[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.
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.
IT'S, UH, CAN SHE HEAR US? BOARD MEMBER ORIE? CAN YOU HEAR US? SHE CAN HEAR US.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
COMMUNICATION GENERAL.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.
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.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KAYLA REESE, FOLLOWED BY JOEL MANZO.
GOOD EVENING PARK BOARD MEMBERS.
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]
FROM THE PARKS, UH, AND RECREATION STAFF ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW LAW.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.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JOEL MANZO, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT COBB.
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.
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.
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.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE SCOTT COBB, FOLLOWED BY LIZ BIANT.
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.
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.
HER CHILDREN LIVE ON, THEY CARRY HER NAME.
AND OJ CABBEL IS ONE OF THOSE.
IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE BATHHOUSE.
[00:10:01]
JOAN'S MOTHER HAS A PLACE IN AUSTIN THAT HONORS HER.JOAN BERTHA MEANS SADLER, AUSTIN YOUNG WOMEN'S ACADEMY.
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.
JOAN'S SON WAS BORN IN AFRICA, NIGERIA.
SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE THINKING ABOUT THIS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER'S GONNA BE LIZ BURN, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FLORES.
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.
AND I HOPE YOU, IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE, PLEASE JOIN US ON SUNDAY.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE CHRIS FLORES, FOLLOWED BY SANTIAGO.
I, UH, GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD.
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.
[00:15:06]
SPEAKER IS SANTIAGO, FOLLOWED BY TANYA PAYNE.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.
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.
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.
HUH? CAN YOU DO IT FOR ME?
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]
THE SOIL.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.
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 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.
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.
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.
THAT IS THE END OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM ONE,
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES TO APPROVE THE MEETINGS FROM THE REGULAR MEETING ON OF SEPTEMBER THE 25TH.AND I'LL GIVE BOARD MEMBERS A MINUTE TO LOOK AT THAT.
[00:25:23]
ON ITEM THREE, MY LAST NAME IS MISSING AN S SO THAT WOULD BE A SMALL CORRECTION.DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER EDITS? OKAY.
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.
THERE'S A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THERE.
SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HAMAN ALL WRITE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
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]
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSING A POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE PARKLAND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND THE MUELLER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION.BEFORE WE GET STARTED, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WANTING TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? NOPE.
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.
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.
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.
[00:30:01]
OUT THAT MILLER IS TRULY A MIXED USE, MIXED USE AND MIXED INCOME PROJECT, INCLUDING 25% OF ALL OF OUR HOMES ARE SET ASIDE IN AN AFFORDABLE HOMES PROGRAM, INCLUDING BOTH FOR RENT AND FOR SALE OPTIONS.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.
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, HOWEVER, UH, WE WILL ALSO BE SUBMITTING A REQUEST FOR THE SKATE PARK MAINTENANCE AS WELL.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.
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.
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]
OF MOWINGS TREE CARE, OTHER MAINTENANCE THAT WE COULD JUSTIFY THEN WITH THE CITY, UH, WHAT IT WOULD COST THE CITY TO PERFORM THE SAME LEVEL OF WORK.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
AND THIS JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, 'CAUSE I KIND OF LOST, GOT A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED RIGHT NOW.
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,
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]
I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I CAN GET IT FOR YOU.I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE DISTRICT PARK.
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.
I WOULD LIKE THE INFORMATION ON IF YOU CAN PROVIDE THAT.
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.
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.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY.
WAS THERE ASPECIFIC REQUEST? I DON'T, I DIDN'T GET ANY, I GUESS TO RECOMMEND AS WRITTEN INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA ITEM POSTING.
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.
THAT WAS, UH, UH, BOARD MEMBER BECKER SECOND.
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.
[3. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the Parkland Dedication Ordinance term sheet]
WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSING POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING 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.
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.
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.
[00:50:01]
AUSTIN TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THE CURRENT PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.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.
THIS IS BECAUSE UNLIKE THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, WHICH IS BASED ON A NEXUS BETWEEN NEW DEVELOPMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON THE PARK, ON THE PARKLAND SYSTEM, THE STATE BILL IS WRITTEN WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT RESIDENTS EXPECT LESS ACRES OF PARKLAND PER PERSON AS THE DENSITY OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD INCREASES.
THIS CREATES AN INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DENSITY OF THE CITY AND THE AMOUNT OF PARKLAND AVAILABLE TO USE.
THE BILL ALSO CAPS ANY LAND DEDICATION TO JUST 10% OF THE SITE AREA.
TODAY, ONLY PROPERTIES WITHIN THE URBAN CORE ARE CAPPED AT 15%.
PROPERTIES IN SUBURBAN AREAS ARE NOT CAPPED AT ALL.
FINALLY, FEE COLLECTION IS SHIFTING FROM THE TIME OF SITE PLAN OR SUBDIVISION PERMIT TO THE TIME OF CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
THERE'S TYPICALLY A 16 MONTH TO FIVE YEAR DELAY BETWEEN THE TIME OF PERMIT AND CO, WHICH MEANS THERE'S AN INITIAL DELAY IN FEE COLLECTION THAT COULD IMPACT THE PARKLAND ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT BUDGET FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS.
THE ORDINANCE IS CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT, AND THE TERM SHEET PROVIDED IN BACKUP REFLECTS THE CHANGES TO THE CURRENT PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE TO COMPLY WITH HB 1526.
EACH TERMS LARGELY APPLIED JUST TO MULTIFAMILY AND HOTEL MOTEL DEVELOPMENT.
COUNCIL WILL ADOPT GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, THE CBD, URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS, WHICH ARE USED IN CALCULATING THE FEES.
THE FEES ARE SET VIA THE AVERAGE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE LAND IN THOSE AREAS ONCE A DECADE AND INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR BY NO MORE THAN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX BEFORE BEING RESET AT THE AVERAGE APPRAISED VALUE AGAIN AFTER 10 YEARS.
AT THIS TIME, WE DO NOT KNOW THE AVERAGE LAND VALUE OF THE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ADOPTED.
PARKLAND DEDICATION CAN BE SATISFIED WITH LAND DEDICATION, FEE PAYMENT, OR A COMBINATION UNDER THE NEW BILL.
AND THE FORMULAS SHOWN ON THE SLIDE DIFFER FROM TODAY'S FEE FORMULAS, BUT THEY'RE PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE BILL.
UM, SO THERE'S NOW ONLY A SINGLE FEE THAT CAN ENCOMPASS BOTH LAND ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT.
OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE HAS A PARKLAND FEE IN LIEU AND A PARK DEVELOPMENT FEE.
THE PARK LEVEL OF SERVICE IS GREATLY REDUCED FROM TODAY'S 9.4 ACRES PER THOUSAND PEOPLE TO JUST OVER 3000 SQUARE FEET PER THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE CBD AREA AND A MAX OF THREE ACRES PER THOUSAND PEOPLE IN SUBURBAN AREAS DUE TO THE NEW DWELLING UNIT AND DENSITY DISCOUNT FACTORS PRESCRIBED BY THE BILL.
AS A RESULT, PARKLAND DEDICATION SERVICE WILL DECLINE AND PARK PREDICTS WE'LL NEED TO ADJUST OUR KPI OR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND SERVICE GOALS TO KEEP PACE WITH THE IMPACTS OF THESE NEW FORMULAS.
THERE IS A MODIFIED APPEALS PROCESS PRESCRIBED BY THE BILL, WHICH ALLOWS APPLICANTS TO APPEAL ANY ASPECT OF THE LAND DEDICATION, INCLUDING ORIENTATION ON THE SITE AND AMOUNT.
AND THIS APPEAL MUST BE HEARD WITHIN 60 DAYS, OR IT IS CONSIDERED SETTLED IN THE APPLICANT'S FAVOR.
THERE ARE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE STANDARDS FOR DEDICATED PARKLAND AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
UM, THERE'S ALSO, THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IS EXEMPT FEES MUST BE PAID PRIOR TO CO.
THERE'S MODIFIED A MODIFIED PARKLAND EARLY DETERMINATION REVIEW PROCESS AND A NEW CAP ON LAND DEDICATION.
SO THE STATE BILL SET A REALLY STRICT TIMELINE FOR COMPLIANCE.
THE NEW ORDINANCE AND PLD RINGS OR GEOGRAPHIC AREAS MUST BE ADOPTED BY DECEMBER 1ST, AND WE'LL GO INTO EFFECT FOR ALL NEW SITE PLANS AND SUBDIVISIONS WITH HOTEL, MOTEL AND MULTIFAMILY USES.
ON JANUARY 1ST, 2024, STAFF PRESENTED THE TERM SHEET TO CODES AND ORDINANCES.
ON OCTOBER 18TH, ACTION WAS TAKEN TO RECOMMEND THE TERM SHEET.
THE TERM SHEET WILL BE PRESENTED TO PC ON OCTOBER 24TH FOR RECOMMENDATION.
[00:55:02]
THE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, OR PLD RINGS WILL BE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING ON NOVEMBER 2ND.AND THEN THE STAFF AND THE STAFF PROPOSED MAP OF THOSE PLD RINGS IS POSTED ON THE PARKLAND DEDICATION WEBSITE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW.
AND THEN THE FINAL ORDINANCE LANGUAGE WILL BE ADOPTED BY CAM COUNSEL AFTER PUBLIC HEARING ON NOVEMBER 9TH.
AND THEN COUNSEL WILL ADOPT THE NEW FEES INTO THE BUDGET ON DECEMBER 14TH.
SO NO ACTION IS REQUIRED FROM PARD PAR IN ORDER TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO COUNSEL.
THE BOARD MAY MAKE A STATEMENT FOR OR AGAINST THE RESOLUTION WITH THE ACTION TO MOVE THIS TERM SHEET FORWARD TO COMPLY WITH THIS STATE LAW.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
WHAT CHOICE DOES THE CITY HAVE? THERE'S, THERE ISN'T REALLY ANYTHING THE CITY CAN DO OTHER THAN WHAT'S DIRECTED BY HB 1526, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
IT'S NOW STATE LAW AND THE BILL IS EXTREMELY DETAILED AND PRESCRIPTIVE RIGHT.
WITH HOW WE CAN INTERPRET IT
SO THERE ISN'T MUCH WE CAN DO
I WOULD BE THE FIRST BOARD MEMBER TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT I AM VERY MUCH OPPOSED TO THIS BILL AND WHAT IT'S DOING TO PARKLAND DEDICATION.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR YOUR WORK.
ANY OTHER, UH, QUESTIONS, UH, BOARD MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT.
UM, AT THIS TIME, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECOMMEND TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I RECOMMEND TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY APPROVE THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE TERM SHEET.
IS THERE ANYONE SEEKING TO MAKE THAT MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL, I'LL SECOND WHO? OKAY.
UH, BOARD MEMBER, UH, HAYES? YES.
AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE THE MOTION THAT THEY APPROVE IT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME VOICE OUR OPPOSITION TO IT UNDER DURESS? YEAH.
WELL, I, I, I THINK WE'RE, YEAH, WE'RE AT A, WE'RE AT A POINT HERE WHERE WE DON'T WANNA PUT PARK DEPARTMENT IN A BAD SITUATION OF NOT PASSING THIS, BUT WE DO NEED TO, TO SAY SOMETHING.
UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE, OKAY.
DO WE HAVE A
I MEAN, MAYBE THIS IS A MINORITY OPINION, BUT WE HAVE PLENTY OF HISTORY IN WHICH WE WERE IN FAVOR OF THE PREVIOUS PARKLAND DEDICATION.
I MEAN, I THINK IT WOULD BE CLEAR HISTORICALLY THOUGH, I MEAN, I'M ALSO FINE IF SOMEONE WANTS TO RECOMMEND LANGUAGE FOR HOW WE MIGHT, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOTHING ANY OF US WOULD SUPPORT.
I MEAN, THE CITY'S GONNA HAVE TO DO IT REGARDLESS.
SO MAYBE IN THE LANGUAGE WE COULD SAY SOMETHING ABOUT, UM, THAT WE'RE APPROVING THIS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO, BECAUSE IT'S A DIRECTIVE FROM, UM, THE STATE OF TEXAS.
BUT THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE APPROVE OF.
IS THERE A WAY TO PUT THAT IN THE LANGUAGE IN OUR, I DON'T THINK YOU NEED PASS RECOMMENDATION.
I MEAN, I ALSO, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE DON'T HAVE TO PASS ANYTHING RIGHT.
THIS, IT'S GOING TO COUNSEL WHETHER WE SAY ANYTHING OR NOT.
BUT WE'VE MADE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS SURE.
TO SORT OF MAXIMIZE OUR ABILITY TO REQUIRE PARKLAND PER THE, WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE STATE LAW.
SO THAT'S JUST ONE THING TO CONSIDER, BUT YOU CAN MAKE A STATEMENT FOR OR AGAINST IT PRIOR TO PASSING.
DO YOU HAVE CALCULATIONS OR DATA ON WHAT THE ANTICIPATED FEES, YOU KNOW, GIVEN AN ASSUMPTION FOR A CERTAIN LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT OVER THE NEXT YEAR, WHAT ACRES AND FEES WOULD'VE BEEN EXPECTED UNDER THE OLD CRITERIA VERSUS NEW CRITERIA? WE HAVE A VERY PRELIMINARY AND KIND OF ROUGH ESTIMATE OF THE FEES REDUCING BY ABOUT 40 TO 70% ON SOME OF THE PROPOSED UNITS.
UM, BUT IT'S HARD TO HAVE EXACT DATA UNTIL THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES ARE ADOPTED BY COUNSEL.
AND THIS MAY BE TOO EARLY, BUT IS THERE DISCUSSION, UM, AMONG COUNSEL, HOW WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THAT MONEY
[01:00:01]
WITHOUT IT? YEAH.NOT THAT, NOT THAT WE'RE AWARE OF NOW.
UM, OTHER FUNDING MECHANISMS INCLUDE PRIVATE PARTNER PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND PASSING BONDS, GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
SO I, I, I, I SEE THE ARGUMENTS FOR BOTH SIDES.
US JUST PASSING IT AND BEING UNSATISFIED WITH THAT, OR JUST NOT MOVING FORWARD ON A RECOMMENDATION.
I DO THINK THAT IF WE JUST DON'T RE, I MEAN, I THINK NOT RECOMMENDING ANYTHING TO CITY COUNCIL JUST MAYBE APPEARS THAT WE'VE JUST, UH, FORFEITED OUR DUTY TO ANALYZE THIS.
I THINK THERE HAS TO BE AN AFFIRMATIVE, WE CAN'T JUST NOT DO ANYTHING.
I THINK THERE'S JUST NEED BE AN AFFIRMATIVE UP.
YES, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THIS, OR NO, WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING THIS IN PROTEST, UH, IN THIS, I DON'T RECOMMEND THE LATTER.
SO THAT ONLY LEAVES IN MY, IN MY OPINION, THAT ONLY LEAVES THE FORMER, BUT I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE MAY FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT IT.
SO I KNOW A REFLECTION ON, ON THE WORK OF YEAH.
AND YOU ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
IT'S, IT'S MORE REFLECTION ON WISHING THAT WE WEREN'T IN THIS POSITION IN THE FIRST PLACE AND NOT APPROVING OF THE BILL.
SO IS THERE A WAY TO ADD LANGUAGE IN THE RESOLUTION, YOU KNOW, UNDER THE WAREHOUSE CLAUSES WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PER THE POWER POWERPOINT SLIDES, WHAT THE ANTICIPATED, YOU KNOW, VERY ROUGH ESTIMATE IN REDUCTION IN FEES AND LAND IS, BUT THEN TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEREAS THIS IS STILL REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DUE DATE OF THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS TO BE PASSED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE.
SO I GUESS WHAT I WOULD JUST SAY IS WE CAN WORKSHOP WHATEVER WE WANT, BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING ON THE TABLE CURRENTLY, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO AMEND IT VERBALLY.
AND IF WE'RE GONNA ADD WHERE IT'S JUST A LITTLE COMPLICATED, I CAN, SO IF SOMEBODY HAS SOMETHING TO SUGGEST YEAH, I CAN, SPECIFIC LANGUAGE, WHAT I CAN, YEAH.
WHAT I CAN DO IS I CAN JUST WITHDRAW MY MOTION AND IF Y'ALL WANT, IF PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO CRAFT A ONE OR TWO, WHEREAS, WHEREAS IS IN THE INTERIM, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO IT, UM, WE CAN DO THAT.
SO I'M GONNA WITHDRAW MY MOTION THEN AND, UH, WE'LL COME BACK TO, WITHOUT ANY OPPOSITION, WITHOUT ANYONE, ANYONE BEING OPPOSED.
I'LL, WE'LL COME, WE'LL COME BACK TO I AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE LATER IN THIS MEETING.
UM, THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS GONNA BE THANK YOU.
UM, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA SKIP AGENDA ITEMS AGAIN WITHOUT ANY, ANYONE OPPOSED TO THIS.
'CAUSE THIS IS A CONSIDERED DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS, AND I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
SO IT'S GONNA BE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 13, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE CREATURE PROJECT WITH TEACHES CHILDREN ABOUT THE POWER OF THEIR IMAGINATION, OF THEIR OWN IMAGINATION, ENCOURAGES 'EM TO PURSUE THEIR CREATIVE POTENTIAL.
UM, I CAN READ A LITTLE SHORT SO EVERYONE HAS IN FRONT OF THEM ALL BOARD MEMBERS, EXCEPT IF Y'ALL, IF YOU ARE, IF YOU ARE JOINING US VIA WEBEX, YOU'RE UNLUCKY AND YOU DIDN'T GET A COPY OF THIS BOOK, THERE'LL BE ONE WAITING FOR YOU.
UM, BUT IT'S THIS PRO, IT'S THIS BOOK.
AND FOR PEOPLE ON THE, THE AUDIENCE CAN SEE IT HERE.
UM, IT'S A BOOK CALLED THE CREATURE PROJECT.
UM, AND IT BASICALLY, UH, I'LL READ THE THREE.
AND, AND THEN THE FIRST, ARE YOU HERE TO, TO TALK ABOUT CHAIR? WE HAVE, UH, DAVID K CRAB, THE DIVISION RECREATION.
SO I'LL LET HIM TALK ABOUT IT.
I'M THE DIVISION MANAGER FOR COMMUNITY RECREATION WITH THE, UH, RECREATION CENTERS.
THIS PAST SUMMER WAS OUR THIRD YEAR THAT WE DID THE CREATURE PROJECT.
UM, WE HAVE A LITTLE SLIDE PRESENTATION SOMEWHERE.
IS THAT UP? UM, A, A ANYWAY, SO THE CREATURE PROJECT, SIMPLY A, UH, AN ART PROJECT THAT SPURS THE IMAGINATION OF OUR CHILDREN IN OUR SUMMER CAMP PROJECT OF PROGRAM.
AND SO THIS, THIS PAST SUMMER THAT'S GOOD.
THIS, THIS PAST SUMMER THOUGH, WE HAD 125 YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN IT.
UM, AND WE, WE LIMIT IT TO SIX RECREATION CENTERS, AND WE ROTATE IT THROUGH, UH, DIFFERENT SIX EACH SUMMER.
SO THIS BEING THE THIRD YEAR, AND WHAT IT DOES IS WE BASICALLY ASK THE CHILDREN TO IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF CREATURES COME OUT TO THE PARKS OR COME OUT TO THE RECREATION CENTERS WHEN NO ONE'S WATCHING.
AND THEN THEY START SKETCHING OUT, UH, THE, THEIR, THEIR IDEAS.
AND THEN WE HAVE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, ACTUALLY WHO DO PROFESSIONAL RENDERINGS.
AND, UH, SO WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS
[01:05:01]
THE, THE PROMPTS THAT WE USE WHERE THEY, UH, TALK ABOUT THEIR MONSTERS, WHERE THEY MAY NAME 'EM OR TALK ABOUT HOW BIG THEY ARE OR WHAT KIND OF SUPERPOWERS THEY MAY HAVE.AND THEN ON THE TOP RIGHT HAND, YOU'LL SEE A PICTURE THAT THE CHILD DREW IN THIS CASE.
AND THEN THE BOTTOM PICTURE IS WHAT THE AUGUST, UH, INTERPRETED THE PICTURE TO BE.
AND THEN AS THE SUMMER GOES ON, WE GET ALL THE RENDERINGS BACK FROM ALL THE ARTISTS.
WE HAD ABOUT 30 ARTISTS DO THE RENDERINGS WITH THE KIDS AND MATCH IT.
AND THEN WE HAVE AN EXHIBIT NINE AT EACH ONE OF THE CENTERS WHERE THE KIDS GET TO SEE HOW THEIR PICTURES CAME OUT.
AND, UH, AND THE PARENTS COME OUT AND TOUR THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN THE FINAL PART OF THE PROJECT IS WE PUBLISH THE BOOK THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU NOW AND STUFF.
SO, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR.
IT'S REALLY ONE OF THE, UH, HIGHLIGHTS OF SUMMER THAT WE GET TO PRODUCE FROM IT.
AND THE KIDS IMAGINATIONS JUST GET TO SEE HOW THEY GROW FROM BEGINNING TO END.
SO THE THING THAT DA DAVID, IF I'M GONNA ADD SOME AND BRAG A LITTLE BIT, IS THE THING THAT HE'S FORGETTING TO, OR HE HASN'T, UH, BRAGGED ENOUGH ABOUT, IS THAT ALL OF THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT DAVID AND HIS TEAM TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND SO THEY PUT TOGETHER A, THEY USE A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, UM, SYSTEM, AND THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT IS IT THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO INSTILL IN CHILDREN, WHAT SORT OF CHARACTERISTICS THAT WILL HELP THOSE CHILDREN BECOME HEALTHY, HAPPY, PRODUCTIVE ADULTS.
SO WHAT DO THEY NEED TO BE RESILIENT IN LIFETIMES? AND SOME OF THAT IS, IS, UM, HOW DO THEY IMAGINE THEMSELVES BEYOND BEING A CHILD? WHAT, HOW DO THEY IMAGINE THEIR FUTURE? UH, THE OTHER THING THAT HE'S NOT TELLING YOU IS THAT PART OF OUR SD 23 OR THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S, UH, SET OF STRATEGIC GOALS IS FOR US TO, UM, CULTIVATE CREATIVITY AND, AND GIVE OUR CREATIVES OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO, UM, TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND TO ALSO BE STIPENDED AND PAID.
AND SO HE'S HITTING A WHOLE BUNCH OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CITY, UH, IN THIS REALLY FUN, CREATIVE PROJECT THAT HELPS CHILDREN LEARN AND GROW.
AND SO, I, HE'S BEING A LITTLE BIT MODEST BY QUICKLY GOING THROUGH THAT, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW HOW MUCH, UH, THIS TEAM PUT INTO THIS PROJECT OVER THREE YEARS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I JUST LOVE IT.
HOW WOULD PEOPLE, IS IT, I MEAN, I'M ASSUMING IT'S AVAILABLE ONLINE OR SOMETHING, HOW WOULD I'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.
SO HOW WOULD YOU GAIN ACCESS OR LEARN ABOUT IT IF YOU WERE A COMMUNITY MEMBER? IT, WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY, AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOT AN INDEPENDENT PROGRAM.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WE, UH, UH, PUT IT INTO OUR CURRICULUM WITH OUR SUMMER CAMP CURRICULUM.
SO IT'S, IT'S FOR KIDS WHO'S ALREADY REGISTERED IN THE SUMMER CAMP AND IT'S DONE FROM THERE.
SO IT HASN'T GONE OUT AS AN INDEPENDENT OR JUST, UH, INDIVIDUALS CAN COME IN AND SIGN UP FOR IT.
NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S THROUGH THE, THE REC, UH, THE PROGRAMS. BUT LIKE, IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO VIEW IT IS WHAT I'M ASKING.
LIKE IS IT, OR ARE WE LUCKY THAT WE HAVE THIS BOOK? I GUESS
IT'S NOT EXTRA COPIES WERE MADE OR, OR DISTRIBUTED.
WE DO HAVE THE, SOME OF THE EXHIBITS ARE STILL ON DISPLAY AT THE RECREATION CENTER.
SO LIKE AT THE, THE HALLOWEEN EVENT THAT PANAM JUST HAD, THEY PUT THE DISPLAY BACK UP AND SO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT WAS COMING THROUGH FOR THE HALLOWEEN PROGRAM THERE, SAW THE, SAW THE PICTURES AND STUFF, AND WE HAD DESCRIPTIONS BEHIND THAT.
SO THERE ARE SOME RANDOM THINGS THAT HAPPENED WITH THAT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT MOSTLY IT'S, IT'S KEPT TO JUST THE PARENTS VIEWING IT THAT ONE NIGHT WHEN ALL THE, AT THE END OF SUMMER AND STUFF.
WELL, IT'S FABULOUS AND I'M, I'M GLAD I'M ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES WHO GETS A
AND I GUESS, QUICK QUESTION, CAN ANY OF THESE BOOKS BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE AUSTIN LIBRARIES SO THAT CHILDREN OR PARENTS VISITING THE LIBRARIES COULD SEE THIS AND, YOU KNOW, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY AT THE SUMMER CAMP? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
I'LL BE, I'LL BE SURE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND PUT, PUT SOME COPIES OVER THERE INTO, UH, MY COLLEAGUE'S HANDS THROUGH THE LIBRARY.
YEAH, I GUESS WHAT OUR BOARD HAS SOME, WHAT WE'VE HEARD IS THAT OUR BOARD WANTS THIS TO BE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE TO SEE.
'CAUSE IT'S A REALLY COOL PROJECT.
SO WE WANT THIS TO BE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE 'CAUSE PEOPLE NEED TO SEE IT.
WE CAN ENHANCE THAT DISTRIBUTION AS WELL AS, AS WELL AS MORE MAYBE SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, CONTENT ABOUT THE BOOK AS WELL AS THE, UH, ACTIVITIES THERE.
UM, HOW WOULD AN ARTIST GET INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS? WE, WE PUT OUT A, UH, CALL FOR NOTICE FOR ARTISTS AND, UM, AND SO THROUGH OUR PARTNERS, MA MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ THIS SUMMER WAS OUR RECREATION SPECIALIST OUTTA PAN AM TO COORDINATE THE EVENT.
AND HE, HE'S AN ARTIST BY NATURE AND SO HE HAD HIS CONTACTS
[01:10:01]
AS WELL AS OUR, UH, TOTALLY COOL, TOTALLY ART PROGRAM.CLINT HOFF MASTER AND HIS TEAM, THEY HELPED PUT THE, A WORD OUT WITH THE ARTISTS TOO.
AND WE, AND WE TAKE RECRUITMENT THROUGH THAT.
SO YEAH, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO KNOW FOR NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU START RECRUITING ARTISTS, BECAUSE I'M VERY WELL CONNECTED IN THAT COMMUNITY AND I WOULD LOVE TO PUSH THIS OUT FURTHER, UM, TO GET MORE REACH.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE MORE BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING PROBABLY A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE, UM, THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BOARD MEMBER FLOWERS AND I DID WAS DRAFT JUST A LETTER, UH, RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS THAT HIS, THE, THE TEAM DID.
UM, AND THESE LETTERS OUR DEALER ARE GONNA GO TO MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ, WESS BAXTER, DEVON FARBER, DELANO BROWN, JANET MOORE, AND THE DELIVERY PROGRAM DELIVERY TEAM AT OSWALD AB CANTU, PAN AMERICAN RECREATION CENTER.
JONATHAN HAYNES AND THE PROGRAM DELIVERY TEAM AT MENDEZ RECREATION CENTER.
RICK IAN AND THE PROGRAM DELIVERY TEAM AT HANCOCK RECREATION CENTER.
DENISE KAVANAUGH AND THE PROGRAM DELIVERY TEAM AT VIRGINIA L. BROWN RECREATION CENTER, ILEANA DOMINGUEZ, AND THE PROGRAM DELIVERY TEAM AT DITMORE RECREATION CENTER.
AND MARK VASQUEZ AND THE PROGRAM DELIVERY TEAM AT THE MONTOPOLIS RECREATION CENTER, INCLUDING, UH, DAVID KRAFT, WHO'S HERE TODAY AS WELL.
UM, AND I'LL READ THE LETTER JUST, JUST SO EVERYONE'S ON THIS, Y'ALL.
Y'ALL ONLY GOT ONE COPY OF IT 'CAUSE I WASN'T GONNA PRINT OUT ALL 12 COPIES AND GIVE IT TO EACH OF YOU.
SO IT'S THE SAME THING IN EACH LETTER.
SO IT SAYS, UH, DEAR IN THE NAME OF PERSON, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, WE ARE WRITING TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFUL APPRECIATION FOR THE OUTSTANDING EFFORT AND DEDICATION YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED DURING THE CREATURE PROJECT.
YOUR HARDWORKING COMMIT COMMITMENT, YOUR HARDWORKING COMMITMENT HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED.
YOU HAVE SHOWN AN EXCEPTIONAL LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS YOUTH AND ARTISTS.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO WITNESS YOUR POSITIVE INFLUENCE, YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DOES TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY.
BY INVESTING IN THESE PROJECTS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN ACKNOWLEDGES THE IMPORTANCE OF IN, OF INCLUSIVITY, ENSURING THAT EVERY CITIZEN, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, ENJOYS THE BENEFITS OF NA NATURE AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
IN DOING SO, THE CITY NOT ONLY ENRICHES LIVES, BUT ALSO ADVANCES A MORE JUST AND INTERCONNECTED SOCIETY.
PLEASE ACCEPT OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
IT IS PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.
WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS WILL, WILL LEAD TO EVEN GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
WISHING YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL OF YOUR ENDEAVORS.
AND THEN IT'S SIGNED BY MYSELF AND THE VICE CHAIR.
UM, SO AT, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE LETTERS BEING SENT, UH, TO THE STAFF.
IS THERE A SEC? AND, AND, AND TO, AND THE LETTERS TO READ AS I JUST READ.
THERE'S A SECOND FROM, UH, BOARD MEMBER BAAN.
ANY DISCUSSION? THE ONLY DISCUSSION I WILL ADD IS THAT HOPEFULLY MOVING FORWARD, I'M HOPING TO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM SIMILAR TO THIS, UM, FEATURING DIFFERENT TOPICS OR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO, UM, HOPEFULLY WE CAN RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE STAFF AS WELL.
AND ANY OTHER NOTE? NO DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND AT THIS TIME, UM, WELL THAT'S IT AT THIS TIME.
UM, THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS, ARE WE GOOD BOARD? WE'RE GOOD.
UM, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE NEXT ONE, THE NEXT ONE'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT LONG, SO I'M GONNA RECOMMEND THAT WE TAKE A BREAK.
SO WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.
SO IF EVERYONE CAN COME BACK AT SEVEN 20, UH, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
BOARD MEMBERS, IT IS 7 23, UH, RIGHT NOW, AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA GET THE MEETING STARTED AGAIN.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION ITEMS, DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER
[4. Presentation and discussion on the current status of the Phase 1 implementation of the Holly Shores/Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach Vision Plan. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Merritt)]
FOUR, WHICH IS THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE PHASE ONE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HOLLY SHORES, EDWARD ROLD SENIOR PARK AT FESTIVAL BEACH VISION PLAN.UM, BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON THIS, DO WE HAVE ANY,
[01:15:01]
UH, PUBLIC, UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? YES.WE HAVE, UH, NINE PUBLIC COMMENTERS ON THIS ITEM, AND I WANNA KIND OF COORDINATE WITH THE SPEAKERS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME TIME DONATIONS HAPPENING.
SO DO ALL NINE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTERS PLAN ON COMMENTING, OR ARE SOME OF YOU DONATING YOUR TIME? WE'RE DONATING, I'M DONATING.
WHO ARE YOU DONATING YOUR TIME TO? UH, PHIL AND BERTHA.
AND I THINK THEY HAD OTHER TWO PEOPLE.
SO I THINK PHIL AND BERTHA, WE ALREADY HAVE OUR TIME, RIGHT? YEAH, YOU'RE 12.
YOU HAD 12 MINUTES TOTAL THEN.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO, THAT WAS GOOD.
YEAH, SHE HAS THE TIME SO YOU CAN COMMENT AFTERWARDS.
SO WE HAVE, UH, SO FRIENDS, BUT WHO'S DONATING TIME TO BERTHA? BECAUSE WE KNOW WHO'S DONATING TIME TO MR. THOMPSON, BUT WHO'S DONATING TIME TO WE HAVE 12 MINUTES.
YEAH, I THINK THE, THAT LADY THAT THE, THAT LADY AND THE GOLD, RIGHT? AND THE GOLD TO BERTHA? NO, I DONATED IT TO BIRTHDAY.
SO WHO, WHO WOULD BE DONATING IT TO, TO BERTHA? I HAVE MY TIME.
YOU, YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR TIME.
SO YOU NEED FOUR INDIVIDUALS TO SAY, TO COME FORWARD, RIGHT? AND I THINK WE'RE, I THINK WE'RE CONFUSED HERE.
CHAIR, CAN YOU TELL US, DO WE HAVE 12 MINUTES OF TIME OF PRESENTATION FOR ME AND PHIL? YES OR NO? YOU WILL HAVE YOU, YOU HAVE 12 MINUTES.
I KNOW THAT, UM, ONE PERSON WAS GONNA DONATE TO PHIL AND WE HAD ONE PERSON DONATING TO YOU.
MS. OTTO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE 12 MINUTES.
MAYBE LET ME JUMP BACK IN HERE.
THE FIRST SPEAKER TO SIGN UP WAS MARCUS DELEON.
WHO ARE YOU? ARE YOU SPEAKING OR DONATING YOUR TIME SPEAKING? I KNOW.
UH, SO LET'S JUST BEGIN WITH THAT AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE MOVING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS AND AS PEOPLE GET, GET THEIR NAMES CALLED, IF THEY END UP DONATING THEIR TIME, THEN I'LL CALL AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT SPEAKER HAS ALL THE TIME THAT THEY WERE, UM, ALLOCATED.
AND THIS IS ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
SO, UH, MARCOS, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
MY NAME IS MARCOS DE LEON, BORN AND RAISED IN EAST AUSTIN.
I'VE BEEN HERE, I GUESS NOW 76 YEARS, WHICH JUST HAD A BIRTHDAY.
I'M FORMER TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
I'M FORMER PRESIDENT OF EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZEN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND I'M ASKING YOU, I'M SPEAKING, I THINK I'M SPEAKING BEFORE THE PART HERE, BUT I'M GONNA ASK YOU GOT A A, A PACKET FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S A BIG PACKET, BUT I'M GONNA ASK YOU IF YOU CAN'T DO TONIGHT, BUT AS, AS THE MEETING GOES ON TODAY AND LATER ON, 'CAUSE IT'S JUST A DISCUSSION, YOU GO, WHEN YOU GO TO THE PART, IT SAYS OVERVIEW OR YOU CAN SKIP TO OVERVIEW.
AND AFTER THAT, IT'S THE MASTER PLAN THAT THE COMMUNITY ADOPTED 10 YEARS AGO.
AND THAT GIVES YOU INFORMATION WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS DONE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS AND WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE.
IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS.
AND ALL WE'RE GONNA ASK YOU IS TO RESPECT OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING, WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR, I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THAT AREA SINCE 1974 WHEN, UH, DR.
MR. REON WAS, UH, REST IN PEACE, WAS FIRST PRESIDENT, UH, TRYING TO BEAUTIFY THAT AREA.
ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO SAY VERY CLEARLY, AS IN PUERTO RECORD, WE DO NOT WANT TO GIVE UP ANY PARKLAND IN THAT AREA.
AND HERE WHAT THE, HERE, WHAT THE STATE IS DOING TO Y TO THE CITY.
I CAN SEE HOW THAT'S VERY PRECIOUS IN THE CITY, AND IT'S BASED ON ECONOMICS AND TRYING TO PUNISH OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT I'M ASKING YOU AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, AS A PERSON WHO LIVES AND OWNS A HOME AT 1702 CANTERBURY STREET, RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE EAST, EAST AUSTIN, THAT YOU READ THIS PACKET THAT WE GAVE YOU, AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA, THIS IS NOT GONNA END TONIGHT.
IT'S GONNA CONTINUE, THEN IT'S CONTINUE.
AT THE CITY COUNCIL, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE OUR CONCERN, OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE, WE AS, AS WE FOUGHT ALL THESE YEARS, THEY, THEY CONTINUE TO NOT PROVIDE RESPECT.
WE DON'T, WE THINK THAT WE HAVE THE BEST IDEA WHAT COULD HAPPEN THERE IN THAT PROPERTY THAT YOU, THAT YOU CAN GET IT IS ACTUALLY CALLED THE NASH NOT BUILDING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUR OWN CONSORTIUM TO WORK WITH THAT IN THE FUTURE.
WE WOULDN'T DO THAT WITHOUT LOSING THE PARK LAND, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT THINK IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
LET'S TALK ABOUT IMPLEMENT THE, UH, UH, 1 26, SECTION 26 WAS ALLOWED CITY COUNCIL TO DO AWAY WITH PARK LAND, RE REPURPOSE THE AREA THAT WE KNOW OF.
BUT TONIGHT I'M ASKING YOU TO READ OUR PLAN, LOOK AT IT, DIGEST IT, AND LOOK AT THE, THE TIMELINE IN WHICH WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS COMMUNITY, THIS AREA FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND WHAT WE WERE LIKE FOR THE COMMUNITY IN THAT, IN, IN THAT AREA, ALONG WHAT THEY CALL FESTIVAL BEACH, CHICANO PARK, ART PARK.
[01:20:01]
I USED TO GO SWIMMING DOWN THERE, SO I KNOW THAT I LIVED IN RAINEY FOR ALMOST 11 YEARS.AND THEN, THEN I MOVED BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND A BOUGHT A HOUSE.
SO THAT AREA'S BEEN VERY PRECIOUS TO US.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE ANA MACIEL.
IS ANYONE ELSE DONATING THEIR TIME TO ANNA? OKAY, ANNA, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THREE MINUTES.
COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
MY NAME'S ANNA AND I AM I'M ALSO A AUSTIN KNIGHT.
UH, AND OUR FAMILY STILL HAS THEIR, THEIR HOME AT 9 0 6 EAST SIXTH STREET.
UM, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN LIKE MANY OTHERS DO.
BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE READ YOUR MATERIAL, BUT I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HEAR.
IN, IN 2013, THE EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, ALONG WITH EAST CHAVEZ TEAM AND OTHER LOCAL ADVOCATES, WORKED AS STAKEHOLDERS TO HELP CRAFT THE HOLLY STREET, EDWARD WENDELL AND SENIOR PARK AT BEST, BEST FESTIVAL, BEACH MASTER VISION PLAN, WHICH WAS PASSED BY AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IN 2014 WITH CHANGES IN 2015.
NOW, I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD HAVE SOME RESPECT IF CITY COUNCIL PASSED PASSED THAT MASTER PLAN.
WHY DON'T WE KEEP IT? AND WHY DON'T WE, WHY DON'T WE JUST FOLLOW WHAT IT SAYS IT'S GONNA, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT NO.
UH, I WAS HERE AT THE, AT THE TIME WHEN ONE OF, UH, OUR COUN, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, PROPOSED A RESOLUTION REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE NATIONALIST BUILDING FOR A SENIOR AND CHILD DAYCARE OR INTERGENERATIONAL DAYCARE CENTER, IRAQ, THE SUDDEN UNEXPECTED MANDATE TO STUDY NATIONALIST BUILDING FOR IRAQ CASE ABRUPTLY HALTED PARTS PROGRESS ON THE CI ON THE NEIGHBORHOODS NATIONALIST VISION.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF, WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY PEOPLE HERE WHO NOT ONLY WANT RESPECT, WE WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE LIVED HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO THE COMMUNITY, AS MUCH AS OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY DEVELOPERS, AND SOMETIMES I FEEL CITY COUNCIL WORKS FOR DEVELOPERS, AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE HERE.
WE, WE DON'T, WE DON'T NEED SOMEONE WHO'S A GROUP THAT'S CALLED THE INTERGENERATIONAL DAYCARE ADVISORY GROUP, THE SCHOOL HEALTH AND SOCIAL POLICY, UT RESEARCHERS AND OTHERS, ALONG WITH SEVERAL POTENTIAL PARTNERS, UH, TO DECIDE WHAT THE NATIONALES, UH, BUILDING NEEDS TO BE.
THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED, THAT WAS IN THE MASTER PLAN.
SO WHY DO WE WANNA CHANGE IT? NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE THE RBJ BUILDING RIGHT THERE, YOU NEED TO REALIZE THAT THEIR SENIORS ALREADY THERE THAT LIVE THERE.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU CAN THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING BY INVESTING YOUR VOTE NOT ON THE COMMUNITY, BUT BY WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN A COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T NEED ANY MORE DEVELOPMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE MARIA ELENA RODRIGUEZ.
MARIA, ARE YOU SPEAKING OR DONATING YOUR TIME? IS, UH, MARIA ELENA SPEAKING OR DONATING HER TIME? SHE'S SPEAKING.
IS ANYONE DONATING THEIR TIME TO MARIA ELENA? OKAY, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UH, MY NAME IS MARIA LENA MENDOZA RODRIGUEZ, AND I'VE LIVED, I'VE, UH, BORN AND RAISED HERE AND, UM, ALMOST 80 YEARS AGO.
[01:25:01]
THIS PLAN THAT, UH, UH, THE IRAC IS REQUESTING, AND, UH, ONE OF THE REASONS IS BECAUSE, UM, IT, IT HAS WRITTEN ALL OVER CENTRAL HEALTH, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY CENTRAL HEALTH.AND NOT ONLY THAT, UM, THE OUTGOING, UH, KIRK WATSON, WHEN HE LEFT HERE, AND ONE OF THE STIPULATIONS THAT HE DID, HE, HE DID, HE, WHEN THEY FORMED CENTRAL HEALTH, THEY GAVE $33 MILLION WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED TO UT FROM, AND IT'S COMING OUT OF THE CENTRAL HEALTH BUDGET.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PROPOSED IN THIS ARE WITH CENTRAL HEALTH.
AND, UH, BELIEVE THE LATE FIRST LADY OF, UM, THE FORMER FIRST LADY OF AUSTIN, COULD YOU CALL HERSELVES? AND, UM, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S VERY SELFISH OF THEM THAT WE HAVE, THEY, Y'ALL HAVE TAKEN, THE CITY HAS TAKEN THE DEVELOPERS HAVE TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM THE EAST AUSTINITES, EVERYTHING.
IT 7 8 7 0 2 USED TO BE THE MOST DANGEROUS ZIP CODE IN AUSTIN.
IT'S NOT THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A MILLION DOLLAR HOUSES OVER THERE AND PROPERTY OVER THERE IS RIDICULOUS.
YOU HAVE OUSTED EVERYBODY ELSE FROM THERE.
NOW YOU WANNA OUST THE NATURAL HERNANDEZ PARKLAND AREA THERE.
THAT IS NOT RIGHT ON THE REQUEST OF A PERSON THAT'S NOT EVEN HERE ANYMORE AND DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'M REALLY, REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN MY, THIS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND ONE OF THE PERSONS THAT'S INVOLVING THEM IS A LULAC MEMBER.
UH, SHE'S PROPOSING THIS TO BE HAPPENING TOO.
SO THEY'RE WORKING WITH, UM, IRAC AND, UH, WITH UT UT'S NOT DON'T CARE ABOUT US.
THEY HAVE $33 MILLION FROM, UH, FROM CENTRAL HEALTH AND CENTRAL HEALTH WANTS THIS BUILDING FOR THEM.
AND, UM, AND I REALLY OPPOSED, AND I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT REAL, REAL HARD.
GO BACK TO THE WAY IT USED TO BE.
LET THE COMMUNITY DECIDE, NOT PEOPLE THAT DO NOT LIVE THAT ARE NOT EVEN FROM HERE.
NOW, I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, 80, ALMOST 80 YEARS, I THINK I THANK YOU, MA'AM.
OH, BEFORE I LEAVE, UH, PARKS OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UH, YOU SHOULD HAVE, UH, SOMETHING, UH, OCTOBER IS, UH, CANCER, BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.
AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD MAKE IT A POINT TO MAKE, TO DO SOMETHING.
AND THE PARKS OF RECREATION, RECOGNIZING THAT I'M A CANCER SURVIVOR, BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, THREE TIMES BREAST CANCER AND OTHER CANCERS.
SO PLEASE, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT THAT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE MARCELLA BENITEZ.
MARCELLA, ARE YOU SPEAKING OR DONATING YOUR TIME? SPEAKING? IS ANYONE DONATING THEIR TIME TO MARCELLA? OKAY, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UM, I'M HERE FOR, UH, TO TRY TO SEE IF I CAN, SOME OF MY FEW WORDS, IF THAT WOULD HELP TO, FOR US TO TRY TO SAVE OUR PARK AND THE NATIONAL ON THIS BUILDING.
I, AT MY AGE, I DON'T GO TO THE PARK AND PLAY BALL ANYMORE AND ALL THAT, BUT WHEN I WAS A YOUNGSTER, I DID, I LOVED MY PARK.
I LOVED, UH, SWIMMING OUT THERE AND, UH, DOING THE PICNICS AT THE PARKS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO.
AND NOW SOME PARKS I MET, UH, METS PARK.
WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BARBECUE.
LET'S RESPECT OUR COMMUNITY TO TRY TO SEE IF WE DON'T LOSE OUR PARK.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE GLORIA CHAPPA.
[01:30:03]
GLORIA, ARE YOU SPEAKING OR DONATING YOUR TIME? SPEAKING? IS ANYONE DONATING THEIR TIME TO GLORIA? HI, I'M FROM THE EAST SIDE.I WENT TO THE OLD POP SCHOOL AND CHICANO PARK.
ALL THE CHILDREN LOVE THE PARK.
I USED TO BABYSIT EVERY SUMMER AND WE WENT SWIMMING AND WE PLAYED BALL AND WE TOOK WALKS AND EVERYBODY ENJOYS THE PARK.
IT'S GOT MEMORIES, IT'S GOT A HISTORY, IT'S GOT LOVABLE MEMORIES.
I'M 64 YEARS OLD, BUT I CAN STILL REMEMBER GOING TO THE PARK.
WE HAD THE, WE HAD THE AKA FESTIVAL.
THE BOAT RACES, THEY CHANGE IT.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT ENGINEERS, BUT WE HAVE PRIDE AND WE LOVE OUR PEOPLE.
AND I KNOW EVERYBODY WANTS THE BEST FOR THEIR FAMILY.
WELL, I ALSO WANT TO BE HAPPY.
THE ELDERLY NEED THE PARK, THE PIGEONS, THEY NEED TO GET FED.
WELL, I WANNA RESPECT ALSO, I GREW UP IN THE PARK AND I'VE TAUGHT KIDS TO SWIM THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM.
I THINK PERSONALLY IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM.
I HAVE SAVED KIDS FROM DROWNING AT CHICANO PARK.
I HAVE TAUGHT KIDS TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM.
A LOT OF KIDS CAN SAY, SHE TAUGHT ME HOW TO SWIM.
WHEN YOU RECOGNIZE IT'S A GOOD FEELING.
I RETIRED FROM UT, I'M DISABLED, BUT I STILL GO TO THE PARK AND I HELP THE KIDS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PHIL THOMAS.
PHIL, YOU'RE GETTING A TIME DONATION FROM CAROL STAHL.
I LIVE AT 68 MILLARD STREET, REPRESENTING DEEP, DEEP HOLLY ADVOCATES AND WORKING ALONGSIDE EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE'VE PROVIDED HANDOUTS THAT SHOW THE, THAT THE INTER INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVITY RESOURCE PROGRAM OR IRAQ, IS NOT THE BEST FIT FOR THE NASH FERNANDEZ BUILDING.
THE TIMELINE PROVIDED SHOWS THE BUILDING HISTORY AND THE PROGRESSION TO HELP OFFER PERSPECTIVE TO THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE NEW TO THE, UM, THE BOARD, PERHAPS THE MOST IN FACT FACTOR OF THIS ISN'T THAT IRAQ IS AN UNDERSTATED BUDGET.
QUESTIONABLE STATISTICS, SHAKY SURVEYS, THEY WANT FREE RENT.
AND THE $3.3 MILLION EARMARKED FOR NATIONAL ANDES BUILDING, OR EVEN THE PROPOSED OBSERVATION PODS TO STUDY DAYCARE PARTICIPANTS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IS THE LOSS OF PARKLAND.
PARKLAND MUST BE UNDEDICATED IN ORDER FOR THE IRAQ PROGRAM TO OPERATE AT NASH FERNANDEZ.
WE DO NOT NEED TO BE LOSING PARKLAND IN CENTRAL AUSTIN OR ANYWHERE, ESPECIALLY NOW CONSIDERING THE CONSTRAINTS OF HB 1526.
BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO PARTICULARLY ADDRESS IS WHY ANYONE THINKS NASH HERNANDEZ IS OPEN FOR PROPOSALS.
THE FUTURE OF THE BUILDING HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED.
SOME YEARS BACK, BERTHA DELGADO AND I AND MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SOME OF WHICH ARE BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW, WORK TOGETHER WITH THE CITY TO CREATE THE HOLLY SHORES, EDWARD RENDO AND SENIOR PARKS MASTER VISION PLAN.
THE CITY SPENT A YEAR AND A HALF AND COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON CONSULTANTS AND COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
THERE WAS A LOT OF HAGGLING, BUT IN 2014, A CONSENSUS WAS REACHED AND THE MASTER PLAN EMERGED.
IT WAS OKAYED BY THE COMMUNITY AND ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY AT CITY COUNCIL IN AUGUST OF 2014.
THAT PLAN EARMARKED THE ASH HERNANDEZ BUILDING FOR COMMUNITY USE AND PARD OFFICES.
THE COMMUNITY USE WAS TO BE THE FOLLOWING, FREE COMMUNITY MEETING SPACE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, SPACE FOR LOCAL ART, HISTORY, CULTURE AND VETERANS GROUPS, SPACE FOR LEARNING AND SPECIAL PROJECTS.
THE MASTER PLAN WAS IMPLEMENTED IN PHASES IN 2022 FUNDS FOR ASH HERNANDEZ FINALLY BECAME AVAILABLE AND ARCHITECTS STARTED WORK ON THE RENOVATION DESIGN THAT CAME TO A SUDDEN HALT WHEN AN OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION TO STUDY THE BUILDING FOR A SPECIAL INTEREST PROGRAM.
WHY WOULD ANYONE INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION THAT HALTED THE FORWARD PROGRESS OF A PLAN ALREADY IN MOTION? IF THIS HAPPENED TO EVERY PLAN THE CITY AND PARD HAD, WE'D NEVER MOVE FORWARD.
[01:35:01]
PAYING FOR PLANS THAT SAID, EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND DEEP HOLLY ADVOCATES FIRMLY SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL PLAN THAT WAS ALREADY UNDERWAY.THE PLAN THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL.
AND THAT PLAN IS RIGHT FOR NASH HERNANDEZ BECAUSE ONE, IT WAS RATIFIED BY THE COMMUNITY AND BY COUNCIL.
TWO, IT GIVES PARD ONSITE OFFICE SPACE THAT SAVES TAXPAYERS MONEY AND PAR ON OFFICE RENTAL.
THREE, IT KEEPS OUR PRECIOUS PARK FACILITIES AND PARKLAND SAFE.
UNDER PARED STEWARDSHIP FOUR OFFERS MAXIMUM USE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO MEET AND PARTICIPATE IN ADVOCACY.
FIVE PROVIDES IMPORTANT SPACE TO CELEBRATE AND PRESERVE LOCAL CULTURE, ART, AND HISTORY, INCLUDING SPACE.
TO HONOR OUR COMMUNITIES WE'RE VETERANS.
IT OFFERS, UH, NUMBER SIX OF AREAS FOR LEARNING AND INCLUSION.
SEVEN, IT KEEPS RENOVATION WITHIN THE CURRENT FOOTPRINT HELPING MINIMIZE AUSTIN'S CARBON FOOTPRINT.
THE PLAN UNDER CURRENT ARCHITECTS SHOWS A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH WITH ADAPTIVE REUSE OF AN EXISTING BUILDING AND WITH, WITH REPLACEMENT MATERIALS ONLY WHERE NEEDED.
NUMBER NINE, IT CAUSES MINIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL DISTURBANCE DURING RENOVATION AND MAINTAINS LOW IMPERVIOUS COVER.
NUMBER 10, IT KEEPS RENOVATION COSTS REASONABLE.
11, IT COMPLIES WITH STATE LAW PROTECTING PARKLAND.
IT HELPS US ASSURE A GREEN IN TRANQUIL PARK.
IT PROTECTS OUR PARKLAND FROM DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION.
AND FINALLY, 14, THE MASTER PLAN RESPECTS THE HARD WORK AND PLANNING OF THE COMMUNITY.
OUR ONLY ASK HERE IS THAT BEFORE THIS GOES TO COUNCIL IN DECEMBER, THAT THIS BOARD RECOMMENDS THE HOLLY SHORES EDWARD RENDON SENIOR MASTER VISION PLAN.
AS A WAY OF PRESERVING OUR PARKLAND AND AS THE MOST SUSTAINABLE MODEL, WE FULLY SUPPORT PARD USE IN PARTNERSHIP AND IN SHARING WITH THE PUBLIC IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS PARK AND INTEGRITY AND PRESERVES THE NHB THAT OUR COMMUNITY CHERISHES.
WE HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT CONTINUING NHB RESTORATION AS PER THE MASTER PLAN.
WE FEEL THAT THIS IS THE BEST OPTION FOR ALL THE COMMUNITY PARD AND THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BERTHA RONE DELGADO.
BERTHA, I THINK YOU HAVE A TIME DONATION FROM ELISA MONTOYA.
SHE JUST WANTS TO STAND WITH ME.
WELL, WE ARE GLAD TO BE BACK, UH, BEFORE I GET STARTED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, PARKS, UH, BOARD COMMISSION HERE FOR DOING THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
UH, THE VOLUNTEER WORK, AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'RE VOLUNTEERS AS WELL.
SO WE ALL KNOW HOW HARD, UH, OUR LIVING, OUR DAILY LIVES, HAVING A FULL-TIME JOB BEING A PARENT, UM, HUSBAND OR WIFE, AND THEN HAVING TO COME HERE AND HEAR THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION HERE.
BEFORE I START, WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST GIVE THE RESPECT TO THE VETERANS THAT ARE HERE, UH, AT CITY HALL TODAY IN THE PARKS COMMISSION.
CAN I HAVE YOU STAND OUR VETERANS, OUR EAST AUSTIN CHICANO VETERANS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WE ARE HONOR OUR VETERANS, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS GIVEN THE HONOR.
UM, AND BECAUSE WE HAD AGREED THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE A PART OF THE SHARED SPACE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE AT N HERNANDEZ, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL KNOW THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR VETERANS.
MY NAME IS BERTHA REON DELGADO, CITY OF AUSTIN, HOUSING COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT OF EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND, UH, LONGTIME NATIVE RESIDENT OF, OF 2008 HASKELL STREET, WHERE MY MOM IS STILL ALIVE AND SHE OWNS HER HOME.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE RESIDE TODAY.
SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TODAY ARE RESIDENTS, ARE HOMEOWNERS, THEY'RE NOT, UH, CONSULTANTS, THEY'RE NOT LOBBYISTS, THEY'RE NOT BIG CORPORATIONS.
THEY'RE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED ANDRE BREATHED EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY AND THE PARKS, AND THEY'RE HERE TODAY TO BE A WITNESS OF WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE OF ASH HERNANDEZ.
I KNOW YOU ALL CANNOT TAKE A VOTE, BUT YOU CAN WEIGH IN YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE
[01:40:01]
THIS COMMISSION DOES OVERSEE THE ENTIRE PARK, UH, PARKS AND THE ENTIRE CITY.SO YOUR JOB AND YOUR ROLE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND SO WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR PARKS AND WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU ALL START TO LOOK AND IDENTIFY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TAKE OUR PARKS AWAY.
THIS 90 ACRES OF PARK LAND THAT'S BEEN PRESERVED BY THE CHICANO COMMUNITY, BY THE PEOPLE AND THE LEADERS LIKE FORMER TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER MARCUS ION JUST STATED.
THIS IS OUR, THIS IS, THIS IS OUR HEART.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE LIVE FOR, FIGHTING FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR PARKS.
WE'VE DONE THE WORK ALREADY, AS YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, IS A PRESENTATION OF AN OPPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED, UM, PROPOSAL THAT CAME TO YOU ALL WITHOUT US KNOWING, WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY KNOWING WE COULDN'T COME IN AND WEIGH IN.
WE COULDN'T COME IN AND, AND TALK OR COME BACK WHAT THEY HAD SAID.
SO WE'RE HERE ON OUR OWN AND WE'RE GOING TO COUNCIL ON OUR OWN.
AND WE'RE ASKING THE ENTIRE CITY OF AUSTIN TO SIGN OUR PETITION AND TO STAND WITH US AS WE, AS WE CREATE A PRESS CONFERENCE, TO LET EVERY MEDIA OUTLET KNOW THAT WE'VE CAME TO THE BOARD'S COMMISSION, THAT WE'VE CAME TO THE PARKS BOARD DIRECTOR, THAT WE'VE CAME AND WE'VE DONE OUR, OUR, OUR WORK.
AND WE'RE ASKING COUNCIL MEMBER AND EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR, OUR MAYOR KIRK WATSON, TO NOT ALLOW PARKS DEPARTMENT OR ANY TYPE OF PARK ENTITY TO BE SWAPPED OR TRADED TO ANY OTHER ENTITY FOR, FOR ANYTHING.
THAT IS NOT WHAT PRESERVATION OF PARKS IS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF AUSTIN, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH IS OUR, IS OUR COLLEAGUE OR IS A PARTNER THAT I HEARD THAT IN A, IN A TOWN HALL THAT WE HAD FROM OUR DIRECTOR, KIMBERLY.
SHE SAID, WE'RE NOT GIVING PARKLAND TO CORPORATIONS.
WE'RE JUST GIVING IT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
NO, YOU ARE, BECAUSE THE CITY OF AUSTIN HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS A DIFFERENT VISION FOR THIS.
AND THE PILOT PROGRAM HAS NEVER BEEN EVEN DONE IN AUSTIN OR ANY OTHER CITY OR STATE.
THIS PILOT PROGRAM OF IRAQ HAS NO MONEY.
THEY'RE ASKING US FOR MONEY, AND WE DON'T WANNA GIVE OUR TAX DOLLARS AWAY.
SO WE ARE FIGHTING IRAQ AND WE ARE AT WAR.
WHEN I SAY WE'RE AT WAR, THAT MEANS COMMUNITY AGAINST THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AGAINST CORPORATIONS LIKE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIKE CENTRAL HEALTH, LIKE CITY OF AUSTIN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, ANY OTHER ENTITY THAT SIGNED ON THAT PROPOSAL, WE ARE AGAINST IT.
WHY DID REBECCA BANKS TAKE THIS? IT'S, THEY'RE DOWN A BLOCK AWAY.
REBECCA BANKS HAS TURNED INTO A DOMAIN AND THEY HAVE A SENIOR CENTER THERE OR SENIOR LIVING THERE.
WHY CAN'T THE SENIOR CENTER BE PUT THERE? WHY AREN'T WE TALKING ABOUT OTHER FACILITIES ACROSS THE CITY THAT CAN, THAT CAN BE ABLE TO HOUSE THIS TYPE OF PROPOSAL? THAT'S A PILOT AND EXPERIMENT.
OUR PARK IS NOT THERE FOR SALE AND WE DO NOT WANNA BE PLAYING BACK AND FORTH HERE.
AND WE'RE ASKING FOR THE, FOR YOU, YOU BOARD MEMBERS TO WEIGH IN.
WHERE'S YOUR POWER AT? WHERE ARE YOU SITTING THERE? YOU'RE NOT SITTING THERE JUST TO HEAR US.
YOU'RE SIT SITTING THERE TO MAKE CHANGES, TO BE AN IMPACT AND TO, AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE POLICIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE HERE, THAT ARE HURTING US.
WE, WE KEEP HEARING EVERYBODY COME UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT PARKS ARE AND ALL THAT, BUT NONE OF THAT IS TRUE.
WE HAVE A, A LARGE CRISIS IN OUR PARKS.
WE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE THERE.
WE HAVE DRUG ACTIVITY THERE, WE HAVE GUN SHOOTINGS THERE.
WE HAVE FAITH PROJECTS THAT HAVE NO MONEY.
AND WHEN KIMBERLY COMES UP TO YOU ON, ON HERE, SHE'S GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT WHERE WE AT ON THE PHASE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THIS PARK.
WE'VE ALREADY FINISHED THE BOND MONEY.
SO WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE COMMUNITY'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE VISION PLAN THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF EAST AUSTIN AND LEAVE CHICANO PARK ALONE.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO THE PRESENTATION.
[01:45:01]
AND PROJECT MANAGER WITH THE STATE OF AUSTIN PARKS REC DEPARTMENT.AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE PHASE ONE IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE FOR THE HOLLY SHORES, EDWARD, EDWARD AND DOEN SENIOR PARK AT FESTIVAL BEACH.
IN ACCORDANCE TO THE VISION PLAN, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF HISTORY, UH, AND BACKGROUND TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE, UH, IMPLEMENTATION PHASE.
BACK IN 2009, COUNCIL UM, REQUESTED PARD TO DEVELOP A VISION PLAN FOR APPROXIMATELY 90 ACRES OF PARKLAND AND THOSE 90 ACRES, UH, TAKE UP THE SPACE BETWEEN I 35 AND PLEASANT VALLEY ROAD, AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES NINE ACRES OF DEDICATED PARKLAND THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS REC DEPARTMENT FROM AUSTIN ENERGY IN THE REDUCTION OF THE HOLLY POWER PLANT.
THE WORK ON THE VISION PLAN BEGAN AND WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST 28TH, 2014.
IT WAS A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT TO DEVELOP THE VISION PLAN.
AND DURING THE ADOPTION PROCESS OF THE VISION PLAN, THERE WAS A WORKING GROUP THAT WAS FORMED THAT INCLUDED PARK STAFF AND ALSO TWO PARKS BOARD MEMBERS.
AND IF MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT, UH, THE PARKS BOARD MEMBERS WERE CASIAS AND, UH, RIVERA, THE WORKING GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR THE AREAS TO BE IMPROVED WITHIN THESE 90 ACRES.
SO SEVEN AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED WITHIN THIS SPACE TO BE IMPROVED AREA ONE IS THE FESTIVAL BEACH AREA.
AREA TWO IS MARTIN PARK, AREA THREE WAS DEDO PAVILION.
AREA FOUR WAS FESTIVAL GARDENS, AND AREA FIVE WAS METS PARK.
AND AREA SIX AND SEVEN INCLUDED THOSE NINE ACRES THAT THE AUSTIN ENERGY SEEDED TO THE DEPARTMENT.
DURING THE, UH, WORKING GROUPS, UH, WORK IN DEVELOPING THE PRIORITIES, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AREA FIVE WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE PRIORITY LIST BECAUSE, UH, IT WAS THOUGHT THAT METS PARK WAS IN NEED OF A VISION PLAN OF ITS OWN.
THE PRINCIPLE, UH, PRIORITIES THAT THE WORKING GROUP LOOKED AT FOR THIS PARK AREA INCLUDED IMPROVING, IMPROVING THE ACCESS TO PARKLAND, ADA ACCESSIBILITY, AND THEN GENERAL PARK AMENITIES.
SO DESIGN WORK STARTED IN 2016 AND CONSTRUCTION ACTUALLY ENDED IN 2022, LATE 2022.
THE FIRST AREA THAT WAS IMPROVED WAS THE FESTIVAL BEACH AREA.
THAT WAS COMPLETED IN 2018 FOR THAT SPACE.
FOR THAT AREA, WE, UM, IMPROVED SIDEWALKS BY MAKING THEM ACCESSIBLE.
WE INCLUDED AD PARKING SPACES, WE PROVIDED NEW CONCRETE PICNIC TABLES, AND THEN WE ALSO CREATED A PATH FROM THE ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL TO THE REBECCA BRAINS JOHNSON CENTER.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, ALONG THAT SAME PATH, WE, UM, CONSTRUCTED A RESTAURANT FACILITY AND THIS RESTAURANT FACILITY, THE EFFORTS FOR THAT WAS LED BY THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND IT REPLACED AN OLD RESTAURANT FACILITY THAT WAS IN PLACE.
THAT RESTAURANT FACILITY IS AD ACCESSIBLE, UH, IT INCLUDES A DRINKING FOUNTAIN AND IT ALSO INCLUDES AN ADULT CHANGING TABLE.
THE NEXT AREA THAT, UH, WAS IMPROVED WAS AREA NUMBER TWO THAT INCLUDED MARTIN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, MARTIN POOL, AND THE EXISTING RESTROOM FACILITY.
THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS WERE COMPLETED IN 2018, AND THEY INCLUDED ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALKS, NEW PICNIC TABLES, A NEW DRINKING FOUNTAIN, AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PLAYSCAPE.
THE PLAYSCAPE WAS ADDITIONALLY, UH, FUNDED THROUGH THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION THROUGH A ST DAVID'S FOUNDATION GRANT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE POOL WAS ALSO, UH, IMPROVED BY THE ADDITION OF A SHADE STRUCTURE, AND THAT WAS ALSO MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ST.
THE RESTROOM, EXISTING RESTROOM THAT WAS THERE WAS COMPLETED IN THE FALL OF 2020, AND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE ADA COMPLIANCE.
SO WE UPGRADED THE RESTROOM SO THAT ALL THE FIXTURES IN THE RESTROOM ARE NEW.
WE INSTALLED NEW STALL PARTITIONS AND OF COURSE WE MADE IT ADA COMPLIANT.
THE NEXT AREA THAT WE IMPROVED AND MOVED ON TO WAS THE DE GUDO PAVILION.
THIS WAS COMPLETED IN THE SPRING OF 2019, AND THE FOCUS FOR THIS AREA WAS THE REMOVAL OF A PERIMETER
[01:50:01]
FENCE THAT IT WAS IN EXISTENCE.BY REMOVING THAT FENCE, WE ALLOWED THE COMMUNITY, WE GAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY THE GREEN SPACE THAT WAS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WAS A GREEN SPACE THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ENJOY BEFORE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE PROVIDED ACCESSIBLE WALKWAYS FROM A PARKING LOT, AN EXISTING PARKING LOT, AND THEN WE ALSO IMPROVED THE INTERSECTIONS OF CONE AND JUSTICE C SEGOVIA FOR ACCESS.
WE ALSO, UH, PROVIDED NEW BOLLARD LIGHTING, UH, ALONG THE MAIN WALKWAY THAT WAS INSTALLED, AND THOSE BOLLARDS HAVE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND THOSE OUTLETS ARE INTENDED TO BE USED WHEN FESTIVALS ARE TAKING PLACE IN THAT SPACE.
AREA FOUR IS THE GAR, UH, THE FIESTA GARDENS, UH, AREA ADJACENT TO THE CAMACHO RECREATION CENTER OR THE ACTIVITY CENTER.
AND THAT WAS COMPLETED IN 2020.
AGAIN, IN THIS SPACE, THERE WAS AN EXISTING FENCE THAT DIDN'T ALLOW RESIDENTS TO USE THE GREEN SPACE THAT WAS, UH, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ADDED ACCESSIBLE WALKWAYS TO FESTA GARDENS, INCLUDED NEW PICNIC TABLES.
AND THEN WE ALSO ARE CURRENTLY PLANNING FOR A CAMACHO BOAT STORAGE FACILITY.
THE NEXT AREA IMPROVEMENT WAS AREA SIX AND SEVEN.
THIS WAS COMPLETED IN THE FALL OF 2022.
THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS, OF THESE TWO AREAS WAS TO COMPLETE THE LOOP OF THE ANN ROY AND BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL PREVIOUSLY TO THIS LOOP WAS NOT COMPLETED.
SO BY INSTALLING A NEW TRAIL IN THE AREA IN THE PROPERTY THAT WAS SEATED BY AUSTIN ENERGY TO PAR TO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE LOOP.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ADDED NEW BENCHES.
WE IMPROVED AN LAKE OVERVIEW AREA, AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD NEW PLANTINGS OF TREES AND ALSO DO SOME ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION TO THE LAKEFRONT EDGE.
THE OTHER ITEM THAT WAS, UH, IMPORTANT IN THIS SPACE WAS THE INSTALLATION OF LARGE SCREEN WALL THAT WOULD PROVIDE FUTURE ART OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PROJECTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED, UH, BY THE WORKING GROUP.
BUT WE DO HAVE SOME PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON IN THESE SPACES IN THIS AREA.
SO IN AREA SIX AND AREA SEVEN, WE HAVE THE HOLLY WAREHOUSES.
IN 2018, THE DEPARTMENT COMPLETED AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CONDITION OF THE WAREHOUSES, AND THAT ASSESSMENT DETERMINED THAT THE WAREHOUSES WERE STRUCTURALLY SOUND.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO WATER OR WASTEWATER CONNECTIONS IN THESE BUILDINGS, AND CURRENTLY THAT PROJECT OR ANY WORK ON THE WAREHOUSES IS ON HOLD PENDING FUTURE FUNDING.
ANOTHER PROJECT ON THE HORIZON IS THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
CURRENTLY IT'S UNDER THE SITE PLAN DEVELOPMENT PERMITTING PHASE.
WE WERE TASKED BY COUNCIL THROUGH AN ORDINANCE BACK IN 2019 TO LOCATE A PERMANENT LOCATION FOR THE TRAIL, I'M SORRY, FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
AFTER MUCH WORK, WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE HOLLY LAGOON WOULD BE A GOOD LOCATION, PERMANENT LOCATION FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
CURRENTLY, THEY'RE OPERATING FROM THE FESTIVAL BEACH BOAT RAMP.
THE IMAGE TO THE RIGHT IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
AND WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING IS A LARGE FLOATING DOCK WITH A STORAGE STRUCTURE AND THEN A WALKWAY FROM THE FLOATING DOCK TO PARKLAND.
THE PARKS AND RECREATION PARK, UH, UH, DEPARTMENT IS PARTNERING WITH THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL, AND WE WILL BE PROVIDING TWO ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPOTS IN ADDITION TO AN ACCESSIBLE WALKWAY FROM THE ANNEN ROY HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
AND WE'RE ALSO INCLUDING A DRINKING FOUNTAIN.
IN AREA NUMBER FOUR, WE HAVE, UH, ON THE, UH, HORIZON FIESTA GARDENS PROJECT.
AND CURRENTLY THAT PROJECT IS AT 90%, UH, IN DESIGN.
THE PROJECT, UH, THE BUILDING, I SHOULD SAY, WAS LISTED IN 2019 UNDER THE NATIONAL REGISTER FOR HISTORIC PLACES.
THAT PROVIDES THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE DIRECTION TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE CHARACTER OF THE DEFINING ARCHITECTURE OF THAT BUILDING.
THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE RENOVATION OF THAT BUILDING IS INTENDED TO RENOVATE THE EXISTING SPACES TO MEET CURRENT BUILDING CODE AND ALSO TO MAKE IT EIGHT A COMPLIANT.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE ADDING A SINGLE STORY ADDITION TO THIS BUILDING, WHICH WILL PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SERVICES, UH, FOR THE SPACES OF THE HISTORIC HISTORIC DINING HALL.
THE MAIN PURPOSE FOR THIS FACILITY IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO TO SERVE AS A EVENTS RENTAL VENUE.
[01:55:05]
FOR AREA TWO, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NANDES BUILDING.UH, DO YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE? OKAY.
THE NATIONAL NINE BUILDING IS AN AREA TWO, AND CURRENTLY IT'S UNDER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UH, THE BUILDING PLAN, WELL THE BUILDING I SHOULD SAY, WAS INCLUDED IN THE VISION PLAN AND IT WAS EARMARKED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE USES AS WELL AS LIMITED COMMUNITY SPACE COUNCIL RESOLUTION OF JUNE OF 2022, AND ALSO IN AUGUST OF 22, 20 22, RELATED TO AN INTERGENERATIONAL RESOURCE ACTIVITY CENTER TO BE LOCATED HERE.
SINCE THEN, WE, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO RESPOND TO THOSE COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS IN TERMS OF BUDGET EXPENDITURE AND ALLOCATIONS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE HOLLY IMPLEMENTATION, AND THEY INCLUDE PROPOSITION 14 OF 2012, PROPOSITION ONE OF 2016, WHICH WAS A MOBILITY FUND PROPOSITION C OF 2018 PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES, AND, UH, A GRANT, UH, FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, WHICH WAS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE TEXAS PARK WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT WAS A MATCHING GRANT.
AND THAT GRANT WAS THE OUTDOOR RECREATION LEGACY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANT.
AND THEN ALSO ENERGY PROVIDED SOME, UH, FEES AND PRIMARILY FOR THE SCREEN WALL.
IN TOTAL, THE DEPARTMENT HAS SPENT $4.8 MILLION FOR THE HOLLY IMPLEMENTATION PHASE.
I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE $4.8 MILLION WAS EXPENDED BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 2016 AND 2022.
IT INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND ALSO SOFT COSTS.
AND BY SOFT COSTS, I MEAN, UH, FEES, DESIGN FEES AND SO FORTH.
THE, UH, HORIZON PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ON, UM, ON PLAN, THEIR FUNDING SOURCE IS COMING FROM THE PARKLAND DEDICATION, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX OR HOT TAX CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, AND THE 2018 BOND PROPOSITION, PROPOSITION C AND THOSE FIGURES ARE NOTED ON THE RIGHT.
AND THOSE ARE THE CURRENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
BOARD BOARD MEMBERS, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UM, I, UM, SORRY, I'M STILL FORMING MY QUESTION.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE BUILDING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS COME AND SPOKE TO US ABOUT TONIGHT.
UM, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT LIKE EXACTLY WHERE THAT IS, ANY KIND OF TIMEFRAME TO WHEN ANYTHING WOULD HAPPEN? TALK, YEAH, GO AHEAD.
SO KIMBERLY MCNEELY SERVING AS THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
SO THE NASH HERNANDEZ BUILDING IS ROUGHLY, UM, DID YOU SAY YOU WANTED TO KNOW THE LOCATION? NO, NOT THE LOCATION, BUT LIKE ANY KIND OF TIMEFRAME FOR WHEN ANY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN OR LIKE BASICALLY THE STATUS OF, OF WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW? YES.
SO BY RESOLUTION, UH, DECEMBER 8TH, 2022, WE WERE GIVEN, SO IN JUNE, UH, RAY REFERENCED THE, THE DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS THAT WE WERE, THAT THE DEPARTS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WAS GIVEN.
AND SO WE RESPONDED TO THOSE RESOLUTION, THAT RESOLUTION THAT ASKED US TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY, UM, AND TO COMPLETE A FEASIBILITY STUDY.
AND IN THAT RECOMMENDATION, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT SENT BACK A, A, A MEMO WITH A, A REPORT THAT SAID THAT WE RECOMMENDED MOVING FORWARD WITH THE HOLLY SHORE VISION PLAN THAT SAID THE NASH HERNANDEZ BUILDING WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR, UM, FOR, UH, LIMITED, UH, OR, OR FOR FLEXIBLE COMMUNITY SPACE.
AND FOR, UM, FOR OFFICE SPACE.
IN DECEMBER OF 2022, I BELIEVE IT WAS DECEMBER 8TH OF DECEMBER 8TH, 2022, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT RECEIVED ALONG WITH THE, UM, OUR PARTNERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH RECEIVED A RESOLUTION THAT SAID THEY'D LIKE US TO STUDY IT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE OR WHAT THE STEPS WOULD BE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY USE THIS SPACE, UH, FOR AN INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVITY CENTER AND ALSO TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SOME COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IT ALSO ASKED US TO DO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UM, THE IRAQ, UH, TEAM.
AND SO WE HAVE CONDUCTED THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND SEE SOME OF THE INFORMATION, OR AT LEAST THE PRELIMINARY INFORMATION OF THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND IN COOPERATION WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, A REPORT, A DRAFT REPORT HAS
[02:00:01]
BEEN COMPLETED.AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE RELEASED IN, I WOULD SAY IN EARLY NOVEMBER, UH, WITH A MEMO TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL SAYING THAT WE'VE COMPLETED ALL OF THE THINGS, ALL OF THE DIRECTIVES RES THAT YOU HAVE ASKED US, COUNSEL IN THE, IN THE RESOLUTION.
AND HERE IS WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THAT IS.
HERE'S THE ANSWERS TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UH, AND HERE IS, UH, BASICALLY THE RESPONSE TO THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU PROVIDED US.
AND WE'LL, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE DOING THAT IN COOPERATION WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
SO I'M THINKING EARLY NOVEMBER.
I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WHEN THAT COMES OUT.
WERE Y'ALL ASKED TO CONSIDER ANY ADDITIONAL SPACES OR LOCATIONS? YEAH, THE RESOLUTION VERY SPECIFICALLY POINTED OUT SPECIFIC, UH, UH, LOCATIONS, I BELIEVE DOVE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER.
I'M GONNA GET, I'M NOT GOING TO REMEMBER ALL OF THESE, BUT THE ANSWER IS FOUR SEPARATE DITMAR RECREATION CENTER, DOVE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER, AND TWO OTHERS THAT I JUST DON'T RECALL.
AND, AND IN THAT, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IT DOES ASK THAT QUESTION OF, UM, OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HOSTING THIS PROGRAM IN THESE LOCATIONS? THANK YOU.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? WE HAVE QUESTIONS.
THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO FORMULATE THEM.
SO YOU, IN OCTOBER OF 2022, AUGUST, I'M SORRY.
UM, ON A TIMELINE SHEET THAT I WAS HANDED, UM, ABOUT THE NASH HERNANDEZ BUILDING TIMELINE, IT SAYS OCTOBER, 2022, THE STUDY MANDATED BY CITY MANAGER WAS COMPLETED BY PARD, CONCLUDING THAT IRAC WAS NOT AN IDEAL FIT FOR NASH HERNANDEZ BUILDING.
AND THEN AFTER DOING A SURVEY AND A STUDY, YOU CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS A BETTER FIT OR HAS A CONCLUSION BEEN REACHED? THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CONCLUSION THAT HAS BEEN REACHED.
UH, AS TO THE REFERENCE THAT YOU'RE MAKING, JUNE, WE WERE ASKED TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY.
IT WAS EITHER AUGUST OR OCTOBER.
UH, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK WHEN THE MEMO WAS, WAS PRODUCED, BUT THAT'S WHEN WE PRODUCED THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION, MY NAME'S ON THAT, WHICH WOULD SAY WE DON'T RECOMMEND MOVING FORWARD.
HOWEVER, WE WERE ASKED BY CITY COUNCIL TO GO BACK AND STUDY IT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THIS TIME TO STUDY IT WITH OUR PARTNERS IN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND IN THE RESOLUTION THAT WE RECEIVED IN DECEMBER, IT PROVIDED US A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT DIRECTED US TO WORK THROUGH AND THEN TO PRODUCE A REPORT RELATED TO THAT.
AND IT INCLUDED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT BOARD MEMBER BAAN, UH, REFERENCED.
AND THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS TO LOOK AT THE OTHER, UH, UH, UH, ADDITIONAL RECREATION CENTERS THAT WOULD BE, UM, APPROPRIATE.
SO THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION, I JUST PULLED IT UP, EXCUSE ME FOR ONE SECOND.
UM, THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTOR TO PARTNER WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, WHICH WAS AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND IDC ADVISORY GROUP, TO WORK TOWARDS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN IRAQ THAT WILL ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF AND RESOURCES AND PROVIDE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR FAST-GROWING SENIORS AND LOW INCOME POPULATION.
THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO WORK WITH THE IDC ADVISORY GROUP TO IDENTIFY LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, FUNDING RESOURCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, CREATIVE FINANCING, REVENUE GENERATION, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS TO GATHER INPUT ON INITIATING A PILOT IRAC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AT THE NASH HERNANDEZ BUILDING AND AT LOCATIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING MENDEZ RECREATION, DIPMAR RECREATION, DOVE, UH, GEORGE MORALES, DOVE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER.
AND THEN IT GAVE SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, DIRECTIVES TO THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE DEPART, AS THE RESOLUTION, THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE TO RESPOND TO THIS RESOLUTION.
AND THEN WE ARE TO PUT TOGETHER THIS REPORT AND REPORT BACK TO THE, TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO THAT'S THE REPORT THAT I WAS REFERENCING IS, IS IN DRAFT FORM THAT WILL BE COMING OUT PROBABLY THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.
IS YOUR REPORT GONNA HAVE RECOMMENDATION, YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN IT, OR IS IT JUST A REPORT OF THE STUDIES AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? IT WILL ANSWER THE, IT'LL
[02:05:01]
ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED OF US SPECIFICALLY, UM, UH, LICENSES, CERTIFICATION, FUNDING RESOURCES, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, CREATIVE FINANCING OPTIONS.IT'LL ANSWER ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED OF US IN THE RESOLUTION.
AND, AND I JUST WANT TO, JUST, JUST, JUST SO I CAN MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS CLEARLY, IS, SO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US IS JUST THE TIMELINE FOR THE PURPOSES OF MY QUESTION, IS, UH, THERE WAS THIS IDEA PROPOSED THAT THE DEPARTMENT CAME BACK AND SAYS, WE DON'T RECOMMEND THIS.
THIS IS NOT PROBABLY THE, WE, THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT THINK, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES NOT THINK THIS IS THE BEST USE OF THIS SPACE.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, YOU STILL GOT IT DIRECTLY FROM CITY COUNCIL, WHICH YOU JUST READ US.
AND THEN YOUR DIRECTIVE OR, UH, AND THE BASED OFF THE DIRECTIVE, YOU'RE JUST GONNA ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT CITY COUNCIL HAS MADE, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
OUR REPORT SHOULD ANSWER ALL OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS ASKED OF US IN THAT SECOND RESOLUTION FROM DECEMBER, 2022.
WE WILL BE ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS WITH OUR PARTNERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH VIA A REPORT AND A MEMO TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I WAS JUST, THAT WAS JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD MY TIMELINE CORRECT.
BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU WENT GO, IF YOU GO ON TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WEBSITE AND YOU GO UNDER PROJECTS AND LOOK UP, UM, AND, AND YOU SCROLL DOWN, YOU'LL SEE INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM EXPLORATION, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE RAW DATA AND THE INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN REVIEWING THAT, CAN I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION? YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UM, GO AHEAD.
THE COLLABORATION WITHIN THE, UM, WITHIN THE REC CENTER, SO MANY OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS MENTIONED A CONCERN OF LOSING PARK SPACE IN THEIR, IN THEIR, IN THEIR, UM, UPDATES.
WHEN YOU, HOW MUCH SPACE WOULD THE INTERGENERATIONAL I, UH, AREA OF THE RECREATIONAL ASSISTS, HOW MUCH WOULD IT TAKE UP? HOW MUCH WOULD, HOW MUCH PARK SPACE WOULD WE BE TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM? RIGHT.
SO THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONCEIVE, OR WE CONCEIVE ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS IN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, THAT IT WOULD BE THE FOOTPRINT OF THE BUILDING.
UM, HOWEVER, I THINK WHAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE EXPRESSING IS THAT SOMETIMES IT STARTS WITH THE FOOTPRINT AND THEY HAVE CONCERNS THAT IT COULD EXPAND.
AND THAT'S REALLY NOT ONLY IS USING THE NASH HERNANDEZ BUILDING CONCERNING TO THEM, IT'S ALSO CONCERNING THAT IT COULD EXPAND.
I THINK THAT'S, THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO EXPRESS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE CONTEMPLATING THE FOOTPRINTS OF THE BUILDING RIGHT AS WE SPEAK RIGHT THIS SECOND.
I HAVE ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION.
WOULD WOULD THE, I'M SORRY, DID I INTERRUPT YOU? WOULD THE PARKLAND BE, SOMEBODY MENTIONED THAT THE PARKLAND WOULD HAVE TO BE UNDEDICATED TO IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE IRAQ, IS THAT CORRECT OR WOULD IT BE, OR IS THERE, IS THERE A DIFFERENT WAY THAT THAT WORKS? RIGHT.
AND SO WHAT WE COMMONLY CALL, UH, A CHAPTER 26, THAT'S KIND OF THE COLLOQUIAL WAY THAT WE, WE TALK, WE REFER TO THIS, WHICH MEANS THAT BECAUSE THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT ARE SUGGESTED BY THE PROGRAM ARE NOT TRADITIONALLY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS, OR THEY'RE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THEIR MISSION, THEY'RE DAYCARE OR THEY ARE CARE HEALTHCARE OR CARE FOR ELDERS, THOSE ARE NOT THINGS THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WOULD DO.
AND SO WE WOULD CONDUCT SOMETHING CALLED A CHAPTER 26 THAT WOULD ALLOW THIS PUBLIC SPACE TO BECOME UNDER THE AUTHORITY, IF YOU WILL, OF ANOTHER PUBLIC ENTITY, IE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WHO WOULD THEN, WHO THEN IS, UM, THE ENTITY MOST APPROPRIATE FOR, UH, CONDUCTING THOSE SERVICES.
SO SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH, AND I ONLY TELL YOU THIS FOR PERSPECTIVE, NOT BECAUSE I'M ADVOCATING OR NOT ADVOCATING, IS AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
SO AUSTIN PETS ALIVE SITS ON PARKLAND IN TOWN, UH, I BEG YOUR PARDON ON THE V ULMA OVERTON BEACH RIGHT NEXT TO THE TOWN LAKE YMCA.
AND THEY WENT THROUGH A CHAPTER 26 PROCESS WHERE THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF PARKLAND IS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF OUR, OUR ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHO THEN CONTRACTS WITH AUSTIN PETS ALIVE TO RUN THAT ANIMAL CENTER.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT OF HOW, HOW IT, WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE IF THIS WERE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
UM, IF, IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, IF THEY DID THE IRAQ AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT, WOULD WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE LAND? WOULD IT REVERT BACK TO PARKLAND OR WOULD PUBLIC HEALTH CONTROL IT? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?
[02:10:01]
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE, WE'VE GOTTEN THAT FAR, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IF THIS WERE A PROGRAM THAT WERE ABANDONED, THAT IT WOULD REVERT BACK TO PARKLAND.UH, UM, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT CERTAINLY I WOULD BE SUGGESTING.
AND I, I THINK IT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE, THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO GO.
BUT I, I COULDN'T SAY FOR SURE IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME, BUT I WOULD, I WOULD GUESS THAT YES, IT WOULD REVERT BACK TO PARKLAND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON, UH, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, ALLOTTING MAYBE A PORTION OF THE, THE BUILDING TO THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY ROOM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? OR IS THEY'RE TAKING THE WHOLE BUILDING? SO BASED UPON THE, OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF THESE TWO PROGRAMS, THAT THE FULL SPACE THAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE NASH HERNANDEZ BUILDING WOULD HAVE TO BE USED FOR THIS IRAQ PROGRAM.
SO, UM, THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS, IS WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT CONVERSATION, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S CONTEMPLATED BECAUSE OF THE NEEDS OF HOW THE IRAC PROGRAM HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO US.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT DOESN'T MEAN IT COULDN'T BE A POSSIBILITY.
IT JUST MEANS IT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED TO THIS POINT.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE AUSTIN PETS ALIVE EXAMPLE.
I WAS GOING TO ASK, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER EXAMPLES OF CHAPTER 26 OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK I MIGHT RECOGNIZE THEM? SURE.
IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE, UH, GEORGE MORALES, DOVE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER AND THE DOVE SPRINGS PARK, UH, JUST BEHIND THAT RECREATION CENTER, THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS BUILDING A FACILITY THAT WILL BE A, UM, A PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY.
IT WENT THROUGH A CHAPTER 26 PROCESS, AND THERE ARE SYNERGIES, UH, BETWEEN WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING ON PARKLAND AND, AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN THE RECREATION CENTER.
AND IT WAS SOMETHING I JUST HAVE TO, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS, UM, SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME.
AND SO IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF, UM, OF A CHAPTER 26, UH, THAT YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH.
AND YOU'VE PROBABLY REVIEWED, OR YOU MIGHT, SOME OF YOU, ALTHOUGH WE'RE, WE'RE PRETTY BRAND NEW, SO ONLY A FEW OF YOU WOULD'VE BEEN HERE
AND SO THAT RENDERS THAT SPACE UNUSABLE TO BUILD ON AND THEY PAY SOME MITIGATION FEES AND, UM, WE'RE ABLE TO USE THAT MONEY TO DEVELOP SOMETHING ELSE IN THE PARK.
THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT WE USUALLY SEE.
BUT THOSE OTHER TWO EXAMPLES ARE, ARE WHAT ARE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY CURRENT.
THAT'S GENERATED SEVERAL MORE QUESTIONS.
UM, SO THERE, IN THE CASE OF THE, UH, MORALES RECREATION CENTER, THERE WAS NO BUILDING THERE.
THEY ARE BUILDING A BUILDING NOW, BUT THERE WAS NO STRUCTURE ON IT PREVIOUSLY.
CORRECT? IT WAS JUST PARKLAND.
AND I BELIEVE THEIR MITIGATION, UH, THEIR MITIGATION WAS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SOCCER FIELDS AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK THAT WILL BE USED NOT ONLY BY THE, UH, THE YOUTH THAT WILL BE AT THEIR CENTER, THE, UH, THE DAYCARE OR THE PRESCHOOLERS THAT WOULD BE AT THAT CENTER, BUT IT COULD ALSO BE USED BY THE PARK SYSTEM.
AND THEN, UH, THE AUSTIN PETS ALIVE BUILDING, WAS THAT PART OF THE CHAPTER 26, OR DID THEY BUILD THAT BUILDING THEMSELVES? NO, THE AUSTIN PETS ALIVE BUILDING.
IT WAS A STRUCTURE THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN ON, UH, PARKLAND THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT USED AS THEY CALL IT THE DAVENPORT BUILDING.
AND THEN THE ASSOCIATED KENNELS THAT ARE THERE.
AND THEN MY, HOPEFULLY LAST QUESTION ON THIS TOPIC, UH, THE LAST EXAMPLE YOU GAVE, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE WONKY ABOUT AUSTIN WATER, SORT OF DIGGING UNDERGROUND.
IN THAT CASE, THE LAND ON TOP CAN'T BE BUILT ON TOP OF, BUT YOU CAN USE IT OTHERWISE, LIKE I COULD HAVE A PICNIC ON TOP OF WHERE EXACTLY.
YOU CAN'T BUILD A PLACE, STRUCTURE, A BUILDING OR SOMETHING ON TOP OF IT, BUT YOU CAN STILL HAVE A PICNIC OR PLAY BALL OR USE IT AS OPEN SPACE.
SO IT'S STILL USABLE AS PARKLAND, JUST NOT FOR ANY FACILITY OR STRUCTURE.
SO, UH, IN YOUR EXAMPLES, UH, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHERE, UM, A FOOTPRINT OF LAND HAS TURNED INTO A BIGGER EXPANSE.
UM, THAT IS A CONCERN THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BROUGHT FORTH THAT WHAT IF THIS ONE FOURTH OF AN ACRE GROWS INTO, YOU KNOW, 24 ACRES OVER TIME.
UM, BUT THAT, I'M NOT HEARING THAT WITH THE AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AT DOVE SPRINGS LOCATION, THOSE, THOSE HAVE STAYED THE SIZE THAT THEY WERE COMMITTED TO ORIGINALLY, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, YES.
[02:15:01]
NASH, HER HERNANDEZ BUILDING TO BE A COMMUNITY ORIENTED SPACE WITH PART OFFICES SPACE FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS, LOCAL ART, HISTORY, CULTURE, AND LEARNING.SO THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO COINCIDE WITH THAT MASTER PLAN.
HOW, HOW WOULD THAT HAPPEN? THE COUNCIL APPROVED A MASTER PLAN AND THEN THEY HAVE CHANGED IT.
CAN YOU DO THAT? ARE THEY ALTERING THE MASTER PLAN? YES, YOU CAN DO THAT.
SO YES, COUNCIL HAS THE AUTHORITY AND THE PREROGATIVE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT YOU SAID.
CERTAINLY THEY CAN GIVE A, A RESOLUTION AND ASK US TO STUDY SOMETHING, AND THEN THEY CAN ASK US TO MAKE A CHANGE.
SO WE HAVE, BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, THE EXAMPLE THAT, UH, RAY GAVE ABOUT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL, WHEN WE WERE GIVEN THAT PARTICULAR RESOLUTION TO AN ORDINANCE ABOUT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL, IN THAT SAME TEXT, IT ALSO ASKED US TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE VISION PLAN ASSOCIATED.
SO THE COUNCIL CAN DO THAT IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
AND OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE TO VOTE FOR IT, RIGHT? THEY HAVE TO HAVE A POSITIVE, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF VOTES TO MAKE THAT, TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.
ONE WOULD THANK AND ALSO, UM, ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT THE SURVEY WASN'T REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY, AT LEAST IN, IN THE MATERIAL THAT THEY SENT US, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AND WERE WORRIED AND CONCERNED THAT SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS COULD HAVE, COULD CEASE IF THE IRAQ WAS TO LOCATE AT OTHER ACTIVITY CENTERS.
UM, I HOPE THAT PARD WILL BE VERY CAREFUL IN ANALYZING WHAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY WANTS AND NOT HAVE A SURVEY THAT IS, THAT IS PUSHING TOWARDS THIS OTHER ANSWER FOR THE BUILDING.
SO I JUST WANNA REMIND BOARD MEMBERS THE ORIGINAL RESPONSE FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, RIGHT.
THAT WE, WE PUT PUT FORTH IN AUGUST.
I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, WHEN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS DIRECTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE ARE OBLIGATED TO FOLLOW THAT DIRECTION.
AND SO I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, BECAUSE WE WERE DIRECTED TO DO SO.
I JUST, I JUST, JUST, JUST, OKAY.
AND I JUST, JUST, JUST FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS DISCUSSION, I JUST WANNA MAKE, 'CAUSE JUST YEAH.
EMPHASIZE THAT THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING CLARIFICATION ON IT.
'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE DEPARTMENT HAD A POSITION AND THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY OVERRIDED BY CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT.
SO, LIKE, I THINK, YEAH, AND I THINK, I MEAN, IF SOMEONE CAN CONFIRM THIS FOR ME, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE ON A CONSENT AGENDA IN DECEMBER THAT RESULTED IN WHERE WE ARE.
I KNOW WE DO NOT HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME COUNSEL AS WE DID IN DECEMBER, BUT YES, I BELIEVE YOU'RE FACTUAL PURPOSES.
I BELIEVE THAT IS CORRECT, BUT I CAN CONFIRM THAT BOARD MEMBERS AND EMAIL YOU THE ANSWER.
YEAH, I JUST, I WANNA MAKE SURE, JUST FOR CLARIFYING, WHEN IT CAME TO Y'ALL TO, UM, INITIALLY STUDY, WAS THAT, WAS THAT A UNANIMOUS VOTE? SO IS THAT THE, THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET TO US? I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS YES.
AND I WILL, I WILL GET, HOW ABOUT I DO THIS FOR ALL RESOLUTIONS THAT WE RECEIVE RELATED TO THE NATIONAL NEZ BUILDING, I WILL GIVE YOU THE LINK AND YOU AND THE, UH, THE, THE VOTE, AND WE CAN LOOK AT THE VOTE.
OKAY? MM-HMM,
RIGHT? YOU CAN, I CAN GIVE YOU THE LINK TO THE MEMO THAT WE HAD PRINTED WITH THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
DOES ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UM, EITHER ON THE DAIS OR VIA WEBEX? OH, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
IF I MIGHT ADD, ONCE THIS REPORT IS OUT, AS WE TYPICALLY DO, WHEN THERE IS A MEMO TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND IT'S POSTED, WE, UM, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE, TIM SENDS YOU THE LINK.
AND SO WE WILL FOLLOW THAT EXACT SAME PROTOCOL WHEN THIS IS, WHEN THIS PARTICULAR, UM, RESOLUTION, UH, RESPONSE IS POSTED WITH OUR, WITH OUR PARTNERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE'LL BE SENDING THAT TO YOU SO YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS.
UH, JUST TO CHIME IN HERE AS A SUGGESTION FOR BOARD MEMBER OR ME, UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO, IN THE, THE LINK TO ACCESS THE MEETING, THERE WAS ALSO A DIAL IN NUMBER.
[02:20:01]
WHILE YOU'RE LINKED IN VIA THE INTERNET, YOU CAN ALSO DIAL IN WITH A PHONE NUMBER TO PIPE IN AUDIO AT THE MEETING IF YOU'D LIKE.TAYLOR, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YEAH.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I, I DON'T MISS ANYBODY.
DIRECTOR MCNEELY, WHEN WILL YOU HAVE, DO YOU BELIEVE THE TIMELINE IS FOR, FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO HAVE A RESOLUTION OR A RECOMMENDATION BASED ON, ON WHAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR STUDY? SO EARLY NOVEMBER, AND THAT WOULD BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THIS RESOLUTION DIRECTED DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, BUT MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND THE NONPROFIT ADVISORY BOARD TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS, THIS REPORT.
AND I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION TO THAT, BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING THE RIGHT WORDS.
ARE YOU DOING A RECOMMENDATION OR ARE YOU JUST ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS? WE'RE RESPONDING TO THE REPORT.
WE'RE RESPONDING TO THE ITEMS THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION.
SO THERE'S NOT A RECOMMENDATION.
I I, I DON'T RE A RECOMMENDATION IN THE SENSE AS IN LIKE, WE RECOMMEND THAT.
A, B, C IS MORE OF YOUR, IT'S PROVIDING THE INFORMATION.
OKAY, HERE'S THE RESULTS, HERE'S WHAT WE'VE HEARD, HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW, HERE'S WHAT ARE CERTIFICATIONS, HERE'S THE LICENSES, HERE'S THE COSTS.
IT'S, AND YEAH, I'M JUST TO CLARIFY, I'M NOT ASKING TO BE DIFFICULT.
I'M JUST ASKING BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND EVERYONE ON THE DICE AND ON WEBEX KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT MOVING FORWARD.
AND JUST ON THAT, SO PAR WAS FREE TO ANSWER HOW THEY WISHED OR FACTUALLY THEN YOU WEREN'T, YOU WEREN'T MADE TO COMPROMISE IN A RESPONSE.
I, I BEG YOUR PARDON? I I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTAND.
SO WHEN, BECAUSE INITIALLY YOU WERE ABLE TO DO YOUR OWN RECOMMENDATION WORKING WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, AND IN, IN GIVING THE REPORT, UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE, YOU WOULD REPORT AS YOU WOULD IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK WITH A PARTNER, IF THAT'S MAKING SENSE.
AND ALSO, FOR ALL OF THE GOOD FOLKS THAT ARE SITTING BEHIND ME, PLEASE KNOW THAT I'VE ATTENDED MULTIPLE MEETINGS AND, UM, I HAVE SHARED WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT, THEIR, THE POSITION OF THIS, THIS GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO, UM, I, I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT, THAT THIS, THEIR POSITION HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED.
UH, AND I, I, I THINK THAT THE WORKING GROUP THAT IS WORKING ON THE REPORT AS WELL AS THE NONPROFIT IS AWARE OF, OF THEIR POSITION.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, CHAIR, WHAT, UH, WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, FROM BOARD MEMBER OR ME, UM, WHO'S HAVING SOME AUDIO ISSUES.
SHE SAYS, IF THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERN IS THAT THE FOOTPRINT MAY EXPAND, WHAT WOULD THE PROCESS FOR THAT LOOK LIKE? SINCE THIS WOULD BE HANDLED BY PUBLIC HEALTH GOING FORWARD? RIGHT? SO YOU GO THROUGH A PROCESS THAT, AGAIN, WE, UH, COLLOQUIALLY CALL IT A CHAPTER 26.
AND AS THAT PROCESS HAPPENS, THE BOUNDARIES, THERE'S A, UH, THERE'S A BOUNDARY MAP THAT IS INCLUDED IN THAT PROCESS THAT WOULD SHOW YOU WHAT PART OF THAT PIECE OF PARK LAND WOULD BE CONSIDERED, UM, UNDEDICATED OR WOULD BECOME PART OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH'S AUTHORITY.
AND SO IT WOULD BE THROUGH THOSE BOUNDARIES THAT WE WOULD IDENTIFY THE PIECE OF PROPERTY.
I THINK THEN, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CHAIR? I WAS JUST GONNA ASK WHEN IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR OUR BOARD TO WEIGH IN.
THAT WOULD BE AFTER NOVEMBER, AFTER, UM, AFTER THE INFORMATION FROM CARD IS, IS MADE PUBLIC.
I, WELL, I THINK MAYBE AT, REALLY AT ANY TIME THAT YOU WANT, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE RESPONSE TO THE INQUIRY IS, AND THEN BASING OFF OF THAT, UM, AND I'VE TOLD MISS, UH, DELGADO THIS AND THE OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE COME FORWARD IS, IS THAT, UM, I THINK PAR HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR WHAT THEIR POSITION IS ON THIS MATTER.
UM, AND THEY'VE BEEN TOLD TO MOVE FORWARD IN A DIFFERENT WAY, IN A MANNER BY CITY COUNCIL.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE CAN ARGUE WHETHER THAT CITY COUNCIL'S REFLECTIVE OF THIS CITY COUNCIL AND WHO'S THERE AND WHO'S, WHO'S, WHO WAS THERE AT THAT TIME, WHO WAS NOT HERE AT THIS TIME.
BUT, UM, I THINK THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS JUST FOLLOWING THOSE DIRECTIVES.
[02:25:01]
BUT THAT BEING SAID IS YOU CAN DO ANYTHING AT ANY TIME THAT YOU WANT.AND, BUT IF YOU WANNA WAIT FOR THAT TO, FOR THAT INQUIRY, THE RESPONSES TO THE INQUIRY HAVE TO HAPPEN, THEN, UM, CERTAINLY THAT WOULD BE ADVISABLE.
BUT, AND I KNOW MS. DELGADO WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT WE'RE OUT OF PUBLIC COMMENT, SO WE CAN'T REBUTTAL.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE YEAH, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM IS, IS WE, WE DON'T, WE, WE, THIS CAN'T TURN INTO LIKE A BACK AND FORTH, AND I KNOW YOU WANT CLARIFICATION, BUT, UH, YEAH, THERE'S AN ETHICS THAT'S BEEN FILED BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND CHAPTER 26 IS NOT TO MS. DELGADO, THIS IS COMMUNITY.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE HAVE A COMMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, WE'RE, UH, DONE WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM.
UM, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE, UH, ARE WE READY TO CIRCLE BACK TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE? OR IS IT FOUR? THREE THREE? ARE WE READY OR DO WE NEED MORE TIME? WE'RE READY.
DID YOU, I CAN, THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE THAT, UH, BOARD MEMBER BECKER AND I HAVE PUT TOGETHER.
I DON'T KNOW, UH, IF ANY OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW OR I CAN JUST READ OUT WHAT'S YOU CAN, OKAY.
READ IT AND THEN YEAH, READ IT.
UM, DEFINITELY FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN WITH ANY THOUGHTS.
UM, ARE YOU, IS YOUR, IS YOUR THING ON YES, BUT I MAY NOT BE SPEAKING DIRECTLY INTO IT.
AND IF WE CAN ASK THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE KEEP THEIR VOICES DOWN.
WHEREAS THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, UM, PAR ACKNOWLEDGES THE NECESSITY OF MODIFYING THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH HOUSE BILL 1526, WHICH WAS PASSED DURING THE RECENT 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND IS EFFECTIVE STATEWIDE.
WHEREAS PAR ACKNOWLEDGES AND APPRECIATES THE TIME AND EFFORT, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT STAFF HAVE PUT INTO PREPARING THE PARKLAND DEDICATION TERM SHEET FOR PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE.
WHEREAS HB 1526 IS ANTICIPATED TO REDUCE THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR USE BY UP TO 40 TO 70% OF PREVIOUS MULTIFAMILY AND HOTEL SLASH MOTEL PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES, WHICH WILL NECESSITATE A REDUCTION IN PARK KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND OVERALL PARK QUALITY.
WHEREAS HB 1526 IS FURTHER ANTICIPATED TO REDUCE THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE NEW PARKS AND OTHER SPACES FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT AS A RES, AS A RESULT OF A REDUCTION OF UP TO 75 TO 97% IN NEW PARKLAND THAT CAN BE DEDICATED FOR PUBLIC RECREATION.
WHEREAS PAR WISHES TO REGISTER ITS STRONG OBJECTIONS TO THE CHANGES REQUIRED BY HB 1526, AS IT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASE BOTH THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR PARKLAND DEDICATION AS WELL AS THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF PARKLAND AVAILABLE TO AUSTIN RESIDENTS AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD RECOMMENDS TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE TERM SHEET AS PRESENTED.
ALRIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, Y'ALL HAVE READ THE, UH, HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION AS IT WILL BE SUBMITTED.
UM, AT THIS TIME I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE TERM SHEET.
WAS THAT, WAS THAT THE RAZ CLAUSE? UH, THAT WAS THE RESOLUTION AT THE END, YES.
UM, IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE IS SOMEONE WANNA MAKE THAT MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
THERE'S A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER BAAN.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THERE'S A SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER MERIT.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE RESOLUTION AS WAS STATED BY BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN? ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME I'LL TAKE A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO, AND ONE THING, IF I MAY REALLY QUICK, JUST AS A COMMENT, I DIDN'T FIT IT IN HERE 'CAUSE I COULDN'T THINK OF A WAY TO HAVE IT BE RELEVANT, BUT I FEEL LIKE ALSO, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMENTS THAT IS SO CRITICAL TO, YOU KNOW, MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF THESE PARKS AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ADEQUATE PARKS FOR EVERYONE.
SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE EVEN MORE EVIDENT FOLLOWING, YOU KNOW, THE RECENT PANDEMIC THAT WE WENT THROUGH AS WELL, WHERE
[02:30:01]
PEOPLE WERE SEEKING TO, UH, GO TO AND ENJOY OUTDOOR SPACES.AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A REALLY CRITICAL COMPONENT, UM, THAT WE JUST RECENTLY
[5. Presentation and discussion on whether the George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center gymnasium at Dove Springs District Park should be named in honor of D’Wayne Anderson.]
PRESENTATION DISCUSSION ON WHETHER THE GEORGE MORALES DOVE SPRING RECREATION CENTER GYMNASIUM AT DOVE SPRINGS DISTRICT PARK SHOULD BE NAMED IN HONOR OF DWAYNE ANDERSON.UM, BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON THIS, UH, POINT, UH, THIS AGENDA ITEM, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE REASON THAT THIS IS LISTED AS A DISCUSSION AS OPPOSED TO DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM IS BECAUSE, UM, RESOLUTIONS RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE PASS AS A, UH, RE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE PASS AS A BOARD, UM, ARE DIRECTIVES TO CITY COUNCIL TO DO SOMETHING.
BUT PER THE SYDNEY ORDINANCE THAT PERTAINS SPECIFICALLY TO, UM, THE NAMING OF, UH, FACILITY, UH, FACILITY FEATURE FEATURES, UM, IT, IT GOES THROUGH THE DIRECTOR.
SO SINCE WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO DIRECT THE DIRECTOR TO DO SOMETHING, THEN IT HAS, THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM, BUT I DO HOPE THAT AFTERWARDS WE CAN HAVE A ROBUST, UH, DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER WE APPROVE OR NOT.
UM, AND I ASSUME THE DIRECTOR WILL THEN TAKE NOTE OF OUR COMMENT AFTERWARDS.
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
UH, WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER ON WEBEX.
UH, TIFFANY CABIN IS TIFFANY WITH US? CAN YOU HEAR US? TIFFANY, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF AND LET YOU KNOW? LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN HEAR US.
I'VE BEEN IN SEVERAL WEBEX MEETINGS, AND WHEN YOU CALL IN, YOU CANNOT UNMUTE YOURSELF.
USUALLY THE HOST OF THIS NEEDS TO UNMUTE THE CALL IN FOLKS.
TIFFANY, CAN YOU TRY PRESSING STAR SIX? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN REVIEWING THE APPLICATION TO RENAME AFU A FEATURE, UM, AT THE GEORGE MORALES STUFF, SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER, UM, IN HONOR OF DWAY ANDERSON, WHO IS A PAST SUPERVISOR OF THE FACILITY.
UM, ONE THING I KNOW YOU'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL EMAILS, MESSAGES FROM COMMUNITY AT LARGE, UM, NOT JUST WITHIN DUCK SPRINGS, BUT ALSO FROM PAST PARKS AND RECREATION EMPLOYEES.
UH, ONE TAKEAWAY THAT I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH IS THAT, UH, FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, DWAYNE WAS MORE THAN JUST HIS, HIS TITLE.
UM, HE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS A FRIEND, A COLLEAGUE, A MENTOR, A TUTOR, A COACH, UM, A GENTLEMAN WHO HELPED CHANGE SOMEONE'S CAR TIRE WHO HELPED FAMILIES, UH, GET THEIR LIGHTS, UM, AND UTILITIES TURNED BACK ON.
UM, HE WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A RECREATION SUPERVISOR.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE, UM, UH, HAVE A LENGTHY DISCUSSION AND REALLY THINK ABOUT, UM, LOOKING AT RENAMING THE FEATURE AT THE FACILITY, THE GYMNASIUM IN PARTICULAR AFTER HIM, UM, TO CONTINUE HIS LEGACY SO THAT THE COMMUNITY STILL, UH, REMEMBERS THAT, UH, INDIVIDUAL WHO IMPACTED THEIR LIVES SO MUCH.
THAT WAS THE ONLY PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO, UM, YEAH, IF YOU COULD PULL UP THE, SO A, AS THE CHAIR SAID, THIS IS ABOUT NAMING A FEATURE CURRENTLY IN THE, IN THE CODE, UH, NAMING A FEATURE IS AT THE, UM, THE AUTHORITY LEVEL OF THE, THE, UH, DIRECTOR.
BUT HISTORICALLY, I HAVE ALWAYS BROUGHT ANY NAMING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND IN THE PAST YOU WOULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO ME, BUT TIM AND I WERE JUST, UH, INFORMED THAT THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE.
SO I WON'T TALK ANYMORE ABOUT IT.
'CAUSE UH, BOARD VILLALOBOS, CHAIR VILLALOBOS ALREADY EXPLAINED IT TO US.
SO, UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS, THERE WE GO.
UM, THE CENTER IS, IS LOCATED IN THE DO IN THE HEART OF DOVE SPRINGS AT 58 0 1 S DRIVE.
IT'S A PART OF A 59 ACRE PARK, AND IT IS IN DISTRICT TWO.
UM, THE HISTORY OF THIS NOMINATION IS THAT DWAYNE, UH, HE RETIRED FROM THE CITY IN 2001 AFTER 23 YEARS OF SERVICE.
HE'S A FOUNDING ME MEMBER OF A PROGRAM THAT WE CALLED ROVING LEADERS THAT IS STILL IN PLACE TODAY, UH, WHERE AT RISK YOUTH, UM, SPECIFICALLY TEENAGERS
[02:35:01]
ARE ENGAGED IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, UH, INCLUDING SERVICE LEARNING TO BE ABLE TO AGAIN, BUILD THOSE ASSETS AND THOSE CHARACTER OF THE CHARACTER BUILDING.HE WAS PART OF THE FOUNDING MEMBER OF THAT PROGRAM.
HE WAS A KEY COLLABORATOR DURING THE COVID RESPONSE, UM, KEEPING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED AND INFORMED, AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO, UH, SCHEDULE AND WORK VERY COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT SHOTS AND OTHER SERVICES DURING COVID WERE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
HE'S BEEN DESCRIBED BY, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION, THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THAT HE'S, HE'S PROVIDED LEADERSHIP, MENTORSHIP, SUPPORT THROUGH THE RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS THAT HE'S OFFERED AT THE DOVE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER, AND THAT HE'S ALSO, UM, UH, BELOVED BY THE COMMUNITY AND HIS FELLOW EMPLOYEES.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO MENTION THAT, UH, UH, DWAYNE HAS, HAS PASSED AND, AND, AND HIS PASSING.
UM, ONE OF THE STORIES THAT WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE TEENAGERS IS THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF DWAYNE, THAT THAT TEENAGER FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS OKAY TO WEAR HIS HAIR IN A PARTICULAR MANNER.
THAT PRIOR TO, UM, MEETING DWAYNE, HE DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO, UM, WHO HAD THEIR HAIR IN THAT WAY.
AND HE WAS ALSO A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT HOW HE WOULD BE JUDGED.
BUT BECAUSE OF DWAYNE ANDERSON, UM, IT GAVE THAT PERSON, UH, SOME CONFIDENCE.
AND THAT WAS THE STORY THAT HE TOLD ALONG WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER STORIES.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT HIS MERE PRESENCE AND HIS, UM, HIS, UH, CONFIDENCE BUILDING IN TEENS WAS PART OF WHY HE WAS SO SUCCESSFUL IN ROVING LEADERS.
UM, HERE'S SOME CAREER HIGHLIGHTS.
UH, HE ENHANCED THE QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, FOR ADULT SENIORS AND, UM, AND OUR YOUTH.
UH, HE WAS, UH, SOMEBODY WHO MENTORED AND DEVELOPED AT-RISK YOUTH.
HE MANAGED THE FACILITY AND WAS A KEY MEMBER OF, UM, THE RESPONSE, THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DURING THE 2014 FLOODS, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO COMMEMORATE THIS COMING, UM, THIS COMING SATURDAY.
HE AND I WORKED SIDE BY SIDE, UM, PROVIDING SHELTER, PROVIDING RESOURCES, MANAGING THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAULING BOXES.
UM, IF YOU ANYTHING THAT YOU ASKED HIM TO DO IN SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY, UM, HE WAS ABSOLUTELY THERE.
SO THIS APPLICATION WAS COMMITTED BY COMMUNITY.
UM, THE DOVE SPRINGS, I BEG YOUR PARDON, THE GEORGE MORALES DOVE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER ADVISORY BOARD HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT.
CONSTABLE GEORGE MORALES, WHO IS THE NAMESAKE OF THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY, HAS EXPRESSED HIS SUPPORT.
FORMER EMPLOYEES HAVE, UM, EXPRESSED THEIR REPORT.
TIFFANY CABIN HAPPENED TO BE ONE OF HIS, UM, ONE OF HIS COLLEAGUES, UH, AND OBVIOUSLY YOU JUST HEARD FROM HER TONIGHT.
AND ON OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE, UH, FEATURE NAMING FOR, FOR DWAYNE.
UM, THERE IS ALSO SOME PRECEDENT SET.
THERE IS A RECREATION CENTER CALLED THE VIRGINIA L. BROWN RECREATION CENTER.
THAT PARTICULAR GYMNASIUM IS NAMED AFTER A GENTLEMAN NAMED MERV GRIFFIN.
UH, MERV GRIFFIN IS ALSO A FORMER EMPLOYEE WHO PASSED AWAY, BUT HAD A VERY SIMILAR BACKGROUND AND INFLUENCE ON THE COMMUNITY, UH, WAS BELOVED BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE DID NAME THAT GYMNASIUM AFTER, AFTER MERV.
AND SO THIS IS, UM, CONSISTENT WITH AND IN LINE WITH, UM, WHO DWAYNE WAS AND WHAT HE WOULD, UM, WHAT HE WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE REPRESENTED IT.
UH, AND SO THEREFORE, UH, WE ARE SUGGESTING THAT, UM, WELL, THE COMMUNITY IS SUGGESTING THAT WE NAME A FEATURE.
I I PERSONALLY SUPPORT IT, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HEAR FROM, FROM OUR PARKS BOARD MEMBERS OR ANYONE ELSE WHO MAY HAVE, UM, SOME QUESTIONS OR, OR CONCERNS ABOUT IT.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DO.
AND IT, I'M SORRY I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS, BUT, UM, IF THE FACILITY IS NAMED, UM, IS THERE SOME PLACE WHERE THERE'S A BIT OF THE STORY OR THE HISTORY AS PART OF THAT? LIKE HOW, NOT IN EVERY CENTER, BUT IN SOME CENTERS, AND I THINK YOU BRING UP A REALLY GREAT POINT.
YEAH, WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THAT IN ALL OF OUR SPACES.
YEAH, I JUST THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE GOOD ALONG WITH THE NAME, TO JUST CONTINUE THAT, THAT HISTORY AND TO SHOW THE EXCELLENCE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST SEE IN A FEW WORDS HERE.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY POWERFUL, POWERFUL THING TO CONTINUE TO SHARE THAT AND PERHAPS, UM, YEAH, CONTINUE TO EMPOWER OTHER YOUTH AS THEY REALIZE THAT THE FACILITY THAT THEY'RE PLAYING OR IN, OR, OR IN REALLY MEANS MUCH MORE.
UM, HOW OFTEN IS, UM, IS SOMETHING NAMED POSTHUMOUSLY AS, AS OPPOSED TO, LIKE, IN THIS CASE, CONSTABLE GEORGE MORALES EXPRESS SUPPORT? SO THE GEORGE MORALES
[02:40:01]
DOVE SPRINGS REC CENTER WAS NAMED AFTER HIM WHILE HE'S STILL ALIVE.IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S, IT'S USUALLY, I'M JUST CURIOUS.
THE, THE WAY THAT THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, IT DOES NOT, UM, IT DOES NOT PRECLUDE SOMEBODY WHO IS CURRENTLY ALIVE TO HAVE SOMETHING NAMED AFTER THEM.
UM, AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR NAMING, WELL, THE MAJORITY OF THE NAMING THAT I HAVE SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO IT'S PROBABLY HALF AND HALF, HALF OF THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE PASSED.
THE OTHER HALF ARE PROBABLY STILL ALIVE.
I WOULD HONESTLY HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THEM ALL.
I'M JUST KIND OF GOING THROUGH THEM IN MY HEAD.
BUT LET'S JUST SAY 50 50 FOR THE SAKE OF THIS CONVERSATION.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I'M SURE THIS HAS TOTALLY NOT HAPPENED, BUT YOU HAVEN'T HAD ANY OPPOSITION TO OR HEARD ANY OPPOSITION TO THIS, THIS NAMING WHATSOEVER? I, I HAVE NOT TO THIS POINT.
HOWEVER, THERE'S, THAT'S WHY IT'S POSTED.
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING TONIGHT OR WHO HAVE SEEN IT POSTED COULD, UM, ABSOLUTELY.
BUT WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANY OPPOSITION TO THIS POINT.
AND THERE ARE NO OTHER NOMINATIONS AT THIS POINT, EITHER.
NO, THERE ARE NO OTHER NOMINATIONS.
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL, SINCE MANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVEN'T SEEN ONE OF THESE BEFORE IS, THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN I FIRST CAME ON WHERE THERE WERE KIND OF A, A SLATE OF THESE THAT CAME THROUGH, AND THEY DO SOMETIMES GET QUITE A LOT OF OPPOSITION.
UM, SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT TWO SEPARATE PARTIES OR JUST ARE OPPOSED TO ONE PARTY.
AND SO, UM, TO ME IT MEANS SOMETHING THAT THERE'S NOT ANYONE HERE TO SPECIFICALLY SAY ANYTHING AGAINST.
UM, GENERALLY I FIND THAT IN MY PAST EXPERIENCE, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN CONTENTIOUS, WHERE WE DID GET A LOT OF PRESENCE HERE AT THE MEETING.
AND BOARD MEMBERS, JUST FOR YOUR, UM, FOR YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE, WE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD AS A, THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND MYSELF WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
UM, YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE, SOME OF YOU WHO WERE HERE BEFORE MIGHT REMEMBER THAT BOARD MEMBERS WORKED REALLY, UH, INTENSELY ON MAKING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ORDINANCE CHANGES.
AND SO, UH, THERE IS ALSO WE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD, UM, SOME CHANGES TO THIS PARTICULAR NAMING ORDINANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL, UH, IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
BUT, UH, THIS PARTICULAR NAMING FEATURES, UM, DOES NOT TYPICALLY HAVE, ALTHOUGH YOU'RE RIGHT, UH, VICE CHAIR, THERE HAS BEEN SOME FEATURES THAT HAVE, HAVE, UM, YEAH, HAD MULTIPLE NAMES, BUT, UM, TYPICALLY WE DON'T HAVE OPPOSITION TO THAT.
SO I, UH, THIS IS, UH, THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY IS IN MY DISTRICT.
UM, AND I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY JUST TO CHAT WITH PEOPLE ABOUT THIS AT VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT I ATTEND, UM, IN DISTRICT TWO.
UM, AND I HAVEN'T ENCOUNTERED SOMEONE THAT'S OPPOSED TO THIS.
UM, I THINK DWAYNE, UH, ANDERSON WAS VERY MUCH LOVED BY THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THE COMMUNITY IS VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF HONORING HIM IN THIS WAY AND BY NAMING THIS FACILITY IN THIS WAY.
SO I'M FOR JUAN IN FAVOR OF, UH, THE DIRECTOR MOVING FORWARD WITH, UH, DWAYNE ANDERSON AS THE NAME FOR THE, UH, GYMNASIUM AT THE, AT THE DISTRICT PARK.
UM, SO THAT'S THE NO, I MAKE, THERE'S NOT A, I I CAN'T MAKE A MOTION, BUT, UM, UH, BUT YEAH, YEAH.
SO WE'RE JUST GONNA, SO I, I AM, I AM IN FA I AM IN FAVOR.
AND I THINK THAT THE, THE CITY HAS DONE, UM, A GOOD JOB IN LAYING OUT THE FACTS ABOUT WHO HE WAS AND WHY, WHY, WHY HE MERITS THIS HONOR.
SO I'M, I'M, I'M IN FAVOR OF IT.
I, I, HE SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL PERSON.
AND IF, IF WE WERE VOTING OR IF WE WERE TAKING ACTION, I WOULD CERTAINLY APPROVE AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT I APPRECIATED YOU SHARING THE STORY OF THE, THAT THE YOUTH SHARED ABOUT, UM, UM, MR. ANDERSON.
AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL, WE JUST SEE THE LAYERS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THE LEADERSHIP AND THEN THE PARTICIPATION IN HIS WORK LIFE.
AND THEN, UM, THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT HAS SUCH A RANGE FROM PEOPLE WHO WORKED ALONGSIDE HIM TO PEOPLE WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, HE WAS THE MENTOR, UH, FOR, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO JUST THE VARIOUS LAYERS AND THE, THE DIVERSITY OF, OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SUPPORT.
I, YEAH, I, I WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT BOARD MEMBER REED SAID.
I GUESS WITHOUT ANY FURTHER COMMENT, UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
[Additional Item]
ITEM, AND AGAIN, I'M MOVE, I'M, I'M BOUNCING AROUND JUST BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO KEEP, LIKE AGENDA ITEMS TOGETHER WILL BE, AGENDA I, WITHOUT ANY OPPOSITION WILL BE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 12, PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON ACL[02:45:01]
MUSIC FESTIVAL AND THE REPAIR AND RESTORATION OF ZILKER PARK.AND DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? YES.
WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENTER ON THIS ITEM.
UH, STEPHANIE ASUS, WERE THEY IN PERSON OR WEBEX? THEY SIGNED UP IN PERSON.
IT APPEARS WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTERS ON THIS ITEM.
OKAY, WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE TO THE PRESENTATION.
I'M JASON MAUER, I'M THE EVENT MANAGER FOR THE PARK SYSTEM, AND JOINING ME IS GER PALKI.
HE'S THE EVENT SUPERVISOR ALSO FOR THE PARK SYSTEM AND THE EVENTS OFFICE.
SO WE WERE ASKED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF KIND OF WHAT'S NEXT NOW THAT ACL L'S MOVING OUT OF THE PARK.
AND SO I'LL START WITH SAYING THAT AS OF FRIDAY WAS THE FIRST DAY THEY'VE ACTUALLY FINISHED THE, THE LOAD OUT PORTION.
AND SO THAT STARTS A SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, WHICH WAS KIND OF THE QUESTION ASK OF US.
AND SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO FIRST WAS KIND OF START BACK WITH INFORMATION WE'VE SHARED WITH YOU OVER TIME.
UH, THAT TALKS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BASELINES FOR ALL EVENTS.
AND SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS TONIGHT IS THAT ALL OF OUR EVENT AGREEMENTS REQUIRE PAYMENT OF FEES THAT ARE ESTABLISHED, ULTIMATELY ADOPTED BY COUNSEL, AND INCLUDING ANY OTHER COSTS THAT WE WOULD AGREE TO BE IMPACTED BY.
UH, THAT ALSO MEANS IN THOSE AGREEMENTS THAT POST-EVENT INSPECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED BY CITY STAFF, WE REQUIRE THE EVENT ORGANIZERS TO BE PART OF THAT, TO BE PRESENT FOR THAT WALKTHROUGH.
UH, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THAT'S A ONE TIME THING.
SOMETIMES THAT STARTS AND THAT PROCESS DEVELOPS AS WE LEARN MORE OR FIND MORE.
AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT HOW THOSE THINGS ARE BEING, UH, MITIGATED OR FIXED.
SO POST-EVENT, UM, AND WHAT WE DID ON FRIDAY WAS, UH, CONDUCT OUR PRELIMINARY EVENT INSPECTION OF THE SITE THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE THIS WEEK.
UH, AND WE'LL DEVELOP THAT LIST OF TASKS THAT ARE REQUIRED.
UH, AND FOR THIS EVENT AT ZILKER SPECIFICALLY, THAT'S NOT ONLY OUR OFFICE, THAT'S OUR PARK OPERATIONS TEAM, THAT'S OUR PARK TURF PROFESSIONALS.
UH, THE EVENT ORGANIZER WAS THERE WITH MULTIPLE FOLKS AS WELL AS SOME OF THEIR CONTRACTORS ALREADY, SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND OUR INTENDED SCOPE AND NEED AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
SO OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT WEEK, THE WORK LIST, UM, IS, IS ESTABLISHED.
IT'S ALREADY BEING SHARED WITH THEM.
AND SOME OF THAT WORK WILL START WHILE WE'RE ACTUALLY IN A MAINTENANCE PERIOD FOR THE FALL.
SOME OF THAT CAN HAPPEN CONSECUTIVELY.
UH, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON, AS I SAID, THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE, ARE EASIER AND CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF.
SOME MAY TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A LONGER TIME.
UH, IT'S ALSO EXPECTED FOR THIS EVENT, PARTICULARLY THAT WE WILL VISIT THE SITE MULTIPLE TIMES.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN AT THE SITE EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST THREE AND A HALF WEEKS.
UH, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE, UH, AS WE TRANSITION INTO THIS MAINTENANCE.
AND THEN ALSO KIND OF THE POST-EVENT MITIGATION PERIOD.
AND AS WE DEVELOP THOSE LISTS AND THOSE TASKS, I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT WE TAKE A FOCUS ON THE AREAS THAT WE FEEL WILL BE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC FIRST.
SO WE DON'T WANNA SPEND TIME, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST ON ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OR MITIGATION ITEMS THAT ARE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE LESS LIKELY TO GO.
SO OUR ATTENTION IS GONNA BE SPOTS, UH, SPECIFICALLY ON THE GREAT LAWN WHERE WE FEEL THERE'S GONNA BE THE MOST NEED FOR ACCESS, UH, SOME OF THOSE SPOTS, WHAT WE KNOW DOWN THE LINE, MAYBE INSIDE THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS, UH, OVER A MONTH FROM NOW.
AND SO WE WANNA FOCUS OUR WORK IN A MANAGED FASHION THAT GETS THOSE ACCESS PLACES OPEN, UH, AND THEN DIRECT THAT THROUGH THE DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS AS WE GO THROUGH THE MITIGATION PROCESS.
UM, FINALLY, I WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT WE EXPERIENCE AND HAVE EXPERIENCED IS THAT WEATHER NOT ONLY AFFECTS OUR POST-EVENT, UH, MAINTENANCE PERIOD, IT'S, IT'S RAINING THIS WEEK.
WE SHOULD BE AERATING THE LAWN AND DOING THOSE TYPICAL FALL THINGS.
BUT IT'S HARD TO GET MACHINERY OUT THERE, UH, JUST AS WELL AS IT DOES ANY EVENT THAT HAPPENS.
AND SO THAT FOR US PROFESSIONALLY IS THE MOST IMPACTFUL TYPE OF THING WE CAN EXPERIENCE IS RAIN, UH, DURING THE PRE-EVENT, POST-EVENT OR EVENT CONDITIONS OF THE PARK.
SO WITH THAT, UM, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANTED TO ASK TONIGHT, SO WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO THAT.
I DID HEAR SOME THINGS FROM THE SPEAKERS EARLIER, AND SO I CAN TRY TO TACKLE SOME OF THOSE NOW.
UH, SO ONE OF THE EASIEST ONES WAS IT SEEMED LIKE THE FOOTPRINT FOR ACL HAS CHANGED.
THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME FOUR CORNERS OF THE PARK, UH,
[02:50:01]
SINCE 2012 AND 2012, COUNCIL DIRECTED US TO NEGOTIATE FOR TWO WEEKENDS.AND THAT FOOTPRINT REMAINED THE SAME IN THE SAME AREAS, BUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS WERE MOVED OFF OF THE TURF AND ONTO THE STRATFORD LOT.
SO WE REALLOCATED SOME OF THE STUFF, BUT IT WAS NOT IN A NEW AREA OF THE PARK.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HOLD THE EVENT VERY, UH, ACCOUNTABLE FOR.
THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE EXTRA DAYS ON THE FRONT END TO LOAD IN.
IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME MONDAY BEFORE THAT THE GREAT LAWN IS CLOSED.
UH, AND THOSE TIMELINES ARE HELD BY PAR STAFF.
SO WE HAVE NOT LET OUT OR CHANGED ANY OF THOSE DATES.
THOSE HAVE BEEN CONSECUTIVELY, UH, AND UNIFORMLY DONE FOR MANY YEARS.
ANOTHER QUESTION I HEARD WAS, UH, WHO'S PAYING FOR THE MAINTENANCE? SO ALL OF THAT IS AT THE EXPENSE OF ANY ORGANIZER IN ANY PARK.
WE REQUIRE THEM TO BRING NO SOURCES AND RESOURCES TO THE TABLE FOR US BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, AND OUR DIRECTOR WILL TELL YOU, WE ARE NOT STAFFED TO DO THOSE TASKS.
UH, IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED, WE ASK FOR THAT.
THEY'RE REQUIRED TO SOURCE IT.
AND WE'VE NOT HAD ANY CHALLENGE WITH THAT, CHALLENGES WITH THAT OVER THE LAST 10 TO 15 YEARS IN TERMS OF POST-EVENT MITIGATION.
UM, I THINK THAT'S, DID I MISS ANYTHING IN THOSE TOP FIVE THERE? OKAY.
SO WITH THAT, I THINK I'LL PAUSE AND JUST OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU'VE GOT.
I'VE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME HERE, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THROUGH THAT WITH YOU TONIGHT.
SO WE BROUGHT THIS DISCUSSION ITEM FORWARD BECAUSE OF, UM, CONTACT FROM CITIZENS, PHOTOGRAPHS, OBSERVATIONS ON THE GROUND THAT, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE IT, THE DAMAGE TO THE PARK IS SUBSTANTIALLY WORSE THIS YEAR.
AND THIS IS COMING FROM CITIZENS WHO HAVE CONTACTED US AND ALSO SHOWN US SOME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT THEY'VE TAKEN, WHICH YOU PROBABLY SAW IN THE PRESENTATIONS EARLIER.
UM, AND IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE THERE'S MORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PARK, WHEREAS ACL SAYS THAT THEY'RE STICKING TO USING MOSTLY THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PARK, THE GREAT LAWN, THE STAGING AREA AT BUTLER.
UM, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT PARTS OF THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PARK HAVE BEEN USED AND UM, HOW THAT WOULD BE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE REPAIR PART OF THAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN? YEAH, SO THE ONLY PART ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AND TO US WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THIS EVENT IS JUST THE RUGBY FIELD.
SO THE PART BETWEEN THE BARN AND BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, UH, THERE'S ONE STAGE THERE, UM, THAT IS AGAIN, PART OF THE ORIGINAL FOOTPRINT THAT HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE BEGINNING.
THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THE BOUNDARIES, THE AREAS ON ANY PART OF THE PART, WHEN YOU PUT FEET ON SPACE, THEY ARE IMPACTED.
AND WE DID HAVE A VERY DRY YEAR, HOWEVER, WE DID HAVE SOME REALLY GREATLY TIMED RAIN, WHICH WE'VE NEVER HAD.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THURSDAY NIGHT AT 4:00 AM AND I'M ON THE PHONE WITH OUR DIRECTOR TO GO DOWN AND BE AT THE PARK TO KIND OF ASSESS WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO I CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGE IT VISUALLY.
THE GRASS HAS BEEN IMPACTED, BUT IT IS NOT THE BLADE OF THE GLASS, THE GRASS THAT THAT MATTERS.
IT IS THE ROOT SYSTEMS AND THAT IS FROM OUR TURF MAINTENANCE EXPERTS THAT TELL US THAT.
AND SO THERE IS MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR THAT RUGBY FIELD.
UH, THAT'S A, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BERMUDA GRASS THERE THAN ON THE GREAT LAWN.
SO IT'S STILL RELATIVELY HARDY, UH, PERHAPS IN A, IN A MASTER PLANNING SITUATION IN THE FUTURE THAT COULD CHANGE, BUT I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT OR NOR DO WE SEE THAT AS WORSE THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
IT'S ACTUALLY IN PRETTY SOUND CONDITION COMPARED TO ALL OTHER YEARS WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HAD DEFINITELY MUCH WORSE YEARS BEFORE.
DO OTHERS HAVE QUESTIONS OR CAN I KEEP GOING? WHEN YOU, I I'M INTERESTED WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RAIN, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? LIKE, YOU SOUNDED LIKE, LIKE YOU SAID THAT THE RAIN WAS WELL TIMED THIS YEAR.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? YEAH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING MERCY ON US AND ASKING THAT BECAUSE IF WE EVER GET RAIN AGAIN, NORMALLY OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS EVENT HAS, THE RAIN HAS COME IN THE NIGHT BEFORE AN EVENT DAY.
SO THE LAST TIME WE HAD A, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RAIN, IT WAS THURSDAY AROUND MIDNIGHT, I REMEMBER, I FELT LIKE I'D JUST GOTTEN HOME KNOWING WE HAVE TO COME BACK ON FRIDAY, BUT IT DIDN'T RAINED ALL NIGHT LONG.
AND SO IT WAS VERY EARLY HOURS IN THE MORNING OF FRIDAY.
SO PEOPLE WERE, YOU KNOW, PLANNING TO COME TO GATES AT NOON, UH, WAS TALKING TO OUR DIRECTOR AND WE WERE DOWN THERE IN OUR BOOTS ASSESSING THE LEVELS AND VOLUMES OF RAIN.
AND THAT'S OUR NORMAL PRACTICE.
AND SO WE MAKE DETERMINATIONS FROM THAT.
IS THAT A LEVEL OF RAIN THAT IS CATASTROPHIC? LIKE WE CANNOT RECOVER FROM THAT.
AND WE'VE HAD THAT SCENARIO HAPPEN.
THERE'S BEEN A SATURDAY NIGHT WHERE IT RAINED OVER A FOOT OF RAIN ONE YEAR, AND LITERALLY THE PARK
[02:55:01]
WAS STANDING IN WATER, SO THE WHOLE DAY WAS CANCELED.SO WE USED THOSE TYPE OF METRICS TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT.
IS THIS SOMETHING WE CAN REMEDIATE? UH, AND THAT COULD BE MOVING WATER, THAT COULD MEAN TIME.
AND SO IN THAT, IN THAT SCENARIO, I'LL DESCRIBE WHERE WE WERE OUT THERE IN THE EARLY MORNINGS.
WE ACTUALLY MADE THE FESTIVAL DELAY THEIR GATES UNTIL LATER THE AFTERNOON ON FRIDAY SO THAT THE WATER COULD BE MOVED OFF THE SITE, UH, THROUGH NATURAL CO NATURAL MEANS, UH, REMEDIATION SUCH AS MULCH.
AND THEN ALSO ALLOW THE CONDITIONS OF THE WEATHER, THE WEATHER, DOES THE WEATHER REPORTS PLAY INTO THIS, WHAT IS THE WEATHER SERVICE TELLING US? IS THIS RAIN GONNA CONTINUE OR IS IT GONNA BE COLD AND WARM THE REST OF THE DAY? ARE THERE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR THE GROUNDS TO SUSTAIN WHAT WE KNOW IS COMING TO THE PARK? THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER, IS ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER? OKAY.
UM, SO I ATTENDED ACL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN, UH, MY 25 YEARS IN AUSTIN.
AND, UM, I, UH, I, I AM A NATURALIST AND I LOVE PARKS AND I LOVE GREEN.
AND SO STANDING OUT THERE, UM, ON THE DIRT AND THINKING ABOUT THE LITTLE, I KNOW ABOUT SOIL ECOLOGY AND AND WHAT THAT DIRT WAS, WAS POWDER.
IT WASN'T LIKE, YOU KNOW, EVEN COMPACTED IT WAS, IT WAS, UM, NOT A NUTRIENT RICH DIRT.
AND I'M THINKING I'M STANDING A FEW FEET ABOVE THE AQUIFER AND JUST WONDERING WHAT YOUR STUDIES, WHAT PARD KNOWS ABOUT, UH, WHEN NUTRIENTS ARE DEPLETED FROM SOIL, THEN THERE'S NOT A NATURAL FILTER FOR THE AQUIFER.
AND UM, THAT WAS MY OBSERVATION.
IT'S HONESTLY, IT WAS SADNESS.
IT WAS JUST, I WAS JUST BROKEN HEARTED FOR OUR LAND, UM, SEEING IT IN IN SUCH A DESTRUCTIVE STATE.
AND I DO, I WANNA UNDERSTAND MORE IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
AND IS THE PARCEL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GREAT LAWN? YES, I WAS ON THE GREAT LAWN.
SO THE GREAT LAWN ACTUALLY HAS A FERTIGATION SYSTEM THAT WAS INSTALLED BY PARD MANY YEARS AGO.
AND SO IT IS INTENDED TO FEED NUTRIENTS.
I WILL TELL YOU ACTUALLY BY BY ACCIDENT THIS YEAR WE WERE OUT THERE 'CAUSE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A HOLE IN THE GROUND WITH OUR TURF MANAGEMENT TEAM, AND THEY CUT DOWN INTO THE SOIL WITH THEIR SPADE AND THEY WERE ALL REGALING THEMSELVES AND THEIR SUCCESS WITH THE CONDITIONS AND THE APPEARANCE OF THE DARK SOIL THAT WAS BENEATH THERE.
SO I CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE DUST.
MM-HMM,
THE, THE, THAT YOU SEE IN THE AIR IN THAT.
AND ALSO THE BLADES OF GRASS AS THEY'RE WALKED ON BY THE FESTIVAL ATTENDEES.
THAT IS THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR OF DUST AT A FESTIVAL IS THE BLADES OF GRASS AS THEY DRY OUT.
AND THEN ALSO THE MULCH THAT GOES OUT EXPELS A LOT OF DUST.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I WISH I WOULD BE A MILLIONAIRE AND IN A DIFFERENT INDUSTRY
AND WHEN YOU SAY MULCH, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MULCH THAT'S PLACED UNDER TREES? UH, A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH THIS YEAR.
SO PROACTIVELY MULCH IS PUT AT FORESTRY'S DIRECTION UNDER ALL THE TREES.
AND THEN ALSO THERE'S SOME SPOTS WHERE THE WATER'S JUST NOT GONNA MOVE FAST ENOUGH.
UM, OR MAYBE IT MOVED FAST ENOUGH, BUT WE FEEL IT'S STILL MIGHT BE A LITTLE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FOOT TRAFFIC.
SO IF WE CAN PUT MULCH OVER THE TOP OF IT, MULCH IS EXTREMELY GREAT AT ABSORBING WATER.
BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE, MULCH IS ALSO EXTREMELY WELL AT PUTTING DUST OUT INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE SHARED THUS FAR.
UM, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT STANDING IN YOUR BOOTS IN THE WATER AND, AND YOU KNOW, UM, PAYING ATTENTION TO TIMING AND WHETHER THINGS COULD BE OPEN.
SO I IMAGINE THAT YOU ALSO HAVE, UM, AN AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT POINT IT WOULD BECOME A DANGER TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO IF YOU COULD JUST SHED SOME LIGHT ON, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE FESTIVAL.
UM, AND I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS, I I WOULD ASSUME THAT YOU'RE KEEPING US IN A SAFE SPACE, SORRY, A SAFE POSITION TO WHERE WE CAN, WE CAN COME BACK.
'CAUSE YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE, IT'S NOT THE BLADE THAT MATTERS AS MUCH AS THE ROOT SYSTEM.
AND SO IF YOU CAN JUST SPEAK TO THE PROTECTIONS OR CAUTION AROUND WHERE WE ARE AS FAR AS LEVELS OF PEOPLE AT THE PARK DURING THESE FESTIVALS.
WELL, DOES THAT, IT'S A REALLY LONG WAY TO SAY
HOW ARE YOU ENSURING THAT WE'RE, WE'RE IN A HAPPY MEDIUM OF WELL, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE, UM, IS A CODIFIED NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT CAN HAPPEN AT OUR DOWNTOWN PARKS.
AND SO THAT WAS FROM THE WORK OF THE PARKLAND EVENTS TASK FORCE APPOINTED BY COUNCIL IN 2050.
IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED BY COUNCIL IN 2017.
SO THAT GROUP SPENT WELL OVER A YEAR, UH, OF MEETING TIME, KIND OF DEEP DIVING.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD SAY THERE AREN'T EVENTS COMING AND GOING.
[03:00:01]
ARE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME.WE HAVE SOME OF THE OLDEST EVENTS IN THE COUNTRY.
KITE FESTIVALS OVER 80 YEARS OLD.
UH, TRAIL OF LIGHTS I THINK WILL BE 60 NEXT YEAR.
THE HOLIDAY TREE WILL BE 60 IN A COUPLE YEARS AFTER THAT.
SO WE HAVE SOME REALLY LONG RUNNING THINGS THAT ARE VERY POPULAR IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST IS A SAFEGUARD AGAINST NEW THINGS COMING AND GOING.
WE HAVE A LIMIT AT THOSE DOWNTOWN PARKS.
UH, THE SECOND THING IS WE HAVE A REALLY STELLAR PARK TEAM.
THEY PUT IN A LOT OF HOURS, THE PARK MAINTENANCE TEAM, THE PARK IRRIGATION, AND THE PARK TURF MAINTENANCE PROFESSIONALS.
THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB AND READILY SHARE WITH US IF THINGS NEED TO MOVE A DIRECTION OR ANOTHER.
UH, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED IS WE HAVE A TEAM THAT COMES INTO PLAY AND THEN FINALLY TOO, UH, ACL SPECIFICALLY, THEY CAN HAVE NO MORE PEOPLE.
SO EVERYONE HAS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, SPECULATED OR BEEN SUSPICIOUS PERHAPS EVEN THAT, THAT HEADCOUNT HAS CHANGED.
AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT IN THAT COMMAND CENTER, I DON'T KNOW, I KNOW SOME OF YOU MADE IT TO THE TOUR THAT DAY, BUT WE CAN GET REAL TIME SCAN IN COUNTS.
SO WE KNOW AT ANY TIME HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE PARK EVEN ON EVENT DAYS.
AND THAT DATA WE'VE COLLECTED WHEN WE'VE ASKED, HAS TOLD US THAT AT SOME OF THE KEY TIMES A DAY, SOMETIMES IT'S ACTUALLY 10 TO 15,000 LESS PEOPLE IN THE PARK THAN THE MAX ATTENDANTS WOULD EVEN ALLOW.
SO THAT'S BEEN REALLY REAFFIRMING DATA TO HAVE AS WE WORK THROUGH THESE THINGS IN THAT AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS, BECAUSE THAT GIVES US THE INFORMATION TO KNOW THAT KIND OF WHAT WE ARE ASKING TO BE DONE IS BEING DONE BY THESE DIFFERENT EVENTS.
SO I HAVE, UH, ALSO A COMMENT ON, ON WHAT BOARD MEMBER BISON WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH SAFETY, UM, BECAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THIS PAST SUMMER AND RECORD NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN THE PARK, I'M SURE YOU KNOW WHAT THE POLO FIELD LOOKS LIKE, WHAT THE AREAS BETWEEN THAT AREA AND BARTON SPRINGS POOL LOOKS LIKE.
AND THERE'S BEEN A GREAT AMOUNT OF EROSION AND JUST, IT'S BASICALLY THE SURFACE OF THE MOON IF YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, OR MARS OR SOMETHING.
SO PEOPLE HAVE SLIPPED THIS SUMMER.
ONE, UM, DYNA PROCTOR HAS TOLD ME ABOUT A CITIZEN WHO FELL AND SLIPPED AND BROKE HIS ARM.
AND SO THERE IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN ABOUT THAT WHEN IT'S, WHEN THE GROUND IS SO IMPACTED OR, OR DUSTY OR DIRTY AND, AND ALL OF THE NATURAL GRASSES HAVE BEEN TRAMPLED AND THEN YOU GET RAIN, YOU'RE GONNA GET PROBABLY EROSION OF A LOT OF THE DIRT.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT POSSIBLY PUTTING OUT BERMS OR, OR MORE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS? UM, I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT THERE IS SOME SUBSIDIARY DAMAGE DURING THE ACL FESTIVAL.
ONE CITIZEN EVEN SAID THAT THERE WAS TRAFFIC RELATED DAMAGE AT THE NATURE CENTER, UM, FROM PEOPLE WALKING CARS, NOT PARKING CORRECTLY.
OF COURSE THEY CAN, CARS CAN'T ENTER THE PARK, BUT, UM, MAINTENANCE VEHICLES AND SO FORTH.
IT JUST, IT LOOKS TRAGIC AS BOARD MEMBER HAGMAN SAID, I, I DON'T KNOW OF ANOTHER CITY THAT HAS THIS HAPPENED TO AN ENTIRE PARK THAT'S A NATURAL PARK FOR WATERLOO, UM, GREENWAY AREA THAT IS A CONCERT BASED PARK.
BUT THIS PARK SEEMS TO HAVE, THE ENTIRE PARK SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY ACL.
AND, AND IS THAT YOUR OBSERVATION AND HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT WORKING ON PARTS OF THE PARK THAT AUSTIN CITY LIMITS DIDN'T NECESSARILY ACTUALLY USE BUT STILL IN THE SETUP AND THE BREAKDOWN AND THE, IN BETWEEN THE TWO WEEKENDS, WHICH AMOUNTS TO ABOUT LIKE 30 OR 40 DAYS PROBABLY THIS PARK HAS REALLY SUSTAINED A LOT OF DAMAGE.
SO I'LL START FIRST OFF BY SAYING IT'S 26 DAYS BECAUSE, UM, THAT ACTUALLY GETS EXTRAPOLATED A LOT AND TURNS INTO MONTHS.
SO THE ACTUAL TIME THEY'RE IN THE PARK IS 26 DAYS AND THAT IS FOLLOWED BY FALL PARK MAINTENANCE FOR APPROXIMATELY SEVEN TO 10 DAYS.
UH, WE DON'T LEAVE THE POLO FIELD OPENED WHEN IT'S WET AND EVENTS, WE CLOSE IT, IT'S EVEN NOT ON THE TABLE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE KEPT IT CLOSED FRIDAY OF THE FIRST EVENT DAY.
AND THAT WASN'T TO THE FESTIVAL'S DETRIMENT, THAT WAS TO OURS.
THE FESTIVAL DOES NOT USE THAT FOR PUBLIC PARKING DURING ACL.
IT'S FIRE WITH THEIR BACKPACKS THAT THEY BRING OVER ON A TRAILER.
IT'S THE HEALTH INSPECTORS THAT NEED TO GO TO WORK.
IT'S MY OWN TEAM GOING TO WORK.
SO IT IS, THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THEM FROM USE PROBABLY WELL OVER A DECADE AGO FOR EVENT RELATED PARKING ON EVENT DAYS.
SO JUST KNOW THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST, BECAUSE THEY DON'T USE, IT'S OUR OWN CITY STAFF THAT ARE SHOWING UP TO WORK THAT ARE PARKING THERE.
BUT WE DO CLOSE IT BY PRACTICE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, LAST YEAR DURING TRAIL OF LIGHTS, I THINK WE CLOSED THE POLO FIELD TO PUBLIC PARKING FOUR NIGHTS AND THE EVENT JUST
[03:05:01]
THAT THEY KNOW WHAT WE EXPECT AND SO THEY REFUND AND REROUTE AND, AND REMANAGE THAT TRAFFIC.UH, BUT THAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP WE'VE DEVELOPED WITH FOLKS IS THEY EXPECT, UH, TO DO A CERTAIN THING WHEN CERTAIN THINGS HAPPEN.
AND PARD SAYS THIS IS NOT SAFE TO PARK IN.
SO AT LEAST FROM AN EVENT PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR PROBABLY ABOUT A DECADE.
UH, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, CAPACITY STUDIES.
AND YOU MENTIONED THE PARKLAND TECH TASK FORCE, UH, I THINK IN TWO, 2017 DEFINED WHAT EVENTS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR DOWNTOWN PARKS.
SO, UM, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW A PARK MEASURES, UH, CAPACITY, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS, WHAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE LAND, THE SPACE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THE PROTECTING THE ECOLOGY AS WELL AS, UH, BALANCING SAFETY.
UM, WE HAVE HEARD PRESENTATIONS ON, UM, A CAPACITY STUDY ON TOWN LAKE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SO MANY WATERCRAFT OUT THERE.
UM, SO HOW, HOW DO YOU MEASURE THAT ON SOMETHING LIKE THE GREAT LAWN? UM, JUST MY OWN NAIVE EXPERIENCE THERE ON LAST SATURDAY WAS NATURE WAS GROANING
I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT A STUDY OF THE ENTIRE PARK WOULD NEED TO CALCULATE.
I I I AM CURIOUS, I MEAN, I THINK WE ALL SHOULD BE AS STEWARDS OF OUR PARK.
BUT I THINK IT CAN'T BE DONE SINGULARLY JUST LOOKING AT THE EVENTS.
I THINK THE ATTENDANCE AT THE PARK HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED, UM, EVEN SINCE THE PANDEMIC.
I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE HILLSIDE AT THE POOL RIGHT NOW, WHAT IT EXPERIENCED THIS SUMMER IS THE SAME CONDITIONS YOU SAW ON THE GREAT LAWN, IT HAS JUST BEEN HIT HEAVY BY PEOPLE LOVING THEIR PART TO DEATH.
SO I THINK DOING THAT HOLISTICALLY, UM, AND THAT WOULD ALMOST BE SOMETHING A STUDY OF AN ENTIRE YEAR'S WORTH OF USE WOULD REALLY BE HELPFUL TO KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT.
IS THAT ORDINANCE OR ARE THOSE ORDINANCES SINKING UP WITH WHERE WE WANTED THEM TO BE? UH, WE HAVE REALIZED SOME ATTRITION THROUGH THAT SPECIAL EVENTS ORDINANCE IN THE PARKLAND EVENTS TASK FORCE.
AND THAT IS THAT ONCE AN EVENT GOES AWAY, IT CAN'T REALLY BE REPLACED.
SO WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SOME ATTRITION SINCE THAT WENT INTO EFFECT.
SO FROM THE EVENT PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD SAY WE'VE REDUCED BLUES ON THE GREEN FROM SIX TO NOW TWO DAYS.
THE GARDEN FESTIVAL, AT THE TIME THAT THE PARKLAND EVENTS TASK FORCE REPORT WAS ADOPTED, THEY CEASED OPERATING.
SO THOSE REDUCTIONS ARE STARTING TO PLAY OUT AS THE MEMBERS OF THOSE TASK FORCE KIND OF PRESCRIBED AT THAT TIME.
SO AT LEAST FROM THE EVENT PERSPECTIVE, THERE HAS BEEN SOME REDUCTIONS AT THAT PART.
WELL THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT YOUR, YOUR IRRIGATION AND MAINTENANCE TEAMS ARE, ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AND, UM, THAT THEY REPORT BACK TO YOU IF, IF SOMETHING'S AMISS OR IF THEY SENSE WERE DAMAGING THIS SPACE TOO MUCH.
WELL, I APPRECIATE SHARING THE FEEDBACK TOO BECAUSE WE MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THERE, THE LEADERSHIPS OF ZILKER, BARTON HILLS, DEEP BETTY, ROLLING WOOD, THE TALISMAN, AND THEN EVERYONE ALONG TO ME AND STIR.
SO IF YOU'RE GETTING FEEDBACK, PLEASE SHARE THAT TO US SO WE CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND ENGAGE WITH THOSE FOLKS.
SOMETIMES THEIR QUESTIONS ARE THINGS THAT HAVE JUST, UH, GONE AMISS, YOU KNOW, THE SECRET THAT GETS PASSED DOWN THE LINE.
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST AN ANSWER THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND.
SO CERTAINLY IF ANY OF YOU HAVE THAT SEND THAT OUR WAY, WE ARE WELL VERSED IN KIND OF ENGAGING IN THAT BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY ENGAGING WITH THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ANNUALLY.
WE'D BE HAPPY TO HELP OUT WITH THAT.
SO YES, AND I, I CERTAINLY DIDN'T MEAN TO SEEM LIKE IT WAS I, THAT YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE DAMAGE IN ZILKER PARK.
UM, WE'VE HAD A HORRENDOUS SUMMER AND SO FORTH.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE PARK.
BUT UH, FOR REGARDING FEEDBACK, UM, I HAVE HAD SOME FEEDBACK FROM CITIZENS WHO ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT BECAUSE OF THE CLOSURE OF THE PARK AND YOU SAY IT'S 26 DAYS, SO IS THAT COUNTING SET UP, STAGING, UM, THE FIRST WEEKEND, THE WEEK IN BETWEEN THE SECOND WEEKEND, THEN THE BREAKDOWN, THE MAINTENANCE, AND THEN THERE'S, THEN IT'S CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE.
AND THEN THERE ARE PORTIONS OF THE PARK THAT START TO
[03:10:01]
GRADUALLY REOPEN.AND ONE CITIZEN SAID THAT THEY FELT LIKE JUST AS THE HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE BREAKING, THAT'S WHEN THE PARK CLOSED FOR THE ACL FESTIVAL.
AND YOU KNOW, WHY WOULDN'T THE CITY BE CHARGING MORE MONEY IF THE PARK IS GONNA BE CLOSED AND GOES MULTIPLE DAYS? IT SAYS SIX AND THE CALENDAR, IT SAYS, UM, I BELIEVE IT IS SECTION 8 1 15 THAT, UH, THAT ZILKER IS THAT ACL IS LISTED AS SIX DAYS OF CLOSURE.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE PARK DURING THE NICEST TIME OF THE YEAR, BASICALLY A OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.
AND, UM, ONE CITIZEN SAID LAST NIGHT AT 6:00 PM IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL OUT AND SO SAD TO SEE THE WHOLE PARK STILL FENCED OFF.
FAMILIES WERE CROWDED ONTO ANY LITTLE OPEN SPOT THEY COULD FIND TRYING TO ENJOY THE WEATHER.
SO THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH PLACE TO BE IN.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE DO FEEL THAT WAY.
YEAH, WE, WE WISH IT WERE FASTER TOO, YOU KNOW,
AND YES, JUST TO REAFFIRM IT IS 26 DAYS, SO I'LL WALK THAT THROUGH.
SO IT'S 11 LOAD IN DAYS, THREE EVENT DAYS, FOUR IN BETWEEN DAYS, THREE MORE EVENT DAYS, AND THEN FIVE DAYS THEY TAKE IT ALL OUT OF THE PART.
AND THEN THAT'S FOLLOWED IN BY SEVEN TO 10 DAYS.
AND AGAIN, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THAT OUR TEAM GOES IN, AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF AERATION.
THEY KIND OF PREPARE THE LAWN TO GO TO SLEEP FOR THE WINTER.
UM, AND ONCE THAT'S DONE, AND, AND THIS GETS MIXED UP TOO, THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT WHEN TRAIL OF LIGHTS MOVES IN, THAT IT'S ACTUALLY CLOSED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
IT'S NOT THE, IT NEVER FULLY CLOSES AGAIN THROUGH ALL OF TRAIL OF LIGHTS.
SO THE ENTIRE UPPER PORTION OF THE GREAT LAWN REMAINS OPEN.
AND WHEN WE GO TO WORK EVERY NIGHT DURING TRAIL OF LIGHTS, THERE ARE PEOPLE PLAYING SOCCER, THROWING FRISBEE.
SOME DO THAT AND THEN THEY SWITCH OVER AND GO GET IN LINE TO GO INTO THE EVENT.
SO PROBABLY SOME COMMUNICATION WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON, BUT IT DOES STAY OPEN AFTER THE MAINTENANCE WEEK.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON WEBEX? WE DO HAVE A QUESTION.
I WANTED TO ADD ON TO WHAT BOARD MEMBER REED SAID SPECIFICALLY CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY OF THE PARK BEING CLOSED DURING THE ROU PARTS OF THE YEAR, UM, AND KIND OF PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND OTHER AREAS TO SPEND TIME.
AND THAT RESULTING IN A LOT OF OUR PARKS BEING FURTHER DEGRADATED THAT DON'T GET AS MUCH ATTENTION, UM, THAT IS BEING MITIGATED.
AND I WAS WONDERING IF THE CITY IS AWARE OF THAT THEY'RE PARTS THAT ARE BEING KIND OF OVERUSED BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T BE AT GILKER.
IF SOMEONE COULD PERHAPS ASSIST ME WITH THAT QUESTION.
THERE'S A LITTLE REVERB ON OUR SIDE.
CAN YOU REPEAT JUST YOUR QUESTION? AND I, AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ THE SUBTITLES 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING.
I'M TRY YEAH, DON'T THINK CAN GET 'EM ALL UP HERE.
BUT BOARD MEMBER, BOARD MEMBER ORIE, IF YOU COULD ACTUALLY, UM, MUTE THE SPEAKER OR UH, TURN DOWN THE SPEAKERS ON YOUR COMPUTER AS YOU'RE ASKING YOUR QUESTION.
THAT WAY WE WOULD ONLY HEAR THE AUDIO COMING THROUGH FROM YOUR PHONE.
IS THIS BETTER? YES, THAT'S BETTER.
SO MY QUESTION IS JUST THAT MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME AND LET ME KNOW THAT SINCE THEY'RE UNABLE TO USE ZILKER DURING THE NICEST PARTS OF THE YEAR, A LOT OF OUR OTHER PARKS THAT DON'T GET THAT SAME MITIGATION ATTENTION THAT ZILKER DOES ARE BEING OVERUSED AND THEN KIND OF DEGRADATED AND THEY'RE, I'M WONDERING IF THE CITY HAS ANY INTENTION TO ADDRESS THIS, UM, TO HELP THE OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY THAT ARE BEING OVERUSED.
'CAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T BE AT ZILKER AND ARE INSTEAD OF THESE OTHER PARKS.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUICK RESPONSES IF THAT'LL HELP.
SO AUDITORIUM SHORES IS JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS OVER FROM ZILKER AND THAT RECEIVES THE SAME LEVEL OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AND CARE THAT ZILKER DOES.
AND WE PURPOSELY DO NOT SCHEDULE ANYTHING IN AUDITORIUM SHORES DURING ACL.
SO THERE IS AN OPEN LAWN SPACE, MANY OF THE SAME FEATURES, TREES CLOSE TO THE WATER, CLOSE TO THE TRAIL, LOTS OF OPEN SPACE.
AND IT ALSO HAS A CONTAINED DOG PARK OVER THERE AS WELL.
SO WE WORK THROUGH THINGS LIKE THAT.
I KNOW, UH, SOME OF OUR EVENTS HAVE ACTUALLY RECENTLY COMPLETED PARTNERSHIPS IN BARTON HILLS TO HELP WITH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
THEY'RE HAVING SOME MAINTENANCE ISSUES THERE, SO THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS KIND OF STEPPED UP.
IT'S GONNA HELP WITH ONGOING MAINTENANCE WITH THAT.
SO WE'VE MADE SOME OF THOSE CONNECTIONS AND REALLY TRYING TO FOSTER SOME OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS TOO AS PART OF THAT.
UH, ONE QUICK QUESTION THAT I HAD WAS, I GUESS WITH THE, UH, DIRECTION
[03:15:01]
TO, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE ACL AS TWO WEEKENDS INSTEAD OF ONE WEEKEND.IS THERE ANY BACKGROUND YOU COULD PROVIDE THAT TALKS ABOUT KIND OF THE INCREASED MAINTENANCE OR THE ADDITIONAL EFFORTS THAT HAVE KIND OF UNDERGONE AS ACL HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS? YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN NEEDED, BUT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FROM THE START, WHAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE OR WHAT ADDITIONS IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXPANDED PERIOD OVER TWO WEEKENDS? YEAH, THE, THE BIGGEST THING KIND OF I THINK I'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE AND I SAID WE AGREE WITH IS IN BETWEEN WEEKENDS IT JUST NEEDS REST AND WATER
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS MADE OVER TIME.
UH, DRAINAGE HAS BEEN IMPROVED IN CERTAIN AREAS.
SO WHEN WE HAVE A FLOOD EVENT, LIKE EVEN WHEN IT RAINED OVERNIGHT THIS MORNING, THERE WAS SOME SUBSTANTIAL STANDING WATER, UH, IN SOME OF THE AREAS OF THE PARK.
SO WE'VE MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT AND THAT HAS BEEN FUNDED BY THE EVENT, UH, TO COVER THOSE COSTS FOR US.
WHEN THEY'RE DOING SOME OF THESE THINGS, UH, THEY CAN HELP REMOVE SOME OF THAT PONDING WATER IN AREAS.
UH, AGAIN, THE FERTIGATION SYSTEM WAS PUT IN AND THAT ALLOWED NUTRIENTS TO BE DELIVERED THROUGH THE IRRIGATION INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TAKE THE MACHINERY OUT AND DISPERSE THAT ON THE LAWN.
IT'S ALSO A LITTLE BETTER FOR PETS OUT THERE BECAUSE THE GRANULES VERSUS JUST PUTTING IT THROUGH THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM IS A MUCH MORE SAFE APPROACH FOR PETS WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE.
UH, WE'VE ALSO HAD THE COST OF UPDATING THE TURF AND JUST KEEPING IT PATCHED AFTER EACH EVENT.
AND ALL THOSE ARE EXPENSES THAT WERE CARRIED BY THE EVENT.
UM, AND YOU ASK A VERY GOOD QUESTION, WHAT ELSE IS NEEDED? WELL, THE SUPPLIES WE NEEDED FOR ONE WEEKEND, UH, THAT WE ORDER AT THE FESTIVAL'S EXPENSE ARE JUST DOUBLED.
SO THEY'RE KEEPING US WHOLE AND THERE'S NEVER BEEN A CHALLENGE WITH BEING CAPITAL IN TERMS OF OUR SUPPLIES OR PARTS OR ANYTHING WE MAY NEED.
THEY PROVIDE THAT FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND ALSO, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE DETAILED INFORMATION.
I CAN, UM, TELL FROM YOUR PRESENTATION THE, THE ENTHUSIASM AND PASSION THAT YOU HAVE FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
IT'S BEEN A LONG THREE WEEKS
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
UH, JUST AS, UH, FYI BOARD MEMBERS, WE DO HAVE 35 MINUTES LEFT BEFORE WE HAVE TO CALL IT QUIT.
SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE NEXT FEW AGENDA ITEMS QUICKLY.
[6. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates]
IS SIX STAFF BRIEFING ON PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EVENT PLANNING, UPDATES, DEVELOPMENT UPDATE, MAINTENANCE UPDATE, PROGRAM UPDATE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES.SO I'LL JUST QUICKLY, KIMBERLY MCNEELY SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR AND I'LL VERY QUICKLY BRING YOUR ATTENTION.
ONE THING THAT IS NOT IN YOUR, IN YOUR, UH, PACKET, UH, ON OCTOBER 26TH FROM FOUR O'CLOCK TO FIVE O'CLOCK, UM, THE ANDY RADDICK, ANDY RODDICK FOUNDATION, UM, IN COOPERATION WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND, UH, A NONPROFIT CALLED LEARN ALL THE TIME, IT'S A SUBSIDIARY OF, OF ANDY RODDICK IS GOING TO BE CELEBRATING WHAT THEY CALL LIGHTS ON AFTER SCHOOL.
AND SO IT IS AN EVENT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND THIS YEAR THEY'LL BE DOING IT AT THE MENDEZ RECREATION CENTER.
AND SO, ON BEHALF OF THE ANDY RODDICK FOUNDATION, I'M EXTENDING AN INVITATION TO YOU.
IT'S FROM FOUR O'CLOCK TO FIVE O'CLOCK ON OCTOBER 26TH.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND AS JUST TO EMAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN COMING.
'CAUSE WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU.
BUT OF COURSE I REALIZE I'M TELLING YOU ON MONDAY AND THIS IS ON THURSDAY.
SO, UM, PLEASE DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH THERE'S A, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE, BUT I I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL ANY PRESSURE OR GUILT.
UM, PLEASE KNOW, ON THE VERY PAGE ONE OF YOUR REPORT, IT TALKS ABOUT THE BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER SOME ADVOCATES ASKED US TO PLEASE MAKE SURE WE WERE PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT.
THERE ARE TWO POPUPS THAT ARE SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 24TH, ONE AT 7:30 AM AND ONE AT 5:30 PM TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT USE BARTON SPRINGS MOST OFTEN INFORMATION ABOUT THE BATHHOUSE.
UM, THERE IS ON PAGE TWO, TWO EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON OCTOBER 25TH AT 10:00 AM THE, UH, BURNETT BLONDIE FARR TENNIS CENTER, UH, RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE RENOVATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED THERE.
THE SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARK ON OCTOBER 27TH AT 11:00 AM AGAIN, RENOVATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THERE.
AND ON NOVEMBER 1ST AT 11:00 AM IT'S A CELEBRATION OF THE BUFORD TOWER.
IF YOU ARE, UM, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A PROGRAM THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CEMETERY.
IF YOU'RE INTO, UM, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY, UH, RELATED TO OAKWOOD CEMETERY, PLEASE JOIN, UH, THE EVENT ON OCTOBER 28TH.
IT STARTS AT 10:00 AM THROUGH 2:00 PM BUT THERE'LL BE DOCENTS THERE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UM, EXCITING, UM, FOLKS THAT ARE BURIED THERE IN THE CEMETERY AND ALL THE LEGEND AND LORE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.
UM, I NOTED, I REMEMBER THAT SOMEBODY MENTIONED TO YOU, UH, ABOUT, UH, BEING A CANCER
[03:20:01]
SURVIVOR AND THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THAT ON PAGE 19.UM, IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S A 15 FOOT PINK RIBBON THAT'S IN THE OUTFIELD OF OUR CRAIG FIELDS.
AND IT IS OF COURSE, IN HONOR OF ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CANCER SURVIVORS.
I JUST BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT.
ON PAGE 26, THERE IS AN EVENT THAT IS CELEBRATING WOMEN VETERANS, AND IT'S AN ART EXHIBIT THAT'S OPENING AT THE OLD BAKERY IN EMPORIUM EMPORIUM.
AND WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE AUSTIN VETERAN ARTISTS, AND IT'S PART OF THE FESTIVAL.
IT'S SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE OLD BAKERY, IT IS NOT A BAKERY.
UM, BUT THAT IT USED TO FORMERLY BE A BAKERY, RIGHT.
BUT IT'S A HISTORIC, UM, IT'S A HISTORIC STRUCTURE WITHIN OUR PARK SYSTEM AND IT ACTUALLY HAS ARTISANS, UM, THAT MEET CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS, ONE OF WHICH IS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE, UM, OF A AGE THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER SENIOR CITIZENS WHO THEN, UM, MAKE REALLY COOL THINGS THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE FOR CRAFTS AND GIFTS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS.
BUT THERE'S ALSO AN ENTIRE EXHIBIT SPACED.
AND SO IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND THAT EVENT.
YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE SET OF, I DON'T KNOW, 31 PAGES THAT YOU CAN READ AT YOUR LEISURE.
[7. Update from South Central Waterfront Advisory Board. (Bazan)]
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD BOARD MEMBER BISON, EXCUSE ME.UM, YES, WE RECEIVED AN UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT REGULATING PLAN WORKING GROUP AND THAT, UM, PRESENTATION THAT THEY SHARED WITH US IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONLY OTHER ACTION ITEM WAS VOTING ON THE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 2024.
WELL, DOES ANY, I ASSUME THAT WE, WE HAVE NOBODY SIGNED UP FOR THE NEXT AGENDA ITEMS. OKAY.
[8. Update from Downtown Commission. (Franklin)]
UPDATE FROM DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, UH, BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN.UH, SO THERE WAS, UH, SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS TO THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, UM, ONE OF WHICH WAS ON THE FIFTH STREET, UH, MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.
I THINK, UH, MY THOUGHTS TO ASK SMASH QUESTION WAS, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE KNOWS IF, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR BOARD WILL HAVE FURTHER INVOLVEMENT SINCE IT TIES IN AT EITHER END TO THOSE PARKS, BUT IT WAS JUST A PRESENTATION UPDATE ON THE DISTRICT AND KIND OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
UM, UPDATE FROM JOINT SUSTAINABILITY
[9. Update from Joint Sustainability Committee. (Bazan, Becker)]
COMMITTEE, EITHER BOARD MEMBER BAAN OR BECKER? NOPE.I ATTENDED, UM, LAST MONTH'S MEETING, UH, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY A BIG ONE.
UM, SO AS YOU KNOW, THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE'S CHARGED WITH ADVISING CITY STAFF AND COUNCIL ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
UH, IN ORDER TO MOVE THAT FORWARD SEVERAL MONTHS BACK, THE JFC CREATED THREE WORKING GROUPS TO EVALUATE PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES IN THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE PLAN.
UM, AND THIS LAST MEETING WAS THE CULMINATION OF A LOT OF WORK IN THIS AREA.
UH, SO WE VOTED ON THREE SEPARATE RECOMMENDATIONS TO GUIDE THE CITY'S BUDGETARY POLICIES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN, UM, IN COMING FISCAL YEARS, AN AREA OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS, TRANSPORTATION AND CONSUMPTION AND NATURAL SYSTEMS. SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A LOT OF, A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED, YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE FULL LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE JSC PAGE ON THE CITY AUSTIN'S WEBSITE, BUT I THOUGHT I'D CALL IT A FEW OF THEM THAT WERE INTERESTING.
UM, PARTICULARLY, UH, UH, THERE WAS A DESIRE TO IMPROVE THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN DASHBOARD, TRACKING THE CITY'S ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THE AREAS IN THE AREA OF CLIMATE MITIGATION, SOME OF WHICH OVERLAPS WITH PARKS, UH, AND ALSO A COOL CORRIDOR PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY KEY MOBILITY CORRIDORS THAT COULD SERVE AS NATURAL AND ENGINEERED, UM, SHADE AND COOLING SOLUTIONS ON KEY PEDESTRIAN AND TRANSIT ROUTES.
UH, ALSO QUITE A BIT IN THERE ABOUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
BUT, UH, A LOT THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN ALL OF THOSE AREAS.
AND THAT'S MY UPDATE, UH, UPDATE
[10. Update from Zilker Shuttle Working Group. (Hugman, Reed, Becker)]
FROM ZILKER SHUTTLE WORKING GROUP.UM, WE MET, THAT WOULD BE WE IS LANE HOLLY, DIANA PROCTOR AND MYSELF, UM, HAD A ZOOM CALL WITH TPW, UH, SEVERAL, SEVERAL FOLKS FROM TPW TO DISCUSS SHUTTLES, UH, IN ZILKER PARK AND IN PARTICULAR, UM, THE, UH, MORE IMMEDIATE CONCERN OF PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION DURING THE BATHHOUSE REMODEL.
AND, UM, BASICALLY TPW EXPLAINED TO US THAT, THAT, UH, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE MANAGING THE TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING DURING THAT REMODEL.
UH, THAT THE CAPITAL DELIVERY SY SERVICES OF CITY OF AUSTIN IS, I GUESS THAT'S A NEW DEPARTMENT.
AND, UM, WE ALSO BRIEFLY DISCUSSED SOME TRANSPORTATION ROUTES, UM,
[03:25:01]
HAVING CAP METRO, UH, PRODUCE MORE ROBUST, UH, TRANSPORTATION ROUTES BETWEEN BARTON CREEK MALL AND ZILKER PARK FOR OUR SUMMER VISITORS TO THE PARK.UM, MOSTLY, MOSTLY OUTTA TOWNERS THAT THAT USE THE POLO FIELD TO PARK ON.
SO, UM, THE DISCUSSION HAS BEGUN AND WE WILL MEET AGAIN.
[11. Update from Barton Springs Bathhouse Working Group. (Villalobos, Bazan)]
BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE WORKING GROUP.MY ONLY UPDATE IS, IS THAT STEPHANIE ARE WORKING ON THE REPORT.
SO YOU SHALL I SHOULD HAVE THAT BY THE, BEFORE THE NEXT, BUT BEFORE THE NOVEMBER MEETING.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? I HAVE A QUESTION.MAYBE IT'S A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM OR APOLOGIES, MAYBE I'VE JUST FORGOTTEN WHERE THIS THREAD WAS, BUT A WHILE AGO I ASKED ABOUT, UH, THE GUS GARCIA RECREATION CENTER AND THERE WAS A, I THINK A STUDY BEING DONE BY PARKS DEPARTMENT OVERALL FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTERS IN TERMS OF SORT OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
DID THAT GET COMPLETED AND IF SO, COULD THAT BE SENT TO THE BOARD OR IF IT DID NOT, IS THERE A TIMELINE FOR THAT IN THE FINAL REVIEW STAGES OF THE STUDY? AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT THIS WILL BE COMPLETELY DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
UM, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION.
UM, YOU'RE INTERESTED PARTICULARLY FOR THE GUS GARCIA, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE YEAH, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS DIRECTLY RELATED TO GUS GARCIA AND I'VE BEEN TELLING CONSTITUENTS THERE THAT THIS STUDY WAS EVENTUALLY FORTHCOMING.
SO ONE, I WANNA BE ABLE TO SHARE IT, BUT TWO, UM, I THINK YOU KNOW, IT, TO ME, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A USEFUL ITEM FOR US TO HAVE A BRIEFING ABOUT SINCE THERE ARE COMMUNITY CENTERS ALL OVER THE CITY, JUST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS FOUND.
ANY OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS CONSIDERING THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY TONIGHT? IF WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THE NASH HERNANDEZ BUILDING? UM, I WOULD, I WOULD THINK THAT WE MIGHT WANNA CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION, THE BOARD RECOMMENDATION ON, ON THAT ISSUE.
WHAT, SORRY, SORRY, INTERRUPT.
UM, DIRECTOR MCNEELY, WHENEVER THAT, UM, YOUR RESPONSE TO THE, TO THE, WILL THAT ALSO BE SENT OUT TO ALL BOARD MORE MEMBERS? YES.
SO, UM, AS IS TYPICAL, WHENEVER WE SEND SOMETHING TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE TYPICALLY, UH, COPY THE PARKS BOARD MEMBERS AND SO THE WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS SENT OUT WILL BE SENT TO YOU.
UM, LIKE I SAID, I THINK IT'LL BE EARLY NOVEMBER.
ANY OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION.
UM, THERE, IS THERE A, A JOINT COMMITTEE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND PARKS BOARD, UM, AND THERE IS, UH, THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC CHARGES SET BY RESOLUTION AND IT'S TO TALK ABOUT, UM, IT'S TO TALK ABOUT SHORT-TERM PROJECTS RELATED TO THE, UH, BARTON SPRINGS VISION PLAN.
THAT'S THEIR, THAT'S THEIR CHARGE.
I WAS THINKING THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE, THAT IT HAS ANY MEMBERS.
DID WE EVER VOTE ANY MEMBERS ON? WE DID.
DIDN'T WE VOTE TWO PEOPLE? FOUR OR FOUR? THAT'S RIGHT.
WAIT, ARE WE THINKING ABOUT THE SAME 1, 4, 5? NO, IT ONLY NEEDS FOR THIS PURPOSE.
YEAH, WE THE BOARD VOTED MEMBERS INTO IT.
YEAH, INTO THE, BUT WAS IT LIKE FOUR OR FIVE? WASN'T IT LIKE FOUR OR FIVE? YEAH, IT WAS FOUR OR FIVE.
SO WOULD IT BE APPLICABLE FOR IT TO, UM, TO MEET REGARDING THE BATHHOUSE REHABILITATION AND THE IMPACT ON, ON PEOPLE GETTING INTO BARTON SPRINGS AND SO FORTH? I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE, UM, SPECIFIC RESOLUTION THAT SET THAT UP AND I COULD DEFINITELY EMAIL YOU AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE PARAMETERS OF THAT.
I JUST DON'T RECALL OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BOARD MEMBER, BUT I'M HAPPY TO INVESTIGATE AND EMAIL.
MM-HMM,
LIKE IT HASN'T MET FOR LIKE, I THINK THIS LAST DAY, WAS IT 2020? I MIGHT BE CONFUSING IT THEN YET.
IT WAS, THEY HAVEN'T MET IN A LONG TIME.
THAT'S HOW IT GOT PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR IT.
UM, UM, UM, AND I'LL SAY YEAH, UM, YEAH, SO IT HASN'T MET A LONG TIME.
UM, ALRIGHT, UM, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER AGENDA ITEMS, I'LL MOVE TO CLOSE.
NICOLE, UH, UH, BOARD MEMBER MERRIT MOVES TO, TO ADJOURN AND I WILL ENTERTAIN THAT MOTION AT 9:38 PM THANK YOU SO MUCH.