Oct 23, 2023 Parks and Recreation Board

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:02]

AND THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD ON OCTOBER THE 23RD, 2023.

AND I'M GONNA DO A CALL TO ORDER.

THE FIRST IS PEDRO VILLALOBOS PRESENT.

CATHERINE FLOWERS PRESENT.

SHELBY ORIE.

YOU'RE ON MUTE.

WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.

DON'T WORRY.

UH, NICOLE MERRITT.

SORRY, I'M HERE.

STEPHANIE BISON.

PRESENT.

LISA HAMAN.

PRESENT.

JULIE HAYES.

PRESENT.

KIM TAYLOR.

PRESENT.

JENNIFER FRANKLIN.

PRESENT LANE.

UH, HOLLY REED PRESENT.

LANE BECKER PRESENT.

AND BOARD MEMBER, OR OR ME IS HERE.

JUST HER AUDIO WAS HAVING SOME ISSUES.

DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR HER TO COUNTER AS PRESENT? OH, ARE YOU, YOU'RE BACK.

CAN YOU HEAR? WE CANNOT HEAR YOU.

MIC THERE.

IT'S, UH, CAN SHE HEAR US? BOARD MEMBER ORIE? CAN YOU HEAR US? SHE CAN HEAR US.

YEAH.

I'LL COUNT IT.

OKAY.

THUMBS UP.

THERE YOU GO.

SHE'S HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO PUBLIC

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

THIS IS ON NON-AG AGENDA.

SPECIFIC ITEMS? UM, UH, YES, CHAIR.

WE HAVE, UH, SPEAKERS DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH, UH, DOROTHY LOPEZ BARNETT, FOLLOWED BY KAYLA REESE.

EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.

GOOD EVENING.

AM I ON? YES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR MAY 22ND, 2023 RESOLUTION NUMBER 11, WHICH RECOMMENDED THAT RETAINING THE, RETAINING THE HISTORIC CONCESSIONS IN ZILKER PARK.

THE ZILKER PARK BOAT RENTAL ZILKER EAGLE TRAIN IN ZILKER CAFE AS THEY'RE PART OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE, UH, OF ZILKER PARK AND OF BOSTON ITSELF.

SORRY TO SAY THIS DID NOT MOVE FORWARD.

WE ARE STILL, I'M DOROTHY BARNETT AND I'M WITH ZILKER PARK BOATS.

WE ARE STILL IN LIMBO AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO OUR FAMILY BUSINESS.

ANDREW ZILKER GAVE THE PARK FOR ALL THE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED OURSELVES THE PEOPLE'S BOAT RENTAL.

AND WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE THAT ALWAYS SAID THAT TO AN EARTH FIRSTER.

UM, I'VE LIVED A HISTORY OF, UH, ETHNIC IDENTITY CRISIS, LET'S SAY.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UH, LET YOU KNOW HOW I SEE MY POSITION AT ZILKER PARK AND OUR FAMILY BUSINESS AT ZILKER PARK.

MY APPROACH AS TO WHY OUR CONTRACT IS APPROACH IS IMPORTANT.

WHEN I THINK OF ZILKER PARK BOATS AND ZUCKER'S HISTORY, I THINK OF MY HISTORY TOO.

'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN THERE 55 YEARS.

MY GENERAL HISTORY IS I WAS BORN A BROWN BABY ADOPTED INTO A WHITE WORLD IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

MY ANGLO ADOPTIVE PARENTS BROUGHT ME TO TEXAS WHEN I WAS SIX DAYS OLD.

ALL MY LIFE I HAVE FACED THE QUESTION OF WHO I AM AND OR AN OFTEN ASKED QUESTION, WHAT ARE YOU? I'M QUITE FAMILIAR WITH RACISM AND ITS HISTORY IN AUSTIN.

AND AS A CHILD IN TEXAS, I WAS TOLD TO RIDE AT THE BACK OF THE BUS IN HOUSTON.

DENIED THE RIGHT TO SWIM IN A PUBLIC SPO SP POOL IN TOURO, TEXAS.

THAT'S THREE MINUTES, SORRY.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KAYLA REESE, FOLLOWED BY JOEL MANZO.

GOOD EVENING PARK BOARD MEMBERS.

I'M KAYLA REESE.

I'M THE ADVOCACY MANAGER WITH AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.

UM, AND I, FOR THOSE THAT OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD, YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THE PARKLAND DEDICATION, UM, LEGISLATION THAT CAME IN THE SPRING THAT DEVASTATED OUR PARKLAND DEDICATION FUNDS.

UM, THIS EVENING, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR RECOMMENDATIONS

[00:05:01]

NO MATTER HOW WE COMPLY WITH THE LAW, IT'S GOING TO DECIMATE OUR ABILITY TO HAVE FUNDS FOR OUR PARKS AND GREEN SPACES.

UM, SO WE'RE JUST HERE TO RECOMMEND THAT THAT STAFF RECOMMENDATION BE FOLLOWED.

UM, AND AND PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL.

UM, AS AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, WE ARE HERE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND TRY TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE WAYS TO CONTINUE FUNDING OUR PARKS AND GREEN SPACES TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH QUALITY OF PARKS AND GREEN SPACES THAT WE EXPECT IN THE CITY.

UM, AND AS SUCH, IT'S OUR 20TH YEAR OF DOING, IT'S MY PARK DAY, OUR 20TH EVENT.

'CAUSE IT'S BIANNUAL OF, IT'S MY PARK DAY ON NOVEMBER 4TH THIS FALL.

UM, THERE'LL BE PROJECTS ACROSS AUSTIN WITH THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS TO COME OUT AND, UM, CLEAN UP PARKS AND GREEN SPACES.

AND WE JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.

LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT THAT'S HAPPENING ON NOVEMBER 4TH, AND INVITE Y'ALL TO ANY PROJECTS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND.

AND I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH ANY OF Y'ALL AND RECOMMEND PROJECTS IN YOUR DISTRICT.

THANKS.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JOEL MANZO, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT COBB.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU.

PARKS BOARD.

MY NAME IS JOEL MANSO.

I'M A BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

I'M A BASEBALL ENTHUSIAST, HOBBYIST YOUTH SPORTS COACH AND ADVOCATE.

THERE ARE FREE POOLS OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND, DOZENS OF REC CENTERS, ABOUT A DOZEN REC CENTERS, BASKETBALL COURTS, TENNIS COURTS, MULTI-PURPOSE FIELDS FOR FLAG FOOTBALL, SOCCER, ULTIMATE FRISBEE, AND FOR DOGS TO RUN AROUND.

THERE ARE NO OPEN FACILITIES FOR THE AMERICAN GREATEST PASTIME.

SO TODAY, IF IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, I COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE TO PLAY BASEBALL IN AN APPROPRIATE FACILITY WITH AN APPROPRIATE BACKSTOP.

A LOT OF THESE FIELDS HAVE BEEN CONTRA CON CONTRACTED OUT TO YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR ADULTS TO UTILIZE THESE FACILITIES.

THERE'S BEER LEAGUE SOFTBALL, THERE ARE BASKETBALL LEAGUES AT REC CENTERS, BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE ADULT BASEBALL LEAGUE THAT UTILIZED THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

BASEBALL FIELDS.

GO VALLEY IS THE ONLY FIELD THAT ATHLETICS RINSE OUT, WHICH IS IN ONE OF THE WORST CONDITIONS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

FIELDS ARE SHUT DOWN WHEN THESE YFL ARE NOT BEING UTILIZED.

FIELDS ARE SHUT DOWN DURING DECEMBER AND JANUARY WHEN THE WEATHER CAN GET HOT.

SOMETIMES I BELIEVE PARKS, BOARD, PARKS AND RECS.

AND OUR CITY NEEDS TO REVIEW THESE CONTRACTS TO HELP UPLIFT THESE YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS TO GIVE ADULTS ACCESS TO THIS VITAL GAME THAT WE PLAY.

THERE ARE ABOUT 50 ADULT BASEBALL TEAMS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

WE ALL SHARE GO VALLEY.

IT'S EASIER FOR US TO GO TO CITY OF GEORGETOWN OR TRAVIS COUNTY TO UTILIZE THESE FIELDS 'CAUSE THE PROCESS YOU USE THESE FIELDS ARE A LITTLE EXPENSIVE AND A LITTLE TEDIOUS.

SO I ASK, PLEASE, PLEASE, PARKS BOARD, PLEASE PARKS LEADERS TO REVIEW THE CONTRACTS.

AND, UM, I HOPE WE CAN GET THIS, THIS BASEBALL ISSUE ON THE AGENDA.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE SCOTT COBB, FOLLOWED BY LIZ BIANT.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

I DRESSED UP A LITTLE FOR Y'ALL TONIGHT.

SO, UH, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE I TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST TIME.

NUMBER ONE, UH, WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE NAME WILLIAM BARTON RELEGATE, THAT NAME TO THE HISTORY BOOKS.

PEOPLE CAN READ ABOUT IT IN THEIR SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS, BUT WE NEED TO REMOVE IT FROM BARTON SPRINGS POOL.

WE PLACE THAT NAME WITH ANOTHER NAME THAT CAN BE DECIDED UPON BY THE COMMUNITY IN A SERIES OF FORMS. I PERSONALLY SUPPORT A NAME THAT RECOGNIZES COMES FROM AND IS IN AN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE.

THERE IS ONE ASSOCIATED WITH BARTON SPRINGS.

IT'S SA JUAN PUCO.

SO THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED, OR I'M SURE YOU CAN CONSULT WITH PEOPLE AND THEY CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT WE DON'T NEED THE NAME OF A SLAVE HOLDER AT A PLACE WHERE THE WORLD COMES TO SWIM.

I ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT THE ONGOING, UH, EFFORT TO NAME THE BATHHOUSE AFTER JOAN MEANS CABBEL.

SHE LED A GREAT LIFE.

IT WAS A GOOD LIFE.

THAT LIFE IS OVER.

HER CHILDREN LIVE ON, THEY CARRY HER NAME.

AND OJ CABBEL IS ONE OF THOSE.

CABBEL IS AN HONORABLE NAME.

IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE BATHHOUSE.

[00:10:01]

JOAN BERTHA MEANS SADLER, AUSTIN YOUNG WOMEN'S ACADEMY.

IT'S A SCHOOL IN AISD.

THE BATHHOUSE IS JONES ACCOMPLISHMENT.

SHE ORGANIZED HER CLASSMATES TO DO THAT.

OF COURSE, WHEN YOU ORGANIZE SOMETHING OTHER PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED.

CAN'T PUT EVERYBODY'S NAME ON THE BATHHOUSE.

BUT YOU CAN RECOGNIZE WHO WAS THE PRINCIPAL ORGANIZER, AND THAT WAS JOAN.

WHEN YOU SAY JOAN MEANS CABBEL, YOU'RE NOT ONLY RECOGNIZING JOAN IN HER LIFE, THE GOOD LIFE THAT SHE LED, BUT HER CHILDREN, HER FUTURE THAT THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE.

SHE MARRIED A MAN FROM SOUTH AFRICA, CABBEL, AKA CABBEL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS TO AUSTIN WHO GO TO BARTON SPRINGS POOL.

WHEN CABBEL IS ON THE BATHHOUSE, THEY CAN SAY THIS IS A PLACE THAT ISN'T JUST FOR WHITE AMERICANS, BECAUSE JOAN CAME ALONG CABBEL, IT RINGS INTERNATIONAL.

HE'S FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

JOAN'S SON WAS BORN IN AFRICA, NIGERIA.

SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE THINKING ABOUT THIS.

JOAN MEANS CABBEL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER'S GONNA BE LIZ BURN, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FLORES.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M LIZ BARITE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU OUR MONTHLY UPDATE.

THIS COMING WEEKEND, WE ARE HOSTING OUR 39TH ANNUAL HEAD OF THE COLORADO AKA PUMPKIN HEAD REGATTA ON LADY BIRD LAKE.

THE REGATTA WILL TAKE PLACE THIS COMING SUNDAY AT THE EDWARD RENDON SENIOR PERK AT FESTIVAL BEACH.

FROM 8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM WE HAVE 25 CLUBS, UH, FROM ALL OVER, UH, COLORADO, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA, KANSAS, MEXICO, AND 18 ROWING CLUBS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS WHO WILL BE JOINING US.

THEY ARE FOR ADULTS AND FOR JUNIORS.

UM, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE PARD SPECIAL EVENTS, UH, FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE WITH SETTING UP THIS REGATTA.

THIS PAST SATURDAY, WE SPONSORED WITH, UM, A CLEAN LADY BIRD LAKE EVENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL.

WE WERE ABLE TO PICK UP 85 BAGS OF TRASH AND RECYCLE THOSE THAT CAME OUT OF THE LAKE.

WE CONTINUED TO BE CHALLENGED WITH THE FAN WART WEEDED MATS GROWING IN THE LAKE AND IMPEDING, UM, PASSAGE ALONG THE LAKE AS WELL AS HOST, THEY DO HOST THE INVASIVE WATER LETTUCE.

IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR WEEKLY, UM, ADULT WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOR ROWING AND FOR PADDLING ON THE LAKE.

SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WE PARTNER WITH INCLUDE TEAM SURVIVOR, WHICH ARE WOMEN CANCER SURVIVORS, CITY OF AUSTIN, EMPLOYEE WELLNESS, MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER WELLNESS CLASSES, MACBETH, THE GOOD NEIGHBOR ADVENTURE CLUB, AND THE PHOENIX FOR SOBER LIVING ADULTS.

THANK YOU.

AND I HOPE YOU, IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE, PLEASE JOIN US ON SUNDAY.

WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE CHRIS FLORES, FOLLOWED BY SANTIAGO.

I, UH, GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD.

UM, I'M CHRIS FLORES.

I'M A DAILY PARK SWIMMER.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.

I'M HERE TO ASK YOU, UH, TO ASK THE ELECTED PEOPLE FOR ASSIGNED RESERVED PARKING FOR ALL LIFEGUARDS AND SUPPORT STAFF AS PART OF THEIR JOB BENEFITS.

I ASK THAT THE CITY START WITH 42 PERMANENT SPACES FOR AM AND PM BARTON SPRINGS POOL STAFF BEGINNING NOVEMBER THIS YEAR.

THE TIMING MATTERS FOR THE GUARDS.

AS YOU KNOW, BARTON SPRINGS PARKING LOTS ARE BEING LEASED FOR EVENT STAGING.

THE CHRISTMAS EVENTS, THE BATHHOUSE REHAB AND MORE ACL EVENTS ARE AHEAD.

THE EVENT LEASES WILL NEED TO BE CHANGED TO PUT THE GUARD'S ABILITY TO GET TO WORK AHEAD OF EVENT STAGING NEEDS.

THIS SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM FOR THE STAGERS BECAUSE THEY'RE PROFESSIONALS.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE LIFEGUARDS.

FIRST

[00:15:06]

GREETINGS, COMMISSIONERS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND I TRUST YOU ALL ARE WELL.

TONIGHT I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A HERITAGE TREE ON THE, UH, SHORELINE OF TOWN LAKE, UH, AT EDWARD RENDON PARK.

UM, THERE ARE A SERIES OF TREES THERE, AND IN RESPONSE TO TDOT'S, UH, PROPOSAL AND THE RELEASE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, I WOULD LIKE THIS BOARD TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO INVESTIGATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS TO THIS PARK, TO THIS TREE, UH, TO INVESTIGATE THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND.

UH, SECTION SIX F UH, CONVERSION THAT'S, UH, OCCURRING AT WALLED BEACH PARK.

UM, IN ADDITION TO, UM, BRING SOME MORE COLLABORATION WITH, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION WITH REGARD TO, UH, 21 FOOT, UH, DIAMETER STORM WATER DRAIN, THAT'S GOING DOWN CAESAR BELOW CAESAR CHAVEZ AND DUMPING INTO THE COLORADO RIVER.

UM, AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME CONSTRUCTIVE USE ANALYSIS DONE THAT WOULD MAYBE LOOK AT A CONSTRUCTED WETLAND.

UM, BUT SPECIFICALLY I WANT THIS, UH, PROTECTION FOR THIS HERITAGE TREE.

UM, EDWARD RENDON PARK, UH, IN 1980, UM, TEXTILE WAS GIVEN AN EXTRA RIGHT OF WAY TO BUILD THE EXPANSION OF THEIR BRIDGE.

THEY'RE GONNA CLOSE THIS BRIDGE AND DEMOLISH SPEND SIX YEARS WITH A CLOSED TRAIL THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF.

I DON'T BELIEVE THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE CONVERSION THAT'S OCCURRING AT WALLER BEACH AND DEFINITELY NOT THE, THE REMOVAL OF THE PECAN TREES IN THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT.

UH, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S AN OBFUSCATION, UH, AND, UH, GOING TO BE A VERY RUDE AWAKENING TO THE PUBLIC.

UM, THERE'S SECTION 1 0 6, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT THE PARKS, UH, BOARD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE HERITAGE.

THERE'S A, A GRANITE MARKER, UM, NEAR A HUNDRED FEET FROM THE CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT THAT DEDICATES THIS PECAN GROVE.

UH, IT'S 1965 IS THE DATE.

IT'S ON THE TAIL END OF, UH, THE BEAUTIFIC TOWN LAKE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE, UM, AS WELL AS THE CONSERVATION MOVEMENT, UH, THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

UH, AND, UM, YEAH, I THINK THE, THE, THE REALLY EXCITING THING FOR ME IS TO SEE LIKE SOME COLLABORATION LIKE THE NATIONAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL, LIKE, UH, SOMETHING WITH THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WITH REGARDS TO THE NATIONWIDE PERMITS THAT, THAT ARE, HAVE TO, UH, BE TAKEN UP.

UM, AND JUST I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS BOARD, UH, GIVEN TO, UM, DEPARTMENT STAFF AND, AND EMPOWER THEM TO MAKE SOME REALLY WISE DECISIONS THAT WILL AFFECT, UH, THE GENERAL PUBLIC INTO THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE TANYA PAYNE, FOLLOWED BY DIANA PRITCHER.

UH, HELLO, MY NAME IS TANYA PAYNE AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF REWILD ZILKER.

I WAS HOPING THAT THE BOARD TODAY COULD HELP ME GET FIVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT AUSTIN CITY LIMITS AT ZILKER PARK.

THE FIRST IS, WHO IS CONDUCTING A WRITTEN DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FROM AUSTIN CITY LIMITS? AND WHEN WILL THEY BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC? THE SECOND IS, HOW MUCH WILL AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION AND OR ACL TICKETMASTER LIVE NATION SPEND REGENERATING THE DAMAGE FROM AUSTIN CITY LIMITS? HOW MUCH ARE THEY RE REQUIRED TO SPEND? WHAT ARE THEY SPENDING IT ON? WHO ARE THEY PAYING IT TO? WHO WILL REVIEW THE WORK TO MAKE SURE IT'S SATISFACTORY? THE THIRD QUESTION IS, HOW DOES ACL FOOTPRINT COMPARE THIS YEAR TO OTHER YEARS? WE'VE BEEN HEARING THAT IT WAS LARGER THIS YEAR, AND ARE CURIOUS BY HOW MUCH THE FOURTH IS, HOW MANY DAYS IN TOTAL IS ANY PART OF ZILKER PARK CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING SET UP FESTIVAL, TEAR DOWN AND REGENERATION? AND THEN FIFTH, WHAT IS ACL TICKETMASTER LIVE NATION BEING ASKED TO DO TO LESSEN THEIR FOOTPRINT FOR NEXT YEAR? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

OH, I CAN DO IT ON MY OWN.

HUH? CAN YOU DO IT FOR ME? ? UH, WHOOPS.

UM, I WOULD SAY THAT WE DO APPRECIATE THE ECONOMIC AND CREATIVE IMPACT OF ACL ON HAS ON AUSTIN, BUT WE'RE GENERALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TO THE LAWN, THE PLANTS,

[00:20:01]

WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOSS TO A FREE PUBLIC ACCESS TO ZILKER PARK, PARTICULARLY FROM AN EQUITY STANDPOINT DURING THE BEST WEATHER OF THE YEAR.

WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT CLIMATE MITIGATION THAT ROLE ZILKER PARK PLAYS FOR OUR CITY.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US LOOK AT AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS AND LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF ZILKER PARK THROUGH ECONOMICS, CLIMATE, AND EQUITY.

WE'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT THE WAY ZILKER PARK IS MANAGED WILL HAVE AN IMPACT AND SET PRECEDENT FOR THE WAY OTHER PARKS ARE TREATED THROUGHOUT AUSTIN.

I HAVE A SERIES OF PHOTOS FOR YOU HERE AND WE HAVE, UH, DRONE, UH, FOOTAGE THAT I CAN'T GET TO PLAY, BUT I WILL EMAIL YOU, BUT I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU ALERT TO IT.

WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS.

UM, THIS IS FROM YOUR OWN WEBSITE.

PRETTY MUCH EVERY FLAT SURFACE IN ZILKER WAS USED FOR THE STAGING AND SHOWING OF, UM, ZILKER PARK, UH, ACL.

HERE'S ACL IN ACTION.

HERE IS THE GREAT LAWN BEFORE AND AFTER THE, UM, FESTIVAL.

HERE WE HAVE, UH, PICTURES FROM THE SOUTH SIDE.

YOU CAN SEE THE ROAD, UH, THE CAR OR BUGGY, UH, PATHS YOU CAN SEE UP CLOSE THAT IT'S GONE DOWN TO DIRT.

WE ALSO HAVE DRONE FOOTAGE.

HERE'S THE SOUTH SIDE.

HERE'S THE SOUTH SIDE.

YOU CAN SEE WHERE EVENT PLACES HAVE BEEN PUT UP, AND IT'S GREEN.

AND I'LL EMAIL ALL THESE SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE DAMAGE, YOU CAN SEE GARBAGE IS LEFT BEHIND AS WELL AS NAILS AND OTHER THINGS.

AND I'LL EMAIL THEM SO YOU CAN SEE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OUR LAST SPEAKER WILL BE DIANA PRITCHER FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD MEMBERS.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE PARKS BOARD, ZILKER SHUTTLE WORKING GROUP.

I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO ACHIEVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ZILKER PARK FOR ALL PARK VISITORS IN WAYS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE SEVERAL HUNDRED CARS TO PARK ON THE POLO FIELD.

I PROPOSE A FEW SOLUTIONS FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS BASED ON DEMAND MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES, ALREADY KNOWN BY PARD AND OTHER CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

PARS M LONG METROPOLITAN PARK HAS A PREPAID CAR PARKING RESERVATION SYSTEM WHEN THE PARKING LOTS ARE FULL, NO ADDITIONAL QUEUING TO GET INTO THE PARK IS ALLOWED.

ABIA MANAGES THEIR FINITE PARKING CAPACITY AT THE AIRPORT.

WITH A TIERED SYSTEM OF PRICING FROM EXPENSIVE TO LESS EXPENSIVE.

A CAT METRO BUS RUNS EVERY 30 MINUTES.

SIMILARLY, CAT METRO'S NUMBER 30 BUS ROUTE ALREADY HAS BUS STOPS AT ONE TEXAS CENTER IN BARTON CREEK MALL TO EXCELLENT EXTERNAL PARKING SOURCES.

A MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO INFORM RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS IS NEEDED.

BARTON SPRINGS POOL WAS MANAGED DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH TIMED ENTRY PREPAID ADMISSIONS SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

THIS IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED TECHNIQUE TO CONTROL, DEMAND AND SPEED ENTRY AT POPULAR INSTITUTIONS ACROSS AMERICA.

ALL OF THESE EXAMPLES OF DEMAND MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES STILL PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS.

HERE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2024 PEAK USE SUMMER DAYS.

A TIERED SYSTEM OF PAID PARKING FROM EXPENSIVE TO FREE WITH ENFORCEMENT STAFF MONITORING TO DETERMINE WHEN PARKING CAPACITY IS FULL AND WHEN FULL CLOSING AREAS TO PREVENT CARS FROM QUEUING.

IMPLEMENT A PREPAID RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR A SUBSET OF THE PARKING SPACES TO ACCOMMODATE PICNICS, LARGE CARPOOLS, AND ADA PERHAPS RESERVE SOME PARKING EXCLUSIVELY FOR SPECIFIC AUSTIN ZIP CODES.

CAT METROS NUMBER 30 BUS ROUTE CONNECTS TWO EXTERNAL PARKING SOURCES WITH BUS STOPS IN ZILKER PARK.

A MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO INFORM RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS IS NEEDED.

BARTON SPRINGS POOL ADMISSIONS BY PREPAID TIME TO ENTRY.

IN SUMMARY, IT'S TIME FOR US TO STOP EQUATING EQUITABLE ACCESS WITH PARKING CAPACITY.

BETTER MANAGEMENT OF THE PARKING AND TRANSIT RESOURCES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE WILL MAKE THE PARK EXPERIENCE FEEL MORE PREDICTABLE WITH SHORTER QUEUING TIMES IN UNCOMFORTABLE OUTDOOR SUMMER ENVIRONMENTS IN THE PARK.

THIS BOARD HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOLVE THE ISSUE OF EQUITABLE ACCESS IN ZILKER PARK.

I ASK YOU TO EMBRACE DEMAND MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL MAKE ZILKER PARK MORE WELCOMING FOR ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT IS THE END OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU.

UM, NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM ONE,

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

2023.

AND I'LL GIVE BOARD MEMBERS A MINUTE TO LOOK AT THAT.

[00:25:23]

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER EDITS? OKAY.

THERE BEING NO OTHER EDITS.

IS, UH, BOARD MEMBER BECKER, DID YOU HAVE AN EDIT? OKAY.

UH, THERE BEING NO OTHER EDITS.

UM, DOES SOMEONE WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETINGS FROM THE REGULAR MEETING ON SEPTEMBER THE 25TH? 2023? UM, INCLUDING THE EDIT MADE, UH, UH, MADE BY, UH, BY SHERIFF FLOWERS.

IS THERE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

OKAY.

THERE'S A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THERE.

A SECOND.

SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HAMAN ALL WRITE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

OKAY.

PASSES UNANIMOUS.

11 ZERO.

WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS.

[2. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the Parkland Maintenance Agreement between the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Mueller Property Owner’s Association]

BEFORE WE GET STARTED, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WANTING TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? NOPE.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

YOU MAY BE THE PRESENTATION MAY BEGIN.

GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS RICARDO SOLI WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

UH, THIS EVENING I HAVE JILL FAGAN FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT THAT'LL JOIN ME IN THIS PRESENTATION.

AND I THINK SHE HAS SOME FOLKS THAT SHE WANTS TO ALSO INTRODUCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT'S EXCITING TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.

AS RICARDO SAID, I'M JILL FAGAN.

I WORK IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

I'VE WORKED THERE FOR ALMOST 13 YEARS, AND I'VE SPENT THE ENTIRE TIME WORKING ON THE MILLER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE I HAVE KATE CLARK CLARK, KATE CLARK HERE, WHO ALSO WORKS AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH ME, AS WELL AS WE MADE A COMPARABLE PRESENTATION TO THE ROBERT MILLER MUNICIPAL AIRPORT PLAN, PLAN, IMPLEMENTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION.

IT'S A MOUTHFUL EARLIER THIS MONTH.

AND THE VICE CHAIR OF OUR COMMISSION, RICK CAC, IS HERE IN THE OFFICE.

AS WELL AS WE HAVE BRIAN DELE, WHO'S REPRESENTING THE MILLER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION.

SHOULD THERE BE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR THE MILLER POA? SO, ON THAT NOTE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

I THINK I CAN ADVANCE THE SLIDES.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU, UM, WHO MAY BE NEW TO AUSTIN OR NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE MILLER PROJECT, I WAS JUST GONNA PROVIDE A VERY HIGH LEVEL, QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE MILLER PROJECT AND SOME OF ITS GOALS.

HOWEVER, DURING Q AND A, WE'RE HAPPY TO GO BACK AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT AREN'T ADDRESSED BY THE SLIDES.

SO, THE MILLER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER AIRPORT AT IN FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

IT'S OVER 700 ACRES.

THE PLANNING FOR THIS PROJECT BEGAN IN EARNEST ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO, AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WERE INVOLVED THEN AND STILL INVOLVED TODAY.

SO THE COMMUNITY SET UP GOALS FOR THE PROJECT THAT HAVE BEEN CARRIED FORWARD THROUGH ALL OF THE CITY'S EFFORTS AND ARE STILL THE GOALS THAT WE ASPIRE TO WITH PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION TODAY.

.

SO MILLER IS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND OUR MASTER DEVELOPER ELLAS.

ELLAS EXECUTES THE VISION FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AND ADHERES TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITY GOALS AND CITY GOALS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED FOR THE PROJECT.

AND CITY STAFF PROVIDES OVERSIGHT FOR THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS COLLABORATES WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND ALL DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION.

THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE MILLER PROJECT AT COMPLETION.

I'D LIKE TO POINT

[00:30:01]

THERE'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INSTITUTIONAL AND CIVIC SPACE ALONG WITH OFFICE AND RETAIL.

BUT WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO FOCUS ON THE PARKS.

SO 20% OF THE LAND AT MILLER, 140 ACRES HAS BEEN SET ASIDE AS PARKS AND OPEN SPACE.

TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THE 75 ACRES THAT WILL BECOME DEDICATED PUBLIC PARKLAND.

WITHIN THAT PARKLAND, THERE'S A VARIETY OF PARK TYPES AND SCALES, AND ALL OF THEM HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENTS ON THEM.

ALL OF THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE IS CURRENTLY MAINTAINED BY THE MILLER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND KATES.

THERE ARE TWO SALIENT POINTS FOR THE CONVERSATION TONIGHT.

THE FIRST IS, I'D ANTICIPATED THAT PARD WOULD HELP CONTRIBUTE SUBJECT TO COUNCIL APPROVAL AND THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS, AN AMOUNT TO THE MILLER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION TO HELP WITH THE MAINTENANCE AND LONG-TERM, UH, COSTS FOR THE PERIMETER PARKS.

AND THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO ROUGHLY WHAT THE CITY WOULD SPEND IF THE CITY WERE PERFORMING THE MAINTENANCE THEMSELVES.

SECOND ITEM IS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DICTATES THAT ALL OF THE PERIMETER PARKS SHALL BE DEDICATED BACK TO THE CITY ONCE THEY ARE COMPLETED.

AND NOW I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO RICARDO TO TALK MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE PARKS IN THE AGREEMENT.

THANK YOU, JILL.

UM, AS JILL TALKED ABOUT, UH, 75 ACRES WOULD BE PUBLIC PARKLAND.

AND, AND SO IT'S DIVIDED INTO THREE PERIMETER PARKS, AS YOU SEE IN THE, ON THE MAP.

UH, THE FIRST ONE IS NORTHWEST PERIMETER PERIMETER PARK, SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST.

UM, THE NORTHWEST, UH, PARK, UH, IS 13 ACRES.

AND IT, THE AMENITIES ARE PASSIVE AMENITIES AND ACTIVE WITH THE PLAY SCAPE AND PUBLIC ART, UH, BENCHES AND A WALKING TRAIL ON THAT PORTION.

THE SOUTHWEST PERIMETER PARK, 31 ACRES, UH, AS WELL, UH, PASSIVE RECREATION, PUBLIC ART, UM, BENCHES, BIKE RACKS, AND WALKING TRAILS AS WELL.

UM, THE SOUTHEAST PERIMETER PARK IS, I WOULD SAY THE MOST ACTIVE PARK, 30 ACRES THERE WITH THE SKATE PARK AND PUMP TRACK, UM, AS PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, UH, AND PASSIVE RECREATION AND THE WALKING TRAIL AS AS WELL.

SO, UM, THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE SKATE PARK AND PUMP TRACK THAT WAS BUILT IN THE DEVELOPMENT.

AND, UH, IT WAS A $2.5 MILLION INVESTMENT.

WE HAVE RESTROOMS, PARKING LOT, UM, ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AMENITY, DRINKING FOUNTAINS AND, UM, BENCH, BENCH AND SEATING, UM, WITH THE PARK, WITH THE SKATE PARK.

SO PRIMARILY THIS IS THE ROLE.

UH, THE, THE WHOLE AGREEMENT IS, IS TIED TO THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND WHAT, WHAT THE CITY'S GOING TO DO AND WHAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION WILL BE DOING.

UM, WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE MINIMUM MAINTENANCE WILL BE HANDLED BY THE POA, THE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, MOWING, UM, UH, CONDUCT ANNUAL INSPECTIONS OF TREES.

OTHER TASKS INVOLVE, UH, PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, UM, MAINTENANCE TO THE SKATE PARK AND PUMP TRACK, UM, AS WELL AS AS, UH, SUBMITTING AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE, TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

UM, WITH ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WERE DONE THAT YEAR, THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY WOULD BE, AS JILL TALKED ABOUT, IS, IS CONTINUING THAT FUNDING THAT, THAT FUNDING, THAT ANNUAL FUNDING THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

UH, IN ORDER TO, UH, TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT THE POA WOULD BE DOING IN THAT 75 ACRES.

THE, UH, THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CITY RIGHT NOW IN FY 2324 WAS 144,000.

UH, UH, AND SO IT'S, IT'S DONE ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS.

UH, ONCE, ONCE THE MAINTENANCE HAS TAKEN PLACE, THEY SUBMIT INVOICES TO THE CITY AS TO WHAT WAS DONE.

AND WE WILL RE REIMBURSE THE, UM, UH, THE POA UM, ACCORDINGLY.

UH, IN FY 24 25, WE'VE COMMITTED TO AT LEAST SUB SUBMIT A REQUEST TO INCREASE THAT FUNDING BY 55,000, UH, FOR THE SOUTHWEST PERIMETER PARK.

AND THAT'S, UH, THE PARK THAT HAS THE, THE SKATE PARK, UM, AND RESTROOM FACILITY.

[00:35:01]

UM, THAT WAS, UH, SINCE RIGHT NOW THE, THE POA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, BUT IT IS REALLY OUR THIRD SKATE PARK, OUR THIRD CITYWIDE SKATE PARK THAT'S BUILT.

AND, AND SO THIS IS ONE THING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, TO, UM, ALSO SEE IF, IF PARK CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN, IN, IN GAINING THAT, UH, MAINTENANCE OF THAT SKATE PARK.

UM, ALONG WITH THAT, WE WILL BE DOING OVERSIGHT DOING, UH, INSPECTIONS OF PLAY SCAPES AND ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT WE DO AT OTHER CITY PARKS THAT, UM, WE HAVE THE EXPERTISE IN DOING THE, UH, THE AGREEMENT ITSELF IS REALLY BETWEEN, BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND THE, UH, THE POA COMMUNITY MANAGER.

THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT WOULD BE FOR 20 YEARS, AND AFTER THAT INITIAL PERIOD, IT WOULD BE RENEWAL RENEWABLE AUTOMATIC RENEW RENEWALS EVERY FIVE YEARS AFTER THAT.

UM, UH, IN THE AGREEMENT ITSELF, IT SAYS STATES THAT THE POA CAN ASK FOR AN INCREASE ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS TO THEIR CONTRIBUTION.

SO, UM, UH, ONE THING THAT WE'RE SENSITIVE ABOUT, AND WE CERTAINLY WANT, UH, DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH WITH THE POA IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THE USES, THERE ARE NO CHANGE IN USES OF THE RECREATIONAL AMENITIES WITHIN THE PARK SYSTEM, UH, WITHIN THE 75 ACRES.

IF THERE'S, UM, IF THERE'S A DESIRE TO CHANGE THE PROGRAMMING, WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE AND AGREE.

BOTH PARTIES AGREE THAT, THAT THERE, UM, THAT WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT CHANGE.

UM, IT COULD BE AN INCREASE IN FUNDING, FOR INSTANCE, IF WE'RE GOING FROM A PASSIVE AREA TO, LET'S SAY AN OFF-LEASH AREA, FOR INSTANCE.

AND, AND THAT IT WOULD IMPACT THE BUDGET FOR MAINTENANCE.

SO, SO THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UM, WE COMMUNICATE WELL IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES IN THE PROGRAMMING OF THE, OF, OF THE PARKS, UH, WITHIN THE 75 ACRES.

UM, NEXT STEPS IS, UH, HERE WE PROVIDED A BRIEFING TO THE, UH, RMMA, WHICH IS THE, WHAT IS THE ACRONYM THAT STANDS FOR? YEAH.

UH, WHAT THAT ACRONYM STANDS FOR? UH, THE, THE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION.

OKAY, GOOD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, YES.

UH, ON OCTOBER 10TH, UH, WE'RE HERE AT THE PARKS BOARD, UM, UH, TONIGHT, UH, OCTOBER 23RD WITH, UM, THE HOPES IN BEING BEFORE COUNCIL SOMETIME THIS WINTER, UM, FOR A APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT.

SO REALLY, WITH THAT, UM, I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING, ANY QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE AGREEMENT, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER.

COULD YOU JUST, SORRY, COULD YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE AS TO WHAT THE ROUTINE AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE FOR THE SKATE PARK AND PUMP TRACK WOULD BE VERSUS THE SKATE PARK AND PUMP TRACK MAINTENANCE ON THE, ON THE PARD SIDE, JUST SO WE CAN VISUALIZE THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE MAINTENANCE.

OBJECTION ANSWER.

YEAH.

OKAY.

SO THE SKATE PARK WAS JUST COMPLETED TWO YEARS AGO, AND SO FAR IT'S, UM, BEEN USED QUITE HEAVILY.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A BATHROOM FACILITY THERE AS WELL AS TRASH CANS AND OTHER MAINTENANCE.

SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF REGULAR DAY-TO-DAY MAINTENANCE AT THE MILLER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION IS CURRENTLY PERFORMING.

SO THAT WOULD BE PART OF, UM, THE FUTURE ASK FROM THE MILLER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION TO HELP PITCH IN TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE COSTS.

DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I JUST, JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT'S THE COST THAT YOU'RE ASKING PAR TO, TO TAKE ON, OR IS THAT GONNA CONTINUE ON THE OTHER TASKS THAT YOU HAVE ON THE MUELLER SIDE? MUELLER SIDE? SO ALL OF THE TASKS WILL CONTINUE.

SO THESE ARE THE TASKS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN UNDERWAY.

UM, JUST AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, YOU KNOW, ELLIS IS THE MASTER DEVELOPER BUILT THE PARKS, AND THEN THEY HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRING THEM OVER TO THE MILLER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION FOR OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE.

BUT THEN AS PART OF OUR, UH, MILLER CLOSEOUT, THE PARKS NEED TO BE DEDICATED BACK TO THE CITY.

AND SO THE IDEA AND THE NOTION IS THAT THE PARKS AGREEMENT WOULD JUST CARRY FORTH IN PRINCIPLE.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE ARRANGEMENT SO FAR THAT THE MILLER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION WOULD CONTINUE TO PERFORM ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE ON THE PARKS, NOT JUST WHAT THE ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE AGREEMENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PROPERTY ASSOCIATION DOES THAT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND, BUT WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN THE AGREEMENT WAS TO SPECIFY A CERTAIN NUMBER

[00:40:01]

TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THE OFFSET THAT THE CITY IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE POA WOULD BE LESS THAN IT WHAT IT WOULD COST FOR THE CITY TO PERFORM THE SAME WORK.

OKAY.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU.

CAN YOU GIVE US THE FIGURE AGAIN FOR THE TOTAL, WAS IT 144,000 OR, UM, YES.

IN FY 2324, IT'S 144,000 IS WHAT WE'RE, AND AN INCREASE OF 50 WE'RE REIMBURSING INCREASE OF 55,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, 25, 50 5,000 WOULD BE WHAT WE WOULD BE ASKING FOR IN THE NEXT BUDGET.

OKAY.

AND THE, THIS IS JUST KIND OF A, AN OVERALL QUESTION.

IS THE CITY AWARE OF HOW MUCH USAGE BY MILLER IS DONE BY OUTSIDE OF THE PARK RESIDENCE? DO YOU HAVE ANY, ANY IDEA HOW MANY, UM, I MEAN, JUST A, A GENERALIZED, HOW MUCH DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC USE MILLER AS OPPOSED TO ACTUAL RESIDENTS OF MILLER USING THE PARKLAND? THAT IS A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.

UM, ANECDOTALLY, I KNOW FROM BEING OUT THERE ON THE WEEKENDS THAT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THE, THEY REALLY ARE OPEN AND WELL LOVED AND TREASURED PARKS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC NUMBERS AND FIGURES FOR YOU, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD FOLLOW UP WITH.

I'M HAPPY TO FIND OUT IF WE HAVE ANY DATA.

I, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, BUT IT'S A REALLY GOOD ONE.

WE KNOW ANECDOTALLY, THEY'RE WELL USED AND, AND PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER TO COME TO MILLER PARKS.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL NUMBERS OF VISITORS TO THE PARKS, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE SPECIFIC DATA AND ALSO WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.

BUT IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

I'M HAPPY TO LOOK INTO IT.

SURE.

AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE CONSIDER MILLER IS A, UH, THEY ARE CITY PARKS.

AND SO THE PLAYGROUNDS, THE SWIMMING POOLS, EVERYTHING IS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENTS OVER ALL OF THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, ALL THE DIFFERENT RANGES OF PARKS.

THE POOLS THEMSELVES, UM, ACT MORE LIKE DISTRICT POOLS COMPARABLY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AND DUE TO INSURANCE REASONS, UM, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE OPEN TO CERTAIN FOR CERTAIN HOURS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO PAY A VERY SMALL FEE TO USE 'EM LIKE YOU WOULD ANOTHER DISTRICT POOL.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I GUESS ONE THING I WOULD JUST ADD THERE, BOARD MEMBER REED, UM, SO I LIVE IN WINDSOR PARK, UM, DIRECTLY ADJACENT.

AND I WILL CONFIRM ANECDOTALLY THAT MY NEIGHBORHOOD USES ALL OF THE MILLER PARKS EXTENSIVELY, UM, FREQUENTLY BY PARENTS IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PLAY STRUCTURES AND OTHER GOOD SPACES.

SO I'M THERE ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND, AND THEY ARE HEAVILY USED.

I WOULD, I'D LOVE TO SEE USE TO STATISTICS AS WELL, BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME OF THE BEST PARKS IN THAT PART OF TOWN.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION.

I I HAVE A QUESTION.

AND THIS JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, 'CAUSE I KIND OF LOST, GOT A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED RIGHT NOW.

A LITTLE BIT.

SO THAT 1 44, 5 0 4 NUMBER FOR FISCAL YEAR 2324, WHO, WHO PAID FOR THAT? WHO PAID THAT MAINTENANCE? UH, OR WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR IT? SORRY, .

YES.

THAT, THAT IS IN OUR BUDGET AND S DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT, UH, AT, I BELIEVE IN AUGUST IS WHEN THEY SUBMIT THEIR REIMBURSEMENTS FOR, UH, WHO'S THEY, UH, THE RIGHT NOW ELLIS THE DEVELOPER, BUT THE P THE POA WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WOULD BE SUBMITTING THE INVOICES, UH, FOR, UH, FOR THE MAINTENANCE THAT THEY, THAT THEY'VE SPENT.

AND, UH, WHAT THE PARTS DEPARTMENT DOES IS REIMBURSE THEM FOR THAT UP TO THAT AMOUNT.

AND THEN THESE PARKS ARE EVENTUALLY GONNA BECOME DOWN THE LINE PROPERTY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

YES, ACTUALLY THE 75 ACRES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WERE, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THAT DEDICATED THIS SPRING.

THAT WINTER SPRING IS TO HAVE THAT, UH, THOSE PARKS DEDICATED.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE POOLS? WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD ON THOSE? SO THE TWO POOLS THAT ARE AT MILLER ARE PART OF, UM, THEY'RE PART OF TWO INSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT ARE OWNED BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION AND THOSE INTERIOR PARKS.

SO THE BALANCE OF THE PARKLAND AT MILLER WILL CONTINUE TO BE OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INCLUDING THE TWO POOLS.

BUT THE PARKS THEMSELVES, ALL OF THE PARKS HAVE A PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENT ON IT.

SO EVEN THE PARKS THAT WILL NOT BE DEDICATED BACK TO THE CITY STILL HAVE A PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENT ON IT THAT WILL EXTEND, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THERE IN PERPETUITY.

AND SO TO THE POINT THAT THEY LOOK AND ACT LIKE CITY PARKS, THEY DO A LOT.

AND I KNOW SOMETIMES CITY STAFF HAS GOTTEN QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PARKS BECAUSE THEY, THEY REALLY ARE MEANT TO FUNCTION AND LOOK LIKE CITY PARKS REGARDLESS OF OWNERSHIP.

THIS AGREEMENT IS JUST ALLOWING FOR THE MILLER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE ON THE PERIMETER PARKS THAT THE CITY WILL OWN.

HOW MUCH DO PEOPLE PAY TO USE THE POOL POOLS?

[00:45:01]

SAME AS ANY OTHER POOL.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE DISTRICT PARK.

I DUNNO HOW MUCH.

YEAH, I'M NOT SURE.

UH, IT, I GUESS THE, THE, THE FEES ARE THE SAME AS OUR DISTRICT PARKS.

I, I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH OUR FEE SCHEDULE ON THE POOLS, BUT, OKAY.

WELL, AS LONG AS YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THEY'RE AT THE SAME EXHIBIT, DISTRICT PARKS, THAT'S FINE.

WHAT ARE THE HOURS ON THOSE? I AM SORRY, COMMISSIONER.

I DON'T HAVE THE HOURS OF THE POOLS RIGHT NOW IN FRONT OF ME.

UM, I THINK AS PART OF, YOU KNOW, THE PREPARATION FOR THIS PRESENTATION, WE FOCUSED ON THE PERIMETER PARKS, BUT I'M ABSOLUTELY HAPPY TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE REGULAR POOL HOURS.

YEAH, I MAY BE GETTING OFF, I MAY BE VENTURING OFF, OFF TOPIC AT THAT POINT.

OKAY.

YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

OKAY.

WE CAN STILL FIND THAT.

I WOULD LIKE THE INFORMATION ON IF YOU CAN PROVIDE THAT.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE HAVE ANY, I'VE GOT A QUESTION.

YEAH, I'M CUR I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE THINKING AROUND THE, UH, 20 YEAR SPAN FOR THE CONTRACT AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME.

PARDON? UH, BOARD MEMBER? I DIDN'T HEAR THE SPECIFIC QUESTION.

SORRY.

I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE, SO THE CONTRACT IS A 20 YEAR CONTRACT WITH FIVE YEAR AUTOMATIC RENEWAL.

I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT, UH, IF THERE'S ANY THINKING OR JUSTIFICATION GIVEN THE, FOR THE, FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME FOR THE 20 YEAR PERIOD.

UH, TYPICALLY OUR AGREEMENTS THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE WORKED, UH, ON, UM, HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN 15 TO 20 YEARS.

UH, AND, UM, WITH THE CLAUSE IN THERE THAT E IT EITHER PARTY CAN, CAN, UM, GET OUT OF THE AGREEMENT FOR, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT WHAT, UH, YEAH, I MEAN THAT'S JUST I TYPICAL, UH, LENGTH OF TIME THAT'S SORT OF STANDARD.

COOL.

THAT'S GREAT.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY.

NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

WAS THERE ASPECIFIC REQUEST? I DON'T, I DIDN'T GET ANY, I GUESS TO RECOMMEND AS WRITTEN INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA ITEM POSTING.

IS THERE, OKAY.

SO IS THERE A, IS THERE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE PARKLAND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND THE MUELLER PROPERTIES OWNERS ASSOCIATION? IS THERE A MOTION I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

OH, SORRY.

OKAY.

THAT WAS, UH, UH, BOARD MEMBER BECKER SECOND.

I SECOND.

I'LL SECOND.

OKAY.

THERE'S A SECOND FROM, UH, BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN AT THIS TIME.

WE'LL DO ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.

ANYONE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS AGENDA? ITEM THERE BEING NONE.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA TAKE A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF, UH, THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL RIGHT.

11 ZERO.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MOTION PASSES.

UM, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL NOW MOVE,

[3. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the Parkland Dedication Ordinance term sheet]

UM, BEFORE WE HEAR FROM PRESENTER FROM THE PRESENTERS, UM, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM? THERE IS NONE.

ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE A PRESENTATION? ALL RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS ROBIN HAYMONDS.

I'M A PRINCIPAL PLANNER FOR THE PARKLAND DEDICATION AND ACQUISITION TEAM.

TODAY I'M GONNA COVER THE IMPACTS OF HB 1526 ON THE EXISTING PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO WE'LL COVER TODAY THE, UM, JUST KIND OF THE BACKGROUND OF THE BILL CHANGES TO THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE, THE TERM SHEET ITSELF, UM, AND THEN OUR TIMELINE FOR COMPLIANCE.

AND SO THIS IS JUST BUILDING ON THE PRESENTATION WE GAVE A FEW WEEKS AGO.

SO THE BACKGROUND OF THIS BILL IS THAT, UM, HB 1526 WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM COURSE OF CANADA, TEXAS.

THE BILL AFFECTS CITIES WITH POPULATIONS OVER 800,000, WHICH INCLUDES AUSTIN, HOUSTON, UH, SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, AND FORT WORTH.

THIS REPRESENTS ABOUT 25% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION.

THE BILL REQUIRES

[00:50:01]

AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE ROOM FOR THE CITY'S DISCRETION IN HOW IN THE NEW ORDINANCE LANGUAGE, THE BILL IMPACTS ONLY MULTIFAMILY AND HOTEL MOTEL DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS FILED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 2024.

AND IT PREEMPTS THE CITY FROM REQUIRING ANY PARKLAND DEDICATION ON COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS, WHICH REVERSES RECENTLY ADOPTED CHANGES TO THE PLD ORDINANCE.

HOWEVER, MUNICIPALITIES ALL ACROSS THE NATION WILL BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AUSTIN'S WORK, ESTABLISHING THE COMMERCIAL PARKLAND DEDICATION, ORDINANCE AND REQUIREMENTS, AND ARE ADOPTING THEIR OWN.

NEXT I'LL REVIEW THE SUMMARY OF CHANGES MADE TO THE ORDINANCE.

SO MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, THE LAW, THE STATE LAW IN REDUCES THE REQUIRED ACRES OF PARKLAND PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS FROM TODAY'S 9.4 ACRES PER THOUSAND TO JUST UNDER A 10TH OF AN ACRE, UP TO THREE ACRES, DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECT WITHIN THE CITY.