[00:00:07]
[CALL TO ORDER]
THE TIME IS NOW 6:01 PM ON MARCH THE 22ND, 2023.AND THIS IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE ROLL CALL.
IF I CAN ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE.
WE'RE GONNA DO ROLL CALL, UH, CHAIR PEDRO VILLALOBOS.
PRESENT VICE CHAIR KATHERINE FLOWERS.
AND THEN, UH, AT LARGE LANE BECKER.
UH, THE NEXT, UH, ORDER OF BUSINESS IS I, I'M MAKING A MOTION TO ALLOW, UH, GENERAL, UH, TO ALLOW, UH, PUBLIC COMMU, UH, TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO TESTIFY FOR UP TO ONE MINUTE ON ALL ID, UH, ALL AGENDA ITEMS EXCLUDING PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I'LL WRITE IT PASSES AND I WILL REMIND, PLEASE.
JEERING, HISSING, BOOING, CLAPPING.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
NEXT AGENDA.THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS PUBLIC.
UM, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION GENERAL.
WE HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, FIRST WILL BE SCOTT COBB, FOLLOWED BY MARTHA LANGFORD.
DO WE HAVE SCOTT COBB IN THE, HELLO, MY NAME IS SCOTT COBB.
I WORK AS A LIFEGUARD FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND BARTON SPRINGS AND SOME OTHER POOLS.
AND I JUST WANT TO, UH, TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS.
I NOTICED, UH, THERE WAS A MEETING A COUPLE DAYS AGO ABOUT THE ZUCKER PARK ZUCKER CAFE, WHICH HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE 2000, UM, 16, I BELIEVE.
AND, UH, THANKS TO KIMBERLY MCNELEY WANTING TO SELL ALCOHOL THERE, WHICH THE PARKS BOARD TURNED DOWN.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION TURNED DOWN.
THE ZILKER CAFE COULD HAVE BEEN OPENED IN 2021.
EVERYONE COULD BE HAVING SNACKS.
SO THE, UH, THE TRAIN HASN'T BEEN ON AN OPERATION SINCE 2016.
THAT'S HOW MANY YEARS WITHOUT A TRAIN IN, IN ZILKER PARK.
YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORAL AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO REFLECTS THE VALUES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I WAS CONCERNED WHEN I COMPLAINED FOUR TIMES DURING THE COVID SURGE TO KIMBERLY MCNELEY, THAT THE COVID SAFETY RULES WERE NOT BEING ENFORCED FOUR TIMES.
PEOPLE CONTINUED NOT TO FOLLOW THE RULES.
LATER, A YEAR LATER, AFTER MULTIPLE PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS, I GOT THE SHAM REPORT.
I GOT COVID AT WORK AND MY HEALTH HAS BEEN PERHAPS PERMANENTLY IMPACTED BECAUSE OF MY UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.
I HAVE ALSO SEEN LIFEGUARDS SEXUALLY EXPLOITED BY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
THEIR POLICY WAS TO TRANSFER THE LIFEGUARD.
THESE PEOPLE START WHEN THEY'RE 15, 16
[00:05:02]
TO PROTECT THE JOB OF THE 35 YEAR OLD MALE LIFEGUARD.KIMBERLY MCNELEY IS NOT PROVIDING THAT.
EVERY TIME I SEE A 15, 16 YEAR OLD LIFEGUARD IN A PUBLIC POOL, I GET WORRIED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE PROTECTED.
I WASN'T PROTECTED DURING COVID, I'VE SEEN A LIFEGUARD LOSE HER JOB AND GET PRESSURED TO TAKE ANOTHER JOB, NOT BEING A LIFEGUARD, BUT SOME OTHER JOB IN PARKS AND RECREATION THAT DIDN'T LAST BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO BE A LIFEGUARD, BUT SHE WAS SEXUALLY EXPLOITED BY THEIR 35 YEAR OLD MALE MANAGER.
THE TEXAS HOUSE JUST KICKED OUT.
SOMEBODY EXPELLED THEM AFTER BEING ELECTED TO THE HOUSE FOR HAVING SEX WITH A INTERN OR SOMEBODY.
AN INTERN OR SOMEBODY WORKED IN THEIR, IN THEIR OFFICE WHO WAS ALSO 18.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MARTHA LANGFORD.
AND AGAIN, I WILL REMIND THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE NO CLAPPING, BOOING, CHEERING, OR HISSING AFTER MARK.
THE LANGFORD WILL BE MIKE KATI.
OKAY, I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE SENIORS, GUS GARCIA RECREATION CENTER IN PARK PARK.
WE WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST TO BE RECOMMENDED FOR THE NEXT PARK BOND FOR A SEPARATE BUILDING ON SITE TO MORE FULLY SERVE THE NEEDS OF SENIORS IN DISTRICT FOUR, AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS.
ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DEMOGRAPHIC FIGURES, THE SENIOR POPULATION OF DISTRICT FOUR IS 8% OF 94,936, WHICH COMES TO 7,595 PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 65.
THESE FIGURES ALSO STATE THAT 30% OF THE DISTRICT FOUR POPULATION LIVES ALONE.
THIS COULD MEAN 2,279 HOUSEHOLDERS OVER 65 LIVE ALONE.
74% OF DISTRICT FOREST POPULATION IS IN THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RANGE.
SO POSSIBLY 5,670 PERSONS OVER 65 ARE LIVING WITHIN THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RANGE.
PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS INCOME RANGE CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE CLUBS OR PAID EXERCISE CENTERS.
AT PRESENT, THE ONLY PUBLIC CENTER BETWEEN RUNDBERG LANE EAST OF I 35 NORTH OF PFLUGERVILLE THAT PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL EXERCISE ACTIVITIES IS GUS GARCIA CENTER.
STUDIES NOW INDICATE THAT SENIORS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN SOME TYPE OF EXERCISE LIVE LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
THE EXERCISE CLASS AT GUS GARCIA WAS ATTENDED REGULARLY BY 55 TO 65 PEOPLE FOUR MORNINGS A WEEK.
PARTICIPATION HAS ONCE AGAIN RISEN TO A REGULAR NUMBER OF OVER 40 TO 53 MORNINGS A WEEK.
THE ABOVE PICTURES WERE TAKEN THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY.
WE SERVE A DIVERSE GROUP OF SENIORS THAT FLUCTUATE CULTURALLY, AS DOES THE POPULATION OF AUSTIN.
OUR AREA, AS IS TRUE OF MUCH OF AUSTIN CHANGES WITH NEW REFUGEE GROUPS COMING TO OUR AREA.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR SENIOR GARDEN HAD SERVED REFUGEES FROM MIRAMAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND NOW IS SERVING MORE MIDDLE EASTERN CULTURES.
SOON WE MIGHT EXPECT CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN REFUGEES WILL ENTER OUR AREA TO BE SERVED.
MANY OF OUR ACTIVITIES ARE LED BY VOLUNTEERS.
STORAGE SPACE THAT REMAINS PRIVATE IS A SHORT COMMODITY.
MUCH OF THE TIME, VOLUNTEERS HAVE TO BRING THEIR OWN MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT THAT THEY USE EACH TIME AS THERE'S NO PLACE TO KEEP IT OVERNIGHT WHEN OUTSIDE PROGRAMS ARE BROUGHT IN DURING REGULARLY ACTIVITY TIME PERIODS.
THE OUTSIDE PROGRAMS NEED THE ROOMS FOR THEIR USE, OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING.
SOMETIMES THE REGULAR ACTIVITY CAN BE MOVED, LED BY VOLUNTEERS, BUT OFTEN WILL NOT HAPPEN THAT DAY.
OKAY, I GOT ONE MORE SENTENCE.
FIRSTLY SPEAKING, SEWING CLASS IS HARD TO HOLD IN THE LOBBY IN SOME MONTHS.
ONLY ONE ROOM THAT YOU AVAILABLE FOR SENIOR USE NEXT ONE IN YOUR SENIORS QUEEN WITH YOU FOR YOUR THANK THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE KATI.
[00:10:01]
THAT WILL BE JIM RUDY.TIM CAN, WHO'S THE NEXT SPEAKER AFTER MIKE CAN.
SO WHAT'S THE QUESTION, MIKE? MIKE DID NOT WANT TO SPEAK.
SO JIM REDDY IS THE NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY MEGAN MEISENBACH.
UH, MEMBERS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD, STAFF MEMBERS, FELLOW CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LOT TO DO TONIGHT.
I'M THE OUTREACH DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.
PLEASE ALLOW ME TO TOUCH ON SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT BRING PEOPLE TO THE WALLER CREEK BOATHOUSE AND THAT TAKE ROWING AND WATER SPORTS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
AUSTIN RED CLUB JUST WRAPPED UP MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS ON THREE A I S D CAMPUSES ACROSS THE CITY.
THEY SERVED OVER 500 STUDENTS THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND NOW WE'RE PREPARING TO HOST UP TO 600 YOUNG PEOPLE FROM PARK AND RECREATION CENTERS OVER THE SUMMER.
LOOKING BACK, WE PROVIDED 10 INDOOR ROWING MACHINES AT TWO SCHOOLS.
OUR COACHES VISIT THE SCHOOLS EACH WEEK TO WORK WITH STUDENTS DURING THEIR PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES.
EACH SEMESTER, STUDENTS ARE THEN INVITED TO FIELD TRIPS TO THE BOATHOUSE WHERE THEY CAN GET OUT ON THE WATER.
IN ONE OF OUR TRAINING CATAMARANS AT A THIRD SCHOOL, WE INTRODUCED US ROWING STEM TO STERN PROGRAM.
IT'S DESIGNED TO OPEN UP ROWING BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION.
THE PROGRAM INCLUDES STEM ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, SWIM LESSONS AND TESTING, AND ON WATER ROWING.
WE PARTNERED WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AT GUS GARCIA YOUNG MEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.
WE DID OUR STEM PROGRAMS AT THE SCHOOL AND BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION TO THE BOATHOUSE AND TO THE SWIM LESSONS.
WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH TWO GREATER AUSTIN YMCAS FOR USE OF THEIR POOLS AND THEIR SWIM INSTRUCTORS.
LOOKING AHEAD, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ONE AND TWO WEEK SUMMER CAMPS ON THE CALENDAR, AND MANY SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE HARD WORK AND SUCCESS OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL ROWING PROGRAM.
IT ATTRACTED 96 ATHLETES LAST FALL.
THEY TRAIN, THEY RACE IN BOTH FALL AND SPRING EARNING MEDALS AT LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL QUALIFYING REGATTAS 44 A ARC ROWERS ARE NOW TRAINING FOR NATIONALS NEXT MONTH IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA.
THIS IS THE LARGEST GROUP WE'VE HAD.
GO TO RACE AGAINST THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE PIVOTING TO SUMMER.
WE'VE BOOKED 31 SUMMER MORNING ROWING SESSIONS FOR PARK AND RECREATION ACTIVITY AND RECREATION CENTERS UP TO 20 CAMPERS, AGES EIGHT AND UP COME TO THE BOATHOUSE AND THEY ROW AND KAYAK DURING EACH TWO HOUR SESSION.
WE ALSO CONTINUE OUR WORK WITH VETERANS US WENT, UH, WE WENT WITH VOLUNTEER STAFF AND EQUIPMENT TO SAN ANTONIO TO SUPPORT US ROWINGS ADAPTIVE SPECIALISTS AT THE TEXAS REGIONAL GAMES.
SAN ANTONIO IS ONE OF FIVE STATES SITES NATIONWIDE THAT OFFERED A VARIETY OF COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DISABLE ATHLETES WITH A REAL HEAVY EMPHASIS ON VETERANS.
FINALLY, AT ARC, WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING ON ENHANCING AND EXPANDING OUR EFFORTS ON CAMPUS AND AT THE BOATHOUSE FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.
WE APPRECIATE THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PARD HELPS MAKE THESE OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE MEGAN MEISENBACH.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
UM, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT SOME BEAUTIFUL LIVE OAK TREES.
A LOT OF THEM ARE OVER 30 INCHES IN DIAMETER AT THE TRUNK.
AND THIS LAND IS NOW FOR SALE.
MARTIN'S CHURCH FOR LESS THAN $3 MILLION FOR, UM, A SINGLE FAMILY LOT THAT IS RIGHT THERE.
WHERE THIS GROVE OF TREES IS, IS.
UM, AND IT ALSO IS SURROUNDED BY, UH, FIVE HISTORIC HOMES.
THE BAR ASSOCIATION WOULD BE BEHIND US.
COULD YOU? OH, MAYBE I CAN DO IT.
UM, AND UM, ONE OF THE HISTORIC, UH, SITES, UH, HOUSES WAS IN, IS IN THE BACK OF THIS PICTURE AT DUSK.
AND THIS GIVES YOU KIND OF AN IDEA OF, UM, THE LEFT SIDE IS WEST AVENUE AND THE STREET AT THE TOP IS WEST 16TH.
AND ONE OF THOSE QUARTERS OF THAT BLOCK IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER A POCKET PARK.
IT'S REALLY NEAR DOWNTOWN AND I THINK IT WOULD DO A LOT OF GOOD.
THE CHURCH IS CONSIDERING HAVING, UM, UH, INDIGENT UH, HOUSING ON ONE OF THE OTHER, UH, SECTIONS.
SO THIS COULD PERHAPS SERVE THEM TOO.
[00:15:01]
YOU.OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ROY WALLY WHALEY.
THAT'S A WHOLE LIST OF BAD CHARACTERS THERE, EVERY ONE OF THEM.
MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, UH, THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB.
AND I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON SPEAKING TO THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
PART OF THE, WHAT'S LEFT OUT OF THE VISION PLAN IS BARTON SPRINGS AND BARTON SPRINGS POOL.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE ZILKER PARK.
THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE AUSTIN, IS BECAUSE OF THAT CLEAN SOURCE OF WATER.
SO MANY YEARS AGO, ON A NIGHT IN A BUILDING DIFFERENT THAN THIS, THE COMMUNITY GOT UP ON ITS HIND LEGS AND SPOKE OUT AGAINST A DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD HAVE DESTROYED BARTON SPRINGS.
A THOUSAND PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO SPEAK MORE.
WERE OUTSIDE EXHORTING PEOPLE TO HONK, SING, DANCE, AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT.
IT WAS A SLAM DUNK THAT THIS THING WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH.
IT WAS GOING TO BE APPROVED, BUT AT THE END OF THE NIGHT EARLY AND THE NEXT MORNING, CAUSE I WENT STRAIGHT HOME, TOOK A SHOWER AND WENT TO WORK THERE ALL NIGHT, THE VOTE CHANGED AND IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
YOU CAN'T SAY, I WANT ONE THIRD OF YOUR VOTE IF YOU ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS, WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO, AT THE VERY MINIMUM, WHAT SHE SHOULD DO TONIGHT.
CUZ YOU'VE ALREADY NOTICED HOW SLOW IT IS TO GET PEOPLE UP HERE TO SPEED THINGS UP.
LET US DONATE TIME TO OTHER SPEAKERS UP TO THREE MINUTES.
THAT WAY SOMETHING CAN GET SAID.
NOT ONLY WILL SOMETHING MEANINGFUL BE ALLOWED TO BE SAID, BUT IT WILL SPEED UP THE MEETING ALSO, IT WILL SPEED IT UP FOR YOU.
I WANT US TO HAVE THAT THREE MINUTES.
I WANT MIKE KATI TO HAVE THAT THREE MINUTES WHEN IT COMES HIS TURN.
AND KAREN BLIZZARD, WE'RE ON DIFFERENT SIZE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT I STILL WANT THEM TO HAVE THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THEIR GOVERNMENT.
THE CITY COUNCIL IS ABOUT TO LEARN IN A HARD WAY THAT IF THEY KEEP TURNING A DEATH EAR, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE COMING BACK.
Y'ALL ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I AM ALSO, I AM ALSO A VOLUNTEER.
I DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE AT CITY COUNCIL AT ONE 30 IN THE MORNING, SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT I WAS THERE.
AND DEMOCRACY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU DO ON ELECTION DAY.
IT'S SOMETHING YOU DO EVERY DAY.
MARY FARROW IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
MARY FARROW IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST SPEAKER FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, MADAM VICE CHAIR AND THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, I GUESS PROCESS AS WELL.
AND IN PART I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW CONSULTANT DRIVEN EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE THESE DAYS.
AND I SAY THAT RESPECTFULLY, NOT JUST TO THE PARKS BOARD AND STAFF, BUT THROUGHOUT CITY GOVERNMENT.
UM, I FEEL THAT, UH, MANY OF OUR VISION PLANS EMERGE WITH A PRECONCEIVED IDEA THAT CONSULTANTS, UM, ARE ABLE TO KIND OF PUSH FORWARD, UM, WITH PUBLIC OUTREACH EVENTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO CAPTURE, UH, INFORMATION IN SURVEYS THAT PROMOTE THAT DIRECTION, THAT THINGS ARE ALREADY HEADED.
UM, AND, UM, THAT LEADS US TO, YOU KNOW, ADOPTION OF VISION PLANS.
THAT AS IN THE CASE OF SHEFFIELD NORTHWEST PARK, WHICH I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, WHICH WAS A LONG PROCESS TO GO THROUGH ANY VISION PLAN, UM, YOU KNOW, WE GO THROUGH THAT.
WE GIVE THE COMMUNITY INPUT, THE THE PARKS BOARD APPROVES A PLAN, AND THEN WE FIND OUT THAT THERE'S NO MONEY TO DO ANYTHING
[00:20:01]
WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, MANY GRAND THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN AND SMALLER THINGS TOO, I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT ON YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS TO TRY AND KEEP A TALLY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE APPROVING, THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS GONE THROUGH, THE PROCESS OF GIVING THEIR INPUT FOR, AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, TO GIVE FEEDBACK TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT WE MIGHT EXPECT.IS THERE HOPE FOR ANY OF THESE PROJECTS TO BE IMPLEMENTED ANYTIME SOON? IS IT GOING TO JUST DEPEND ON A BOND ISSUE? UM, AND MEANWHILE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MAINTENANCE THINGS GOING ON.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT, UM, WITH THE DIRECTOR AND OTHERS ABOUT, UH, CONCERNS WE HAVE AT NORTHWEST PARK, ABOUT A LOT OF DEBRIS THAT HAS ACCUMULATED TREE DEBRIS, UM, NEAR, UH, HOMES, UH, FOLLOWING EIGHT DIFFERENT, UH, FIRES THAT WERE SET IN THE PARK, UH, ON APRIL 1ST AND AT AN ADJACENT HOME, UH, ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT WE ARE NEARING FIGURING OUT WHO MIGHT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT REGARD.
BUT, UM, IT'S DIFFICULT TO TRY AND BE A, A CITIZEN ADVOCATE WHEN, UM, THINGS ARE PRETTY MUCH STILL IN SILOS.
AND, UM, WITHIN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES, IT'S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO FIND THE PERSON WHO'S GONNA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THINGS.
UM, AND I JUST WISH THAT THERE WOULD, WOULD ALSO BE A WAY TO TRY AND HAVE A MORE HOLISTIC VIEW ABOUT AMENITIES BEING CITY OF AUSTIN AMENITIES AND, AND PROPERTIES AS OPPOSED TO ONE DEPARTMENT VERSUS ANOTHER, VERSUS ANOTHER.
ANYWAY, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THAT'S THE END OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES PROVING THE MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL THE 21ST 24TH, 2023.DOES ANYONE HAVE A, ANY AMENDMENT OR CHANGE THEY'D LIKE TO SEE? IS THERE A MOTION BOARD MEMBER? TAYLOR? UH, YEAH.
ALL MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
UH, SECOND BY CHAIR MEMBER BAAN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION REAL QUICK.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO DONATE THEIR TIME UP TO THREE MINUTES FOR THIS, UH, HEARING TODAY.
THE, WELL THE BOARD HAS ALREADY VOTED TO REDUCE THE TIME TO ONE MINUTE, BUT THE BOARD IS FREE TO DO WHAT IT WANTS.
THE, THERE IS A MOTION TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO DONATE UP TO SECOND, TWO ADDITIONAL MINUTES, UP TO TWO ADDITIONAL MINUTES, MINUTES THAT THEY CAN DONATE.
UM, THERE, IS THERE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND THOUGHT IF IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE NUMBER OF, THERE'S A SECOND BY COUNCIL, UH, ME BOARD MEMBER BAAN.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? I, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
OH, WAIT, HOW WE WAIT? OH, OKAY, NEVERMIND.
ALRIGHT, SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE ALL, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[2. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council to adopt the Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan.]
AGENDA ITEM IS GONNA BE, WELL LOGISTICALLY.SO ARE PEOPLE, DO PEOPLE STILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK IN ONE MINUTE THEY CAN DONATE? OR DO WE JUST INCREASE EVERYONE'S TIME TO THREE MINUTES WAIT, THE, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE MOTION THAT PASSED WAS ALLOWING PEOPLE UP TO PEOPLE TO DONATE THEIR ONE MINUTE TO ONE PERSON.
SO ONE PERSON IS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO THREE MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO BASICALLY, YOU, ANYONE CAN SPEAK UP TO THREE MINUTES.
YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE DONATE ONE MINUTE TO YOU.
SO QUIET IN THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE.
SO THEY USE THEIR, SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE YOUR MINUTE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE YOUR MINUTE TO SOMEONE, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU COMMUNICATE THAT TO THAT PERSON THAT WILL BE SPEAKING ON YOUR BEHALF AND THAT YOU COMMUNICATE THAT TO MR. UH, DON DENI.
[00:25:01]
THANK YOU.THIS IS GONNA BE REALLY CONFUSING.
DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU GUYS ARE.
UH, ARE WE BEGINNING, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? YES.
AND THEN JUST FOR, JUST LOGISTICAL PUR, JUST LOGISTICAL PURPOSES, WE DO HAVE FOUR SEATS RESERVED AT THE FRONT, AND YOU'LL SEE SOME, UH, RESERVE SIGNS.
UH, MR. TIM DON BECK IS GONNA BE READING OUT FIVE NAMES, THE SPEAKER, AND THEN FOUR PEOPLE THAT CAN SIT IN THOSE RESERVE SPOTS.
UM, SO PLEASE, ONCE HE READS OUT YOUR NAME, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WALK UP TO THOSE FOUR RESERVE CHAIRS, UM, IN ORDER TO, UH, HAVE EASY ACCESS TO THE PODIUM.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN, UM, DISCUSSION AND ACTION.
FIRST SPEAKER'S GONNA BE KAREN BRIK, FOLLOWED BY MIKE KATI, DINA ESTRADA, SALINAS GORDON, KELLY AND GAIL ROTHI.
SIR, COULD YOU PLEASE SIT DOWN, SIR, SIR, MORE EFFICIENT.
HE WILL HELP WITH ORGANIZATION.
THANK YOU ALL FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY TONIGHT AND SERVING ON THIS BOARD.
I'M KAREN BREMBLE, THE BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY IN THE NEWLY FORMED ZER 3 51.
AS WE KNOW, ZER IS BEING LOVED TO DEATH.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE AT LEAST 92 ACRES OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE WITHIN THE PARK, INCLUDING STORM WATER DAMAGE, INVASIVE SPECIES, SOIL DISTURBANCE, TREE DAMAGE, AND EROSION DAMAGE TO BARTON CREEK.
IN ADDITION, THERE'S HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT WITH VEHICLE PARKING THAT OCCURS IN LAWN AREAS AND INFORMAL SPACES CLOSE TO BARTON CREEK AND LADY BEAR LAKE.
IF NOTHING CHANGES AT OKRA PARK, VISITORS WILL CONTINUE TO PARK IN THE FIELDS AND HOP THE CURBS TO PARK UNDER THE TREES.
THE BARKING SPRINGS AREA WILL CONTINUE TO ERODE AND DETERIORATE.
THE ECOLOGICALLY DAMAGED PARTS OF THE PARK WILL GET WORSE.
EITHER WE UPDATE THE PARK FOR A RAPIDLY GROWING CITY, OR THE PARK DETERIORATES FROM INCREASING VISITOR ACCESS AND USAGE.
UH, NEXT SPEAKER'S GONNA BE MIKE KATI, FOLLOWED BY DINA ESTRADA, SALINAS, GORDON, KELLY, GAIL ROTH, AND ROBIN RATHER.
I'M A 50 PLUS YEAR ZUCKER PARK USER AND A MEMBER OF THE BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY AND THE ADVOCACY CHAIR FOR FRIENDS OF BARTON SPRINGS POOL.
UM, AND REGARDING YOUR PURPOSE FOR ADVISING COUNCIL ON PARKS AND RECREATION IMPROVEMENTS, I'M HERE TO COMMEND THE DIVISION PLANS, PARK AND RECREATION IMPROVEMENTS TO YOU.
UH, I THINK THEY WILL MAKE Z PARK A GREENER, MORE ACCESSIBLE, MORE WELCOMING PARK FOR ALL OF AUSTIN, AND IT INCLUDES A LOT OF REALLY GREAT RECREATIONAL FEATURES THAT I THINK COMMEND TO YOUR EXPERTISE.
YOU'VE GOT A VOLLEYBALL COURT, YOU'VE GOT BASEBALL AREA, UH, DISC, GOLF AREA, SWIMMING TRAILS, LOTS OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE VERY POSITIVE.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE FIVE NEW BIKE P BRIDGES PROVIDING ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS INTO AND OUT OF THE PARK.
UM, AND I, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HEAR LOTS OF VOICES TONIGHT, AND THERE REALLY ARE OFTEN LOUD VOICES THAT OPPOSE CHANGE, BUT WE SHOULD NOT LET NOSTALGIC PREFERENCE FOR WHAT AUSTIN USED TO BE TO KEEP.
I WILL REMIND THE AUDIENCE THAT WE WILL BE RESPECT, EXCUSE ME.
WE WILL BE RESPECTFUL OF ALL SPEAKERS AND WE WILL NOT BOO SPEAKERS BE RESPECTFUL.
HE'S HERE TO TESTIFY ON HIS POSITION, JUST LIKE YOU'RE HERE TO TESTIFY IN YOUR POSITION.
SO PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
SO NO BOOING, NO CLAPPING, NO HISSING, AND NO JING.
I TRY TO BE NICE ABOUT THIS AT THE VERY BEGINNING, BUT BE RESPECTFUL.
I WILL CONCLUDE BY SAYING WE SHOULD HAVE A VISIONARY PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF ZILKER PARK.
SPEAKERS, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU COME UP TO SPEAK, IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO DONATE FOR YOU, IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS COULD STAND UP AND SAY THEIR NAME, THAT WAY WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF THE DONATIONS.
SO WE HAVE DINA ESTRADA ON DECK, WE HAVE GORDON KELLY, GAIL ROTH, ROBIN RATHER, KATE CELSKI.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SEE, SO PLEASE PROCEED.
MY NAME IS DINA ESTRADA SALINAS, AND I AM A SOUTH AUSTIN RESIDENT HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE ZILKER VISION PLAN.
IF WE DON'T WANT THE PARK TO FALL INTO NEGLECT AND DESPAIR, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A PLAN TO ENSURE ANOTHER CENTURY OF ENJOYMENT.
THE PLANNING PROCESS HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS.
IT HAS INVOLVED THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES, DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND SOME MISINFORMATION.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE CITY PARTNERING WITH THE NONPROFIT TO HELP RAISE FUNDS TO MAINTAIN THE PARK.
THIS IS NOT AN INNOVATIVE IDEA.
THE CITY HAS PARTNERSHIPS WITH NONPROFITS THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM, SHOAL CREEK,
[00:30:01]
PEASE PARK, WALLER CREEK, AND BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL BENEFIT FROM SUCH PARTNERSHIPS.WHILE THE CITY CAN PROVIDE SOME FUNDING FOR PARK MAINTENANCE, IT IS CONSTRAINED BY REVENUE CAPS.
AND CURRENTLY, PARKLAND DEDICATION IS BEING GUTTED AT THE LEGISLATURE AS YOU ARE MAKING SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT AND WHAT NOT TO CHANGE IN THE PARK.
PLEASE REMEMBER ANDREW ZUCKER'S WORDS, IT OUGHT TO BELONG TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, NOT THOSE WHO LIVE NEARBY, NOT THOSE WHO HOLD EVENTS IN THE PARK, BUT ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
NEXT SPEAKER IS GORDON KELLY, FOLLOWED BY GAIL ROTHI.
I'M GORDON KELLY, PRESIDENT OF WATERLOO DISC GOLF CLUB.
THIS PLAN PROTECTS THE VERY POPULAR DISC GOLF COURSE AT ZILKER IN ITS CURRENT LAYOUT, AND ACTUALLY ADDS A MUCH NEEDED WARMUP AND PRACTICE AREA.
BUT PARKING IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR DIS GOLF USERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE GROUPS USING SUNSHINE CAMP OR EVEN THE POLO PICNIC AREA.
PARKING IS TIGHT IN THAT AREA OF THE PARK.
THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE WOULD BE A HUGE HELP FOR ALL OF US, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES OF THE CONFLICTS AND PRIORITIES IN THE PARK.
SO ACCESS AND LACK OF PARKING WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE SURVEYS AS THE LARGEST BARRIER OF ENTRY TO PEOPLE COMING TO ZILKER PARK.
SO MORE PARKING NEEDED, BUT IMPROVING PARK ECOLOGY BY GETTING THE PARK CARS OFF THE UNPAVED BUTLER LANDFILL.
AND POLO FIELDS IS IMPORTANT, UH, PRIORITY OF CITY COUNCIL AND THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS.
SO LESS PARKING, BUT THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF AUSTIN AND THE NUMBER OF PARK USERS CONTINUING TO GROW MORE PARKING.
SO WE HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT THIS VISION PLAN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GAIL ROTHI, FOLLOWED BY ROBIN.
RATHER, JUST A REMINDER THAT IF YOU ARE DONATING TIME, YOU SHOULD STILL STAND UP WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED AND SHARE THAT YOU'RE DONATING TIME.
GAIL, WHICH ONE GOES FIRST? THE PDF IS POWERFUL.
ARE YOU DONATING YOUR TIME, SIR? YES, I AM.
GA ARE YOU DONATING? UH, THE PDF.
WES, UM, SO I HAVE THREE MINUTES, IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
I BECAME INVOLVED IN THIS PLANNING PROCESS IN 2018 AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE ZILKER PARK WORKING GROUP.
THE BIGGEST, MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE AT THAT TIME IN THAT GROUP, I BELIEVE, WAS PARKING.
AND I BELIEVE PARKING CONTINUES TO BE THE DRIVER OF THIS PLAN.
THIS PLAN IS A VISION, BUT IT IS NOT VISIONARY.
ARE WE REALLY IN 2023 GOING TO CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND PARKING GARAGES IN THE PARK? IT'S VERY DISCOURAGING TO HAVE AN UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE CITED ON FEDERALLY PROTECTED SUBSURFACE SALAMANDER HABITAT AND, AND A SECOND GARAGE SIGHTED A HUNDRED YARDS FROM ONE OF THE SPRINGS THAT FEEDS BARTON CREEK.
IT'S VERY DISCOURAGING TO HAVE SO MANY ELEMENTS OF THIS PLAN LOCKED IN FROM THE BEGINNING WITH NO BUDGING, NO MATTER WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS SAID.
IT'S ALSO VERY DISCOURAGING, NOT EVEN TO HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THAT HAS RECENTLY CHANGED IN THE PLAN.
HOW DOES THE MAE VERSION DIFFER FROM THE EARLIER VERSIONS? I, I, I REALLY DON'T KNOW, AND I WONDER IF ALL OF YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S BEING VOTED ON TONIGHT, FRANKLY, BUT WE DO HAVE A WAY FORWARD AND WE HAVE A WAY FORWARD THAT IS CLIMATE FRIENDLY, THAT INCORPORATES CLIMATE CONCERNS IN A WAY THAT IS TRULY VISIONARY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, THERE'S A LOT OF ELEMENTS THAT REALLY PROVIDE RECREATION AND NATURE-BASED ACTIVITIES THAT GREEN UP THE PARK THAT ARE CLIMATE FRIENDLY.
WE, FOR 43 MILLION OR SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE, WE COULD HAVE A NATURE-BASED PARK WITH EQUITY AND ACCESS AND THE KIND OF PARK WE NEED FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
WE DON'T NEED A PLAN THAT JUST GIVES US WHAT SOME ENTITIES NEED TODAY.
50 YEARS IS A LONG TIME, AND THIS, THIS PLAN IS NOT VISIONARY.
LET'S MAKE IT VISIONARY AND LET'S, HERE'S A WAY FORWARD.
IF WE WOULD REMOVE THE, UM, THE ELEMENTS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, UM, I THINK WE NEED MORE DIALOGUE ON SOME OF THOSE MIDDLE ELEMENTS, BUT THIS CAN PROVIDE US A PATH FORWARD.
[00:35:01]
THROW OUT THIS PLAN, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY DO SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT MAKE IT A PLAN THE CITY CAN GET BEHIND AND BE PROUD OF.I MEAN, REALLY, OUR LEADERSHIP GOES TO PARIS TO COP 21.
THIS CITY WRITES A PLAN, A CLIMATE INEQUITY PLAN, AND THEN IN 2023, WE ADOPT PARKING GARAGES IN THE PARK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE NEXT SPEAKER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER'S GONNA MUTE.
ROBIN, RATHER FOLLOWED BY KATE SOLAI.
I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THIS PLAN IS A HOT MESS.
IT'S NOT A HOT MESS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED.
IT'S NOT A HOT MESS BECAUSE OF MISINFORMATION INFORMATION.
IT'S A HOT MESS BECAUSE 70% OF THIS PLAN IS FOR TOTALLY UNNEEDED NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT ONLY A FEW PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.
VERY LITTLE OF THIS PLAN, LESS THAN 2% IS FOR PARK BASICS LIKE RESTROOMS, LIGHTING, WAYFINDING, PARK, RANGERS, OR PLAYGROUNDS.
10% IS FOR BIKE, PET AND MOBILITY.
ONLY 20% OF THIS PLAN IS FOR ANY KIND OF RESTORATION, ANYTHING GREEN WHATSOEVER.
A FULL 70% OF THIS IS BASICALLY FOR DEVELOPMENT RIGHT IN THE PARK.
60 MILLION WORTH OF PARKING GARAGES.
I'M ASKING YOU DON'T COSIGN THIS.
THIS ISN'T AUSTIN, THIS ISN'T OUR VALUES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO VOTE YES FOR GAIL'S, RIGHT? THERE'S A CONSENSUS WAY FORWARD THAT EVERYBODY HERE WOULD BE CHEERING FOR NOT BOOING.
I THINK WE HAD SOMEONE DONATE TIME TO ROBIN LAST MINUTE, SO WE'RE JUST GONNA CHECK TO SEE IF SHE WANTS TO SPEAK FOR ANOTHER MINUTE COMPLETE.
I I REALLY ASK YOU AGAIN, DON'T COSIGN THIS PLAN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATE SALI, FOLLOWED BY TERRY ADAMS. BEN THOMPSON, MARION CASEY, AND JACK MODEST THANK YOU PARKS AND REC BOARD FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS KATE CHIK, A NATIVE AUSTINITE, A MOTHER, UM, ALSO ARTS COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT ONE AND A DAILY SWIMMER AT BARTON SPRINGS.
WHAT MAKES A PLACE DEFINITELY NOT A PARKING GARAGE OR THREE MINNIE WOULD SAY IT'S AUSTIN'S 900 FOOT SPRING-FED SANCTUARY.
SHE'S A REFUGE AND A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL TO PROTECT WATER.
MAYOR REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE IN A STAGE THREE CRITICAL DROUGHT.
THE LAND UNDER ZILKER PARK IS VERY PERMEABLE AND POROUS LIMESTONE RECHARGE ZONE FOR A MAIN SOURCE OF WATER.
NO PLACE FOR A PARKING GARAGE, ESPECIALLY ONE UNDERGROUND.
THESE MASSIVE CEMENT STRUCTURES WOULD HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON OUR AQUIFER SHATTERING THE SENSITIVE GEOLOGY, ADDING IMPERVIOUS COVER AND SENDING POLLUTANTS STRAIGHT INTO THE BELOVED SPRINGS.
LESS THAN 20% OF THE VISION PLAN BUDGET IS ALLOCATED TOWARDS RESTORATION.
AND EVEN THAT IS QUESTIONABLE.
ALTHOUGH THIS IS A STATED PRIMARY GOAL, A STAGGERING 60 MILLION IS SLATED FOR PARKING GARAGES.
IF RESTORATION IS THE GOAL, LET'S LOOK AT PLANTING TREES, INCREASING ACCESS BY SHUTTLE AND GREEN SURFACE PARKING AND IMPROVING NATURAL HABITAT SO THAT AUSTIN CAN REMAIN A PLACE WORTH LIVING AND VISITING THIS PROPOSED PLAN IS AN ASSAULT ON THE FRAGILE AND VOICELESS JEWEL OF OUR CITY.
I URGE YOU TO SAY NO TO THE CURRENT VISION PLAN SO THAT CONSTITUENT PREFERENCES AND EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE INCORPORATED.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE TERRY ADAMS, FOLLOWED BY BEN THOMPSON AND MARION CASEY.
I'M TERRY ADAMS. I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT AS AN INDEPENDENT CITIZEN IN TWO WEEKS.
I NEED ALL YOUR SUPPORT ON JUNE 5TH, WHEN I GO BEFORE THE ETHICS COMMITTEE TO LAY OUT THE CASE AGAINST TWO CITY COMMISSIONERS WHO VOTED ON THE ZILKER VISION PLAN, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE INVOLVED WITH ZILKER 3 51.
ZILKER 3 51 DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ZILKER PARK, ALTHOUGH THAT IS THE ROLE THAT THEY ARE SEEKING.
MCNEELY DOES NOT SPEAK FOR THE PARK.
SHE ABDICATES HER DUTIES AND COLLECTS LAWSUITS.
WE ARE THE DEFENDERS OF THE PARK.
THE ETERNAL WORDS OF PETE SEEGER.
[00:40:01]
DON'T WANT BUILDINGS IN THE PARK.WHO IS THE NEXT SPEAKER? TERRY ADAMS. JILLIAN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TERRY ADAMS, WHO'S, UH, HAD A MINUTE DONATED, SO IT'LL BE IN TWO MINUTES.
THE AIR IS FREE, MY FRIENDS AIR IS FREE.
WE DON'T WANT BUILDINGS IN THE PARK.
ZILKER PARK IS MY KIND OF PARK.
MY FRIENDS, WE DON'T WANT BUILDINGS IN THE PARK.
WE DON'T WANT BUILDINGS IN THE PARK.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TERRY ADAMS. TERRY HAD A A MINUTE DONATED.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BEN THOMPSON.
IF THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DONATING TIME, PLEASE MAKE SURE WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL COMES UP THAT YOU STAND UP AND LET US KNOW.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE YOU JUST, JUST, JUST A GENTLE REMINDER SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE SPEAKERS GET THEIR DONATED TIME.
THANK EVERYONE OF Y'ALL FOR, UH, SERVING ON THIS BOARD.
UM, I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO, WHICH IS, UH, SOUTH OF BEN WHITE.
NOT ONE OF THE LOCAL, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING ACCUSED OF MONOPOLIZING THE PARK IN ANY WAY.
UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS FOR, UH, A REALLY LONG TIME, SINCE CLOSE TO THE BEGINNING, TRYING TO GIVE GOOD FEEDBACK AND MAKE THIS PLAN AS GOOD AS IT COULD POSSIBLY BE.
I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT REALLY ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING ASPECTS OF A PARTICIPANT IN THIS PROCESS.
AND THAT'S THAT EVERY THOUGHTFUL CRITIQUE SUGGESTION IDEA THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS BEEN GENERALLY MET WITH THIS CONCEPT THAT THIS IS THIS, THIS VISION PLAN THAT WE'RE ENVISIONING.
THE FUTURE IS ACTUALLY MORE OF A FUZZY TRANSLUCENT FRAMEWORK THAT WE REALLY HAVE VERY FEW DETAILS ABOUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, EARLY ON THAT WAS PROBABLY NOT A BAD RESPONSE BECAUSE IT WAS EARLY IN THE PROCESS.
BUT AS WE'VE GONE, UH, DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THIS, AND AS THE PLAN IS, UM, ABOUT TO LIKELY BE BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, UH, WE'RE STILL LACKING SOME IMPORTANT DETAILS.
UH, THE PLAN ITSELF HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY JUST IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF REAL EXPLANATION AS TO THE HOW AND WHY OF WHAT CHANGED.
UM, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE ASKED HOW MUCH PARKING GARAGES WERE GONNA COST, HOW MUCH THEY'RE GONNA COST TO BUILD, HOW MUCH THEY'RE GONNA COST TO PARK IN, WE WERE TOLD, AH, IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THAT.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT YET.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD WHEN WE WERE ASKED IF THE PARKING GARAGES WERE ECOLOGICALLY APPROPRIATE OR EVEN ECOLOGICALLY FEASIBLE CONSIDERING THE AQUIFER AND GROUNDWATER IMPACTS THAT BURIED GARAGES, LARGE CONS, LARGE CONSTRUCTION MIGHT HAVE.
WE WERE TOLD DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
THE ENGINEERS ARE GONNA TAKE CARE OF IT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER'S GONNA BE MARY AND CASEY FOLLOWED BY JACK MODEST MINUTE.
IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE VERY HELPFUL IF WHEN THE PERSON IS UP HERE THERE, IF YOU WANT TO DONATE YOUR TIME, PLEASE DONATE YOUR TIME.
THE PERSON WHO'S SPEAKING ANY SERVICE, IF YOU'RE TELLING THEM AT THE LAST MINUTE THAT THEY HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE, SO PLEASE COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE MARION CASEY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE JACK MODEST, FOLLOWED BY DAVID WEINBERG.
[00:45:02]
YOU READY FOR ME NOW? WE GOOD EVENING.I HAVE BEEN USING THE PARK IN THE POOL FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.
LIKE MANY PEOPLE HERE, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE HEART OF THIS CITY.
IT IS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN CHANGED AND POLLUTED BY WHAT AUSTIN HAS BECOME.
PARKING GARAGES, BRIDGES, AND TRAFFIC FLOW THAT IS DESTROYED IS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF ANY OF US.
I HAVE NEVER IN MY 60 YEARS SAID THAT I WAS A ONE ISSUE VOTER, BUT I WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPRECIATE THAT ANYBODY WHO SUPPORTS THIS LACK OF VISION PLAN WILL HAVE ME VOTING AGAINST THEM, NOT YOU GUYS, ME VOTING AGAINST THEM, MY FRIENDS VOTING AGAINST THEM, AND MY MONEY GOING TO THE PEOPLE THAT OPPOSE 'EM.
LET'S TAKE CARE OF WHAT'S THERE.
BUT THIS IDEA WITH PARKING GARAGES AND TRAFFIC FLOW IS A DISASTER.
PEOPLE WHO REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PARK NO BETTER.
CHAIR, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT DIALED IN.
UH, WE SHOULD HAVE STARTED WITH THAT.
SO IF THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS COULD HOLD OFF FOR A MINUTE.
UH, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE GARRETT.
UH, EVERY PART OF THIS VISION PLAN IS BASED AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARKING GARAGES.
THERE'S 60 MILLION WORTH OF, UM, $60 MILLION WORTH OF IT.
UH, WHEN YOU'RE PLANNED FOR INVESTMENTS IN ALL FUTURE PARKS AROUND THE ENTIRE CITY IS 43 MILLION.
AND I JUST LEARNED THAT FROM WATCHING THE VIDEO WHILE I WAITED FOR A HALF HOUR FOR THE MEETING TO START.
43 MILLION INVESTED IN THE ENTIRE CITY IN PARK ACQUISITION AND UPGRADES AND UPDATES.
BUT YOU'RE GONNA SPEND 60 MILLION JUST ON A FEW PARKING GARAGES IN ONE PARK.
AND THIS AFTER THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO ELIMINATE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
AS WE WORK TOWARDS A LESS CAR-CENTRIC COMMUNITY, WHY WOULD WE INVEST 60 MILLION ON SOMETHING THAT THE PLAN ITSELF ALREADY ADMITS, ADMITS AS AN OUTDATED CONCEPT? AND WHAT WILL THE VALUE OF THAT INVESTMENT BE IN 10 YEARS? AND WHY PLAN ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF THE PARK AROUND THESE PROPOSED PARKING GARAGES.
ON TOP OF THAT, IT COSTS ABOUT $500 PER PARKING SPOT PER YEAR TO MAINTAIN A PARKING GARAGE THAT'S OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, WHETHER OR NOT ANYONE EVEN USES THEM.
AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE DAVID KING.
THIS BE ANOTHER DIAL-IN SPEAKER? YEAH.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT THE PROPOSED PAY WELCOME CENTER PARKING GARAGES OR LAKE AND LAND BRIDGES.
PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT MORE CONCRETE, MORE INFRASTRUCTURE.
FOR MORE AND LARGER EVENTS AT ZER PARK, PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT MOVING THE HILLSIDE THEATER TO THE GREAT LAWN OR INCLUSION OF THE NONPROFIT UMBRELLA.
IN THE PLAN, PLEASE DO SUPPORT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DESIGN COMMISSION ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, AND SAVE OUR SPRINGS REWILDING PLAN.
PLEASE SUPPORT RETURNING AT LEAST 75 ACRES TO ITS NATURAL STATE AND REQUIRING 75% OF THE ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT TO BE REWILD.
PLEASE SUPPORT MORE NATURAL PLAY SCAPES FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN ABOUT AND INTERACT WITH NATURE.
PLEASE RECOMMEND FULL PUBLIC FUNDING FOR OUR PARKS WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED THAT INSTITUTIONALIZED BESTED INTEREST OF NONPROFITS AT THE EXPENSE OF PUBLIC ACCESS, PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY, AND PUBLIC USE OF OUR PUBLIC PARK LAND.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR CONSIDERING MY COMMENTS.
OUR NEXT ONLINE SPEAKER WILL BE KAREN KOCHER COKER.
[00:50:01]
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.UM, I'M KAREN COKER AND FOR THREE DECADES MY WORK IS FOCUSED ON DOCUMENTARY AUSTIN'S HISTORY AND CULTURE THROUGH MYEL MEDIA PRODUCTIONS.
WHILE I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY, MY COMMENTS THIS EVENING REPRESENT MY PERSONAL VIEWS.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF A VISION PLAN, BUT THE CURRENT DRAFT IS NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME.
JUST AS A DRAFT OF A BOOK IS REFINED IN THE EDITING PROCESS, THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN NEEDS SOME HEAVY EDITS.
LUCKY FOR US, OUR ENGAGED AND INTELLIGENT COMMUNITY HAS COME FORWARD WITH SOME EXCELLENT CRITIQUES AND SUGGESTIONS.
THE LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED ARE THE MOST TROUBLESOME.
AN UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK PROMISES TO BE A FOOL'S ERRAND.
RATHER THAN TAKE UP VALUABLE OPEN SPACE WITH A LARGE NEW THEATER ON THE GREAT LAWN, WHY NOT REFURBISH THE EXISTING THEATER? ALSO, PLEASE TAKE THE NONPROFIT OUT OF THE G DRAFT PLAN, INCLUDING IT IN THIS PLAN.
IT'S CAUSING TOO MUCH CONTROVERSY.
IF A NONPROFIT IS NEEDED, IT CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE EXISTING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
OUR NEXT ONLINE SPEAKER IS JD DUKES.
AND, UM, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION, UH, AND MY OPINION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, THE EXISTING, UH, GROUND PARKING AS SOMETIMES I ENJOYED JUST COMING OUT AND, AND STUDYING IN MY CAR WHERE I CAN CHARGE MY LAPTOP OR, UH, COMING OUT MIDDAY DURING A BREAK TO EAT LUNCH AND ENJOY THE VIEW OF THE GREEN SPACE.
UH, EVEN ON SEVERE WEATHER DAYS, YOU KNOW, THESE TASKS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FROM A, A GARAGE AND SIMILAR, UH, NOTION.
I LIKE TO BRING, YOU KNOW, A COOLER AND A GRILL, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, KAYAK, SPORTING GEAR, UM, YOU KNOW, WHICH WOULD ALSO, UM, IT'S, IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE PROXIMITY, PARKING AND JUST LIKE WE HAVE IN OUR EXISTING GROUND PARKING.
UM, SO, WHICH IS ALSO HELPFUL FOR MOBILITY CHALLENGE, BOTH HUMAN AND DOG.
UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING I SEE EVERY DAY WITH DOG WALKERS.
THEY LIKE TO COME OUT AND BRING THEIR PACK DOGS AND JUST BE ABLE TO PARK EASILY AND NOT HAVE TO MAKE A LONG TREK FROM A GARAGE.
OUR NEXT DIAL-IN SPEAKER WILL BE CYNTHIA WILCOX.
I'M REPRESENTING HAN, WHICH IS THE ASSOCIATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT, WHERE ZILKER IS LOCATED.
AND WE URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE RESOLUTION AND VOTE NO ON THE VISION PLAN.
WE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE REWILDING PLAN AND, UH, OR ALSO URGE YOU TO GET UT'S LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER INVOLVED IN TURNING FILTER INTO A HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL, NATURAL LANDSCAPE FILLED WITH WILDFLOWERS, BUTTERFLIES, POLLINATORS, AND HEALTHY LOW MAINTENANCE NATIVE VEGETATION AND TREES.
THIS IS JUST CONSTRUCTION PLANS DRAFTED BY DEVELOPERS FOR ANOTHER VENUE IN SOME PARKING GARAGES.
AND THAT IS ARCHAIC AND BACKWARD LOOKING.
AND HAN UNANIMOUSLY OPPOSES ADOPTING THIS PLAN.
THE BIG BAGS OF MONEY TARGETED FOR CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE EITHER NOT SPENT AT ALL OR SPENT ON REVITALIZING THE ABUSED, COMPACTED SOIL AND REVITALIZING NOT JUST ZER PARK, BUT ALL BOSTON'S PARK.
OUR NEXT DIAL SPEAKER WILL CLARK HANCOCK.
CLARK HANCOCK WILL BE OUR LAST DIAL IN SPEAKER.
CAN YOU, UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? WE CAN HEAR YOU.
I'M PRESIDENT OF SAFE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION.
UH, AND SADLY, UH, BECAUSE OF ALL THE EFFORT THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED, IT IS OUR CONCLUSION THAT THE VISION PLAN AND ITS CURRENT FORM IS NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME.
WE EMBRACE THE WONDERS OF THIS LAND, AND AS SUCH CANNOT SUPPORT THE VISION PLAN IN ITS CURRENT FORM.
WE REJECT THE IDEA THAT LARGE CO LARGE SCALE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, EXCEPT THOSE UNDERTAKEN TO REMEDIATE PASS INS, OR TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS ARE NECESSARY.
WE ASK THAT THIS CONVERSATION CAN CONTINUE AND THAT THE VALUE OF
[00:55:01]
THIS LAND BE PROTECTED AND NOT SOLD AS A BACKDROP OR INAPPROPRIATE RESPECTABLE.WE ASK THAT THE SENSITIVITY OF PLACE AND THE APPROPRIATE SCALE OF HUMAN ACTIVITY BE ADDRESSED.
WE WISH THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE LAND BE RESPECTED.
ZILKER IS CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED AS A METROPOLITAN PARK BY THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
WHEN YOU'RE ASKING THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE DESIGNATION OF ZIL CHANGE FROM A METRO PARK TO A NEWLY INTRODUCED CLASSIFICATION OF NATURE PARK, A PLACE OF UNIQUE RECREATION ACTIVITIES, NATURE, MR. OTHERWISE SO MUCH, OUR NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER WILL BE DAVID WEINBERG FOR TWO MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY CHARLES P. LINDSEY HOLMES.
TANYA PAYNE, AND DEBBIE MCCRAE.
ONE OF THEM IS GONNA DONATE A MINUTE TO MR. WEINBERG.
I ALREADY HAVE A DONATION FROM A PATRICK.
IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO DONATE? IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO DONATE A MINUTE? THIS WOMAN OVER HERE IN THE BLUE SHIRT.
I'LL GET IT DONE IN TWO MINUTES.
SO, UM, ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS NOW BEEN TOLD DO NOT BUILD A WATERLOO PARK STYLE AMPHITHEATER ON THE GREAT LAWN.
THE FIRST TIME THEY WERE TOLD WAS BY THE VISION PLAN ITSELF, WHICH INSIDE OF IT, 13% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY WANNA SEE THAT.
THE SECOND TIME THE CITY WAS TOLD NOT TO DO THIS WAS BY THE DESIGN COMMISSION.
THE THIRD TIME THE CITY WAS TOLD NOT TO DO THIS.
I'M GOING TO INCLUDE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, WHICH WOULD'VE RECOMMENDED NOT CITING THE AMPHITHEATER THERE.
IF SOMEONE WHO'S CONNECTED WITH THE ZILKER 3 51 NONPROFIT HAD NOT BEEN VOTING ON THAT ITEM, WHICH THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS DOING.
AND THE FOURTH TIME IS A RECENT POLL THAT CAME OUT THAT SHOWS THAT 9% OF THE PUBLIC SUPPORTS AN AMPHITHEATER THERE.
SO I HAVE READ YOUR DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR TONIGHT, WHICH SAYS, PRETTY PLEASED.
LET'S MAYBE CONSIDER LOOKING AT ANOTHER LOCATION FOR THIS AMPHITHEATER.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE ADULTS TONIGHT AND PULL OFF THE BANDAID AND SAY WE DO NOT WANT TO DESECRATE ZILKER PARK'S GREAT LAWN WITH THIS GROSS PROJECT.
THIS IS NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER BEFORE JULY.
PUBLIC OPINION ON THIS IS NOT GONNA TURN AROUND.
SO THAT'S ONE THING YOU COULD DO TONIGHT THAT WILL BE FINAL AND APPRECIATED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE LINDSEY HOLMES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE LINDSEY HOLMES.
LINDSEY HOLMES IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY TANYA PAYNE AND DEBBIE MCCRAY.
UH, LOVE TO DEATH IS ABOUT TO BE DEVELOPED TO DEATH, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, PROCESS OF CONVERTING LAND INTO NEW PURPOSES BY CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS OR MAKING USE OF HIS RESOURCES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DEFINITION OBSCURES THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT OPEN SPACES LIKE SILK AND BARTON SPRINGS ALREADY PROVIDE.
THE VISION PLAN, UM, EMBRACES THE TRADITIONAL FINANCIALLY DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT MINDSET, THOUGH AND THREATENS THE EXISTING RESOURCES OF THE PARK.
THE GREAT LINE, AND THIS VISION LEAVES FALLOW RIPE FOR MORE HARVESTING, MORE TICKET SALES FOR LIVE NATION.
IT'S A DIRECT CONTRADICTION TO THE IDEA THAT AUSTIN SHOULD BE LEADING THE WAY AS A TRANSIT CENTRIC, NOT CAR-CENTRIC TEXAS CITY.
ARE WE HOUSTON? ARE WE DALLAS? WHO ARE WE? ARE WE THE EXEMPLAR? AUSTIN, THE GREEN CITY? WHAT IF DEVELOPMENT MEANT SOMETHING ELSE TONIGHT? WHAT IF PARKS WARD REALIZED THAT THE IMMENSE VALUE OF RESOURCES LIKE REFUGE, RESPITE AND REWILDING, WHAT IF THAT AND LIVE NATION, UH, WHAT IF THAT WERE HONORED IN NOT LIVE NATION OR OUT OF TOWN OR ACL GOERS WHO TRAMPLED THE PARK? WHAT IF THAT WERE HONORED? WHAT IF MASS TRANSIT SOLUTIONS WERE EXPLORED? LISTEN CLOSELY TO DIANA PROCTOR AND OTHERS WHO TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF.
WHAT IF WHAT WAS BUILT IN THE LINE WAS A PROMISE TO HOLD SPACE FOR US? YOU SO MUCH AND NOT LIVE NATION? OKAY, MA'AM, YOU CAN KEEP TALKING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE LINDSAY HOLMES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER'S GONNA BE TANYA PAYNE, WHO'S SPEAKING FOR TWO MINUTES.
AND THEN, UH, AFTER THAT WILL BE CHARLES PIPE, WHO I MISSED.
WAIT, BEFORE YOU START, THE GENTLEMAN'S DONATING A MINUTE.
DAVID, WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME? OKAY.
UH, MY NAME IS TANYA PAYNE AND I'M COMMUNICATIONS FOR ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND REWILD ZILKER.
I BECAME PASSIONATE ABOUT ZILKER PARK PLAN WHEN I REALIZED WHILE WATCHING VIDEOS AND READING THE, AN ANALYSIS OF THE SURVEY DATA, HOW VERY LITTLE PUBLIC INPUT WAS
[01:00:01]
TAKEN INTO THIS PLAN.INSTEAD, WHAT I SAW WAS THE OVER-EMPHASIS OF THE NEEDS OF A FEW BUSINESSES, BOTH PROFIT AND NONPROFIT.
RE REWILD CONDUCTED A SURVEY AND WE SAW THAT 83% OF REGISTERED VOTERS DID NOT WANT AN AMPHITHEATER.
79% DID NOT WANNA SPEND 60 MILLION ON PARKING GARAGES.
MY QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU AT THIS POINT IS HOW MANY TIMES AND HOW MANY WAYS DO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN NEED TO TELL YOU THEY DON'T LIKE THIS PLAN?
YOU NEED TO CHANGE IT TO REFLECT WHAT THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN DO WANT.
WE WANT NATURAL SPACES, PLACES TO PLAY AND PICNIC OUTDOORS.
AND NOW TO THE AUDIENCE HERE, I WANT TO SAY TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT, FIRST OF ALL, I'M GONNA CRY.
I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE AND I WANT YOU TO COMMIT NOW TO REACH OUT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THIS PROCESS.
I'D LIKE YOU ALL, I WANNA END WITH BARTON SPRINGS SAYING THE SPRINGS ARE ETERNAL.
OUR NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER IS CHARLES HEBERT.
CHARLES HEBERT, FOLLOWED BY DEBBIE MCCREE.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
BLOCKING TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC ON BARN SPRING ROAD, DEFIES COMMON SENSE BARN.
SPRING ROAD IS THE ONLY WEST EAST WESTBOUND TH WEST, SOUTH OF THE RIVER BESIDE BEN WHITE.
THIS WILL FORCE TRAFFIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WILL FORCE TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN AS WELL.
NO PARKING GARAGE ABOVE SUNKEN GARDEN.
IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS WHY THE GREAT LAWN WON'T BE SO GREAT WITH AN NFI THEATER AND PERMANENT CONCRETE SITTING.
PLEASE KEEP THE JURISDICTION OF ZK PARK UNDER THE PARKS AND RECS, NOT A NONPROFIT.
WE LOVE THE PARK AND AS STEWARD, I HOPE YOU WILL PROTECT IT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE GONNA BE DEBBIE MCCRAE.
DEBBIE MCCRAE, FOLLOWED BY CAROL GEFFEN, COLIN WALLACE, DIANA PRI AND HAYDEN BROOKS.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
UM, I JUST HAVE A REAL QUICK QUESTION.
IF I COULD POSE TO THE BOARD, HAVE Y'ALL SWAM IN BARTON SPRINGS BEFORE? YOU LIKE IT, YOU WANNA SEE IT LIKE, CHANGE ANY CHANGE TO BARTON SPRINGS? CAUSE I DON'T, AND I DON'T THINK VERY MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM DO EITHER.
UM, I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN A. LITTLE BIT OVER 40 YEARS, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE TRYING TO FIX SOMETHING THAT'S NOT EVEN BROKEN.
IF NATURE COULD, IF NATURE COULD TALK, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD SAY.
IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE, UH, MANY BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS ALL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS NOT TOO FAR FROM BARTON SPRINGS.
A ROAD RUNNER INCLUDED, DIDN'T BEAT BACK AT ME, BUT IT WAS SO AWESOME TO JUST SEE IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE LOVE NATURE.
SO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE ALSO LIVED IN AUSTIN ALL OF THEIR LIVES, AND THEY'RE JUST BOHEMIA OPPOSED TO THE ZER REVISION PLAN, I BELIEVE IN THE HONESTY AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN SENT OUT BY REWILD ZER AT THIS POINT.
I THINK WE ONLY HAVE ONE CHOICE.
WHO'S THE NEXT SPEAKER? CAROL GEFFEN.
CAROL GEFFEN IS THE NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY COLIN WALLACE AND DIANA PRI, CAROL GEFFEN.
SO, AS A REMINDER, FOLKS, WE HAVE THESE SEATS AVAILABLE UP FRONT SO THAT WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, YOU CAN BE ON DECK.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW ZILKER PARK IS DETERIORATING BEFORE OUR EYES.
AS WE KNOW, ZILKER IS A BELOVED PARK BECAUSE OF ITS NATURAL BEAUTY AND WATERWAYS.
IT'S GREAT LAWN AND ITS TRAILS, AND ITS QUIET, CONTEMPLATIVE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE COME TO ENJOY NATURE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THESE POPULAR FEATURES ATTRACT MANY VISITORS WHO PARK IN THE FIELDS, CROWD THE CREEK, ERODE, SHORELINE, AND DAMAGE THE ENVIRONMENT.
AS A RESULT, ZILKER IS BEING LOVED TO DEATH WITH MILLIONS
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OF ANNUAL VISITORS WHO COME TO ENJOY THE PARK WITHOUT ADEQUATE INTEREST, INTEREST STRUCTURE, OR DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THEM.AND WITH AUSTIN'S GROWING POPULATION, THESE PRESSURES WILL, WILL ONLY GET WORSE CONTAINED WITHIN ITS 351 ACRES.
SILK PARK IS A COMPLEX BLEND OF PRECIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, EVENTS THAT HAVE BECOME TRADITION, ECONOMIC INCOME FOR THE CITY, AND A SYMBOL OF AUSTIN LIFE.
IN REALITY, THERE IS NO REALISTIC NO CHANGE OPTION EITHER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS COLIN WALLACE, FOLLOWED BY DIANA PRITCHER, HAYDEN BROOKS, AND ROY WILEY, WHALEY, DIANA HAYDEN AND ROY, IF YOU GUYS WANNA MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.
I'M THE CEO OF THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.
I'M A 34 YEAR AUSTINITE, A FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF SEVERAL PARKS ORGANIZATIONS.
I WANT TO SAY TO EVERYBODY HERE IN THE CHAMBER TONIGHT, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND LIES PUT OUT ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION.
I LISTEN, I GET THAT YOU DISAGREE.
IF YOU THINK THAT WE DON'T LOVE PARKS, YOU ARE, YOU ARE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THE WRONG WAY.
WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PLAN.
WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF, YEAH, I, I'VE BEEN RESPECTFUL TO ALL OF YOU.
I'M JUST RESPECTFULLY VOICING MY OPINION.
WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AS A PARTICIPANT, NOT A HEAVY HANDED PARTICIPANT.
YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF VERY REAL ISSUES, AND THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT SOMETHING BE PUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT LAWN OR THAT I LOVE PARKING GARAGES, BUT THERE ARE REAL PARKING CHALLENGES EVERY DAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER'S GONNA BE DIANA PRI.
I CREATED ZILKER PARK MOBILITY STUDY.COM.
CLAIRE HEMPEL WAS ASKED IF A MOBILITY STUDY HAD BEEN DONE EARLY IN THE STAGE OR ANY STAGE OF THE ZUCKER PARK VISION PLAN.
SHE SAID, NO, THAT WOULD TAKE MORE TIME AND MONEY.
BUT TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE DATA THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS.
IT IS A POLL THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY PUBLIC POLICY POLLING DURING THE WEEK OF MAY 1ST.
634 PEOPLE RESPONDED FROM ALL OVER AUSTIN.
ONLY 9% SUPPORT PARKING GARAGES IN ZILKER PARK.
79% PREFER IMPLEMENTING TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE PARKING GARAGES WITHIN THE PARK.
SOLUTIONS SUCH AS OFFSITE PARKING AND EXPANDED SHUTTLE SERVICE.
WHEN ASKED IF A 5,000 SEAT AMPHITHEATER SHOULD BE BUILT ON THE GREAT LAWN, 83% SAID THE GREAT LAWN SHOULD