Mar 27, 2024 Parks and Recreation Board

I GREW UP LESS THAN A MILE FROM ONE OF THE GREAT LAKES IN MICHIGAN, AND YET I WASN'T ABLE TO ACCESS THE RIVER BECAUSE ALL THE PROPERTY IS OWNED BY PRIVATE PEOPLE AND THEY DIDN'T SHARE IT.

FORTUNATELY, I HOOKED UP WITH THE BOY SCOUTS AND DID GET ON THE RIVER AND SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME ACCESSING THE RIVER, AND, UM, VERY FORTUNATE FOR THAT.

MY NAME'S JOE KENDALL.

I'M THE DIRECTOR, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE FOUNDER OF THE TACO FOUNDATION DOING BUSINESS AS THE TEXAS RIVER SCHOOL.

AND THE LAST 33 YEARS, WE'VE TAKEN 14,000 KIDS ON THE RIVER IN CANOES, GAVE THEM A SAFE ACCESS TO THE RIVER.

WE HAVE THE STAFF, THE EQUIPMENT, THE PROGRAM, AND WE EVEN HAVE WATERFRONT PROPERTY ON THE COLORADO RIVER THANKS TO TEXAS.

UH, TRAVIS COUNTY.

IT'S NEXT DOOR TO OUR PARK, UH, THE JOHN CHEO, UH, PARK.

AND, UM, WE HAVE BUILT, UH, WITH THE HELP OF TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, ONE OF THE BEST DAMN BOAT RAMPS FROM HERE TO BASTROP.

AND IT'S ON THE BACK OF THAT, UH, JUST GAVE YOU.

AND, UM, WE, UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO INVITE YOU PERSONALLY TO PLEASE COME OUT AND HELP US CELEBRATE THIS PROGRAM.

UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, UM, UH, RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY, AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO INDUCT, UM, UH, UH, TWO GROUPS INTO OUR TEXAS RIVER SCHOOL HALL OF FAME.

ONE IS THE, I LIVE HERE.

I GIVE HERE GROUP, UM, THAT RUN THE AMPLIFY AUSTIN, AND THE OTHER IS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

UH, WE'VE HAD A LONG, UH, UH, A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AND WE WANNA CELEBRATE THAT.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH BEING NEXT DOOR TO THE JOHN VIN PARK.

AND IF, UH, IF YOU GUYS, UH, TAKE ME UP ON THIS OFFER, YOU'LL BE OUT OF THE OFFICE ON A FRIDAY AND ON THE RIVER THROWING, UH, A FAJITA DINNER.

AND YOU'LL BE SUPPORTING THE SAFE ACCESS, PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE RIVER, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE THAT VERY, VERY MUCH THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO JOIN US.

INCLUDES INCLUDING AMPHI THEATER.

ANY QUESTIONS? I'D BE GLAD, SIR.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE AUBREY RUDDER, FOLLOWED BY JOE RIDDLE ELL.

HI EVERYONE, MY NAME IS AUBREY RUDDER.

I AM WITH THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB HERE TO GIVE YOU GUYS OUR MONTHLY UPDATE.

THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HOSTED OUR ANNUAL JUNIOR BERGON FUNDRAISER FOR JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIPS, TRAVEL EXPENSES AND EQUIPMENT.

APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED ATHLETES RODE ALMOST A MILLION METERS, WHICH IS ALMOST TWICE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN AUSTIN AND OKC, WHERE ATHLETES WILL COMPETE IN THE CENTRAL YOUTH REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY.

TOMORROW, WE ARE KICKING OFF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER'S WELLNESS LEARN TO ROW PROGRAM FOR MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY 20.

PARTICIPANTS WILL ATTEND A MONTHLY ROWING CLASS AND THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN A SUMMER WEEKLY ROWING CLASS.

ON APRIL 8TH, WE ARE HOSTING A SOLAR ECLIPSE PADDLE EVENT WHERE GUESTS WILL BE ABLE TO CHECK OUT THE SOLAR ECLIPSE FROM LADY BIRD LAKE.

WE WILL BE HANDING OUT SOLAR CLIPS GLASSES AND WATERPROOF PHONE POUCHES FOR THE EXPERIENCE.

LASTLY, WE ARE GEARING UP FOR OUR LADY BIRD LAKE EARTH DAY CLEANUP, CLEANUP, CLEANUP EVENT ON APRIL 21ST FROM 8:00 AM TO 3:00 PM WE ARE PARTNERING UP WITH KEEP AUSTIN PEOPLE AND UGLY LAKE ORGANIZATIONS TO GET VOLUNTEERS OUT ON KAYAKS, PADDLEBOARDS, AND THE TRAIL TO PICK UP TRACK FROM LABOR LAKE

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AND HI BIKE TRAIL.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR DAY EVENT AND CELEBRATE AUSTIN'S LABOR LAKE AND HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.

THANK Y'ALL.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JOE DEL, JOE RIDDLE.

VID JOE WILL BE JOEL MANZO.

AND MR. RIDDELL, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION, RIGHT? SOME SLIDES? YEAH.

COOL.

GIMME A MOMENT TO PULL THOSE UP.

GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS GENERAL ELL.

I'M HERE SIMPLY AS A CITIZEN.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT CITY PARKLAND ALONG WALNUT CREEK BETWEEN 12TH AND 15TH STREET.

THIS AREA IS NOW CALLED WATERLOO PARK.

IT WAS REDEVELOPED A FEW YEARS AGO BY THE WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY IN RIO IN AUGUST OF 2021.

I'LL BE POINTING OUT SOME MAJOR SHORTCOMINGS OF HOW THE CONSERVANCY IS OPERATING THE PARK, AND I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK INTO THE SITUATION.

I GOT INTO THIS MATTER LAST YEAR WHEN THE ZIPPER PARK VISION PLAN WAS BEING DEBATED.

OUR VISION PLAN WAS TO BUILD A LARGE AMPHITHEATER AT SILK PARK AND THROUGH HIS NONPROFIT IN CHARGE.

SO I THOUGHT I'D TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THINGS WERE GOING WITH THE BOOTY AND THE THEATER AND WATERLOO PARK AND THE WATERLOO GREEN BANK.

I GOT ONLINE AND FOUND A SERIES OF THREE-WAY AGREEMENTS INVOLVING THE CITY, THE CONSERVANCY, AND THE WATER CREEK LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION.

BASIC AGREEMENT WAS THE DENIED THE 2014 JOINT DEVELOPMENTAL AGREEMENT.

AND UNDER THAT AGREEMENT, THE CONSERVANCY WAS EVENTUALLY PUT IN CHARGE OF CONSTRUCTING WATERLOO PARK AND THE CONSERVANCY IS NOW IN CHARGE OF OPERATING AND MAINTAINING IT.

THIS IS MY SECOND SLIDE HERE.

THIS SLIDE LISTS SOME THINGS THAT CONSERVANCY IS REQUIRED TO WORK ON WITH THE CITY UNDER THE AGREEMENT AND INCLUDES SUCH MATTERS AS FEES FOR RENTAL SPACES, FEES FOR CONCESSIONS, FREE USE BY THE CITY FOR PUBLIC FUNCTIONS AND CITY SPONSOR EVENTS, AND FREE OR RELEASE RATES FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR NONPROFITS BASED AND PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS.

LAST SUMMER.

IN RESPONSE, THERE WAS NOTHING SHOWING THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS THAT HAD BEEN MET THE CONSERVANCY HAD IGNORED.

LAST MONTH, I MADE FURTHER PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS TO SEE WHETHER THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND THEY HADN'T BEEN.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT CONSERVANCY HAS NOT WORKED WITH THE CITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THESE MANNERS.

IT'S NOT JUST THESE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT THE CONSERVANCY AS HAS IGNORED AS MANAGING PARTNER FOR CONSTRUCTION WATER PARK.

THE CONSERVANCY WAS RE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE THE CITY A FINAL PROJECT REPORT ON THE COST OF IT CONSTRUCTION.

THIS WAS BUDGETED AS A $60 MILLION PROJECT, BUT THE CONSERVANCY BLEW OFF.

ITS BEING INTO ACCOUNT CONSERVANCY'S.

CEO PROVIDED ME THE FOLLOWING EXPLANATION.

THIS REPORT WAS NEVER COMPLETED BY THE CONSERVANCY, NOR WAS IT REQUESTED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

SO NO SUCH REPORT EXISTS.

THESE EVENTS REFLECT FAILURES ON MORE THAN THE CONSERVANCY.

THEY DEMONSTRATE THE FAILURES OF THE CITY STAFF AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION TO OVERSEE COMPLIANCE WITH THE AGREEMENTS.

I HOPE THE PARKS BOARD HAS A COMMITTEE THAT WILL LOOK FURTHER INTO THESE MATTERS AND START PROVIDING SOME BADLY NEEDED CITIZEN OWNER SIDE.

AND I'M BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU IN ANY, ANY WAY.

OUR NEXT PICK WILL BE JOEL MANZO, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN HOOD.

MY NAME IS JOEL MANSO, DISTRICT SEVEN.

UH, I'M A BASEBALL ADVOCATE FOR ADULTS AND THE YOUTH.

I'M GONNA READ OFF A COUPLE DOCUMENTS, UM, FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THIS IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN SOUTH AUSTIN, OPTIMISTIC GARRISON, A ISD, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THE PARTIES AGREE TO MEET ANNUALLY ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 15TH TO CONFIRM A CALENDAR OF THE DISTRICT SCHEDULE OF USE OF FACILITIES FOR THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR'S EXCLUSIVE USE PERIOD.

IN THE EVENT, THERE IS NO SCHEDULED USE OF THE FACILITY BY THE DISTRICT ON A PARTICULAR DATE OR DATES.

DURING THE EXCLUSIVE USE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER THROUGH JANUARY, DURING THE TIME OF THE DISTRICT IS PERFORMING INFIELD AND CHAIR PREPARATION WORK, THE DISTRICT CONSENTS

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IN WRITING IN ADVANCE.

THE CITY MAY SCHEDULE THE USE OF FACILITIES BY THIRD PARTY ON SUCH A FEW DATES OF NON-USE BY THE DISTRICT.

THIS IS A DOCUMENT FROM 2008.

I'M JUST GONNA READ A SHORT PARAGRAPH.

AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY ENTERS INTO AGREEMENTS WITH ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE YOUTH, SUCH AS , WHEREBY THE YOUTH ASSOCIATION AGREES TO MAINTAIN, IN SOME CASES, IMPROVE THE FIELDS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE USE OF FIELDS ON CERTAIN DAYS AND TIMES FOR THE YOUTH ACTIVITIES WITHOUT PAYING A RESERVATION FEE.

WHEN THE FIELD IS NOT PRESERVED FOR USE OF MAINTENANCE BY THE ORGANIZATION, IT IS OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR THE USE BY THE PUBLIC.

VERY LITTLE ACCESS IS ALLOWED TO OUR PUBLIC.

UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE AUSTIN CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT.

THEY'VE GIVEN US A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY 20 DAYS IN A THREE MONTH PERIOD AT GARRISON.

WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE FOR THAT TIME, BUT I'M SEEKING TO GET ON THE AGENDA MORE AFFORDABLE, UM, TO FREE ACCESS FOR BASEBALL FACILITIES.

THERE ARE OPEN SWIMMING POOLS, THERE ARE OPEN REC CENTERS, THERE ARE OPEN BASKETBALL COURTS THAT HAVE VERY, UH, UM, DANGEROUS IMPLICATIONS, JUST LIKE BASEBALL, JUST LIKE BEER LEAGUE, SOFTBALL, CRAIG FIELDS, JUST LIKE PICKLEBALL AT ALL, THE FACILITIES AROUND AUSTIN, I'M ADVOCATING FOR BASEBALL IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE GAMES IN THE WORLD.

IT IS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR ADULTS WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.

UM, SANDLOT COMMUNITIES GROWING DRASTICALLY WITH 16 TEAMS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THAT'S NOT INCLUDING ADULT TEAMS WOULD PROBABLY COUNT UP TO 15 TEAMS. SO I'M ADVOCATING PARKS AND RECS BOARD TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA TO ADVOCATE AND GET US MORE ACCESS TO BASEBALL FIELDS.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE BRIAN HOOD.

THIS IS BRIAN.

BRIAN HOOD HERE.

HE IS NOT HERE.

UH, CAN YOU GIVE THOSE HOURS TO ROBERT BLUESTEIN IF HE IS NOT THOSE MINUTES TO ROBERT BLUESTEIN.

IF HE'S NOT ON THE, WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT ALLOWING A, A DONATION OF MINUTES.

I APPRECIATE YOU.

UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JASON WILLIAMS. IS JASON WILLIAMS HERE AFTER JASON.

I'M GONNA TRY TO GET OUR, UH, REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTER, UH, JUSTIN BRAVER.

I SEE THAT YOU'RE DIALED IN.

UH, AFTER THIS NEXT SPEAKER, I'M GONNA MAKE YOU A PANELIST AND THEN WE'LL JUST HAVE TO UNMUTE BY HITTING STAR SIX, AND THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK.

BUT RIGHT NOW, OUR SPEAKER IS, UH, JASON WILLIAMS. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

UM, I'M, I'M HERE ON THE BEHALF OF, UM, EASIER ACCESS TO BASEBALL FIELDS AS WELL.

I WEAR QUITE A FEW HATS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

UM, I'M A BOARD MEMBER AT NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE.

THEY HIRED ME, UH, TO MAINTAIN THEIR FIELDS AND FACILITIES.

I'M A BOARD MEMBER AT NORTHWEST PONY WHERE I VOLUNTEER TO TAKE CARE OF THE FIELDS.

I HAVE VOLUNTEERED AT GO VALLEY TO REBUILD SOME OF THAT FACILITY.

I'VE BEEN PAID TO WORK AT PARQUE OSA AND I'VE BEEN PAID TO WORK AT SOUTH AUSTIN.

SO I'M STARTING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT FIELDS, DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, AND I'LL USE NORTHWEST DISTRICT PARK 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY CLOSE TO MY HOUSE, IS THAT WE CAN GO PLAY PICKLEBALL THERE.

WE CAN GO PLAY TENNIS THERE.

I'VE RENTED PICNIC TABLES FOR MY KIDS' BIRTHDAY PARTIES IN THE PAST.

UM, YOU CAN GO SWIMMING THERE, YOU CAN HAVE A PICNIC THERE.

AND, BUT YOU CANNOT GO TO THAT BASEBALL FIELD TO PLAY BASEBALL.

THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO EASY AVENUE FOR IT.

AND SO, BEING ON THE SIDE THAT I'M ON A PERSON THAT VOLUNTEERS AND GETS PAID TO BE AT THOSE FIELDS, OFTENTIMES PEOPLE ARE JUMPING THE FENCES TO GET ONTO THOSE FIELDS.

AND THEN THAT PUTS THE VOLUNTEERS WHO RUN THOSE ORGANIZATIONS IN A WEIRD POSITION, DO I KICK THEM OFF? HOW DO I KICK THEM OFF? DO I CALL THE POLICE? UM, AND SO OVERALL, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I I, I'M INVOLVED IN IT IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S JUST THIS REALITY THAT LIKE IF YOU WANT TO GO PLAY BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL, YOU HAVE TO PAY TO BE A MEMBER OF A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION TO GET ACCESS.

UM, SO YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, HEY, LET'S GO PLAY BASEBALL.

AND SO I THINK I UNDERSTAND FROM JOELLE THAT THE NEXT STEP IS TO ASK YOU TO MAKE AN AGENDA ITEM SO IT GETS MORE ATTENTION.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE AGAIN THROUGH THAT.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

MR. GRABBER, CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU, UH, CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING? I CAN, AM I WITH Y'ALL HERE? YEAH.

COOL.

[00:15:10]

UH, THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.

UH, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.

PLEASURE TO BE WITH Y'ALL.

MY NAME IS JUSTIN GRAVER, UH, ALSO SPEAKING THIS EVENING IN REGARDS TO ACCESS TO PUBLIC BASEBALL FIELDS FOR ADULT RECREATIONAL LEAGUES HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, GARRISON PARK, UM, THE SOUTH AUSTIN LITTLE LEAGUE PARK, PRESTON FIELD, AND THESE KINDS OF PROPERTIES THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND, AND OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE KIND OF INVOLVED, UM, SOUTH AUSTIN OPTIMIST AND THE BOARD OF SOUTH AUSTIN, LITTLE LEAGUE, ET CETERA, UM, WHO'VE BEEN VERY, UM, KIND AND APPROACHABLE WITH REGARD TO THE INTEREST OF HAVING ADULT TEAMS, UH, THROUGH THE, THE SANDLOT LEAGUE AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS PLAY ON THESE FIELDS.

UM, BUT THE, UH, THE SCHEDULING AND THE, THE ACCESS HAS, HAS YET TO COME TO FRUITION.

SO JUST EXPRESSING A REINFORCEMENT OF INTEREST AND INTENTION TO CONTRIBUTE TO THESE PARKS AND PROPERTIES THROUGH, UH, TEAM VOLUNTEER DAYS, LABORERS, BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS, UM, MAINTAINING PROPER USAGE OF, UM, BEVERAGES.

UM, YOU KNOW, RE YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S NO ALCOHOL USE ON THE PROPERTY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SOME OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED TO ME WHEN VOICING AN INTEREST IN, IN UTILIZING THESE, THESE PARKS, IN THESE FIELDS, UM, NORTHWEST PARK AS WELL, TO AN EXTENT, YOU KNOW, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY THERE AND IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

UM, SO JUST, JUST CALLING TO EXPRESS, UM, MORE SUPPORT FOR, FOR LEAGUES LIKE THE, UH, THE AUSTIN SANDLOT LEAGUE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF MECHANISM FOR, FOR SCHEDULING, UM, MUCH LIKE VALIER PARK.

UH, THAT'S BEEN A GREAT ANCHOR FOR US AND HAS BEEN A, A HUGE BOON FOR THE, THE SAND LAT LEAGUE.

UM, SO JUST EXPRESSING A DESIRE TO HAVE SIMILAR SCHEDULING MECHANISM, UH, AND FOR THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE EXPLICITLY OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CITY IS JUST A, A CHANNEL FOR, FOR PARTNERSHIPS TO USE THE FIELD THAT DO NOT CONFLICT WITH THE EXISTING YOUTH GAMES AT THOSE PARKS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT'S GONNA BE THE PRIORITY AND, AND SHOULD ALWAYS TAKE, TAKE PRECEDENCE IS THE, UM, THE YOUTH ACTIVITY ON, ON ALL OF THESE FIELDS.

BUT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF TIME THAT'S LEFT VACANT WHERE THE FIELDS ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE AND, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL IS OUT OR OTHER LEAGUES ARE NOT CURRENTLY, UM, YOUTH LEAGUES ARE NOT USING THE FIELD.

SO JUST, UH, EXPRESSING INTEREST AND, AND WANTING TO CONTRIBUTE AS WELL TO A LOT OF THE, THE MAINTENANCE, THE UPKEEP AND IMPROVEMENTS, UM, THROUGH, THROUGH SOME OF THESE LEAGUES.

I, UH, I'M A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN GRACKLES, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT, UH, IS PART OF THIS AUSTIN SAND SANDLOT LEAGUE.

UM, SO THE PARKS THAT I'VE MENTIONED AND SIMILAR PROPERTIES, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE GREAT TO CONTRIBUTE.

AND, UH, THANK SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. GRABBER.

YOU BET.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE HORATIO GARCIA.

AFTER MR. GARCIA WILL BE ROB BLUESTEIN, BOARD MEMBER.

TAYLOR, IF YOU COULD DO ME A FAVOR WHILE OUR NEXT SPEAKER COMES, IF YOU COULD SEARCH YOUR BC INBOX FOR THE QUORUM CALL EMAIL, AND JUST RESPOND TO ME WITH THE PHRASE, UH, HIT REPLY ON THE EMAIL WITH THE PHRASE, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M ATTENDING VIRTUALLY AND I DON'T HAVE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

SPEAKER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THIS ACCESS, HAVING THESE FIELDS HAS GREATLY IMPROVED.

BOARD.

UH, MY NAME'S GARCIA.

UH, I'M ALSO HERE TO, UH, TALK ABOUT THE, UH, WITH SOME OF MY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE MENTIONED ABOUT, UH, BASEBALL, HAVING ACCESS TO BASEBALL PARTS ACROSS THE CITY.

UH, WE'VE, UH, ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE'VE HAD, HAVING ACCESS TO ALL THESE BASEBALL PARTS HAVE BEEN, UH, BASICALLY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR, FOR ALL OF US, UH, BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY.

WE'VE HAD GAMES THAT NOT ONLY, UH, WHERE WE PLAY AGAINST OTHER AUSTIN TEAMS, BUT WE'VE HAD GREAT, UH, BUILDING ACTIVITIES WITH TEAMS FROM SAN ANTONIO, TEAMS FROM HOUSTON, TEAMS FROM DALLAS.

SO, UH, TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT MY, SOME OF MY OTHER COWORKER COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, UH, HAVING

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UH, BASICALLY THE, THE AUSTIN HAS BENEFITED THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY VERY GREATLY.

UM, ALONG WITH THE SAME TALKING POINTS FROM THE, UH, PREVIOUS GUYS, WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN THE AGENDA, THE, UH, MODERNIZATION OF SOME OF THESE, UH, PARTS, SOME OF THESE FIELDS TO WHERE THEY'RE SAFER FOR, UH, EVERYBODY, ATTENDINGS SAFER FOR THE PLAYERS, AND, UM, BEING ABLE TO SCHEDULING A LOT IN EASIER, UH, FASHIONS.

AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE KINDA ASKING FOR, IS BEING ABLE TO, UH, MAKE THIS A MORE ENJOY, ENJOYABLE PROCESS.

AND I THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ROB BLUESTEIN.

HECTOR ROB WILL BE SHARON BLYTHE.

HELLO AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

UM, I'M ROBERT BLUESTEIN, AND, UM, IN 1992, I FIRST JOINED, SPENT 33, UH, 33RD SEASON PLAYING MEN'S BASEBALL.

AND AS YOU CAN TELL, THERE'S A GREAT EMPHASIS ON GETTING FIELDS FOR, FOR, FOR NOT ONLY US, BUT ALSO TO OPEN IT UP TO MORE TEAMS. UM, THERE WERE 500,000 PEOPLE IN 1992 WHEN WE STARTED GOING IN.

NOW THERE'S 2.2 MILLION AND WE'RE GROWING, BUT THE NUMBER OF FIELDS AND FACILITIES HAVEN'T GROWN.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO CRAM, UH, UH, I THINK I PUT THE NUMBERS TOGETHER.

UH, ALMOST 250 GAMES IN 16 AVAILABLE WEEKS.

AND THAT'S A LOT OF, THAT'S A LOT OF, UH, UH, USE THAT WE CAN'T REALLY GROW.

THE OTHER LEAGUES CAN'T GROW EITHER ANYMORE THAN THEY HAVE.

SO WE'RE ASKING, UH, FOR YOU GUYS AND TO BE OUR ADVOCATES FOR US, UH, TO OPEN UP, UH, NORTHWEST MENDOZA, GARRISON DELWOOD, GUERRERO OSA, JT THORPE, AS WELL AS, UH, VALIER.

'CAUSE IT'S PRONOUNCED.

UM, UH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT TILL I HEARD IT.

UM, AND TO OPEN, OPEN US UP, OPEN IT UP FOR US TO PLAY.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, I'M 60 YEARS OLD.

IT'S HARD FOR ME.

I CAN'T EVEN FATHOM.

I LOOK IN THE MIRROR, I'M LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT GUY'S 60.

BUT I STILL PLAY LIKE I'M, UH, 20.

I'M JUST NOT THAT, NOT NOT AS GOOD AS I WAS WHEN I WAS 20, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT THE, THE, THE, WHAT IT'S MEANT TO ME TO BE ABLE TO PLAY BASEBALL HAS IT'S LIFESAVING.

I MEAN, THAT IN A LOT OF WAYS IS, UH, UH, THERE'S OTHER GUYS OF MY AGE THAT HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

UH, IT'S GREAT TO BE AROUND THE GUYS.

I, I'VE, WE BUILD BONDS AND FRIENDSHIPS AND WE ALSO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY.

I CAN ALSO SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT IN ALL THE YEARS I PLAYED WITH CTBL, JOEL AND ELI MANZO BACK THERE, HAVE NEVER LEFT A FIELD IN WORSE SHAPE THAN WE FOUND IT.

THEY ARE RELENTLESS.

AND IT IS NOT JUST IN BASEBALL SEASON.

THEY START IN JANUARY AND IT'S THEIR, UH, IT, IT IS THEIR SELF, UH, STARTING AND MOTIVATION TO KEEP THE FIELDS UP FOR EVERYBODY AND KEEP THEM SAFE.

THAT IT, THAT BRINGS ME HERE TONIGHT AS, UH, AS, AS AN ADVOCATE MYSELF FOR, FOR MEN'S BASEBALL.

UM, UH, IN CLOSING, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, I'D JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE NUMBER OF US THAT ARE SPEAKING ON THIS SUBJECT SHOULD, SHOULD REVEAL ITS IMPORTANCE TO US.

UM, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN, AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO PLAYING ANOTHER 33 SEASONS.

IF I'M STILL OUT THERE WHEN I'M 93, CALL A PSYCHIATRIST AND HAVE ME TAKE ME OFF THE FIELD.

BUT I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OR WHOEVER TO GIVE US SOME MITIGATION MONEY FOR THE USE OF OUR PARK.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

OUR NEXT AND LAST SPEAKER WILL BE SHARON BLY.

I AM SHARON BLYTHE.

UM, I WAS HERE LAST MONTH.

AIN'T GONNA SPEAK BECAUSE SO MANY BASEBALL FOLKS WERE SPEAKING.

SO I'M BEGGING Y'ALL TO GET THAT SETTLED BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN UP ALL YOUR TIME, MY TIME TO COME DOWN HERE AND LISTEN TO THE BASEBALL PEOPLE, GIVE 'EM THE FEELS, WHATEVER THEY WANT.

DON'T PROBLEM PLAY BALL.

UH, SECONDLY, UM, LAST MONTH WE VOTED TO USE THE TRIANGLE PARK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AT OLA PASSES TRAIL IN SPECIAL SPRINGS ROAD FOR STAGING AREA FOR, UH, FOR THE PASSES DAM PROJECT.

UH, WE OBJECTED TO THAT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA GO THROUGH.

SO MY NEIGHBORS AND I TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE FEEL LIKE IT IS FAIR TO

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AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY, BECAUSE OUR OTHER PARKS IN THE AREA, LIKE MOUNTAIN VIEW AND ARE FALLING DOWN AND THEY NEED SOME MONEY.

SO IT'S ONLY FAIR TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE GET SOME MONEY FOR OUR PARKS SO THAT, UM, WE CAN AT LEAST HAVE SOMETHING OUT THERE.

UM, WE WENT THROUGH, THEY, THEY USED THAT SAME AREA, THAT SAME PARK FOR THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT TUNNEL.

THIS IS OUR SECOND TIME AROUND FOR THE USE OF OUR PARK FOR, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

AND IT GETS ALL TORN UP.

IT NEVER IS, RIGHT? SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THAT AND MAKE A MOTION OF WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO.

GET US A LITTLE BIT OF MINI MITIGATION MONEY FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND THEY SIGN AN MOU DOWN WAY.

THAT MONEY'S GOING WAY DOWN THE ROAD, DOWN AWAY FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO I THINK ANOTHER MOU TO GIVE US SOME MONEY FOR OUR, FOR USE OF OUR PARK.

AND IT, IT IS WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CITY'S GIVEN THE HOMELESS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THEY SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING FOR US TOO.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.

'CAUSE I KNOW I TOOK, I, I HAD A HARD TIME GETTING OUT HERE AND ALL THIS TRAFFIC, THE RAIN AND EVERYTHING.

SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL, IF YOU JUST PLEASE THINK ABOUT THAT AND, UM, HAVE US OUT A LITTLE BIT.

SHARING THAT IS THE END OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

UH, WE'RE NOW GONNA MOVE ON TO A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARTIALLY RECORD MEETINGS ON FEBRUARY 26TH.

EVERYONE HAS A COPY OF THOSE.

IT'S ALSO POSTED IN THE CITY AGENDA FOR THOSE ARE ONLINE.

SO I'LL GIVE EVERYONE MINUTE, A FEW MINUTES TO LOOK OVER THAT.

DID ANYONE SEE ANYTHING ON THE MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY THE 26TH? ANY AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES OR SUGGESTIONS? ALRIGHT, UH, SEEING NONE, I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES, UH, FROM PRESS RECREATION BOARD FOR FEBRUARY 26TH, 2024.

UM, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION? SO MOVED.

THERE'S A, A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBER, VICE CHAIR FLOWERS.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME? ALL TAKE A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

UM, ALL THOSE AGAINST, ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.

8 0 1 MOTION PASSES.

I DO THINK THAT, UH, WELL LAST YEAR I THINK, UH, WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL YEAR.

UM, AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO, UH, MOVE ON WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION.

UM, I WANTED THIS TO BE THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM, JUST SO WE CAN GET IT OUT OF THE WAY ISN'T DUE.

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE STRANGE ONE.

UH, PROCEDURALLY, UM, IS AGENDA

[6. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Board.]

ITEM NUMBER SIX.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE CAN MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX.

ALRIGHT, WE'RE MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX.

UH, MR. BECK, IS THERE ANY SPEAKERS ON AGENDA ITEM SIX? NO CHAIR.

ALRIGHT, UH, CONDUCT, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX, UM, PER, UH, OUR BOARD LIAISON, MR. BECK'S EMAIL, UM, WE SHOULD GET DISCUSSION OUT OF THE WAY FIRST AND THEN, UH, DO MOTIONS.

'CAUSE ONCE MOTIONS START, UH, THERE'S NO GOING BACK.

UH, WE CAN'T REOPEN, UH, DISCUSSION AGAIN.

SO WE'RE GONNA OPEN DISCUSSION.

UM, I WILL, I'LL JUST GO FIRST, UH, JUST TO GET THE BALL ROLLING.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THROW MY NAME IN THE HAT TO BE CHAIR OF THE PRICE AND RECREATION BOARD AGAIN.

UM, PARTLY BE, UH, THE MAIN REASON THAT I WANNA DO THIS IS BECAUSE

[00:30:01]

I THINK OVERALL, UM, I DIDN'T GET TO DO, UH, A LOT OF STUFF THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GET DONE.

UM, THERE WAS A LITTLE, A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT, UH, GOT EVERYONE'S ATTENTION THROUGHOUT ALL OF LAST YEAR.

UM, SO MY GOAL IS TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THE STUFF SPECIFICALLY FOR MY DISTRICT, UM, AND FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, IN ORDER TO HAVE A VERY PRODUCTIVE YEAR THIS YEAR.

THAT'S MY HOPE.

UM, AND I HOPE THAT, UH, WITH Y'ALL SUPPORT I'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

UM, I THINK I'VE SHOWN MY HOPE TO BE COLLABORATIVE AND, UM, EVEN WHEN WE DON'T DISAGREE, UM, I MAY GET A VERY BOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHAT THEY NEED TO SAY AND THAT, UH, WE, WE DON'T SHUT OUT ANYBODY.

UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I WILL, UH, I'LL END, I'LL END IT WITH THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT OR ANYTHING.

FRANK, I'LL MAKE A STATEMENT.

UM, I JUST WANNA SUPPORT CHAIR VILLALOBOS.

I THINK HE'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HIS EFFORT TOWARDS THIS BOARD, ALL OF OUR INITIATIVES.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

LIKE TO MAKE ANY STATEMENT FOR VICE CHAIR.

I CAN MAKE A STATEMENT.

SO I'M HAPPY TO SERVE THE BOARD AGAIN AS VICE CHAIR FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

UM, I INTEND THIS BOARD CHAIR VILLALOBOS LOGO'S MISSION IF HE'S SO ELECTED.

AGAIN, AS I DID, UM, DIDN'T HAVE TO SET IN MUCH FOR HIM, UM, BECAUSE HE'S VERY CONSISTENT AND ALWAYS DOING A GREAT JOB.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO HELP, UH, AS I HAVE BEEN.

AND, UH, I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, A NICE, UH, WAY TO INTERVIEW THE BOARD.

AND I HOPE THAT THOSE THERE WERE INVOLVED.

THE BUDGET COMMITTEE FELT THAT I WAS GOOD AT MOVING THINGS ALONG AND MAKING SURE THAT WE, WE AGREED AND HAVE CONSENSUS AND REALLY HAD THAT VIEWPOINT OF HEARING ALL SIDES AND MAKING SURE WE CAME TO A GOOD, GOOD RESULT FOR THE BOARD.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'D SAY.

ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE ANY OTHER STATEMENTS? OKAY.

AT THIS TIME, UM, I'LL ENTERTAIN MOTIONS.

UM, SURE.

I'LL PUT FORWARD A MOTION TO, UH, ELECT FOR CHAIR WOULD BE ON THE BUS THERE.

THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR ELECT MEANS AS CHAIR OF PARK AND RECREATION BOARD.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

I'LL SECOND.

SECOND.

UM, ALL THOSE, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? UH, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE ABSTAINING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

MOTION CARRIES.

8 0 1.

UM, IS THERE ANY OTHER, UM, MOTION AT THIS TIME? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, TO, UM, ELECT, UH, VICE CHAIR BLAUER.

THAT'S VICE CHAIR FOR THIS UPCOMING, UH, YEAR.

UM, IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

THERE'S A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN.

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

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE ABSTAINING PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL.

SO 8 0 1 MOTION, CARRIE.

ALRIGHT, WE'RE NOW GONNA MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

UM, WAIT, SORRY.

[2. Report of recommendations by the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Working Group. (Sponsors: Flowers, Orme, Merritt, Becker, Franklin).]

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.

UH, THE REPORT FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25.

BUDGET WORKING GROUP.

OKAY, GREAT.

THIS IS, SORRY, JUST, YEAH.

WORKING GROUP, WE CAME BACK TO WHAT OUR ORIGINAL PURPOSE WAS, WAS HOW CAN WE DO THE BEST WE CAN TO SUPPORT WHATEVER IT IS THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT MAY NEED WELL, AND ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM CITIZENS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE THOSE THINGS.

UM, SO IN CASE ANYONE WASN'T UP TO SPEED, THERE'S TWO SEPARATE ITEMS HERE.

SO I HAVE TO GIVE THE REPORT OUT VERSUS THE RECOMMENDATION.

SO WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING YET THE RECOMMENDATION ITSELF AS AN ITEM TO BE APPROVED FOR ACTION.

SO JUST TO CLARIFY FOR EVERYONE.

UM, SO IN TERMS OF THE REPORT OUT FROM THE GROUP, UH, WE MET AGAIN AS A GROUP AND DID QUITE A BIT OF WORK IN BETWEEN, UH, TO PUT FORWARD THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE WILL CONSIDER IN A LITTLE BIT HERE.

UH, I DID HOPEFULLY THE MINUTES, UH, FOLKS CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE MINUTES, BUT, UH, BASICALLY AT THE LAST MEETING WE HEARD FROM SUZANNE PIPER, UH, WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF, UH, WHAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FELT IN THESE WERE.

I ALSO, UH, LIAISED EXTENSIVELY WITH DIRECTOR MCNEELY TO GET A SENSE FROM HER AND WAS ABLE TO SHARE DOCUMENTATION THAT SHE SENT, UM, BASED ON THEIR CURRENT SITUATION AND OTHER, OTHER ITEMS WE HAD HEARD FROM CITIZENS.

'CAUSE WE DID, AS ALL KNOW, WE HEARD QUITE A LOT FROM THE ABOUT NEEDS THAT PEOPLE FELT THEY SAW AND FUNDS WHERE, WHERE THEY FELT THEY WOULD BE MOST USEFUL AS WELL AS FROM BOARD MEMBERS.

AND SO WE DID FOLLOW UP ON ALL THOSE AND WE RECEIVED, UM, QUITE A LOT OF INFORMATION.

SO IF ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS DO WANT MORE INFORMATION, IF THEY HAVEN'T SEEN SOME OF THAT, I'M HAPPY TO SEND WHAT WAS SHARED WITH THE WORKING GROUP, UM, FROM DIRECTOR MCNEELY AND OTHERS OUT, UM, ON DIFFERENT ITEMS. WE ALL KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF NEED, IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.

UM, IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE PHYSICAL SITUATION I THINK IN THE CITY THIS YEAR IS TIGHTER THAN IT IS IN SOME OTHER YEARS.

AND THAT'S JUST A REALITY THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PARKS OR WHAT PARKS WOULD LIKE TO DO.

UM, SO AS A BOARD, WE CAME BACK OR AS A BOARD

[00:35:01]

WE WILL, BUT THEN ALSO BE REALISTIC TO WHATEVER THE CURRENT SITUATION WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE CITY IS, RIGHT.

AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHER BOARDS TO GET TO HAVE THE MOST IMPACT.

RIGHT? SO WE DID THAT AS WELL.

WE DID TALK TO UTC AS WELL AS JOINT SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRON ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ABOUT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ITEMS. AND ULTIMATELY AS A WORKING GROUP, WE DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE MADE A RECOMMENDATION AND EVEN WITH MY OWN, THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT, WE COULD HAVE MADE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS PAGES AND PAGES LONG OF THE NEEDS AND THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN THERE.

BUT WE CHOSE AS A GROUP THAT WE FELT THAT WOULD BE BETTER TO FOCUS ON A FEW SELECT THINGS TO RECOMMEND FORWARD AS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

SO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT, UH, IS POSTED IN BACKUP AND THE ONE THAT WE'LL DISCUSS FOR APPROVAL HAS TWO PRIMARY AREAS.

ONE OF THEM IS RELATED TO SORT OF, UH, UH, CLIMATE RESILIENT FUTURE.

AND THOSE ITEMS ARE IN THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION ALREADY.

AND WE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ABOUT 'EM.

AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM, UH, THE ITEMS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED THERE AROUND RECREATION CENTERS, UH, AND THE NEED AROUND RECREATION CENTERS, UH, AND SENIOR CENTERS, WHICH SPANS A NUMBER OF AREAS.

UH, IT'S NOT JUST SPACE FOR ONE KIND OF THING.

UM, BUT IT'S FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND AGAIN, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON IT AS A GROUP, I WOULD SAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT I THINK IT DOES SUPPORT THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT ARE CRITICAL WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, BECOMING A LIST OF, YOU KNOW, EVERY POSSIBLE ITEM.

WHICH, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO TRUE THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT NEEDS MORE MONEY IN ALMOST EVERY AREA.

I DON'T THINK WE HAD, I DON'T THINK WE HAD A SINGLE THING THAT WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT JUST THAT MONEY WOULDN'T BE USEFUL FOR ANYTHING AT ALL.

ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WAS SEEN AS A NEED.

IT JUST WASN'T POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE THEM ALL.

SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD SHARE OUT REPORT WISE.

BUT DO ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUP HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO ADD THAT I MISSED? SO BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN OR MEMBER ME OR MEMBER BECKER AND, UM, BOARD MEMBER OMI.

ANY OF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU FEEL I DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY OTHER PERSON LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING OR GIVE, UH, ANY INPUT OR STATEMENT? WE VOTING ON THIS NOW? NO, THIS IS NOT, IT'S TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. YEAH, SO NUMBER TWO IS ME REPORTING OUT AND YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS OR WHATEVER.

AND THEN NUMBER THREE, WE'LL DISCUSS THE ACTUAL OBLIGATION.

SO THERE WASN'T A, THERE WASN'T A SET LIMIT ON WHAT PARKS BOARD WOULD RECOMMEND IN BUDGET.

WERE YOU, WERE YOU THINKING THAT AND WE WERE ALLOCATING THE DIFFERENT WELL, NO, NO, THERE'S NO SET LIMIT, BUT THE CURRENT GUIDANCE.

SO, SO THE WAY THAT THE PROCESS WORKS WITH THE CITY, WITH, UH, THE STEPS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, THERE'S GUIDANCE FROM THE CITY MANAGER RELATED TO WHAT KINDS OF THINGS CAN BE SUBMITTED.

AND THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS THE GUIDANCE THEY HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR IS THAT THEY CAN SUBMIT FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY PART OF THE BASIS, RIGHT, WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN THE DEPARTMENT AS IT ALREADY EXISTS TODAY OR AS IT'S BEEN MANDATED WITH ANYTHING NEW THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION, INSTEAD YOU HAVE TO DO X, Y, Z, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE INCLUDED.

THEY HAVE NOT, AT THE TIME THAT I SPOKE TO THEM, WHICH IT'S BEEN MAYBE 10 DAYS, UM, THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY GUIDANCE ON UNMET NEEDS.

EACH YEAR IT'S DIFFERENT.

SO SOME YEARS THEY ARE TOLD, HEY, PUT TOGETHER UNMET NEEDS AND, YOU KNOW, GIVE A PROPOSAL.

THIS YEAR THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY GUIDANCE AT THE TIME TO PUT FORWARD UNMET NEEDS.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING WAS AT A CITY MANAGER LEVEL, IT WAS NOT NECESSARILY EXPECTED THAT THEY'RE EVEN GOING TO BE AN UNMET NEEDS PROCESS, WHICH WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR RECOMMENDATION CURRENTLY ARE UNMETS, THEY'RE NOT THE BASIS ITEMS. SO, AND THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION THEY'RE FOCUSED ON ACROSS THE RULES.

TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN GOALS AND, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT CONVERTING AND HER HAS COVER TO FUNCTIONAL GREEN.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

I MAKE A COMMENT.

ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, FOR THE WORKING GROUP IN REGARDS TO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT VICE CHAIR FLOWERS JUST SPOKE ABOUT? AND JUST TO CLARIFY, I DON'T KNOW IF THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNDERSTOOD, UH, UH, UH, UH, GOT WHAT VICE CHAIR FLOWERS IS SAYING, WE RECEIVED GUIDANCE FROM, UH, THE CLERK'S OFFICE THAT WE INCLUDE THE REPORT AS A SEPARATE AGENDA ITEM.

AND THAT'S WHY, UH, AGENDA RECRUITS AN ACTUAL, UM, POSSIBLE APPROVAL OR MODIFICATION OR MEDICAL PROCESS OR .

SO JUST, JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHY WE'RE DOING IT THIS WAY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S REDUNDANT, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE CLERK SAYS.

UM, ANY OTHER QUE COMMENTS? SO CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT A, A LOT OF THIS IS GEARED

[00:40:01]

WHAT, WHERE DID, CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT PARKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED ON THAT? OR WAS THAT COMING FROM THE AUDIT OF SITTING ON NON-FUNCTIONAL OR UNNECESSARY AND PREVIOUS COVERS? SO YEAH, SO I CAN GIVE YOU THE BACKGROUND ON THAT AND SOMEBODY ELSE FROM THE WORKING GROUP JUMP IN IF I'VE MISSED SOMETHING.

SO ALL OF THOSE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO WE AS A BACK UP, WE AS A WORKING GROUP AGREED THAT BEING CLIMATE RESILIENT WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN WAS IMPORTANT IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION SPECIFICALLY.

AND THAT GROUP HAD DONE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WORK DIGGING INTO THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

THEY IDENTIFIED THESE SPECIFIC ITEMS AS THINGS THAT WERE HIGH PRIORITY AND THEY FELT NEEDED TO HAPPEN IF WE HAD ANY CHANCE OF MEETING THE ACTUAL TIMELINE GOAL FOR THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

MM-HMM.

AND SO THAT DIDN'T COME FROM OUR DIRECTLY, SO I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONVERSATIONS SPECIFICALLY WITH DIRECTOR MCNEELY OR, OR THE DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THOSE ITEMS. THAT WAS PRIMARILY, AND I'M GONNA FORGET HER NAME, BUT PRIMARILY IN CONVERSATION WITH THE BOARD MEMBER FROM ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, WHEN WE WERE TALKING TO THE THINGS THAT THEY FELT WERE, AGAIN, THEY HAD A LONG RECOMMENDATION AS WELL WITH MANY MORE ITEMS. BUT THESE WERE THE THINGS THAT THEY FELT MADE THE MOST SENSE AS AN OVERLAP WITH PAR.

SO IN TERMS OF LIKE A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE, WE DO NOT HAVE FUN FOR THAT ITEM.

WAS THAT COMMISSIONER HANNAH VER NO, IT WAS NOT.

DEFINITELY.

ALRIGHT, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

I CAN LOOK UP HER NAME TOO, IF THAT'S HELPFUL.

NO WORRIES.

YEAH, TO THAT I WOULD JUST ADD, UM, WHEN WE WERE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, LOOKING FOR AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY AND OVERLAP WITH OTHER RELATED BOARDS LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION LIST, VERY HIGH ON OUR AGENDA GIVEN THE, THE, UM, THE BUDGET CHALLENGES THIS YEAR.

SO WE THINKING WAS THAT IF WE CAN IDENTIFY AREAS SIGNIFICANT OVERLAP, I I HAVE MULTIPLE RECOMMENDATIONS PUTTING THIS FORWARD, BUT THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO SEE ACTION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

[3. Approve a recommendation to Austin City Council regarding the Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers).]

UM, ARE THERE ANY SPEAKER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE? MR. ? YES, CHAIR.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE SCOTT COBB, FOLLOWED BY SHARON BLYTHE.

MR. COBB GOT THREE MINUTES.

WE NEED TO BEGIN SPEAKING.

HELLO, MY NAME IS SCOTT COBB.

I WORK WITH CITY OF BOSTON IN BARTON SPRINGS AND OTHER POOLS AS A LIFEGUARD.

AND I LOOKED OVER THE MINUTES OF THE WORKING GROUP AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYBODY CONSULTED WITH ANY LABOR REPRESENTATIVES, ANY WORKERS DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR LOW INCOME WORKERS.

SO MY SUGGESTIONS FOR THESE, IN 2022, THE CITY OF COUNCIL RECOMMENDED A $22 LIVING WAGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THEY STARTED WITH 20, THEY WENT TO 2080, BUT NOW THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

SO MY SUGGESTION IS TO ADD A CLAUSE IN THE RECOMMENDATION, URGING THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONTINUE RAISING THE LIVING WAGE TO $22 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WHICH IS THIS YEAR.

THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED EVENTUALLY IT SHOULD BE 27 TIMES TOWARD THE END OF THE DECADE.

OTHER THINGS I AM CONCERNED ABOUT BY THE WAY THAT THAT AFFECTS EVERY SINGLE CITY WORKER.

PEOPLE WHO COLLECT THE TRASH WORK AT THE AIRPORT, THEY DO MAINTENANCE, THEY DO EVERY SINGLE JOB.

THE LOWEST JOBS, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT LIVING WAGE INCREASE.

OTHER THING, LAST YEAR, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, LIFEGUARDS HAVE RECEIVED $750 OR BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $750 IN BONUSES.

IF THEY WORK EITHER 200 HOURS, THEY GET 2 53, 300 HOURS, THEY GET ANOTHER 2 5400 HOURS, THEY GET ANOTHER TWO 50.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO PLAN FOR THAT THIS SUMMER.

THAT MEANS WE ARE GONNA GET, IF YOU WORK 400 HOURS OVER THE LENGTH OF THE SUMMER, A PAY CUT OF $1 87.50 CENTS PER HOUR, WHICH IS WHAT IT WORKS OUT TO WITHOUT THAT SEVEN $50 OVER 400 HOURS OVER THE SUMMER, WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE ENOUGH LIFEGUARDS LAST YEAR.

THERE MAY BE TWO POOLS OPENING AT THE END, TWO NEW POOLS OPENING AT THE END OF THIS SUMMER.

MAYBE THEY'RE DELAYED.

I DON'T KNOW.

SO WE'RE GONNA NEED MORE LIFEGUARDS.

NEW YORK STATE RAISED THEIR MINIMUM WAGE FOR LIFEGUARDS TO $22 AN HOUR.

IT'S 2080 IN AUSTIN.

NEW YORK

[00:45:01]

ALSO GIVES $1,000 BONUS.

RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE NO BONUSES FOR THIS SUMMER.

THERE WERE THE LAST TWO SUMMERS, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CHETO VELA WAS GONNA PUSH FOR SEVEN ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME LIFEGUARDS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE 13 THAT STARTED LAST YEAR.

THREE ARE VACANT IT NOW THEY'RE GONNA RE HARD THEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA WANTED SEVEN MORE, BUT AT THE END HE CUT THAT IN FAVOR OF $2 MILLION IN SHADE, WHICH IS GREAT.

IT'S A HOT CITY.

WE NEEDED SHADE LAST YEAR, BUT WE NEED MORE FULL-TIME LIFEGUARDS THIS YEAR.

SO I URGED TO ADD THAT LINE ITEM OR COUNCIL MEMBER VILLAGE.

PROBABLY GONNA BRING THAT UP AGAIN.

SOME NUMBER SEVEN COULD BE FIVE.

THAT NEEDS TO BE INCREASED.

WE NEED MORE LIFEGUARDS.

THANK YOU SPEAKER.

THAT'S TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SHARON BLYTHE.

BE THE LAST SPEAKER ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

I'M SHARON BLYTHE.

UM, AND I'VE COME WITH GREAT NEWS FOR Y'ALL.

UH, CITY CEMETERY STAFF WANTED TO GET FOUR EXTRA FULL PAYING EMPLOYEES SO THEY COULD TAKE, GO OVER THE BURIAL SERVICES FROM A CONTRACTOR THAT'S BEEN ON BOARD SINCE 1990.

CURRENTLY THE CONTRACTOR CHARGING THE CITY IE THE CITIZENS $1,040,000 A YEAR FOR THAT SERVICE.

IF YOU GET THE FOUR EXTRA PEOPLE, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CEMETERY OPERATIONS CAN DO IT FOR 180,000.

DO THE MATH.

THAT'S ALMOST $860,000 OF SAVINGS IF YOU HIRE THOSE FOUR PEOPLE RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO HIRE THAT EXPENSIVE CONTRACTOR.

SO THINK ABOUT IT, DO THE MATH.

THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING.

IT WOULD SAVE THE CITY IT HUNDRED AND $60,000 A YEAR.

JUST PUT THAT IN YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BUDGET TO SEE IF, IF IT FLIES, I KNOW WHAT THE, THE KNOW CITY MANAGER SAID.

NO MORE NEW FOUR PEOPLE IN ALL THE WHOLE CITY, BUT LET'S GET REAL HERE.

IT'S COSTING WAY TOO MUCH MORE MONEY TO HIRE THAT CONTRACTOR THAN IT WOULD BE TO JUST HIRE FOUR EXTRA PEOPLE PLUS THOSE LITTLE FOUR EXTRA PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE NOT BURYING PEOPLE.

THEY COULD BE WORKING ON THE CEMETERIES, MOWING, CLEANING UP STUFF.

IT'S A, IT IS A DOUBLE.

IT'S A, IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE, WHAT THE PROCESS IS OR THE PROCEDURE IS TO PUT THAT IN THAT BUDGET THIS EVENING, RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL, BUT IT WOULD BE A GREAT MOVE FOR THE CITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S THE LAST SPEAKER.

ALRIGHT, UH, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, WE WILL, UH, NOW WE GET A DISCUSSION ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

UM, I WILL OPEN UP THE FOR DISCUSSION MOTION, UH, THERE BE DISCUSSION BEFORE OR AFTER.

SO IF ANYONE HAS, OR YOU CAN ANYONE CAN MAKE A MOTION TOO.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS THAT I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE FOR THE BOARD AND I THINK THERE'S A HANDOUT ON THESE ADDITIONS RECOMMENDATIONS.

YEAH, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE THAT IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE THAT MOTION AS HAVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

YEAH, GUESS THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THAT SOMEBODY, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S WRITTEN IN THE EXISTING RECOMMENDATION BEFORE WE YEAH.

THAT WE SHOULD RESOLVE? YEAH.

IS THERE ANY QUESTION? THAT'S RIGHT.

VICE CHAIR FATHER HAS THE CORRECT.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE RECOMMENDATION IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN? SEEING NONE, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A, TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25 BUDGET AS POSTED IN THE BACKUP I A MOTION, THERE'S A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER BACKER.

THERE IS A SECOND BY BOARD, BOARD MEMBER MERIT.

NOW WE CAN MOVE INTO DISCUSSION AND I'LL AND BOARD READ.

OKAY, BOB FIRST IN, IN THE CARBON NEUTRAL

[00:50:01]

PUBLIC PLANS SECTION UNDER, UNDER NUMBER TWO, AND THAT'S A THREE FULL-TIME PROGRAM MANAGER POSITION ONE FTE TO BE CREATED AND FUNDED TO PLAN LAND MET PROJECTS.

SO THIS KIND OF, UM, APPLIES TO WHAT MY, MY FIRST ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION WAS, WHICH IS FUNDING FOR THREE FTE POSITIONS TO IMPLEMENT CARDS, LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.

AND, UM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, MAYBE DIRECTOR MCNEELY CAN HELP ME WITH THIS.

THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, UM, WHEN IT WAS CREATED OR APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER, 2023, THAT WAS TO HAVE FIVE FULL-TIME POSITIONS.

UM, AT LEAST FOR THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.

SO THE, THE, IN THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS, THE CITY MANAGER ASKED US WHAT WOULD, WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE OVER TIME.

RIGHT? AND SO, UH, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL PUT FORWARD THAT SAID, THIS IS WHAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE, HERE'S WHAT YEAR ONE WOULD LOOK LIKE, HERE'S WHAT YEAR TWO COULD LOOK LIKE.

HERE'S WHAT YEAR THREE COULD LOOK LIKE.

AND SO, YES.

UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE YES, THE ANSWER YES.

SO THERE IS A MEMO THAT WAS PRINTED THAT I THINK, UM, THAT I THINK BOARD MEMBER REED PROVIDED FOR YOU, WHICH WAS, UM, INFORMATION REMINDING THE COUNCIL.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE MEMO IS.

I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT REMEMBERING WHY I WROTE THE MEMO, BUT THE MEMO THAT BOARD MEMBER REED PROVIDED FOR YOU WAS THE INFORMATION THAT HAD BEEN REQUESTED BY CITY LEADERSHIP AND CITY COUNCIL AS TO HOW DO YOU EXECUTE THIS PLAN OVER TIME, FACT THAT SHOULD HAVE THE OUTLINE THAT THE FUTURE NEEDS.

SO CURRENTLY, UM, THERE ARE TWO EXISTING PERSONNEL POSITIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM MANAGER AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR.

AND THEN THE OTHER THREE THAT I THINK WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER OF 23, 2 ARE ONBOARDED.

IS THAT CORRECT? BECAUSE I REMEMBER THERE WAS A, AN AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 23 BUDGET TO ALLOCATE FOR THOSE TWO POSITIONS.

SO THE CITY MANAGER, I'M SORRY, THE, UH, COUNCIL FROM THE COUNCIL DIOCESE, I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS VOTED, IT WAS, UM, PUT FORWARD AND VOTED ON BY THE ENTIRE COUNCIL TO ADD TWO POSITIONS.

I BELIEVE THOSE TWO POSITIONS ON BOARD MEMBER AND THOSE TWO POSITIONS, I, I NOT TO DOUBLE CHECK, BUT I THINK THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ONBOARDING.

NEVERMIND, I ANSWERED MY QUESTION IN MY HEAD RIGHT NOW.

AND, AND YES.

IS THAT WHY ONE FULL-TIME PROGRAM MANAGER WAS, WAS YOU RECOMMENDED AND FOR THE, THIS IS FOR THE LAND MANAGEMENT PROJECT.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING, AND AGAIN, COMPLICATED, SO, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UH, SIMILAR TO DIRECTOR MCNALLY'S, THAT THERE ARE TWO EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF BEING ONBOARDED.

THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD, UM, WITH CHARLOTTE DAVIS WAS THAT THE ONE FT.

AND WE DID TALK ABOUT THE, THE ORIGINAL SORT OF FOUR, BUT THAT ONE FT WOULD BE THE ASK FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR KNOWING THAT TWO FTS FRANKLY UNLIKELY TO BE, UM, CONSIDERED.

SO SHE, SHE WAS AWARE OF THE FOUR FTS, THEY INCLUDED ONE IN THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND I CHOSE TO KEEP THAT ONE.

WE CHOSE AS A GROUP TO KEEP THAT LANGUAGE INTACT AS IT WAS RATHER THAN THAT SECOND FT.

BUT THE ORIGINAL FOUR, WE DID DISCUSS THE ORIGINAL BOARD THAT WE'RE SORT OF PUT FORWARD RELATED BUILDING LAND MANAGEMENT.

SO LET ME TELL YOU WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM.

UM, I HAVE FROM CONSTITUENTS, NOT JUST IN MY OWN DISTRICT, BUT HEARD ABOUT, UM, SAFETY ISSUES WITH BRUSH AND BRUSH COLLECTION AND BRUSH MANAGEMENT.

AND AT THIS TIME IT SAYS, AND DIRECTOR MCNALLY'S MEMO STAFFED AT THE HARD SPRING PARK RANGER PROGRAMS ARE TEMPORARILY ASSIGNED TO ASSIST WITH PLANNING AND OVERSIGHT OF THESE PROJECTS WHILE THE NEW FULL-TIME STAFF RECRUITED HIRED.

AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS AN UNDERFUNDED AND UNDER STAFFED PLAN WITHOUT ADDING MORE FT AND I WOULD JUST HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WE CONSIDER ASKING FOR THREE FTE POSITIONS TO THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, IT BEING A SAFETY IF YOU, AND I HOPE YOU'LL READ MY RATIONALE FOR THIS AND, AND WHAT IT ALIGNS WITH, ESPECIALLY PARTICULARLY THE, UH, COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS PLAN.

CAN YOU, UM, VICE CHAIR, CAN YOU JUST, UM, WELL, NO, I, I THINK I, NEVERMIND I THINK I UNDERSTAND THIS.

[00:55:01]

UM, ANYONE, UH, SO WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE, MAKE A MOTION? YEAH, I KNEW THAT, UM, THAT WE, THAT WE, UH, AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION TO ADD FUNDING FOR FREE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE POSITIONS TO IMPLEMENT PARS PLAN, MANAGEMENT PLAN.

IS IT, AND THAT WOULD BE TO TWO A THREE? YES.

SO INSTEAD OF IT READING ONE, YOU WOULD WANT IT TO READ THREE MM-HMM.

CORRECT.

SO THAT WOULD'VE TO CHANGE.

AND THEN THE, UM, THE NUMBER WOULD'VE TO CHANGE FROM 150,000 TO 450,000.

PETER .

SO I, SO THE NUMBERS THAT I'VE HAD, AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD'VE TO DO MATH, BUT UM, THE ESTIMATED NEED IS $200 AN ACRE ONGOING FOR STAFF AND O AND M BASED ON INTERNAL COST ESTIMATES IN COMPARISONS WITH SIMILAR PROGRAMS. THIS IS FOR THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, IS THAT CORRECT? YEP.

AND THEN SO YEAH, SORRY, I WAS JUST MAKING SURE.

UM, SO ALL, ALL THE NEW AND EXISTING NATURAL AREAS, OKAY, THIS IS COMING FROM THE, UM, CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN GOAL NUMBER ONE 70,000 ACRES TOTAL.

SO THAT'S A LOT OF NATURAL LAND TO MANAGE AND TO HAVE STAFF OVERSEEING.

AND I GUESS, SO I'LL, I'LL, I'LL JUST PROCEDURALLY OUT A SECOND AND JUST FOR TO GET A SECOND, SECOND AMENDMENT.

SORRY.

SO I'LL JUST SECOND THAT.

UM, SO FOR PROCEED, SO MY QUESTION IS, IS, SO I WORKED, I REMEMBER FROM LIKE THE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS LIKE, I ASSUME THAT MAYBE CITY WORKS IN A SIMILAR FASHION, WHICH IS THEY'LL HAVE A BIG, IS THERE LIKE AN EQUIVALENT TO LIKE A FIRST CITY LIVING OFFICE AT CITY? AND UM, IS IT ONE OF THESE THINGS WHERE THE MORE WE ASK FOR, LIKE IS IT LIKE A NEGOTIATED TACTIC? LIKE IF I REALLY WANT ONE MM-HMM, , SHOULD I BE ASKING FOR THREE? UM, WELL, I MEAN I THINK THEY'RE GETTING IT.

I MEAN, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION TO BE ASKING, BUT I THINK THE REALITY, AND THIS IS LIKE SORRY FOR BEING TOUGH AS NAILS, BUT THE REALITY IS I DO THINK THAT ALMOST NOTHING WILL GET THROUGH FROM THE BOARDS.

SO I DON'T THINK IT WILL MAKE AN IMPACT IN THIS GIVEN YEAR BECAUSE I THINK THE SITUATION AT THE CITY, THE CITY MANAGERS MADE VERY CLEAR WHAT IS GOING ON TO ME, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE BUDGET.

AND SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT DIRECTOR MCNEELY MAY WANT, WHAT ANYONE MAY WANT, THE OPPORTUNITY MAY NOT ARISE FOR THEM TO EVEN LOOK AT UNMET NEEDS.

AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT IN THE WORKING GROUP, BECAUSE OF THAT, WE CHOSE TO FOCUS ON THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE REASONABLE ASKS AND IF VERY IMPORTANT SO THAT IF WE HAD TO RETURN TO THEM NEXT YEAR, WE MIGHT NEED TO SHORE IT UP NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE NEED WOULD BE EVEN GREATER, RIGHT? IF IT WASN'T FUNDED, BUT THAT THEY WERE REASONABLE ASKS THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS A REASONABLE THING TO BE ASKING FOR AND THERE WAS SOMETHING WE COULD BUILD UPON NEXT YEAR IF IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT GOT FUNDED.

NOW YOU COULD, BUT IT'S A NEGOTIATION STRATEGY, RIGHT? YOU COULD SAY, WELL MAYBE WE'D BEEF IT UP WITH EVERYTHING WE WOULD EVER ASK FOR.

THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STRATEGY, RIGHT? I AM, MY PERSONAL MINDSET IS THE COUNCIL'S MORE LIKELY TO LOOK AT SOMETHING AND IT'S MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTFUL IF IT'S TO THE POINT BECAUSE THEY'RE BUSY PEOPLE.

UM, BUT THIS CHANGING THIS TO THREE FT WOULDN'T CHANGE THE LENGTH OF THE RECOMMENDATION, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHAT WE FEEL IS THE RIGHT ASK AT THE RIGHT TIME.

I ALSO DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO PUT A COST ON IT.

RECOMMENDING THE FTES WOULD JUST MEAN THE, THE COUNCIL WILL KNOW WHAT THE COST IS.

WELL, DIRECTOR MEETING HAS THE COST IN THE MEMO.

SO LIKE IT, THERE ARE FOUR POSITIONS THERE.

THERE'S A TOTAL COST FOR THEM.

EVEN IF WE ASSUME AN AVERAGE, WHICH I'M SURE IT'S NOT, BUT IF WE ASSUME AN AVERAGE IT'S 1 25 A POSITION, SO WE CAN REASON OUT WHAT WOULD BE A REASONABLE NUMBER.

AND THE REALITY IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT IS, YEAH, THE REALITY IS IT'S GONNA BE CLOSE ENOUGH, RIGHT? I MEAN, BUT THE NUMBER FOR FOUR POSITIONS IS 4 99, 9 23, WHICH COMES OUT JUST SHY OF 1 8 5 POSITION.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS, WHICH MIGHT BE WHY THE MANAGER, THE LINE THERE IS ONE 50, PROBABLY OTHERS ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

WHICH I MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT EVENTUALLY GAVE US REALLY WANTED TO, UM, CONNECT WITH THE OTHER BOARDS, UH, AND SEE WHERE THOSE AREAS OF OVERLAP LAY, WHICH IS WHY THIS ONE READS LIKE THE, UM, ENVIRONMENT IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE ACTIVELY, IT'S THE EXACT RIGHT? YES IT IS.

AND I JUST TO SORT OF DOUBLE DOWN ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, WE DID TALK ABOUT GIVEN THIS, GIVEN THE BUDGETARY SITUATIONS, THERE ARE MULTIPLE APPROACHES YOU CAN GET.

SURE.

UM, AND I, YEAH, THE ONE THAT WE LANDED ON WAS THIS APPROACH THAT WAS SORT OF LARGELY BASED ON REASONABLENESS, REASONABLENESS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF GROWTH.

I WILL SAY THE OTHER THING THAT WE DECIDED TO DO AS A RESULT OF THAT,

[01:00:01]

BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR MULTIPLE BOARDS TO GO IN AND SAY, NO, ACTUALLY THIS IS IMPORTANT.

UM, WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THAT CHANGING THAT FROM ONE TO THREE WOULD, BUT SIMILAR IMPACT.

BUT THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE THINKING BEHIND PUTTING THIS LANGUAGE FORWARD AND THE WAY THAT WE PUT IT FORWARD.

WELL, AND WITH IT BEING INITIALLY FIVE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO THIS, UM, I WOULD BE WILLING TO COMPROMISE AND SAY AND, AND ASK FOR ONE ADDITIONAL SO THAT IT WOULD BE TWO FULL-TIME.

FIRST FIVE.

I'M SORRY, WHERE DID FIVE COME FROM? THAT WAS THE INITIAL, I WONDER WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE MEMO, TWO POSITIONS ARE EXISTING, TWO POSITIONS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING IMPORTED.

AND THEN I, AND I BELIEVE THAT IN A PREVIOUS MEMO OR IN A PREVIOUS BACK IN THE MEMO THAT BOARD MEMBER RAPE WAS ABLE TO, SHE JUST GAVE, SHE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR YOU THE MOST RECENT MEMO.

BUT I BELIEVE IN A, I SEE A PREVIOUS ONE, IT WAS FILED, RIGHT? IT TALKED ABOUT THE, UM, THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS OVER TIME, RIGHT.

WHO TO AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL POSITION.

SO WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING, YOU JUST CAN'T SEE IT BECAUSE IT'S, SHE, SHE WAS JUST ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE MOST RECENT MEMO.

WELL, AND SO LET ME CLARIFY THEN TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO CONFUSION HERE.

IN THE MOST RECENT MEMO, THERE'S TWO POSITIONS LISTED THAT SAY EXISTING.

EXISTING, THEN THERE'S TWO POSITIONS THAT SAY ALLOCATED FFY 24 POSITION POSTED.

SO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THERE ARE FOUR EMPLOYEES ALREADY WORKING ON THIS AND SO TO GET TO FIVE, WE JUST NEED ONE MORE PERSON.

THERE ARE FOUR CURRENT POSITIONS, FTES AND FY 24 BUDGET.

SO WE HAVE FOUR FOUR FT FOUR FTES NOW.

SHE WAS SET PEOPLE FOUR FTES.

THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.

UM, BUT SO WHEN THE ORIGINAL ASK WAS THE ORIGINAL ASK FIVE FTES, AND SO YOU WERE ONLY ONE FT E SHORT.

HOW ABOUT IF I GO AND LOOK AT FIVE ORIGINAL MEMO SO I COULD ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? OKAY.

SUFFICIENTLY STAFFED AND ABLE TO CARRY OUT WHAT IT'S DOING, WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO, PARTICULARLY THE WIRE WILD WILDFIRE PREVENTION PART OF THE BOARD LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.

JUST BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT SEEMS TO MATTER, RIGHT? IF WE'RE REFERENCING A NUMBER BACK TO FIVE AND WE ALREADY HAVE FOUR, SO THERE'S JUST A ONE DIFFERENCE VERSUS IF THESE EXISTING ONES WERE NEVER PART OF THE PROCESS.

AND SO THERE'S REALLY A THREE DIFFERENCE.

I KNOW THAT MATTERS TO ME IN THE MAP BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES AND WHAT THE CONSTITUENTS HAVE EXPRESSED ABOUT THIS MANAGEMENT.

THERE'S ALSO, UM, THERE ARE ALSO OTHER, UM, POSITIONS THAT I DON'T, I GUESS I'M FEELING RIGHT NOW, THE HOMELESSNESS, UM, ISSUE WITHIN NATURAL LANDS OR, OR IS, ARE THERE THREE OFFICERS THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT? SO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE ANY FULL-TIME FTES THAT ARE DEDICATED TO AVID TO THINGS RELATED TO INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESS, UM, PARK PLAN.

WE WORK STRATEGICALLY WITH THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE.

WHAT WE DO HAVE IS A CREW OF TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES THAT, UM, HELP US WITH, UM, ENCAMPMENT CLEANUPS, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENCAMPMENT CLEANUPS UNDER SPECIFIC MATERIAL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO A CONTRACT THAT HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE CITY.

AND THAT CONTRACT ALLOWS US TO TAP INTO, UM, SERVICES TO CLEAN UP LARGER ENCAMPMENTS AS THEY ARE IDENTIFIED ON PAR.

SO WHEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN CHOSE TO MAKE TO, UM, CONSOLIDATE AND PUT HOMELESS STRAT ALL THINGS RELATED TO HOMELESS UNDERNEATH THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE, ALL ALL THE CHALLENGES AND THE ISSUES AND THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP EX INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, IT'S ALL WITHIN THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE, BUT WE WORK COLLABORATIVE COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS SOME OF THOSE SERVICES.

AND THEN JUST, JUST, JUST SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING ON TOPIC, UM, FIGURE TACKLE, IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ON THE, UM, HOUSING AND SECURE, UH, ISSUE, THEN WE CAN TAKE THAT UP AFTER THIS AMENDMENT.

UM, I KNOW WHEN, I KNOW IS LOOKING, UM, THAT UP.

UM, WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT FOR A WHILE, BUT THERE'S LOT OF MEMOS, UM, WHILE SHE LOOKS AT YOU WHEN PULLING DOWN AMENDMENT SO WE CAN MOVE ON WITH SOMETHING, BUT SHE LIFT IT UP AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP.

UH, BOARD MEMBER E THAT'S FINE.

UM, I I I WOULD ASK, YOU KNOW, OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM HARD, IF THEY FEEL THAT THIS LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN IS

[01:05:01]

SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT WITH THE FOUR STAFF MEMBERS, AND WE HAVE TWO ALREADY EXISTING, TWO THAT ARE BEING ONBOARDED, THAT WILL NEED TO GET UP TO SPEED.

WE'RE USING FUNDING THAT'S RELATED TO CONTRACTS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, UH, TO, TO MANAGE THE LAND.

AND SO THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT YOU CAN DO, RIGHT? YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THE TIME THAT YOU CAN ONLY FACILITATE THE EXPENDITURE OF THAT MONEY SO FAST, RIGHT? WITHIN OUR CITY PROCESSES.

SO ADDING MORE PEOPLE WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONIES THAT YOU'RE SPENDING, ADDING MORE PEOPLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED THAT.

MORE WORK WILL GET DONE BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY DO THINGS AS FAST AS YOU CAN DO THINGS WITH, UM, WITH THE, WITH THE MONEY THAT'S THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ONLY SPEND DOWN A MILLION DOLLARS AS FAST AS, AS, AS A MILLION DOLLARS CAN BE SPENT FOLLOWING ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH HOW WE SPEND MONEY.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT RIGHT NOW I THINK WE'RE SUFFICIENTLY STAFFED.

WE HAVE APPLIED FOR A, A GRANT FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING, FOR MORE MONIES THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE PUT INTO THE CONTRACT AREA OF BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE AND SPEND DOWN.

AND PERHAPS IF WE WERE TO RECEIVE THAT MONEY IN THE FUTURE, WE COULD USE ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT WE'RE SUFFICIENTLY STAFF FOR PLANNED VANITY AND ESPECIALLY AS YOU COMPARE IT TO THE VAST OTHER NEEDS OF OUR DEPARTMENT.

LIKE WITHDRAWAL WITHDRAWAL.

SO THERE'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE ALSO NEED THAT IF I HAD TO PRIORITIZE IT, I THINK THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

I KNOW IT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE EQUITY CLIMATE PLAN.

THOSE THINGS ARE ALL IMPORTANT, BUT THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT I BELIEVE COULD BE PRIORITIZED AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

IS THE GRANT, THE, THE DSB FOUR GRANT, IS THAT THE ONE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? UM, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BECAUSE OF THE DRAIN ON THIS PLAN, THAT THERE WAS NOT, THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH STAFF THAT EVEN IF YOU GOT THE GRANT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE SOMEONE TO MANAGE IT.

BUT WE WON'T FIND OUT ABOUT THE GRANT UNTIL, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S EITHER NOT, UM, GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US UNTIL SOMETIME, PROBABLY IN THE LATE SUMMER.

SO BY THE TIME THAT MONEY BECOMES AVAILABLE TO US, OR THAT BE NEXT YEAR, WE SHOULD HAVE ALL OF OUR STACKS STACKED UP BY THAT.

WE SHOULD HAVE ALL FOUR PEOPLE AVAILABLE AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT OF VIEW.

I, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WITHOUT THE LAND MANAGEMENT FOLKS HERE, BUT I THINK THAT ORIGINAL STATEMENT STANDS THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK AND WE HAVE LOTS OF OTHER IMPORTANT WORK.

SO IF YOU'RE ASKING TO PRIORITIZE, I WOULD PRIORITIZE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE BOARD, THE BOARD HAS THE IMMUNITY AND THE PREROGATIVE TO PLEASE PUT FOR WHATEVER, PUT FORWARD WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE TO BE WAS APPROPRIATE.

SO GIVEN THAT, I'LL WITHDRAW MY RECOMMENDATION THREE.

UM, I HAVE QUESTIONS.

UM, JUST, JUST, JUST, JUST TO BASE IT OFF OF WHAT SOME OF OUR SPEAKERS, UH, SAID IS, AND I GUESS I, I'LL START OFF WITH ONE.

LET ME ANSWER WHAT I'M GONNA GET AT.

BUT THIS IS, THERE IS A PARK DEPARTMENT BUDGET THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED.

THIS IS JUST, THIS IS JUST THE BOARD.

THIS IS JUST THE PRIORITIES THAT THE BOARD SEE AND THAT BUDGET.

WERE VERY GRACIOUS TO SEND US A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE HAD HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE OURSELVES WERE CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THEY THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE NEED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT FOR THOSE ITEMS. AND WE USED THOSE AS WELL AS CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO INFORM WHAT WE PUT FORTH HERE.

UH, NO, THAT'S NOT EXACTLY RIGHT AND OUR PARTS DEPARTMENT STAFF CAN STEP IN, BUT PARTS DEPARTMENT STAFF HAS THEIR OWN INTERNAL PROCESS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

THEY SUBMIT A BUDGET FORWARD, THEY GET GUIDANCE ON WHAT, WHAT CAN BE IN THAT BUDGET THIS YEAR, THE GUIDANCE WAS, IT NEEDS TO BE THINGS THAT MEET THE BASIS, SO TO CONTINUE RUNNING THE DEPARTMENT AS IT'S ALREADY BEEN AUTHORIZED IN THE PROGRAMS IT'S AUTHORIZED TO DO SO SOMETIMES THEY'RE ALSO ASKED TO SUBMIT UNMET NEEDS THAT HAD NOT HAPPENED AS OF THE LAST TIME WE TALKED TO SUZANNE.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYTHING HAS CHANGED ON THAT SINCE.

SO WE'RE AT THE POINT IN THE PROCESS WITH THE FINANCIAL FORECAST WHERE WE SUBMIT OUR BASE COST DRIVERS AS PART OF THE BASE COST DRIVERS.

I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER THAN YOU SAID IT.

UM, WE PUT TOGETHER THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY BASICALLY TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.

SO THINGS THAT ARE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED OR THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY COUNSEL.

SO WE'RE AT THAT STAGE OF THE PROCESS.

WE DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL UNMET NEEDS PROCESS YET.

YEAH, YEAH.

BUT IT MAY, IT MAY STILL COME OR IT MAY NOT.

IT'S EVERY YEAR IS DIFFERENT WITH THE UNMET NEEDS.

SO AT THIS POINT LAST YEAR, PART ALREADY KNEW THERE WAS AN UNMET NEEDS PROCESS.

THEY WERE ABLE TO SHOW US A PRESENTATION OF WHAT THEY WERE GONNA PRIORITIZE IN THEIR UNMET NEEDS PROCESS.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THE PROCESS IS NOT THERE, MAY NOT EVEN GET THERE.

WE HAVE TO CHOOSE TO WORK WITHIN WHAT WE KNOW IN THE MOMENT.

SO DIRECTOR MCNEELY AND SUZANNE

[01:10:01]

BUT IT'S A BIT OF, IT'S THE, IT'S NOT AS NICE AS BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO WHAT THEY TOLD US BECAUSE EXACTLY.

WE CAN'T ALIGN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IN SOME PERIOD OF TIME FORWARD, THEY MAY BE ASKED TO SUBMIT UNMET NEEDS, BUT OUR RECOMMENDATION HAS TO BE IN BY MARCH 31ST.

I MEAN, SO IT'S BASICALLY LIKE A MISTIMED.

SO THEN IS IN THE, THE BUDGET THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING, IS THAT, IS THERE GONNA BE UM, UH, AN ADVOCACY FOR AN INCREASE TO THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR HOURLY WORKERS? OR IS IT GONNA STAY AT 0.8 FOR THOSE HOURLY WORKERS? I, I DON'T KNOW.

OR, OR IS THAT A, THAT'S A DUTY WIDE, THAT'S, SO THERE'S NOTHING THE DEPARTMENT CAN DO.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH CITY COUNCIL ABOUT TO ADDRESS THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES REGARDLESS WHETHER THEY WERE FOR PARK OR AUSTIN ENERGY OR WATER OR WHATEVER.

BUT THOSE WOULD HAVE TO, THOSE LA LAST YEAR THAT, THAT, UH, THAT ADVOCACY WAS LED BY, UH, THE UNION SME, THEY, THEY LED THAT, THAT ADVOCACY WITH MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING SOME ADVOCATES FROM OUR DEPARTMENT HELPING TO, UM, HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

WELL, I GUESS MY QUESTION, I GUESS TO, TO PHRASE MY QUESTION A DIFFERENT WAY, IS THIS, WOULD IT, WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BUDGET OR NO.

SO WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY TEMPORARY STAFF MEMBERS THE MARKET RATE OR WHAT THINK IS APPROPRIATE, UM, FROM, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAVE A A, A LIFEGUARD THAT PAY, THAT'S, WE PAY 2080 FIRST PATENT ARCHITECT OR WE PAY A HIGHER RATE THAT'S SOMEWHAT OF JUST RIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT.

SO TO INCREASE OUR, UM, SALARIES FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF, WE, OF COURSE THAT WOULD BE AN UNMET NEED RIGHT NOW IF WE HAD THAT PROCESS.

UM, WE HAVE DECENT ANALYSIS, UM, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANNA PUT FORWARD AS A RECOMMENDATION, ABSOLUTELY CAN, UM, OF COURSE, UH, BALANCING THAT WITH YOU, AFFORDABILITY, UH, EVERYTHING ELSE.

BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE COULD, UM, PERCEIVABLY LOOK AT.

SO I THINK, BUT I THINK I KNOW WHERE, WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT, WHICH IS IF WE COULD RECOMMEND SUCH A THING, BUT IF WE WOULD NEED TO FORMAT IT IN THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE RIGHT CLICKS, RIGHT.

IT'S NOT, IT'S A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE OVERALL CITY BUDGET, NOT THAT OF PART, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE WAY THIS IS FORMATTED IS WE'RE RECOMMEND A CITY COUNCIL MORE FUNDING IN THE PAR BUDGET FOR THESE THINGS, AND THEN MORE FUNDING IN THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET FOR THESE RELATED THINGS.

AND WE CHOSE NOT TO BE EXPLICIT ABOUT WHICH DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE, IF YOU WANTED SUCH A THING IN THERE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING AT A CITYWIDE LEVEL FOR FOUR $22 MINIMUM WAGE.

SO, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S GONNA BE STOPPING US FROM DOING THAT.

IT'S JUST, IT'S UH, NOT, IT'S NOT, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS NOT THE SORT OF RECEIVER, IT'S KIND OF HAS TO GO DIRECT TO COUNCIL FOR CITYWIDE.

YEAH, I THINK, I GUESS, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING.

YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION THEN.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS I THINK I, AS A GENERAL MATTER, I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE A STATEMENT THROUGH THE BOARD AND COMMISSION THAT WE SUPPORT AND INCREASE TO THE MINIMUM WAGE THAT OUR WORKERS ARE GETTING.

AND ADDITIONALLY, UM, A INCREASE, UH, A, A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, UM, UH, FOR, UH, ALL OTHER VOLUME AS WELL.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF COST OF LIVING WOULD AFFECT I THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, RIGHT? YEAH.

YOU HAVE TO ADJUST THEM SEPARATELY.

I'M PRETTY SURE YOU DO.

SORRY, I I SHOULD KNOW THIS.

I'M, I'M, ANYWAYS, UM, SO I WOULD SAY THEN THAT I WOULD JUST ADD, AND I THINK THE NUMBERING IS WRONG 'CAUSE IT SAYS, I THINK IT CONTINUE.

SO I WOULD JUST CHANGE, I WILL MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO OH, WE GOT BASED OVER YEAH, I WILL, I WILL, I WILL, I WILL, I WILL SUGGEST, I WILL MAKE A, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE, UH, CURRENT, UH, RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE FOUR B ONE FIVE B TWO.

WELL, BUT WAIT, WAIT.

YOU NEED, YOU'RE LOOKING IN THE RATIONALE.

SO BE SPECIFIC BECAUSE ON THE FIRST PAGE, THE RECOMMENDATION IS RIGHT, ONE THREE.

SO ON THE SECOND PAGE AND THE RATIONALE, IT PASTED, IT CONTINUED THE LIST.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION ITSELF IN THE FIRST PART IS CORRECT IN THE, IN THE RATIONALE.

UNFORTUNATELY MY MOTION, MY, I MOTION THAT WE, THAT IT AS FRIENDLY

[01:15:01]

MEMBER YES.

ACCEPTED DISCIPLINE.

I ACCEPT IT AS A FRIENDLY AMEND.

I WAS THE ONE PUT THE MOTION FORWARD SURE.

WHATEVER HE SAYING, UH, IS ACCEPTED.

UM, AND I WOULD ADD, AND I WOULD ADD NUMBER FOUR, JUST BE A GENERAL STATEMENT THAT SAYS, UH, THE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR HOURLY WORKERS AND TO ALLOCATE, I SORRY, GO ON.

A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.

NO LESS THAN 4% CITYWIDE.

AND, AND, AND, AND THAT IS MY AMENDMENT.

AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE RATIONALE FOR THAT.

AND I HOPE I GET A SECOND.

THIS IS THAT I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ADVOCATE NOT ONLY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT'S HOURLY AND SALARY WORKERS, BUT ALSO TO INDICATE TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER THAT, UM, WE VIEW, UH, POWER, UH, COMPENSATING OUR, UH, DEPARTMENT STAFF AND CITYWIDE STAFF.

UM, AS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

UM, I ASSUME THAT AS WE GET CLOSER TO, UH, BUDGETARY CONVERSATIONS, DIVERSITY CITY COUNCIL, THAT IS GONNA COME UP A LOT.

UM, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO, UH, GIVE, UH, OUR, UH, PEOPLE WILL, WILL BE SPEAKING ON THE ISSUE, UM, AMMUNITION TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE AS NOT JUST A, OH, IT'S JUST A DIVISION ISSUE.

UH, A DIVISION DIVISION SPECIFIC ISSUE, OR A DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC ISSUE, BUT A CITYWIDE ISSUE THAT MAKES THEM BE ADDRESSED.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS, BUT I ACTUALLY HAVE A PROBLEM, .

AND THAT I THINK I NOW HAVE TO STEP AWAY FROM THE ITEM.

LIKE, I, I, I HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST 'CAUSE MY HUSBAND WORKS WITH THE CITY.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THIS.

IF THIS IS COMING UP AS LIKE A, I DON'T THINK I CAN PARTICIPATE ANYMORE, WHICH, SO I'M NOT PARTICIPATING.

SO DO I HAVE TO LEAD NOW, , TIM? 'CAUSE THIS IS, DEPENDS ON IF YOU'RE CHOOSING TO ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE OR IF YOU'RE CUS RECUSING YOURSELF.

IF YOU'RE RECUSING YOURSELF.

IF YOU ARE RECUSING YOURSELF, THEN YEAH, YOU SHOULD STEP AWAY FROM THE DISCUSSION.

YEAH, I WILL.

CAN'T YOU JUST, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M TELLING YOU WHAT THE CONFLICT IS.

MY HUSBAND WORKS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SO I AM, I'M HAPPY TO DO EITHER.

I JUST WANNA DO IT APPROPRIATELY.

GIVEN THAT YOU HELP TO CRAFT THE RECOMMENDATION.

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, IT'D PROBABLY BE BEST IF YOU CONTINUE TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND THEN WHEN IT CAME UP FOR A FINAL VOTE TO ABSTAIN.

YEAH, JUST GO , I'M, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHATEVER THE SAYS.

UH, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT CHOOSE TO TAKE PART IN THE DISCUSSION LEADING UP TO THE VOTE, PUBLIC DISCLOSURE, YOUR ION, AND THEN BRING, OKAY, WELL THEN THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO I WILL TELL YOU THAT, SO I'M GONNA HANG OUT HERE NOW AND WELL, YOU CAN STILL PARTICIPATE ON YES, IT SAYS YOU CAN PUBLIC, YOU MAY, YOU I'LL NOT PARTICIPATE ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC, BUT YES.

A, A BUDGET MEMO THAT CAME OUT SAID THAT YOUR, THE SUGGESTIONS OF ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS GO TO THE BUDGET OFFICE BY THE 31ST, RIGHT? AND THEN THEY TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROCESS BY WHICH TO EVALUATE EACH OF THE BOARD AND COMMISSIONS AND SORT OF TRY TO PRIORITIZE THEM OR FIND OUT FROM THE, FROM EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU KNOW, HOW IS TO FIT INTO YOUR BUDGET SORT OF THING.

SO CHAIR, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

UM, WILL WE BE ABLE TO SEE ONCE OURS DEPARTMENT HAS SUBMITTED A BUDGET, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR, SORRY, DR. GOFF, BUT FOR THE PARKS BOARD TO SUGGEST AMENDMENTS OR TO MAKE FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU BEFORE THE BUDGET IS, IS GOES BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ITS ALL, DO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND MAKE FURTHER AMENDMENTS AFTER THE PARTS DEPARTMENT HAS SUBMITTED THEIR BUDGET? I THINK I, I THINK THE ANSWER IS WE CAN, THE PROBLEM LOGISTICALLY, IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR US.

I MEAN, WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT.

WE CAN RECOMMENDATION IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

THE PROBLEM IS WHETHER IT'S GONNA GET TO THE RIGHT OR AT THE RIGHT TIME.

RIGHT? SO, UM, SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED JUST LET BOARD MEMBER REID KNOW THAT SHE WAS, SHE, YOU YOU ARE REMEMBERING THINGS.

IT SAYS THAT WE WERE, I WAS CALLING IN A MEMO AND I WAS ACTUALLY, THEY ANSWER TO A BUDGET QUESTION.

SO THE REASON WHY I COULDN'T FIND IT IS 'CAUSE I WAS LOOKING IN THE WRONG AREA.

OKAY? AND THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWO, I'M NOT TRYING TO BRING THIS BACK UP, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SHE'S REMEMBERING IT CORRECTLY.

THERE WERE TWO OPTIONS.

OPTION ONE OR OPTION TWO.

THE FIRST OPTION HAD NOTHING IN 2024 AND FOUR POSITIONS IN 2025.

ANOTHER OPTIONS SAID TWO POSITIONS IN 2024 AND TWO POSITIONS IN 2025.

SO THE TOTAL NUMBER WAS FOUR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.

IT'S JUST THAT THEY WERE SPLIT UP.

SO THEN IF YOU SAY FOUR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS PLUS THE TWO EXISTING, THAT'S PRETTY POSSIBLE.

THAT'S, AND THERE WAS A NUMBER IN THERE THAT ONE THAT ACTUALLY SEPARATE.

SO THAT'S WHERE IT ALL CAME FROM.

TWO OR NOT, WE'RE REMEMBERING, IT'S JUST THAT WE ON THE BALL.

SO WE, OKAY.

WHAT'S BETTER QUESTION NOW, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT CAN YOU, UM, CAN YOU MAKE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? CAN YOU MAKE ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS? YOU CAN MAKE A SUGGESTIONS JUST LIKE, JUST LIKE THE CHAIR, HOWEVER, THERE IS

[01:20:01]

AND THEN WELL THEN WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW EACH ONE.

LIKE, UM, DIRECTOR MCNEELY SAID, UM, LET THE BUDGET OFFICE KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN AFFORD, SOMETHING THAT WE SUPPORT.

UM, AND THERE'S ALSO A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES, FORMAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UM, BUDGET WORK, UH, PUBLIC INPUT AT THE BUDGET WORK SESSION.

OF COURSE THERE'S ONE ON JULY 24TH, UM, THAT'S A WEDNESDAY AND AN ADDITIONAL ONE ON, UM, AUGUST 1ST IN ADDITION TO PROBABLY THE ONES THAT WILL BE, UM, DISTRICT PACIFIC BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, RIGHT? AND THEN THERE'S THE BUDGET, BUDGET TOWN HALLS, RIGHT? EACH OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TOWN HALL.

SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SAY IS THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS AND THEN ONCE WE TURN OUR BUDGET INTO, UH, OUR BUDGET OFFICE, ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL, UM, COMMUNITY, UH, OPTIONS TO TALK ABOUT IT ARE AVAILABLE.

IT'S JUST THAT IT'S NOT, THEY'RE NOT DRIVEN BY THE PARKS AND RECREATIONS DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE HELP TO MAKE HAPPEN SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION.

AND THEN AFTER THAT YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND YOU CAN MAKE IT, YOU CAN, YOU ALWAYS CAN PASS RESOLUTION OUTSIDE CONVEYOR PARKS RECOMMENDATIONS AND SEND THEM TO YOUR, TO, TO YOUR COUNCIL OFFICES, RIGHT? JUST LIKE YOU DO FOR EVERYTHING ELSE.

UM, HOWEVER, THE, THE BEST WAY TO ADVOCATE AFTER OUR, AFTER THIS PROCESS, RIGHT, IS, IS THROUGH THOSE DIFFERENT BUDGET BUDGET MEETINGS THAT ARE ALREADY SAID.

SO NOT THROUGH PARTS BOARD.

YEAH, SOME THAT MY, MY AMENDMENT FOR RIGHT NOW.

I MAY BRING IT UP.

UH, I'M NOT SURE YET.

SO THAT ALL BEING SAID, UH, I THINK WE JUST CONTINUE DISCUSSION FOR RIGHT NOW.

UM, IS THERE ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER THING FOR THE RECOMMENDATION AS THE HAS BEEN POSTED IN BACK UP? SO I DID HAVE ONE OTHER RECOMMENDATION AND THIS IS COMPLICATED.

IDEAL SERVICE WOULD BE 70 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE POSITIONS, 70 ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE POSITIONS.

UM, AND I THINK IT REALLY ADDRESSES, UM, A TRUE NEED OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS THE GROUND MAINTENANCE TEAM GOES.

AND IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THE HANDOUT ON THE RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO, WHICH WOULD BE TO ASK FOR FUNDING FOR 14 ADDITIONAL FTES FOR PAR GROUND MAINTENANCE TEAM TO ALIGN WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE IN FISCAL YEAR 14.

AND THE EXPLANATION OF THAT IS THIS IS SOME INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE BUDGET OFFICE STAFF AND CARD, AND WHICH I ALSO RECEIVED FROM MY APPOINTING COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE.

UM, THERE WERE SOME COMPARISONS DONE, UM, BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 14 AND FISCAL YEAR 23 AS FAR AS, UM, BUDGETED AND THEN ACTUAL EXPENDITURES.

AND AS WE KNOW, THE, THE WAGES HAVE GONE UP, THE AMOUNT OF, UM, PARK LAND CONSIDERING PARKLAND ACQUISITION IN THE PAST 10 YEARS AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE TEAM HAS GONE UP.

AND IF YOU CAN READ THROUGH ALL OF THIS HOPEFULLY QUICKLY, UM, I WOULD SAY IT WAS AMAZING TO ME THAT, UM, WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND ON NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON A TEAM TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE PARKLAND THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE RIGHT NOW.

AND THIS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAINTENANCE.

WHAT I HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED AND WORRIED ABOUT NOT ENOUGH STAFF, NOT ENOUGH TEAM TO DO THINGS LIKE THE TASKS OF, OF VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, LITTER, RESTROOMS, NATURAL AREA INSPECTION, SERVICING, PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS IN THE YEAR, BUT IF YOU WANNA SUMMARIZE IT, UM, IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FUND, OR, OR THE CITY HAS NOT FUNDED THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ADEQUATELY TO DO THE WORK FOR GROUND MAINTENANCE THAT IT NEEDS TO DO.

IN FACT, UM, IT WOULD REALLY TAKE IN CONCLUSION FROM ALL OF THIS RESEARCH 14 FULL-TIME POSITIONS TO ALLOW GUARD TO RETURN TO FISCAL YEAR 2014 LEVELS OF SERVICE.

AND THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT PEAK OR IDEAL SERVICE.

IT IS

[01:25:01]

AND THAT'S WHERE I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO ASK FOR AN ADDITIONAL 14 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR CARD ROUND MAINTENANCE TEAM.

UM, I HOPE THAT YOU CAN READ THROUGH THIS QUICKLY AND CONSIDER IT BECAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS REALLY THE FOUNDATION, UM, FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR PARKS.

IF, IF THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO GIVE ADEQUATE FUNDING TO PARKS, GROUND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, UM, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ESPECIALLY THE CLIMATE RESOLUTION AND THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN IF THERE IS NOT ADEQUATE HARD EMPLOYEES TO TAKE CARE OF THE PARKS.

I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO , IT'S THERE.

UM, YOU'RE MAKING A MOTION TO MOVE.

I MOVE THAT WE UM, AMEN.

THE RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE FUNDING FOR 14 ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR PAR GROUND MAINTENANCE TEAM IN ORDER TO ALIGN WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT GUARD HAD IN FISCAL SCHOOL YEAR 2014.

DEFINITELY THREE RECOMMENDATION.

THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE A SECOND ON THIS ONE? I'LL SECOND IT.

UM, ALL RIGHT, NOW WE CAN OPEN UP TO DISCUSSION.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? OKAY.

UM, SEEING NO DISCUSSION, UM, I WILL NOW TAKE A VOTE.

SO ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR TO INCREASE FUNDING, UM, FOR WORKING ADDITIONAL FTES FOR OUR GROUND MAINTENANCE TEAM FOR, FOR BEING PICKY ABOUT WHERE'S THIS GOING? YEAH, I GUESS IT WOULD BE AGENDA, IT WOULD BE NUMBER FOUR.

LIKE IT WOULD BE A SEPARATE ADDITIONAL ITEM FOUR.

SO FOUR WE HAVEN'T YET ADDED.

CORRECT.

YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT INCREASE IN HOUR OF WAGE YET, BUT, WELL, BECAUSE YOU PULLED IT.

UM, SO, BUT I ACTUALLY THINK IT WOULD BE ONE C 'CAUSE ONE IS ABOUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON TOP OF THE PROPOSED PART FFY 25 BUDGETS.

AND WE WOULD JUST ADD LIKE WE CAN CHA WE COULD CHANGE THE WAY THAT WAS FORMATTED TO COVER BECAUSE BASICALLY THE WAY I DID THIS WAS, OKAY, ONE IS THE PART BAR BUDGET, TWO IS THE PART BUDGET.

I GUESS IT COULD MAKE A THREE THAT WAS THE PART BUDGET.

I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE.

THAT MAKES MORE SENSE.

SO, AND THEN DO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT ONE LAST, SO IT REALLY WOULD BE THREE.

SO IT WOULD BE LIKE THE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON TOP OF ANY PROPOSED CARD FY 2025 BUDGET TO ADDRESS FUNDING FOR 14 ADDITIONAL FTES FOR CARD GROUND MAINTENANCE TEAM TO ALIGN WITH SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE AND FFY 2014.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, SO LIKE KIND OF CHANGE THIS TO THIRD.

YEAH, THIS WOULD BECOME, YEAH, SO BASICALLY BLAH BLAH.

YEAH, THIS WOULD BECOME FOUR AND THEN JUST FOLLOW THIS FORMAT THAT'S YOU'RE PROPOSING.

BUT YES, I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO THE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON TOP OF ANY PROPOSED PAR FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET, UM, TO ALLOCATE FUNDING FOR 14 ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR PAR GROUND MAINTENANCE TEAM IN ORDER TO ALIGN WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICING FISCAL LEADER.

DO YOU ACCEPT IT THAT THE AMENDMENT OR WE THINK ABOUT US? SO, UH, I THINK WE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ALLOWED, SO YOU'LL STOP ME IF THIS IS OUT OF RULES, BUT FOR ME TO ACCEPT THAT THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS THE WORK OF THE WORKING GROUP.

SO I FEEL LIKE THE WORKING GROUP HAS TO ACCEPT THIS.

I'LL, I'LL TAKE A VOTE.

I'LL IN HERE.

UM, YEAH, I'LL, I'LL THINK I'LL, I'LL TAKE, SO WAIT IS I PUT THE MOTION FORWARD? DID I HAVE TO ACCEPT IT? OH, OH YEAH.

SO NOW YOU CAN KEEP YOUR MIND.

WELL SINCE YOU ARE THE PERSON WHO DID THE MOTION, I'M GONNA ASK YOU DO YOU FEEL THAT THAT'S RELEVANT? BUT I THOUGHT WAS, DID THIS, UM, TO YOUR POINT, I REALLY WISH THAT MORE OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

IT SHOULD BE MORE OF A GROUP.

THANKS.

I THINK WE SHOULD ACTUALLY DISCUSS AND VOTE.

INTENTION THERE THAT IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL FUNDS ON TOP OF THE PAR BUDGET TO USE IT FOR THIS? IS THAT WHAT THAT, IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT LINE? NO, IT MEANS THAT YOU WOULD ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS ON TOP OF THE BUDGET FOR THIS SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

SO EXECUTIVE SESSION .

SO ONE, TWO, SORRY, THERE'S BEEN A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT AS PROPOSED BY BOARD MEMBER, WILL YOU REREAD THE FIRST LINE ONE TIME THE LINE WHERE YOU REFERENCED THE BUDGET, SO THE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON TOP OF THE PROPOSED PAR FY 2025 BUDGET TO ADDRESS FUNDING OR 14 ADDITIONAL FTS FOR PAR GROUND MAINTENANCE TEAM TO ALIGN WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE IN FISCAL YEAR 2014.

SO IS THE

[01:30:01]

OH, OKAY.

LOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON TOP OF ANY PROPOSED, BECAUSE WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A PROPOSED PART FFY 2025 BUDGETS.

THAT'S WHY IT SAYS ANY, SO.

OKAY, I UNDERSTAND.

ACTUALLY IN THERE ADDITIONALLY.

AND I GUESS THIS IS A QUESTION BECAUSE I'M, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN FOR TIME TO GET THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE 31ST.

WHEN DO Y'ALL, WHEN DOES THE DEPARTMENT HAVE TO SUBMIT? YOU ALREADY SUBMITTED.

THE FIRST SUBMIT IN OUR FINANCIAL FORECAST, WE SUBMIT OUR ADDITIONAL, THE NEXT STEPS BY MAY 3RD.

AND THEN WHEN DO Y'ALL GET BACK THE PROPOSED AUGUST? AUGUST .

YOU GET IT BACK THE APPROVED IT'S BACK IN AUGUST.

ACTUALLY, I GUESS THEN THIS IS JUST A GENERAL QUESTION I HAVE THEN FOR THIS BEFORE, BEFORE READ ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT, UM, IS, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD TAKE THIS UP NOW FOR, FOR THIS RECOMMENDATION? OR DO YOU BELIEVE THAT UH, WE SHOULD WAIT BACK AND SEE WHAT COMES BACK IN AUGUST AND THEN MAKE MORE QUICK RECOMMENDATION IF APPROPRIATE AT THAT TIME? I THINK, AND THAT'S A LEGIT QUESTION I HAVE.

I DON'T, YEAH, I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT NOW.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEN I FEEL LIKE PARTS DEPARTMENT'S GOING TO CONSIDER IT AS A RECOMMENDATION TO US AS THEY ARE FORMULATING THEIR BUDGET AND THEY, WELL, SORRY, BUT TO BE CLEAR, THIS RECOMMENDATION IS TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

THAT'S CORRECT.

SO REALLY THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, NOT TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

'CAUSE REALLY THEY, THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OF.

THERE'S NO PARTICULAR POINT.

I GOT IT.

UM, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THIS.

I HAVE, I READ THROUGH THE BUDGET, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS IN FISCAL YEAR 2324 REGARDING THIS AND COMING FROM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS ALTER BAYLA AND POOL BECAUSE, AND IT SAID HARD LACKS ADEQUATE STAFFING TO MAINTAIN PARKS, RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTERS AND POOLS.

UM, GIVEN THE LARGE INVESTMENTS FROM 2018 BONDS AND PARKLAND VACATION FEES OR IT HAS MORE FACILITIES AND LAND THAN EVER BEFORE.

LACK OF SUFFICIENT STAFFING.

BUT FOLLOW AND I CERTAINLY AND I THINK Y'ALL HAVE TOO.

SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? IF NOT, I'M GONNA TAKE A VOTE.

SO, UM, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

THERE'S BEEN A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.

ALRIGHT, EIGHT ONE, UM, MO MOTION CARRIES.

UM, ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS? ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, TO, UH, ADD A, IS THIS GONNA BE FOUR NOW? YEAH, I THINK THIS ONE IS NUMBER THREE.

AND THEN SO IF YOU'RE ADDING SOMETHING ELSE, THAT WOULD BE FIVE.

SO THIS WOULD GO IN THE SECTION WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATION TO ALL APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST TO, UM, NOT JUST TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BUDGET.

TWO IN THE RECOMMENDATION AND IN THE RATIONALE, UH, ADD A NUMBER FIVE NOW THAT READS, UM, THE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES AND TO PASS INTO, UM, ALLOCATE MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.

NO LESS THAN A HUNDRED PERCENT.

I SORRY, JUST TO BE CLEAR 'CAUSE I MUST HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION DURING SOME OF THE DISCUSSION, BUT IS THIS AMENDMENT TO ADJUST FOR THE RECOMMENDATION TO ADJUST THE MINIMUM WAGE, WHICH I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF? OR IS THIS FOR THE 14 ADDITIONAL FTES FOR THE WORKERS? OR IS IT LIKE BOTH IN ONE FOR, UH, FOR FOR, FOR FOR ALL HOURLY WAGE AND UH, EMPLOYEES AND, AND THEN THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL SALARY EMPLOYEES.

[01:35:01]

OH, SORRY, I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE 14 ADDITIONAL GROUND MAINTENANCE FTES, THIS RECOMMENDATION TO RAISE, RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR THEM, BUT YEAH, UM, NO, SO WE PASSED THAT ONE AND NOW WE'RE JUST TALKING MORE BROADLY ABOUT, UM, FOR ALL CITY OR RECOMMENDING LIKE THE SKETCH HALF FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES.

YEAH, SO, AND I'LL READ IT ONE MORE TIME.

UH, BOARD MEMBER FRANKLY JUST SO, UH, IT'S A BIT MORE CLEAR, WHICH THE, IT'S GONNA BE, UH, MY MOTION IS TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AND TO ALLOCATE MY BUDGET FOR A COST OF LIMITED ADJUSTMENT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES OF NO LESS THAN 4%.

SO THIS WOULD AFFECT NOT ONLY THE DEPARTMENT, BUT ALL CITY EMPLOYEES.

AND AGAIN, THE RATIONALE BEING THAT I THINK WE ADVOCATE FOR, UH, COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS AND FOR INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGES, UH, TO, UH, NOT ONLY FOR DEPARTMENT STAFF BUT FOR ALL STAFF.

I, I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF THAT.

IS THAT WHAT WE VOTED ON WITH THE LAST ONE OR IS THAT THE CURRENT THING THAT'S BEING VOTED ON? I GUESS I MISSED A SECOND.

THIS IS, THE LAST ONE WAS FOR THE 14 FTES FOR GROUT MEETING.

THIS IS NOW A NEW MOTION.

YEAH, SORRY, IS THERE A SECOND ON THIS MOTION? THERE'S A SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER.

DO YOU NEED TO NOTE THE, UH, I'LL MAKE A NOTE BY BOARD MEMBER ORM AND WE'LL MAKE A NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT, UH, BOARD MEMBER FLOWERS, UM, HAS RECUSED HERSELF NOW FROM THIS ITEM MOVING FORWARD AND HAS STEPPED OUT OF THE ROOM.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA TAKE ABOVE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

MOTION CARRIES.

EIGHT ZERO WITH ONE ABSENT, UH, WITHAL.

UM, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE? NO.

THAT SHE CAN, UM, ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME I WILL ENTER, I'LL GO, I'LL, I'LL FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, UM, WITH THE AMENDMENTS FOR, UH, THAT WE'VE JUST PASSED, WHICH IS TWO OF THEM.

WHICH ONE OF 'EM? THE 14 FTE AND ANOTHER ONE IS REGARDING, UM, MINIMUM WAGE AND P UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL RIGHT.

WHICH CARRIES EIGHT ZERO WITH ONE REFUSAL.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

AND THEN, UH, I, ILL, I'LL CAP FLAG SHARE FLOWERS BACK IN.

UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR AND THEN WE WILL DO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE SPEAKERS.

ONLY OTHER ONE WE HAVE SPEAKERS FOR.

THAT'S THE ONLY OTHER ONE WE HAVE SPEAKERS FOR, SO I DON'T WANNA KEEP THEM TOO LONG.

UM, ALRIGHT, UH, WE'LL HEAR FROM AGENDA ITEM.

THIS PRESENTER'S FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

GOOD EVENING CHAIR.

HI, I'M DAVID AVEN, THE DIVISION MANAGER OF COMMUNITY RECREATION, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT OR ACTUALLY LET MY COLLEAGUE, DEVIN FARBER, SHE'S, UH, THE PROGRAM MANAGER IN NORTH DISTRICT, DO A LITTLE PRESENTATION ON THIS YEAR'S COLD WEATHER SHELTERS ACTIVITY THAT WE HAD.

UM, AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, THE COMMUNITY RECREATION DIVISION GETS CALLED INTO, UM, ACTION EACH WINTER FOR COLD-WEATHER SHELTERS ACROSS THE CITY.

AND OUR TEAM STEPS UP AND PROVIDES OVERNIGHT SHELTERING, UM, UH, RANGES FROM THIS YEAR WAS 12 NIGHTS TO 20 NIGHTS IN THE PAST PER YEAR.

AND, UH, AND WE DO THAT THROUGH WITH THE COOPERATION OF AND AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT IT'S, IT'S OUR STAFF THAT BOOTS ON THE GROUND THERE 24 HOURS WHEN NEEDED AND, AND PUTTING IN WORK WITH OTHER CITY WORKERS AS WELL.

ALL THAT, UH, FROM DEB, UH, PRESENT PRESENTATION TONIGHT, TALK ABOUT THIS YEAR'S

[01:40:01]

STATISTICS.

UM, DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.

MY NAME'S DEVIN FARBER.

I AM IN PROXIMATE RECREATION.

I OVERSEE THE NORTH DISTRICT RECREATION CENTERS FIVE IN THE NORTH AREA AS OUR PROGRAM MANAGER.

UM, TONIGHT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SHELTERS.

SO TONIGHT WE'RE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW SHELTERS, UM, WORK IN OUR DEPARTMENT.

I'LL PRESENT SOME DATA, UM, AS WELL AS THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'LL RECOGNIZE, UM, THE PROGRAM STAFF THAT ARE INVOLVED.

THAT PICTURE ON THE RIGHT THAT YOU SEE IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE SET UP ARE GYMNASIUMS. WHEN WE HOST COPE WEATHER SHELTERS OR EMERGENCY SHELTERS.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE COTS LIKE THAT AND SOMETIMES THERE'S, UM, MATS AND BLANKETS.

BUT EITHER WAY, WHEN GUESTS COME TO OUR REC CENTERS, WE PROVIDE THEM A WARM SPACE IN OUR GYMNASIUMS, UM, TO STAY OUT OF THE ELEMENTS.

SO IN FISCAL 2024, UM, WE PROVIDED SHELTER FOR THOSE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.

UM, TODAY WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

THE DECISION TO OPEN COLD WEATHER SHELTERS TYPICALLY MADE IN THE MORNING, UM, IN COORDINATION OF MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.

LIKE DAVID SAID, HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, A PH PARD, CAPITAL METRO, MANY PARTNERS ARE AT THE TABLE.

UM, THEY LOOK AT THE WEATHER AND WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT THRESHOLDS TO DECIDE IF WE'RE GONNA OPEN OR CLOSE THAT NIGHT.

UM, THE FIRST IS IF IT'S GOING TO, UH, EXPECT IT TO BE 32 DEGREES AND LOWER, UM, WE WILL ACTIVATE, IF IT'S GOING TO BE 35 DEGREES AND WET, WE'LL ACTIVATE THAT NIGHT.

AND THEN THE NEWEST THRESHOLD THAT WAS INTRODUCED THIS YEAR, IT'S GONNA BE 35 DEGREES WITH THE WINDCHILL OF 32 OR COLDER WILL ACTIVATE.

SO THE FLYER, UM, THAT'S ON THE LEFT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A MARKETING PIECE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN PUTS OUT.

AND, UM, IT'S BLASTED OUT THROUGH MANY, MANY DIFFERENT CHANNELS TO THE COMMUNITIES TO LET THEM KNOW THAT SHELTERS ARE GONNA BE ACTIVATED.

UM, CAPITAL METRO WILL PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION THAT, UM, FOR THOSE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A WARM PLACE TO ONE TEXAS CENTER AND ONE TEXAS CENTER IS WHAT CALLED OUR EMBARKATION SITE.

SO ALL OF THE GUESTS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SHELTER WILL GO TO ONE TEXAS CENTER.

THEY'LL GET CHECKED IN, WE'LL GET INFORMATION SET, UM, AND IN THERE THAT'S KIND OF OUR CENTRAL HUB.

WE'LL SEND THEM OFF TO THE DIFFERENT SHELTERS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED FOR THAT NIGHT SLIDE.

SO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, IS A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE, THE DATA OF IT.

UM, THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, LIKE DAVID MENTIONED, WE HAD 12 TOTAL DAYS THAT WE HAD A SHELTER.

UM, AND SO THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SHELTER.

ONE IS, UH, LEVEL ONE WHERE IT'S JUST A TYPICAL 9:00 PM TO 7:00 AM AND THEN A LEVEL TWO IS WHERE WE WILL SWAP, UM, OPERATIONS AND WE'LL BE OPEN 24 HOURS.

SO OF THOSE 12 DAYS OF OPERATION FROM JANUARY 13TH THROUGH 20TH, WE WERE ACTUALLY OP UM, ACTIVATED EIGHT CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF SHELTER OPERATIONS.

AND THEN KIND OF DRILLING DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THOSE EIGHT CONSECUTIVE DAYS, IT GOT REALLY, REALLY COLD WHERE WE WERE MEETING THOSE, THOSE THRESHOLDS THAT I TALKED ABOUT ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

UM, AND SO WE WERE SWAPPED TO A LEVEL TWO ACTIVATION WHERE WE WERE, UM, OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY.

AND SO THOSE, THE CENTERS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS SHELTERS, UM, SWITCHED FROM OFFERING AFTERSCHOOL AND SENIOR PROGRAMMING AND SPORTS, AND WE RELOCATED THOSE PROGRAMS TO OTHER CENTERS THAT WERE NOT A SHELTER AND WE WERE FULL-BLOWN, UM, SHELTERS 24 HOURS A DAY.

UM, SO AS YOU SEE HERE, WHEN WE'RE, WHETHER WE'RE JUST AN OVERNIGHT SHELTER OR A 24 HOUR OPERATION, UM, WE UTILIZE 878 HOURS OF TEMP SEASONAL STAFF FOR THOSE 12 DAYS.

UM, AND WE ALSO UTILIZED 14 COMMUNITY REC EXEMPT STAFF TO, UM, HOST THOSE EVENTS.

UM, IN PARTICULAR DURING THOSE EIGHT DAYS, UM, YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS THERE, THE CITY HOUSED AND FED STARTING AT 209 A NIGHT ALL THE WAY UP TO 659 A NIGHT, UM, FOR A TOTAL OF 2200 PEOPLE SERVED.

AND WE OPENED SEVEN SHELTERS OVER FIVE DAYS, WHICH SET A RECORD FOR OUR DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR.

PRETTY INCREDIBLE STUFF.

UM, I'LL NOTE THAT THE CITY PARTNERS WITH, UM, AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE TO MANAGE THE SHELTER OPERATIONS AT THREE CENTERS.

AND SO WE'LL JUST PROVIDE ONE STAFF AS A KEY HOLDER, UM, TO HELP WITH ANYTHING THAT THAT CONTRACTOR MAY MEET.

BUT IF WE OPEN ADDITIONAL SITES, WHICH IN THIS CASE WE OPENED SEVEN, UM, WE, A UL CAN ONLY HAVE THREE FOR THEIR CAPACITY, AND AFTER THAT IT'S PART RUN.

UM, SO WE ARE THANKFUL FOR A URBAN LEAGUE, BUT THEN AFTER THAT IT DID FALL ON, UM, PART, OH, AND THEN THIS IS A PICTURE ACTUALLY IN THE BACKGROUND, UM, OF THE MAYOR AND A, UM, EMPLOYEE FROM SSO AT ONE TEXAS CENTER OF WHAT, UH, EMBARKATION LOOKS LIKE.

THEY HAVE A COMPUTER, THEY GET THE GUESTS REGISTERED, UM, THEY GET THEM IN THE SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE POTENTIAL

[01:45:01]

RESOURCES DOWN THE ROAD.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S, IT'S CENTRALIZED AT THAT ONE LOCATION.

SO THESE ARE THE NUMBERS.

FOR THE 12 NIGHTS, WE HAD, UM, A TOTAL OF 3,100, A LITTLE OVER 3,100 GUESTS SERVED.

AND THEN WHEN YOU DRILLED THAT DOWN, WE HAD, UM, 2,500 MEN.

WE TYPICALLY DO HAVE, UM, ALL MEN AT SHELTERS AND THERE ARE SOME WOMEN, AS YOU SEE, 634 THAT NEED A PLACE, UM, BEYOND WHAT SOME OF OUR PARTNERS CAN PROVIDE.

AND SO SOME OF OUR CENTERS PROVIDE, UM, MEN ON ONE LEVEL AND WOMEN ON ANOTHER LEVEL.

AND WE ALSO PROVIDED SHELTER FOR 27 PETS, DOGS AND CATS.

SO, UM, IN COMMUNITY REC WE HAVE, UM, DISTRICT MANAGERS OR COMMUNITY RECREATION MANAGERS.

YOU SEE ME UP THERE, LIKE I SAID, I OVERSEE THE, THE FIVE REC CENTERS IN THE NORTH.

UM, DELANO BROWN, WHO WAS NOT HERE ABLE TO COME TONIGHT, HE OVERSEES FIVE REC CENTERS IN THE CENTRAL PART OF BOSTON.

WEST BAXTER, WHO'S IN THE BACK, UM, OVERSEES THE FOUR REC CENTERS IN THE SOUTH.

AND KELLY MALTSBERGER, UM, OVERSEES SENIOR PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS SENIOR TRANSPORTATION.

DURING SHELTER TIME, OUR PROGRAM MANAGER HATS COME OFF AND WE BECOME SHELTER MANAGERS AND WE HANDLE A LOT OF THE LOGISTICS BEHIND THE SCENES, TRANSPORTING GOODS AND SERVICES TO THE DIFFERENT, UM, CENTERS THAT WE HAVE.

WE OVERSEE ALL OF THE STAFFING, WHETHER THAT'S PART STAFFING OR CITYWIDE STAFFING AND GETTING THEM INTO THE, THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THAT THEY NEED.

WE MAKE SURE THAT THE MEALS ARE ARRIVING ON TIME AND WE HAVE HEADCOUNTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE MEALS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE.

UM, KELLY HELPS SINCE SHE OVERSEES SENIOR TRANSPORTATION TO GET, UM, DIFFERENT SUPPLIES THAT WE NEED LAST MINUTE TO THE DEFENSE CENTERS.

SO THESE COMMUNITY RECREATION INJURIES PRETTY, ARE, ARE PRETTY INTEGRAL TO OUR OPERATIONS, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT FROM THE MANAGERS ARE THESE SITE SUPERVISORS.

THEY OVERSEE SPORTS AND AFTER SCHOOL AND OUR SPECIAL EVENTS.

BUT WHEN, UM, SHELTERS ARE ACTIVATED, THESE ARE OUR GO-TO PEOPLE.

THEY REALLY KNOW HOW TO BECOME A SHELTER MANAGER AND PUT ON THAT HAT.

UM, AND THEY HAVE REALLY PERFECTED THEIR, THEIR TRAINING AND THEIR SKILLS TO MAKE THESE, THESE SHELTERS, UM, SUCCESSFUL.

SO SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TONIGHT, ACTUALLY TAMIKA BATEMAN IS NOT HERE.

MARCO OLIVERAS, WHO'S SITTING AT MARCO CLAY SHELTON, UM, RUSSELL DIGGS, BILLY JAMES AND MARK VASQUEZ, WHO'S ALSO HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU MARK.

UM, THESE, THESE GUYS DO A TREMENDOUS JOB.

THEY, THEY SWAP FROM, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE KIDS HAVE THE BANDAIDS THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR KNEES TO PASSING OUT FIRST AID SUPPLIES TO THE, UM, GUESTS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR SITES.

THEY ARE NOT AFRAID TO PICK UP A BROOM OR A MOP AND CLEAN THE FACILITIES BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING SUCH LARGE NUMBERS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

THEY HAVE TO HELP WITH CLEANING.

THEY USE A LOT OF THEIR, UM, CRISIS TRAINING TO HELP WITH EITHER MENTAL HEALTH OR TRUE, UM, EMERGENCY SITUATIONS TO PUT OUT FIRES THAT ARE AT THE CENTERS.

UM, THEY PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S THERE.

UM, AND THEY OVERSEE THE, ALL OF THE STAFF THAT ARE THERE 24 HOURS OR JUST OVERNIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO THEY, THEY TRULY ARE HEROES AND THEY DO SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB WHEN, WHEN HOSTING THESE, UM, SHELTERS AND WE'RE VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO.

AND THEN IN THE END, YOU GUYS CAN SEE WE HOSTED, UM, THESE SHELTERS AND THEY REALLY ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING RELIEF TO OUR COMMUNITIES DURING THESE COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS.

AND THEY COULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THE DEDICATED SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS THAT COME TOGETHER IN A REALLY STRESSFUL TIME THAT'S VERY FAST MOVING AND A LOT OF STUFF IS COMING AS YOU, UM, THEY REALLY MANAGE IT VERY GRACEFULLY, UM, IN ORDER TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY DURING THESE, THESE IMPLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

THAT'S ALL WE GOT.

THINK EVERY I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE PETS.

DO Y'ALL, DO Y'ALL PROVIDE LIKE FOOD AND LIKE RELIEF, LIKE FOOD FOR THE PETS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? IT IT DEPENDS ON IF WE'RE JUST OVERNIGHT OR FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

WE DO WORK WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENT WITH OUTSTANDING SERVICES THAT GIVES US CRATES AND GIVES US WATER BOWLS AND, UM, PET DOG FOOD IF WE NEED IT.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW LONG WE'RE, WE'RE OPEN FOR.

UM, IT'S JUST THE THOUGHT BECAUSE I DO, I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSING INSECURE WHO HAVE PETS AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS IS POSSIBLE, BUT IT'S JUST ME BEING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR DOING ALL OF THIS.

ALL I JUST, THIS IS JUST, UH, UH, I THINK WE'RE DOING ALL THIS.

ONLY BE ABLE DAY, THEY'RE JACK AT HOME AT THAT COST.

BUT I WONDER IF THERE'S ANY BENEFIT TO HELP TO WHEN THESE, UH, COLD WEATHER SHELTERS GET ACTIVATED, IF THERE'S ANY BENEFIT TO SEEING IF LIKE BEYOND AN ANIMAL SHELTER OR EMANCIPATE OR A PA CAN COME AND LIKE VACCINATE PETS WHILE YOU HAVE A AUDIENCE.

UM, I KNOW THAT'S JUST ADDING A WHOLE NOTHER THING TO YOUR PLATE, BUT I JUST WONDER, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GO TO THE PEOPLE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SERVICES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FEASIBLE,

[01:50:01]

ANIMAL CENTER HAS A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVES COMPLETELY DEDICATED TO ALL THINGS RELATED TO PROVIDING FOR PETS THAT ARE, UM, LIVING IN, ARE LIVING WITH INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING LESSNESS.

SO HE GOES AROUND, HE MAKES SURE THEY HAVE FOOD, OKAY.

HE DOES MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE VACCINATIONS THAT THEY NEED.

HE GETS THEM SCHEDULED FOR THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, BUT HE'S A, HE'S SOLELY DEDICATED, UH, AND, AND, AND FOR THAT VERY PURPOSE.

SO HOPEFULLY BY THE TIME THE GOLD WEATHER SITUATION COMES AROUND, THOSE ANIMALS ARE ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

YEAH, THAT'S REALLY GOOD INFORMATION.

UH, WELL I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU WERE DOING.

UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, FOR OUR PRESENTERS? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY OR, I DON'T WANNA MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING.

OH, NO.

WELL, I MEAN, I WILL, I'LL ADD ON TO WHAT DEVIN, THAT WAS OUR CORE GROUP OF, UH, STAFF THAT IS INVOLVED IN THE SHELTERING, BUT IT, IT DRILLS DOWN TO OUR BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS ASSISTANCE THE NEXT DAY.

THE, THE WORKLOAD THEY HAVE FROM CLEANING UP THESE FACILITIES AFTER, ESPECIALLY AFTER AN EIGHT DAY STRAIGHT, UH, UH, ACTIVATION AND THEN, AND OUR TEMP AND EVEN OUR TEMP EMPLOYEES THAT COME IN THAT USUALLY DO THE OVERNIGHT STAFFING, PUSHING 'EM AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT THE CORE GROUP YOU SAW UP THERE TODAY, WE WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING PRETTY MUCH 24 7 AROUND CLOCK ON ON NUMEROUS ISSUES THAT COME UP WITH THIS AND JUST TROUBLESHOOTING AND, AND JUST BEING AS FLUID AND FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE TO, TO ADAPT TO THE SITUATIONS.

AND OUR RELIABILITY NEEDS TEAM IS ON CALL TOO, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE FLUSHING TOILETS OR USING FAUCETS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS TEND TO BREAK WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE USING THEM ALL AT ONE TIME.

SO THAT TEAM RESPONDS OFTEN.

AND HVAC AS WELL, AND HVAC, WHICH REALLY UPDATE.

AND I WILL SAY OUR DIRECTORS ALWAYS RIGHT THROUGH BESIDE US.

THAT'S FINE TOO.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.

IT'S ESSENTIAL.

AND SO IT'S, IT'S HUMANE.

I MEAN IT'S JUST, UM, SUPER IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR UNPREDICTABLE CLIMATE THAT SO MANY COLD, BEAUTIFUL EPISODES IN AUSTIN THAT CAN BE PREDICTED.

SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU ALL THAT HAVE HELPED OUT SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.

THE BUDGET .

ALRIGHT, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, SO I WILL MAKE A, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO GIVE TO THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE AS MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION, UM, TO SEND THEM OFF THIS FOLLOWING LETTER, UM, AND IT READS, UH, DEAR AND THEN THE NAME OF THE PERSON WE ARE WRITING TO EXTEND OUR HEART FAILURE, APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION FOR THE STANDING EFFORTS OF OF YOU, OUR PROJECT MANAGERS AND PROGRAM SUPERVISORS MAKING THE COLD WEATHER SHELTERS A REALITY THIS SEASON.

YOUR DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND TIRELESS COMMITMENT HAVE TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE IN NEED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

IN THE FACE OF CHALLENG AND CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXEMPLARY ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS SUCH AND EFFECTIVE COORDINATION TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE COLD WEATHER SHELTERS.

YOUR ATTENTION TO DETAIL, UH, PROACTIVE APPROACH AND ABILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGE SITUATIONS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SHELTER AND SUPPORT TO VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS DURING HARSH WEATHER CONDITIONS.

YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY VALUES AND IDEALS TOWARDS THOSE SEEKING REFUGE FROM THE GOALS ARE TRULY COMMENDABLE.

THROUGH YOUR HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION, YOU HAVE NOT ONLY PROVIDED A SAFE PAYMENT FOR THOSE IN NEED, BUT HAVE ALSO UP CALLED THE VALUES OF EMPATHY, DIGNITY AND SOLIDARITY THAT DEFINE OUR CITY.

I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

YOUR EFFORTS HAVE NOT GONE A NOTICE AND WE ARE IMMENSELY PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF OUR TEAM.

TOGETHER YOU HAVE MADE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN THE LIFE OF OTHERS AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WITH YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YEARS TO COME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR GOAL, WHETHER SHELTER PROGRAM, YOUR PASSION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND UNW COMMITMENT ARE TRULY INSPIRING INES REGARD AND THAT IT'S SIGNED BY ME AND UH, THE VICE CHAIR OF VICE CHAIR FLOWERS.

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

UM, HERE 9 0 9 0 9 0 9 0 9 0.

UM, SO WITH THAT I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THIS LETTER, SEND IT OUT TO THE, UM, INDIVIDUALS LISTED IN THE PRESENTATION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND THERE.

A SECOND.

FROM BOARD MEMBER RE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ANYONE GOT A COPY OF IT? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA TAKE A UH, 10 MINUTE BREAK SO EVERYONE CAN COME BACK AT 8 0 10 .

8:10 PM UH, I TEAM THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING AT EIGHT OR SO.

YEAH, KEEP IT MOVING.

[01:55:21]

I, YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

COME.

WHAT DO YOU ACT? I SICK YET.

THIS IS THE FIRST AND WE ONLY MEETING SO I'M PULLING DOUBLE.

APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND SUBSEQUENT THIS LIKE, SORRY, BUT LAST YEAH, LIFE HAPPENED ALSO SCHEDULING LIKE, SO I JUST ASSUMED THAT LIKE WELL YEAH, GET IT BECAUSE I WAS THAT SIDE WEATHER FILTER SO, SO HARD COME THAT AT ALL IN THE HOSPITAL.

I REMEMBER MUCH QUICKER.

EVERYBODY ELSE, THEY USUALLY LONGER SO YEAH, THEY, BUT YEAH, I'M LIKE, OH, SO I GET IT COMPLETELY.

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST HOW LIKE, LIKE YEAH BECAUSE YEAH, WE'RE DOING, YEAH.

SO IT'S LIKE WHO KNOW? SOMETHING WEIRD.

IT'S ALL I YEAH, NO WORRIES.

NO WORRIES.

GLAD FEELING BETTER.

YEAH, I, OH MY GOD.

I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT ALSO, OH YEAH, I I THINK HE'S THAT WAY.

THAT ONE, IT'S REALLY MORE THAT MEETING.

ALL FOR HIM.

NOT , SO SO ARE ALL FOUR NINE KNOW? YEAH, I, SORRY, I KNEW SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT IT JUST COULDN'T MIND.

WELL I'M SURE SO THE ALL ENGINEERING ELSE, DO YOU KNOW WHY? IF THEY DO, SHE IS RIGHT THAT SHE SAY, BUT WE ARE

[02:00:03]

SO THE REAL SCHOOL WHICH IS YEAH, YEAH.

14 POSITION GUYS CONTINUE TO WORK THEN KIND OF THINK SHE GOT THERE, WHICH IS WHERE SHE COULDN'T DO FACEBOOK WITH IAN.

THE, YOUR REQUEST ABOUT, UH, THE GETTING ALL THOSE NUMBERS.

WELL THEY'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY'RE THE ONE THAT BROUGHT, BROUGHT SOME ME.

THERE'S NO SCAN.

WE HAVEN'T TRIED GET STARTED.

THIS IS CLOSER TO YOU, RIGHT? FIX.

YEAH, IT'S CLOSER BUT THAT WAS REALLY BAD.

TODAY DO LIKE 30 HERE, 28, 30, 47 CRITERIA FOR ME IT WAS 40.

WELL I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GONNA BE THE PERMANENT NO.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF NO WE'RE GOING TO, I DIDN'T, I KNOW IF YOU KNOW YOU DID THING.

YEAH, PROBLEM.

WHAT HAPPENED? APPRECIATE Y'ALL.

THE CITY, YOU CHECK HOUSE, YOU BETTER MY PROBLEM.

NO, I'LL PROBABLY REALLY, UM, OR THANK YOU.

GLAD YEAH.

UM, SO YEAH, NO THEY PLAY LIKE WEB TRAINING ONCE I LIKE PLATFORM LONG MONDAY WE GOT I THINK SO.

SEE NORMALLY DELTA ME IN ADVANCE SO I WOULDN'T BE ED.

BUT I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF TURN AROUND, WELL MAYBE THAT'S WHY NO ONE HAS BEEN APPOINTED.

HOLD WHAT YOU WELL THEY MAY HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BUT THEY NOT, MIGHT NOT BE.

YEAH, THERE WAS, THERE WASN'T A NEW NAME LAST YESTERDAY.

I WONDERING.

UH, OH, I WASN'T SAY WE SCREENSHOT.

YEAH, I CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

YEAH, THAT WAS BOARD.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? ARE WE BOARD MEMBERS ON WEBEX? ARE WE BACK? YEAH.

CAN YOU JUST TURN ON YOUR WAVE TO ME OR SAY SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE HERE? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

ALRIGHT, WE HAVE FOUR.

UM, IT IS NOW EIGHT 10, UH, AND WE ARE UH, COMING BACK, UH, TO THE SPECIAL CALLED VIA PARK RECREATION BOARD.

WE'RE NOW GONNA MOVE ON TO AGENDA

[5. Approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the permanent use and temporary use, not to exceed 160 days, of parkland located at Waller Beach at Town Lake Metropolitan Park (30 East Ave). Total mitigation fee is $1,774,993. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers). (PARD Long Range Strategies: Operational Efficiency).]

ITEM NUMBER BUD.

UM, WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM KAREN.

POP.

IS THERE AION, IS THERE A DOUBT FOR THE YEAH, SORRY, WE'RE NOT USED TO NO, NO, THAT'S HAVING DO IT OURSELVES.

YOU GO AHEAD.

Y'ALL WANT, LET'S JUST TAKE THIS THE MIDDLE SECTION SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE BETTER.

OKAY, GREAT.

[02:05:03]

SO DO YOU WANT ME JUST TO SAY NEXT SLIDE THAT YEAH, THAT'LL BE GREAT.

OUR SYSTEM'S NOT BACKING A BREAK YET, I JUST, PERFECT.

OKAY, GREAT.

HI, I AM KAREN P AND I AM AN ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR AT ANA ENERGY AND I'M OVER THE, UM, NETWORK DESIGN GROUP.

SO WE DO ALL THE NEW, UH, THE DESIGNS FOR THE SERVICE CONNECTIONS IN THE DOWNTOWN NETWORK AREA.

SO TONIGHT I'M UM, GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT TO YOU ABOUT, UH, THE CHECK 26 APPLICATION WE HAVE FOR AN AUSTIN ENERGY DUCK BANK THAT WE'D LIKE TO INSTALL IN PARKLAND, UM, BETWEEN, UM, A MANHOLE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BOATHOUSE THERE BEHIND THE FOUR SEASONS, UM, TO ANOTHER MANHOLE THAT IS IN THE BRAZOS CUL-DE-SAC.

THAT KIND OF DEAD ENDS RIGHT THERE.

SO THE TOPICS WE'RE GONNA COVER TONIGHT ARE THE OVERALL PROJECT SUMMARY, UM, THE DOWNTOWN POWER RESILIENCY GOALS AND NEEDS, THE HISTORY OF, UM, ALTERNATIVE DUCK BANK DESIGNS AND ROUTES.

SO WHAT WE CONSIDERED BEFORE WE CAME TO YOU, UM, DETERMINATION OF FINAL ROUTE AND DESIGN PARKLAND IMPACTS DUE TO DUCK BANK DESIGN AND COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT SLIDE.

SO THE OVERALL PROJECT SUMMARY, THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE AND MAINTAINABLE DUCK BANK SYSTEM THAT AE WILL USE TO PROVIDE DISTRIBUTION POWER TO THE DOWNTOWN GRID.

SO MORE SPECIFICALLY, WE JUST FINISHED THE RAINY STREET SUBSTATION IN THE RAINY DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, IT'S ONE OF, UM, NOW THREE SUBSTATIONS.

WE HAVE THAT, UM, PROVIDE SERVICE IN THE DOWNTOWN NETWORK AREA.

AND SO THAT WAS JUST ONE PIECE OF THE PROJECT.

THE NEXT PIECE IS ACTUALLY GETTING FEEDERS, WHAT WE CALL FEEDERS OR CIRCUITS OUT OF THE RAINY SUBSTATION TO SERVE DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE DOWNTOWN NETWORK AREA.

UM, AND SO I DO WANNA MENTION THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT ROUTES FOR FEEDERS OR CIRCUITS, YOU WANNA DIVERSIFY THOSE CIRCUITS, MEANING YOU DON'T WANNA PUT ALL OF YOUR CIRCUITS IN ONE BANK.

SO THERE ARE NINE CIRCUITS AT THE SUBSTATION.

AND SO THEY NEED, UM, A DISTINCT ROUTE FOR, WE DO USUALLY THREE CIRCUITS IN A DUCK BANK.

SO THREE DISTINCT ROUTES, UM, TO AVOID PUTTING THEM ALL IN ONE DUCK BANK.

AND SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN TO THAT DUCK BANK, THEN YOU WOULD, IT WOULD BECOME CURTAINS FOR ALL OF THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE BEING SERVED BY THE RAINY SUBSTATION.

SO, UM, THIS PARTICULAR ROUTE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THROUGH PARKLAND IS WILL INCLUDE A A NINE, UM, IT'S ESSENTIALLY NINE FIVE INCH CONDUITS IN A DUCK BANK.

UM, AND IT WILL RUN WITHIN, UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN WALLER BEACH AND A TOWN LAKE METRO PARK.

SO AGAIN, THAT AREA BEHIND THE FOUR SEASONS THERE, IT'S APPROXIMATELY 772 LINEAR FEET, UM, THAT WILL BE INSTALLED VIA MICRO TUNNELING.

AND THE BEAUTY OF IT IS THAT IT WILL BE AT A DEPTH OF AT LEAST 20 FEET AND IN SOME CASES 40 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.

AND THEN THERE WILL BE ABOUT 241 LINEAR FEET INSTALLED VIA OPEN CUT.

UM, AND THAT WILL BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BOATHOUSE AND ALSO IN THAT RIGHT OF WAY AT THE BRAZOS, UM, CUL-DE-SAC.

SO WHY WE'RE DOING IT, I MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RAINY STREET SUBSTATION.

SO WITH GROWTH DOWNTOWN, WHAT IT IS, UM, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CONTINUED RELIABILITY TO EXISTING CUSTOMERS, BUT ALSO SUPPORTS FUTURE GROWTH.

SO THE DOWNTOWN NETWORK, UM, NAME IS A LITTLE DECEIVING IN THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE DOWNTOWN, IT EXTENDS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE WEST CAMPUS AREA AND NOW IT'S EXTENDING, UM, SOUTH OF THE RIVER.

SO THE PALMER EVENT CENTER, UM, IS KIND OF, UM, PART OF THAT AREA.

THEN AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT MORE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS, UM, SOUTH OF THE RIVER THAT WE'RE KIND OF GETTING PRESSURE FROM DEVELOPERS TO SERVE VIA NETWORK.

UM, SO AGAIN, THE NEED IS THERE THAT WE NEEDED TO BUILD THE RAINY STREET SUBSTATION.

AND THEN, UM, AGAIN, ADDING THOSE FEEDERS IS, UM, THE MECHANISM TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO SERVE CUSTOMERS WITH RAEY STREET SUBSTATION.

SO WE STARTED THIS PROJECT ABOUT 2018, SO IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME AGO.

AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE PICKED ROUTES, WE'VE DONE DESIGNS, AND THEN WE'VE COME UP AGAINST

[02:10:01]

ROADBLOCKS.

WE PICKED A ROUTE, UM, AND THEN THAT WAS, AND GOT PRETTY FAR IN DESIGN AND THAT WAS SHOT DOWN BY PROJECT CONNECT.

THEY WERE USING THE TRINITY, UM, STREET, UM, ALIGNMENT THAT WE HAD CHOSEN FOR, UM, PROJECT CONNECT BLUE LINE.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE ALSO ANOTHER PROJECT THAT'S GOING UP EAST AVENUE, WHICH IS BEEN OUR I 35 SOUTHBOUND FRONTAGE ROAD.

WELL, AS WE KNOW, EXXON IS EXPANDING IH 35, SO WE'VE RUN INTO A LOT OF ROADBLOCKS AND SO WE HAVE CONSIDERED ALTERNATIVES TO, UM, THE PARKLAND BOARD.

UM, BUT AGAIN, WE'VE, WE'VE RUN OUT OF OPTIONS AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE COMING TO YOU TO ASK FOR, UM, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CHAPTER 26 ASK.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO THIS TIMELINE JUST KIND OF SHOWS JUST WHAT I, UM, MENTIONED JUST HOW LONG AGO WE STARTED AND, YOU KNOW, WE, 2018 WAS WHEN WE INITIALLY KICKED OFF THE PROJECT AND BY 2020 WE REALIZED DUE TO FEEDBACK FROM PROJECT CONNECT THAT WE COULD NO LONGER PURSUE THE ROUTE OF TRINITY.

UM, AND THEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT, OKAY, WHAT ARE OTHER MECHANISMS TO SERVE LOADS SOUTH OF THE RIVER? AND WE LOOKED AT A, UM, A CROSSING THERE AT, UM, CESAR SHAW AS IN WALLER CREEK, UM, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WAS, UM, NOT, UM, OWNED BY THE CITY BUT OWNED BY .

AND THEY SHOT US DOWN.

THEY DIDN'T WANT US TO ATTACH CONDUITS TO THE BRIDGE.

UM, SO THEN WE MOVED A LITTLE FA BIT FURTHER AND DECIDED, WELL, LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE, UM, POTENTIAL OF GOING THROUGH THAT, THAT PARKLAND.

AND UM, SO THAT SORT OF STARTED, UM, A SERIES OF MEETINGS AND STUDIES TO DETERMINE WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO, UM, GO THROUGH PARKLAND WITHOUT ANY SORT OF, UM, UH, DISRUPTION TO OBVIOUSLY, UM, THE PARK OR AREAS SURROUNDING THAT.

SO WE SPENT THE LAST FEW MONTHS LOOKING, OR I'M SORRY, THE LAST YEAR, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LOOKING AT POTENTIAL OPTIONS FOR GOING THROUGH THE PARKLAND.

AND SO WE'VE GOTTEN PRETTY FAR ALONG, UM, THE TEAM, JACOBS ENGINEERING, UM, WHO'S HERE TONIGHT HAS BEEN GREAT ABOUT, UM, RUNNING THROUGH ALL OF THE TRAPS AND WE NOW HAVE PRETTY GOOD DESIGN, UM, READY TO ROLL OUT AND CONTINUE WITH, UM, FOR COMPLETION, PROBABLY THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND THEN HOPEFULLY COMPLETION OF THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, UM, BY THE END OF AUGUST OF 2025.

UM, NEXT SLIDE.

AND AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST SOME SLIDES SHOWING SOME OF THE ALTERNATE, UM, ROUTES THAT WE CONSIDERED.

UM, AGAIN, THIS IS THE ONE UP TRINITY THAT WAS, UM, THAT WE HAD TO, UM, ABANDON BECAUSE OF CONFLICTS WITH THE PROJECT CONNECT BLUE LINE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AND THIS WAS AN, THIS SHOWS THAT EAST AVENUE DUCK BANK, IT ACTUALLY GOES ALL THE WAY FROM RAINY SUBSTATION THERE IN THE RAINY DISTRICT ALL THE WAY UP TO 12TH STREET.

THIS IS ONE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE 2018.

UM, FELT PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY, UM, BUT IT HAS BEEN A BEAR TO TRY AND WORK WITH TEXDOT WITH THE, UM, EXPANSION PLANS TO, TO GET THAT INSTALLED.

SO WE STILL DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHETHER WE'LL GET THAT ALIGNMENT.

AGAIN.

CESAR CHAVEZ BRIDGE CROSSING, I MENTIONED.

UM, SO WHERE WE ARE AT NOW IS THAT WE DO HAVE, UM, THE INFRASTRUCTURE SHOWN IN GREEN AND THEN A LITTLE BIT IN BLUE, UM, UNDERWAY.

UM, AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CONNECT TO THIS PROPOSED PARKLAND BORE SHOWN IN PINK.

UM, SO WE DO HAVE THOSE PROJECTS, UM, IN DESIGN AND READY FOR BID, THE GREEN READY FOR BID.

AND THEN THE BLUE IS CURRENTLY UNDER, UH, DEVELOPMENT WITH THE, UM, CONFLUENCE PART OF THE CREEK DELTA DEVELOPMENT.

WE, WE'VE SORT OF JUMPED ON, UM, ON THEIR DESIGN AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH THEM AND THEY'RE GONNA INSTALL OUR CONDUIT FOR US.

UP GOING WITH MICRO TUNNELING EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE MORE EXPENSIVE OPTION, JUST SO THAT WE COULD MINIMIZE ANY IMPACTS DUE TO FRACK OUTS.

SO, UM, AGAIN, UH, PARKLAND BORE, WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL? SO WE LOOKED AT, JACOBS LOOKED AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

WE CONSIDERED HAND MINING.

WE CONSIDERED, UM, DIRECTIONAL DRILLING AND THEN MICRO TUNNELING.

AND THE MICRO TUNNELING OPTION MEANS THAT NO, THERE WILL BE NO TREE REMOVALS.

UM, THE CRITICAL ROOT ZONES WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.

IT DOES NOT IMPACT ANY ARCH ARCHEOLOGICALLY RELEVANT SOILS.

THERE'S LOW IMPACT IN NATURAL RESOURCES ANTICIPATED, UM, POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RELEASE RISK IS LOW.

SO ONE THING WE DID CONSIDER WITH THE DIRECTIONAL DRILLING WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS CHEAPER THAN THE MICRO TUNNELING.

HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IT TO, UM, FOR FRACK OUTS, WHICH JUST MEANS BASICALLY THAT IT, UM, UH, COMES UP THROUGH THE SURFACE AND OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T WANT THAT.

UM, SO WE ENDED

[02:15:01]

UM, THE OTHER THING WITH HAND MINING, THERE IS A SAFETY RISK FOR THE WORKERS.

THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DEPTH.

UM, AND SO WE RULED THAT OUT.

SO MICROT TUNNELING, UH, WILL RESULT IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF IMPACT TO THE PARK, UM, AND REALLY DOES MAKE THE MOST SENSE FOR THIS APPLICATION.

UM, AND THE PROPOSED OPTION MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF ECM SECTION 5.3 AND WOULD MINIMIZE ALL IMPACTS TO THE PARK.

UM, SO BASICALLY WHAT DOES MICRO TUNNELING INCLUDE? SO WE'RE GONNA PUT TWO SHAFTS.

ONE IN THE, UM, THE ENTRANCE WILL BE AT THE BRAZOS, UM, CUL-DE-SAC.

AND THEN, UM, THE OTHER SHAFT WILL BE THERE IN THE, IN FRONT OF THE BOATHOUSE.

AND BASICALLY YOU INSTALL THE MICRO TUNNEL OR THE, UM, STEEL CASING UNDERGROUND AT A DEPTH BETWEEN 20 AND 40 FEET.

SO YOU WON'T ACTUALLY SEE ANY, UM, MOVEMENT WITHIN THE PARKLAND THERE, UM, JUST AT EITHER END.

AND SO THERE WILL BE SOME NOISE, UM, BUT NOT SIGNIFICANT.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY MINIMAL DISTURBANCE EXCEPT THAT THOSE TWO ENDS.

UM, THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST IS LOOKING AT ABOUT, UM, 4.8 MILLION.

UM, AND THAT WAS ESTIMATE WAS BASED ON AN ENGINEER'S PROBABLE, UH, OPINION OF PROBABLE COSTS AT ABOUT THE 30% STAGE, WHICH IS WHERE WE'RE AT NOW, MOVING TOWARDS THE 60, ACTUALLY NEXT SLIDE.

SO THIS JUST GIVES YOU AN OVERVIEW.

SO IF YOU CAN SEE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PINK AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BOATHOUSE.

AND THEN YOU SEE THE FOUR SEASONS POOL THERE AND THE BOAR RUNS BACK THROUGH THE PARKLAND AND THEN COMES OUT AT BRAZO STREET.

SO ALL OF THOSE TREES THAT ARE SHOWN, UM, NONE OF THEM WILL BE IMPACTED.

YOU WON'T ACTUALLY SEE ANYTHING ALONG THE SURFACE THERE.

UM, THERE WILL BE, UM, SO IT'S ESTIMATED 160 DAY CONSTRUCTION PERIOD DURATION, AND THERE WILL BE A SMALL, UH, REROUTE TO THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL'S.

CURRENT ROUTE IS SHOWN IN LIGHT BLUE THERE, DASH LIGHT BLUE, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW IT KIND OF JOGS DOWN AND GOES VERY CLOSE TO THE MICRO TUNNELING EXIT SHAFT CONSTRUCTION AREA.

SO WE ARE PROPOSING TO REROUTE IT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER UP IN THE RED.

UM, SO NOT MUCH OF A CHANGE.

SO IT WILL BE, THERE WILL STILL BE ACCESS TO THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.

UM, SO JUST A TINY RERO, UM, NO CLOSURE, UM, WILL BE REQUIRED AND IT WILL BE, UM, WILL CERTAINLY ADHERE TO THE ADA A COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS.

SO, UM, THIS LAST SLIDE, UH, BASICALLY, UM, THERE WERE TWO THINGS UNDER THE CHAPTER 26 THAT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS.

ONE IS THAT THERE WAS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF TAKING OF SUCH LAND.

I HOPE THAT IN SHOWING YOU THE VARIOUS OPTIONS THAT WE DID CONSIDER, UM, AND THE REASONS WHY WE COULDN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM, THAT WE HAVE, UM, ADDRESSED THAT.

UM, THE SECOND ONE IS THAT THE PRO PROGRAM OR PROJECT INCLUDES ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE LAND AS A PARK RECREATIONAL AREA, SCIENTIFICAL SCIENTIFIC AREA, WILDLIFE REFUGE OR HISTORICAL SITE RESULTING FROM THE USER TAKING.

SO AGAIN, WITH THE MICRO TUNNELING, THERE IS VERY LITTLE DISRUPTION, UM, TO THE PARKLAND.

AND FINALLY, AUSTIN ENERGY IS ASKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE 13,000 UM, SQUARE FEET OF PERMANENT USE AND 10,000, ALMOST 11,000 SQUARE FEET FOR TEMPORARY USE ON PARKLAND NOT TO EXCEED 160 CALENDAR DAYS.

UM, AGAIN, LOCATED IN THAT AREA THAT I'VE POINTED OUT AND THE TOTAL MITIGATION THAT AUSTIN ENERGY WILL BE PAYING TO PART IS, UM, 1.7 MILLION.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE.

ONE THING I DID WANNA MENTION THAT I DIDN'T, UH, TOUCH ON IS THAT THIS IS A SUBTERRANEAN EASEMENT, WHICH MEANS THAT BECAUSE IT'S AT A DEPTH LOWER THAN 20 FEET, YOU CAN BUILD OVER THE TOP OF IT.

SO SAY PARD WANTED TO GO BACK IN AND PUT A PAVILION IN THAT AREA, YOU COULD.

UM, SO THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF A SUBTERRANEAN EASEMENT IS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT COULD STILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE TOP IF YOU IF ARE SO DESIRED.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS WITH BOARD MEMBERS? UM, THOSE ON WEBEX? I, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I GUESS NOT A QUESTION, BUT I WOULD NOTE THAT THE MOU THAT WAS POSTED AS BACKUP HAS A ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE FOR JUNE.

AND SO IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE PRESENTATION, THE COMPLETION DATE HAS SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT A LITTLE BIT TO AUGUST.

IT, YEAH, IT'S A COMBINATION OF WHEN WE HAD THE, UM, SO WE NEEDED A 30% DESIGN TO COME BEFORE YOU AND IT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD SOME, A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY.

UM,

[02:20:01]

UM, SO WE'VE HAD TO PUSH OUT THE, THE DATES A BIT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE AN UPDATED SCHEDULE OR OUR BEST GUESS.

WHEN IS THE CLOSURE OF OR NOT CLOSURE? I GUESS THE REROUTE FOR THE TRAIL.

YOU SAID THERE WAS 30 DAYS FOR THE REROUTE OF THE TRAIL.

UH, THE TRAIL REROUTE WILL BE FOR 160 DAYS DURING CONSTRUCTION AND PART OF THE VACATION'S GONNA BE WHENEVER TO REROUTE IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND WE DO, UH, DESTRUCT A LITTLE BIT OF LANDSCAPING, BUT THAT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE INCLUDED IN THE BID DOCUMENTS FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO RESTORE THAT.

YEAH, IT'S A REROUTE OF THE ANN AND ROY BUTLER HIKING BIKE TRAIL FOR 30 DAYS OR 160.

160.

BUT AGAIN, THE REROUTE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT.

IF YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE, IT'S JUST A SLIGHT JOB OVER TO AVOID, TO GIVE ENOUGH CLEARANCE FROM THE, UH, EX THAT'S THE EXIT SIDE, EXIT SHAFT, SO THAT THERE'S NO DANGER TO PEDESTRIANS.

GOTCHA.

SURE.

SO THE 13,116 SQUARE FEET FOR PERMANENT USE, THAT'S ALL UNDERGROUND, 20 TO 40 FEET UNDERGROUND.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S A SUBTERRANEAN EASEMENT.

YEP.

HAVE ANY, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, BUT I KNOW YOU SAID THERE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO DAMAGE TO THE TREES OR THE TREE ROOT SYSTEMS. HAVE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES BEEN DONE JUST FOR THIS OR YOU CAME OUT WITH THE IPF TO SEE IF IT WOULD HAVE ANY IMPACT? UM, RICKY'S I CAN ACTUALLY, YES, WE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY.

SO FOR ALL OF THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS WE DO, AND, UM, ERI AND WE HAVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM, .

SO WE, WE'VE ALSO SUBMITTED TO THE TEXAS HISTORIC COMMISSION AND WE'VE ONLY AREA THAT THEY WANT TO DO SOME, OUR, OUR METHODOLOGICAL EVALUATION WILL BE ON THE BREATHS, , EVERYTHING ELSE SAYS THE ACTUAL DUCT ITSELF IS ONLY NINE INCHES BY FIVE.

NO, THAT'S DECEIVING, RIGHT? IT'S NINE CONDUITS.

SO, UH, THE CONDUITS ARE BASICALLY THE PLASTIC PVC THAT HOUSE THE ELECTRICAL WORK IN THEM.

SO IT'S, THOSE ARE FIVE INCHES AND THEY'RE NINE.

SO IT'S THREE CONDUITS BY THREE CONDUITS, OR IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THAT THIS IS GONNA BE IN A STEEL PACING PIPE THAT'S 36 INCHES IN DIAMETER.

OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW.

YEAH, WE HAVE TO GO BACK.

AND THEN, UH, IS THERE A CONCRETE DUCT SURROUNDING THAT OR DOES IT JUST GO RIGHT INTO THE ROOM? YOU JUST PUSH THE, THE STEEL CASING PIPE THROUGH AND THEN, UM, ESSENTIALLY YOU'LL PUT THE CONDUITS IN AND YOU'LL PUT SPACERS IN THERE AND THEN YOU'LL PUT LIKE A FLOWABLE GROUT SURROUNDING IT.

SO IT'LL JUST BE THE STEEL CASING AND THEN INSIDE OF IT WILL BE THE CONDUITS AND THEN OBVIOUSLY OUR ELECTRICAL WORK, ELECTRICAL FREE CIRCUITS IN THERE AND WE PUT SPARES IN JUST IN CASE SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN AND WE NEED TO GO BACK AND RUN TO.

BUT AGAIN, TO DO THAT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO OPEN CUT.

RIGHT? YOU HAVE A MANHOLE AT EACH TENT.

AND SO YOU WOULD DO EVERYTHING FROM THOSE MANHOLES.

THERE WOULD NEVER BE A NEED THAT YOU WOULD OPEN, CUT THAT AND DIG, GET ABLE TO GET SOMETHING OUT.

THAT'S GREAT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR PRESENTERS BOARD MEMBERS? ALRIGHT, NO THERE DISCUSSION.

IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? THERE IS TO RECOMMEND TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE PERMANENT USE AND TEMPORARY USE NOT TO EXCEED 160 DAYS OF PARKLAND, LOCATED AT WALLER BEACH, AT TOWN LAKE METROPOLITAN PARK 30 EAST AVENUE, WITH ONLY MITIGATION FEE BEING $1,774,993.

SO MOVED RIGHT BY TO CHURCH HOWARD.

IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND.

THERE'S A SECOND.

THERE'S SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER BECKER.

UM, I ALL, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS AGENDA? ON, ON THIS MOTION? ALL RIGHT.

IT'S TIME.

I'LL TAKE A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA

[7. Approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve a change order for the Barton Springs Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project which would remove the family restroom from the southeast corner of the women’s shower and dressing area. (Sponsors: Reed, Taylor).]

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON THIS CHAIR? OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE, UH, CHRIS FLORES.

UM, ONE FOR ITEM.

I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER ON THE LIVE, IT'S MORE A MIC FIRST.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE, UH, SPEAKER ON THE VIRTUAL FIRST AND THEN WE'RE

[02:25:01]

UH, MIKE KADI, UH, CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING SO WE CAN CONFIRM THAT WE CAN HEAR YOU? UH, MIKE KTI, IF YOU CAN HEAR US, CAN YOU HIT, UM, STAR SIX ON YOUR DIAL PAD TO UNMUTE? OH WAIT, HOLD ON.

I THINK I NEED TO UNMUTE YOU.

HANG ON, MIKE.

HE MAY BE AWAY FROM THIS PHONE.

SHOULD WE DO FIRST STEP, LET'S BEGIN THEN WITH IN PERSON.

UH, YEAH, LEMME JUST SEE.

MIKE, CAN YOU HEAR US? SO YOU DROPPED OFF, WE CAN CIRCLE BACK.

I'LL JUST GO, UH, YOU MAY WE PROCEED.

CHRIS LORES, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM WHEN YOU START TALKING.

WOULD YOU MIND PUTTING UP A COUPLE OF SLIDES? OH, SURE.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UM, GOOD EVENING.

UM, ESTEEMS BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CHRIS FLORES, I'M DISTRICT 10.

I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF DIANA PROCTOR.

UH, SHE'S CALLED OUT OF TOWN FOR A FAMILY ISSUE.

UM, OUR, WE WE'RE, OUR TOPIC TONIGHT IS, UM, WE HAVE AN UPDATE AND A REQUEST FOR YOU REGARDING THE BARTON SPRINGS POOL BATHHOUSE REHAB DESIGN, UM, THE, A GROUP OF WOMEN SWIMMERS MET WITH, WITH DIRECTOR MCNEELY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, HAYDEN HOWARD, UM, BOARD CHAIR BOGS AND MEMBERS OF THE BATH HOUSE PROJECT TEAM ON FEBRUARY 29TH, 2024.

UM, WE FOLLOWED UP WITH A YOUTUBE VIDEO EXPLAINING OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE WOMEN'S SHOWER AREA.

WE, WE HEARD TODAY THAT OUR YOUTUBE VIDEO HAS 600 VIEWS.

UM, UH, WE HAVE ONE ESSENTIAL CONCERN THAT WE'RE COMING TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT, AND THAT IS THE LOCATION OF THE, UH, FAMILY SHOWER WITHIN THE WOMEN'S SHOWER AREA.

WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO REMOVE THAT ONE BATHROOM.

UM, UH, THE, WE WERE CALLING IT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER, UM, JUST SO YOU CAN ORIENT YOURSELF, UM, THERE IN THE REHAB, THERE ARE FIVE NEW FAMILY BATHROOMS PROPOSED.

UM, THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A SURVEY WHERE, UH, 18% OF PEOPLE MENTIONED THE WORD FAMILY BATHROOM OR FAMILY SHOWER.

UM, WE THINK IT WAS FAR FEWER.

WE THINK IT WAS MORE LIKE 6%, BUT THE LOCATION OF IT, UH, PUTS A FAMILY SHOWER RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE WHERE THE WOMEN ARE NAKED IN OUR SHOWERING.

AND WE THINK A MORE DISCREET OPTION FOR BOTH FAMILIES AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WOULD BE THE LOCATION OF THE SHOWER.

WHERE IT IS TODAY, IT IS IN THE ENTRANCE TO THE WING SHOWERS.

WE THINK THAT WORKS PERFECTLY RIGHT WHERE IT IS.

WE DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR ANOTHER SHOWER IN THE CORNER, RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF THE WOMEN.

UM, UH, THE EXISTING WOMEN'S FAMILY RESTROOM IS FREQUENTLY ABUSED.

UM, THE LIFEGUARDS ARE TASKED WITH CLEANING IT AND, UM, HOMELESS, UH, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO GET IN THERE AND THEY FOUND BLOOD AND FECES AND

[02:30:01]

NEEDLES.

I WON'T GO INTO DETAILS, BUT IT FREQUENTLY IS LOCKED BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED.

UM, SO THERE, IF THAT DOES BECOME THE FAMILY FOUND FOR IT, IT WOULD, THE FAMILY SHOWER, IT WILL NEED SOME KIND OF MAINTENANCE, SOME KIND OF OF IT.

UM, AT DEEP BED, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FAMILY SHOWER IS VISUALLY SEEN BY THE RECEPTION.

UM, SO IT IS SUPERVISED.

UM, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH, UH, ALL I'M GONNA SPEAK ABOUT.

WE, UH, DIANA INCLUDED INFORMATION, UH, FOR YOU IN YOUR PACKETS TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

WE THINK ELIMINATING THAT BATHROOM WILL SAVE MONEY ON PLUMBING AND CONSTRUCTION.

WE DON'T THINK FIVE ARE NECESSARY.

FOUR WILL WORK MAYBE EVEN FEWER THAN FOUR.

UM, BUT THAT'S THE ONE ITEM THAT WE'RE ASKING, UH, EVERYONE TO TAKE A LOOK AT TONIGHT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

UM, WE'RE HERE NOW FROM AVI AND THEN WE'LL GO TO QUESTIONS.

MIKE, CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU ATTEMPT TO UNMUTE BY HITTING STAR SIX ON YOUR, YOUR DIAL PAD? OKAY, GOT IT.

SORRY ABOUT THAT GUYS.

NO PROBLEM.

YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.

UM, I'M MIKE TI I'M WITH THE BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY AND AS THE CITY'S PARTNER IN THE BATHHOUSE PROJECT.

WE JUST LEARNED TWO DAYS AGO THAT YOU WERE CONSIDERING YET ANOTHER DESIGN CHANGE REQUEST TO THE BATHHOUSE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE REPEATEDLY ASKED BOARD MEMBER REED TO CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

UH, I GUESS INSTEAD YOU'RE LOOKING AT A CHANGE ORDER REQUEST THAT MS. PROCTOR IS MAKING, AND WE THINK THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED AND FRANKLY, A WASTEFUL REQUEST TO HAVE THE BOARD REVISE A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT WAS ALREADY LAUNCHED PURSUANT TO THE APPROVAL OF THIS PARKS BOARD AND THE CITY COUNCIL, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS, MAYBE HUNDREDS OF PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS FILED BY MS. PROCTER ON THIS PROJECT.

BUT SHE HAS NOT LEARNED THAT THIS PROJECT WAS A RESULT OF AN EXCEPTIONALLY THOROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.

SHE MAY PERSONALLY DISAPPROVE THE LOCATION OF THE FAMILY CHANGING ROOM, BUT HER OPINION IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT COUNTS.

AND THE DESIGN TEAM THAT PUT THIS PROJECT TOGETHER HAD TO CONSIDER IMBALANCE MANY DIFFERENT COMPETING INPUTS PRIORITIES AND CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS HISTORIC STRUCTURE, INCLUDING EVEN THE SPECIFIC LOCATION AND THE NUMBER OF THE FAMILY CHANGING ROOMS. NOW, Y'ALL MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT I ACTUALLY SERVED IN THE CITY'S BUILDING AND FIRE CODE BOARD OF APPEALS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

SO I CAN TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CITY BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS.

THEY ACTUALLY PROVIDE THAT THERE HAS TO BE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLUMBING FIXTURES BASED ON THE PROJECTED OCCUPANCY LOAD FOR THE BATHHOUSE.

THERE MUST ALSO BE A NUMBER OF FAMILY ROOMS INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT THAT ARE NEEDED TO MEET THE BUILDING CODE'S PLUMBING FIXTURE REQUIREMENT.

THERE ARE ALSO REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE CITY'S ACCESSIBILITY CODE PERTAINING TO THE USE OF UNISEX TOILET AND BATHING ROOMS. IN PARTICULAR, THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE CITY REQUIRES THAT EACH TOILET ROOM AND BATHING ROOM SHALL BE ACCESSIBLE.

AND THE BUILDING CODE ALSO STATES THAT AN ACCESSIBLE FAMILY OR ASSISTED USED TOILET ROOM SHALL BE REQUIRED.

WHERE AN AGGREGATE SIX OR MORE MALE OR FEMALE WATER CLOSETS IS REQUIRED.

AS FOR THE SPECIFIC LOCATION OF THE FAMILY CHANGING ROOM IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE BATHHOUSE, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AND RECOLLECTION THAT THIS LOCATION WAS DIRECTED BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE AQUATICS DEPARTMENT, AND INCLUDING ONE WAS INCLUDING THIS PARTICULAR ONE IN THE ONE IS DRESSING AREA.

I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THESE LAST MINUTE CHANGES FROM SELF-APPOINTED INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO IMPOSE A REAL COST ON THE INTEGRITY OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT WAS SO LABORIOUSLY ESTABLISHED AND USED FOR THIS PROJECT.

WE REALLY BELIEVE IT WILL BE AN UNPRECEDENTED DISRUPTIVE AND WASTEFUL USE.

SO THE PARKS BOARD'S IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE TIME TO INTERVENE AT THIS LATE STAGE IN THE PROJECT TO CATER TO THE REQUEST OF A SINGLE STAKEHOLDER GROUP.

AND TO DISREGARD THE PROFESSIONAL DESIGN EXPERTISE AND EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY INPUT PROCESS THAT WAS USED TO CREATE THE BATHHOUSE DESIGN, WE URGE YOU TO PLEASE REJECT THE RECOMMENDATION REQUESTED IN AGENDA ITEM SEVEN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

AND ALSO AT OUR BARTS BOARD MEETINGS, UM, SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ABOUT THE DESIGN.

THAT WAS FOR OUR LAST, UH, SPEAKER ON THE AGENDA.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

UM, AT THIS TIME, BOARD MEMBERS, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANY DISCUSSION OR ANY MOTION.

SO I BROUGHT THIS ITEM FORWARD CHAIR BECAUSE, UM, WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE WOMEN'S SWIMMERS GROUPS WHO USE THIS, THE WOMEN'S CHANGING AREA AND DRESSING AREA.

THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TO ME PERSONALLY

[02:35:01]

I AM STUNNED THAT THE BART SPRINGS CONSERVANCY WOULD NOT BE WELCOMING MORE INPUT FROM CITIZENS WHO DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO, TO GIVE INPUT ON THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OR FINAL DESIGN.

IN FACT, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FINAL DESIGN WAS NOT ON THE WEBSITE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, OR IT WAS KIND OF HELD SINCE 2018, FROZEN IN A INACCESSIBLE AREA OF THE WEBSITE.

AND I WOULD THINK THAT BECAUSE SPARK SPRINGS CONSERVANCY WANTS TO SERVE THE CITIZENS, PARTICULARLY THE SWIMMERS WHO ARE THERE EVERY DAY OR VERY FREQUENTLY, THAT THEY WOULD WELCOME SOME INPUT LIKE THIS.

I DON'T SEE THAT IT'S GOING TO CAUSE A COST PROBLEM TO REALLOCATE THE SPACE.

UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION THAT DIANA PROCTOR SENT US, UM, IN ORDER TO USE THIS FAMILY RESTROOM, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A SHOWER FACILITY, IT'S JUST A FAMILY RESTROOM THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE WOMEN'S DRESSING AREA TO GET INTO IT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE IS ACCESS FROM ANYWHERE ELSE OUTSIDE OF IT THAT IT IS, UM, GOING THROUGH THE WOMEN'S SHOWER AREA, UM, AND PRESENTS SAFETY ISSUES.

IF I, I HOPE EVERYONE READ THIS PRESENTATION.

IF NOT, UM, I THINK WE HAVE PRINTED COPIES.

UM, THE SAFETY IS ISSUES WERE DETAILED BY, UM, CHRIS FLORES AND BY DIANA PROCTOR WHO ARE THERE PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY.

I KNOW THAT DIANA TEACHES SWIMMING AND AS AN AVID SWIMMER, AND I HOPE THAT OUR BOARD WILL CONSIDER THIS MINOR CHANGE IN USE OF THAT AREA.

UH, THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT DESIGNS, UH, CALLED FOR FOUR FAMILY ROOMS. AND IF YOU GO ON THE WEBSITE, YOU CAN SEE A PRESENTATION THAT WAS DONE IN OCTOBER, I THINK OF 2018 THAT SAYS RECOMMENDS FOUR FAMILY ROOMS IN EVERY CASE.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS ONE HAD TO BE ADDED IN THAT PLACE.

AND I JUST WANT TO REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY IN THIS ISSUE.

SO I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION.

UM, I GUESS HOW WE CAN PHASE IT, UH, TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES FOR STAFF TO UTILIZE THE SPACE FOR FAMILY RESTROOM NUMBER FIVE.

UM, SORRY, I WAS JUST READING THAT.

SO, OKAY, SO THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UM, BY BOARD MEMBER REED.

SO, UH, AND TO RECOMMEND THAT, UH, CAN YOU JUST RESTATE IT? JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE ATTEMPT IT BE OKAY YEAR.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE A CHANGE ORDER FOR THE BARTON SPRINGS BETH HOUSE REHABILITATION PROJECT, WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE FAMILY RESTROOM FROM THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE WOMEN'S SHOWER AND DRESSING AREA.

WAS DESCRIBED TO ME AS STALL.

THERE IS A MO MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY BOARD MEMBER REED.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

THERE'S A SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN IT UP TO DISCUSSION, UH, BOARD MEMBER.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS AGENDA ITEM OR THIS MOTION? YEAH.

YES, I HAVE QUESTIONS.

I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN BROUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOOK, BUT I'M STILL STRUGGLING.

I'VE READ EVERYTHING.

I'M STILL STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT TO UNDER PUT A LITTLE DIFFERENT FLEX AND CLARITY ON WHAT THE CONCERN IS HERE.

SO WHAT I READ IN THE DOCUMENT IS THAT THE EXISTING BATHHOUSE, THERE ARE SOME CURRENT ISSUES I THINK WITH THE FACT THAT IT'S A ROOM THAT CAN BE CLOSED OFF.

IS THAT CORRECT? MM-HMM.

AND SO THE CONCERN HERE IS THAT THIS IS ALSO A ROOM THAT CAN BE CLOSED OFF.

THE, THE NEW DESIGN IS NOT COMPLETELY CLOSED OFF LIKE THE EXISTING ONE IS.

THE EXISTING ONE RIGHT NOW IS A FULL DOOR CAN BE LOCKED.

THE NEW ONE WILL, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE A PERSON'S FEET.

SO IT'S A DOOR, BUT NOT ALL THE WAY DOWN.

UM, THE EASIEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND IT, BOARD MEMBER FACTOR IS THE WAY THAT I WAS EXPLAINED TO ME IS IS THAT CURRENTLY THE FAMILY RESTROOM THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS THERE, WHICH IS GONNA BE THE ONE, UH, THIS ONE MM-HMM.

, UM, HAS, IT'S A FULL DOOR, ONE OF THESE, LIKE A NORMAL DOOR.

WHAT THEY'RE GONNA REPLACE THE DOORS FOR THAT FAMILY RESTROOM AND WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO FROM THE RESTROOM, NUMBER FIVE.

BUT THEY INDICATED FAMILY RESTROOM NUMBER FIVE, IF THEY'RE GONNA INSTALL WHAT

[02:40:01]

AND SO, OKAY.

LIKE, UH, YOU GO TO A PUBLIC, UH, TOILET FACILITY, BUT WHERE YOU CAN SEE UNDERNEATH OR OVER, YOU KNOW.

SO THAT'S THE TYPE OF DOOR WHICH SHE WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.

THEY'RE REPLACING THOSE TWO DOORS FOR, FOR THE RESTROOM WITH THE SAW DOORS.

IT'S AN ENTRANCE ISSUE AS WELL.

UM, I THINK BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO ENTER, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE DRESSING ROOM TO GET TO THE FAMILY RESTROOM.

UM, AND IT IS A, I THINK AS IT AS DESIGNATED HERE IS A GENDER FLUID RESTROOM.

SO IT PRETTY MUCH, UM, ANYBODY WITH OR OR PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN, WHATEVER, CAN GO THROUGH THE WOMEN'S DRESSING AREA TO GET THERE.

AND UM, THERE HAS BEEN A HISTORY DOCUMENTED OF INCIDENTS WHERE PEOPLE WILL SPEND TIME IN THOSE DESIGNATED RESTROOMS. AND, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME, SOME SAFETY ISSUES WITH THAT.

BUT WOULDN'T THAT BE DECREASED BY A DOOR THAT WOULD, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THE DOOR CLOSED, IT MIGHT BE, BUT YEAH, I MEAN TECHNICALLY I WHERE LOOSE NOW SINCE THE WE'RE IN BOARD DISCUSSION, UH, I HAVE TO LET BOARD MEMBER, VICE CHAIR, UH, SPEAK.

SO QUESTION FOR PERHAPS BOARD MEMBER READER BY, I KNOW CHAIR ALSO ATTENDED THE PART OF THE TOUR.

UM, BUT I GUESS IT'S THE DOOR IS WITH WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING IS THE DOOR IS MORE OF A STALL TYPE DOOR.

IF I'M GOING TO, FOR EXAMPLE, FIND A PLACE THAT I MIGHT WANT TO USE AN ILLICIT DRUG, I WOULD BE LESS LIKELY TO DO SO IN A STALL DOOR.

WOULD YOU, WOULDN'T A REASONABLE PERSON THINK THAN A DOOR THAT CLOSE? IT ONLY CLOSES THAT LOCKS.

I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A, AT THAT POINT, A PRIVATE COMPLETELY PRIVATE SPACE.

IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THEN THAT'S THE ISSUE OR ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT THERE'S SOME ABUSE OF THE CURRENT FAMILY RESTROOM THAT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHEN I WENT TO THE TOUR, YES.

THAT IS THE CONCERN WITH THE CURRENT EXISTING FAMILY, UH, SHOWER IN THERE.

THAT'S THE FIRST SHOWER THAT YOU ENCOUNT WERE GOING THROUGH THE WOODMAN'S HALL.

WELL, THE HALLWAY THAT YOU COULD KILL THE WOODMAN'S UH, FACILITY OR THE, THE SHOWERS, UM, BECAUSE IT IS LIKE THIS DOOR THAT WE SEE HERE.

IT'S LIKE A LOCK HOME.

IT'S A LOCKABLE DOOR.

SO I WOULD SAY ANYONE CAN WALK IT FROM THE INSIDE AND DO WHATEVER IT'S THEY'RE GONNA DO ON THERE.

SO THERE, THERE IS THAT CONCERN.

BUT LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THAT'S WAS EXPLAINED TO ME AT THE FLOOR IS THAT ALL THE, THOSE, IT'S NOT ONLY IS IT GATE FROM HERVIS, BUT IT'S ALSO THERE INSTALL DOORS.

UM, AND, AND SORRY, I HAVE SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS BASED ON DETECT ANY PLAN.

SO THE OTHER FAMILY RESTROOMS, ARE THOSE ALSO STALL DOORS OR ARE THEY ACTUAL DOORS BECAUSE THEY ARE DRAWN DIFFERENTLY? YEAH, IT'S LIKE THOSE, SO THEY LOOK LIKE ACTUAL DOORS TO ME.

MY UNDERSTANDING THEY'D BE LOCKED.

WELL, BUT IS THAT A FACTOR OR ARE WE JUST GUESSING BASED ON WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHAT I WAS, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD IS THAT ALL ALL, ALL THESE DOORS ARE BEING SWITCHED OUT.

SO THE UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT ALL OF THE FAMILY RESTAURANTS WOULD HAVE SIMILAR STALL TYPE DOORS.

CORRECT.

THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING.

IT COULD BE INCORRECT, BUT THAT YOU WANT YEAH, I KNOW FOR SURE THAT IF THAT'S THE CASE FOR, UM, THE, JUST LOOKING AT THE DIAGRAM WOULD BE FOR RESTROOM, FOR FAMILY RESTROOM FIVE.

THE, THE FIRST FAMILY RESTROOM THAT YOU ENCOUNTER GOING TO THE WOMEN'S SHOWER AND THE FIRST, UH, FAMILY RESTROOM THAT YOU ENCOUNTER GOING INTO THE BENCH SHOWER.

UM, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT, I'M LESS SURE ABOUT MY ANSWER WHEN IT COMES TO THE OTHER TWO ON THE FAR EAST, UH, WEST SIDE.

UM, JUST BECAUSE THOSE ARE OUTSIDE OF THE SHOWER.

UH, EITHER SHOWER FACILITIES.

UM, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU WALK OUT ON THE HALL ON THE, THE WALKWAY OUTSIDE OF THE SHARK FACILITY, YOU GET TO THE ANYONE.

I HAVE A SENSE IN MY MIND, BUT CAN ANYONE, DOES ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA OF THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN FAMILY EARTH FIVE AND, AND WALKING DISTANCE, FAMILY EARTH ROOM FIVE TWO, LIKE THE TWO THAT ARE ON THE, THE OTHER EDGE? LIKE THE ONE THAT'S RIGHT HERE? LIKE PHYSICAL? NO, THE PHYSICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THESE TWO AND THESE TWO.

SO THE FURTHEST RESTROOMS, I'M CURIOUS.

AND SO, AND I'LL TELL YOU MY REASON IS I HAVE TWIN 3-YEAR-OLD TODDLERS AND WHEN ONE OF THEM HAS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, UM, I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT VERY FAR.

AND SO I'M CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY AT LEAST MY EXPERIENCE IS I, THE FAMILY RESTROOM'S ALWAYS OCCUPIED EVERYWHERE, UM, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

AND SO IF YOU NEED ONE AND YOU KNOW, I'M NOT, DON'T WANNA GET THE NUMBER, HOW MANY WERE NEEDED 'CAUSE I, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY DID A STUDY OR NOT, WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF US.

BUT THE POINT IS, I'M CURIOUS HOW FAR SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO WALK BETWEEN IF TWO CLOSEST ONES WERE OCCUPIED AT THE BEGINNING OF TIME, FOR EXAMPLE.

UM, I'M NOT, I'M A PRETTY QUICK WALKER, SO I WOULD SAY LIKE, WELL NOT A QUICK WALKER IF YOU'RE COMPARING 2 45 TODDLERS.

WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR ON THE WEST SIDE, THAT WALK WOULD PROBABLY TAKE ME LIKE THREE MINUTES.

I THINK IF, IF I'M A PERSON WHO'S JUST WALKING NORMALLY FROM RESTROOM NUMBER FIVE OR OUTSIDE OF RESTROOM NUMBER FIVE ON THE WALKWAY,

[02:45:01]

TWO, MAYBE THREE, TWO MINUTES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THE PERSON WALKING ON THEIR OWN.

YEAH, SURE.

NO, THAT'S HELPFUL.

UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO CURRENTLY THERE'S ONE FAMILY RESTROOM, I BELIEVE CURRENTLY TWO ISN'T THAT DIRECTLY MCNEELY, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IS THERE, IS THE, IS IT A FAMILY RESTROOM ENTERING THE MEN'S FACILITY? YEAH, THERE'S A FAMILY.

TWO.

THERE'S A, THERE'S TWO IN THE WOMEN'S AREA AND THE, UM, OH, THAT'S RIGHT THEN.

THEN THE, YEAH, I BELIEVE THERE'S PARODY AND THERE'S TWO IN THE FINAL, ALTHOUGH THIS DESIGN LOOKS LIKE THERE'S THREE.

BUT I, I HAD, I DIDN'T PULL UP THE ORIGINAL, I DIDN'T PULL UP AGAIN THOUGH.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MEN'S DRESSING AND SHOWER AREA AREA TO GET INTO THE FAMILY RESTROOMS THAT ARE AROUND THE MEN'S DRESSING AREA RIGHT THERE, YOU, THAT IS ENTERED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE PERIMETER.

BUT THIS ONE THAT THERE'S SOME OBJECTION TO IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE WOMEN'S SHOWER AREA.

AND IT'S NOT THAT THERE'S AN AVERSION TO FAMILIES GOING THROUGH THERE OR, OR PEOPLE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, IT'S MORE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS BEING ABUSED AND THE SAFETY ISSUES.

BUT I, AND I'M, I'M SORRY, I'M REALLY JUST DOING SOME INTELLECTUAL INTERROGATION HERE, BUT COULDN'T ANYONE WALK INTO THE WOMEN'S SHOWER AREA WHETHER A FAMILY RESTROOM IS LOCATED THERE OR NOT? LIKE DOES A PERSON NEED A GRIEVANCE, I GUESS WOULD BE MY, I MEAN I GET PERHAPS THERE'S A CONCERN, AND THIS IS NOT ME STATED, BUT PERHAPS THERE'S A CONCERN THAT A MALE IDENTIFYING PARENT WOULD BRING CHILDREN TO THE FAMILY RESTROOM AND THERE WILL BE A, A PERHAPS MOTY OR PRIVACY ISSUE.

BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A FEAR OF ACTUAL DANGER, LIKE SOMEONE WOULD COMMIT SOME SORT OF CRIME.

UM, AND WOULD THEY NEED A FAMILY RESTROOM? I, I DON'T KNOW.

I I MEAN TO ME, I GUESS LIKE THERE'S THERE'S NOT SOMEONE CHECKING, RIGHT? SORRY, IT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION.

LIKE THERE'S NOT THE ONE ACTUALLY LIKE CHECKING NO TO THE SHOWER.

LIKE, YOU'RE NOT, LIKE THERE'S NO ONE ATTENDING THE SHOWERS.

SO LIKE ANYONE COULD WALK IN IN THEORY, YEAH.

THERE'S NO ONE THERE SAYING LIKE, YEAH, YOU WAIT , YEAH, YOU'RE ALLOWED AND YOU'RE NOT.

HEY, MAY I SPEAK? UM, I WILL ORTUNATELY YEAH, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO.

SORRY.

UM, ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I GUESS IN ADDITION TO THE SOCIAL CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN VOICED? UM, I WOULD ADD THAT THIS DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE IT WOULD BE A COST AND SCHEDULING ISSUE.

WE LOOKED AT, UM, STAGING WITHIN THE PARKING SPACES PREVIOUSLY.

SO WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT SCHEDULE, BUT IN ORDER TO REVISE THE PLAN, I MEAN IT WOULD HAVE TO BE, I'M ASSUMING, HAVE A REVISION DONE TO THE PERMIT, WHICH WOULD TAKE TIME.

YOU KNOW, IF THE CONTRACTOR IS MOBILIZED, THERE WOULD BE COSTS FOR RE MOBILIZATION LATER, YOU KNOW, COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REDOING THE ARCHITECTURAL AND BUILDING PLANS, GETTING IT PERMITTED AGAIN.

UM, SO I THINK, THINK JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON MY END, UM, KIND OF TO THE IMPACT THAT THIS WOULD HAVE ON COST AND TIMELINE 'CAUSE IT'S NOT NEGLIGIBLE.

UM, BUT JUST WANTED TO KIND OF NOTE THAT.

SO, UM, WELL REMEMBER FRANKLIN, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING SORT OF GETS TO APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND AND CAN SPEAK TO THIS, BUT SORT OF, IT GETS TO ONE OF MY CONCERNS, WHICH IS IT DOES SEEM LIKE, LIKE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, JUMPING TO A SOLUTION THAT IS TURNED INTO A STORAGE CLOSET SEEMS LIKE SE SEVERAL STEPS FORWARD.

AND I JUST WONDER IF THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS IT THAT DON'T NECESSARILY REQUIRE THAT, LIKE RECOGNIZING IT'S LEGITIMATE CONCERN, WONDERING IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY TO ADDRESS IT THAT'S NOT ONE THAT'S AS, UM, DISRUPTIVE AND TIME AND COST INTENSIVE AS CHANGING THE ARCHITECTURAL.

THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.

IT'S A QUESTION .

I DON'T, YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THE, UH, ANSWER EITHER.

I MEAN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE DOOR TYPE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CONCERNS WITH WHAT TYPE OF DOOR IS BEING PROVIDED.

I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE A MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD CHANGE.

RIGHT? BUT AS FAR AS THE OTHER ITEMS, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT THE BEST SOLUTION IS THERE EITHER.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, CHANGING, UH, PLUMBING LAYOUTS, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY REMOVING A ROOM, UM, CHANGING THE USE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE ALL QUESTIONS OUTSIDE OF MY CAPACITY.

YEAH, I MEAN, LOCKING THE DOOR AND NOT LETTING ANYBODY IN IS A SOLUTION THAT'S A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE TOO.

THAT THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AND KEEP THE DOOR LOCKED.

UM, WHICH I THINK THE, UM, I THINK THE LIFEGUARDS HAVE HAD TO DO THAT, UM, ACCORDING TO THE SWIMMER'S GROUP THAT, UH, THE DOOR WOULD JUST BE LOCKED TO AVOID THE SITUATION

[02:50:01]

UNLESS SOMEONE WENT TO THE LIFEGUARDS AND SAID THE DOOR'S LOCKED, AND THEY WERE SAYING, UM, WELL IT SEEMS TO JAM SOMETIMES.

BUT REALLY I THINK IT'S A MECHANISM TO TRY AND PREVENT PEOPLE GOING IN AND STAYING THERE OR, OR STAYING THERE AFTER HOURS.

UM, I I WILL MENTION THAT THE WOMEN'S SWIMMERS ADVISORY GROUP THAT HAS BEEN SPEAKING OF 2009 BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.

UM, OR SPEAKING TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HAYDEN HOWARD, AND IS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM HER.

AND SO, UM, THEY ARE, SHE IS AWARE OF IT.

AND AS FAR AS COST ISSUES, IT WOULD MEAN, YOU KNOW, LESS PLUMBING IF THIS WERE ADOPTED TO NOT HAVE TO PUT AN, AN ADDITIONAL FAMILY RESTROOM THERE.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE TWO GENDER FLUID REST RESTROOMS, AND THEN ONE WOMEN'S, ONE MEN'S.

SO THAT'S FOUR TOTAL, WHICH, UM, WAS RECOMMENDED IN ORIGINAL CONCEPT PLANS FOR THE BATH REHABILITATION.

I CAN, UH, DIRECT YOU TO THAT WEBPAGE IF YOU WANNA SEE IT.

UM, I'M NOT SURE WHY THEY, UH, IN THE FINAL PLAN ADDED A FIFTH FAMILY RESTROOM AND THIS LOCATION.

I THINK MY BIGGEST CONCERN HERE, UM, IS THAT THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK PORTION OF THIS IS CLOSED AT THIS POINT.

SO ANY REVISION WE MAKE AT THIS POINT IS NO LONGER OPEN TO THE FEEDBACK OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE COMMENTS.

I DON'T THINK IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

UM, THE ONLY THING I WILL SAY, AND THEN I'LL, I I WILL, UNLESS SOMEONE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY TO WHAT I SAID, UM, IS THAT I DID GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE TOUR THAT WAS LED BY MS. TER, UM, ABOUT A MONTH AGO NOW.

I FEEL LIKE IT WAS, UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY COULDN'T STAY FOR THE WHOLE, UH, MEETING, BUT I STAYED FOR ABOUT 30, 40 MINUTES.

UM, AND I, IN MY DAY JOB, I WORK IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES PERCEPTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS AS POWERFUL AS ACTUAL PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.

UM, HOWEVER, AS SOMEONE IN THIS, IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL FIELD, CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM FIELD, UM, I, I TEND TO, UH, WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE PERCEPTION, UM, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE ACTUALITY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.

AND FOR ME, UH, TAKING THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED BY THIS GROUP, I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF IT CAN BE ADDRESSED OPERATIONALLY.

UM, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BROUGHT ME, UM, UH, UH, UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE BETTER IN REGARDS TO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS IT GONNA LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD IS THE STALL DOORS.

UM, 'CAUSE IF SOMEBODY IS LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING NEFARIOUS IN THE FAMILY RESTROOM, UM, IT'S EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE TOP OF THE BOTTOM.

JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, A SOLVE WOULD GIVE ACCESS TO ANYBODY.

UM, I ALSO DO THINK THAT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DIRECTOR MCNEELY SAID AT THAT, UH, TOUR WAS THAT A LOT OF THE ISSUES, UH, THAT WERE BEING PRESENTED BY THE GROUP, UH, COULD BE ADDRESSED OPERATIONALLY.

UH, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THOSE WERE BECAUSE HONESTLY ONE, DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE SOLUTIONS WERE BECAUSE THERE WERE, THERE WAS A LOT.

BUT TWO, BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA MISS END THEM TWO 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA MISSPEAK ABOUT WHAT DR.

MC, UH, DIRECTOR MCNEELY SAID.

UM, UH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK FOR ME, UH, WHAT IS ALSO A VERY CON UH, WHAT WHAT CONVINCES ME, UM, THAT I I I DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS CHANGE ORDER, UH, RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE TREND OVERALL IN PUBLIC FACILITIES IS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FAMILY RESTROOMS, UM, IN PUBLIC FACILITIES.

JUST BECAUSE WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT GO USE THESE FACILITIES.

BUT TWO, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE, UM, EITHER NON-BINARY, GENDER FLUID, OR TRANSGENDER THAT NEED ACCESS ACCESSIBLE SPACES IN FACILITIES THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE USING.

SO FOR ME, UH, THE IDEA OF ELIMINATING A FAMILY RESTROOM, UM, JUST DOES NOT MESH WELL WITH MY OVERALL THOUGHTS OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.

UM, TO, FOR ALL THOSE AFFIRMATION REASONS, I THINK THAT I FEEL, UH, COMFORTABLE SAYING THAT I DON'T NECESSARILY VIEW THAT THE CHANGE ORDER IS THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.

UM,

[02:55:01]

UM, BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I LAND ON THIS.

UM, THAT, AND AGAIN, I'LL REITERATE, I THINK A LOT OF THE CONCERN THAT WERE RAISED, UM, ARE LEGITIMATE, BUT THAT THEY CAN BE ADDRESSED OPERATIONALLY.

AND I THINK THAT, UH, DIRECTOR OMMUNITY, AT LEAST AT THAT, WHERE I THINK THAT SHE'S WILLING TO WORK ON THAT, UH, ASPECT OF, OF THOSE CONCERNS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I THINK THE REASON THAT THEY BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AT THIS TIME IS BECAUSE THEY WERE, THEY DID SOME RESEARCH IN SPEAKING TO THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND THAT THEY HAD INDICATED THIS WOULD BE A TIME ANYTHING WAS REQUESTED TO CHANGE IN THE DESIGN AT THE BATHHOUSE.

THAT THIS WAS KIND OF THE TIME TO DO IT BEFORE A FINAL, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY FINALIZED EVERYTHING.

NOW I KNOW IT'S BEEN APPROVED, BUT, UM, IF THERE WERE TO BE ANY KIND OF CHANGES MADE TO IT, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME THAT WAS WHAT WAS TOLD BY THE CITY TO, UM, THE WOMEN'S SWIMMERS WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS .

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I THINK MYSELF, I WAS SAY SORT OF CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE WITH THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PROBLEM AND THEN THE PROPOSED SOLUTION BECAUSE I SEE IT, I I THINK MAYBE YOU SAID THIS EFFECTIVELY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SORT OF THE OPERATIONAL ASPECT OF, SO LIKE, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THERE ARE CURIOUS IF THERE ARE OTHER SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE BROUGHT FORWARD THAT WEREN'T CHANGING THE ARCHITECTURAL LAYOUT.

AND I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT AT THIS STAGE, INTRODUCING THIS APPROACH, WHICH DOES HAVE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

'CAUSE THE COSTS AROUND REMOVAL ARE LIKE NOT THE ONLY COSTS ATTACHED TO REWORKING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE CHEAPER JUST TO DECIDE TO LOCK IT AND NOT LET ANYBODY IN THERE THAN IT WOULD BE TO NOT BUILD IT.

THAT'S KIND OF A WASTE OF, OF PLUMBING AND MONEY AND SO FORTH IF IT'S NOT INTENDED.

I DID WANNA EMPHASIZE ONE THING THAT'S WRITTEN HERE.

FAMILY RESTROOM NUMBER FIVE IS INTENDED TO BE USED BY FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, VIOLATES THE PRIVACY OF BOTH THE WOMEN SHOWERING AND OF THE CHILDREN BECAUSE OF HOW YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE RESTROOM.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE'S NOT AN EXTERIOR ENTRANCE TO THIS ONE, JUST LIKE THERE ARE TO THE OTHER ONES.

YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THERE TO GET INTO IT.

SO CONSIDERING THAT, I MEAN, UM, POSSIBLY THERE, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A CHANGE WHERE YOU CAN ADD AN EXTERIOR ENTRANCE BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A HISTORIC WALL OR SOMETHING EXTERIOR OF THE BATHHOUSE.

UM, THE PRIVACY OF THE WOMEN'S SHOWERING MEETING RIGHT HERE ARE, THESE ARE OPEN SHOWERS AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

SO ANYONE WHO'S GOING IN TO USE FAMILY RESTROOM NUMBER FIVE AS TO WALK RIGHT PAST THAT DIAGRAM.

SO IT'S A PRIVACY ISSUE.

IT IS POOR LOCATION.

SO THE IS, SORRY, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND INTERRUPT.

NO, THAT'S OKAY.

GO AHEAD.

SO THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT PEOPLE, HOWEVER THEY IDENTIFY GENDER WISE, SORT OF NOT SORT OF LIKE, UM, FEMALE IDENTIFYING WOULD COME IN SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT FAMILY RESTROOM AS OPPOSED TO JUST THE FOLKS WHO WOULD ALREADY BE GOING INTO THIS SPACE ANYWAY.

THAT'S KIND OF HOW I'VE SEEN IT.

THIS IS WHAT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT IT WOULD BE USED IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

THAT'S THE CONCERN.

UH, YEAH, THE FOLKS WHO WOULD CONCERN THAT.

I SEE.

SO YOU'RE CONCERNED THAT FOLKS THAT WOULD NOT PRETTY MUCH ANYONE GO INTO THAT PROGRESS STREAM, I BELIEVE, IS THAT CORRECT? NO, IT'S IN THE WOMEN'S AREA, RIGHT? YEAH.

SO I MEAN, SO IT COULD BE WOMEN WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

SO THIS IS WHAT I'M GETTING, THAT'S WHY I WAS GETTING CONFUSED.

OR PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS FEMALE WHO BE, I MEAN, FRANKLY JUST AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY IDENTIFY OR IS IN A PERIOD OF TRANSITION WHO WANTED TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PRIVACY.

RIGHT? SO COMFORTABLE AND WANTING TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PRIVACY AND OR HAVE, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN WITH, WITH MAYBE USE THAT SPACE DIRECTOR MCNEELY.

IS THERE A REASON WHY THERE IS NOT AN EXTERIOR ENTRANCE TO THIS? I COULD, I DON'T, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

RATHER THIS DESIGN, I DON'T KNOW.

AND THE OTHER ONES ARE ALL ENTERED FROM THE EXTERIOR.

I, MY, I I DON'T, I CAN'T FOR SURE ANSWER THAT QUESTION OTHER THAN IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT THERE ARE WOMEN WITH CHILDREN WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS OPTION AVAILABLE.

[03:00:01]

ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

AND I MEAN, I GUESS THAT'S MY THING THAT I'M ON AS A WOMAN WITH TWO YOUNG MALE CHILDREN.

IF I LOOK AT THESE BATHROOMS, THAT'S THE ONE I WOULD WANT TO USE.

AND THIS IS LIKE COMES BACK TO THE SAFETY THING IS EVERY PERSON'S SAFETY IS RELATIVE, RIGHT? AND I TOTALLY APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY FEEL UNSAFE.

SO THERE NO COMMENT ON THAT.

BUT IN THINKING OF MY OWN SAFETY WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, IF I LOOK AT THESE, THAT'S WHERE I WOULD WANNA BE WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.

SO I GUESS I, I MEAN, I GUESS THE POINT IS PERCEPTION IS ALL IN THE, I AM THE INDIVIDUAL.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST GONNA BE TOUGH TO COME TO A CONCLUSION WE ALL FEEL GREAT ABOUT BECAUSE WE'RE EACH BRINGING OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVE.

ANY FURTHER COMMENT? BOARD MEMBERS? ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATION TALK OR RECOMMENDATIONS COUNCIL TO APPROVE A CHANGE ORDER FOR THE BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE SPRING BENEFICIARY PROJECT, WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE FAMILY RESTROOM FROM THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE WOMEN'S SHOWER AND DRESSING AREA.

UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE RECOMMENDATION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE ABSTAINING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

UH, WE'RE NOW GONNA MOVE

[8. Presentation and discussion on the Austin/Travis County Food Plan. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers).]

GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR TIME.

I'VE GOT A PAGER I PASS AROUND FOR YOU.

WELCOME.

THANKSGIVING.

MY SLIDES PUT UP.

I'VE JUST INTRODUCED MYSELF.

I HAVE BEEN TO THIS MEETING BEFORE.

MY NAME'S AMANDA ICK.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE, THEY, AND I'M A FOOD POLICY ADVISOR IN THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AND I'VE GOT THE GREAT PLEASURE OF COMING TO Y'ALL TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE A DRAFT OF OUR FIRST FOOD PLAN FOR AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.

AND, UM, I'M HOPING TONIGHT THAT I CAN JUST TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR TIME.

I THINK I'VE GOT 10 MINUTES TO RUN THROUGH THIS, UM, TO SHARE OUT, UH, BASICALLY BOTH SOME AWARENESS THAT THERE IS A PLAN, AND, UM, GIVE Y'ALL SOME CONTEXT FOR WHAT A FOOD PLAN DOES, WHAT IT CONTAINS, AND WHY IT MAY BE A PARTICULAR INTEREST TO YOUR BOARD, UM, AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU WORK WITH AND REPRESENT.

AND, UH, ALERT YOU TO SOME NEXT STEPS AND SEE IF YOU CAN PROVIDE ANY INPUT ON THE DRAFT PLAN OR SHARE IT WITH YOUR NETWORKS.

SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT SOME OF THE DATA THAT'S DRIVING SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY ON THE FOOD TEAM.

WE ARE A SMALL TEAM OF FOLKS.

UH, THE FOOD POLICY MANAGER POSITION WAS CREATED BACK IN 2014 TO KIND OF COORDINATE ALL THE WAYS THAT OUR CITY INTERSECTS WITH THE FOOD SYSTEM AND SOME OF WHAT, UH, SOME OF THE DATA COMES FROM OUR LATEST STATE OF THE FOOD SYSTEM REPORT THAT WE RELEASED.

AND IT, YOU'LL SEE, UM, SOME OF THE STATISTICS ARE, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHAT ALARMING.

WE'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL CITY WITH A LOT OF GREAT FOOD, FOOD CULTURE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE GOT HIGHER THAN NATIONAL RATES OF FOOD INSECURITY.

14.4% OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY, MEANING THEY HAVE SOME UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL MAY COME FROM.

WE'RE LOSING FARMLAND AT A RAPID UH, RATE.

UH, IT'S BEEN EXPONENTIAL SINCE 2012.

UM, WE ARE NOW LOSING 16.8 ACRES OF FARMLAND, AND THAT'S DAILY.

SO THAT'S EVERY DAY IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

UM, SO JUST KIND OF UNDERSCORING THE, THE TIME FOR ACTION MAYBE NOW.

UH, SO LITTLE OF THE FOOD THAT WE ACTUALLY CONSUME IS PRODUCED HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

UH, WE ARE WASTING A WHOLE LOT OF THE FOOD THAT WE ARE COMING, UH, THAT'S COMING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.

1.24 MILLION POUNDS ENDS UP IN THE LANDFILL EVERY DAY.

AND, UM, FOOD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

NEXT SLIDE DATES.

AND BEFORE I GET INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL ABOUT THE FOOD PLAN, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE Y'ALL A QUICK ORIENTATION TO WHAT A FOOD SYSTEM, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A FOOD SYSTEM

[03:05:01]

AND, UM, WHAT KIND OF IS ENCOMPASSED IN THIS WORK THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

SO WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE ACCESS COMPONENT COMPONENT, WHICH IS OF COURSE, A HUGE CONSIDERATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS FROM FIELD TO FORK, AND THEN THE WHAT HAPPENS TO PARTS OF THE FOOD THAT WE DON'T EAT ALONG THE WAY.

SO THAT POST CONSUMPTION AND FOOD WASTE PIECE.

WE HAVE FOOD JUSTICE CENTERED AT THE MIDDLE HERE, FOOD JUSTICE BEING HOW SYSTEMIC RACISM AND COLONIZATION IMPACTS OUR FOOD SYSTEM AND MAKES IT WORK OR NOT WORK FOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO CENTER THIS WORK ON EQUITY AND THOSE WHO ARE MOST DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED.

UM, SO TAKING IT FROM THE TOP, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, ISSUES AROUND FOOD PRODUCTION, WHERE FOOD COMES FROM, INCLUDING FARMING, GARDENING, RANCHING, COMMUNITY GARDENS, BACKYARD GARDENS, PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION.

BASICALLY HOW THAT FOOD MOVES FROM THE FIELD TO, UM, YOUR PLATE FOOD MARKETS AND RETAIL, HOW IT'S, UH, SOLD AND PURCHASED WHERE, UH, WHERE RETAIL IS ACCESSIBLE.

THEN WE'VE GOT FOOD CONSUMPTION AND ACCESS, UM, WHICH REALLY LOOKS AT WHO IS STRUGGLING TO GET SUFFICIENT FOOD.

AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED, POST CONSUMPTION AND FOOD WASTE, WHICH LOOKS AT PARTS OF THE FOOD, UH, THAT WE DON'T EAT AND THE IMPACT OF THAT WASTE ON OUR ENVIRONMENT.

SO NEXT SLIDE IS JUST MOVING INTO KIND OF A CONVERSATION AROUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN.

AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE WE JUST WANTED TO KIND OF OUTLINE, TIM, IF YOU'LL GO AHEAD IN ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, THIS IS JUST KIND OF OUTLINING SOME OF WHY WE NEED A FOOD PLAN AND WHAT IT WILL DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, UM, AS I MENTIONED AT THE TOP, THIS IS THE FIRST, UH, FOOD PLAN FOR AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY.

SO WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, UH, STRATEGIES AND PLANS AROUND OUR WATER, WATER, TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS, HOUSING NETWORK WORKS, BUT NOTHING AROUND FOOD.

SO THIS IS KIND OF THE FIRST OF ITS KIND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IT REALLY SEEKS TO SET KIND OF A GUIDING NORTH STAR BY WHICH ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY DOING INCREDIBLE WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY AROUND THE FOOD SYSTEM CAN KIND OF RALLY AND MOVE IN, IN A COORDINATED DIRECTION.

SO, UH, SETTING THOSE GOALS AND STRATEGIES, OUR HOPE WITH THE FOOD PLAN IS, AND WE'VE TAKE, WE'VE TAKEN GREAT EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, IS, UH, THAT IT WILL BUILD ON EXISTING INITIATIVES AND OTHER PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN ARTICULATED BY THE CITY, COUNTY, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.

UM, SO WE DEFINITELY LOOKED AT, UH, PLANS SUCH AS PARS LONG RANGE PLAN, UM, TO SEE WHERE FOOD WAS GETTING MENTIONED IN THOSE PLANS AND MAKE SURE IT WAS GETTING REFERENCED, UM, BY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TEAMS THAT WERE BUILDING THE STRATEGIES OF THIS PLAN.

UM, I INCLUDED A QUOTE FROM OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THIS PLAN.

THEY'RE DRAFTING A LETTER, WHICH IS REALLY GONNA OPEN UP, INTRODUCE THE COMMUNITY TO THIS PLAN.

UM, AND THIS IS JUST AN EXCERPT FROM THAT LETTER THAT THEY'VE WRITTEN.

OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS A 25 PERSON BODY THAT WAS, UM, SELECTED OUT OF A POOL OF ABOUT A HUNDRED APPLICANTS.

AND WE REALLY LOOKED FOR DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE, UM, DIVERSITY DEMOGRAPHICS, UH, JUST FOLKS THAT COULD COME TOGETHER AND COMMIT TO REALLY DRIVING THE PROCESS AND BEING OUR ACCOUNTABILITY STEWARDS THROUGHOUT THIS PLANNING PROCESS.

UM, SO THEY HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING GROUP OF FOLKS, HIGHLY COMMITTED TO THIS PLAN, PUTTING IN HUNDREDS OF HOURS.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THIS IS JUST A COUPLE OF KIND OF, UH, ROUNDING FACTORS AND, AND WHY WE'RE DOING A PLAN.

UM, SO IN JUNE OF 2021, WE WERE DIRECTED BY AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, UH, WHO THEN DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO INITIATE A PLANNING PROCESS.

SO IF YOU THINK OF THIS IN CONTEXT OF OUR HISTORY, THIS WAS IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID OVID 19 KIND OF BIG RESPONSE AS WELL AS WINTER STORM URI.

UM, AND SO I THINK, UH, BOTH OF THOSE DISRUPTIONS TO OUR FOOD SYSTEMS, SO LIKE EMPTY SHELVES AND THE WAY THAT PEOPLE WERE WORKING WITH NEIGHBORS TO GET JUST THE BASIC NEEDS THAT THEY NEEDED, REALLY OUTLINED SORT OF, UM, OR HIGHLIGHTED, I THINK ON A NATIONAL AND GLOBAL SCALE, SOME OF THE FISSURES IN OUR FOOD SYSTEM.

AND SO, UH, WITH THAT DIRECTION, WE THEN DID WORK WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND GOT APPROVAL FOR THEIR FORMAL PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTY, UM, STAFF KIND OF SERVING AS THE DOULA OF THE PLANNING PROCESS.

UM, WHILE COMMUNITY HAS

[03:10:01]

REALLY GIVEN, GIVEN BIRTH TO THIS, UH, WE'VE RELEASED A JA A DRAFT ON MARCH 18TH, AND SO IT'S OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

I'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE SLIDES TO GET INTO THAT, UM, IN MORE DETAIL LATER.

THERE IS A LINK TO THE FULL RESOLUTION IN THE SLIDE DECK THAT YOU'LL HAVE IN CASE YOU WANNA SEE THAT RESOLUTION FOR REFERENCE.

SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, JUST A QUICK ORIENTATION TO OUR PROJECT TIMELINE.

WE STARTED THE PRE-PLANNING FOR THIS, UM, IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021.

AFTER THAT RECOMMENDATION HAD BEEN MADE AND THE DIRECTIVE HAD BEEN MADE FROM COUNCIL, WE BROUGHT ON OUR CONSULTANT TEAM, WE ASSEMBLED OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH VISION DEVELOPMENT GOAL AND STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT, WORKING WITH OUR ISSUE AREA GROUP PARTICIPANTS, OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO MULTIPLE MEETINGS TO BUILD OUT THE PLAN.

AND NOW WE'RE IN THE FINAL PHASES, UM, AND WE HAVE A DRAFT PLAN THAT WE'RE GETTING, UH, CURRENTLY GETTING DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT AND INPUT ON AND HAVE SOME PLANS FOR, UM, A PUBLIC REVIEW IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES IN APRIL.

UM, WE HOPE TO THEN TAKE A FINAL PLAN THAT WILL LIKELY BE AVAILABLE AROUND THE BEGINNING OF MAY TO CITY COUNCIL AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR REVIEW WITH HOPES FOR APPROVAL, ADOPTION, AND THEN ONTO THE REALLY TOUGH STUFF OF IMPLEMENTATION.

SO, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UH, THIS IS JUST A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT SORT OF NUMBERS WE'VE HEARD, UM, IN, IN, UH, OR WHO WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO AND GETTING THIS FOOD PLAN CREATED.

SO, UM, OVER 2,700 INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE ENGAGED IN, UH, THE PLAN AT MEETINGS, OUR EVENTS, WE'VE COLLECTED ALMOST 3,500 PIECES OF FEEDBACK ON WHAT PEOPLE WANT THEIR, THEIR HOPES, DREAMS, CHALLENGES AROUND THE FOOD SYSTEM.

UM, 2,500 HOURS OF COMMITTED PUBLIC PART OR PARTICIPATION FROM OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ISSUE AREA GROUP.

UH, 39% OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE, WHO'VE BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THIS PLANNING PROCESS HAVE HAD A LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HUNGER OR USING PUBLIC BENEFITS LIKE SNAP OR TANF.

UM, 21% OF THE, UH, PARTICIPANTS RESIDE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT ARE OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN.

UH, BOUNDARIES AND 9% HAVE BEEN ENGA, UH, ENGAGING IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH.

ON THE NEXT SLIDE, AND I KNOW I'M MOVING QUICKLY, BUT I JUST WANNA KIND OF ORIENT YOU TO ALL OF THIS AND, UM, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

UH, THIS IS THE FOOD PLAN VISION, UM, THAT WAS ARTICULATED BY THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AND THEN IF WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD, I'VE GOT A SLIDE THAT GIVES A GEN, OOPS, IF YOU GO ONE BACK, YEAH, THIS IS GONNA LOOK FAMILIAR.

THAT QR CODE WILL TAKE YOU TO A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN START TO ENGAGE WITH THIS, EITHER BY SIGNING UP FOR, UM, A PUBLIC REVIEW SESSION ON APRIL 3RD OR APRIL 17TH, OR JUST ON YOUR OWN TIME REVIEWING THE DRAFT PLAN AND ENTERING COMMENTS.

UM, THE NEXT SLIDE I JUST WONDERED FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

IT'S A LOT OF WORDS NOT GETTING INTO IT.

YOU'RE NOT INTENDED TO SEE WHAT ALL THOSE THINGS SAY, BUT JUST WANNA NUDGE YOU TO GIVE SPECIFIC ATTENTION TO GOAL ONE.

I THINK GOAL ONE IS, UM, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY, UH, PARKLAND COMMUNITY GARDENS ARE EXPLICITLY CALLED OUT IN THIS GOAL.

I THINK ALL OF THE GOALS HAVE INTERSECTIONS WITH PARKS THAT ARE INTERESTING, BUT THIS ONE HAS MAYBE THE MOST EXPLICIT.

THERE'S ALSO A GOAL, UM, I'M, LET'S SEE, IT'S, UH, THE PREPAREDNESS GOAL, WHICH, UM, NOW I'M THINKING I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE HIGHLIGHTED TOO, IN LIGHT OF THE, THE WINTER WEATHER PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN EARLIER.

OBVIOUSLY PART LOCATIONS ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN, IN PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE, SO THAT COULD BE ANOTHER ONE OF KEEN INTERESTS TO Y'ALL.

SO IF YOU DO NOTHING MORE, UH, JUST MAYBE POP INTO THE SURVEY, UH, AT SOME POINT AND TAKE A, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT GOAL ONE IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH.

UM, ALL, ALL NEARLY 60 OF THE STRATEGIES.

MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, JUST CLOSING THIS OUT, UM, THERE'S A, A FINAL PATH TO THE PLAN OUTLINED HERE.

JUST KIND OF SOME NEXT STEPS WE'RE TAKING BETWEEN NOW AND THE SUMMER TO GET THIS OVER THE FINISH LINE.

UM, WE'VE GOT A, UH, PUBLIC CELEBRATION PLANNED IN COLLABORATION WITH TRAVIS PENNEY PARKS FOUNDATION AT THE FOR LOVE PARKS EVENT.

THAT'S GONNA BE AT RICHARD MOYA ON MAY 11TH.

SO HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE.

UM, BUT BEFORE THEN, WE'D LOVE AGAIN YOUR INPUT AND, UM, JUST SHARING THIS WITH

[03:15:01]

ANYONE THAT, UM, ANYONE, ANYONE AND EVERYONE, UM, ANYONE WHO EATS HAS A, I THINK A STAKE IN THIS.

MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THESE ARE JUST SOME REITERATIONS OF THE CALLS TO ACTION HERE.

SO, TIM, IF YOU'LL ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

WE'VE GOT, UM, TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO REVIEW THE PLAN.

THIS IS A ZOOM SESSION.

WE'VE GOT ONE ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3RD THAT WILL BE HELD IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, AND THEN ONE ON APRIL 17TH THAT WILL BE IN ENGLISH, ARABIC, VIETNAMESE AND CHINESE.

UH, WE HAVE CREATED THE TWO PAGER THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU IN THESE LANGUAGES AND ARE DOING, UM, TARGETED OUTREACH TO THOSE COMMUNITIES TO TRY AND DRIVE PEOPLE TO THESE ZOOM MEETINGS.

THAT IS PROBABLY, TO BE, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT, HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS FOR US IS THE MULTILINGUAL ENGAGEMENT.

SO WHERE Y'ALL HAVE CONNECTIONS AND, UM, HELP CONNECTING TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.

WE REALLY WELCOME THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST ANOTHER PLUG FOR THE ONLINE SURVEY.

AND THEN FINALLY ON SLIDE 15, JUST, UH, THERE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP FOR OUR AUSTIN FOOD NOTES.

IF Y'ALL HAVEN'T ALREADY SUBSCRIBED TO THAT, IT'S A GOOD WAY TO JUST STAY UP TO SPEED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING, UM, AROUND THE FOOD SYSTEM.

AND WE KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT, UM, COMMUNITY GARDENS WERE, AND, AND A DESIRE FOR COMMUNITY GARDENS AT PARK LOCATIONS WAS KIND OF ONE OF THE LEADING, UM, UH, THINGS THAT EMERGED AND Y'ALL'S IN THE, UM, LONG RANGE PLAN.

SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN, UM, FOOD ON OUR PUBLIC LAND.

SO JUST ENCOURAGE Y ALL TO SIGN UP FOR THOSE NOTES.

AND THEN I'VE JUST GOT A COUPLE OF BACKUP SLIDES HERE OF OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES THAT I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT.

IF YOU HAVE TIME, UM, TIM, YOU CAN KEEP JUST ADVANCE IN ALL THE WIC QUICKLY THROUGH.

WE'VE GOT THIS, THIS IS A STATE OF FOOD SYSTEM REPORT AND OUR SUPPLY CHAIN VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT, TWO REPORTS THAT KIND OF HELP FRAME ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, UM, AND ARE GOOD KIND OF PRIMERS OF WHAT THE FOOD SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE IN AUSTIN.

AND LASTLY, JUST, UH, STAY IN TOUCH WITH US.

WE'VE GOT LINKS TO OUR WEBSITE AND A GENERAL RESOURCE EMAIL.

I SHOULD HAVE PUT MY EMAIL IN HERE AS WELL.

BUT AGAIN, AMANDA ROIG, R-O-H-L-I-C-H, HAPPY TO ANSWER.

YOU CAN FIND ME AN OUTLOOK AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS NOW OR ONLINE AS THEY COME UP.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? BOARD MEMBERS? I'M LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY GARDENS MAP ON, UM, HARS WEBSITE, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE WE HAD SO MANY ON PARKLAND.

THAT'S GREAT.

UM, SO O OTHER THAN COMMUNITY INVOLVING PARKS OTHER THAN COMMUNITY GARDENS, UM, FARMER'S MARKETS, UH, WHAT OTHER WAYS WOULD, COULD PARKLAND FACILITATE FOOD PLAN? YEAH, THERE'S ACTUALLY STRATEGY 1.13 CALLS OUT VERY SPECIFICALLY, UM, SUPPORT COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE, SUCH AS THE VISION OF THE JOHN TRAVINO JUNIOR METROPOLITAN PARK.

I'M NOT SURE HOW FAMILIAR Y'ALL ARE WITH THE DESIGN AROUND THAT.

UM, BUT THEY'VE DONE SOME REALLY COOL THINGS AND KIND OF LIKE CARVING OUT PIECES OF JOHN TRI PARK FOR, UM, FOR COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE.

SO, UM, EVEN MOVING BEYOND COMMUNITY GARDENS, BUT EXPLORING OTHER WAYS TO USE OUR, OUR PUBLIC LANDS.

UM, CURRENTLY COMMUNITY GARDENS, UH, YOU CANNOT SELL PRODUCTS FROM COMMUNITY GARDENS, SO THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LIKE, USE THE LAND WE HAVE AND CREATIVE WAYS TO, YOU KNOW, UH, BROADEN SOME OF OUR, UM, ACCESSIBLE LANDS THAT COULD BE USED FOR FOOD PRODUCTION AND OTHER FOOD RELATED ACTIVITIES.

ARE YOU WORKING WITH A ISD IN ANY WAY? THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR ? YES.

YEAH, WE'VE HAD, UM, A MEMBER FROM A ISD ON OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY TRANSITIONED FROM WORKING WITH A ISD TO ACTUALLY WORKING WITH A FARM, WORKING WITH STEEL BOW FARM THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

UM, BUT UH, YEAH, WE, WE WORK WITH, UM, DAIRY AND CLARY AND THEN ON THE LIKE FOOD PROCUREMENT SIDE WORK WITH, UM, RYAN AND THE NUTRITION SERVICES WHO, UM, WORKS ON BUILDING OUT THE MEAL PLANS FOR CHILDREN AT A ISD.

SO WE'RE DOING A LOT OF INTERESTING WORK WITH THEM OR THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF INTERESTING WORK AND WE'RE REALLY SUPPORTING THEM AROUND HOW WE GET BETTER FOOD.

UM, PURCHASED THROUGH OUR PUBLIC PROCUREMENT DOLLARS THAT GOES INTO, UH, GOES INTO OUR SCHOOLS.

SO YES, DEFINITELY GREAT PARTNERS IN THE ISD.

I KNOW THAT'S THE PARTNERING WITH TRAVIS COUNTY

[03:20:01]

PARKS.

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE STARTING TO RAMP UP THEIR PARKS, ADVOCACY AND PARKS, UH, EXPANSION PROJECTS.

SO I WANT TO HEAR THAT Y'ALL ARE, ARE COLLABORATING.

UH, WELL Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE COLLABORATING WITH THE CITY AND, AND THE, AND THE COUNTY ON THAT ASPECT, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

YEAH, THEY'RE GREAT PARTNERS AS WELL.

WE WERE JUST MEETING TODAY AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITE SET UP AT THAT FOR THE LOVE PARKS EVENT.

UM, RICHARD MOYA PARK IS SITUATED IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, AREA THAT LACKS GOOD ACCESS TO HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE FOOD RETAIL.

SO, UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE, WE'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA THROUGHOUT THIS PLANNING PROCESS, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE PART OF A EVENT THAT'S HOSTED IN THAT.

YEAH, YEAH.

AND I, AND I HOPE TO JUST STAY IN CONTACT WITH YOU BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE DO A LOT OF THESE TYPES OF EVENTS AT, UM, DOVE SPRINGS AND WHAT, UH, I CREEK SOCCER COMPLEX.

MM-HMM .

WE, I'VE DONE, UH, FOOD DRIVES AND FOOD EVENTS THERE WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

SO, UM, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, UH, I CAN HELP YOU OUT WITH INCREASING THOSE OUTREACH EFFORTS, UH, IN THOSE COMMUNITY EVENTS.

UM, IN, IN MY DISTRICT, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY AND WILLING TO HELP OUT.

THANKS FOR THAT OFFER.

APPRECIATE IT.

UM, YEAH, AND THERE'S ALSO OTHER, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF LIKE, I THINK THIS WOULD MORE, UH, CONNECT TO WATERSHED THAN HARD, BUT THINKING ABOUT THE ONION CREEK FLOOD PLAIN BUYOUTS AND WHAT INTERESTING STUFF COULD BE DONE ON THAT LAND, YOU KNOW, PLACES WHERE YOU CAN'T BUILD ANY STRUCTURES, BUT WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRICULTURE? SO LOTS OF, LOTS OF EXCITING CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AND WE REALLY HOPE THAT YOU ALL TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE STRATEGIES AND LET US KNOW WHERE WE GOT IT RIGHT, OR WHERE THERE MIGHT BE SOME NEED FOR ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS.

NUMBER NINE, ON SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONTS.

WELL, MY BILL NUMBERS NOW, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ANY TREATMENT OFF IN NORTH PARK FOR THE PAST YEAR, SO , ANY OPPORTUNITY, I CAN WORK WITH PEOPLE ON THAT PART MORE THAN, I MEAN, I GET EXCITED ABOUT.

SO THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

UH, STAFF BRIEFING, UH, FROM DIRECTOR MCNEELY AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10.

ANY PRESENTERS? NO, I MEAN ANY, NO, NO.

SORRY, I, I READ THE TAB ANYWAYS, DIRECTOR.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO, UM, DRAW YOUR ATTENTION.

UM, YOU, OH, DID I MISS? OH MY GOODNESS.

SORRY.

AGENDA ITEM

[9. Staff briefing on the South-Central Waterfront Combining District and South-Central Waterfront Density Bonus Program. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers).]

SORRY ABOUT THAT, .

THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

THOUGHT IT COULDN'T TAKE ANY LONGER .

SO, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I'M APRIL CHOA.

I'M JOINED BY A NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ME ON, UH, THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATER FRIEND COMBINING DISTRICT AND DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. SOME COLLEAGUES FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, TYLER TRIP OVER THERE, AS WELL AS SCOTT GRANTHAM FROM PAR.

WE HAVE ANOTHER MEMBER FROM OUR, UH, PLANNING TEAM, CHAD ARD ON THE LINE, AND, UM, ALSO A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT TOO.

UM, IN CASE, UH, YOUR CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS SORT OF GO DEEP AND WIDE, BUT, UM, WE'RE GLAD TO BE HERE TALKING, UH, WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT THIS DRAFT DENSITY, THE BONUS PROGRAM AND COMBINING DISTRICT.

UM, IF YOU'LL HEAD TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, UM, IN GENERAL AND OUR, OUR JOURNEY TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, UM, IN 2016, COUNCIL ADOPTED THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT VISION FRAMEWORK PLAN.

AND AS A PART OF THAT FRAMEWORK, UM, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT A REGULATING PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT BE WRITTEN INTO THE CITY'S CODE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE VISION PLAN.

UM, AND THE CODE WAS INITIALLY START WITH BOTH VERSIONS OF THE FULL LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATES IN THE CITY, BUT BOTH OF WHICH, UH, FAILED.

SO IF YOU HEAD TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, UM, THEN IN 2022, CITY COUNCIL PUT FORWARD A RESOLUTION TO REIGNITE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CODE PERTAINING TO THIS AREA OF THE CITY.

AND IN PART, THE RESOLUTION CALLED FOR DEVELOPING A CODE THAT INCREASED DEVELOPMENT ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.

[03:25:01]

MAXIMIZES COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS, CREATES A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM AKIN TO THE DOWNTOWN.

AND THAT SUPPORTS PROJECT CONNECT ALLOWS ENTITLEMENTS FOR REQUIRED INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS, ENSURES ENTITLEMENTS MEET MARKET DEMAND, CREATES AN ENHANCED ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND PROTECTIONS FOR THE AREA, AND IS A PROGRAM THAT, UM, WOULD BE REEVALUATED AND UPDATED AT LEAST EVERY FIVE YEARS TO STAY CURRENT ON MARKET TRENDS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

AND IMPORTANTLY, COUNCIL ASKED FOR US TO CREATE A CONNECTED, PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED MIXED USE DISTRICT WHERE THOUSANDS MORE AUSTINITES CAN LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SORT OF THE COLLECTION OF THOSE TWO THINGS TO DEVELOP, UM, A CODE, UH, UH, A CODE THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD, UM, TO COUNCIL LATER ON THIS SPRING.

SO TO SUPPORT ONE OF THE COUNCIL GOALS, ONE ADJUSTED, ONE ADJUSTMENT THAT WE MADE AS STAFF IN THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE COMBINING DISTRICT, UH, DRAFT, UM, THAT WE SENT AS BACKUP, UM, FROM THE ORIGINAL, UH, VISION PLAN IS THE ADDITIONAL, UH, ADDITIONAL OF SEVERAL PARCELS EXTENDING THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE AREA IS SHOWN ON THE MAP THERE.

AND THE REASON WHY WE DID THAT, UM, WAS TO SUPPORT PROJECT CONNECT.

AND WHAT YOU SEE IN GREEN IS THE PROJECT CONNECT ALIGNMENT.

UM, AND SO WE WANTED TO, UM, INCORPORATE PARCELS THAT WERE BOTH BEING DIRECTLY, UM, UH, UM, EN ENGAGED BY THE IDENTIFIED ALIGNMENT FROM LAST YEAR IN PROJECT CONNECT, UM, AND TO PROMOTE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE WHOLE OF THE, OF THE DISTRICT.

UM, YOU KNOW, BEING, UH, MORE DENSE TO DOWNTOWN, UM, AND, AND DECREASING DENSITY AS YOU HEAD FURTHER, UH, SOUTH AND EAST.

SO AS WE LOOK TO THE, THE CODE ITSELF, UM, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT I MENTIONED THAT WE WERE ASKED TO CREATE A REGULATING PLAN, BOTH IN THE VISION PLAN AND ALSO IN IN, UH, THE COUNCIL RESOLUTION AS WE, UM, CAME TOGETHER AS STAFF AND WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT, UM, UH, BASED ON SOME LEGAL FINDINGS.

UM, RECENTLY WHAT WE WERE ADVISED TO DO WITH, UM, SINCE WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM, WAS TO CREATE A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.

BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE COMBINED WITH THE COMBINING DISTRICT ITSELF FOR JUST AN OVERLAY.

UM, AND SO THIS IS WHERE PROPERTIES CAN OPT INTO THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, UM, IF THEY'RE WITHIN THIS DISTRICT.

SO THE ELEMENTS OF THE COMBINING DISTRICT, UH, INCLUDE GENERAL PROVISIONS, THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND WHO CAN PARTICIPATE THE LAND USE STANDARDS, UM, THE PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL LAND USES IN THIS AREA, DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, WHAT CAN BE BUILT AND WHERE DESIGN STANDARDS, HOW IT'S GOING TO LOOK, AND THEN DEFINITIONS THAT YOU WON'T ABIDE ELSEWHERE IN THE CODE THROUGH THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND THEN THE DENSITY BONUS COMPONENTS INCLUDE THE PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DENSITY BONUS ITSELF, THE GATEKEEPER REQUIREMENTS, UM, FOR, UH, WHICH INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, IMPROVED STREETSCAPE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, UM, UH, UM, SOME DENSITY BONUS COMPONENTS FOR IN FEES AND DEDICATIONS.

AND THEN ON ONSITE COMMUNITY BENEFITS ELIGIBLE OR ADDITIONAL BONUS AREA, UH, FROM THOSE THAT ARE BUILDING UNDER THESE ENHANCED WITH, WITH THIS, WITH THIS CODE, UM, SOMETHING THAT, UM, WAS INITIATED AS A RESULT OF THE VISION PLAN WAS THE, UH, STREET NETWORK ALIGNMENT THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU.

THERE ARE LEVEL THREE, LEVEL ONE STREETS, UM, THAT ARE INCORPORATED NOW INTO THE A SMP.

UM, AND ADDITIONALLY, UM, WE WANTED TO IDENTIFY HOW THOSE SORT OF, UH, FIT IN WITH THE LIGHT RAIL ALIGNMENT THAT, UH, WAS JUST PUT FORWARD IN THE LAST YEAR.

SO THIS IS SORT OF THE BASELINE STANDARD FOR WHAT WE ARE WORKING WITH, UM, WITHIN THE DISTRICT IN TERMS OF, UH, THE STREET NETWORK, UM, UH, THAT'S ALREADY IN THE A SMP TODAY OR THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, SO IN ORDER FOR US TO CREATE, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH CREATING, UM, UH, A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM IS THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON NEEDS TO BE EQUALLY, UH, ABLE TO OPT IN, UH, TO ALL OF THE SAME STANDARDS.

AND SO IN ORDER FOR US TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT, UM, IS SORT OF UNIQUE, MEETING WHAT WE UNDERSTAND TO BE THE MARKET DEMAND, UM, BASED ON CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, BUT ALSO BEING MINDFUL OF VARIOUS THINGS,

[03:30:01]

UM, WHAT WE CAME UP WITH, UH, WERE SUB-DISTRICTS FOR THIS DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.

THERE ARE FIVE PROPOSED SUB-DISTRICTS FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.

UM, AND IN THE CURRENT VERSION, UH, THAT'S OUT, UH, RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE, UM, MAXIMUM FAR THAT DISTINGUISH THOSE DIFFERENT SUB-DISTRICTS.

UM, SO THE MORE INTENSE AND, AND DENSE, UH, HEDGE TOWARDS DOWNTOWN, UM, UP ALONG LADY BIRD LAKE.

AND THEN AS YOU MOVE AWAY AND OUT, UM, THEN, UH, THE, UM, FLOOR TO AREA RATIO OR FAR REDUCES DOWN FROM THERE.

SO AS, UM, WE THINK ABOUT THE OTHER SORT OF ELEMENTS AT PLAY WITHIN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT DISTRICT, WE ARE, UM, UH, INCORPORATING AND KEEPING THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES OR THOSE THAT REFLECT THE BLOOD PLAN IN AUSTIN, UM, AND ARE GOING TO BE UPDATED AS, UH, REGULARLY DONE WITHIN THE CITY.

AND THEN THERE'S ONE CURRENT OVERLAY IN THE DISTRICT, THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY, UH, COMBINING DISTRICT THAT HAS TWO SUB-DISTRICTS THAT CONTAIN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, TRAVIS HEIGHTS AND THE SOUTH SHORE.

UM, THE OVERLAYS WILL REMAIN, UM, BUT THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF THE OVERLAYS THAT WILL BE REPLACED ARE SUPERSEDED BY THESE REGULATIONS.

AND I'LL JUST NOTE, UM, SO CHAD, WHO'S ON THE LINE HAS MORE INFORMATION RELATED TO WHAT, WHAT REMAINS AND WHAT, UM, UH, GOES AWAY IF YOU WANT SOME CLARIFICATIONS ON THAT.

BUT JUST A NOTE, UM, WE, UH, WE'RE, UM, SORT OF WORKING WITH SOME CONSTRAINTS OF THE OVERLAYS THAT WERE, UM, RELICS OF, UH, A TIME PASSED.

AND SO IF OPTING INTO THIS, THEN WE WOULD BE WORKING UNDER THE NEW, UM, UH, OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS WITH THE MODIFIED OVERLAYS.

IN TERMS OF THE LAND USES, UM, INCLUDED IN THIS DISTRICT, UM, WE ARE ENCOURAGING AND PERMITTING LAND USES THAT SUPPORT TRANSIT ORIENTED, UM, UH, USES AND, UH, SUPPORTIVE USES, UH, PEDESTRIAN USE, UH, RELATED USES.

SO THOSE THAT ARE FRIENDLY TO, UH, THE PEDESTRIANS IN THE AREA, A MIX OF USES TO CREATE A VIBRANT ENVIRONMENT, UM, AT, AT MANY TIMES OF DAY, UH, ENCOURAGING THE CREATIVE ENTERPRISE TO, UM, UH, AND AVAILING ITSELF TO THIS AREA.

UH, AND THEN, UM, UH, ENCOURAGING RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITY LANDS AS WELL.

AS FOR THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, UM, WE ARE REQUIRING PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACE FOR 5% OF EACH OF THE SITES THAT ARE DEVELOPED.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, PARKLAND DEDICATION MAY BE CREDITED TOWARDS THE PARKS FEE AND BLUE AMOUNT.

UM, THE BUILD OUT OF THE PARKS AMENITIES IS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL BONUS AREA, EXCUSE ME.

AND BOTH PARKLAND DEDICATION AND BUILD OUT MUST MEET HARD CRITERIA AND BE ACCEPTED BY THE PART DIRECTOR.

UM, AND I'M SURE YOU'LL HAVE SOME CLARIFYING QUESTIONS THERE, AND WE, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TALK THROUGH THOSE IN JUST A MOMENT.

SO IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE THINKING, UH, THIS COULD, UH, END UP LOOKING, UH, LIKED.

UM, WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS AN, UH, AN ARTIST RENDERING OF, UM, WHAT WE'VE, UM, SHOWN IN TERMS OF THE FLOOR TO AREA RATIO, UM, CONSIDERATIONS.

UM, IT DOES INCORPORATE THE LIGHT RAIL ALIGNMENT THAT YOU SEE THERE, UH, ON THE BRIDGE, UM, TO, UH, THE SOUTH OF SOUTH CONGRESS.

UM, AND AS YOU SEE, IT IS MORE DENSE, UM, AND MORE, UH, UM, WITH TALLER BUILDINGS TOWARDS DOWNTOWN.

AND THEN, UM, THAT, UH, UM, GETS SHORTER AND, UM, AND LESS DENSE AS YOU MOVE FURTHER AWAY FROM THAT AREA.

DISTRICT, THERE'S A BASE FLOOR TO AREA RATIO TO WHICH THEY ARE PERMITTED TO BUILD, WHICH IS TWO TO ONE IN ORDER TO ENTER INTO THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD BEYOND THAT BASE TO A DENSITY IN THE SUBDISTRICT MAP, UH, SHOWN IN THE SUBDISTRICT MAP, A SITE MUST ADHERE TO THE GATEKEEPER REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE FIRST THREE TO ONE FAR THEY'RE SEEKING IN THE DISTRICT.

UM, OKAY, SO I'M GONNA SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME HERE BECAUSE THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, WHAT WE WERE ASKED TO DO, INCORPORATED A LOT OF GOALS, UM, BOTH FROM COMMUNITY AND FROM COUNCIL.

AND SO WE'VE DONE OUR BEST TO TRY AND SORT OF THREAD THE NEEDLE, FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS VERY COMPLICATED ASK A PRACTICAL REALITY.

SO ONCE A PARCEL OPS INTO BUILDING WITHIN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT COMBINING

[03:35:01]

AND THEN, AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THE GATEKEEPER REQUIREMENTS.

SO THOSE REQUIREMENTS THAT GAIN PARCELS SOME AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL DENSITY INCLUDE IN ENHANCED ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, STREET SCAPE AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT STANDARDS, AND ALSO 5% OF HOUSING ONSITE MUST BE AFFORDABLE THEN, UH, WITHIN THE FIRST THREE TO ONE FLOOR FLOOR AREA RATIO.

THEN TO ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM DENSITIES DESCRIBED IN THE SUBDISTRICT MAP, A SITE MUST THEN CONTRIBUTE FEES IN LIEU AND OTHER ONSITE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

SO THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE, UM, SHOWN TO THE RIGHT, UM, THE FEES IN LIE WILL BE DEMI DIVIDED AMONG AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FEE WILL BE SPENT WITHIN A BOUNDARY THAT THE CITY IS DESCRIBING AS SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN, AND I CAN CLARIFY WHAT THAT IS IF YOU'D LIKE.

THE PARKS FEE WILL BE SPENT WITHIN THE DIS A DISTANCE FROM THE PROPERTY FROM WHICH IT'S OBTAINED.

UM, THIS IS AS IS TYPICALLY DONE WITH PARKS FEES, AND THEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE FEE WILL BE SPENT TO SUPPORT THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT DISTRICT.

THEN THE OTHER 30% OF BONUS AREA AVAILABLE IN DEVELOPMENT MAY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH ADDITIONAL ONSITE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

AND SOME OF, UM, AND THOSE ARE, UH, DESCRIBED IN FRONT OF YOU.

UH, THE BENEFITS INCLUDE, UM, THINGS LIKE PUBLIC OPEN SPACE LIKE PLAZAS, PARK, BUILD OUT, TRANSIT, SUPPORTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE, CULTURAL USES LIKE ART GALLERY OR MUSEUMS LIKE MUSIC VENUES AMONG OTHERS.

OKAY, NEXT SLIDE.

SO I WANT TO QUICKLY CALL THAT OUR INTENT AS STAFF IS TO REQUEST COUNSEL TO REZONE ALL OF THE PARCELS IN THE DISTRICT WITH SOME EXCEPT EXCEPTIONS.

THOSE EXISTING, UM, PODS, UM, OR PLANNED, UH, URBAN DEVELOPMENTS AND PDAS OR PLANNED DEVELOPMENT AREAS IN THE DISTRICT AND THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THERE ARE TWO PDAS TYPES, WHICH IS FUN FACT, UM, IN THE AREA.

WE WOULD NOT BE REQUESTING FOR THOSE TO BE AUTOMATICALLY REZONED IN THE DISTRICT WIDE REZONING.

NOW THOSE PARCELS AND ALL OF THOSE, UM, AS DESCRIBED, UM, ARE SHOWN IN FRONT OF YOU.

SO ALL OF THOSE PARCELS STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE REZONED, BUT THAT WOULD BE THROUGH A TYPICAL REZONING PROCESS THAT THEY WOULD INITIATE THAT STAFF.

UH, NEXT SLIDE.

SO IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINE, UM, I'VE PUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON HERE, UM, OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ACTUALLY CLOSED ON MARCH 20TH, UM, AND WE HAD THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PERIOD.

UH, WE HAD A SURVEY THAT WE, UM, ASKED FOR PEOPLE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON, UM, UH, UM, FAIRLY, UH, REGULARLY, I BELIEVE WE HAD 439 PARTICIPANTS OR SOMETHING, UH, LIKE THAT DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

AND WE'VE BEEN GOING TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ALONG THE WAY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WHAT WE ARE UP TO.

UM, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND, AND TAKE NEXT STEPS THERE.

WE'VE BEEN FAST AND FURIOUSLY INTEGRATING THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FROM STAFF, FROM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

AND THEN WE, UM, UH, ARE, UM, HEADING INTO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROCESS, WHICH IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNCIL REVIEW AND ADOPTION.

UH, WE'RE SCHEDULED TO TALK TO PLANNING COMMISSION ON APRIL 9TH, UM, AND THEN SCHEDULED TO TALK TO COUNCIL ABOUT THIS CODE ON MAY 2ND.

THIS SLIDE'S A LITTLE OUT OF DATE BECAUSE THE SURVEY IS CLOSED, BUT IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, UM, WE ARE, UH, WE HAVE INFORMATION ON OUR SPEAK UP AUSTIN.ORG/SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT PAGE.

UM, IT HAS A LOT OF LINKS TO THE CURRENT COMBINING DISTRICT AND DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, UM, AND, UH, LIST ALL THE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT WE UNDERTOOK.

UM, AND, UH, THE SURVEY IS CLOSED, SO YOU WON'T FIND A LINK TO THAT SURVEY.

UM, BUT IF YOU DO WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US ABOUT THIS DIRECTLY, YOU CAN STILL EMAIL US AT THE LDC UPDATES@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV EMAIL ADDRESS.

UM, IF YOU REFERENCE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, THAT HELPS US A GREAT DEAL TO UNDERSTAND, TO FILTER TO US, UM, AND YOU COULD GIVE US A CALL AS WELL, UH, AND LEAVE US A MESSAGE,

[03:40:01]

UM, WITH YOUR FEEDBACK.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL, UH, PAUSE AND SEE IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY, UM, CLARIFYING QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR, UH, ME OR ANYONE ON OUR TEAM.

YES, THANK YOU.

UM, COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IN THE BONUS.

FIRST OF ALL, I WISH THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE THE PUDS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND THERE'S PROBABLY ZERO, LESS THAN ZERO CHANCE THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO BE REZONED THIS WAY.

BUT, UM, IN THE BONUS PROGRAM STRUCTURE, UNDER GATEKEEPER REQUIREMENTS, HOW MUCH ON ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? IS IT 20%? IS IT WHAT PERCENT OF WHATEVER GETS BILLED? DO YOU HAVE A FIGURE FOR THAT? YES, IT'S 5% OF THE FIRST THREE TO ONE, THAT THREE TO ONE FLOOR AREA RATIO THAT A DEVELOPMENT WOULD CREATE.

AND SO WHAT THAT EQUATES TO IN TERMS OF NUMBERS, AND I'M GONNA LOOK TO TO TYLER HERE TO SEE IF WE'VE GOT THE EQUIVALENT.

SO WHAT THE VISION ASKED FOR, ACTUALLY WE'VE GOT IT IN A DIFFERENT, UM, VERSION OF PRESENTATION.

UM, I BELIEVE WHAT THE VISION PLAN, UM, ASKED FOR WAS SOMETHING, OR WHAT, UH, WAS ASKING FOR WAS SOMETHING MORE AKIN TO LIKE 500 AND SOMETHING, UH, UNITS.

AND IF, UH, AT FULL BUILD OUT, UM, EVERYONE OPT INTO THIS DENSITY PEOPLE, UH, BONUS PROGRAM, WE GET TO ABOUT 487 ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.

NOW THAT'S BEEN SUPPORTED WITH THE FEE IN LIEU FOR, UM, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN AREA.

SO, SO NO MATTER WHAT, THERE HAS TO BE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING? YES.

AND THEN AS YOU GET GREATER IN FAR, IT'S JUST AN OPTION.

UH, I MEAN, THERE IS AN OPTION FOR BEING IN LIE OR IS THERE A CONTINUED REQUIRED ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? SO THERE IS NOT, UM, ABOVE THAT THREE TO ONE, UH, IT'S JUST THAT 70%, UH, FEE IN LIEU, WHICH IS DIVIDED AGAIN BETWEEN PARKS, HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, AND THE 30% ONSITE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

NOW WE DO HAVE, UH, THE OPTION FOR ADDITIONAL ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE CREDITED TOWARDS THE HOUSING FEE IN LIEU AMOUNT.

UM, SO IT IS CERTAINLY STILL AN OPTION, BUT NO, IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT.

AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS, UM, WHAT IF, UH, WHAT IF A DEVELOPMENT APPLIES AS A PUD IN THE NONEXISTING P AREA? YEAH, THERE ARE A LOT OF INSTANCES WHERE THAT'S, UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PUDS THAT ARE SORT OF IN, IN THE, IN THE WORKS CURRENTLY.

THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

THOSE ONES SPECIFICALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP AND MOVE OVER, UH, INTO AND OPT INTO, UM, TO THIS DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.

UM, BUT UM, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT IS WITH THE ZONING TEAM.

AND WHAT WE'RE THINKING IS THAT THIS WOULD BE THE BASELINE FROM WHICH ALL PS WOULD SORT OF LIKE, UM, MOVE UPWARD FROM HERE.

SO THEY STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY AS A PUD.

UM, BUT UM, THIS WOULD BE THE BASELINE AND THIS WOULD POTENTIALLY PASS THE COUNCIL IN MAY? CORRECT.

SO PROBABLY BEFORE, AND WE HOPEFULLY FOR A LOT MORE APPLICATIONS WOULD GO THROUGH AS POS, SO THEY WOULD HAVE THE DENSITY BUMP PROGRAM.

OH, ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY.

I DID LOOK AT YOUR SURVEY.

I, I PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY AND WANTED TO MAKE, JUST FOR OUR BOARD'S INFORMATION, UH, ONE OF THE COMMENTS IN ADDITION TO THE ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE BONUS PROGRAM WILL REQUIRE CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

HOW WOULD YOU PRIORITY PRIORITIZE THESE POTENTIAL ONSITE COMMUNITY BENEFITS? AND 95% OF THE, OF THE, UM, UM, RESPONSES SAID PUBLIC OPEN PLACES, PLAZA, BOARDWALKS, TRAILS, ET CETERA, FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND THEN 75% SAID PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS, 69% CULTURAL USES, LIKE ART GALLERIES ARE EXAMPLE.

SO I HOPE THAT THAT WILL BE REALLY TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

TAKEN .

WHAT'S THAT? I SAID IT'S A LOT TO TAKE IN UHHUH.

I GUESS, I GUESS THE ONLY THING THAT I, I ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS THIS JUST, UM, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A PARK OR PARK LAND IN THIS, IN, IN, IN THESE SPACES, RIGHT? IS IT LIKE, CAN A, UM, LIKE A SPLASH PAD BE CONSIDERED?

[03:45:01]

OR LIKE HOW DO WE, IS THERE A DEFINITION OF IT? DO YOU WANNA, UM, SURE.

UM, TALK ABOUT SURE.

SCOTT FROM PARKS AND RECREATION, SO BASICALLY A SITE THAT'S OPTING IN WOULD, UH, WOULD HAVE, WOULD GO THROUGH THE SAME SORT OF, UM, PROCESS AS A, AS A REGULAR SITE PLAN DIRECTOR WOULD DETERMINE OKAY, WHETHER, UM, UM, PARKLAND WOULD, UH, WOULD BE OWED OR A FEE AND LIVE.

AND SO BASICALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE A SMALL THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WAS A REFERENCE ON THE SLIDE THAT, THAT THEY, IT HAS TO MEET PAR HARD CRITERIA.

SO IT HAS TO BE A CERTAIN MINIMUM OF SIZE HAS TO BE ACCESSIBLE HERE RIGHT OF WAY, UM, HAVE VARIOUS ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS.

SO, UM, THE, UH, UH, NOT, NOT ALL SITES WOULD BE ACCEPT, BUT, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SERVE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS STILL OUR TOUCHSTONE IS THE 2016, UM, VISION FRAMEWORK.

WE WOULD, WE WOULD BE, THIS WOULD BE OPERATING UNDER THE NEW PARKLAND DEDICATION REGIME THAT WAS PASSED BY LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR.

THAT'S CORRECT.

I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.

UM, BASICALLY THIS IS A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.

SO THAT MEANS THAT THIS IS AN OPTIONAL PROGRAM.

AND SO THAT MEANS THAT, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF STANDARDS THAT ARE THAT, THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE NEW ORDINANCE THAT CAN BE KEY RECEDED BY THE DENSITY MILLER PROGRAM, FOR INSTANCE.

UM, THERE IS NO, UM, YOU CAN GO BEYOND 10% OF THE SITE, THE GROSS SITE AREA.

UM, SO THAT, THAT'S A KEY ONE.

SIX TO EIGHT, A FAMILY CAN GO KAYAKING.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS, SENATOR AND JONATHAN THERE.

NOW WE, WE REALLY WILL MOVE ON AGAIN.

OTHER MEMBER NEE.

SO I'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO ON PAGE ONE.

UH, DUNCAN PARK HAS BEEN A PART THAT HAS BEEN, UH, HAD A DESIGN, UH, DESIGN PLAN.

AND, UH, ANYWAY, IT IS GONNA HAVE A RIBBON FUNDING 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S DONE AND IT'S KIND OF AN EXCITING PROJECT BECAUSE IT HAD MULTIPLE, IT HAD MULTIPLE GOALS THAT WERE REACHED, UM, WHICH INCLUDED ALSO BECOME WATER.

WATER THERE.

UM, COULD YOU TAKE A LOOK AT, UM, PAGE SEVEN BRUSH SQUARE RECEIVED, UH, ONE OF SIX TEXAS PARKS, UM, LONE STAR LEGACY AWARDS BY THE TEXAS PARK, SORRY, THE TEXAS RECREATION AND HARVEST IN SOCIETY.

IS THAT RIGHT? TRACKS TEXAS RECREATION AND PARKS SOCIETY.

YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UM, IF YOU ARE TAKING A LOOK AT, UH, PAGE EIGHT AND, UM, AND PERHAPS PAGE NINE, THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS.

SO WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A CONVERSATION TO ABOUT BALL FIELDS AND ABOUT THEM BEING ABLE TO BE ABLE TO USE BALL FIELDS.

THERE ARE SOME LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM TO EXTEND THE, THE USE OF BALL FIELDS.

NONE OF THESE HAPPEN TO BE, UM, BASEBALL FIELDS, BUT, BUT THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOOD FIELDS.

THE THE DEPARTMENT ALSO RECEIVED A RESOLUTION ABOUT BEING A SOCCER CITY AND SO THERE'S ALSO AN INTEREST IN THE RECTANGLE FIELD REC REC FIELDS TOO.

UM, PAGES 11, 12 AND 13.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE FOR, UM, FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAMMING THAT WAS OFFERED.

UM, DOVE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER, I BEG YOUR PARDON.

GEORGE MORALES, DOVE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER WAS ABLE TO HOST, UH, AN EVENT WITH, UH, THE, WITH THE UT AND IT WAS CALLED THE UT PROJECT, WHERE 800 STUDENTS CAME TO THE DOVE SPRINGS AREA AND UM, SPLIT UP AND PROVIDED DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THAT ENTIRE AREA.

AND, UM, THEY, THEY USED THE RECREATION CENTER AS THEIR HOME BASE AND DID SOME PROJECTS IN THE PARK, BUT I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

800 STUDENTS, I JUST HAPPENED TO GO ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY.

THERE WAS A LOT OF, UM, YOUNG FOLKS DOING A LOT OF GOOD WORK IN THAT COMMUNITY THERE.

IN CASE YOU ARE INTERESTED, I WANTED TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO, UM, THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY CENTER ON FRIDAY NIGHTS HAS FAMILY KAYAKING AND SO EVERY NIGHT, EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT FROM

[03:50:01]

AND I THOUGHT THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AND EVEN FOUR YEAR OLDS, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT THEY MUST TO DO OR MAYBE NOT DAY.

UM, THERE'S SOME EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP, THE VEG FEST, I JUST THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING CONSIDERING WE HAD AN ENTIRE CONVERSATION ABOUT FOOD ACCESS.

UM, THE, THE CAPITAL 10 K IS HAPPENING ON THE WEEKEND, UH, AT APRIL 6TH.

UM, THE KITE TEST WILL BE HAPPENING THE WEEKEND OF APRIL 14TH, UH, SPECIFICALLY ON APRIL 14TH.

AND ALSO THE VERY BIG THING THAT'S HAPPENING, IT'S APRIL 8TH AS THE ECLIPSE.

THERE'LL BE A NEWS RELEASE THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING OUT QUITE SOON, UH, PROBABLY TOMORROW.

AND IT WILL EXPLAIN ALL THE DIFFERENT SPACES IN WHICH WE ARE PARTNERING WITH UT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TELESCOPES AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE TO WATCH THE ECLIPSE, UM, WHERE THOSE WATCH PARTIES COULD BE.

IT'S GONNA ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE ECLIPSE FROM RIGHT WHERE THEY'RE AT.

BUT IF THEY'D LIKE TO, UM, BE A PART OF A BIGGER, BIGGER EVENT, THEN THERE'S 10 MARKS THAT WERE SELECTED, ONE IN EACH DISTRICT THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GO TO AND YOUTUBE WILL HAVE A, UM, WILL HAVE A TELESCOPE THAT IT'LL BE ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR THE DEPARTMENT INCLUDING US, UM, PARTICIPATING IN WORKING IN THE EOC FOR ANY KIND OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS TYPE OF THINGS.

UM, BUT I THINK IT ACTUALLY A GREAT QUESTION, REALLY INTERESTING IS UT'S GONNA HAVE TELESCOPES AND STAFF OUT AT EVERY LOCATION, LIKE TO DO INTRODUCTION.

I'M SURE THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THAT AT LEAST ONE STEP.

YEAH, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THEM.

SO THERE ARE VOLUNTEER GROUPS THAT ARE WELL VERSED IN THAT.

THERE'S OUR OWN STAFF, THERE'S UT STAFF.

SURE.

YEAH, THERE ARE ENTHUSIASTS THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE LONG TIME COMING OUTTA THE WOOD LAST YEAR.

THEY APPROACHED LAST YEAR TO BE ABLE TO UM, TO ENGAGE AND, AND TO PUT THE EVENTS TOGETHER.

SO OF COURSE PARK WILL BE THERE, BUT THERE'S OTHER CHART THROUGHOUT THE, YOUR SYSTEM.

SO YOU CAN TAKE A BIT THERE AND THEN PLEASE, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE SEND THE PRESS RELEASE TO YOUR, TO YOUR, UM, THEIR EMAIL.

UM, JUST FOR A PRODUCTS RECRUITING ON PAGE 23, UH, PLEASE KNOW THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT ARE WRITTEN DOWN THERE AS TO WHEN HOW WE'RE RECRUITING.

UM, AS OF MARCH 8TH, THERE WAS 245 LIFE CARDS THAT ARE READY TO WORK AND WHEN WE SAID READY TO WORK AND THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING, THEY COULD ACTUALLY SIT ON A STAND TODAY.

UM, THERE IS ABOUT 300 PLUS THAT ARE IN A, IN A PROCESS, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY PROBABLY ARE CERTIFIED BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ONBOARDING AND SOME SKILLS.

UM, BUT AS OF, UH, OCTOBER 8TH, WE HAD 58 MORE LIFEGUARDS THIS YEAR THAN WE DID LAST YEAR.

WHAT'S THE TOTAL NUMBER? BLACK CARDS WE NEED.

DONKEY.

I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.

WHAT'S THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BLACK CARDS OR NEEDED TO? WE, WE TRY TO GET A ROUND EIGHT BETWEEN.

WE TRY TO GET A, THAT'S ALL THE REST YOU GET LEISURE.

UM, THREE PAGES.

I MAKE A MOTION UNITY, WAIVE THE RULES AND ALLOW THE PARK OF RECREATION BOARD TO MEET AFTER 10:00 PM UH, IS THERE A SECOND? NO.

I'LL SECOND.

SECOND.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR THINGS RAISE YOUR HAND WE'LL GET DONE.

NEXT LETTER.

MOTION.

UH, ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.

7 7 2 72 TO ABSTAINING.

UM, TIERRA AND UM, OKAY.

UM, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME, THIS NOW 10:00 PM I'LL DURING THE MEETING OF THE PARTS INTEGRATION THAT WORK THEN YOU SAID JUST BE, SAY AT 10:00 PM WE MADE THE MOTION BECAUSE 10:00 PM YEAH, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN I GUESS PARKING, VALIDATION.

FAIR THING.

ANYONE ELSE NEED PARKING VALIDATION? OH, I DO.

THEY'RE A FANCY MACHINE.