Aug 26, 2024 Parks and Recreation Board

[00:00:03]

6 0 1,

[CALL TO ORDER]

UM, WE HAVE, UH, I WILL DO A, UH, ROLL CALL.

PAGER V LOVE WAS PRESENT.

VICE CHAIR FLOWERS PRESENT.

SHELBY ORM.

SORRY, GUYS.

PRESENT.

NICOLE MERRIT.

PRESENT.

STEPHANIE BISON.

PRESENT.

KATHLEEN EDIE PRESENT.

KIM TAYLOR.

JENNIFER FRANKLIN.

PRESENT.

HOLLY REED.

PRESENT.

LANE BACKER.

PRESENT THERE BEING A QUORUM.

WILL NOW CONTINUE TO PUBLIC

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (Part 1 of 2)]

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.

GOOD EVENING.

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.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

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

HELLO, MY NAME'S SCOTT COBB.

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.

WE CAN BE FIRED ON THE SPOT

[00:05:01]

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.

I GUESS MY TIME'S UP.

SO THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JOEL MANZO.

GOOD EVENING BOARD.

THANK YOU.

JOEL MANZO, DISTRICT SEVEN.

UM, I HAVE A COUPLE THINGS.

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, THIS IS DISHEARTENING.

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.

IT'S A MAJOR HEADACHE.

I BELIEVE MOST OF US HAVE PROBABLY BEEN TOWED HERE.

IT IS.

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.

UM, IT'S VERY SAD.

SO PLEASE, PARKS AND REX BOARDS DO SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY.

THANK YOU.

I BELIEVE THAT IS THE END OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

THAT WAS IT.

THIS IS FOR PUBLIC GENERAL COMMENT ON NON AGENDA ITEM ITEMS. ELISA? YEAH.

UH, WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM ELISA REONE MONTOYA.

OKAY.

I'M GONNA DO, JUST SPEAK UP SOMETHING ELSE IN THIS.

OKAY.

SPEED DURING, YEAH, DURING IS NOT RELATED TO AN AGENDA.

GOOD EVENING.

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

[00:10:01]

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.

SO THAT'S MY MAIN COMPLAINT.

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.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED TO SPEAK ON.

ANY QUESTIONS ? NO, NO.

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.

MM-HMM.

AND EQUIPMENT COSTS FOR, UH, PARK MAINTENANCE.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE SOME OF EFFECT.

WE'LL START TO SEE SOME OF THE EFFECT STARTING IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

OKAY.

GOOD.

I HOPE SO THAT, BECAUSE IT DOES, YOU KNOW, HAS CONCERN ABOUT KEEPING OUR PARKS NEATLY AND CLEAN AND AND USABLE FOR THE PEOPLE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

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]

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.

OKAY.

DO YOU SEE THAT? MM-HMM.

BOARD.

MY, MY APOLOGIES.

WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON THAT WANTS TO SPEAK DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY.

WE'LL GO BACK TO IT WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THIS.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER UGG UH, EDITS? ALL RIGHT.

WITHOUT NONE.

I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.

REGULAR MEETING OF JULY 22ND, 2024.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER.

UH, RE UH, YEAH, REED.

SORRY.

UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE, AYE.

ALRIGHT EVERYONE, IT'S AGAIN, I MISS UM,

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (Part 2 of 2)]

WE MISSED A PERSON.

SO YES.

BOARD, WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM BERTHA RONE DELGADO.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

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.

WE DID CELEBRATE 46

[00:15:01]

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.

I JUST WANNA SAY THAT AGAIN.

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.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL NOW MOVE

[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).]

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.

NEXT SLIDE.

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.

NEXT SLIDE.

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

[00:20:01]

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.

THAT IS ITS RECORD EVER.

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.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

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.

NEXT SLIDE.

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.

[00:25:01]

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.

NEXT SLIDE.

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.

NEXT SLIDE.

AND THE MUSEUM CONTINUES.

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.

IT NEEDS IT.

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, NEXT SLIDE.

UM, THESE, THIS IS OUR STAFF.

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.

GENERATIONAL TIES.

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 I CREATED THREE CONCEPTS.

AND OF THOSE THREE, WE PRESENTED THOSE TO THE PUBLIC AGAIN, AND PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO PUT A

[00:30:01]

AND THIS WAS THE WINNER.

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 IF YOU WOULD'VE ASKED ME THREE YEARS AGO, LIKE, OH, CAN YOU PAINT A PORTRAIT? I WOULD'VE LAUGHED IN YOUR FACE.

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.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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.

WE DROVE DOWN HERE.

MY MOM LOVED ART.

SOMEHOW SHE FOUND THE ELIZABETH NAME MUSEUM AND I TALKED ABOUT IT THE REST OF MY CHILDHOOD.

, MY MOM HAS THIS HILARIOUS STORY ABOUT YOU.

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.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OF COURSE.

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.

GREAT, THANK

[00:35:01]

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, I THINK WE CAN MOVE ITEM THREE, WHICH I'M SURE HAS A NUMBER OF, UM, OKAY.

KATHLEEN , SHE DIDN'T VOTE? HMM? SHE DIDN'T VOTE.

OH, IS SHE ABSTAINING? I I TRIED TO.

AYE, AYE.

OKAY, PERFECT.

THANKS.

THANKS FOR CATCHING THAT TRIVIA, LOBOS.

OKAY, I THINK WE CAN MOVE TO ITEM THREE.

TIM,

[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)]

UH, YES.

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.

THANK YOU.

YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.

OKAY.

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'S VERY CONFUSING.

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.

I WANTED TO REFOCUS QUICKLY.

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]

THANK YOU.

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.

REVISITING THOSE TWO CODES.

IF THE CITY ALLOWS YOU TO, WILL PROVIDE A SAFE LANDING FOR YOU BOTH PARD, OUR COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THANK YOU.

I ENCOURAGE THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXTRA TIME.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ANNA AGUIRE, FOLLOWED BY BERTHA RENDON DELGADO.

GOOD EVENING CHAIR, LOBOS AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS ANNA AGUIRE.

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.

AND VALERIE MENARD.

THANK YOU.

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.

BUT WE'RE DOING IT.

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.

IT'S NOT JUST DANGEROUS.

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.

IT DOES NOT BELONG HERE.

RELOCATE IT.

FIND AN OPTION.

DO YOUR JOB PARKS BOARD.

YOU HAVE THE POWER.

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.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY SAY IN IT.

YES YOU DO,

[00:45:01]

ALL OF 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.

AND THEN VALERIE MENARD.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

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, , UH, UHON 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.

WE WANT THAT TRANQUILITY.

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.

UH, ARCO CAME 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.