Jan 17, 2024 Environmental Commission

DO YOU HAVE, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE? I HAVE, UH, KIM MARIE DODA.

SHE'S LATER.

I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ON AN AGENDA ITEM, CORRECT? UH, YES.

ALRIGHT.

DO YOU WANT US TO BE ABLE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OF YOU OR HAVE ANY DIALOGUE? UH, I LOVE OKAY, THEN YOU HAVE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT.

, WHICH WAS THE WRONG, THE WRONG, THE WRONG ANSWER, UNFORTUNATELY.

UM, ALRIGHT.

WHO IS THE OTHER ONE? UH, DO I, OKAY, GOT IT.

HERE WE GO.

ALICIA VALDEZ.

UM, AND SHE'LL BE REMOTE CALLING IN, IS THAT CORRECT? RIGHT.

MS. VALDEZ, ARE YOU ON? AND I THINK SHE MAY HAVE A POWERPOINT.

YES.

UH, I CAN BRING UP THE POWERPOINT NOW.

UH, MS. VALDEZ, IF YOU COULD PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE.

HI, GOOD EVENING.

I AM HONORED TO BE HERE.

MY NAME IS ALICIA VALEZ.

I AM THE PRESIDENT C GLOBAL ECO ARMY, NAVY AIR FORCE AND SPACE FORCE, A 5 0 1 CENTURY ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERED IN TAMPA, FLORIDA, BUT WITH GLOBAL IMPACT IN OVER A DOZEN COUNTRIES, SPECIALIZED IN SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT BY LAND, AIR, SEA, AND SPACE.

ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO PLANT 8 BILLION TREES WORLDWIDE ONCE FOR PERSONALIZED.

TODAY WE DE 15 BILLION TREES GLOBALLY EVERY YEAR AND ONLY PLANT 5 BILLION BACK.

WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN BRINGING AWARENESS WORLDWIDE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF REFORESTATION, AND WE ALSO BUILT A SYSTEM IN WHICH EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR LOCATION, SOCIAL STATUS, INCOME, POSITION, AND INDUSTRY CAN BE PART OF THIS REFORESTATION PROJECT.

SO FAR, WE HAVE ENGAGED DOCTOR'S OFFICES, LAW OFFICES, RESTAURANTS, UNIVERSITIES, FORTUNE HUNDRED COMPANIES, ALL THE WAY TO GOVERNMENT ENTITIES NATIONWIDE AND WORLDWIDE TO BE PART OF OUR GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO PLANT 8 BILLION TREES AND REMOVE 10% OF POLLUTION FROM OUR WATERWAYS WORLDWIDE.

SOME OF THE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE JOINED US HAVE BEEN UKRAINE, COLUMBIA, MEXICO, ARGENTINA, EGYPT, BURUNDI, UGANDA, MALAWI, RWANDA, SOUTH AFRICA, AND KENYA.

AND SOME OF THE FORTUNE CARBON COMPANIES THAT HAVE JOINED US HAVE BEEN STATE FARM INSURANCE, AMAZON, STARBUCKS, HOME DEPOT, LOWE'S, TARGET, THE FRESH MARKET, PUBLIX, AND OVER 100 MORE.

WE HAVE DEPLOYED OVER A THOUSAND ECO SOLDIERS AND EMAR MARINES IN THE FIRST YEAR.

NOW WE'RE GOING ON OUR FIRST YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON VALENTINE'S DAY, 2024.

WE WILL LIKE TO PARTNER WITH AUSTIN, TEXAS TO PLANT 10,000 TREES IN ONE DAY WITH 250 ECO SOLDIERS.

THE ACTIVITY WILL CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WHERE ECO SOLDIERS WILL BE PAID.

WE WILL ALSO FOLLOW, UM, SORRY.

WE WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES TO MEET AND FURTHER NETWORK WITH THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE, AS WELL AS, UH, GIVING BACK BY HELPING US RESTORE NATURAL RESOURCES.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE WERE CONGRATULATED BY THE TAMPA CITY MAYOR JANE CASTOR AND THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR, AS WELL AS FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND MAKING AUSTIN, TEXAS A GREAT ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION EXAMPLE FOR OTHER CITIES AND STATES TO FOLLOW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON.

IT TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, PLEASE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, SEND YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND THE SLIDES TO ELIZABETH AND, AND THEN SHE CAN DISTRIBUTE

[00:05:01]

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WILL DO THAT.

HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.

YOU TOO, MA'AM.

FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS REMO REVIEWING THE MINUTES.

ALRIGHT, UM, MOVING ON TO, UH, THE

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

UM, ELIZABETH UH, SENT OUT THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING DECEMBER 6TH.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR REVISIONS TO THE MINUTES? MOTION TO MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

SECOND.

I DANG, THAT WAS CLOSE.

GOTTA GET IN FASTER.

UH, ELIZABETH BUNK WATERSHED, I JUST HAVE ONE CHANGE THAT I DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL I EMAILED IT OUT.

THIS ONE, I HAVE TO SAY IT.

, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TESTING US, MA'AM.

IS THAT WHAT'S GOING ON? YES.

UH, NO.

UM, BUT IT JUST, IT'S LISTED THAT THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER TWICE AND I JUST WANTED TO DELETE THE SECOND ONE.

SO CL CLEARLY I WASN'T HERE.

UM, HAVING A SECOND, UH, A MOTION A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MINUTES AS AMENDED PER ELIZABETH'S COMMENT, RAISE YOUR HAND.

'CAUSE THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME TODAY.

ALL RIGHT, I SEE ALL BUT ONE, ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.

ALL THOSE, YEAH.

WE GOT ONE ABSTENTION.

NICHOLAS IS ABSTAINING.

AND COFER AND COFER TWO.

SORRY.

UH, THANK YOU.

UM, ALL RIGHT, SO IT PASSES.

ITEM UP IS, UH, DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE CREATION, CONTINUATION, TERMINATION, AND STATUS OF A CONCESSION OF A CONCESSION, INCLUDING ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR A CONCESSION IN TOWN LAKE METROPOLITAN PARK FOR INCLUSION IN THE JOINT REPORT BETWEEN THE PARKS AND REC BOARD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION THAT IS PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ANNUALLY.

UM, ALRIGHT.

[2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council regarding the creation, continuation, termination, and status of a concession including issuance of a Request for Proposal for a concession in Town Lake Metropolitan Park for inclusion in the joint report between the Parks and Recreation Board and the Environmental Commission that is provided to City Council annually. Presenter(s): Denisha Cox, Contract Management Supervisor II and Pat Rossett, Business Process Consultant, Parks and Recreation Department]

AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU GUYS.

HI.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU CAN HEAR ME? YEAH.

ALRIGHT.

SO, UM, GOOD EVENING.

UM, MY NAME IS DANISHA COX.

I AM WITH THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.

I'M THE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR TOO.

UM, TODAY, HERE WITH ME, I HAVE, UH, PATRICIA OR PAT ROSET, AND SHE IS THE BUSINESS PROCESS CONSULTANT WHO WORKS, UH, DIRECTLY WITH ME.

AND SO, UM, TO BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SLIDE, UM, THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR HEARING US TONIGHT AND ALLOWING US TO PRESENT OUR ANNUAL CONCESSION REPORT.

UM, I'VE ALREADY INTRODUCED, UH, PAT, WE HAVE OTHER STAFF HERE AS WELL FROM THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.

I HAVE, UH, MAGGIE STENTS, WHO IS A CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST, KAREN CHARLES, WHO IS ALSO A CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST WHO, UH, DEALS WITH CONCESSIONS.

AND THEN I HAVE SUZANNE PIPER, AND SHE'S OUR TR CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER.

ALRIGHT, NICK.

OH, THANK YOU.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, FOR CITY CODE, THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED TO PRESENT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGARDING THE CONCESSIONS IN TOWN LAKE PARK, ALSO KNOWN AS LADY BUR LAKE PARK.

AT A MINIMUM, THE REPORT MUST PROVIDE THE NAMES AND LOCATIONS OF THE CONCESSIONS, THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURES OF EACH CONCESSION FOR THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, THE NUMBER OF BOATS RENTED ON LADY BIRD LAKE, AND ANY ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS CAUSED BY CONCESSIONS.

RELEASED UNDER STRATFORD DRIVE.

SO HERE, UM, IN FRONT OF YOU ARE THE VARIOUS CONCESSIONS THAT ARE LOCATED ALONG, UH, LADY BIRD LAKE THAT ARE CURRENTLY PART OPERATED CONCESSIONS.

UM, YOU CAN SEE HERE WE HAVE SEVERAL ALONG THE LAKE.

WHAT THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE IS ALL THE EXISTING CONCESSIONS FOUND ELSEWHERE IN THE PARK SYSTEM, NOR ANY BUSINESSES ON THE LAKE OPERATED BY PRIVATE VENDORS.

NEXT SLIDE HERE IS OUR CURRENT, UH, VENDING OR CONCESSIONARY CONTRACTS WITH CURRENT TERMS. UM, HERE I JUST WANNA CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OF CONTRACTS, UM, THAT WE WILL BE SEEKING FUTURE SOLICITATIONS FOR.

UM, THE FIRST ONE IS ROWING DOCK.

WE DID A CONTRACT EXTENSION, EXTENDED IT FOR ONE YEAR.

UM, IT WAS EXTENDED, UM, PREVIOUSLY DUE WITH THE VISION PLANNING ACTIVITY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD OCCUR BASED ON VISION PLANNING.

BUT THEN, UM, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND SEEK A FUTURE CONCESSION FOR THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PLACE ON LADY BIRD LAKE.

AND SO IN THE FUTURE THERE'LL BE A CONCESSION, UH, RFP

[00:10:01]

SO YOU'LL SEE IT AS LABELED AS THAT.

AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE THE ZILKER PARK BOAT RENTAL.

WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PARKS BOARD AND THEN TO CITY COUNCIL TO DO A ONE YEAR EXTENSION ON THIS ONE AS WELL.

IT ALSO WAS EXTENDED DURING THESE PERIODS DURING THE, UH, VISION PLANNING PROCESS.

AND SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS SEEK A ONE YEAR EXTENSION, AND THEN DURING THAT TIME ALSO SEEK A, A SOLICIT, A-R-F-P-A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR THAT LOCATION.

AND THAT LOCATION IS, UH, BARTON CREEK, BARTON BAR.

BARTON BARTON CREEK.

SO IT, IT WON'T BE NAMED AFTER THE ACTUAL VENDOR THAT'S THERE, THE CONCESSIONARY.

IT WILL BE NAMED FOR THE LOCATION OF THE CONCESSION.

THE GRAPH HERE REPRESENTS THE CONCESSIONAIRE'S INCOMES REPORTED EXPENDITURES AND PAYMENTS TO THE CITY FOR FY 23.

HERE.

THE DUE, UH, THE DARK BLUE BAR REPRESENTS GROSS SALES.

THE ORANGE BAR REPRESENTS REPORTED EXPENDITURES, AND THEIR GRAY BAR HERE REPRESENTS CONCESSION PAYMENTS TO THE CITY, INCLUDING MONTHLY FLAT FEES AND REVENUE SHARES.

AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT OUR THREE HIGHEST REPORTINGS COME FROM ROWING DOCK, TEXAS ROWING CENTER AND AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

AND THEN HERE WE HAVE A GRAPH, AND THIS SHOWS, UH, GROSS SALES SINCE 2 20 15.

NOW, WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE IS DURING THE PERIOD OF, AFTER KIND OF COVID, WHEN THE PUBLIC STARTED GOING BACK OUT AND, UH, ACCESSING ALL THE ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE OUTSIDE, UM, WE SAW AN INCREASE IN, UH, CONCESSION ACTIVITY AND SALES OVER THAT TIME.

BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR IS THIS IS NOW STARTING TO KIND OF LEVEL THAT DOWN TO MORE RE REGULAR RENTAL ACTIVITY.

SO IT, IT'S KIND OF REFLECTED HERE IN THE GRAPH.

SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS MADE BY THE CONCESSIONAIRES FOR FY 23.

UH, BUTLER PITCH AND PUT WAS THE ONLY CONCESSION THAT HAD MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PREMISES.

HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE MADE.

AND JUST TO CALL A COUPLE OF TO ATTENTION, THEY PUT IN NEW LOW VOLTAGE SAFETY LIGHTING, UM, A NEW WELL WATER PUMP.

AND, UM, ALSO THEY DID SOME SOD REPLACEMENT AND COLLARS EXPANSION, AND THEN UPGRADES TO THE DRAIN DRAINAGE SYSTEM THERE.

SO FOR CONCESSIONS OUTSIDE OF LADY BIRD LAKE PARD RECEIVES REVENUE FROM SHORT-TERM PERMITS FOR COMMERCIAL USE OF PARKLAND.

THE PERMIT PROCESS FOR TEMPORARY CONCESSIONS IS OVERSEEN BY THE SPECIAL EVENTS OFFICE.

PERMITS ARE ISSUED FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY SUCH AS VENDING OR MERCHANDISE SALES, FITNESS TRAINERS AND PERFORMING ARTISTS.

THE TABLE HERE LISTS THE COST PER PERMIT, THE NUMBER OF PERMITS ISSUED FOR FY 23 AND THE TOTAL REVENUE FROM EACH PERMIT TYPE.

THESE ARE BASED ON THE TYPE OF USE AND TYPE OF PARKS.

SO METRO PARKS ARE 1500 AND ALL OTHERS ARE 500 FOR SIX MONTH PERMITS AND $50 FOR ONE DAY PERMITS.

FITNESS TRAINERS ARE CHARGED PER TRAINER WITH ADDITIONAL CHARGES PER ATTENDEE FOR FEE-BASED CLASSES WITH MORE THAN THREE ATTENDEES.

ADDITIONALLY, HERE YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL CONCESSIONS SET UP AT PARD GOLF COURSES.

CLAY KAISER AND MORRIS WILLIAMS BOTH HAVE FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONCESSIONS.

TEJAS GOLF, IT HAS A DRIVING RANGE, ALL PAY A PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE TO PARD.

AND THEN ALSO THERE IS A FOOD AND BEVERAGE, UH, CONCESSION AT LIONS AT LYONS GOLF COURSE.

AND THE REVENUE SHARE FROM THE CONCESSIONS GOES TO THE SAFE HISTORIC MUNI DISTRICT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GOLF COURSE.

AND IN FY 23, THE LYONS CONCESSION PAYMENTS TO THE SAFE HISTORIC MUNI DISTRICT TOTALED $77,522.

ARE INFORMING OUR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS GOING FORWARD FOR ANY NEW VENDORS.

IN THIS SLIDE, THIS SUMMARIZES THE RECOMMENDATIONS STAFF RECEIVED FROM THE PARKS BOARD LAST YEAR REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND REVENUE SHARE PAYMENTS.

IN 2022, PART COMMISSIONED A STUDY OF LADY BIRD LAKE CAPACITY THAT CONSIDERED THE RECREATIONAL USES OF THE LAKE AND THEIR POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS.

THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THESE STUDIES WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION DURING OUR FUTURE SOLICITATIONS THAT I JUST MENTIONED REGARDING REVENUE SHARING.

THE PARD CONTRACTS UNIT HAS BEGUN WORKING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF THE CONCESSION REAL ESTATE.

AND THESE DISCUSSIONS

[00:15:01]

WITH THIS SLIDE, THIS ADDRESSES THE RECOMMENDATIONS PART RECEIVED FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IN FY 22 REGARDING MARINE WASTE DISPOSAL, LAKE SAFETY AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.

PART HAS FOLLOWED THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IN CONCESSION COMPLIANCE EFFORTS.

GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THIS SLIDE GIVES A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MARINE WASTE DISPOSAL.

THIS PERTAINS ONLY TO LONE STAR RIVERBOATS, WHICH HAS ONE VESSEL AND AN ONBOARD TOILET.

AS YOU SEE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE GOVERNMENTAL BODIES THAT REGULATE THIS TYPE OF VOTE.

AS PARS CONTRACT COMPLIANCE PARD REQUEST COPIES OF MANIFEST TO MAKE SURE LONE STAR RIVER VOTE COMPLIES WITH STATE AND CITY REGULATIONS.

AND THESE MANIFESTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE WRITTEN REPORTS SUBMITTED TO THE PARKS BOARD, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

IN 2022, PARK COMMISSIONED A STUDY OF LADY BIRD LAKE CAPACITY THAT CONSIDERED THE RECREATIONAL USES OF THE LAKE AND THEIR POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY'S FINDINGS WERE PRESENTED TO THE PARKS BOARD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION LAST YEAR, ALONG WITH THE FY 22 ANNUAL CONCESSION REPORT.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THAT STUDY ARE TAKEN, UH, AS PART OF THE CONSIDERATIONS FOR OUR FUTURE SOLICITATE SOLICITATIONS AS FAR AS UNLICENSED VENDOR ACTIVITIES.

UM, WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THOSE ACTIVITIES AND, UM, WITH THE PARK RANGERS ADDITIONALLY, CITIZENS CAN REPORT UNLICENSED ACTIVITIES THROUGH 3 1 1.

AND THE MOBILE APP HAS A CATEGORY FOR COMMERCIAL USE OF PARKLAND, WHICH IS FOR REPORTING OF UNLICENSED VENDORS THAT ARE DOING, UH, BOATING ACTIVITY OFF OF PARKLAND OR CONDUCTING ACTIVITY.

SO HERE WE SEE THE TABLE, UH, RECORDS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RENTALS FOR EACH CONCESSION IN FY 23 AS RECORDED IN THE MONTHLY REPORTS SUBMITTED BY THE CONCESSIONS.

AND IF YOU'LL NOTICE THAT KAYAKS AND STANDUP, UM, PADDLEBOARDS, UH, MAKE UP THE MOST, UH, CONCESSION RENTALS ON ON THE LAKE.

AND FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEAR, YEARS PART, ASK THE CONCESSIONS TO RECORD THE NUMBER OF RENTALS EACH DAY DURING DESIGNATED PEAK PERIODS.

THE TABLE HERE SHOWS THE TOTALS FOR EACH EIGHT DAY PERIOD, WHICH WOULD BE SPRING BREAK, MEMORIAL DAY, 4TH OF JULY, AND LABOR DAY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE NUMBERS DO NOT REFLECT THE NUMBER OF BOATS ON THE LAKE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

ONLY THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RENTALS BY PART CONCESSIONS.

THESE DATA SHOW THAT THE NUMBER OF BOATS RENTED HAS INCREASED EACH YEAR CORRESPONDING WITH AN INCREASE IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INVENTORIES SHOWN ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND THIS CHART SHOWS THE NUMBER OF WATERCRAFT IN EACH CONCESSIONS RENTAL INVENTORY, THE TEXAS ROWING CENTER AND AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

INVENTORIES ALSO INCLUDE ROWING SHELLS AND COACHING LAUNCHES THAT ARE USED FOR LESSONS, CLUBS, CAMPS, ET CETERA.

THIS SLIDE ADDRESSES STAFF RESPONSES TO THE RE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PARKS BOARD AND THE ENVIRONMENT COM.

UH, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IN THE PAST FEW YEARS PART INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS IN EACH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

ADDITIONALLY, PART STAFF WORK WITH OUR CORPORATE PURCHASING, OR ALSO KNOWN AS CENTRAL PROCUREMENT OFFICE TO SOLICIT REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS AND STAFF HAVE PUT IN PLACE STANDARD SCOPES OF WORK AND CONTRACT COMPONENTS, WHICH ARE USED FOR EACH NEW SOLICITATION AND CONTRACTS.

SO, WE JUST WANTED TO CALL ATTENTION TO PUBLIC BENEFIT AS WE CONCLUDE THIS PRESENTATION OF THE ANNUAL CONCESSION REPORT.

AND LEAVE YOU WITH JUST A SNAPSHOT OF JUST SOME OF THE CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES THAT, UH, THE CONCESSIONAIRES ARE INVOLVED IN AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT TO MANAGE THE WALL CREEK BOATHOUSE.

AUSTIN ROWING CLUB IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND FREE PROGRAMMING TO UNDERSERVED YOUTH, INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO COVER ROWING FEES AND FREE BOAT RENTALS FOR PARD SUMMER CAMPS AND OTHER YOUTH GROUPS, WHILE NOT REQUIRED BY THE CONTRACT.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE OTHER VENDORS ALSO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN NUMEROUS WAYS, INCLUDING HOSTING OR PARTICIPATING IN FUNDRAISING AND LATE CLEANUP EVENTS, DONATING SERVICES AND GIFT CARDS, AND OFFERING DISCOUNTED RATES TO STUDENTS AND OTHER GROUPS.

PARTICIPATION IN LATE CLEANUP AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EFFORTS IS REQUIRED IN ALL NEW WATERCRAFT RENTAL

[00:20:01]

CONCESSIONS.

SO, UH, JUST NEXT STEPS AND FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.

UH, WE DID PRESENT IN LATE NOVEMBER THIS PRESENTATION TO THE PARKS BOARD AND AFTER TONIGHT'S, UM, PRESENTATION, UM, OUR REQUESTED ACTION IS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING CREATION, CONTINUATION TERMINATION OF, OR STATUS OF A CONCESSION, INCLUDING ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR CONCESSION AND TOWN LAKE METROPOLITAN PARK FOR INCLUSION IN THE JOINT REPORT BETWEEN THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION THAT IS PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ANNUALLY.

WE ALSO PROVIDED YOU A DRAFT OF THAT REPORT FOR YOUR REVIEW PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.

UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PRE PRESENT OUR ANNUAL CONCESSION REPORT AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENTER IF YOU'RE READY, MA'AM.

UM, AND THEN IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS ON THAT TOO, WE CAN TALK, TALK TO EVERYTHING, UH, AT THE SAME TIME.

UH, IF YOU READ THAT OFF, IF YOU LIKE UP KIM MARIE DODA, UH, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANKS FOR BEING PATIENT, UH, AND COMING BACK THIS YEAR.

MY NAME IS KIM MARIE, FOUNDER HERE.

OUR CPR LIFEGUARDING AND WILDERNESS FIRST AID COURSES.

MY NAME'S KIM MARIE DUDA.

I'M THE FOUNDER OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL, AND I HAD THE LUCKY PRIVILEGE OF GROWING UP HERE IN AUSTIN.

AND I JUST WANNA THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR WORK.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK THE TEAM FROM PARD.

I COULDN'T DO WHAT I DO WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JUST HELPING US THROUGH SUCH A, A CHALLENGING TIME.

UM, THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, WHEN YOU SEE THE REPORTS OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL, WE MAKE PEANUTS COMPARATIVELY.

AND I WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY ARGUE THAT IF YOU LOOKED AT THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF WHAT THE EXPEDITION EXPEDITION SCHOOL ACTUALLY DOES FOR THE COMMUNITY, WE WOULD BE THE TOP LEADER OF, OF PUBLIC BENEFIT.

AND I'D LIKE TO JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND THE MAGICAL TRANSFORMATION THAT WE HAVE THE HONOR OF CREATING AND SUSTAINING OUT OF OUR LOCATION.

OUR LOCATION IS THE ONLY NOR LOCATION ON THE NORTH SHORE EAST END.

AND IN 2023, WE SERVICED AND SERVED 873 INTELLECTUALLY, DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS, AND SERVE THE DEAF POPULATION.

UH, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POPULATION BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS POPULATION SINCE I OPENED THE DOORS OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL IN 2006, AND WE CONSISTENTLY SEE THE NEED OF, OF ACCESS FOR THESE POPULATIONS AND ALSO THE IMPORTANT WORK AND IN PROVIDING THEM OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING.

NEXT, WE PICKED UP 14,250 POUNDS OF TRASH ON THE SHORELINE AND IN THE WATERWAY, THIS ROUGHLY EQUATES TO AT SIX AND A HALF TONS OF TRASH AND ONE TON OF RECYCLING.

AND WE DO THIS THROUGH ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS BECAUSE CONSERVATION IS A BIG PRIORITY WITH THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE LOCATED IN THE INNER CITY AND TOWN LAKE IS, AS WE KNOW, BECOMES A DUMPING GROUND FOR A LOT OF THINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE WONDERFUL COLLABORATION THAT WATERSHED AND PARKS DEPARTMENT CONSISTENTLY DOES ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR FOLKS THAT COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS, WE'RE, WE'RE COLLECTIVELY PICKING UP TRASH AND HOPING THAT THAT WILL, YOU KNOW, HELP IN SOME WAY OFFSET THE, THE POLLUTION THAT WE'RE SEEING.

UH, NEXT WE PERFORM CONSISTENT WATER QUALITY TESTING EVERY MONTH, AND WE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH WATERSHED.

SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT THE WATER QUALITY IS DOING, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE NOT PUTTING KIDS AND OUR FAMILIES IN CLEAN WATER, WE'RE DOING THEM A DISSERVICE.

WE HAVE CREATED AND SUSTAINED THIS PAST YEAR, SEVERAL TRANSFORMATION OUTDOOR PROGRAMS IN COLLABORATION WITH A ISD NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR GROUPS.

NEXT, UM, WE HAVE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE FOCUSED TO INSPIRE SUSTAINABLE, SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS. OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, WE HELPED RAISE TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER IN CRESTED BUTTE TO CREATE AFFORDABLE PROGRAMS FOR THE ADAPTIVE POPULATION WORLDWIDE.

WE WERE VOTED FOR THE SEVENTH YEAR IN A ROW, THE TOP TRAINING PROVIDER IN

[00:25:01]

AND WE PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT LOCALLY TO SEVERAL YOUTH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM THE ADAPTIVE POPULATION.

FURTHERMORE, IN OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH GLOBAL NGOS, WE PUT WORLD LEADERS ON THE WATER FOR THE FIRST TIME WHO ARE STUDYING AND OR INTERNING.

IN AUSTIN, WE TAUGHT SEVERAL FIRST TIME PADDLERS HOW TO STAY SAFE ON THE WATER.

ANYTIME YOU SEE AN A PERSON ON ONE OF OUR WATERCRAFT, THEY'RE NEVER WITHOUT A LIFE JACKET.

SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT WITH US.

AND SINCE WE OPENED OUR DOORS, UH, WE STILL REMAIN TO HAVE A PERFECT SAFETY RECORD.

AND AGAIN, WE COULDN'T DO THAT WITHOUT THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE SUPPORT OF EVERYONE COMMITTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

THANKS.

THAT MIGHT BE THE FIRST THIS YEAR.

UH, ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

UH, COME.

UM, I GUESS IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST STICK AROUND, UM, SOMEWHERE CLOSE BY IN CASE THERE PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU AS WELL.

ABSOLUTELY.

UH, AND THEN, UH, YEAH, I VERY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN EACH YEAR.

THIS, THIS COMES THROUGH.

YEAH, IT'S, IT'S AN HONOR.

IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO CREATE THIS TYPE OF PROGRAMMING IN A TOWN I GREW UP IN AND TO WORK WITH SUCH INCREDIBLE, DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS.

THANKS.

UM, ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, UH, DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? UM, OR, UH, ONE OF THE CONCESSION, UH, PROVIDERS? UH, WE'LL START, WE'LL START REMOTE.

I GUESS IF YOU JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND TURN ON YOUR MIC AND, AND GO, YEAH, SURE.

GO FOR IT.

I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE ZILKER EAGLE.

IS THAT STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THAT HA HAS THAT STARTED OR WHEN DO WE EXPECT IT TO START? SO, SO THE, THE, IT'S CURRENTLY UNDER PHASES OF CONSTRUCTIONS.

SO, UM, IF YOU GO TO THE, UH, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION WEBSITE, THEY ACTUALLY POST, UM, THE PROGRESS OF OPENING UP THE ZILKER EAGLE.

THEY HAD TO DO SOME, UH, TRACK INSTALLATION AND THEN SOME RETROFITTING ACTIVITY.

THEY'VE PAINTED THE, UH, TRAIN AND THEY WERE GOING TO PLAN ON DOING TESTING, I BELIEVE, EITHER YEAH, EITHER IN LATE DECEMBER OR EARLY WINTER.

SO THEIR GOAL WAS TO TRY TO HAVE IT OPERATIONAL, UM, BY SPRING.

SO, UM, THAT'S WHERE IT'S AT, BUT THEY, YES, IT'S CURRENTLY, UM, BEING CONFIGURED AND WORKED ON TO BE OPERATIONAL HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

GREAT.

THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW.

UH, THIS IS COMMISSIONER BRIER.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

UH, I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP ON THE ZILKER EAGLE.

UH, WHO'S GONNA RUN THE CONCESSION FOR THAT? SO THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION IS ACTUALLY, UM, HAS A CONTRACT TO OPERATE AND, AND MAIN MAINTAIN THE ZILKER TRAIN.

SO HOW MUCH OF THE, UH, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE THEY GONNA BE GIVING TO THE CITY TO OPERATE THAT? SO THE WAY THAT THE, UH, CONTRACT IS WRITTEN IS THEY WILL ACTUALLY, UH, WHAT MONEY IS REMAINING AFTER THE, UH, OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY AND EVERYTHING TO RUN THE TRAIN.

THEY GIVE THE BACK THROUGH, UH, DONATIONS THROUGH NONPROFITS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT, UH, SUPPORT THE PARKS.

SO THEY'RE GONNA RETAIN ALL THE, UH, ALL THE FUNDS AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA GIVE ANY MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE CITY.

IS THAT WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING? THAT NO, DISTRIBUTE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA REDISTRIBUTE IT TO NONPROFITS THAT SUPPORT THE PARK SYSTEM, BUT THEY WILL NOT MAKE PAYMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE CITY.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I JUST SAID.

UM, OKAY.

UH, THE, UH, THE ETHICS OP, UH, UH, CONCESSION, UH, THEY GIVE SOME OF THEIR OPERATING FUNDING TO THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY IS, DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH THAT IS? I'LL LOOK IT UP.

GIVE US JUST A SECOND.

I, I THINK I SEE IT ON PAGE 14 OF THE DOCUMENT THAT ELIZABETH SENT.

LOOKS LIKE FY 23 WAS 49,000 FY 22.

OH, AM I LOOKING AT THE RIGHT LINE? YES.

FY 2270 2000, ET CETERA.

BUT IT'S ON PAGE 14.

PAGE 14, I MUST HAVE SKIPPED THAT.

[00:30:01]

IF THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID.

I, I 49.

OH, OKAY.

THAT OKAY.

I SEE THAT NUMBER, BUT IT DOESN'T, UH, DOESN'T INDICATE THAT THAT GOES THROUGH THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

IT JUST LISTED IT ACTUALLY DOES.

IT SAYS TWO TTC.

AND WHICH WHERE THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

THAT'S ALL THE FUN I'VE GOT.

ANYONE ELSE REMOTELY GOT ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL GO AROUND THE HORN HERE.

Y'ALL, UM, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

UM, YOU KNOW, SHOUT OUT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.

SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE DOING REALLY GOOD WORK.

UM, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I HAD A QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, IN YOUR REPORT YOU TO, YOU KNOW, UH, SORT OF THE HIGHEST DENSITY OF YOUR CAPACITY BEING DOWN FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW REVENUE WAS DOWN.

OBVIOUSLY NOBODY IN THE ROOM IS, OR FORTUNE TELLERS, YOU KNOW, SHOUT MS. CLEO, BUT DO YOU LIKE PROJECT REVENUE FOR THIS, FOR FY 24 ALSO BEING DOWN FROM PREVIOUSLY? DO YOU SEE IT LEVELING OUT? DO YOU SEE IT GOING BACK UP? DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY PROJECTIONS? SO THE WAY THE PATTERN IS RIGHT NOW, IT'S STARTING TO DECLINE, BUT I, I THINK IT'S GONNA GET LEVELED IS WHAT'S HAPPENING AS, AS, AS KIND OF LAKE ACTIVITY STABILIZES.

UM, IT'S HARD TO SAY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE USE THE LAKE AND SO YOU CAN'T PREDICT WHEN OR WHERE THEY'LL USE THE LAKE.

UM, THIS ONLY IS REFLECTIVE OF CONCESSIONS THAT ARE WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

SO THERE'S OTHER, UH, VENDORS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE PRIVATE BUSINESSES ON THE LAKE.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S EVERYONE WHO HAS THEIR OWN WATERCRAFT WHO CAN ACCESS THE LAKE.

SO IT'S HARD TO SAY.

IT'S JUST THAT, UM, WE SAW JUST A VERY ELEVATED INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, AND NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE KIND OF THAT LEVELING OUT OF THAT.

SO I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AHEAD ONE OR TWO MORE YEARS BEFORE WE KNOW FOR SURE PATTERN.

YEAH, FOR SURE.

I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THESE LAST FEW YEARS WERE DEFINITELY AN ANOMALY IN A LOT OF SENSES.

UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THE NATION, DEFINITELY FOR AUSTIN.

UM, YEAH.

AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT THAT I'LL MAKE IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE LIKE A, A DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN OF, YOU KNOW, UM, WHO THE OWNERS OF THESE DIFFERENT VENDOR, UH, VENDING COMPANIES ARE, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, PART WORKS WITH FOR THE RIVER.

UM, I THINK ALSO FOR LIKE THE, THE FOOD EVENTS OR WHATEVER, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ARTISTS AND I THINK, UH, THE FITNESS TRAINERS, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, AS THE CITY, AS YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY CONTINUES TO REFINE SORT OF THEIR VISION OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION LOOKS LIKE.

IT MIGHT BE AN INTERESTING DATA POINT.

UM, ALTHOUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS MIGHT SHOOT ME FOR SAYING THAT.

SO, UM, YEAH, THOSE ARE THE ONLY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS I HAD.

APPRECIATE IT.

SOMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YEAH.

UM, WELL, I KNOW THAT AUSTIN WATER, UH, PUTS OUT A ANNUAL REPORT ON WATER QUALITY IN LADY BIRD LAKE, AS WELL AS OTHER PLACES IN THE CITY.

UM, DOES THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, CONTRIBUTE TO THAT? OR, UM, IS IT ALL DONE BY THE CITY? DO YOU KNOW? YEAH, GO.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE GOOD THERE THAT THAT'LL WORK.

SO YES, WE, WE CONTRIBUTE AND WE, UH, SUBMIT ALL OF OUR WATER QUALITY TESTING TO THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY.

AND THEN BECAUSE BRENT BOLLINGER PUTS IN WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS DOING WATER QUALITY STUDIES SUCH AS UT WE'RE IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH THEM WHEN THEY PUT IN ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING MM-HMM.

AND HOW WE CAN COLLECTIVELY HELP EACH OTHER OUT.

AND SO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IS REALLY JUST KINDA THAT OLD SCHOOL, AUSTIN, HEY, DO YOU KNOW SO AND SO HE'S DOING THIS STUDY? AND THEN JUST BY THAT INFORMAL NEIGHBORLY LOVE THAT WE, WE ALL KNOW AND, AND APPRECIATE SO MUCH, WE'RE ABLE TO THEN NETWORK AND PUT THESE INDIVIDUALS IN TOUCH WITH, WITH THIS STUDY.

OUT PUTTING A PROGRAM ON, IT IS SUCH A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SHOWING UP WITH THEIR PONTOON BOATS TO CLEAN UP QUITE CONSISTENTLY ALL THE TRASH, AND THEY'RE THE MOST WONDERFUL, HARDWORKING HUMANS.

AND SO, YES, I WOULD SAY THAT ANYTIME WE'RE DOING A WATER QUALITY STUDY OR WE'RE

[00:35:01]

AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE SCIENTISTS COMING FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT ARE DOING SO MANY DIFFERENT STUDIES.

AND SOMETIMES WE'RE JUST THE CONNECTOR BECAUSE WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THE STUDIES AND WE'RE LIKE, OH, HEY.

BECAUSE YOU CAN BE QUITE SILOED IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING, UNFORTUNATELY.

SO, SO I WOULD SAY JUST BY OUR LOCATION AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON A CONSISTENT BASIS FROM THE COLLECTIVE ENGAGEMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, UM, THERE'S A BIG SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION.

RIGHT.

ARE YOU DOING LIKE D DISSOLVED OXYGEN, FECAL COLIFORM, THINGS LIKE THAT? YES.

AND THEN WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL ACTUALLY INCORPORATE THAT WATER QUALITY TESTING WITH OUR KIDS MM-HMM.

THAT WE SERVE.

SO THEY'RE GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IN THE WATER.

AND THEN ANYTIME IT RAINS, WE HAVE A POLICY THAT WE DON'T GO OUT ON THE WATER BECAUSE THAT, YOU KNOW, INCREASES THE NITRATES AND E COLI.

WELL, ONE QUESTION FOR THE, ABOUT FOR THE PARKS, UM, DEPARTMENT, UM, DO YOU GUYS EVER LOOK AT THE DIRECT EFFECTS OF THE CONFESS, THE CONCESSIONS, LIKE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING NEAR WHERE, UH, POWERED BOATS ARE ACTING, OR, UM, THERE MIGHT BE DISPOSAL FROM A, FROM A FOOD CONCESSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? AS DANISHA SAID EARLIER, WE HAD HOUSTON TILLSON CONDUCT, UH, LAKE SAFETY, AND ALSO THEY TE TESTED THE WATER AS WELL.

AND THERE WAS A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.

I DON'T THINK YOU WERE ON THE COMMISSION LAST YEAR NO.

WHEN WE PRESENTED IT, AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO SHARE IT WITH YOU AGAIN.

I'D BE, I, YEAH, I MEAN, I'M A DATA GUY WHERE YEAH.

AND WHERE SOME OF THOSE RESULTS WERE REPORTED.

SO WE WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND THAT TO YOU AS WELL.

I'LL MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THEN ALSO, UM, JUST COLLABORATIVELY, WE EVEN, UM, RECENTLY HAD A MEETING WITH THE VARIOUS CONCESSIONAIRE OVER SOME OF THE, AND IT WASN'T BAD ACTIVITY ON THE LAKE AS FAR AS KEEPING THE LAKE HEALTHY, BUT THE KOBO OF WEEDED AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON WITH THE LAKE WITH THE HEAT MM-HMM.

AND EVERYTHING WE SAW.

AND JUST HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE OCCURRING THAT THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY NEGATIVE IMPACTS, IT, IT JUST SOMETIMES IMPACTS THEM SOMEWHAT NEGATIVELY AT THE TIME.

RIGHT.

SO, UM, WE DO ENGAGE THE VENDORS AND WE DO PLAN ON HAVING ONGOING MEETINGS.

UM, SOME OF THEIR, UH, SUGGESTIONS WERE POSSIBLY EVEN QUARTERLY TYPE ENVIRONMENTAL TYPE MEETINGS WHERE WE TALK WHEN WE, WE HAD, UH, IT WAS WATERSHED.

WATERSHED AND THEN WE ALSO HAD, UH, TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE YES.

CAME, WE HAD SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS COME AND JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT COULD BE DONE, UM, TO HELP KIND OF MINIMIZE, UM, THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY EVEN, BUT LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THAT IS GOOD FOR THE LAKE MM-HMM.

SO JUST KIND OF LETTING THEM KNOW THAT YES, IT, FOR THE SHORT RUN, IT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS SOMEWHAT, BUT IN THE LONG RUN IT'S HEALTHY FOR THE LAKE.

GREAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT WAS AN EDUCATIONAL SESSION FOR THE CONCESSIONAIRES AND IT REALLY HELPED THEM TO UNDERSTAND.

MM-HMM, .

GREAT.

THANKS.

THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE, AND THANKS FOR Y'ALL'S, UH, COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.

IT'S VERY GOOD.

UM, MY FIRST QUESTION, UM, IS FOR, UH, EXPEDITION SCHOOL, DO Y'ALL RENT TO THE PUBLIC? WE DO.

SO YOU HAVE A RENTAL SPACE.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

SO ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH OUR LOCATION? MM-HMM.

IT'S A WIN-WIN WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE, IT'S KIND OF TOUGH TO GET TO US, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RENT UP UNTIL, UH, 2020 WAS WHEN WE RECEIVED THE GREEN LIGHT TO RENT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, FOR US RENTAL, WE WOULD, WE WOULD'VE HOPED TO HAVE SEEN A MUCH MORE PROFITABLE RESULT FROM THE ABILITY TO RENT.

AND, UM, WE HOPED TO SEE MORE INDIVIDUALS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT RESOURCE, ESPECIALLY ON THE EAST END, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SO GREAT ABOUT THE HOUSTON TILTS AND STUDY WAS TO JUST BRING EVERYBODY'S AWARENESS OF HOW WELL AND OVERLY USED THE WEST SIDE IS AND HOW UNDERUTILIZED THE EAST END IS.

AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT BALANCED OUT.

NOW.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA PUT BILLIONS OF PEOPLE ON THE WATER BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE RUN, UH, A VERY SUCCESSFUL, AND WHEN I MEAN SUCCESSFUL, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S ACCESSIBLE, IT'S AFFORDABLE, AND IT'S PROFITABLE, AND

[00:40:01]

COOL.

UM, AND THEN, UH, MY NEXT QUESTION IS FOR STAFF.

AT ANY OF THE PUBLIC TOUCHPOINTS FOR THEM TO KIND OF BRING THEIR KAYAK IN OR PADDLE BOARD OR ANY KIND OF BOAT, ARE THERE SIGNS ABOUT ZEBRA MUSSELS AND TO CLEAN, DRAIN AND DRY THEIR BOATS? I, I SPEAK TO THAT.

I, I CAN'T SAY WITH A HUNDRED PERCENT CERTAINTY AT WHEREVER THEY ENTER IS OR THOSE PARTICULAR SIGNS.

UM, THE, THE CONCESSIONAIRES ARE SUPPOSED TO POST SIGNAGE THAT IS REQUIRED, UM, AT THEIR LOCATIONS.

AND OFTENTIMES, UM, INDIVIDUALS DO GO AHEAD AND LAUNCH FROM POSSIBLY A CONCESSIONARY LOCATION OR MAYBE A DESIGNATED PUBLIC AREA THERE.

SO THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE SIGNAGE.

BUT AS FAR AS IT BEING ACROSS THE LAKE WHERE, 'CAUSE YOU COULD JUST GO AND LAUNCH FROM ANYWHERE MM-HMM.

, UM, I CAN'T SAY THAT THERE WOULD BE SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE LAKE.

UM, THAT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE USEFUL.

UM, AND THEN, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, SIGNAGE AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOXIC, UH, ALLERGY, CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? IS THERE SIGNAGE THAT, SO ANY TIME THAT WE'RE GIVEN NOTIFICATION OF TOXIC ALGAE, WE SEND OUT, UH, INFORMATION TO ALL THE CONCESSIONAIRES TO POST ABOUT THAT AND HAVE THAT PRESENT FOR ANYONE RENTING A BOAT TO UNDERSTAND, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH PETS.

AND, UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT LETTING THEIR PET ENTER THE WATER.

AND THEN TO BE AWARE THAT, UM, IT HAS BEEN DETECTED.

AND MAY I ADD THAT WE ALSO HAD, THIS WAS BEFORE I'VE BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT LONGER THAN ANYBODY.

SO, UH, EVEN BEFORE THIS WE HAD EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS WITH THE CONCESSIONARIES AS WELL, AND WE EDUCATED 'EM WITH OUR PARTNERS WATERSHED ABOUT THE ZEBRA MUS AND ABOUT THE TOXICOLOGY AS WELL.

AND AS THOSE OCCUR, OF COURSE WE'LL BE BRINGING IN MORE EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS TO ASSIST.

AND THEN, UM, MY THIRD QUESTION, WHICH IS SORT OF ALONG THOSE LINES IS DID THEY ALSO HAVE SIGNS OUT THERE? I MEAN, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE INCREDIBLY HOT SUMMERS, BUT JUST MAKING THEM AWARE OF HEAT STRESS AND HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES THAT CAN OCCUR EVEN WHEN THEY'RE ON THE WATER.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S SIGNAGE SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT TO THAT.

UM, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE BACK MM-HMM.

AND, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PROVIDE SIGNAGE OR INFORMATION ON THAT, LIKE HOW WEATHER PRECAUTIONS MM-HMM.

AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND THEN, UM, I GUESS MY LAST QUESTION HERE, UM, IS MAYBE FOR MOVING FORWARD, AND MAYBE Y'ALL ALREADY HAVE THIS DATA, BUT, BUT CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THINGS AS, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, HOW DOES THE EXTREME HEAT, THE TOXIC ALGAE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT IMPACT THE REVENUE, UM, FOR THESE CONCESSIONAIRES, UM, ALONG THE LAKE ESPECIALLY, I MEAN, IT'S NOT GONNA IMPACT THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ZILKER TRAIN, UM, BUT, UM, CERTAINLY THE BOAT RENTALS AND, AND CAN YOU HELP US KIND OF PAINT THAT PICTURE, YOU KNOW, IN AS WE MOVE FORWARD? YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THAT NOW, BUT, OKAY.

AND WE CAN CERTAINLY, UM, TAKE THAT.

AND THEN ALSO MAYBE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT TILL THE NEXT ANNUAL REPORT, THEN GATHER THAT INFORMATION AND THEN INCUR, INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL, JUST LIKE WE DO FOR THE BUSY TIME, WE COULD ASK THEM TO RECORD THAT INFORMATION.

, UH, FOR THE EXTREME TEMPERATURE, UH, DAYS AS WELL.

LIKE, WE, LIKE THIS PAST SUMMER WAS EXTREME TEMPERATURES EVERY DAY.

CORRECT.

SO, YEAH.

AND I DO KNOW THAT THEY DID, THEY DID REPORT BACK JUST IN GENERAL COMMUNICATION THAT, YOU KNOW, ACTIVITY WAS UP EARLY IN THE MORNINGS WHEN IT WAS COOLER, UM, LATER IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY, THEY DID SEE LESS ACTIVITY IN SOME INSTANCES, SO.

GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

AND, AND MY LAST THING IS JUST A COMMENT I WANNA SAY TO THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.

UH, YOU KNOW, I WANNA SAY THANKS FOR ACTIVATING, UM, THIS SPACE FOR PEOPLE WITH ALL ABILITIES, UM, AND, AND HELPING THEM, UH, FEEL LIKE THIS IS ALSO THEIR PARK AND THEIR LAKE.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I HAD A QUESTION, UM, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT IF THERE WERE WAS MONEY FOR, UM, MAYBE SHUTTLES TO DOING SOME OF THE CONCESSIONS, LIKE FOR MAYBE PEOPLE THAT ARE, UM, COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNDERSERVED OR HAVE MAY HAVE, UM, DIFFICULTY AFFORDING MAYBE GETTING TRANSPORTATION TO THAT.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, STATE YOUR NAME WHEN, WHEN YOU START TALKING, PLEASE.

[00:45:01]

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME'S SUZANNE PIPER.

I'M THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

UM, AS OF NOW, THERE'S NOT SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC MONEY ALLOCATED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO CERTAIN CONCESSIONAIRE.

HOWEVER, WE JUST HAD THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, UH, BUDGET KICKOFF MEETING TODAY FOR THE .

THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE LONG PROCESS THAT TAKES US, YOU KNOW, A GOOD EIGHT MONTHS.

SO, UM, AT SOME POINT YOU SHOULD BE GETTING SOME INFORMATION FROM, UM, THE BUDGET OFFICE OR THE, UM, BOARDS AND COMMISSION, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, SOMETIMES THE EQUITY OFFICE, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

SO THE COMMISSION HAS AN OPPORTUNITY, USUALLY BY MARCH IS USUALLY THE DEADLINE TO GET TOGETHER AND MAKE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

UM, THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN AMAZING RECOMMENDATION FOR MYSELF, IF I MAY SAY SO MYSELF, BUT I, I'M NOT SAYING THAT, BUT, UM, , BUT WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK AND TYPICALLY COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE BOARD AND COMMISSION THAT'S, YOU KNOW, AT, AT WEIGHS HEAVILY ON THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OUR COUNCIL RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW THAT THE TINY DEPARTMENT HAS PUT TOGETHER A SHUTTLE, BUT IT'S ONLY FROM THE TEXAS CENTER, THE ONE TEXAS CENTER TO ZILKER TO CUT DOWN ON PARKING.

BUT THAT'S THE ONLY SHUTTLE THAT I'M AWARE OF.

PERFECTLY HONEST.

I GUESS LIKE ONE THING THAT HAD POPPED IN MY HEAD WITH ALSO WITH LIKE MAYBE COMMUNITIES THAT COULDN'T AFFORD LIKE TRANSPORTATION OR HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE WAS ALSO LIKE THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.

LIKE, UM, PEOPLE THAT MAY, FAMILIES THAT MAY HAVE SPENT ALL THEIR RESOURCES ON THEIR CHILDREN THAT HAVE DISABILITIES, THEY'D BE LIKE, WELL, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON YOUR HEALTH.

WE CAN'T DO SOMETHING EXTRA.

SO I JUST THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING COOL IF THERE WAS MONEY THAT COULD BE FOUND TO HELP WITH THAT.

AND, UM, ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT MAY HAVE BEEN TOUCHED ON, UH, COMMISSIONER QURESHI, BUT I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS IN WHAT DETERMINES THE DURATION OF LIKE, THE CONTRACTS FOR EXTENSIONS FOR SOME, 'CAUSE I NOTICED HOW SOME HAD LIKE A ONE YEAR EXTENSION AND OTHERS HAD LIKE A FEW YEARS.

SO YES.

SO, UM, JUST KIND OF, WE HAVE CONTRACTS THAT STARTED AT DIFFERENT TIMES, AND THOSE CONTRACTS, UM, VARY IN LENGTH AND IT CAN, THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT CAN BE DETERMINED SIMPLY BY THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT MAYBE THE VENDOR PUT IN TO OPEN UP AND TO AT SOME POINT RECOUP THAT MONEY.

UM, NOW WHEN, UH, EXTENSIONS ARE GRANTED, SOME ARE BUILT INTO THAT CONTRACT AT THE INITIAL POINT WHEN IT'S AWARDED, UM, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ARE THESE SHORTER CONTRACT EXTENSIONS ARE OCCURRING BECAUSE, UM, THE CONTRACT HAS COME TO ITS END.

AND, UM, WE WEREN'T SURE ON SOME OF THESE WHAT WOULD OCCUR WITH VISION PLANNING.

THIS HAS GONE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS, WHILE THAT PROCESS PLAYED OUT, UM, LET THE VENDOR CONTINUE SO WE COULD CONTINUE THAT CONCESSION ACTIVITY SO THERE WOULDN'T BE AN INTERRUPTION AND KIND OF SERVICE FOR THAT.

AND THEN ONCE A DETERMINATION WAS MADE ON HOW WE WOULD PROCEED, THEN UM, THAT ONE ADDITIONAL EXTENSION ALLOWS US THAT YEAR TO GO OUT FOR A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL, BECAUSE THOSE CAN OFTEN TAKE NINE TO 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE AN AWARD.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU ARE SEEING SOME OF THOSE WITH VERY SHORT EXTENSIONS.

UM, IT JUST REALLY HAD TO DO WITH THAT PLANNING PROCESS OVER THESE LAST FEW YEARS.

OF COURSE, COVID, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, UH, STOPPED A LOT OF THINGS FROM OCCURRING AND PLANNING AND THINGS.

SO THAT KIND OF IS ONE THING.

THE, THE KEY WAS, IS WE DIDN'T WANNA INTERRUPT SERVICE OR INTERRUPT THAT ACTIVITY.

WE WANTED TO KEEP THAT CONCESSION AVAILABLE FOR PARK USERS AS AN AMENITY.

AND IF THE CONTRACT WOULD'VE BEEN ALLOWED TO TERMINATE WITHOUT THAT EXTENSION, UM, THAT CONCESSION WOULD'VE GONE AWAY.

AND THEN, UM, IT WOULD, IT MEAN THAT A WHOLE NEW CONCESSION WOULD COME IN, EVEN IF IT WAS THE PREVIOUS VENDOR WHO ENDED UP BEING RE AWARDED, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO IN AND THEY WOULD'VE HAD TO PULL OUT ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT AND THEN REINSTALL.

AND IF IT'S A DOCK, THAT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.

SO THOSE ARE ALL REASONS WHY YOU'RE SEEING THOSE SHORTER DURATIONS.

UM, NORMALLY YOU WOULD SEE FIVE TO 10 YEARS DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT AS A GENERAL EXTENSION.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

POINT, TRANSPORTATION'S AN ISSUE BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OR, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN SCHOOL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATIONS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING AND TELLING US ABOUT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.

UM, DOES, IT, DOES, I, I, EVERY TIME YOU COME, I TELL MYSELF I'M GONNA GET DOWN THERE AND A YEAR, ANOTHER YEAR PASSES.

SO THIS WILL BE THE YEAR THAT I GET DOWN THERE AND, UH, AND, AND, UH, EXPERIENCE IT.

I, UM, UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'VE HAD THE LUCK OF WITNESSING THAT TRANSFORMATION EXPERIENCE AND, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR

[00:50:01]

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T PADDLE WITH US, THE SUPPORT MEANS A LOT BECAUSE, UM, IT IS HARD WORK AND IT IS WORK THAT WE LOVE TO DO.

AND, UM, IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE REACH OUT.

YES.

UM, THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE FOR, FOR STAFF IS RELATED TO THE, THE HOUSTON TILLSON, UH, STUDY YOU GUYS HAD DONE, WHICH WAS GREAT.

UM, YES.

SOL SULLIVAN, YOU, YOU MISSED A GOOD, A GOOD PRESENTATION LAST YEAR.

UM, UH, BUT IS THERE ANY, UH, CONCEPT OF CONTINUING THAT OR, OR KIND OF UPDATING THAT EVERY THREE OR FOUR YEARS, OR WAS THAT KIND OF A, A SNAPSHOT IN TIME? SO, UM, THE FUNDING THAT WE HAD WAS FOR ESSENTIALLY THAT ONE TIME, UM, STUDY.

UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE IS HOPE THAT WE'VE, IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THAT.

UM, JUST RIGHT NOW THAT FUNDING ISN'T AVAILABLE FOR THAT.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT, UM, PAT HAD THE FORESIGHT TO, TO, UM, WRITE INTO THE, UM, CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION THAT WE POTENTIALLY COULD GO BACK.

SO, UM, SO HOPEFULLY WHEN FUNDING, WHEN AND IF FUNDING COME BECOMES AVAILABLE, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE WANT TO PURSUE.

THEY HAD A LOT OF GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS AND, UM, WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

UM, LIKE DANISHA SAID, MM-HMM.

OR MS. COX SAID IN OUR FUTURE SOLICITATIONS.

YEAH, NO, I, I, I AGREE.

I THINK MAY MAYBE IF WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT EVERY YEAR, MAYBE EVERY THREE YEARS OR FOUR YEARS OR SOMETHING, IT WOULD BE A GOOD SNAPSHOT.

UM, AND THAT'S ALL.

SURE.

I'VE MADE A NOTE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE VIDEO FROM THAT .

THAT, YEAH, THAT THE REPORT'S PROBABLY BETTER THAN THE VIDEO, BUT, UH, BUT YEAH.

UM, THE Q AND A, YOU CAN PROBABLY SKIP, WELL, THE BACKUP MATERIAL WOULD STILL BE ONLINE TOO.

YEAH, NO, THE, YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS A VERY GOOD REPORT.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

UH, ANY FINAL, UH, QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY REMOTE AND OR HERE? YES.

I, I WANTED TO ASK IF DESPITE THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION MANAGING THE REVENUE FOR ZILKER EAGLE, IF THIS REPORT NEXT YEAR WILL STILL INCLUDE ALL OF THE, THE REVENUE RECEIVED AND THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, WHERE ALL THE REVENUE, UH, WENT TO BREAKING DOWN EACH NONPROFIT THAT RECEIVED FUNDS AND WHAT THE PUBLIC BENEFIT WAS DUE TO THAT.

SO WE, WE COLLECT THAT INFORMATION AS PART OF OUR, YOU KNOW, THEY REPORT, UH, REVENUE AND THEN ALSO BUILT INTO THE CONTRACT, I BELIEVE, IS THAT, UH, THE FOUND, UH, THE NONPROFITS THAT THEY DESIGNATE, UM, ARE REPORTED TO THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE.

SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ASK THEM OF THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.

SO, UH, AS PART OF THIS REPORT, WE CAN CERTAINLY INCLUDE, UH, THAT INFORMATION.

UM, GREAT.

YEAH, I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, UM, JUST TO KIND OF BE ABLE FOR, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT WOULD, WOULD BE HELPFUL.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING, MA'AM? I DO.

SAFETY STRATEGIES OF THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THEIR ABILITY TO MEET THE CAPACITY.

UM, SO SUBJECT IS THE 2023 ANNUAL PORT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S, PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, MANAGE, UH, MANAGE OF THE CONCESSIONS.

AND, UH, TODAY IS JANUARY 17TH ALREADY OF 2024.

SO WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED A STAFF BRIEFING OF THE 2023 ANNUAL REPORT, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS MIGRATION DEPARTMENT, UM, MANAGE CONCESSIONS ON LADYBIRD LAKE.

WHEREAS ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION, UM, BOARD REGARDING THE CONCESSIONS ON LADYBIRD LAKE.

THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS CONTINUATION OF CONCESSIONS CONTRACT ON LADYBIRD LAKE PARK, UH, WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

UM, NUMBER ONE, STUDY AND REPORT THE IMPACT ON, UH, WATERCRAFT RENTALS AND USE DUE TO TOXIC ALGAE AND EXTREME HEAT.

TWO, REPORT BACK TO THE COMMISSION ABOUT THE SHUTTLES, ABOUT SHUTTLES OR TRANSPORTATION FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATION, OR PEOPLE WITH LIMITED ABILITIES TO THE CONCESSION TO THE CONCESSIONAIRES AND PARK.

THREE, CONTINUE REPORTING, UM, ON THE PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT THE CONCESSIONAIRES PROVIDE.

UH, FOUR, UH, PART STAFF SHOULD CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE WATERCRAFT THAT ARE TYPICALLY ON LADYBIRD LAKE, WHAT THE

[00:55:01]

NUMBER FIVE, PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON ANY NEW CONCESSIONS.

SEVEN, PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW CARRYING CAPACITY IS BEING ADDRESSED.

AND EIGHT, REPORT ON THE ZILKER EAGLE RECONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL 2024 REPORT.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM EINHORN.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION? ONLY ONE COMMENT WAS, I THINK YOU SKIPPED NUMBER SIX.

I THINK YOU WENT FROM FIVE TO SEVEN AND I KNEW SULLIVAN WAS GONNA GET IT, SO I WANTED TO, I WANTED TO GET THERE.

I WANTED TO GET IT FIRST.

BUT THAT WAS, THAT WAS ALSO JUST TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ALL PAYING ATTENTION.

EXACTLY.

UM, UH, ANY DISCUSSION? ANYBODY? ALRIGHT.

UM, I'LL NOTE, UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD THAT COMMISSIONER FER IS RECUSING ON THIS ITEM.

UM, BUT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF, UH, THE MOTION AS WRITTEN.

RAISE YOUR HAND.

ARE YOU, ARE YOU RAISING YOUR HAND, MA'AM? OKAY.

YES, I SEE IT UNANIMOUSLY, UH, PASSES.

UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH GUYS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

UM, WORKING GROUPS, UH, AND OR COMMITTEES 6 58.

IT IS BEFORE 7:00 PM AND WE ARE HERE.

UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY REPORT BACK OR MAYBE SOME DISCUSSION OF WHAT'S GONNA BE GOING ON THIS YEAR? UM, YOU GOT SOMETHING SULLIVAN?

[7. Update from the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – David Sullivan]

UM, ON THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD, THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS CREATED A VERY COMPLEX SPREADSHEET TO CALCULATE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM INCLUDING FOR ALLOWING HIGHER FLORIDA AREA RATIO ENTITLEMENTS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT DOWN THERE.

AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BRIEFING ON IT, UH, HERE TOMORROW NIGHT.

SO THOSE IN FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEAL, HE IS THERE, THERE WOULD BE PARKLAND.

BASICALLY, AND TRAILS, UH, ACCESS TO THE LAKE FROM RIVERSIDE, EAST RIVERSIDE AND SOUTH CONGRESS, ET CETERA.

SO.

COOL.

UM, I REALLY HAD TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE AGENDA.

ANY OTHER UPDATES? ANYONE? UH, YEAH.

FOR THE JSC,

[4. Update from the Joint Sustainability Committee – Haris Qureshi (member) and Richard Brimer (alternate member) ]

'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE LAST YEAR WAS A MILLION YEARS AGO, BUT, UM, THERE WAS A, UH, RESOLUTION PASSED.

UM, BASICALLY, I GUESS AUSTIN ENERGY'S COMING OUT WITH A, OR HAS COME OUT WITH A RESOURCE GENERATION CLIENT PROTECTION PLAN.

AND, UM, SO THEY CAME OUT WITH A RESOLUTION, BASICALLY, UH, TRYING TO COME UP WITH, UH, ENERGY SOLUTIONS OR RESOURCES THAT WILL NOT POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT.

UM, I THINK A BIG CONCERN THEY HAD WAS, YOU KNOW, THE AUSTIN ENERGY BUILDING OR INVESTING IN A NATURAL GAS OR HYDROGEN CAPABLE REGENERATION GENERATION, RATHER.

MY BAD, THAT'S WHAT I GET FOR JUST READING OFF MY PHONE.

UM, THERE WAS, UH, A PRESENTATION ON SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT AND WHAT THE CITY IS DOING AND SHOULD DO, UH, IN REGARDS TO THAT, WHICH, UH, WAS PRETTY INTERESTING.

AND THERE WAS A PRESENTATION ON THE OPERATION OF REGIONAL AIR QUALITY PLAYING IN THE AUSTIN MSA.

SO ALL THAT'S AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE FOR THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.

YOU HAVE SOMETHING ALSO? YEAH, PLEASE.

BRIER, DID

[3. Update from the Urban Forestry Committee – Richard Brimer (Committee Chair), Mariana Krueger, Colin Nickells, and Melinda Schiera]

YES, I DO.

UM, LET'S SEE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE LAST MEETING OF THE, UH, URBAN FORESTRY COMMITTEE FOR REASONS THAT, UH, ESCAPED ME RIGHT THIS MOMENT.

BUT WE ARE GONNA HAVE ONE IN MARCH, AND I BELIEVE ELIZABETH SENT OUT A, UH, EMAIL, UH, REQUESTING A, UH, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE CHIME IN AND VERIFY THEY'LL BE THERE SO WE CAN GET A HEADCOUNT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A, UH, QUORUM FOR THAT SORT OF THING.

ALSO, I SENT OUT AN EMAIL A LITTLE WHILE BACK ASKING FOR SUGGESTIONS FOR AGENDA ITEMS. I'VE GOT THREE OR FOUR, UH, ON MY MIND ON THE 22ND, WHICH I GUESS IS, UH, NEXT MONDAY, UH, ELIZABETH, MYSELF AND JIM ARE GOING TO BE MEETING TO SET THE AGENDA.

SO IF YOU COULD GET ME ANYTHING THAT YOU FEEL IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WORTHY OF DISCUSSION, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT PUT ONTO THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, GET ON IT AND WE'LL, UH, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE GET IT ALL KIND OF WORKED UP, WE'LL, YOU KNOW, SEND IT AROUND TO

[01:00:01]

EVERYONE.

BUT SEND ME YOUR AGENDA ITEMS SO WE CAN, UH, DISCUSS THEM AT THE UPCOMING MEETING IN MARCH.

AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE DAY IS RIGHT OFF HAND, BUT WE SENT OUT THE SCHEDULE SO IT'S THERE SOMEWHERE.

ANY OTHER, UH, COMMITTEE UPDATES? OKAY.

ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]

THAT ANYONE WANTS TO PRESENT OR DISCUSS? YEAH, UH, TOPHER, PLEASE.

YEAH, I HAVE A QUICK ONE.

JUST, UM, I'M HOPING FOR A RESOLUTION FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY OF THE DIFFERENT VEHICLE PARKING OPTIONS.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ROOM ON THE NEXT AGENDA, BUT SOMETIME IN THE NEXT, THE NEAR HORIZON VEHICLE PARKING OPTIONS IN GENERAL OR ANYWHERE IN GENERAL.

NOT SPECIFIC TO PARKS OR ANYTHING, BUT REALLY LOOKING AT SURFACE PARKING LOTS, GARAGES, GREEN PAVERS, NATURAL SURFACES, JUST REALLY ANALYZING AND DETERMINING, DETERMINING IF THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PARKING WHERE ONE MIGHT BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY THAN IN THE OTHER.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S COME UP A LOT OVER THE LAST, UM, EVEN JUST NINE MONTHS OR SO THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION.

SO, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT AND THEN ALSO REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE LIFECYCLE ASSESSMENTS AS THESE COME FORWARD.

DOES ANYBODY, UH, WANNA JUMP ON BOARD THAT, I'LL JUMP ON THAT PARKING LOT BOARD.

UM, OKAY.

UH, SO KATIE OR ELIZABETH, YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT KIND OF THAT TOPIC, UH, KATIE, CO ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER? I'M JUST CURIOUS, SO Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANY STAFF SUPPORT OR GUIDANCE ON OUR EXISTING KNOWLEDGE AND WORK IN THAT REALM? UH, I, I THINK WE WOULD LOVE ANY EXISTING KNOWLEDGE AND WORK IN THAT REALM BEFORE WE PULL THIS, UH, FORWARD TO THE COMMITTEE.

SO, UM, SURE.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

I, IT MIGHT HELP ACTUALLY TO MAYBE POST IT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM AND THEN KIND OF HASH OUT WHAT KIND OF GUIDANCE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND THAT MAYBE WOULD GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECTION ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO Y'ALL TOO? MM-HMM.

DOES THAT SOUND, DOES THAT SOUND GOOD? UH, COMMISSIONER VER I'M GREAT WITH THAT.

OKAY, COOL.

UM, ALRIGHT.

ANYTHING, ANYTHING ELSE? ANYONE? I MEAN, HEY, AS LONG AS WE'RE DREAMING BIG, I'VE, UH, I'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN KICKING AROUND.

SO I REMEMBER WHEN CITY COUNCIL WAS TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW, I 35 THING.

AND ONE THING THAT THEY MENTIONED WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THEY MENTIONED IT MAYBE THROUGH ANOTHER PRESENTATION TOO, WAS LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, MOVING TRUCKS ONTO ONE 30.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK ESPECIALLY AS I 35 BECOMES UNDER CONSTRUCTION, UM, I THINK THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED ON THE NORTH PART.

UM, SOUTH SIDE IS JUST LIKE A COMPLETE HELLSCAPE.

UH, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DOWNTOWN PORTION IS GONNA START IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED CLEARING OUT ALL THE LAND.

SO, UM, I THINK IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING LOOKING INTO, UM, ESPECIALLY AS CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON I 35, WHICH MEANS THAT IF WE START PLAYING FOR IT, IT NEEDS TO BE YEARS BEFORE THEY HAVE ACTUALLY START CONSTRUCTION.

SO WAS TOSSING THAT ONE INTO THE RING AND, AND THAT IS THE, THE CONCEPT OF MOVING TRUCKS OVER TO ONE 30.

MAYBE HAVING LIKE SOME KIND OF, UH, LIKE REBATE OR INCENTIVE PROGRAM WHERE BASICALLY IF YOU START AT LIKE, YOU KNOW, 45 NORTH AND END AT 45 SOUTH, RIGHT.

THE CITY EITHER PAYS YOU OR GIVES A PERCENTAGE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THE MATH WOULD MATH ON THAT, BUT, UM, I THINK EVEN IF WE JUST LOOK AT A, A PURE EMISSION STANDPOINT OF THESE BIG RIGS GOING THROUGH DOWNTOWN, NEAR ALL THESE BUILDINGS, ALL THESE PEDESTRIANS, RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW, WONDERING IF JSC FIRST MIGHT BE THE BEST PLACE TO DISCUSS BECAUSE IT TOUCHES SO MANY THINGS THAT JSC HAS REPRESENTATION ON.

RIGHT? CERTAINLY OBVIOUSLY IMPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, BUT JUST WONDERING WHICH WOULD BE THE BEST FOR FIRST DISCUSSION ON IT.

I THINK, UH, SCORCHED EARTH IS THE POLICY HERE.

DOES ANYBODY WANT TO, UH, JUMP ON BOARD THAT WITH COMMISSIONER QURESHI HERE AND OR ASK HIM TO GO BACK TO JURY? I'LL SECOND THAT.

SO, SO MAYBE THE TWO OF YOU GUYS WORK OUT WHAT KIND OF THE CONCEPT IS AND THEN WE BRING IT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.

AND THE YEAH, THAT SOUNDS, UH, SOUNDS EXCITING.

NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER, I FORGET WHICH ONE IT WAS.

AND, UH, THE JSC MEETING IS ACTUALLY NEXT WEDNESDAY, SO I CAN BRING IT UP THEN AND, UH, TO BORROW A TERM FROM AN OLD GOVERNOR, UH, ASSEMBLE A COALITION OF THE WILLING .

UM, YES.

UH, OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE? YEAH, I HAVE ONE THING I BROUGHT UP AT A MEETING, UH,

[01:05:02]

UM, WE HAD DISCUSSED IN A PREVIOUS, UM, MEETING, AND I FORGET HOW IT, AND OUT THE IDEA OF, UH, REMOVING PARKING FROM THE, UH, UH, POLO FIELD AND, UM, WANTED TO GET SOME INFORMATION FROM, UH, STAFF ON AN ESTIMATED PRICE ON WHAT IT MIGHT COST TO REMEDIATE THAT AND SEE IF, UH, AND THE REASON I'M ASKING FOR THAT TO BE DONE RELATIVELY SOON IS THAT WE'RE IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS.

AND I KNOW THAT, UH, THE BUDGET WILL BE DISCUSSED AT A MEETING IN AUGUST, BUT AT THAT TIME, UH, THERE'S NOT, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, ABILITY TO ADJUST ANY OF THE BUDGET FIGURES OR MAKE A REQUEST FOR A LINE ITEM TO BE IN, INCLUDED INTO THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET FOR A SPECIFIC ITEM, YOU KNOW, A SPECIFIC ACTIVITY.

UH, SO IT WOULD BE NICE TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF, UH, MONEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE NOW SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT AND PERHAPS MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, UH, TO STAFF TO INCLUDE MONEY TO THAT PURPOSE.

S SO THAT'S A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM TO KIND OF DISCUSS THAT OR TO RECEIVE AN ESTIMATE FROM STAFF FOR THE COST TO RESTORE THE POLO FIELDS.

UH, WHICH, WHICH ONE RIGHT DID WELL TO GET INFORMATION FROM STAFF AS TO WHAT IT MIGHT COST.

AND WHEN I SAY AN ESTIMATE, UH, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT AN ESTIMATE WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A CONTRACTOR COME OUT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVE A, UH, YOU KNOW, THING THAT SAYS IT'S GONNA COST THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, FIXED COST, YOU KNOW, BLAH, BLAH BLAH.

IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A RULE OF THUMB TYPE OF THING? MM-HMM, SO WE CAN WORK WITH IT.

YOU KNOW, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT $500,000? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT 25 MILLION TYPE OF THING? UH, THAT, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

AND I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER FOGGY 2023 THINGS THAT HAPPENED.

UH, 'CAUSE IT DOES FEEL LIKE A LONG TIME AGO, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T, UM, Y'ALL PASSED A RECOMMENDATION THAT SAID THAT YOU WANTED FUNDING FOR REMEDIATION FOR THE POLO FIELDS TO BE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

RIGHT.

SO FURTHERMORE, PREPARE TO BAN REGULAR PARKING ON SILK OR POLO FIELD AND FY 25 AND ADD ADDITIONAL PARKING ELSEWHERE.

UH, TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT PARKING.

UH OH, AND WHERE IS IT? SORRY, ELIZABETH JUST GAVE THIS TO ME.

ADD MONEY TO THE BUDGET FOR PLANTING NATIVE GRASSES WHERE APPROPRIATE UNEXPOSED PARKLAND FOR STORMWATER DIVERSION.

OTHER STEPS PREVENT TOPSOIL LOSS IN ZILKER PARK AND TO PROTECT BARTON SPRINGS.

SO I GUESS THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT Y'ALL GET INTO IN TERMS OF BUDGETING WITH THAT INTENT ALREADY SET, AND WE CAN REMIND OUR PART PARTNERS, UH, THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL RECOMMENDED LAST YEAR.

UM, I'M, I'M WORRIED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LIKE THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN GUIDANCE FROM Y'ALL VERSUS ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS ON BUDGETING.

AND I, I DON'T WANT IT TO FEEL DISCONNECTED OR LIKE IT'S A BLACK BOX, BUT I, I'M GONNA JUMP, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE IN HERE? YEAH.

I'M GONNA SAY, THIS IS A PRETTY STEEP HILL, OR THIS IS KIND OF LIKE NOT VERY STEEP, IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING.

AND I TOTALLY, UM, HERE AND SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING, UM, ON THAT.

AND WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND SINCE WE ALREADY PASSED THE RECOMMENDATION IS THEN IT, IT LEAVES IT UP TO US AS INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR TO REMIND THEM OF SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE PASSED THIS AND WE FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I SEE THAT IS NOW WE'VE ALREADY PASSED SOMETHING.

UM, NOW WE'RE, WE'RE ASKING THE CITY AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL TO DO SOMETHING, UM, AND, AND REMIND THEM THAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO PUT THAT INTO THE BUDGET.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? COMMISSIONER BRIER? UH, SORT OF, UH, UH, OKAY.

WHAT, LET ME BACK UP.

YES, THAT MAKES TOTAL SENSE.

UM, HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, IS BASED ON YOUR VAST EXPERIENCE DOING THIS SORT OF THING, IS THERE A SWAG YOU CAN GIVE US THAT WOULD TELL US WHAT THAT NUMBER MIGHT BE? I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW STEEP A HILL I'M TRYING TO CLIMB, YOU KNOW, SO WHEN I GO TO A COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND I SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M MAKING THIS ASK AND

[01:10:01]

AND I WANNA BE CAREFUL NOT TO DEEP DIVE INTO DISCUSSION ON AN ITEM WE'RE NOT POSTED FOR.

YEAH, YEAH.

UM, I UNDERSTAND.

I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY MY REQUEST.

YEAH, I THINK IT, AGAIN, DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF RESTORATION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? BUT, UH, YEAH.

YEP.

SO LET'S JUST SAY, UM, THAT IF, IF COMMISSIONER MIER, IF YOU HAVE A SECOND, THEN WE CAN DISCUSS THIS FURTHER.

BUT I THINK WE, I THINK KATIE IS COMMISSIONER.

I MEAN KATIE IS CORRECT.

LIKE WE NEED TO KIND OF, I DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN ANSWER THAT NOW.

WELL, I THINK I SECONDED IT THE LAST TIME AND I'LL DO SO AGAIN, I MEAN, JUST TO GET A BALL BALLPARK FIGURE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

'CAUSE THEN WE COULD ALSO TALK ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE THE INTENDED USE IN THE FUTURE.

IS IT GONNA BE USED FOR POLO? IS IT JUST GONNA BE GRASP USED FOR PICNICS, ET CETERA? I'M FOR PAULA, AND, AND, AND I'M ALL FOR Y'ALL POSTING THAT AS A DISCUSSION.

IT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE AS A A, IF YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE, YOU CAN PUT IT ON AN AGENDA.

I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE STAFF TIME TO DO THAT ESTIMATE.

LIKE ON ANY NEAR TERM TIMELINE, I CAN COMMIT THAT I'LL CONNECT WITH MY PARD COLLEAGUES, UM, AND TOUCH BASE AND REMIND THEM THAT OUR RECOMMENDATION EXISTED.

UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S A COLLABORATION ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

RIGHT, EXACTLY.

I, I GUESS THE POINT WAY I WOULD LOOK AT IT IS THAT WE PASSED THIS RESOLUTION IN LATE 2023 MM-HMM.

AND NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN, IF ANY, TOWARDS GETTING IT INTO FY 25 BUDGET, ANYBODY HAS ANYBODY LOOKED AT IT, WHAT IT WOULD COST, ET CETERA.

SO IT'S THAT, THAT'S WHAT THE WAY I'M THINKING ABOUT IT.

I I WOULD ADD THAT I REMEMBER AT THE TAIL END OF THAT DISCUSSION, WE WERE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT KIND OF IF THEY WERE RESTORING THE POLO FIELDS, HOW LONG THEY WOULD BE RESTORED BEFORE THEY NEEDED TO BE PARKED AGAIN BECAUSE OF YEAH.

THE PARKING THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR THE TREE OR FOR THE KITE FESTIVAL OR, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T, I KNOW WE DON'T WANNA GET INTO IT TOO MUCH, BUT THAT'LL BE PART OF MY QUESTIONS WHEN WE DISCUSS HERE IS, UM, I THINK THAT'S THE, THE LION'S SHARE OF THE RESTORATION CONVERSATION IS WHEN ARE WE NOT GONNA BE PARKING THERE ANYMORE TO WHERE IT, IF WE RESTORE IT, IT CAN ESTABLISH TAKE ROOT AND, AND GO.

UM, SO I THINK THAT'S A, A COMPONENT OF THE QUESTION AS WELL, OR THE DISCUSSION MAYBE.

HOW ABOUT WE FRAME IT THIS WAY? UM, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN SECONDED IT, THE, WHAT I BROUGHT UP.

AND SO IT, WE, IT CAN BE A DISCUSSION ITEM AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE SLOT IN THE CALENDAR THAT WE HAVE.

AND THEN, UH, KATIE, IF YOU WOULD, UH, SPEAK TO YOUR COLLEAGUES IN PART AND SEE AS, UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN, UH, SUGGESTED HAS ANY PROGRESS BEEN MADE? AND THEN YOU CAN TELL US WHATEVER THEY SAY BACK TO YOU.

SURE, THAT SOUNDS FINE WITH ME.

AND IF THEY HAVE A NUMBER AND IT SAYS IT'S $1,000,229, THEN BY GOLLY, WE'VE GOT A NUMBER.

AND IF THEY SAY, NO, WE HAVEN'T STARTED ON IT, THEN WE CAN GO FROM THERE.

, THAT SOUNDS SATISFACTORY.

YEAH, I SEE, I SEE A LOT.

I SEE A LOT OF NODDING.

YES.

UM, OKAY.

WELL I WAS TRACKING ON A RECORD TIME HERE FOR ME AT LEAST, UM, MAYBE NOT FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THIS OPERATION, BUT, UM, I DON'T WANT TO UNDERMINE THAT CHANCE TOO MUCH HERE, BUT, UM, I'LL ASK ONE LAST TIME.

ANYTHING ELSE? I JUST HAVE ONE THING.

, YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE.

I'LL GIVE YOU A SECOND TO THINK OF SOMETHING.

NO, NO.

I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS IF THERE WAS SOMEONE ON STAFF THAT COULD, UM, PROVIDE MORE CLARITY IN, UH, CHARGING STATIONS, I GUESS WITH LIKE, UM, SEEING STUFF ON THE NEWS RECENTLY WITH LIKE THE, THE COLD, LIKE IT WAS LIKE DISABLING THE CHARGING STATIONS IN SOME CASES.

SO I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS IF THERE'S SOMEONE ON STAFF THAT HAS MORE EDUCATION AND BE LIKE, OKAY, IF WE HAVE THIS TYPE, IF WE HAVE CHARGING STATIONS, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT CAN ACCOMMODATE FOR THESE TEMPERATURES OR SOMETHING IN THE DESIGN THAT'S LIKE MAYBE WE, IF IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO START IMPLEMENTING, SINCE WE ALWAYS SAY ADD CHARGING STATIONS.

IF THERE'S A SIMPLE ANSWER WE CAN FORWARD ONTO THE COMMISSION.

YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

IT MIGHT, IT MIGHT BE MAYBE BEST TO JUST HAVE ELIZABETH REACH OUT TO OUR FOLKS AT OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND MAYBE JUST SEE

[01:15:01]

SOUNDS TO ME.

GOOD.