[00:00:03]
[CALL TO ORDER]
WE'RE GONNA START, UH, WITH A QUICK ROLL CALL.UM, SO, UH, FIRST CHAIR, VILLALOBOS NOT PRESENT.
PRESENT, UH, MYSELF, I'M PRESENT.
UH, AND THEN BOARD MEMBER OR BOARD MEMBER MERIT PRESENT.
PRESENT BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN FRANKLIN.
PRESENT BOARD MEMBER BECKER PRESENT.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
START WITH ANY PUBLIC COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION.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.
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,
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.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CAROL BAXTER, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT COBB.
[00:05:02]
AND THEN, AND THEN I THINK THAT'S IT.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.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SCOTT COBB.
AND THEN I JUST WANNA CONFIRM THAT ROBIN RATHER ISN'T IN ATTENDANCE.
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 DOUBT IF ANYTHING, ANYONE ON THERE REPRESENTING CITY EMPLOYEES, YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO INVITE ME TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HERE'S WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO WITH THE BUDGET.
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.
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.
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 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.
PEOPLE WORK ON JUNETEENTH, THEY DON'T GET HOLIDAY PAY.
OUR MANAGERS WHO WORK ON THOSE HOLIDAYS DO GET
[00:10:01]
IT.ASPEN FINALLY SPOKE UP AT THAT, THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR YEARS.
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.
JUST FOR CLARITY, THE BUDGET WORKING GROUP HAS NOT MET THIS YEAR.
THE MEMBERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AND THE MINUTES WILL BE POSTED.
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.
AND YOU CAN CONTINUE TO EMAIL.
THAT'S TIME THAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE BATHHOUSE WORKING GROUP.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
GONNA MOVE ON, UH, TO APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 28TH.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.
ANY OTHER EDITS? UM, I, I THINK TIM, UH, CHAIR VILLALOBOS ADJOURNED THE MEETING.
LAST TIME HE WAS HERE, SO I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS HIM AT THE END.
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.
SO THAT'S A MOTION, UH, FROM BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.
SORRY, I'M LOOKING AT THE TIME REAL QUICK.
[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)]
MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS, UH, DISCUSSION INTO APPROVE A LETTER OF RECOGNITION, RECOGNITION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.UH, AND THE SPONSORS ARE BOARD MEMBER REED AND BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR.
UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NO CHAIR.
UM, THEN I THINK I'M GONNA PASS IT OFF TO BOARD MEMBER REED, UH, WHO IS GONNA READ THE LETTER? THANK YOU.
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]
PARK LYONS MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE, DEEP EDDIE POOL AND WALSH BOAT LANDING.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.
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.
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.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[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).]
ON, UH, TO OUR NEXT LETTER OF RECOGNITION, WHICH IS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE, WHO I SAW JUST CAME IN HERE A MOMENT AGO.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]
CREATING A COLLECTIVE VISION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND ECOLOGICAL PRESERVATION.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.
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 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.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.
AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO IT WITH THIS SCREEN TOO.
THANK Y AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
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).]
NUMBER FOUR.I DON'T THINK I ASKED FOR THE LAST ONE, BUT THERE'S, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? UH, OKAY, GREAT.
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.
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]
AUSTIN, AND YOUR DEDICATION TO PROVIDING AUSTIN RESIDENTS WITH BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR SPACES.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.
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'M MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LETTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.
UH, ALRIGHT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM OF THANKFULNESS.
[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).]
UH, IS THE PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION AND CITY STAFF WHO PROVIDED CRITICAL MAINTENANCE TO BARTON SPRINGS POOL.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.
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.
WE GOT COUNCIL MEMBER VALET TO SPONSOR THAT.
WHERE'S OUR LITTER? AQUATICS NEEDS TO DO BETTER.
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.
YEAH, WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION.
PLEASE, LET'S HAVE THE PRESENTER.
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]
SAFE ACCESS TO WATER AND WHY IT'S MISSION CRITICAL FOR PARD.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.
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]
IN YELLOW AND CONDUCT THE REPAIR.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.
THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
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.
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.
I HEAR A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER EDEDIE.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IF YOU COULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
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.
[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).]
MOVE FORWARD, UH, TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER SIX.UH, DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? YES.
WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL PUBLIC COMMENTERS ON THIS ITEM.
UH, OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE ROBIN STALLINGS, FOLLOWED BY DALE DOHERTY
[00:40:02]
AND THEN CULLEN MCMURRY.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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE NICK HILL, FOLLOWED BY ARIEL MARLOW.
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.
[00:45:01]
WORKSHOPS WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN HOW TO WRENCH ON BIKES.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.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ARIEL MARLOW, FOLLOWED BY CHARLES EU REU.
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.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARLES EU, FOLLOWED BY DAVID LMER.
HELLO, I'M CHARLES REU AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN RIDGE RIDERS AND I'D ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PLAN.
UM, AND I WANTED TO JUST REITERATE THAT WE'RE A NONPROFIT THAT IS, UM, BEEN A PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR A LONG TIME AND THERE'S BEEN A, A LOT OF NEED FOR ADDITIONAL AS THE CITY'S GROWN, JUST, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER RECREATIONAL PARK USER GROUP, UH, FOR MORE FACILITIES LIKE THIS.
AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THIS PLAN.
AND, UM, AND I THINK THAT, UM, A, A USED SPACE IS, IS A SPACE THAT'S GONNA STAY SAFE AND, UM, HAVE POSITIVE, UH, EFFECTS FOR, FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO, UM, THERE'S LOTS OF, OF PLACES IN TOWN THAT WE'VE, UH, ADVOCATED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF, OF TRAILS AND, UM, THE MORE, THE MORE USERS AND THE MORE CITIZENS THAT GET OUT AND USE EVERY, EVERY PARK SPACE WE HAVE THE BETTER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID LMER.
HI, MY NAME IS DAVID COMER, UM, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE VIOLET CROWN SPORTS ASSOCIATION.
WE'RE A NONPROFIT HERE IN TEXAS AND BASED IN AUSTIN.
WE'RE OVER 350 MEMBERS SUPPORT ANOTHER THOUSAND MOSTLY ROAD RIDERS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE, UH, USED CYCLING, UM, PROGRAMS. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE, THE PROPOSED BULL DISTRICT PARK VISION PLAN.
UM, THOSE KIDS PROGRAMS THAT WE RUN, UM, ACTIVATE PARKS IN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE WANT THEM TO BE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FOR MOST OF OUR USERS.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD 200 KIDS OR SO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE ACTIVE PROGRAMMING, UM, AND WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY TO DO THAT.
UM, WE GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM PARENTS OF THAT GROUP THAT TELL US THAT THEY DON'T HAVE PLACES THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE TAKING THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS TO GO RIDE TOGETHER.
AND WE FILL THAT GAP WITH OUR PROGRAM RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT A FACILITY SUCH AS PROPOSED AT BOM, UH, COULD REALLY BE, UM, TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE ACTIVE PROGRAMMING TO FILL THAT GAP FOR, FOR PARENTS AND FOR THE CYCLING COMMUNITY HERE IN TOWN.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS, UH, SUPPORT THAT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE PARKS BOARD ON THIS ITEM? THAT IS THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
I THINK WE CAN HAVE THE PRESENTATION NOW.
MY NAME IS CHARLES MAYBERRY WITH THE PARK PLANNING DIVISION OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY WITH AARON COOPER AND WITH HALF ASSOCIATES.
AND WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT THE BA DISTRICT PARK VISION PLAN PROCESS IN THE FINAL DRAFT CONCEPT AND TO ASK FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT THE PLAN.
[00:50:03]
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OTHER PARKS DEPARTMENT STAFF WHO ASSISTED WITH THE PROJECT, INCLUDING RACHEL MORRIS WITH PARK PLANNING AND OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STAFF, ADRIAN O'KEEFE AND JUSTIN SCHNEIDER.UM, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CONTRACTED WITH HALF ASSOCIATES AND THEIR PLANNING TEAM IN THE SPRING OF 2023 TO DEVELOP THE VISION PLAN.
AND THIS TEAM INCLUDED PLANNERS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALISTS, AND WORK ON THE PLANS STARTED IN THE SUMMER OF 2023 AND INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS VISION PLAN IS TO PROVIDE AN OVERALL FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF BALM DISTRICT PARK, INCLUDING PROJECT PHASING AND SECURING DEVELOPMENT FUNDS AND ALL THE PARK PROJECTS YOU'LL SEE IN THE RECOMMENDED THAT ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE DRAFT VISION PLAN.
WE'LL GO THROUGH A MORE DETAILED DESIGN AND PERMITTING PROCESS AND MAY INCLUDE ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND AT THIS POINT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO AARON TO TAKE US THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAFT PLAN CONCEPT.
AND, UH, THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS EVENING.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO, UH, SHARE WITH YOU THE PLAN, A SUMMARY OF THE PLAN THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UM, WITH A TALENTED TEAM OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS.
UM, SO IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHERE BOM DISTRICT PARK IS, IT IS IN THE EAST, EAST SIDE OF AUSTIN.
IT'S BETWEEN 180 3 AND THE COLORADO RIVER.
UM, IT'S JUST OVER 68 ACRES IN SIZE.
UM, IT'S, IT'S BEEN HISTORICALLY KIND OF, UH, VACANT OR USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, AND THEN IT WAS USED, UM, FOR MANY YEARS BY CAPITAL AGGREGATES AS SORT OF AN AGGREGATE, UM, OPERATION AND, AND CONCRETE FACILITY.
AND THEN, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PURCHASED THE F UH, THE PROPERTY IN 2013.
THE, UH, CURRENT CONDITIONS OF THE PROPERTY ARE, UM, THERE ARE LOTS OF REMNANTS FROM THOSE, UH, UM, CAPITAL AGGREGATES ACTIVITIES.
THERE'S LOTS OF SPOILS, PILES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF AGGREGATES.
UM, THERE'S SOME INDUSTRIAL REMNANTS INCLUDING A, A BUILDING STRUCTURE AS WELL AS LOTS OF CONCRETE PILLARS AND BLOCKS AND, AND GIANT, UH, LIMESTONE BLOCKS.
UM, THERE'S ALSO, UH, THE REMNANTS OF A BRIDGE THAT ACTUALLY USED TO CROSS THE COLORADO RIVER HERE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT TO THE, UH, TOP OF THIS IMAGE, THE FUTURE CENTRAL MAINTENANCE COMPLEX.
UM, SO THIS IS THE, UH, UH, THE LOCATION THAT WAS DETERMINED TO BE USED FOR THE FUTURE CENTRAL MAINTENANCE COMPLEX.
UM, THE PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THIS.
UM, IT IS APPROXIMATELY 15 ACRES IN SIZE, UM, BUT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THE MOST OF THAT.
UM, SO THIS IS A BRIEF, UH, OVERVIEW OF OUR SCHEDULE.
AGAIN, WE STARTED, UM, IN, UH, EARLY MID, UM, 2023, UM, AND WE HAD SEVERAL ROUNDS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I'LL, I'LL PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT HERE ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, BUT ESSENTIALLY BETWEEN EACH ONE OF THOSE ROUNDS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE WERE, UM, CREATING CONCEPTS AND, UH, TESTING IDEAS, UM, TO TRY AND END, UH, WITH A, UH, VISION PLAN THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WOULD SUPPORT FOR THOSE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, WE DID START OUT WITH WHAT WE'RE CALLING COMMUNITY VALUES MEETING.
UM, SO WE MET HAD BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON MEETINGS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND NONPROFITS.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE 18 PARTICIPANTS.
UM, AND, AND THROUGH THAT PARTICIPATION WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP, UH, GOALS FOR THE PARK.
UM, AND, UH, I HAVE SLIDE ON THOSE GOALS LATER.
BUT, UM, THOSE GOALS WERE REALLY CRITICAL BECAUSE WE WANTED, UH, EACH DECISION THAT WAS MADE TO BE POINT, TO BE ABLE TO POINT BACK TO THOSE GOALS AND SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE MADE THIS DECISION BECAUSE IT IS SUPPORTED BY THESE GOALS.
SO EACH OF THESE ROUNDS, UH, YOU SEE ROUND ONE, TWO, AND THREE, UM, EACH OF THEM HAD A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY, UH, MEETING COMPONENT.
SO WE HAD A ONLINE MEETING, UM, IN PARENTHESES.
THOSE ARE, UH, THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS, NOT INCLUDING, UM, STAFF OR CONSULTANTS.
UH, WE ALSO HAD POP-UP MEETINGS.
UH, SO WE UTILIZED EXISTING ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE KNEW THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE, UH, AND WE WENT TO THOSE LOCATIONS AND INTERACTED, UH, WITH, UH, PEOPLE THERE.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD AN ONLINE SURVEY COMPONENTS.
UM, AND, AND THIS WAS REALLY A FANTASTIC, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, UH, WORKING, UH, BOTH WITH CITY STAFF AND, AND, UH, SUB CONSULTANTS.
WE HAD AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE SHOW UP, UM, IN OVER 3000, UM, INTERACTIONS, UM, AND DATA POINTS.
UH, THESE ARE THOSE COMMUNITY VALUES.
UH, I'M NOT GONNA READ EACH ONE OF THOSE TO YOU.
UM, BUT THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO READ
UM, BUT AGAIN, IT WAS CRITICAL THAT, UM, ANY DECISIONS THAT WE MADE LAYING OUT THIS PARK, UM, AND, AND FIGURING OUT WHAT A MINIS WOULD BE PROVIDED THAT THEY WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY THESE COMMUNITY VALUES.
[00:55:02]
UM, IN ADDITION TO, UH, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, LIKE THE LONG RANGE PLAN, UM, AS WELL AS AN ONSITE VISIT WHERE WE GO AROUND AND DOCUMENT WHAT'S THERE, UM, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.UM, WE ALSO, UH, PERFORMED A COMPARABLE PARK STUDY.
SO WE LOOKED AT OTHER DISTRICT PARKS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO CONSIDER, WELL, WHAT DO THEY PROVIDE? WHAT'S SUCCESSFUL, WHAT'S MISSING? UM, WE ALSO LOOKED AT AN EXISTING PARK SYSTEM ANALYSIS.
SO, UH, THAT TOP RIGHT IMAGE, KIND OF A TWO MILE BUFFER AROUND THE PARK.
SO WE LOOKED AT ALL THE PARKS WITHIN THAT AREA, AND IT DID KIND OF THE SAME, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S PROVIDED, WHAT'S MISSING, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, CROSS REFERENCE THAT WITH THE LONG RANGE PLAN.
WE ALSO HAD TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP MEETINGS.
AND, UM, SO THAT WAS, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM, UH, SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE, UH, ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN.
AND THEN, UM, WE DID DEVELOP A NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
UM, SO THAT'S A PRIORITIZED LIST OF, UH, PARK AMENITIES.
THAT'S KIND OF THAT BOTTOM IMAGE.
SO THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE IN THIS PARK PLAN, AND THAT'S SORT OF THE PRIORITIZED LIST THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, THE PARK DOES NEED TO BE SITE CERTIFIED.
UM, SO HERE'S THE VISION PLAN, AND I REALIZE YOU CAN'T SEE MUCH AT THIS SCALE.
SO WE'RE GONNA BREAK IT DOWN, UH, SECTION BY SECTION.
UM, SO THERE'S, THERE'S FIVE SECTIONS IN GENERAL.
WE HAVE SPORTS ACTION, SPORTS NATURE INTERACTION, ACTIVE PLAY, AND PASSIVE PLAY.
UM, THESE ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED, UM, UH, SORT OF THE MORE ACTIVE AND NOISIER FEATURES MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY CLOSER TO 180 3, WHEREAS A MORE PEACEFUL, UM, ACTIVITY MIGHT BE LOCATED, UH, AS A BUFFER FOR, UH, SURROUNDING, UH, ADJACENT NEIGHBORS.
UH, BEFORE WE START BREAKING DOWN EACH OF THE ZONES, I WANNA TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT VEHICULAR CIRCULATION.
SO WE ONLY HAVE ONE POINT OF ACCESS CURRENTLY, UH, THAT'S ON THE SOUTH END, WHICH IS THE BOTTOM END OF THIS, UM, UH, PHOTO IN THE RED.
UM, BUT WITH THE FUTURE CENTRAL MAINTENANCE COMPLEX, THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ENTRANCE AT THAT LOCATION, UM, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL SHARED PARKING THAT'S THAT YELLOW AREA.
SO WHILE IT'S 15 ACRES IN SIZE, THERE IS STILL, UM, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT COULD BE UTILIZED BY THE PUBLIC AFTER HOURS.
UM, THAT ORANGE LINE, UM, THAT YOU SEE THROUGHOUT THE IMAGE IS A PARK ROAD.
UM, AND ALONG ITS ARE, UH, THE RED DASHED LINES AND THOSE ARE PARKING STALLS.
UM, SO WE HAVE LOTS OF PARKING AND WE DON'T BISECT THE PARK.
UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE A DIVIDE ACTIVITIES WITH A VEHICULAR CIRCULATION.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THAT, UH, THAT BLUE LINE.
IT'S A GAS EASEMENT THAT RUNS NORTH TO SOUTH, SO IT'S ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET WIDE.
AND THERE'S A HIGH PRESSURE GAS LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH THERE FOR PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION.
UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE EXISTING CHARITIES PATH ALONG 180 3.
UM, THERE IS ALSO THE FUTURE TRAIL ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER, WHICH IS REFERENCED IN, UH, THE FUTURE TRAIL PLAN.
UM, THAT BALLOON LINE IS A PAVED HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
UM, AND THEN WE CONNECT TO THOSE EXISTING CHARITIES, PATHS AND ALSO THE FUTURE TRAIL.
AND THERE'S ALSO THE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT, UM, TO THE NORTH THROUGH THAT GAS LINE, UM, DIRECTLY CONNECTING TO ADJACENT RESIDENCES.
UM, SO WE'RE NOT VERY FAR FROM, UH, SOUTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL, UH, WHICH HAS LOTS OF, UM, TRAFFIC, SO THIS IS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO THAT.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE THE, UH, PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT THE END OF BALM ROAD, WHICH YOU CAN SEE SORT OF ON THE BOTTOM LEFT OF THIS IMAGE.
UM, ALL IN ALL, WE HAVE ABOUT THREE MILES OF TRAILS WITHIN BALM DISTRICT PARK.
SO FOR THE FIRST OF THE FIVE, UM, AREAS THAT WE'RE GONNA BREAK DOWN IN SPORTS, UH, WE DO HAVE PICKLEBALL COURTS AND TENNIS COURTS, AS WELL AS TWO MULTI-USE SPORTS FIELDS, UH, THAT COULD CATER, CATER TO A VARIETY OF SPORTS, UM, AS WELL AS A MULTI-USE COURT.
I HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A MULTI-USE COURT IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THIS SLIDE.