Aug 28, 2023 Parks and Recreation Board

11 YEARS WITH TWO AND A HALF YEARS REMAINING ON THE CONTRACT.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE LIZ HUNTLEY, FOLLOWED BY ANDREA HILL.

WHATEVER YOU.

HELLO TO THE PARD BOARD AND PARD STAFF.

I'M LIZ HUNTLEY AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

PREVIOUSLY WE'VE INTRODUCED FACILITIES DIRECTOR PAUL BLOOM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LIZ BARITE, DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH, JIM RUDDY AND SENIOR KAYAK OPERATIONS MANAGER, AUBREY RUDDER.

IN ADDITION TO KEVIN REIS, I WANTED TO TELL YOU A BIT ABOUT A R C FOR OUR NEWER BOARD MEMBERS AS WE ARE A PART VENDOR AND PARTNER AND WE BRING A UNIQUE AND HEALTHY EXPERIENCE TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.

THIS IS THE 43RD YEAR OF THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB ON LADY BIRD LAKE.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUILDING THE WALLER CREEK BOATHOUSE.

WE HAVE OPERATED THE BUILDING UH MANAGEMENT CONTRACT IN GOOD FAITH FOR THE LAST

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ALTHOUGH THE BLUE LINE RAIL IS SLATED TO COME THROUGH THE CITY BUILDING A RESOLUTION SIGNED BY CITY COUNCIL IN 2022 DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH A R C AND MOVE OUR OPERATIONS DOWN RIVER.

A R C OFFERS ROWING LESSONS TO ALL THAT WOULD LIKE TO TRY OUT THE SPORT OF ROWING.

WE'RE A WONDERFULLY DIVERSE GROUP OF AUSTINITES AND WE VOLUNTEER AND SHARE OUR LOVE OF ROWING THROUGH THE OUTREACH AND JUNIOR ROWING PROGRAMS. WE HOST TWO US ROWING REGATTA SANCTIONS PER YEAR.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT, OUR KAYAK RENTALS AND VENDOR RE, UH, REVENUE DOLLARS, SORRY, SUPPORT OUR OUTREACH AND OUR JUNIORS PROGRAM WITH EQUIPMENT, STAFFING, COACHING AND PROGRAMMING.

IF YOU'RE AN A R C MEMBER, YOU PAY $65 A MONTH.

WE ARE BOARD MANAGED WITH SEVEN FULL-TIMERS AND 50 PART-TIME JUNIOR STAFF AND COACHES.

WE HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR JUNIORS AND ADULTS IN NEED, ALTHOUGH THE WALLER CREEK BOATHOUSE IS LOCATED DOWNTOWN MEMBERS OF A R C LIVE ALL OVER AUSTIN.

AND I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WHOM WE HAVE 11 AND VICE CHAIR FLOWERS, DISTRICT SIX AND BOARD MEMBER HAYES, DISTRICT FOUR AND MR. VILLA LOBOS, DISTRICT 13 AND DISTRICT 1 35 AND MS. REEDS 50 AND MS. ZAS 84 AND MS. FRANKLIN'S 36 AND MS. TAYLOR'S 17 AND MS. MERITS AND 15 AND MS. HAMAN'S DISTRICT FOR WHICH I AM ONE.

THESE NUMBERS DON'T INCLUDE 110 JUNIOR ROWERS THAT COME FROM VARIOUS HIGH SCHOOLS ALL OVER AUSTIN TO ROW WITH THE PROGRAM ON THE TOURISM SCENE.

BOTH LOCAL AND TOURISTS ENJOY OUR KAYAK AND S RENTAL CENTER.

THE PERCH CAFE RETRO BOATS A T X.

THEY'RE A PARTICULAR FAVORITE WITH THE DOWNTOWN HOTELS AS A PLACE TO SEND HOTEL VISITORS TO SEE THE LAKE, BOTH AT THE RESTAURANT AND IN THE ALL ELECTRIC 1950S BOATS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED THIS YEAR DUE TO THE UN UNCONTROLLED FAN WART THAT HAS ACCUMULATED A FLOTILLA OF WEEDS, TRASH, AND LOGS AROUND OUR DOCKS AND THE AREA BETWEEN CONGRESS BRIDGE AND I 35.

IT'S COST US APPROXIMATELY 200,000 IN LOST REVENUE AND IT'S COST Y'ALL 16,000 IN REVENUE.

WE DON'T PAY YOU FOR THAT.

WE APPRECIATE BEING YOUR PARTNER.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I HAVE A FLYER FOR YOU.

ALL THE PEOPLE ON OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE ANDREA HILL AFTER ANDREA'S GONNA BE TANYA PAYNE.

I'M A RETIRED ATTORNEY.

I'M A BARTON SPRINGS EMPLOYEE.

WANNA MAKE FOUR REALLY QUICK POINTS, HOPEFULLY IN A POSITIVE WAY 'CAUSE I'VE COME HERE BEFORE AND MADE NEGATIVE POINTS.

NUMBER ONE, THE PECAN TREE HAS PROBABLY HAD THAT DISEASE FOR YEARS AND IT'S STILL THERE AND IT SURVIVED THE FREEZE AND THE DROUGHT AND EVERYTHING ELSE, SO LEAVE IT ALONE.

NUMBER TWO, THE SHUTTLE SERVICE.

THIS IS FOR THE WORKING GROUPS.

THE SHUTTLE SERVICE CURRENTLY MEETS AT ONE TEXAS CENTER.

THEY PUT THE SIGNS UP WHEN YOU FIRST COME INTO THE PARK.

THAT'S TOO LATE.

PEOPLE ARE ALREADY NOT GONNA TURN AROUND AND GO BACK AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE ONE TEXAS CENTER IS ANYWAY.

ALSO, THE SHUTTLE COMES IN THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO BARTON SPRINGS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC THAT'S VERY SLOW AND THEY LET PEOPLE OUT AT THE MAIN GATE WHERE THE LINE IS VERY LONG.

IT WOULD WORK BETTER IF THEY WOULD CUT UP AZ MARTIN DRIVE, WHICH IS A QUICK IN AND OUT AND LET PEOPLE OUT AT THE BACK GATE WHERE THE LINE IS NOT AS LONG ON BUSY DAYS.

IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER AND BETTER FOR THE CUSTOMERS AND THE SHUTTLE DRIVERS.

AND THEY MIGHT ALSO WANNA CONSIDER BARTON CREEK MALL HAS A LOT OF EMPTY SPACES.

IT'D BE REAL EASY TO RUN A SHUTTLE SERVICE UP AND DOWN MOPAC MUCH BETTER THAN THE ONE TEXAS CENTER LOOPING AROUND THINGS.

JUST A SUGGESTION.

MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BESIDES ME.

MARTIN SPRINGS MALL HAS LOTS OF EMPTY PARKING PLACES.

IT'D BE VERY CONVENIENT.

THE OTHER THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS, WELL, TWO OTHER THINGS.

THE THIRD ONE IS THE CONCESSION STAND.

APPARENTLY SOMEONE HAS PUT OUT A CONTRACT TO RUN THE CONCESSION STAND.

WE AT THE POOL HAVE TALKED ABOUT, PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ASKING US IF WE SELL CERTAIN THINGS.

YOU COULD PUT A LITTLE BOOTH IN THE CONCESSION STAND AND YOU COULD SELL ONLY A FEW ITEMS LIKE SUNSCREEN, TOWELS, GOGGLES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, A BARTON SPRINGS T-SHIRT OF SOME SORT.

YOU'D MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, WHICH YOU COULD PUT BACK INTO POOL MAINTENANCE AND PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO BUY THAT STUFF.

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ASKING IF WE SELL T-SHIRTS.

JUST A SUGGESTION.

SOMEBODY SHOULD LOOK INTO MY LAST ITEM.

IS THE BATHHOUSE REDO IT'S WAY GONNA BE EXPENSIVE AND INCAPACITATE THE POOL AND INFURIATE THE EMPLOYEES

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FOR MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME? I THINK THERE'S SOME QUESTIONABLE ASPECTS OF THE CONTRACT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY FOLLOWED ALL THE CITY CONTRACT RULES BECAUSE ONE CONTRACTOR GOT THE CONTRACT TO REDO DEEP EDDIE.

THEY GOT THE CONTRACT TO DO THE STUDY TO REDO BARTON SPRINGS, AND NOW THEY HAVE THE CONTRACT TO DO BARTON SPRINGS.

YOU CAN SEE THERE MAY BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN SOME OF THIS.

IF THEY DID THE STUDY, IT'S EASIER FOR THEM TO PAD WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE SO THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY ON THE ACTUAL CONTRACT.

I WOULD LIKE SOMEBODY TO REALLY SPECIFICALLY LOOK INTO THOSE CONTRACTS AND SEE IF ALL THE CITY CONTRACT RULES WERE FOLLOWED.

THE BATHHOUSE REDO IS VERY EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE.

IT'S GONNA MAKE IT VERY INCONVENIENT FOR THE EMPLOYEES.

ONCE IT'S DONE, IT'S GONNA REQUIRE YOU TO HIRE A LOT MORE EMPLOYEES AND IT'S UNNECESSARY BECAUSE ONE LAST THING, THEY CAN'T EVEN DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE.

SO I HATE TO SEE THAT THOSE SAME PEOPLE ARE GONNA TRY TO REDO THE WHOLE DAMN THING WHEN THEY DON'T NEED TO.

THEY JUST NEED TO DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND FIX THE PLUMBING.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER'S GONNA BE TANYA PAYNE AFTER TANYA'S GOING TO BE GAIL ROI.

UH, HELLO.

MY NAME IS TANYA PAYNE AND I'M WITH REWILD ZILKER.

UH, WE SENT A LETTER EARLIER TODAY THAT, UH, GAIL'S GOING TO GO OVER MORE THOROUGHLY, BUT, UH, I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THAT ALTHOUGH THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN HAS BEEN SHELVED, WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU, UH, AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO IMPROVE THE PLAN SO THAT WHEN IT IS BROUGHT UP BY CITY COUNCIL, WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING ALL OF US CAN BE REALLY PROUD OF.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE GAIL ROKI.

CAN, CAN I CAN, CAN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MS. PAYNE? YES.

AND, UH, YOU AND I HAVE HAD PRIOR INTERACTIONS THROUGH THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN.

UM, SO THIS ISN'T OUR FIRST TIME.

OH, THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME HAVING A BACK AND FORTH, RIGHT? YES.

SO WHAT IS IT, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE ULTIMATELY WANTING TO SEE HAPPEN WITH ZILKER? AND I MEAN THAT, LIKE, I'M NOT ASKING FOR SPECIFICS, I'M ASKING MORE FOR LIKE, WHAT IS IT THAT REWILD WANTS TO, TO SEE HAPPEN? WELL, WE HAD THAT DOCUMENT WITH THE CONSENSUS ITEMS, BUT I WOULD SAY OVERALL THE VISION THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M THE PERFECT, PERFECT REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE, BUT GENERALLY WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IS A PARK FOCUSED ON RECREATION AND, UH, CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT AND, UH, TAKING, BEING A GOOD STEWARD TO THESE VERY PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES.

COULD ACCESSIBILITY BE PART OF THAT? YES, ABSOLUTELY.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

UM, I KNOW THAT MOVING FORWARD, UH, DID YOU SEE THE EMAIL FROM, OR THE, UH, NOTIFICATION FROM MAYOR WATSON ABOUT THERE BEING LIKE A COOLING OFF PERIOD AND THAT HIM WANTING TO REVISIT? DID YOU SEE THAT? YES, I DID.

UM, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT MOVING FORWARD WHEN, WHEN, WHENEVER IT'S DEEMED APPROPRIATE AND WHENEVER THERE'S SOME PUZZLE PIECES BEING PUT PAT TOGETHER, NOTHING NEFARIOUS, JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S ALIGNMENT.

AND WOULD, WOULD YOU OR OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE REWILD GROUP BE WILLING TO MEET WITH SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE PROPONENTS OF THE PLAN TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT, UH, ISN'T NECESSARILY A THIS IS WHAT HA NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT ZILKER, BUT MORE OF A, A VALUE SET OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH ZILKER? UH, WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO DO THAT.

WOULD YOU ALSO BE INTERESTED IN, UH, HELPING, UH, OUT OTHER PARKS, UH, METROPOLITAN PARKS GET THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO, UH, BECOME GEMS AS WELL OF THE CITY? ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR WIDER NETWORK IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

UH, WE WEIGHED IN ON PALM PARK AND OUR PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT BEING INVOLVED IN PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

YOU KNOW, SINCE, UH, PART OF ONE OF THE GIFTS OF THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN IS PEOPLE HAVE REALLY REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT THEIR PARKS ARE AND WHAT IT IS THEY WANT AND NEED THEM TO BE IN THEIR LIVES.

THE COMMUNITY AND WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND DIFFERENT ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH PLANS AND VALUE SETS THAT, UM, NOT ONLY UPLIFT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY, BUT CAN MAKE EVERYONE VERY PROUD THAT THEY LIVE IN AUSTIN.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

'CAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO AND WAS WANTING TO MAKE PART OF MY TERM, BUT ZILKER PARK BECAME THE FIRST THING THAT I HAD TO HANDLE AT MY FIRST BOARD MEETING WAS I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BUILD CONSENSUS PARTNERSHIPS.

I LIKE TO BUILD BRIDGES.

UM, SO I HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD, UM, THE BOARD AS EITHER AS, AS INDIVIDUALS BUT AS A WHOLE, ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH

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SO I APPRECIATE ME TOO.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

AND THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GAIL ROTH, FOLLOWED BY MORGAN WITT.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS GAIL ROADIE.

UM, I REPRESENT, I ALSO REPRESENT REW ZILKER.

UH, WE'VE PREPARED A LETTER, UH, WHICH WE'VE PROVIDED TO YOU, AND I WANT TO SUMMARIZE THAT LETTER HERE TONIGHT.

UM, REWAL ZILKER IS GRATEFUL THAT MAYOR WATSON AND THE CITY MANAGER SHELVED THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN.

WE WILL SOON BE ISSUING OUR REFLECTIONS ON THE PROCESS AND OUR THOUGHTS ON A MORE UNIFIED PATH FORWARD.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A RESET AND HOPE YOU ARE TOO.

IN THE MEANTIME, THERE ARE CERTAIN FACTUAL ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN THAT WERE NEVER RESOLVED.

AND IF ANY PARTS OF THE PLAN GO FORWARD, WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO, UH, CORRECT THOSE FACTUAL ERRORS.

UM, SO A FEW OF THOSE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE CLARIFIED OR IN SOME CASES LIGHTED IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD PRODUCTIVELY ARE THE FOLLOWING.

THE AUSTIN, THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY NEEDS TO SEE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURVEY DATA THAT WAS COLLECTED, AND I THINK DIANA EXPLORED THAT IN YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, UH, EXPLORED THAT IN MORE DETAIL.

UH, WE ALSO NEED TO SEE AN ACCURATE COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF LARGE TREES IN THE PARK, WHICH HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE NUMBER OF PROTECTED TREES THAT MAY BE AT RISK UNDER ANY, UH, CONSTRUCTION SCENARIO.

WE ALSO NEED TO SEE AN ACCURATE ESTIMATE OF IMPERVIOUS COVER.

WE ALSO NEED TO SEE AN ACCURATE ESTIMATE OF CARBON SEQUESTRATION.

AND WE WOULD ALSO LIKE THE CITY TO RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC THE TECHNICAL DRAWINGS THAT WERE EXCHANGED WITH A C L C THREE TICKETMASTER LIVE NATION.

WE'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE CITY RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC.

ANY TRANSCRIPTS, MEETINGS, NOTES OR VIDEOS FROM THE FIVE MEETINGS WITH A C L, WE ARE ASKING YOU AS PARKS BOARD COMMISSIONERS WHO REVIEWED AND VOTED ON THE PLAN TO WORK WITH PARD MANAGEMENT CITY STAFF AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE A MEMO SUMMARIZING THE FACTUAL ANSWERS TO THESE CORE QUESTIONS AND PROVIDING THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PAID FOR BY PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS.

AS YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW, WE HAVE DONE OUR OWN ANALYSES ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES, AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO RESEND THEM TO YOU.

A FORMAL RESPONSE TO THESE ISSUES WILL ESTABLISH A CREDIBLE FOUNDATION OF INFORMATION THAT IS A, THAT IS A PREREQ PREREQUISITE TO RESTORING THE TRUST NEEDED FOR MOVING FORWARD IN A HEALTHY DIALOGUE.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND I'M ALSO FREE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I, I THINK, UM, YOU'VE ASKED SOME REALLY GOOD ONES AND I APPRECIATE THOSE QUESTIONS.

INPUT AND THE THREE MINUTES THAT CITIZENS HAVE TRADITIONALLY GOTTEN, AND I STILL BELIEVE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MORGAN WITT, FOLLOWED BY ROY WHALEY.

HELLO, UH, AS THIS IS THE PARKS BOARD, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS PARKS WHICH PROVIDE SAFE GREEN PLACES THAT PEOPLE CAN GO FOR FREE.

AND THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE PROMOTING.

THE IDEA THAT YOU SHOULD BE PROMOTING CONCRETE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY TO GO IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING.

THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WHEN THE VISION PLAN CAME TO YOU, I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T STOP IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE WHEN YOU HEARD SIX HOURS OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY OF WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND THEN SEVEN OF YOU WENT AHEAD AND VOTED FOR IT.

I THINK YOU MIGHT BE ON THE WRONG BOARD.

AND IF YOU CONTINUE SERVING, I WANNA KNOW IN WHAT WAY YOU CAN DO ANYTHING CONSTRUCTIVE FOR THE PEOPLE, OR DO WE JUST HAVE TO WATCHDOG ON YOU FOR THE REST OF THE TERM UNTIL WE GET PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTING PARKS? THAT'S IT.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROY WHALEY, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT COBB.

HOWDY, Y'ALL.

MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY.

I AM THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR SIERRA CLUB AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP.

SIERRA CLUB, OF COURSE, IS THE OLDEST ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA.

UM, I'D PLANNED ON COMING DOWN HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CITIZEN

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UM, BUT I DO WANNA FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, REWILD FOLKS HAVE SAID.

SIERRA CLUB IS A PART OF THAT COALITION, AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT COALITION.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO SIERRA CLUB IS THE AIR QUALITY ASPECTS OF IT.

REWILDING WILL CREATE CARBON SEQUESTRATION, WHICH WE NEED ALSO TO GET RID OF THE, THE PLANS FOR PARKING GARAGES, GARAGES OF THEMSELVES, SUBTERRANEAN ESPECIALLY, BUT THAT WE NEED TO MOVE INTO THE FUTURE THAT IS TRANSIT AND THAT WE HAVE OFFSITE PARKING.

AND THEN WE HAVE A ROBUST SHUTTLE SYSTEM THAT MOVES PEOPLE TO THE PARK PEOPLE AND THEIR EQUIPMENT, THEIR CHILDREN, A SEPARATE SHUTTLE FOR DOGS AND, AND THEIR HUMANS THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE TO THE PARK.

AND THEN AN INTERNAL SHUTTLE THAT HELPS MOVE PEOPLE WITHIN THE PARK ITSELF.

I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE SHUTTLE ACTIVE AGAIN THIS YEAR, AND I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, IT HAS NOT WORKED OUT WELL BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE, IN ORDER TO GET PEOPLE TO USE IT, IT HAS TO BE RUN ON A REGULAR BASIS AND PREFERABLY FROM MULTIPLE, UH, LOCATIONS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO THAT CONTRIBUTES TO AIR QUALITY AND, AND TAKING AWAY ALL OF THOSE FUMES FROM ALL THE PEOPLE JUST CIRCLING AROUND AND AROUND, LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PARK, AS WELL AS THE REWILDING, WHICH WILL SEQUESTER THE CARBON.

SO THESE ARE THE THINGS WE'RE ASKING FOR.

UH, A BETTER TRANSIT SYSTEM, NO PARKING GARAGES.

AND TO LOOK AT THE $30 MILLION, WHICH IS A LOW BALL FOR THE LAND BRIDGE.

WE NEED THAT IN ALL OF OUR PARKS IN AUSTIN.

SIERRA CLUB IS NOT THE CLUB FOR BARTON SPRINGS OR ZILKER PARK.

WE ARE FOR ALL OF AUSTIN AND ALL OF OUR PARKS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH AS MUCH LOVE AND RESPECT AS ZILKER.

ZILKER IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT HAS BARTON SPRINGS, AND THAT'S WONDERFUL, AND THAT IS A, AN ASSET AND A JEWEL.

WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO PROTECT.

BUT NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO GO TO ZILKER.

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.

EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO ZILKER.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO COME TO ZILKER, BUT SIERRA CLUB TRULY BELIEVES WE HAVE TO WORK ON FUNDING FOR OUR ENTIRE PARK SYSTEM FOR OUR ENTIRE C CITIZEN BODY OF AUSTIN.

OUR LAST SPEAKER'S GONNA BE SCOTT COBB.

A DECLARATION OF OUR COLLECTIVE DEDICATION TO A MORE INCLUSIVE, ACCESSIBLE TOMORROW.

AND MR. DOBE, DID YOU NOTE THAT, UM, A BOARD MEMBER NICOLE MERRITT, WAS ON AT 6 0 6? I DID.

GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SCOTT CO.

UM, TODAY I SUBMITTED A NOMINATION FORM TO RENAME OR TO ACTUALLY JUST NAME BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE AFTER JOAN MEANS CABELA.

AND I PAID THE $365 APPLICATION FEE.

UM, MY GOAL FOR THE ENTIRE BARTON SPRINGS ONE TIME IN THE FUTURE IS TO REMOVE THE NAME WILLIAM BARTON FROM THE ENTIRE BARTON SPRINGS AND RENAME IT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO OCCUPIED THE LAND FOR THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE HE EVER CAME ALONG WITH HIS SLAVE HOLDING MENTALITY.

BUT, UH, AS FAR AS THE BATHHOUSE, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO NAME IT FOR JOAN MEANS CABBEL, WHICH I FIRST, UH, SUGGESTED IN 2021 SHORTLY AFTER HER DEATH.

SO NAMING, NAMING IT AFTER JOAN MEANS KABEL, UH, WOULD BE A TRIBUTE THAT ISN'T CONFINED TO THE PAST.

IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE BY HONORING JOAN.

IN THIS WAY, WE'RE MAKING A COMMITMENT TO A FUTURE THAT MIRRORS HER IDEALS OF EQUALITY AND INCLUSIVITY.

JUST AS HER BRAVERY IGNITED A MOVEMENT THAT OPEN BARTON SPRINGS FOR EVERYONE, THIS ACT TO REMAIN RENAMED THE BATHHOUSE BECOMES A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT PROGRESS THAT IS ISN'T STATIC.

IT EVOLVES, IT ADAPTS AND THRIVES EVERY CHILD WALKING THROUGH THE DOORS TO BARTON SPRINGS POOL.

EVERY FAMILY GATHERING BY THE POOLSIDE WILL BE TOUCHED BY JOAN'S SPIRIT GUIDING US TOWARDS A BRIGHTER, MORE JUST FUTURE.

FOR AUSTIN, JOAN MEANS CABELA'S ACTIONS, OR THE SEEDS THAT CONTINUE TO GERMINATE AND SHAPE AUSTIN'S FUTURE REMA RENAMING THE BATHHOUSE AFTER HER.

IS IT MERELY A CELEBRATION OF HER COURAGE? IT'S

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HER STORY AND THE BATHHOUSES RENAMING INTERSECT TO CRAFT A NARRATIVE THAT EXTENDS BEYOND HER HISTORY.

A NARRATIVE OF PROGRESS, INCLUSIVITY, AND THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF A YOUNG GIRL'S ACTIONS TO WEAVE A TAPESTRY OF COMMUNITY THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE BATHHOUSE.

A GATEWAY OF INCLUSIVITY STANDS OPEN A TESTAMENT THAT ACCESSIBILITY IS NOT JUST A CONCEPT, IT'S AN EMBODIMENT OF IDEALS.

WHERE ONCE THE BATHHOUSE SYMBOLIZE EXCLUSION AND NOW SYMBOLIZES ACCESSIBILITY, WELCOMING EVERYONE RESPECTIVE OF THEIR BACKGROUND, JOAN'S LEGACY BECOMES INTERTWINED WITH ESSENCE OF THE PLACE THAT BECKONS FORTH A NEW ERA WHERE THE BARRIERS OF THE PAST GIVE WAY TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.

AS THE DOORS SWING OPEN, THEY SWING OPEN TO ALL A PLACE WHERE EQUITY AND UNITY THRIVE.

JOAN'S LEGACY EXTENDS BEYOND THE PRESENT CASTING ITS INFLUENCE ON TOMORROW'S YET TO UNFOLD.

HERE, INDIVIDUALS FROM DIVERSE WALKS OF LIFE WILL CONVENE, CONNECT, AND SHAPE A FUTURE ROOTED IN ACCESS, ACCEPTANCE, AND SHARED HUMANITY.

JOAN MEANS CABELA'S STORY WILL CONTINUE TO REMIND US THAT ONE PERSON'S UNWAVERING COURAGE, AN ABILITY TO HARNESS THE POWER OF HER COMMUNITY, HAS THE POWER TO IGNITE CHANGE THAT REVERBERATES THROUGH TIME INSPIRING US TO STAND UP FOR JUSTICE AND FORGE A BETTER WORLD FOR ALL.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE PARKS BOARD THAT HAS NOT ALREADY DONE? SO WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

SPEAKER, WOULD YOU SAY YOUR NAME AT THE BEGINNING AND THEN SEE ME? HI, I'M TERRY ADAMS. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT WAS NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN, BUT I CAN'T SAY THAT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE RIGHT NOW.

A FEW MEETINGS BACK, I WATCHED THE CHAIR OF THE PARKS BOARD MANEUVER TO RECEIVE THAT HONOR.

AND THEN THE NEXT MEETING I WATCHED YOU COMPLETELY IGNORE.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, OVER A HUNDRED SPEAKERS SHOWED UP TO EXPRESS THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN.

YOU SUBSTITUTED YOUR JUDGMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU CANNOT DO THAT AND SIT ON A BOARD THAT REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE REQUIRES ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PARKS BOARD, NOT THE THREE THAT VOTED NO, BUT THE OTHER MEMBERS, YOU DID NOT LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU VOTED, YOU LOOKED AT THE CHAIR.

SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU WHO VOTED YES, PLEASE EXERCISE INDEPENDENT THOUGHT, PLEASE EXERCISE YOUR INDEPENDENT WILL.

DON'T BE ONE OF THE KIDS THAT JUMPS OFF THE CLIFF WITH ALL THEIR FRIENDS.

AND MR. VILLALOBOS, IF YOU ARE GOING TO OCCUPY THIS SEAT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, YOU ARE GOING TO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IF YOU HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED.

BECAUSE IF YOU ARE A KIND OF ACTIVIST, THAT NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENTLY STATED.

CAN YOU, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU MEANT BY THAT LAST PART? WHAT? CAN YOU, CAN YOU, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEANT BY THAT LAST PART? SURE.

UM, SO I'M A KIND OF ACTIVIST, I WANT PUBLIC PARKS IN PUBLIC HANDS.

YOU HAVE BEEN REPEATING THE TALKING POINTS OF THE NONPROFITS THAT WANT TO CONTROL AREAS OF OUR PUBLIC PARKS.

SO IF YOU ARE THE KIND OF PARKS ACTIVISTS THAT WANT TO TRANSFER SOME PARTS OF OUR PARKS TO NONPROFIT CONTROL, THEN I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT INSTEAD OF REPEATING, YOU KNOW, JUST PHRASES, BUZZ WORDS, TALKING POINTS.

PARKS BOARD IN ORDER TO INCREASE, UH, ACCESS AND TO HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM MY COMMUNITY.

DO YOU KNOW WHY I GOT ON THE PARKS BOARD? DO I KNOW WHY YOU GOT ON THE PARKS BOARD? I'M ASSUMING THAT'S NOT A TRICK QUESTION.

THAT'S JUST A SIMPLE YES OR NO.

THAT HOW WOULD I KNOW THAT? SO YOU DON'T, LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY I GOT ON THE PARKS BOARD.

I GOT ON THE PARKS BOARD BECAUSE THERE WAS A NEED IN MY COMMUNITY.

MY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED AS IT PERTAINS TO ACCESS TO OPEN SPACES AND SPECIFICALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO PRESTIGIOUS OPEN SPACES THAT HAPPEN TO BE WEST OF 35.

SO I CAME ON THE

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SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY I GOT ON THE PARKS BOARD.

I DON'T THINK THAT NECESSARILY, UH, YOUR PERCEPTION, UH, OF ME IS ACCURATE.

YOU AND I HAVE NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

BUT IF WE DO EVER HAVE THE CONVERSATION, IF WE EVER DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, I WILL GLADLY EXPOUND ON THOSE, ON, ON THAT.

DOES THAT, DOES, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS AND YOU HAVE SHOWN BY YOUR ACTIONS THAT YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

AND WHEN YOU SAY THE COMMUNITY, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? I MEAN, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHOWN UP AND HAVE SPOKEN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER AUSTIN, NOT JUST THE WEST SIDE.

I WAS THERE SO I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

I THINK WE CAN HAVE A DEEPER DISCUSSION THAT IS PRODUCTIVE ABOUT THE REPRESENTATION THAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

AND THE, UH, WAY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS IS, I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT YOU AND I ARE SO, UH, AFAR APART.

UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A WAY TO PROGRESS FORWARD, UM, AS IT PERTAINS TO HOW TO VAST BE STEWARDS OF PARKS.

I HOPE SO.

MR. ADAM, CAN WE SHIFT THIS OUT? I WONDER IF I COULD ADD ONE SENTENCE.

SURE.

IN LIGHT OF THE ZILKER VISION PLAN AND ALL THAT BRUHAHA, AND IN LIGHT OF HOW MUCH IT COST THE CITY IN SPECIAL PERKS, WAIVING OF FEES AND USE OF PARKS EMPLOYEES, I WISH SOMEONE WOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER MOVING A C L AND SOUTH BY OUT OF THE PARK.

THEY DON'T BELONG THERE.

THEY BELONG IN A CONCERT VENUE AWAY FROM THE PARK.

'CAUSE IT CAUSES MULTIPLE PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE USING THE PARK AND PEOPLE DRIVING THROUGH IT TIES UP THAT WHOLE PART OF TOWN FOR WEEKS ON END.

AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO CONSIDER NOT RENEWING THE CONTRACT FOR A C L AND SOUTH BY HAVING THEM MOVE TO C THREE OR THE Q TWO SOCCER STADIUM WOULD REALLY IMPROVE THE PARKS TREMENDOUSLY.

UM, IS THAT IT, MR. BECK? THAT'S IT FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO GO

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

TO APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

UM, EVERYONE HAS A COPY OF THE MINUTES.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS? I DON'T, IT'S NOT A SUGGESTION.

JUST A, A TYPO ON 11 UNDER WORKING GROUP UPDATES.

UM, A T ADDED TO BARTON.

WHAT WAS IT? IT'S, UM, EXCUSE ME.

I DO, I WILL SAY THAT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE MOVING, THAT ARE LEAVING.

I'M GONNA ASK THAT THE I'M I WORKING GROUP UPDATES BE TAKEN UP NEXT.

'CAUSE I DO THINK IT'S GONNA TOUCH ON A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THEY MENTIONED AND TALKED ABOUT.

CHAIR.

THIS IS, THIS IS, UM, HOLLY REED.

UH, I WAS GOING TO ALSO SAY TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE SHUTTLE AND TRANSPORTATION IN ZIPPER PARK, UM, THAT WE DO HAVE A SHUTTLE WORKING GROUP AND WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THEIR INPUT AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONTACT US.

UM, BOARD MEMBER HAGMAN, CHAIR VILLALOBOS, MYSELF AND BOARD MEMBER BACKER ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE ZILKER PARK SHUTTLE WORKING GROUP.

YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT COMMENT.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER, UH, CHANGES, UH, TO THE JULY FOUR 24TH 2023 AGENDA? UH, MEETING MEETING MINUTES IF I DON'T HEAR ANY.

DOES ANYONE WANNA MAKE A, DOES SOMEONE WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE JULY, 2024 JULY 24TH, 2023 MEETING MINUTES?

[00:35:01]

UH, YES.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

THERE'S A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBER BECKER.

IS THERE A SECOND? ALL SET? THERE'S A SECOND FROM, UH, BOARD MEMBER BAAN.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

PASS THIS UNANIMOUSLY, UH, BOARD MEMBERS AT THIS TIME WITHOUT ANY, UM, WELL, WE HAVE TO DO AGENDA SPECIFIC ITEMS FIRST, SPECIFIC AGENDA, SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION FIRST.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY, UH, AGENDA SPECIFIC PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS MEETING.

WHICH IS A SIX UPDATE FROM SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD.

SO BOARD MEMBERS WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION.

I'M GONNA MOVE TO WORKING GROUP UPDATES.

UH, AGENDA ITEM SIX THROUGH 11.

IS THERE ANYONE OPPOSED? SEEING NONE.

OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO WITH THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM,

[6. Update from South Central Waterfront Advisory Board. (Bazan)]

BOARD MEMBER BAAN.

UM, AT THAT MEETING, WE RECEIVED A BRIEFING ON PROJECT CONNECT, UM, BY PETER MULLEN.

AND THEN, UM, WE SPENT THE, THE REST OF THE TIME GETTING UPDATES FROM THE WORKING GROUPS.

AND THAT ESSENTIALLY COVERS THE MEETING.

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UPDATE FROM DOWNTOWN COMMISSION BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN.

UH,

[7. Update from Downtown Commission. (Franklin)]

THIS MONTH'S MEETING WAS, UH, CANCELED AND THEY'LL BE PICKING UP IN SEPTEMBER DUE TO A TRUNCATED AGENDA FOR AUGUST.

THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.

UH,

[8. Update from Joint Sustainability Committee. (Bazan, Becker)]

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, UPDATE FROM JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, EITHER BOARD MEMBER BAAN OR BOARD MEMBER BECKER.

UM, SO WE DISCUSSED, UH, THE WORKING GROUP DRAFTS ON PRIORITY POLICY AND, UM, PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.

AND THEN, UH, PASSED A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ON COMPOSTING AND RECYCLING SERVICES AT MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.

AND FOR, UH, NUMBER NINE, UPDATE FROM ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN WORKING GROUP BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR ISN'T HERE.

ALRIGHT.

[9. Update from Zilker Park Vision Plan Working Group. (Taylor)]

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, I WAS LOOKING AT THE BYLAWS AND GIVEN THE UPDATES THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE MAYBE OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, I DON'T REMEMBER SINCE WHEN EVERYTHING'S A JUMBLE NOW, UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S NECESSARILY A NECESSITY FOR A ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN WORKING GROUP ANYMORE.

UM, I DO THINK THAT MOVING FORWARD, THE THERE DOES NEED TO BE A WORKING GROUP CREATED TO TACKLE Z ZILKER PARK AND OTHER METROPOLITAN PARKS.

HOWEVER, I THINK IN ITS CURRENT ITERATION, THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN WORKING GROUP IS DEFUNCT.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT BY JUST FUNCTION OF THE BYLAWS, UM, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, UM, TERMINATED AT THE APRIL MEETING.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WHAT I'M SAYING IS, THIS IS TWO STEPS.

ONE, THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN WORKING GROUP, AS LISTED IN NUMBER NINE, SHOULD NO LONGER EXIST.

BUT INSTEAD, WE SHOULD NOW BE CREATING A NEW WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE WHAT ZILKER PARK LOOKS LIKE.

UM, TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT PROPONENT OPPONENTS REWILDING, YOU KNOW, UH, PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE IN THIS THING.

SO I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE NOT GONNA, THAT WE'RE STOPPING THE TALK, THAT WE'RE STOPPING THE CONVERSATION ON ZUCKER PARK.

I JUST THINK THAT THE CONVERSATION ON THE VISION PLAN ITSELF, UM, AS IT EXISTED, NEEDS TO STOP GIVEN ALL THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

UH, I THINK THE IDEA OF SETTING UP A NEW WORKING GROUP TO EXPLORE THAT IS AN EXCELLENT ONE.

SO, AT THIS TIME, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? OR DID I, I KNOW IT WAS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING.

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING.

CHAIR.

WHAT WOULD THE NAME OF THIS WORKING GROUP BE CALLED? UM, SO I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, UM, I WANTED TO GET IT DONE BY THIS BOARD.

UH, IF I'M LOOKING LIKE I'M LOOKING AT YOU, HOLLY.

SO, , UM, SORRY.

I JUST SOMETIMES, LIKE I FEEL AWKWARD LOOKING AT A SCREEN.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO WAS, UH, COME UP WITH, UH, PARAMETERS, IDEAS OF WHAT THIS NEW WORKING GROUP WOULD TACKLE.

I THINK WORKING GROUPS WORK BETTER WHENEVER THEY HAVE OBJECTIVES THAT THEY HAVE TO ATTAIN.

UM, HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT, UH, I WAS ABLE, I DON'T THINK I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO THAT BY THIS MEETING.

UM, I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE, WE'VE BEEN IN, I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH INCLUDE, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIKE ROBIN RATHER.

UM, AND, UH, I THINK THAT BY THE SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING, MY HOPE IS THAT WE DO HAVE, UH, GUIDELINES, PARAMETERS, UH, IN PLACE IN ORDER TO HELP GUIDE US AS TO WHAT ONE, THE WORKING GROUP IS GONNA BE NAMED.

TWO, WHAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKING GROUP'S GONNA BE.

UM, AND THREE, KIND OF FIGURING OUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED, UM, IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND WEEKS.

DOES

[00:40:01]

THAT MAKE SENSE? YES, IT DOES.

AND AND I REALLY APPRECIATE US SPEAKER GAIL RHODES.

UM, NEW NARRATIVE THAT SHE BROUGHT FORTH THIS EVENING ABOUT, UH, UH, ZILKER PARK MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.

AND MAYBE WE CAN INCORPORATE SOME OF THOSE IDEAS DEFINITELY AS A WORKING, DEFINITELY.

SO, DOES THAT ALL MAKE SENSE? BOARD MEMBERS? SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO DISSOLVE THESE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN WORKING GROUP.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

YOU WANT ME TO SECOND IT? OH, SORRY.

IS THERE A SECOND? WHO SAID THAT? OH, JEN.

JULIE HAYES.

FORMER MEMBER HAYES.

OKAY, THERE'S A SECOND.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALRIGHT, UNANIMOUS.

SO DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS, UH, THE GOAL TOWARDS THE SEPTEMBER MEETING IS TO COME UP WITH A NEW WORKING GROUP AND SET UP PARAMETERS OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HAVE, UH, TOLD US, UM, AND HAVE GIVEN US FEEDBACK ON.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO NOTHING'S GONNA BE DONE AT THIS NEXT MEETING.

WE'LL TAKE THAT UP AT THE NEXT MEETING.

UM, UPDATE, UH, ANY, UH, AGENDA

[10. Update from Zilker Shuttle Working Group. (Villalobos, Reed, Hugman)]

ITEM NUMBER 10, UPDATE FROM ZILKER SHUTTLE WORKING GROUP, UH, BOARD MEMBER REED? YES.

UM, THANK YOU CHAIR.

I RECEIVED, UH, THE STAFF UPDATE ON CENTRALIZED PARKING SYSTEM RESOLUTION THAT, UH, DIRECTOR MCNEELY HAD TOLD US ABOUT AT THE LAST PARKS BOARD MEETING.

AND I THINK, UM, FOLLOWING ALONG WITH THIS AND MEETING, UH, WITH JASON REDFERN, WHO IS THE PARKING ENTERPRISE MANAGER, UM, WILL BE VERY USEFUL IN COMING UP WITH SOME IDEAS FOR THE SHUTTLE.

ALSO, THE SHUTTLE WORKING GROUP IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO HAVE SCHEDULE SOME MEETINGS WITH CAP METRO AND AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE OTHERS HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THE SHUTTLE WORKING GROUP.

I'LL JUST ADD THAT, UM, WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE IF THE COUNCIL HAS CONSIDERED THE, UH, RECOMMENDATION THAT WE PASSED AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING REGARDING THE INTERNAL ZILKER SHUTTLE.

UH, BARTEND SPRINGS, BATHHOUSE WORKING GROUP.

DOES ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER, HAGMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD OR SHE THAT WE'RE GOOD TO GO ON IT? I THINK WE'RE GOOD FOR NOW.

I'M JUST WAITING TO HEAR IF COUNSEL'S GONNA SPEND THE MONEY ON THOSE SHUTTLES, SO.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO NUMBER 11.

UPDATE FROM,

[11. Update from Baron Springs Bathhouse Working Group. (Villalobos, Bazan)]

UM, SO BOARD MEMBER BZA AND I ARE ON THAT GROUP.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE RECRUITED, UM, THE PERSON, THE PERSON THAT WAS REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE GOTTEN TO BE PART OF THE WORKING GROUP, UM, IS DR.

ED GO, TED GORDON, UH, WHO WORKS AT UT AS A PROFESSOR.

FOR THOSE BOARD MEMBERS THAT DON'T KNOW, UM, DR.

TED GORDON IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CONTEXTUALIZATION AND COMMEMORATION INITIATIVE AT UT.

THAT HAPPENS TO BE A WOR A MOUTHFUL.

UM, HE'S ALSO THE, UH, DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA STUDY THAT UT AS WELL.

UM, AND HE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH CONTEXTUALIZING HISTORY, PARTICULARLY, UH, AS IT PERTAINS TO RACIAL HISTORY.

UM, SO I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED THAT HE WAS WILLING, UM, AND ABLE TO COME ON BOARD, UH, THIS WORKING GROUP.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT WORKING GROUPS IS, IS THAT WORKING GROUPS AREN'T JUST LIMITED TO BOARD MEMBERS.

WE CAN INCORPORATE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, WHO BRING A VERY VALUABLE EXPERTISE, UM, TO A, A, A VAL, A VERY VALUABLE PERSPECTIVE INTO THE FOLD, SO THAT WAY WE CAN, UH, TRY TO ADVANCE SOMETHING AS BEST AS WE CAN.

UM, THE OTHER PERSON THAT I WAS VERY EXCITED TO GET, UH, ON BOARD AND WILLING TO SERVE ON THIS IS, UH, VELVA PRICE.

UM, SHE'S CURRENTLY THE DISTRICT CLERK.

UH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE'S THE BOARD MEMBER OF K D I.

UM, FOR WHICH OF YOU, IF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW, IT'S, UH, ONE OF, IT'S THE BIGGEST AFRICAN AMERICAN RADIO STATION IN AUSTIN.

UM, BUT SHE HAS JUST A LOT OF COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, UM, WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED.

UM, SO I WAS VERY EXCITED TO GET HER ON BOARD.

UM, LIKE I SAID, BOARD MEMBER , UH, IS ALSO ON IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, UH, THAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE HAD THREE MEETINGS ALREADY ON, ON THIS WORKING GROUP.

UM, AND SOME OF THE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN FLOATED AROUND, UH, IN REGARDS TO WHO WE SHOULD NAME THE BATHHOUSE AFTER, IS OBVIOUSLY JOAN MEANS COBEL IS ONE OF THEM.

YOU KNOW, HER NAME GOES WITHOUT SAYING ALWAYS IS AT THE FOREFRONT WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BARTON SPRINGS DESEGREGATION.

[00:45:01]

UM, YOU KNOW, THE VALUES THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, UH, WE'RE EM EMBODYING ANY TIME WE TALK ABOUT, UH, INTEGRATION EG.

UH, THE FIGHT AGAINST SEGREGATION.

UM, OTHER NAMES THAT OBVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN THROWN AROUND AS WELL AS WE'VE BEEN LEARNING FROM HISTORIANS, UH, AND PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE HAVE BEEN GARY PEREZ AND SANDRA KIRK AS WELL.

UM, IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

UH, ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PERSPECTIVES THAT I THINK DR.

GORDON HAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE IS IN REGARDS TO NAMING FACILITIES.

UM, AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT HERE TO, UH, UH, ONE OF THE, LEMME BACK UP.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S, THAT HE'S TALKED ABOUT IS, UM, AND THAT HAVE, I THINK HAS RESONATED WITH ME A LITTLE BIT, WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO STRUGGLE A LITTLE BIT WITH MAKING A STRONG AND SOUND RECOMMENDATION, IS THAT HE BELIEVES THAT SOMETIMES BY NAMING FACILITIES AFTER A PERSON DEEMPHASIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE NOT BEEN THE MAIN VOICE IN A SYSTEM, BUT WHO THEMSELVES WERE PART OF THAT PUZZLE THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO THE END RESULT.

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T COMPLETE A PUZZLE WITH ALL THE PUZZLE PIECES AND EVERYONE, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERYONE HAD AN IMPORTANT VOICE.

UM, THE OTHER THING THAT HE, THAT, THAT HE SUGGESTED TO US TO PONDER WAS WHETHER, UH, NAMING A FACILITY AFTER SOMEONE IS, UH, BEST BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE COME RUN INTO SITUATIONS WHERE WE'RE LIKE, OH, LET'S NAME A FACILITY AFTER.

I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, HARVEY WEINSTEIN WAS THE RAGE, BUT NOW WE KNOW THAT HE'S NOT THE BEST PERSON AND WE PROBABLY REGRET PRAISING HIM AS MUCH AS HE DID.

SO HE, HE BRINGS THAT TO THE FOLD.

UM, SO WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THAT AND WE'RE ALSO HEARING A LOT OF PERSPECTIVES FROM THE INDIGENOUS CULTURES AS WELL.

UM, WHO INHABITED THE AREA, PARTICULARLY THE TONKA WALL, UM, AND THE, IS IT COMANCHE, THE COMANCHE, THE COMANCHE? UM, SO WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF ABOUT THIS, AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT OBVIOUSLY, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS WHOLE, THAT I, I, I REALLY WANNA QUALIFY THIS BECAUSE I WANNA SAY, I KNOW THAT MR. COBB, UH, SAID THAT HE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION, UM, FOR THE BATHHOUSE TO BE NAMED AFTER JOAN MEANS KABEL.

UM, I AM BY NO MEANS SAYING THAT I'M OPPOSED TO THAT, OR I, I THINK THAT'S A BAD IDEA.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO LET THE, IN FACT, I THINK EVERYTHING THAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT HER MAKES ME ADMIRE HER EVEN MORE.

UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA MAKE SURE IS, IS THAT I WANT, PART OF WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH THIS WORKING GROUP IS I WANTED TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION BE LED BY PEOPLE WHO COME FROM THIS COMMUNITY AND WHO OFFER THESE PERSPECTIVES.

INSTEAD OF TELLING THEM THEIR HISTORY, I WANT THEM TO TELL ME THEIR HISTORY AND HOW THEY VIEW IT.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WANTED TO BRING, UH, PEOPLE FROM THOSE, FROM THOSE GROUPS BE REPRESENTED IN, IN, IN, IN THIS WORKING GROUP.

AND I THINK WE'VE HOPEFULLY ACHIEVED THAT TO SOME EXTENT.

SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE IN REGARDS TO THE WORKING, UH, GROUP.

UM, IN REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, NOW WE HAVE TO FACTOR IN THIS APPLICATION.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A BAD, AGAIN, I WANNA REITERATE IT.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A BAD APPLICATION AT ALL.

I'M NOT COMMENTING ON IT AT ALL.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE TO TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION, UM, TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, UM, SOME OF THE OTHER NAMES THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROPOSED.

UM, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TO A CONSENSUS AS TO WHAT IT IS.

'CAUSE THE LAST THING I THINK ANYONE IN THE WORKING GROUP WANTS IS FOR THERE TO BE TWO COMPETING IDEAS THAT ARE BOTH ON THEIR OWN WORTHY AND VALUABLE.

UM, WE WOULD RATHER HAVE, HOPEFULLY, COME TO ONE UNIFIED VOICE AS TO WHAT THAT MEANS, UM, OR WHAT THE BAD HOUSE SHOULD BE NAMED AFTER.

THAT BEING SAID, OUR NEXT MEETING WE'RE HEARING FROM THE INDIGENOUS CULTURE INSTITUTE, UM, UM, THEY PARTICULARLY HAVE, UH, STRONG TIES TO THE CA WALTON PEOPLE, UM, WHO INHABITED THIS AREA AND, UM, WHO VIEW BARTON SPRINGS AS A VERY SACRED PART OF THEIR, UH, CULTURE.

UM, ONE THING THAT I, I THINK BOARD MEMBER, I DON'T KNOW IF BOARD MEMBER BAAN KNEW THIS, BUT THE BARTON SPRINGS IS PART OF A, LIKE A SERIES OF SPRINGS, UH, FOUR, THE FOUR MAIN ONES BEING MARTIN SAN KAMAL, SAN MARCOS, AND SAN ANTONIO, THAT THEY VIEWED AS A VERY, LIKE A, A SPIRITUAL BEING, UM, THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM.

SO, UH, I'M VERY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THAT FROM THEM.

AND, UM, I'LL ALSO SAY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALSO HAS BEEN THROWN AROUND IS NAMING, UH, THE BATHHOUSE AFTER A INDIGENOUS WORD THAT, UH, MET AND IS VALUABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF, UH, UH, WHO INHABITED THE AREA BEFORE THE SETTLERS DID.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE ROUTE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'RE GONNA TAKE.

LIKE I SAID, WE'VE

[00:50:01]

THROWN OUT NAMES, WE'VE THROWN OUT SEVERAL NAMES.

UM, SO RIGHT, RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PHASE OF BRAINSTORMING.

I DON'T KNOW IF A BOARD MEMBER BAAN HAS ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD TO THIS AS WELL.

YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT THE, THAT THE NAMES ARE COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY INPUT.

SO PEOPLE WHO'VE SPOKEN OVER, OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE DEFINITELY NOTED THAT.

AND ALL OF THOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AND ARE STILL ON THE TABLE.

UM, AGAIN, AS WE TALK AS, UM, MR. VELO LOPEZ SAID, WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT AN ENTITY.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE KEEPING IN MIND IS, UM, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF OTHER GUEST SPEAKERS AS WELL.

UM, THE WOMAN WHO WORKED ON LIVING LIVING SCREEN, KAREN COKER, KAREN COKER.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE SAID THAT I KEEP COMING BACK TO IS THAT THE HUMAN HISTORY IS A SLIVER OF THE HISTORY OF THE PLACE.

UM, SO WE ARE JUST WEIGHING ALL OF THESE THINGS OUT AND, UM, I, I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT IF YOU'VE SPOKEN, WE'VE HEARD YOU AND THOSE NOTES HAVE BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE WORKING GROUP.

UM, AND WE ARE, WE ARE ALREADY SET TO MEET AGAIN.

AND SO, UM, JUST APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S CONTINUED CONVERSATION AND INPUT WITH THAT.

THE OTHER PART OF THE WORKING, UH, THE OTHER OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKING GROUP WAS TO EVALUATE THE, SO, UH, EVALUATE THE WAY THAT RACIAL HISTORY WAS, UH, IS TAUGHT AT THE BEVERLY SHEFFIELD EDUCATION CENTER.

UM, ONE THING I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THAT IT'S MANDATED THAT THE BEVERLY SHEFFIELD EDUCATION CENTER BE PRIMARILY ABOUT THE AQUIFER, THE SALAMANDER SPRINGS WATER, JUST BECAUSE OF IT BEING A, UH, THE SPRING ITSELF BEING A FEDERALLY PROTECTED SPRING.

UM, SO, UH, GETTING, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, LEARNING ABOUT, UH, ALL THE GREAT WORK ACTUALLY THAT THE CITY HAS DONE TO, IN REGARDS TO TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MARTIN SPRINGS FROM INDIGENOUS CULTURES TO THE, TO THE SEGREGATE TO THE SEGREGATION AND DESEGREGATION OF, OF IT.

UM, OBVIOUSLY, UH, JOHN COBELL IS A HUGE PART OF THAT.

UM, SO BEING ABLE TO HEAR AND SEE ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE TO TRY TO APPROPRIATELY CONTEXTUALIZE IT AND TELL IT IN THE MOST FACTUAL OBJECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE HAS BEEN VERY, UH, UH, HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO HEAR THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE VERY GOOD HISTORIANS AND PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT THAT, UM, HAVE A VERY GOOD POINT OF VIEW IN REGARDS TO HOW THEY TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

I WANTED TO ADD ONE MORE THING THAT, THAT WAS EXCITING ON THE, ON THE HISTORY SIDE, IS THAT WE DO HAVE, AS WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, WE'VE HAD HISTORIANS COME AND SAY THEY'VE LOOKED BACK AT THEIR NOTES AND HAVE SEEN SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T SEE BEFORE, OR WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE A CONNECTION WITH SOMEBODY AND HEAR ANOTHER PART OF THE STORY.

UM, AND SO, SO THOSE THINGS, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE, THEY'RE SECONDARY, ARE REALLY EXCITING FOR THE HISTORICAL ASPECT AND THE PART OF THE EDUCATION CENTER.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND THE PIECES THAT'LL BE BE FOR THAT.

AS, AS PRA SAID, THERE'S THE, THE SCIENCE PART AND THEN THERE'S THE VARIOUS STORIES THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO TELL AND HAVE, UM, HAVE THOSE COME AND BE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S JUST AN EXCITING THING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THIS HISTORY, LIKE A APPEAR, I GUESS.

WHICH IS A STAFF BRIEFING ON THE STATUS OF BARTON SPRINGS POOL, PECAN TREE.

AND LAST THING I'LL SAY IS I KNOW THAT I SPOKE WITH MR. COBB AT THE BEGINNING, WELL BEFORE THIS MEETING STARTED, UM, AND I'VE INVITED HIM TO JUST COME, UH, UH, SPEAK, UH, BE PART OF OUR NEXT MEETING, UM, SO THAT WAY HE CAN TALK TO US ABOUT HIS APPLICATION AS WELL.

BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT, THIS IS NOT, I'M NOT, I DON'T WANT IT TO GET, I DON'T WANT IT TO SEEM LIKE I'M SAYING ANYTHING BAD ABOUT 'CAUSE I'M ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GO INTO ALL OF THIS AS, UH, AS UNANIMOUS AS WE CAN.

'CAUSE I, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS, BECAUSE PROJECT MERITS AS CONSENSUS AND, UM, EVERY A, A NAME THAT WE CAN, EVERY, EVERYONE CAN BE PROUD OF AND THAT EVERYONE CAN SUPPORT ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANY BOARD MEMBERS.

ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO,

[2. Staff briefing on status of the Barton Springs Pool Pecan Tree. Presenter(s)]

I DUNNO, WHAT, DO WE WANNA TAKE A RESEARCH REAL QUICK BEFORE WE GOOD TO GO.

GOOD EVENING.

BOARD MEMBERS, KIMBERLY MCNE MCNEELY, SERVING AS THE PARKS AND RECREATION

[00:55:01]

DIRECTOR.

AND I HAVE MY COLLEAGUE JOSHUA ERICKSON, WHO IS HERE, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE FORESTRY DIVISION, UH, WHO IS THE FOREMOST EXPERT ON OUR STAFF, UH, RELATED TO, UM, TO FORESTRY ISSUES AND ITEMS. AND SO HE IS HERE JUST IN CASE.

THERE ARE SOME TECHNICAL QUESTIONS THAT I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER.

SO WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT FLOW.

FLOW IS A TREE THAT HAD BEEN NAMED, UH, AT BARTON SPRINGS BECAUSE OF ITS ICONIC NATURE, IT HAS BEEN LEANING OVER THE, AND I MEAN THAT IN A POSITIVE WAY, NOT IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

IT HAS BEEN PART OF, UM, OF BARTON SPRINGS SINCE 1920.

IT IS CURRENTLY SUPPORTED BY CABLES AND A PERMANENT STEEL STRUCTURE BECAUSE OF, UM, IT, ITS NEEDS FOR US TO, BECAUSE WE HAVE CARED ABOUT IT SO MUCH AND THE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRY AND KEEP IT, UM, IN ITS, ITS CURRENT LOCATION AND AS STABLE AS POSSIBLE AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

THE TRUNK CAVITY IS PARTIALLY FILLED WITH CONCRETE.

UH, AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN SOMETIME AROUND 1958.

AND, UH, THAT IS NOT AN INDUSTRY PRACTICE OR AN INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE ANYMORE.

IF YOU HAVE SOME TECHNICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, THAT'S WHY JOSHUA WILL BE ABLE TO HELP.

UM, WE HAVE FENCING AROUND THE CRITICAL ROOT ZONE TO REDUCE SOIL COMPACTION, AND WE ACTUALLY PLANTED A SECOND PECAN TREE A LITTLE BIT UPHILL FROM FLOW TO REPLACE THE CANOPY IF INDEED FLOW DECLINED TO A POINT, UH, THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SAVE THAT PARTICULAR TREE.

SO WE TRIED TO PLAN AHEAD AND BE PROACTIVE IN KNOWING, UM, ALL THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE PREVIOUSLY TO TRY AND KEEP IT, UH, ESTABLISHED AND, AND IN PLACE THAT THERE MIGHT COME A TIME WHEN THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

SO THAT'S, THEREFORE WE PLANTED THAT SECOND TREE.

UM, THERE IS A DIAGNOSIS, UH, FROM, UH, AUSTIN, NO, NOT FROM AUSTIN, FROM, UH, TEXAS A AND M AND TEXAS A AND M LET US KNOW THAT THERE IS A BRITTLE CEDAR SEA CINDER FUNGUS THAT HAS INFECTED THIS PARTICULAR TREE.

I'M NOT EVEN GONNA TRY TO SAY IT'S SCIENTIFIC NAME, BUT I'M SURE JOSHUA KNOWS HOW TO SAY IT.

UM, WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT WE RECEIVED THOSE RESULTS, RIGHT, THERE WAS, THERE WAS, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE VISUALLY SEE THOSE, SEE SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT WITH THE TREE.

AND SO THEREFORE WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, HAVE THOSE LABS TAKEN AND NOT TESTED.

PLEASE KNOW THAT ON OUR WEBPAGE THERE IS A PROJECT PAGE OR A PAGE THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT FLOW AND THE ACTUAL LAB TESTS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE IF YOU WANTED TO READ THEM YOURSELVES.

UM, IN RESPONSE TO THAT.

SO WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THE TREE HAS THIS FUNGUS.

AND SO IN RESPONSE TO THAT, WE, IT SAYS RIGHT HERE THAT WE CONTACTED THREE INDEPENDENT, UM, CERTIFIED ARBORISTS, BUT WE ACTUALLY CONTACTED AT LEAST FOUR.

AT LEAST FOUR, AND WE HAVE A FIFTH INDIVIDUAL THAT WE ARE, WE HAVE A CALL INTO THAT WE ARE HOPING WILL RESPOND TO US.

AND OUR IDEA HERE IS THAT WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND FROM OTHER ARBORISTS, OTHER THAN OURSELVES, WHAT IS IT THAT THEY WOULD, UH, RECOMMEND HAPPEN TO THIS TREE OR WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REMEDIES OR OPTIONS OR AVAILABLE IN INTERVENTIONS, IF ANY EXIST? UM, FOR THIS TREE, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE'S NO REAL EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR BRITTLE CINDER FINK FUNGUS.

AND THAT MEANS THAT EVENTUALLY, UH, THE TREE GETS TO A POINT THAT IT'S NO LONGER STABLE.

UH, AND, BUT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OTHERS, UM, IF THEY HAVE A SIMILAR VIEWPOINT AND IF THEIR INTERVENTIONS ARE SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR SOMETHING, UH, CREATIVE THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT.

SO KNOWING THAT IT, IT HAS SOME INSTABILITY TO IT, UH, AND THAT THIS FUNGUS, UH, IS A AVAIL, IS THERE, EVEN THOUGH THE TREE LOOKS HEALTHY, WE'VE ADD ADDITIONAL SUPPORT ROPES.

SO, UH, THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND WE ALSO PUT OUT SOME BUOYS IN THE, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THEM, THOSE RED, THEY'RE ACTUALLY RESCUE TUBES, BUT WE HAD BUOYS AND NOW WE ADDED RESCUE TUBES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AREA WAS DEFINED SO THAT, UM, WE'RE KEEPING THE, THE COMMUNITY AND THE PATRONS OF THE POOL AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE SHOULD THAT TREE BECOME UNSTABLE.

AND OUR NEXT STEPS IS THAT WE'RE AWAITING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS OR THOSE, UH, IDEAS OF WHAT THE POSSIBLE INTERVENTIONS COULD BE OR IF THERE IS A DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE, THE, UH, INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED ARBORISTS.

AND AGAIN, IT SAYS THREE, BUT PLEASE KNOW THERE'S AT LEAST FOUR AND MAYBE A FIFTH ON THE WAY.

WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS BACK OUT TO, UH, THE COMMUNITY.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL PUT THAT ON THE, ON THE, UH, PROJECT PAGE THAT WE HAVE ON THE WEBSITE.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO, IN PART OF THAT PROCESS IS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.

WE FELT AS THOUGH IT WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS TODAY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ABOUT FLOW BECAUSE ALL WE KNOW IS THAT FLOW HAS THIS DISEASE.

WE DON'T

[01:00:01]

KNOW ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT WHAT OTHER ENTITIES MIGHT, UM, SUGGEST THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO WITH FLOW.

AND SO THEREFORE WE WANTED TO BE, GIVE A COMPLETE SET OF INFORMATION, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE ABSOLUTELY WORKING TO, UM, MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR THE FUNGUS TO SPREAD.

AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS VERY COMMON.

UM, HOWEVER, UH, THE FORESTRY TEAM HAS TAKEN PRECAUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER TREES, ESPECIALLY THE ONE THAT'S RIGHT UP, UM, RIGHT DIRECTLY ABOVE FLOW IS, IS AS HEALTHY AS IT COULD POSSIBLY BE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SAY IF THERE IS THE NEED TO REMOVE FLOW, THAT WE'LL ABSOLUTELY WANT TO EX UH, FIGURE OUT A WAY TO HONOR, UH, FLOW AND HONOR.

UH, ITS LONG HISTORY WITH BARTON SPRINGS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS WHO CARED A LOT ABOUT FLOW ARE ABLE TO, UM, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, TAKE A PIECE OF FLOW WITH THEM.

UH, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WE DID HAVE A SITUATION WITH THE TREATY OAK AND WE WERE ABLE TO, AGAIN, THAT HAD IT.

UM, IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

AND, AND WE WERE ABLE TO HONOR, UH, THE TREATY OAK BY HAVING, UH, MEMENTOS THAT PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO, UH, HOLD ONTO TO REMEMBER THE TREATY OAK.

AND SO IF FLOW WERE TO HAVE A SIMILAR FATE, WE WOULD WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE HONOR FLOW, AND HOW DO PEOPLE, UM, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A MEMORY OF THAT PARTICULAR TREE.

SO WITH THAT SAID, THAT WAS A VERY QUICK BRIEFING AND WE'RE HERE FOR QUESTIONS MOSTLY.

UH, JOSHUA IS HERE IN CASE YOU HAVE SOMETHING TECHNICAL.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHO DID, UH, YOU SAID YOU GOT INDEPENDENT ARBORIST, IS THAT CORRECT? DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY? YEAH.

UM, HOW DID Y'ALL FIND THE INDEPENDENT ARBORIST? WE STARTED WITH, UH, ONE OF THE, THE ARBORIST THAT IS ASSIGNED TO THE, THAT ZONE.

WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAVE A MASTER AGREEMENT WITH.

UH, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARBORISTS ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO SECTORS OF THE CITY.

UH, AND SO WE TOOK THE ARBORIST THAT OVER, UH, THAT WORKS IN THAT SECTOR OF AUSTIN.

UH, WE REACHED OUT TO THAT COMPANY AND ASKED THEM TO PROVIDE A REPORT.

TYPICALLY, IF WE HAD WORK THAT WE WERE, WE WOULD CONTRACT IN THAT AREA, IT WOULD GO TO THAT, UH, THAT TREE SERVICE.

AND WE STARTED WITH THAT ONE AND WE ADDED TWO ADDITIONAL WELL-KNOWN, UM, TRUSTED AND RELIABLE, UH, ETHICAL ARBORISTS THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST AND THAT WE KNOW HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION, UH, PROVIDING RELIABLE INFORMATION AND SOME, AND ALSO, IF I COULD ADD, WE ALSO TOOK FEEDBACK FROM SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TREES AND WE'VE HAD OTHER TREE CONVERSATIONS AT THE BARTON SPRINGS AREA.

AND SO WE HAVE SOME, UH, PARTNERS OR SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THEY ARE PARTNERS ALSO THAT SAID, HEY, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS OF ARBORISTS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONTACT.

AND WE INCLUDED THOSE SUGGESTIONS IN THE, OUR REQUEST FOR UM, INTERVENTIONS.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF A PECAN TREE? YOU DON'T WANNA ANSWER THAT ONE ? NO.

UH, IT, UH, IT WOULD BE SITE DEPENDENT.

UH, THEY, WELL, SO I WOULD SAY FOR THIS PARTICULAR TREE, WE HAVE PHOTOS FROM, FROM THE 1920S THAT SHOW IT WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED.

SO IT'S, IT'S OVER A HUNDRED YEARS, UH, THIS PARTICULAR ONE.

AND IT'S BEEN IN A, UH, IT, IT'S HAD SOME WELL-KNOWN STRUCTURAL DEFECTS AND THE CAVITY WAS LARGE ENOUGH, THEY FILLED IT WITH CONCRETE IN 1958.

UH, AND IT'S BEEN ABLE TO PUSH THROUGH ALL OF THAT SO FAR.

SO, UH, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS COULD BE HUNDREDS IN IDEAL CONDITIONS.

UM, ALL TREES ARE ARE SUBJECT TO, UH, STORMS THAT WE'VE HAD, ICE STORMS, WIND STORMS, UM, TRYING TO FIND A PLACE THAT'S WELL PROTECTED FOR MAXIMUM LONGEVITY.

UH, IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY.

UM, I KNOW THAT IN GENERAL TERMS, TREES THAT ARE MORE STRESSED ARE, ARE GENERALLY MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO PEST AND, UH, PATHOGEN PATHOGENS.

THANK YOU FOR TRYING.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THE INTERNET HAS SOME DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THIS, BUT GENERALLY SEEMS TO THINK FOR AMERICAN PECAN TREE, IT IS IN THE A HUNDRED YEAR RANGE AND THAT SOMETIMES, DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS, IT CAN LAST 200 OR EVEN 300 YEARS.

SO YOU NAILED IT IN THE RANGE.

THAT'S GOOD.

UM, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, YOUR LEVEL OF CONCERN ABOUT THE FUNGAL SPREAD.

IS IT A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN? IS IT A MINOR CONCERN.

ANY SENSE OF THAT YET, UH, SPREAD WITHIN THE TREE, UH, TO OTHER TREES OR TO OTHER TREES? I, I'M CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT IT THAT I'VE ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS FOR, FROM THE OTHER ARBORISTS THAT WE'VE CONTACTED, JUST TO GET THEIR OPINION ON WHAT THEY WOULD RECOMMEND FOR THAT.

[01:05:01]

UM, AND SO OUR FOCUS WILL BE ON MAKING SURE THAT THE GROWING CONDITIONS ARE AS OPTIMAL AS POSSIBLE IN THOSE AREAS.

I'VE REQUESTED PROPOSAL FOR SOIL TESTING AND FOR POTENTIAL FERTILIZATION BASED ON THE RESULTS, UH, OF THOSE, UH, OF THOSE SOIL TESTS.

UH, WE'LL EVALUATE THOSE PROPOSALS WHEN WE GET ALL OF THOSE BACK.

COOL.

THIS, THIS SORT OF COMES BACK TO HIS QUESTION, SO YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HERE, BUT, UM, IN THE PRESENTATION IT SAYS THAT STAFF IS WORKING TO MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR FUNGUS TO SPREAD.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE THUS FAR IN THAT, OTHER THAN THE REACHING OUT AND WAITING TO GET, OR WAITING TO GET PROPOSALS BACK? I WOULD, I WOULD SAY TOO THAT, UM, I DON'T EXPECT THIS TO BE A WIDESPREAD EVENT.

UH, CRUTCH AREA IS, IS COMMON IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

UH, THERE, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE A TREE COME DOWN WITH THAT FUNGAL INFECTION.

UM, IT, IT'S NOT REGULAR EITHER.

I WOULD SAY WE MAYBE SEE A HANDFUL OF THOSE, UH, THROUGHOUT A YEAR.

AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT SPREADS LIKE OTHER, OTHER TREE DISEASES LIKE OAK WILT THAT WOULD SPREAD FROM ONE TREE TO THE NEXT TO THE NEXT, UH, IN CONCENTRIC CIRCLES OUT FROM THAT POINT.

I DON'T EXPECT THAT THIS FUNGUS DOES NOT SPREAD THAT WAY.

UM, I THINK THAT THIS TREE WAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THAT BECAUSE OF THE LEAN IT PUT THE BARK TISSUE IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND RIGHT NEXT TO THE WALL.

UH, THAT CONCRETE WALL WHERE ITS MOISTURE WAS TRAPPED.

AND I THINK THAT JUST CREATED A OPTIMAL GROWING ENVIRONMENT FOR THAT CRUTCH AREA FUNGUS.

SO I, I DO EXPECT THAT TO BE LOCALIZED TO THIS SPECIFIC TREE, AND I DON'T EXPECT THAT TO SPREAD TO OTHER TREES AT THE POOL.

YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS ONE, BUT, SO MY OTHER QUESTION IS THEN ABOUT THE CONCRETE.

'CAUSE IT WAS FILLED WITH CONCRETE, AND YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT IT WAS NEAR THE CONCRETE.

SO DO WE, IS THERE A CORRELATION GENERALLY FROM TREES THAT WERE FILLED WITH CONCRETE TO, OR IS THAT JUST, UM, UNFORTUNATE? NO, I THINK THE, THE CONCRETE OF THE, OF THE RETAINING WALL ON THE BOTTOM SIDE, RIGHT.

NOT, NOT INSIDE, NO, I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK THE CONCRETE INSIDE PLAYED A FACTOR.

IN THIS, UM, JUST TO COMMENT ON THAT REALLY QUICKLY, THE, THE PURPOSE OF PUTTING CONCRETE IN THERE WAS TO PROVIDE, UH, THE TREE A, A MEDIUM OR SOMETHING TO GROW OVER THAT.

THE IDEA WAS, WAS THAT IT WOULD CLOSE OVER THE WOUND.

UM, BUT IT, IT TURNED OUT TO NOT ACTUALLY BE, UH, TO WORK THAT WAY.

MOST OFTEN IT'S A PRACTICE THAT'S NOT, NOT USED ANYMORE.

I APPRECIATE, YEAH.

CHAIR, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR, UM, DIRECTOR MCNEELY YES.

OR SOMETHING.

UM, SO BOARD MEMBER BEAN AND I HAD SUGGESTED A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, AND, AND DIRECTOR MCNEELY, I KNOW YOU SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT THE TIME TO HAVE THAT PUBLIC HEARING, BUT IN OUR DISCUSSION, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMUNITY CAN SOMETIMES HAVE SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO RESOLVE THESE THINGS OR HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR OTHER ARBORISTS PERHAPS THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF OR MAY BE SOME SORT OF INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL WHEN REACHING OUT TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

SO I, I WOULD STILL HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT, NOT FOR THE PARKS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, REGARDING THE FUTURE OF FLOW, BUT JUST TO ALLOW A PUBLIC HEARING FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN AND MAKE COMMENTS AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS IF THEY KNOW OF ARBORISTS OR SOME OTHER SOLUTION THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE A LEAF THAT WAS NOT TURNED OVER.

POSSIBLY.

THANK AND THANK YOU YOU FOR THE YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE FEEDBACK.

WE'LL KEEP, WE'RE, UH, IT'S OUR INTENTION TO GIVE THE PUBLIC AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WHEN THEY'RE GIVING US COMMENTS, THEY KNOW AS MUCH AS WE DO.

SO ALL WE KNOW IS IT HAS A DISEASE.

WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, UH, CERTIFIED ARBORISTS, MULTIPLE CERTIFIED ARBORISTS MAY SUGGEST IS, IS AN INTERVENTION OR IS A, A RESULT OF THIS.

SO WE, IT IS OUR PLAN TO HAVE CONVERSATION.

WE JUST NEEDED TO GET A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION.

ARE ANY UPDATES OR CERTAINLY WE CAN PROVIDE YOU ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

WILL YOU COME BACK NEXT MONTH TO INFORM US AS TO WHAT, UH, IF THERE

[01:10:01]

UM, YOU, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A PACKED MEETING NEXT SEPTEMBER OR IN SEPTEMBER, BUT, UM, DEFINITELY WE COULD, I MEAN, IT, IT'S, WE'RE NOT GONNA SAVE THIS INFORMATION AND NOT SHARE IT WHEN WE, WHEN WE HAVE INFORMATION TO SHARE, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE MAKE IT PUBLIC.

IS THAT INFORMATION ALSO GONNA GO ON THE WEBSITE THAT'S BEEN SET UP? YES, SIR.

THAT WOULD BE OUR INTENTION.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM? I GUESS JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR ME AS FAR AS HOW THE FUNGUS IS SPREAD.

IS THAT, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT TREES THAT ARE STRESSED AND GIVEN HOW HOT AND DRY IT'S BEEN, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT TREES HAVE BEEN STRESSED, BUT IS IT JUST LIKE FUNGAL SPORES FLOATING ON THE WIND AND THIS ONE HAPPENED TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE KIND OF THING? YEAH.

THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

UH, I THINK THE, THE CONDITIONS UNDERNEATH, UNDERNEATH THAT TREE THAT'S IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, NORMALLY BARK ON THE TRUNK OF THE TREE, IS NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.

IT'S DIFFERENT TISSUE ON THE, UH, ON THE TRUNK OF THE TREE AS IT IS ON THE ROOTS.

AND SO WHEN THAT TRUNK, UM, THE BARK OF THE TRUNK IS IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND AGAINST THAT, UH, RETAINING WALL THAT'S HELPING TO SUPPORT IT AT THIS POINT, I THINK THAT JUST CREATED, UH, IT TRAPPED ENOUGH MOISTURE IN THAT LOCATION THAT IT CREATED, UH, THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT FUNGAL SPORE THAT CAME IN TO GET ESTABLISHED AND TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

I UNDERSTAND.

LAST COMMENT, PLEASE.

UM, I WAS GONNA ASK MR. ERICKSON IF, UM, UH, DO YOU KNOW KEITH MARS AND MICHAEL AND BESSIE? I DO, DO USED TO SERVE AS CITY ARBORISTS? YES.

OKAY, GREAT.

I KNOW BOTH WELL.

HOPEFULLY YOU WOULD PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS FOR THIS TREE.

I'M HOPING THAT THEY CAN BE CONTACTED AS WELL IF NECESSARY.

THANKS, .

ANYTHING ELSE? BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY.

NO, NONE.

TO, UH, NUMBER THREE, STAFF BRIEFING ON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS, PLANNING UPDATES, DEVELOPMENT UPDATES, MAINTENANCE UPDATES, PROGRAM UPDATES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES.

ALRIGHT, WELL THAT'S IT FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.

I HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF CLOSE TO YOU.

I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A 10 MINUTE, UH, FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

SO PLEASE BE BACK HERE AT SEVEN 20.

NOW 6 27 22.

WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.

UM, DIRECTOR NEELY IS OUT OF THE ROOM, SO I WILL, UH, WITHOUT ANY, OH, SHE'S WALKING IN.

SO, UM, BOARD MEMBERS, UH, MY MOTION IS THAT WE TABLE OR THAT WE RE THAT WE MOVE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE TO OUR LATER BOARD MEETING.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES AND DIVISIONS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ARE READY TO PRESENT THIS TODAY.

SO WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION, UM, WE WILL NOT BE DOING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE TODAY.

ANY OBJECTION? ALRIGHT, WITH NO OBJECTION, IT'S BEEN MOVED.

NOW WE'RE GONNA GO BACK

[3. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates.]

A VIR VIRTUAL COMMUNITY EVENT TO, UH, PROVIDE SOME ARCHEOLOGICAL UPDATES RELATED TO THE BODIES THAT WERE, UM, FOUND WHEN WE WERE RENOVATING THAT PARTICULAR SPACE.

UH, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU DO HAVE YOUR, UH, YOU DO HAVE A 32 PAGE LIST OF, UM, ITEMS AND PICTURES THAT HELP, UH, YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW OF THEM ON PAGE ONE.

I THINK THAT YOU'LL BE INTERESTED IN UNDER, IN NOTING THAT WE ARE TAKING A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

SO, UM, BY WAY OF THE SPECIAL EVENTS TASK FORCE AND CODIFIED IN CODE, IT TELLS US HOW MANY EVENTS CAN BE AT ZILKER PARK AUDITORIUM, SHORES, AND FIESTA GARDEN SLASH FESTIVAL BEACH.

AND WHEN THERE ARE VACANCY DAYS OR DAYS THAT THERE ARE NOT EVENTS THERE, WE HAVE AN APPLICATION PROCESS TO, UH, ALLOW US TO SELECT, UH, WHAT EVENT MAY OR MAY NOT, UH, END UP OCCURRING IN THE SLOTS THAT HAVE BEEN VACATED.

AND SO THAT IS HAPPENING, AND THERE IS A LIST THERE OF WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAYS.

AND THEN IT ALSO, THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE, UH, PARKLAND EVENTS TASK FORCE.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN JOINING US ON SEPTEMBER 17TH FOR THE, UH, O HENRY AND BRUSH SQUARE IMPLEMENTATION RIBBON CUTTING.

AND SO IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME THAT, THAT, THAT PARK WILL HAVE BEEN REDONE AND IT'S, UH, BEAUTIFUL, RIGHT? UH, AT THE SPACE WHERE IT MAY, PERHAPS THE, OH, HENRY PUN OFF, WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THAT.

THAT PARK, UM, OAKWOOD CEMETERY ON SEPTEMBER 19TH FROM SIX TO SEVEN WILL BE DOING

[01:15:01]

AND SO THIS IS PART OF AN ONGOING PROGRAM WHERE WE HELP INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE AT.

AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE D N A ANALYSIS, UH, THAT IS BEING CONDUCTED TO HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE BURIED THERE AND MAYBE EVEN FIND, UH, DESCENDANTS IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

IF, UM, INDIVIDUALS THINK THAT THEY MAY HAVE, UH, SOMEBODY WHO IS BURIED IN OAKWOOD AND THEY WEREN'T SURE WHERE THEY WERE BURIED AND THEY'RE WILLING TO SUBMIT SOME D N A, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MATCH SOME FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THEIR LOVED ONES WHO IS NOW, UH, ENTERED.

THEY WERE DISINTERRED AND THEN REINTERRED AND, AND A CEREMONY WAS CONDUCTED.

UH, JUST RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE OAKWOOD CHAPEL BRODY POD IS A POD THAT YOU ALL, UH, VOTED ON, UH, AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE ITERATION OF THE BOARD AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT IT'LL BE COMING BEFORE COUNCIL THIS THURSDAY FOR SOME FINAL VOTE ON PAGE THREE.

PLEASE KNOW THAT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM, THESE ARE DEVELOPMENT UPDATES, AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE'LL BE DOING SOME MAJOR WORK TO THE THEATER, UH, AT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM.

ON PAGE FOUR, THERE'S INFORMATION ABOUT THE BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE REHABILITATION, UH, AND A WEBSITE, UH, RELATED TO THAT PARTICULAR SPACE.

ALSO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE BEVERLY SHEFFIELD EDUCATION CENTER WILL BE CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE BATHHOUSE RENOVATION.

WE HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE, UM, THE EXHIBITS THAT ARE IN THAT PARTICULAR SPACE AND, AND GET IT PREPARED FOR RENOVATIONS.

UH, IF YOU WANTED TO SKIP OVER, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF, UH, SMALL PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING OR THE, I'M SORRY, NOT THE EVENTS, BUT THE PROGRAMMING THAT IS HAPPENING.

UH, YOU CAN PERUSE THIS, BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAD MULTIPLE BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAMS WHERE WE PARTNERED WITH, UH, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL FULLY EQUIPPED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS GROUP RIGHT HERE, THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM SEWING TO FOOD PROGRAMS, TO MUSIC EVENTS, TO DIFFERENT SPECIAL EVENTS.

AND ALSO HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PROGRAMMING AREA IS THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO EXTEND THE POOL HOURS AT OUR SWIMMING POOLS.

AND ALSO, YOU MAY KNOW THAT WE DID SUSPEND, UH, FEES FOR SWIMMING POOLS, UM, UH, THROUGH TILL THE END OF THE YEAR, UNTIL AUGUST 1ST.

UM, IN, IN ORDER TO HELP PEOPLE BEAT THE HEAT AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR SWIMMING POOLS WERE, WERE ACCESSIBLE.

IF YOU FLIP ALL THE WAY TO PAGE 30, YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE IS A PIE CHART OF INFORMATION RELATED TO THE CONTACTS THAT OUR RANGERS HAVE BEEN MAKING THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM.

AND SO WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO WORK, UH, THROUGH THE PARK SYSTEM TO EDUCATE OUR PATRONS, THE THINGS THAT WE ARE EDUCATING THEM ON AND SEEKING VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE WITH, UM, ARE ARE LISTED THERE.

SO IT'S EVERYTHING FROM JUST HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND EDUCATIONALLY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SPACE TO HELPING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S A BURN BAN OR A NO SMOKING ORDINANCE IN PLACE TO DOGS OFF LEASH TO GLASS CONTAINERS.

SO THAT OUTLINES EVERYTHING THERE.

AND THE LAST THING IS, IS THAT ON THE FINAL PAGE, UH, YOU WILL SEE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE END OF THE YEAR FINANCIAL DEADLINES.

AND SO EVEN THOUGH THE PRO PROPOSED BUDGET HAS BEEN PASSED, OUR DEPARTMENT IS NOW CLOSING OUT FISCAL YEAR 2023.

AND IT IS OUR INTENTION, UM, AT THE REQUEST OF BOARD MEMBERS TO RETURN TO THE BOARD TO GIVE YOU A HIGHLIGHT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WAS PASSED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, UH, SO THAT YOU CAN, UM, KNOW HOW AB HOW YOUR ADVOCACY WENT, AND THEN THE THINGS THAT WERE FUNDED BY CITY COUNCIL E FIRST IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND THEN THOSE THINGS THAT WERE ADDED AND PASSED, UH, ON, ON AUGUST 16TH.

SO I'LL REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS THAT YOU COULD EMAIL ME OR IF YOU HAVE ANY NOW.

OTHERWISE, WE ARE READY TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT ITEM.

I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS, UM, ON PAGE THREE RELATED TO THE A I D MODERNIZATION.

UM, AND IF Y'ALL NEED TO EMAIL, THAT'S FINE TOO.

MY QUESTIONS WERE RELATED TO, UM, IF YOU HAD A LIST OF THE NINE JOINT USE SITES, SITES YOU COULD SHARE.

AND THEN YEAH, I DO HAVE A LIST OF THEM.

I DON'T HAVE THEM MEMORIZED.

THAT'S FINE.

I CAN FINE ABSOLUTELY.

EMAIL.

I'M GONNA MAKE A NOTE TO EMAIL YOU THE LIST OF THE NINE JOINT USE SUBS.

YES, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND THEN, UM, IF WE KNOW HOW MUCH PARKLAND WILL BE OFFLINE IN THE NEAR TERM AND FOR HOW LONG? YES, I CAN, SO IN THIS NEXT LIKE, CALENDAR YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE.

NOT GONNA GO TO AGENDA ITEM

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, WE'RE

[01:20:01]

[4. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council to authorize an amendment to a contract for continued internment and burial services with Internment Services Inc, for an increase in the amount of $1,750,000 and to extend the term for two years for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $10,696,000.]

NUMBER FOUR, UH, PRESENTER.

JASON WALKER.

I JUST WANNA MAKE A MAKE NOTE THAT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR LUCAS MASSEY IS ALSO, YOU CAN'T SEE HIM, BUT HE IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE VIRTUALLY, UH, AS PART OF THIS PRESENTATION IN CASE THERE'S CERTAIN QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE THAT JASON AND, UM, PATRICIA MIGHT NOT KNOW.

SO JUST, I KNOW YOU CAN'T SEE HIM, BUT PLEASE KNOW HE IS THERE.

WE HAVE 28 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH SIX ADMIN, 22 MAINTENANCE, AND TYPICALLY, UH, FIVE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.

WELL, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

UH, GOOD EVENING TO THE, UH, ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS.

WELL, UH, GOOD EVENING TO, UH, TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS.

UH, I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE CEMETERY OPERATIONS, UH, JUST FOR SOME INTRODUCTORY PURPOSES.

MY NAME IS JASON WALKER.

UH, I, I BEGAN WITH, UH, PAR CEMETERY OPERATIONS IN JANUARY OF 2020 AS A PARKS GROUNDS MANAGER.

AND I'M CURRENTLY THE INTERIM DIVISION MANAGER, UH, FOR CEMETERY OPERATIONS, UH, CEMETERY OPERATIONS.

WE STRIVE TO, WE STRIVE TO HONOR THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN'S BURIAL, UH, BURIAL GROUNDS, UH, WITH INTEGRITY, EMPATHY, AND RESPECT.

UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL OBJECTIVES THAT WE STRIVE FOR.

WE STRIVE TO MAINTAIN, PRESERVE AND CONSERVE AUSTIN'S BURIAL GROUNDS.

UH, WE UTILIZE AND MAXIMIZE OUR AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE THE BEST QUALITY, UH, SERVICE AND CARE TO AUSTIN'S DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

UH, WE ALSO STRIVE TO ENSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, FOR OUR VISITORS, AND OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO ENGAGE, ENCOURAGE, AND ENHANCE OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE, UH, AND EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

SO I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING TO NOTE A FEW, UH, HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF AUSTIN'S, UH, CEMETERIES.

UH, CITY OF AUSTIN CEMETERIES REPRESENT A PRETTY UNIQUE, UH, DISTINCT EARLY, UH, MUNICIPAL ACHIEVEMENT, UH, WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OAKWOOD CEMETERY IN 1839, UH, OAKWOOD OFFERED THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, BE BURIED AND REMEMBERED IN A DIGNIFIED AND RESPECTFUL MANNER.

SO SINCE 1839, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS MANAGED TO, UH, HAS MANAGED AND OPERATED FIVE MUNICIPAL CEMETERIES AND TWO FAMILY CEMETERIES IN APPROXIMATELY 80,000 BURIALS THAT ENCOMPASS MORE THAN 200 LAND OR 200 ACRES OF LAND.

EXCUSE ME.

SO PRIOR TO 1986, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, UH, THEY MANAGED THE CEMETERIES.

UH, THEY HAD 26 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH 15, UH, TEMPORARY AND SEASONAL EMPLOYEES AS WELL.

SO IN APRIL, 2013, UH, PARD, PARD BEGAN, UH, DIRECTING AND MANAGING, UH, THE SALES, THE OPERATIONS, AND THE MAINTENANCE.

UH, WHILE, UH, WHILE INTERMENT SERVICES INC, UH, EXCUSE ME, LET ME, LET ME BACK UP.

SO PRIOR TO PRIOR TO 1986, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, THEY MANAGED THE CEMETERY.

THEN IN 1990, INTERCARE, UH, CORPORATION OR INCORPORATION, THEY ASSUMED THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CEMETERY.

SO WENT OUT TO, UH, TO A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CEMETERIES.

THEN IN 2013, UH, PARD, UH, BEGAN DIRECTING AND MANAGING THE SALES, UH, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE WHILE IN, WHILE INTERMENT SERVICES IN INCORPORATED, UH, THEY PROVIDED ONLY THE INTERMENT, UH, AND BURIAL SERVICES IN MONUMENT SETTINGS.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ALSO THAT INTERCARE AND IN, UH, I S I, UH, ARE ESSENTIALLY THE, THE, THEY'RE DIFFERENT, UH, NAMES, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE SAME OWNERSHIP.

SO CURRENTLY CEMETERY OPERATIONS, UH,

[01:25:01]

UH, ON AVERAGE, WE OVERSEE APPROXIMATELY 600 BURIALS AND 800 SPACE SALES.

IN 2018.

UH, PARD AMENDED THE EXISTING I S I CONTRACT, UH, FOR IN, FOR I S I TO, UH, TAKE OVER, UH, INTERNMENTS AND BURIAL SERVICES ONLY, AND PARD IN PARED CEMETERY OPERATIONS ASSUMED MONUMENT SETTINGS, UH, IN-HOUSE.

SO, CURRENTLY, UH, I S I PERFORMS GRAVE OPENING, CLOSING AND GRAVESIDE, UH, PREPARATION AND SET UP SERVICES AT ALL, UH, AT ALL FIVE CEMETERIES.

SO, JUST VERY BRIEFLY, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE, FEW SLIDES, I'D LIKE TO JUST MENTION A FEW, UH, A FEW HIGHLIGHTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

UH, NUMBER ONE IS, UH, WELL, FIRST, UH, CEMETERY OPERATIONS HAS ESTABLISHED A FULL-TIME, UH, TEAM THAT'S DEDICATED TO MONUMENT INSTALLATION, SETTING, AND RE LEVELS.

AND THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE EXCITING, UH, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I WOULD SAY, IS THAT, UH, AT AWESOME MEMORIAL PARK AND EVERGREEN CEMETERIES, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO REPAVE AND CURB, UH, THE ROADS, UH, THE EXISTING ROADS WITHIN EACH CEMETERY.

AND I WILL, I WILL SAY THAT THIS HAS GREATLY IMPROVED THE AESTHETICS AT BOTH, UH, CEMETERIES.

WE HAVE ALSO DEVELOPED SEVERAL PUBLIC OUTREACH AND PROGRAMMING, UH, TO INCREASE VISITATION AND INTEREST AT ALL OF OUR CEMETERIES.

UH, WE'VE, WHICH INCLUDES THE, UH, UH, WHICH INCLUDES UPDATING THE, UH, LATEST OAKWOOD CEMETERY BROCHURE.

UH, AND WE HAVE, AND WE BEGAN PARTICIPATING IN AUSTIN MUSEUM DAY, WHICH WILL BE, I BELIEVE SEPTEMBER 16TH OR 17TH.

I BELIEVE THAT'S A SUNDAY.

AND WE ALSO, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO INSTALL NIGHT WATCHMEN AND, UH, SOLAR LIGHTING AT EVERGREEN CEMETERY AS WELL FOR SECURITY PURPOSES.

AND FINALLY, I'D JUST LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RENOVATE THE, UH, THE TOWER RESTROOM, THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS AT AUSTIN MEMORIAL PARK AS WELL, WHICH WE JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED.

SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS THAT I WANTED TO, UH, TO, THOSE ARE JUST A FEW ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.

IN ADDITION, I'D LIKE TO ALSO MENTION A FEW PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING UP.

WE'RE WORKING, UH, WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS REHABBING THE OAKWOOD ANNEX BUILDING, WHICH WILL SERVE AS THE CEMETERIES, UH, CONSERVATION AND MAINTENANCE HUB, UH, ON THE EAST SIDE.

IN ADDITION, WE'RE DIGITIZING ALL OF OUR CEMETERY RECORDS, WHICH WILL IMPROVE OUR, OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY.

UH, WE'RE ALSO WORKING, UH, TOWARDS, UH, HISTORIC DESIGNATIONS AT EVERGREEN AND PLUMBERS CEMETERIES.

AND FINALLY, WE'RE, UH, EMBARKING ON A HEADSTONE RESETTING RELEVELING PILOT PROGRAM THAT'S DESIGNED TO, THAT WILL HOPEFULLY, UH, BE ABLE TO ASSIST IN RELEVELING AND RESETTING MANY, UH, UH, MONUMENTS, UH, AT ALL OF OUR CEMETERIES.

SO THE INTERMENT CONTRACT WITH I S I, SO PARED CEMETERY SERVICES, UH, CURRENTLY INCLUDE SALES ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT CEMETERY OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.

WHILE I S I MANAGES THE INTERMENT AND BURIAL SERVICES, BURIALS ARE PERFORMED AT ALL FIVE CEMETERIES.

HOWEVER, SPACES ARE ONLY SOLD AT OAK, OR EXCUSE ME, AUSTIN MEMORIAL PARK IN EVERGREEN CEMETERIES.

IN JUNE, 2013, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT FOR $3.8 MILLION AND TWO FIVE YEAR EXTENSIONS IN 2018 AND 2021 WITH THE DIRECTION TO RETURN TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT EXTENSIONS OR THE EXTENSION OPTIONS.

CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A THREE YEAR EXTENSION AND A TWO YEAR EXTENSION RESPECTIVELY.

CURRENTLY, STAFF ESTIMATES THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO OUTSOURCE BURIAL AND INTERMENT SERVICES, THUS PARTIALLY UTILIZING THE REMAINING EXTENSION OPTION.

AND WITHOUT THIS EXTENSION, THE CONTRACT FOR BURIAL AND INTERNMENT

[01:30:01]

SERVICES EXPIRES NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023.

SO ONE ADDITIONAL 60 MONTH EXTENSION OPTION REMAINS THE CEMETERY DIVISION.

WE ESTIMATE THE NEED TO OUTSOURCE THESE SERVICES FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

I S I WILL CONTINUE WITH ALL ADULT SERVICES, INCLUDING ANY REINTERMENT DISINTERMENT DUTIES, WHILE PARED WILL, WHILE PARED CEMETERY OPERATIONS ASSUMES A RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL OTHER INTERNMENT SERVICES, SUCH AS CREMATIONS AND INFANT BURIALS.

SO AT THE END OF THIS TWO YEAR PERIOD, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PARED CEMETERY OPERATIONS PLANS TO TRANSITION ALL BURIAL AND INTERNMENT SERVICES TO PARD PERSONNEL.

SO AN EXTENSION TO THIS CONTRACT ALLOWS STAFF TIME TO ABSORB THESE INCREASED RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, WITH THE MANDATED OPERATIONAL EXPANSION.

SO THE, THE LINGERING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THAT WERE CREATED BY THE PANDEMIC CREATED CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES FOR CEMETERY OPERATIONS TO FULLY HIRE THE NECESSARY STAFF TO TRAIN FOR THE ADDITIONAL FOR THESE ADDITIONAL INTERNMENT AND BURIAL SERVICES.

ALSO, THESE SAME COMPLICATIONS HAVE RESULTED IN LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES WITH PURCHASING AND ACQUIRING THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO PERFORM THESE DUTIES AND TO ENSURE PROPER STAFF TRAINING OPERATIONS.

SO WITH THAT ALL BEING SAID, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THAT THAT PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING CONTRACT WITH I S I FOR CONTINUED INTERMENT SERVICES AT CITY CEMETERIES AND TO EXTEND THE TERM BY TWO YEARS.

SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL MAY HAVE, AND I DO THANK Y'ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO SPEAK WITH Y'ALL THIS EVENING.

JUST TO CLARIFY, THE EXTENSION WOULD GO THROUGH NOVEMBER 28TH, 2025, THEN? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

AND YOU PLAN TO USE THE FULL EXTENSION OR, SO THE, WE HAVE ONE, WE HAVE ONE FIVE YEAR EXTENSION REMAINING, AND OUR REQUEST RIGHT NOW IS FOR TWO YEARS OF THAT FIVE YEARS.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, LUCAS MASSEY.

UM, SO YOU MENTIONED THE TWO ISSUES THAT YOU WERE CHALLENGED WITH DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ONE WAS HIRING, AND THEN THE SECOND WAS SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

COULD YOU GO INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL JUST ABOUT WHERE, WHAT'S YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL THAT WITHIN THE TWO YEAR PERIOD, THE HIRING, THAT FIRST THE HIRING ISSUE IS GOING TO BE RESOLVED OR BE SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH? I KNOW THE CITY HAS HAD CHALLENGES AND OTHER AREAS ON THAT FRONT, UM, SO LIKE LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO FRAME IT.

UM, AND THEN SECONDLY, I'D JUST BE CURIOUS TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND IF YOU FEEL LIKE THOSE ARE SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED OR RESOLVING THEMSELVES AS WELL.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, OR I'M, I'M SORRY, I, I CAN DEFER TO LUCAS IF YOU'D LIKE.

LUCAS, I JUST NOW SEE YOU UP THERE ON THE, ON THE SCREEN.

UM, I, I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN YOU, JASON.

UM, OKAY.

I CAN ANSWER AS WELL HERE.

UH, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE ARE, WE ARE FAIRLY CONFIDENT WITHIN TWO YEARS THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, AND, AND ACQUIRE THE EQUIPMENT.

THE EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN ORDERED, BUT AS JASON STATED, DUE TO SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, IT'S NOT CURRENTLY IN OUR POSSESSION AND DON'T HAVE, UH, A FIRM DATE.

UM, BUT WE ANTICIPATE IT WITHIN THE NEXT CALENDAR PROBABLY.

UM, AND, AND THAT TWO YEARS ALSO ALLOWS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SEEK OUT ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE POSITIONS THAT THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ALLOW US TO, TO ABSORB THIS RESPONSIBILITY WHOLLY.

AND I WOULD JUST ADD THAT I, I AGREE WITH, WITH, UH, WITH ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MASSEY ON THIS.

I GUESS, QUICK QUESTION ON MY SIDE, CAN YOU, UH, SPEAK AS TO THE DECISION TO TRANSITION TO HARD STAFF TAKING ON THE FULL RESPONSIBILITIES IN LIEU OF, YOU KNOW, HAVING A CONTRACT WITH I S I OR A DIFFERENT FIRM? SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT THESE DECISIONS WERE MADE PRIOR TO 2020, UH, WHENEVER, WHENEVER I WAS HIRED.

SO AS FAR AS THE DETAILS THAT WENT INTO THAT DECISION MAKING, I'M, I'M NOT REALLY, UH, EQUIPPED TO ANSWER THAT AT THIS TIME.

I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER.

AGAIN, AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MASSEY, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY THAT, UH, PART OF, PART OF OUR DECISION TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION WAS ACTUALLY, UH, FROM IN PART COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.

UM,

[01:35:01]

BUT, UH, ALSO LIKELY IN PART FROM, UM, CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH PRIOR MEMBERS OF THE, THE PARKS BOARD.

AND I KNOW PAT ROSETTE'S BEEN KIND OF INVOLVED IN THIS, UH, EVEN LONGER THAN ME, SO, OR, OR KIMBERLY, IF I'M MISTAKEN ABOUT THAT.

UM, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME.

SO, KIMBERLY MCNEELY, OH, GO AHEAD, PAT.

OH, THAT'S CORRECT.

I WAS GONNA SAY THAT, UH, LUCAS'S, UH, LUCAS MASSEY'S, UM, REVIEW OR OR SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION IS ACCURATE.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THERE WAS AN ANALYSIS DONE THAT THAT HELPED US UNDERSTAND THAT FINANCIALLY IT WOULD ALSO BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US TO BRING IT IN HOUSE.

UH, WE WOULD, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, UM, SIT, USE THE CONTRACTUAL MONEY TO BE ABLE TO HIRE INDIVIDUALS TO, TO DO SOME OF THE WORK AND THEN STILL LIKELY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT CONTRACTUAL MONEY LEFT OVER TO HELP US WITH MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.

UH, THAT WAS THE ANALYSIS IN 2020.

WE OBVIOUSLY NOW WE HAVE, WE HAVE SOME INCREASE IN OUR, UM, IN OUR LIVING WAGE, AND THERE'S INCREASE IN, UM, COST AND SUPPLIES, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TO REDO THAT ANALYSIS, BUT WE STILL BELIEVE THAT BRINGING IT IN-HOUSE IS, IS A BETTER OPTION THAN, THAN CONTINUING THE, THE CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP, UH, BASED UPON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED AND KNOWING THAT THERE'LL BE SOME, THERE'LL PROBABLY BE SOME FINANCIAL GAIN OR ADVANTAGEOUS SOME, SOME FINANCIAL POSITIVE FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY TO THE DEPARTMENT.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANYONE ON WEBEX? I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

UM, HOW DID YOU DETERMINE, HOW DID YOU LAND ON TWO YEAR EXTENSION WHEN YOU HAD THE OPTION OF FIVE? DID YOU USE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL FACTORS OTHER THAN THE HIRING AND PROCUREMENT CHALLENGES YOU'VE DESCRIBED? UM, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY KIND OF OUR, OUR MAIN ANALYSIS IS, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, JASON GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT A, A LOT OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN MAKING STEADILY PROGRESS IN, IN MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

WE DO FEEL LIKE IT'S, IT'S ABLE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THAT TWO YEAR TIMEFRAME RATHER THAN FIVE, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE GOING, UH, WITH TWO.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? ALRIGHT.

DOES ANYONE WANNA MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING CONTRACT WITH INTERMENT SERVICES INCORPORATED FOR CONTINUED INTERNMENT SERVICES AT CITY CEMETERIES? AND TO EXTEND THE TERM BY TWO YEARS? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

THERE'S A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN, IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

THERE'S A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER HAYES.

HAYES.

SORRY, I COULDN'T TELL WHO, WHO DID THAT MOTION.

OKAY, HAYES.

IT'S OKAY.

UM, UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALRIGHT, UNANIMOUS.

UM,

[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]

NOW WE'RE BACK.

WE'RE GONNA SKIP ALL THE WAY DOWN TO A FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. IS THERE ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, UM, THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AT THIS TIME OR YOU STILL HAVE? OKAY.

HOLLY? YES.

BOARD MEMBER REED? YES.

CHAIR.

THIS IS BOARD MEMBER REED? I HAVE, I HAVE THREE.

UM, JUST TO REITERATE KIND OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE WENT OVER TONIGHT, UM, AN ADDITIONAL UPDATE ON FLOW.

THE PECAN TREE AT BARTON SPRINGS.

OKAY, GOT THAT.

YES MA'AM.

AND, UH, NUMBER TWO, UH, FISCAL YEAR 24, BUDGET PRESENTATION FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

WITH A BREAKDOWN BECAUSE, UH, WITH THE WHAT, SORRY? JUST A BREAKDOWN ON, ON PROPOSED BUDGET SPENDING AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.

AND THEN, UM, REGARDING THE, THE TESTIMONY TONIGHT BY OUR, OUR, UM, ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS, DIANA PROCTOR, WHO REQUESTED A RECOMMENDATION FOR AN AUDIT OF THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN SURVEY NUMBER SIX.

I THINK AS A BOARD WE OUGHT TO TAKE THIS TO HEART.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE CONSIDER THAT AS A RECOMMENDATION FOR, UM, OUR SEPTEMBER MEETING.

SO BOARD MEMBERS, IF I MIGHT ADD, PLEASE KNOW THAT THAT REQUEST ALREADY WENT TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE HAS ALREADY, UH, MADE A RECOMMENDATION FOR A PARTICULAR AUDIT TO HAPPEN.

AND THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS PART OF THE, INDEPENDENT OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WHO IS CONDUCTING AN A, A, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, INVESTIGATION SLASH AUDIT ON, ON THAT

[01:40:01]

REQUEST.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.

YOU CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A VOTE ON IT IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT WHEN IT GOES TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, IT BECOMES A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROCESS.

AND, UM, BOARD MEMBER REID, MAY I, MAY I ASK FOR A CLARIFICATION? ARE YOU WANTING TO UNDERSTAND BOTH THE GENERAL FUND AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SPENDING, THE, THE C I P SPENDING PLAN, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SPENDING PLAN, OR I JUST, I WROTE DOWN SOME OF WHAT YOU SAID, BUT I THINK I WROTE IT DOWN WRONG.

SO I JUST NEEDED A CLARIFICATION.

SO THE C I P WILL GO TO, UM, OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, WE HAVE A SPENDING PLAN FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND THEN YOU HAVE A FORECAST FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THE NEXT FIVE YEARS COULD CHANGE EVERY YEAR.

IT COULD CHANGE.

WE JUST DO A FORECAST, BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WHAT THAT FORECAST IS THAT I, I'D APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THEN BOARD MEMBER READ, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION ON THAT LAST, UH, ITEM, UM, IF YOU WANNA WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS FROM THAT AUDITOR'S INVESTIGATION, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M USING THE RIGHT TERMINOLOGY, BUT FROM THE AUDITOR'S INVESTIGATION AND THEN, AND THEN REVIEW, AND THEN REVIEW WHAT THAT INVESTIGATION FINDS, AND THEN FIGURE OUT THE NEXT STEPS AFTER THAT.

AND IN LIGHT OF THAT INFORMATION, YES.

UM, THIS WOULD'VE OF COURSE JUST BE A REQUEST BY A CITIZEN TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL TO SPONSOR THIS.

BUT IF IT'S ALREADY IN PROCESS, THEN YEAH, WE'LL WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAP WHAT, WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT.

AND JUST, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY AS WELL, UM, YOU SAID THAT, THAT THAT'S ALREADY IN THE HANDS OF THE AUDITOR, IS THAT CORRECT? DIRECTOR MCNEELY? YEAH.

SO IT'S ALREADY BEEN REPORTED TO THE AUDITOR AND THEN THERE'S AN INDEPENDENT.

UM, IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUAL IN AN INDIVIDUAL INDEPENDENT OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT IS LOOKING.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

AT THE, AT THE INFORMATION.

WELL MAYBE LET'S CIRCLE THEN.

OKAY, COOL.

THEN LET'S CIRCLE BACK TO IT THEN.

UH, BOARD MEMBER WHENEVER THE RESULTS COME OUT OF THAT TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

DOES THAT WORK? YEAH, I THINK NORMALLY, WELL THE PROCESS THAT I, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT IS THAT IF THE, IF COUNCIL MEMBERS SPONSOR AN AUDIT, THEN IT IS, IT'S, UM, EXPEDITED.

IS THAT CORRECT? I DON'T KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE.

SO THE AUDITOR SETS THEIR SCHEDULE AND MAKES A DETERMINATION OF, OF, BUT IT'S ALREADY ASSIGNED TO SOMEBODY.

IT'S ALREADY IN PROCESS.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD EXPEDITE THAT MORE, BUT THIS BOARD IS FREE TO DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY BELIEVE IS APPROPRIATE, BUT IT'S ALREADY BEEN ASSIGNED TO SOMEBODY.

SO I GUESS A CHAIR, I WOULD CALL IT A, A POTENTIAL FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.

DEPENDING ON THE RESULTS OF, OF WHAT DIRECTOR MCNEELY IS TALKING ABOUT.

UM, ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEMS? UH, OR, UH, BOARD MEMBERS? WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BUSY SEPTEMBER.

ALRIGHT.

BOARD MEMBER BEGGAR.

UM, NOT, NOT FOR, SORRY, UH, NOT FOR SEPTEMBER BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH GOING ON, BUT I WOULD JUST WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT I AM INTERESTED IN GETTING AN UPDATE AS SOON AS IT'S AVAILABLE ON THE PROCESS FOR THE RECREATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND THE PROCUREMENT THAT'S GOING THROUGH.

SO ONCE THAT IS READY, VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR THE RESULTS, HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE THAT IS A, UM, A SOLICITATION PROCESS.

THERE IS A NO CONTACT PERIOD, LIKE THERE'S A PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME WHEN WE CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT IT AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT I HELP, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT IS.

'CAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE'RE IGNORING YOUR REQUEST.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN EXACTLY WE'RE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

BUT I WILL SEND THAT INFORMATION TO YOU VIA EMAIL SO YOU CAN KNOW WHEN WE COULD, WHEN, WHEN TO EXPECT THAT WE CAN SPEAK FREELY ABOUT IT.

THAT SOUNDS PERFECT.

UM, ONE LAST QUESTION, CHARLIE LIAISON, WHEN DO WE HAVE TO SET OUR 2024 SCHEDULE? UH, WE WOULD TYPICALLY SET THE BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER OF, UH, OF THIS YEAR.

WE'D SET IT FOR THE, THE COMING CALENDAR YEAR.

THANK YOU CHAIR.

I'M SORRY, I HAVE ONE MORE.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.

UM, UM, PER YOUR SUGGESTION THAT, UH, A, A WORKING GROUP, A ZILKER PARK WORKING GROUP BE FORMED? DEFINITELY.

AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:55 PM I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT REST OF THEIR EVENING.

ALRIGHT.

ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER? ALRIGHT.

ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM,

[01:45:01]