Nov 24, 2025 Parks and Recreation Board

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT IS MARK EATON, FOLLOWED BY MARK.

THANK YOU CHAIR.

UH, THE FIRST SPEAKER DURING

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERA]

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

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MY NAME IS MARK EATON.

I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB SINCE 1989, AND I AM, UH, CHAIR OF A COMMITTEE.

WE'VE GOT FOR NEW SITE PLANNING, WHICH I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT.

SO, AS I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE, THE PROJECT CONNECT BLUE LINE BRIDGE IS GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH THE CURRENT LOCATION OF THE WALL CREEK BOATHOUSE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE BOATHOUSE IS GOING TO BE DEMOLISHED ASSUMING THE PROJECT GOES THROUGH.

UH, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION PASSED IN 2022, CALLED FOR SEVERAL THINGS, RELOCATION OF THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB TO THE, ESSENTIALLY THE YOUTH HOSTILE SITE, A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON HOW THAT COULD BE DONE, ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, ACCOMMODATION OF EPIC SUP, PROVISION OF PUBLIC RESTROOMS, AND TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE USE OF FUNDS FROM PROJECT CONNECT FOR ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION.

SO, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, OUR COMMITTEE'S GOT ABOUT 12 MEMBERS OF THE ROWING CLUB, UH, WITH BACKGROUNDS IN ARCHITECTURE, LAW, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC FINANCE.

I HEADED THE PROJECT ON OUR NEW FLOATING DOCKS THAT WE PUT IN RECENTLY FOR RENTAL OPERATION, WHICH, UH, COST US HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO ACCOMMODATE WATERSHED'S NEEDS.

OUR ACTIVITIES ARE PRIMARILY TWO THINGS, ENGAGING WITH STAKEHOLDERS EARLY ON, AND THEN DEVELOPING SOME PRELIMINARY IDEAS FOR WHAT RELOCATION AND NEW FACILITIES MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN ENGAGEMENT, WE'VE, UH, MET A FEW TIMES WITH PARTS PROJECT CONNECT STAFF.

IN FACT, OUR LATEST MEETING WAS THIS MORNING AND WE PROVIDED THEM QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION.

WE'VE MET THE EAST RIVERSIDE RF, UH, COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AND HEARD ABOUT WHAT THEIR, WHAT THEIR INTERESTS ARE.

WE'RE BEGINNING TO MEET LOCAL DEVELOPERS.

WE'VE REACHED OUT TO EPIC SUP, UH, BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK YET FROM THEM.

UH, SO SOME KEY IDEAS FOR A NEW FACILITY.

ONE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT MORE THAN JUST ROWING, IN ADDITION TO OUR VERY SUCCESSFUL RENTALS OPERATION, A RC IS HOME TO RETRO BOAT RENTALS, THE DRAGON BOAT CLUB, THE OUTRIGGER CLUB, AND A COUPLE OF VENDORS.

TWO, WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED THE CURRENT DESIGN REP FOR THE BOATHOUSE REPLICATED IN A NEW SITE.

THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER WAYS TO DO THIS.

UH, WE COULD TAKE THE EXISTING YOUTH HOST STRUCTURE IF POSSIBLE, AND ADD TO THAT A FACILITY FOR STOR STORING THE BOATS.

UH, THREE.

AND, UH, THIS MAY BE SOMETHING NEW.

WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR ALL CONCERN IF OUR RENTAL OPERATIONS STAYED WHERE IT IS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UH, THE INSET HERE ON THE SLIDE, THE AREA CIRCLED IN RED IS THE RENTAL DOCKS, AND THAT'S NOT REALLY IN THE WAY OF PROJECT CONNECT.

UH, FINALLY, WE THINK THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO A WHOLE LOT MORE ON OUTREACH AT THE NEW SITE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

WE HAVE VERY EXTENSIVE OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH, BUT TRANSPORTATION'S BEEN AN ISSUE ON SOME OF THEM, AND THAT'S GONNA GET A LOT EASIER WHEN WE MOVE TO THE NEW SITE.

FINALLY, NEXT SLIDE.

THIS IS GONNA BE KIND OF A HOMECOMING FOR US.

UH, A RC WAS AT THE YOUTH ALSO SITE IN THE MID 1980S, AND WE ACTUALLY BUILT THE FLOOR OVER A SWIMMING POOL THAT

[00:05:01]

USED TO BE THERE, AND THAT'S THE FLOOR OF THE MAIN ROOM AT THE YOUTH ALSO SITE NOW.

SO, UH, THAT'S IT FOR ME.

UH, WE ARE HAPPY TO BE A RESOURCE FOR, UH, AND THE BOARD.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE MARK MAY.

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

UM, HI THERE.

PARDON? UH, MY NAME IS MARK MAY.

I LIVE IN D FIVE AND I'M A, UH, FREQUENT PARK, UH, USER.

UM, I SPOKE HERE LAST, LAST, YOU KNOW, A MONTH ASKING YOU TO, UH, CONSIDER IMPROVING THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PARK NONPROFITS WITH THE GOAL TO IMPROVE OUR PARK FUNDING.

UM, SINCE THEN, I'VE ALSO SENT MORE DETAILS TO YOU VIA, VIA EMAIL THAT I'VE, THAT I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO READ.

THIS IS, THIS IS A TOPIC I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE.

SEVERAL THINGS HAVE GONE ON THAT ONLY RAISE THE, THE, THE IMPORTANCE OF YOU ALL AT PAR, UH, NEEDING TO STEP UP AND FIND A PATH FOR OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO DO MORE.

PROP Q HAS FAILED.

AND, YOU KNOW, IN RESPONSE TO THIS VOTE, THE, UH, CITY HAS CUT MORE THAN $5 MILLION FROM OUR PARKS BUDGET.

IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THE COUNCIL PREFERS TO SPEND OUR TAX DOLLARS, UH, SOMEWHERE ELSE AND DOES NOT VALUE OUR PARKS AS THEY SHOULD.

AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME, THE CITY IS CUTTING FUNDING.

AUSTIN PARKS, UH, FOUNDATION CAME OUT WITH THEIR LATEST IRS NINE 90 THAT SHOWS THAT THEY, UH, CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE WEALTH AND ARE NOW SITTING ON MORE THAN $23 MILLION WITH THE BULK OF THEIR INCOME STILL COMING FROM ACTUALLY RENTING OUT A PUBLIC PARK.

WHILE THE CITY CONSIDERS LAYOFFS TO WRITE THE BUDGET, A PF HAS ADDED TWO MORE HIGHLY PAID EMPLOYEES AND NOW SPENDS MORE THAN $1 MILLION ON THEIR TOP SEVEN EMPLOYEES.

DOES IT REALLY TAKE A MILLION DOLLARS IN ANNUAL SALARIES TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE SHOULD SPEND THE ACL CHECK IN OUR PARKS? I SAY NO.

THE LATE FALL IS ALSO TIME FOR THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS.

I, I WOULD ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL, ALL TO GO NOTICE HOW MUCH OF OUR, UH, PREMIER PUBLIC PARK IS FENCED OFF, NOT JUST NEAR, NEAR THE ROAD WHERE, WHERE THE LIGHTS ARE, WHICH WOULD MAKE SENSE, BUT MOST OF THE GREAT LAWN, MUCH OF THIS FENCED OFF AREA GENERATES MONEY FOR TRAIL OF LIFE THROUGH CART RIDES FOR THE WELL, WELL TO DO AND LARGE TENTS FOR THOSE WITH HIGH TIER ACCESS.

HOW MUCH OF THIS INCOME GOES TO THE, UH, CITY I WOULD WAGE YOUR VERY LITTLE LONG GONE IS A CUTE TRAIL OF LIGHTS THAT FELT LOCAL, COZY, AND ACTUALLY NEEDED FEE, UH, WAIVERS.

SO I'M ASKING YOU AGAIN TO STEP UP AND LOOK AT THESE NONPROFIT OF, OF RELATIONSHIPS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT CHANGES CAN BE MADE SO THEY'RE NOT SO ONE, UH, CITED.

AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, AGAINST THE NONPROFIT MODEL PER SE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE FAIR AND BALANCED FOR BOTH PARTIES IN, IN THE DEAL.

SO, CHAIR, I HOPE YOU CAN READ THE EMAILS I'VE SENT AND ANSWER ME AND LET, LET ME KNOW THE PROCESS FOR HOW WE CAN GET THIS TOPIC UP FOR YOU ALL TO TALK AND, UH, DISCUSS.

ANY QUESTIONS? WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

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 VERY MUCH.

ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 27TH, 2025.

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

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

SO WE'LL JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW THOSE MINUTES IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY,

[00:10:02]

CHAIR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROXIMATE RECREATIONS BOARD MEETING MINUTES FOR OCTOBER THE 27TH.

2025.

THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND.

TWO, WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. IT'S A PRESENTATION DISCUSSION AND APPROVED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION CEMETERIES TEAM WHO'VE RECENTLY ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR, FOR PROVIDING INTERMITTENT SERVICES.

WE HAVE A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER ABARA.

A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER VILLALOBOS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER

[2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for the Austin Parks and Recreation Cemeteries Team who have recently assumed responsibility for providing internment services. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Operational Efficiency, Park Access for All). Presenter(s): Jason Walker, Cemeteries Division Manager, Austin Parks and Recreation.]

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS, WE'LL MOVE STRAIGHT INTO THE PRESENTATION.

INTERNAL CAPACITY, UH, IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END OF THIS INTERNMENT CONTRACT.

DO I DO I? ALL RIGHT.

UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, APPRECIATE Y'ALL, UH, UH, GIVING US THE OP GIVING CEMETERY OPERATIONS, THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, WHO ARE YOU? OH, I'M JASON WALKER.

JASON WALKER.

I'M THE DIVISION, EXCUSE ME.

I'M THE DIVISION MANAGER OF, UH, CEMETERY OPERATIONS.

UH, AND THIS IS LUCAS MASSEY, THE, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

SO, AGAIN, UH, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR, UH, ALLOWING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO PRESENT TO Y'ALL THIS EVENING ON CEMETERY OPERATIONS TRANSITION INTO IN-HOUSE, UH, IN-HOUSE INTERNMENTS AND BURIAL SERVICES.

SO, AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, OUR, UH, OUR MISSION AT CEMETERY OPERATIONS IS TO, UH, UH, MAINTAIN PRESERVE AND, UH, CONSERVE OUR, UH, MUNICIPAL CEMETERIES.

UH, WE, LIKE, WE WANT, WE, OUR MISSION AGAIN, IS TO ENSURE SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CUSTOMERS, UH, VISITORS AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGE, ENCOURAGE AND ENHANCE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EMPLOYEE, UH, EXPERIENCES.

AND REALLY, OUR BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE, UM, TRY TO HELP PEOPLE, UH, DURING THEIR GRIEVING PROCESS.

SO I ALWAYS THINK, THIS IS AN INTERESTING NOTE.

I'LL ALWAYS LIKE TO POINT THIS OUT, THAT CEMETERY OPERATIONS, UH, WE REPRESENT A VERY DISTINCT EARLY MUNICIPAL ACHIEVEMENT WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OAKWOOD CEMETERY IN 1839.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SINCE THAT TIME, SINCE 1839, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS MANAGED AND OPERATED FIVE MUNICIPAL IN TWO FAMILY CEMETERIES, AND APPROXIMATELY 80,000 BURIALS THAT ENCOMPASS MORE THAN 200, UH, ACRES OF LAND.

AND AGAIN, UH, THIS IS JUST A, UH, KIND OF THE HISTORIC FOUNDATION THAT REALLY UNDERSCORES OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICE, DIGNIFIED AND ACCOUNTABLE CU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND, UH, AND MANAGEMENT TO OUR, UH, TO OUR, UH, CITIZENS.

AND THAT KINDA LEADS US TO OUR TO, TO WHY WE'RE HERE WHILE, WHY WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING TO, UH, TO REALLY PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE TRANSITION TO IN-HOUSE INTERNMENTS AND BURIAL SERVICES.

AND SINCE, UH, SINCE 1986, UH, WHEN PUBLIC WORKS ENDED MANAGEMENT OF CEMETERY OPERATIONS, UH, WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, PARKS AND RECREATION RESUMED THOSE, UH, RESPONSE OR ASSUMED THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND FROM 1990 TO 2013, A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR MANAGED ALL ASPECTS OF, OF THE OPERATIONS.

UH, BEGINNING IN 2013, THE THE CITY RESUMED ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES.

AND OVER REALLY THE NEXT DECADE, UH, THE, THE CITY WOULD ALSO RESUME OR ASSUME MONUMENT INSTALLATIONS AND, UH, RE-LEVEL, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES AS WELL.

AND THIS KIND OF CULMINATES IN INTERNMENT AND BURIAL SERVICES THAT WE, UH, THAT WE TOOK OVER IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025 WHEN OUR CONTRACTOR, UH, PULLED OUT OF THE CONTRACT EARLIER THAN EXPECTED.

UH, THE CONTRACT WAS, WAS DUE TO END, UH, AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

UH, AND THAT KIND OF, OBVIOUSLY, THAT SPED UP OUR PROCESS THAT SPED UP OUR, UH, OUR OVER OVERALL TIMELINE.

UH, BUT WHILE THE CONTRACT, THE CONTRACT, UH, IT LIMITED KIND OF CITY CONTROL THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OVER INTERNMENT, UH, AND THE OPERATIONAL CONSISTENCY IN A LOT OF WAYS.

BUT SINCE 2020, CEMETERY OPERATIONS HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARD REBUILDING THIS

[00:15:01]

SO WE CREATED A TRAINING MOD, UH, TRAINING MODEL FOR MANAGEMENT AND STAFF.

AND THIS INCLUDED OBSERVATION AND SOP DEVELOPMENT, COLLABORATIVE TRAINING WITH OUR CONTRACTOR.

UH, SIM WE, WE ASSUMED ALL FULL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CREAM MAINS BURIALS, WHICH I, I, IF YOU'LL NOTICE THAT ONE PICTURE OF THE TENT RIGHT THERE, THAT WAS A VERY KEY, UH, ASPECT OF OUR TRAINING WAS TAKING OVER, UM, TAKING OVER THAT ASPECT OF INTERNMENTS.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT, THAT THAT'S A PICTURE OF OUR SETUPS, AND THAT'S A KEY, UH, THAT'S A KEY PART OF THE BURIAL PROCESS AS FAR AS PRESENTATION GOES.

AND THEN ALLOWED OUR STAFF REALLY THE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY HONE THOSE, THOSE, UH, THOSE SKILLS ON PRESENTING, UH, THESE, UH, BURIAL, UH, YOU KNOW, THESE BURIAL SERVICES.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE, UH, HAD A JOINT TRAINING SESSIONS THAT REALLY KIND OF VALID, YOU KNOW, PROVIDED VALIDATION FOR OUR SKILLS THAT WE LEARNED OVER THIS PERIOD.

SO, UH, FINALLY OUR FINAL KIND OF JUST FINAL, UH, UH, SLIDE HERE.

JUST WANNA SAY THAT THE CONTRACTOR ENDING THE CON, THE, THE CONTRACTOR ENDING THE CONTRACT EARLIER THAN SCHEDULED, UH, IT, IT ALLOWED US THIS, UH, UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, ENHANCE OUR STAFFING, UH, AND EQUIPMENT.

AND I WANT TO, I, I THINK I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T REALLY, UH, THANK THE BOARD FOR, UH, ALL YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

UH, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IN FAR AS, AS FAR AS, UH, SUPPORTING THOSE REQUESTS, THOSE APPROPRIATION REQUESTS FOR STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT, UH, I THINK THAT WITHOUT Y'ALL'S, UH, SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE LAST FEW YEARS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN, GOTTEN WHAT WE NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT SUPPORT.

UH, BUT CEMETERY OPERATIONS IS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD, UH, STRONG INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS WITH FUNERAL HOMES AND MONUMENT COMPANIES.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WE'VE STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY, STAKEHOLDER, UH, RELATIONSHIPS AND, AND REALLY, UM, I THINK WE'RE FULLY PREPARED OPERATIONALLY, LOGISTICALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY TO REALLY DELIVER THESE SERVICES FULLY.

AND, AND, UH, I THINK THAT OUR GOAL IS NOT TO, UM, IS NOT ONLY TO REPLACE THE CONTRACTOR MODEL, BUT TO EXCEED IN QUALITY, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC TRUST.

AND REALLY SIMPLY PUT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE'RE HERE TO, UH, HELP PEOPLE, UH, THROUGH A LOT OF TIMES IS POSSIBLY THE WORST TIMES OF THEIR LIVES.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT OUR GOALS ARE.

SO, UH, HAPPY TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF LUCAS WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ADD ANYTHING, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO.

UH, I THINK THE ONLY THING I WANT TO ADD IS THAT, THAT A LOT OF TIMES WE'VE BEEN, UH, ASKED TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE KIND OF SHORT TERM WINS OR, OR SOLID KIND OF ANNUAL WINS.

YOU CAN SEE OVER A COURSE OF WHAT, 12, 13 YEARS.

THIS HAS BEEN A, A LONG PROCESS FOR US.

AND I JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING TO, TO BRING FORWARD AND DISCUSS AND, UH, TALK ABOUT HOW WE SET UP, SET OURSELVES UP FOR SUCCESS.

SO, THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UM, I HAVE A, OH, OH, ONE MINUTE.

OH, I'M SORRY.

BOARD MEMBER EUBANK.

AND THEN, YEAH, I HAVE A, A COMMENT, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS APART.

UM, I'M INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN A NEIGHBOR CEMETERY, MOUNT CALVARY, WHICH IS THE ORIGINAL CATHOLIC CEMETERY.

I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THE JOB IS.

UM, A A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CITY CEMETERY OAKWOOD.

UM, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF UNMARKED GRAVES AND HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY.

ARE YOU ALL, DO YOU HAVE A HISTORICAL COMPONENT IN YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT WORKS ON THAT? I'M, I'M THINKING OF GRAVES LIKE JACOB FONTAINE.

I COULD PROBABLY GIVE YOU ANOTHER DOZEN, BUT JUST, UH, IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT'S LOOKING AT THE HISTORICAL CEMETERY? YES.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

UM, BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS, AND, UH, YES, WE DO HAVE, UH, A HISTORY, UH, PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT, UH, THAT IS OUT OF THE OAKWOOD CHAPEL.

UH, AND SO, UH,

[00:20:01]

BUT YES, THEY ARE, WE ARE ACTIVELY, UH, LOOKING AT, UM, AT, UH, DOCUMENTING THOSE UNMARKED GRAVES, ESPECIALLY IN SECTION FOUR OF, UH, OAKWOOD.

YEAH.

AND SO, YES, WE ARE ACTIVELY, UM, HAVE PROGRAMS TO DO THAT.

UH, FOR INSTANCE, UH, WORKING WITH, UH, GPR, UH, AS A MATTER OF FACT TO, UH, TO HELP HELP US MARK THOSE GRAVES.

MY SECOND QUESTION IS FOR CLARIFICATION.

WHEN THE PLANNING WAS DONE FOR THE EXPANSION OF I 35, UM, I WAS INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE THAT MY CALVARY WAS, WAS, UH, LET'S JUST SAY PROTECTED.

HAVE YOU GONE, IS THERE ANY IMPACT THAT YOU SEE AT ALL ON THE, SO THERE IS A PLAN, UH, FROM WHAT I CAN RECALL, THERE IS A PLANNING, UH, I GUESS COMMISSION THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE HISTORICAL, UH, MAR AND ONE OF OUR, UH, ONE OF OUR STAFF, OUR, UH, CHAPEL HISTORIAN, UH, SHE HAS BEEN, SHE'S INVOLVED MORE, UM, MORE SO THAN I AM GOING TO THOSE MEETINGS, CORRECT.

BUT WE DO HAVE A, WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATION AT THOSE, AT THOSE, UH, PLANNING SESSIONS.

HELLO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I THINK I SAW IN ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT FROM 1990 TO 2013, THE, UH, CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CEMETERIES WAS, UH, IS THAT INTERCARE? UH, I BELIEVE.

SO FROM 2013 TO 2025, WAS THAT THE SAME CONTRACTOR, OR WAS THAT A DIFFERENT YES, IT WAS THE SAME CONTRACTOR.

THEY JUST CHANGED THEIR NAME.

SO IT WAS INTERCARE AND THEN IT CHANGED TO INTERNMENT SERVICES, SO THEY JUST CHANGED THEIR NAME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YEP.

UM, I JUST WANNA SORT OF SECOND MY, UM, SUPPORT FOR THIS TRANSITION.

I, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE EFFORT THAT YOUR TEAM HAS PUT INTO IT, AND I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, I THINK IT'S VERY, UH, I THINK IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A SUCCESS STORY AROUND TAKING AN OUTSOURCED SERVICE AND CAREFULLY, THOUGHTFULLY, AND METHODICALLY BRINGING IT BACK INTO THE CITY WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE.

UM, SO I SORT OF WANTED TO STATE MY, UH, ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT FOR THAT.

AND ALSO JUST THE LEVEL OF KIND OF CARE AND THOUGHT AND TIME THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT INTO IT.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT'S A MODEL FOR OTHER SERVICES THAT WE MAY FIND IT'S VALUABLE TO BRING BACK INTO CITY MANAGEMENT AND CITY CARE.

WELL, THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? BOARD MEMBERS? ALRIGHT, WELL, I WILL READ OUR LETTER AND THEN I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION FROM THE BOARD.

IT'S DATED NOVEMBER 24TH, 2025, AND STEER AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION CEMETERY OPERATIONS TEAM ON BEHALF ON THE OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.

WE WANNA EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK YOU ARE DOING TO STEWARD ONE OF THE CITY'S EARLIEST PUBLIC SERVICES CEMETERY OPERATIONS CARRIES A PROFOUND LEGACY SPANNING SEVEN HISTORIC CEMETERIES, MORE THAN 200 ACRES, AND OVER 80,000 BURIALS AND MONUMENTS.

AND YOUR TEAM APPROACHES THIS RESPONSIBLY AND WITH DIGNITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND DEEP RESPECT.

THIS YEAR MARKS A HISTORIC MILESTONE.

AS OF SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025, THE CITY OF AUSTIN RESUMED FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL ASPECTS OF CEMETERY MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING INTERMITTENT AND BURIAL SERVICES.

THIS TRANSITION REPRESENTS THE CULMINATION OF MORE THAN A DECADE OF REBUILDING INTERNAL CAPACITY AFTER YEARS OF CONTRACTED OPERATIONS.

WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE THOUGHTFUL AND RIGOROUS TRAINING MODEL THAT YOUR TEAM EXECUTED FROM OBSERVING CONTRACTOR PROCESSES TO HANDS-ON COLLABORATIVE TRAINING.

SO ALSO TO SUCCESSFULLY TAKING ON FULL CREMAINS BURIALS ACROSS ALL MUNICIPAL CEMETERIES, YOUR APPROACH ENSURE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION GROUNDED IN CARE, SAFETY, AND PRECISION.

IN ADDITION, THE EVENTS, INVESTMENTS YOU'VE MADE IN STAFFING, EQUIPMENT AND OPERATIONAL READINESS DEMONSTRATE A FORWARD-LOOKING COMMITMENT TO EXCEED THE CONTRACTOR MODEL.

YOUR FOCUS ON RESPONSIVENESS, STRONG INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS AND MODERNIZATION REFLECTS A CLEAR VISION FOR DELIVERING THE HIGHEST QUALITY SERVICE TO FAMILIES AND TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, FOR YOUR COMPASSION AND DEDICATION THAT YOU BRING TO THIS ESSENTIAL WORK YOUR EFFORTS.

HONOR AUSTIN'S HISTORY, SUPPORT FAMILIES DURING THEIR MOST VULNERABLE MOMENTS, AND ENSURE THAT OUR MUNICIPAL CEMETERIES REMAIN PLACES OF DIGNITY, OF TRUST, AND LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

WITH MUCH APPRECIATION, YOUR PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

UM, BOARD MEMBERS AT THIS TIME, I'D, I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO APPROVE THESE LETTERS OF SUPPORT.

GETTING EXCITED HERE.

AND WE'VE GOT A SECOND FROM

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BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? UM, BOARD MEMBERS? I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT TO SAY IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AND WE'RE JUST SO THANKFUL THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS FORWARD SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUE, CAN CONTINUE TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT PARKS AND RECREATION, UM, DOES STAY IN AND DAY OUT.

UM, AND AGAIN, A MODEL TO LOOK AT, UH, FOR FUTURE, UH, PROGRAMMING.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

ALRIGHT, WITH THAT BOARD MEMBERS, UM, WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR AND I WILL TAKE A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THESE LETTERS.

PLE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, .

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS DISCUSSION ACTION ITEMS, PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND APPROVE.

WE WILL NOW MOVE TO

[3. Presentation, discussion, and approve a recommendation to City Council to approve 6,327 sq. ft. of permanent waterline use on parkland located at Colorado River Park Wildlife Sanctuary and Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro Park, total mitigation to be paid by Austin Water Utility is $37,651. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Operational Efficiency, Program Alignment). Presenter(s): Tony Buonodono, Engineer of Record, MWM Design Group; Bryce Barkus, Project Manager, Austin Capital Delivery Services; Megan Costey, Engineer, Austin Water. ]

A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE 6,327 SQUARE FEET OF PERMANENT WATERLINE USE ON PARKLAND.

LOCATED AT COLORADO RIVER PARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, AND RORY G GUERRERO, COLORADO RIVER METRO PARK.

TOTAL MITIGATION TO BE PAID BY AUSTIN WATER UTILITY IS 37,651.

YOU'LL LIKE TO PUT A LOT OF NUMBERS FOR ME TO READ OUT .

UM, IF THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE STRAIGHT INTO THE PRESENTATION.

UM, GOOD EVENING, CHAIR BISON AND MEMBERS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.

I'M PAUL BOOKS.

I'M A PRINCIPAL PLANNER WITH AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION.

UM, SO AS THE CHAIR JUST MENTIONED, WE'VE BROUGHT FORWARD A AUSTIN WATER SPONSORED CHAPTER 26 APPLICATION FOR Y'ALL'S REVIEW.

THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF A SMALL, APPROXIMATELY 6,000 SQUARE FOOT IMPACT TO THE COLORADO RIVER PARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY IN ROY G RERO, COLORADO RIVER METRO PARK FOR REPLACEMENT OF A WATERLINE WITHIN THE WA COLORADO RIVER ITSELF.

UM, THE PROJECT PROPOSES ONLY SUBSURFACE IMPACTS TO THE PARKLAND AND AUSTIN WATER WILL ENSURE THAT ALL TRAIL AND PEDESTRIAN NETWORKS TO THE PARKLAND WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

AND THERE WILL BE, THERE ARE NO ANTICIPATED IMPACTS TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FUTURE TRAIL ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER IN THIS AREA.

UM, THE PROJECT WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY $37,651 IN MITIGATION FOR THE USE OF PARKLAND.

UM, AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO TONY AND THE PROJECT TEAM TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILS.

THANKS PAUL, AND THANK YOU, UM, UM, BOARD MEMBERS AND CHAIR FOR ALLOWING US TO COME AND SPEAK ON THIS, UM, THIS TOPIC.

I'M TONY BONNO WITH MWM DESIGN GROUP.

I'M THE PROJECT ENGINEER AND PROJECT MANAGER FOR THIS, UM, REPLACEMENT OF THE WATER LINE UNDER, UNDER THE COLORADO RIVER AT 180 3 SOUTH.

SO, AN AGENDA, KIND OF OVERALL SUMMARY, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, WE'LL GIVE AN OVERALL PROJECT SUMMARY.

UM, WE'LL HIGHLIGHT WHY THE WA THIS WATERLINE IS NECESSARY AND WHY HERE.

UM, WE'LL ALSO HIGHLIGHT, AS PAUL MENTIONED, NO SURFACE OR TREE IMPACT, UH, ON, UM, PARKLAND.

UM, THE WATERLINE EASEMENTS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE COLORADO RIVER WILL HIGHLIGHT WHERE THOSE ARE.

UM, AND THEN A SUMMARY OF OUR REQUESTED EASEMENTS WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU AS WELL.

SO OUR OVERALL PROJECT SUMMARY.

BASICALLY WE WANT TO ENSURE THE AUSTIN WATER CUSTOMERS HAVE A RELIABLE AND SAFE WATER SYSTEM BY REPLACING THE EXISTING AGING AND EXPOSED, UM, WATERLINE THAT CROSSES THE COLORADO RIVER.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE EXISTING WATERLINE.

IF YOU ZOOM IN ON LIKE GOOGLE EARTH, UM, YOU CAN SEE THE WATERLINE ADJACENT TO THE, TO THE BRIDGE.

SO IT IS, IT'S EXPOSED, IT'S, UM, NOT A SAFE, UH, AS IT AS IT SHOULD BE, WHICH IS THAT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO PUT IN PLACE.

UM, THIS PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF THE C-T-R-M-A PROJECT, UM, FOR THE 180 3 EXPANSION.

UM, BUT IT WAS SEPARATED OUT DUE TO TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS BEING DELAYED IN THIS AREA.

IT WAS JUST PULLED OUT AND DONE AS A SEPARATE AUSTIN WATER PROJECT.

UM, THE PROPOSED WATERLINE EASEMENTS, UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 270 LINEAR FEET OF 36 INCH WATERLINE THAT'S INSTALLED BY BOAR.

THAT'S BY HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING, UM, SOUTH OF THE COLORADO RIVER.

AND ANOTHER 145 LINEAR FEET, UM, INSTALLED BY THAT SAME METHOD, NORTH OF THE COLORADO RIVER.

SO TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE INSIGHT ON THE CROSSING ITSELF, UM, THIS IS FROM THE AUSTIN WATER SYSTEM MAP.

THE DASHED LINE IS THE EXISTING 24 INCH WATER LINE THAT'S TO BE REMOVED AND OR ABANDONED, DEPENDING ON THE, THE PORTION OF IT.

THE PORTIONS UNDER PARKLAND WILL BE ABANDONED IN ORDER TO NOT, UM, DISTURB THAT AREA PORTIONS WITHIN TXDOT RIGHT OF WAY.

TTAS ASKED US TO REMOVE THOSE SPECIFICALLY.

SO THOSE WILL BE REMOVED.

UM, THE DOTTED LINE SHOWS THE PROPO PROPOSED 36 INCH WATERLINE INSTALLATION.

AGAIN, THAT'S BY A HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILL.

UM, SO REALLY WHY, WHY THIS WATER LINE IS NECESSARY.

AND WHY HERE? THE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE CROSSING'S CRITICAL TO THE WATER SYSTEM.

IT CONNECTS THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH PIECES OF, UH, ACROSS OF THE, THE CITY, ACROSS THE COLORADO RIVER.

UH, THE EXISTING LINE, AS I MENTIONED, IS VISIBLE, BUT IT'S ALSO 74 YEARS OLD,

[00:30:01]

UM, AND, AND EXPOSED.

SO IT'S AN AGING WATERLINE THAT'S ABOUT ITS LIFE EXPECTANCY.

SO IT'S, IT'S TIME TO, TO BE REPLACED.

UM, WE DID AS, AS REQUIRED FOR THE, THE CHAPTER 26, UM, USE, EVALUATE, OTHER ALTERNATE OPTIONS.

UM, WE LOOKED AT HANGING IT FROM THE BRIDGE.

UM, THE BRIDGE ITSELF, IT'S A HISTORIC BRIDGE.

IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO CARRY THE WATER LINE.

UM, IT'S ALSO ABOUT 20 FEET, UM, ABOVE GRADE AT THE NORTHERN TIE POINT.

SO REALLY NO GOOD WAY TO GET IT UP ONTO THE BRIDGE, EVEN IF THE BRIDGE COULD CARRY IT.

UM, WE LOOKED AT MOVING IT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EXISTING LINE, KIND OF SHIFTING OVER TO GET AWAY FROM THE PARKLAND PIECE.

BUT THERE'S A CONFLICT WITH THE EXISTING BRIDGE.

IF YOU LOOK ON THE, THE AERIAL, IT'S RIGHT UP AGAINST THE ABUTMENTS FOR THAT EXISTING BRIDGE.

UM, SO THAT REALLY DOESN'T, ISN'T, ISN'T AN OPTION IF WE MOVE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE OR BETWEEN THE 180 3 BRIDGES THAT INTRODUCES ADDITIONAL CROSSINGS THAT WE'D NEED TO MAKE TO THE 180 3 UTILITY, UM, INCREASING THE COSTS AND IT DOESN'T REALLY MAINTAIN THAT LOOPING IF WE DIDN'T ADD THOSE, UM, ADDITIONAL CROSSINGS.

UM, NEXT SLIDE.

UM, SO WE'LL HAVE NO SURFACE OR TREE IMPACTS TO THE A PR PROPERTY.

UM, IT'LL BE BORED WITH HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING, AND THAT'S, IT'S A CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE WHERE THEY BASICALLY DRILL A TUNNEL FIRST.

UM, AND THEN THEY GRAB ON AT THE END ONCE THEY'VE GOT THE HOLE DRILLED OUT, GRAB ONTO A LONG PIECE OF PIPE THAT'S BEEN STRUNG OUT AND PULL IT BACK THROUGH.

AND SO THEY'RE ABLE TO, UM, DRILL IN AN ARC.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

THAT'LL ARC UNDERNEATH THE COLORADO RIVER AND COME BACK UP ON THE OTHER END.

AND THEN THEY'LL PULL, UH, PULL THAT THROUGH.

UM, YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE SLIVERS.

THERE'S ONE IN YELLOW, UM, ON THE NORTH SIDE, AND THEN ONE IN RED ON THE SOUTH SIDE FOR THE, THE PORTIONS THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE, UH, THE, THE A PR PROPERTY.

UM, WE'D BE FULLY BOARD UNDER THOSE AND WOULD NOT HAVE ANY SURFACE IMPACTS.

OUR, OUR DEPTHS RANGE FROM 12 TO ABOUT 25 FEET BELOW GRADE, UM, WITHIN THOSE EASEMENT AREAS.

SO NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE ANY, ANY IMPACTS.

AND NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, SO THESE TWO, I, I APOLOGIZE.

THE, UH, DIRECTIONAL, UH, DESCRIPTIONS AT THE BOTTOM ARE BACKWARDS.

UM, THE ONE ON THE LEFT IS ACTUALLY ON THE NORTH SIDE LOOKING SOUTH, AND THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS THE SOUTH SIDE LOOKING NORTH.

UM, BUT AS YOU CAN KIND OF SEE HERE, THE, THE, THE ONE ON THE LEFT SHOWS THE BRIDGE COLORADO RIVER, THAT'S THAT ABOUT 20 FOOT DIFFERENCE WHERE WE CAN'T REALLY GET ONTO THE BRIDGE TO, TO HANG ANYTHING FROM IT.

UM, THE BORING WILL BE OUT, WILL START OUTSIDE OF, UM, A PR PROPERTY WILL BORE UNDER UNDERNEATH THE PROPERTY LINE.

AND THEN, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE BORE CONTINUES AS IT PASSES, UM, BENEATH THE A PR PROPERTY LINE AND THEN COMES OUT ABOUT 175 FEET BEYOND THAT PROPERTY LINE.

UM, AND, AND SO THAT'S WHY, WHY WE'RE SHOWING NO, UM, NO SURFACE IMPACTS FOR THIS INSTALLATION METHOD.

SO, SUMMARY OF THE REQUESTED EASEMENTS ON THE NORTH SIDE.

UH, THE LITTLE SLIVER IS ABOUT 4,155 SQUARE FEET ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE COLORADO RIVER.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 2,172 SQUARE FEET.

AS I MENTIONED, THE EASEMENTS WILL NOT HAVE ANY SURFACE IMPACTS OR TREE IMPACTS WITHIN A PR PROPERTY.

AND WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY TEMPORARY USE AS TYPICAL WITH, UH, CHAPTER 26 REQUEST BECAUSE WE ARE, UM, WE'RE PERFORMING IT BY THE HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING.

WE DON'T NEED ANY TEMPORARY SPACE.

ALL THE WORK AREA WILL BE IN TEXT OUT RIGHT AWAY.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UH, THIS IS JUST KIND OF LAYING OUT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, UH, DIFFERENT THINGS WE HAVE TO CONFIRM FOR THE CHAPTER 26 USE OF PARKLAND FOR NON-PAR LAND USE.

UM, NO FEASIBLE PRUDENT ALTERNATIVES, UM, TO THE USE OR TAKING OF SUCH LAND THAT'S BEEN CONFIRMED.

AND THEN WE'VE, UH, GONE THROUGH ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE THE HARM TO THE LAND, UM, THE RECREATIONARY WILDLIFE REFUGE OR HISTORIC SITE, WHICH WE HAVE, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE, WE'RE DOING THE, THE BORING UNDERNEATH.

UM, SO IN THIS REQUEST, AUSTIN WATER MAKE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OF THE PERMANENT WATER USE ON PARKLAND LOCATED NEAR 180 3 AND THE COLORADO RIVER AND THE COLORADO RIVER WILDLIFE, COLORADO RIVER PARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY IN THE ROJI GUERRERO, COLORADO RIVER METRO PARK.

TOTAL MITIGATION IS $37,651.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, THESE ARE OUR PROJECT CONTACTS.

AGAIN, I'M TONY BONO.

UM, WE HAVE BRYCE MARCUS AND, UM, MEGAN COSTI IS WITH, UM, AUSTIN WATER HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YOU GUYS MAY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS, UH, PROPOSED USE.

ON USE AND UTILITY, AND 11 TO 25% THAT'S SUBSURFACE OR AIR RIGHTS THAT HAVE MINIMAL EFFECTS ON USE AND UTILITY.

AND BOARD MEMBERS.

WE'VE HAD SOME OTHER THINGS COME UP WITH CHAPTER 26, AND SO I APPRECIATED Y'ALL PUTTING THAT LAST SLIDE JUST TO, TO REMIND FOLKS WHAT HAD TO BE CONFIRMED AHEAD OF US, UM, GETTING TO THIS POINT.

UM, ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

I'M LOOKING AT AN ATTACHMENT A THAT SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE NUMBERS AND, UM, UM, THE PERCENTAGE FEES.

SO FROM ZERO TO 10%, THAT'S THE NOMINAL EFFECT

[00:35:01]

SO, UM, CORRECT ME IF I'M MISTAKEN, THIS LOOKS LIKE TO BE A SUB-SERVICE, UH, PROJECT.

SO WHY IS THAT NOT ON THE 11 TO 25% BRACKET? RIGHT.

SO, UM, THESE ARE KIND OF RANGES OF HOW YOU MIGHT APPRAISE A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT USE CASES OF CHANGE OF USE APPLICATIONS.

UM, IN THIS CASE, UM, IT IS A SMALL SUBSURFACE USE.

UM, IT'S REALLY LESS THAN THE AVERAGE LOT SIZE AVERAGE SINGLE FAMILY LOT SIZE IN, IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

UM, SO LESS THAN, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 6,000 SQUARE FEET IS WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO USE.

SO IT WAS REALLY SMALL AREA.

UM, AND AGAIN, SUBSURFACE WHERE THE, UH, THE MAXIMUM, THE WHERE THE REALLY CLOSEST THEY ARE TO THE SURFACE IS 12 FEET.

SO WE REALLY SAW NO IMPACTS TO THE FUTURE USE OF THE PARKLAND.

UM, AND THEN WE ACTUALLY CONFIRMED THAT WITH THE, UH, URBAN TRANSPORT OR THE URBAN TRAILS TEAM IN THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HAVE ANY IMPACTS, UH, TO THE, TO THE COLORADO RIVER, UM, TRAIL THAT'S PLANNED FOR THIS AREA.

UM, AND BECAUSE OF THE DEPTH THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WITH THE HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING, UM, THEY DID NOT SEE ANY IMPACT TO THAT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE THE, THE LOWEST SCALE ON THAT OPTION.

JUST A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF, UH, DEPTH OR KIND OF DRILLING THAT MIGHT IMPOSE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE? SURE.

SO I MEAN, THERE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, LIKE GRADING THAT MIGHT BE DONE, RIGHT? AND SO SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET AN ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCE TO DO CUT AND FILL UP TO EIGHT FEET.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, CLOSER TO EIGHT FEET AND ABOVE THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY IMPACT WHAT WE COULD CONSTRUCT ON THE PROPERTY, UM, IN THE FUTURE.

AND SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, PUSH THAT RANGE HIGHER UP BOARD MEMBERS ONLINE.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT.

ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME I CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE 6,327 SQUARE FEET OF PERMANENT WATERLINE USE ON PARKLAND.

LOCATED AT COLORADO RIVER PARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND ROY G. GUERRERO, COLORADO RIVER METRO PARK.

TOTAL MITIGATION TO BE PAID BY AUSTIN WATER UTILITY IS 37,651.

THERE'S A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBER OF VILLALOBOS.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

AND WE'VE GOT A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER BECKER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

APPRECIATE IT.

TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

WE'LL MOVE, UM, RIGHT ALONG

[4. Discussion and appoint a member of the Parks and Recreation Board to the Austin Transportation and Public Works Public Spaces Task Force on Pavement Marking Compliance. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers)]

AND THIS IS A DISCUSSION AND APPOINT A MEMBER OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD TO AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKSPACES TASK FORCE ON PAVEMENT MARKING COMPLIANCE.

UM, THERE'S NO, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? OKAY, I'M GONNA GO RIGHT AHEAD.

UM, SO I HAVE JUST A BIT TO SHARE ABOUT THIS AND THEN WE CAN ASK MR. DOBE IF THERE'S OTHER QUESTIONS AROUND THIS.

BUT AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS CREATED A PUBLIC SPACES TASK FORCE REGARDING THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TEXT LETTER REGARDING PAVEMENT MARKINGS.

THE PUBLIC SPACES TASK FORCE WILL BE STAFFED BY AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, AND THE TASK FORCE IS EXPECTED TO BE ACTIVE FOR UP TO 90 DAYS.

UH, THE MEMBERS WILL BE CHARGED WITH IDENTIFYING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CITY TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY, SHOW LOVE OF EQUALITY, ACKNOWLEDGE CONTRIBUTIONS TO AUSTIN'S CULTURE AND CHARACTER, AND PRESENT AUSTIN AS A UNIQUE CREATIVE PLACE, UM, WANTING TO BE INCLUSIVE.

THE TASK FORCE WORK SHALL FOCUS ON IDEAS THAT DO NOT VIOLATE FEDERAL OR STATE REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDER FUNDING OPTIONS, UM, INCLUDING SEEKING, UH, CORPORATE AND PHILAN PHIL.

OH MY GOSH, PHILANTHROPIC GIVING, SORRY, , UM, UH, ANY ADDITIONAL THINGS TO ADD, MR. BECK? I SHOULD PULL THOSE FROM THE LETTER.

NO, CHAIR.

I THINK YOU COVERED IT.

UH, I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF, UH, THE STAFF FORCE, UH, WHEN THE NOVEMBER 5TH MEMO WAS SENT OUT, SO, UH, I I THINK IT'LL BE A GREAT THING FOR THE PARKS BOARD TO PARTICIPATE IN.

WONDERFUL.

AND, UM, HAPPY TO JUST ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION AROUND THAT, AND THEN WE CAN, UH, SEE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO, UM, RAISE THEIR HAND TO JOIN US.

I KNOW SEVERAL OF US ARE ALREADY ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEES, SO IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY SITTING ON SOMETHING AND THIS FEELS, UM, LIKE IT MIGHT BE A GREAT SPACE FOR YOU, PLEASE DO RAISE YOUR HAND.

WELL, WE CAN.

OKAY, WONDERFUL.

I WAS HOPING THAT YOU WOULD, UM, ARM MYSELF.

YEAH, I THINK ONCE WE HAVE, UM, SOMEBODY WHO'S, WHO'S UP, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND VOTE THAT THROUGH AND THEN IF IT FAILS, THEN WE CAN BRING IT BACK UP.

BUT, UM, IF MR.

[00:40:01]

EUBANKS IS WILLING TO TAKE A FRIENDLY AND LET US, UH, PUT UP, UM, BOARD MEMBER, UH, PLEASE.

WE'LL DO THAT.

NO ARM WRESTLING NEEDED.

UM, ALRIGHT, WELL THAT WENT RATHER QUICKLY.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, I WILL, UM, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR, UM, BOARD MEMBER KERNS OSTER, WHILE YOU CAN ACTUALLY, I'LL SECOND WE'LL JUST HAVE YOU PUT YOURSELF UP AS A POSSIBILITY.

OR DID YOU YEAH, I'D LIKE TO, UH, THIS IS, YEAH, BOARD MEMBER KERN, I'D LIKE TO, UM, PUT MYSELF FORWARD TO, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THE, UH, PUBLIC, UH, SPACES, PUBLIC SPACES TASK FORCE ON PAVEMENT MARKING COMPLIANCE.

AND I WILL SECOND, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION.

I'M EXCITED TO HAVE YOU GO ARGUE WITH TEXT OP FOR US, , OUR FRIENDS ONLINE, ANY COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION AROUND THIS OPPORTUNITY? OKAY.

I THINK WE'RE ALL GONNA BE IN FAVOR FOR YOU, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, UH, WE'LL TAKE THIS TO A VOTE.

SO AT THIS TIME I'LL ASK FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF BOARD MEMBER KE STER WHILE, UM, BEING ON THIS TASK FORCE.

BOARD MEMBERS MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

[5. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Urban Public Spaces, Park Access). Presenter(s): Jesús Aguirre, Austin Parks and Recreation Director. ]