[00:00:03]
[CALL TO ORDER]
6:02 PM AND I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD FOR AUGUST 26TH, 2024.UM, WE HAVE, UH, I WILL DO A, UH, ROLL CALL.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (Part 1 of 2)]
COMMUNICATION.GENERAL, UH, MR. BECK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE FIRST, UH, SPEAKERS, FIRST THREE SPEAKERS? YES, CHAIR.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE LIZ IDE, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT COBB.
AND THEN JOEL MANZO IS LIZ IDE.
HERE YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING YOU.
I'M LIZ BARITE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN ROWING CLUB, AND I'M HERE TO UPDATE YOU ON SOME OF OUR AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS WITH OUR PROGRAMMING.
WE FIRST WANNA THANK WATERSHED PROTECTION FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE FAN WART AND WATER LETTUCE VEGETATION THAT'S CLOGGING THE LAKE.
THEY RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS TO HELP THEM REMOVE DEBRIS FROM THE WALLER CREEK TUNNEL INLET AND THE OUTLET PONDS.
LAST WEEK, THEY TESTED THE EQUIPMENT ON LADY BIRD LAKE AND REMOVED VEGETATION BETWEEN THE RAILROAD BRIDGE AND THE WALLER CREEK TUNNEL OUTLET.
THIS AREA WAS SELECTED SINCE IT IS THE MOST AFFECTED BY THE GROWTH, GROWTH OF THE VEGETATION.
AUSTIN ROWING CLUB WELCOMES, UH, HARD SUMMER CAMPERS TO THE BOATHOUSE FROM JUNE 5TH TO AUGUST 9TH.
UH, TO DATE, WE HAVE HAD 350 CAMPERS PARTICIPATING FROM 14 OF PARS RECREATION CENTERS.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE STARTED OUR JUNIOR COMPETITIVE TEAM PROGRAM THIS FALL.
IT, UH, STARTED A WEEK AGO, AND, UM, AS PART OF ARC'S MISSION, COST IS NOT A BARRIER TO LEARNING HOW TO ROW AND BE A PART OF THE TEAM.
TO DATE, WE HAVE GRANTED $20,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO 15 ATHLETES.
THIS AUGUST WE PARTNERED WITH KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL ON TWO CLEANUPS, A TOTAL OF 50 VOLUNTEERS PICKED UP OVER 95 BAGS OF TRASH AND RECYCLING ON THE TRAIL AND FROM THE LAKE.
TOMORROW WE'RE HOSTING WEATHER PERMITTING A ANOTHER CLEANUP FROM NINE TO 11.
AND ANYONE THAT WANTS TO GET INTO A KAYAK AND HELP US CLEAN UP THE LAKE IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME DOWN AND SEE US.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE WISH YOU A VERY GOOD, UM, LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SCOTT COBB, FOLLOWED BY JOEL MANZO.
I'M SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THIS COMMISSION WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE WELFARE OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE PARKS, WHO ARE MEMBERS OF LABOR UNIONS.
AND I'M SURE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT LABOR TO YOUR CAPACITY.
IT MAY NOT BE TO THE SAME EXTENT AS PEOPLE WHO LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK WHEN THEY'RE MAKING $20,000 A YEAR WITH NO HEALTH INSURANCE AND WHO CAN BE FIRED AT WILL.
BUT I'M SURE THERE IS SOME INTEREST.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE IS EVERYONE, EVERY MONTH WHEN YOU MAKE AN AGENDA, YOU LOOK AT THE AGENDA AND YOU SAY, WHAT IS ON HERE THAT MAKES THE WORKING LIVES? THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE PARK BETTER, MAKES THEM HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, BETTER EMPLOYEES.
FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE HAVE NOW UNTIL, YOU KNOW, MARCH OR APRIL WHEN WE START THINKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES YOU CAN ALREADY BE TALKING ABOUT, BUT TWO THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY WOULD NOT ACTUALLY IMPACT THE BUDGET VERY MUCH.
YOU CAN PASS THEM IN A RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY OF AUSTIN IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES TO APPEAL DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS IN A SIMILAR WAY THAT REGULAR EMPLOYEES ARE ALLOWED TO DO, WHICH REGULAR EMPLOYEES USE THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, WHICH TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES ARE EXCLUDED FROM.
[00:05:01]
ON THE SAME DAY, CALLED IN THE OFFICE AND TOLD YOU'RE NO LONGER WORKING HERE.THE 2012 BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT IMPLEMENTED THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION SAID, SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE A CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM FOR MOST CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT ALREADY COVERED BY A STATE CIVIL SERVICE STATUTE? NOW, IF YOU WANTED THE BALLOT BOX THAT DAY AND YOU SAW THAT LANGUAGE, YOU SAID, YEAH, I'M ALL FOR THAT.
THAT'S GONNA DO A GREAT, GREAT BENEFIT FOR THE CITY OF WORKERS.
IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CLEAR TO YOU THAT LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF CITY WORKERS WHO WERE CLASSIFIED AS TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES WOULD BE EXCLUDED.
MOST RECENTLY, I CAME ACROSS, I WAS INFORMED SOMEBODY GOT A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST ABOUT A WOMAN WHO COMPLAINED TO HER SUPERVISOR AT BARTON SPRINGS ABOUT ANOTHER EMPLOYEE INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR.
SHE WAS FIRED THAT VERY SAME DAY.
SHE HAD NO RECOURSE TO APPEAL IT.
WHAT I FOUND OUT AND WHAT SHE FOUND OUT AND TOLD ME ABOUT THROUGH A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST, THAT A FEW MONTHS BEFORE SOMEONE HAD MADE AN ALLEGATION ABOUT THAT VERY SAME SUPERVISOR THAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR SEXUAL FAVORS FROM LIFEGUARDS, HR DID NOT INVESTIGATE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON WHO FILED THE UH, COMPLAINT GAVE THE FIRST NAMES, OFTEN THEY DON'T GIVE THE LAST NAMES FOR PRIVACY REASONS.
BUT IT WASN'T INVESTIGATED THAT A LIFEGUARD HAD NO APPEALS PROCESS AND SHE'D NOT, SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO TO A MALE SUPERVISOR WHO HIMSELF HAD BEEN SUBJECT TO AN ALLEGATION OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE, SHOULD BE DEALT WITH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JOEL MANZO.
UM, I'M A FREQUENT BARTON SPRINGS SWIMMER AND A, UH, HIKING BIKE, UH, USER, UH, IN OUR BUTLER HIKING BIKE TRAIL.
AND LAST FRIDAY I PULLED UP TO THE SOUTH SIDE, A MORTON SIDE, AND AT TWO O'CLOCK I NOTICED A, UH, A TX TOW TRUCK TOWING AWAY, UH, VEHICLE WITH KENTUCKY PLATES IN DURING A NO CHARGED PERIOD IN AN APPROPRIATE PARKING SPACE.
UM, THIS A TX TO IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH PARK RANGERS.
THERE'S MULTIPLE PEOPLE GETTING TOWED.
THERE HAVE BEEN LIFEGUARDS AT BARTON SPRINGS ON THEIR SHIFTS TOWED.
WE HAVE A VENDOR WHOSE VEHICLE JUST GOT TOWED.
I UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE TOW TRUCKS THERE.
THEY EXPECT IT TO, UH, PREVENT PEOPLE FROM SLEEPING IN THE PARK, PARKING EGREGIOUSLY ON THE GRASS, A DA WHEN THEY'RE NOT A DA.
UM, IMAGINE THIS BEING YOU TRAVELING INTO TOWN, EITHER DRIVING FROM KENTUCKY OR RENTING A VEHICLE AND YOU WANNA COOL OFF OF BARN SPRINGS BEFORE YOU CATCH A FLIGHT AND YOU COME OUT AND YOUR VEHICLE IS GONE.
UM, THOSE ARE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.
I BELIEVE MOST OF US HAVE PROBABLY BEEN TOWED HERE.
IT IS VERY SAD TO SEE THAT AT A PLACE WHERE WE GO FOR TRANQUILITY FOR, UM, UH, TO RELIEVE STRESS AND FOR JOY.
BUT WHEN YOU COME OUT AND YOUR VEHICLE IS GONE, UH, BY THESE CROOKED TOW TRUCK, UH, COMPANIES, UM, IT'S VERY SAD.
SO WE NEED SOMETHING DONE IMMEDIATELY.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SIDE YOU'RE ON, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT VALUES YOU ARE.
UH, HAVE YOU GO TO BARTON SPRINGS, GO TO ZILKER PARK, YOU GO TO THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL TO TO ENJOY YOURSELF AND ONE OF THESE TOW TRUCK DRIVERS ARE TAKING YOUR CARS.
SO PLEASE, PARKS AND REX BOARDS DO SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY.
I BELIEVE THAT IS THE END OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS IS FOR PUBLIC GENERAL COMMENT ON NON AGENDA ITEM ITEMS. ELISA? YEAH.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM ELISA REONE MONTOYA.
I'M GONNA DO, JUST SPEAK UP SOMETHING ELSE IN THIS.
SPEED DURING, YEAH, DURING IS NOT RELATED TO AN AGENDA.
MY NAME IS ELISA MONTOYA, EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION VICE CHAIR.
I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
UH, WE HAD A SPECIAL EVENT YESTERDAY FROM THE, FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WAS, UM, THE 45TH, 46TH, UH, UH, CELEBRATION ON CHICANO PARK, THE EDWARD
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ONG SENIOR PARK.AND, UH, IT WAS A REAL GOOD TURNOUT.
THE CONCERN THAT I HAD THAT I'M BRINGING UP TODAY, AND I'M GONNA SPEAK ON THE OTHER ISSUE, BUT, UH, IT WAS THAT, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH THIS GENTLEMAN ABOUT, UH, STAFF AND, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE AT THE PARKS, KEEPING UP WITH PARK, UH, CLEANUP MAINTENANCE.
I SEE THERE'S A LACK OF MAINTENANCE GOING ON AND WE'RE GONNA BE HIRING PEOPLE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT GETTING PAID TO DO THIS AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON OVER AND OVER, THE PARKS ARE NOT BEING MAINTENANCE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO.
ESPECIALLY THAT AREA WHEN WE HAVE EVENTS, UH, THERE IN OTHER AREAS THAT THEY COMPLAIN A LOT ABOUT THE TRASH AND EVERYTHING AND THERE'S NO ONE TO, TO REPLACE SOME OF THE, THE, THE TRASH BAGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO CLEAN UP THE, THE PARK AREA AFTER THE, OR DURING USE.
WE NEVER FIND ANYBODY TO HELP US OUT OR WHEN WE HAVE ISSUES ON ELECTRIC OR ISSUES ON, UM, THERE'S SO MUCH TRASH THAT THEY CAN HELP OUT AND, AND GIVING US BAGS TO EITHER CLEAN IT UP AND, UH, OR, YOU KNOW, MAINTENANCE AFTER THE, THE EVENT THAT ALL THAT IS NOT EVEN CLEANED UP.
AND WE HAVE, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF MAINTENANCE, UH, STAFF OUT THERE THAT ARE GETTING PAID GOOD MONEY.
THEY NEED TO FOLLOW UP AND, AND KEEP THESE PARKS CLEANED AFTER ANY EVENT.
'CAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF THE EVENTS ARE ALSO BEING CHARGED FOR UTILITIES AND TO RESERVE THE PARK.
WELL, PLEASE USE THAT MONEY FOR THAT KIND OF EVENTS, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY DAY, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KEEP OUR PARKS CLEAN.
THEY'RE NOT MAINTENANCE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO, THE TOILETS ARE NOT MAINTENANCE THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO WHEN THERE'S, UH, THE USE OF THE PARK AT ANY TIME DURING THE WEEK OR THE AN AN EVENT.
AND, AND IF WE NEED MORE STAFF TO GO OUT THERE, THEY, THEY SHOULD BE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE WORKING FOR, FOR THE PEOPLE.
AND WE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING A LOT TO DO KEEP UP OUR PARKS.
THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED TO SPEAK ON.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AT THE LAST, AT THE BUDGETARY HEARING, THE CITY COUNCIL DID ALLOCATE $2 MILLION FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE SOME OF EFFECT.
WE'LL START TO SEE SOME OF THE EFFECT STARTING IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
I HOPE SO THAT, BECAUSE IT DOES, YOU KNOW, HAS CONCERN ABOUT KEEPING OUR PARKS NEATLY AND CLEAN AND AND USABLE FOR THE PEOPLE.
IS THAT IT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? THAT IS IT FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
NUMBER ONE.APPROVAL, UH, APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION REGULAR MEETING OF TO JULY 22ND, 2024 CHAIR.
UM, I JUST FOUND A TYPO, I BELIEVE IN STAFF BRIEFINGS.
NUMBER FOUR, STAFF BRIEFING ON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
UM, AT THE END OF THAT PARAGRAPH, IT SAYS SAVE OR SPRINGS.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE SAVE OUR SPRINGS.
WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON THAT WANTS TO SPEAK DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL GO BACK TO IT WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THIS.
ANY OTHER UGG UH, EDITS? ALL RIGHT.
I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.
REGULAR MEETING OF JULY 22ND, 2024.
THERE'S A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALRIGHT EVERYONE, IT'S AGAIN, I MISS UM,
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (Part 2 of 2)]
WELL, WE'LL GO BACK TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATION GENERAL.BOARD, WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM BERTHA RONE DELGADO.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
UM, I JUST, I HAVE A COUPLE OF FLYERS FOR YOU ALL.
I WANTED TO JUST PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION, UH, THAT WAS GIVEN OVER THE WEEKEND.
I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THIS TIME TO READ IT.
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YEARS OF CHICANO HISTORY AT THE EDWARD RENDON PARK, UM, WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY BEING GENTRIFIED AND PROPOSALS ARE BEING SUBMITTED TO RECREATE A PARK THAT BELONGS TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT BUILT THE PARK.AND SO I WANNA SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL.
UM, I WANNA THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR PROCLAIMING THE DAY.
PRO PROCLAMATION BE KNOWN AS, WHEREAS IN 1978, THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY CREATED A HISTORICAL MOMENT BY PROTESTING IN THE EDWARD RENDON SENIOR PARK AT FESTIVAL BEACH ON THE HOLLY SHORES, KNOWN TO THE RESIDENTS WHO GREW UP THERE AS CHICANO PARK STOPPING THE BOAT RACES ON TOWN LAKE FOREVER.
STOPPING THE BOAT RACES OR ANY BOATS FOREVER EAST OF 35.
WHEREAS THE BROWN BERETS AND RESIDENTS OF THE EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHICH WE CALL EL BARRIO, AND OUR EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORS MARCHED TOGETHER ON THE SACRED LAND, PROTESTING FOR THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD AS THEY HAD ENDURED SEGREGATION, DISCRIMINATION, POLICE BRUTALITY, AND INJUSTICES TO THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY EAST OF AGE 35 IN 1978.
IT'S STILL HAPPENING IN THE YEAR 2024, WHEREAS OUR EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY VICTORY IS A PART OF OUR CHICANO CORDURA AND OUR MEXICAN IDENTITY.
AND THAT THIS DEMONSTRATION NOT JUST SYMBOLIZES OUR ANCESTORS, FIGHT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY RICH, BEAUTIFUL, AND MOST OF ALL, PRESERVE A QUE THAT MEANS THE WORLD TO US AND FOR GENERATIONS TO ENJOY AS WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR QUE VIVA CHICANO PARK.
NOW, THEREFORE, I KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST THE 25TH, 2024 AT CHICANO PARK DAY.
I WANTED TO BRING YOU ALL THE PROCLAMATION MYSELF AS SO YOU ALL CAN SEE THE FIGHT IS REAL AND WE'RE FIGHTING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVEN'T DEMONSTRATED A FIGHT HERE TO BRING IN PEOPLE OF COLOR HERE TO PROTEST, BUT WE ARE WORKING TO DO THAT.
BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE A STAND TODAY THAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR PARK.
[2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for staff and programming at the Old Bakery and Emporium, Brush Square Museum and the Elisabet Ney Museum. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers). (PARD Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Operational Efficiency, Park Access for All).]
ON TO AGENDA ITEMS, UH, DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. UH, JUST TO REITERATE, 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS IN THE LAST, UH, FEW MEETINGS, UM, THERE IS NO DONATION OF TIME ALLOWED.WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, OUR PRESENTER FOR AGENDA ITEM TWO IS LIN ZAMORA.
GOOD EVENING POWER BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME'S LINA SAMMO, MUSEUM CULTURE AND ARTS PROGRAM MANAGER, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TO REPRESENT AUSTIN'S MUSEUMS THAT CONTINUE TO THRIVE.
LET ME SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.
WE CALL OURSELVES AUSTIN HERITAGE MUSEUMS, AND WE HAVE A MISSION AND A VISION.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS THAT WHICH WE CELEBRATE AUSTIN'S UNIQUE STORIES WITHIN TEXAS, THAT WE SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE OF TEXAS HISTORY THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT, AND ROBUST SCHOLARSHIP.
WE HAVE A VISION THAT AIMS TO BE DYNAMIC, TRUSTED, AND ENGAGING, STORY ENGAGE AND ENGAGING STORYTELLERS ROOTED IN THE MATERIAL CULTURE LANDSCAPE, AND THE FABRIC OF THE CITY WHOSE STORIES WE TELL.
THE OBJECTIVES THAT WE SHARE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS VISION BY EXPANDING BEST PRACTICES AND PRESERVING OUR VENERABLE PLACES AND THEIR CONTENT.
WE ARE TELLING STORIES THAT PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE, EQUITABLE AND ACCURATE
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HISTORY OF AUSTIN.WE SEEK OUT AND ELEVATE DIVERSE VOICES.
WE ENCOURAGE HISTORICAL CURIOSITY.
WE INCORPORATE BOTH TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE STORYTELLING TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING THE INTERPRETIVE POWER OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, WHICH WE ARE VERY GOOD AT.
WE ENGAGE ALL VISITORS WHENEVER POSSIBLE, MAXIMIZE OPPORTUNITIES TO LISTEN TO THEM, AND WE PROVIDE MEANINGFUL VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND MAKE AUSTIN'S HISTORIC HISTORY RELEVANT.
AGAIN, WE'RE VERY GOOD AT THIS NEXT SLIDE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DEFINITELY WANNA SHARE WITH YOU, UH, SINCE WE HAVE THE NUMBERS NOW IN THIS YEAR ALL TOGETHER, WE HAVE HAD 69,564 VISITORS ACROSS ALL OF OUR SITES.
WE HAVE HAD 61 PROGRAMS WITH 2020 9,241 PARTICIPANTS.
WE HAVE HAD OVER 281 LOCAL ARTISTS THAT HAVE GIVEN PLACES TO SHOW THEIR WORK AND SHARPEN THEIR CRAFT IN, UM, ART EXHIBITS IN WORKSHOPS, UM, THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE MUSEUMS, THE OLD BAKER AND EMPORIUM WELCOME VISITORS FROM OVER 30 STATES AND 20 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES JUST ALONE.
EVERY TIME THAT I HAVE GONE TO BRUSH SQUARE MUSEUMS AND EVEN MY OWN, WHERE I'M AT, AT THE OLD BAKERY AND EMPORIUM, I HEAR DIFFERENT ACCENTS, DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ALL THESE MUSEUMS HAVE IN COMMON.
THE 47TH ANNUAL, UH, PUN OFF, HIT ITS HIGHEST EVER WITH A A THOUSAND, 1,200 GUESTS.
AND IT HAD ITS, UM, THE PUN OFF THIS YEAR IN AT THE BRUSH SQUARE NEW PARK.
ALSO THE 10TH ANNUAL NAY DOUBLED ITS ATTENDANCE FROM LAST YEAR WITH 500 GUESTS.
AND WE'VE HAD OVER 11,000 FOLLOWERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OVER 3,500 IN EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS.
NOW LET ME ALSO MENTION THAT ALSO THE OLD BAKER AND EMPORIUM NEVER HAD A NEWSLETTER UNTIL 2020.
BRUSH SQUARE MUSEUMS JUST STARTED THEIR NEWSLETTER IN 2022.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, UH, THE NAY HAD 18,380 IN VISITORS BRUSH SQUARE MUSEUMS HAD 11,497 OLD BAKERY THREE 39,687.
NOW LET ME TALK ABOUT, UM, ALSO NEW PROGRAMS THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR.
UM, NEW PROGRAMS, UH, ALSO COST MONEY.
AND THESE MUSEUMS DO NOT HAVE BIG BUDGETS.
THEY HAVE VERY SMALL BUDGETS, BUT THESE MUSEUMS COUNT ON THEIR, UM, THEIR FOUNDATIONS.
AND ONE NEW PROGRAM, UH, THAT THE NAY JUST STARTED IS THE NATURALIST.
AND THE NATURALIST, UH, RECEIVED $18,000 FROM THE DOROTHY RODOWSKI GRANT THROUGH THE, WHERE WOMEN MADE HISTORY PROGRAM AS PART OF THE NATIONAL TRUST TO SUPPORT EDUCATION IN INITIATIVES.
IT'S CALLED BREAKING THE MOLD.
MOBILE HANDS ON ART CREATES FEATURING ART HISTORY AND SCIENCE PROGRAMS CENTERED ON ELIZABETH NAY WORKING WITH THE SCIENCE TEACHER AND AN ARTS EDUCATION COORDINATOR.
NAY MUSEUM STAFF WILL CREATE CURRICULA AND THREE DIFFERENT TRAVELING ART CRATES FOCUSED ON DISTINCT ASPECTS OF NAYS STORY.
ALSO, UH, THE NAY HAS, LIKE I MENTIONED, THE NAY, UM, HAD OVER 500 GUESTS THIS YEAR.
LAST YEAR THEY ONLY HAD, UH, THE NAY DAY ONLY HAD 250.
THE PANOFF, BECAUSE OF BRUSH SQUARE FOUNDATION, ALSO RAISED $4,000.
AND WE ALSO HAD A GRANT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SITES OF CONSCIENCE, WHICH THE NAY HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE REFUGE COLLECTIVE IN AUSTIN.
THEY HAVE INCREASED THEIR LANGUAGE OFFERING TO INCLUDE A THREE DAY A WEEK.
SPANISH TOURS AND GALLERY GUIDES IN BOTH SPANISH AND GERMAN BRUSH SQUARE MUSEUMS HAS OFFERED AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LIVING HISTORY FOUNDATION, WHICH IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE SAME GRANT.
THROUGH THIS PART PARTNERSHIP, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE AND HOST AN EXHIBIT ABOUT THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS.
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BOTH MUSEUMS WILL BE PARTNERING IN A VIRTUAL PRESENTATION ABOUT THEIR RELATIONS WITH COMMUNITIES TITLED ADDRESSING THE SILENCES, MAKING CHANGE FROM INSIDE OUT.BRUSH SQUARE MUSEUMS ELEVATED THEIR OUTREACH APPROACH AND HAS BEEN BUSY HOSTING EVENTS AT PAR IN A ISD, SUCH AS THE ROLE MODEL FAIRS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION AT BETHANY CEMETERY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS AT VIRGINIA BROWN RECREATION CENTER DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATIONS AND BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS.
AND WE HAVE BEEN BUSY WITH THE OLD BAKERY, UH, THAT HAS COMPLETED AN EIGHT 18 MONTH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, RESULTING IN THE FIRST MURAL TO BE PAINTED ON THE HISTORY AND THE HISTORIC BUILDING ENTITLED GENERATIONAL TIES.
THE MURAL WAS UNVEILED AT THE THIRD ANNUAL MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL.
AND HERE ARE SOME OTHER, UM, EVENTS, WHICH I JUST TOLD YOU ABOUT AND PROGRAMS. THE NATURALIST AT THE NAME, UH, WHICH WILL CONTINUE.
BRUSH SQUARE, HAS BEEN FOCUSING ALSO ON EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAM.
ALSO, I MENTIONED THE INTERNATIONAL SITES OF CONSCIENCE WITH WHICH ALL OF THE MUSEUMS HAVE BEEN PART OF, UH, OBE IS FOCUSING, UM, THEIR ATTENTION TO VETERANS, UH, WITH PTSD, ALSO PART OF THE, UM, INTERNATIONAL SITES OF CONSCIENCE.
THE OBE ALSO HAS AN ARTISAN, UH, STORE, WHICH SELLS ONE OF A KIND ITEMS HANDCUFFED BY LOCAL ARTISTS, WHICH HAS, UM, OVER 60 LOCAL ARTISANS.
UH, THE MUSEUMS CONTINUE TO OFFER, OFFER, UM, ALL KINDS OF, UM, UH, ALSO WORKING ON THEIR RESTORATION PROJECTS, WHICH AGAIN, I TOLD YOU.
UM, IT IS GREAT TO HAVE, UH, FRIENDS GROUPS WHICH HELP THEM FINANCIALLY, THE RESTORATION PROJECTS, WHICH ARE ONGOING.
I DO WANNA MENTION THAT THE ELIZABETH NAY IS WORKING ON A RESTORATION PROJECT, WHICH HAD, WHICH STARTED LAST YEAR AND CONTINUES THIS YEAR.
THEY'RE WORKING ON A RESTORATION OF ALL THEIR DOORS AND WINDOWS.
NEW HVAC SYSTEM IMPROVED AND NEW INTERIOR LIGHTING, UPDATED SECURITY SYSTEM, A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER WALLER CREEK LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, ALL BECAUSE IT IS MUCH NEEDED.
THESE MUSEUMS NEED A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE, AND AN INTERPRETIVE PLAN, WHICH WILL REALLY HELP TO ENGAGE A LOT MORE COMMUNITIES, UM, TO COME TO, UH, THE MUSEUMS. THE FRIENDS OF ELIZABETH NAM HAVE SUCCESS SUCCESSFULLY RAISED $165,000 FOR THE INTERPRETIVE PLAN PROJECT, INCLUDING GRANTS FROM THE STILLWATER FOUNDATION, SUMMER LEE FOUNDATION, THE TERRA FOUNDATION FOR AMERICAN ART, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS.
I HOPE THAT THE NEXT ON THE ROSTER WILL BE THE OBE.
AND WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
THESE MUSEUMS NEED ATTENTION AND CARE AND MUST NOT BE NEGLECTED.
THE LONGER YOU WAIT, THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT GETS.
THE OB WALLS, WINDOWS, HIGH SPEED INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE DOORS, UPGRADES TO THE GALLERIES, ELEVATOR SAFETY PLANS, AND MANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT STILL NEED ATTENTION TO THE OBE.
ALSO, A REBRANDING OF THE NAME NEEDS, UH, AND THE AN INTERPRETIVE PLAN FOR THE OBE NEEDS ATTENTION.
UM, AND THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE.
WE'RE A SMALL STAFF, BUT WE DO GREAT THINGS.
AND NOW IN YOUR PACKET IS WRITING ON THE WALLS.
THIS IS, UM, AN ENGAGEMENT AND VISUAL REPORT THAT TOOK TWO YEARS TO PUT TOGETHER WITH PARTNERS.
AND I WANT YOU TO WATCH THIS VIDEO BECAUSE IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT TALKS ABOUT WHY PARTNERSHIPS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE, UM, OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER WHEN WE PUT OUR MINDS TOGETHER.
I'M RUBEN ESCOBEL AND THIS IS MY NEWEST MURAL.
COME TAKE A LOOK AT IT WITH ME.
THIS PIECE IS A PART OF A PROJECT CALLED WRITING ON THE WALLS PUT TOGETHER BY DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.
THEY STARTED THIS PROJECT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, AND FROM THAT, THE COMMUNITY GAVE THEM IDEAS ABOUT WHAT THE WALL SHOULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PIECE.
AND ONE OF THE TOP RECOMMENDATIONS WAS NATIVE AMERICAN STORIES AND SWEDISH HISTORY.
SO I WAS TASKED WITH BLENDING THE TWO TOGETHER TO CREATE THIS BEAUTIFUL MURAL.
AND OF THOSE THREE, WE PRESENTED THOSE TO THE PUBLIC AGAIN, AND PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO PUT A
[00:30:01]
STICKER ON THEIR FAVORITE MOCK-UP.THIS WAS ACTUALLY MY FAVORITE PIECE.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT COMING UP WITH A WAY TO MERGE BOTH THE SWEDISH HISTORY OF THE BUILDING AND THE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE OF AUSTIN.
'CAUSE THEY'RE ALMOST KIND OF CLASHING WHEN YOU TRY AND PUT THE TWO TOGETHER.
SO I HAD TO GET VERY CREATIVE WITH HOW TO DO THAT.
SO IN THE BACKGROUND, YOU'LL SEE THE SWEDISH TEXTILE PATTERN THAT KIND OF WEAVES TOGETHER BOTH CULTURES.
THERE'S ALSO THE SWEDISH NATIONAL FLOWER, WHICH IS THIS BELL LOOKING PURPLE FLOWER IN THE CENTER.
AND THEN I ALSO INCLUDED THE MONARCHS AS A NOD TO THE MIGRATORY HISTORY OF BOTH THE SWEDISH AND NATIVE AMERICANS IN TEXAS.
THE HUMMINGBIRD I THREW IN THERE HAS SPECIAL MEANING TO ME.
AZTECS BELIEVE THAT HUMMINGBIRDS WERE FALLEN WARRIORS REINCARNATE.
SO IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE AN HOMAGE TO PAST GENERATIONS.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE US, I'VE ONLY BEEN PAINTING FOR THREE YEARS, BUT BEFORE THAT I WAS MANAGING ARTISTS AND THEIR PROJECTS WHO ALSO PREDOMINANTLY USE SPRAY PAINT.
SO I THINK OVER THAT SPAN OF TIME, I WAS KIND OF PICKING UP LITTLE TRICKS OF THE TRADE WHEN I WOULD HELP THEM PAINT THE MURALS AND KIND OF PUTTING 'EM IN MY BACK POCKET, NEVER KNOWING THAT I WANTED TO BE AN ARTIST.
I WANTED TO CREATE MY OWN WORK.
BUT ONCE I FINALLY STARTED TO TRY, I THINK ALL THAT EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD PUT IN MY BACK POCKET REALLY CAME OUT.
AND I WAS ABLE TO USE THOSE TRICKS OF THE TRADE THAT I LEARNED ALONG THE WAY.
'CAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD PAINT LIKE THIS
I'D BE LIKE, THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME.
I WOULD REALLY JUST LOVE FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, TO BE ABLE TO WALK DOWN THE STREET AND BE SURPRISED BY THIS MURAL AND FEEL LIKE THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR MOTHER, THEIR SISTER THEMSELVES, THEIR GRANDMOTHER IN THIS PIECE.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO PUBLIC ART IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA LIKE THIS.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW MURALS THAT REALLY SHOWCASES PEOPLE OF COLOR AND TEXAS' NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE.
SO IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BE THE ONE TO PUT THIS UP, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAVE SUCH A CONNECTION TO THE CITY, FIFTH GENERATION AUSTINITE.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN'S CULTURE.
AND I THINK THAT THIS PROJECT IS JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SHARE IDEAS.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SHARING EVERYTHING ABOUT THE AUSTIN HERITAGE MUSEUM'S WORK.
I THINK, UH, IT'S, UH, JUST STRIKINGLY IMPORTANT AND I WANNA SHARE A SHORT ANECDOTE, WHICH IS THAT I GREW UP IN, IN THE DALLAS SUBURBS.
WE ALMOST NEVER WENT ON VACATION.
AND WE TOOK ONE FAMILY VACATION, I REMEMBER, AND IT WAS TO AUSTIN.
SOMEHOW SHE FOUND THE ELIZABETH NAME MUSEUM AND I TALKED ABOUT IT THE REST OF MY CHILDHOOD.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS MUSEUM NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF IN AUSTIN THAT I JUST LOVE.
SO IT'S A TREASURE, AS ARE ALL THE OTHER MUSEUMS. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOUR TEAM, YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING.
UM, IT'S REALLY CRITICAL AND THANKS FOR SHARING, UH, THIS TODAY.
SO WE DO HAVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORWARD AS A BOARD FOR THE WORK, UH, THAT THE AUSTIN HERITAGE MUSEUMS TEAM IS DOING.
AND IT DID NOT MAKE IT INTO THE BACKUP.
SO I AM GONNA READ IT ALOUD BEFORE, UH, WE THEN MAKE A MOTION FOR IT.
UM, SO DEAR AUSTIN HERITAGE MUSEUM STAFF, WE'RE WRITING TO EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION FOR YOUR EFFORTS, WHICH PLAYED AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE OLD BAKERY AND EMPORIUM MURAL PROJECT, AMONG OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION.
THIS YEAR, YOUR DEDICATION, HARD WORK, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY HAVE NOT ONLY TRANSFORMED THE OLD BAKERY AND EMPORIUM, BUT HAVE ALSO CREATED A LASTING IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS ACROSS AUSTIN AND THE WIDER CENTRAL TEXAS REGION.
THROUGH YOUR PROGRAMMING ACROSS ALL THE AUSTIN HERITAGE MUSEUMS, THE NEW MURAL STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED WHEN A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER WITH A SHARED VISION AND WORKS TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH IT.
FROM THE EARLY PLANNING STAGES OF THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT TO THE FINAL UNVEILING AT THE THIRD ANNUAL MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL, YOU'VE CONTRIBUTED IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.
YOUR EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN A STRIKINGLY BEAUTIFUL MURAL WHERE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CAN REFLECT AND ENJOY THE ART PIECE ON A VISIT TO THE OLD BAKERY AND EMPORIUM, OR TAKE IT IN FROM AFAR AS THEY'RE PASSING BY.
THE MURAL IS A REFLECTION OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND A VALUABLE ADDITION TO THE HISTORIC BUILDING, WHICH IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF YOUR GENEROSITY AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT.
IN ADDITION TO THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT, YOU'VE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY-FOCUSED OUTREACH THROUGH ALL OF THE AUSTIN HERITAGE MUSEUMS. THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO ENHANCING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR MAKING THE OLD BAKERY AND EMPORIUM AN EVEN GREATER TREASURE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
KINDEST REGARDS, AND THAT'S SIGNED BY THE CHAIR AND MYSELF.
UM, SO WITH THAT, UNLESS FOLKS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, FOR OUR PRESENTER, WHICH I'LL GIVE A PAUSE FOR THAT IN CASE ANYONE DOES, THEN I'D LIKE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, UH, THAT WE, UH, APPROVE THIS LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR STAFF AT THE OLD BAKERY AND EMPORIUM AS AND, AND THE OTHER AUSTIN HERITAGE MUSEUMS AS I JUST READ IT.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
[00:35:01]
YOU.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR WORK.
OKAY, I THINK WE CAN MOVE ITEM THREE, WHICH I'M SURE HAS A NUMBER OF, UM, OKAY.
KATHLEEN
OH, IS SHE ABSTAINING? I I TRIED TO.
THANKS FOR CATCHING THAT TRIVIA, LOBOS.
OKAY, I THINK WE CAN MOVE TO ITEM THREE.
[3. Discussion and approve a recommendation related to City Ordinance No. 20191205-070 that authorized, on an expedited basis, a concession for The Expedition School, waiving the requirements of City Code Section 8-1-74 (Review of a Proposal Seeking a Concession) and an amendment to the Holly Shores/ Edward Rendon Sr. Vision Plan. (Sponsors: Reed, Taylor)]
I'M SURE WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT AT ITEM THREE WITH RICARDO SHAVANA.
AND THEN AFTER RICARDO WILL BE ANNA AGUIRE.
ALRIGHT, SPEAKERS, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING AND IF Y'ALL JUST WANNA SIT IN THAT FIRST ROW, UM, IF YOU'RE THE NEXT SPEAKER, THAT'D BE HELPFUL FOR US.
AFTER ANNA AGUIRE WILL BE BERTHA REONE DELGADO, AND THEN ELISA RENDON MONTOYA.
YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.
I HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE I GOT ALL MY NOTES IN ORDER.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU ONCE AGAIN.
AND I'M, UH, RICARDO CHOVAN, AS I MENTIONED IN THE PAST.
BUT FOR TODAY'S, UH, AUDIENCE, I WANT TO REINTRODUCE MYSELF.
MY BACKGROUND HAS BEEN IN CORPORATE BANKING, MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS, AND FIXING BANKS THAT ARE IN TROUBLE.
35 YEARS OF DOING THAT, I'VE SERVED DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IN THE TAR PROGRAM THAT RECAPTURED FAILED BANKS AND TRY TO DEAL WITH THE BIG MESS.
THAT'S WHEN I BECAME A WALL STREET OPPOSITION, UH, SUPPORTER AND ADVOCATE.
THOSE WERE THE TIMES IN WHICH I DECIDED I WANTED TO START WORKING FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE REALLY BEING OPPRESSED BY THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY.
SO, WITH THAT IN MIND, I WANNA BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AS I MENTIONED IN, IN THE PAST, MY BACKGROUND IS IN, I'M A PROFESSOR TEACHING INTERNATIONAL FINANCE NOW AT A IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL.
I'M ALSO WORKING FOR AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL, PART-TIME AS A, UM, FAMILY RESOURCE DIRECTOR.
SO SPECIFICALLY THE EMPHASIS OF MY BACKGROUND, WHICH I'VE DECIDED TO RE IMMERSE MYSELF IN, HAS TO DO WITH FORENSIC ACCOUNTING, REVERSE ENGINEERING OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONTRACTS RELATED TO GOVERNMENT FUNDS.
SO WITH THAT BACKGROUND, I DECIDED I WANTED TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I KNOW THAT OUR AUDIENCE IS GONNA BE SPEAKING ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TOPICS, BUT I WANTED TO BRING YOU TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THREE THINGS THAT HAVE, THAT ARE RECENT IN NATURE.
MOST RECENTLY, IT WAS A LETTER THAT I BELIEVE EACH OF Y'ALL RECEIVED IN REGARDS TO THE NEWLY FORMED HOLLY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
IT IS A NEW GROUP THAT WAS FORMULATED AND GRANTED 5 0 1 C3 STATUS LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.
I LIVE IN THE, IN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE HOLLY ASSOCIATION.
AND IN THE FIRST ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING THAT WAS CONDUCTED AND THE OUTREACH WAS PLANNED, THERE WAS ONLY ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAD BEEN THERE THAT HAD LIVED THERE.
THERE WAS ONLY ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAD LIVED THERE LONGER THAN FIVE YEARS.
THE REST OF THE ATTENDEES HAD LIVED THERE LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.
SO I TOOK THAT AS AN INDICATION OF THE, THE, THE, THE, THE AUDIENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY REALLY WASN'T BEING REPRESENTED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING HOW WE LIVE IN VERY CONFUSING TIMES BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO SEPARATE FICTION FROM FACT FROM FICTION.
AND IN DOING THAT, THERE ARE POLLS COMING OUT FROM EVERYWHERE SURVEYS SAYING THAT, OH, THIS IS THE RESULTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE'VE TAKEN STAKEHOLDERS APPROACHES, STAKEHOLDER APPROACHES, SURVEYS AND POLLS.
IT DIVIDES, IT DOESN'T CREATE UNITY, BUT IT DIVIDES US BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TO QUESTION, WE BEGIN TO QUESTION THE LEGITIMACY OF THESE POLLS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A MINORITY MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION TO SPEAK TO THE FACTS OF A LETTER THAT YOU RECENTLY RECEIVED.
AND THEN I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THROUGH OTHER, THROUGH THROUGH THE CITY THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 5,000 CITIZENS, NOT COUNTING BUSINESSES, CITIZENS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THAT IN WHICH ONLY 20 INDIVIDUALS RESPONDED TO THIS SURVEY.
OH MY, THOSE ARE MY THREE MINUTES I WANNA BRING BACK TO YOUR ATTENTION AND I'M GONNA QUIT ON THAT, BUT I DON'T LEGITIMIZE THAT LETTER.
IF YOU ALLOW ME FOR 30 SECONDS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE BUSINESS MODEL, I HAVE REVERSED ENGINEERING THE FINANCIAL MODELS.
AND I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT THOSE NUMBERS BE ACCURATE.
I DID CALCULATE THAT IT'S GONNA COST UPWARDS OF $2 MILLION.
AND LASTLY, I DID A DENSITY STUDY THAT'S GONNA GREATLY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE AREA OF THE, OF THE LAGOON.
AND, AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ALSO THAT WE SHOULD BE RECEIVING SAMPLES FROM THE LCRA VERY SOON THAT
[00:40:01]
SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY OF WATER AND THE SAFETY OF OUR, OF OUR AUDIENCE THAT WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THIS GROUP.SO HAVING SAID THAT, I DO HAVE A SOLUTION AS FAR AS A SAFE LANDING FOR THE, FOR THE PARKS BOARD.
AND THAT IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT CODES 8 1 8 1 14 AND TAKE A LOOK AT 8 1 7 3.
IF THE CITY ALLOWS YOU TO, WILL PROVIDE A SAFE LANDING FOR YOU BOTH PARD, OUR COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXTRA TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ANNA AGUIRE, FOLLOWED BY BERTHA RENDON DELGADO.
GOOD EVENING CHAIR, LOBOS AND COMMISSIONERS.
I AM A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
I'M CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL AND THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR OF THE SOUTHEAST COMBINED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
TODAY I AM ONLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF.
I AM SPEAKING FOR ITEM THREE AND IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONERS REED AND TAYLOR, IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE HEARTS AND SOULS OF THE RESIDENTS MOST IMPACTED BY THIS INITIATIVE BE HONORED AND RESPECTED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY BE HEARD AND INCLUDED.
I SUPPORT THE POSITION OF PEOPLE ORGANIZED IN DEFENSE OF THE EARTH AND OUR RESOURCES KNOWN AS PODER, AND HAVE THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THEY RAISED ON THE BEHALF OF THE EAST AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF THIS AREA, WITHOUT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE ON OUR RESIDENTS, WILL RESULT IN A HARM THAT CANNOT BE UNDONE.
I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF OTHER PE COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS OF OTHER PARTS OF BOSTON THAT SUPPORT EAST AUSTIN.
THERE THERE IS A TIME FOR US TO SLOW DOWN AND CAREFULLY RECONSIDER AND REVIEW THIS WITH A TRUE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION AND ENGAGEMENT.
ANY DECISIONS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE AN ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED, ESPECIALLY WHEN HARD FOUGHT BATTLES DUE TO UNDO PAST HARMS. HE'S TAKING US BACKWARDS AND NOT MOVING US FORWARD, NOR IN ANY, IN A PROGRESSIVE WAY.
PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW WE GOT HERE.
WAS THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY AFFORDED DUE PROCESS? I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER AGAIN, WHY US? WHERE IS THE EQUITY IF WE'RE NOT INVITED? MUCH LESS PRESENT WHEN THESE TYPES OF INITIATIVES ARE JUST A THOUGHT OR A DREAM.
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
WE'RE ASKING THIS BOARD TO DO SOMETHING FOR EAST AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND NOT DO SOMETHING TO US.
EAST AUSTIN RESIDENTS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE BERTHA RONE DELGADO, FOLLOWED BY ELISA RONE MONTOYA.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM ROBIN RATHER.
SO I AM SPEAKING ON ITEM THREE.
UM, WE HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY WORK THAT I BELIEVE THAT OUR PART STAFF SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING, ESPECIALLY IF A PROPOSAL'S BEING PUT ON THE TABLE TO TAKE 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF OUR WATER HERE AT FIESTA GARDENS.
I THINK THAT SINCE THIS LAND IS, UH, BEING, UH, OVERSIGHT BY THE PARD DEPARTMENT, I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS VITAL.
UM, I THINK THE FACT THAT WE ARE DOING THE WORK THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE DOING, UH, IT'S VERY, VERY, UM, TIRING.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CONDUCTED OUR OWN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND WE HAVE ONE COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER.
BUT WE ARE ASKING, UM, FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR, UH, PARKS BOARD MEMBER, MS. HOLLY REED ON THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEING PUT ON THE TABLE TODAY FOR RECOMMENDATION.
UM, WE ARE ASKING COUNCIL, UH, TO RESCIND THE ORDINANCE.
WE ARE ASKING OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MR. JOSE VELASQUEZ THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING THREE WEEKS NOW FOR A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
BUT WE ARE ASKING JOSE, WE'RE ASKING THIS BOARD.
WE'RE ASKING THE PEOPLE OF POWER, WHICH IS THE AUSTIN PARKS, CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS DEPARTMENT, OUR DIRECTOR, INTERIM MS. ANGELA MEMES, TO PUT A STOP TO THIS PROJECT.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT IT'S UNSAFE.
DO YOU WANNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DROWNING CHILDREN? DO YOU WANNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA DRINK THIS CONTAMINATED WATER BECAUSE IT IS CONTAMINATED FROM THE, THE HOLLY POWER PLANT.
THERE HAS TESTS THAT ARE STILL NOT DONE, AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY HASN'T BEEN DONE.
THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES HAPPENING AND WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO PUT A STOP TO EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
SO WE CAME HERE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND I'VE HEARD OUR CHAIR STATE, OH, WE DON'T HAVE, IT'S ALREADY GONE THROUGH.
[00:45:01]
CHAIR, YOU DO.YOU HAVE SIGNED AN OATH TO SERVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
SO I'M ASKING YOU, DO YOUR RESEARCH, DO YOUR JOB, LISTEN TO YOUR BOARD MEMBER THAT'S PUTTING UP A RECOMMENDATION THAT'S WORKING REALLY HARD WITH THE COMMUNITY.
NOT EVEN OUR OWN REP IS WORKING WITH US.
AND I FIND THAT VERY DISRESPECTFUL FOR OUR DISTRICT THREE REP.
I EXPECT ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND BOARD COMMISSIONERS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND WE ARE GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE IF PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER, AND THIS IS OUR CITY.
SO WHILE YOU'RE MAKING YOUR DECISIONS THAT ARE HARMING OUR PEOPLE AND NOT PROTECTING OUR PARKS, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO KEEP VOICING OUR CONCERNS.
AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP ASKING YOU ALL TO DO YOUR JOB.
WE ASK THAT YOU MOVE EXPEDITION SCHOOL NOW AND STOP THAT PROJECT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ELISA RENDON MONTOYA, FOLLOWED BY ROBIN RATHER.
ELISA RE MONTOYA, UH, VICE CHAIR OF EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, ALSO BORN RESIDENT IN THE AREA, UH, IN EAST AUSTIN.
UH, DISTRICT THREE, ALL MY LIFE I'VE LIVED HERE.
UH, ALSO AM, UH, HOMEOWNER A LAND, UM, LANDOWNER IN THIS, UH, AREA WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET ENCROACHED WITH AN EXPEDITION, UH, PROPOSAL.
UH, I'M HERE TO TO SPEAK AND I'VE BEEN SPEAKING OUT FOR MANY YEARS, UH, UH, PRESERVING OUR CHICANO PARK,
AND I AM ONE OF THE, THE, THE, UH, DINOSAURS THAT HAVE WORKED MANY YEARS IN TRYING TO PRESERVE THIS PARK FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND NOW WE'RE BEING ENCROACHED WITH ALL KINDS OF STUFF IN THAT PARK IS BEING, IS GOING GET, UM, IS BEING POLLUTED WITH NOW.
WE HAVE, UH, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN AND SAYING, WELL, WE NEED TO ENCROACH.
I'LL DO ALL KINDS OF STUFF ON THAT LAKE.
THAT LAKE IS SUPPOSED TO BE PRESERVED AS MANY YEARS.
WE, OUR FAMILIES FOUGHT FOR KEEPING EAST OF 35 PRESERVED FOR TRANQUILITY.
UH, THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD THERE.
I AM A LAND PAYER, UH, THERE IN THAT, IN THAT AREA.
AND ALSO I, I'M HERE 'CAUSE I, I HEARD THE VOICE AND CONCERNS AT THE PARK AND THANK, I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR AND ALL THE CITY COUNCIL FOR GIVING US THAT PROCLAMATION.
IT'S WELL DESERVED AFTER 45 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING TO KEEP THIS PARK AND A CHICANO PARK, UH, UH, CITY PARK OR WHATEVER, JUST TO MAINTAIN THE TRANQUILITY AND THE USAGE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GENERATIONS AND KEEP IT HISTORICAL FOR OUR GENERATIONS TO COME.
I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH, UH, THIS, UM, THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO ENCROACH US WITH SOME OTHER STUFF AT THE, AT THE LAKE WITH PADDLE BOATS, WITH EX EXPEDITION.
AND, AND THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S NOT BEEN TOLD, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY VOICED YESTERDAY THAT WE'RE GONNA STOP THIS IF Y'ALL DON'T TO PROTEST, IF TO PROTEST THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
'CAUSE WE HAVE HISTORY THAT WE DIDN'T WANT NONE OF THIS STUFF COMING UP.
AND NOW IT'S MORE AND MORE WE SEE A LOT OF STUFF COMING IN.
THEY, THEY, THEY WANTED THE, UH, THE EXPANSION THERE AT THE LAKE ON PLEASANT VALLEY TO DO THEIR, THEIR, UH, UH, ENGAGEMENT ON, UH, TRYING TO DO THE, UH, WHATEVER YOU CALL THAT, UH, THE ARM OR, UH, WHATEVER THAT THAT PROJECT IS COMING UP.
PARK IS INVOLVED IN ALL THESE, ALL THESE STUFF THAT THE COMMUNITY IS NOT IN, IN FAVOR OF IT IN THE EAST OF THAT 35.
AND WE, BECAUSE WE USE THE PARK A LOT, WE WANT THE SAME TRANQUILITY AS EVERYBODY ELSE IN THEIR PARKS.
SO BECAUSE WE LIVE THERE, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY CONCERNED AND I'LL PROTEST IT.
I HAVE A PETITION HERE ALSO TO WANTED TO SHOW Y'ALL THAT THERE'S AN ONLINE PETITION THAT WE'RE AGAINST EXPEDITION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ROBIN RATHER FOLLOWED BY VALERIE MENARD AND THEN LAURA INGAL.
UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, COMMISSIONERS A A SPECIAL GOOD EVENING TO YOU, UH, CHAIRMAN.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, MY NAME'S ROBIN RATHER.
UM, IT'S VERY IRONIC OR BEAUTIFUL TO ME THAT WE SAW THAT INCREDIBLE PAINTING AND HEARD FROM THAT INCREDIBLE AZTEC ARTIST THAT PAINTING REPRESENTED UNITY AND BEAUTY AND THE BEST OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL IS IT'S, IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN.
IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN WHERE WE ARE ERASING
[00:50:01]
AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR, ALL OF OUR HISTORY, OF OUR CULTURE, OF AN IMPORTANT ACTIVIST FIGHT, OF AN, AN IMPORTANT GATHERING PLACE.AND TOO OFTEN WE, WE ERASE IT AND THEN WE WANNA GO SEE IT IN A MUSEUM OR IT'S PAINTED ON A MURAL.
THIS IS A LIVING, THIS IS A LIVING PART OF OUR CULTURE.
IT'S A LIVING PART OF OUR CULTURE.
AND WE AS A SOCIETY HERE IN, IN 2024, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SAY, NO, WE DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.
WE USED TO DO THAT COLONIAL STUFF, AND WE DON'T DO IT ANYMORE.
WE LEARNED, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT DIVIDES US.
THIS PROJECT, I I HAVE RESPECT FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN PLACED HERE.
THIS IS A PLACE OF GREAT HISTORIC AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE.
IT ALSO HAS GREAT ECOLOGICAL VALUE.
THIS IS AN ECOLOGICAL, UH, ECOSYSTEM THAT SHOULD BE RESTORED, THAT SHOULD BE PRISTINE, THAT WE SHOULD BE BRINGING BACK.
IT'S ANOTHER LESSON THAT WE HAVE LEARNED.
YOU DID NOT SCREW UP A BEAUTIFUL ECOSYSTEM ON THE WATERFRONT FOR A WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A DEVELOPMENT.
WE DON'T PAVE OVER OUR FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS. WE USED TO DO THAT.
WE LEARNED THAT LESSON ALREADY.
SO I'M, I'M HERE ASKING YOU WITH, WITH A FULL HEART, LET'S GO TOWARDS UNITY.
LET'S LEARN OUR LESSON TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING GREAT.
UH, AGAIN, I I REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE AND LISTENING TO US.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE VALERIE MENARD, FOLLOWED BY LAURA MASSENGALE AND THEN PHIL THOMAS.
UM, GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS, UH, PARKS BOARD AND, UH, CHAIR VILLALOBOS.
UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
SO I'M HERE REPRESENTING POED.
I AM PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR OUR COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY PROJECT.
UM, BUT WE'RE ALSO VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH, UH, EAST AUSTIN CITIZENS, UM, EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND WITH ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THAT WORK, UH, TIRELESSLY TO MAINTAIN, UH, AND, AND TO KEEP OUR, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, UM, SAFE AND, AND, UH, RESPE REFLECTIVE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO I'M HERE TO ASK, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A RESOLUTION, UM, FROM, UH, COUNCIL, UH, BOARD MEMBER, UM, READ TO, TO POSTPONE AND TO GIVE SOME TIME FOR, FOR MORE CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROJECT.
UH, LIKE THE OTHERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE.
THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL REALLY IS INCOMPATIBLE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S, IT IS IN THE WRONG PLACE.
WE NEED TO TAKE MORE TIME AND LOOK AT, UH, THE, THE, THE PARKS PLAN THAT HAS BEEN PASSED THAT WAS REVIEWED AND PASSED BY THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WE NEED TO REFLECT ON THAT.
IT SHOULD NOT BE RES, IT SHOULD NOT BE, UM, UH, AMENDED.
AND, AND SO WE NEED TO, UM, SO I'M, WE'RE HERE TO ASK THAT YOU ALL DO THAT WITH SOME STRONG CONSIDERATION.
UM, AND ALSO AS PROJECT DIRECTOR OF THE COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THREAT FROM DEVELOPMENT COMING TO THE RIVER RIGHT NOW.
WE TEST THE RIVER THROUGH THE RA'S CROWN PROGRAM, UH, AT THE METROPOLIS BRIDGE.
IT'S CONSIDERED PRISTINE FROM THAT AREA.
IT'S NOT LIKE TOWN LAKE, BUT IF YOU LET THIS COME IN TO THIS PART OF TOWN LAKE, YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE THAT DEGRADATION FURTHER AND FURTHER EAST.
AND WHERE WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGHT OFF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMING THERE.
SO THERE'S A LOT AT RISK HERE, BUT I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, YOU REALLY NEED TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S A PLAN THAT WAS PASSED AND APPROVED, WHY IT SHOULD NOT BE AMENDED.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE LAURA MEENAL, FOLLOWED BY PHIL THOMAS AND THEN TANYA PAYNE, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP TO ONE OF THE FRONT ROWS, JUST TO SAVE TIME WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED.
I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN A LONG TIME.
UM, SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE.
UM, JUST A LITTLE UPDATE ON OUR CONTRACT.
AFTER FOUR YEARS, WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING TO GET ONE IN PLACE.
WE'RE STILL, UM, STILL STRUGGLING TO IMAGINE WHY AFTER NOW 56 YEARS OF GOOD STEWARDSHIP TO THE CITY.
WE STILL HAVE NO ANSWERS AS TO WHY OUR CONTRACT IS BEING DRUG OUT ONE YEAR AT A TIME.
UM, QUITE FRANKLY, IT REMINDS ME OF HOW ABEL RODRIGUEZ, WHO USED TO OWN THE CONTRACT FOR THE SILK PARK TRAIN, WAS TREATED BEFORE HE WAS SQUEEZED OUT OF BUSINESS.
AND THE NONPROFIT AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION TOOK IT OVER.
YOU SEE, WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM IN THIS CITY, AND IT'S NOT THE CITIZENS, THE ANGER, THE OUTRAGE, THE PUSHBACK IS A SYMPTOM OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TIRED OF NOT
[00:55:01]
BEING HEARD, THEIR VOICES NOT BEING VALUED, BEING LAUGHED AT, DISMISSED, GHOSTED AND GASLIT.HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A PART OF A SOCIETAL GROUP THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY TREATED UNFAIRLY, HAS SUFFERED DISCRIMINATION, BULLIED, OR TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF? I KNOW I HAVE FELT THAT WAY MANY TIMES IN MY LIFETIME.
I REMEMBER ONE TIME I WENT INTO AN ANTIQUE SHOP AND MY MOTHER AND I WERE THE ONLY ONES ASKED TO LEAVE OUR PURSES BEHIND THE COUNTER.
EVERYONE IN THE ELSE, EVERYONE ELSE IN THE STORE DID NOT HAVE TO DO SO.
MY MOTHER TELLS ME OF NOT BEING ALLOWED TO EAT IN A DINER WHEN SHE GOT, SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL JUST BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HER SKIN.
IF YOU HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS TR TREATMENT, CONSIDER YOURSELF FORTUNATE, PRIVILEGED, AND PERHAPS NAIVE IN THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE OF INJUSTICE THAT IS OCCURRING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES IN MODERN DAY AUSTIN, TEXAS.
IN THE SIMPLEST TERMS, WE ARE BEING BULLIED IN THE WORST TERMS. WE ARE BEING ERASED.
BULLIES TAKE ON FORMS ON MANY FORMS THAT COULD BE AT YOUR SCHOOL, AT YOUR HOME, ON SOCIAL MEDIA, OR AT WORK.
I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS OUR BULLY.
OUR BULLY HAS PEOPLE WORKING FOR THEM IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND SOME OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW OUR BULLY OR SOME ASSOCIATE WITH OUR BULLY AND OUR BULLIES PROBABLY VERY WELL LIKED AND THOUGHT OF IN THEIR INNER CIRCLE.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT CONVINCING PEOPLE TO JOIN THEM.
WELL, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO HELP STOP THIS BULLY AND STAND UP TO WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AND STOP THE DISCRIMINATORY AND RUTHLESS BUSINESS PRACTICES THAT SQUEEZED ABEL RODRIGUEZ OUTTA BUSINESS.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
STOP OUR BULLY AND VOTE NO ON THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL OR BE PART OF THE PROBLEM AND JOIN THE CROWD WHO BULLY US.
WE ARE HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE PHIL THOMAS, FOLLOWED BY TANYA PAYNE AND THEN CARLOS PINON.
GOOD EVENING CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M PHIL THOMAS, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE LIVING WITHIN THE HISTORIC BOUNDARIES OF EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I INVITE THIS BOARD TO REOPEN THE DISCUSSION AROUND ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 19 12 0 5 0 7 OH.
THIS 2019 ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNED TO EXPEDITE AUTHORIZATION OF A BOATING CONCESSION ON LADYBIRD LAKE FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
IT PASSED QUIETLY WITHOUT STAKEHOLDER KNOWLEDGE AND DELIBERATELY BYPASSED THE VARIOUS REQUIRED BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS.
AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE CITY'S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MAKE UP A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES CREATED TO ENSURE A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS FREE OF FAVORITISM AND UNDEMOCRATIC INFLUENCES.
SOME OF THESE CHECKS AND BALANCES ALSO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS UNDER GREAT PRESSURE FROM CLIMATE CHANGE.
THESE DAYS, WITH THE PRESSURE FROM THE LEGISLATURE LIMITING NEW PARKLAND DEDICATIONS FUNDS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE PLANNING MISTAKES OR EVADE ENVIRONMENTAL SCRUTINY.
THE ORDINANCE BYPASSED THE VARIOUS BOARDS LEAVING THE PARK VULNERABLE TO INAPPROPRIATE AND POTENTIALLY HARMFUL DEVELOPMENT.
IT ALSO IGNORED THE PARK'S SPECIAL HISPANIC CULTURAL INFLUENCE.
WE ASK, IS IT FAIR TO CONCESSIONAIRES WHO WANT TO PLAY BY THE RULES, UH, TO, UH, LET THIS, UH, ONE ENTERPRISE EVADE AND IGNORE THE REQUIRED STEPS IN THE PROCESS? WOULD IF EVERY POTENTIAL CONCESSION SUPPLICATE A SYMPATHETIC COUNSEL MEMBER TO AMEND THE CITY CHARTER FOR ITS OWN INTERESTS, BYPASSING ENVIRONMENTAL, CONTRACTUAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND OTHER REGULATORY CHECKS AND BALANCES, WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD RESULT? WHAT KIND OF PARKS WOULD RESULT? WHAT KIND OF CITY GOVERNMENT WOULD WE HAVE? CERTAINLY NOT ONE OF AND OF THE PEOPLE AND OR BY THE PEOPLE SUPPORT ITEM THREE AND RETURN OPEN GOVERNMENT AND THE INCLUSION OF APPROPRIATE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO THESE DECISIONS AND THE COMPLETION OF THE EDWARD RENDO AND SENIOR PARK MASTER PLAN AS IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2014.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE TANYA PAYNE, FOLLOWED BY CARLOS
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PINON AND THEN NOE ELIAS.UH, HELLO, MY NAME IS TANYA PAYNE AND I'M WITH REWILD.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION ON ITEM THREE.
I KNOW A LOT OF YOU ARE HERE TO SUPPORT EAST AUSTIN AND EAST AUSTIN PARKS, AND REALLY THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO DO IT.
THIS IS A CHANCE TO SUPPORT THOSE NEIGHBORS.
I'D LIKE TO TALK FOR A FEW MINUTES ABOUT HOW THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL LOCATION WAS POORLY CONCEIVED IN READING A MEMO FROM KIMBERLY MCNEELY TO STEPHANIE HAYWARD HOWARD ON SEPTEMBER 15TH IN 2022.
IT MAKES THREE IMPORTANT BUT WRONG ASSERTIONS.
THE FIRST IS THAT IT TALKS ABOUT HOW THE LAGOON IS A SUITABLE LOCATION.
AND WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONY TONIGHT, AND I KNOW YOU'VE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF LETTERS ABOUT HOW THIS LOCATION IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND THE NEIGHBORS DON'T WANT IT THERE.
THE NEXT IS THAT THEY SAY THE COST TRANSLATES TO $1.4 MILLION AT THAT, UH, SORRY, IT DIDN'T TRANSLATE THAT IT, UH, WOULD COST $1.4 MILLION, BUT TODAY THAT TRANSLATES TO YOU $15,000 A DAY FOR TWO YEARS.
SO EVEN THE COST THEY WERE DISCUSSING WAS REALLY QUITE OFF.
AND THEN LASTLY, THEY SAID THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE IN THE MEMO.
THEY SAY THIS, THE DECISION WAS MADE BY PARD STAFF AND EXPEDITION SCHOOL ONLY.
THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE NEIGHBORS.
THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE PEOPLE WHO USED THE PARK, AND THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THAT MASTER PLAN THAT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HAD FOUGHT SO HARD FOR.
PLEASE VOTE TO REMOVE, TO MOVE THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL LOCATION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CARLOS PINON, FOLLOWED BY NOAH ELIAS.
AND THEN IT'LL BE EDWARD RONE JR.
I LIVE IN MANIS, UH, DISTRICT THREE AND I'M ALSO HERE REPRESENTING PO.
UM, WE'RE HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION SO THAT THIS, UH, AGREEMENT THAT WAS MADE IN 2019 BETWEEN OUR PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, WHO ACTUALLY IS VERY WELL KNOWN FOR IGNORING OUR COMMUNITY, UM, UH, MADE WITH THIS EXPEDITION SCHOOL, UH, WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OR THE INPUT OF OUR COMMUNITY, UM, THAT, UM, AGREEMENT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN.
SO AS SOMEBODY THAT GREW UP IN MONTOPOLIS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE THE SAME WAY AS, UM, THE EAST TOWN LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE LOVE OUR PARKS BECAUSE THEY'RE A PLACE FOR CELEBRATION WHERE OUR FAMILIES CAN, UM, JOIN AND HAVE PARTIES AND, UH, PLAY SPORTS AND ALL OF THAT.
UM, ONE THING THAT, UH, COMES TO MIND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS CASE IS THE FACT THAT IN MY COMMUNITY, UH, IN 2017, TWO 2018, UM, OUR PARK, ROY GI GUERRERO PARK WAS THREATENED WITH SOMETHING SIMILAR, WHICH IS THE PRIVATIZATION OF OUR, OF OUR GREEN SPACES.
UM, I REMEMBER THAT THEY WANTED TO PUT A SOCCER STADIUM IN OUR PARK.
UM, WE FOUGHT THIS, UH, WE CAME BEFORE, BEFORE THE BOARD HERE.
WE CAME FOR CITY COUNCIL AND WE FOUGHT THIS, UH, WITH ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT I REMEMBER CLEARLY IS THAT THE PARKS BOARD, RIGHT AFTER THAT, AFTER SUPPORTING US, SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY, DID SOMETHING EVEN BETTER.
THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO IMPROVE THIS PARK.
WE NEED TO PRESERVE THIS PARK AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS PARK IS NOT PRIVATIZED.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU, UH, FROM YOU NOW WITH THE, WITH CHICANO PARK, IS THAT NOT ONLY THAT YOU LOOK AT THIS, UH, AGREEMENT AND SAY, HEY, THIS DOESN'T FIT IN THIS AREA.
THIS DOESN'T, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE, WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
WHAT THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY WANTS IS AN IMPROVEMENT.
A PRESERVATION OF THIS, UH, PARK IS, UH, THIS PLACE OF CULTURE, THIS PLACE WHERE, UM, IT'S NOT AN AREA FOR BUSINESSES, IT'S AN AREA FOR FAMILIES, FOR COMMUNITY, FOR CELEBRATION.
AND SO WE ASK YOU THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND THAT WE COME BACK AND LOOK AT THIS ORDINANCE AND, UM, WHICH WE ACTUALLY, WE BELIEVE THAT WAS MADE, UM, ILLEGALLY WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND DEFINITELY, UM, WE NEED TO
SO WE NEED TO, UH, TELL YOU, WE'RE HERE TO TELL YOU THAT CHICANO PARK IS NOT
[01:05:01]
A PLACE FOR BUSINESS.IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A PLACE FOR, UM, TO DO FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
SO I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT CHICANO PARK IS NOT FOR SALE.
IT'S A PLACE THAT, UH, WE NEED TO PRESERVE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER THEN WILL BE, UH, DAVID KINSEY, FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE.
I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE HOLLY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THERE HAVE BEEN RUMORS OF A SURVEY FLOATING AROUND FROM RICARDO.
AND I COME TO YOU AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HOLLY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION JUST TO SHARE THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY.
OUR ASSOCIATION IS RATHER NEW.
WE DO HAVE LONG-TERM RESIDENTS ON OUR BOARD.
I APOLOGIZE TO RICARDO FOR NOT HAVING ALL OF THEM AT THE BOARD.
I MEAN HE ATTENDED, BUT WE SEEK TO REPRESENT CITIZENS LIVING BETWEEN SEVENTH STREET AND THE RIVER CHACONE AND PLEASANT VALLEY.
UH, WE COUNT ABOUT 200 UNIQUE, UH, EMAIL ADDRESSES ON OUR SURVEY LIST.
91 PING MEMBERS, AND WE SURVEYED THOSE 91 PAYING MEMBERS ON THIS PROJECT SPECIFICALLY.
UH, 56% OF OUR RESPONDENTS WERE PRO THIS PROJECT AS PROPOSED AN ADDITIONAL 20% OF OUR RESPONDENTS WERE PRO THIS PROJECT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CONCESSION.
TIED TO THAT, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS SURROUNDING THE UPKEEP AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE DOCK.
SHOULD THE EXPOSITION SCHOOL CEASE TO EXIST OR CEASE TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, OPERATE THERE, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT? AND WITHOUT GUIDANCE IN THAT SCENARIO, UM, THOSE YESES MAY BECOME MAYBES, BUT, UH, GENERALLY PRO THE DOCK.
SO 76% OF OUR RESPONDENTS TO THIS SURVEY WERE IN FAVOR OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL DOCK BEING BUILT.
NOW, THAT DOES ALLOW FOR A NUMBER OF OUR NEIGHBORS THAT WERE ANTI THIS DOCK BEING BUILT, UH, SIMILAR TO THOSE BEHIND ME.
UM, THERE WERE, UH, GENERAL CONSENSUS SURROUNDING THE WAY IN WHICH THIS LOCATION WAS CHOSEN THAT CAUSED A, A BAD TASTE IN THE MEM IN MANY OF OUR MEMBERS' MOUTHS.
WE THINK REVISITING THAT AND PERHAPS, UH, NOT ALLOWING FOR THIS KIND OF PLACEMENT OF A DOCK IN PUBLIC PARKS GOING FORWARD, UH, SHOULD BE GENERALLY POO-POOED OR HOOED.
UH, BUT TO REITERATE THE GENERAL FEELING OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, DO WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PROVIDES, UH, GREAT ACCESS TO THE LAKE IN A WAY THAT ISN'T TYPICALLY THERE ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE, WE DON'T HAVE RENTAL, UH, EQUIPMENT FOR US TO TAKE A, A KAYAK OR AN SUP OUT.
DO WE THINK THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL HAS BEEN DOING GOOD WORK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR SOME TIME DATING BACK TO THEIR, UH, RENTALS AT THE CAMACHO DOCK AND NOW IN THE CONTAINERS? YES.
UH, AND DO WE THINK THAT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT SHOULD THERE BE A CONCESSION IN THE PARK, DESPITE THE WAY THAT IT STOMPS ON THE HOLLY SHORES MASTER PLAN, UH, THEY WOULD BE WORTHY OF GETTING THAT, THAT CONCESSION? SO JUST TO REITERATE, THE, THE HOLLY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, A NEW ASSOCIATION WE JUST HIT OUR ONE YEAR.
UH, WE'RE GROWING OUR MEMBERSHIP, BUT THE RESULTS OF THAT MEMBERSHIP AND THE, THE MEMBERS, MEMBERS THAT WE SURVEYED ARE PRO PROJECT THANK YOU MEMBERSHIP.
I THINK I, I GOT A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT OR MAYBE A MINUTE.
IT COSTS $10 A YEAR TO BE A MEMBER AND YOU GOTTA LIVE WITHIN, SORRY.
SORRY THAT YOU'RE, IF THE AUDIENCE WOULD NOT, IT'S OKAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CATHERINE NICELY, AND THEN WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER AFTER THAT.
WHEN, AS LUNCHES BOARD MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CATHERINE AVILOS, NICELY FROM METCALF WOLF, STEWART, AND WILLIAMS. OUR TEAM REPRESENTS EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
I SIGNED UP AS NEUTRAL IN THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION, BUT WE ARE OPPOSED ON RESCINDING THE 2019 COUNCIL ORDINANCE OR ANY OF THE CONTRACTS.
KIMERY HAS SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS GETTING A SITE PLAN AND PAYING FEES AND SURVEYS TO PUT TOGETHER A BOAT DOCK FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY KIMERY WON'T BE ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY.
KIMERY, WHO HAS BEEN OPERATING IN THAT AREA AT DIFFERENT LEVELS FROM ABOUT 20 YEARS OR SO, HAS BEEN FOLLOWING UP ON EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN ASKED FOR HER AND FOLLOWING CODE BASED ON THE CONCESSION AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE READ THROUGH THE BACKUP AND WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT THIS CONCESSION.
SHE HAS BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT AND HAS BEEN REPORTING PER CITY CODE, INCLUDING HAVING SAFETY, LIVABLE WAGES, MEETING ALL THE BENCHMARKS.
SHE'S HAPPY TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE AND PROVIDE ANYTHING ELSE THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS IT CAN BE SEEN.
[01:10:01]
CONCESSION REPORT OF NOVEMBER, 2023 IN NOVEMBER, THE PARK SPORT WAS ALSO BRIEFED ON THE HOUSTON TILLESON REPORT THAT DID AN EQUITY ANALYSIS AND SHOWS EXPEDITION SCHOOL AS ONE OF THE CONCESSIONS AND WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO HAVE MORE CONCESSIONS IN THE EAST SIDE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE EQUITY.THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY, TO EDUCATION, TO THE ENVIRONMENT, AND TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION AS A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF LAKE OF THE LAKE.
THE STAFF SERVES AS OFF OFFICIAL WATER QUALITY TESTERS FOR LCRA AND HAS REMOVED OVER TWO TONS OF TRASH FROM LADY BIRD LAKE.
I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT Y'ALL MAY NEED.
UH, WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM WHO HAS DIALED IN? UH, PO RENTERIA.
MR. RENTERIA, CAN YOU HEAR US? MR. RENTERIA? CAN YOU HEAR US? MR. RENTERIA, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES AT THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
I'M THE EX CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DISTRICT THREE.
I REPRESENTED THE CITY FOR EIGHT YEARS, TWO YEARS AGO AT THE END OF MY TERM.
AND I WROTE THIS RESOLUTION, YOU KNOW, THE EAST AUSTIN CITIZENS, WHICH INCLUDED BI NEIGHBORHOOD, THE SAYS A CHA NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM.
AND THE HOLLY NEIGHBORHOOD CON COALITION BACK THEN SUPPORTED THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH KNOWING THAT WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS HERE IN EAST AUSTIN, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SERVICE THAT OTHER PARTS OF THE LAKE HAD.
WE DID NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF CANOES, RENTAL CANOES, STAND UP, PADDLE BOARD OR KAYAKS.
YOU HAD TO TRAVEL TO THE WEST, UPTOWN LAKE, OR ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
SO WHEN WE FOUND OUT, I MEAN, I PEOPLE SAY INVASION, THAT'S A TOTAL LIE.
THE EXPOSITION SCHOOL HAD BEEN PRO PROVIDING CITY CONTRACT INSTRUCTION CLASSES ON FESTIVAL BEACH SINCE 2006 ACROSS FROM THE CAMACHO REC CENTER.
NOBODY EVER, NOBODY EVEN NOTICED THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE LOCATED ON MARTINEZ STREET.
AND WHEN THE BAR, UH, BALLPARK, WHEN THE, WHEN THE SEASON IS OVER, THEY DON'T GET TO U THEY DON'T COME BACK AND USE THAT AREA.
SO AT THAT TIME, WE HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF HOMELESS PEOPLE CAMPING OUT THERE ON THAT, ON OUR, ON THE, UH, PARKING LOT RIGHT ACROSS, RIGHT NEXT TO THE EXPOSITION SCHOOL.
Y'ALL HAVE THE STATE OF THE ART LAUNCHING FOR HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE KIDS THERE, RIGHT DOWN THERE IN THAT LAGOON THAT JUST SITS THERE.
I WALK DOWN THERE DAILY OR RIDING MY BIKE AND WATCH IT AND NOT SEEING THE USED.
IT JUST KIND OF BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE THOSE KIND OF THINGS HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM LIKE THAT POSITION SCHOOL THAT HAD RECEIVED REWARDS FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
KEEP OFF THE BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN RED CROSS AND DOWN HOME RANCH.
YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DO THEY PICK UP TONS OF TRASH, BUT THEY ALSO WORK WITH VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND HEARING IMPAIRED AND OTHER RESIDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
HOW TO NAVIGATE, NAVIGATE KAYAKING.
YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, YOU KNOW, THEY COULDN'T RENT THE, THE, UH, THE RENTAL KAYAKS WHEN THEY HAD, BECAUSE THE CITY CHANGED ITS POLICY BECAUSE OUR DOGS CANNOT BE MIXING WITH YOUNG KIDS.
SO THEY HAD TO GO OUT THERE AND FIGURE A WAY TO MOVE FROM THE LOCATION THAT WAS AT SHARING THE SAME SITE WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOWN FURTHER DOWN SO THEY COULD BE ISOLATED AWAY FROM THE, THE, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS DEPARTMENT STUDENTS.
AND YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHY I WROTE THIS RESOLUTION.
THIS IS AN AWARD-WINNING, I MEAN PROGRAM THAT OUR, IT HAS BENEFIT OUR GENERATIONS OF OUR KIDS.
I KNOW HOW TO KEEP TRACK OF TIME.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO TELL ME HOW TO KEEP TRACK OF TIME.
[01:15:01]
ALREADY WERE BADGERING THE OTHER WITNESS, SO LIKE, THANK YOU.TIME IS UP JUST LIKE I LET OTHER PEOPLE GO OVER.
I AM LETTING HIM HAVE THE COURTESY TIME IS UP.
DEBORAH BEG PARDON? TIME IS UP.
MS. BERTHA DELGADO WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR TIME IS UP.
IS THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? MR. BECK? NO CHAIR.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I READ THE RECOMMENDATION.
I WANNA THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME AND BEFORE I READ THE RECOMMENDATION THAT, UM, I'M BRINGING FORWARD, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I RECOGNIZE THE VALUE THAT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL HAS DONE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THEY CLEARLY HAVE DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK AND NO ONE IS TRYING TO SHUT THEM DOWN OR TAKE THEM AWAY.
THIS RECOMMENDATION REFERS TO A PROCESS THAT IS UNFAIR AND POSSIBLY NOT LEGAL.
AND WE ARE ASKING FOR A REVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH SET THIS IN PLACE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHETHER OR NOT IT COMPLIED WITH CODE AND WHETHER OR NOT IT COMPLIED WITH WHAT IS IN THE HOLLY SHORES EDWARD RENDON SENIOR MASTER PLAN.
IN FAIRNESS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WORKED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO CREATE THE MASTER PLAN.
SO I WILL READ THE RECOMMENDATION, WHEREAS ON DECEMBER 15TH, 2019, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PASSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 19 2 0 5 0 7 0 TO EXPEDITE AUTHOR AUTHORIZATION OF A BOATING CONCESSION ON LADY BIRD LAKE FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
WHEREAS THE ORDINANCE WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED COUNCIL DIRECTIVE FOR A BOATING CONCESSION APPROVAL IN THAT IT WAIVE THE REQUIREMENTS OF CITY CODE SECTION 8 1 7 4 REVIEW OF A PROPOSAL SEEKING A CONCESSION BYPASSING REVIEW BY THE PARKS BOARD, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, THE DESIGN COMMISSION, AND RELATED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
WHEREAS BY WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS OF CITY CODE SECTION 8 1 7 4, THE ORDINANCE CONFLICTS WITH CITY CHARTER ARTICLE TWO, CHAPTER SEVEN, SECTION A REGARDING POWERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
WHEREAS ORDINANCE, THE ORDINANCE AUTHORIZED AN AMENDMENT TO THE HOLLY SHORES EDWARD RENDON SENIOR PARK MASTER PLAN, WITHOUT NOTIFICATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE COLLABORATED IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ON THE MASTER PLAN SINCE IT WAS APPROVED IN 2015.
WHEREAS COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS HAVE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH A LARGE BOATING CONCESSION THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL MASTER PLAN AND HAVE EXPRESSED TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD THEIR DIFFICULTY IN HAVING THEIR ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THE CURRENT PROCESS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND STATE OF TEXAS RECOGNIZE THE MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE, CULTURAL, AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOLLY SHORES EDWARD RENDON SENIOR PARK, WHEREAS THE PROPOSED LOCATION OF THE COMMERCIAL DOCK FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL CONCESSION IS WITHIN AN AREA THAT HAS POOR WATER QUALITY AND MAY CREATE ADDITIONAL NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.
WHEREAS THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAS NOT AMENDED THE HOLLY SHORES EDWARD RENDON SENIOR PARK MASTER PLAN TO INDICATE THE LOCATION OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL BOATING CONCESSION AS DIRECTED BY THE ORDINANCE OVER FOUR YEARS AGO.
WHEREAS PARD STAFF WORKING WITH THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL, BUT NOT THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, IDENTIFIED A LONG-TERM LOCATION AT EDWARD RENDON SENIOR PARK FESTIVAL, BEACH LAGOON WEST END, FOR THE OPERATION OF THE WATERCRAFT CONCESSION IN CONFLICT WITH THE MASTER PLAN.
WHEREAS IN DECEMBER OF 2022, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER APPROVED CONTRACT TERMS AND A PARKLAND IMPROVEMENT DONATION AGREEMENT FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL BOATING CONCESSION, INCLUDING AN INTERIM TWO YEAR PERIOD DURING WHICH THE VENDOR WAS REQUIRED TO MEET SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING BENCHMARKS.
AND WHEREAS THE CONTRACT TERMS OF 2022 STATED THAT
[01:20:01]
FAILURE TO MEET THE ESTABLISHED BENCHMARKS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A CONTRACT VIOLATION IN GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION, WHEREAS THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL HAS NOT SIGNED THE PARK LAND IMPROVEMENT DONATION AGREEMENT AND THE STATUS OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS IS UNKNOWN.AND WHEREAS THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD PER CITY CODE SECTION 8 1 7 3 MAY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION RELATED TO CONTINUING AN EXISTING CONCESSION OR TERMINATING AN EXISTING CONTINUATION.
THEREFORE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD RECOMMENDS TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
NUMBER ONE, REVIEW COUNCIL ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 19 1 2 0 5 0 7 OH TO DETERMINE IF IT IS NO LONGER APPROPRIATE AND OR IN VIOLATION OF AUSTIN CITY CHARTER AND MUNICIPAL CODE NUMBER TWO, DIRECT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO PAUSE THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL PARKLAND IMPROVEMENT DONATION AGREEMENT, CONCESSION AGREEMENT, AND THE AMENDMENT TO THE HOLLY SHORES EDWARD RENDON SENIOR MASTER PLAN UNTIL NOVEMBER 30TH, 2024.
ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THESE AGREEMENTS.
NUMBER THREE, DIRECT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A LIST OF ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL CONCESSION THAT ARE NOT AS CULTURALLY AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT AS THE PROPOSED LOCATION.
DIRECT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO EXAMINE THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WATER QUALITY.
PROVIDE THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AND ENVIRON ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS DONE BY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT NUMBER FIVE, DIRECT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE THE STATUS OF THE PARK LAND IMPROVEMENT DONATION AGREEMENT WITH THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
STATING MINIMUM FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS, THE APPLICANT MUST MEET.
NUMBER SIX, DIRECT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO EXAMINE IN DETAIL THE FINANCIAL LIABILITY AND RISK ELEMENTS THIS CONCESSION POSES TO THE CITY.
NUMBER SEVEN, DIRECT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO EXAMINE ANY LEGAL LIABILITY OR LEGAL RISK THAT OVERTURNING THE ORDINANCE POSES TO THE CITY.
AND REQUEST INPUT FROM CITY ATTORNEYS FOR ANY LEGAL IMPACT TO THE CITY.
NUMBER EIGHT, DETERMINE IF THE PAR DIRECTOR AND DEPARTMENT REVIEWED AND IMPLEMENTED CODE SECTIONS 8 1 14 AND 8 1 7 3.
AND IF SO, PROVIDE A REPORT WITH RESULTS TO THE PARKS BOARD SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL CONCESSION AGREEMENT.
AND NUMBER NINE, RESCIND COUNSEL.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 19 12 0 5 0 7 0.
IF DURING THIS TIME IT IS DETERMINED TO BE NO LONGER APPROPRIATE AND OR IN VIOLATION OF CITY CODE AND MUNICIPAL CODE AND A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE LOCATION FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL CONCESSION IS NOT PROVIDED.
OKAY, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THAT.
UM, I'LL KNOW A BIT OVER TO DISCUSSION.
UM, DO I HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION? OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
WOULD YOU LIKE, IS THERE, IS THERE SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE.
THERE'S A MOVE MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS READ.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THERE'S A SECOND BY NICOLE MERRI.
UM, WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION BOARD MEMBERS.
ANY DISCUSSION? UM, I CAN START.
UM, SO I SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK THIS IS A TOUGH ISSUE 'CAUSE I THINK THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL IS A REALLY GOOD ORGANIZATION AND I THINK THEY DO REALLY IMPORTANT WORK FOR THE CITY.
I THINK THEY HAVE FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEY BRING A LOT OF VALUE.
AND I THINK IF WE READ THE ORDINANCE WITH THE, WITH, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO ASSUME THE BEST INTENTIONS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED TO FAST TRACK SERVICES TO THE EAST SIDE THAT WEREN'T AVAILABLE.
BUT, BUT THAT BEING SAID, UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY CLEAR THAT THIS ORDINANCE RESULTED IN A MATERIAL INJUSTICE TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY WERE LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS.
AND WE'RE SEEING THE RESULTS OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE THE COMMUNITY OUTTA THE PROCESS AND WHEN YOU STEP AWAY FROM THE PROCESS.
SO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS BYPASSED, BOARD REVIEW WAS BYPASSED, THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES.
UM, NO AVAILABILITY FOR INPUT FROM ANY ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
UM, AND THEN AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT SEVERAL TIMES, YOU KNOW, FUNDAMENTALLY THIS USE OF THE PARK CONFLICTS WITH THE VISION PLAN.
AND SO WE CAN SEE IT MAYBE COULD HAVE BEEN PREDICTED THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE OPPOSED TO THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THESE REASONS, I SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDATION.
[01:25:01]
UM, I, I THINK WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE CITY TO DO IS, UH, FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO REOPEN THIS ISSUE AND CONSIDER RESCINDING THE ORDINANCE, UM, THAT WILL ALLOW FOR ALL THE PROCESSES THAT WERE SKIPPED TO, TO GO THROUGH, UM, AND HOPEFULLY WILL RESULT IN FINDING A SUITABLE LOCATION THAT WILL ALLOW THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL TO CONTINUE FOR YEARS TO COME.IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENT, SUGGESTIONS? SO, CHAIR, UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE, TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE COMMUNITY IS SO FRUSTRATED WITH THIS, TO LOOK AT THE EDWARD RENDON SENIOR MASTER PLAN THAT WAS PASSED.
UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OVER 600 NEIGHBORS PARTICIPATED IN THIS THROUGH MANY, MANY WEEKS, PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT, MAYBE YEARS.
AND COMING UP WITH THIS PLAN THAT WAS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY, AND WAS EVENTUALLY AGREED UPON THAT THIS IS THE WAY THEY WANTED TO PROCEED.
UM, MR. BECK, IF YOU HAVE THE, UH, MASTER PLAN IN THAT FOLDER I GAVE YOU, IF YOU WOULD PULL IT UP PLEASE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THIS MASTER PLAN.
UM, NONE OF WHICH HAVE PASSED.
ONE REGARDING, UM, THE FOOD GARDENS PASSED, BUT THAT WAS WITH COMMUNITY INPUT OUT OF FOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS DURING THE PAST 10 YEARS.
SO IF YOU COULD GO TO PAGE 22, PLEASE.
AND THIS SAYS, BETWEEN AUGUST, 2012 AND JULY, 2014, THE MVVA TEAM, THE CONSULTANTS WHO WERE HIRED TO CREATE THE, THE MASTER PLAN AND PART ENGAGED THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES THROUGH A SERIES OF PUBLIC MEETINGS AND OUTREACH EFFORTS DESIGNED TO FIND THE PRIORITIES OF AS WIDE A CONSTITUENCY AS POSSIBLE.
CAN YOU MOVE TO PAGE 26, PLEASE? THE PRIORITIES CENTERED AROUND HERITAGE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY LARGELY CONCERNED THE WISH THAT HOLLY SHORES REMAIN A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, BOTH IN THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH IT IS DEVELOPED AND IN THE WAY THAT IT IS USED.
ACTIVE EVENTS AND GATHERINGS BASED AROUND FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY WERE IMPORTANT, AS WAS A COMMUNICATION OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE PRIORITY WAS ALLOWED AND CLEAR.
THIS IS OUR PARK AND WE WANT TO CELEBRATE THAT.
CAN YOU PLEASE MOVE TO PAGE 30 IN KEEPING WITH THE, WITH THE PASTORAL AND RELAXED CHARACTER OF THE PARK AND ITS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH LADY BIRD LAKE? MANY PEOPLE WANTED TO PUT STRONG EMPHASIS ON NATURE HABITAT CREATION AND IMPROVEMENTS TO WATER QUALITY IN THE PARK.
OTHER COMMENTS IN THIS CATEGORY CONCERN THE CREATION OF GARDENS, PLANTING, SHADE, TREES, AND PARK MAINTENANCE.
THE HIGH NUMBER OF COMMENTS IN THIS CATEGORY DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AT THE FOREFRONT OF ANY PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
CAN YOU PLEASE MOVE TO PAGE 37? THE MASTER PLAN GOALS EMERGED OUT OF A ROBUST AND OPEN COMMUNITY PROCESS AND REPRESENT MANY VOICES AND OPINIONS.
THE OVERARCHING CALL WAS FOR THIS PLACE TO REMAIN, FIRST AND FOREMOST A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
AND MANY OF THE GOALS STEMMING FROM THAT ARE CONCERNED WITH BETTER CONNECTIVITY, OPENNESS, AND INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS PARK ELEMENTS SO THAT THE PARK ITSELF WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE CONNECTIVITY WITH THE COMMUNITY.
BEYOND THAT, AN EMPHASIS ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT A TRANQUIL AND PASTORAL CHARACTER AND PARK COMFORT WILL MAKE HOLLY SHORES AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO FIND A MOMENT OF RESPITE FROM THE STRESSES OF CITY LIFE.
CAN YOU PLEASE MOVE TO PAGE 42? ALIGN WITH THE 1989 TOWN LAKE PLAN, RECOGNIZING THE STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PARK AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE 1989 TOWN LAKE PLAN RECOMMENDED AN OVERRIDING PARK POLICY OF THOROUGHLY INVOLVING RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION PROCESS FOR THIS AREA.
THE MVVA MASTER PLANNING TEAM EMBRACE THIS APPROACH WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND RECOMMENDS THE SAME
[01:30:01]
AS THE PROCESS MOVES FORWARD.COULD YOU PLEASE MOVE TO PAGE 58? THIS IS ABOUT THE LAGOON, THE SECTION OF THE MASTER PLAN.
THE WATER QUALITY IN THE LAGOON IS CURRENTLY POOR DUE TO SEPARATION FROM THE MAIN FLOWS OF THE LAKE.
AND THEN ON PAGE 64, CANOE RENTAL COULD CONTINUE ON THE LAKE EDGE WITH AN IMPROVED AND ACCESSIBLE LAUNCHING DOCK CONNECTED TO THE REST OF THE PARK BY NEW ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS, ALLOWING CANOEISTS OF ALL ABILITIES TO PARTICIPATE AS PART OF THE RESHAPING OF THE LAGOON EDGE AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW CHANNELS.
THAT WAS WHAT WAS IN THE MASTER PLAN TO COME BEFORE ANY CONCESSION OR ANY BUSINESS OR ANYTHING WAS PUT THERE.
THIS PLAN IN IMPROVING THE WATER QUALITY THROUGH SOME MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS WAS FIRST AND FOREMOST, SO THAT WAS WHAT WAS IN THE MASTER PLAN.
MASTER PLAN PROPOSES RELOCATING THE EXISTING BOAT LAUNCH FROM THE EDGE OF THE LAKE TO THE MORE SHELTER WATERS OF THE LAGOON, WHICH WILL ALLOW NON-MOTORIZED BOAT, BOAT USERS OF ALL ABILITIES TO ACCESS THE WATER.
SO THIS MASTER PLANNING PROCESS WAS CONTROVERSIAL.
SOME NEIGHBORS DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT AND SOME DID, BUT IN THE END, EVERYONE WORKED TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT EVERYONE COULD SOMEWHAT AGREE UPON.
UM, THERE WAS A PETITION TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF EAST AUSTIN.
AS I WE'VE HEARD THERE'S A PETITION TONIGHT.
ONE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS OR CHANGES THAT WERE NOT SUPPORTED IN THE PETITION WAS NO PAY FOR USAGE BOAT DOCKS OR FOR UNMOTORIZED BOATS.
NO NEW PERMANENT CONCESSION STANDS WITH THE EXCEPTION TO CURRENT CONCESSION STAND IN CAMACHO ATHLETIC COMPLEX.
SO I THINK WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS SHOWING THAT THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CAN BE SEEN IN OUR CONCESSION REPORT IN 2023.
AND I TH DID I PUT THAT IN THE FOLDER? IF YOU CAN GO TO PAGE 23 OF THAT, OF LAST YEAR'S CONCESSION REPORT FOR BOATING CONCESSIONS.
THIS PAGE SO SHOWS THE LAKE SAFETY ISSUES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO MAKE IT LARGER? THESE ARE ALSO THE NUMBER OF BOATS OR STANDUP PADDLES THAT WERE RENTED DURING THE HOLIDAYS, LIKE THE REALLY BUSY WEEKENDS.
SO IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THE, THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF BOATS THAT ARE RENTED, THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERN IS PROBABLY THAT IF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL MOVES FORWARD IN THE, IN THE CURRENT LOCATION AND HAS THE SIZE OF DOCK THAT IT IS AND THE CAPACITY TO RENT THIS NUMBER OF BOATS, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF BUSINESS THERE.
THE PARKING LOT WILL BE FILLED.
IT WILL BE, UM, I MEAN WE'RE TALKING AND IF YOU CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT PAGE PLEASE.
THIS IS FOR THE TOTAL RENTALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 23 BY CONCESSION BOATING CONCESSIONS.
THERE'S 82,465 FROM TEXAS ROWING CLUB.
THERE'S A HUMAN IN EACH ONE OF THOSE BOATS.
UH, UH, IF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE LARGER AND GOING TO BE RENTING MORE EQUIPMENT AND HAVING MORE BUSINESS, IT NEEDS TO BE IN A LOCATION THAT CAN FACILITATE THIS, THAT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THE CULTURAL, HISTORIC PART OF THE PARK.
THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE STATESMAN RECENTLY THAT TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF HISTORIC EVENTS THAT HAPPENED THERE, INCLUDING WHAT JUST HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEK ACT ACTUALLY YESTERDAY, A CELEBRATION OF 46 YEARS, WAS IT AT CHICANO PARK.
AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS WAS CONSIDERED WHEN THE COUNCIL ORDINANCE WAS PASSED, THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE RENTING A LOT OF EQUIPMENT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND IN REALIZATION THAT YES, THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL DOES GREAT WORK.
THEY HAVE BROUGHT A LOT OF OF WONDERFUL THINGS FOR KIDS AND FOR, UM, CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
I THINK WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY IS SAYING IS THIS NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL TO FIND A DIFFERENT LOCATION THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR IT AND DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH THIS MASTER
[01:35:01]
PLAN.UM, BOARD, BOARD MEMBER READ I, UH, YEAH, I HAVE, I JUST HAVE ONE, I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND THEN I KIND OF HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS.
ON THE FIRST PARAGRAPH ON PAGE TWO OF THREE, ON THE LAST SENTENCE, YOU WRITE, UM, YOU WRITE YOUR, UH, RARE ASS CLAUSE AND THEN IT SAYS, IN CONFLICT WITH A MASTER PLAN.
CAN YOU JUST ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT MORE WHAT ON WHAT YOU MEAN BY IN CONFLICT WITH A MASTER PLAN RATHER THEN IT'S NOT IN THERE.
WHICH ONE? THE FIRST, WHEREAS AT THE TOP, WHAT I MEAN BY IN CONFLICT WITH THE MASTER PLAN IS THAT THE MASTER PLAN SAYS THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL BE INVOLVED IN ANY NEW AMENITIES OR NEW PROJECTS THAT ARE PUT INTO THE PARK.
AND THE COMMUNITY WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THIS ONE.
BECAUSE THE PARK STAFF IDENTIFIED THIS, UM, CURRENT TEMPORARY LOCATION AND THE PROPOSED PERMANENT LOCATION WITHOUT INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY.
IN OTHER WORDS, NO ONE REALLY REACHED OUT TO THEM.
AND THERE'S BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
SO THE ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR THERE TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION IN PART FOUR OF THE ORDINANCE.
BUT IT DIRECTLY SAYS, AMEND THE VISION PLAN.
IT DOESN'T SAY THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CAN'T INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN FINDING A NEW LOCATION.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS PASSED, IT WAS ENCOURAGING THAT THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL STAY AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION.
AT THAT TIME, THE CURRENT LOCATION WAS IN THE CAMACHO BUILDING.
AND THEY WERE USING THE CAMACHO DOCK YES.
AND THEY WERE A CONTRACTOR WITH PART, AM I CORRECT? YES.
THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE PARKS STAFF.
AND YEAH, THE REASON I WAS ASKING, JUST 'CAUSE I WAS TRYING TO, I I I WAS TRYING TO, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE, UM, I SEEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PASS.
SO I DO HAVE SOME, UM, SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO JUST MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER.
UM, THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, ON THE THIRD, WHEREAS, UM, UH, TO READ, NOW READ, WHEREAS BY WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS OF CITY CODE SECTION EIGHT DASH ONE DASH SEVEN FOUR ORDINANCE NUMBER, AND THEN YOU LIST THE ORDINANCE NUMBER MAY CONFLICT.
SO SCRATCH OUT THE S BUT, AND THEN ADD MAY, MAY CONFLICT WITH CITY CHARTER, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND THEN, UM, ON THAT FOURTH, WHEREAS CLAUSE, IT'S UH, WHEREAS ORDINANCE NUMBER, UH, SO, UH, THE NUMBER AUTHORIZED AN AMENDMENT TO THE HOLLY SHORES, EDWARD ENDOS SENIOR PARK MASTER PLAN, WHICH HAS BEEN PENDING SINCE 20 F, WHICH HAS BEEN PENDING SINCE 2015.
SO I WOULD JUST SCRATCH OUT ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.
UM, AND I'LL LEAVE THAT THERE 'CAUSE I HAVE MORE.
SO I'M JUST GONNA TAKE IT ONE BY ONE.
UM, TELL ME WHICH, WHERE THAT WAS AGAIN, THE FOURTH ONE.
SO WHEREAS ORDINANCE NUMBER, SO ON AND SO FORTH, AUTHORIZED AN AMENDMENT TO THE HOLLY SHORES, EDWARD END IGNOR PARK MASTER PLAN, WHICH HAS BEEN PENDING SINCE 2015.
SO YOU WANNA LEAVE OUT WITHOUT NOTIFICATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS? YEAH.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT, THAT, I'M ASKING FOR THAT ONE.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S JUST REDUNDANT TO THE, UM, THAT FIFTH WHEREAS CLAUSE.
'CAUSE YOU'RE SAYING IN THAT FIFTH, WHEREAS WHEREAS COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS HAVE NOT HAD, HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH LARGE POINT IONS THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL HOLLY SHORES, EDWARD AND DAWN SENIOR MASTER PARK.
I THINK IT'S, WELL I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS BEING PUT TOGETHER, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHOSE JOB IT WOULD'VE BEEN TO NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY THAT AN AMENDMENT WAS COMING UP TO THEIR, TO THEIR PARKS PLAN.
UM, WOULD THAT BE THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY? ARE YOU ASKING ME? YEAH, I'M, WELL, I, I THINK MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
[01:40:01]
WELL, I, I THINK BECAUSE THE AMENDMENT WAS DONE THROUGH SYDNEY ORDINANCE, IT SHOULD MADE, SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP TO THE, THEIR ELECTED OFFICIAL.THE ELECTED OFFICIAL AT THAT TIME TO NOTIFY THEM.
WHICH CLEARLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THAT TIME, BUT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT.
SO, WELL, THERE ARE TWO THINGS GOING ON HERE.
THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE TO, UM, APPROVE THIS CONCESSION.
WHICH WAIVED THE, THE NORMAL PROCESS.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT WAS GOING ON WAS AN AMENDMENT TO THE VISION PLAN.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WHENEVER THERE IS A, WHENEVER THERE WAS AN EVENT, AN AMENDMENT TO THIS VISION PLAN, THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OR A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WHO WAS WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY WOULD NEED TO SAY, HEY, THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR VISION PLAN.
WE WANT TO NOTIFY YOU OF THIS.
SO I GUESS THEN ISN'T THAT A DIRECTIVE FROM THE VISION PLAN? I DON'T, YEAH.
I DON'T, I MEAN, I, I'M NOT ARGUING WITH THE INTENT, WHICH IS IT, I DO THINK IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY BASED ON WHAT THEY DESCRIBED TO US LAST TIME, HOW IT NORMALLY WORKS.
AND THAT, I THINK PARKS STAFF ARE NOT THE ONES THAT WOULD NOTIFY ABOUT THE AMENDMENT BASED ON WHAT WAS DESCRIBED TO US LAST MEETING.
AGAIN, NOT SAYING THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED 'CAUSE THEY DO THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S LIKE THE NORMAL CHAIN OF EVENTS.
AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE MAN WHO WAS HERE AT THE LAST MEETING WHO DESCRIBED THE WHOLE AMENDMENT PROCESS.
IF AN AMENDMENT WERE COMING UP FOR THIS PARK VISION PLAN OR ANY PARK VISION PLAN, WOULDN'T A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY? YES.
ANGELA MEANS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
WHEN WE DO, UH, ANY VISION PLAN UPDATES OR AMENDMENTS, OUR TYPICAL, UH, PROCESS IS TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THERE IS AN EXTENSIVE, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROTOCOL THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.
BUT YOU, YOU SAID TY TYPICALLY BECAUSE THIS WAS DONE THROUGH A DIFFERENT PROCEDURE, THAT MEANS THAT THAT WAS NOT DONE.
SO YEAH, I GUESS THAT'S, THAT'S, I GUESS THAT'S KIND OF LIKE WHAT I, WHAT I REALLY, I, I GUESS THEN I SHOULD SAY, WHEREAS ORDINANCE AMENDED THE HOLLY SHORES, EDWARD, AND IGNOR MASTER PLAN WITHOUT NOTIFICATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS, WE CAN PAUSE BECAUSE IT WAS YEAH, YEAH.
I THINK AND THEN JUST LEAVE IT AND THEN SCRATCH OUT EVERYTHING ELSE.
WOULD THAT, WOULD YOU BE OKAY WITH THAT? YES.
UM, SO WHAT I'LL SAY IS, WAS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AWARE THAT THE COUNCIL WAS GOING TO BRING FORWARD AN ORDINANCE THAT DIRECTED AN AMENDMENT TO THE HOLLY SHORES EDWARD RENDON IGNOR PARKS PLAN QUESTION? GOOD EVENING.
ANA K UH, WE, THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION, UM, A FEW WEEKS, MAYBE TWO OR THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE, UM, COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS WHAT IS, UM, USUALLY THE CASE AT THAT TIME, THE DRAFT, UM, ORDINANCE WAS, UH, ON THE AGENDA AND WE DID NOT HAVE MUCH, UM, WE DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, WEIGH IN ON THAT THIS WAS COMING.
THEY WERE, NOBODY ASKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S OPINION ON THIS.
AND IT WAS COMING THAT, UH, FROM COUNCIL.
I MEAN, THEY ALSO DIDN'T KNOW, UM, THE, AND THEN THIS ONE I'M, UH, UH, I'M ASKING THAT IT JUST BE SCRATCHED.
'CAUSE I THINK IT'S JUST RIGHTLY, THE THE POINT OF THIS IS, IS NOT NECESSARILY SO MUCH AS LIKE THE, OR AT LEAST FOR ME, I, I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF, FOR, UH, FOR ME ISN'T NECESSARILY ABOUT, I'M TRYING TO GET TO THE END RESULT.
UM, WHICH IS, SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD ASK THAT, THAT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
THE SEVENTH OR THE SECOND TO LAST, WHEREAS CLAUSE BE STRIKED ON THE FIRST PAGE.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHY? UM, AND THE REASON I'M ASKING FOR THAT IS BECAUSE, I MEAN, I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF IT MA FOR ME, I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF IT MATTERS THAT THERE IS POOR QUALITY, POOR WATER QUALITY TO THE EXTENT THAT IF THIS PROCESS WAS NOT FOLLOWED CORRECTLY, I DON'T KNOW.
IT WEAKENS THE PRIMARY ARGUMENT.
YOU'RE WEAKENING YOUR PRIMARY ARGUMENT BY ARGUING ABOUT THESE, WHAT I WOULD CLASSIFY AS SUPERFLUOUS, SUPERFLUOUS THINGS THAT AREN'T ABOUT THE PRIMARY ARGUMENT, WHICH IS YOUR PRIMARY ARGUMENT IS THIS PROCESS WAS DONE IN THE ATYPICAL, IN AN ATYPICAL FASHION THAT DIDN'T ALLOW FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INPUT.
WE SHOULD JUST, I I WOULD SAY WE SHOULD JUST STICK TO THAT.
[01:45:01]
WOULD BE MY, THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING FOR THAT.THAT WAS TO JUSTIFY THE RECOMMENDATION ABOUT, UM, DIRECTING THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO EXAMINE THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO WATER QUALITY.
AND THIS RELATES TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL.
AND THAT, THE OTHER THING, I MEAN, THIS IS A FEW A PREVIEW OF COMING THINGS THAT I'LL ASK FOR IS LIKE, I'M JUST GONNA BRING UP SCRATCHING A RECOMMENDATION FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
I THINK IF I COULD JUST PROVIDE MY 2 CENTS FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, UM, SUPPORTIVE OF THE OVERALL, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE HERE.
LET'S JUST START BY SAYING THAT.
BUT I DO AGREE THAT I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, WE'RE GONNA FIGHT AN UPHILL BATTLE WITH GETTING COUNSEL TO LOOK AT THIS AND PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS IF THE DISTRICT THREE REPRESENTATIVE IS ALREADY NOT TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT I THINK, I THINK WE NEED TO THINK VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THIS AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE FOR COUNSEL TO SEE IT AND SEE THE CLEAR ARGUMENT AND MAKE AN ACTION ON IT.
AND SO MY, JUST MY PERSONAL BACKGROUND IN PUBLIC POLICY, I WOULD SAY THAT THE CLEANER YOU CAN MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT AND THE MORE DIRECT, THE MORE LIKELY IT IS.
EVEN THOUGH I TOTALLY APPRECIATE THAT THERE ARE OTHER EXTENUATING THINGS GOING ON THAT ARE ALSO IMPORTANT.
I THINK THE CLEANER AND MORE DIRECT WE CAN MAKE IT, THE MORE LIKELY IT'S TO GET THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES.
AND THAT'S JUST, UH, MAYBE A BIT OF INSIDE BASEBALL.
BUT THAT'S SORT OF HOW I WOULD FEEL ABOUT IT.
SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE ASKING TO STRIKE FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX FROM THE RECOMMENDATION? MY, WELL, I'M GONNA TAKE IT ONE BY ONE 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO JUST OVERWHELM PEOPLE WITH IT.
BUT THE, THE FIRST RASK IS TO SCRATCH THE SECOND TO LAST, WHEREAS CLAUSE ON PAGE ONE OF THREE.
I WANNA SEE WHY WHEN YOU GET TO THE RECOMMENDATION.
AND THEN I THEN, UM, THE OTHER ONE I'M GONNA ASK IS TO SCRATCH, I, THESE ARE ALL REASONS FOR WHY TO REVIEW THIS THAT GO BACK TO THE INITIAL CLAUSE, WHY THIS NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED.
AND THEN, UM, I AM, UH, I WILL, I GUESS I'LL JUST DO IT ALL AT ONCE.
THIS, THESE ALL AT ONCE, IT WOULD BE SCRATCH, UH, THE, UH, THE RESOLVED CLAUSES FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
UM, AND THEN ALSO EDIT, WHEREAS THE, THE RESOLVED CLAUSE EIGHT TO JUST END AFTER EIGHT DASH ONE DASH SEVEN THREE, AND THEN THAT'S IT.
AND THEN SCRATCH EVERYTHING ELSE OFF AFTER THAT.
UM, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS, IS, UM, THAT ACTUALLY MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE IN 2023.
SO PROVIDE A REPORT WITH RESULTS TO THE PARKS BOARD SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL CONCESSION AGREEMENT.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY OTHER EDIT.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING I JUST MENTIONED THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO ACCEPT.
AND IF NOT, I'LL JUST, I GUESS WE'LL JUST TAKE VOTES ON IT.
UM, CAN I THROW IN ADDITIONAL, OH, OH, SORRY.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS, SORRY, SORRY, I'LL GET TO LANE RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS ON, UH, THE RESOLVE CLAUSE NUMBER THREE TO SAY, UH, TO JUST SAY DIRECT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A LIST OF ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL CONCESSION CONCESSION PERIOD, OR THAT THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS.
THE ONLY REASON I'M ASKING TO SCRATCH OFF THAT ARE NOT AS CULTURALLY AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT AS THE CURRENT PROPOSED LOCATION IS BECAUSE IN MY MIND, THAT'S PITTING CULTURAL LOCATIONS AGAINST EACH OTHER TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IS HIGHER ON THE PRIORITY LIST THAN NOT.
SO WE'LL JUST, THAT WILL BE PART, I ASSUME THAT WILL BE PART OF THE CALCULUS.
AND IF COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED AT THAT POINT, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
BUT I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE LIKE AN INHERENT TIER OR SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
UM, AS PART OF THE DIRECTIVE THEN HOW DO WE INDICATE THAT THE CULTURAL, THE, THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF THIS AREA NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN THE, IN THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO WE CAN JUST SAY DIRECT OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY.
SO WE CAN JUST SAY, DIRECT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A LIST OF ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL CONCESSION, TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ANY PROPOSED LOCATION, RIGHT.
OR THE, THE HOLLY SHORES, EDWARD RENDON SENIOR PARK AREA.
[01:50:02]
WELL, I WOULD, IT WOULD BE SPECIFIC TO THE LOCATION, RIGHT? NOT TO THE, TO THE, TO THE LOCATION, NOT TO THE AREA.I MEAN PRESUMABLY IF THEY WERE TO PROPOSE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WAS EXTREMELY CULTURALLY OR HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT AS A TRADE OFF, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN THAT SITUATION.
YOU WOULDN'T WANNA BE IN THE SITUATION OF, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COMPARING TWO LOCATIONS TO SEE WHICH ONE IS MORE CULTURALLY OR HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
SO WE JUST, SO YOU JUST WANNA LEAVE IT GENERIC.
SO, BUT IF YOU SAY TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION RATHER THAN AS NOT, OR NOT AS YOU SAY, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF THE, OF THE PROPOSED LOCATION, WELL IN THIS CASE IT'S AREA OR THE ALTERNATIVE LOCATION THAT'S GOVERNED BY THAT, THAT VISION PLAN.
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT FOR, UM, I THINK IT, IT NEEDS TO SAY THAT, UM, DIRECT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A LIST OF ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL CONCESSION, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF THE HOLLY SHORES, EDWARD RENDON SENIOR PARK.
BUT TAKING INTO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE CURRENT SITE IS WHY YOU WOULDN'T CHOOSE IT, NOT WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER WHEN YOU WERE LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS.
I, I MEAN, AND I'M NOT SAYING WE NEED, IF WE WANNA REPHRASE IT WITH LIKE THE GENERIC CULTURAL, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
I'M NOT SURE THE WORDING IS, IT MAY BE THAT, UM, I THINK HOW YOU, HOW YOU SAID IT THE FIRST TIME MAKES SENSE.
LIKE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING ALL LOCATIONS AND THEIR CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE.
SO I WOULD IT BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT? SO I'LL JUST, I'LL READ IT ONE MORE TIME JUST SO WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AS TO WHAT I'M PROPOSING.
'CAUSE I KNOW I CHANGED IT TWICE ALREADY OR ONCE.
SO DIRECT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A LIST OF ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL CONCESSION.
UM, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROPOSED OF THE ALTER OF THE PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS.
DO YOU ACCEPT THAT ONE AS FRIENDLY OR DO WE TAKE A VOTE ON IT? I'LL ACCEPT IT.
UM, I'LL GO BACK TO THE WAREHOUSE CLAUSES FIRST.
UM, WOULD, WOULD YOU, AND 'CAUSE I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING, SO ONE, OH, SORRY.
AND I SKIPPED OVER YOU, UH, MR. A BOARD MEMBER BECKER.
UH, WELL I INTERRUPTED YOU SO IT'S FAIR.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA SORT OF BROADLY SECOND EVERYTHING THAT THE BOARD CHAIR HAS SUGGESTED.
UM, I'LL ALSO SAY THAT IN READING THROUGH THIS, I'M SORT OF ALSO VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF PASSING THIS RESOLUTION.
I AM, AS A SECONDARY REASON, I AM SOMEWHAT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL CALLOUT JUST BECAUSE THIS CITY, LIKE MANY CITIES, HAS A HISTORY OF IBU
NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO PUSH FORWARD LIKE AN ACTUAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO, UH, OR WE ARE TRYING TO, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, IS TRYING TO SORT OF MAKE A DIFFERENT POINT.
AND WHILE I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS, UM, RECOMMENDATION IS NECESSARILY TRYING TO DO, IT DOES, IT DOES GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF THOSE VIBES.
AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S QUITE STRONG WITHOUT THAT.
SO MY ASK WOULD ALSO BE ALONG WITH THE BOARD CHAIR AT LEAST, TO STRIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTIFICATION FROM THIS DOCUMENT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT ADDS, AND I DO THINK IT ACTUALLY IN SOME WAYS MIGHT BE INSERTING SOMETHING THAT WOULD GIVE SOMEONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REJECT IT.
UM, CAN I RESPOND? YEAH, THANK YOU.
UM, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS DEALING VERY SPECIFICALLY WITH THE ISSUE OF HAVING THIS CONCESSION LOCATED WHERE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS DESIGNATED A PERMANENT LOCATION AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IN THERE.
IT'S ALSO WHAT A, A SIGNIFICANT COMPLAINT BY THE COMMUNITY AND WHY THEY ARE OPPOSED TO IT BEING THERE IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN.
UM, IF, IF THAT'S NOT BROUGHT UP AS A SIGNIFICANT REASON FOR REEXAMINING THE ORDINANCE TO SAY THAT WASN'T TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
IT WAS PART OF THE VISION PLAN, UM, THAT THIS IS POOR WATER QUALITY HERE AND THAT IS A REASON WHY TO REVISIT THE ORDINANCE AND FIND ANOTHER LOCATION THAT ISN'T A PLACE THAT HAS REALLY POOR WATER QUALITY.
I'M JUST, I'M THAT, THAT'S MY SENSE OF IT.
UM, BUT ISN'T THE WHOLE LAKE KIND OF POOR WATER QUALITY? RIGHT.
[01:55:01]
KNOW, AND I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING NOT DIMINISHING THE CONCERN 'CAUSE IT'S POOR WATER QUALITY, BUT I GUESS I DO WONDER LIKE, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO FIND A LOCATION THAT'S NOT POOR WATER QUALITY? 'CAUSE I REMEMBER, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS LAST YEAR OR WHEN EXACTLY, BUT WE GOT THAT PRESENTATION ON THE WATER QUALITY OF THE LAKE AND I MEAN, IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY GOOD ACROSS THE WHOLE THING.BUT SPECIFICALLY IN THE LAGOON, AND THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS AGO, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE LCRA IS TESTING SPECIFICALLY WHERE THIS LOCATION WAS DESIGNATED THAT IN THE LAGOON, THE WATER FLOW IS DIFFERENT THAN IN LADY BIRD LAKE WHERE THERE'S A CLEARER WATER FLOW.
AND SO THE QUALITY OF THE WATER WILL BE IMPACTED BY HAVING MORE BOATS, MORE PEOPLE, UM, A LARGE DOCK OVER THE TOP OF IT, POSSIBLE TRASH.
UM, I FEEL LIKE THAT THIS IS A MOTIVATOR FOR THE COUNCIL AS A RECOMMENDATION FOR, FROM US TO FIND AN, AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION.
UM, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO STRIKE THE SECOND, WHEREAS CLAUSE, IS THERE A SECOND? HEY, WHICH WHEREAS CLAUSE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? SORRY, SORRY, MUCH MORE SPECIFIC.
SORRY, I MOVE TO STRIKE THE SECOND WEAR CLAUSE ON PAGE ONE OF THREE.
UM, WHICH IS NO, BUT YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT, YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS CLAUSE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT.
THERE'S A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER BECKER.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I JUST WANNA CALL OUT ONE THING.
I THINK, UM, EVEN IF WE STRIKE THE WAREHOUSE CLAUSE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND CLAUSE, I THINK IT'S THE SECOND, SORRY.
THE SECOND CLAUSE CALLS OUT THAT IT BYPASSED THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND PRESUMABLY GOING THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, WHICH IS LIKE, KIND OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO DO IS GO BACK TO THE PROCESS, WOULD UNCOVER ALL THE, ALL THE, UM, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE WATER QUALITY ISSUES.
AND SO I THINK THAT EVEN IF WE TAKE THAT OUT, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ARE STILL EXPRESSED IN THAT CLAUSE.
AND IF I MIGHT THROW IN, LIKE, I, I DON'T HAVE AN, I DON'T HAVE AN OBJECTION TO THE ARGUMENT.
I HAVE AN OBJECTION TO ITS INCLUSION HERE BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH A STRONG ARGUMENT AROUND THE BYPASSING THE COMMUNITY.
AND I FEEL LIKE THESE SECONDARY ARGUMENTS REALLY ONLY LIKE GIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REASONS LIKE THE ONE I STATED PREVIOUSLY TO DISMISS IT.
SO TO ME, MY, MY GOAL AND REQUESTING THAT IT BE TAKEN OUT IS I FEEL LIKE IT STRENGTHENS THE ARGUMENT OF THIS DOCUMENT, NOT THAT IT WEAKENS IT.
AND I WOULD AGREE, I THINK IT DEFINITELY WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, DESIGN COMMISSION, VARIOUS THINGS.
WE'RE NOT AGAINST THE CHECKING ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, IT'S MORE AROUND MAKING THIS A REALLY STRONG, UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR ME.
IF THIS HAD GONE THROUGH THE NORMAL CHANNELS, UM, WOULD THIS HAVE GONE BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, THE, FOR THE BOATING CONCESSION? USUALLY WHAT GOES BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS A VARIANCE.
AM I, AM I CORRECT? UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IF THERE IS A REASON TO GET AN APPROVAL.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THERE WAS NO, UM, ISSUE THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS THAT NECESSITATED FOR THE PROJECT TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
SO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, UM, WHAT I WAS ASKING IS, IF THIS HAD NOT BEEN A DIRECT DIRECTED BY AN ORDINANCE THROUGH THE COUNCIL THAT WAIVED, UM, SECTION 1 7 4 8 1 7 4, IT WOULD'VE GONE TO PARKS BOARD FOR APPROVAL AND THEN ENVIRONMENTAL OR, OR FOR A, A RECOMMENDATION AND THEN TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AS WELL.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION PROCESS WAS NOT BYPASSED, SO THIS WOULD NOT HAVE GONE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME I'LL TAKE A VOTE BY HAND.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND IF YOU'RE ON ZOOM, JUST MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE, PLEASE.
JUST, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL YEAH.
1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 6, 7, UM, EIGHT.
[02:00:01]
UM, AND THEN IN THE SAME VEIN, I'M, UH, REQUESTING THAT, UH, I'M, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO STRIKE, UM, THE RESOLVED CLAUSES FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX WITH THE SAME ARGUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BEFORE.IS THERE FOR, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, UH, THIS TIME? YES.
I, I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE STRIKING FOUR BECAUSE THAT RELATES TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND, AND THAT BASICALLY WAS A RECOMMENDATION TO PROVIDE THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS DONE BY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
BUT WE CAN PROBABLY FIND THOSE OURSELVES.
I HAVE TRIED, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM YET.
UM, AND IT WAS ALSO TO DIRECT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO EXAMINE THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO WATER QUALITY.
UM, SO THAT WOULD ALSO BE, IF YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE THIS CONCESSION HAS BEEN DESIGNATED, UM, THE TREES, THE SHORELINE, UM, THE EFFECT ON THE TRANQUILITY OF THE PARK.
IN FACT, UM, TIM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IN, IN MY FOLDER, THERE'S SOME PHOTOGRAPHS.
CAN YOU PULL THOSE UP PLEASE? SO THERE ARE TWO PHOTOS THAT, YEAH, THERE'S ONE.
SO YOU SEE HOW THE LAGOON COMES IN.
THE PARKING LOT, RIGHT THERE IS THE PARKING LOT THAT WOULD BE USED BY THE CONCESSION, PRESUMABLY.
UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE, THERE'S A PARKING LOT AND THERE'S THE LAGOON.
SO THERE WOULD BE PROBABLY A PATH TO THAT LAGOON.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE TREES ARE SURROUNDING THE WEST END OF THE LAGOON.
THIS IS WHERE THE LOCATION IS.
SO THE POINT OF THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS NOT JUST LIMITED TO WATER QUALITY, BUT ALSO TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, UM, SUCH AS THE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND SO ON.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, I'LL TAKE A HAND VOTE.
IS THIS, IS THIS FOR ALL THREE OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS OR JUST FOUR? YES.
UNLESS, YEAH, I MEAN, I SECONDED AS ALL THREE.
SO IT'S ALL 3, 4, 5, AND SIX FOR EVERYONE JUST FOLLOWING ALONG ON ZOOM.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, WAIT, ALL THOSE ABSTAINING, OH, WAIT, NO, THAT'S IT.
ARE YOU, UM, I'LL CALL, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ALREADY MADE, UH, TAKEN AS FRIENDLY AND ACCEPTED THROUGH VOTES.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO EXPEDITION.
NOW, ALL THOSE, UH, IN FAVOR OF A COMMEND TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION RELATED TO CITY ORDINANCE 20 19 12 5 DASH SEVEN THAT AUTHORIZED ON EXPEDITED BASIS CONCESSION FOR THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL, WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS OF CITY CODE SECTION EIGHT DASH 1 74, REVIEW OF PROPOSAL SEEKING TO CONCESSION AND AN AMENDMENT TO THE HOLLY SHOR RE AND SENIOR VISION PLAN AS AMENDED.
2 4 6 8 9, UH, MOTION CARRIES.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE A BREAK.
WE WILL COME BACK AT EIGHT 15 BOARD MEMBERS, IT'S NOW EIGHT 15.
[4. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to find that the Hays Common Municipal Utility District application is superior with respect to parkland dedication. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers). (PARD Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Urban Public Spaces.]
MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO CHAIR, NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
WE CAN BEGIN THE PRESENTATION.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M TOM LINSON, PRINCIPAL PLANNER WITH THE PARD PARKLAND DEDICATION PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME PRESENT TONIGHT ON THE PROPOSED HAYES COMMON MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT APPLICATION, ALSO
[02:05:01]
KNOWN BY THE ACRONYM MUD.THIS APPLICANT APPLICATION IS A CONSENT AGREEMENT CASE FOR THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT CASE NUMBER C 12 M 2024 DASH 0 0 3.
CITY COUNCIL WILL EVENTUALLY HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER, FOLLOWING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
TONIGHT WE'LL EVALUATE HOW THE PROPOSED MUD APPLICATION MEETS SUPERIORITY OVER CURRENT CODE AS IT RELATES TO PARKLAND DEDICATION.
GOING INTO AN OVERVIEW OF THE SITE, IT IS LOCATED AT THE VERY SOUTHWESTERN EDGE OF THE CITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF FM 1626 AND SH 45.
IT'S ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF FROM MENCHACA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ABOUT 11 MILES TO DOWNTOWN AUSTIN AND ABOUT TWO MILES TO BOWLY RANCH.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF THIS MUD WOULD ALLOW FOR A MIXED USE, MOSTLY SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE POSSIBLE.
THE CREATION OF THE MUD WOULD RESULT IN A LIMITED INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT WITH A BOARD THAT WOULD MANAGE THE DEVELOPMENT, WHEREBY THE MUD MAY ISSUE BONDS TO PAY FOR NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS AND USE PROPERTY TAX WITHIN THE DISTRICT TO PAY OFF THAT DEBT.
THE RESULT WOULD BE IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING PARKS AND ROADS, AS WELL AS EXTENSIONS OF CITY SERVICES SUCH AS WATER AND WASTEWATER.
TO CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF THIS MUD, THE DEVELOPMENT MUST DEMONSTRATE EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNITY BENEFITS IN A NUMBER OF CITY REVIEW DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING PARKLAND DEDICATION.
THE REST OF MY PRESENTATION WILL COVER HOW THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSES TO EXCEED CURRENT PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS.
THE SITE AS IT IS TODAY, IS MOSTLY OPEN UNIMPROVED LAND AND INCLUDES A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE FEATURES, MOSTLY WETLANDS AND RECHARGE FEATURES WITH SEVERAL OF THEM LOCATED ALONG LITTLE BEAR CREEK AT THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE SITE.
THERE IS AN EXISTING REGIONAL TRAIL ALONG HIGHWAY 45 THAT CONNECTS UP TO THE PLANNED SECTION OF THE VIOLET CROWN TRAIL AT MOPAC AND SH 45, UH, TO THE NORTH OF HERE.
THAT PLANNED SECTION OF THE VIOLET CROWN TRAIL WOULD EXTEND NORTH TO THE LBJ WILDFLOWER CENTER, WHICH IS ABOUT TWO MILES FROM THIS SITE.
THIS SITE HAS MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS AT PLAY, IS CURRENTLY PARTIALLY IN THE CITY'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, WHERE THE CITY HAS SOME LIMITED REGULATORY POWERS.
SEE THE BLUE COLOR ON THE UPPER PART OF THE SITE, AND IT IS PARTIALLY OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS ENTIRELY WHERE THE CITY HAS NO REGULATORY POWERS.
IT IS ALSO SPLIT ACROSS TRAVIS AND HAYES COUNTIES.
A MAJOR APPEAL OF THE MUD CREATION IS HAVING CONSISTENT CITY REGULATIONS APPLY ACROSS THE ENTIRE SITE, INCLUDING CRITICALLY PARKLAND REGULATIONS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE SITE WOULD COME INTO THE CITY'S JURISDICTION VIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP, A HUGE PLUS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN TERMS OF REGULATIONS, TAXES, AND SERVICES.
LOOKING AT THE PARK PLAN, WE HAVE THREE CENTRAL PARKS AT THE CENTER OF THE DEVELOPMENT AMOUNTING TO ABOUT 16 ACRES.
IT'LL SERVE AS A KIND OF RECREATIONAL HUB FOR THE HIGHWAY 45 REGIONAL TRAIL.
IN FACT, THERE'S ALREADY A PARKING LOT TRAILHEAD THERE TO SERVE THE TRAIL.
TODAY, THE PARKLAND IS TO BE DEDICATED BY DEED FEE SYMBOL FOR PUBLIC USE.
THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL 34 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE THAT WILL BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WITH TRAILS FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT.
THERE IS ALSO A PROPOSED PUBLIC TRAIL ALONG LITTLE, LITTLE BEAR CREEK THAT WOULD BE A SIGNATURE PIECE OF THE PARK CONCEPT HERE.
THE WHOLE TRAIL AREA ALONG THE CREEK WOULD EQUAL TO ABOUT 3.74 ACRES AND CONNECT INTO THE HIGHWAY 45 TRAIL.
AND THE VIOLET CROWN TRAIL SYSTEM SUCH AN INITIATIVE WOULD ADVANCE A REGIONAL TRAIL VISION CONTEMPLATED BY THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT.
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SUPERIORITY, THE MUD WOULD NEED TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 20 ACRES OF PARKLAND.
THE APPLICATION IS PROVIDING A TOTAL OF 55 ACRES OF COMBINED PARKS AND O PUBLIC OPEN SPACE, WHICH IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE REQUIREMENT FOR SUPERIORITY.
FINALLY, WE HAVE A LIST OF ADDITIONAL FEATURES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THE BIG ONE TO CONSIDER IS THAT WITHOUT THIS MUD, THE CITY OF AUSTIN WOULD HAVE VERY LIMITED PARKLAND DEDICATION REGULATIONS IN EFFECT FOR THIS SITE, FOR THE AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY'S BOUNDARIES, WE WOULD HAVE NO PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS AT ALL WITHIN THE EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN TRAVIS COUNTY, WE WOULD HAVE THE LIMITED TITLE 30 CODE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT'S BEING REQUIRED
[02:10:01]
HERE.THE AMOUNT OF PARKLAND PROPOSED BY THIS MUD FAR, FAR EXCEEDS THE, THOSE LIMITED REQUIREMENTS.
THE OPEN SPACE WILL BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.
THE MUD WILL PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF PARK DEVELOPMENT THAN IS REQUIRED FOR TYPICAL SINGLE FAMILY PROJECTS UNDER CITY CODE.
AGAIN, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS APPLICATION EXCEEDS THE CITY'S BASE CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARKLAND DEDICATION.
WITHOUT THE MUD, THESE REQUIREMENTS WOULDN'T EVEN APPLY TO THE SITE AT ALL.
SO OVERALL, CONSIDERING THE ADDITIONAL PARK ACREAGE, ADDITIONAL PARK INVESTMENT, PLUS THE FACT THAT THE SITE WOULD BE COMING INTO THE CITY AND COMPLYING WITH THE CITY'S PARKLAND REGULATIONS, I AM RECOMMENDING THIS MUD APPLICATION TO YOU THIS EVENING.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, BOARD MEMBERS? UH, I WILL JUST, UH, ADD QUICKLY, SORRY, CHAIR, BUT, UH, THE APPLICANT IS HERE THIS EVENING AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU IF IT PLEASES THE BOARD.
UM, MY NAME'S ROBERT DEGAN WITH RIALTO STUDIO, UH, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, AND HERE REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT.
UM, ACTUALLY MR. ROLLINSON DID SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB OF PRESENTING THE PROJECT.
UM, I FEAR THAT MUCH OF MY PRESENTATION WILL BE REDUNDANT, SO I DO HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT I DON'T THINK I NEED TO TAKE YOUR TIME ACTUALLY WALKING YOU THROUGH THE WHOLE PRESENTATION.
ARE YOU GONNA DO OKAY? I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA DO A SHORT PRESENTATION.
I GOT, THAT'S WHY I GOT CONFUSED.
MISS, UH, BOARD, BOARD MEMBER REED.
SO CAN YOU KIND OF DESCRIBE WHAT IS IN THE 35.41 ACRES OF PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACE? UM, I'M TRYING TO LOOK ON THE SATELLITE MAP.
UM, IS IT, GO AHEAD AND PUT MY, UH, PRESENTATION UP AND FLIP TO THE, UM, I BELIEVE IT'LL BE THE FOURTH PAGE.
UM, SO THIS GRAPHIC HERE, UH, LAYS OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT OPEN SPACE WITHIN THE PROJECT.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE PUBLIC PARK LAND, WHICH IS THE SORT OF SEA GREEN AT THE CENTER OF THE PROJECT.
AND THEN THE DARKER GREEN IS THE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACE.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE, IN THE LIGHTER GREEN.
AND THOSE AREAS REALLY ALL WORK TOGETHER, UH, FORMING A LARGE, COHESIVE OPEN SPACE.
THERE ARE SECTIONS OF THE PUBLIC OPEN SPACE THAT, UH, HAVE TRAILS THROUGH THEM.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, THE AREA, UH, THE, THE LONG SKINNY AREA THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE RESIDENTIAL THAT YOU SEE IN THE CENTER OF THE TRACT, UH, THAT IS A PORTION OF WHERE THE BEAR CREEK TRAIL WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED.
UM, AND THEN THERE ARE ADDITIONAL TRAILS AND TRAIL CONNECTIONS, UH, SHOWN THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT THAT WEAVE IN AND OUT OF THAT, OF THOSE OPEN SPACES AND THE PUBLIC PARKS, UH, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN THE LIGHT ORANGE ON THIS DRAWING.
SO WHAT IS CURRENTLY THERE IN THE, IN THE PUBLIC PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACES? IT JUST WOODED AREA.
UM, CERTAINLY THAT VARIES BY AREA OF THE PROJECT.
UM, SOME OF THOSE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACES ARE PRIMARILY MORE WOODED AREAS.
SOME OF THEM ARE A LITTLE MORE OPEN PASTURE LAND.
UH, THERE ARE SOME, UH, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENT OF FEATURES IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS AS WELL.
BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S THE, UM, THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WHAT'S BEING CONSIDERED AS PARKLAND DEDICATION HERE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF IT IS, YOU KNOW, UH, IF IT IS ACCESSIBLE AND IT'S, UM, THAT THE PUBLIC COULD BE USING IT.
IN OTHER WORDS, IN THE CONDITION IT IS NOW.
IF, IF YOU HAD JUST FLIPPED TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, THIS IS, UH, JUST A QUICK GRAPH WE PUT TOGETHER, UM, SHOWING ON THE TOP THE CITY OF AUSTIN BASIC PARKLAND REQUIREMENT.
UH, THAT WOULD BE THE GREEN ON THE TOP, AND THEN THE PURPLE WOULD BE THE ADDITIONAL 10% REQUIRED FROM THAT SUPERIORITY.
UM, WE ESSENTIALLY MEET THAT SAME REQUIREMENT WITH JUST THE PUBLIC PARKLAND AND PUBLIC TRAIL, UM, ACREAGE, THE REST OF THE ACREAGE, THE, UH, CONSERVATION EASEMENT, THE COMMUNITY AMENITY THAT WILL NOT BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, BUT WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL RECREATIONAL, UH, BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UH, THE OPEN SPACE, UH, ET CETERA, ALL GO WAY WELL BEYOND THAT BASELINE REQUIREMENT.
SO I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. ROLLINSON, UM, WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF, UM, BACK AND FORTH OVER EXACTLY WHAT PERCENTAGE THIS PART COUNTS FOR AND EXACTLY WHAT PERCENTAGE THAT PART COUNTS FOR, BECAUSE WE'RE SO FAR ABOVE AND BEYOND, UH, THE BASELINE REQUIREMENTS.
[02:15:01]
EXPLAINING THAT.ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, SORRY, DID SOMEBODY ELSE HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? OH, YOU GO AHEAD FIRST.
UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING WHO'S GOING IN IN THIS AGREEMENT? WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE PARKS? IS IT PARD, IS IT THE MUD, IS IT SOME OTHER ENTITY? IT WOULD BE THE MUD.
SO WITH THIS, I THINK ON THE FIRST OR SECOND SLIDE, THERE WAS A NOTE.
SO IT SAYS THAT THIS WHOLE PROPERTY, I GUESS, WILL BE ANNEXED INTO CITY LIMITS.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, GOOD, GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M WITH MCLEAN HOWARD, AND I REPRESENT THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, MS. FRANKLIN, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UH, AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGREEMENT, THE PROPERTY WILL, THERE, THERE'S ABOUT 500 ACRES, ABOUT 300 ACRES OF IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S.
ABOUT 200 ACRES IS NOT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ETJ.
SO STEP ONE WOULD BE THOSE 200 ACRES WOULD COME INTO THE CITY'S AUSTIN OF AUSTIN'S ETJ, BECOME SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF AUSTIN FROM A ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY PERSPECTIVE.
BUT THE ENTIRE 500 ACRES WOULD THEN BECOME LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEXED, AND THE LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEXATION WOULD COME WITH THINGS LIKE ZONING, TREE PRESERVATION, BUILDING CODES, THOSE TYPES OF REGULATIONS.
AND THEN ONCE THE, UH, MUD, UH, REIMBURSEMENTS WERE DONE, IT WOULD BECOME FULL PURPOSE ANNEXED AND, AND THE, UH, TAX BENEFITS WOULD ACCRUE BOARD MEMBER.
I KNOW IF SOMEONE ELSE ON ZOOM, UH, HAD A QUESTION WITH, I GUESS, UH, FOLLOWING UP ON THE, ON THE ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ETJ, I GUESS ARE THERE, I GUESS IS THIS PROJECT STAYING WITHIN, UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ETJ OR ARE THERE DISCUSSIONS FOR THIS ONE TO BE THE ANNEX? SO IT'S JUST COUNTY REVIEW? UH, UH, UH, NO MA'AM.
THE, SO THE 300 ACRES WOULD REMAIN WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ETJ, THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE, IN THE AUSTIN ETJ.
AND AN ADDITIONAL 200 ACRES, WHICH IS CURRENTLY NOT IN ANY CITY.
ETJ WOULD COME INTO AUSTIN'S ETJ.
AND THEN A SECOND QUESTION ON THE MAP, IT SHOWS, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF, UM, OPEN SPACE OR PARKLAND.
AND SO I THINK ONE OF THE, UM, MAIN ITEMS IS THE TRAIL AND IT'S MARKED AS OPEN SPACE.
SO THERE'S A TRAIL THAT CONNECTS FROM THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT AREA UP TO, YOU KNOW, THROUGH A TRAIL AND KIND OF ALONG THE ENTRY BOULEVARD THERE TO THE MAIN TRAIL THAT RUNS ALONG SH 45.
I GUESS WHAT ARE THE, UM, AND MAYBE THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION FOR THE CITY'S PLANNER, BUT WHAT ARE KIND OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE TRAIL THAT ARE DEEMED THE MOST BENEFICIAL OUT OF THIS MUD APPLICATION? LIKE, ARE THERE ANY COMPONENTS OF THE TRAIL? UH, FOR EXAMPLE, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, YOU KNOW, DO WE WANT CONNECTION TO, UH, SPECIFICALLY RUN, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE RESIDENTIAL AREA INSTEAD OF BEING PUSHED UP AGAINST, I MEAN IT LOOKS LIKE SINCE THIS IS AN EARLY PLAN, YOU KNOW, AN ALTERNATE ROUTE COULD PUSH THE TRAIL DOWN AND AROUND LIKE FM 6 26, BUT IN TERMS OF, UM, USAGE FOR PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, IS THAT, UM, LESS OF A NICE TRAIL IF YOU PUSH IT UP AGAINST 6 26? AND DO WE WANT IT TO KIND OF CUT THROUGH THE PROPERTY? ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC KIND OF TRAILHEAD LOCATIONS THAT THE CITY IS LOOKING AT CURRENTLY? YEAH, YEAH, I'LL LET, UH, MR. ROLLINSON OR MR. DEAGAN ANSWER THAT MR. DEAGAN DOES HAVE A SLIDE THAT GOES INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THE TRAIL SYSTEM.
SO RIGHT NOW THE TRAIL ALIGNMENT IS CONCEPTUAL.
UH, SO IT THE, IT'LL BECOME A REQUIREMENT OF THE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE THAT TRAIL, BUT THE FINAL ALIGNMENT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON TO NOTE THE SPECIFICITIES OF THE SITE EVENTUALLY ONCE IT'S TIME TO ACTUALLY COME AND BUILD IT.
BUT I THINK PART OF THE APPEAL OF HAVING IT ALONG LITTLE BEAR CREEK TODAY IS THAT UM, YOU KNOW, IT IS PART OF THE LARGER KIND OF GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT IDEA TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THESE SORTS OF TRAILS ALONG THE DIFFERENT SPRINGS AND ALONG, UH, DIFFERENT WATER FEATURES.
AND IT'S ALSO A PRIORITY WITHIN OUR LONG RANGE PLAN TO HAVE TRAILS CONNECTED TO CREEK.
SO THAT WAS ANOTHER REASON WHY HAVING THE TRAIL ALONG LITTLE BEAR CREEK WAS SO IMPORTANT IN THESE DISCUSSIONS.
UM, AS FAR AS THE LOCATION OF TRAIL HEADS, I MEAN THERE'S ALREADY THE REGIONAL TRAIL HEAD FOR THE SH 45 TRAIL, SO HAVING THIS LITTLE BEAR CREEK TRAIL CONNECT INTO THAT I THINK REALLY STARTS TO BUILD ON ALL THESE DIFFERENT REGIONAL TRAILS COMING TOGETHER.
THE S SH 45 1 THAT WHICH CONNECTS INTO THE VIOLET CROWN TRAIL, WHICH WOULD CONNECT INTO THIS TRAIL FOR LITTLE BEAR CREEK, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL CONNECT ALL THE DIFFERENT SPRINGS
[02:20:01]
GOING ALONG CENTRAL TEXAS.GOING BACK TO THAT IDEA OF THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT THAT'S BRINGING TOGETHER DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.
UM, AS FAR AS CONNECTING THE DIFFERENT RESIDENTIAL AREAS, I THINK THE OPEN SPACE THAT, UH, THE DISTRICT IS PROPOSING WILL BE SERVING PART OF THAT FUNCTION IS HAVING SORT OF SECONDARY TRAILS THAT WOULD CONNECT TO THE LARGER REGIONAL TRAIL THAT'LL BE PART OF LITTLE BEAR CREEK AND THE SH 45 REGIONAL TRAIL.
UM, THE APPLICANT MAY ALSO HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT THAT IF YOU WISH TO HEAR FROM THEM TOO.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN? I THINK SO, YES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? WAS THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT THERE OR WAS THAT DEDICATED BY THE OWNER? UH, THAT IS A PROPOSAL BY THE OWNER.
SO, UH, THE TRAIL WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE CONSERVATION AREA, BUT IT WAS PART OF THE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERIORITY CONSIDERATIONS, UH, FOR THIS APPLICATION.
SO IT'S THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IS NOT THERE CURRENTLY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY, AT THIS TIME I'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO, UH, I'LL MAKE A RECOMMEND.
I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY OF AUSTIN COUNSEL TO FIND THAT THE HAYES CO HAYES COMMON.
HAYES, COMMON MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT APPLICATION IS SUPERIOR WITH RESPECT TO PARKLAND DEDICATION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THERE'S A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND PASSES.
[5. Discussion and approve appointments to the Parks and Recreation Board seat on the Joint Sustainability Committee. (Sponsors: Becker, Bazan).]
NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE.UM, BOARD MEMBER BECKS OR BAAN, WHO WOULD LIKE TO, I'LL, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO Y'ALL BOARD.
WHO IS THE SECOND ON THAT RECOMMENDATION BOARD? THANK YOU VICE, UH, STEP, UH, BOARD MEMBER.
OFAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO OR SHALL I? YES, I CAN.
AND THEN IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONS.
UM, SO WE BROUGHT THIS DISCUSSION, UM, TO THE BOARD TO REVIEW THE SEATS ON THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE CURRENTLY, UM, I AM THE PRIMARY REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PARKS BOARD, UM, WITH BOARD MEMBER BECKER BEING THE SECONDARY.
AND I HAVE HAD, UM, WITH WORK, I HAVE CONFLICTS ON THE DATES OF THE MEETINGS AND SO I'M NOT ABLE TO FULFILL THAT REQUIREMENT ANY LONGER.
UM, AND SO PART OF THIS IS NEEDING, UM, A RECOMMENDATION FOR ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER TO FILL ONE OF THOSE SEATS AND THEN BOARD MEMBER BECKER.
YEAH, SO, UM, THE SORT OF TWO, TWO THINGS UNDER CONSIDERATION HERE.
UM, ONE IS WE NEED A NEW PRIMARY AND A NEW ALTERNATE FOR THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
UM, THE MEETINGS HAPPEN USUALLY THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH.
SO THE NEXT ONE IS, UM, ACTUALLY THE NEXT ONE JUST PASSED, BUT NORMALLY IT'S SORT OF THE SAME WEEK AS OUR MEETINGS.
UM, I WILL SAY THE J FS E IS IS A MADE UP OF FOLKS FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT BOARDS ACROSS THE CITY.
SO IT'S GREAT, GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FROM OTHER BOARDS.
UH, IT'S ALSO A PRETTY ACTIVE BOARD, SO THE JSC HAS A VERY ACTIVE, UM, CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR AND THEY GET QUITE A BIT DONE.
UM, I AM PERFECTLY HAPPY TO PUT MYSELF UP AS THE PRIMARY AND HAVE SOMEONE ELSE PUT THEMSELVES UP TO BE THE ALTERNATE.
I'M ALSO PERFECTLY HAPPY TO LET SOMEONE ELSE JUMP IN AS PRIMARY IF THERE'S ANYONE ON THE BOARD THAT HAS A BURNING DESIRE TO DO IT.
UM, SO PRETTY OPEN ON THIS ONE, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED TO HAVE STRONG REPRESENTATION ON THE JSC FROM THE PARKS BOARD BECAUSE THE TOPICS THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN AROUND THE ENVIRONMENT, UH, ARE BOTH HIGHLY RELATED TO WHAT WE TALK ABOUT HERE.
UM, AND OFTEN, UH, IMPACT OR UM, COULD IMPACT THE WORK THAT WE DO.
UM, AND CAN YOU ATTEND THESE MEETINGS VIA ZOOM? YES.
MEETINGS CAN BE ATTENDED VIA ZOOM AND GENERALLY IT'S JUST THE PRIMARY RECEIVES ALL OF THE, UM, COMMUNICATION.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PRIMARY AND THE SECONDARY REMAIN IN GOOD COMMUNICATION TO MAKE SURE IF ONE CAN'T GO THAT THE OTHER CAN, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST HOW IT'S STRUCTURED.
UM, THE PRIMARY WILL RECEIVE THE INFORMATION.
SO, AND I WOULD STAY ON IF I COULD.
I JUST HAVE THE CONFLICT WITH THE DATE.
IS THERE ANY BOARD MEMBER THAT'S INTERESTED ON BEING ON THE, UM, THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE? AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT, I DON'T THINK I HAVE TIME
[02:25:03]
UH, I'D DEFINITELY BE WILLING TO BE THE PRIMARY OR THE SECONDARY, WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU.YEAH,
I THINK WE JUST NEED TO APPOINT SOMEBODY, UM, TO THE COMMITTEE.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UNLESS SOMEONE ELSE IS GONNA, HAS A BURNING DESIRE, I'LL MAKE A, A MOTION TO APPOINT, UM, SHELBY ORM AS A PARKS AND BOARD, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, UH, MEMBER TO THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THERE'S A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER BAAN.
UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, I THINK THE ONLY DISCUSSION I WOULD HAVE IS I MIGHT RECOMMEND THAT BOARD MEMBER BECKER BE THE PRIMARY JUST 'CAUSE HE HAS BEEN SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE ALREADY.
UM, I THINK BOTH WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, BUT THAT JUST MIGHT MAKE THE MOST SENSE IN TRANSITION.
THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY SUGGESTION, BUT AGAIN, IT CAN HAPPEN ON THE SIDE.
THAT MAKES, I'LL JUST NEED TO REPORT WHO THAT IS.
I'M GOOD WITH THAT APPROACH IF, UH, SHELBY IS, YEAH.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[6. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers). (PARD Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Urban Public Spaces, Park Access for All).]
TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX AND DIRECTOR MEANS I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.MY NAME IS ANGELA MEANS AGAIN, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
VERY EXCITED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE, UH, TAKE TIME TO REVIEW THAT.
THERE'S SO MANY ACTIVITIES AND SO MANY WONDERFUL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, BUT I WILL HIGHLIGHT A FEW HERE.
ONE THAT I REALLY WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL IS THE DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED DAMING A SEGMENT OF THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL BETWEEN WEST AVENUE AND THE FIFTH STREET AS CHRIS RILEY BEND.
THIS IS IN HONOR OF FORMER ASSISTANT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS RILEY WHO SERVED FROM 2009 AND 2014.
SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ONE OF OUR MANY BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE THAT WE HAVE IS AT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM.
WE HOSTED THE ANNUAL BACKPACK DRIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLACK WOMEN IN BUSINESS ON SATURDAY AUGUST THE THIRD.
THAT RECEIVED OVER 800 STUDENTS WHO WERE GIVEN BACKPACKS, FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES ALONG WITH OTHER, UH, ITEMS. SO WE HAD FREE HAIRCUTS AND MORE.
AND SO I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE ARE PART OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL AND THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.
WE POSTED SEVERAL ALL ACROSS THE CITY AND I'LL GET JUST 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'S LATE, SO I'LL TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS THAT OCCURRED OVER THE SUMMER IS THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET WAS APPROVED AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UH, RECEIVED A LOT OF SUPPORT ALL AROUND FROM THE, FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE RECEIVED 16 MAINTENANCE STAFF AS WELL AS EQUIPMENT.
WE RECEIVED FOUR CEMETERY OPERATIONS STAFF AND EQUIPMENT.
WE RECEIVED, UH, AUGUST GARCIA AT THE GU GARCIA RECREATION CENTER, A PORTABLE TO ASSIST WITH SENIOR PROGRAMMING.
WE ALSO, UH, RECEIVE FUNDING FOR, UH, VACANT ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP EFFORTS.
WE WILL HAVE A DOG PARK PILOT WITHIN OUR CITY AND WE'RE ALSO PARTNERING WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT ON, UH, A FEW MORE SECURITY CAMERAS THROUGHOUT OUR PARK SYSTEM.
UH, THE BUDGET, THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET, UM, WAS APPROVED AND IT IS EFFECTIVE AT AS OF OCTOBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR.
UM, AND SO WE WILL WORK TO, UM, QUICKLY IMPLEMENT THOSE NEW PROGRAMS. AND THE LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WITH YOU ALL IS I'M GOING TO BE COLLABORATING WITH THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAVE AN INTERNAL AUDITOR ON STAFF AND THAT INDIVIDUAL WILL BE ASSISTING THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT BY TAKING A LOOK AND REVIEWING ALL ALL OF OUR AGREEMENTS.
GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE AGREEMENTS TO OUR OPERATIONS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS, WE BELIEVE A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT IS NECESSARY AND THIS WILL ENSURE THAT ALL AGREEMENTS ARE MANAGED EFFECTIVELY AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE POLICIES AND REGULATIONS.
I WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL UPDATES AS WE GET CLOSER TO DEVELOPING A SCOPE OF WORK FOR THAT EFFORT.
AND WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT DIRECTOR MEANS I DON'T THINK I GOT YOUR REPORT.
UM, I DON'T SEE IT IN THE BACKUP AND I DON'T SEE IT IN EMAIL.
IS THAT SOMETHING WE'LL BE RECEIVING LATER? UH, YES.
I WAS SICK LAST WEEK AND, UH, NO, NO WORRIES.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I HADN'T DELETED IT IN THE PROCESS.
[02:30:01]
DIRECTOR MEANS, AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING TO REFORMAT THE REPORT, SO HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS, UH, ENJOY THE, THE NEW KIND OF STREAMLINED NATURE OF IT.UH, BOARD MEMBER REED, DID YOU HAVE, YEAH, I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION AND FORGIVE ME IF YOU SAID THIS AND I JUST MISSED IT, BUT, UM, WHERE, WHERE IS THE CITY IN THE PROCESS OF, UM, OF THE SEARCH FOR PERMANENT PARKS DIRECTOR? I BELIEVE THE, I BELIEVE THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS WORKING WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT ON THAT RECRUITMENT EFFORT.
AND SO I BELIEVE THEY'VE KIND OF KEEP KEPT ME OUT JUST IN CASE, YOU KNOW, JUST TO BE FAIR.
SO, BUT THERE, UH, THAT'S BEING HANDLED BY OUR, UH, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
SO THEY HAVE PUT OUT A ARE WILL, WILL THE PUBLIC HAVE A, ANY SORT OF NOTIFICATION VIA WEBSITE? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. AND JUST AS A REMINDER, IF YOU, WE GET THE EMAILS ALSO, UH, ONE WEEK, UH, MR. BECK TRIES TO SEND OUT AN EMAIL TO THE BOARD ABOUT ONE WEEK BEFORE, TWO WEEKS BEFORE, ONE WEEK BEFORE HE TRIES TO SEND IT OUT BEFORE THE NEXT, THE UPCOMING BOARD MEETING.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, THIS ISN'T YOUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY, YOU CAN ALWAYS PROPOSE IT IN THE INTERIM OR WHEN MR. TOM SENDS UP THE DRAFT AGENDA TO ADD SOMETHING.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
TO A FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. SO, UH, CHAIR, I'VE HAD A REQUEST TO FOR EITHER A PRESENTATION OR A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING THE, UM, THE WEST SHOAL CREEK TRAIL AND THE LANDSLIDE ISSUE.I KNOW THAT THIS IS A, AN OLDER, IT'S A LONG TIME THING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, BUT, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD REQUESTS AND ALSO FROM THE SHOAL CREEK CONSERVANCY TO ASK THE STATUS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK THE CITY'S PLAN WAS TO, OR IS TO MOVE THE TRAIL TO LAMAR BOULEVARD.
UM, THIS WOULD BE BETWEEN 15TH STREET AND NOT 24TH STREET.
BUT, UM, THIS WOULD JUST BE A, AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR THE PARKS BOARD TO HEAR THE STATUS OF THE LANDSLIDE REP REPAIR ALONG THAT SECTION OF THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL.
AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN BE SENT OUT IN A, LIKE A MEMO UPDATE, WOULD THAT BE OKAY? THAT WAY THAT COULD BE DISSEMINATED TO THE GROUPS INTERESTED? YES.
ANY OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? ALL RIGHT.
WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION, IT IS NOW 8:44 PM AND I'M ADJOURNING TODAY'S PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING.