Apr 13, 2023 Special Design

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:07]

AND, UM, SOPHIA, CAN YOU DO A ROLL CALL? CHAIR? WEAVER.

CHAIR.

WEAVER.

PRESENT.

PRESENT.

UM, COMMISSIONER CAROL.

PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER SALINAS.

COMMISSIONER ANAD.

COMMISSIONER LADNER.

COMMISSIONER TANA GUCCI.

VICE CHAIR MINORS HERE.

COMMISSIONER ROLLON.

COMMISSIONER MCKINNEY.

PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER WATLEY.

COMMISSIONER LUKINS.

PRESENT AUDIO.

GREAT.

UM, SO WE HAVE A FEW GUESTS, UH, IN TODAY.

WE ALSO HAVE A FEW NEW SCENARIOS, AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND TO REVIEW WHAT THE PURVIEW PURVIEW IS OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION.

AS NOTED IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE DESIGN COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP.

SO THIS IS, UH, 2.1, 0.130 A.

THE DESIGN COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP SHOULD INCLUDE A DIVERSE GROUP OF PERSONS HAVING EXPERTISE IN URBAN DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, CIVIC ART, REAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

D THE COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE ADVISORY RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS REQUESTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO ASSIST IN DEVELOPING PUBLIC POLICY AND TO PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

C THE COMMISSION SHALL OFFER POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SPECIFIC ISSUES OF URBAN DESIGN.

EXCUSE ME.

UM, PARTICIPATE IN DEVELOPING DESIGN GUIDELINES.

WE ARE WORKING ON A UPDATE OF THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES THIS YEAR.

THAT'S CORRECT.

UM, UNLESS OTHERWISE, DIRECTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR THE ZONING AND PLATING COMMISSION.

REVIEW A PROJECT ONLY AFTER A FORMAL REQUEST BY THE PROJECT SPONSOR OR APPLICANT AND COMPLETE THE REVIEW BEFORE THE RESPECTIVE PLANNING OR ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION TAKES FINAL ACTION.

THIS PROJECT IS HEADED TO PLANNING COMMISSION NEXT, SO WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT THERE.

PROVIDE CITIZEN EDUCATION, OUT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH REGARDING QUALITY URBAN DESIGN.

PROVIDE A VENUE FOR CITIZEN INPUT ON THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

MAINTAIN LIAISON RELATIONSHIPS WITH CITY STAFF AND OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND PERFORM OTHER ACTIVITIES AS DIRECTED BY CITY COUNCIL.

SO JUST KIND OF LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THE SCOPE HERE.

UM, TYPICALLY WE EVALUATE PROJECTS BY THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.

THERE'S 47 INDIVIDUAL GUIDELINES.

IN THIS INSTANCE, WE ARE NOT EVALUATING THE PROJECT BY THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES, BUT INSTEAD THE SHARED VALUES FOR URBAN AREAS AS INDICATED ON PAGES 15 THROUGH 18 OF THE PUB PUBLISHED URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.

A QUICK REVIEW FOR EVERYONE TONIGHT.

THOSE SHARED VALUES FOR URBAN AREAS ARE ONE, HUMANE CHARACTER, TWO.

DENSITY.

THREE.

SUSTAINABILITY.

FOUR.

DIVERSITY.

FIVE.

ECONOMIC VITALITY.

SIX.

CIVIC ART.

SEVEN.

A SENSE OF TIME.

EIGHT.

UNIQUE CHARACTER.

NINE.

AUTHENTICITY, 10 SAFETY, AND 11.

CONNECTION WITH OUTDOORS.

UM, FOR DESIGN COMMISSION TO CREATE A RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT WE NEED SIX PEOPLE IN AGREEMENT.

UM, WE DO NOT HAVE A FULL COMMISSION HERE.

UH, WE HAVE NEW APPOINTEES COMING IN.

UH, WE'VE GOT SOME ABSENCES, SO IT'S REALLY GONNA TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR RECOMME RECOMMENDATION WITH AMENDMENTS OR A NON RECOMMENDATION.

UM, BUT WITHOUT THAT, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO WRITE A RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT.

UH, SPEAKERS MUST GO THROUGH THE CHAIR.

SO THIS INVOLVES IF WE'RE HAVING, UM, DISCUSSION AMONG THE COMMISSIONERS, UM, WHEN WE GET TO THAT PART OF THE AGENDA, BUT ALSO TO OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

ALL, ALL CONVERSATION GOES THROUGH THE CHAIR, SO THERE'S NO POPCORNING, THERE'S NO EXTRA CONVERSATION OUTSIDE OF THAT.

UM, WE HAVE 30 SPEAKERS REGISTERED TONIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET TO, UH, THE STAFF PRESENTATION.

WE'RE ONLY ALLOWING ONE MINUTE PER SPEAKER.

THERE'S NO DONATED TIME TO OTHER SPEAKERS.

UM, SPEAKER SIGNUP ENDS WITH THE MEETING BEGINS.

IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP, YOU'RE NOT PRESENTING TONIGHT.

UM, AND

[00:05:01]

IF YOU WANNA TALK TO EACH OTHER, PLEASE STEP OUTSIDE.

THIS IS A SMALL AREA AND I DO HEAR THE WHISPERING .

WE ALL DO.

UM, ONLINE GUESTS.

IF YOU'RE SPEAKING, UM, THERE'S A BEEP THAT'S SUPER LOUD.

UM, WHEN YOU MUTE AND UNMUTE YOURSELF, WE DON'T HEAR THAT BEEP.

UM, BUT, UH, YOU NEED TO UNMUTE YOURSELF WHEN YOU START TALKING AND THEN MUTE YOURSELF WHEN YOU'RE DONE SPEAKING THIS 15 MINUTES.

THE FOCUS OF THIS CONVERSATION TODAY IS ON QUESTION AND ANSWER.

WE'VE ALL REVIEWED THE ZER PLAN.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF PUBLIC OUTREACH.

WE'RE PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT'S GOING ON, SO I THINK WE'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN MORE A DIALOGUE ON WHY THINGS ARE WHERE THEY ARE AND WHERE, UM, WHERE WE COULD MAYBE ADDRESS DEFICIENCIES.

UM, MA'AM, I WAS FOUR MINUTES LATE.

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE TIME THAT I CALL OTHER SIT DOWN.

WE'RE HAVING A MEETING RIGHT NOW.

I'M SPEAKING.

I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

INTERRUPTING A MEETING DOWN.

REPRESENT THE SIERRA CALL, SIR, THE MEETING THAT BEEN CALLED.

I KNOW THAT.

AND THERE WE SHOULD STILL BE ALLOWED TO SIGN UP.

WELL, CERTAINLY NOW WE'RE NOT GONNA ALLOW YOU TO SIGN UP BEING RUDE TO EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S HERE.

I'D, I'D LIKE TO CALL A POINT OF ORDER LETTING DECORUM FOUR MINUTE LATE SIGN UP STREET SECURITY YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, OKAY.

SO WITH THAT,

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

MOTION TO SECOND IT.

THANK YOU.

I HEARD A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CARROLL AND A SECOND FROM VICE CHAIR MINERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE NEED TO VOTE ON IT.

UH, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UH, ITEM TWO,

[2. Discussion and possible action on a recommendation to consider whether the Draft Zilker Park Vision Plan reflects the Shared Values for Urban Areas in the Urban Design Guidelines. Presented by Gregory Montes, Parks and Recreation Department, and Claire Hempel, Design Workshop.]

SO WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE PUBLIC, PUBLIC SPEAKER PORTION.

SOPHIA WILL CALL FOLKS OUT, UM, TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

UM, SHE WILL LET US KNOW COMMISSION.

GUCCI, ARE YOU RECUSED ON THIS MATTER? NO, I'M NOT.

OKAY.

WHERE'S MY SEAT? I YOU, ANYONE WITH A MICROPHONE? REMEMBER THERE'S A MICROPHONE.

OKAY.

UH, WANNA START, UH, CALLING FOLKS UP.

WE HAVE THE FIRST SPEAKER IS ROBIN, RATHER.

JUST A REMINDER, ALL OUTSIDE CONVERSATIONS SHOULD BE OUTSIDE THIS ROOM.

THE ONLY PERSON SPEAKING SHOULD BE ROBIN, RATHER.

THANK YOU.

SHOULD I USE THIS ONE? YES.

UH, AT THE FRONT.

MY NAME'S ROBIN RATHER.

I'M WITH THE ZER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN REWILD.

ZILKER.

I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR MY BROTHER FROM THE SIERRA CLUB.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS TONIGHT THAT ARE HERE AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE, UM, VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS PLAN.

UM, AND SOMETIMES THAT PASSION AND THAT INTENSITY SPILLS OUT.

UH, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE FOCUSED ON THE ECOLOGICAL WATER, CLIMATE MITIGATION, AND OVERALL FAIRNESS OF THIS PLAN.

WHAT WE'RE GONNA ASK YOU TO DO TONIGHT IS HELP US MAKE THIS PLAN LESS LOPSIDED.

THIS PLAN HAS OVER 150 MILLION OF NEW CONSTRUCTION PROPOSED VERSUS VERY, VERY LITTLE FOR THE ACTUAL ECOLOGY OF THE CROWN JEWEL OF AUSTIN'S PARK PARK SYSTEM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE Z OR PARK AND THEY SEE MONEY, THEY WANNA MONETIZE THE PARK.

WE'D LIKE TO FOR YOU TO, YOU TO JUST HELP.

THANK YOU.

HELP US KEEP.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SOPHIA.

NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER'S.

[00:10:01]

THE THIRD SPEAKER WILL BE MARK MAY.

THANK YOU.

IS IT ON? OH, THERE IT GOES.

.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, I'M GONNA JUST GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THE SLIDES.

SO, UH, MY NAME'S TANYA PAYNE AND, UH, GO ON TO SLIDE TWO.

UH, WHEN THE DESIGN TEAM PRESENTS TONIGHT, OH, YOU CAN'T SEE THE GRAPH.

UH, WHEN THE DESIGN TEAM PRESENTS TONIGHT, THEY WILL SHOW YOU THIS GRAPH AND THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT IT SHOWS AUSTINITES ARE DIVIDED ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT FROM ZILKER PARK.

BUT I LOOK AT THE SAME GRAPH AND I SEE THAT ONLY 16% ASKED FOR MORE PARKING.

17% SAID LEAVE ZILKER AS IT IS.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY CHOSE TO DO THE MORE PARKING FURTHER.

NOT 59% ASKED FOR THINGS THAT WE ALL COULD AGREE ON.

UH, BETTER RESTORATION, BIKE PED ACCESS AND BETTER FACILITIES.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, DATA FROM EARLY EXEC.

OH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SORRY.

UH, THAT'S OKAY.

UH, LATER.

UH, THE CONSULTANTS WILL SHOW THESE GRAPHS.

MY FACE IS IN FRONT OF THEM, BUT SAYING THAT THEY SUPPORT GARAGES.

BUT AGAIN, TAKE A CLOSER LOOK FOR 50, UH, AND THEN SLIDE FORWARD PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

NEXT, MARK.

ME.

UM, I'M ACTUALLY MARKED.

I I'M SHOCKED BY THIS, UH, PROCESS.

UM, I'D LIKE TO ADVANCE FORWARD TO MY SLIDES ON THE PARKING, UH, GARAGE.

I THINK, UH, THE PARKING GARAGE, THEY ARE TOTALLY NOT, NOT IN LINE WITH YOUR SHARED, UH, VALUES.

THEY'RE NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, CREATIVE.

THEY ARE, THEY, YOU KNOW, FEEL INDUSTRIAL AND UNSAFE INSIDE.

THEY'RE TOTALLY AT ODDS WITH A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S A HORRIBLE, LAUGHABLE CHOICE IF IT WASN'T OUR PARK.

NEXT SLIDE.

THE WHERE WHERE THEY'VE PLACED THE HILL HILLSIDE THEORY IS AWFUL.

IT'S GONNA TRASH THE GREAT LAWN.

WE, THAT'S ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES IN AUSTIN.

WE HAVE THAT MUCH GREEN, UH, SPACE.

UM, IT FEELS IT'S A BORING VENUE THAT FEELS LIKE THE ONE IN WATERLOO PARK.

WE SHOULD LEAVE IT AT THE PRESENT.

A LOCATION THAT, UH, PEOPLE VALUE.

PEOPLE LOVE TO GO THE HILLSIDE THEATER AND THEY DO NOT WANT IT MOVED.

UH, THE PUBLIC DOES NOT WANT IT MOVED.

I NEED YOUR HELP TO KILL THIS PLAN.

SOPHIA, WHO'S THE NEXT SPEAKER? THE NEXT TWO.

SO NEXT WE HAVE DAVID WEINBERG, FOLLOWED BY BEN LIVINGSTON.

THANK YOU.

ZILKER PARK IS NOT IN OUR DOMAIN.

THAT'S WHAT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY SAID LAST WEEK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WHEN THEY DID NOT RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM THIS MATTER.

I NOW WANNA READ FROM A PAR MEMO ON THE ZILKER VISION PLAN.

NUMEROUS OTHER NONPROFITS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES OPERATE IN THE PARKS SUCH AS SUNSHINE CAMP, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, AND THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

I WOULD LOVE TO GET A LITTLE CLARITY TONIGHT ON WHO ACTUALLY DOES AND DOES NOT WORK ON THIS ISSUE AND IN ZILKER PARK FROM PAR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SOPHIA.

WHO'S THE NEXT SPEAKER? BEN LIVINGSTON.

HI.

AND THE NEXT ONE AFTER BEN, PLEASE.

I KNOW EVAN WILL LISTEN TO ME CUZ HE LOVES ME.

I WANNA KNOW WHY WE'RE DUPLICATING FACILITIES AT ZER PARK IS.

ZILKER PARK ALREADY HAS A FULLY FUNDED WELCOME AND VISITORS CENTER SCHEDULED FOR THE BATHHOUSE, WHICH HAS RECEIVED 8.1 MILLION FROM THE MOODY FOUNDATION BACK IN 2019.

ZER PARK ALREADY HAS AN OVERLOOK BY THE BARTON SPRINGS POOL.

ZER PARK ALREADY HAS A FULLY FUNDED CLASSROOMS AT THE SHEFFIELD CENTER FOR EDUCATION.

ZER PARK ALREADY HAS AN AUSTIN NATURES AND SCIENCE CENTER FOR CLASSROOMS AND HANDON EX HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES.

ZUCKER PARK ALREADY HAS NATURE'S WAY PRESCHOOL.

ZUCKER'S PARK ALREADY HAS SPLASH THE EXHIBIT FOR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

ZUCKER'S PARK ALREADY HAS BARTON SPRINGS UNIVERSITY.

WHY DO WE NEED ANOTHER VISITORS CENTER? I'M JUST GONNA FOCUS ON THAT TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WHAT, WHO ARE THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS? WE HAVE GARRETT, NICK, AND MICHAEL GARRETT, WHO'S NEXT AFTER MIKE KTI.

COULD YOU PLEASE PUT THE SLIDE

[00:15:01]

UH, MY NAME IS MIKE KTI AND UM, I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE SPRINGS CONSERVANCY AND THE FRIENDS OF BARTON SPRINGS POOL.

AND WE'RE SUPPORTING THE ZER VISION PLAN BECAUSE IT PROMOTES EXCELLENCE IN THE DESIGN OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

AT ZER METROPOLITAN PARK.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE ZUCKER PLAN'S GUIDING GOALS OF SUSTAINABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND NATURE AND ECOLOGY ARE THE IMPORTANT FUNDAMENTAL VALUES FOR HOW THEY'VE COME UP WITH THIS PLAN.

AND I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY MAP TO THE SHARED VALUES THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT FOR THE URBAN AREAS, BUT IT'S CLEAR TO ME AND OUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE VISION PLAN USES THESE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES TO MAKE THE PARK SUSTAINABLY GREENER, ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE BY MANY, MANY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS.

IF YOU COULD GO TO SLIDE SIX, PLEASE, AS A RESULT OF THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.

ONE MORE SLIDE PLEASE.

UH, OVER ABOUT TWO YEARS IN 200 ODD MEETINGS, THE PLAN HAS COME UP WITH, UH, A LOT OF REALLY WONDERFUL IMPROVEMENTS.

THERE'S A VERY IMPRESSIVE AND APPEALING LAND BRIDGE TO PROVIDE A GREEN SAFE CONNECTION OVER BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.

THERE'S ACTUALLY 93 ACRES OF ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT THAT ARE BEING ADDED TO PARK BY TAKING AWAY SURFACE PARKING AND ALSO REMOVING PARKING FROM THE POLO FIELDS AND THE BUTLER LANDFILL.

AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY AGREES THOSE ARE GREAT THINGS.

UM, IT ALSO PROPOSES A NEW WELCOME CENTER THAT IS NOT A BRAND NEW CONCRETE BUILDING.

IT'S JUST REPURPOSING THE, UH, EXISTING CARETAKERS COTTAGE AND HOPEFULLY THE QUONSET HUT AREA.

AND THAT COULD BE A LOVELY OUTDOOR EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VISITORS OF THE PARK TO LEARN ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, THE THREATS TO IT, AND HOW WE, PARDON ME, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.

OH, I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.

THANK YOU.

I DIDN'T SET MY TIME AROUND.

SORRY.

SOPHIA, DO YOU HAVE OUR NEXT SPEAKER? NEXT SPEAKERS MACK RAGSDALE, FOLLOWED BY TERRY ADAMS. THANK YOU.

HELLO DESIGN COMMISSION.

I'M MAC RAGSDALE, BOARD MEMBER WITH THE ZILKER THEATER PRODUCTIONS.

WE ARE THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN PUTTING ON THE SUMMER MUSICALS AT ZER HILLSIDE THEATER FOR THE PAST 64 YEARS.

MY ROLE AS A SEMI-RETIRED ARCHITECT IS TO MANAGE THE VENUE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE THEATER.

WHILE WE LOVE OUR VENUE ON THE HILLSIDE, WE ARE OUTGROWING OUR SPACE.

FURTHERMORE, UH, FURTHERMORE WITH A WOODEN STAGE, IT'S OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS IN, UH, AGING FACILITIES.

WE HAVE A CONSTANT STRUGGLE WITH MAINTENANCE.

THE VISION PLAN ADDRESSES MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE VISION PLAN POSITIONS US AT THE GREAT LAWN, A CENTRAL LOCATION, MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, AND WE CAN SHARE PROGRAMMING SPACE WITH THE NATURE CENTER AND BOTANICAL GARDENS NEARBY.

WE WOULD BE AT ONE END OF THAT BEAUTIFUL LAND BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS BOTH SIDES OF THE PARK WITHOUT HAVING TO CROSS BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.

IT ALSO CONNECTS US TO THE CENTRAL PARKING GARAGE, WHICH IS SO VITAL TO THE THEATER GOERS AND OTHER PARK USERS WITH THEIR STROLLERS, BLANKETS, COOLERS, AND DOGS.

WHAT I NEED TO POINT OUT IS THAT THERE ARE REALLY LIMITED OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES TO ACCESS THE PARK.

A PARKING GARAGE ELIMINATES SURFACE PARKING AND THE IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT AND CONSOLIDATES IT INTO A GREEN ROOF.

THANK YOU.

PARKING STRUCTURE FOR A MUCH MORE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION.

THANK YOU.

JUST A REMINDER, IF THERE'S ANY CONVERSATION, PLEASE MOVE OUTSIDE INTO THE HALLWAY OR OUTSIDE OF THE ROOM.

WE'RE HAVING A MEETING.

UM, NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.

SOPHIA? YEAH, WE'VE GOT TERRY ADAMS, FOLLOWED BY DEBBIE MCCRAY.

DEBBIE MCCRAE.

CHRISTIE CURTIS WILL BE NEXT.

HELLO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN A. LITTLE BIT OVER 40 YEARS AND WHILE I DO AGREE SOME CHANGE NEEDS TO OCCUR, THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF CHANGE THAT WE NEED.

WE NEED TO PLANT MORE TREES AND CONSERVE THE SPACE.

I THINK IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE TO DISRESPECT NATURAL RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS AREA TO FURTHER THE POCKETS OF PEOPLE.

WHY DON'T WE CONSIDER DISPERSING THE MONEY TO OTHER PARKS THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF CHANGE AS TO PUT LESS PRESSURE ON ZILKER? MY CONCERN ALSO IS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE HISTORIC ZILKER PARK.

IT IS ALREADY A NIGHTMARE FOR PEOPLE DRIVING ON BARTON SPRINGS TO SOUTH LAMAR OR MOPAC.

PUTTING BARTON SPRINGS AS TWO-LANE STREET MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.

WE HAVE OVER 8,574 PARKING SPACES NOW IN THE GENERAL AREA.

MAKES BETTER SENSE TO TIE THOSE TOGETHER OPPOSED TO BUILDING THREE PARKING GARAGES IN SUCH A SENSITIVE RECHARGE ZONE.

LIKE MANY OTHERS, THE MAJORITY OF OUR PEOPLE I'VE SPOKEN TO FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT RE WILD ZER IS THE ONLY PLAN THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER IN MOVING FORWARD.

THE MORE IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY IS ONCE YOU PAVE IT, THERE'S NO GOING BACK.

IS THIS REALLY THE ENVIRONMENT? THANK YOU.

WE WANT FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THANK YOU.

WHO ARE THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS?

[00:20:01]

HI, I'M KRISTI CURTIS.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE ZILKER METROPOLITAN VISION PLAN.

AS A MOM OF A YOUNG CHILD, OF A DOG AND AS A RUNNER, I APPRECIATE THE ACCESSIBILITY, SAFETY, AND EQUITY ENHANCEMENTS.

THE VISION PLAN OUTLINES ZILKER PARK IS A METROPOLITAN PARK, NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

AND THIS VISION SUPPORTS THIS IDEAL ACCESSIBILITY IS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF THE VISION PLAN.

AND THE PLAN PROMOTES ACCESSIBILITY BY PROPOSING NEW TRAILS AND BY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES AND CONSOLIDATED PARKING SOLUTIONS THAT KNIT THE SEGMENTED PIECES OF ZILKER PARK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A MORE ACCESSIBLE, SAFE, AND CONNECTED PARK STRUCTURES SUCH AS THE LAND BRIDGE, ELIMINATE THE DANGEROUS BARRIER OF HAVING TO CROSS SPARTAN SPRINGS ROAD.

AN ADDED BONUS OF THE LAND BRIDGE IS THAT IT ALSO CREATES A SAFE PLACE FOR WILDLIFE TO CROSS.

THE PLAN ALSO NOTES THE SAFETY CONCERNS FOR CRIMES IN ZILKER PARK AND RECOMMENDS THAT PARK SECURITY LINING SHOULD BE ADDED TO INCREASED SAFETY AND SECURITY AT PARKS BY INSTALLING SOLAR POWERED L E D LIGHTING WITHOUT THE GRID SUPPLIED POWER.

THANK YOU.

OH, MY DAUGHTER'S A GIRL SCOUT AND SHE CAN'T USE HER CABIN CUZ IT'S TOO DANGEROUS.

THANK YOU.

.

DINA SALINAS, FOLLOWED BY GAIL ROTH.

HI, MY NAME IS DINA SALINAS.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN.

WE'RE LOVING OUR PARK TO DEATH AND HAVING A PLAN MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE IT EQUITABLE FOR ALL RESIDENTS IS NECESSARY.

WHAT YOU MIGHT HEAR TONIGHT FROM OPPOSITION INCLUDES THAT, UH, WE WOULD, OR THAT ANY UNIFIED PARTNERSHIP WOULD BE MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

IT'S NOT TRUE.

COUNCIL CREATED THIS RESOLUTION.

THEY'RE THE ONLY GOVERNING BODY WHO CAN MAKE CHANGES FOR CITY STAFF TO THEN IMPLEMENT.

YOU WILL HEAR THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PRIVATIZE ZILKER PARK CITY CODE SECTION EIGHT DASH ONE DASH 15 LIMITS THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT SPECIAL EVENTS CAN OCCUR IN THE PARK.

THERE ARE EIGHT EVENTS THAT ARE IN ZER PARK AND THE NUMBER OF DAYS IS 24.

THE ONLY GROUP WHO CAN CHANGE THE NUMBER OF DAYS IS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

YOU WILL HEAR THAT THE CITY SHOULD FUND VISION PLANS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE THEN WE WOULDN'T WANT TO DRIVE TO ZILKER.

ZILKER PARK IS THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE CITY.

I'VE CALLED HOME FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS.

IT HOLDS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART AND I CANNOT HELP BUT FEEL THAT THIS STATEMENT IS A SUBTLE FORM OF RACISM FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE PRIVILEGED ENOUGH.

THANK YOU TO WALK TO ZILKER PARK.

YOU.

THANK YOU.

GAIL ROTH, FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE ASMAS.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS GAIL RODDY.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO MAKE ONE REQUEST.

CAN I HAVE MY SLIDES? PLEASE MAKE ONE REQUEST TO YOU.

AND THAT IS TO TAKE THE UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE AND THE AZ MARTIN PARKING GARAGE OUT OF THIS PLAN.

WHY? THIS IS A UNIQUE I STILL DON'T HAVE MY SLIDES.

CAN I HAVE SOME MORE TIME PLEASE? UM, THAT'S NOT THE FIRST SLIDE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

UH, THIS IS A UNIQUE, UH, LEAVE IT THERE PLEASE.

THIS IS A UNIQUE, UH, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN SAY IS ANY MORE UNIQUE ABOUT AUSTIN THAN OUR SPRING SYSTEM IN THIS PARK.

AND WE DON'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT HIS VULNERABILITIES.

AND THIS PLAN DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THOSE VULNERABILITIES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THIS MAP, THE HASH LINES REPRESENT THE SUBSURFACE HABITAT OF THE FEDERALLY PROTECTED AUSTIN BLIND SALAMANDER.

THERE ARE ALSO, THESE TWO GARAGES WILL BE WITHIN 300 YARDS AND 100 YARDS OF THE SURFACE HABITAT OF THE BARTON SPRINGS SALAMANDER.

CAN WE REALLY RISK DRILLING, UH, THAT CLOSE TO THE, THIS SYSTEM? COULD I HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME? I'M SORRY.

WE HAVE 30 SPEAKERS.

THANK YOU.

STEPHANIE ASMUS, FOLLOWED BY BOBBY RIGNEY.

MY NAME'S STEPHANIE ASMUS.

I MET MY WIFE AT ZER.

I GOT ENGAGED AT ZILKER.

MY DOG'S ASHES ARE SPREAD AT ZILKER.

I'VE BEEN TO ZILKER PROBABLY 2000 TIMES IN THE LAST 12 YEARS, AND IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO GET THERE.

UH, IT'S HARD TO GET THERE ON THE WEEKENDS.

UH, MAYBE ONE TO FIVE, AND THAT ACCOUNTS FOR 6% OF THE ENTIRE TIME THAT THE PARK IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN A WEEK.

SO 6% OF THE TIME WHERE VISITORS MIGHT HAVE TO PLAN A LITTLE BIT AROUND PARKING, WALK, BIKE, TAKE THE BUS, TAKE ANY OTHER FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.

UH, THE CONSULTANTS WHO PUT THIS PROJECT TOGETHER, THEY DO THEIR BIGGER PROJECTS IN HOUSTON, WHICH IS WHAT THIS FEELS LIKE.

IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE TRYING TO TURN AUSTIN INTO HOUSTON.

AND IF I WANTED THAT, I WOULD MOVE TO HOUSTON WHERE I COULD AT LEAST HAVE

[00:25:01]

UM, BUT I LIVE HERE FOR ZILKER IN THE WAY THAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU.

I GUESS I SHOULD START.

BOBBY RIGNEY.

OKAY.

UM, I'M BOBBY RIGNEY AND I APPRECIATE EVERY COMMISSIONER HERE ON WHAT YOU DO.

IT'S TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HOMEWORK YOU HAVE TO DO ON MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES.

THIS IS A A 200 PAGE PLAN.

SO, UM, I LOVE THIS PARK AND IT WAS MY DAILY ROUTINE FOR OVER TWO DECADES TO RUN AND GENTLEMAN TO POOL ALMOST EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.

I LOVED IT.

AND I'M, I'VE GOT THE PARK MEMORIZED EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOW, I CAN'T RUN.

I CAN HARDLY WALK.

BUT, UM, I WANT EVERYBODY TO, UM, HAVE ACCESS TO THE ZER PARK.

LAST WEEK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD HERE IN THIS VERY ROOM WAS, UH, WHEN I GOT THIS LETTER FROM, UH, DUMB MEDICAL SCHOOL IN UT HEALTH AUSTIN.

AND IT SAYS, HEALTH INEQUITIES EXIST RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, 10 MILES FROM THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY TO THE EAST SIDE.

THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN DROPS 10 YEARS.

SO TOGETHER WE CAN ADDRESS THESE INJUSTICES AND INEQUITIES THE INFLUENCE BLANK.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO SAY IN HEALTH, IT CAN SAY IN PUBLIC AMENITIES.

THERE ARE 11 METRO PARKS AND ZUCKER'S.

ONLY ONE OF THEM SHARE THE WEALTH.

THANK YOU, SOPHIA.

WHO ARE THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS? BRUCE MCCANNS FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA NELSON.

HEY Y'ALL.

I'M BRUCE MCCANNS.

I'M A FORMER PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBER OF ZUCKER THEATER PRODUCTIONS.

IN MY OPINION, WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE EVEN AN INCH AWAY FROM THE GREAT LAWN TO PUT AN AMPHITHEATER OR ANYTHING ELSE ON IT.

WELL, THE GREAT LAWN IS OPEN SPACE.

IT IS NOT UNUSED SPACE.

IN FACT, IT IS HEAVILY USED BY ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.

NINE TO FIVE ERS, WEEKEND WARRIORS, SOCCER PLAYERS FROM SENEGAL AND HONDURAS AND TURKEY VISITORS FROM TEMPLE SORORITY GIRLS SUNBATHING, QUIDDITCH PLAYERS DOING WHATEVER IT IS QUIDDAGE PLAYERS DO.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN ACTION, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AREA ON A SUNNY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

PLEASE DON'T VOTE TO TAKE ANY OF THIS AREA AWAY FROM US, EVEN FOR ANOTHER PRODUCTION OF BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

CHRISTINA NELSON.

AND WHO'S THE NEXT SPEAKER AFTER THAT? DOROTHY BARNETT.

THANK YOU.

DOROTHY, IF YOU COULD START HEADING TOWARD THE FRONT TO HELP THIS PROCESS MOVE A LITTLE QUICKLY OR, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I'VE BEEN ON MANY BOARDS IN AUSTIN AND I KNOW IT'S A THANKLESS TASK.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE INEQUALITY.

UH, I APPRECIATE OUR LAST SPEAKER BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN IN ZILKER PARK.

I'M A CONCESSIONAIRE AND I'LL BE UPFRONT ABOUT THAT.

AND MY CONCESSION IS ON THE TABLE TO BE MOVED.

I THINK THAT IS A REALLY BAD DECISION.

BUT WE HAVE WATCHED FOR 55 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PARK AND WATCHED THE PEOPLE THAT COME.

MOST OF THEM ARE FROM VERY, VERY, VERY MANY MINORITIES.

EVERYBODY THAT LIVES IN AUSTIN.

IT IS THE PEOPLE'S PARK.

WE NEED TO KEEP IT THE PEOPLE'S PARK.

WE CANNOT LET AUSTIN BECOME DISNEYLAND AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE HEADED TOWARDS.

PLEASE VOTE NO FOR THIS.

PLEASE KEEP IT THE PEOPLE'S PARK.

THANK YOU.

NEXT TWO SPEAKERS.

DOROTHY WAS, ARE YOU DOROTHY BARNETT? YES.

OKAY.

THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS ARE LAURA MASSENGALE AND JOHN MASSENGALE.

LAURA AND JOHN, IF YOU COULD BOTH HEAD TOWARD THE FRONT SO WE CAN HAVE FASTER TRANSITIONS BETWEEN SPEAKERS.

IS JOHN HERE? OKAY.

OKAY.

I HAVE A HUGE PRESENTATION TO DO, BUT SINCE WE'RE ONLY ONE MINUTE, I'M GONNA READ, UM, JUST ONE PART OF MY PRESENTATION.

IT'S REGARDING THE HISTORIC PECAN GROVE PICNIC TABLES

[00:30:01]

JUST ERASED.

SIMPLY ERASED.

AND THAT IS VERY OFFENSIVE TO ME.

UM, IT IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE P THE PARKINGS.

THE PARKING LOT IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE, UH, HISTORIC PICNIC TABLES.

UM, ALSO IN THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THE PARK, THEY WANNA PUT A NEW MAINTENANCE BARN FOR THE TRAIN.

UM, THIS IS SO DISRESPECTFUL AS A WOMAN WHO HAS FACED DISCRIMINATED DISCRIMINATION OVER THE YEARS, I'M OFFENDED BY THIS CALLOUS MOVE TO TAKE OVER THE PARK AND DESTROY THINGS.

MANY HOLD DEAR.

THIS PART OF THE PARK IS NOT A THROWAWAY.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MANY PEOPLE.

I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS WITH CLAIRE HEMPLE AND WITH MIKE KENDI, AND THEY JUST DON'T CARE.

APPARENTLY THEY HAVE OTHER PLANS AND BECAUSE OF THIS.

THANK YOU.

AND WHO ARE THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS OF THIS POINT OF JOHN MASSENGALE? NEXT TWO SPEAKERS, I'M SORRY.

WE HAVE 30 SPEAKERS TONIGHT.

IS JOHN MASSENGALE PRESENT? WE'RE WITHDRAWING.

THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS ARE SHELBY OR, AND KURT BURDO, BECAUSE ITS AGENDA MISREPRESENTED, WE NEED SECURITY POINT OF ORDER FOR YOU NEXT.

UH, I WANNA START BY EMPHASIZING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE TO MAKE IT TO MEETINGS LIKE THIS.

UM, AND I HOPE YOU'RE AWARE IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THE TIME AND ABILITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

SO I WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE I SHARE ZILKER PARK WITH EVERY SATURDAY MORNING.

UM, AND THE FRIENDS I'VE MADE AT ZILKER SINCE BEING THERE EVERY SATURDAY MORNING LAST WEEK WHEN I TOLD 'EM ABOUT THIS, HAD NO AWARENESS THAT THIS PLAN WAS EVEN UP FOR DEBATE.

UM, AND SPEAKING ON THE BEHALF OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ACCESS TIME, THEY CHOOSE TO SPEND THE TIME THEY DO HAVE AT ZILKER PARK AND THAT PARK WHERE WE SPEND THAT TIME, WOULD DRASTICALLY BE REDUCED IF THE PLAN, IF THE DESIGN OF THIS PLAN WAS PUT INTO PLACE.

UM, SO I JUST WANNA ALSO SAY THAT APPROVING THIS PLAN WOULD BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE DESIGN COMMISSION'S VALUES.

SO I AM ASKING THAT YOU REJECT THIS VISION PLAN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR ADDING MORE PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS.

UM, THE AUSTIN URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINE OF 2009.

AW THREE, LIMIT DEVELOPMENT, WHICH CLOSES DOWNTOWN STREETS.

PLEASE NO NEW EVENTS THAT WILL CLOSE BARTON SPRINGS ROAD OR EVEN AZZIE MORTON ROAD.

UM, NIGHTTIME, DAYTIME CLOSURES.

NEITHER ONE AW 10 AVOID DEVELOPMENT OF THEME ENVIRONMENTS.

WELL, WE'VE GOT ACL FEST.

IT SEEMS LIKE A THEME EVENT.

THERE'S SOME GREAT THINGS ABOUT IT, BUT SO IT IS, PLEASE NO NEW ROAD CLOSURES.

NOT YET A FAN OF THE MULTI-STORY PARKING GARAGE ON AZZIE MORTON.

I LIVE UP ON BLUE BONNET, WHICH TIES INTO AZZIE.

IT'S GONNA BE MORE HAZARD FOR OUR KIDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

MY SONS JUST AT KITE FEST.

TWO WEEKS AGO I SAW POLICE PULLING PEOPLE OVER ZIPPING DOWN OUR STREET.

THERE WAS SO MUCH INCREASED TRAFFIC.

AND THAT'S JUST KITE FEST ON A SATURDAY.

IF WE GATHER 200 MILLION, A HUNDRED MILLION, 50 MILLION, LET'S SPREAD THAT AROUND TO THE OTHER PARKS.

LET'S OPEN SOME OF THOSE CLOSED SWIMMING POOLS.

THE LAND BRIDGE WOULD BE BEAUTIFUL.

LET'S JUST SPEND MINIMAL AMOUNTS AND MAKE JUST A BRIDGE THAT THE MOWERS AND THE ATVS AND PEOPLE CAN GET OVER.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MUCH.

NEXT TWO SPEAKERS, VERONICA VIDO, FOLLOWED BY BRENDA BALOIAN.

NEXT TWO SPEAKERS.

OKAY.

OH, WE'RE ON THE WAY.

AND AFTER BRENDA WILL BE RICK BRIER.

FIRST I WANT TO THANK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND ADVOCATES WHO HAVE DEDICATED MUCH TIME THOUGHT AND CONSIDERATION FOR THE FUTURE OF ZILKER PARK.

IT APPEARS THAT UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT CONCURS AS TO IMPROVING THE SAFETY, EROSION CONTROL, ECOLOGY, AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.

I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE DAILY USE AND ACCESS TO THE PARK AS I LIVE ON AZZIE MORTON ROAD.

BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT ZER PARK IS, HAS BECOME AND WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THE NUMBER ONE CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE MAINTAINING THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND VIABILITY FOR TODAY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY BUILDING GARAGES AND CONCRETE AND SENSITIVE AREAS.

MOST

[00:35:01]

REASONING WOULD INFER THAT MORE PARKLAND NEEDS TO BECOME AVAILABLE AND THE CITY HAS SEVERAL PARKS, SCHOOL PARKS, AND OWNS LAND.

THANK YOU.

WHICH COULD UTILIZED THANK RICK BRIER.

MY NAME'S RICK BRIMER.

I'M RESIDENT OF, UH, DISTRICT SIX, AND I'M GONNA GET RIGHT TO THE POINT.

I SUGGEST THE DESIGN CONDITION, UH, COMMISSION ADOPT THREE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS.

NUMBER ONE, THE UMBRELLA NONPROFIT, WHICH IS, UH, DESIGNED TO OVERSEE THE OPERATION OF ZILKER PARK.

ZILKER 3 51 IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK OVER AT METROPOLITAN PARK DESIGNED TO SEE THIS ENTIRE CITY.

IT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

IT IS NOT A DIVERSE BOARD, AND IT DOES NOT REPRESENT THE ENTIRE OR ALL THE DISTRICTS.

SECOND, THERE'S NOT A DEMONSTRATED NEED BY PAR TO BUILD ALL THOSE PARKING GARAGES.

THEY CANNOT JUSTIFY WITHOUT A STUDY INDICATING THAT THEY NEED THAT MANY SPOTS.

I SUGGEST THAT YOU RECOMMEND A STUDY TO DEMONSTRATE THE NEED FOR THOSE PARTS.

SECONDLY, I SUGGEST THAT YOU RECOMMEND THAT PART CONDUCT A CAPACITY STUDY OF THE PARK TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE THE PARK CAN SUSTAIN ON AN ONGOING BASIS, ON A DAILY, WEEKLY, AND ANNUAL BASIS.

BECAUSE THE PART MAY BE OVERUTILIZED AND SOME ACTIVITIES MAY NEED TO BE SHIFTED.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE HAVE JANET HAMPEL FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA VALEN.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME'S JANET HAMPEL.

I'M A RESIDENT OF THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD AND I LIVE VERY CLOSE TO THE PARK, SO I NEVER HAVE TO USE A CAR TO GET THERE.

I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY.

I'VE CHOSEN WELL.

UM, I SWIM, I RIDE MY BIKE, I WALK PRACTICALLY EVERY DAY IN THE PARK.

AND IF THERE'S A VISION PLANNED FOR IT THAT I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR, AND YOU KNOW, RALLY AROUND, IT'S TO REWILD THE PARK MORE THAN IT IS BECAUSE WE CAN'T REPLACE THE WILD .

ONCE IT'S GONE, IT'S GONE.

AND I JUST, I CAN'T SEE THAT BUILDING MORE PARKING GARAGES AND ENCOURAGING MORE PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR CARS TO THE PARK IS EVER GOING TO BE A SOLUTION.

AND I JUST, I JUST WANNA SAY .

I, I WANT MORE NATURE.

I DON'T GO TO THE PARK FOR ENTERTAINMENT NEXT TO SPEAKERS.

CHRISTINA VALENZUELA, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT COBB.

WE HAVE CHRISTINA VALENZUELA OR SCOTT COBB.

OKAY.

AND AFTER SCOTT COBB IS TERRY ADAMS. OKAY.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS SCOTT COBB.

I WORK AS A LIFEGUARD AT BARTON SPRINGS POOL.

I FIRST MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 1981.

FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS I SPENT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF HOURS AT BARTON SPRINGS POOL, PARKING IN THE POLO FIELD, WALKING THERE, SEEING ALL THE PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M IMPRESSED ABOUT ZUCKER PARK IS THE GREAT DIVERSITY, THE, THE EQUITY OF THE INCLUSIVENESS.

I SEE IT EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEKEND, BUT IT'S PACKED.

IT'S CROWDED.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

THE MOMENT I STEP FOOT ON ZUCKER PARK, I FEEL LIKE A BETTER AMERICAN.

I FEEL LIKE THIS IS WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR, TO ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS VIBRANT AT A PLACE LIKE AUSTIN AND ZILKER PARK.

AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PLAN, VARIOUS REASONS.

I SPENT SO MUCH TIME TALKING TO THE PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE PARK OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS WITH THE TABLE.

THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT IT'S GONNA BE CHANGED.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE UNDEMOCRATIC NATURE OF THE UNIFIED NONPROFIT.

THANK YOU.

I THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE A NEXT SPEAKER AFTER THIS? YES, A AFTER TERRY ADAMS. WE HAVE MONICA PETERS AND PATRICK INMAN.

THANK YOU.

HI, MY NAME IS TERRY ADAMS AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HERE TONIGHT.

EVEN THOUGH THE OBSTACLES WERE MANY, UM, IT IS

[00:40:01]

I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

UM, THERE'S CONSTRUCTION EVERYWHERE.

THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT WE DON'T SIT IN TRAFFIC, THAT WE DON'T SEE CRANES IN OUR CITY.

I DO NOT WANT TO SEE CONSTRUCTION AND CRANES IN ZER PARK.

SO NO ONE HAS YET BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WATERLOO PARK.

BUT WE CAN SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL AND THE WRITING ON THE WALL DOES NOT LIST ANY NAMES OF THE CITY OFFICIALS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WATERLOO PARK.

IT JUST SAYS THANK YOU CITY OFFICIALS, WHOEVER YOU WERE.

WELL, I DO NOT THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU TOOK THAT SPACE FROM US.

MAYBE WE WEREN'T USING IT, BUT WE ARE USING ZILKER PARK COMMISSIONER TAMA GCI.

ARE YOU PLANNING ON VOTING TONIGHT? YES.

ARE YOU ON THE BOARD OF ZILKER 3 51? YES.

IS THAT THE PERSPECTIVE UNIFIED NONPROFIT THAT WOULD LIKE, PREPARE FOR AN ETHICS COMPLAINT, SIR? OFFENDED BY CITY LAWS.

LEGAL.

YOU HAVE A PROBLEM? OKAY.

HE SAID I HAVE NO PROBLEM.

OKAY.

OKAY.

PREPARE.

I'M OFFENDED.

I'M OFFENDED.

POINT, POINT OF ORDER.

POINT OF ORDER.

POINT OF ORDER.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY IF WE CAN'T HAVE ORDER, WE'VE TRIED TO FIND SECURITY, WE DON'T HAVE SECURITY IN THE BUILDING.

IF WE DON'T HAVE ORDER, WE WILL END THE MEETING.

SO THANK YOU.

UH, NEXT TWO SPEAKERS.

WE DO HAVE SECURITY.

UM, THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS ARE MONICA PETERS AND PATRICK INMAN.

WE'VE BEEN PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT THE POSTING OF THE RULES FOR SIGNING UP FOR SPEAKING FOR THIS PUBLIC MEETING.

UM, AND THE RULES WEREN'T FOLLOWED, SO, I'M SORRY.

SPEAKER SIGN UP ENDED AT SIX O'CLOCK.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU.

POINT OF ORDER.

WHO'S THE NEXT SPEAKER? PATRICK INMAN.

HI THERE.

UM, I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN, UH, SINCE 2017.

WE'VE BEEN VISITING MY WIFE'S FAMILY HERE SINCE 2012.

AND I STARTED PLAYING ULTIMATE FRISBEE, UH, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED VISITING HERE.

I'VE BEEN PLAYING IT FOR MANY YEARS OF MY LIFE.

AND, UH, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE PEOPLE THAT USE THE PARK, CERTAINLY THE, UH, SCHOOL THAT PLAYED SOCCER BEFORE US EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, AND THE PEOPLE I PLAY WITH WERE NOT CONSULTED DURING THE FEEDBACK PORTION OF THIS PLAN.

THE, UM, PARKING GARAGES WILL BREAK UP THE, UM, AND, AND THE MOVEMENT OF THE THEATER WILL BREAK UP THE GREAT LONG AND DESTROY THE, UH, PLAYING FIELDS ON AZ MORTON ROAD.

AND IF YOU'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO WHAT IS REALLY AUSTIN'S BEACH, YOU ALL, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO USE IT WERE NOT INFORMED THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

SO I THINK THIS PLAN SHOULD BE DEAD ON ARRIVAL AND IF WE WANT TO MAKE IMPROVE THE PARK, WE SHOULD DO IT, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE THAT USE IT.

THANK YOU.

WE DONE GREAT.

OKAY.

UH, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE, UH, PRESENTATION BY PARKS, UM, GREG MONTE AND CLAIRE HANDFUL OF DESIGN WORKSHOP.

WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR A LIMITED 15 MINUTES ON THE PRESENTATION SO THAT WE CAN GET TO Q AND A AND DISCUSSION.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

I'M GREGORY MONTE WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

I AM THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE Z PARK VISION PLAN.

I AM JOINED BY CLA HAPO WITH DESIGN WORKSHOP AND ALSO JUSTIN SCHNEIDER WITH PARKS AND REC.

HE IS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST.

THE THREE OF US HAVE BEEN WORKING, UM, ON THIS PLAN FOR OVER TWO YEARS.

AND, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT, UH, I THINK FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR CITY TO BE AT THIS POINT TO START A, A VISION PLAN, A COMPREHENSIVE VISION PLAN FOR THIS PARK BECAUSE IT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A HUNDRED YEARS OLD OR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD, IT'S NEVER HAD A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES WHY WE ARE SEEING, SEEING SO MANY ISSUES AT THE PARK.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE, UH, BEEN IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW.

WE HAVE SECURED, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BICYCLE ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.

UM, LAST WEEK WE WENT BEFORE THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND RECEIVED A RECOMMENDATION AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

SO, UH, WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAND IT OVER TO CLAIRE SINCE WE HAVE LIMITED TIME TO GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.

WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU WILL HAVE.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE ZER PARK METROPOLITAN

[00:45:01]

MY NAME IS CLAIRE HEMPEL, AND AS PRINCIPAL OF DESIGN WORKSHOP, I HAVE BEEN SERVING AS THE LEAD CONSULTANT WORKING WITH PAR ON ZILKER PLAN SINCE IT OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF IN FEBRUARY OF 2021.

I ALSO SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT I AM NOT REPRESENTING THAT BODY HERE TONIGHT.

I WILL SPEND ABOUT 15 MINUTES PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE DRAFT PLAN IN THE PROCESS, AND WE'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.

NEXT SLIDE.

PLEASE.

TO START OFF OUR OVERVIEW TONIGHT, WHAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE OF THE RESULTS OF A QUESTION ASKED BY A THIRD PARTY UNRELATED TO OUR PLANNING PROCESS, ASKING WHAT PEOPLE THINK THE MOST CRITICAL IMPROVEMENT TO ZER PARK SHOULD BE.

THIS WAS PUBLISHED ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 2023.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE ANSWERS ARE SPLIT AND THERE IS NOT ONE RESOUNDING RESPONSE OR IDEA ABOUT WHAT THE MOST CRITICAL IMPROVEMENT SHOULD BE.

THIS IS THE CHALLENGE FACING THE CITY OF ZER PARK TODAY.

IT IS A BELOVED SPACE WITH MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT HOW IT SHOULD BE USED AND IMPROVED.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

I'LL KEEP GOING.

ZILKER PARK HAS BEEN A TREASURE, A DRAW FOR GENERATIONS OF AUSTIN KNIGHTS AND THOSE THAT LIVED HERE BEFORE, BELOVED FACILITIES AND EVENTS.

CAN'T HEAR YOU.

OKAY.

HEAR ME NOW? NO.

GOOD? YEAH.

OKAY.

UM, NEXT SLIDE IN ADVANCE.

TWO, PLEASE.

EARLY IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, EVEN BEFORE THE CONSULTANT TEAM WAS UNDER CONTRACT, THE FIRST SURVEY TOOK PLACE AROUND THE TI TIME OF THE START OF THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS IN 2020.

QUESTIONS ASKING HOW WELL ZER PARK IS MEETING PEOPLE'S NEEDS AND WHY PEOPLE DON'T VISIT OR ASKED AMONG OTHERS.

HIGHLIGHTING THE CHALLENGES THAT WERE TO BECOME CENTRAL TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED IN THE DRAFT.

NATURAL AREAS AND TRAILS ARE SOME OF THE CURRENT ELEMENTS OF THE PARK THAT MEET PEOPLE'S NEEDS.

BUT PARKING ISSUES, CROWDING ISSUES, AND ACCESS WERE INDICATED AS PROBLEMS TO SOLVE FOR.

OTHER ISSUES ARE EVIDENT AS ONE WALKS AROUND THE PARK, SOME OF WHICH ARE PICTURED HERE, LIKE AREAS THAT SEE INTENSE STORM AND EROSION PROBLEMS AND INACCESSIBLE AREAS ALONG THE CREEK.

NEXT SLIDE.

THERE HAVE BEEN VISION PLANS DONE FOR DISCREET ELEMENTS OF, UH, AND FACILITIES IN ZILKER PARK, SUCH AS THE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER, BARTON SPRINGS POOL, AND THE SUNKEN GARDENS.

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DONE FOR ZILKER PARK AS A WHOLE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS VISION PLAN IS INTENDED TO BE.

IT WILL OUTLINE THE LONG TERM, DECADES LONG VISION PRINCIPLES, GOALS, AND STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCEMENT MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS AT THE PARK.

THE VISION PLAN DOES NOT SERVE AS DETAILED DESIGNER CONSTRUCTION PLANS, PLANS FOR DAY-TO-DAY PARK MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE, NOR DETAILED BUDGETING FIRM PARK ENHANCEMENTS.

THIS IS HELPFUL TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE GO THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE DRAFT PLAN.

NEXT SLIDE.

THE ZILKER METROPOLITAN VISION PLAN'S MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE A VISIONARY FRAMEWORK TO DIRECT THE PRESERVATION FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN CARE OF ZILKER PARK.

ZILKER PARK NEEDS A VISION TO MAKE SURE IT IS VIABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

IT INVOLVES IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR RECREATIONAL AMENITIES, RECOMMENDING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARKS, CURRENT FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS, AND PUTTING AN EMPHASIS ON PRESERVING THE HISTORIC CULTURAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

SUSTAINABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, NATURE, AND ECOLOGY AND HISTORY AND CULTURE ARE THE FIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE GOALS.

THE BEGINNING OF OUR PLANNING PROCESS INCLUDED ESTABLISHING THESE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND GOALS IN PULLING FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONTEXT FROM AFFILIATED CITY ADOPTED PLANS SUCH AS THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES, CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, THE LONG RANGE PLAN, THE WORKING GROUP REPORT, AND MANY MORE.

NEXT SLIDE.

ALTHOUGH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES ARE CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW FOR BEING UPDATED, OUR TEAM WANTS TO POINT OUT THE ZER PARK VISION PLAN.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES HAVE SHARED VALUES WITH THE CURRENT UDG, INCLUDING SUSTAINABILITY, SAFETY, DIVERSITY, AND HUMANE CHARACTER CONNECTIVITY TO THE OUTDOORS AND RESPECT FOR THE HISTORIC AND POTENTIAL CHARACTER OF THE PARK.

NEXT SLIDE.

THE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE VISION AND PLANNING PROCESS SINCE FEBRUARY, 2021.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN CENTRAL TO THE PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE TWO YEAR TIMEFRAME, WHICH PROVED ESSENTIALLY CHALLENGING, UH, ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING DUE TO THE COVID ERA RESTRICTIONS.

DURING THIS TIME, OUR TEAM HAS CONDUCTED OVER A HUNDRED POP-UPS, DOZENS OF SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS, TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP MEETINGS, FIVE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AN IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE, SIX COMMUNITY SURVEYS, AND AN ADDITIONAL WORK WITH THE PARKS BOARD WORKING GROUP.

TONIGHT'S HEARING IS ONE TOUCHPOINT IN THE FINAL STAGES OF THE PROJECT WITH OTHER FORTHCOMING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HEARINGS.

UM, OUR NEXT STEP IS PARKS BOARD, NOT PLANNING COMMISSION, AS I HEARD, UM, STATED EARLIER AND WILL CONCLUDE WITH CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION BY CITY COUNCIL LATER

[00:50:01]

NEXT SLIDE.

THE CITY USES THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SPECTRUM OF PARTICIPATION AS THE GUIDE TO FORMING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY.

FROM THIS STRATEGY, THE PLANNING TEAM USED DIFFERENT METHODS OF OUTREACH TO REACH DIFFERENT GROUPS BASED ON THE SPECIFIC GOAL FOR THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT AS SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE.

NEXT SLIDE.

THE DRAFT PLAN WAS RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022.

THE PLANNING TEAM HELD A VIRTUAL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7TH, AND AN OPEN HOUSE ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 10TH.

THERE WERE 148 VIRTUAL MEETING PARTICIPANTS AND 130 OPEN HOUSE ATTENDEES AT THE OPEN HOUSE.

THERE WAS REPRESENTATION FROM ALL 10 COUNCIL DISTRICTS WITH ABOUT A QUARTER OF ATTENDEES FROM DISTRICT FIVE.