Mar 24, 2025 Parks and Recreation Board

AND MOVE ON TO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.

WE CAN GO AHEAD

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

THANK YOU CHAIR.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE LIZ IDE, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FLORES.

AND THEN, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE MORE SPEAKERS AFTER THAT.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M LIZ BARITE WITH AUSTIN ROWING CLUB, AND WE HAVE HAD A VERY BUSY MARCH AT THE BOATHOUSE.

OUR WEEKLY MACBETH RECREATION CENTER ROWING CLASS FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES HAS RETURNED TO BEING ON THE WATER NOW THAT IT IS WARMER.

AND THEN THIS THURSDAY, WE WILL BE RESTARTING OUR LEARN TO ROW PROGRAM.

IT'S A MONTHLY CLASS WITH THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER'S WELLNESS PROGRAM.

WE ALSO HAVE HAD FOUR VISITING HIGH SCHOOL CREWS FROM MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND CONNECTICUT.

COME TO A RC FOR A WEEK OF SPRING TRAINING DURING THEIR BREAK, UH, TO ENJOY OUR GOOD WEATHER AND ACTUALLY BEAUTIFUL LAKE.

TODAY WE STARTED INSTALLATION OF A NEW KAYAK AND PADDLEBOARD DOCK THAT WILL INCLUDE A DA ACCESSIBLE KAYAK DOCK WITH A CHAIR HOIST.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

A RC HAS WORKED WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARD WATERSHED ON THIS PROJECT, AND IT IS FULLY FUNDED BY THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

ON APRIL 26TH, WE WILL BE HOSTING A LARGE EARTH DAY CLEANUP EVENT ON LADY BIRD LAKE AND THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DAY.

WE AIM TO HAVE 500 VOLUNTEERS OUT ON THE WATER, UM, AND ON THE TRAIL PICKING UP TRASH.

WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND AN INVITATION FOR ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US.

UH, SIGN UP PAGES WILL BE POSTED ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES IN THE COMING WEEK.

AND IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR, TO OUR PARKS, SUPPORTING ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS FOR ALL.

AND AS OF WEDNESDAY, I AM RETIRING AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DANA WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, LIZ, AND THANK YOU BOARD FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO LEADING THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

YOU WILL BE SEEING, UM, ME OFTEN, I REALLY DO BELIEVE IN THE PARTNERSHIPS, UM, BETWEEN THE ROWING CLUB AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

I'VE WORKED IN MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PAST FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND EXCITED TO GO OFF ON THIS NEW ADVENTURE.

441ST GRADE TEACHERS, 100 LIBRARIANS TIMES OF FAMILY SEASON SWIM PASS, WHICH COST $370 TWO SWIM CLASSES IN THE SUMMER, WHICH COST A HUNDRED DOLLARS EQUALS ABOUT A $500.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CHRIS FLORES, FOLLOWED BY VINNO FERNANDEZ.

UH, GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.

I'M CHRIS FLORES, DISTRICT 10.

I'M A SWIMMER.

UH, I'M ADDRESSING YOU TONIGHT ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, THE SWIM SCHOLARSHIPS AND ITEM FIVE, BUDGET 20 25, 26.

I'LL START WITH NUMBER THREE.

UH, I HAVE WITNESSED THE AQUATICS DEPARTMENT'S ADULT SWIM, SUMMER SWIM CLASSES FOR MANY YEARS, AND THE QUALITY OF THE INSTRUCTION IS OUTSTANDING.

I AM SO HEARTENED THAT THIS PROGRAM EXISTS FOR FIRST GRADERS.

I HAVE A SUGGESTION, UH, AND THAT IS TO SCALE IT UP, TO TEACH ALL A ISD AND DELL VALLEY, UH, SD FIRST GRADERS TO SWIM.

IT COULD BE DONE AS EARLY AS 2025 AND GOING OUT 10 YEARS TO 2035.

WE COULD MEASURE THE RESULTS ON THE PARTICIPANTS AS THEY REACH ADULTHOOD.

THAT MEANS INVOLVING FIRST GRADERS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR TEACHERS FOR THE BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

PLEASE FOLLOW MY BACK OF ENVELOPE MATH.

6401ST GRADERS,

[00:05:01]

TOTAL.

DIRECT SCHOLARSHIP VALUE TIMES 7,000 PEOPLE WOULD BE $3.5 MILLION A YEAR.

UM, YOU COULD PAY THE FIRST GRADE TEACHERS TO TEACH THE SWIM FIRST GRADERS, UH, FOR ONE WEEK EACH SUMMER.

AND THAT COST WOULD BE ABOUT 40 400,000 BASED ON WHAT THEY GET PAID.

THAT WOULD BE AN INDIRECT SCHOLARSHIP.

SO FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF 4 MILLION TOTAL SCHOLARSHIP COST, UH, WHICH COULD BE HAD BY INSTRUCTING AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION AS A PASS THROUGH FROM ACL FESTIVAL TO PUT THIS MONEY STRAIGHT THROUGH TO AQUATICS.

IT COULD BE ORDERED BY COUNCIL.

THIS WOULD BE A VIRTUOUS WAY FOR US CITIZENS TO ENDURE GIVING UP ZILKER PARK FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS EACH YEAR IN ORDER THAT EVERY FIRST GRADER IN AUSTIN EVERY YEAR AND THEIR FAMILIES LEARN TO SWIM.

UM, THAT WAS ITEM THREE.

AND I HAVE AN ITEM ON, UH, A COMMENT ON THE BUDGET.

I READ THE WAREHOUSES AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY EXTRA DOLLARS RECOMMENDED FOR SWIMMING AND AQUATICS.

AND I AM PLEADING WITH YOU, PLEASE TO PUT SOMETHING IN THERE.

IT'S FOR OUR POOLS.

IT'S HOW WE COOL OFF.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE GINO FERNANDEZ, FOLLOWED BY MIKE KANATI.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS GINO FERNANDEZ AND I'M WITH EL CONCILIO MEXICAN AMERICAN LANDOWNERS.

AND I GAVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY SO YOU CAN READ LATER ON.

I'M ALSO A FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF FOR TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER MARCO LEON, AND ALSO A FORMER PARKS AND RECREATION EMPLOYEE FOR 17 YEARS WORKING AT RECREATION CENTERS PAN AM AND TOPLESS IN SOUTH AUSTIN.

AND THE REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE I ALWAYS HAVE A PRACTICE OF WORKING WITH STAFF BEFORE I GET HERE.

AND THE REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT USING ONE OF THE, UH, THE ROOMS, UH, FOR ONE OF OUR LULAC CONVENTIONS.

AND I WENT TO DIFFERENT REC CENTERS TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT PROCESS WAS.

ONE OF 'EM, YOU FILL OUT THIS FORM, OUR, ALL OUR MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IF IT'S, THERE'S NOT A PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY ACCOMMODATE YOU.

ANOTHER ONE, I WENT AND GAVE ME THIS PACKAGE AND SAID, OH NO, IT'S $200 AN HOUR AND WHATEVER.

AND I SAID, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.

I THOUGHT, DON'T Y'ALL HAVE THE SAME POLICY? WELL, I DON'T KNOW, BUT AT THIS ONE, IF YOU WANNA RENT OR YOU WANT TO USE IT AND IT'S AVAILABLE, YOU HAVE TO PAY $200.

THIS ONE SAID, NO, GO AHEAD AND SIGN UP.

IT'S AVAILABLE.

UH, AND, UH, WE'LL ACCOMMODATE YOU.

AND I FEEL THAT THAT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU KNOW, WELL, HERE I'M ASKING A QUESTION, WHY IS IT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT POLICIES AT EACH REC CENTER? I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL UNIFORM.

AND, UH, SO I TRIED TO ALSO REACH OUT TO THE DIRECTOR TO TRY TO FIND OUT CLARIFICATION.

AND MY GOD, THE PERSON THAT SCHEDULED HIS APPOINTMENTS ASKED ME LITERALLY 10 QUESTIONS BEFORE I EVEN WAS GONNA GET AN APPOINTMENT.

AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, WAIT A MINUTE, , FORGET IT.

I'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

I'LL CALL MY COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND AND I'LL PURSUE IT FROM THAT WAY.

I THINK AS CITY EMPLOYEES, WE SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

THEY ARE PAID BY OUR TAX DOLLARS.

AND I COULD GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE CITY MANAGER WAY LESS THAN BEING, HAVING TO ANSWER 10 QUESTIONS.

AND, UH, SO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, UH, BECAUSE, UH, IT TELLS ME THAT THERE'S SOME KIND OF BARRIER IN TRYING TO GET ACCESS FOR, FOR A MEETING WITH, WITH THE DIRECTOR WHO A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE.

I DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW THEY HAVE A NEW ONE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WHO HE OR SHE IS.

BUT, UH, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS THAT, UM, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WHERE CERTAIN KIDS, AND I GREW UP IN EAST AUSTIN, I'M ALSO NATIVE.

SO, UH, WE ALWAYS CATERED TO PUBLIC HOUSING.

AND THERE WAS AN INCIDENCE WHERE THREE KIDS FROM SANTA RITA COURTS WEREN'T ABLE TO REGISTER.

'CAUSE THEY MADE THAT THEY DIDN'T MEET THE DEADLINE.

SO, BUT THE SEASON HAD I STARTED.

SO I WENT AND APPROACHED, TALKED TO STAFF AND SAID, WELL, WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER.

LONG STORY SHORT, THAT'S POSITIVE BECAUSE I GOT A CALL.

THREE OF THE CHILDREN WILL BE ACCOMMODATED AT PAN AM AND WE'RE LOOKING ONE FOR, SO THESE ARE KIND OF STRUCTURES THAT ONE OF THE OBJECTIVE, OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVES, EXCUSE ME WHEN I WORK AT THE REC CENTERS, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MADE IT, UH, THESE PROGRAMS ACCESSIBLE, ESPECIALLY TO KIDS THAT CAME FROM PROJECTS LIKE THIS TO KEEP 'EM OFF THE STREET.

SO I HOPE THAT BEFORE I LEAVE, I CAN GET CLARIFICATION ON THE RENTAL POLICY BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT, AT RENTING THE FACILITY FOR OUR, OUR LULAC CONVENTION.

TWO, UM, REC CENTERS THAT YOU WENT TO, CAN YOU LET US KNOW WHAT TWO THOSE WERE? SURE.

UH, YES.

BOARD MEMBER BAAN.

SORRY, I HAVE A QUESTION REALLY QUICK MR. FED ON THIS? YES.

I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

THE

[00:10:01]

WHERE YOU GOT THE DIFFERING INFORMATION? SURE.

UH, PAN AM RECREATION CENTER.

I WANT TO COMMEND THEIR STAFF.

'CAUSE WE'VE USED IT BEFORE.

THERE WAS THE ONES THAT SAID, THIS IS A FORM, YOU FILL IT OUT, IT'S AVAILABLE, IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, WE CAN ACCOMMODATE YOU.

I WENT TO MONTO RECREATION CENTER AND THAT'S WHEN I WAS THROWN THIS OTHER ONE WHERE SAY, NO, THAT DOESN'T EXIST HERE.

YOU GOTTA PAY $200 AND YOU HAVE TO PAY A DEPOSIT IF YOU WANT TO USE A ROOM.

AND I SAID, OKAY, .

SO, UH, THAT'S WHY I'M KIND OF LOST ON WHAT IS THE, THE POLICY.

AND, AND IF IT'S DIFFERENT, WELL THEN I NEED TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND I HOPE THERE'LL BE A STAFF MEMBER READY TO CATCH YOU WITH SOME MORE INFORMATION.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE MIKE KANATI, FOLLOWED BY JOY KOVSKI GREETING SPARKS BOARD.

MY NAME IS MIKE KANATI.

I'M THE BOARD CHAIR WITH PARTNER SPRINGS CONSERVANCY AND I'M HERE TO SHARE A LITTLE SUCCESS STORY WITH Y'ALL AND ANY OF THE NEW PARKS BOARD MEMBERS OF ABOUT THE JOAN MEANS KALI BETH HOUSE PROJECT.

UM, THIS WAS ACTUALLY A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY.

UM, AND WE WERE FORMED IN 2014 TO HELP RAISE PRIVATE FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENT THE 2012 BOND MONEY FOR THIS BATHHOUSE PROJECT.

SO WE WERE WORKING WITH THE KEYS BARTON SPRINGS STAKEHOLDERS TO ESTABLISH OUR FUNDRAISING CAPACITY AND PROVIDE COMMUNITY INPUT TO THE PROCESS.

AND THIS WAS A PRETTY SIMPLE RELATIONSHIP.

THE CITY RAN THE PROJECT AND WE HELPED RAISE MONEY FOR IT.

UM, AS A CONSEQUENCE OF AUSTIN'S VERY VIGOROUS PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS, THE COMMUNITY INPUT AND DESIGN REQUIRED 10 YEARS OF WORK, BUT GROUNDBREAKING ON THE BATHHOUSE.

WE ACTUALLY BEGAN IN EARLY 2024 AND CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY AND SCHEDULED FOR SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION THIS SUMMER.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

UM, WITH IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS TO THE 78-YEAR-OLD STRUCTURE, THERE WILL BE A BETTER ENTRANCE EXPERIENCE.

THERE WILL BE UPDATED ENVIRONMENTAL EXI EDUCATION EXHIBITS, REPLACING OLD PLUMBING SYSTEMS, STRUCTURAL REPAIRS, AND THE RESTORATION OF THE CRITICAL PARTS INTO THE ENTRY ROTUNDA AND THE CHANGING ROOMS. WE REALLY ARE GRATEFUL TO THE AUSTIN VOTERS WHO APPROVE THE 2012 BOND FUNDS AND ALSO TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT PUBLIC WORK STAFF, BECAUSE THEY HELPED STEWARD THIS THROUGH THE CITY'S THOROUGH ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PROFESSIONALISM PATIENTS AND, AND THEIR PASSION FOR THIS PLACE.

AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE ALMOST $3.9 MILLION IN PRIVATE FUNDS WITH GENEROUS COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS AND DONORS.

UH, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THE LESSONS WE LEARNED, UH, FROM THIS PROCESS.

FIRST OF ALL, THE PARKS BOARD WAS VITAL TO ADVANCING THIS PROJECT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

WE ALSO LEARNED THAT AN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WAS IMPORTANT TO IMPROVING THE FINAL RESULTS AT THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT NO MATTER HOW EXTENSIVE, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP IN THE END AND THEY WILL COMPLAIN THAT THEIR, THEIR VOICES WEREN'T HEARD.

BUT ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A VERY THOROUGH PROCESS.

ONE OF THE LESSON WE LEARNED IS THAT THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS CAN KIND OF, UM, PAUSE SOME OF THE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR PROJECTS IF THEY THINK SOMETHING IS CONTROVERSIAL.

SO IT'S REALLY KEY, THE C CITY LEADERSHIP GIVE A CLEAR SIGNAL ON, YOU KNOW, APPROVING A PROJECT THAT'S UNDERWAY IF WE ARE TRYING TO FIND PUB PRIVATE FUNDS TO HELP GET THINGS DONE, I ONLY MENTION THIS AS A CHALLENGE TO THE TIMING OF ANY BORDER COMMISSION REVIEW PROCESS BECAUSE THOSE TYPICALLY HAPPEN AT THE END OF A PROJECT.

AND I'M SURE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO SUGGEST AS A SOLUTION OTHER THAN MAYBE GETTING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER INVOLVED.

BUT THE OTHER APPROACH MIGHT BE, IF I CAN PARAPHRASE POPE FRANCIS, THAT WE COULD EXERCISE A PREFER PREFERENTIAL OPTION FOR PAR APPROVED PROJECTS WHEN THEY COME TO YOU TO TRY TO GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR NEGOTIATING A GOOD DEAL.

BECAUSE I DO GOOD WORK AND I JUST WANT EXPRESS THANKS TO THEM AND TO YOU FOR APPROVING THE PROJECT.

AND THAT WAS MY UPDATE.

WILD, UH, WILDFIRE AS WELL AS TAKING OUT, UM, INVASIVE SPECIES, CREATING MORE SUITABLE HABITATS.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOY KOVSKI, FOLLOWED BY FLEETWOOD JACOBS.

HI, GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD MEMBERS.

I'M JOY KOVSKI WITH AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.

UH, I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A COUPLE UPDATES OF SOME EXCITING PROJECTS THAT'VE EITHER COMPLETED OR, UM, ARE, ARE IN THE WORKS.

UM, SOME OF Y'ALL MAY HAVE NOTICED IN THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, I BELIEVE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN LAST MONTH, UM, THE WALNUT CREEK UNIFIED STEWARDSHIP PLAN IS COMPLETE.

AND, UM, THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION IS IT'S A PRETTY UNIQUE PROJECT.

UM, WE HAVE LOTS OF AUSTINITES OUT THERE WHO WANNA VOLUNTEER IN THEIR PARKS.

UH, WE HAVE METRO PARKS LIKE WALNUT CREEK AND THERE'S A LOT OF ECOLOGICAL NEEDS AND TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY KIND OF ON THE SAME PAGE FROM VOLUNTEERS TO DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, UM, ORGANIZATIONS.

AND SO THE IDEA WAS LET'S COME TOGETHER AND CREATE KIND OF A PLAN THAT WE COULD THEN USE TO, UM, KIND OF GUIDE ALL OF US STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH THE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROCESS OF WALNUT CREEK.

UM, SO ANYWAYS, THAT PLAN IS NOW COMPLETE.

IT IS ON THE PARS WEBSITE.

WE ARE USING IT ALONG WITH PARTNERS.

UM, I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD MODEL FOR OTHER AREAS AS WE HAVE AN INCREASING, UM, INCREASING NEED TO MANAGE THOSE ECOLOGICAL AREAS, UM, OUR PARKLANDS SO THAT WE'RE, UM, MITIGATING

[00:15:01]

UM, SO ANYWAYS, JUST WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT.

'CAUSE A PLAN CAN BE VERY BORING, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITING.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER THING, UM, MAYBE SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE EXCITING BESIDES A PLAN, BUT LIKE I SAID, A PLAN IS STILL EXCITING IN OUR WORLD.

UM, THE ZILKER EAGLE IS BACK TO RUNNING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AFTER KIND OF, UM, DOING SOME MAINTENANCE, UM, AND NEEDS EARLIER JUST YEARLY IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

AND WE MAY HIT OUR RECORD OF RIDER.

UM, WE'RE OVER 14,000 FOR THE MONTH OF, UM, MARCH.

AND, UM, OUR NEXT FREE DAY FOR THE PUBLIC IS GONNA BE THE FIRST FRIDAY IN APRIL.

SO ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO SHOW UP TO THE TRAIN, UM, RIDE IT FOR FREE.

SO ANYWAYS, JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE Y'ALL SOME UPDATES.

THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO AND FOR ALL THE WORK YOU PUT INTO CARING FOR OUR PARKS.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE FLEETWOOD JACOBS, FOLLOWED BY JOELLE MANZO.

HELLO, I'M FLEETWOOD JACOBS.

AND FIRST I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO KEEP OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY GREEN AND TO GIVE PEOPLE A PLACE TO GET OUTDOORS AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH.

YOU GUYS DO GREAT WORK.

UM, I AM THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ZILKER 3 5 1.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, BUT WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FORMED IN 2022 TO PROTECT THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF SOER PARK TO HONOR ITS DIVERSE AND RICH HISTORY, AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A WELCOMING AND SAFE PLACE TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS.

UM, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, SOAKER PARK IS KIND OF UNIQUE AMONG THE PARKS BECAUSE IT DOES SIT WITHIN THE RECHARGE ZONE OF THE BARTON SPRINGS SEGMENT OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.

SO, UM, PROPER STEWARDSHIP, UH, ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP OF THE PARK IS CRITICAL TO ENSURE THE LONGEVITY OF OUR BEAUTIFUL AND ICONIC BARTON SPRINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR WATER SUPPLY IS, UM, BUT THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY IS HEALTHY, NOT JUST FOR US, BUT FOR MANY DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITIES AND TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF FLOODING AND DROUGHT, WHICH WE ARE BOTH PRONE TO BOTH.

UM, SO ZORA 3 5 1, I'M JUST, TODAY THERE'S, WE HAVE SO MANY PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON, BUT I'M JUST GONNA SPEAK TO THE ECOLOGICAL PROJECTS.

UM, WE DID HAVE OUR FIRST, IT'S MY PART DAY CLEANUP, AND WE, UH, CLEANED UP.

WE GOT ABOUT 20 TRASH BAGS FROM THE, UM, OF THE LOOKOUT POINT, SORRY.

UM, AND OUR NEXT PROJECT IS TO REMOVE INVASIVE SPECIES AND TO REPLACE THEM WITH NATIVE SPECIES.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE CANOPY AREAS, BUT IN THE FUTURE WE WILL BE WORKING TO, UM, REPAIR THE RIPARIAN ZONES TO PREVENT FURTHER EROSION ALONG BARTON CREEK.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE A HISTORY PROJECT THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING INTO THE, UM, HISTORY, THE CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY, UM, THE EQUALITY HISTORY OF THE PARK, AND BUILDING, UH, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AROUND THOSE HISTORIES SO THAT WE MAKE SURE TO RECOGNIZE, UM, EVERYTHING THAT THE PARK STANDS FOR.

UM, AND YEAH, WE JUST HAVE A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS, BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED MOSTLY TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, UM, TO KEEP OUR CITY BEAUTIFUL.

AND WE NEED TO RETAIN THIS MONEY AND HIRE MORE LIFEGUARDS AND HIRE MORE STAFF AND HIRE MORE SECURITY SO WE CAN HAVE THE SAFEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE WE CAN SWIM IN TEXAS.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOELLE MANZO, FOLLOWED BY MARY FARROW.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS JOELLE MANZO, DISTRICT SEVEN.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU PARKS BOARD AND PARK STAFF FOR GIVING US THIS TIME THIS EVENING.

UM, I'M ALSO A, UH, BARTON SPRINGS REGULAR AQUATICS POOL, UH, REGULAR ATTENDEE.

UM, AND THEY ARE VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I CAN'T BE HERE FOR TOO LATE, BUT I WANNA SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ON THE BUDGET.

UH, BARTON SPRINGS AND ZILKER PARK HAVE BECOME THE CENTRAL PARK OF AUSTIN.

IT'S BECOME VERY BUSY.

IT'S BECOME OVERCROWDED.

WE'VE HIT CAPACITY.

UM, WE NEED ALL THE RESOURCES WE CAN GET AT BARTON SPRINGS AND ZUCKER PARK.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, DRASTIC CHANGE TO INCREASE OUR, UH, BUDGET AND RETAIN SOME FUNDS BY, UH, CHARGING ALL YEAR ROUND.

BARTON SPRINGS IS VERY CRITICAL, VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UM, WE WILL GET MORE REVENUE BY CHARGING ALL YEAR ROUND.

I REALLY DON'T LIKE THE NON-RESIDENT FEE.

IT'S NOT VERY WELCOMING.

IT DOESN'T SAY, HEY, WELCOME TO AUSTIN.

WE HAVE A FLAT RATE FOR EVERYBODY.

IT WILL INCREASE SEASON PASS SALES, UM,

[00:20:01]

UM, SO I SUPPORT THAT ALL THE WAY.

UM, I SUPPORT THE SAFE PROGRAM.

I WAS A LIFEGUARD FOR MANY YEARS.

UM, IT IS A NOT ONLY A FUN ACTIVITY, IT IS A, UH, SURVIVAL SKILL.

UM, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE LIFEGUARDS IS WE HAVE SUCH A TREMENDOUS AQUATIC DIVISION AND LEADERS IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

UM, AND WHAT I USUALLY TALK ABOUT IS BASEBALL.

AND WITH THESE RESERVATIONS WITH BASEBALL, WE NEED TO RETAIN THAT MONEY SO WE CAN HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE BASEBALL FACILITIES HAVE PRETTIER, SAFER BASEBALL FACILITIES, NOT ONLY FOR ADULTS, BUT FOR THE YOUTH.

UH, THEY STRUGGLE TO GET SPACE AS WELL.

SO I'M HERE ALL IN SUPPORT OF FINDING ANY MEANS TO, TO INCREASE THE AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL AT OUR PARKS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARY FARROW.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

UM, I WAS HERE IN JANUARY AND TALKED WITH YOU AT THAT TIME ABOUT, UM, CONCERNS ABOUT WILDFIRE POTENTIAL AT NORTHWEST PARK.

AND I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT BASED ON OUR PARTICIPATION AT IT'S MY PARK DAY, WE HAD ABOUT 75 VOLUNTEERS AND THREE DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

AND ONE OF THEM WAS TO, UH, PICK UP A LOT OF BRUSH THAT WAS CARRIED AWAY.

UH, WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH PARD ON SOME LARGE LIMB AND TREES THAT ARE, UH, OF A CONCERN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT I ALSO WANNA TELL YOU, UM, AS A FOLLOW UP, I HAD MENTIONED SOME, UH, CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY AND SAFETY AT THE PARK.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING, UM, INCIDENTS THERE.

UH, NUMBER OF 9 1 1 CALLS, UH, ST.

PATRICK'S DAY WAS A NOTABLE, UH, PARTY NIGHT.

UM, AND A PD FILE DID FILE A CASE REPORT ON THAT, UH, NIGHT.

UM, IT, IT INVOLVES, YOU KNOW, I THINK PREDOMINANTLY, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MAYBE IN OUR, FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ALLENDALE IN, IN THAT AREA AROUND NORTHWEST PARK.

UM, BUT THEY, UH, LIKE TO DO BURNOUTS.

I'VE LEARNED THAT NEW WORD INSTEAD OF DONUTS AND, UM, IT'S VERY DESTRUCTIVE.

BUT, UM, A PD HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE AND THEY HAVE WORKED WITH PART STAFF TO, UM, GET SOME BARRIERS INSTALLED TO PREVENT ACCESS, BUT THERE SEEM TO BE WORKAROUNDS THAT KEEP BEING DISCOVERED.

UM, AS OTHER PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR BUDGET SUPPORT AND, AND STAFF.

I, I COMMEND ALWAYS THE STAFF THAT ARE VERY HARDWORKING HERE.

BUT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU DIRECTLY TONIGHT BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO ASKING THE, THE PARKS STAFF FOR SUPPORT, YOU HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO MADE YOUR APPOINTMENT.

AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING, UM, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, I KNOW IT'S A LARGE BUDGET.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK MAYBE IS BEING LOOKED AT AS FAR AS CREATING SOME ECONOMIES.

UM, BUT AUSTIN IS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS THE GREEN CITY.

IT'S BEEN KNOWN AS, THAT'S ONE.

IN ADDITION TO ART AND MUSIC, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE HERE.

IT'S VITAL.

AND AS WE GET MORE URBANIZED, I THINK IT'S REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO, TO HAVE, AS THESE OTHER FOLKS HAVE SAID, UM, THAT, THAT AVENUE FOR ENJOYMENT AND APPRECIATION OF LIFE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I HOPE YOU WILL DO WHAT YOU CAN TO CARRY THAT MESSAGE TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, TRY TO MAINTAIN A STRONG, STEADY STREAM OF SUPPORT FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

TO ITEM NUMBER ONE, APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING FROM FEBRUARY 24TH.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT THAT HAS NOT ALREADY DONE? SO THAT IS THE END OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

WE'LL MOVE ON, UH,

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

SO IF BOARD MEMBERS COULD TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW THE MINUTES, ANYONE DOES SEE ANY CHANGES OR ISSUES, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND RAISE THEM.

I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WHENEVER SOMEONE IS READY TO PUT ONE ON THE TABLE.

[00:25:02]

I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES AS IS.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, WHICH IS RELATED TO LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR PART STAFF.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

WE'LL SET THAT ASIDE.

MOVING ON TO

[2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for PARD Staff who have increased lowincome access to PARD programs by improving financial aid programs, effective collaboration and removal of barriers. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Park Access for All, Urban Public Spaces). Presenter(s): Christa McCarthy, Centralized Programming Division Manager and Davin Bjornaas, Program Manager, Parks and Recreation Department.]

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE STAFF INVOLVED.

GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME'S KRISTEN MCCARTHY.

I SERVE AS THE DIVISION MANAGER FOR RECREATION SERVICES.

AND, UM, I HAVE WITH ME PROGRAM MANAGER DAVIN BJORN.

WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE YOUTH FINANCIAL AID AND PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP, WHICH, UM, IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY FOR OUR LOWER INCOME POPULATION TO PAR YOUTH PROGRAMS. UM, DAVIN OVERSEES A UNIT CALLED COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT OVERSEES THE FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM, AND THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE INCREASED, UH, PARTICIPATION THROUGH LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS, STREAMLINING PROCESSES, AND REDUCING BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION.

SO I'M GONNA LET DAVIN TAKE OVER AND YOU CAN HIT THE NEXT SLIDE.

HEY, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

SO, LIKE KRISTA SAID, OUR GOAL, UH, IN THIS PROJECT WAS TO INCREASE LOW INCOME ACCESS TO PARD PROGRAMS. UM, WE HAVE A FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE ACTUALLY OFFERED THAT SINCE ABOUT 2014.

UH, WE TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT THAT PROGRAM AND THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US, UH, TO WORK TOWARDS ACHIEVING THIS GOAL.

UH, SO THAT'S A BRIEF TIMELINE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE, UH, PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

UM, SO, UH, WE KNEW, UH, NEXT SLIDE, TIM.

WE KNEW THAT IF WE WANTED TO, UH, CREATE A MORE ROBUST PROGRAM, THAT PARTNERSHIPS WOULD BE PIVOTAL, UH, PIVOT PIVOTAL, SORRY, UH, IN THAT ENDEAVOR.

AND SO WE SOUGHT A PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH AUSTIN ENERGY.

UH, THEY'VE GOT A GREAT, UH, CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHEREBY, UH, FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT FINANCIALLY QUALIFIED GET AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED IN THAT PROGRAM.

WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE OUR, UH, LIST OF HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR, UH, RECREATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, CROSS REFERENCE THAT.

AND, UM, NOW WE OFFER AUTO RENEWALS THROUGH THAT PROGRAM, UH, WHICH IS PRETTY GREAT.

UH, WE ALSO, UH, PARTNERED WITH THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.

THEY, UM, STEPPED UP AND, UH, INCREASED THE, UH, DONATION FUND, UH, SUBSTANTIALLY FOR US, UH, WHICH ALLOWED US TO OFFER, UM, MORE SCHOLARSHIPS.

UM, WE ALSO, UH, WORKED WITH, UH, A ISD, UM, TO, UM, UM, UH, THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION, UH, FOR AUTO ENROLLMENTS.

UH, BASICALLY THOSE SCHOOLS THAT QUALIFY, UH, AUTO AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY HOUSEHOLDS FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH.

WE WENT AHEAD AND SAID THAT THAT WOULD BE A GREAT STANDARD FOR US TO USE AS WELL.

UM, THEREBY REMOVING SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS, UH, TO PARTICIPATION.

UM, WE ALSO WANTED TO REMOVE SEVERAL OF THE BARRIERS THAT, UH, EXISTED ALONG THE WAY.

UH, WE MOVED FROM A ONE YEAR RENEWAL, S RENEWAL S UH, CYCLE TO A, UH, TWO YEAR RENEWAL S RECY, UH, CYCLE.

UM, THEREBY, UH, REMOVING THAT BARRIER TO HAVING TO, UM, UH, COMPLETE AN APPLICATION EVERY YEAR.

WE ALSO STARTED OFFERING AN ONLINE APPLICATION, UH, BEFORE YOU HAD TO GO IN PERSON, UH, GET A APPLICATION, FILL IT OUT, GO BACK, GET YOUR, UH, DOCUMENTATION, BRING IT BACK TO THE REC CENTER OR MAIL IT TO US.

UM, SO WE, UH, SIMPLY MOVED THAT TO ONLINE AND THEY CAN UPLOAD THEIR DOCUMENTS AND GET APPROVED, UH, A LOT FASTER THAT WAY.

UM, WE ALSO, UM, STARTED OFFERING THE APPLICATIONS IN MULTI-LANGUAGES.

WE'RE NOW UP TO SIX LANGUAGES THAT WE HAVE THE APPLICATION IN.

UH, AND THEN ONE, UM, UH, PROJECT WE'RE PROUD OF IS THE EARLY REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR SUMMER CAMPS.

OUR SUMMER CAMPS ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND VERY HARD TO GET INTO, UM, FOR THOSE FAMILIES, UH, WITH MULTIPLE KIDS, MAYBE WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS, THAT'S A REALLY HARD THING TO DO.

SO WE STARTED AN EARLY REGISTRATION PROCESS, ALLOWING FOR A ONE WEEK, UM, UM, REGISTRATION FOR FOLKS, UM, ENROLLED IN OUR FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM.

UH, WE ALSO EXPANDED THE OPPORTUNITIES.

UM, WE INCREASED THE SCHOLARSHIPS AMOUNT, SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS THAT WE AWARDED.

WE WENT FROM 400 TO 700, UH, AND THAT'S DUE TO THE INCREASE IN FUNDS.

UH, WE REMOVED LIMITS ON, UH, SCHOLARSHIP, UH, USAGE OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS BEFORE IT ONLY PROVIDED A 25% DISCOUNT, UM, THROUGH THE SCHOLARSHIP ON TOP OF THE, UH, REGISTRATION FEE.

UM, AND WE REMOVED THAT CAP AND SAID THAT THEY COULD USE THEIR FUNDS HOWEVER THEY WANTED TO.

UM, WE ALSO ALLOWED THEM TO USE THEIR FUNDS FOR THINGS LIKE DEPOSITS FOR SUMMER CAMPS AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY, UH, PREVIOUSLY COULD NOT.

AND, UM, WE ALSO MOVED TO ALLOWING THEM TO USE THEIR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ONLINE.

THAT WAS JUST THIS PAST YEAR IN 2025.

PREVIOUSLY YOU HAD TO CALL THE REC CENTER OR GO IN, UH, TO BE ABLE TO USE YOUR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS.

WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, UM, ALLOW FAMILIES NOW TO USE THAT ONLINE.

SO, UM, SOME REALLY GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS THERE.

UM, MOVING

[00:30:01]

ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UH, WE'LL SHOW YOU SOME OF THE IMPACTS THAT THAT HAD.

UM, SO THIS SLIDE, WHAT IT'S SHOWING YOU HERE IS OUR EARLY ENROLLMENT TRENDS.

UM, ONE OF THE PROGRAMS WE STARTED JUST ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, AND YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASE OVER YEAR OVER THE LAST, UH, THREE OR FOUR YEARS, UM, WHERE WE'RE UP TO THIS PAST YEAR IN 2025, ABOUT 42% OF EARLY, UM, OF, UH, SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION, UM, HAPPENED DURING EARLY ENROLLMENT FOR OUR FINANCIAL AID PARTICIPANTS.

UM, AND THAT SECOND NUMBER THERE IS TOTAL ENROLLMENT.

SO WHAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT FOR SUMMER CAMPS, THAT'S SUMMER CAMPS ONLY.

UM, NEXT SLIDE.

UM, AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT, UM, A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE DID AND, UM, OUR NEW PROCESSES LED TO AN INCREASE IN THE UTILIZATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP.

UM, SO IN 2022, WE ONLY SPENT, UM, OR, UM, FAMILIES RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS ONLY USED ABOUT $19,000.

UM, PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS A CAP, A PERCENTAGE CAP.

UM, AND, UM, SO, UM, NOW UP INTO 2024, UM, WE USED ABOUT $121,730.

UM, SO THAT UTILIZATION RATE HAS GONE UP TO ABOUT 81%, WHICH IS WHERE WE'D LIKE TO SEE IT.

THE REASON WHY 2023 LOOKS A LOT LOWER.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED RECEIVING THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.

UM, SO JUST A FEW MORE NUMBERS THERE.

UM, THAT IS ACTUALLY THE WRONG FIGURE.

THERE.

WE'RE ACTUALLY UP TO ABOUT 3000 CURRENT PARTICIPANTS IN OUR FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM, UM, WHICH EQUALS ABOUT 1600 FAMILIES.

UH, WE'VE HAD A FOUR PER 400% INCREASE IN, UH, THE SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO AWARD.

SO IN 20, UH, 22, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO OFFER ABOUT 165 SCHOLARSHIPS.

AND THIS PAST JANUARY, WE WERE ABLE TO AWARD 835 SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH IS AWESOME.

WE INCREASED AMOUNTS, LIKE I SAID, FROM 400 TO 700, WHICH, UH, THE REASON WHY 700 IS THAT NUMBER IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD COST TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO CAMP FOR 10 WEEKS.

AND SO THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THAT, UH, TO COVER THE COST OF SUMMER CAMP IF THEY CHOOSE.

UM, AND THEN AGAIN, UH, 42% OF OUR EARLY ENROLLMENT, UM, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY, UH, DONATED BY THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.

AND, UM, THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE, OR THE PARTNERSHIP WITH AUSTIN ENERGY HAS LED TO 300 AND ALMOST 40, UH, AUTO RENEWALS FOR FINANCIAL AID.

AND THEN OVERALL IN THE DEPARTMENT, UM, ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST SUMMER CAMP, BUT ALL YOUTH PROGRAMS. UM, ABOUT 19% OF FARD PROGRAM ENROLLMENTS RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID.

SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT.

I THINK THAT'S IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAD ANY QUESTION, BUT THIS HAS JUST SOME OF THE, WE DO SEND OUT A SURVEY, UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR JUST TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK ON WHY THEY MAY NOT HAVE USED ALL OF THEIR FUNDS FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP OR HOW THEY ARE, UM, APPRECIATIVE OF THE PROGRAM OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE.

AND SO THOSE ARE SOME GENERAL COMMENTS THAT THEY HAD LEFT FOR US.

MM-HMM .

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS VITAL WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE WHAT AN IMPACT YOU'VE HAD.

UH, WE DO HAVE A LETTER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, DO ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE PRISONERS? OKAY.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ OUR LETTER THEN.

DEAR PART COMMUNITY INITIATIVES TEAM, WE ARE WRITING TO EXPRESS DEEP ADMIRATION FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS TO INCREASE LOW INCOME ACCESS TO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS. YOUR WORK REFLECTS THE VERY BEST OF PUBLIC SERVICE, COMPASSION, INNOVATION, AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EQUITY.

THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNITY CENTERED APPROACH, THOUSANDS OF AUSTIN FAMILIES ARE NOW ABLE TO ACCESS CRITICAL YOUTH PROGRAMMING THAT ENRICHES LIVES, BUILDS RESILIENCE AND SUPPORTS WORKING FAMILIES.

THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH AUSTIN ENERGY, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, AND AUSTIN ISD, YOU HAVE REMOVED LONGSTANDING BARRIERS AND DRAMATICALLY EXPANDED THE REACH AND IMPACT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. YOUR EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN OVER 1100 PARTICIPANTS APPROVED FOR FINANCIAL AID WITH 19% OF PROGRAM ENROLLMENTS NOW RECEIVING ASSISTANCE.

I THINK WE NEED TO UPDATE THAT FIGURE.

THESE ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS.

THEY REPRESENT REAL CHILDREN WHO NOW HAVE ACCESS TO SUMMER CAMP SPORTS AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THEY OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE STORIES FROM OUR COMMUNITY SPEAK VOLUMES.

CAREGIVERS FINDING RELIEF IN TIMES OF STRESS, CHILDREN THRIVING IN SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS AND FAMILIES FEELING SEEN AND SUPPORTED.

ONE PARENT CALLED YOUR PROGRAM A LIFESAVER.

ANOTHER SAID SIMPLY THANK YOU.

IT'S A BLESSING BECAUSE OF YOU.

AUSTIN IS NOT JUST A CITY WITH BEAUTIFUL PARKS.

WE ARE A CITY THAT BELIEVES EVERY CHILD DESERVES ACCESS TO JOY, PLAY, AND COMMUNITY, NO MATTER THEIR FAMILY'S INCOME.

PLEASE ACCEPT THIS LETTER AS A SINCERE THANK YOU AND A RECOGNITION OF THE POWERFUL IMPACT YOU HAVE MADE.

WE ARE PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE SUCH DEDICATED AND COMPASSIONATE PUBLIC SERVANTS.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DO.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? OH, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SORRY.

OF COURSE.

UM, SO NOW THAT I'VE READ THE LETTER, UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, UH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS LETTER AS WRITTEN.

UH, ARE THERE ANY

[00:35:01]

THAT FIRST I'LL SECOND.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

BOARD MEMBER BECKER, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT.

I HEARD, UM, FROM MANY FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN, UM, YEAR OVER YEAR SIGNING UP FOR CAMP, THAT IT'S JUST GOTTEN EASIER EACH TIME.

AND SO WE DEFINITELY, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THE DICE BEFORE, BUT, UM, HAVING THAT WAITING ROOM, PEOPLE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED KNOWING THAT THEY WERE IN SOMEWHERE.

UM, AND THEN ALSO HAVING, UM, FAMILIES WHO HAVE MULTIPLE KIDDOS IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD, BEING ABLE TO SIGN THEM UP AT ONCE.

SO WE DO HEAR ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK AND IT'S BEEN, UM, JUST GLOWING FROM PEOPLE WHO I'VE TALKED TO ABOUT IT.

OBVIOUSLY NOT EVERYBODY GETS INTO WHAT THEY WANT AND SO CONTINUE TO ADD MORE SPOTS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE Y'ALL ARE DOING, UM, DOING THE WORK TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS EACH YEAR.

AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

AND AGAIN, LIKE SUMMER CAMPUS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT, UM, FAMILIES TRULY APPRECIATE.

AND, UM, YEAH, JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR ALL THAT WORK.

BOARD MEMBER PAAN.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, IS THERE A DIVISION WITHIN THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT THAT HANDLES THE FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM? YES, THAT IS THE, UM, COMMUNITY INITIATIVES DIVISION.

SO DAB IN RIGHT HERE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? OKAY.

IF NOT, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE LETTER, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH.

WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE.

[3. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement between the City of Austin and the Austin Independent School District for Project SAFE, a swim lesson and water safety education program that includes opportunities for students to continue their education by joining either paid or free swim lessons during the summer months when AISD is not in session. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Urban Public Spaces). Presenter(s): Ashley Wells, Aquatics Division Manager, Parks and Recreation Department. ]

DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT? OKAY, GREAT.

PERFECT.

THEN WE'LL TAKE THE PRESENTATION.

UH, VICE CHAIR, THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED AT FRIDAY'S CONTRACTS AND CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE MEETING.

OH, YES, YES, YES, YES.

SO WHO FROM CONTRACTS AND CONCESSIONS WANTS TO INTRO THIS? I'M HAPPY TO DO IT UNLESS BOARD MEMBER READ OR MERIT.

UM, SO THIS IS A, UM, THE, THE NEXT, BOTH THIS, THIS PROGRAM AND THE NEXT PROGRAM OR THE NEXT ITEM ARE BOTH, I THINK, FANTASTIC EXAMPLES OF THE WAY THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH LOCAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO FIND, UM, WAYS TO SORT OF BENEFIT, UH, STUDENTS, UH, BY WORKING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IN THIS CASE.

UM, THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH, I BELIEVE IT'S FIRST GRADE STUDENTS TO TEACH THEM SWIM LESSONS.

UH, IT'S BEEN A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN, UH, IN OPERATION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THEY'VE BEEN SLOWLY EXPANDING.

UH, SPEAKING TO ONE OF THE CITIZEN COMMENTS EARLIER, THEY'RE DEFINITELY FOCUSED ON EXPANSION, UH, AND SORT OF MOVING AT A PACE THAT MAKES SENSE.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE.

BUT, UH, BASICALLY IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO THE SCHOOLS FOR A CERTAIN FIXED AMOUNT OF TIME AND OFFER THE FIRST GRADE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY, ALL THE FIRST GRADE STUDENTS AT THESE VARIOUS SCHOOLS, TO, UH, JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART OF THEIR SCHOOL TIME TO LEARN BASIC SAFETY AND SWIMMING LESSONS.

UM, TAUGHT BY MEMBERS OF THE PARK STAFF OR THE AQUATIC STAFF RATHER.

UM, BOARD MEMBER READ, BOARD MEMBER MERIT.

ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT? NO, I JUST THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM AND WE TALK TO 'EM AND IT'S, IT'S AVAILABLE TO EVERY SINGLE KID AND IN FIRST GRADE AT THOSE SCHOOLS.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

GREAT PROGRAM.

I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

UM, AND APOLOGIES IF THIS IS BURIED IN THE PRESENTATION SOMEWHERE THAT'S IN BACKUP, BUT IS THERE A PLAN FOR HOW THEY ARE PLANNING TO EXPAND TO OTHER SCHOOLS OR, YES.

WELL, THEY HAVE A NEW SCHOOL.

I BELIEVE THAT THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY'RE EXP THEY'VE EXPANDED INTO.

AND THE TIMELINE FOR THAT IS ON THE HISTORY SLIDE.

UM, UH, SO THEY EXPANDED LAST YEAR TO GO VOLLEY POOL, ORTEGA ZAVALA.

UH, AND THEN, UM, BUT THEY DIDN'T PRESENT A PLAN SORT OF BEYOND THAT? LIKE NO, THERE'S NOTHING PAST THAT.

I BELIEVE IT'S SORT OF MORE OP OPPORTUNISTIC YEAR BY YEAR.

AND THEY'RE WORKING TO IDENTIFY SCHOOLS THAT THEY CAN WORK WITH AND POOLS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, UM, ADJACENT.

UM, SORRY TO ASK A MORE SPECIFIC QUESTION.

UM, BUT HARRIS ELEMENTARY, ARE THEY STILL PARTICIPATING EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOW LOCATED AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL WHILE THEIR SCHOOL'S BEING PUT UNDER CONSTRUCTION? UH, YES.

THE ANSWER IS YES THERE.

SORRY, THAT'S DIRECTLY IN MY DISTRICT AND I, THERE'S SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS TYPE OF EDUCATION, SO THANK YOU.

OTHER QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE? OTHER QUESTIONS OVERALL, I'LL JUST SAY AGAIN, IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM AND I REALLY ADMIRE THE WORK THAT THE STAFF HAS PUT INTO SORT OF THOUGHTFULLY EXPANDING IT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.

ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THEN I BELIEVE A DRAFT RECOMMENDATION WAS POSTED IN BACKUP.

IF THERE

[00:40:01]

SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT RECOMMENDATION IS WRITTEN, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION IS WRITTEN.

ACTUALLY COMPETITIVE SECONDING.

BOARD MEMBER MERRI.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

SECOND.

SORRY.

BOARD MEMBER.

RE BOARD BOARD MEMBER.

YOU CAN HAVE IT.

WE'LL GIVE THE SECOND TO BOARD MEMBER RE .

UM, OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS THAT ANYONE WANTS TO HAVE? OKAY.

IF NOT, WE CAN TAKE A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S, THAT'S SIX.

UM, OKAY.

ALL THOSE, OH, SORRY.

DID I, I THINK I GOT EVERYONE.

THAT WAS ONLY SIX.

CORRECT.

SO, UM, SO ANY UH, UH, AGAINST AND THOSE ABSTAINING.

SO WE'VE GOT AND YOU GOT THAT, TIM? OKAY, PERFECT.

OKAY,

[4. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to authorize the negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement between the City of Austin and Austin Community College for restoration of the historic iron fencing surrounding family lots at Oakwood Cemetery. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Urban Public Spaces). Presenter(s): Jason Walker, Cemeteries Division Manager and Ryan Dees, Environmental Program Coordinator, Parks and Recreation Department.]

SO MOVING ON.

I THINK BOARD MEMBER BECKER, YOU SAID, UH, NUMBER FOUR WAS ALSO FROM CONTRACTS AND CONCESSIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE ELSE WANTS TO , I'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS ONE.

I LOVE THIS ONE.

IT'S VERY FUN.

SO IT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN, UM, AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S WELDING DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY.

AND SO STUDENTS ARE GONNA GO INTO OAKWOOD CEMETERY AND THEY'RE GONNA LOOK AT SOME OF THE IRON FENCING THAT'S BEEN DAMAGED OR STOLEN OR DETERIORATED OVER THE YEARS.

AND THE STUDENTS ARE GONNA PRESENT, THEY'RE GONNA DO HISTORIC HISTORICAL RESEARCH TO LOOK AT THE FENCES THAT WERE IN PLACE AT THE TIME.

AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA PUT THEM BEFORE THE, LIKE, UH, WAS IT THE HISTORICAL TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO GET APPROVAL.

AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA GO IN AND ACTUALLY, UM, REPLACE THE, UM, THE FENCING.

AND, UM, SO IT'S, IT'S A REALLY NEAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE CITY.

AND SO, YEAH, SO THAT'S THE GIST OF IT AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR, UM, US TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT.

BOARD MEMBER MERIT.

ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL JUST, OH, BOARD MEMBER REED, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I JUST WANTED TO, TO THANK MR. BECK FOR, UM, FOR SENDING US PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE IRON FENCING AT THE CEMETERY AT OAKWOOD CEMETERY.

IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT IN OUR, UM, EMAIL, YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE HISTORIC FENCING.

UM, I DID WONDER IF ANY OF THE EXISTING FENCING THAT IS STILL, THAT STILL LOOKS GOOD, IS GOING TO REMAIN AND IF THE STUDENTS WOULD BE REPLACING ONLY THE PORTIONS OF THE FENCING, THAT IS REALLY MESSED UP.

YES.

THEY'RE ALL GONNA BE REPLACING, UM, THEY'LL ONLY BE REPLACING SECTIONS THAT ARE DAMAGED OR DEGRADED OR STOLEN.

I, THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

BOARD MEMBER REED, OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ONE.

UM, A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

WE'VE GOT A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER MERIT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THEN WE CAN TAKE A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

OKAY,

[5. Discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council regarding the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 operating budget of the Parks and Recreation Department. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers)]

LEMME JUST GET ORGANIZED HERE.

OKAY, SO ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS THE BUDGET ITEM.

TIM, WE DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT, DO WE BEFORE I LAUNCH INTO THIS? UH, WE MAY HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM SEVEN.

BUT NOT ON THIS ONE.

UM, ALRIGHT, SO THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE OPERATING BUDGET.

UM, THIS IS OUR ANNUAL BUDGET RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BUDGET WORKING GROUP.

UH, I DID LEAD THAT GROUP.

UH, AND SO I'LL GIVE YOU A BIT OF BACKGROUND, UH, IF YOU HAVE NOT YET LOOKED OVER, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW WE GOT HERE, UH, AS WELL AS A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT FOR WHY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT AREN'T IN THERE PERHAPS ARE NOT THERE.

AND THEN I'LL LET ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUP WEIGH IN IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT I MISSED.

AND THEN WE CAN SORT OF TALK THROUGH, UH, Y'ALL'S THOUGHTS AND ANY EDITS THAT ANYONE MAY WANT.

SO WE DID CONSIDER A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT DID NOT MAKE IT INTO THIS RECOMMENDATION.

UH, THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY IS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TRACKING VERY CLOSELY THE BUDGET CONVERSATION AT A CITY LEVEL, WE HAVE NOT HAD AS MUCH INFORMATION THIS YEAR AS WE HAVE HAD IN PAST YEARS.

THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, JUST THERE'S LESS INFORMATION AVAILABLE.

UM, BECAUSE WITH THE NEW CITY MANAGER AND THE WAY THEY'RE MOVING THE BUDGET PROCESS, UM, WE WERE SORT OF TOLD TO RELY ON WHAT WE HAD HAD IN THE PAST.

RIGHT? WHICH OF COURSE IS HELPFUL HISTORICALLY, BUT THEN THERE WERE SOME CONTEXT WE WERE MISSING FOR THIS YEAR, UH, THAT WE WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAD.

UM, BUT WE JUST DID NOT.

SO I'LL START BY SAYING THAT.

SECONDLY, UH, THERE ARE TWO THINGS WITHIN THIS RECOMMENDATION THAT I WANT TO POINT

[00:45:01]

OUT.

UM, IT DOES HAVE FIVE PRIMARY RECOMMENDATIONS.

UM, YOU WILL NOTICE, AND SOMEONE EVEN BROUGHT UP THAT THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT AQUATICS IN THERE.

NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING.

UM, WE DID HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT EXTENDED POOL HOURS AND WHAT COULD WE RECOMMEND HERE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THE POOLS ARE OPEN AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE THE AVAILABILITY TO USE THEM, ESPECIALLY WITH INCREASING TEMPERATURES.

AND IT ULTIMATELY CAME TO, WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO PUT A NUMBER AND A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE FELT COMFORTABLE WITH IN THERE.

UH, PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION AND I THINK PERHAPS OTHERS WERE AS WELL DUE TO HOW IT WAS, HOW IT WAS REPORTED ON AT THE TIME.

BUT THAT WE HAVE EXTENDED POOL HOURS IN THE PAST.

UM, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY WAS NOT THE CASE IN 2023, THOUGH MANY OUTLETS REPORTED AS EXTENDING POOL HOURS SORT OF INTO THE FALL.

UH, IT WASN'T ACTUALLY AN EXTENSION OF POOL HOURS, IT WAS A WAIVING OF FEES.

UM, WHICH ISN'T REALLY A THOUGH IT'S GREAT.

IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE CAN RECOMMEND BUDGET-WISE 'CAUSE IT DOESN'T, IT'S A LOSS OF REVENUE, NOT AN ACTUAL COST.

SO ANYWAY, THAT'S THE HISTORY THERE AND HOW IT ENDED UP.

NOT IN HERE, BUT OPEN TO TALKING ABOUT IF FOLKS HAVE SOMETHING THEY FEEL PASSIONATELY ABOUT OR NUMBERS THEY CAN PUT ON THAT WE CERTAINLY COULD HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING IN HERE, UM, THAT WE HAD SOME DEBATE ABOUT AND DID END UP IN HERE BUT IS NOT SORT OF FINAL AND WE COULD HAVE SOME MORE DISCUSSION IS UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY.

UH, JUST TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT ON THIS AND BOARD MEMBER BECKER MAY HAVE ONE THAT HE WANTS TO PROVIDE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION HAS DISCUSSED EXTENSIVELY.

IT IS SUPPORTED BY A COUNCIL RESOLUTION THAT ASKED FOR THE TREE INVENTORY AND IT HAS BEEN DELAYED ONCE BEFORE.

SO UNLIKE SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS WHICH ARE SORT OF NEEDS THAT WE SEE THAT DO NOT HAVE ANY SPECIFIC COUNCIL RESOLUTION ATTACHED TO THEM, THIS ONE ACTUALLY DOES HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED BY COUNCIL ATTACHED.

SO THE OTHER ITEMS, AND THEN I WILL STOP TALKING AND LET OTHERS, BUT THE OTHER ITEMS IN THERE HAVE TO DO WITH, UH, RESOURCING AT REC CENTERS AND SENIOR CENTERS, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE INCLUDED LAST YEAR AND IS STILL A NEED.

UM, UH, LAND MANAGEMENT WILDFIRE PREVENTION EFFORTS, WHICH WE ALL HEARD ABOUT LAST MONTH.

AND UM, THOSE FIGURES, UH, COME FROM THAT AND ARE ALSO SUPPORTED BY JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION THAT WILL BE COMING HOPEFULLY LATER THIS WEEK.

UH, AND THEN CEMETERY MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS PARK RANGER STAFFING FOR HOPEFULLY INCREASED PATROLLING AT PARKS, UH, RELATED TO MANY OF THE THINGS WE HEAR AROUND PROPERTY CRIME.

SO THAT'S WHAT'S IN THERE.

AND I'LL STOP THERE.

I DUNNO, BOARD MEMBER BECKER, IF YOU WANNA ADD SOME LIGHT ON SOME OF THOSE ADDITIONAL THINGS.

UM, YEAH, I CAN SPEAK TO TWO OF THEM.

UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY IS, UH, UH, HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT LENGTH BY US AND ALSO BY OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.

IT'S JUST A VERY CRITICAL SORT OF BASELINE FOR A LOT OF THE REST OF THE WORK THAT THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO DO.

THERE'S REALLY HISTORICALLY BEEN, UM, NOT AS MUCH OF A FOCUS ON MAINTENANCE OF THE TREE SCAPE AS I THINK WOULD BE IDEAL.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.

IT ALSO SUPPORTS OTHER ASPECTS OF, UM, WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH TREES GENERALLY INCLUDING, UM, THE, UH, WILDFIRE, WHAT'S ONE NUMBER THREE, UH, WHICH IS A LAND MANAGEMENT EFFORTS FOCUSED ON WILDFIRE PREVENTION.

UM, THIS RECOMMENDATION REFLECTS THE, UH, THE NEED THAT WE HEARD AT THE MEETING LAST MONTH.

UM, THE ONLY THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT THE ASK IS FOR A TOTAL COST OF $2.575 MILLION, WHICH IS LESS THAN THE COST OF REPLACING A SINGLE HOME BURNING DOWN IN BARTON HILLS.

SO WITH THAT, I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THE CITY FINDS THE MONEY TO, UH, TO INVEST.

YEAH, AND ONE OTHER THING NOT RELATED TO ANY COMMENTARY ABOUT A SINGLE HOME IN BARTON HILLS, BUT UM, NUMBER FIVE, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION THAT THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER, $10 MILLION FOR A TREE INVENTORY, BUT IT IS THE NUMBER THAT IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA YES, THANK YOU.

YEAH, I BELIEVE THAT THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE CAME IN AT 6 MILLION AND THE CITY EXPLICITLY, UH, WHEN, WHEN ASKED TO REVISIT THAT NUMBER BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR REVISED THAT NUMBER TO 10 MILLION.

SO I THINK IT IS A VERY ACCURATE NUMBER.

AND AGAIN, WALL HIGH, THIS IS CRITICAL.

ONE-TIME WORK THAT IS GOING TO SUPPORT, UH, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF, UH, ADDITION.

IT'S GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY, IT'S GOING TO SUPPORT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OTHER WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, UM, WITH THE PUBLIC TREES ACROSS THE CITY, NOT JUST WILDFIRE.

THERE'S A VARIETY OF ASPECTS OF, UM, MAINTENANCE AND OVERALL PREVENTION THAT ARE, UH, GOING TO GET FRANKLY A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE ONCE WE HAVE A CLEAR AND MORE COMPREHENSIVE SENSE OF, UM, HOW MANY AND WHAT KIND OF TREES WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.

FOR US AS A COMMITTEE, A WORKING GROUP, IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO PRIORITIZE THEM OVER OTHER THINGS.

AND, BUT BEFORE WE START TO ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS AND POSSIBLE EDITS.

I GUESS TWO MORE THINGS I WOULD SAY IS THAT, UM, FROM MY PERSONAL STANDPOINT, ALL INDICATORS ARE POINTING TOWARDS THIS IS NOT GONNA BE A GREAT YEAR FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUESTS.

SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE NUMBER IN HERE IS KIND OF QUITE LARGE AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT WE FELT THESE WERE THE MOST CRITICAL ONES.

OF COURSE THERE ARE OTHERS AND I MEAN THERE ARE FRANKLY SEVERAL OTHERS I WOULD'VE REALLY LIKED TO GET IN HERE, BUT IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE

[00:50:01]

SO THAT'S SORT OF HOW WE LANDED HERE.

UM, THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS, COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS, SOME OF OUR OUTSIDE OF THE WILDFIRE PREVENTION NUMBER AND THE TREE INVENTORY NUMBER, THE REST OF THEM ARE PRETTY ROUGH ESTIMATES.

UM, JUST BECAUSE WE DID NOT, WE WERE NOT WORKING WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF INFORMATION IN TERMS OF DOLLAR AMOUNTS.

SO, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? ANYONE ELSE FROM THE WORKING GROUP WANNA WEIGH IN? YES.

BOARD MEMBER REED.

SO, UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON TWO OF THE FIRST I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE WORKING GROUP FOR ALL OF YOUR RESEARCH AND YOUR TIME THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS.

UM, AND I'LL START WITH, UM, WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FOR EIGHT FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR GROUND MAINTENANCE.

UM, I SENT OUT, I'M SORRY THIS WAS LATE, BUT SENT OUT LAST YEAR WE RECOMMENDED, I BELIEVE 14 ADDITIONAL FTES FOR PARS GROUND MAINTENANCE TEAM.

AND THIS WAS BASED ON THE PARD BUDGET OFFICE, UM, WORKING AND DOING SOME ANALYSIS, COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 14 AND FISCAL YEAR 23.

AND THE RESULT OF THAT WAS THAT IF THEY, THE IDEAL LEVEL OF SERVICE WOULD REQUIRE 190 FTES FOR THEIR GROUND MAINTENANCE TEAM, WHICH WOULD MEAN AN INCREASE OF 70 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FROM THE CURRENT AUTHORIZATION.

AND SO GIVEN THAT, AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT, UM, AUSTIN HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ADD PARKLAND, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW YOU CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT RECOMMENDING ONLY EIGHT MORE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR THIS YEAR, UM, WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

UM, I THINK, UH, BOARD MEMBER REED, MAYBE THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION.

THOSE EIGHT ARE PARK RANGERS FOR PATROLLING, NOT, NOT FOR MAINTENANCE, UNLESS I'M LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT, UNLESS YOU CAN POINT ME TO WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING IN THEIR CURRENT RECOMMENDATION.

AND THEN MAYBE IT'S FIVE IN THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATION, IS THAT CORRECT? I, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING IN THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATION RELATED TO GENERAL MAINTENANCE.

I MEAN, I AGREE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.

OH, SO FIVE IS FOR THE LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM? YES.

EIGHT IS FOR PARK RANGERS, YES.

AND THERE ARE NO OTHER, THERE'S NO RECOMMENDATION FOR ANY ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR GROUND MAINTENANCE.

THERE IS A, ITEM NUMBER TWO IS ABOUT CEMETERY MAINTENANCE AND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED STAFFING.

BUT WE DID NOT PUT AN FTE NUMBER ON IT BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET THE INFORMATION THAT WE WANTED TO, THAT WE DID A LOT OF GUESSING THERE TO GET TO THAT 250,000.

AND I WASN'T COMFORTABLE PUTTING AN FTE NUMBER ON IT, BUT THAT WAS CEMETERY SPECIFIC.

WELL IF I COULD, I WOULD, UH, THE ONLY AMENDMENT I WOULD DO WOULD BE TO RECOMMEND MORE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR GROUND MAINTENANCE AND, AND SEE WHERE THAT GOES BECAUSE UH, ACCORDING TO PARS BUDGET ANALYSIS LAST YEAR DOING THAT COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS, THEY ARE, I, AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT'S THE SAME.

NOW WE, UH, THE BUDGET IN THE BUDGET 16 WERE APPROVED, I BELIEVE LAST YEAR, 16 ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

AND SO I WOULD RECOMMEND SOMETHING FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR MAINTENANCE.

HEARD.

UH, DID, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT? I MEAN, I CONSIDER THIS RECOMMENDATION THE WORKING GROUP, SO I DON'T WANT TO JUST FRIENDLY ACCEPT SOMETHING WITHOUT, YEAH.

UH, WOULD YOU, ARE YOU RECOMMENDING, UH, A SPECIFIC NUMBER? UH, 'CAUSE SO WE HAD, SO THEY HAD 16 APPROVED LAST YEAR.

SO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND NUMBERS WISE THIS YEAR SINCE WE'RE SHORT, WHY NOT RECOMMEND THE SAME? UM, I THINK WE RECOMMENDED IT WAS EITHER 16 OR 14.

UM, I THINK 16, WE RECOMMENDED 14, BUT I THINK 16 MAY HAVE ENDED UP BEING THE ACTUAL NUMBER.

UM, AND THAT WAS APPROVED.

I, AND I'M NOT POSITIVE, I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT, BUT I THINK THE NUMBER THAT WAS ACTUALLY APPROVED BY COUNSEL WAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN OUR OWN.

UM, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE AMEND AND AND ASK FOR 16 ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE FOR PARKS.

AS THAT ANALYSIS SHOWED LAST YEAR AND WE WERE, WE'RE SURE THAT THERE WAS SO UNDER MAINTENANCE LAST YEAR THAT THE ADDITION OF 16 DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, FROM A ROBERT'S RULES PER PERSPECTIVE, WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE WE'RE JUST DISCUSSING, BUT I'M HAPPY TO TAKE OTHER DISCUSSION OF THAT SPECIFIC REC OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT SOMEONE WANTS TO BRING UP.

AND I SAY THIS JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE, UH, PAR IS UM, CRITICALLY SHORT ON MAINTENANCE RIGHT NOW

[00:55:03]

SO I KNOW THAT 16 WOULD BRING THEM A, ACCORDING TO THEIR ANALYSIS, WHAT WHAT WAS SAID WAS THAT 16 ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WOULD BRING THEM UP TO A MINIMAL LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THEY HAD IN FISCAL YEAR 14.

BUT AN IDEAL LEVEL OF SERVICE WOULD REQUIRE 70 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, 70 ADDITIONAL, 70 ADDITIONAL.

I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY CHANCE THAT THE NEED HAS BEEN MET.

NO, I KNOW AND THAT'S WHY NO, THAT'S WHAT I WAS, I WAS WAS ASKING THE QUESTION 'CAUSE I'M THINKING LIKE HOW TO PHRASE IT, BUT YEAH.

SO ON AN IDEAL LEVEL OF SERVICE LAST YEAR FOR, FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, IF THEY WERE TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE IN FISCAL YEAR 14 WOULD BE 190 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

AND IF THERE'S PARTS STAFF THERE THAT CAN ONCE TO CORRECT ME, PLEASE SAY SOMETHING, BUT THAT WOULD MEAN AN ADDITIONAL 70 FULL, FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

AND OF COURSE THERE WAS NOT, WE KNEW THAT THAT WAS NOT IN THE BUDGET, BUT WE HAD HOPED THAT TO MAINTAIN LIKE THE, JUST THE BASELINE LEVEL OF SERVICE FROM FISCAL YEAR 14, THE 16 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, SO ADDING A RECOMMENDATION FOR 16 FULL-TIME ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES NOW, UM, PERHAPS THERE'S SOMEONE AT PAR THAT CAN SPEAK TO THIS WOULD HELP WITH ADDITIONAL PARKLAND THAT'S COME ON BOARD.

ONLY IF YOU DON'T MIND ME ASKING, SO IF THEY NEED THE 70 TO REACH THE LEVELS OF 2014, WHY ARE YOU RECOMMENDING, WHY, WHY ARE YOU THINKING THAT 16 WOULD BE ADEQUATE? SO NO, UM, I MAYBE I, I'VE SAID THIS IN THE WRONG WAY.

UM, THEY DID COMPARATIVE TO FISCAL YEAR 14, THE BASELINE LEVEL OF SERVICE AND THEN AN IDEAL LEVEL OF SERVICE.

AND IDEAL FOR NOW, IF WE WERE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE FROM FISCAL YEAR 14, JUST THE, THE BEST ENOUGH EMPLOYEES, ENOUGH MAINTENANCE TO REALLY FULLY RETAIN ALL OF OUR PARKS, WE WOULD NEED 70 OR WE WOULD HAVE NEEDED 70 ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES LAST YEAR.

BUT WE KNEW THAT THAT WAS NOT IN THE BUDGET FOR PARD.

AND SO THAT WAS NOT ASKED FOR, BUT WE WERE HAPPY AND LUCKY THAT PARD RECEIVED FUNDING FOR 16 ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES LAST YEAR.

YEAH, I THINK ANOTHER PIECE OF CONTEXT THAT MAY BE HELPFUL, UH, IS THERE'S SORT OF TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON THIS.

AND I'M NOT SAYING ONE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER, BUT IN THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS, WE COULD, WE COULD MAKE A PROBABLY A 20 PAGE RECOMMENDATION OF EVERYTHING THAT WE ALL THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE FUNDED.

THERE'S SOME WHO WOULD SAY A RECOMMENDATION WITH ALL THAT IN THERE IS LESS LIKELY TO GET LOOKED AT OR THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO PICK OUT FEE.

AND IF YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW ITEMS, MAYBE IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT IT'LL MAKE AN IMPACT, RIGHT? UM, DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS DO IT DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD DO IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT THAT'S SORT OF SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE WORKING GROUP.

QUITE A BIT OF LIKE, WE COULD PROBABLY SIT HERE AND COME UP WITH SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE UNDERFUNDED IN PARTS.

SO CHOOSING WHAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON.

UM, THOUGH I'M NOT AGAINST A A MAINTENANCE EDITION IF OTHERS ARE OPEN TO IT.

OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ABOUT THIS OR ANYTHING ELSE? I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE WORKING GROUP.

SO WHEN, BECAUSE AS YOU'RE TALKING, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY OTHER THINGS THAT WE COULD ASK FOR, AS YOU SAID.

UM, WAS THE ADDITION OF THE, UM, MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES CLOSE TO THE TOP OF THE LIST OR WAS IT SOMETHING THAT WE FELT LIKE WE GOT SOMETHING THAT WE ASKED FOR LAST TIME AND ARE NOW PUSHING FOR IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION IN THIS CASE? I WOULDN'T, I, I WHAT I, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO ASK IS I DON'T WANT IT TO LEAPFROG SOMETHING ELSE.

THAT WOULD'VE BEEN THE NUMBER SIX ON THE LIST.

I MEAN, I, CORRECT ME IF I'M NOT, AND I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T RECALL DISCUSSING MAINTENANCE STAFF IN THE WORKING GROUP AND MY OWN VIEW WOULD ONLY BE THAT PROBABLY YES IT WAS BECAUSE IN MY MIND I THOUGHT WE DIDN'T GET ALL THE WAY LA THERE LAST YEAR.

BUT THE WAY ATTENTION WORKS, ASKING FOR THE SAME THING AGAIN, MAY NOT BE THE BEST STRATEGY.

I MEAN, FOR ME, AND I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

I THINK ULTIMATELY THE WILDFIRE PREVENTION STUFF SEEMS HIGHLY CRITICAL TO ME JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT, THE THREAT IS LARGE.

FRANKLIN, YOU HAD THOUGHTS FROM THE WORKING GROUP, I GUESS ON MY SIDE FOR, YOU KNOW, THOUGHTS FROM THE WORKING GROUP AND WE HAD TOUCHED ON THE TREE SURVEY ITEM.

UM, SO LIKE THAT'S WHAT I WOULD PICK IN HERE, BUT THAT'S HARD TO SAY BECAUSE ALL OF IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF FORMER MEMBER MERIT OR BECKER OR

[01:00:01]

SO KIND OF SHIFTING GEARS MM-HMM .

BUT TO TALK ABOUT THE 10 MILLION BEING REQUESTED FOR THE BUDGET FUNDING.

IS THERE A WAY WHERE WE COULD REWORD THIS? SO INSTEAD OF SAYING LIKE FULLY FUND 10 MILLION ALL AT ONCE, UH, AND I DON'T KNOW THE RULES FOR THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, YOU KNOW, IF IT HAS TO HAVE A SPECIFIC NUMBER, IF YOU CAN SAY LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOTE THAT THERE WAS A COUNCIL RESOLUTION RECENTLY PASSED, YOU KNOW, AND CONTRIBUTE FUNDING OR BEGIN CONTRIBUTIONS OF FUNDING TOWARDS THAT RATHER THAN LISTING LIKE 10 MILLION FULLY FUNDED AT ONCE.

THAT WAY WE KEEP IT ON THERE, BUT THE PRIORITY REMAINS ON THE WILDFIRE AND LAND MANAGEMENT ASPECT.

'CAUSE I AGREE, THAT SEEMS VERY CRITICAL.

YEAH, I THINK I CAN ONLY SPEAK AGAIN, I MEAN, THERE'S NO RULES REALLY.

UM, BUT I CAN ONLY SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS THAT USUALLY YOU WOULD INCLUDE A DOLLAR FIGURE, BUT YOU ALSO COULD JUST NOT, LIKE YOU COULD REMOVE THE 10 MILLION ALTOGETHER.

I MEAN, THERE'S A COUNCIL RESOLUTION ASSOCIATED, SO YOU COULD SIMPLY SAY THE LIKE ALLOCATION OF FUNDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY AND LEAVE A DOLLAR FIGURE OFF ALTOGETHER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SOMEHOW MAKES IT MORE PALATABLE OR NOT.

BUT YEAH, I THINK THE COMFORT LEVEL FOR THE 10 MILLION COMES FROM THE FACT THAT THAT NUMBER CAME FROM CITY STAFF AS DIRECTED BY COUNCIL.

OTHERWISE, WE PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN A LOT MORE GENERAL ABOUT IT.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE SUCH A LARGE NUMBER TO, YOU KNOW, DETRACT FROM THESE OTHER ITEMS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ATTENTION, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT TOTAL, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT LIKE 13 MILLION ROUGHLY OR WHATEVER IN FUNDING.

AND THEN 10 MILLION IS JUST ON THE TREE SURVEY.

YEAH, IT IS A LARGE NUMBER.

I WILL SORT OF SAY AGAIN, THIS IS A CAN THAT HAS BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD QUITE A BIT OVER PREVIOUS YEARS AT THE CITY.

AND UM, CERTAINLY STAFF HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO ME AND OTHERS THAT IT IS A FAIRLY CRITICAL, UM, AGAIN, A FAIRLY CRITICAL BASELINE THAT SUPPORTS A LOT OF OTHER WORK THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO DO AND ULTIMATELY CAN HELP REDUCE COSTS IN A LOT OF OTHER AREAS.

UM, AND THEN LACKING THAT IT'S, THEY'RE ALWAYS SORT OF PLAYING A LITTLE BIT OF A GAME OF CATCH UP.

UH, I THINK PART REALLY THE REASON THAT WE PUT IT IN HERE THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR WAS JUST TO EMPHASIZE AND I THINK NEXT YEAR, AGAIN IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, UH, IS JUST TO EMPHASIZE THAT NEED.

SO YOU THINK THE NEED ATTENTION TO THE NEED IS BEST KEPT BY KEEPING THE BUDGET NUMBER AS INDICATED WITH THE RESOLUTION? I DON'T KNOW THAT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHETHER WE HAVE THE BUDGET NUMBER IN THERE OR NOT SINCE THE NUMBER WAS ESTABLISHED ELSEWHERE.

BUT I JUST FIGURE SINCE, SINCE THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, WE MIGHT AS WELL INCLUDE IT.

VICE CHAIR FLOWERS.

CAN I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION? OF COURSE.

SO, UM, I DO RECALL THAT WE, WE DID A RECOMMENDATION FOR THREE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR THE LAND MANAGEMENT AND THE 14 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR GROUND MAINTENANCE LAST YEAR.

AND THOSE WERE ACTUALLY APPROVED IN THE BUDGET.

I DON'T THINK, AND I'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK, BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAD LAND MANAGEMENT STAFF IN THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION LAST YEAR.

I HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I'D HAVE TO LIKE READ IT.

BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WE, 'CAUSE WE DID SHADE STRUCTURES, WE DID SUMMER CAMP STAFF, IRRIGATION RELATED THINGS.

OH, A FULL-TIME PROGRAM MANAGER FOR LAND MANAGEMENT PROJECTS.

THAT'S, THERE WAS ONE FDE.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE, THE $10 MILLION FOR THE TREE SURVEY, DOES THAT ALSO INCLUDE ACTUAL, UM, ANY SORT OF IMPROVEMENTS OR IS THIS JUST FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE TREE INVENTORY? DOES IT INCLUDE, WHAT I'M ASKING IS, UM, THE ROBUST TREE PLANTING AND REPLACEMENT EFFORTS AND COMPREHENSIVE URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN DOES, ARE THOSE THINGS INCLUDED IN THE $10 MILLION? I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

BOARD MEMBER BECKER, DO YOU? UH, I DO NOT.

REQUIREMENTS TO ACHIEVE PROACTIVE TREE CARE AND ROBUST TREE PLANTING TO MAX MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS PROVIDED BY OUR CITY TREES AND MINIMIZE THE LIABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH UNMAINTAINED TREES.

BECAUSE YES, $10 MILLION JUST TO DO THE, THE PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY, I MEAN THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY PLANT A LOT OF TREES.

, I MEAN THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT COULD BE USED FOR ACTUAL, UM, IMPLEMENTATION.

SO, SO I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS, IF HELPFUL.

THE COUNCIL RESOLUTION, THE, THE ACTUAL RESOLUTION PART IS THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE TREE INVENTORY WITH THE CAPABILITY OF QUICKLY AND RELIABLY ANALYZING AUSTIN'S PUBLIC TREES.

THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH A TREE PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE PLAN AND CORRELATING BUDGET

[01:05:01]

THE CITY MANAGERS DIRECTED TO REEXAMINE THE TREE AND SHRUB SPECIES RECOMMENDED IN THE APPENDIX F OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA MANUAL AND THE GROW GREEN GUIDE BASED ON THE USDA ZONE DESIGNATION CHANGES FROM EIGHT B TO NINE A AND MAKE NECESSARY CHANGES IF NEEDED.

SO I WOULD ASSUME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE 10 MILLION WAS ESTIMATED ON, BUT STAFF ESTIMATED AT SOME POINT THAT WHAT THEY WERE DIRECTED TO DO HERE WOULD COST $10 MILLION.

RIGHT? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

UM, AND AGAIN, ON THE SUBJECT OF TREE PLANTING, THIS IS SORT OF A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PLACE WHERE HAVING A COMPREHENSIVE TREE INVENTORY MAKES THE MONEY THAT IS SPENT ON PLANTING TREES MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE AND MUCH MORE EFFICIENT.

BECAUSE ONCE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE, WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO ADD.

I THINK THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION.

OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I THINK I, SORRY, I JUST WILL MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT 'CAUSE I'M, UM, GONNA VOTE TO, TO APPROVE THIS AS IS.

I THINK, UM, THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD.

WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO BETTER OUR, OUR, YOU KNOW, REC CENTERS IN OUR PARKS AND ADD TREES AND, UM, AND SO WE'RE NOT GONNA GET EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY WOULD WANT.

UM, BUT I'M, UM, I'M JUST THANKFUL FOR WHAT THE WORKING GROUP DID AND BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

I THINK JUST IN SAYING THAT, UM, WE COULD CONTINUE TO ADD A 6, 7, 8, 9, ALL THE WAY TO, TO THREE PAGES.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, PUT FORTH A VERY SPECIFIC FOCUS SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF, OF GETTING THESE THINGS THROUGH.

AND SO JUST APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY DID, UM, ON THIS AND HAVE YOU WITH IT AS IS.

BOARD MEMBER PAAN.

I THINK WITH THAT I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT AS WRITTEN.

UH, IS THERE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND.

AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYONE THERE AT CARD WHO CAN SPEAK TO, UM, DEFICIT AND MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW, IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

BOARD MEMBER BAZAN.

OKAY, WE CAN NOW RESUME AGAIN, DISCUSSION HERE.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SAY, EDITS THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE, ET CETERA.

I, I DO WANT TO PROPOSE THAT WE ADD AN A, A NUMBER SIX FOR MAINTENANCE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYONE THERE FROM PAR WHO CAN SPEAK TO THE COST FOR THE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR GROUND MAINTENANCE AND THAT THAT COULD POSSIBLY PUT A FIGURE ON THIS.

I MEAN, EVEN IF WE WERE TO ADD A RECOMMENDATION FOR 10, I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND WE CONTINUE TO ADD PARK LAND, THAT AS THE PARKS BOARD WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES IN THE BUDGET.

SO I'M ESPECIALLY AFTER THE STUDY LAST YEAR.

YEAH, THANKS.

BOARD MEMBER REED.

UM, I, WE DIDN'T PUT A NUMBER ON IT LAST YEAR.

IT ALSO CAME UP DURING AMENDMENTS DURING THE MEETING, SO I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO HAVE A NUMBER, UM, IF THAT'S SORT OF YOUR CONCERN.

UM, BUT, BUT I'M NOT READY TO FRIENDLY ACCEPT IT UNTIL I HEAR IT FROM THE BOARD THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND I THINK BOARD MEMBER PZA HAS ALREADY SAID THAT SHE PREFERS IT AS IS.

BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM OTHER MEMBERS WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING YOU FEEL WE SHOULD ADD.

VICE CHAIR FLOWERS WEEDY WOULD NEED A SECOND ON BOARD MEMBER REED'S MOTION TO AMEN.

OH YES.

IS IT GOOD? THEN WE'LL JUST START THERE.

IS THERE A SECOND ON BOARD MEMBER REED'S? MOTION? MOTION.

THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER, TIM.

I, I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND IT.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

SO WE HAVE A SECOND.

SO NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID BEFORE, WHICH IS, UH, LET'S HEAR WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY.

BOARD MEMBER REED, YOU SAID YOU SENT US AN EMAIL.

IT DID.

WHAT TIME DID IT CAME THROUGH TODAY? IS IT IT IS FROM TIM.

I'M GONNA JUST LOOK AT THAT.

YEAH, IT WAS AT 4:49 PM IF ANYONE IS TRYING TO REFERENCE IT, UH, IT'S, IT LINKS BACK TO WHAT BOARD MEMBER REED, UH, HAD SHARED LAST YEAR RELATED TO THIS SAME ISSUE AND IT HAS ALL THE BACKUP FOR WHAT SHE'S BEEN SHARING IN TERMS OF THE IDEAL LEVEL OF MAINTENANCE AND OTHER ITEMS THAT SHE'S MENTIONED.

AND YEAH, SORRY FOR THAT LATE ADDITION, BUT UM, THAT WAS JUST BASICALLY WHAT OUR, OUR AMENDMENTS FROM LAST YEAR TO THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION AND THEN ALSO WHAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET OFFICE HAD PRESENTED.

[01:10:08]

SO I'M NOT SURE IF, UH, OUR FOLKS FROM THE DEPARTMENT ARE CONFERRING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION OR HI, LIANA KAKA.

UM, SO YOU'RE RIGHT.

LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED 16 NEW POSITIONS.

WE HAVE HIRED NOW THOSE POSITIONS, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE INCREASING NEEDS.

UM, THE SYSTEM, THE PARK SYSTEM CONTINUES TO GROW, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE STRESSORS THAT WE SEE.

UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS YEAR, AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT WE ARE LOOKING, WE HAVE REQUESTED, UM, AROUND SIX NEW POSITIONS TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH, UH, FOR ON ON OUR SYSTEM.

AND LATER TODAY WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE PARK FUNDING RESOLUTION THAT IS ALSO ADDRESSING SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR MAINTENANCE FOR THE PARKS.

DOES THAT HELP YOUR QUESTION? DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? THANK YOU.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

SO SHE MENTIONED SIX AS A NUMBER THAT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED.

SO I GUESS THE QUESTION HERE IS YOUR AMENDMENT WAS MORE THAN SIX OR IS THAT SOMETHING WE WANT? LIKE ARE YOU I MOVED FROM UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR KKA AND ALSO FROM UM, MY COLLEAGUES WANTING TO FOCUS ON SOME SPECIFICALLY, UM, SOME STRESSFUL AREAS ALSO I WOULD, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE AMEND THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION TO ADD, UH, RECOMMEND SIX ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR, FOR MAINTENANCE.

SO YOU'RE WITHDRAWING THE PREVIOUS ONE THAT WAS ON THE FLOOR? YES.

JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE WERE CLEAR THOUGH.

SO WE'VE WITHDRAWN THE PREVIOUS, UH, AMENDMENT THAT WAS ON THE FLOOR AND BOARD MEMBER REED NOW RECOMMENDS, UH, AND I CAN JUST READ THIS 'CAUSE I THINK IT WILL BE CLEAR.

UM, SO TO ADD A SIX POINT, WHICH WOULD BE THE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON TOP OF ANY PROPOSED PARD FFY 2026 BUDGET TO ADDRESS FUNDING FOR SIX ADDITIONAL FTE FOR THE PARD GROUND MAINTENANCE TEAM IN ORDER TO FURTHER MOVE TOWARD AN IDEAL LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR PARD MAINTENANCE.

DOES THAT CAPTURE ACCURATELY WHAT YOU WERE HOPING FOR A BOARD MEMBER READ? YES.

SO THAT'S, UH, WHAT'S ON THE FLOOR AND I THINK HAVING HEARD FROM UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, I'M COMFORTABLE TAKING THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, UH, IS I CAN DO THAT NOW.

RIGHT.

PERFECT.

UM, OKAY, SO I WILL TAKE THAT AND WE CAN JUST VOTE ON IT AND SEE WHERE IT FALLS.

UH, IS THERE ANY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER, SORRY, I THINK WE'VE TO BE FRIENDLY FROM BOTH YOU AND BOARD MEMBER MEMBER BAAN WHO MADE THE ORIGINAL MOTION OR SECONDED THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THAT.

SO SHE HAS CONFIRMED SHE'S HAPPY TO, UH, TO BE FRIENDLY, SO THAT'S GREAT.

UM, I'M NOT ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE FRIENDLY, BUT TONIGHT I AM, UM, LUCKY, LUCKY DAY FOR EVERYONE.

UH, OKAY.

ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS EDITS THAT ANYONE WANTS TO PROPOSE? UH, JUST A QUICK QUESTION 'CAUSE I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE FIRST TIME, UH, THE SIX ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE SIX FTES WAS FOR THE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE THAT MATCHES.

SO WE'RE JUST IN LINE WITH WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE DIVISION THAT IS NOT JUST GROUNDS MAINTENANCE, IT INCLUDES, UM, FACILITIES AS WELL, BUT I CANNOT GIVE YOU THE EXACT BREAKDOWN WHETHER IT'S FIVE AND ONE OR FOUR AND TWO.

YOU SAID IT INCLUDES WHAT? I'M SORRY I COULDN'T HEAR.

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE.

SO THAT IS FOR OUR BUILDINGS, NOT JUST GROUND.

I SEE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

OKAY, THAT'S A HELPFUL CLARIFICATION.

SO IF THE AMENDMENT WOULD COULD READ FOR PARKS, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, WOULD THAT COVER IT? WOULD THAT BE MORE IN LINE WITH YES, I SEE NODDING.

SO, UM, IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE ASKING FOR A BOARD MEMBER READ? ARE YOU PUTTING A MOTION OUT FOR THAT? UH, JUST WHATEVER WOULD WORK FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT'S NEED FOR THESE SIX NEW

[01:15:01]

FTES.

SO THAT WOULD BE A CHANGE FROM GROUND MA GROUNDS MAINTENANCE IN WHAT I READ PREVIOUSLY TO OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.

I'M HAPPY TO ACCEPT THAT IF YOU ARE AS WELL, I'LL ACCEPT THAT.

THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFYING QUESTION.

BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN, VERY USEFUL.

ANY OTHER EDITS, AMENDMENTS, COMMENTS? OKAY, I THINK LET'S DO IT THEN.

LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THIS.

UM, OKAY, SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF, UH, PASSING THIS RECOMMENDATION WITH THAT ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT AS I READ EARLIER, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU GUYS.

APPRECIATE THE INPUT, UH, TO IMPROVE THAT RECOMMENDATION.

AND I DID WRITE THAT LANGUAGE DOWN, MR. BECK, IF YOU NEED IT LATER.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS THE STAFF BRIEFING ON THE BALL AND SOCCER FIELDS CONTRACT SPECIAL REPORT.

ALRIGHT, LEMME GET MYSELF ORGANIZED HERE.

[6. Staff Briefing on the Ball and Soccer Field Contracts Special Report. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers, Becker, Reed) Presenter(s): Tyler Myers, Supervising Senior Auditor and Corrie Stokes, City Auditor, Office of the City Auditor. ]

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

HI.

FACILITY USE, UH, THOSE TWO CONTRACT TYPES, UM, HAD VERY BROAD SPANNING CON CONTRACT, SOME FROM BEING ONLY FIVE YEARS, SOME FOR 25 YEARS.

I BELIEVE WE'RE READY.

UM, SO THANK YOU.

UH, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CLICK.

UH, MY NAME IS TYLER MYERS.

I'M A SUPERVISING SENIOR AUDITOR WITH THE OFFICE OF THE CITY AUDITOR.

UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE BALL AND SOCCER FIELD CONTRACT SPECIAL REQUEST THAT OUR OFFICE COMPLETED, UH, THIS MONTH AND, UM, IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND, UH, HOPEFULLY Y'ALL HAVE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT.

BUT, UH, IF NOT, I'M ALSO HERE TODAY TO AGAIN DO THIS BRIEFING AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

SO LET'S GET STARTED.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS PROJECT, THE PARKS BOARD, YOUR, YOUR YOURSELVES, OR AT LEAST MOST OF YOU, UM, WERE ISSUED A RECOMMENDATION BACK IN, IN OCTOBER, 2024.

UM, THIS RECOMMENDATION SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, UH, AND ASK FOR AN AUDIT OF THIS TOPIC.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER POOL AND MAYOR PRO PUES SPONSORED THIS SPECIAL REQUEST PROJECT AND SENT IT TO OUR OFFICE, UH, ASKING VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT WE'LL GET TO ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, BUT JUST A, I WANTED TO MAKE A QUICK NOTE ABOUT SPECIAL REQUESTS.

UM, SPECIAL REQUESTS ARE SOMETHING OUR OFFICE DOES THAT, AND THEY'RE DESIGNED TO ANSWER A VERY SPECIFIC QUESTION TO ASSIST COUNSEL IN THEIR DECISION MAKING.

UM, THIS IS A SPECIAL REQUEST AND NOT AN AUDIT.

AND SO WE DID NOT DRAW CONCLUSIONS OR MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE RES IN THESE REPORTS LIKE WE WOULD IN AN AUDIT.

UM, WE DO JUST ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED.

AND SO THAT MOVING ON TOWARD THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS AUDIT, UH, INSTEAD OF READING EVERYTHING ON THERE, UM, IT WAS, WE SUMMED, SUMMARIZED THIS, THIS OBJECTIVE AND THESE QUESTIONS ASKED INTO FIVE QUESTIONS THAT WE BROKE DOWN IN OUR REPORT AND THAT I'M GONNA BE BREAKING DOWN IN, IN THE PRESENTATION.

ONE THING ON THE OBJECTIVE I WANTED TO NOTE IS, WAS TO ASK US TO LOOK AT BASEBALL FIELDS AND SOCCER FIELD CONTRACTS.

WE CLARIFIED THAT INTO LOOKING INTO BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, AND SOCCER FIELD CONTRACTS THAT THIS, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAS WITH OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO QUESTIONS ONE AND TWO.

UH, QUESTION ONE ASKED HOW MANY ACTIVE CONTRACTS THE CITY HAS THAT KIND OF MEETS THIS BASEBALL, SOFTBALL AND SOCCER FIELD.

UM, THAT THE HOW MANY CONTRACTS WE HAVE FOR THESE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.

AND IT'S 28 CONTRACTS.

UH, AND WE PARTNER WITH 25 ORGANIZATIONS TO EXECUTE THOSE CONTRACTS.

UM, THERE'S THREE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE TWO CONTRACTS WITH THE, THAT FALL UNDER THIS, UH, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, AND SOCCER.

UM, AND THAT'S THE WEST AUSTIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION, RBI AUSTIN.

AND, UM, AUSTIN, ISD.

QUESTION THREE ASKS, WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES FOR EACH CONTRACT AND WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR RENEWAL OR EXTENSION FOR EACH CONTRACT? UM, SO FOR START DATES AND END DATES, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE A VERY SPECIFIC ANSWER FOR EVERY CONTRACT.

SO I WOULD REFER YOU TO THE APPENDIX A IN THE REPORT THAT HAS THIS VERY SPECIFIC START AND END DATES FOR EACH CONTRACTS.

BUT JUST BROADLY WE ANALYZE THAT INFORMATION.

UM, AND IN THE FIRST THREE CONTRACT CATEGORIES, WHICH ARE ATHLETIC FIELD USE AGREEMENTS WITH YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS, CONTRACTOR INSTRUCTOR PROGRAMS, AND FACILITY USE AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS.

OF THOSE THREE CONTRACT TYPES HAD PRETTY SIMILAR, UH, CONTRACT LENGTHS AND CERTAIN END DATES.

AND THEY ARE KIND OF OUR CYCLICAL AND CYCLING ON A VERY, UH, THE, ALMOST THE SAME TIME PERIODS.

UM, BUT FOR THE PARKLAND IMPROVEMENT AND LANE USE AGREEMENTS AND THE YOUTH FIELD AGREEMENTS FOR ATHLETIC

[01:20:01]

UM, SO THAT WAS SOMETHING WE NOTED THERE.

UM, AS FOR RENEWALS AND EXTENSIONS, THEY WERE VERY SIMILAR WITHIN THE GROUP.

SO, UM, ALMOST ALL THE ATHLETIC FIELD, ALL THE ATHLETIC FIELD USE AGREEMENTS WITH YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS HAD A, WERE RENEWED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

UM, THERE'S ONE LITTLE STAR HERE ON THE, UM, PARKLAND IMPROVEMENT AND LAND USE AGREEMENTS CATEGORY.

THERE'S A CONTRACT WITH RBI AUSTIN THAT IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE 28 CONTRACTS WE REVIEWED THAT HAD, WAS AMENDED ONE TIME IN THE COURSE OF, OF THAT CONTRACT, AND THAT WAS TO EXECUTE A TWO YEAR EXTENSION.

UH, AND THAT ONE TWO YEAR EXTENSION REMAINS IN THAT CONTRACT.

SO THAT TAKES US TO QUESTION FOUR, UH, WHICH ASKS, ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE, HOW OFTEN ARE THE FIELDS AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC VERSUS RESERVED FOR THE CONTRACTED ORGANIZATION? SO THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMPLICATED QUESTION WE HAD IN THIS, IN OUR GROUP, UH, BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFERENT, UH, AS YOU LOOK BROADLY ACROSS THE 28 CONTRACTS.

IT, IT IS A ALMOST A VERY SPECIFIC ANSWER FOR EACH CONTRACT, BUT WE KIND OF TOOK IT AS THESE FIVE GROUPS, THESE ARE THE FIVE GROUPS PAR USES TO CATEGORIZE THE CONTRACTS.

UM, THEY ARE ALL KIND OF THE SAME WORDS KIND OF SCRAMBLED TOGETHER.

BUT LET'S JUST GO THROUGH EACH OF THE FIVE GROUPS AND I MEAN, WE CAN KIND OF SUMMARIZE AND BROADLY TALK ABOUT, UH, THE GENERAL PUBLIC VERSUS, UM, RESERVED BY THE ORGANIZATION.

UM, FIRST I'LL JUST BROADLY SAY ANY CITY OWNED FACILITY THAT IS PART IS USING A CONTRACT TO MANAGE OR OPERATE, UM, THESE FACILITIES.

IF IT'S OWNED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THERE IS A, THE, THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS ABLE TO USE THAT FACILITY.

UM, THERE'S A FEE ASSOCIATED WITH USING THAT FACILITY ACCORDING TO AN APPROVED FEE SCHEDULE.

BUT JUST, JUST BLANKET STATEMENT THAT ANY OF THE PART CITY OWNED FACILITIES THAT WE'RE USING A CONTRACT TO MAINTAIN OR MANAGE THAT FACILITY OR RUN THAT FACILITY, UM, THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S ABLE TO USE IT STILL.

UM, THERE'S A FEW PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, THAT ARE, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH TO EXECUTE SOME OF THESE CONTRACTS.

UH, AND THEY MANAGE THEIR OWN FACILITIES.

SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE.

UH, AND THERE'S, UH, TWO CONTRACTS WITH, UM, OR THERE'S ONE CONTRACT WITH A ISD THAT ALLOWS US TO USE SOME OF THEIR FIELDS FOR A SOCCER PROGRAM.

UH, AND A SD WOULD, A ISD WOULD MANAGE THOSE, UM, FIELDS OUTSIDE LIKE THE, WHAT THE CONTRACT IS TALKING ABOUT.

IN, FOR USE OF THE ONION CREEK SOCCER COMPLEX, JEROME, THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD REACH OUT TO, UM, THE AUSTIN AND SOCCER ASSOCIATION, UH, AND FOR RBI AUSTIN THAT, THAT PEELED AT PARK ASOSA, THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE REC CENTER FOR USE OF THAT FACILITY.

SO AGAIN, LOOKING AT EACH GROUP, UH, WE CAN KIND OF DIVE INTO WHAT THE CONTRACTS LOOK LIKE IN, IN THIS FOR THIS QUESTION.

SO ATHLETIC FACILITY USE AGREEMENTS WITH YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS.

UM, THESE ARE THE CON IN, IN THE CONTRACT.

THE, THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE A SCHEDULE TO PARD AND PARD USES THAT INFORMATION TO HELP MANAGE THE FACILITY, UM, WHEN IT'S BEING USED, BEING RESERVED BY THE ORGANIZATION VERSUS BEING, UH, AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

AND SO IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHES TO USE ONE OF THE FACILITIES THAT IS COVERED IN ONE OF THESE CONTRACTS, THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE ATHLETICS OFFICE AND THE ATHLETICS OFFICE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT WHEN THEY CAN USE THE FACILITY, UH, FOR THE CONTRACTOR INSTRUCTOR PROGRAMS. THESE ARE PROGRAMS WHERE THE INSTRUCTORS ARE COMING AND, AND HOSTING, UM, PROGRAMS AT THESE REC REC CENTERS NEARBY PARKS AND FIELDS.

UH, AND SO ONLY A PORTION OF THOSE FACILITIES ARE TYPICALLY USED DURING THAT TIME AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO USE THOSE FACILITIES.

UM, GOING ON TO FACILITY USE AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS, THESE ARE CONTRACTS.

THREE OF THE FOUR CONTRACTS THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC AND IT'S LIKE WE WILL USE THE FIELD MONDAYS FROM SIX TO EIGHT.

UH, AND SO IT'S VERY SPECIFIC TIMES FOR VERY SPECIFIC FIELDS.

THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THAT GROUP IS THE AGREEMENT WITH HOUSTON TOWSON TO MANAGE DOWNS FIELD.

AND THAT IS, UH, A MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH, UH, HOUSTON TILSON.

AND SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO USE THE GENERAL PUBLIC WANTS TO USE THAT FACILITY, THEY WOULD CONTACT HOUSTON TILSON, UH, FOR THE PARKLAND IMPROVEMENT AND LAND USE AGREEMENTS GROUP, THAT INCLUDES THE AUSTIN MEN SOCCER ASSOCIATION AT THE ONION CREEK SOCCER COMPLEX, AS WELL AS RBI AUSTIN FOR USE OF THE PARK OSA BASEBALL FIELD AND THE WEST AUSTIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT TO COVER ULMA OVERTON SENIOR SHORES AT TOWN LAKE METROPOLITAN PARK.

IT'S A LOT OF WORDS FOR THAT ONE.

UM, BUT, UH,

[01:25:01]

AND FOR THE WEST AUSTIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION, THEY SHOULD CONTACT, UH, PARD ATHLETICS FOR USING THAT FACILITY, THOSE FACILITIES.

UH, LASTLY, UH, THE YOUTH FIELD AGREEMENT FOR ATHLETIC FACILITY USE, THESE IS TWO, THESE ARE TWO AGREEMENTS WITH AUSTIN ISD TO ALLOW EXCLUSIVE USE OF, UH, CITY OWNED FACILITIES FOR THE AUSTIN ISD TO DO THEIR BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON.

AND OUTSIDE OF THE SEASON FOR A ISD, UH, IT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE USED.

UH, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION FIVE.

QUESTION FIVE WAS ABOUT CONTRACT TERMS OF CON CONTRACT TERMS ABOUT, UM, BREACHES AND TERMINATIONS OF CONTRACTS, UM, ESPECIALLY RELATED TO COMMUNITY ACCESS.

SO WE REVIEWED ALL THE 28 CONTRACTS.

UM, WE FOUND THAT ALL CONTRACTS HAD TERMS RELATED TO BREACHES OR TERMINATION, BUT WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT, WE DID NOT FIND ANY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ABOUT COMMUNITY ACCESS IN REGARDS TO THESE BREACHES OR TERMINATIONS.

SO, AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE END OF MY PRESENTATION AND JUST HIGHLIGHTING HERE AGAIN THAT, UH, WE, IF YOU VISIT OUR WEBSITE, THIS REPORT IS FULLY AVAILABLE THERE.

THAT'S WHAT THE FIRST PAGE OF IT LOOKS LIKE.

AND WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME.

BOARD MEMBERS QUESTIONS.

UM, JUST TO BRING MYSELF UP TO SPEED, CAN YOU TELL ME THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE AUDIT? COULD YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION? UH, I'M A NEW BOARD MEMBER AND I'M JUST ASKING WHAT WAS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE AUDIT.

I ACTUALLY THINK THE BOARD MIGHT BE BEST SUITED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

YEAH, SURE.

UH, I CAN TAKE THIS ONE.

UM, AND THANK YOU.

SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THAT WAS EXCELLENT.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, I'LL PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT.

SO MUCH APPRECIATED.

UM, THE MOTIVATION FOR ASKING THIS, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF, UM, NUMBER OF COMMENTS FROM CITY RESIDENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE STRUGGLED TO GET ACCESS TO, UH, PRIMARILY WE'VE SPOKEN TO FOLKS WHO, UM, DO BASEBALL AND SOCCER FIELDS.

UH, THE WAY THAT I WOULD DESCRIBE IT, WHICH IS PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC, LET'S SAY, IS THAT IN SOME CASES IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE CITY HAS ACCIDENTALLY PRIVATIZED SOME OF ITS BASEBALL, SOME OF OUR BASEBALL AND SOCCER FIELDS.

AND THAT, UH, BY HANDING OVER ACCESS, AND AGAIN, THIS IS ME EDITORIALIZING A LITTLE BIT, BUT BY HANDING OVER ACCESS TO SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, AND BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT, BECAUSE THESE CONTRACTS, AND YOU MAY MAY NOTE THAT, UH, WE'D REALLY, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.

THERE'S LANGUAGE THAT SPECIFIES THAT PUBLIC ACCESS IS A NECESSITY, BUT THERE'S VERY LITTLE TO NO LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACTS THAT SPECIFIES WHAT PUBLIC ACCESS MEANS.

AND, UH, THERE'S ALSO NOT A LOT OF LANGUAGE THAT SPECIFIES, UM, TYLER, UNLESS YOU WANT TO CORRECT ME, HOW PUBLIC ACCESS IS INTENDED TO BE MANAGED BEYOND, YOU KNOW, CON CONTACT THE CONTRACTING ORGANIZATION OR THE CONTRACTED ORGANIZATION.

UM, AND AS A RESULT, IT'S JUST, IT'S VERY HIT OR MISS.

IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, UM, WHO WANTS TO USE ONE OF THE BASEBALL FIELDS WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUALLY GETTING ACCESS, IT CAN BE CHALLENGING TO FIGURE OUT WHO TO TALK TO, HOW TO GET AHOLD OF THEM.

IT'S UNCLEAR WHEN THEY HAVE TO SAY YES OR WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO SAY YES.

THERE'S NO CONSISTENT PLACE TO GO TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THIS.

UM, WE JUST HEARD FROM A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WERE FRUSTRATED BY THIS.

AND SO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE PUT FORTH AT THE END OF LAST YEAR THAT RESULTED, UH, IN THE ASK FROM COUNCIL TO, FOR, TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO PUT THIS TOGETHER WAS, WAS KIND OF AN INITIAL EXPLORATION OF MANY OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL WERE WILLING TO ANSWER HERE.

I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY, AGAIN, EDITORIALIZING, THERE'S DEFINITELY MORE WORK TO BE DONE HERE, BUT THIS IS A, I THINK A REALLY SOLID START TO BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE, THE SORT OF BOUNDARY CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.

DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I CAN ALSO, I CAN GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT ANY OF THAT.

NO, THIS IS VERY GOOD.

APPENDIX IS THE, LIKE WHO SHE, WHO YOU WOULD CONTACT IF YOU WANTED TO USE, IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND YOU WISH TO USE THAT FACILITY, IT INCLUDES WHO YOU SHOULD REACH OUT AND CONTACT.

AND I'LL JUST JUMP IN AT THE KIND OF TAG ON TO THAT ANSWER.

UM, SOMETHING I DIDN'T, DIDN'T TALK ABOUT.

SORRY.

UH, SO SOMETHING I DIDN'T GET TO MENTION IN MY PRESENTATION WAS, UM, THAT THERE'S AN APP, I SORT OF MENTIONED THIS, BUT THERE'S AN APPENDIX AT THE END OF THE REPORT THAT GOES THROUGH EACH OF THE 28 CONTRACTS AND OUTLINES THE VERY SPECIFIC ANSWERS FOR THOSE CONTRACTS.

ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT WE'RE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, CRISSCROSS IN THAT, IN THAT, UH,

[01:30:01]

THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL.

BOARD MEMBER REED, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YES.

AND, AND I THINK THIS IS MORE FOR OUR BOARD AND, AND FOR THE, UM, TO ANSWER OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS' QUESTION ALSO UP, UH, BOARD MEMBER BECKER CREATED A BASEBALL WORKING GROUP AND IT IT ALSO INCORPORATED THE SOCCER FIELDS AFTER THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAME TO COMMENT REPEATEDLY ABOUT HAVING STRUGGLING TO GET ACCESS TO THE FIELDS.

AND, UM, I THINK THE REPORT IS GREAT AND IT, AND LIKE YOU SAID, BOARD MEMBER BECKER, IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD START.

I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S A WAY THAT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS COULD SOMEHOW, IN THE REPORT, WHICH IS POSTED IN OUR BACKUP, THE NOTIFICATION FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, IF THERE WAS A WAY FOR, TO HAVE EITHER A WEBSITE WHERE THAT NOTIF WHERE IT WOULD, WOULD BE EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO GO ON A WEBSITE AND, AND BE ABLE TO RESERVE A TIME OR IF, IF THAT IS A NECESSARY PART.

I MEAN, IT OBVIOUSLY LOOKS LIKE IT BECAUSE THERE'S NARROW WINDOWS OF TIME WHEN THE PUBLIC CAN ACCESS THE FIELD AND THEY HAVE TO MAKE A RESERVATION.

BUT I'M WONDERING IF THERE CAN BE SOME SORT OF A GENERALIZED WAY OF USING THIS INFORMATION FROM THE REPORT AS A NEXT STEP TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHEN FIELDS ARE AVAILABLE.

UM, I CAN SPEAK TO THAT, UH, BOARD MEMBER REED, BOARD MEMBER BECKER AND I SPOKE, UM, JUST A BIT ABOUT THIS AND I, UM, UH, HAD LOOKED AT THE, I THINK IT'S A, A SOCCER SITE THROUGH THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT'S EXPERIENCE, UM, DOT AGIS.COM.

I MEAN, IT HAS THE MIXED USE, UH, SOCCER FIELDS AND OTHER, UH, I THINK FOOT S ALL.

UM, AND SO IT'S A POSSIBILITY, UH, TO LAYER ONTO THAT.

THERE'S ALREADY INFORMATION THERE THAT SHOWS WHERE THOSE FIELDS ARE.

THIS WAS, I THINK, HEADED UP BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES OFFICE AS A PART OF MAKING US A SOCCER CITY.

UM, AND SO I DON'T, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT AS A POTENTIAL ANSWER TO THIS, TO BEING ABLE TO BULK THAT UP AND PUT SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THERE TO STANDARDIZE THAT COMMUNICATION SO THAT PEOPLE DID KNOW WHO TO REACH OUT TO.

IT'S POSSIBLE WE COULD ADD A BULLET POINT FOR THAT.

UM, AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, UM, TO THAT AND POTENTIALLY LAYER ON, UM, THE BALL FIELDS, SOFTBALL, BASEBALL, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE GOING TO, TO ASK HERE TO SEE IF THAT WAS SOMETHING WE COULD, WE COULD PUT FORTH IN A RECOMMENDATION.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA SPEAK TO THAT OR THE TIMING ON THAT OR ABILITY TO DO THAT.

SURE.

AND THERE ARE, UH, ASPECTS TO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'VE BEEN MENTIONING THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, YOU KNOW, OF THIS REPORT.

BUT I CAN MENTION THAT, UM, THE CONTRACTS NOT, AGAIN, WE WERE FOCUSING ON LOOKING AT THE CONTRACTS.

THE CONTRACTS ARE PRETTY SILENT ON, ON WHEN, UH, THE SPECIFIC FIELDS ARE AVAILABLE AT SPECIFIC TIMES AND HOW OFTEN OR HOW MANY DAYS, UM, THEY SHOULD BE RESERVED AND ARE NOT RESERVED.

AND SO IT'S ALL, AND IT SEEMS TO BE MANAGED.

AND SO WE KIND OF HAD TO CLARIFY THAT PROCESS WITH PART, UM, AND THAT IT'S A, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SHARED, THERE'S CALENDARS BEING SHARED, YOU KNOW, WEATHER EVENTS MOVING DAYS AROUND.

UM, SO IT IS A COMPLICATED, UH, YOU KNOW, ANSWER WHEN THE FIELDS ARE AVAILABLE, WHEN THEY'RE RESERVED, WHEN THEY'RE JUST NEEDING TO REST, WHEN THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF MAINTENANCE NEED.

AND SO I, I DID WANT TO CALL THAT OUT.

THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A PROCESS IN PLACE.

IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED.

UH, THE CONTRACTS ARE, ARE SILENT ON, ON SOME OF THOSE ASPECTS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

UM, BUT AGAIN, YES, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, IT IS MAYBE A GOOD JUMPING OFF POINT FOR, UM, WHERE YOU WANT TO GET, SEE WHAT WE HAVE AND GAIN MORE CLARITY FROM THERE.

UH, SO THIS IS REALLY JUST THE BEGINNING OF US STARTING TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS THAT.

I, I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, I REALLY WANNA EMPHASIZE, WELL, I'D LIKE TO EMPHASIZE TWO THINGS.

ONE, WHEN I SAY ACCIDENTALLY PRIVATIZED THE FOCUS, THERE SHOULD BE REALLY ON THE WORD ACCIDENTALLY.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANYONE'S INTENTION FOR THE SITUATION TO END UP IN THE PLACE THAT IT IS.

IT IS JUST THE RESULT OF A VARIETY OF CONTRACTS WRITTEN OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS WITH A VARIETY OF INSTITUTIONS, UH, ALL LOOKING TO SOLVE SPECIFIC LOCALIZED PROBLEMS, AND THEN JUST DOING IT IN A WAY THAT OVER TIME HAS RESULTED IN, UH, I THINK A SIGNIFICANT DI DECREASE IN THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO ACCESS PUBLIC SPACE.

[01:35:01]

MY READ OF THIS REPORT AND JUST GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

ONE IS, TO YOUR POINT, BOARD MEMBER READ, I THINK, UM, EVEN JUST THE, EVEN JUST THE CENTRALIZATION OF THE INFORMATION IN THE APPENDIX OF THIS REPORT ABOUT WHO YOU NEED TO CONTACT, EVEN JUST BEING ABLE TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC OR LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THAT MORE PUBLIC IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD.

BECAUSE THAT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN CENTRALIZED PREVIOUSLY TO A BOARD MEMBER BEAN'S POINT, I THINK, UM, LOOKING FOR WAYS OR OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EXISTING TOOLS OR WORK THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING DONE BY THE PARK TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO POTENTIALLY MAKE THAT EASIER.

I WAS QUITE INSPIRED BY THE POST EARLIER THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR, UM, KIDS TO ATTEND AND FINANCE GOING TO SUMMER SCHOOL, OR SORRY, SO SUMMER CAMPS.

UM, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS, LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT HERE.

I THINK AS WELL KIND OF TIE INTO THAT PUSH TOWARDS THINKING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO GET ACCESS TO PUBLIC GOODS.

UM, SO THAT'S ONE.

UH, I THINK THE SECOND THING, AND I SHOULD SAY BEFORE I KEEP GOING, UM, I JUST WANT ALSO WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE THAT, UH, FOLKS IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT ARE VERY CLEAR ON THESE ISSUES AND ARE ABSOLUTELY ACTIVELY THINKING ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS THEM.

SO THIS ISN'T US SORT OF STANDING UP HERE AND SAYING, WHY AREN'T YOU DOING THAT? WE'RE, WE'RE AWARE AND IN CONVERSATION, UM, UH, WITH EMPLOYEES OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WHO ARE PUTTING EFFORT INTO THIS.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.

SO THIS IS KIND OF PART, PART OF THE GROUNDSWELL OF ATTENTION TOWARDS THIS PROBLEM, WHICH AGAIN, I WANT TO CREDIT, UM, CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO REALLY PUSHED, PUSHED THIS ISSUE FORWARD.

UH, SO ONE IS FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE INFORMATION AND ACCESS MORE PUBLIC.

TWO IS ACTUALLY STARTING TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO READDRESS SOME OF THESE CONTRACTS AND THINK ABOUT PERHAPS IF THERE ARE WAYS TO STANDARDIZE OR MAKE THEM MORE CONSISTENT, UM, OVER TIME.

I KNOW THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS DOING THIS IN OTHER AREAS WITH ITS CONTRACTS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL THING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN THIS WORK, SOME OF THEM ARE QUITE SMALL, SOME OF THEM ARE QUITE LARGE.

UH, MAINTAINING PART OF THIS CHALLENGE, RIGHT, IS THAT MAINTAINING BASEBALL FIELDS AND SOCCER FIELDS IS LIKE, UH, TIME, LABOR, RECESS, COST INTENSIVE, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAINTAIN THEM OVER TIME.

IT'S NOT CHEAP.

AND SO THINKING ABOUT HOW TO STRUCTURE THESE CONTRACTS IN WAYS THAT GETS THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHAT THEY NEED FOR BEING WILLING TO DO THAT, BUT CONTINUES TO ALLOW AND UNDERSTANDS THIS SITUATION THAT THEY'RE INDIVIDUALLY.

AND WHILE ALSO, AGAIN, ALLOWING THE PUBLIC ACCESS IS PRETTY CRITICAL.

UM, AND THEN THE THIRD THING I WOULD SAY THAT'S PROBABLY WORTH REVISITING, AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A PLACE WHERE WE'LL BE DOING HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT, RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL, UH, IS JUST, JUST REVISITING SOME OF THE ORDINANCES AROUND THIS.

I THINK ONCE WE HAVE A BETTER HANDLE ON THE SITUATION, I THINK THAT SOME OF THE ORDINANCES, UH, AROUND THIS WORK ARE JUST A LITTLE BIT OUTDATED.

AND I THINK LOOKING AT THOSE WITH AN EYE TOWARDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MIGHT NEED, WHAT LANGUAGE MIGHT POTENTIALLY NEED TO GET UPDATED IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ALSO ENGAGE IN.

AND THERE, THERE MAY BE OTHER THINGS, BUT HAVING READ THROUGH THIS REPORT AND HAVING SPOKEN WITH, UM, UM, EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS, UH, RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, THESE, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE STUCK OUT TO ME SO FAR OR STUCK OUT TO US SO FAR AS PART OF THE WORKING GROUP.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL GET OFF MY BASEBALL AND SOCCER SOAPBOX.

I HAVE, I HAVE, UM, ONE QUESTION JUST RELATED TO THE CONTRACTS, AND THEN I'LL BE QUIET TOO.

UM, LONE STAR SOCCER CLUB THAT, UM, IS AT SLAUGHTER CREEK AND CIRCLE C, IS THAT A PRIVATE, UH, HOW DOES THAT WORK? I WASN'T ABLE TO FIND, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT THAT LISTED HERE.

I SEE SOCCER SHOTS OR SOCCER STARS FOR SLAUGHTER.

UM, BUT I KNOW THERE'S EIGHT FIELDS I THINK LISTED ON THAT.

UM, THE, SORRY, THE MAP, THE INTERACTIVE MAP, UM, AND IT'S DIRECTED TO LONE STAR, BUT THEN LONE STAR IS NOT SHOWING UP HERE.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THAT DISCONNECT OR IF THEY'RE LISTED UNDER ANOTHER NAME, MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.

UM, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER RIGHT HERE WITH ME.

UM, I WOULD HAVE TO GO MAKE SURE THAT WAS A CONTRACT THAT WAS IN THE TERM THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.

UM, BUT IT'S NOT, THAT IS NOT A CONTRACT I, THAT, THAT WAS GIVEN TO US AS A ONE OF PART'S ACTIVE CONTRACTS.

MR. DOBA, IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT? JUST CURIOUS AS TO THAT.

'CAUSE THERE IS SIGNAGE POSTED THERE AT THAT PARK THAT YOU CAN'T USE THE FIELDS BECAUSE LONE STAR IS USING THEM AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THEY HAVE A CONTRACT, WHY? YEAH.

IF THEY HAVE A CONTRACT AND THEN WHY IS THAT SHOWING UP ON OUR MAP THEN OF FIELDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE? SO IT WAS JUST SOMETHING SURE, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

OF WHICH, WHICH FACILITY WAS IT IN? IT'S THE SLAUGHTER CREEK CIRCLE C IT'S KIND OF CALLED ONE OR THE OTHER SOMETIMES.

AND JUST CAN, CAN I GET A BRIEF CLARIFICATION

[01:40:01]

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'RE, IF THERE'S SEPARATE PORTIONS OF IT THAT ARE CALLED ONE THING OVER THE OTHER.

UM, AND IT'S THE LONE STAR SOCCER CLUB, I BELIEVE, AND THAT IS IN SOUTH, I LIKE TO ADMIT SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.

SO WE, WE HAVE THAT, THERE'S A CONTRACTOR INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM AT THAT FACILITY, I BELIEVE, BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT.

UM, SO IF IT'S PART OF THAT OR NOT.

I'M NOT, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE AND I DON'T, THE REASON I DON'T THINK SO IS BECAUSE I THINK THAT SOCCER SHOTS OR SOCCER STARS, WHICH IS A YOUNGER, LIKE A PRE-K YOUNGER PROGRAM, AND THIS OTHER ONE GOES TO VARIOUS AGES, UM, AND USES MORE FIELDS THAN IS SHOWN ON HERE MM-HMM .

AND SO THERE'S JUST A DISCONNECT IN WHAT'S SHOWING UP IN OUR, UM, IN OUR INFORMATION.

AND SO JUST, YEAH, JUST FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I ACTUALLY NOTICED THIS, AND THIS IS NOT REALLY A QUESTION SO MUCH AS AN OBSERVATION BASED ON WHAT BOARD MEMBER BAAN SAID, IS THAT THERE IS ONE CONTRACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR SPORT BALL.

MY CHILDREN HAPPEN TO PLAY SPORT BALL AND THE SITE THAT'S LISTED THE WAY SPORT BALL DOES THEIR CONTRACT, IT'S LIKE ONE CONTRACT AND THEN THEY'RE USING PERMITTING TO RESERVE ALL OVER THE CITY.

MM-HMM .

SO LIKE WHAT IT SHOWS HERE, IT'S BEVERLY SHEFFIELD, WELL, THEY'RE ALSO IN A MILLION OTHER PARKS ACROSS THE CITY UNDER THAT.

AND SO THIS MAY ALSO NOT BE FULLY CLEAR RIGHT, OF LIKE WHICH PARKS IT ACTUALLY AFFECTS AT A GIVEN TIME, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

BECAUSE LIKE MY CHILDREN ARE AT PATTERSON RIGHT NOW, I, IT'S A LONG STORY AND WE WON'T GET INTO IT, BUT I HAPPEN TO KNOW BECAUSE I HELPED THEM GET MM-HMM .

GET AT PATTERSON HOW THEY DID THE PERMITTING.

AND IT DOESN'T SHOW HERE BECAUSE THEIR CONTRACT IS FOR A LARGER RIGHT.

AND THAT, AND THAT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE BETWEEN WHAT THE CONTRACT SAYS AND WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

I THINK THAT JUST GETS BACK TO WHAT BOARD MEMBER BECKER AND I ARE HOPING TO DO IS JUST CLARIFY AROUND THIS.

BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA KNOW WHEN THE PUB GLAD THAT ALL THESE PROGRAMS ARE HAPPENING, MY KIDDOS ARE, ARE PART OF SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THINGS SAY THAT THEY'RE OPEN FOR PUBLIC USE, ONE, WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF PUBLIC USE? WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND CLARITY AROUND THAT.

UM, AND THEN TRULY, WHEN IS THAT OPEN? AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, NEEDING THE REST OF FIELD, UM, ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WITH WEATHER CHANGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT JUST LIKE WE LOOK AT OTHER, UM, CONTRACTS AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A GENERAL AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN THE PUBLIC CAN USE THAT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THOSE SPACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE.

AND I CAN BRIEFLY DISCUSS KIND OF WHAT WE LEARNED AS WE DID CONTRACTS IN TERMS OF THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION OF PUBLIC USE AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE ORGANIZED USE, RIGHT? THE ONLY CONTRACT THAT I BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS A PART OF THE CONTRACT WAS THE AUSTIN MENS SOCCER ASSOCIATION CONTRACT FOR THE ONION CREEK SOCCER COMPLEX.

UH, IT DOES ALLOW FOR UNORGANIZED USE OF THAT FACILITY SO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE, UH, SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE THAT FACILITY AS LONG AS IT'S NOT LIKE ORGANIZED, YOU KNOW, REGULAR USE OF THE FACILITY.

IN FACT, THERE'S LIKE VERY, AND IT'S ALMOST FUNNY CONTRACT LANGUAGE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO FLY A KITE THERE AND THROW A FRISBEE THERE.

UM, BUT, UH, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME CONCERNS BEYOND, BEYOND THAT, RIGHT? THERE IS SOME, UH, DESIRE TO HAVE MORE LIKE PLANNED COMMUNITY, ORGANIZED USE OF FACILITIES.

UM, BUT YEAH, THAT, THAT WAS THE ONE CONTRACT THAT I WANTED, I WANTED TO CALL OUT THAT.

I HAD SOME THAT DID KIND OF DISCUSS THAT.

NO, I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY NOTICED THAT ONE SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THERE WERE SOCCER FIELDS SAYING THE THINGS YOU COULD DO WITHOUT A SOCCER BALL MM-HMM .

UM, AND SO, YEAH.

HONESTLY, MORE, MORE OF A REQUIREMENT IN THE CONTRACTS THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN MAINTENANCE RECOGNIZE THAT APPROPRIATE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, UH, APPROPRIATE AND SORT OF, UH, TIMELY PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ABOUT WHAT'S ACCESSIBLE AND WHAT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE IS A NECESSARY PIECE OF MAINTENANCE OF THESE FIELDS, IS SORT OF FUNCTIONALLY MY VIEW ON IT.

OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? JUST ONE MORE COMMENT.

UH, IN LISTENING TO ALL OF THIS, I, I HOPE THAT SOMEHOW WE COULD CREATE A MASSIVE CALENDAR WHERE IT WOULD BE CLEAR ON WHAT DAYS AND WHERE THESE FIELDS WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT BOARD MEMBER BEAN AND AND BECKER WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD UTILIZE THIS REPORT IS TO DO SOME, SOME DATA ANALYSIS AND CREATE CALENDARS MAYBE.

AND THOSE COULD THEN BE POSTED ON A WEBSITE, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT VERY EASY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE UNLESS THERE'S CHANGES.

UH, AND THE CONTRACTS ALLOW DIFFERENT DAYS AND THERE'S NOTHING SET IN STONE MONTH TO MONTH.

BUT IS THAT, IS THAT SOMETHING OF AN IDEA THAT A WAY THAT THIS MIGHT BE USED TO CLARIFY WHEN THEY'RE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? UM, I CERTAINLY THINK IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD DISCUSS IS HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DO THINK, UM, DOING THAT EFFECTIVELY ALSO REQUIRES,

[01:45:01]

UM, RIGHT NOW THAT'S NOT CONSIDERED PART OF MAINTENANCE.

MAINTENANCE IS JUST KEEPING THINGS UP AND RUNNING.

UH, SO I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BROADEN THE DEFINITION OF MAINTENANCE IN THESE CONTRACTS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD, OR THAT WOULD BE MY HOPE, UH, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU NEED THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY MANAGING THE FIELDS AND ARE DETERMINING WHAT'S ON AND WHAT'S OFF ON A MONTH, YOU KNOW, WEEK BY WEEK, MONTH BY MONTH BASIS TO ACTUALLY BE PUTTING THAT INFORMATION INTO THE SYSTEM AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S APPROPRIATELY MAINTAINED AND UPDATED.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.