Aug 25, 2025 Parks and Recreation Board

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BEGIN THE REGULAR MEETING,

[CALL TO ORDER]

IT'S AUGUST 25TH, 2025.

AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL ATTENDANCE.

I'M, UM, CHAIR BISON AND PRESENT VICE CHAIR FLOWERS.

PRESENT BOARD MEMBER ORM.

BOARD MEMBER LOBOS.

BOARD MEMBER MERIT PRESENT BOARD MEMBER ABARA.

BOARD MEMBER KERNS OSTERWEIL.

BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR.

PRESENT BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN PRESENT BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS.

PRESENT BOARD MEMBER BECKER PRESENT.

ALL RIGHT.

LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT SEVEN PRESENT, SO WE HAVE QUORUM.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE.

UM, WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

THIS IS RESERVED FOR THE FIRST 10 SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS ITEMS THAT ARE NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA.

MR. BECK? THANK YOU, CHAIR.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE CAROL BAXTER, FOLLOWED BY MARY FARROW AND THEN SARAH COLES.

IS CAROL BAXTER HERE? YES.

FEEL FREE TO APPROACH THE, UH, THE PODIUM.

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

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS CAROL BAXTER, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE TO TURN THIS OVER TO JOHN DEREK LONGTIME, A RC MEMBER IN THE GALLERY BEHIND US, WE HAVE FIVE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE OLDEST RUNNING CREW AT AUSTIN ROWING CLUB CALLED POSH.

SOME OF THEM IN THE AUDIENCE ARE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE CLUB THAT STARTED IN 1981.

TURNING IT OVER TO JOHN.

THANKS, JOE.

HI, I'M THE VOTE CAPTAIN OF POSH.

UH, IT MEANS I HEARD THE CATS GET EVERYBODY IN LINE.

UM, POSH IS, UH, WAS FORMED 25 YEARS AGO BY FOUR MARRIED COUPLES WHO WERE MEMBERS OF THE CLUB AND HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS USE OR OPERATIONS SINCE THEN.

UH, WE'RE DOWN.

WE ONLY HAVE THREE OF THE ORIGINAL CREW.

UH, BUT, UH, WE, WE FILLED IN WITH PEOPLE OF OUR AGE.

AND BASICALLY WHAT I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS THE, UM, HOW SENIORS PARTICIPATE IN THE CLUB.

UH, WE, ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE CLUB IS OVER 50 YEARS OLD AND 21% ARE OVER 60 YEARS OLD.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF MY CREW OR OUR CREW SITTING BEHIND ME IS 77 YEARS.

THE ELDEST MEMBER OF THE CREW WAS 82 YEARS, 80, 82.

UM, AND THE ELDEST MEMBER OF THE CLUB WHO ACTUALLY ROSE AND IS ACTIVE BOTH IN THE CLUB IN THE SIERRA, UH, CLUB AS WELL, UH, IS 91 YEARS OLD.

SO THE POINT IS ROWING CAN BE AND IS A LIFETIME SPORT.

YOU START WITH JUNIORS, UH, WHICH YOU HEARD FROM IN JUNE, AND YOU CONTINUE THROUGH IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GO TO COLLEGE, ROWING COLLEGE.

IF NOT YOU, YOU LEARN AT PLACES LIKE, UH, AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.

MANY OF, UH, ABOUT HALF OF OUR CREW LEARNED TO ROW HERE ON LADY BIRD LAKE.

FOUR OF US WERE IN OUR SIXTIES WHEN WE FIRST LEARNED TO ROW.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A FIT YOUNG PERSON LEARNING TO ROW AND THEN JUST HANGING ON BY GRIM DEATH TO GET TO YOUR SEVENTIES IN A ROW.

YOU CAN START AT ANY POINT.

UH, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT FOR SENIORS IS YOUR IN A CLUB OR AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE ARE MIXED GENERATIONS.

SO YOU, OUR CREW HAPPENS TO BE ALL 70 OR 80 YEARS OLD, BUT MANY CREWS ARE BOTH MIXED AGE WISE AND USUALLY 50% FEMALE AND 50% MALE.

IT'S JUST A GREAT INCLUSIVE WAY FOR AN ACTIVITY.

AND I'LL END IT THERE.

.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? NO.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARY FARROW, FOLLOWED BY SARAH COLES AND THEN PHILIP THOMAS.

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I AM MARY FARROW.

I LIVED IN THE ALLENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME RESIDENT THERE AND, UH, A LONG TIME, UH, SUPPORTER AND SOMEONE WHO REALLY APPRECIATES BEVERLY SHEFFIELD NORTHWEST PARK.

I WANNA THANK, I WANNA THANK PARD FOR ALL THE EXTENSIVE WORK THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW TO RENOVATE THE POOL.

UM, IT SEEMS TO BE ON THE SCHEDULE TO REOPEN NEXT SUMMER AFTER HAVING BEEN CLOSED THIS SUMMER AND NEXT SUMMER WILL BE, I GUESS, THE 70 YEAR ANNIVERSARY FROM WHEN THAT POOL OPENED.

INITIALLY MAKING IT THE FIRST OLYMPIC SIZE POOL IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND ALLOWING SWIM MEETS TO BE HELD HERE, UH, PARTICIPATING IN A NATIONAL SWIM MEETS.

AND, UM, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AT THIS PARK.

UM, ONE OF THE, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS, ONE OF THE SORT OF UNFORTUNATE, UH, SIDE EFFECTS IS THAT THIS POOL WAS BUILT TO DRAIN INTO THE POND THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR DECADES.

AND THE POND IS, UH, SUFFERING.

AND WE KNOW THAT PART STAFF IS LOOKING TO SEE IF THEY CAN COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS, UH, TO TRY AND SAVE THAT POND.

AND I'M HERE JUST TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT I THINK EVERYONE HAS HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY QUITE A LOT TO KNOW HOW MUCH THAT POND HAS BEEN CHERISHED THROUGH THE YEARS.

AND, UM, WE, WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN AS A COMMUNITY TO TRY AND SUPPORT IT.

UM, SO IF WE NEED TO RALLY AROUND AND HAVE BAKE SALES OR, UH, HELP CLEAN OUT THE, THE SPOT BRING, BRING A BOTTLE OF WATER, WHEN WE COME TO THE PARK AND DUMP IT IN THE POND, UM, WE ARE, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THERE'LL BE A SOLUTION FOUND.

UM, THE, UM, THE, THE, THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT THIS PARK IS THAT IT IS REALLY A REALLY, UH, A GEM OF NATURE IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY.

IT WAS PART OF A 3000 ACRE LAND GRANT WHEN THIS, WHEN THIS, UH, TOWN WAS BEING, UH, ESTABLISHED.

UM, THE ORIGINAL GUY IS BURIED NOT TOO FAR FROM THE PARK.

AND, UM, IT HAS, IT HAS THAT NATURAL QUALITY THAT I THINK PEOPLE CRAVE AND NEED THESE DAYS IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO TO TRY AND HELP PRESERVE THAT.

IT'S, UH, IT'S REALLY VALUABLE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SARAH COLES.

YEAH, ONE MOMENT.

MR. BECK.

SORRY, THERE'S A QUESTION.

SORRY FOR, CAN YOU GIVE ME A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE POND? YES.

UM, WELL, I THINK IT'S STILL BEING INVESTIGATED AT THIS POINT, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE, AS I SAID, THE POOL WAS DESIGNED TO DRAIN INTO THE POND AND IT SERVES AS A, I GET THE RETENTION AND DETENTION PONDS MIXED UP.

BUT ANYWAY, UM, THE WATER SOURCE NOW WITHOUT THE POOL THERE IS, IS BASICALLY GONE AWAY.

AND SO, UM, THERE WAS THOUGHT TO BE ABOUT 500,000 GALLONS OF GROUNDWATER THAT WAS GOING INTO THE POND AS WELL.

BUT THAT SEEMS TO HAVE NOT BEEN APPARENT AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN.

MR. BECK, IF WE COULD HAVE JUST A BRIEF OR A MEMO OR WHATEVER'S EASIEST FOR SOME MORE INFORMATION UNLESS YOU HAVE IT RIGHT NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE OKAY.

GOOD AHEAD.

OKAY, PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL GET SOME MORE INFORMATION.

GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR THE BOARD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

THANKS SO MUCH.

MM-HMM .

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SARAH COLES, FOLLOWED BY PHILLIP THOMAS AND THEN CHRIS FLORES.

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

HELLO, MY NAME IS SARAH COLES AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK.

WE ARE A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT WORKING TO ENSURE ACCESS AND CONNECTION TO, FOR ALL CHILDREN IN TEXAS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THIS BOARD FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS OF OUR MISSION TOWARDS ENGAGING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR CITY'S OUTDOOR SPACES.

THIS SUPPORT HAS ESPECIALLY COME FROM THE AUSTIN CITY'S CONNECTING CHILDREN TO NATURE INITIATIVE OUT OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WORKING TO ENGAGE ACROSS ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS TO GET MORE NATURE ACCESS ACROSS THE CITY.

WE WORK ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS WITH CITIES CONNECTING CHILDREN TO NATURE, ESPECIALLY OUR GREEN SCHOOLYARDS AND PARKS AND NATURE PLAY ACROSS THE CITY.

WE ESPECIALLY COMMEND THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO INSTALLING NATURE PLAY THROUGHOUT THE CITY OVER THE

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AND AS CITIES CONNECTING CHILDREN INTO NATURE INITIATIVE APPROACHES, ITS 10TH YEAR HERE IN THE CITY.

WE ARE PROUD PARTNERS IN THE EFFORT AND HOPE TO WORK WITH THE CITY FOR YEARS TO COME.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR EFFORT.

ANY QUESTIONS? THAT WAS IT.

THANKS.

THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE PHILIP THOMAS, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FLORES.

GOOD EVENING CHAIR.

GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.

UH, I'M PHIL THOMAS, COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE.

I SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME AND ENERGY YOU GIVE TO SUPPORT OUR PARKS.

THIS ISN'T JUST A POLITE GESTURE, I TRULY MEAN IT.

MANY OF US HERE TONIGHT UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH EFFORTS IT TAKES TO GRASP THE MANY COMPLEX ISSUES OF OUR PARK.

IT'S A BIG UNPAID JOB, BUT IT'S REWARDING.

NOT ALL MAY SHARE THE SAME VISION FOR OUR PARKS, BUT I THINK WE CAN AGREE THEY MUST REMAIN GREEN.

TRANQUIL AND NATURAL PARKS ARE VITAL BUFFERS PROTECTING US FROM NOISE, POLLUTION, FLOODING, AND EXTREME HEAT.

THAT SAID, THOSE LIVING NEAR EDWARD RENDON PARK, FIESTA GARDENS AND FESTIVAL BEACH AND HOLLY SHORES HAVE A FEW SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN, WE, UH, HOPE CAN BE ADDRESSED TONIGHT, PERHAPS IN THE DIRECTOR'S BRIEFING, THE CAMACHO DOCK.

WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE MASSIVE DOCK PLAN? THE CAMACHO CENTER? HAS IT BEEN REVIEWED BY THE ENVIRON ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION? AND IF NOT, IS IT REQUIRED? IF IT'S NOT REQUIRED, WHY SHOULD WE DO IT? ANY, WE SHOULD DO IT ANYWAY.

WE'D LIKE SOME REASSURANCE THAT THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR MANAGEMENT OR OPERATIONS OF THE NEW CAMACHO PROPOSED CAMACHO DOCK, NASH FERNANDEZ BUILDING, WHAT'S THE STATUS AND THE FUNDING PLAN.

ARE THERE ANY PRIVATE NON PARTNERSHIPS INVOLVED YET? ARE THE ARCHITECT'S PLANS COMPLETE? AND IF THEY'RE NOT, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE? AND, UH, LASTLY, EXPEDITION SCHOOL.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEIR DOC PROPOSAL? HAVE THEY RELOCATED AND IF NOT, WHERE AND WHEN WILL THEY RELOCATE? I'LL END WITH A GENTLE REMINDER TO US ALL OUR PARKS WERE CREATED FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT.

AUSTIN PARKS BELONG TO ALL AUSTINITES OF ALL INCOMES AND BACKGROUNDS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT PARKS ARE ONE OF OUR FEW CONSISTENT EQUALIZING FORCES IN OUR SOCIETY.

AND IF WE WANT OUR PARKS TO ENDURE, THEY CANNOT BECOME PLATFORMS FOR COMMERCIAL USE OR PRIVATE GAIN.

WE MUST PRESERVE THEM AS TRULY SHARED COMMON SPACES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE.

GOODNIGHT.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER.

HELLO.

HELLO.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CHRIS FLORES.

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

THANK YOU.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

UM, PARKS, BOARD MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS CHRIS FLORES.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10, AND I'M COMING TO SPEAK TONIGHT ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE I SPOKE ABOUT LAST MONTH, WHICH WAS, UM, MOVIES AT DEEP ED POOL.

AND, UH, UH, I'LL JUST, I SENT A NOTE AHEAD BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MUCH TO SAY IT DOESN'T FIT IN THREE MINUTES.

UM, BUT PRIOR TO COVID, UH, THERE WERE THREE TO FOUR MOVIES, UH, HOSTED AT DEEP BETTY POOL EVERY SUMMER AND FALL.

UH, IT INVOLVED THE AQUATICS DEPARTMENT STAFF, UH, CONTRACTING WITH A TURNKEY, UH, UH, OPERATION.

A VENDOR WOULD COME OUT WITH AN INFLATABLE SCREEN AND ALSO, UM, PLUG IN THE AUDIO.

AND GENERALLY THE MOVIES WERE CARTOON MUSICAL TYPE THINGS.

AND THE CROWDS WERE, UM, UH, GOOD SIZE.

THERE WERE BETWEEN A THOUSAND TO 1500 PEOPLE COMING TO EACH ONE OF THESE MOVIES.

PROBABLY MORE THAN HALF OF THEM WERE CHILDREN.

UM, MY SON WENT, I'VE BEEN GOING FOR YEARS.

PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER AUSTIN CONVENED, UH, DURING COVID.

THIS ENDED AND POST COVID.

UH, IT STARTED UP AGAIN IN 2024 LAST YEAR, BUT NOT UNDER AQUATICS.

IT WAS, UH, BEING HOSTED BY THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION AS PART OF THEIR MOVIES IN THE PARK SERIES.

UM, MOVIES IN THE PARK ARE NOT LIKE MOVIES IN THE POOL.

UM, AND, UH, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION APPARENTLY CHOSE THE MOVIES, CHOSE THE TIME, CHOSE THE DATES, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED HAS COLLAPSED.

UH, NO LONGER A THOUSAND TO 1500 PEOPLE.

NOW IT'S MORE LIKE 150 TO 40 PEOPLE.

UM, VERY FEW CHILDREN.

UH,

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IT LOOKS TO ME, I HAVE BEEN TO ALL OF THEM, LIKE IT'S LIKE A PRIVATE PARTY FOR AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION STAFF AND THEIR FRIENDS.

UM, I'M REALLY SORRY THAT THIS, IT HAS BECOME THIS WAY.

UH, THERE WERE THREE MOVIES THIS SUMMER, ONE MOVIE LAST SUMMER.

AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO PLEASE ASK DIRECTOR AGUIRE, YOU HAVE SOME POWER TO SUGGEST TO HIM TO REVIEW THIS AGAINST THE PERFORMANCE THAT HIS, UM, STAFF DID PRIOR TO HIS COMING ON BOARD AND SEE IF PERHAPS THIS SHOULD NOT BE OUTSOURCED TO AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, BUT RATHER BE RETURNED TO THE AQUATIC STAFF WHO DID SUCH A GOOD JOB WITH IT PRIOR.

UM, THAT'S WHAT I'M COMING TO YOU FOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.

THANK YOU.

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

THANK YOU, MR. BECK.

UM, THAT BEING OUR LAST PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, WE'LL MOVE TO AGENDA

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

AND WE'LL TAKE JUST A MINUTE TO REVIEW THESE IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.

OKAY.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE? ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'LL MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING OF JULY 28TH, 2025.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND BY VICE CHAIR FLOWERS.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

NINE.

ALRIGHT.

IT PASSES.

NINE ZERO.

THANK YOU.

THANKS EVERYONE.

ALRIGHT, WE WILL MOVE RIGHT ALONG

[2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for the PARD Therapeutic Recreation Services team providing safe, accessible, fun and supportive recreation environments for all persons no matter their abilities, including both adaptive and inclusive programs. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Park Access for All, Urban Public Spaces). Presenter(s): Malorie Solus, Recreation Program Supervisor and Emmanuel Turner, Recreation Program Coordinator, Austin Parks and Recreation. ]

UM, HAVING NO SPEAKERS.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MY NAME'S UH, CHRIS MCCARTHY.

I'M THE DIVISION MANAGER OVER OUR THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SERVICES UNIT, AND I HAVE WITH ME MALLORY SLAS, WHO IS OUR PROGRAM SUPERVISOR FROM MACBETH RECREATION CENTER AND EMMANUEL TURNER, WHO IS WITH OUR MODIFICATIONS AND SUPPORT TEAM.

UM, THEY'LL BE DOING THE PRESENTING TODAY.

BUT, UM, JUST AS A LITTLE BACKGROUND, WE DO HAVE, UM, FOUR FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE ADAPTIVE PROGRAMMING THAT THEY'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT.

AND EACH OF THOSE FACILITIES HAVE FULL-TIME CER CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SPECIALISTS AT THEM.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR MODIFICATIONS AND SUPPORT TEAM, WHICH ALSO HAS CERTIFIED RECREATION SPECIALISTS AS THOSE.

OKAY.

SO, UM, OUR THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SERVICES, UM, IT PROVIDES RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UH, LIKE KRISTA SAID, WE HAVE FOUR, UH, RECREATION CENTERS AND THEN OUR MODIFICATIONS AND SUPPORT SERVICES TEAM.

UM, AND EACH OF THESE SITES PROVIDE A VARIETY OF, UH, DIFFERENT RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH I WILL GO AHEAD AND EXPLAIN NOW.

UM, FIRST UP IS OUR YEAR-ROUND ADULT PROGRAMS. UM, FIRST WE HAVE OUR GOOD NEIGHBOR ADVENTURE CLUB THAT'S HOUSED AT MACBETH RECREATION CENTER.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE 58 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS.

THEN WE HAVE OUR CAPITAL CITY EXPLORERS, UM, WHICH IS ANOTHER ADULT DAY PROGRAM.

IT'S CURRENTLY HOUSED AT DOTTIE JORDAN RECREATION CENTER, UM, WHICH HAS 25 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS.

AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE OUR FIELD TRIP TRAVELING GROUP.

SO THEY GO ON A FIELD TRIP IN THE MORNING, THEY COME BACK TO THE CENTER, HAVE LUNCH, AND THEN THEY'LL GO AND DO A HIKE OR SOMETHING ACTIVE, UM, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE AFTERNOON.

THEN WE HAVE OUR HEALTHY AGING PROGRAM, UM, WHICH IS FOR 55 AND PLUS, UM, WHICH IS HOUSED AT ALAMO RECREATION CENTER.

IT CURRENTLY HAS 17 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR HANGOUT PROGRAM, UM,

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UM, IT HAS 13 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS AND IT IS HAS A HIGHER RATIO OF STAFF TO PARTICIPANTS.

UM, AND IT'S, UH, BETTER FOR OUR, UM, INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGHER NEEDS.

AND THEN WE DO ADULT JOBS SKILLS.

THIS HAS 40 PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED.

UM, AND IT'S FOR ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, SO IT DOESN'T, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ENROLLED IN OUR ADULT DAY PROGRAMS, UM, WHICH IS JUST KIND OF PREPARING FOR THE JOB WORLD.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR SOCIAL CLUB, WHICH IS CURRENTLY HOUSED AT PARK AOSA RECREATION CENTER.

UM, IT HAS 16 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS AND IT IS OUR FREE PROGRAM.

UM, UP NEXT WE HAVE, UH, A VARIETY OF SPECIAL OLYMPIC SPORTS.

UM, OUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARE TYPICALLY HOUSED AT MACBETH RECREATION CENTER, BUT OUR PRACTICES TAKE PLACE ALL OVER THE CITY.

UH, CURRENTLY WE'RE OFFERING VOLLEYBALL, SOFTBALL, SWIM TEAM BASKETBALL, POWER LIFTING, SOCCER, TENNIS, GOLF, AND BOCCE.

UH, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD PICKLEBALL IN THE FUTURE.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS JUST ADDED IT, SO WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDING THAT IN THE FUTURE.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE A VARIETY OF YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER.

WE JUST WRAPPED UP OUR THERAPEUTIC SUMMER CAMPS, UM, WHICH SERVES YOUTH, TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

WE HAVE 30 INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS WEEKLY.

UM, AND THOSE CHANGE EVERY WEEK.

SO WE, UM, HAVE A TON OF PARTICIPANTS THAT, UH, ARE IN OUR SUMMER CAMPS ALL SUMMER.

WE DO YOUTH RECREATION THERAPY, WHICH PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON SOCIAL SKILLS, UM, WHICH IS CALLED SPROUTING TO SUCCESS.

AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 16 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS.

UH, WE JUST STARTED OUR YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM, UH, WHICH IS A SPECIAL OLYMPICS.

UM, IT'S A SPECIAL OLYMPICS, UH, ACTIVITY, BUT IT'S FOR CHILDREN AGES TWO TO SEVEN.

UM, AND IT FOCUSES ON FOUNDATIONAL SPORTS SKILLS.

SO IT'S A NICE SEGUE INTO OUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAMS. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR INCLUSIVE YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE LEGO CLUB SPORTS, FUN AND SKILLS FOR SUCCESS.

HI, MY NAME IS EMMANUEL TURNER.

I'M OUR MODIFICATIONS AND SUPPORTS COORDINATOR AND I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT OUR, OUR MODIFICATIONS AND SPORTS UNIT.

UM, THIS YEAR WE PROVIDED, UH, PARTICIPANT ASSESSMENTS AS WELL AS MODIFICATION PLANNINGS AND PARENT MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THIS YEAR WE'VE SERVED OVER 104 PARTICIPANTS IN OUR VARIOUS DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE SUPPORT.

WE SUPPORT ALL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

UM, HOWEVER, A LOT OF OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE PREDOMINANTLY IN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS OR SPORTS LEAGUES.

AND THIS YEAR WE PROVIDED OVER 256 HOURS OF INCLUSION STAFF TRAININGS TO THE STAFF AT EACH OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS.

AND WE ALSO COORDINATED OUR A SL INTERPRETERS THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

AND THAT'S THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

I THINK YOU READ MY MIND WITH THE PICKLEBALL.

I WAS GONNA ASK IF Y'ALL ARE ADDING THAT.

SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU, UH, MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD, UM, I WILL DEFINITELY PASS THIS ON TO QUESTIONS IF OTHER FOLKS HAVE THEM.

BUT, UM, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT YOUTH CAMPS THAT THERE WERE 30 WEEKLY AND IT CHANGED OUT.

DO YOU KNOW THE NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED, UH, YOUTH WHO GET TO PARTICIPATE? I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER.

UM, BUT YES, EVERY WEEK WE GET LIKE A NEW BATCH OF CAMPERS.

AND IS IT SOME ARE CONSISTENT WEEK TO WEEK? IT'S JUST BASED ON, UM, WHEN THEY SIGNED UP.

OKAY.

UM, IS THAT A NUMBER YOU COULD PROVIDE US? I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THAT IS AND THEN LIKE WHERE WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE.

'CAUSE THE NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE LIKE, UM, WHAT ARE OTHER LIKE, UM, THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR 2026? DEFINITELY.

OKAY.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

ALRIGHT, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.

ANYBODY ELSE? BOARD MEMBERS? GO AHEAD.

NOT A QUESTION, BUT A COMMENT.

I, I THINK THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL PROGRAM AND I LOVE MACBETH BY THE WAY.

IT, IT'S A GREAT REC CENTER AND A GREAT PART OF, UH, UNKNOWN PART OF ZILKER PARK.

UM, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO EXPAND? UH, WHAT'S THE GROWTH TO TELL US WHERE YOU WANT TO GO? SO WE DO HAVE, UM, SOME AREAS OF GROWTH AND IT'S REALLY FOR CURRENTLY WE'RE UM, HAVE SOME ENHANCEMENT NEEDS.

SO OUR OWN PROGRAMMING COULD USE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR STAFFING.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

SARAH CARLSON IS OUR PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SERVICES AND SHE, UM, HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ASKED BY THE MAYOR'S COUNSELOR FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT SAME QUESTION.

SO SHE'S KIND OF WORKING ON OUTLINING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

EVERY YEAR WE DO SUBMIT INFORMATION FOR, UM, CONSIDERATION WITH BUDGET.

SO WE KIND OF ARE USING THAT AS OUR ROUTINE ONE.

AND THEN WE KIND OF REVISE IT EACH YEAR ON WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE WE PRETTY MUCH EXPAND EVERY YEAR.

UM, JUST THE NEED HAS BEEN GROWING.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO PROVIDE WHERE WE CAN.

WE ALSO HAVE LIMITATIONS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE, UM, MORE FACILITIES THAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO

[00:25:01]

UM, SO WE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL.

BUT WE, UM, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS WHAT WE'RE, UM, GOING TO BE PRESENTING FOR THE MAYOR'S COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? QUESTION, COMMENTS? HI, DIANE.

CURRENT IS ON.

GO AHEAD.

CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME OKAY? HI, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I, I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE IN PERSON.

UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

YOU HAD MENTIONED, UM, BUDGET.

YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE GROWING.

I'M JUST WONDERING DID THE BUDGET INCREASE IN THIS LAST, UM, IN THIS LAST BUDGET WE DID NOT GET ANY MORE OF OUR PROGRAMMING.

WE DID GET SOME FOR, UM, A SL INTERPRETERS FOR THAT CONTRACT.

OKAY.

VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU, UM, I THINK YOU HAD SAID THAT THERE WERE FOUR FACILITIES, BUT YOU HAD RECENTLY SAID ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS YOU HAVE FOR EXPANDING PROGRAMMING IS YOU NEED AN, UH, ADDITIONAL FACILITIES.

IS THAT CORRECT? IF WE WERE TO EXPAND PAST WHERE WE ARE, UM, AT THE FACILITIES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY AT, WE'RE PRETTY, PRETTY MAXED OUT.

UM, THERE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM TO, TO GROW THERE, BUT NOT A TON.

UM, AND THEN OTHERWISE, YES, WE WOULD BE LACKING IN THE OKAY.

PHYSICAL CAPACITY.

OKAY.

UM, TWO MORE QUESTIONS.

UM, WHAT, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA, ANY NUMBERS ON WAIT LISTS? YES, WE COULD GET THAT FOR YOU.

I DON'T HAVE IT ON OFFHAND, BUT YES, WE COULD DEFINITELY DO THAT.

OKAY.

AND THEN, UH, AND I'M SORRY, I'M IN THE CAR, AND YOU MAY HAVE STATED THIS, I KNOW FOR ADULT DAYHAB, UM, THE HOURS I BELIEVE CUT OFF I THINK AT THREE O'CLOCK, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THREE OR FOUR.

HAS THERE BEEN ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING PROGRAMMING EXTEND PAST 5:00 PM FOR THE PARENTS OF, UH, THE, THE YOUNG ADULTS THAT ATTEND THOSE PROGRAMS SO THEY CAN, THEY DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE WORK TO GO PICK UP THEIR, THEIR CHILD, THEIR, OR WHOEVER THEIR YOUNG ADULT IS THAT THEY CARE FOR? YES.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONVERSATION ON THAT THAT WOULD REQUIRE MORE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, UM, JUST IN ORDER TO, TO EXPAND THOSE HOURS.

HAVE YOU DONE THE ANALYSIS, UH, LOOKS ACCEPTING FACILITIES, WHATEVER IT IS TO EXTEND, EXTEND THAT? I BELIEVE SO.

WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION THAT WE'VE SUBMITTED IN THE PAST.

SO I COULD, I COULD PROBABLY FIND THAT AND GET THAT TO YOU GUYS.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

AND THEN JUST FINAL COMMENT, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR, UM, FOR COMING AND PRESENTING.

I HAVE A YOUNG ADULT SON, UM, WHO HAS ATTENDED SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS. UM, HE HAS MULTIPLE DISABILITIES.

UM, I, I DON'T, I I KNOW WE BOARD MEMBER.

I'M SORRY WE'RE, WE'RE LOSING YOU.

UM, BUT WE DID GET A PORTION OF THAT.

THANK YOU.

AND I KNOW WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH SOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

ALRIGHT.

I THINK WITH THAT IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

OH, GO AHEAD.

JUST, JUST, JUST LASTLY, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH AND IT'S, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU HIGHLIGHTING, HIGHLIGHTING THIS.

I THINK IT, UM, I THINK, UH, WAS IT A YEAR AGO, TWO YEARS AGO THAT WE STARTED DOING THIS AS A BOARD WHERE WE STARTED RECOGNIZING, UH, THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND ALL THE GREAT STUFF THAT, UM, THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING, UM, IN MANY SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ALL AROUND, UH, THE CITY.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING, UH, BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T GET THE SPOTLIGHT, ESPECIALLY LIKE THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BEFORE.

SO I DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY EVERY MONTH TO LEARN ABOUT SOMETHING GREAT THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING, THAT THE STAFF IS DOING.

UM, AND THAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, AND I THINK THAT IT DEFINITELY ENLIGHTENS ME AND I HOPE IT ENLIGHTENS THE REST OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.

UM, AND I'D DEFINITELY LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THIS AND GIVE Y'ALL, UH, Y'ALL'S, Y'ALL'S KUDOS.

UM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

THANK YOU.

BOARD MEMBER FLOWERS ALL AROUND I THINK.

ALRIGHT.

I'M GOING TO READ, UM, OUR LETTER OF SUPPORT AND THEN I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION FROM FROM THE BOARD.

AND THIS IS DATED AUGUST 25TH, 2025 AND IT SAYS, DEAR AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SERVICES TEAM.

ON BEHALF OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, WE EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT FOR

[00:30:01]

YOUR EFFORTS THROUGH THE MACBETH, ALAMO, DOTTIE, JORDAN, AND OSA RECREATION CENTERS, ALONG WITH YOUR EXCEPTIONAL MODIFICATIONS AND SUPPORT SERVICES REFLECTED DEEP COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, COMMUNITY AND EMPOWERMENT, THE VARIETY AND IMPACT OF YOUR PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING THE GOOD NEIGHBOR ADVENTURE CLUB AND CAPITAL CITY EXPLORERS.

I COULDN'T FIT THEM ALL IN HERE.

I PICKED A COUPLE, UM, HAVE MEANINGFULLY ENGAGED HUNDREDS OF AUSTINITES, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL GROWTH, SOCIAL CONNECTION, AND JOY.

WE COMMEND YOUR DEDICATION TO PROVIDING ENRICHING YEAR-ROUND ADULT PROGRAMS AS WELL AS YOUR ROBUST YOUTH PROGRAMMING THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN, TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH CAMPS, SOCIAL SKILL GROUPS, SPORTS AND INCLUSIVE ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCES.

THE BREADTH OF YOUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS INVOLVEMENT, WHICH OFFERS NINE DIFFERENT SPORTS IS ESPECIALLY IMPRESSIVE AND SPEAKS TO YOUR PASSION FOR HELPING ATHLETES OF ALL ABILITIES THRIVE.

EQUALLY COMMENDABLE IS YOUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENTS, SUPPORT STAFF AND INTERPRETER SERVICES.

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SERVICES ARE A VITAL PART OF AUSTIN'S COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING AND WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ONGOING WORK AND DEDICATION WITH SINCERE APPRECIATION.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NOT ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION.

I'LL MOVE THAT WE GO AHEAD AND, UH, APPROVE THE LETTER AS READ.

ALRIGHT.

SECOND, WE'VE GOT A MOTION FROM VICE CHAIR AND A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT.

IT'S UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU.

THAT PASSES.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

ALRIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, WE WILL

[3. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to City Council to approve a permanent change of use of 138,136 sq. ft. and a temporary change of use of 11,997 sq. ft. of parkland for a period not to exceed 120 calendar days in parkland located in Adams Hemphill Neighborhood Park. Total mitigation is $2,980,911. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Operational Efficiency). Presenter(s): Kristina McLaren P.E., Engineer C, Watershed Protection and Greg Montes, Program Manager II, Austin Parks and Recreation. ]

OH MY GOD, OF 1 38, 1 36 SQUARE FEET.

A TEMPORARY CHANGE OF USE OF 11,997 SQUARE FEET OF PARKLAND FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 120 CALENDAR DAYS IN PARKLAND.

LOCATED IN ADAMS HEMPFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

ALRIGHT, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS? UH, YES, CHAIR.

OKAY.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM WILL BE MADELINE MAXWELL, FOLLOWED BY JANET BELENE CHAIR.

ARE YOU, WHAT'S THAT? I, I THOUGHT THERE WAS A PRESENTATION.

OH YEAH, WE DO DO, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THE STAFF PRESENTATION.

OH, YEAH.

UM, CHAIR, ARE WE ACCEPTING TIME DONATIONS ON THIS ITEM? WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING DONATED TIME.

UM, WE HAVE THE THREE MINUTES ALLOTTED PER SPEAKER.

MADELINE, WILL YOU BE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS IN THREE MINUTES? WILL YOU BE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS IN THREE MINUTES? OH, WE'RE NOT ACCEPTING TIME DONATIONS AS THE .

SURE.

OKAY.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO ALSO SEND, HAVE, GO AHEAD AND PRESS IT.

OH, IT TURNS GREEN.

OKAY.

UM, YES, FIRST I WANTED TO MAKE CL UH, THANK YOU TO THE STAFF WHO'S SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WITH PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND REALLY MADE A, UM, AN OUTSTANDING EFFORT TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS.

UM, THE THINGS I WANNA ASK ABOUT, UM, MORE THAN RECOMMEND ABOUT ARE THINGS THAT ARE STILL PENDING AND AT LEAST AS FAR AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD UNDERSTANDS.

UH, AND THAT IS IN THE PICTURES, THERE'S, THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT BOTH THE FUNCTION AND THE APPEARANCE AND A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN ABOUT BOTH FUNCTION AND APPEARANCE.

AND IN THE FIRST PLACE, WE WERE CONFUSED FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT WHY THIS WAS PART OF THE GUADALUPE STREET LOCAL SINCE THIS IS REALLY ABOUT, AS IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED TO US ABOUT DOWNTOWN FLOODING AND THAT THE WATER THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DETAINED HERE IS LOCAL WATER, NOT WATER COMING DOWN GUADALUPE, BUT WATER IMMEDIATELY AROUND THE PARK.

UM, AND THAT, THAT'S CREATED A LOT OF CONFUSION HERE.

BUT OVER THE LONG RUN, IT IS STILL VERY UNCLEAR HOW STEEP SOME OF THESE WALLS WILL BE, UH, WHAT THE APPEARANCE WILL BE FROM 30TH STREET.

UH, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE OF VARIOUS PLANTINGS.

THERE'S A LOT OF RISK HERE FOR AN EYESORE AND JUST SORT OF AN IN INSECT INFESTED HORROR WHERE WE NOW HAVE A PLEASANT PLACE TO WALK AND,

[00:35:01]

AND I, I KNOW THAT THERE'S NO INTENTION OF THAT, BUT WE REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD HOW THAT'S GONNA BE PROTECTED AGAINST.

UM, WHAT IS IT GONNA LOOK LIKE FROM THE STREET? THE UPPER POND IS GONNA, UH, BORDER ON THE SIDEWALK THERE.

UH, IS IT GONNA BE AN ATTRACTIVE FENCE? IS IT GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM? UM, ARE THERE GOING TO, IS IT GONNA BE A SLOPE INTO THE LOWER POND? IS THE EAST END GONNA BE 11 FEET HIGH OR IS, IS THERE SOME OTHER PLAN FOR THAT? SO THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW.

AND ALTHOUGH 11 FEET VERSUS A SLOPE MIGHT NOT SOUND MEANINGFUL, IT, IT DOES HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT THE APPEARANCE AND FUNCTION OF THE PARK IS.

EVEN NOW, ADAM'S PARK AFTER A RAIN COLLECTS A LOT OF OF TRASH AND THERE'S REALLY NO PLAN THAT CLEANS UP THAT TRASH, THAT TRASH CAN SIT THERE FOR A MONTH.

UM, THERE'S, SO THERE'S LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE OF IT.

UM, THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS LIKE REED PARK IS IN THE NEWS IF, IF THERE'S A LONG-TERM REIGN AND A, UM, IT TURNS INTO A PERMANENT RETENTION RATHER THAN A 24 HOUR DETENTION UPON WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

SO LOTS OF CONFUSION ABOUT, UH, WHETHER THIS IS DESIRABLE FOR US, EVEN THOUGH WE'D ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THE FLOODING PROBLEMS IN DOWNTOWN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DID THE BEST I COULD THAT IT, UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S, AND WE'RE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE TREES GETTING CUT DOWN HERE.

THANK YOU.

LOT OF TREES THAT WE PLANTED.

THE CITY'S PLANTED AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU CAN BRING, YOU CAN BRING ITEMS TO OPEN COMMUNICATION, GENERAL COMMUNICATION NEXT MONTH.

UH, THAT IS THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

I'LL TAKE THE PRESENTATION.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

GET THAT A LITTLE HIGHER.

MY NAME IS CHRISTINE MCLAREN AND I'M FROM THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GUADALUPE STREET LOCAL FLOOD RISK REDUCTION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROJECT.

UM, ALSO UP HERE WITH ME IS GREG MONTE FROM PARD.

I'M SURE Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH HIM.

AND THEN I HAVE MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, JANAE SPENCE.

AND SO THEY'LL BE HERE FOR WHEN WE REACH THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PORTION.

UH, AS I MENTIONED, UM, MY NAME IS CHRISTINA AND I'M THE PROJECT SPONSOR.

I ALSO WANTED TO, UM, MENTION STEPHANIE LOT, ALTHOUGH SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.

SHE'S OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST AND SHE'S BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF THE OUTREACH THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO COMMUNICATE THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR PROPOSED BASINS AT ADAMSON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

OUR GOAL IS FOR THE PARK LAND TO WORK AS HARD AS IT CAN FOR OUR AUSTIN RESIDENTS.

THE PROPOSED DUAL USE OF PARKLAND WOULD PROVIDE ENHANCED RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS REDUCE FLOOD RISK FOR ALMOST 300 STRUCTURES IN THE PROJECT AREA.

WE'RE SEEKING A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BOARD TO COUNSEL FOR THIS USE OF PARKLAND.

SO WHY DID WE START THIS PROJECT? UM, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PHOTO WE RECEIVED FROM A RESIDENT, THIS IS TAKEN FROM AVENUE A LOOKING AT 44TH STREET DURING THE MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD IN 2015.

THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA, AS WELL AS OUR MODELING SHOWS THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR REDUCING THE FLOOD RISK IN THIS AREA.

LET'S JUST TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE EXISTING SYSTEM.

UM, THE MAIN PORTION WAS CONSTRUCTED ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

SINCE THEN, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS IMMENSELY DEVELOPED AND THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN UPGRADED.

THAT MEANS THAT OUR EXISTING SYSTEM IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERSIZED AND CAUSES THE MAJORITY OF RAINFALL RUNOFF TO TRAVEL OVER LAND, THROUGH STREETS, YARDS, AND STRUCTURES.

A LOT OF THE STRUCTURES THAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT ARE RESIDENCES.

THE MAIN LINE RUNS FROM TRIANGLE POND TO THE OUTFALL AT 33RD STREET, WHICH IS SHOWN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN HERE.

SO NOW I'LL GET INTO WHY WE'RE ASKING TO USE THE PARK PARKLAND FOR THIS PROJECT.

WHEN WE PUT WATER INTO PIPES, IT MOVES FASTER THAN WHEN IT GOES OVERLAND.

SO WHEN WE UPSIZE A STORM DRAIN SYSTEM, WE TYPICALLY ALSO NEED TO INCLUDE A DETENTION

[00:40:01]

AND ADVERSE IMPACTS PRETTY MUCH MEAN LIKE MOVING THE PROBLEM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

IN THIS CASE, UM, WE DON'T WANNA BE MOVING THE FLOODING DOWNSTREAM.

THE PROJECT AREA HAS HAD MANY CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK AROUND.

WHEN WE ARE LOOKING FOR DETENTION LOCATIONS, WE'RE IN AN AREA THAT HAS MULTIPLE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE OUTFALL ITSELF IS HISTORIC AS WELL AS THE CROSSINGS.

THE CROSSINGS ARE CRITICAL TO THE CITY GRID.

THE WATERSHED IS AN AN URBAN AREA THAT'S BEEN BUILT OUT.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE CONSTRAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH USING THE PARKLAND.

SO WE HAVE MULTIPLE SPOTS WHERE WE'RE IMPLEMENTING DETENTION.

UM, I CAN'T POINT BUT IN THE CENTER THERE IN THE ORANGE IS THE BAKER CENTER, WHICH IS LAND THAT WE'VE PURCHASED FOR A SURFACE POND.

AND THEN THE LIME GREEN IS OUR PROPOSED UNDERGROUND DETENTION ALONG 40TH STREET AND THEN AVENUES A AND B.

AND THEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS SCREEN IN ORANGE ARE THE PROPOSED BASINS AT ADAMS HEMPHILL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

ALL OF THESE DETENTION LOCATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR US TO ACHIEVE NO ADVERSE IMPACTS.

SO BEFORE WE PURSUED THE PARKLAND OPTION, OUR PROJECT TEAM EVALUATED ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS.

WE LOOKED AT INCLUDING, UM, DIFFERENT BASIN CONFIGURATIONS, CHANNEL MODIFICATIONS, CULVERT IMPROVEMENTS.

WE CONSIDERED BUYOUTS.

WE ALSO LOOKED AT NEARBY OPEN AREAS, UM, AT THE SEMINARY AND THE DORMITORY.

ULTIMATELY, THESE ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS WERE COST PROHIBITIVE AND DID NOT FULLY ACHIEVE ADVERSE IMPACTS.

I, AFTER ALL OTHER ALTERNATIVES WERE EXHAUSTED.

WE PROCEEDED WITH THE DESIGN THAT USED THE ADAMSON PILL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, WHICH IS REGULATED BY THE TEXAS PARK AND WILDLIFE CODE CHAPTER 26.

UM, IN CASE ANYONE'S NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH STORM DRAIN PONDS OR BASINS, UM, HERE IS A GENERAL PROFILE VIEW OR SIDE VIEW OF A DETENTION BASIN WHERE THE STORMWATER RUNOFF ENTERS FROM THE TOP FROM THE SURFACE AND THEN THE FLOW OUT ON THE BOTTOM IS RESTRICTED SO THAT IN LARGE EVENTS THE BASIN WILL FILL UP.

NOTE HOW THAT OUTLET ON THE BOTTOM HAS THE SAME ELEVATION AS THE BOTTOM OF THE BASIN, WHICH MEANS THAT IT WILL COMPLETELY DRAIN.

AND THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT A DRY DETENTION BASIN.

WE'RE PROPOSING TWO DRY DETENTION BASINS, WHICH YOU'LL SEE SHORTLY ON THE COMING SLIDES.

AND THEY'RE DESIGNED TO HOLD WATER FOR UP TO 24 HOURS.

AFTER A LARGER RAIN EVENT, THE SMALLER BASIN WILL BE FENCED OFF WITH PLANTINGS ALONG THE BOTTOM, BUT THE LARGER BASIN WILL BE AN OPEN GRASSY FIELD THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR MULTI-USE RECREATION MAJORITY OF THE DAYS.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF A DUAL USE DETENTION POND IN GREAT FALLS.

YOU CAN SEE HOW THE SLOPES ON THIS SIDE ALSO SERVE AS THE BASIN SIDES.

MOST DAYS THAT FIELD WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR RECREATION AND THEN ON THE HEAVY RAINY DAYS WHEN PEOPLE TYPICALLY DON'T WANNA BE OUTSIDE ANYWAYS, IT WILL BE WORKING AS A DETENTION BASIN.

NEXT I HAVE A COUPLE LOCAL EXAMPLES OF DRY DETENTION BASINS THAT WE HAVE AROUND TOWN THAT ARE DUAL USE.

ON THE LEFT WE HAVE QUAIL CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TILLERY FIELDS ON THE RIGHT.

I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE CURRENT LAYOUT OF THE PARK.

UM, NOTE HOW PART OF THE EXISTING CONFIGURATION ALREADY IS INUNDATED IN LARGE STORM EVENTS REPRESENTED BY THE BLUE ON THE TOP RIGHT HERE.

I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON HOW WE, UM, CALCULATED THE DUAL USE OF THE PARKLAND FOR THE MITIGATION FEE.

SO ALL THE AREAS THAT HAVE COLORED HATCHING ARE OUR PROPOSED EASEMENTS.

THE COLORING REPRESENTS THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DISTURBANCE.

WE'LL START WITH THE GREEN ON THE RIGHT, WHICH IS WHERE THE LOWER BASIN WILL BE, AS WELL AS, UM, THE GREEN HATCHING INCLUDES THE ACCESS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO MAINTAIN IT NOW IS CONSIDERED A 50% DISTURBED SINCE MOST OF THE TIME IT'LL STILL BE AN OPEN GRASSY FIELD.

THEN WE HAVE AT THE TOP, KIND OF TOWARDS THE LEFT IS THE PURPLE FOR THE UPPER BASIN AND THAT WAS CONSIDERED 80% DISTURBED.

AND IN THE BLUE IS CONSIDERED 0% DISTURBED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS HERE OR A CHANGE OF USE.

HOWEVER, WE ARE ASKING FOR A DRAINAGE EASEMENT BECAUSE THERE IS SOME EXISTING STORM DRAIN INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND BY HAVING THAT DRAINAGE EASEMENT, IT'LL ALLOW OUR WATERSHED FOLKS TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS RESPOND TO THE FREQUENT REPORTS THAT WE'VE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT OF DEBRIS AND TRASH COMING FROM THAT OUTFALL.

NOW

[00:45:01]

UM, AND WE'LL JUST NEED A TEMPORARY DISTURBANCE TO CONSTRUCT THE EXPANDED STORM DRAIN OUTFALL.

UH, YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAGE ARE THE PROPOSED UPSIDE UPSIZED STORM DRAIN PIPES THAT ARE COMING TO THE OUTFALL.

NOW I'D JUST LIKE TO TALK THROUGH HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS PROJECT WILL BE AT REDUCING FLOOD RISK FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS.

UM, TO GET YOU ORIENTED, WE'RE NOW UPSTREAM OF AT THE BULK OF ADAMSON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN IS WHERE THE 33RD STREET OUTFALL IS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT PRE-PROJECT CONDITIONS, UM, AND THE BLUE HUES REPRESENT THE EXTENT OF LOCALIZED SLEDDING FOR A 25 YEAR STORM EVENT, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE STORM THAT HAS A 4% CHANCE EVERY YEAR OF OCCURRING.

THE GREEN POLYGONS REPRESENT THE 224 STRUCTURES THAT EXPERIENCE FLOODING IN THIS EVENT.

AND LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, MAJORITY OF THESE ARE RESIDENCES.

NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE POST-PROJECT CONDITIONS.

THE GRAY IS KIND OF A GHOST OF THOSE PRE-PROJECT CONDITIONS WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT.

UM, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE BLUE FLOODING EXTENTS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED FOR THIS 25 YEAR EVENT.

SO MUCH SO THAT 80% OF THE GREEN STRUCTURES ARE NO LONGER WITHIN THOSE BLUE EXTENTS.

ADDITIONALLY, NOT SHOWN ON THIS SCREEN IS THE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SMALLER TWO AND 10 YEAR EVENTS.

THESE ARE A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, BUT MORE FREQUENT.

ALL OF THE STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE LOCALIZED FLOODING EXTENTS.

THAT MEANS 43 STRUCTURES REMOVED FROM THE TWO YEAR EVENT AND 170 STRUCTURES REMOVED FROM THE 10 YEAR EVENT.

WE'RE ABLE TO ACHIEVE ALL OF THAT REDUCED FLOODING RISK FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND BE COMPLIANT WITH OUR CITY DRAINAGE CRITERIA BY MAKING THE PARKLAND DUAL USE TO DATE.

OUR PROJECT TEAM HAS DONE A LOT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AT FIRST JUST FOR THE GUADALUPE PROJECT AND THEN SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PARK.

ONCE THAT WAS IDENTIFIED TO BE A PART OF THE PLAN.

WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND THREE SURVEYS THAT WERE FOCUSED ON THE USE OF PARKLAND AS WELL AS GETTING INPUT FOR THE PARK CONCEPT PLAN.

WE ALSO REGULARLY UPDATE THE PROJECT WEBSITE AND SEND OUT UPDATES THROUGH THE EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST, WHICH ANYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN.

OKAY.

NOW YOU CAN SEE THESE LOWER AND UPPER BASINS THAT I'VE BEEN REFERRING TO.

UM, ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS THAT LARGE LOWER BASIN THAT'S STILL OPEN AS A GRASSY FIELD.

AND THEN AT THE TOP LEFT IS THE SMALLER UPPER BASIN.

THE PROJECT TEAM IDENTIFIED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY AS THIS PROJECT IS DELIVERED.

UM, THE OUTREACH THAT I JUST MENTIONED ON THE LAST SLIDE INFLUENCED THIS PARK PLAN WHEN THE DETENTION WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.

WE WOULD ALSO BE DELIVERING A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PARK AMENITIES THAT DON'T CURRENTLY EXIST OUT THERE.

AS I MENTIONED, THAT LARGE LOWER BASIN WILL STILL BE AN OPEN GRASSY FIELD FOR MULTI-USE AND IT'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A LOWER SLOPE, WHICH MEANS IT WILL BE EASIER TO PLAY ON THE HEMPHILL BRANCH THAT RUNS ADJACENT TO THE PARK.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE BLUE LINE, UM, TOWARDS THE TOP.

AND THE DOWNSTREAM WALLER CREEK ARE BOTH CONSIDERED IMPAIRED REACHES.

AND SO THE WATER QUALITY BOTH AT THE LOWER BASIN INLET AND THEN AT THE UPPER BASIN WILL ADD HABITAT FOR FAUNA AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY FOR OUR LOCAL CREEKS.

THE PARK AMENITIES, WHICH ARE GONNA BE LISTED ON THE NEXT SLIDE AND EASIER TO READ THAT ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE PARK AND MOST OF THESE WILL STILL BE ACCESSIBLE EVEN WHEN THE LOWER BASINS IS WORKING AS A DETENTION.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A CURRENT PLAN AND IT MIGHT CHANGE AS WE ENTER THE FINAL STAGE OF DESIGN.

I, OKAY.

HERE'S OUR LIST OF PARK AMENITIES.

ON THE RIGHT IS EVERYTHING THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS IN THE PARK AND WILL BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO EITHER BE RELOCATED OR ADJUSTED FOR THAT LOWER BASIN.

AND THEN ON THE LEFT IS OUR CURRENT LIST OF PROPOSED AMENITIES THAT CURRENTLY DON'T EXIST IN THE PARK.