Nov 25, 2024 Parks and Recreation Board

[00:00:03]

TO ORDER, UH,

[CALL TO ORDER]

UM, SO, UH, FIRST CHAIR, VILLALOBOS NOT PRESENT.

PRESENT, UH, MYSELF, I'M PRESENT.

UH, AND THEN BOARD MEMBER OR BOARD MEMBER MERIT PRESENT.

BOARD MEMBER B.

PRESIDENT.

BOARD MEMBER ED PRESENT.

PRESENT BOARD MEMBER.

TAYLOR.

TAYLOR.

PRESENT BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN FRANKLIN.

PRESENT BOARD MEMBER REED.

PRESENT BOARD MEMBER BECKER PRESENT.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

OKAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

TIM? YES.

CHAIR.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION WILL BE WOLF SITLER FOLLOWED, FOLLOWED BY CAROL BAXTER, AND THEN, THEN SCOTT COBB.

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

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS WOLF SIDLER.

I REPRESENT THE REVIVE NORWOOD ALLIANCE, AND I'M A MEMBER OF SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS.

UH, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NORWOOD HOUSE AND, UH, EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NORWOOD HOUSE.

YOU CAN FIND IN THE REPORT THAT WAS RELEASED ON FRIDAY BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE NORWOOD HOUSE IN SITE REPORT, WHICH GIVES YOU ALL THE HISTORY AND SOME OTHER FUTURE POSSIBILITIES.

WE WERE HOPING THAT, UH, THAT REPORT WOULD ENDORSE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE, BUT, UH, INSTEAD IT, UH, LISTED THREE OPTIONS, WHICH IS RECONSTRUCT IT, DEMOL, DEMOLISH IT, AND REPLACE IT WITH A VIEWING PLATFORM OR DEMOLISH IT.

AND, UH, JUST LET THE SITE BE.

UH, SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS HAS LONG BEEN A SUPPORTER OF RECONSTRUCTING THE SITE AND MAKING IT LOOK LIKE IT USED TO LOOK, UM, AND USING IT AS EVENT CENTER AND A COMMUNITY CENTER.

AND, UM, SO WHAT WE'RE DOING, OR OUR RESPONSE TO REPORT IS THAT WE'RE NOT, UH, EMPLOYEES OR CIVIL SERVANTS, SO WE CAN THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

AND IN KEEPING WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING, WE'RE PLANNING A SITE VISIT WITH AN ARCHITECT AND A CONTRACTOR TO, UH, PROPOSE, UH, OUR OWN OUTSIDE OF THE BOX PROPOSAL FOR HOW TO RECONSTRUCT THE HOUSE.

UM, THE, UH, REPORT SHOWS THAT, UH, THE, UH, MASTER PLAN WAS CREATED.

B BETWEEN THE, UH, PARKS FOUNDATION OR NORWOOD PARKS FOUNDATION AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

AND THE PRESENT COST FOR REDOING THE ENTIRE SITE IS SOMETHING LIKE BETWEEN 20 AND $25 MILLION.

UH, I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT THAT AS A TAXPAYER.

AND, UH, BUT UH, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

AND, UH, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS SCALE DOWN THE PROJECT, START SMALL, START AFFORDABLE, UH, AND START WITH JUST FIXING UP THE HOUSE AND, UH, THE, UH, THE REPORT SITES, THE FACT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE LOTS OF CONSTRUCTION ON THAT SITE BECAUSE OF I 35 EXPANSION AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT THAT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PHYSICAL LOCATION OF THE HOUSE.

AND WE THINK TO HONOR THE, UH, EFFORTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH SPAN 40 YEARS OF TRYING TO GET THAT HOUSE OPERATIONAL, THE, UH, THE BEST OUTCOME WOULD BE TO, FOR THE CITY TO, FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THIS BOARD TO SUPPORT, UH, RECONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE, BUT IN A DIFFERENT MANNER THAN PROPOSED IN THE REPORT.

UM, , THE BIG ISSUE, I GUESS, IS THAT OUR PARKS HAVE NEVER HAD ENOUGH MONEY AND THEY, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO, UH, TAKE CARE OF THE PROPERTY THAT ALREADY EXISTS.

SO THAT'S, I DON'T SUPPOSE THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO FINALLY STEP UP AND FUND OUR PARKS THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE.

'CAUSE EVERYBODY LOVES THE PARKS, BUT THEY, YOU KNOW, NOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A USER FEE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO, TO MAKE THEM, UH, YOU KNOW, WORK WELL.

ANYWAY, UH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING.

UH, WE WILL BE BACK, UH, NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A MEETING AND AT THAT TIME WE HOPE TO HAVE A, UH, A VIABLE PLAN.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CAROL BAXTER, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT COBB.

[00:05:02]

HELLO EVERYONE.

I'M CAROL BAXTER, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO SUMMARIZE OUR 43RD YEAR ON LADY BIRD LAKE.

AND THANK PART FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WERE VERY BUSY.

AUBREY, MY COWORKER HERE IS GONNA SHOW US AIR C'S FISCAL YEAR 2024.

ANNUAL REVENUE WAS OVER $3.3 MILLION.

THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR IN A ROW WITH OVER 3 MILLION IN BOATHOUSE REVENUE.

TOTAL PAYMENTS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 WAS OVER ONE QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS.

WE PROVIDED OVER 100 PEOPLE WITH PART AND FULL-TIME WORK.

IN ADDITION TO ARC'S ROWING AND PADDLING, OUR BOATHOUSE PARTNERS INCLUDE RETRO BOAT, THE PERCH, RURAL FITNESS, AUSTIN COOLERS, DRAGON BOATS, AND OUTRIGGER CANOE.

AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY TO OUR WATERWAYS.

ON LADYBIRD LAKE, WE HAVE MULTIPLE OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO TEACH ROWING AND PADDLING AT NO COST TO ITS PARTICIPANTS.

THOSE INCLUDE $50,000 IN JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIPS THIS YEAR ALONE, 350 PARD, SUMMER CAMPERS FROM 14 RECREATION CENTERS ACROSS AUSTIN.

220 COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER CENTER'S WELLNESS PROGRAM, 400 PLUS MARTIN AND MESON MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WITH THE RISE PROGRAM, WHICH STANDS FOR ROWING IN SCHOOL EXCELLENCE SO THAT THE AUSTIN BROING CLUB HAS STARTED, AS WELL AS WOMEN CANCER SURVIVORS WITH TEAM SURVIVOR AND PARA ATHLETES AND PARA VETERANS AT THE TEXAS REGIONAL GAMES.

LASTLY, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WE HAVE COLLECTED ALMOST 200,000 POUNDS OF GARBAGE FROM LADY BURG LAKE AND ALONG THE TRAIL THIS YEAR ALONE, THIS COULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR VOLUNTEERS GIVING 2,700 PLUS VOLUNTEER HOURS.

OVER THE COURSE OF THIS PAST YEAR, A RC IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR 44TH YEAR OF CONTINUED STEWARDSHIP OF LADY BIRD LAKE AND WE HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SCOTT COBB.

AND THEN I JUST WANNA CONFIRM THAT ROBIN RATHER ISN'T IN ATTENDANCE.

OKAY.

HELLO, MY NAME IS SCOTT COBB.

I WORK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IS A LIFEGUARD.

I'M GONNA TALK TODAY ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE A BUDGET WORKING COMMITTEE.

I ALSO KNOW THAT COMMITTEE MEETS IN SECRET, DOESN'T INVITE THE PUBLIC, DOESN'T TELL WHO'S ON IT, WHAT TO DO, WHAT YOUR AGENDA IS.

I'M SURE I WON'T BE INVITED.

I DOUBT IF ANYTHING, ANYONE ON THERE REPRESENTING CITY EMPLOYEES, YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO INVITE ME TO PARTICIPATE.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO IT.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HERE'S WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO WITH THE BUDGET.

AS FAR AS EMPLOYEES.

NUMBER ONE, SOME OF THESE DON'T COST ANY MONEY.

A REVISED POLICY ON DATING ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION ISN'T GONNA COST ANY MONEY.

IT MAY COST A FEW, COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR TRAINING MATERIALS, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.

DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THE CURRENT DATING POLICY, A MANAGER OF 35 YEARS OLD COULD DATE A 17-YEAR-OLD.

AS LONG AS THEY REPORTED THAT IT WOULD BE OKAY, THEY WOULD STILL NOT GET PUNISHED AS LONG AS THEY REPORT IT.

THAT'S A FLAW IN THE POLICY.

THE POLICY WASN'T EVEN ADOPTED UNTIL THIS SUMMER AFTER WE PUSHED FOR IT.

BIGGEST PRIORITY IS SPEND SOME MONEY ON CREATING A SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION HAVE AN APPEALS PROCESS.

ALSO WOULD NOT COST VERY MUCH MONEY.

THERE'S ALREADY A SYSTEM SET UP.

LIFEGUARDS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT SYSTEM.

THEY COULD BE, OR THEY COULD HAVE A SEPARATE SYSTEM WITHIN PARK.

RIGHT NOW YOU'RE FIRED, YOU'RE OUT.

STATE OF TEXAS, YOU'RE AN AT AT-WILL EMPLOYEE.

IF YOU'RE A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, MAYBE YOU AGREE WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I DON'T.

I THINK PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING YEARS SHOULD HAVE AN APPEALS PROCESS ALSO WOULD NOT COST VERY MUCH MONEY GETTING TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD COST MONEY.

HOLIDAY PAY.

I'M A VETERAN.

I DON'T GET HOLIDAY PAY.

PEOPLE WORK ON JUNETEENTH, THEY DON'T GET HOLIDAY PAY.

WE DON'T GET ANY HOLIDAY PAY.

OUR MANAGERS WHO WORK ON THOSE HOLIDAYS DO GET

[00:10:01]

ASPEN FINALLY SPOKE UP AT THAT, THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR YEARS.

HOLIDAY PAY PAID TIME OFF.

WE NEED PAID TIME OFF.

WE ACCRUE SICK LEAVE.

WE CAN'T ACCRUE PAID TIME OFF.

IF YOU DON'T GET PAID TIME OFF, YOU HAVE TO TAKE LEAVE.

IF YOU TAKE LEAVE, THE NUMBER OF HOURS YOU WORK IS REDUCED AND YOU MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR THE HEALTHCARE AT THE MOST AFFORDABLE RATE IF YOU DON'T AVERAGE 30 HOURS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR PER WEEK.

THAT'S WHY YOU NEED PAID TIME OFF.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ON PAYROLL FOR YEARS.

I'VE BEEN ON PAYROLL FOR 2011.

SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE REALLY RIDICULOUS THAT IT'S HASN'T BEEN DONE.

AT THIS POINT I HAVE MORE, I HAVE MORE.

INVITE ME TO YOUR WORKING GROUP.

I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

JUST FOR CLARITY, THE BUDGET WORKING GROUP HAS NOT MET THIS YEAR.

THE MEMBERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AND THE MINUTES WILL BE POSTED.

THANK YOU.

I SAID, JUST FOR CLARITY, THE BUDGET WORKING GROUP HAS NOT MET THIS YEAR.

THE MEMBERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AND THE MINUTES WILL BE POSTED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

AND YOU CAN CONTINUE TO EMAIL.

THAT'S TIME THAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE BATHHOUSE WORKING GROUP.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, WE'RE

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

IF EVERYONE WANTS TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PLEASE LOOK OVER THOSE MINUTES.

UM, IT'S FAIRLY MINOR, BUT ON POINT 11 IT SAYS, BOARD MEMBER BECKER GAVE AN UPDATE.

UPCOMING, I THINK IT SHOULD BE, GAVE AN UPDATE ON UPCOMING BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS.

THANKS.

BOARD MEMBER BECKER.

NOTED.

YOU GOT THAT, TIM.

OKAY.

THANKS.

ANY OTHER EDITS? UM, I, I THINK TIM, UH, CHAIR VILLALOBOS ADJOURNED THE MEETING.

NOT ME.

LAST TIME HE WAS HERE, SO I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS HIM AT THE END.

OKAY.

IF ANYONE IS READY, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THEM WITH THOSE EDITS.

OR IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER EDITS, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

GREAT.

SO THAT'S A MOTION, UH, FROM BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

BOARD MEMBER EDIE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

GREAT.

THAT'S EVERYONE.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, WE WILL MOVE ON.

SORRY, I'M LOOKING AT THE TIME REAL QUICK.

UM, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND

[2. Discussion and approve a letter of recognition for Council Member Alison Alter for her legacy of service to Austin's parks during her eight-year tenure as a City Council Member. (Sponsors: Reed, Taylor)]

UH, AND THE SPONSORS ARE BOARD MEMBER REED AND BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR.

UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NO CHAIR.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

UM, THEN I THINK I'M GONNA PASS IT OFF TO BOARD MEMBER REED, UH, WHO IS GONNA READ THE LETTER? THANK YOU.

VICE CHAIR FLOWERS.

THIS IS A LETTER OF APPRECIATION TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

UH, DEAR COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, WE ARE WRITING TO EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND YOUR COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING DISTRICT 10, YOUR DEDICATION, HARD WORK, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO AUSTIN'S BELOVED PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES HAS RESULTED IN BETTER ACCESS, SAFETY, PRESERVATION, AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2017, YOU SERVED ON AUSTIN'S PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AND CAME TO BE KNOWN AFFECTIONATELY AS THE PARKS LADY.

YOUR DEVOTION TO OUR PUBLIC PARKS HAS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT BOTH YOUR TERMS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE MANY.

YOU HAVE WORKED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY AUSTINITE CAN LIVE OR WORK WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF A GREAT PARK.

YOU HAVE ADVOCATED FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS AT GREAT HILLS, TARRYTOWN, AND ALER NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, AND AT MEISON POOL.

YOU'VE WORKED TO IMPROVE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AT EMMA LONG METROPOLITAN

[00:15:01]

YOU SAW BULL CREEK DISTRICT PARK THROUGH ITS FINAL PHASE OF RENOVATIONS STARTING THE PROCESS WHEN YOU SERVED ON THE PARKS BOARD.

YOUR SPECIAL COMMITMENT TO SAVING MUNI AND TO FINDING A SOLUTION TO PRESERVE THIS ICONIC PART OF AUSTIN'S HISTORY HAS BEEN VITAL TO ITS SURVIVAL.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WORK TO ACQUIRE AND SECURE NEW PARKLAND AS AUSTIN GROWS AMONG MANY OF YOUR EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE NEW PARKS AND WILDLIFE.

PRESERVES THE ACQUISITION OF TWO MAJOR TRACKS OF PARKLAND ALONG SPICEWOOD SPRINGS ROAD, NEAR Y POND DRIVE WILL ALLOW THE CREATION OF A CONTINUOUS TRAIL ALONG THE UPPER AND LOWER BULL CREEK GREEN BELTS FROM BULL CREEK DISTRICT PARK TO ST.

EDWARDS PARK.

YOUR LEADERSHIP WORKING TO INCREASE PARKS, FUNDING AND INVESTMENTS IN OUR CITY PARKS AND POOLS SPANS EIGHT YEARS OF CITY BUDGET CYCLES.

YOU CO-LED THE EFFORT WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, TOVO TRUCKS, CLAIRE KITCHEN AND POOL TO REDIRECT SOME OF OUR HOT OR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES, FUNDS TO FINANCE IMPROVEMENTS TO HISTORIC PARKS AND BUILDINGS SUCH AS BARTON SPRINGS, MAYFIELD PARK, AND THE DRISCOLL VILLA.

AT LAGUNA GLORIA, YOU ENSURED THAT WE FUNDED OUR CAPITAL REHABILITATION FUND AND THAT A GOOD PORTION WOULD SUPPORT UPGRADES TO PARD FACILITIES.

YOU ALSO PUSHED FOR LARGE INVESTMENTS IN ACQUISITION AND PARK AND POOL RENOVATIONS IN OUR 2018 PARKS BOND.

YOU MOST RECENTLY WORKED WITH THE PARK BUDGET OFFICE TO QUANTIFY LEVELS OF PARKLAND MAINTENANCE AND SUCCESSFULLY LED ON FUNDING 16 NEW FULL-TIME MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES.

YOUR ATTENTION TO ACHIEVING AUSTIN'S CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE GOALS, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, WILDFIRE RESILIENCE, AND ENSURING THAT OUR GREEN SPACES PROMOTE BIODIVERSITY, MITIGATE CLIMATE EFFECTS, AND PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE HAVE BEEN INDISPENSABLE.

YOU HAVE TRULY ESTABLISHED A PARKS LEGACY IN AUSTIN AND OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOUR WORK AS OUR PARKS LADY.

SINCERELY, THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.

THANK YOU.

BOARD MEMBER REED.

UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LETTER TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER? OKAY.

UM, WE WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR HER SERVICE TO THE PARKS HERE IN AUSTIN.

UH, AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, TO, UH, APPROVE THIS LETTER OF RECOGNITION FOR HER.

I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.

IS THERE A SECOND? GREAT.

I SEE A SECOND.

UH, THERE.

THANK YOU.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AND RAISE YOUR HAND.

AYE.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

THE MOTION PASSES.

OKAY.

WE WILL MOVE

[3. Discussion and approve a letter of recognition for Council Member Leslie Pool for her legacy of service to Austin’s Parks during her ten-year tenure as City Council Member. (Sponsor: Villalobos, Flowers).]

UM, SO, UH, CHAIR VILLALOBOS AND I ARE BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD, AND IN HIS ABSENCE I WILL READ THE LETTER FOR COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.

DEAR MAYOR PRO, TIM LESLIE POOLE.

ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND ADMIRATION FOR YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO ENHANCING AND PRESERVING AUSTIN'S PARKS, OPEN SPACES AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

YOUR VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT HAVE PROFOUNDLY ENRICHED OUR COMMUNITY AND THE LIVES OF ITS RESIDENTS.

YOUR INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN SECURING OVER $4 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IN THE 2021 CITY BUDGET HAS SIGNIFICANTLY BOLSTERED THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMING AND STAFFING OF AUSTIN'S PARKS, ENSURING THEIR VITALITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THESE EFFORTS, COUPLED WITH YOUR ADVOCACY FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE PARK RANGER PROGRAM AND ENHANCED FACILITIES AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE, HAVE DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND QUALITY OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES.

UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, AUSTIN EARNED THE PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION OF AN OFFICIAL BIRD CITY BY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE IN AUDUBON, TEXAS IN 2023.

THIS RECOGNITION UNDERSCORES YOUR DEDICATION TO PROTECTING URBAN HABITATS AND PROMOTING BIRD FRIENDLY PRACTICES DEMONSTRATING YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND BIODIVERSITY.

YOUR VISION ALSO BROUGHT FORTH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN'S OUTDOOR BILL OF RIGHTS, WHICH HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN FOSTERING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NATURE FOR ALL CHILDREN IN AUSTIN.

THIS INITIATIVE CONNECTS YOUTH WITH THE OUTDOORS PROMOTING HEALTH EDUCATION AND A LIFELONG APPRECIATION FOR OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

YOUR ADVOCACY FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PARKS HAS ENSURED THAT AUSTINITES FROM ALL COMMUNITIES HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF NATURE, FOSTERING HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND CONNECTION.

BY SECURING FUNDING FOR PARKLAND ACQUISITION AND TRAIL DEVELOPMENT, YOU HAVE CREATED NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION AND COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS CORNERSTONES OF AUSTIN'S IDENTITY.

THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAS STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND RESIDENTS

[00:20:01]

YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITABLE ACCESS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS SET A HIGH STANDARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE INSPIRING US ALL TO REIMAGINE WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN PARKS SERVE AS A UNIFYING FORCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AS YOU REFLECT ON YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, WE HOPE YOU TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN KNOWING THAT YOUR WORK HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING AUSTIN A GREENER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE CONNECTED CITY.

YOUR ENDURING LEGACY AS AN ADVOCATE FOR PARKS, OPEN SPACES AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES HAS LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE CITY AND WILL BE CHERISHED BY GENERATIONS TO COME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION AND FOR BEING A TRUE CHAMPION OF AUSTIN'S PARKS AND OPEN SPACES WITH HEARTFELT APPRECIATION, THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, BOARD, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE, FOR STOPPING BY.

WELL, THANK YOU ALL.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AND IT WAS COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED.

UM, BUT IT IS VERY MUCH, UM, A WORK OF MY HEART AND MY CAREER TO ADVOCATE FOR OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND IN THE CITY THAT I HAVE LIVED IN FOR A LONG TIME.

AND LIKE YOU ALL LOVE, UM, THOSE OF US WHO ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE HERE REALLY DO PUT DOWN ROOTS.

AND, UM, I THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED TO THE CITY THROUGH YOUR VOLUNTEER SERVICE ON THE PARKS BOARD.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT AND IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW, 10 YEARS, UM, IT'S A LONG TIME, BUT IT'S ALSO GONE BY IN A FLASH.

AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING THERE AND TO SHARE IT WITH ME.

AND HERE'S TO MORE REALLY GOOD WORK THAT FOLKS LIKE YOU AND LIKE ME AND OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED YET WILL, UH, BRING TO THIS CITY BECAUSE WE ALL LOVE THIS TOWN AND WE WANT THE BEST FOR THOSE WHO LIVE HERE, AND WE WANT THE BEST TO BE AS GREEN AND AS HEALTHY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN MAKE IT.

I SO APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

SO I'LL NOW MAKE A MOTION, UH, TO APPROVE THIS LETTER OF RECOMME REC OF RECOGNITION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOLE.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.

AYE.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

IT PASSES.

WE WANNA GET A PICTURE.

OH, SURE.

JUST REAL QUICK.

I, YEAH, SURE.

AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO IT WITH THIS SCREEN TOO.

I GOT IT.

YOU GOT IT.

THANK YOU.

ALL VERY COMMON.

1, 2, 3.

1, 2, 3.

THANK Y AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO YOU.

ALRIGHT, WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM

[4. Discussion and approve a letter of recognition for Council Member Mackenzie Kelly for her legacy of service to Austin’s Parks during her four-year tenure as City Council Member. (Sponsor: Eady, Reed).]

I DON'T THINK I ASKED FOR THE LAST ONE, BUT THERE'S, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? UH, OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU.

UM, SO THE NEXT ONE IS, UH, ANOTHER LETTER OF RECOGNITION.

THIS TIME FOR COUNCIL MEMBER MCKENZIE KELLY, UM, AND BOARD MEMBER ED SPONSORED THIS.

AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THE LETTER? GREAT.

I'LL PASS IT DOWN.

DEAR COUNCIL MEMBER MCKENZIE KELLY, WE ARE WRITING TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND YOUR COMMITTEE COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING DISTRICT SIX, YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES OF AUSTIN IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

DURING YOUR TENURE, YOU HAVE GIVEN PRIORITY TO CITY PARKLAND AND ENSURED THAT THOSE PARKLANDS HAD IMPROVED AND BEEN WELL CARED FOR, INCLUDING REQUIRING SAFETY, PRESERVATION AND ACCESS FOR THOSE PARKLANDS.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FROM YOUR OFFICE BUDGET DURING YOUR TERM FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF A PIECE OF UNDEVELOPED PARKLAND IN NORTH AUSTIN IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

AS A RESULT OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, IMPROVEMENTS TO A PIECE OF UNDEVELOPED PARKLAND, LOCATED THE INTERSECTION OF SPICEWOOD SPRINGS ROAD AND OLDLAND PASSES TRAIL WILL HELP TRANSFORM THAT SPACE INTO A VIBRANT AREA WHERE FAMILIES CAN GATHER AND ENJOY NATURE.

YOUR CONSULTATION WITH RESIDENTS NEAR THE PARKLAND TO DETERMINE THE BEST USE OF THE MONEY WAS A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND ASSISTED IN DRESSING, PARKS AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS IN THAT AREA.

YOU HAVE ASSISTED IN PARKLAND CONVERSION AT UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY AND SOUGHT THE APPROVAL OF BOND DOLLARS AND OTHER PARKS FUNDING TO BE USED TO IMPROVE PARKLAND SITES WITH NEW AMENITIES AND FULLY OPEN THE LAND TO THE PUBLIC.

IT WAS INFORMATIVE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE PARK, SPRINGWOOD PARK IN THE NORTHWEST

[00:25:01]

YOUR PARTICIPATION IN MY PARK STAYS AND YOUR ATTEMPTS AT GETTING PLAYED FOR ALL ABILITIES PARK IN DISTRICT SIX ARE APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND THE BEAUTIFUL PARKS IN THE CITY WITH HEARTFELT APPRECIATION, THE PARKS BOARD.

THANK YOU.

BOARD MEMBER, UM, IF YOU ALL COULD JOIN ME AGAIN IN THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AS WELL FOR HER SERVICE TO THE PARKS.

UM, I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS LETTER OF LETTER OF, UH, RECOGNITION.

I MOTION.

I'M MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LETTER.

GREAT.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

BOARD MEMBER REED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

GREAT.

AND THE MOTION PASSES.

UH, ALRIGHT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM OF THANKFULNESS.

IT'S A THEME, THIS MEETING.

I WONDER WHY.

UM, SO OUR NEXT ITEM,

[5. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for Parks and Recreation and City Staff who provided critical maintenance to Barton Springs Pool in September 2024. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers). (PARD Long Range Strategies: Park Access for All, Urban Public Spaces).]

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTERS ON THIS ITEM? YES.

WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENTER, SCOTT COBB.

YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.

MY NAME IS SCOTT COPP AND I SUPPORT THIS LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR FIXING THE BARTON SPRINGS PIPE.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ATTENTION PAID TO IT OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES.

YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BROKEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER.

BUT ANYHOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION GOING ON TODAY.

WHAT I DO NOT SEE IS A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION OR THANK YOU TO ONE GROUP WHO OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE DONE MORE TO IMPROVE AQUATICS THAN ANY OTHER GROUP.

WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HIRE OVER A THOUSAND LIFEGUARDS IF IT WEREN'T FOR LIFEGUARDS THEMSELVES ADVOCATING, RISKING THEIR JOBS, RISKING RETALIATION BEING RETALIATED AGAINST IF THEY HAD NOT TAKEN ACTION, IF THEY HAD NOT GONE TO CITY COUNCIL.

IF THEY HAD NOT SPOKEN TO PAR.

MET WITH THE PAR DIRECTOR, SPOKEN AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE FIRED RETALIATED AGAINST.

THERE'S NO, WHERE'S THAT? WHERE'S OUR LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION? WHERE'S OUR THANK YOU.

I WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE STATESMAN.

WE GOT A LETTER.

ANOTHER LIFEGUARD COMES FROM AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY YOU SHOULD KNOW, SPOKE TO MANIA AFTER THAT HAPPENED.

BOTH SHE AND I GOT LETTERS SAYING, IN ORDER FROM NOW ON, YOU NEED TO GET PERMISSION TO SPEAK TO THE MEDIA.

THAT FLAG MEANS SOMETHING STILL, AT LEAST UNTIL JANUARY 20TH.

IT MEANS WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK UP FOR BETTER PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS.

WE DID, WE RISK OUR, OUR JOBS, OUR REPUTATIONS, AND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE SILENCED.

THAT 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO GOT THAT EMAIL ABOUT DO NOT SPEAK TO THE MEDIA, HAS NOT SPOKEN TO THE MEDIA, HAS NOT COME TO CITY COUNCIL, HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED SINCE THEN.

THAT LETTER WAS OUT A BOUNDS OUT OF ORDER.

THIS THAT FLAG, THAT POW FLAG, THAT MEANS SOMETHING.

AND WHERE IS OUR LETTER? WHERE IS THE LETTER THINKING? NOT JUST ME, NOT JUST HER.

THE OTHER LIFEGUARDS WHO SPOKE UP DENTAL PAY, BILINGUAL PAY.

IT WAS LIFEGUARDS WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR JOAN MEANS COBEL.

BATHHOUSE PAID TRAINING 13.

FULL-TIME LIFEGUARDS.

WE GOT COUNCIL MEMBER VALET TO SPONSOR THAT.

THINK ABOUT IT.

WHERE'S OUR LITTER? AQUATICS NEEDS TO DO BETTER.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

APOLOGIES THAT THIS ONE DID NOT MAKE IT UP INTO, INTO BACKUP EITHER.

SO I AM GOING TO READ THIS LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION AND CITY STAFF WHO PROVIDED CRITICAL MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE TO BARTON SPRINGS POOL IN SEPTEMBER, 2024.

VICE CHAIR.

YEAH, WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION.

UH OH.

YES, DUH.

OH, SORRY.

THANK YOU.

YES, NO PROBLEM.

PLEASE, LET'S HAVE THE PRESENTER.

THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.

I'M JUST ROLLING THROUGH THESE LETTERS OF, UH, RECOGNITION.

SO GOOD EVENING BOARD, UH, LUCAS MASSEY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

UM, ALTHOUGH I AM, I AM THE INDIVIDUAL SPEAKING UP HERE ON BEHALF OF BARTON SPRINGS, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE GONNA COVER A LARGE SECTION AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, UH, THAT WERE, UH, DID HEAVY LIFTS AS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

UM, SO I WAS UP HERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, UM, WHEN I FIRST KIND OF MOVED OVER AND TOOK OVER AQUATICS TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE LONG TERM PLAN FOR PARKS AND RECREATION AND HOW WE INCREASE

[00:30:01]

UM, WE TALKED ABOUT RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING.

MAINTENANCE WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED THERE.

AND, AND THAT IS A KEY THEME IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION.

SO, JUST A BRIEF HISTORY OF BARTON SPRINGS.

UM, IT'S ACTUALLY A GROUPING OF FOUR SPRINGS AND IT'S FOURTH LARGEST IN TEXAS.

UM, IN TERMS OF MODERN DAY DEVELOPMENT, IT STARTED IN, IN THE TWENTIES, UH, DEVELOPING AND WORKING ON THE DAM, UM, BUILDING OUT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE THIRTIES AND FORTIES WITH THE SIDEWALKS AND THE BATHHOUSE.

UM, IN 69 AND AND SEVENTIES, WE DID, UM, WITH PARK BOARD APPROVAL BUILD A A, A BYPASS THAT WAS GONNA HELP WITH FLOODING AND REDU AND REROUTE WATER, UH, AROUND THE SPRINGS.

UM, AND THEN IN THE LATE NINETIES, SALAMA PROTECTION AND SPLASH, OUR EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT OPENED UP.

I DID WANT TO INCLUDE SOME PICTURES AND, AND REALLY THE, THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING THIS IS TO, TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE POOL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO THE POOL AND HAVE VERY NATURAL KIND OF FEEL TO IT, AND THAT'S THE WAY WE WANT IT TO LOOK.

BUT AS A REMINDER THAT THIS IS A MANMADE, UH, AREA, CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT FLOODING.

AND BARTON SPRINGS IS CERTAINLY NO EXCEPTION.

UM, OVER THE YEARS, MAJOR FLOODING EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY, UM, LESS SO OVER THE RECENT DECADES, BUT EARLY ON IN THE, THE, THE POOL'S OPERATION, IT WAS, UH, AN ANNUAL EVENT NEARLY.

UM, THESE, THESE RECURRING FLOODS, UH, CAN CAUSE IMMEDIATE DAMAGE, BUT ALSO CAN CAUSE DAMAGE OVER TIME, UM, AND AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF, OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.

SO, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, WE, WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THE ORIGINAL KIND OF HOLT THAT WAS DISCOVERED IN OLD INFRASTRUCTURE ON AUGUST 29TH, RIGHT BEFORE LABOR DAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, UM, THE POOL, UH, IT IS KIND OF CREATING A POTENTIAL ENTRAPMENT CONDITIONS.

AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, POOL ENTRAPMENT IS A LIFE-THREATENING HAZARD WHERE A PERSON OR OBJECT CAN BE, CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE SUCTION OF A POOL, MOST COMMONLY A DRAIN IN A POOL.

BUT IN THIS CASE, IT WAS THE OLD INFRASTRUCTURE INSIDE BARTON SPRINGS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

BARTON SPRINGS WAS IMMEDIATELY CLOSED AND PAR BEGAN WORKING WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION TO DEVELOP A REPAIR PLAN.

UH, SO ONLY A COUPLE DAYS LATER, THOSE, THOSE TWO SMALL HOLES HAD MERGED INTO ONE, UH, WITH THE SUCTION BEING FORCEFUL ENOUGH TO, TO HAVE THOSE TWO MERGE.

AS YOU CAN SEE THERE WITH THE, THE NEATLY DRAWN CIRCLES, UH, WHIRLPOOL HAD DEVELOPED AND IT KIND OF DEMONSTRATES THE SUCTION, UH, THAT'S OCCURRING THERE AND WHY THAT MIGHT BE A, A LIFE-THREATENING THING.

UH, AS WE KIND OF WORKED THROUGH AND PROBLEM SOLVED, THERE WERE NUMEROUS UNFORESEEN COMPLICATIONS THAT MADE THIS REPAIR PROCESS MORE COMPLICATED AND CHALLENGING THAN THAN ONES WE HAD FACED IN THE PAST.

UM, SAL SALAMANDER PROTECTION IS, UH, OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO US, UM, THE WATER LEVELS AND DAMAGE OF WHERE IT WAS.

UH, SO IT WAS IN AN AREA THAT WAS UNABLE TO BE KIND OF LOWERED.

SO WE HAD TO CONDUCT THE REPAIR WITH THE WATER IN THE POOL.

UM, THAT'S ALSO PART OF THE, THE SALAMANDER PROTECTION, UH, LIMITED ACCESS INSIDE THE POOL.

SO THE, THE BYPASS THAT CURRENTLY OPERATES IS UNDERNEATH THE SIDEWALK THERE, MEANING WE COULDN'T PUT ANYTHING HEAVY ON THE SIDEWALK, WHICH COMPLICATED.

UH, OUR, OUR REPAIR PROCESS.

THE MATERIALS HAD TO BE, UH, USED IN THE POOL, HAD TO BE SUITABLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE SALAMANDER.

AND, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY WE HAD THE GOAL OF REOPENING THE POOL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

UH, GIVEN THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE END OF THE SUMMER, TRY AND TRY AND GET THAT LAST LITTLE BIT OF SWIMMING IN.

UM, HERE WE GO AS A, A MAP OF KIND OF, OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

UM, YOU CAN SEE THE DOTTED LINE IS THE BYPASS TUNNEL, UH, THAT IS NO LONGER IN USE.

IT'S A SKIMMER DRAIN, QUOTE UNQUOTE, I BELIEVE.

AND THEN THE RED AREA THERE IS, IS OUTSIDE THE DAM, UM, IS WHERE IT EXITS.

UH, SO THE HOLE WAS, MM, IT'S NOT REALLY THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE WITH THE LITTLE TRIANGLE.

SO WORKING WITH WATERSHED WHO WERE REALLY THE EXPERTS AND DID MOST OF THE HEAVY LIFTING AND IN TERMS OF THE REPAIR, UH, DEVELOPED A, A STRATEGY FOR BRINGING IN, UH, A MAINTENANCE CREW, UM, ONE OF THEIR, THEIR CONTRACTOR VENDORS THAT THEY, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE ROTATION LIST TO PERFORM THE REPAIR.

SO WE HAD A TEMPORARY STAGING AREA IN THE PARKING LOT.

WE WERE ABLE TO WORK AROUND THE RAILROAD TRACKS, WHICH IS RECENTLY OPENED, IS ONE MORE, ONE MORE HURDLE IS TRYING TO WORK WITH OUR VENDORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT INTERRUPTING THEIR SERVICE.

UM, AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSE THE AREA HIGHLIGHTED

[00:35:01]

SO AS I STATED, UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHED PROTECTION, THE CONTRACTOR BEGAN MOBILIZATION ON SEPTEMBER 13TH AND COMPLETED THE WORK.

BY SEPTEMBER 14TH, A CONCRETE PLUG WAS INSTALLED IN THE PIPE FROM DOG BEACH.

UH, IT RUNS UP THROUGH THE DAM, PROVIDING A LONG-TERM LUCIAN THAT EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATES THE RISK OF RECURRENCE.

UH, BARTON SPRINGS REMAINED CLOSED FOR A FEW ADDITIONAL DAYS TO ENSURE ABSOLUTELY THAT THE CONCRETE FULLY CURED.

AND DURING THAT TIME PART ALSO TOOK THE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO READ, SAW SOME AREAS THAT CONDUCT SOME ROUTINE TREE MAINTENANCE, UM, AND SOME OTHER, UH, VARIOUS PAINTING AND KIND OF MINOR MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FACILITY SO THAT WHEN WE REOPENED, WE WERE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE AND WE DID REOPEN SEPTEMBER 19TH, FOUR WEEKS AFTER DISCOVERING THE HOLE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE REPAIR WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF OVER 100 CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF MEMBERS FROM MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.

AND WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OUR WORK TO RESTORE THE OPERATIONS SWIFTLY WHILE ENSURING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE FOR THIS CHERISHED PLACE AND ITS VISITORS.

SO A LIST OF INDIVIDUALS HERE, AND I WAS HOPING IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SCROLL THROUGH, UH, BUT IT IS, IT IS NOT.

SO EVERYONE HERE LISTED AS A PART OF THE, THE PROCESS, UM, AND IT CONTINUES TO SCROLL AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT.

AND WE CAN SHARE IT MAYBE WITH YOU GUYS IF YOU WANNA SCROLL THROUGH ALL THE NAMES.

UM, BUT A BIG THANK YOU TO, UH, DIRECTOR AM MEANS AND DIRECTOR MORALES WHO ARE HERE TODAY.

AND, UH, THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER WATERSHED STAFF MEMBERS AND AQUATIC STAFF MEMBERS.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REPAIR OR THE EFFORTS, WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER OR SPEAK ABOUT THOSE.

GREAT.

THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

IF NO QUESTIONS.

UM, I THANK YOU GUYS FOR THIS MONUMENTAL EFFORT, NOT A JOB I WOULD'VE WANTED TO HAVE.

UM, SO I'M GONNA READ THE LETTER OF SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE DRAFTED, UH, FOR EVERYONE, ALL A HUNDRED PLUS PEOPLE WHO WORKED, UH, ON THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.

DEAR PARD, WATERSHED PROTECTION, AUSTIN WATER, CPIO, AND CITY STAFF MEMBERS, WE ARE WRITING TO EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR TO SAFEGUARD AND PROTECT ALL USERS OF BARTON SPRINGS POOL.

AFTER DAMAGE WAS DISCOVERED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, OVER 100 OF YOU WORKED COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, PROTECT CRITICAL WILDLIFE HABITAT AND REOPEN AS SOON AS WAS FEASIBLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

YOUR DEDICATION, HARD WORK, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO KEEPING THE PUBLIC SAFE, PRESERVING SALAMANDER HABITAT AND REOPENING AS SOON AS WAS FEASIBLE IS COMMENDABLE.

THE POTENTIAL LIFE-THREATENING NATURE OF THE ENTRAPMENT CONDITIONS WARRANTED QUICK ACTION.

YOUR IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF CROSS-COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION TO ACHIEVE THE BEST OUTCOME FOR BOTH POOL USERS AND THE NATIVE SALAMANDERS.

ACCOMPLISHING A MAJOR REPAIR EFFORT ON A HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE POOL LIKE BARTON SPRINGS, IS NO SMALL FEAT.

AND EACH OF YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.

YOUR EFFORTS RESULTED IN A CONTRACTOR BEING QUICKLY SECURED, THE SALAMANDER HABITAT BEING SAFEGUARDED AND THE THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY BEING RESOLVED.

IN ADDITION, YOU WERE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF OTHER MAINTENANCE EFFORTS ALONGSIDE THE CLOSURE TO HOPEFULLY LIMIT OTHER POTENTIAL CLOSURES IN THE FUTURE FOR SAID EFFORTS.

IN ADDITION TO THIS CRITICAL REPAIR, YOU WORK BEHIND THE SCENES ALL YEAR TO COLLABORATE ON ISSUES THAT ARISE RELATED TO BARTON SPRINGS.

STEWARDSHIP OF THIS UNIQUE COMMUNITY TREASURE REQUIRES CLOSE COMMUNICATION AND PARTICIPATION ACROSS MANY DEPARTMENTS.

THE REPAIR EFFORT IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY DEDICATED STAFF WORKING TOWARD A GOAL TOGETHER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR SUCH WONDERFUL STEWARDS OF THIS SPECIAL PLACE.

KIND REGARDS, CHAIR VILLALOBOS AND VICE CHAIR FLOWERS.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING THIS GROUP, UH, FOR THEIR EFFORTS ON THIS IMPORTANT REPAIR EFFORT.

SO I'LL NOW MAKE A MOTION, UH, FOR US TO APPROVE THIS LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE CITY STAFF AS I READ IT.

IS THERE A SECOND? GREAT.

I HEAR A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER EDEDIE.

UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IF YOU COULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.

AYE.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THE STAFF THAT WORKED ON THIS PROJECT.

AS I SAID, IT'S NOT A JOB I WOULD'VE WANTED TO HAVE.

SO, UM, OKAY.

SO WE WILL

[6. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to support the Bolm District Park Vision Plan. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers). (PARD Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Park Access for All, Program Alignment).]

UH, DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? YES.

BOARD.

WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL PUBLIC COMMENTERS ON THIS ITEM.

GREAT.

UH, OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE ROBIN STALLINGS, FOLLOWED BY DALE DOHERTY

[00:40:02]

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

UH, UH, MADAM CHAIR AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR BEING HERE.

I'M ROBIN STALLINGS.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BIKE TEXAS.

UH, WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 33 YEARS TRYING TO ADVANCE BICYCLE ACCESS, SAFETY AND EDUCATION AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

WE VERY MUCH SUPPORT THE CITY STAFF'S PLAN FOR BOMB DISTRICT PARK AND WE ARE, UH, TWO MILES.

OUR OFFICE IS TWO MILES FROM THERE.

MY HOME IS THREE MILES FROM THERE.

IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT AMENITY FOR EAST AUSTIN.

AND I WOULD, WE WOULD BE APPRECIATIVE IF YOU ALL WOULD VOTE IN SUPPORT OF ADOPTING THIS PLAN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL WILL BE DALE DOHERTY, FOLLOWED BY COLIN MCMORROW.

ALRIGHT EVERYBODY, I'M DALE DAUGHERTY.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.

I REPRESENT AUSTIN RIDGE RIDERS, UH, MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB.

WE ARE TEXAS'S OLDEST MOUNTAIN BIKING NONPROFIT SINCE 1987.

WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 600 MEMBERS, AND I'LL JUST KEEP THIS SHORT.

I'M FOR ITEM SIX, THE B PARK PLAN BECAUSE I SUPPORT PLANTING THE SEEDS OF TREES WHOSE SHADE WE MAY NEVER SIT IN.

FOR ME, THIS GOES BEYOND THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF BO PARK AND CONCERNS COMMUNITY HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.

THIS PLAN COULD PROVIDE A SPACE FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES TO FIND AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AND BUILD FRIENDSHIPS ON COMMON GROUND IN WAYS OTHER PARKS IN AUSTIN CURRENTLY DO NOT OFFER.

THE INITIAL COMMUNITY INPUT PHASE HAS SHOWN THAT THERE IS PHENOMENAL SUPPORT FOR EXACTLY THIS SORT OF COMMUNITY SPACE, ESPECIALLY THE BIKE PARK.

AS MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR RIDGE RIDERS, I OFTEN GET ASKED WHY OUR MEMBER, BY OUR MEMBERS, WHY AUSTIN LACKS THE RECREATIONAL CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE OF SOME OF THE SMALLER CITIES IN AMERICA? WHICH I FEEL IS A VALID QUESTION.

THIS PROJECT IS NOT JUST A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT A MASSIVE LEAP ONTO THE PLAYING FIELD THAT OUR PEERS HAVE ALREADY JOINED.

THANK YOU AND PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE COLIN MCMORROW, FOLLOWED BY NICK HILL.

AND THEN AFTER NICK WILL BE ARIEL MARLOW.

HI, I AM COLIN MCMORROW, AUSTIN RIDGE RIDERS VICE PRESIDENT.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK CHARLES MABRY AND AARON COOPER, UH, CHARLES WITH PARKS AND REC.

AARON WITH HALF ASSOCIATES.

THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB ON THE PUBLIC INPUT FOR THE LAST YEAR.

UH, WE GOT A LOT OF, UM, PEOPLE FROM ONLINE, BUT ALSO LOTS OF OUR FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN EAST AUSTIN.

UM, OUR CLUB REPRESENTS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE CITY, INCLUDING OTHER COUNTIES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE VERY CLOSE TO THIS PARK AND ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

UM, THE PLAN INCORPORATES DIFFERENT INTERESTS, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S DOG PARK, THERE'S PICKLEBALL, THERE'S NATURE WALKS, UM, AND AS WELL AS THE CYCLING IN OR THE RECREATIONAL BIKING INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND, UH, I HAVE TWO KIDS.

THEY'RE FIVE AND SEVEN.

AND UM, A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED TO TAKE 'EM ON PUBLIC STREETS.

YOU KNOW, BIKE LANES ARE FANTASTIC.

WE LOVE BIKE LANES, BUT BEING ABLE TO GO TO A PARK AND JUST KIND OF PLAY AND HAVE FUN ON BIKES IS LIKE A REAL BIG DEAL.

AND WE GO TO ROUND ROCK FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND WE'VE ALSO GONE TO SAN ANTONIO FOR IT.

SO HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN EAST AUSTIN WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

UM, WE'VE GOT FRIENDS AT CAMACHO ACTIVITY CENTER, WHICH IS A CITY RUN, UH, UH, REC CENTER THAT DOES LIKE MOUNTAIN BIKING CAMPS IN THE SUMMER.

SO I CAN SIGN MY SON UP AND THEY'LL HAVE A PLACE TO GO FROM CAMACHO, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.

UM, WE'VE ALSO GOT FRIENDS AT GLO CYCLING INITIATIVE AND THEY, THEY TEACH BIKE RIDING AND BIKE MECHANICS.

SO ONCE AGAIN, WE'VE GOT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SPACE WHERE THEY COULD PROGRAM THAT KIND OF THING.

UM, AND THEN DALE KIND OF ALLUDED TO IT, BUT YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF CITIES ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WE CAN LOOK TO FOR EXAMPLES RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, EVEN PLACES LIKE PARIS, TEXAS AND SUGAR LAND HAVE GOT IT GOING ON.

UM, BUT ALSO PLACES LIKE CHICAGO AND SAN FRANCISCO, DAYTON, OHIO.

AND, UM, HALF ASSOCIATES DID A GREAT JOB LOOKING UP, UH, EXAMPLES.

YOU KNOW, KIND OF STATE OF THE ART AND THAT KIND OF THING.

SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND I HOPE YOU VOTE IN SUPPORT.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE NICK HILL, FOLLOWED BY ARIEL MARLOW.

HI EVERYONE.

UM, I'M WITH AUSTIN YELLOW BIKE PROJECT.

UH, WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1997.

UH, WE PROVIDE BICYCLES FOR FREE TO THE COMMUNITY.

LAST YEAR WE RELEASED OVER A THOUSAND ADULT AND KID BIKES FOR FREE AND ALSO HAVE REFURBISHED BIKES FOR PURCHASE, UH, AT CHEAPER PRICES.

UM, WE HAVE COMMUNITY

[00:45:01]

UH, WE HAD OVER 250 HOURS LAST YEAR, UH, WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND JUST LEARN HOW TO DO IT THEMSELVES WITH FREE ACCESS TO TOOLS AND, UH, USE PARTS FOR FREE.

UM, WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THIS AND, UM, WE PARTNER WITH ZALO, LIKE THAT WAS MENTIONED.

WE HOUSE THEIR MOUNTAIN BIKES AND, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP WHERE THOSE BIKES THAT WE'RE REFURBISHING AND RELEASING IN THE COMMUNITY COULD BE USED ON THE EAST SIDE.

WE'RE ALSO ON THE EAST SIDE, SO THAT'S ALL.

THANKS.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ARIEL MARLOW, FOLLOWED BY CHARLES EU REU.

HI, THANK YOU.

UH, MY NAME IS ARIEL MARLOW.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY.

UH, I'M AN ORGANIZER OF AND A RIDE LEADER FOR A BLACK HISTORY BIKE RIDE.

UH, WE'RE A LOCAL NONPROFIT, UH, WHO LEADS INFORMATIVE SOCIAL RIDES WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE IN, CAN LEARN ABOUT THE BLACK HISTORY OF AUSTIN.

IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ORGANIZING THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS.

WE'VE SEEN THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT CREATING SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT ON BIKES TOGETHER HAS HAD.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THE PLAN FOR BULL PARK BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE IN OUR CITY DESERVE TO HAVE MORE SAFE OPTIONS FOR RIDING AND CONNECTING.

UM, AND SELFISHLY AS AN ACTIVE CYCLO CROSS RACER, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVE TO THIS PLAN THAT WILL PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO RIDE AND TRAIN.

AND WHILE I'M FORTUNATE FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST, UH, TO BE OUTSIDE IN AUSTIN, I DO LOOK ENVIOUSLY AT CITIES LIKE SAN ANTONIO AND HOUSTON AND SEEMINGLY EVEN COLLEGE STATION, UM, THAT HAVE CREATED THE DEVELOPED PLANS, UM, UH, PARKS, EXCUSE ME.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING OUR OWN PERMANENT PLACES IN AUSTIN TO SAFELY RIDE MEET UP AND, UH, GROW TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.