THE CONCESSIONS.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY ARE, THEY ARE SPREAD OUT AROUND THE LAKE, BUT, UH, UM, AS WE LEARNED FROM THE PREVIOUS, UM, PRESENTATION, THERE'S A, A LOT OF, THERE'S MORE PEOPLE USING THE ONES ON THE WEST END THAN THE ONES ON THE EAST END FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

I'M GONNA MOVE THAT WE EXTEND THE MEETING TILL 10 10, UM, TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION.

I'M GONNA JUMP IN HERE REAL QUICK.

COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, BEFORE YOU GO.

AND, UH,

[03:45:01]

SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR EXTENDING TILL 10 10.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE UP, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

UM, MY QUESTION IS THE ROWING DOCK, UM, YOU SAID THAT THE BIDS WOULD BE UP IN MAY ARE, IS IT, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GONNA ASK FOR AN EXTENSION OR IF THEY CAN, BUT I'M WONDERING ABOUT OVERLAP IF, IF IT WILL BE CLOSED DOWN UNTIL YOU DECIDE.

ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT IN ADVANCE OF MAY OR THE PROCESS IS ONGOING? UM, THE CONTRACT EXPIRES IN MAY, SO IT'S OUR INTENTION TO HAVE A NEW CONTRACT IN PLACE WHEN THE, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER ONE EXPIRES AND OKAY.

AND BECAUSE THAT CONTRACT IS CURRENT CURRENTLY UNDER SOLICITATION, WE CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE EVENT, YOU KNOW, THE VENDOR WILL WHO WILL BE AWARDED.

SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINAL OUTCOME IS UNTIL THAT DETERMINATION IS MADE.

CORRECT.

I JUST WONDERED ABOUT THE OVERLAP AND, UM, WITH THE ZILKER, UM, YOU WENT TO PART ON MONDAY AND THEY HEARD THE ZILKER PLAN, I IMAGINE IT WILL COME TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE? YES.

SO ARE WE, UM, KIND OF OVERLAPPING WITH THE DECISIONS BECAUSE OF SOME CONSTRUCTION AND SO FORTH THAT MAY GO ON WITH THAT PLAN WITH THE CONCESSIONS AT BARTON SPRINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND, OR IS THAT PART OF THIS? SO COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AS WELL? OH, I'M SORRY.

I'M DANISHA COX.

I'M THE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR WITH THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.

UM, ARE, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT WITH THE CURRENT SOLICITATION AND THEN THE, UH, CONTRACT THAT IS GONNA EXPIRE WITHIN THE YEAR WITH THE ZUCKER PARK BOAT RENTAL AND THEN THE VISION PLAN? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? I'M JUST TRYING TO, WELL, I WAS ASKING MORE ABOUT THE CONCESSIONS WITH THE FOOD TRUCK AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE CONCERNED WITH HERE IN THIS DECISION.

DOES THE ZER VISION PLAN HAVE ANY SORT OF AGREEMENTS IN IT? THAT WOULD, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, NO.

UM, YOU MAY BE GETTING SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON YOUR QUESTION HERE SHORTLY.

COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

SORRY.

NO, YOU'RE FINE.

I KNOW WE ONLY HAVE 10 MINUTES.

I'LL BE QUICKLY, I'LL BE QUICK.

UM, SUZANNE PIPER, THE, UH, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

UM, SO THE ZER, UH, VISION PLAN IS STILL IN DRAFT FORM.

UM, WE GOT A, UM, PREVIEW AND IT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR FOR YOU TO, UH, UH, REVIEW.

UM, THERE WERE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, IN THAT ARE, UH, AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS EVEN THE LOCATION OF WHERE, UH, A VENDOR, UH, SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE ROWING DOCK, UH, SPACE IS.

THAT WAS A RECOMMENDATION IN THE VISION PLAN, NOT TO MOVE IT IN.

THE DRAFT PLAN RIGHT NOW HASN'T BEEN ADOPTED, SO THEY'RE STILL TAKING COMMENTS AND, UM, EVALUATING, UM, ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVE WHILE WE DO THE TOUR OF THE, UH, OF, OF GIVING THE, UH, VISION PLAN TO THE DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSION.

SO WE'RE PRESENTING IT.

DOES THAT HELP? SO, OKAY.

, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

OH, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT HELPS.

IS THERE, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, KATIE COIN ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER ABOUT THAT? OR ARE YOU DONE? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE STAY ON, ON TOPIC, UM, AND, AND DON'T WANT TO DIVE TOO MUCH INTO VISION PLAN, UM, WHICH WILL BE COMING ON ON A FUTURE COMMISSION.

KNOW, LESS FOOT ACTIVITY, UM, YOU KNOW, ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF, UH, 35 OR, YOU KNOW, THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE TRAIL.

THANKS, AGENDA.

DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER THOMPSON? WELL, WE'LL COME BACK TO HER IF SHE, IF IT LOOKS LIKE HER VIDEO, IF HE MAY HAVE, MAY HAVE DIED.

UM, ALRIGHT, COMING AROUND THE HORN HERE.

UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY, HEY Y'ALL.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO THANK PAR FOR COMING OUT AND, UH, GIVING PRESENTATIONS AS Y'ALL ARE SO COMMON TO DO HERE.

UH, AND AS WE ARE SO COMMONLY APPRECIATIVE.

UH, ALSO WANT TO THANK THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL FOR COMING OUT AND SHARING THEIR STORY.

I THINK, UH, THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IS REALLY COOL.

UM, I THINK SORT OF IN LIGHT OF THE, THE THEME, ONE OF THE THEMES RATHER THAT'S BEEN DRILLED HOME, UH, THROUGH A LOT OF THESE PRESENTATIONS AND STUDIES IS SORT OF THE NEED TO, UH, ADDRESS AND INCREASE, YOU KNOW, DIVERSITY, UM, IN AUSTIN SPECIFICALLY ALONG THE, UH, TOWN LAKE TRAIL.

UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SORT OF THE GEOGRAPHIC THING, RIGHT? WHERE IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, YES, WE'VE GOT, YOU

[03:50:01]

YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT MAY SORT OF INFLUENCE THE AMOUNT OF VENDORS THAT WE HAVE THERE, GET APPROVED THERE.

I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE FROM, UH, FROM THIS PRESENTATION, OTHER THAN SIMPLY DOLLARS AND CENTS, IS SORT OF LIKE A DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN OF VENDORS, RIGHT? WHO'S GETTING THESE CONCESSION CONTRACTS, RIGHT? WHEN WE LOOK AT, UH, MALE TO FEMALE RATIO OF, UH, NOT ONLY OWNERS, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE STAFFING THESE BUSINESSES, UM, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, ETHNIC BREAKDOWNS AS WELL OF, UH, WHO'S OWNING THIS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING AND ESPECIALLY GIVEN SORT OF THE DRIVING THEME OF HOW DO WE INCREASE DIVERSITY.

THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD JUST THINK ABOUT AS FAR AS WHO IS USING THE TRAIL, BUT ALSO WHO IS PROFITING FROM THE TRAIL.

UM, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT IN THE FUTURE.

WE CAN'T OFFER INFOR ANY, UM, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR LONG WAIT TO, FOR YOUR TURN, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UM, UH, AND ALSO, I, I PARTICULARLY WANT TO, UH, UH, THANK THE PEOPLE FROM THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL FOR COMING OUT AND, AND FOR YOUR, UH, VERY, UM, MOVING, UM, PRESENTATION.

UM, I HAVE A, A FORM OF MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY AND, UM, I'VE HAD TO, UM, COME UP WITH MY OWN ADAPTATIONS, UH, FOR HOW I DO THINGS.

I, I'VE NEVER EVEN KNOWN ABOUT A GROUP LIKE YOURS BEFORE.

UM, I LOVE TO CANOE, AND THAT WAS, UM, AND I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP THIS REALLY SHORT CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING OVER.

UH, BUT THAT WAS MY IMPETUS FOR, FOR, UM, STARTING MY FIRST BUSINESS WHEN I WAS STILL A TEENAGER.

AND, UH, AS I'VE DISCOVERED THAT I CAN'T CANOE AGAINST THE WIND ANYMORE, UM, I JUST GOT A SA UH, A SAILING CANOE.

SO I LET THE WIND DO THE WORK.

AND THAT'S BEEN MY ADAPTATION AND I'M JUST, I'M THRILLED TO SEE THAT THERE'S A, A GROUP LIKE YOURS THAT'S BECAUSE, UM, ONE OUT OF FIVE TEXANS HAS DISABILITY OF SOME SORT.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE REALIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND AS YOU GET OLDER, THAT SKEWS TOWARDS MORE OUT OF THAT POPULATION TOO.

SO I'D LIKE TO SEE, IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE KIDS, I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT TOO FOR, UH, FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.

BUT, UM, I SURE HOPE THAT YOU DO GET A DOC AND, AND, UH, ABILITY TO, UH, YOU KNOW, IF ANYBODY NEEDS A LITTLE MORE ACCESS, I THINK IT WOULD BE, UH, WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

UM, MY NEXT AND ONLY OTHER REAL COMMENT IS WHAT ARE WE BEING ASKED TO DO? I, I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN ASKED TO, UM, APPROVE OF, UM, A SORT OF A BLACK BOX THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN INSIDE.

ALL I KNOW ABOUT IS THE EXPEDITION, UM, SCHOOL AND, AND I'M ALL FOR IT.

UM, THE REST OF THESE GROUPS, UM, YOU REALLY HAVEN'T SAID WHETHER YOU'RE FOUR OF THEM OR AGAINST THEM OR WHETHER THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OR, UH, WHETHER YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW I'M SUPPOSED TO MAKE A DECISION, UH, BASED ON THE INFORMATION PRESENTED.

UM, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT HELP.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD SAY THAT REALLY WILL HELP ME WITH THAT.

UM, BUT WHAT AM I MISSING? OKAY, SO ADMITTEDLY, THE, UM, WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO PER CODE IS A LITTLE VAGUE.

UM, AND MAYBE THE LANGUAGE ISN'T, UM, AS OPTIMAL AS WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.

SO PER CODE, WE ARE TO PRESENT VERY BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONCESSIONS, WHICH WE PRESENTED IN THIS VERY BASIC, UM, REPORT ABOUT THE, UM, NAME AND LOCATION, INCOME AND EXPENDITURES, TOLD THE NUMBER OF VOTES RENTED, AND ANY ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO MINIMALLY PER CODE.

SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING TONIGHT IS THAT, UM, AND WITH THE, UH, JOINT, UM, UH, WITH A JOINT REPORT WITH PARKS FOUR, EXCUSE ME, UM, IS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION IF WE SHOULD ESSENTIALLY KEEP THE, UM, CURRENT VENDORS THAT WE HAVE, SHOULD WE EXCLUDE ANY OF THE VENDORS, SHOULD WE, UM, OR MAINTAIN THE ONES THAT WE HAVE? SO THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO DO TONIGHT.

UM,

[03:55:01]

WE DO, UH, DESK REVIEWS AND DESK AUDITS ON THE VENDORS.

SO WE, UM, REGULARLY DO MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE ON, UM, SOME OF THE BASIC, UH, CONTRACTUAL INFORMATION, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY REMAIN COMPLIANT.

UH, NOW WE WOULD RE YOU KNOW, ASK FOR, UH, YOUR ASSISTANCE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT YOU DO NOT LIKE, UM, IN, OR YOU WANNA SEE MORE ABOUT, UM, IN THESE REPORTS WE'RE, UH, VERY, UH, OPEN TO PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION.

UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S THE BASIC THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TONIGHT, IS JUST GET A RECOMMENDATION ABOUT THE VERY BASIC INFORMATION THAT WE PRESENTED HERE.

SO DOES THAT DESK REVIEW INCLUDE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS? I MEAN, ARE, CAN YOU ASK THAT QUESTION AGAIN PLEASE? SO, DOES THAT DESK REVIEW THAT WAS REFERENCED, DOES IT INCLUDE ANYTHING HAPPEN TO DO WITH THE ENVIRONMENT? YOU KNOW, UM, WHAT, WHAT QUALITY CONTROLS ARE IN THAT DESK REVIEW SPECIFIC TO THE ENVIRONMENT? THE DESK REVIEW IS ON THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE.

SO IT'S THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE CONTRACT AND ARE THEY COMPLYING WITH THE CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS? SO IT HAS NOTHING IN THERE ABOUT NO, WELL, IT, IT DEPENDS IF THERE'S, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE UNDER THE CONTRACT, IF THEY HAVE A REQUIREMENT TO MEET, THEN WE WOULD REVIEW THAT REQUIREMENT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MEETING IT.

SO THERE IS, THERE IS SOME, I KNOW WITH SOME OF OUR NEWER CONTRACTS THERE ARE, THERE IS BOILER PLATE LANGUAGE ABOUT, UM, SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

AND, AND PATRICIA, WOULD YOU MIND , SHE'S MORE THE EXPERT IN WHAT THOSE DEATH REVIEWS SAY.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF BEFORE THE FIRST TIME YOU SPEAK.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO GO UP THERE.

MIGHT BE EASIER TO GO TO THE PODIUM.

UH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

WHILE YOU'RE GETTING READY, UM, I MOVE THAT WE EXTEND TILL, UH, 10 22ND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT.

UNANIMOUS APPROVED.

PLEASE PROCEED.

I'M PATRICIA ROSET.

I'M A BUSINESS PROCESS CONSULTANT WITH THE CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT UNIT THERE AT PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

AS PART OF THE DESK REVIEW, WE TRY TO, TO IDENTIFY ANY ISSUES.

AND OF COURSE WE HAVE MONTHLY REPORTS FROM THE VENDORS AS WELL THAT HELP US IDENTIFY ANY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT MAY EXIST OR EVEN REPORTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

AND WE WILL INCORPORATE THOSE INTO OUR DESK REVIEW.

AND THEN WE WILL MEET WITH THE VENDORS QUARTERLY AND ASK THEM A SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OF ANY CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, EITHER BY THE PUBLIC OR PART EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE OF COURSE, THESE CONCESSIONS ARE LOCATED IN PARK PART LOCATIONS.

SO OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO OUR EYES AND EARS OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE MORE OF THEM THAN THEY ARE OF THE CONTRACTS PEOPLE.

AND THEN THEY BRING BACK ANY ISSUES TO US AND WE ADDRESS IT THROUGH THE DESK REVIEWS.

WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE A CURE LETTER OR WE CAN ASK THEM TO RESOLVE ISSUES THAT HAVE A, THAT HAVE ARISEN.

AND IF THEY DO IT WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, THEN YOU COULD ALWAYS TERMINATE A CONTRACT THAT'S IN EVERY CONTRACT YOU HAVE THAT.

AND AS PART OF THE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE ANSWERED CLEARLY, UH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON'S QUESTIONS.

SO WHEN WE BRING UP, WHEN A CONCESSION IS ABOUT TO END SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE NINE TO 12 MONTHS BEFORE WE WILL ISSUE AN RFP AND A RFP OF COURSE, IS A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL.

AND IN THERE WE DELINEATE EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY'S EXPECTATIONS ARE FOR THE VENDOR AND WHAT THE CITY'S GOING TO, WHAT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITIES ARE.

THEN WE SEND THAT OUT TO EVERYBODY WHO IS IN OUR DATABASE OF VENDORS WHO QUALIFIES AS A CONCESSIONAIRE, DEPENDING, IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR FOOD, WE'RE LOOKING FOR WATERCRAFT OR WHATEVER CONCESSION WE'RE LOOKING FOR, THEN WE'LL HAVE AN EVALUATION TEAM THAT LOOKS AT ALL THE PROPOSALS AND THEY'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.

BUT ONE THING WE HAVE BEEN VERY DELIBERATE IN, IN OUR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS IS WE PUT SOME ENVIRONMENTAL QUALIFICATIONS IN THERE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THEY NEED TO EDUCATE THEIR CUSTOMERS, THEY NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN LAKE CLEANUPS, THEY NEED TO SUPPORT KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL.

AND WE WORK WITH THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY OTHER WAYS TO KEEP THE ENVIRONMENT AS FRESH AND AS LOVELY AS WE CAN.

SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE DO.

SO, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING RFPS OR COMMISSIONER THOMPSON? I ASK A QUESTION.

OH, WAIT, YOU'RE YOU, YOU'RE ACCIDENTALLY MUTED YOURSELF.

OH, OKAY.

I'M SORRY.

I'D LIKE TO THANK

[04:00:01]

YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT THE REASON I ASKED THE QUESTION IN THE FIRST PLACE IS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A FABULOUS REPORT THIS EVENING ABOUT THE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF YOUR STUDY MM-HMM.

THAT WAS PRESENTED, AND I SO APPRECIATE IT.

IT, AND I GUESS I'M KIND OF, UH, WANTING TO INCORPORATE, I'M WONDERING IF THOSE THINGS WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE R F P AND IF WE CAN ASK THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT TO, I DON'T KNOW, SOMEHOW INTEGRATE THIS KNOWLEDGE INTO TRYING TO, UM, MAKE IT BETTER.

AND SO THAT, THAT IS ONE THING I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I WISH WE HAD THE WHOLE EVENING FOR THIS, BECAUSE I KNOW HISTORICALLY WHEN YOU GUYS HAVE COME, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA.

AND WE HAVE TALKED ALL NIGHT BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THIS RIGHT.

SO I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR YOUR WORK AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, QUESTION AND I APPRECIATE THE BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR MY QUESTION.

AND ALSO, YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A GAP.

IS THERE GONNA BE A GAP BECAUSE THE CONTRACT'S ENDING AND EVERY CONTRACT WITH THE CITY, YOU HAVE A HOLDOVER PERIOD THAT COULD BE UP TO SIX MONTHS IN WHICH THAT CONTRACTOR IS OBLIGATED TO CONTINUE SERVICES UNTIL THE END OF THAT HOLDOVER PERIOD.

AND THEY, THAT'S, THAT'S HOW YOU COVER THE GAPS.

COMMISSIONER BRAMER, YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS? UM, I, EXCUSE ME.

I DON'T, YEAH, I HAVE COME, I HAVE SEVERAL, I THINK I GOT AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT, UH, THERE WAS A CHART THAT SAYS ANNUAL RENTALS.

WHAT DOES S U P MEAN? STANDUP PADDLE BOARDS.

AH, OUTSTANDING.

SO THERE ARE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ONE BOAT, THERE'S NO, UH, GASOLINE FUELED BOATS THAT ARE RENTED.

THEY'RE ELECTRIC BOATS.

THE ONLY, UM, RENTALS THAT IN THE, IN THE FLEET OF THE DIFFERENT CONCESSIONS ARE CAN CANOES, STAND UP, PADDLE BOARDS, UM, KAYAKS.

AND THEN AT WALLER CREEK BOATHOUSE, THEY HAVE SOME ELECTRIC BOATS.

BUT THE, THE ONLY, UM, SOME OF THE ROWING, THERE'S TWO, TWO, UM, CONCESSIONS THAT DO ROWING.

I THINK THEY HAVE, UM, SOME LAUNCHES THAT THEY USE FOR, FOR COACHING.

WELL, NOT, I'M ASKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT RENTALS.

NO, THERE'S NO, OKAY.

NO, BUT THERE IS A BOAT AND I, I ASKED THAT BECAUSE, UH, IT SAYS MAINTAINS UH, PUBLIC MARINE WASTE DISPOSAL RECORD FOR LONE STAR RIVER BOATS.

OH, THAT'S, SO THAT'S THE EXCURSION BOAT.

THAT'S, THEY DON'T HAVE RENTALS.

THEY JUST, UM, THAT'S THE, THE LARGE BOATS THAT YOU SEE ON THE LAKE.

AND THEY HAVE CUSTOMERS AND THEY JUST GO AROUND AND, YEAH.

WELL THE REASON I ASK ABOUT THIS IS THAT, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, UH, SOMEONE WANTED TO BUILD A, UH, FUELING STATION ALONG, UH, LAKE TRAVIS OR I DON'T KNOW MM-HMM.

, WHATEVER IT WAS, LAKE AUSTIN.

THERE YOU GO.

ONE OF 'EM.

UH, AND WE TURNED IT DOWN BECAUSE, I MEAN, THE SITUATION WAS KIND OF UNIQUE IN THAT IT WAS JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET UP FROM A WATER INTAKE FOR DRINKING WATER.

AND SO THAT WAS PART OF THE ISSUE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, TURNED IT DOWN CUZ IT POSED AN IMMINENT HAZARD TO THE, THE DRINKING WATER.

SHOULD THERE BE A, A FUEL, A SPILL FROM, FROM THE, UH, FUELING STATION THERE.

SO MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF SURROUNDS THE IDEA OF HOW OFTEN HAVE THERE BEEN REPORTED HAZARDOUS WASTE SPILLS, EITHER FROM THE, THE, UH, THE, THE MARINE WASTE, WHICH I SUPPOSE IS TOILETS MM-HMM.

AND FUEL LEAKS.

HAS ANY OF THAT BEEN REPORTED AND HISTORICALLY, HAS ANY OF THAT BEEN REPORTED ANTIBIOTIC HISTORICALLY? I MEAN, LIKE, SAY IN THE PAST 10 YEARS TYPE OF THING? I DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE ANY RECORD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING.

YOU DIDN'T KEEP RECORDS OR YOU DON'T HAVE A RECORD BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WE KEEP RECORDS.

WE DON'T HAVE A RECORD OF IT BEING REPORTED.

SO YOU DON'T KNOW THAT, UM, AUSTIN WATER ALSO TAKES CARE OF THAT.

UM, AND THERE'S, AND, AND THIS MORE INFORMATION WILL BE IN THE WRITTEN REPORT ABOUT THE, UM, ABOUT THE, UM, THE SEWAGE.

BUT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UM, OTHER GROUPS THAT MONITOR THAT.

UM, IT'S NOT LIKE SOMETHING THAT WE MONITOR BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY MONITORING, UM, PROCESSES IN PLACE FROM AUSTIN WATER AND, UM, I THINK TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE.

[04:05:02]

WELL, OKAY.

IT SAYS MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

MARINE WASTE DISPOSAL MAINTAINS, UH, AND MAKES PUBLIC MARINE WASTE DISPOSAL RECORDS FOR LONE STAR RIVER BOATS, WHICH OPERATES ONE VESSEL ON WITH AN ON ONBOARD TOILET.

SO THAT MEANS, I MEAN, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IMP IMPLIES THAT YOU KEEP RECORDS.

WE, OKAY.

THAT IS, UM, THAT'S A RECOMMENDATION THAT'S COME FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION EVERY YEAR AND WE HAVE THOSE RECORDS.

BUT AS I SAID, THEY'RE ALSO, CUZ THEY, THEY SEND THEM TO US.

WE HAVE RECORDS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN, YOU'VE BEEN ASKING US TO KEEP RECORDS IN THE, IN THE PUBLIC RECORD FOR THREE YEARS.

AND WE HAVE RECORDS GOING BACK MAYBE NOT 10 YEARS BECAUSE OH, WE HAVEN'T BEEN AT, BUT AS I SAID, THE, THAT'S ALSO TRACKED BY AUSTIN WATER AND TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DIVISION.

SO CAN YOU MAKE AVAILABLE THE RECORDS FOR HOWEVER LONG YOU'VE GOT THEM? WE CAN, YES.

WE, WE PUT THEM YOU SAY THAT YOU KEEP RECORDS? YES.

I WANNA SEE THE RECORD.

CAN PROVIDE.

YES WE CAN.

AND THEY ARE IN ALL OF OUR CONCESSION REPORTS GOING BACK FOR THIS MANY YEARS AS YOU'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THOSE.

EMAIL THOSE TO US AND WE PUT 'EM IN THE WRITTEN REPORT AS WELL.

THAT'S GONNA BE ONE OF OUR APPENDICES FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR REVIEW.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT PAST REPORTS, YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND FIND PAST REPORTS.

THOSE WOULD BE PART OF IT AS WELL.

IT'D BE USEFUL IF YOU'D SEND US THE LINK.

SURE.

THAT WOULD BE, THANK YOU.

THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM.

THAT'S, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S ANY REPORT AND, AND YOU'RE RELYING UPON THE VENDOR TO SELF-REPORT, RIGHT? YES.

THAT'S NOT FINE, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

UH, NOW, BASED UPON THE OUTSTANDING REPORT, UH, HOUSTON TILLSON, UH, MADE, UH, I SUPPOSE THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE LOOKING, MOVING SOME OF THESE CONCESSIONS, MAYBE NOT THE CURRENT ONES, BUT NEW CONCESSIONS, LIKE REALLY FAR EAST OF WHERE THEY SIT NOW.

SO IS THAT IN, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECOMMENDATION SLIDE, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE LAST SLIDE THAT WAS PART OF THE PARK.

OH, NO.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M SORRY.

THE, UH, RECOMMENDATION SLIDE FROM PARKS BOARD, UH, DEFINITELY ASKED US TO INCLUDE INFORMATION FROM THE LAKE CAPACITY STUDY, UM, FOR ANY, UM, EXPIRING OR NEW CONTRACTS.

UM, SO WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE INTO, UH, ACCOUNT THE INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATION FROM THAT STUDY FOR ANY NEW, UM, CONTRACTS OR ANY NEW CONCESSIONS THAT, UH, ARE ON LADYBIRD LAKE.

THAT WAS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM PARK SPORTS.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER TONIGHT, IS IN THAT JOINT RECOMMENDATION.

WELL, WE WOULD, THAT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL TO SEE.

YOU KNOW, SEE HOW WELL THAT WORKS OUT.

THE FINAL THING, UH, I'M PIGGYBACKING ON COMMISSIONER KASHI'S, UH, COMMENT ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE MONEY GOES.

UH, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS A, A, A PROCESS BY WHICH IT ENCOURAGES, UH, WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR CONTRACT.

IT'D BE INTERESTING IF, UH, YOU REPORTED BACK TO US, YOU KNOW, THE STATS OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE, OKAY, YOU HAVE THIS, THIS ONE THAT'S EXPIRING, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THAT.

SO THAT MAY BE KIND OF OUT OF, OUT OF CONSIDERATION, BUT THERE'LL BE OTHER CONTRACTS COMING ALONG.

IT'D BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHICH PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MINORITIES, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ARE PART OF THAT.

AND WHAT PROCESSES YOU USE TO TRY TO RECRUIT BUSINESSES FROM THOSE HISTORICALLY UNREPRESENTED UNDERREPRESENTED BUSINESSES.

YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER BRAMER, I APOLOGIZE.

I'M GONNA JUMP IN.

UM, THIS IS GONNA BE THE LAST TIME, HOPEFULLY I MOVE THAT WE EXTEND 10 MORE MINUTES TO 10 30, BUT WE DO REALLY NEED TO, YEAH, WELL, THAT'S MY LAST ONE.

SO I'LL, I'LL LET YOU FREE ON THAT ONE.

DOES ANYONE SECOND THAT MOTION? SECOND.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

WE GOT TWO AWAY AS WELL.

UM, ALRIGHT, CONTINUE PRIMER.

I APOLOGIZE FOR NO, THAT, THAT'S MY LAST ONE.

I, I, I WANT TO SEE THE MECHANISM BY WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU RECRUIT, YOU KNOW, VENDORS FOR THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AN, YOU KNOW, A FAIR SHOT AT, UH, UNDERREPRESENTED FOLKS.

WHO ARE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING SOLICITATIONS, UM, REGISTER UNDER CERTAIN COMMODITY CODES WITH THE CITY, AND THEY RECEIVE, UM, ANY ANNOUNCEMENT THAT COMES THROUGH FOR THAT PARTICULAR SOLICITATION.

DID YOU WANNA I, I, SO WHEN WE, UM, DO SOLICITATIONS, UM, WE WORK WITH OUR CORPORATE PURCHASING OFFICES WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AND, UM, THEY USE AUSTIN FINANCE ONLINE TO RECRUIT, UM, VENDORS

[04:10:01]

SO IF IT'S A BOATING CONCESSION OR A CONCESSION, IT MAY BE LISTED UNDER A CERTAIN COMMODITY CODE.

THEY ALSO, UH, WHEN THEY'RE PROPOSING THERE IS CONSIDERATION FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, THAT IT'S ACCOUNTED INTO THE POINT VALUE OF THE, THE OVERALL, UM, AWARD PERCENTAGE OF POINTS THAT'S GIVEN.

SO IF THEY ARE A WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS OR A MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS, OR A VETERAN DISABLED BUSINESS, UM, THEY ACTUALLY GET AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF POINTS FOR THAT.

SO THERE, SO THERE IS SOME, UH, PREFERENCE IN THAT.

I UNDERST YEAH, I UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WORKS.

BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS OF, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY APPLIED MM-HMM.

, YOU KNOW, AND I REALLY DON'T CARE WHO WINES WELL I DO, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PROCESS BY WHICH, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY APPLIED MM-HMM.

, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH EVERYONE IS WINNOWED OUT BASED UPON, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T PAY THE CITY ENOUGH OR I, WHATEVER THE, WHATEVER THE CRITERIA IS.

AND THEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE FINAL PERSON WHO'S AWARDED THE CONTRACT BASED UPON YEAH.

WE DON'T, DON'T, WE DON'T LOOK AT, UM, ESSENTIALLY THE PREVIOUS ACTIVITY OF THE VENDOR.

THE, THE SOLICITATION IS BASED ON A CURRENT SCOPE OF WORK AND PROPOSAL, AND THEN THEY THEN PROPOSE WHETHER IT BE A NEW REVENUE SHARE OR NEW, UM, ACTIVITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS WHO USE THEIR, UH, THE LAKE OR WHO USE THEIR BOATING FOR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVEN IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS, UH, FREE ACTIVITY ON THE LAKE OR CLEANUP.

IT, IT VARIES IN NOT JUST THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY GET, GIVE BACK TO THE CITY, BUT IT ALSO IN, UM, THE OPPORTUNITIES IT OFFERS, UM, FOR THOSE ON THE LAKE.

SO CLEAN UP.

RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY GO BACK TO, YOU KNOW, UM, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT PRIOR PERFORMANCE.

THE ONLY, ONLY WAY THAT WOULD BE A CONSIDERATION WOULD BE SAY THEY, THEIR CONTRACT MAY BE TERMINATED AND THEY'RE EXCLUDED FROM THE PROCESS.

, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS ACTIVELY RECRUITING FROM AN UNDERREPRESENTED POOL, AND THAT'S MY ONLY POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE.

SO WE, WE HAVE AN OFFICE OF, UM, A SMALL BUSINESS AND MINORITY RESOURCE SBR MAYBE, AND THEY ALWAYS REVIEW ALL THE, YES.

THEY, WE HAVE VERY STRINGENT PROCESSES.

UM, IT'S PART OF WHAT, UH, GOES TO COUNCIL FOR EV EVERY RFP IS PART OF WHAT, UM, THEY REVIEW.

IT'S, IT'S, IF YOU LOOK ON ANY, UM, ITEM THAT ARE, UM, UM, ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA, THERE'S A, A PROVISION AT THE BOTTOM IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF IT MEETS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR S AND B R OR, UM, YOU KNOW, SMALL BUSINESS OR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.

UM, AND WE HAVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

UH, THEY KEEP VERY , VERY, UM, UH, STRICT DATA ABOUT WHO IS, UM, RECEIVING THOSE, UM, COMPETITIVE BIDS.

AND SO WE DO HAVE THE DATA.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY MONITOR OUR, UM, CORPORATE PURCHASING OR THE SBR TEAM DOES.

SO WE'D BE HAPPY TO, UM, SHARE SOME INFORMATION FROM THEIR PUBLIC FACING, UM, WEBSITES.

AND THAT'S, IT'S ALL AVAILABLE.

SO, UM, THERE'S, UH, WE'D DEFINITELY TRY AND BE TRANSPARENT IN, IN THOSE COMMUNICATIONS AND REALLY DO A, AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AS, AS POSSIBLE, BE THOSE COMMODITY CODES.

AND, UM, AND THERE, THERE IS A VERY STRICT PRO, SAY STRICT, BUT THERE IS A VERY, UM, UM, DETAILED AND DOCUMENTED PROCESS ABOUT HOW WE GO ABOUT THOSE SOLICITATIONS.

IT'D BE USEFUL IF YOU PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND IT ALSO LOOKS AS THOUGH THEY, THEY'RE RENTED OUT VERY CHEAPLY, AND IT LOOKS TO ME AS THOUGH IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR THERE TO BE, BE SOME SORT OF A, UM, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE A, A, LET'S SAY A $5 AMOUNT FOR EACH RENTAL, WHICH WOULD GO TOWARDS MITIGATION, UH, BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE SINGLE SEA SEEM TO ME, I'M, AND I'M JUST, I'M, I'M LEFT GUESSING BECAUSE I, I'M NOT GETTING INFORMATION OTHER THAN WHAT I'M PUTTING TOGETHER IN MY OWN MIND, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THERE'S MORE OF THEM THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

YEAH, I, UH, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE WE'RE BEING ASKED TO, UH, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT, UH, ON, ON SOMETHING THAT I FRANKLY DON'T FEEL I HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO RECOMMEND ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, UM, FOR ANY GROUP EXCEPT, UM, THE ONE THAT'S PRESENTED TONIGHT.

BUT I ALSO DON'T FEEL LIKE I KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT ANY OF THESE CONCESSIONS OR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

BUT I WAS JUST LOOKING HERE TRYING TO FIND ANY DATA WHATSOEVER THAT I COULD BASE ANYTHING ON AND, AND, UH, I'M LOOKING AT THE SUVS AND THERE'S MORE OF THE SUVS RENTED THAN THERE IS JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.

AND, UM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE PROBABLY THE MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY QUALITY OF THE, OF THE LAKE AS FAR AS THE DEGRADATION OF THE LAKE.

AND SO IT MAKES ME WONDER IF,

[04:15:01]

THEY'RE CONGREGATED WHERE, UM, WE'VE JUST BEEN TOLD WE HAVE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH, UH, E COLI GOING UP.

SO WHY WOULDN'T WE WANT TO SEE A LITTLE MORE REVENUE FROM THOSE AND MAYBE, UH, UH, A REDISTRIBUTION OF WHERE THEY'RE RENTED AND DO SOME THINGS WITH THE SUVS, UM, AND THE NUMBERS OF THEM IN ORDER TO, UM, TRY TO MITIGATE THEIR, THEIR IMPACT ON THE, ON THE, UH, ON THE LAKE.

UM, AND THESE ARE ALL JUST, I'M JUST THROWING THESE OUT AS, AS THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN SEE THAT, THAT WE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY ANY IMPACT ON.

OTHERWISE, I THINK YOU'RE JUST ASKING US FOR A RUBBER STAMP OF APPROVAL.

CUZ I, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE TO GO BY.

I, I HEAR YOU, COMMISSIONER.

UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CONTINUE A WHOLE BUNCH LONGER, WHETHER WE'RE GONNA GET TO A, A POINT OF RESOLUTION ON THAT MATTER, UM, AND THEN, AND VOTE AS YOU, AS YOU WOULD LIKE.

UM, BUT WE, WE ARE WHERE WE ARE.

IT'S 10 26.

I'D LIKE TO, I, I MOVE THAT WE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, SECOND.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 BRA.

ARE YOU IN? YES.

WE GOT EIGHT.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND ONE, ONE OPPOSED? UM, SO THE MOTION PASSES.

WE'VE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, WE GOT THREE MINUTES.

LET'S, LET'S HEAR A MOTION AND, UM, AND, AND THEN GO FROM THERE.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

UM, AND THIS IS A LONG ONE, SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME, UH, THREE MINUTES, THREE MINUTES TO READ THIS OUT.

UH, MARCH 1ST, 2023.

UM, THE SUBJECT IS THE 2022 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT MANAGED CONCESSIONS ON LADY BIRD TOWN LAKE, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED A STAFF BRIEFING OF THE 2022 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT MANAGED CONCESSIONS.

AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGARDING THE CONCESSIONS FOR THE TOWN LAKE METRO PARK.

THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS CONTINUATION OF THE CONCESSION CONTRACTS ON LADYBIRD LAKE WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

NUMBER ONE, UM, CONSISTENT, BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S.

PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE 2023 ANNUAL REPORT, UM, POD STAFF WILL VERIFY AT LEAST THREE YEARS OF RECORDS FOR MARINE WASTE DISPOSAL HAVING BEEN MAINTAINED FOR ANY ENTITY THAT PUMPS WASTE INTO LADYBIRD LAKE AND THAT THESE MONTHLY RECORDS ARE INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC RECORD.

TWO PAR STAFF SHOULD CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE WATERCRAFT THAT ARE TYPICALLY ON TOWN ON LADYBIRD LAKE.

AND, UH, WHAT ARE THE SAFETY STRATEGIES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE ABILITY TO MEET CAPACITY THREE, PAR SHOULD CONTINUE WORKING ON CONSISTENT TERMS OF CONDITION, CONDITIONS AND THE VARIOUS CONTRACTS TO THE EXTENT PRACTICAL.

FOUR, INCLUDE THE WASTE PUMP OUT DATA IN THE FINAL 2022 ANNUAL REPORT AND FUTURE REPORTS.

FIVE.

PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON ANY NEW CONCESSIONS.

SIX, PROVIDE UPDATE ON UNLICENSED VENDOR ACTIVITY AND WHAT IS THE ACTION BEING TAKEN? EIGHT.

PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW CARING CAPACITY IS BEING ADDRESSED.

REST BEFORE WE SECOND THAT, I'M GONNA JUST HAVE A SEPARATE MOTION TO EXTEND UNTIL 10 40.

IS THERE A SECOND ON THAT ONE? SECONDED.

TO EXTEND TILL 10 40.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, UNANIMOUS AGARS.

AND NOT ON THE DIAS.

ALL RIGHT, I'M DONE.

I SECOND THE MOTION THAT WAS PRESENTED BY SECRETARY BRISTOL.

UM, DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION.

UM, I THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF CHANGING, UH, THE EROSION, THE TRAIL BECAUSE OF THE, THE TRACKS, BECAUSE OF THE EROSION.

COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

UM, I, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD PROPOSE SOMETHING ABOUT, UM, THE ZILKER EAGLE IS GOING TO HAVE,

[04:20:01]

SO I WOULD JUST WONDER IF WE COULD SEE THAT BEFORE WE JUST SAY THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LANDFILL THERE, AND I JUST THOUGHT PERHAPS WE MIGHT WANNA REVIEW THAT AT SOME POINT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE AGREES WITH THAT OR NOT, BUT IT'S, IT, IT WAS OF A CONCERN TO ME.

THIS IS, UH, RAM UH, WOULD THAT, WOULD THAT BE ADDRESSED BY REQUESTING DETAILED DOCUMENTATION ON THE ZILKER EAGLE IN THE FINAL REPORT THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO US, UM, AS IT RELATES TO EROSION FROM THE TRACKS AND, UM, POTENTIAL IMPACT OR, UH, IMPACTS TO THE LANDFILL OR IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LANDFILL? UM, JUST THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE TRAIL REALIGNMENT, THE TRACK REALIGNMENT, AND IT'S IN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, IT SAYS THE STATUS OF EACH EXISTING CONCESSION BEFORE WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.

SO I FEEL THAT I'M WITHIN RIGHTS TO ASK FOR THAT.

AND, UH, IT ALSO SAYS THE CREATION, CONTINUATION, OR TERMINATION OF THE CONCESSION.

SO I, I FEEL LIKE, UM, WE SHOULD AT LEAST DO THE BEST WE CAN TO TRY AND INFLUENCE, UM, I KNOW ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON IT AND SO FORTH, BUT I, I FEEL LIKE A REVIEW BEFORE WE, WE VOTE FOR IT MIGHT BE GOOD.

AND PAM, LEMME TAKE A STAB AT THIS AND SEE IF, IF THIS IS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, UH, TO, UH, TO THE MOTION.

SO, UH, A REPORT ON THE ZILKER, EAGLE EAGLE RECONSTRUCTION AND TRACK REALIGNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL 2022 REPORT.

WELL, MY ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT WE DON'T, UM, GET TO REVIEW IT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND SO I AM JUST SAYING THAT I REALLY WISH THIS HAD COME TO US SOONER.

BUT YES, I'M GONNA PUMP THIS, I'M GONNA PUMP THIS OVER TO STAFF BECAUSE WHAT I MEAN, THE, UM, WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED HERE TO DO IS, UH, MAKE A MOTION ABOUT THE CONCESSION REPORT.

AND SO, BUT THAT'S A SEPARATE THING AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE, UH, WORDS OUTTA KEVIN'S MOUTH, BUT, UM, BUT I HEAR YOU AND I THINK THAT, UM, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO, UM, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OR ASK STAFF, UM, TO BRING THAT FORWARD.

KATIE QUINN, ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.

I, I, I AGREE.

I THINK THAT'S A, A SEPARATE ISSUE FROM THE CONCESSION, UH, ITEM THAT YOU HAVE ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

UM, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, HEARD AND, AND WE CAN DISCUSS FURTHER IF IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO Y'ALL TO DO SO.

YEAH, I, I WOULD SAY STAFF, IF, IF WHENEVER THAT REPORT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND IT'S FINALIZED, WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO GET A COPY OF IT.

UM, YEAH, I WOULD SECOND THAT.

UH, IF IT TAKES TWO PEOPLE TO GET IT TO THE COMMISSION.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION THAT'S BEFORE US COMMISSION? UM, YEAH, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT COMMISSIONER SCOTT BROUGHT UP THAT I THOUGHT WAS A A DECENT POINT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY DO THESE DESK REVIEWS OF THESE, UH, THESE BUSINESSES THAT GO OVER COMPLAINTS.

BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE IF THERE WAS LIKE, SOME KIND OF LIKE, PUBLIC WAY THAT WE COULD SEE THESE COMPLAINTS, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE SUPPORTING OR SAYING THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE.

SO MAYBE, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE, IF THEY CAN EITHER INCLUDE A REPUBLIC REPORT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MAYBE PEOPLE ARE REMEMBER OF THAT.

I'M GONNA ASK STAFF REALLY QUICK IF THAT'S, UM, LEGAL.

WELL, I WOULD JUST SAY THEY, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS.

SO WHEN, WHEN PAT WAS TALKING ABOUT DESK REVIEWS, THE DESK REVIEW PROCESS, UH, UM, LOOKS AT ALL THE REQUIREMENTS, UM, IN THE CONTRACT.

SO NOT SPECIFICALLY COMPLAINTS, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, UM, THE MONTHLY REPORT, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY FOLLOWING THE, THE ANYTHING THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE CONTRACT? ARE THEY, YOU KNOW, THEIR SAFETY PLAN? DO THEY HAVE INSURANCE? UM, ANY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, UM, WE HAVE A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AND FOLLOW.

SO THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE CONTRACT.

SO WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT'S REQUIRED BY CONTRACT.

SO IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO JUST COMPLAINTS AND WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS.

UM, WE'VE, I THINK WE RECEIVED, I WOULD TAKE THAT BACK.

WE MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED ONE COMPLAINT, UM, LAST SUMMER ABOUT, UM, JUST, UH, WHERE A CANOE

[04:25:01]

WAS ON THE TRAIL.

UM, AND SOMEBODY THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE WAY AND WE ADDRESSED THAT COMPLAINT AND IT WAS RESOLVED.

AND THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY THING THAT, THAT I KNOW OF.

AND SINCE I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WELL, THERE YOU GO.

UM, I DIDN'T HEAR IT FROM THE PRESENTATION.

ANY RECOMMENDATION, UH, FROM YOU ABOUT THE CONCESSIONS ARE, DID YOU SORT OF ACCIDENTALLY LEAVE THAT OUT? I MEAN, ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, CURRENT CONCESSIONS? UH, HAVE YOU BASICALLY, UH, BEEN SATISFIED WITH, UH, MONITORING AND THE REPORTING THAT YOU'VE GOT? I MEAN, I, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WORK WITH.

I DON'T, I, HOW CAN I VOTE YAY OR NAY WHEN I DON'T KNOW HOW, HOW THEY'VE BEEN PERFORMING? THAT'S, THAT'S MY CONCERN.

I'M GONNA JUMP IN HERE AS A FORMAL, UM, FORMER, UH, EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE.

AND, UM, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY, UM, THAT YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF A VENDOR OR YOU'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF A VENDOR.

UM, THERE'S SOME LEGALITIES AROUND THAT FOR SURE.

UM, AND SO I THINK Y'ALL HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB WITH JUST OBJECTIVELY SAYING, YOU KNOW, HOW THINGS ARE DOING WHERE, WHERE WE ARE IN THE CONTRACT SYSTEM.

UM, I THINK I, I THINK WE HAVE TO FIND THAT OUT FOR OURSELVES.

UM, YOU KNOW, IS THIS, IS THIS A GOOD, UH, MATCH FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, THE CITIZENS OF, UH, OF AUSTIN? UM, I, I THI I'M, I'M JUST, I'M TAKING THIS OFF Y'ALL TO SAY THAT IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO REPORT GET TO ASK THEM THAT QUESTION.

I'M AT THE RISK OF, UH, ANOTHER 10 MINUTE EXTENSION.

I'M GOING TO JUMP IN HERE.

I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT SHOULD A PART TO SAY WE LIKE THIS VENDOR, WE DON'T LIKE THIS VENDOR.

HOWEVER, UM, I THINK WHEN WE SHOULD BE PRESENTED WITH PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, YOU KNOW, THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ON DIFFERENT THINGS, YOU KNOW, LIKE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS OF VENDORS HAD, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE, YOU KNOW, IF, IF A VENDOR HAS HAD IN THE CASE OF THE, UH, THE PADDLE BOAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEY HAD ANY ISSUES WITH WASTE DISPOSAL AND THIS SORT OF THING, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO, AS PART OF THIS MEETING, YOU KNOW, DO A LOT OF RESEARCH AROUND THE CITY'S WEBSITE TRYING TO FIND THIS STUFF.

IF IT'S ON THE WEBSITE, THAT'S FINE.

THEY CAN SEND US A LINK AND I CAN GO ON THE LINK, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY FAIR TO ASK US TO GO FIND ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE MYSTERIOUSLY LOCATED.

I THINK IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY OF PAR TO PROVIDE US THE LINKS TO GET THE INFORMATION AND THEN THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE AN EVALUATION ON OUR OWN.

I'M NOT ASKING THEM TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE A PERSONAL EVALUATION ON ANYTHING, PROVIDE ME WITH THE INFORMATION AND THEN I'LL MAKE A JUDGMENT, YOU KNOW, BASED UPON WHATEVER, YOU KNOW.

I SEE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

UH, BUT YOU KNOW, I'LL, I'LL VOTE ON THIS THE WAY IT STANDS TODAY CUZ THIS IS WHAT WE GOT.

AND SO WE'LL GO FORWARD TODAY THE WAY IT IS.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND, AND, UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.

UM, SO WE'VE GOT AT LEAST 32 SECONDS TO COMMISSION COM SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS.

UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS PRESENTED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

IS THAT TWO REMOTES? THOSE ARE BOTH FOURS.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.

WE HAVE ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS OR ACTUALLY WHAT I MADE REQUEST IS ANYONE WHO HAS A COMMITTEE REPORT, YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS AND, OR YOU CAN EMAIL IT TO ELIZABETH AND SHE CAN DISSEMINATE IT TO US REAL QUICK.

SO THE MOTION PASSES, UH, WITH ONE OBSTE FROM COMMISSIONER SCOTT.

UH, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR THE DIALOGUE.

THANK YOU STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU FOR THE 30 SECONDS.

UH, DO

[COMMITTEE REPORTS]

JOIN SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE IS HAVING A WORKING GROUP FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS.

SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT IF YOU WANNA BE A PART OF IT ALL.

ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA SAY IT'S 10 39, UM, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.