Jun 23, 2025 Parks and Recreation Board

TO BEGIN GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT? GO AHEAD.

UH, BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR PRESENT.

BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN PRESENT BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS PRESENT AND BOARD MEMBER BECKER ABSENT AS WELL.

UM, SO IF YOU HAVE A MOMENT, BOARD MEMBER ZOSTER WHILE YEAH.

OKAY, SO THAT'S ALL OF US.

SO TIM, IF YOU COULD GIVE THAT REMINDER ABOUT VIDEO, UM, VERY TIMELY.

UH, THANK YOU.

VICE CHAIR.

UH, YES.

WE'LL DO A PUBLIC COMMENT IN JUST A MOMENT.

I WANTED TO REMIND THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WITH OUR NARROW QUORUM OF, OF JUST SEVEN MEMBERS, THAT, ESPECIALLY THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING VIA WEBEX, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU, UH, STAY ONLINE AND VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE MEETING.

IF, UH, MORE THAN ONE OF YOU DROPS OFF AT ANY POINT, WE WILL HAVE THAT AT THAT POINT, HAVE LOST QUORUM, AND WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A RECESS UNTIL WE CAN, UH, GET MORE BOARD, UH, BOARD MEMBERS BACK UP ON THE SCREEN.

SO, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION ON THAT.

UM, WOULD WE LIKE

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

ALL RIGHT.

OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTER WILL BE CAROL BAXTER, FOLLOWED BY PHILLIP THOMAS.

AND THE SPEAKERS WILL JOIN ME UP HERE AT THE DESK.

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

GOOD EVENING, ALL.

MY NAME IS CAROL BAXTER, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR TO INTRODUCE YOU TO TWO OF OUR FIRST YEAR ROWERS, ISABELLE AND AMELIA.

THEY REPRESENT THE LARGER PROGRAM OF OVER A HUNDRED ATHLETES AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM EACH OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS, ISABELLE AND AMELIA, TEAMMATES AND COACHES.

SOME OF 'EM ARE IN THE ROOM, JUST RETURNED LAST WEEK FROM THE YOUTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA, WHERE THEY COMPETED AND REPRESENTED AUSTIN EXTREMELY WELL ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.

ISABELLA FIRST, HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS ISABEL SEIG AND I JUST FINISHED MY FIRST YEAR ROWING WITH AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

I'M 15 YEARS OLD AND I BEGAN IN THE FALL WITH AMELIA NOT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT ROWING, BUT I QUICKLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT AND THE TEAM.

JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I HAD THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE AT US ROWING YOUTH NATIONALS.

TO HAVE REACHED THAT LEVEL IN MY FIRST YEAR IS SOMETHING I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR.

BEING A PART OF A RC HAS BEEN SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

THE TEAM ENVIRONMENT IS SUPPORTIVE, CHALLENGING, AND FOCUSED.

THE TRAINING FOR NATIONALS MEANT DAILY 5:00 AM TRAINING, PHYSICALLY DEMANDING PRACTICES IN CONSTANT TENSION TO DETAIL.

I'VE LEARNED THE VALUE OF DISCIPLINE, CONSISTENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND RESILIENCE SKILLS THAT HAVE HELPED ME BECOME A MORE FOCUSED STUDENT, A BETTER TEAMMATE, AND A MORE CONFIDENT PERSON OVERALL.

AT NATIONALS, I RACE THE UNDER 16 WOMEN'S COX QUAD.

OUR GOAL WAS TO MAKE IT TO THE SEMIFINALS, WHICH IS TOP 16 IN THE COUNTRY.

AND WITH OUR STRONG DETERMINATION AND TRUST IN EACH OTHER AND THE COACHES, WE ACHIEVED THAT.

THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE LEARNED HOW TO MANAGE PRESSURE WORK AS A UNIT, AND STAY COMPOSED IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS.

THOSE VALUES STAYED WITH US ON RACE DAY AND MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

I'M SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS TEAM, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO KEEP GROWING WITH A RC IN THE COMING SEASONS.

I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT MY FIRST YEAR HAS GIVEN ME UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE, STRONG VALUES, AND A TEAM THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A SECOND FAMILY.

ROWING HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT THIS YEAR FROM TEAMWORK TO PERSEVERANCE, TO MENTAL TOUGHNESS, AND HOW TO SHOW UP FOR YOURSELF IN YOUR TEAM.

CITY OF AUSTIN FOR SUPPORTING A RC.

MY NAME IS AMELIA STOKES.

I AM 14 AND I JOINED AS A NOVICE ROWER WITH ISABELLE.

THIS YEAR, GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO RACE IN ARC'S U SIX, UNDER 16 EIGHT AT YOUTH NATIONALS WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO ME.

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO MY COACHES AND TO THE JUNIOR PROGRAM FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

I'VE HAD SO MANY UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS THIS YEAR, BUT NOTHING COMPARED TO THE HIGH OF MAKING THE A FINAL AND PLACING IN THE TOP FIVE, UNDER 16 EIGHTS IN THE NATION.

I REMEMBER THE PURE JOY OF FINDING OUT WE GOT FIRST IN OUR HEAT IN THE SEMIFINAL AND HOW SURREAL IT WAS TO REPRESENT BOTH AUSTIN AND THE STATE OF TEXAS IN OUR EVENT.

[00:05:01]

I HAVE BECOME A MORE CONFIDENT PERSON AND NOW I CAN RECOGNIZE MY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRENGTH AND KNOW THAT I AM CAPABLE OF SO MANY THINGS THAT USED TO SEEM IMPOSSIBLE.

I'M ABOUT TO START HIGH SCHOOL AND IN THIS NEXT CHAPTER OF MY LIFE, I WILL CONTINUE TO ROW AT A RC.

I'M SO EXCITED TO DEVELOP EVEN STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY COACHES AND MY TEAMMATES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

WE'RE SUPPORTING A RC THIS YEAR.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CHRIS FLORES.

ARE WE ON NUMBER THREE? OH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UH, MY MISTAKE.

UH, OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE PHILIP THOMAS.

JUST THAT MOMENTARY FEAR .

IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN USE THE RIGHT ARROW CLOSER.

NO, NOT UNFORTUNATELY.

I NEVERMIND.

GOOD EVENING, VICE CHAIR.

BOARD MEMBERS.

GOOD EVENING, DIRECTOR GURE AND STAFF AND EVERYBODY OUT THERE IN THE CROWD.

I'M PHILIP THOMAS, DISTRICT THREE SITTING HERE REPRESENTING FREEZE IKER COALITION.

TONIGHT, THE STATE OF TEXAS IS PLANNING TO GIVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN $25 MILLION TO MAKE UP FOR PARKLAND LOST OR DAMAGED BY THE I 35 EXPANSION MANNA FROM HEAVEN.

RIGHT? BUT INSTEAD OF GOING TO PARD, WHICH COULD USE THE MONEY TO FIX OR REPLACE THE IMPACT PARKS, THE ENTIRE 25 MILLION IS SET TO GO TO A NONPROFIT, THE TRAILS CONSERVANCY.

THIS MONEY WOULD FUND A SMALL PROJECT THAT ISN'T DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FREEWAY EXPANSION.

SPECIFICALLY, THE FUNDS ARE EARMARKED TO BUILD APPROXIMATELY 1056 LINEAR FEET OF BOARDWALK ACROSS THE SOUTH, LAKEFRONT BETWEEN SOUTH CONGRESS AND SOUTH FIRST BRIDGES.

A TRAILS DOCUMENT ABOUT THE BOARDWALK INCLUDES A LETTER FROM MAYOR KIRK WATSON.

CAN I HAVE SLIDE ONE PLEASE? MM-HMM .

UH, WHO LISTS THIS BOARDWALK SECTION AS ONE OF HIS PRIORITIES PAVING THE WAY FOR PARD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE PROCESS.

THERE YOU HAVE THE WATSON LETTER WITH, UM, THE, UH, PERTINENT BULLET ITEM OUTLINED IN RED.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WATSON AND A FEW STATE REPS DECIDED THAT THE MITIGATION MONEY SHOULD GO TO THIS BOARDWALK EXTENSION RATHER THAN BEING USED BY PAR FOR PART REPAIR MITIGATION, LAND REPLACEMENT.

AND AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED, INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH PARD, THE FUNDS ARE BEING ROUTED BY SOME UNCLEAR PROCESS TO THE TRAILS CONSERVANCY VIA THE AUSTIN PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION.

UH, COULD I HAVE SLIDE TWO PLEASE? A 25 MILLION ACTUALLY PER THEIR OWN ESTIMATE, 24,754,597 AND 8 CENTS WOULD GO TO THIS RELATIVELY SHORT SECTION OF BOARDWALK.

IT'S NOT STATED WHERE THE REMAINING REMAINING $245,402 WOULD GO.

IS TTC JUST GONNA SKIM IT AND KEEP IT? CAN I HAVE SLIDE THREE PLEASE? I CAN'T SAY EXACTLY WHAT A FAIR PRICE IS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET OF BOARDWALK, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE MUCH LARGER AND MUCH MORE COMPLEX, WHICH WISH BONE BRIDGE PROJECT AT PLEASANT VALLEY IS ALSO BUDGETED FOR 25 MILLION.

LIKE THE SLIDE FOUR PLEASE.

YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH BIGGER AND MORE COMPLICATED THAT PROJECT IS, EVEN ACCOUNTING FOR POSSIBLE COST OVERRUNS.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THIS SHORT STRETCH OF BOARDWALK COSTING THE SAME AMOUNT.

WHO DECIDED THAT THE TRAILS CONSERV SHOULD GET THIS LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR SUCH A SMALL PROJECT? THERE ARE MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS HERE AND NOT ENOUGH TIME TO COVER THEM ALL.

THE PERCEPTION IS THAT PARK DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH A HANDFUL OF STATE REPS WITHOUT OPEN MEETINGS OR PARK BOARD APPROVAL.

UH, MS. RODIE, I HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR? OH, BUT I CHECKED THE BOXES.

I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR ITEM SPECIFIC COMMENTS, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO IS IT,

[00:10:03]

OH, ALL RIGHT.

UNDERSTOOD.

UH, OUR NEXT SPEAKER DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE GAIL ROTI.

MY NAME IS GAIL ROTI.

I'M WITH REWILD AUSTIN.

UM, I'D LIKE TO RAISE AN ISSUE AND PERHAPS GET CLARIFICATION ON THE RESOLUTION BY COUNCIL TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING FOR PARKS.

OH, I SAID ALTERNATIVE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT TERM CAME FROM BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION DOES SAY EXPLORE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP USING THE TERM ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND NOT ALTERNATIVE FUNDING.

UH, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THE PROCESS AND I DO NOTE THAT THE RESOLUTION CALLS FOR THE CITY MANAGER, UH, TO HOLD AT LEAST TWO PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETINGS TO REVIEW AND GATHER FEEDBACK.

AND I KNOW THERE WAS THE ITEM, UH, IN MAY AS A DISCUSSION ITEM, NOT AN ACTION ITEM.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT SECOND MEETING WILL HAPPEN.

I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED THAT THERE'S NOT AN EFFORT TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS BOARD BACK TO COUNCIL ON WHAT THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

SO, UM, I GUESS MY, MY QUESTION AND MY ISSUE IS, CAN WE GET CLARIFICATION ON WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND HOW THIS BOARD WILL PLAY A STRONG ROLE IN THAT PROCESS? THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT? THAT IS THE END OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING ON MAY 19TH.

WE'LL

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

I'LL GIVE BOARD MEMBERS A MOMENT TO REVIEW THOSE MINUTES AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY EDITS THEY, OR CORRECTIONS THEY NEED TO PROPOSE, FEEL FREE TO DO SO.

IF NO ONE HAS ANY EDITS, I'LL ALSO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES, UH, FROM THE REGULAR MEETING ON MAY 19TH, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF APPROXIMATE RECREATION OR REGULAR MEETING OF MAY THE 19TH.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING OF MAY THE 19TH, 2025.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR HAND.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

ALRIGHT.

NOW MOVE INTO DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. UH, SO THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE, UH, IS A PRESENTATION AND, UH, APPROVAL OF LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE PAR SENIOR PROGRAMMING TEAM.

SO WE'LL

[2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for the PARD Senior Programming Team. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Park Access for All, Urban Public Spaces). Presenter(s): Kelly Maltsberger, Recreation Program Manager, Parks and Recreation Department. ]

SO I BELIEVE THEY HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED FOR US.

HI EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS KELLY MALTSBERGER.

I AM THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE COMMUNITY RECREATION ADULT 50 PLUS SERVICES UNIT.

UH, WITH ME TODAY, I HAVE, UH, PART OF MY TEAM.

THIS IS JASON MILLER.

AND, SORRY, THERE WASN'T ENOUGH SEATS UP HERE.

JASON MILLER IS THE SUPERVISOR OF THE SOUTH AUSTIN SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER.

UH, NEXT TO HIM IS JOHNNY SALANA.

HE IS THE SUPERVISOR OF THE CONLEY GUERRERO SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER.

AND THEN I HAVE JOHN ROS.

HE IS THE SUPERVISOR OF THE LAMAR SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER.

AND THEN FINALLY NEXT TO HIM I HAVE BARBARA GARCIA, WHO'S OUR COORDINATOR, WHO OVERSEES OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMMING AND OUR VARSITY GAMES PROGRAMS FOR OUR DI FOR OUR AREA.

UH, THE ADULT 50 PLUS SERVICES AREA CONSISTS OF THREE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTERS, UH, VARSITY GENERATION, WHAT WE CALL OUR VARSITY GENERATION RECREATION PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE OUR PROGRAMMING AT RECREATION CENTERS FOR OLDER ADULTS.

UM, THERE'S NINE RECREATION CENTER SITES THAT OFFER THESE PROGRAMS. OUR CONGREGATE MEAL PROGRAM, WHICH HAS NINE LOCATIONS AT DIFFERENT CITY OF AUSTIN FACILITIES, OUR SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, SENIOR OUTREACH PROGRAMS AT TWO SATELLITE LOCATIONS, AND THEN THE VARSITY GAMES, WHICH IS FORMERLY SENIOR OLYMPICS.

UM, FIRST WE'LL DISCUSS A LITTLE

[00:15:01]

ABOUT THE SENIOR CENTER FACILITIES IN THE CENTRAL AREA.

WE HAVE THE CONNE GUERRERO SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER.

THIS CENTER SITS NORTH OF SEVENTH STREET AND WEST OF PLEASANT VALLEY ROAD.

UM, IT IS OUR LARGEST OF THE SENIOR CENTERS.

UM, IN 2024, IT HOSTED 412 PROGRAMS AND HAD 18,000 VISITORS.

UM, IN THE NORTH AREA WE HAVE THE LAMAR SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER.

UM, THIS CENTER HAS, UH, HOSTED 536 PROGRAMS OFFERED IN 2024 AND AT 18,234 VISITORS.

AND THEN FINALLY WE HAVE THE SOUTH, OH, SORRY, LAMAR SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER IS AT THE CORNER OF 29TH AND LAMAR BOULEVARD JUST FOR PLACEMENT.

'CAUSE WE SAY NORTH, THAT'S OUR NORTH CENTER, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY NORTH ANYMORE, BUT WE CLAIM IT.

UM, THE LAST ONE IS THE SOUTH AUSTIN SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER.

THIS CENTER IS SITS AT ON MENCHACA ROAD JUST NORTH OF BEN WHITE BOULEVARD.

UM, THEY HAD 482 PROGRAMS OFFERED IN 2024, AND THEY HAD 30,372 VISITORS, UH, THAT YEAR.

UM, THERE IS A REASON FOR THE DIFFERENCE, WHICH WE'LL GO INTO.

YOU'LL SEE IT CLEARLY, THERE'S MORE VISITORS.

UM, THAT'S BECAUSE THE SOUTH AUSTIN SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER HOSTS WHAT WE CALL OUR WEDNESDAY NIGHT DANCES.

THIS IS A DANCE PROGRAM WHERE WE BRING IN LIVE COUNTRY WESTERN BANDS, UM, AND IT'S ALL FOR SENIORS.

SO IT IS, IT'S REALLY COOL.

EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT THEY BRING IN A LIVE BAND OF CONS.

THE CONCERT AND DANCING RUNS FROM SEVEN TO 9:00 PM IT USUALLY HAS OVER A HUNDRED SENIOR CITIZENS, PEOPLE OVER 50 YEARS OLD AT THE DANCES.

SO JUST TO EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT FOR YOU, THESE THREE SENIOR CENTERS, UM, CONSISTS OF MOSTLY FIVE FTES, A BUILDING AND GROUNDS, AN ADMIN, A SUPERVISOR, AND THEN 2, 2, 2 AND A HALF TO TWO AND THREE QUARTERS.

, UH, SPECIALISTS WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF ALL THE PROGRAMMING.

UM, THEY RUN A FULL DAY SENIOR PROGRAMMING THAT HAS CREATIVE ARTS, FITNESS, NUTRITION, SPECIAL EVENTS, GARDENING, CONTINUED ED EDUCATION, AND EACH ONE OFFERS EITHER EVENING HOURS, TWICE A WEEK OR A SATURDAY MORNING HOURS DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

UM, THEY ALSO HAVE OPEN PLAY OPPORTUNITIES THAT INCLUDE PUZZLES, UH, CARD GAMES, TILE GAMES, UH, FITNESS EQUIPMENT.

THEY ALL HAVE EXERCISE WEIGHT ROOMS, UH, PING PONG, BOARD GAMES, BILLIARDS TABLES.

SO IT REALLY IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY IN THESE BUILDINGS.

UH, THE NEXT ONE, SORRY.

UM, OUR VARSITY GENERATION PROGRAMS, THESE ARE OUR PROGRAMS OFFERED AT THE RECREATION CENTERS.

THEY DO DIFFER IN WHAT THEY OFFER.

ALL OF OUR VARSITY GENERATION PROGRAMMING DOES, IS GEARED TOWARDS PROGRAMMED AND CREATED FOR ADULTS 50 PLUS.

SO IT ALL HAS ADAPTATIONS TO MEET THE NEEDS.

SOME OF THEM DO OFFER A MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, NINE TO NOON PROGRAM.

UM, THIS MEANS IT MEETS DAILY AND THEY OFFER, YOU KNOW, THE SAME KIND OF STYLE OF THINGS.

THEN THEY HAVE THE PROGRAMS LIKE DOLORES, DUFFY AND MONTOPOLIS, WHERE THEY OFFER INDIVIDUAL CLASSES.

SO THOSE PARTICIPANTS AREN'T NECESSARILY THERE FOR EVERYTHING.

THEY COME FOR SPECIFIC CLASSES, THEY REGISTER THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

UM, SOME OF OUR CENTERS SUCH AS SOUTH AUSTIN RECREATION CENTER, UM, THEY OFFER OPEN PLAY VOLLEYBALL AND BASKETBALL THAT ARE 50 PLUS VOLLEYBALL AND 50 PLUS BASKETBALL.

UM, WITH AND 50 PLUS PICKLEBALL.

THEY ALSO RUN THAT ALLOW THEM TO COME IN, BE ABLE TO PLAY THE GAME WITHOUT THE, UM, INTENSITY OF, YOU KNOW, PLAYING WITH 22 YEAR OLDS.

I DON'T KNOW A NICER WAY TO SAY THAT.

UM, THOSE, THESE PROGRAMS, UH, SERVED 5,517 PARTICIPANTS IN 2024.

UM, AND THEY HAD A COMBINED BUDGET OUTSIDE OF THE RECREATION PROGRAMMING THEY PROVIDE FOR YOUTH, ADULTS AND THEIR FACILITIES.

THEY SPENT ABOUT $400,000 ON THESE ACTIVITIES.

OUR CONGREGATE MEAL PROGRAM, THE CONGREGATE MEAL PROGRAM, IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CAPITAL AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.

UM, WE, UH, WE PARTNER WITH THEM AND THEY CONTRACT THROUGH THE MEALS OF WHEELS OF CENTRAL TEXAS TO PROVIDE A HOT MEAL TO OLDER ADULTS, UH, DAILY AT NINE OR MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT NINE CITY LOCATIONS.

WE HAVE ONE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY, ONE CULTURAL CENTER, AND THEN, UM, SEVEN RECREATION AND SENIOR CENTERS WHERE WE HOST THESE MEALS.

IN 2024, WE SERVED 62,627 MEALS TO OUR OLDER ADULTS.

UM, THE CITY DOES FUND THESE MEALS.

WE HAVE A BUDGET OF $367,000 THAT WE USE TO PAY FOR THOSE HOT MEALS.

UM, IT'S VERY NEEDED IN ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES.

THE MAP ON YOUR RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE KIND OF WHERE THEY'RE SPREAD OUT TO, TO SHOW YOU WHERE, WHERE THOSE HOT MEALS ARE.

RESOURCES AND SERVICES.

SO THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE OFFER AT BOTH OUR SENIOR CENTERS AND AT OUR RECREATION CENTER, VARSITY GENERATION PROGRAMMING

[00:20:01]

SITES.

UH, ALL PROGRAMMING IS GEARED TOWARDS ADULT 50 YEARS AND ABOVE.

THE GOAL OF OUR PROGRAMS IS TO DECREASE ISOLATION AND HELP EVERYONE AGE IN PLACE.

ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMING IS OFFERED AT FREE OR LOW COST.

ENSURING ACTIVITIES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

UM, THE STAFF WORK VERY DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THINGS AS LOW COST AS POSSIBLE, IF NOT KEEPING IT FREE.

SO, UM, WE'LL TALK LATER ABOUT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS.

JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE REACHING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

WE GET THEM IN OUR DOORS AND WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED AND ACTIVE.

UM, WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO AGE IN PLACE.

UH, MANY OF THE PROGRAMS ARE WHAT WE CALL CLUBS WHERE THEY CAN SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS, MAKE NEW FRIENDS WHILE WORKING ON THEIR SPECIFIC PROJECTS, NO INSTRUCTORS NEEDED.

THEY LITERALLY COME AND THEY'LL DO QUILTING CLUB AND THEY'LL ALL BRING THEIR PROJECTS AND THEY'LL WORK AND TALK AND CHAT, AND IT COULD LAST FOR FOUR HOURS IN A DAY.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY ENJOY DOING, AND WE GET KEEP THEM ACTIVE, KEEP THEM GOING.

SO OUR HEALTH AND EXERCISE RESOURCES, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS ON THIS SLIDE.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE OFFER FITNESS WISE.

SO THE TOP SECTION IS GOING TO BE ALL OF OUR FITNESS CLASSES.

ALL OF OUR CLASSES ARE GEARED TOWARDS, AGAIN, THAT ADULT 50 PLUS POPULATION.

SO THE FITNESS CLASSES ARE ADAPTED.

YOU'LL SEE TAI CHI, UM, WATER AEROBICS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE ADAPTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE POPULATION THAT WE'RE SERVING.

ANYBODY'S WELCOME, WE, WE USUALLY SAY 18 AND UP.

UH, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME DO SOME QUILTING EVEN IF YOU AREN'T 50 AND ABOVE.

BUT WE DO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT IT'S GEARED TOWARDS.

UM, THESE INSTRUCTORS, THERE'S VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTORS, THERE'S STAFF, STAFF INSTRUCTORS, LIKE SOME OF OUR SPECIALISTS DO TEACH CLASSES, ALSO CONTRACT INSTRUCTOR OPPORTUNITIES.

AND THEN WE HAVE PAID INSTRUCTOR OPPORTUNITIES.

SO IT REALLY IS AN AMAZING MIX OF ALL TYPES OF CLASSES FOR PEOPLE TO TRY OUT AND TO KEEP THEM MOVING SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.

THOSE LINE DANCING CLASSES ARE PROBABLY SOME OF THE BIGGEST CLASSES YOU'LL EVER SEE WITH ALMOST A HUNDRED PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE WEEK THERE FOR LINE DANCING.

SO, UM, ALSO YOU'LL SEE THE OPEN PLAY OPTIONS, PICKLEBALL, BILLIARDS, PING PONG CARD GAMES, WEIGHT ROOM.

UM, THE SENIOR CENTERS EVEN HAVE LIBRARIES AND I MEAN, IF YOU WALKED INTO LAMAR SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER, YOU'D SEE A HALLWAY FULL OF BOOKSHELVES FULL OF BOOKS AND THE SENIORS WILL CHECK 'EM OUT, BRING NEW ONES.

SO IT'S ALL RUN BY THEM.

BUT THEY ARE ABLE TO HAVE THIS, I CALL IT OPEN PLAY OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S A LIBRARY.

AND THEN OUR HEALTH EDUCATION, THOSE ARE GONNA BE OUR SHOTS, OUR HEALTH SCREENINGS, BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS, DI DIABETES PROGRAMMING.

AND THOSE ARE BROUGHT TO, TO US THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH CENTRAL HEALTH, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF NURSING.

SO THEY HELP US WITH ALL OF THAT.

UM, SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE DO IN OUR, OH, SORRY.

UH, CREATIVE ARTS, SAME THING.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S A, SOME OF THESE WOULD BE, UH, INSTRUCTOR LED CLASSES.

SOME WILL BE GROUPS, CLUBS, LIKE WE CALL 'EM, CLUBS, UH, WHERE THEY CAN COME AND DO IT THEMSELVES.

A HIGHLIGHT OF THIS IS OUR IMPROV THEATER.

THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM WE'VE STARTED, UH, THIS YEAR AND OUR IMPROV THEATER CLASS FROM THE SOUTH AUSTIN SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER ACTUALLY TOOK A GROUP AND THEY PERFORMED AT A COMEDY FESTIVAL.

THEY DID IMPROV AS A COMEDY FESTIVAL AT, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE LOCATION.

COLD TOWN THEATER.

SO, UM, JUST GETTING THEM OUT OF THEIR BUBBLES, TEACHING NEW THINGS, HELPING THEM EXPAND THEIR ABILITIES AND SKILLS AND FINDING NEW THINGS TO BRING THEM JOY, FOOD RESOURCES.

SO, UM, ALL OF OUR CENTERS, WE DO HAVE THE CONGREGATE MEALS AT NINE SITES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF, UM, WHERE THEY BRING IN FOOD, CAPILLARY FOOD BANK.

UM, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH WILL HAVE THEIR FREE FOOD DELIVERIES HANDING OUT, UM, AND KEEP AUSTIN FED.

SO WE DO OFFER, WE DO HOST THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AT OUR SITES.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, UM, SO MANY COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.

WE COULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT WE RECEIVE.

UH, MANY OF OUR GREAT PARTNERS HELP US WITH ALL OF THE PRO HELPED US PROVIDE PROGRAMS BY COMING IN, TEACHING, OFFERING DIFFERENT ASPECTS THAT WE MAY NOT THINK OF.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T OFFER SHOTS CLEARLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, CENTRAL HEALTH IS ALWAYS WILLING TO COME IN AND HELP US DO THAT.

UM, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AGE FRIENDLY AUSTIN, UH, INITIATIVE TO HELP ENSURE THAT WE ARE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY SET THROUGH THE COUNCIL INITIATIVE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WORK CLOSELY ON.

THE SENIOR CENTERS ALL HAVE, UH, FRIENDS OF ADVISORY BOARD GROUPS IS WHAT WE CALL THEM, UH, THAT ARE PIVOTAL TO OPERATIONS.

THEY HELP US KEEP THINGS FREE TO LOW COST WHILE STILL BRINGING THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE FOR EACH ACTIVITY AND EVENT.

WE ALSO COMMUNITY AND CONNECTIONS, CONNECTIONS.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, WE ENCOURAGE OUR PARTICIPANTS TO GIVE BACK THE SENIOR CENTERS, ORGANIZE TWO LARGE SCALE, GIVE BACK EVENTS EACH YEAR WHERE PARTICIPANTS FROM ALL SITES COME OUT AND GIVE TO THEIR TIME TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO, UM, TWO EXAMPLES.

LAST

[00:25:01]

YEAR THEY DID A BIG PARK CLEANUP, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE THEY MADE, UH, CARE PACKAGES AND DELIVERED THEM TO LOCAL SHELTERS FOR OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.

SO JUST MAKING SURE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GREAT TO GIVE TO OUR PARTICIPANTS.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE THEY'RE GIVING OF THEIR TIME TO THE COMMUNITY TOO.

KEEP THEM OUT THERE.

UM, IN AUGUST THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE DOING A SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE AND STUFFING BACKPACKS TO DONATE TO AUSTIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO JUST MAKING SURE THEY'RE IN THE COMMUNITY TAKING PART EXCURSIONS.

SO THE EXCURSION PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES AND THIS IS OUR FIELD TRIP PROGRAM.

YOU THINK FIELD TRIPS, YOU THINK CHILDREN, BUT OH NO, .

THESE GUYS DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

AND IT, UM, IN OUR FIELD TRIP PROGRAM, WE TAKE PARTICIPANTS ALL OVER AUSTIN AND SURROUNDING AREAS TO EXPERIENCE NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEIR FRIENDS, BUT ALSO WE TAKE THE STRESS OFF THE TRAVEL PIECE FOR THEM, RIGHT? LIKE, IT'S HARD TO GET TO DRIVE PLACES.

IT'S HARD, YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T GET A GROUP RATE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

SO WE TAKE THAT OFF OF THEIR SHOULDERS.

THE STAFF ORGANIZE AND PLAN THE FIELD TRIPS.

UM, WE'VE DONE BUCKET LIST TOPICS LIKE HOT AIR BALLOONS, SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS.

UH, BUT NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME TRIP.

WE ALSO DO THINGS LIKE KAYAKING, PERFORMING ARTS MUSEUMS, GALLERIES.

THEY EVEN GO BOWLING INTO THE MOVIES.

SO WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A WIDE BIRTH OF ACTIVITIES FOR THEM TO DO, UM, AND TRY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE.

WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ACTIVE AND ENGAGED.

UM, YOU CAN SEE UP THERE, THERE'S A WATER PICTURE OR IN THE PICTURES, I'M SORRY, I GUESS DOWN HERE.

UM, THAT'S OUR WATER AEROBICS.

SO IN THE SUMMER WE DO HAPPEN TO HAVE AN INSTRUCTOR ON STAFF WHO CAN TEACH WATER AEROBICS.

SO WE BRING ALL THE SENIOR CENTERS, NOT ALL THE PEOPLE, BUT THE SENIOR CENTERS EACH BRING A GROUP FROM THEIR SITE.

AND THEY TAKE WATER AEROBICS AT MABEL DAVIS ON TUESDAY MORNINGS.

SO IF YOU WANNA SEE QUITE THE GROUP, THEY DO TWO CLASSES ON TUESDAY, TUESDAYS AT 10:00 AM SO OUR EXCURSIONS ALSO ON THE EXCURSION PIECE.

UM, WE DO HAVE OUR BUSES AND OUR CDL LICENSED DRIVERS WHO PLAN THE TRIPS FOR THESE PEOPLE.

WE ALSO DO WHAT WE CALL OUR, UM, URBAN EXPLORERS PROGRAM.

SORRY, I WENT BLANK.

UH, AND THAT ONE USES THE CAPITAL METRO BUSES.

SO THEY TAKE THE GROUP.

WE HAVE A STAFF THAT TAKES THE GROUP ONTO THE BUSES, THEY TEACH 'EM HOW TO USE THE BUS SYSTEM, AND THEY'LL TAKE 'EM TO ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PLACES.

THAT WAY TOO, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE MOVING IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CREATING CONNECTIONS THAT THEY MAY NOT FEEL IS, IS AS EASY AS IT REALLY IS.

BUT IT'S NICE TO HAVE A FRIEND TO HELP GET YOU INTO THAT.

I BROKE IT.

OH NO, THERE IT GOES.

THAT'S 8,878 ROUND TRIP RIDES.

SENIOR TRANSPORTATION.

SO OUR SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM HAS 12, OR HAS 12 EMPLOYEES, 12 DRIVERS AND ONE SUPERVISOR.

AND THEIR JOB IS TO MOVE PEOPLE, TO MOVE OUR SENIORS TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

UM, YOU CAN SEE WE DO HAVE A BUDGET FOR THIS PROGRAM.

WE ALSO RECEIVE A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT FROM THE CAPITAL AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF RIDES WE PROVIDE.

AND FOR THE LAST TWO CYCLES, WE HAVE RECEIVED THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY 2310 REIMBURSEMENT GRANT TO HELP US PAY FOR THAT.

SO, UM, THOSE 12 DRIVERS, WE HAVE 12 VANS THAT WE USE.

UM, OUR SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IS FREE, UH, TO ITS RIDERS.

THEY DO HAVE TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION, BUT IT IS FREE.

AND THEY, UM, WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW GROUPS WHO HAS VEHICLES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE LIFTS AND, UH, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES, WHICH IS, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S A, A CHALLENGE TO FIND THOSE THAT ARE, THAT ARE LOW COST FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS.

UM, WE RECENTLY WERE AWARDED THE FTA GRANT FOR THIS UPCOMING 26 27 CYCLE.

UH, WE RECEIVED $753,000 FOR THE NEXT GRANT CYCLE.

SO THAT'S VERY EXCITING.

FROM OUR, FROM OUR, OUR WORLD, UH, SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PROVIDES DAILY ROUTE RIDES TO LOCAL CENTERS THAT PROVIDE THE CONGREGATE MEAL PROGRAM.

SO WE PICK SENIORS UP AT THEIR DOOR, WE'LL GET KNOCK ON THE DOOR, GET THEIR BAGS, HELP 'EM TO THE VAN, DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE, AND WE DO THAT DAILY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AS PART OF THE ROUTE RIDES.

THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN A SIX MILE RADIUS, BUT THIS ENSURES THAT THEY NEVER CAN'T GET TO A HOT MEAL.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THERE, THEY'RE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, DO THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE NEEDED TO DO.

THEY ALSO DO MEDICAL RIDES.

SO YOU HAVE TO BOOK WITHIN BEFORE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE.

BUT, UM, WE'LL TAKE YOU TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, PICK YOU UP.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO USE IT FOR LIKE DIALYSIS AND, UM, THOSE ARE KIND OF THE MORE STANDING APPOINTMENTS, BUT THEY DO A LOT.

FINALLY, UM, IF WE HAVE DRIVING SPACE LEFT AFTER MEDICAL AND ROUTES, UH, WE DO PERSONAL RIDES, WHICH TAKES PEOPLE TO THE GROCERY STORES, HAIR SALONS, SHOPPING, UM, REALLY HELPING THEM TO BE INDEPENDENT, BE ABLE TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO KEEP OUR PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED.

UH, 2024, THEY OFFERED 17,005 OR 756 RIDES.

UH,

[00:30:01]

I WILL SAY THAT THIS PROGRAM ONLY RUNS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM EIGHT 30 TO TWO 30.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE NOT A 24 7, CAPITAL METRO HAS A GREAT 24 7 OF RIDING SERVICE.

WE'RE NOT THAT, BUT WE DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN THE TIME THAT WE HAVE OUR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING.

UM, WE STARTED THE BRINGING SENIORS TOGETHER PROGRAM IN 2022.

UM, THIS PROGRAM IS CREATED BY A COMMITTEE OF OUR RECREATION CENTER STAFF.

AND WHAT THE POINT WAS, IS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CENTER SILO, AS WE CALL IT, AND HAVE THEM INTERMINGLE, HAVE 'EM LEARN ABOUT THE OTHER CENTERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE OFFER NINE.

WE DO IT SCHOOL YEAR.

'CAUSE YOU KNOW, SUMMERS ARE A LITTLE CRAZY IN AUSTIN FOR OUR PARKS AND REC FAMILY.

SO, UM, WE OFFER NINE SI NINE PROGRAMS. AND BASICALLY IT'S A, A SPECIAL EVENT FOCUSED JUST FOR SENIORS.

AND THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT THEME, DIFFERENT SPEAKERS, DIFFERENT GUESTS, DIFFERENT VENDORS, AND WE BRING THEM ALL TOGETHER.

WE HAD 936 PARTICIPANTS IN FY 24.

SO OVER A HUNDRED PARTICIPANTS COMING FROM THE SITES.

THE SITES PROVIDE THE TRANSPORTATION TO WHEREVER WE'RE GOING.

AND IT, IT HELPS PEOPLE BE INTRODUCED TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF JUST THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

HELPS THEM SEE DIFFERENT PARTS OF AUSTIN AND REALLY GET TO EXPERIENCE THE FUN.

UM, THE OTHER ONE IS OUR VARSITY GENERATION OUTREACH PROGRAM.

UH, THIS IS, WAS CREATED TO SERVE THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE'S NOT A SENIOR CENTER, NOT A SENIOR PROGRAM.

SO WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS, ONE IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN AT PICK FAIR COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THEN ONE IN FAR SOUTHWEST AUSTIN AT THE CIRCLE C COMMUNITY CENTER.

SO THEY DON'T, LIKE, THEY LIVE OUTSIDE THE SIX MILE RADIUS.

THEY DON'T, THERE'S NO SENIOR PROGRAMMING CLOSE TO THEM.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS GONE IN AND CREATED A PROGRAM.

SO THESE PROGRAMS RUN 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM THEY WORK EXACTLY HOW THE, THE RECREATION CENTER PROGRAMS WORK, WHERE THEY DO, UH, ARTS AND FITNESS AND ALL OF THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

SO, UH, THERE'S 537 REGISTRATIONS IN 2024.

SO IT REALLY HAS TAKEN OFF.

THEY'VE REALLY WORKED TO GROW IT.

AND HONESTLY, A LOT OF THE GROWTH COMES BY WORD OF MOUTH IN THOSE CENTERS.

UH, CIRCLE C IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

THE MAJORITY OF THE CIRCLE C PARTICIPANTS ACTUALLY WALK TO THE CENTER FROM THEIR HOMES.

SO IT'S NOT EVEN A A TRAVEL THING.

THEY'RE ABLE TO WALK, THEY'RE ABLE TO GO.

UM, IT'S, IT'S VERY DIVERSE AND A VERY FUN PROGRAM TO GO CHECK OUT.

SO THAT'S THAT.

AND THEN VARSITY GAMES, THAT'S OUR OLYMPICS.

THAT'S WHERE WE DO OUR SPORT TOURNAMENTS.

UM, WE OFFER EIGHT CITYWIDE EVENTS A YEAR.

UM, WE GET PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER, ESPECIALLY IN THE WORLD OF PICKLEBALL.

I'M SURE Y'ALL KNOW.

UM, BUT WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER THAT.

THEY GET MEDALS, THEY COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO DO COMPETITIVE SPORTS CONTACT INFORMATION.

THIS IS ALL OF US.

UM, I DID INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CREW.

OF COURSE MIGUEL IS NOT HERE TODAY.

BUT, UM, IF YOU NEED US OR YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING FROM US, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

OR IF YOU HAVE A GREAT IDEA THAT YOU WANNA SHARE WITH US, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT HOW TO GROW AND EXPAND.

SO, UM, IF Y'ALL HAVE QUESTIONS, LET US KNOW.

WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER.

BUT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BOARD MEMBERS, BEFORE WE LET KELLY GET UP, UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER? I HAVE ONE.

UM, SO THIS IS ALL GREAT, REALLY, THIS IS ALL REALLY GREAT PROGRAMMING AND I'M SUPER APPRECIATIVE OF THIS HAPPENING.

UM, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

THE FIRST ONE IS, IT SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES REVOLVES AROUND LIKE THE, AT THE SOUTH, UM, SOUTH AUSTIN, UH, SENIOR CENTER WITH THE MUSIC, LIVE MUSIC MM-HMM .

AND THE DANCING.

IS THERE, UH, UH, PLANS TO EXPAND THAT TO THE OTHER SENIOR CENTERS? OR HAS THAT BEEN TRIED AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE SOUTH AUSTIN'S WHERE IT'S AT? SURE.

SO THE, ACTUALLY THE SOUTH AUSTIN, UM, DANCE HAS BEEN THERE FOR 28 YEARS.

IT STARTED WHEN THE FACILITY OPENED.

SO THAT DANCE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

UM, THERE USED TO BE A BALLROOM STYLE DANCING SIMILAR TO, UM, THE ONE AT SASAC ON FRIDAY NIGHTS.

AND, UM, ONCE COVID HIT IT KIND OF, UH, IT LEFT AFTER THAT.

SO IT DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THE, IT COULDN'T COME BACK.

IT DIDN'T MAKE IT.

UM, THERE IS ALSO DANCING, DIFFERENT STYLE DANCING.

AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT KNOWING EXACTLY.

HANCOCK, UH, RECREATION CENTER OFFERS.

UM, OH, I WISH I COULD REMEMBER THE STYLE OF DANCE.

THAT'S A FOLK DANCE FOLK DANCING.

SO, UM, THAT IS AT HANCOCK, UH, RECREATION CENTER.

SO IT'S NOT, WE HAVEN'T REALLY LOOKED TO EXPAND BECAUSE IT, THE, IT SEEMS TO BE VERY POPULAR.

THEY'VE TRIED IT AT A FEW OTHER SPOTS.

UM, THE LAMAR SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER DOES WHAT WE CALL OUR AUSTIN ACOUSTICAL CAFE.

AND THEY DO A CONCERT EVERY NINE MONTHS OF EVERY SECOND SATURDAY.

AND THAT IS AN ACOUSTIC LIVE PERFORMANCE CONCERT.

SO AS OPPOSED TO DANCING

[00:35:01]

WITH THE BAND HERE, THIS ONE DOES A MORE OF A SITTING ROOM OR LISTENING ROOM, CONCERT STYLE.

UM, SO WE TRY TO MIX IT UP.

WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT, I MEAN, I DON'T, I FEEL LIKE THEY'D PROBABLY SHOW UP IF WE OFFERED IT.

UM, IT'S THE, THE DANCE CLUBS AND SALES ARE REALLY, THEY, THEY'RE A PARTNER ORGANIZATION THAT STARTED THOSE.

YOU, LIKE YOU SAID, THEY'VE BEEN 28 YEARS.

THEY USED TO BE ONE IN THE SENIOR TEAM TOO.

AND, UH, THE FOUNDERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT KEPT IT GOING KIND OF, UM, UH, PASS IT ON TO WASN'T SUSTAINABLE STUFF.

SO THOSE DANCE PROGRAMS ISN'T ANYTHING THAT WERE FUNDED OR THROUGH OUR PROGRAMMING DOLLARS.

THEY'RE DONE THROUGH THE PARTNER ORGANIZATION AND, AND WOULD VOLUNTEERS AND COORDINATED.

WE HAVE AGREEMENT PROVIDE SPACE FOR, OH, SORRY.

YEAH, NO WORRIES.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT THE HERE 'CAUSE I, I REPRESENT DISTRICT TWO AND THE DO SPRINGS RECREATIONAL CENTER.

IS THERE AND WE HAVE A HUGE, THE DO SPRINGING NEIGHBORHOOD IS HUGE, HUGE HISPANIC POPULATION.

SO I'D BE WANTING, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH EVERYONE TO TRY TO BRING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO DOVE SPRINGS IF THAT WASN'T ALREADY HAPPENING.

THAT'S, TO MY LEAST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, IT ISN'T.

UM, SO THAT I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THAT.

ABSOLUTELY.

NO, THEY, THERE'S NOT A, A DANCE PROGRAM THAT I KNOW OF.

THE, THE THING ABOUT DOVE SPRINGS IS THAT THE PROGRAMMING IS SO IMMENSE IN THE EVENINGS WHERE THE SENIOR CENTER, UM, YEAH.

THAT THE, THEY HAVE THE ONE MAIN ROOM THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO, UH, USE FOR THAT.

UM, SO DOVE SPRINGS, IT WOULD JUST BE A MATTER OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, HOW TO FIT IT WITH SPACE.

I, IT'S THE RECREATION SPACE, SO YEAH.

AS OPPOSED TO THIS HERE.

AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS I WANTED TO ASK IS HOW MUCH OF THIS, UM, IT'S CURRENTLY AT RISK OF GETTING ITS FUNDING REDUCED, GIVING THE FISCAL, UM, FORECAST THAT'S HAPPENING? BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE Y'ALL ARE DOING A LOT OF GREAT WORK WITH NOT A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.

AND IF Y'ALL HAD MORE MONEY, YEAH, I WOULD PROBABLY BE DOING EVEN MORE GREAT WORK.

SO WHERE, WHERE, HOW MUCH OF THE GREAT PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE, WHETHER IT'S ENTERTAINMENT, GETTING SENIORS TO AND FROM PLACES, MEALS, HAWAII, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS AT RISK CURRENTLY? , UH, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, OH, LET, LET ME ASK YOU A MORE DIRECT QUESTION.

IS, I, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA BE DIRECT, BUT IS IS, IS THIS GONNA GET IMPACTED BY THIS 10%? IS IT THE, THE THE X PERCENT EXERCISE THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS CURRENTLY SAID, WE EVERYONE NEEDS TO EXERCISE? IS THIS, ARE WE CURRENTLY BEING, IS THIS CURRENTLY BEING IMPACTED BY THAT? I, I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT CURRENTLY BEING IMPACTED, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING.

'CAUSE THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION.

SO AS WE GO INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS, ALL OF ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE DO, AND REALLY IDENTIFYING BASED ON OUR MISSION, VISION OF THE DEPARTMENT, IDENTIFYING THE THINGS THAT ARE FURTHEST AWAY FROM THAT MISSION AND START THERE.

SO, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING UNFORTUNATELY.

CIRCLE C BECAUSE MAHJONG IS A HUGELY POPULAR GROWING PROGRAM AT THE SOUTH AUSTIN SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE REASON I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, ISN'T TO PUT Y'ALL UNDER THE FIRE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IF A PH IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, ALL, ALL THESE VITAL SERVICES ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HAVING PEOPLE BE ADVOCATES FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THESE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT PROGRAMS LIKE THESE AREN'T BEING IMPACTED.

AND IT'S, I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGHT FOR FROM A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

SO THAT'S THE REASON I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU ALL AS WELL FOR BEING A PART OF THIS.

I THINK BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS ALSO HAD A QUESTION.

OH, YES.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA REALLY THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT PROGRAMMING THAT YOU'RE DOING.

UM, AS THE ONE, I MAY BE THE ONE PERSON ON THE BOARD WHO ACTUALLY IS, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? VARSITY, VARSITY GENERATION.

I THINK I'M WAY PAST VARSITY.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE NEXT LEVEL IS.

UM, I, AND I USED THAT PROGRAMMING.

I WALK ACROSS THE LAMAR, UH, ON A REGULAR BASIS.

HERE'S MY QUESTION FOR YOU, AND I'M GONNA GO ALONG WITH WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT A CUT AND YET 65 AND OLDER IS THE FASTEST GROWING COHORT IN OUR CITY, SO DEMAND IS GONNA GO UP, WHAT'S THE GAP GOING TO BE AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO FILL IT? IT'S DEFINITELY SO SENIOR PROGRAMMING, EVEN AT THE, THE, LIKE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH THE BUDGETS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, UM, IN CENTERS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, LIKE WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE SOUTH AUSTIN SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER.

THAT'S THE ONE THAT COMES TO MY HEAD, RIGHT? THIS EXIT.

SO IF YOU WERE TO WALK INTO THE SOUTH AUSTIN SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER, THEIR CLASSES ARE ALL 99% AT MAX CAPACITY.

THEY ARE.

UM, BUT WE, WE SAY BUSTING AT THE SEAMS MM-HMM .

SO, UH, JASON AND HIS GROUP ARE REGULARLY WORKING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE THINGS OUTSIDE, HOW TO REVAMP, HOW TO MAKE THINGS MIX AND MINGLE TO MAKE THE BEST EFFORT POSSIBLE.

UM, AND WE ALSO DO THINGS LIKE, UM, THE OUTREACH PROGRAM, LIKE INTRODUCING MAHJONG AT

[00:40:01]

SO TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO GET INTO SPACES THAT MAYBE AREN'T OUR, OUR SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTERS, BUT GETTING OUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S GOING TO THE SOUTH AUSTIN REC CENTER, UM, FINDING A WAY TO HAVE A SPACE THAT MAYBE DOESN'T REQUIRE AS MUCH FUNDING.

SO BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE AN OPEN PLAY SITUATION OR A CLUB THAT DOESN'T COST AS MUCH MONEY AS A, A PAID INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM.

UM, I MEAN, WE'RE ALWAYS, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO, TO GROW AND TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GROW AND HOW TO FUND THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS BIG AND MEET THE DEMAND.

IT'S TOUGH.

IT'S TOUGH EVEN NOW WITHOUT A 10%.

UM, I WISH I HAD A GREAT ANSWER.

, THAT'S MY MM-HMM .

5%.

SORRY, DID I SAY THAT WRONG? MY BAD.

IT'S GONNA STILL PAINFUL.

WELL, AND IT'S A, UM, SO EVEN IN THIS SITUATION WHERE WE ARE, WE FEEL GOOD, WE'RE STILL ALWAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADJUST AND HOW TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MEET THE, THE EVER-GROWING NEEDS BECAUSE, UM, THE OLDER ADULT POPULATION IN AUSTIN IS DOING NOTHING BUT GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER.

SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REACH THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THAT DIDN'T REALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, BUT THAT'S MY, I KNOW, I UNDERSTAND.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR ANSWER.

IT'S A STRUGGLE.

SO ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? YES.

BOARD MEMBER.

HI THERE.

DIANE KERNS.

UM, ON SLIDE 12 FOR SENIOR TRANSPORTATION, UH, YOU NOTED THAT YOU HA ARE RECEIVING TWO FEDERAL GRANTS AND YOU, UM, HAVE, UM, A LITTLE OVER OR ABOUT 750,000 IN THE NEXT GRANT CYCLE.

SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS AND LOOKS FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS.

UM, ARE, HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING REGARDING THOSE FEDERAL GRANTS ABOUT WHETHER THEY THEY WILL BE FUNDING THEM? SURE.

SO, UM, ACTUALLY THE CURRENT FEDERAL CYCLE THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, UM, WE, I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE FUTURE ONE.

WELL, I CAN, BUT I DON'T , LIKE, THERE'S NOT REALLY A CLEAR ANSWER YET ON THE FUTURE ONE, THE CURRENT ONE, I MEAN, WE'VE GOTTEN EMAILS WHERE THEY SAY, OH NOPE, IT'S FROZEN.

LIKE WHEN AT FIRST THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, IT DID GET FROZEN AND THEN FOUR HOURS LATER IT GOT RELEASED AND THEY SAID, OH NO, YOU'RE FINE.

UM, SO WE ARE KIND OF CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT IT'LL STAY FINE.

UM, THEY'RE THIS NEW ONE THAT'S COMING UP, UH, WE'LL HAVE TO COME BEFORE COUNSEL FOR APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE.

AND, UH, THE LAST I SPOKE TO THE GRANT, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GIVING US THE GRANT, THEY WERE WAITING FOR CLARIFICATION ON THEIR SIDE OF THINGS BECAUSE NOW THERE'S BEEN SOME NEW RULES PUT INTO PLACE.

SO MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN EXPLAIN THEM TO US.

SO WE ARE KIND OF IN AN OPTIMISTIC HOLDING CYCLE, IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.

LIKE WHAT, WE'VE BEEN THANKFUL THAT, THAT THE, AT LEAST THE TRANSPORTATION MONEY CURRENTLY HAS NOT BEEN, UM, HAS NOT BEEN FROZEN OR REALLY MESSED WITH FROM, I CAN'T SAY THAT FOR THE OTHER THINGS, BUT THAT TRANSPORTATION ONE IS DEFINITELY, UM, STILL HOLDING STEADY AS OF NOW.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, THANK YOU.

Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY.

UH, YES, YOU, UH, BOARD MEMBER VILLALOBOS IS STEPPING OUT, SO EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU GOTTA STAY HERE.

UM, SO, UH, OTHERWISE WE WILL HAVE TO STOP THE MEETING.

SO, UM, I DO HAVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ.

UH, APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT STAFF SHARED ABOUT Y'ALL'S PROGRAMMING.

I ECHO THE BOARD MEMBERS.

UM, THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO.

I KNOW IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE LETTER, UH, AND THEN WE CAN, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

SO THE LETTER, UH, IS DATED TODAY.

DEAR PARD, SENIOR PROGRAMMING TEAM.

ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, WE EXTEND OUR GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK.

YOUR TEAM CONTINUES TO DELIVER IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S 50 PLUS POPULATION.

YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY ARE DEEPLY VALUED AND DO NOT GO UNNOTICED ACROSS THE CONLEY GUERRERO, LAMAR AND SOUTH AUSTIN SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTERS.

AND THROUGH ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING AT MULTIPLE RECREATION SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, YOU HAVE CREATED INCLUSIVE WELCOMING SPACES WHERE OLDER ADULTS CAN THRIVE.

OFFERING HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS ANNUALLY AND ENGAGING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS IS A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT THAT REFLECTS YOUR TEAM'S VISION AND CARE.

WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL SERVICES YOU PROVIDE, INCLUDING THE CONGREGATE MEAL PROGRAM, SENIOR TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, EDUCATION, CREATIVE ARTS ACTIVITIES, AND MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

WITH OVER 62,000 MEALS SERVED AND MORE THAN 17,000 RIDES PROVIDED IN THE PAST YEAR, YOUR IMPACT ON THE WELLBEING OF AUSTIN SENIORS IS TRULY PROFOUND.

INITIATIVES LIKE THE VARSITY GAMES, VARSITY GENERATION OUTREACH AND BRINGING SENIORS TOGETHER DEMONSTRATE HOW YOUR TEAM CONTINUES TO INNOVATE AND ELEVATE THE EXPERIENCE OF AGING IN AUSTIN.

YOU BRING JOY, CONNECTION, AND PURPOSE TO THOSE YOU SERVE.

AND IN DOING SO, YOU STRENGTHEN OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

PLEASE ACCEPT OUR SINCERE THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD IS PROUD TO

[00:45:01]

AND THAT'S SIGNED ON ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD BY THE CHAIR AND MYSELF, SO THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

WOULD, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT LETTER OF SUPPORT? AS I JUST READ, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IF YOU COULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, UH, WITH BOARD MEMBER VIA, VIA LOBOS OFF THE DIOCESE.

WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON.

AND WITH THAT WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER

[3. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to authorize the negotiation and execution of a contract with Legacy Hospitality and Entertainment Group LLC for the operation and management of the Zilker Café to maintain the food and beverage concession at Zilker Park. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies:). Presenter(s): Denisha Cox, Contract Management Supervisor II and Andrew Benford, Contract Management Specialist IV, Parks and Recreation Department. ]

THREE.

AND I THINK, UH, MR. BECK, THAT THERE IS SOME PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THAT.

IS THAT CORRECT? UH, YES.

CHAIR.

UM, UH, OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTER FOR ITEM THREE WILL BE CHRIS FLORES, UH, FOLLOWED BY TY SCHUFFMAN.

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

UM, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CHRIS FLORES.

I AM A, THAT'S IT.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.

I'M A DAILY SWIMMER AT DEEP, DEEP EDDIE AND, UH, POOL AND BARTON SPRINGS POOL.

I'M, UH, SPEAKING TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT ITEM NUMBER THREE, THE CONTRACT FOR ZILKER CAFE.

UH, THESE TIRED EYES READ ALL THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS, AND I DID NOT SEE ANY MENTION OF SALAMANDERS.

UH, I BROUGHT THIS TO MS. MCNEILLY'S ATTENTION WHEN SHE WAS DIRECTOR QUITE SOME TIME AGO.

I SPOKE WITH PARD CONTRACT STAFF AFTER A PARKS BOARD MEETING THIS YEAR ABOUT NO SALAMANDERS BEING MENTIONED IN THE RFP.

UM, TONIGHT I'M ADDRESSING, UH, VICE CHAIR FLOWERS DIRECTLY.

UM, WITH YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT OF THIS ITEM, WILL YOU PLEASE ASSURE THE CITIZENS THAT THE ZILKER CAFE CONTRACT WILL HAVE, UH, AN ADDENDUM OF SOME KIND THAT REQUIRES THE VENDOR TO PROPERLY MANAGE THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE ZONE BEHIND THE CAFE BETWEEN THE FENCE LINE AND ELIZA SPRING? I THINK THE CONTRACT, AT MINIMUM SHOULD MAKE THE VENDOR AWARE THAT 15 FEET AWAY DOWNHILL IS A COMMUNITY OF SALAMANDERS THAT IS BEING PRESERVED AND STUDIED BY CITY SCIENTISTS THAT, UH, ELIZA SPRINGS IS ONE SPILLED GREASE, UH, ACCIDENT AWAY FROM HURTING THE SALAMANDERS.

I THINK THEY SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP WITH THAT.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE A TY SCHUFFMAN IS A TY SCHUFFMAN HERE.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE BERTHA RONE DELGADO.

GADO .

AND I BELIEVE THAT IS THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU MR. BECK.

AND WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND INVITE THE PRESENTER UP.

UH, CAN I, I ACTUALLY HOLD THIS FOR A SECOND.

I'M, I'M GETTING WORD THAT, UH, TY SCHUFFMAN MAY HAVE, UH, DIALED IN.

UM, JUST A MOMENT TO, TO CHECK ON THIS, UH, PHONE NUMBER ENDING ONE FOUR.

IF YOU COULD PRESS STAR SIX ON YOUR, UH, HELLO.

HI, IS THIS A TY HOFFMAN? IT IS.

IT IS.

HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.

GOOD.

UH, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE PARKS BOARD FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.

PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION FOR THIS, UM, BEAUTIFUL SPACE.

UM, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY THERE.

UH, MY NAME IS TY SHOP AND I'M A PARTNER AND FOUNDER OF LEGACY HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP L LLL C I'M HERE.

AND JUST TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES IN REGARDS TO THEIL CAFE CONCESSION, UH, OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT SOLICITATION THAT WAS RECENTLY SUBMITTED.

I JUST HEARD ANOTHER PUBLIC MEMBER SPEAK ABOUT THE SALAMANDERS, WHICH I CAN ADDRESS IN JUST A SECOND.

UM, WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS, JUST AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A, AN OVERVIEW, AN INTRODUCTION TO OURSELVES WITH THE HOPE OF

[00:50:01]

UH, WE'VE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, UH, BUSINESS SINCE 2002.

UM, WE STARTED ON THE EAST COAST ACTUALLY, UH, IN BRYANT PARK IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE WE HELP CREATE AND BRING TO LIFE, UM, SORT OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AND REPURPOSING OF THAT, UH, SPACE.

CREATING A, A HOSPITALITY AND WELCOMING PUBLIC SPACE THAT HAS SORT OF BECOME INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED.

UM, SINCE THEN WE'VE GROWN OUR BUSINESS, UM, TO OVER 12 DIFFERENT STATES.

WE HAVE SOME, WE HAVE A SATELLITE OFFICE IN HOUSTON AND A COUPLE LOCATIONS IN TEXAS.

AND, UH, WE WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERHAPS PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN REGARDS TO ZILKER CAFE, UM, AND BRING SOME OF THE HOSPITALITY COMPONENTS AS WELL AS PUBLIC SPACE OVERSIGHT TO THIS SPACE THAT IS, UM, CLEARLY BELOVED AND, UH, HAS SOME SENSITIVE, UH, ISSUES AS WE JUST HEARD.

UM, AND SO, UH, BEYOND TYPICAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE HOSPITALITY OPERATIONS, WHICH IS DEFINITELY PART OF IT, OF COURSE, TO PROVIDE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND NUTRITIOUS AND DELICIOUS FOOD IS ALSO, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR PLACE IS ALSO TO WORK IN TANDEM WITH THE CITY AND PARKS DEPARTMENT TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY, UH, SAFE AND FUN, UH, PLACE TO BE AND A DESTINATION TO BE.

UM, AND SO WE HOPE TOGETHER TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE THAT SPACE.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE LEFT, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, TO ADD, I DID HEAR THE, THE WOMAN, UH, SPEAK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND, UM, WE DO HAVE FAMILIARITY WITH DEALING WITH THE OTHER ITEMS IN SIMILARITY IN OTHER LOCATIONS, WHETHER IT BE FROM HORTICULTURALLY TO ENVIRONMENTALLY TO AS WELL AS ANIMAL PROTECTION.

WE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THAT HAVE HAD THAT COME UP.

AND, UM, WE'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE.

I DON'T HAVE TO SAY I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT, UM, YET, BUT IN THIS PROCESS, WE HOPE TO LEARN MORE AND, UM, HOPE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THOSE SPECIES THAT ARE BEHIND THE ZILKER CAFE AREA.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING IF THAT'S HOW IT WORKS HERE THIS EVENING ABOUT OUR COMPANY AND ABOUT, UM, HOPEFULLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PROCEED WITH THE PRESENTATION IF THERE'S NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.

MR. BECK, THAT IS THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM.

HI, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS DANISHA COX.

I AM THE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR, TWO WITH THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.

MY NAME IS, UH, ANDREW BENFORD.

UH, I'M A CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST FOR WITH PARKS AND B AS WELL.

DO WE HAVE OUR CENTRAL PROCUREMENT PARTNERS ON THE LINE? YES.

UM, WITH US, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES? UM, WE HAVE, UM, OUR STAFF FROM CENTRAL PROCUREMENT WHO FACILITATED THE SOLICITATION.

UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE HELLO, MY NAME IS ADRIANA IRA.

I AM THE PROCUREMENT SUPERVISOR FOR CENTRAL PROCUREMENT.

UM, MY STAFF MEMBER, PAUL TRIMBLE WAS, UM, THE CONTACT FOR THIS RFP PAUL.

UH, THIS IS PAUL TRIMBLE, I'M A PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST FOR, AND I WAS THE ONE WHO, UM, TOOK UP THIS SOLICITATION AND HAS BEEN WRITING IT SINCE IT OPENED ON FEBRUARY 24TH.

UM, SO, UM, WHEN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS, THEY WILL ADDRESS ANY SOLICITATION QUESTIONS FOR THIS.

UM, SO REALLY QUICKLY, UM, IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, THE ZILKER CAFE, YOU CAN SEE IT HERE, IS LOCATED, IT'S RIGHT NEAR THE BARTON SPRINGS POOL, UM, IN A SENSE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LOCATION.

UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WAS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BATHHOUSE AND THERE WAS GONNA BE A LOT OF DELAY, UM, WITH THAT BATHHOUSE CONSTRUCTION.

UM, JUST SOME HISTORY ON THE CAFE.

IT WAS A CONCESSION THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1960.

IT IS LISTED AS AN AN ON THE NATIONAL RY, UH, REGISTER FOR HISTORIC DISTRICT, A 60 PLUS YEAR OLD BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN MODIFIED OVER TIME.

UM, IT WAS RENOVATED SEVERAL YEARS BACK, BUT DUE TO COVID, UM, CONCERNS AND THEN OTHER ISSUES THAT WE HAD TO TERMINATE A CONTRACT WITH THE PREVIOUS VENDOR.

UM, IT HAS REMAINED VACANT THIS ENTIRE TIME.

AND THEN OF COURSE ALSO WE RELEASED A PRIOR SOLICITATION, UM, BEFORE THIS ONE.

UM, THAT VENDOR ENDED UP DECLINING.

UM, THEY WERE OFFERED, UM, THE, THE, UH, SOLICITATION THEY WERE OFFERED THE CAFE.

[00:55:01]

SO NOW THAT WE HAVE COME TO THAT POINT AND THE BATHHOUSE IS ALMOST COMPLETE, WE WENT AHEAD AND STED NEXT SLIDE.

SO YOU CAN SEE HERE, UM, DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, THE CAFE WOULD'VE BEEN IMPACTED BECAUSE GETTING ACCESS TO IT, PARKING, UM, THAT AREA WAS BLOCKED OFF.

UM, WE CAN GO ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE SOLICITED FOR A, UH, CAFE, A VENDOR FOR THIS CAFE.

UM, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS THEY NEEDED TO HAVE AT LEAST THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE COMMERCIAL AND FOOD BEST, UH, CONCESSION OPERATIONS.

THEY NEEDED TO OPERATE DURING THE PREFERRED MINIMUM HOURS FOR PARK HOURS.

THEY NEEDED TO HAVE PRICE POINTS AND OFFER HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS OPTIONS THAT, UH, CATER TO A VARIETY OF FOOD NEEDS AND, UM, BE AFFORDABLE TO EVERY VISITOR AND THEN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.

UM, KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE CAFE, UH, DOES HAVE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE WITH A DA ACCESSIBILITY AND THAT THOSE IMPROVEMENTS THEY WOULD NEED TO HAVE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE CAFE REMAINED THAT WAY.

AND THEN, UM, OF COURSE IN THE SOLICITATION, IT STRICTLY SAID THE SALE OF ALCOHOL IS PROHIBITED.

HMM.

THEY ARE TO PROVIDE ALL NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO PERFORM, UM, CONCESSION ACTIVITY, INCLUDING CELLS, SEATING AND TABLE.

UH, THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AND MAKE ALL REGULAR AND ORDINARY NON-STRUCTURAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE REPAIRS.

OPERATE THE CONCESSION WITH MINIMAL IMPACT TO THE ENVIRONMENT BY ELIMINATING OR REDUCING EMISSIONS, SANITATION AND CLEANING.

THEY HAVE TO EMPLOY A QUALIFIED FULL-TIME ONSITE MANAGER AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE STAFF TO PROVIDE PROMPT AND EFFICIENT SERVICE TO AVOID LONG SERVICE LINES AND FOOD, UH, SERVICE PLAYS.

AND THEN MAXIMIZE PATRONISTS THROUGH VARIOUS MENU ITEMS, SERVICE AMBIANCE, SPECIAL EVENTS, OR OTHER PART APPROVED METHODS.

SO WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL PROVIDE THE CONCESSIONAIRE WITH AN ON, UH, SITE POINT OF CONTACT.

SO WE HAVE A CONTRACT MANAGER WHO WILL WORK WITH THEM, UM, OVERSEE AND MANAGE AND COLLECT ALL REQUIRED REPORTING, UM, REVENUE SHARE, UM, AND DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.

AND THEN PROVIDE A BUILDING STRUCTURE CONVEYED ON THE ZILKER CAFE, REHABILITATION BLUEPRINT BUILDING DESIGN.

THAT INCLUDES ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, GREASE, TRAP, COUNTER OUTSIDE OPERATING WINDOW, WHICH IT HAS.

AND THEN EMPLOYEE RESTROOMS. THERE'S ONE RESTROOM FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE BACK.

SO HERE'S JUST A, A TIMELINE OF, WE RELEASED THE RFP IN FEBRUARY OF 2025.

THERE WAS A PRE-PROPOSAL MEETING HELD, UH, AT THE CAFE WHERE, UH, THOSE INTERESTED COULD POUR IT IN MARCH.

THE RFP WAS ACTUALLY EXTENDED.

WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RESPONDENTS INITIALLY, AND THEN IT CLOSED ON APRIL OF 2025 WITH ONE RESPONDENT.

THE RFP EVALUATION OCCURRED IN MAY, AND THEN THAT EVALUATION TEAM ACTUALLY, UH, MET WITH THE VENDOR AND INTERVIEWED THEM IN JUNE.

FROM THAT, UM, WE ARE RECOMMENDING, UH, THIS VENDOR TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, SO HERE IS WHAT THE POINT ALLOCATION WAS FOR THIS, UH, PARTICULAR EVALUATION PANEL.

SO YOU HAD A POSSIBLE OF A HUNDRED POINTS, 30 FOR YOUR MANAGEMENT PLAN, 25 FOR THE OPERATING PLAN.

THE COST AND FINANCIAL PLAN WAS 17, DEMONSTRATED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE WAS 15.

THEN YOU COULD HAVE UP TO 10 IF IT WAS A LOCAL BUSINESS PREFERENCE AND UP TO 10 FOR A SMALL BUSINESS PREFERENCE.

SO HERE IS THE SCORING.

UM, SO LEGACY HOSPITALITY GROUP SCORED A TOTAL OF 70 OVERALL BASED ON THE PROPOSAL AND EVALUATION A MEETING.

AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THEY, THEY'RE NOT LOCAL OR A SMALL BUSINESS PREFERENCE BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

SO THEY DID NOT GET THE 20 POINTS FOR THAT.

UM, BUT THEY DID GET 21 POINTS ON THEIR OPERATING PLAN, 21 POINTS ON THEIR MANAGEMENT PLAN, 20 POINTS ON THEIR FINANCIAL PLAN, AND EIGHT ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE.

SO WE ARE HERE TODAY, UM, REQUESTING THE BOARD TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH LEGACY HOSPITALITY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC FOR THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE ZILKER CAFE TO MAINTAIN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONCESSION AT ZILKER PARK.

BE DONE BY X DATE? SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING, TRYING TO GET ON IT THE JULY OR AUGUST COUNCIL AGENDA MM-HMM .

WE'LL NOW OPEN IT UP TO THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS.

QUESTION? HAVE A QUESTION.

HI, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

UH, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, UM, ARE WE ON A CURRENT TIMELINE WHERE THIS HAS TO

[01:00:01]

SO, UM, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON OUR TIMELINE.

SO WE'RE MEETING OUR TIMELINE.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS, UM, APPROVED, UM, AS THE, UH, BARTON SPRINGS SCHOOL, BATHHOUSE INNOVATION.

UM, MY SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, SO IT'S BEEN NEARLY NINE YEARS SINCE THERE'S BEEN ANY VENDOR THAT HAS OCCUPIED THAT SPACE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

UM, AND I MIGHT, I MIGHT HAVE ASKED THIS BEFORE PREVIOUSLY, BUT ARE Y'ALL GETTING ANY FE FEEDBACK? LEMME BACK UP.

YOU SAID THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON, ONE PE ONE ONE PARTY THAT APPLIED, THAT DID THE RFP.

HOW MANY INTERESTED PARTIES WERE THERE? SO WE ONLY HAD ONE APPLY.

SO OTHER THAN WE DID, UM, ASK SOME QUESTIONS ON WHY OTHERS MAY NOT HAVE PROPOSED.

UM, SOME FELT, BUT LET, LEMME PAUSE YOU BEFORE I GET THERE.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE, THAT'S WHERE I'M HEADING TO.

LIKE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN I CAN PUT AN AD MM-HMM .

AND I CAN GET 10 CALLS AND ONLY ONE PERSON SHOWS UP TO LOOK AT MY CAR THAT I'M SELLING, RIGHT? MM-HMM .

SO, BUT I HAD 10 PEOPLE TOTAL INTERESTED IN IT.

DID Y'ALL HAVE, OR WAS IT JUST THIS ONE PERSON THAT HAD JUST ONE.

AND THAT WAS AFTER IT WAS, UH, CONT UH, EXTENDED FOR THAT SECOND TIME.

AND THEN NOW THIS IS WHERE YOU WERE HEADING, WHICH IS WHY MY QUESTION IS, IS WHY ARE WE ALL GETTING ANY FEEDBACK THAT TO WHY WE'RE NOT GETTING PEOPLE INTERESTED IN? SO I CAN TELL YOU, UH, THE RESTRICTION OF THE SALE OF ALCOHOL IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ONES WE GET.

UM, THE OTHER ONE IS THE REVENUE SHARES.

SOME FELT BECAUSE OF FOOD COST, IT MIGHT COST PROHIBITIVE FOR THEM.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS, IS JUST MAINLY THOSE WERE THE TWO.

UM, IT'S STILL ABOUT, AND THEN THE BARTON SPRINGS, UH, POOL PROJECT THAT WOULD DELAY THEM.

AND, AND SALES OF, AND THEN THIS IS A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THIS IS WHAT, AND I FEEL I HAVE, I FEEL LIKE I'VE ASKED THESE QUESTIONS AGAIN 'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'RE RUNNING INTO THE SAME ISSUES OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND NOT REALLY DOING ANYTHING TO FIX.

THE CORE ISSUE AT THIS IS HOW MANY, WHAT FACILITIES, ARE THERE ANY FACILITIES ON LADYBIRD LAKE THAT CURRENTLY SELL ALCOHOL OR BARTON SPRINGS? WHAT'S THEIR FACILITY THAT'S MANAGED, THAT'S OWNED TECHNICALLY BY THE CITY, BUT HAS A PRIVATE OPERATOR THAT SELLS ALCOHOL SQUARE, I GUESS WOULD BE THE ONE.

I THINK IT'S THE ONLY ONE.

IS REPUBLIC SQUARE THE ONLY ONE? BUT IT'S NOT NEAR THE WATER.

DOES DOES SOMETHING NEAR THE ROWING HOUSE SELL WA ALCOHOL? I THINK IT'S ON THE AUSTIN ROWING CENTER.

WHEN THEY HAD A CAFE, ALTA CAFE, I BELIEVE THAT THEY SOLD ALCOHOL.

BUT THAT'S BEEN A WHILE.

ARE THEY AUTHORIZED TO SELL? IS THERE ANY OTHER PERSON TO GO BACK? WELL, YES, WE SAW THAT WE SOUGHT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND THEY DID RECEIVE THAT.

WE TRIED WITH THE CAFE AND WE DID NOT.

IT'S JUST OKAY.

ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF, UM, A FL, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS ALSO ADVERTISED ON THE STATESMEN, RIGHT? PAUL? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTIONS.

OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? YES.

BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

UM, I, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF THE OUTREACH.

UM, I KNOW, AGAIN, AS A VENDOR WHO DOES BUSINESS WITH THE CITY, OFTENTIMES I MISS, UM, ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR PROCUREMENTS OR, AND QUITE FRANKLY, OFTENTIMES I'LL SKIP DOING IT ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A CUMBERSOME PRO PROCESS.

AND TO GET ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TO YOU FOR, FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T MAKE IT, THAT, THAT HAVE A LOWER THRESHOLD FOR BEING ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY ON GETTING SOMEONE TO DO THOSE PROPOSALS, ALL OF THAT, THAT YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO COUNT THAT COST IN AS WELL.

I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT, UM, YOU ALL REACHED OUT TO FOLKS OUTSIDE OF JUST THOSE REGISTER TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY, BUT JUST SORT OF ADVERTISED IT FAR AND WIDE THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO RESTAURANTERS.

I CAN TAKE THIS.

UM, PAUL, OUR A FO IS PUBLIC TO EVERYONE.

UM, OF COURSE IF YOU ARE A REGISTERED VENDOR WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, YOU WILL GET A NOTIFICATION.

UM, AS FAR AS I KNOW, AND DANISHA, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP A LITTLE BIT WITH THIS.

WE DIDN'T POST

[01:10:01]

WE ADVERTISE, UM, FOR 14 CONSECUTIVE DAYS ACCORDING TO STATE LAW TO ADVERTISE IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMEN AND THE DISTRIBUTION LIST THAT WE CREATED, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CHOOSE COMMODITY CODES AND THE VENDORS WHO'VE REGISTERED FOR THEM, IT CONSISTED OF 427 VENDORS WERE SENT A INITIAL NOTIFICATION AND THEN THEY WERE SENT A, A FOLLOW-UP NOTIFICATION WHEN WE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE, UH, TO, TO GENERATE SOME ADDITIONAL INTEREST.

SO I, I ACTUALLY HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS MYSELF.

SO, UM, YOU MENTIONED REVENUE SHARING EARLIER.

WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE ON THAT FOR THIS? CAN I SPEAK TO THIS, ADRIANA? IS WAS IT PART OF THE SCOPE OF WORK? THE SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDED THE MINIMUM, BUT, UM, THAT THEY PROPOSED ABOVE, WHICH IS WHY YEAH, THE MINIMUM IS ALL I NEED TO KNOW.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY YEAH, THE MINIMUM FINE.

THEY, WE DO.

ALRIGHT.

SO THE MINIMUM WAS I BELIEVE 7,000 A MONTH AND THEN 10%, UM, ADDITIONAL REVENUE SHARE BASED ON GROSS SALES.

UM, AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, DO YOU HAVE, AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE THIS NUMBER HANDY, SO I APOLOGIZE FOR ASKING IT, BUT WHEN THERE WAS LAST A VENDOR IN OPERATION FOR A FULL CALENDAR YEAR, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF THE SALES IN THAT CALENDAR YEAR? I GUESS THAT PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN 2015 OR 2016.

YEAH, YEAH, 2015.

I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

YEAH, I JUST THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS KIND OF FROM A, A LOST OPPORTUNITY STANDPOINT, THIS HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR NINE YEARS.

HOW MUCH REVENUE HAVE WE MISSED OUT ON AS A CITY AND CONTINUED DELAY? I MEAN, THERE ARE OTHER CONCERNS HERE, RIGHT? BUT CONTINUED DELAY OF A VENDOR WILL EXTEND THAT PERIOD.

RIGHT? SO JUST WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAME UP BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, SUSAN, I HAVE A NUMBER.

OR A RANGE.

UM, SUSAN PIPER, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, UM, WHEN THE VENDOR WAS LAST IN OPERATION SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I BELIEVE WE WERE RECEIVING BETWEEN A HUNDRED AND 150,000 ANNUALLY WITH, UM, UH, THE REVENUE SHARE AND THE, UM, YEAH, JUST THE, THE, UM, FEE, THE, WELL WE CAN'T CALL IT THE LEASE , BUT THE FEE AND THE REVENUE SHARE.

SO BETWEEN A HUNDRED AND 150.

SO WE'VE LOST AT LEAST A MILLION DOLLARS IN 2015 OR 20 $16, WHICH MEANS IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THAT IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.

THE, JUST HERE AGAIN, AND I WANNA MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I'M NOT, THIS ISN'T, MY COMMENT ISN'T SPECIFIC ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR VENDOR THAT HAS SUBMITTED AN RFP, BUT MORE ABOUT THE LARGER ISSUE, UM, ABOUT WHY WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION.

UM, THO THOSE NUMBERS YOU JUST GAVE ME 7,000 PLUS 10%.

10%, 10%.

UM, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS.

I CAN TELL YOU BASED OFF OF THAT 7,000 PLUS 10%, I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S NOT GONNA BE, I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF THE, WHOEVER, WHICHEVER VENDOR HERE IS GONNA BE SELLING ANYTHING BELOW 10 OR $12 PER ITEM.

AND THAT'S NOT AFFORDABLE.

AND THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP IS BECAUSE, AGAIN, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, UM, THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THIS WORK FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE OF LIKE MY, MY FAMILY EXPERIENCE IS DO THE SELL OF ALCOHOL.

AND I'M NOT SAYING LIKE WE'RE GONNA BE THROWING A KEGGER AND LIKE, YOU KNOW, DOING A PARTY AND ALL THIS THING, BUT LIKE FOOD IS, YOU ONLY MAKE LIKE ONE OR $2 ON FOOD.

THE REAL GAIN IS ON ALCOHOL.

I CAN BUY A BOTTLE OF WINE FOR 10, $10 AND SELL IT FOR $35.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO TO A RESTAURANT.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE SCOPE OF WORK.

AND AGAIN, I'M BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS IF WE APPROVE THIS VENDOR, WHICH I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO, BUT WHERE ARE WE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR FAILURE TO HAVE, BE HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATION AND HAVING TO TAKE THIS EXACT SAME VOTE ONE OR TWO YEARS DOWN THE LINE? AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR VENDOR.

I'M SORRY THAT THE VENDOR IS GETTING THE BRUNT OF THIS AND MAYBE FEELING LIKE WE'RE ATTACKING THEM.

I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR.

I'M NOT ATTACKING THEM.

I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR, FOR FAILURE.

SO, WELL, I CAN SAY THAT THEY DID PUT FORTH MENU ITEMS IN THEIR PROPOSAL AT AFFORD AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.

UM, THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SELL TOWELS AND SUNSCREEN AND DIFFERENT THINGS, UM, TO GENERATE REVENUE AS WELL.

ARE YOU ABLE TO TELL US WHAT THAT MINIMUM, A MINIMUM THE MINIMUM ITEM IS? WELL, IF I WANTED A SANDWICH, IS THAT NO,

[01:15:01]

PROBABLY.

WELL, THE SCOPE OF WORK ASK FOR HEALTHY OPTIONS, THEN, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE AND THEN THEY PROPOSE THEIR MENU.

SO, UM, ADRIANA, CAN I GIVE AN EXAMPLE? NO, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT PART OF THE EVALUATION CRITERIA WAS LOOKING OVER THEIR PRICE PROPOSAL WAS LOOKING OVER, UM, THE OTHER FACTORS IN THEIR EVALUATION CRITERIA.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS LOOKED AT WAS THE AFFORDABILITY OF THE MENU.

SORRY, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

NOW.

HAS PART SPENT MONEY TO MAINTAIN THIS BUILDING SINCE THERE'S BEEN NO VENDOR IN IT? OR HAS IT EFFECTIVELY SAT EMPTY WITH NO ONE BOTHERING TO DO ANYTHING? SO NO ONE HAS, THERE'S BEEN NO MAINTENANCE ON THIS BUILDING IN NINE YEARS.

IT'S JUST BEEN A COBWEB FILLED.

THE THE, THE BUILDING HAS BEEN COMPLETELY RESTORED.

THE, THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS IN THERE THAT WE PROVIDED FOR THE VENDOR THAT THEY INSTALLED, UM, IS ALL NEW AS OF AS OF 20 19 20.

SO IT'S SIX YEARS OLD.

IT'S UNUSED, BUT IT'S SIX YEARS OLD.

BUT UM, ALSO WE HAVE HAD SOMEONE IN THE BUILDING TO ENSURE THE SPACE WAS SAFE AND CLEAN AND UPKEPT.

GOT IT.

SO, UM, IT HASN'T BEEN COMPLETELY VACANT, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN USED BY A YEAH.

AND WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS ACTUALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LIKE THE BUILDING'S VACANCY, BUT THAT PART HAS BEEN PUTTING FORTH RESOURCES TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THIS BUILDING IS A FUNCTIONING BUILDING.

AND SO NOT ONLY, NOT ONLY HAVE WE LOST THE MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE, WE ALSO HAVE BEEN PAYING MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDING STAYS IN GOOD, YOU KNOW, UPKEEP AND PRESUMABLY DOESN'T HAVE SOME MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN IT FREEZES FOR FOUR DAYS OR WHAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? MM-HMM .

LIKE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

SO I GUESS I SHARE BOARD MEMBER OF VILLALOBOS IS CONCERNED IN THE BROAD PICTURE THAT I'M A LITTLE WORRIED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FISCAL ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN, THAT WE HAVE, AND I KNOW THE PANDEMIC CAUSED MANY OF THIS, A LOT OF THIS OR EXACERBATED IT, BUT WE HAVE EMPTY CONCESSIONS AND THEN A WORLD THAT I THINK HAS A BUSINESS MODEL THAT MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO FILL 'EM.

IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

'CAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT, AGAIN, NOTHING ON THIS SPECIFIC VENDOR, BUT I'M JUST MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BROADER PICTURE OF, WELL, WE'D BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE THIS VENDOR DECIDES, OKAY, THIS BUSINESS MODEL ISN'T FUNCTIONING.

OH, I HAD A QUESTION.

YEAH, GO AHEAD.

HOW LONG, UM, WAS THE PREVIOUS VENDOR IN THERE AND IF WE, HE WAS, AND WE WERE MAKING $150,000 A YEAR, WHY WOULD WE THINK IT WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT? HE, THE PREVIOUS VENDOR DID NOT SELL ALCOHOL, DID HE? NO.

NO.

HOW LONG WAS HE THERE? I BELIEVE AT LEAST 10 YEARS.

AT LEAST.

SO, AND I GUESS THAT'S REALLY, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE FOOD TRUCKS ALL OVER THE CITY.

HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE ALCOHOL LICENSES? WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

FULL QUESTION.

I'M, I'M JUST, I I'VE BEEN VERY FEW WHO ACTUALLY SERVE ALCOHOL, BUT, AND, AND THEY, THEY SEEM TO BE DOING VERY WELL WITHOUT SELLING ALCOHOL.

SO MY POINT BEING, IT, IT'S, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S MORE SIMILAR TO SOMETHING TO A FOOD TRUCK RATHER THAN A RESTAURANT WHERE YOU HAVE TO SEE PEOPLE PAY WAIT, WAITERS AND WAITRESSES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SO I GUESS MY, MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE THAT THIS ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE TO ME.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY'RE NOT A LOCAL VENDOR, BUT REALLY, I, I SAY WE GET SOMEBODY, WE HAVE BEEN WAITING WAY TOO LONG TO GET SOMEBODY IN THERE.

I SAY WE GET SOMEBODY IN THERE.

I MEAN, IT, IT JUST MAKES MORE SENSE RATHER THAN HAVE TO TRY TO PUT THIS BACK OUT AGAIN AND GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, GET ALL THOSE FOLKS WHO, AND THEN WE TRY TO SELL ALCOHOL AGAIN.

IT WAS, I REMEMBER THAT MEETING VERY WELL.

IT WAS ONLY THE SECOND LONGEST BOARD MEETING WE'VE EVER HAD.

UM, BECAUSE WE HAD , WE HAD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SHOW UP IN OPPOSITION.

SO I JUST REALLY WANT, MAYBE NOT HUNDREDS, BUT I JUST REALLY WANT US TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT THE SOONER WE CAN GET SOMEBODY IN THERE AND START SELLING THINGS, THE BETTER.

I WAS THERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE ISN'T SOMEBODY, I MEAN, THERE'S A LONG LINE TO EVEN GET INTO THE POOL.

I MEAN, ALL THOSE PEOPLE COULD BE GETTING REFRESHMENTS FROM THE VENDOR.

I MEAN, I JUST, I DON'T SEE A SCENARIO WHERE THEY DON'T MAKE MONEY.

BUT THAT'S JUST ME.

UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL THE VOTE.

UM, SO I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH LEGACY HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, LLC FOR THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE ZILKER CAFE TO MAINTAIN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONCESSION AT ZILKER PARK.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.

UH, BOARD MEMBER ILLA LOBOS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

[01:20:07]

I CAN'T COUNT.

SO THAT'S, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP BOARD MEMBER EUBANK? NO.

SO THAT'S, NO, NO, NO.

SORRY.

THAT'S EVERYBODY.

SIX IN FAVOR EXCEPT FOR BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS.

SO ALL THOSE, UH, UH, OPPOSED? RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT'S BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS.

AND THEN, UH, THAT IS ALL OF US.

SO THAT PASSES SIX ONE.

MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

UM, WE WILL

[4. Discussion on the Trust for Public Land’s Austin ParkScore Rating. (Sponsors: Eubanks, AbouEmara)]

AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT ITEM, CORRECT.

MR. BECK? YES.

CHAIR.

OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTER WILL BE ROBIN RATHER, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FLORES.

MR. WONDERFUL PERSON.

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

UH, GOOD EVENING BOARD AND CHAIR AND, UH, PARKS DIRECTOR GARY, NICE TO SEE YOU.

MY NAME'S ROBIN RATHER.

UH, I LIVE IN D NINE.

I'LL BE SPEAKING TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF REWILD, A TX.

DROPPING 10 POINTS IN THE TPL RANKING IS A SIGN THAT OUR PARK SYSTEM IS IN SERIOUS, SERIOUS TROUBLE.

AUSTIN PARK SHOULD BE IN THE TOP 10, NOT AT THE BOTTOM, AND DROPPING LIKE A STONE.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT PARS PERFORMANCE, AND IT'S NOT ABOUT THE INCREDIBLY HARD WORK AND GREAT RESULTS THAT PAR EMPLOYEES GET.

THIS ISN'T A PERFORMANCE REVIEW, BUT WHAT WE THINK IS THAT IT'S NOT ON THEM, BUT THE RANKINGS SHOW THAT AUSTIN IS FAILING, ESPECIALLY ON EQUITY AND PARK AMENITIES.

ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS AN OVER-RELIANCE ON CERTAIN NONPROFITS THAT HAVE MADE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO INVEST IN AND WHAT NOT TO WHAT I HANDED OUT IS A MAP THAT'S A DRAFT MAP BECAUSE INFORMATION ON THESE NONPROFITS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS REALLY HARD TO GET.

SO, UH, IF YOU HAVE CORRECTIONS, BRING THEM ON.

WHAT THAT MAP SHOWS IS SOMETHING LIKE OVER $600 MILLION HAVE BEEN SPENT BY PART AND ITS BIGGEST NONPROFITS.

THE ON THE MAP ARE THE, ARE THE PROJECTS THAT ARE OVER 1 MILLION.

AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THAT ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE DOWNTOWN IN DISTRICT NINE.

SOME OF THEM A LITTLE BIT IN DISTRICT FIVE.

I THINK THERE'S ONE IN DISTRICT THREE AND ONE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.

95% OF WHAT THE NONPROFIT SPEND ARE IN THE MOST AFFLUENT PART OF TOWN FOR THE MOST AFFLUENT CONDOS AND THE REAL ESTATE FOLKS THAT DEVELOP THEM.

IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY OUR EQUITY SCORES ARE SO LOW, IT MIGHT BE WE'RE WE'RE FAILING 51% ON THE TPL RANKINGS IS A FAIL.

IF THAT WAS A REPORT CARD, IT'S AN FI KNOW HOW MUCH THIS CITY CARES ABOUT EQUITY AND ABOUT PARK BASICS AND ABOUT PARK MAINTENANCE AND ABOUT PARK RESTORATION.

IT POLLS IN YOUR POLLS AND OUR POLLS AT THE VERY, VERY TOP.

SO WHAT I'M HERE TO SAY IS, RECENTLY AN EXECUTIVE FROM A PF TOLD THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON WATER PARKS AND CLIMATE, OH, PARK MAINTENANCE RESTORATION.

THAT STUFF'S NOT SEXY.

WE BEG TO DIFFER.

I PERSONALLY WILL GO OUT AND GET DONORS THAT FIND RESTORATION AND PARK MAINTENANCE AND PARK AMENITIES.

INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, VITAL, THEY'RE THERE.

THIS CITY IS FULL OF PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND BIODIVERSITY, CLIMATE MITIGATION AND THE BENEFITS OF A FREE PARK SYSTEM.

SO WHAT I, WHAT I WANNA ASK IS, CAN WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE SYSTEM THAT THE CITY DEVELOPED AROUND 2021? IT'S A FAIL AND WE SHOULD FIX IT.

I KNOW WE CAN DO IT.

LET'S DO IT TOGETHER.

FOR TEXAS AND FLORIDA IN 2025.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER, OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CHRIS FLORES, FOLLOWED BY GAIL ROTI.

HI, UM, MY NAME IS CHRIS FLORES.

I, UH, LIVE IN DISTRICT 10, AND I'M COMING TO BRING YOU SOME STATISTICAL INFORMATION THAT I READ ABOUT JUST LAST WEEK.

UM, IT, IT'S RELEVANT TO THIS TOPIC, UM, BLOOMBERG BUSINESS, UH, UH, UH, PROJECTED A LOSS OF 11% IN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM

[01:25:01]

DUE TO OUR NATIONAL POLITICAL CLIMATE.

NO FAULT OF AUSTIN'S.

UM, AND, UH, THE NATIONAL PARKS, UH, WHICH ARE TREMENDOUSLY POPULAR, WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE TOURISTS DUE TO STAFF CUTS.

THIS IS A PERFECT TIME FOR AUSTIN TO PUT ITSELF OUT TO THE COUNTRY AS A GREEN PARK DESTINATION CITY, AND GET OUR PARKS WATERED AND SPRUCED UP FOR A NEW KIND OF TOURIST SOBER NATURE LOVING FAMILIES.

I HOPE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SEES THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY, AND BY DOING THIS, WE WILL BENEFIT AS CITIZENS AND OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY WILL ALSO BENEFIT.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE GAIL RODDY, FOLLOWED BY BERTHA RDO DELGADO.

I'M GAIL ROADIE.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE, UM, REGARDING THE AUSTIN PARKS SCORE, UM, I'M REQUESTING THAT THIS BOARD USE THIS RANKING AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A DEEPER EXAMINATION OF THE REASONS FOR THIS POOR RANKING.

I ASK THAT YOU ACT ON THE FOLLOWING TO MAKE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNSEL.

FIRST OF ALL, I ASK THAT YOU ADVOCATE MORE STRONGLY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTIONS OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN RELATED TO PARKLANDS CLIMATE IMPACTS.

AND THE WAY PARKS CAN MITIGATE THESE IMPACTS MUST NOT BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

SECOND, SERIOUSLY EXAMINE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARD, UM, AND THOSE THAT MUST BE BETTER RESOURCED OR EVEN PERHAPS OUTSOURCED TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

IN PARTICULAR, I'M THINKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND THE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL AREAS.

TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BRING PEOPLE TO PARKS.

THAT'S A NEED THAT'S ONLY GROWING AND WE MUST NOT PAVE OVER OUR PARKLAND OR BUILD PARKING GARAGES TO MEET THIS NEED.

AS FAR AS THE MANAGEMENT OF THE NATURAL AREAS, UM, POTENTIALLY ALL OF OUR PARKS HAVE A NATURAL AREAS, NOT JUST THE DESIGNATED PRESERVES.

AND THESE AREAS CAN PROVIDE MULTIPLE BENEFITS.

THEY DO NOT NECESSARILY REDUCE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

IN FACT, THEY OFTEN ADD TO THEM, UH, ALSO REGARDING THE FUNDING, THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PARKS.

I NOTICED IN THE, UH, OUR PARKS, OUR FUTURE, THERE WAS A, UM, A MODEL CALLED IRREVOCABLE REMAINDER TRUST THAT HAVE, I'VE NOT SEEN MENTIONED RECENTLY.

AND THIS ALL, UH, ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UH, CONVERSATION.

AND I'M WONDERING IF THAT WAS ABANDONED AT THE TIME THE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS WERE IN, UH, INITIATED.

UM, SO I, I HOPE THAT CAN BE RESURRECTED.

THERE MAY BE ANOTHER REASON FOR IT, BUT THAT'S MY THINKING AT THIS POINT.

AND LAST, I THINK WE, WE MUST IMPROVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN ALL THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS AS WE BUILD A FIRST CLASS PARK SYSTEM FOR AUSTIN.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE BERTHA RONDON DELGADO.

IS USED EVERY DAY SINCE YOU HAVE OPENED THE NASH HERNANDEZ BOAT AND CANOE DOCKING.

UH, FOR YOU ALL WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I'M BERTHA DELGADO.

I SERVE AS A PRESIDENT OF EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHERE THE EDWARD RENDON HOLLY SHORES MASTER PLAN RESIDES, UH, ALSO KNOWN AS CHICANO PARK.

AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU ALL.

SO I AM HERE TO TALK ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON ITEM FOUR, UH, REGARDING THE TPL.

UM, THE SCA, THE RANKING WAS REALLY, REALLY LOW.

UM, I DO HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS AS YOU LOOK AT THE MAP THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU ALL, UH, $627 MILLION, UH, WAS GIVEN TO NONPROFIT PARTNERS, WHICH RESIDE IN D NINE AND D FIVE.

WHERE'S D THREE'S MONEY IS MY QUESTION.

THAT'S MY QUESTION TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

AND I HAVE A MEETING WITH OUR PARKS DIRECTOR THIS WEEK, AND THAT'S A QUESTION THAT WE HAVE IS WHERE IS OUR MONEY FOR THE MASTER PLAN OF EDWARD RENDON? I, I CAN SEE THAT A LOT OF MONEY.

UM, 265 MILLION WAS GIVEN TO WATERLOO TOWN LAKE BOARDWALK, 28 MILLION TO CHARLES CONSERVANCY, RAINY STREET, TRAILHEAD, 1 MILLION T UH, BOAT DOCK, 25 MILLION KER VISION PLAN, 200 MILLION, ALL OF THESE AND A FISHING PERIOD, 900 K FROM TRAILS CONSERVANCY IN DISTRICT THREE.

IS THAT ALL WE'VE GOTTEN FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND FOR OUR PARK TO BE A BETTER PARK, WHICH IS, UM, VERY UTILIZED.

AS YOU ALL SEE, THE ENTIRE PARK

[01:30:01]

WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF BOATS, UH, MOTOR BOATS, CANOES, AND KAYAKS THAT ARE COMING IN UNREGULATED WITHOUT ANY LIFE JACKETS THAT HAS CAUSED SEVERAL DROWNINGS IN OUR LAKE.

AND THAT CONDITIONS, UH, WITH THOSE CONDITIONS, NONE OF NONE OF THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT.

WATER SAFETY, THE TRAIL, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, UM, ALSO HAS RECEIVED A LOT OF MONEY, BUT I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALSO IN CHARGE OF THE TRAILS.

UM, NOT AMENITIES, BUT UPGRADES AND KEEPING.

SO I WANNA FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE AT HERE.

HOW IS THIS EQUITABLE? 'CAUSE IT LOOKS INEQUITABLE TO ME.

AND I WANNA GO BACK TO PARK EQUITY.

PARK EQUITY IS A FAIR DISTRIBUTION AND PARKS AND GREEN SPACES, SUCH AS ALL COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS, EVEN THE PEOPLE OF COLOR, EVEN THE POOR PEOPLE, EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT BECAME DISTRICT PARKS THAT BECAME METROPOLITAN PARKS.

AND NOW MY MASTER PLAN HAS NO MONEY, NO MONEY FOR PARK SIGNS TO KEEP VEHICLES OFF PARKS, NO MONEY FOR SIGNS TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE PARK.

NO LIGHTING, POOR RESTROOMS. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TOILET PAPER OR SEAT COVERS.

WE LOOK LIKE PRISON BATHROOMS IN OUR RESTROOMS IN EAST AUSTIN.

WHERE IS EAST AUSTIN'S PARK ON THIS MAP? WHEN I SEE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SENT TO OTHER PARKS AND AMENITIES LIKE BOAT RAMPS AND KAYAKING AND CANOEING AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS, IT ISN'T EQUITABLE.

I EXPECT THIS PARKS BOARD TO HOLD PARKS DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE AND AUDIT ALL YOUR NON-PROFITS BECAUSE THIS IS INEQUITABLE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE PARKS BOARD ON THIS ITEM? CAN I SPEAK? YES, YOU MAY.

THIS IS, UH, I WAS GONNA SPEAK ON SIXTH, BUT TARA ELISA RE MONTOYA, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.

UM, GOOD EVENING, UM, DIRECTOR.

I STILL AM AM FIGHTING TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD EQUITABLE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, PARKS DIRECTORS.

UH, I'M HERE JUST TO ADDRESS AND I WASN'T GONNA SPEAK, BUT SINCE I SEE ALL THIS, UM, INFORMATION THAT I'M JUST READING RIGHT NOW, UH, I'M HERE.

I'M JUST VOICING THE CONCERNS THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND MY DAUGHTER WERE TALKING ABOUT.

THE PARKS THAT EQUITABLE, UH, ISSUES AND WHERE'S THE MONEY THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ENTITLED TO IN OUR, IN OUR DISTRICT, WE'RE DISTRICT THREE.

WE HAVE REPRESENTATION IN DISTRICT THREE, AND WE SEEM TO BE LOST HERE IN IN MAPS.

WE HAVE MASTER PLANS THAT ARE NOT COMPLETED FOR THE PAST 30, 40 YEARS.

AND WE DON'T HAVE NO RESTROOMS. THEY BUILT A RESTROOM CLOSE TO THE 35 AND IT'S NOT REALLY UTILIZED, UTILIZED BY THE, THE PARK AREA.

UH, WE DON'T HAVE TOILET PAPER.

WE, OUR, OUR RESTROOMS ARE DIRTY.

WE DON'T HAVE MAINTENANCE GOING INTO THERE.

UH, THEY USUALLY, AND THEN WE HAVE THE SWIMMING POOLS ALREADY OPEN.

THIS STUFF.

THE, THE KIDS CANNOT USE SOME OF THE, THOSE RESTROOMS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN OPERATION.

AND SO, AND THEN WE HAVE TO CALL IN TO SEE WHEN THEY'RE GONNA COME IN.

UH, AND THEY PUT PORTABLES SOMETIMES.

UH, SO THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING THIS FOR YEARS.

I AM A LANDOWNER.

I PAY TAXES IN THAT DISTRICT.

I LIVE CLOSE TO A BLOCK AWAY.

THE PARK, EDWARD IGNOR PARK IS A MASTER PLAN THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE BEFORE ANY OTHER, UH, OTHER MASTER PLAN IS THAT WAS DEVELOPED BACK IN, BACK IN THE SEVENTIES.

IT, IT'S REAL SHAMEFUL THAT I ALSO SEE A LOT OF BOATS COMING IN WITH MOTOR BOATS.

NOBODY'S MAINTAINING THOSE OR SECURITY.

WE HAVE PEOPLE DROWNING IN THAT AREA.

ON ON TOWN LAKE.

THERE'S NO SECURITY, THERE'S NO LIGHTING, THERE'S NO, UH, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR.

BUT YET WEST OF AUSTIN, UH, YOU HAVE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THIS AREA, YOU HAVE ALL THIS AMENITIES, MONIES THAT ARE COMING IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

BUT WE'RE STILL WAITING OUT HERE FOR YEARS.

ALL WE'RE ASKING IS MAINTENANCE UPGRADES.

UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED HARD TO PRESERVE THIS PARK, WE HAVE DONE IT.

THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY HAVE WORKED HARD TO PRESERVE THAT PARK AND, AND NEWCOMERS, YEAH, THEY'RE COMING IN.

THEY WANNA BE PART OF THIS, THIS, THIS DISTRICT.

WELL, THEY NEED TO HELP OUT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND SAY, LOOK, UH, OH, WE'RE INTERESTED IN PUTTING THIS IN, OR THIS IS OUR AREA.

WELL, NO, I MEAN, PEOPLE HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR THIS AREA TO BE PRESERVED.

AND I'M STILL ALIVE.

[01:35:01]

EVERY IN SOUTH AUSTIN, EAST AUSTIN, WEST AUSTIN.

BUT WE'RE NOT GETTING THE SAME THING.

I MEAN, WHEN, WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE? AND THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, THAT'S THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT.

THIS, IF YOU HAD, IT'S A LIST OF ITEMS AND YOU CAN CHOOSE THREE IN THE PAST YEAR, WHERE DO YOU WISH YOU HAD GONE THE MOST OFTEN TO FIND JOY? INTERESTING QUESTION NUMBER ONE WAS ANYWHERE OUTDOORS.

UM, SO THIS WAS POSTED AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.

UM, NO PRESENTATION OR ACTION.

AND, UH, THE SPONSORING BOARD MEMBERS OR BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS AND BOARD MEMBER ABU AMARA AND WITH BOARD MEMBER ABU AMARA.

UH, ABSENT TODAY, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS, UH, TO FRAME THE DISCUSSION HE WAS HOPING TO HAVE.

WELL, THANK YOU.

UH, I PUT TOGETHER SEVEN PIECES OF INFORMATION SNIPPED OUT OF THE REPORT, SO WE HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.

UM, AND TIM, IF YOU COULD PUT UP THE FIRST ONE OF THOSE THERE.

SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE LATEST TRUST FOR, UH, PUBLIC LAND PARK, UH, SCORE REPORT.

NOW, THE REASON I'M INTERESTED IN THESE DATA, ONE IS IN MY WORK, I'VE USED THIS REPORT FOREVER, PROBABLY SINCE THEY BEGAN DOING THE PARK SCORES.

UM, IT IS ONE SNIPPET OF INFORMATION, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT IN OUR WORK INFORMING OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AS TO POLICY.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT PERFORMANCE.

THIS IS NOT A PERFORMANCE RATING OF PART, THAT'S NOT THE DISCUSSION.

IT'S SIMPLY ABOUT POLICY.

WHAT POLICY CHANGES ARE NECESSARY FOR US TO MAKE GOOD ON OUR PROMISE, WHICH IS WE WANT TO BE AMERICA'S MOST LIVABLE CITY.

AND PART OF THAT ARE PARKS.

SO IT'S NOT THE ONLY SOURCE NEXT OF INFORMATION.

HERE'S EXAMPLES OF OTHER REPORTS THAT I USE ALL THE TIME.

THERE'S PARKS, SCORE, PARKS AND WILDLIFE DOES WHAT'S CALLED A SCORP, GOES ALONG WITH THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUNDING.

UH, BEA HAS SOME INTERESTING DATA REGARDING ECONOMIC IMPACTS.

UM, OUTDOOR FOUNDATION HAS GREAT INFORMATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS ABOUT OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL USES, PARTICULARLY TYPES OF BOATING AND, AND CANOEING AND KAYAKING AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF FISHING, HUNTING AND WILDLIFE ASSOCIATED RECREATION, THAT'S FISH AND WILDLIFE.

IT'S ONLY IN THAT LITTLE NARROW, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES WILDLIFE WATCHING WA BIRDING PHOTOGRAPHY.

THERE ARE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE VISITOR, UH, ANNUAL REPORTS.

UH, THERE USED TO BE THE NSRE, IT'S BACKED OFF.

BUT THEN I'LL ALSO SAY THAT N RPA, THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION, OUR DIRECTORS VERY INVOLVED.

THERE IS A WONDERFUL WORLD OF DATA AVAILABLE.

SO WE HAVE LOTS OF INFORMATION, DATA, STATISTICALLY VALID DATA TO WORK WITH.

NEXT.

THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND SURVEY IS LIMITED IN ITS METRICS.

WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT PAR COULD BE LOOKED, UH, THAT ARE RELATED TO PAR THAT AREN'T EVEN SHOWN HERE.

BUT THE FIVE THAT ARE MEASURED AND SHOWN YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND MEASURED AGAINST THE 100 MOST POPULOUS CITIES IN AMERICA.

SO WE'RE BEING RANKED SOMEWHERE IN THERE, INCLUDE ACREAGE, MEDIUM PARK SIZE, PERCENT OF THE CITY THAT IS PARKLAND, ACCESS, PERCENT OF THE POPULATION WITH A 10 MINUTE WALK AMENITIES.

AND THEY HAVE A LIST OF AMENITIES THAT THEY LOOK AT.

WE OBVIOUSLY PROVIDE MORE AMENITIES THAN THAT.

I WOULD ADD A LOT OF AMENITIES ON THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SIDE.

THIS IS WHAT TPL DOES.

INVESTMENT PER PERSON INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC PARKS FROM PUBLIC AGENCIES, PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVEN MONETIZING VOLUNTEER HOURS.

DIFFICULT TO DO, BUT THEY DO IT.

AND THEN FINALLY, 20% IS EQUITY.

HAS TO DO WITH EQUITY.

HOW CLOSE PARKS ARE TO POPULATIONS OF COLOR, HOW PART CLOSER PARTS TO THE POOR INCOME RELATED.

OKAY, NEXT, PLEASE, BARBARA.

OR, OH, YES, THERE I AM THE ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE HIT THE BUTTON.

SO HERE, INTERESTING NEW DATA THAT SHOWED UP IN THIS REPORT, AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALL SCOUR LOOKING FOR.

IS THERE SOMETHING NEW? UH, IT IS THE SAME OLD STUFF IS

[01:40:01]

NOW, I WILL TELL YOU FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND DOING THESE SURVEYS AND OTHER TYPES OF SURVEYS, THAT'S ALWAYS NUMBER ONE.

OUTDOORS IS TYPICALLY A VERY TYPICAL ANSWER RIGHT SIDE.

SECOND OF ALL WAS MY HOME, WHICH I FIND INTERESTING AND CONCERNING.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT I'D LIKE TO GET INTO THAT.

THEN THIRD IS A LIBRARY, MUSEUM, OR OTHER CIVIC INSTITUTION.

NUMBER FOUR THOUGH, AND ABOUT HALF OF THE QUE THE PEOPLE THAT SIT OUTDOORS WITH.

NUMBER ONE IS TO BE AT A CONCERT, A STADIUM OR A PERFORMANCE VENUE, A CONCERT, A STADIUM OR A PERFORMANCE VENUE.

AND THEN THERE'S ALL THIS BAR REST RESTAURANT, A PLACE OF WORSHIP, A GYM OR FITNESS CENTER, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

INTERESTING QUESTION THAT THEY ASK.

SURVEY OF 2000 PEOPLE NATIONWIDE.

BUT IT'S A LIMITED METRIC.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THESE LIMITED METRICS.

NEXT.

SO WHERE DO WE RANK? WELL, OUT OF THE 100 MOST POPULOUS CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, WE NOW RANK 54TH.

WE RANK 54TH.

AND WHEN YOU'RE ALLOWED A HUNDRED POINTS PER METRIC AND ACREAGE 51 AND ACCESS, WERE 56, INVESTMENT, 75 AMENITIES, 33, EQUITY, 42.

AND THERE'S EXPLANATIONS AND I WILL LET YOU ALL READ THAT.

OKAY, NEXT, LET'S COMPARE IT TO ANOTHER CITY, TWO CITIES THAT ACTUALLY KIND OF WORK AS ONE.

UM, MINNEAPOLIS ST.

PAUL.

OF COURSE WE HAVE THE RIVER DOWN THE MIDDLE AND THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANCH DOWN THE MIDDLE.

BUT THEY RANK THIRD AND FIFTH.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'LL POINT OUT, LOOK AT INVESTMENT OUT OF A HUNDRED, IT'S A HUNDRED COMPARED TO WHAT WE RANK IN INVESTMENT.

SAME THING IN ST 92, AMENITIES 96 WHERE WE RANK HALF OF THEM.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S CLEAR IS IT SEEMS TO ME FROM THESE DATA, UM, WE HAVE TWO ISSUES.

ONE IS FUNDING.

WE KNOW THAT IT HAS TO BE FIXED.

AND SECOND OF ALL, THERE IS AN ISSUE OF EQUITY.

IT'S REAL.

THAT ISSUE IS MEASURED.

AND FOR EXAMPLE, AND I, MY EYES WILL NEVER READ THIS.

UM, SECOND SET OF MEASURES, COMPARE THE DISTRIBUTION OF PARK SPACE IN ST.

PAUL.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO AUSTIN, I'M SORRY, UH, IN AUSTIN, UM, LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE ACCESS TO 64% LESS NEARBY PARK SPACE THAN THOSE IN HIGHER INCOME.

THAT TO ME IS A DRAMATIC NUMBER.

IT'S NOT A PERFORMANCE ISSUE, IT'S A POLICY ISSUE.

THE POLICIES THAT HAVE CREATED WHAT WE ARE NOW WORKING WITH AS A BOARD.

NEXT, WHAT'S THE TREND? WELL, IT'S NOT POSITIVE.

UM, WE HAVE DROPPED 10 RANKINGS THIS LAST REPORT, BUT THIS ISN'T NEW.

AND IF WE LOOK OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AND I'M LOOKING OVER FIVE YEARS FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON, ON MARCH 12TH, 2020, WE PASSED THE CITY RESOLUTION.

THAT CREATED THE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

UH, THAT'S FIVE YEARS AGO.

SO HERE WE HAVE A GREAT WAY OF LOOKING AT THE IMPACTS.

I DON'T EXPECT PARTNERSHIPS TO SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM BY ANY STRETCH, BUT WHAT ABOUT INVESTMENTS IN AMENITIES CITYWIDE? WHAT ABOUT THE EQUITY ISSUE CITYWIDE? AND I WILL JUST TELL YOU, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE NUMBERS NOW, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT DECLINE, BUT I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO KNOW.

AND BECAUSE OTHERWISE WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND RECOMMENDING POLICIES, THERE HAVE TO BE POLICIES THAT HAVE DIRECTLY TURNED THIS TREND AROUND.

IT CAN'T JUST BE MORE OF THE SAME.

IT CAN'T BE JUST CUT 10% AND IT'S GONNA GET BETTER.

OKAY, THAT'S MY

[01:45:01]

INTRODUCTION TO THE REPORT.

AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT WE DISCUSS THIS BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WE SIT DOWN WITH AND SAY, HERE'S WHAT THIS SAYS.

WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE, I'VE, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE READ ABOUT IT, THEY'VE BEEN BRIEFED IN SOME COMMITTEES ABOUT IT.

WE SHOULD HAVE ANSWERS.

THAT'S IT.

THANKS.

BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS.

UM, I'LL OPEN IT UP, UH, FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION.

UM, I DO AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.

WERE RATHER ABOUT, UM, THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE A NEED TO BE BETTER, UM, TO DO A BETTER JOB.

THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I THINK, UH, WE SHOULD ALWAYS STRIVE FOR TO BE A BETTER, UH, AT PROVIDING AMENITIES THAT PROVIDING ACCESS, UM, AND PROVIDING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AMENITIES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

UM, SO I DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS, UH, TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION.

UM, OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, UH, DID, DID STAND OUT TO ME WAS THE, UM, AMENITIES SECTION, UM, WHERE THEY PRIORITIZE CERTAIN, UH, AMENITIES OVER OTHERS.

AND I DO THINK THAT, I THINK YOU MENTIONED THIS IN YOUR DISCUSSION, WAS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A CULTURAL, UH, BALANCING IN REGARDS TO WHAT TYPE OF AMENITIES, UM, ARE IMPORTANT TO A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY.

UM, 'CAUSE I SUSPECT THAT OUR, WHAT, WHAT THIS COMMUNITY VIEWS AS VALUABLE AMENITIES IS GONNA BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT ST.

PAUL MINNESOTA VIEWS JUST BY VIRTUE OF THE POPULATION, THE DEMOGRAPHICS, EVERYTHING.

SO, UM, BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT, THIS IS NOT THE END ALL BE ALL SCORE.

THIS IS JUST THE INDICATION OF WHERE WE ARE.

UH, ONE METRIC THAT WE CAN USE TO MEASURE IT.

SO, UM, WHICH AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT, WHICH IS WHY, WHY I'M CONCERNED THIS YEAR ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HEADING FINANCIALLY.

AND I WOULD SAY THERE'S NO FAULT OF DIRECTOR GEAR OR THE PARK DEPART THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, BUT RATHER, UM, YOU KNOW, THE GRASS THAT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE HAS PLACED ON CITIES IN REGARDS TO LIMITING WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO AND HOW WE'RE ABLE TO GENERATE THAT REVENUE.

UM, SO I THINK THIS PUTS INTO PERSPECTIVE JUST IN GENERAL HOW IMPORTANT ONE PARKS ARE TO PEOPLE AND TWO, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

AND TWO, UM, HOW WE REALLY NEED TO BE FIGHTING FOR PARKS, UM, AND AMENITIES AND RECREATIONAL SPACES.

UM, 'CAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE, IT TIES BACK TO THAT FIRST REASON.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS MM-HMM .

TO THE, TO THE BOARD.

YEAH, I WOULD ECHO THAT AS WELL.

I WILL SAY I, UH, SOMETHING I FOUND ODD ABOUT THIS THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE IS I DON'T BELIEVE POOLS ARE CONSIDERED AN AMENITY, WHICH IS WILD TO ME.

UM, BECAUSE THAT, AND IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE I THINK OUR POOLS ARE SOME OF OUR MOST EXTENSIVE AMENITIES.

AND SO THAT'S A SHAME JUST BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT, UM, OF COURSE SPLASH PADS ARE INCLUDED AND THAT'S GREAT, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF CITY POOLS, UM, MANY OF WHICH ARE CROWN JEWELS OF THE SYSTEM.

UM, SO I THINK, UH, I JUST DID WANNA CALL THAT OUT FOR THE PUBLIC THAT POOLS ARE NOT COUNTED AT ALL IN THIS SCORING.

UM, WHICH I THINK IS, IS ODD.

UM, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS.

SO I DON'T KNOW, UH, THE BACKGROUND OF THE METHODOLOGY.

UH, I ALSO WOULD SAY IF FOLKS HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY DIG INTO THE WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN, 'CAUSE MY FIRST CONCERN WHEN I LOOK AT ANYTHING LIKE THIS IS, WELL, IT'S NICE TO COMPARE APPLES TO POMEGRANATES, BUT MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK AT SIMILAR THINGS.

AND, AND NOT TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT, I AGREE WITH ALL THE SENTIMENTS.

WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR PARKS, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO BETTER.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT WE'RE SECOND ONLY TO DALLAS AS FAR AS LARGE CITIES IN TEXAS.

AND THE THREE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE AHEAD OF US ARE WEALTHY SUBURBS, ONE OF WHICH I'M FROM.

SO IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT, WE'RE COMPARING DIFFERENT THINGS THERE.

I THINK ALSO DENSITY IS HUGE AND I WAS VERY PLEASED THAT THEY ALLOW YOU TO CUT BY DENSITY.

UM, SO YOU CAN SORT OF COMPARE A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE STRAPPED WITH HERE THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IS THAT THE CITY WAS DESIGNED FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLE.

AND IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET AROUND THAT IN TERMS OF A 10 MINUTE WALK, RIGHT? I WOULD LOVE IF EVERYONE LIVED WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TALK TO TXDOT ABOUT SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS, .

UM, SO I THINK THOSE ARE JUST GOOD THINGS TO BRING UP AND I APPRECIATE BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS BRINGING IT, UH, TO THE ATTENTION.

'CAUSE I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE A SENSE OF THE REPORT ITSELF AND, UM, WHAT'S CONTAINED WITHIN AND, AND WHERE THEY CAN GO TO LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION AND CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR THINGS.

BUT I DID WANNA CALL OUT THAT PIECE ABOUT POOLS.

OTHER COMMENTS, UH, DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD.

COMMENT, UH, PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENT IN THIS MEETING REGARDING THE PARTNERSHIPS, UM, I REALIZED I DO NOT KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT THE CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS ARE, UM, AND WHAT KIND OF DATA WE HAVE ON THE SUCCESS.

BOARD MEMBER.

UH, SO I'M NEW, UH, AND, UH, THE PUBLIC

[01:50:01]

UM, I, I'VE BEEN TO, UH, A NUMBER OF CITY PARKS.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE BIG ONES LIKE WATERLOO WHERE THERE'S A PARTNERSHIP, BUT ALSO, UM, SOME SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS WHERE THERE'S BEEN A BIG COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW ALL OF THOSE ARE STRUCTURED AND I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A PREVIOUS MEETING WHERE THIS WAS DISCUSSED AND REVIEWED.

UM, I THINK THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO SOMETHING THAT WAS PASSED FIVE YEARS AGO.

UM, SO I'D, I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE.

I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DIG INTO IN A FUTURE, UM, MEETING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AS A BOARD TO MAYBE ADDRESS SOME OF THE, UM, INEQUITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING.

I MEAN, I GET THAT WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY AT ZILKER PARK AT BARTON SPRINGS.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE BIG, THESE ARE BIG PARKS AND A LOT OF OUT OF TOWNERS GO TO THESE PARKS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS? HOW DO WE INCREASE EQUITY TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS? ESPECIALLY ON THE EAST SIDE.

UM, I, I RAISED MY CHILDREN IN ONE OF THE AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR CITY PARK THAT WAS NEXT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL WAS GREAT.

UM, AND WE CAN'T EXPECT THAT ALL NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GONNA HAVE THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, THAT WE'RE BEING EQUITABLE.

SO, UH, I JUST KIND OF CALL IT OUT TO THE OTHER, UH, BOARD MEMBERS IS, YOU KNOW, HELP, HELP EDUCATE ME AND THEN WHAT CAN WE DO TO KIND OF IMPROVE THAT? SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE ARE PLENTY OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS WE CAN POINT YOU TO.

UM, I'M HAPPY TO SEND OVER JUST THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS FOR YOU TO PERUSE AT YOUR OWN LEISURE .

UM, I AM SURE ALSO PARK STAFF WOULD BE HAPPY TO PREPARE AN UPDATED, UM, SUMMARY OR MEMO WITH SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE, THE PARTNERSHIPS, THOUGH IT HAS NOT BEEN THAT LONG SINCE WE HAD A MEETING ABOUT THIS PROBABLY SLIGHTLY BEFORE YOU, UH, JOIN THE BOARD.

SO I'LL SEE IF I CAN POINT YOU TO THAT ONE FIRST.

UM, AND IF YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

WE COULD REQUEST A BRIEFING.

CERTAINLY IF THERE WERE THINGS THAT WE NEEDED MORE INFORMATION ON, UH, I WILL WARN YOU NOW.

THERE'S A LOT TO DIGEST THERE.

SO, UM, , EVEN THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD, I THINK THERE'S PLENTY WE DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT ALL THE PIECES 'CAUSE IT'S A LOT OF COMPLEX MOVING PARTS.

THANK YOU FOR SENDING THAT.

AND I WOULD, YOU KNOW, IF OTHER FOLKS WANT THE INFORMATION AS WELL, UM, I'LL COME WITH QUESTIONS AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ADDRESS, ADD TO AN AGENDA ITEM AT A FUTURE MEETING.

TO TELL TO, TO, TO SUGGEST TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HE BRING A MOTION FORWARD THAT SAYS, PARDON NEEDS TO BE PROPERLY FUNDED AND GIVEN THE PROPER AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO THAT.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO SECOND THAT REQUEST 'CAUSE IT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS BEING ON THE PARKS BOARD.

AND I'D LOVE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON HOW THE PARTNERSHIPS WORK AND IF THEY'RE TRACKING PROGRESS OR THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

YEAH, I CAN SEND WHAT I, I'LL SEND THE MEETINGS THAT I KNOW OF TO TIM AND HE CAN DISTRIBUTE IT TO THE BOARD, BUT CERTAINLY THAT IT MAY NOT FULFILL ALL OF THE QUESTIONS ANYONE HAS.

SO THEY SHOULD FEEL FREE TO BRING IT UP AT A FUTURE MEETING FOR AN ITEM JULY.

I'LL SEND, I'LL SEND SOMETHING OUT.

OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? YEAH, JUST TO, UH, KIND OF RETURN TO THIS.

UM, I THINK FOR BOTH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS INFORMATION, I THINK IT IS A QUESTION TO BE ASKED.

UH, SOME OF, AT LEAST TWO OF THE POEMS ARE FIVE YEARS OLD, I BELIEVE.

UH, PEACE PARK AND TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

SO WE'RE FIVE YEARS SINCE THAT 'CAUSE THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL TWO THAT ARE MENTIONED BY NAME AND THE RESOLUTION.

SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW, AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING WHAT THE REASON IS.

WHAT I AM SAYING THOUGH IS IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

WE KNOW SOME OF THOSE REASONS.

UM, AND I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF WHATEVER PART WANTS TO DO TO LOOK INTO THIS, UM, TO, TO, TO, TO COME UP WITH SOME REAL DATA AND SOME REAL NUMBERS.

WE HAD A PRESENTATION, WHAT WAS IT LAST MEETING? UH, WHERE WE WENT INTO THE ADDITIONAL IN, UH, FUNDING SOURCES WITHOUT BEING CRITICAL.

I'LL BE CRITICAL.

UH, THAT WAS NOT A REPORT WE CAN DO A LOT WITH.

THE SURVEY HAS NO STATISTICAL VALIDITY, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMENT IN THERE THAT WE COULD GLEAN AND GET A SENSE OF, I'D BE THE FIRST PERSON

[01:55:01]

RIGHT? WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT ARE ALL THE CHOICES.

AND REALLY IN A WAY, THESE, THESE GO TOGETHER.

IT'S WHY I KIND OF BROUGHT 'EM UP TOGETHER.

I MEAN, I'VE WORKED IN EVERY STATE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PARK SYSTEMS I WORK WITH.

UM, I, I DON'T REMEMBER.

BUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY WAYS PARK SYSTEMS ARE FUNDED MANY, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE'RE SMART ENOUGH TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

I KNOW WE ARE, WE'RE SMART ENOUGH AND IF PAR NEEDS MORE TIME AND MORE FUNDING TO REALLY DELVE INTO IT, I'M ALL FOR IT.

I'M TOTALLY SUPPORTED.

BOARD MEMBER EUBANK.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THIS? I KNOW WE'LL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.

I DID SEND THOSE MATERIALS TO MR. BECK SO HE CAN DISTRIBUTE IT.

ARE OH YES.

BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR? YES.

UM, UM, BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

DID YOU, UM, DO A, DID YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO THE HIGHEST RANKING PARKS AND CITIES THAT ARE SIMILAR SIZE AS AUSTIN AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE FOUNDATIONS THAT THEY FUNNEL THEIR MONEY THROUGH? UM, I'M JUST CURIOUS IF HOW MUCH INFORMATION YOU HAVE ON THAT.

UM, I'M SURE I CAN PULL MY FILES AND GIVE YOU THEIR NAMES.

UM, I I WOULD HAVE TO.

THEY'RE, IT'S THERE, UM, IN SOME BOX MM-HMM .

BUT I, ONE THING I DO HAVE A, A, A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS REPORT.

I'M THE ONE THAT BROUGHT IT UP, BUT I'M GONNA COMPLAIN ABOUT IT, IS THAT THERE ARE PARK SYSTEMS THAT ARE NOT MENTIONED.

UH, AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

UM, TOLEDO, OHIO WHERE I'VE WORKED HAS A MUNICIPAL PARK SYSTEM, THE TOLEDO PARK SYSTEM, BUT IT ALSO HAS A METRO PARK SYSTEM.

AND IT WAS MODELED ON THE CLEVELAND METRO PARK SYSTEM.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, THE METROPARKS, WHICH ARE FUNDED WITH A MILL TAX, THE METROPARKS ARE AMONG THE FINEST PARKS IN THIS COUNTRY.

TOLEDO'S CITY PARK SYSTEM ISN'T TOO NICE, BUT THE METRO PARK SYSTEMS ARE UNBELIEVABLE AND VOTERS EVERY FIVE YEARS VOTE ON RENEWING THAT AND EVERY FIVE YEARS SUPPORTED IN GREAT NUMBERS.

SO THERE ARE MANY, MANY WAYS THAT CITIES ARE DEALING WITH THIS.

AND IN MANY STATES WHERE THE LEGISLATURES AREN'T SO FRIENDLY EITHER, UH, WE'RE NOT U UNIQUE IN THAT REGARD.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE PART AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE DEEPLY INTO THIS AND GET THE HELP THAT'S NEEDED RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.

I KNOW THIS IS UNPOPULAR HERE, BUT RIGHT DOWN THE STREET IS TEXAS A AND M AND TEXAS A AND M HAS ONE OF THE BEST HUMAN DIMENSIONS PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY.

UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE, THEY'VE WRITTEN BOOKS FOR NERPA.

WE'VE GOT GREAT RESEARCH PEOPLE, GREAT DATA, GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.

IF TIME AND MONEY ARE THE ISSUE, THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT TO GO ON THE CHEAP.

IT'S JUST TOO CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR PARKS.

AND FINALLY ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES THAT WE ALL KEEP TALKING ABOUT.

WE'RE SITTING HERE FACING A CUT.

WE'RE HERE FACING A CUT WHERE WE SHOULD BE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT REALLY HOW WE'RE FACING A RAISE.

BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS.

I THINK, UM, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WANNA TAKE A BREAK HERE BEFORE WE GO TO OUR NEXT ITEM.

BUT AGAIN, UM, WE CAN, UH, UH, YOU GUYS CAN REVIEW SOME OF THE MATERIALS THAT ARE SENT OUT, DO SOME MORE RESEARCH, AND IF WE WANNA BRING THIS BACK, UH, WE CERTAINLY CAN, UM, WITH AN ASSOCIATED ACTION IF NECESSARY.

SO, UM, WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TAKE A SLIGHTLY MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES BREAK.

LET'S BE BACK AT EIGHT 10 PLEASE.

NOW, UM, IT'S, UH, 8:11 PM UH, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND

[5. Staff briefing on the parks security audit which was contracted by the Austin Parks Foundation and structured around the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Operational Efficiency). Presenter(s): Amanda Ross, Natural Resources Division Manager and Jodi Jay, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation Department; Joy Casnovsky, Chief Mission Officer, Austin Parks Foundation; Jessica Tran, Ronald Ronacher, Christoph Gisel and Antonio Wright, ARUP.]

GO ON TO ITEM FIVE.

WAS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM? YES, CHAIR.

UH, OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTER WILL BE BERTHA RENDON DELGADO, FOLLOWED BY ELISA.

BUT OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS BERTHA RENDON DELGADO.