[00:00:10]
[CALL TO ORDER ]
IS NOW 6 0 1 AND WE'LL BEGIN THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD OF FEBRUARY 23RD.ALRIGHT, AND I'LL CALL ATTENDANCE STEPHANIE BISON.
VICE CHAIR FLOWERS BOARD MEMBER OR PRESENT BOARD MEMBER OF VILLALOBOS.
BOARD MEMBER MERIT PRESENT BOARD MEMBER ABU AMARA.
PRESENT BOARD MEMBER KERNS OSTER.
BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN PRESENT.
BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS PRESENT AND BOARD MEMBER BECKER.
THERE BEING QUORUM, WE'LL MOVE TO
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL ]
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION GENERAL.THIS IS RESERVED FOR THE FIRST 10 SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS ITEMS THAT ARE NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE BERTHA REDONE ORTIZ.
FEEL FREE TO, UH, FEEL FREE TO PUSH APPROACH THE MICROPHONE.
I HAVE TO HIT THAT GREEN BUTTON AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
I RECENTLY BEEN MARRIED, SO MY LAST NAME IS ORTIZ.
I AM GLAD TO BE BACK HERE AT THE PARKS FORD.
UM, THERE IS, UM, AN AGENDA ITEM THAT IS ON THE AGENDA, BUT I WON'T BE SPEAKING ON IT TODAY AS I'M NOT PREPARED.
BUT I DO WANNA REMIND THIS, UH, BODY THAT THE EDWARD RENDON AND HOLLY SHORES MASTER PLAN, THE FIESTA UH, GARDENS AREA, THE CHICANO PARK AREA FESTIVAL BEACH IS AN AREA THAT IS OVER SIGHTED BY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THAT AREA.
I'M STILL THE PRESIDENT OF EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE ALSO HAVE A PARK PLANNING COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THIS ENTIRE ACREAGE OF 98 ACRES.
UM, I DO SEE SOME UPCOMING PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
UH, TECH STOP BEING ONE OF 'EM.
UH, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TALK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT HOW WE ARE KIND OF LEFT OUT OF ANY NEGOTIATIONS OR DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE BEING HELD HERE AND TAKEN PLACE.
I HAVE ASKED, UH, THE PARKS BOARD, UM, ONE OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS TO PLEASE IF, IF YOU ALL CAN ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR PARK, IN OUR FESTIVAL BEACH AREA, WE'RE VERY, VERY CONCERNED.
UH, WE SEE A LOT OF MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING.
A LOT OF DETOURS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, WE STILL OWN PROPERTY AND PAY TAXES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT WE ARE IN EXISTENCE.
WE, WE HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO COME HERE AND APPROACH THE BOARD.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A MEETING WITH STAFF, UH, WITH OUR DIRECTOR.
AND, UM, I'VE ASKED FOR OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, DIRECTORS TO COME IN INTO THIS MEETING.
ON MARCH 13TH, WE'LL BE OVERSEEING THE MASTER PLAN TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT NEGOTIATIONS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, IS DOING WITH TDO AND WITH TRELL CONSERVANCY.
WE HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS, SO I JUST WANNA BRING IT TO THE BOARD, OUR CHAIR AND, UM, OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT AWARE, THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND SO I CAME IN HERE, UH, QUICKLY JUST TO, UH, LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE STILL THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE STILL WANTING TO PRESERVE OUR PARK LAND, OUR TREES, OUR GREEN SPACE, UH, THE CULTURE OF CHICANO PARK, EDWARD RENDON PARK, AND THE MASTER PLAN.
SO ANY DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE, IF YOU CAN HAVE A COURTESY ENOUGH TO LET US KNOW, LET US BE INVOLVED.
LET US SIT AT THE TABLE OF THESE DISCUSSIONS, UH, SO WE CAN BE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I FEEL THAT WE'VE BEEN LEFT OUT IN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS, SO I JUST WANTED TO COME BRIEFLY AND SAY HI TO YOU ALL, UM, AND LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE STILL THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AND WE'RE STILL EAGER TO BE, UH, PROACTIVELY INVOLVED AND ANY DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE.
SO IF WE'RE NOT HERE TO SPEAK, UM, ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES, PLEASE INFORM US.
QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION, IF I MAY.
UM, AS FAR AS CONNECTING THROUGH THE, IS IT THROUGH THE CLUB THAT, THAT WOULD BE GOOD OR DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER, UM, AVENUE THAT MIGHT BE BETTER? THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MM-HMM
EAST TOWN, LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM, IF WE CAN JUST STAY IN CONTACT WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS.
[00:05:01]
UM, CORRESPONDENCE WITH, UH, MR. TED.UH, HE'S, HE'S CORRESPONDED THROUGH US AND HAS KEPT US INFORMED OF SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE BEING PUT ON HERE, UH, REGARDING FESTIVAL BEACH EDWARD RENDON PARK.
SO IF YOU WANT MY EMAIL OR ANY INFORMATION, I CAN LEAVE IT WITH YOUR LIAISON.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE KATE HAYNESWORTH.
KATE, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING ON MY SLIDES.
OR CAN I, THAT'S THE CLICKER I USE.
UH, I THINK, WE'LL, IF YOU JUST SAY SLIDE, WE'LL CLICK THROUGH NOW.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE NEXT TO SOUTH AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
I'M HERE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED FROM THIS PARK DUE TO THE PERVASIVENESS THAT CONTINUES TO GROW OF OFF-LEASH DOGS AND PLEAD FOR YOUR HELP TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS ESCALATED AND CORRECTED.
AND MY HOUSE, WE ARE PARK ENTHUSIASTS.
I HAVE PERSONALLY SPREAD 50 YARDS OF MULCH SO FAR THIS YEAR.
WE ORGANIZE PARK DAYS, WE'VE ADOPTED THE CREEK.
WE LOVE DOGS AND FOSTER THEM ALL THE TIME.
OH, AND THESE ARE MY FOSTER DOGS.
UM, IN JANUARY, OUR DAUGHTER WAS CHARGED AT ACROSS THE BALL FIELD IN THE PARK BY A DOG FROM THE REGULAR OFF-LEASH MEETUP.
THEY'RE THERE AT THE SAME PLACE RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLAYGROUND.
IT TOOK FOUR ADULTS TO AVOID AN ATTACK.
AND BECAUSE I CANNOT OBTAIN HER NAME, THE OWNER HAS FACED NO CONSEQUENCES.
SHE KNOWS FOSTER DOGS, SHE KNOWS DOG BEHAVIOR.
HER FRIEND HAS ALREADY BEEN BITTEN ON THE FACE WHILE PLAYING IN THE PARK.
THE OWNER WASN'T FOUND AND THUS FACED NO CONSEQUENCES.
I WANNA REITERATE, BOTH OF THESE WERE CHILDREN IN THE PARK WITH THEIR PARENTS DOING NOTHING WRONG.
THERE IS NO OFF-LEASH AREA IN THIS PARK, BUT IT HAS SUCH AN UNCHECKED REPUTATION FOR BEING A GREAT PLACE TO BRING YOUR DOG AND LET IT RUN THAT IT ATTRACTS DOG OWNERS FROM MORE THAN 15 MILES AWAY.
AGAIN, THERE'S THIS DAILY MEETUP.
THEY TAKE PICTURES IN FRONT OF THE OFF LEASH OR THE, THE LEASH LAW SIGN AND POST THEM ON REDDIT.
IT, THERE IS NO MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS ALLOWED HERE.
THE BEHAVIOR GOES THROUGH EVERY CORNER OF THE PARK.
THERE'S NOT A WAY TO RELIABLY AVOID THEM.
I KNOW YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH A LEASH LAW, SO I'M GOING TO SKIP OVER THE REASONS BEHIND IT.
HERE'S WHAT I'VE TRIED SO FAR TO, IN A DESPERATE PLEA FOR HELP TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION.
NOT ONLY HAS NOBODY GOTTEN TRACTION, I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS.
THEY HAVE ESCALATED THEM WITHOUT RESULT.
THAT INCLUDES THE MANAGER OF THE REC CENTER WHO RUNS PROGRAMS WITH CHILDREN IN HIS CARE OUTSIDE OF THE REC CENTER ON PARK GROUNDS.
MY SYMBOL TODAY IS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING THIS INFORMATION AND TURNING IT INTO ACTION WITHOUT INTERVENTION, MORE PEOPLE WILL BE FURTHER DISENFRANCHISED FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND OR BITTEN.
I'M BEGGING YOU FOR YOUR HELP BEFORE THAT HAPPENS TO MY KID OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S.
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.
MR. BECK, CAN YOU GET KATE'S INFORMATION FOR ME PLEASE? THANK YOU.
UM, WITH PUBLIC COMMUNICATION BEING OVER, WE WILL MOVE TO
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 2ND, 2026.
YOU'LL TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW THE MINUTES IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.
UM, I WAS NOT AT THAT MEETING, SO I'VE READ THE MINUTES, BUT I'LL RECUSE MYSELF FROM, UH, THE VOTE.
[00:10:06]
OKAY.I DON'T THINK THAT EVERY, OKAY, I'LL MOVE.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER MERIT.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.
A SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HAMARA.
AND THEN, UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UM, ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION ACTION.
SHARON, JUST TO CLARIFY, IS, IS BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR, YOU AND BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR ARE ABSTAINING FROM THAT VOTE? IS THAT RIGHT? OH, YES.
SO, SEVEN TWO, UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION
[2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for the Austin Parks and Recreation Operations and Maintenance Team crews, who work tirelessly performing routine maintenance as well as repairs and renovations throughout the Austin park system. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (APR Long Range Strategies: Operational Efficiency, Park Access for All). Presenter(s): Charles Vaclavik, Operations and Maintenance Division Manager; Joe Diaz, Facility Process Manager; Nate Thayer, Parks Grounds Manager, South District; Merrideth Jiles, Parks Grounds Manager, Citywide Services; Albert Homann, Building Services Manager; Felix Padron, Parks Grounds Manager, Austin Parks and Recreation.]
AND ACTION ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER TWO, PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND APPROVE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE TEAM CREWS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO PERFORM ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.AND WE'LL TAKE THE PRESENTATION.
LIANA VOCA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION.
AND IT'S A PLEASURE ACTUALLY TODAY TO HAVE, UH, THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE TEAM HERE.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THEM ABOUT THE WORK THEY DO, UM, AT OUR PARKS AND FACILITIES.
THIS IS THE LARGEST DIVISION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, AND AS YOU WOULD HEAR, THE SPAN OF, UH, RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THEY HAVE, UM, IS, UH, QUITE DIVERSE.
SO I WILL PASS IT ON TO CHARLES SLAVIC, WHO IS THE DIVISION MANAGER, AND HE WILL ALSO INTRODUCE, UH, HIS TEAM OF MANAGERS, UH, THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
GOOD EVENING PARK BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M THE DIVISION MANAGER OVER OPERATION MAINTENANCE WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND TONIGHT I HAVE, UH, SEVERAL MANAGERS WITH US TONIGHT ARE GOING TO BE MORE SPECIFIC INTO WHAT THEY DO.
AND, UH, OVERALL WE, LIKE LIANO WAS SAYING, WE HAVE OVER 260 FTES, TEMPORARIES THAT WE MANAGE AND WE SERVICE THE WHOLE CITY.
AND, UH, BASICALLY THESE, THESE GUYS LOVE WHAT THEY DO.
THEY'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OVER 20,000 ACRES, UH, THAT WE OVERSEE AND MAINTAIN.
AND SO IT'S A LARGE, AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF SERVICES THAT WE DO.
IT'S NOT JUST TRASH AND MOWING, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIFIC THINGS WE DO.
BUT, UM, WITH THAT, UM, LET ME SEE IF I CAN, WE DO TRACK A LOT OF THESE THINGS, ALMOST ALL OF 'EM BY WORK ORDERS.
AND REALLY THE WORK ORDERS TELL US ABOUT THE WORK WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT AND HOW WE SCHEDULE IT AND PRIORITIZE IT.
AND YOU CAN SEE LAST IN FY 25, WE ALMOST HAD 10,000 WORK ORDERS THAT WE CLOSED.
AND, UH, BE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE CLOSED THESE WORK ORDERS AT ABOUT A 91 OR 2% RATE.
AND SO THAT MEANS WE'RE CLO WE'RE THINGS THAT ARE GETTING TURNED IN COMPLAINTS OR THINGS THAT ARE BREAKING.
WE'RE FIXING THOSE AT A PRETTY GOOD PACE.
AND SO, UM, THIS KIND OF TELLS WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT I DON'T WANNA SPEND A LOT OF TIME HERE.
I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO JOE DIAZ, WHO'S OUR FACILITY PROCESS MANAGER.
I AM THE FACILITY PROCESS MANAGER OVER OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE PARTS DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE DO HAVE 242 FTES WITH THE ADDITIONAL, UH, 15 THAT WE RECEIVED THIS YEAR, AND ANOTHER 25 TO 35 EMPLOYEES, UH, SE UH, SEASONAL AND TEMPORARIES THAT WE USE AT THE LAKES.
AND TO ALSO FILL THE, THE NEEDS IN OUR MOWING AND OUR SERVICING UNITS AS STATED ON THERE.
SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE THAT WE WE DO, WE WILL HAVE SOME MANAGERS COME UP AND SPEAK TO THOSE NUMBERS.
SO I RUN THE OPERATION ON A DAILY BASIS.
I HAVE A MAN, I HAVE FIVE MANAGERS SOON TO BE ADDING A SIXTH ONE.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE NUMBERS ARE LARGE, UH, 660 MOW ACRES.
[00:15:01]
NORTH? YES, THIS IS THE NORTH MOWING DAILY AND LAKES.THIS IS THE FOLKS THAT ARE OUT AT DECKER.
AND THE NORTH SERVICE, UH, WHICH HAS 175 PARKS FROM CHAVEZ NORTH.
UH, THEY, UH, THEY HAVE A LOT.
AS YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS, THE, THE RESTROOMS IN ITSELF, UM, 49 OF 'EM IN THE DISTRICT.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF OVER 85 IN THE CITY.
AND WE JUST HAVE AN OUTSTANDING TEAM.
UH, NOT JUST THE MANAGERS, BUT ALSO THE SUPERVISORS AND ALL STAFF.
I AM THE PARKS GROUNDS MANAGER FOR THE SOUTH DISTRICT.
UH, BASICALLY I'M SEEING THE PARKS, UM, SOUTH OF CESAR CHAVEZ.
I'VE GOT DAILY SERVICE GROUP, AND I ALSO OVERSEE THE CREW THAT DOES THE SERVICE OUT THERE AT ZILKER PARK.
UH, OVERALL, THERE'S 51 MEMBERS THAT I'VE GOT, UH, AND WE'RE DOING OVER 700 ACRES, UH, THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING.
YOU WANNA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE? UM, MY FEATURED CREW IS GONNA BE MY ZILKER TEAM.
UH, THIS IS 15 MEMBERS THAT ARE, UH, LOOKING AT 165 ACRES OF HIGHLY DEVELOPED PARK.
EVERYTHING FROM ZILKER TO MICHAEL BUTLER, VIC MATHIAS.
THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF THE FLUER BRIDGE.
UH, THESE INDIVIDUALS, THEY'RE OUT THERE DAILY.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE CLEANING OUR RESTROOMS, THEY'RE PICKING UP THE GROUND, THEY'RE CHANGING OUT THE TRASH, GETTING MUTT MIXED STOCKS, TAKING CARE OF MINOR GRAFFITI.
AND THIS CREW ALSO HAS TO WORK AROUND SOME OF THE LARGE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO MEREDITH.
UH, MY NAME IS MEREDITH GILES.
I AM ALSO A PARK GROUNDS MANAGER.
UH, MY AREA IS WHAT WE CALL CITYWIDE SERVICES.
UH, IN ADDITION TO PLAYGROUNDS THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT, I'M ALSO OVER THE HORTICULTURE UNIT, THE GRAFFITI ABATEMENT UNIT, AND THEN ONE THAT'S NOT AN OFFICIAL UNIT, BUT THE TURF TEAM THAT ACTUALLY TAKES CARE OF THE GREAT LAWN AND THE LAWNS AT VIC MATTHIAS AND AUDITORIUM SHORES.
BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT OUR PLAYGROUNDS GROUP.
IT'S ACTUALLY A, A GROUP OF EIGHT GENTLEMEN.
UM, WE TAKE CARE OF 20 NATURE PLAY SITES AND OVER 200 PLAY SCAPES ACROSS THE CITY.
UM, SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WITH OUR PLAY SCAPES.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE, SO WE DO VERY REGULAR SAFETY INSPECTIONS.
UM, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR NATURE PLAY SITES SAFE.
UH, WE WORK TIRELESSLY TO KEEP OUR, WHAT'S CALLED EWF.
YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF KITTY CUSHION.
IT'S A SPECIALIZED MULCH THAT'S USED IN PLAY SCAPES, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT'S DOING ITS JOB.
UH, WE KEEP OUR EQUIPMENT CLEAN, WE REPLACE SAFETY MATS ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND THEN MAKE ALL LEVELS OF REPAIRS FROM, YOU KNOW, SIMPLY REPLACING A BOLT TO REPLACING ENTIRE IMPLEMENTS OF A PLAY SCAPE.
AND WE RESPOND TO LOTS OF 3 1 1 REQUESTS FROM OUR CITIZENS.
I'M MATT ALBERT HOLMAN BUILDING SERVICES MANAGER.
I OVERSEE THE SKILLED MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS, HIT THAT RED BUTTON THERE.
ALBERT HOLMAN BUILDING SERVICES MANAGER, OVERSEE THE SKILLED MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS CARPENTRY, HVAC, PLUMBING AND IRRIGATION, ELECTRICAL WELDING AND SIGN SHOP.
UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE 48 CREW MEMBERS AND, UM, DO EVERYTHING MAINTENANCE FROM FLOORS TO ROOFING.
UM, THIS IS A BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURE OF A KITCHEN RENOVATION WE DID AT VIRGINIA BROWN RECREATION CENTER.
AS PART OF THE RENOVATION, THE KITCHEN WAS REPAINTED, NEW CABINET INSTALLED WITH STAINLESS STEEL COUNTERTOP SINK, VENT HOOD, AND, UH, ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES.
AND, UH, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WAS DONE IN ADDITION TO THE DAILY MAINTENANCE OF REPAIRS THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF.
SO WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO, THEY DO SMALL PROJECTS LIKE THIS IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER REPAIRS THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.
HELLO, MY NAME IS, UH, FELIX PADRON, AND I AM, UH, WITH THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE DIVISION, AND I AM THE PARKS GROUND MANAGER OVER ALL THE MAINTENANCE ASSIGNMENTS, UH, THAT, UH, FILTER THROUGH THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE DIVISION.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK LEANNA FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE OUR, UH, OUR, UH, OUR, OUR GROUPS AND THE, THE THINGS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAINTENANCE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
UM, THE TRAILS GROUNDS MAINTENANCE CREW CONSISTS OF 38, UH, WELL TOTAL IN MAINTENANCE, 38 CREW MEMBERS.
UH, I BELIEVE THE TRAILS CREW HAS A TOTAL OF 15, UH, EMPLOYEES.
AND THE SLIDE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS BRIEFLY,
[00:20:01]
UM, UH, SHOWCASING SEVERAL OF THE PROCESSES THAT IN, IN THAT INVOLVE THE, UH, TRAIL MAINTENANCE, UM, RECONDITIONING THE TRAIL, UH, THANK YOU.THE TRAIL RECONDITIONING, UM, MAINTENANCE PROCESSES CONSIST OF FIVE CATEGORIES, AND I'M GONNA GO OVER THOSE CATEGORIES, UM, BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST IN THE ORDER AND HOW WE PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.
THIS IS THE FIRST PHASE WHERE WE CUT BOTH ENDS OF THE TRAIL.
UH, WE CUT THREE FOOT BUFFERS, UM, AND WE LIFT TREE CANOPIES TO A HEIGHT OF 15 TO 16 FEET FOR HEIGHT CLEARANCE FOR HEAVY MACHINERY TO COME IN AND PERFORM THE SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED.
UM, THEY'RE ASSOCIATED WITH RECONDITIONING.
THE SECOND, UH, CATEGORY THAT WE PERFORM OUT ON TRAILS IS DRAINAGE.
AND SO, UH, WHAT WE DO HERE IS WE, UH, REPAIR, UH, DRAINAGE SYSTEMS BY REPLACING FAILED PIPE SYSTEMS, UH, UH, CULVERT BOWLS.
UM, AND WE ALSO, UM, INCORPORATE HEAD WALLS, CONCRETE LIMESTONE HEAD WALLS TO SUPPORT, UH, HEAVY SHEET FLOW.
UM, PART OF THE, UH, DRAINAGE, UH, PROCESSES THAT, UM, ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF APPLICATION IS WE NEED TO CUT DRAINAGE CHANNELS AND DRAINAGE CHANNELS HELP SUPPORT CAPTURE.
WELL, THEY CAPTURE THE SHEET FLOW AND THEY HELP, UH, REDIRECT SHEET FLOW AWAY FROM THE TRAIL, WHICH CAUSES, UH, WHICH LIMITS THE IMPACT OF, OF WHAT WATER CAN DO TO A TRAIL SYSTEM.
UM, THE THIRD PHASE IS RECONDITIONING.
AND THIS PHASE IS WHERE WE, UH, OUR MACHINES UTIL ARE UTILIZED TO DO THE ACTUAL, UH, REMOVAL OF THE OLD WORN MATERIAL.
AND, UH, WE USE 12 YARD DUMP TRUCKS AND OTHER SMALL TRUCKS TO BRING IN NEW MATERIAL.
AND OUR MOTOR GRATER, UH, THEN IS USED, UH, TO SPREAD THAT MATERIAL OVER THE, OVER THE TRAIL.
UM, WE ALSO USE A, UH, STEEL DRUM ROLLER TO COMPACT EVERYTHING SO NOTHING STAYS LOOSE ON THE TRAIL.
WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY FALLING ON THE TRAIL.
WE DON'T WANT, UM, UM, KIDS SLIDING OR, OR, OR, UH, FOLKS LOSING THEIR GRIP IF THEY'RE ON A STROLLER OR A BICYCLE.
SO WE COMPACT EVERYTHING, UM, NICE AND TIGHT.
THE, UH, FOURTH CATEGORY IS NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THIS PHASE, UH, SIMPLY FOLLOWS THE SAME PROCESSES THAT I JUST DESCRIBED IN CATEGORY THREE, WHICH IS RECONDITIONING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF INCORPORATING, UM, A SUBGRADE MATERIAL, WHICH IS FLEX SPACE, WHICH IS, GOES UNDERNEATH THE FINISHED GRADE OF THE DECOMPOSED GRANITE.
UH, AND THAT HELPS KEEP THE GRANITE STABILIZED.
UM, AND OUR FINAL, UH, CATEGORY AND TRAIL MAINTENANCE IS FABRICATION.
UH, THIS PHASE IS WHERE OUR WELDERS ARE UTILIZED, THE FABRICATE HANDRAILS DRAINAGE CRATES.
ADDITIONALLY, OUR WELDERS MAY FABRICATE STRUCTURAL CONNECTIONS THAT SUPPORT, UH, LARGER SCALE PROJECTS SUCH AS CUSTOM FENCE PANELS OR SECURING ELECTRICAL MANHOLE COVERS TO PREVENT VANDALISM.
UH, THAT COVERS WHAT, UH, UM, UH, WE DO IN, IN IN TRAILS.
THE OTHER, UM, GROUPS THAT I'M, UH, OVER IS THE MAINTENANCE GROUPS WHERE WE, UH, DO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS FROM STREET POTHOLE REPAIRS, UH, TO, UH, REPAIRS OF OUR FACILITIES, RESTROOM PARTITIONS THAT ARE TAKEN DOWN WHEN THEY'RE VANDALIZED.
UM, WE, UH, SECURE, UM, VARIOUS, UH, CONTRACTS TO, UH, ASSIST US WHEN THE WORKLOADS BECOME TOO HEAVY, LIKE, UM, ELK ELECTRIC.
UM, IT'S A, IT'S A, A COMPANY THAT WE USE WHEN OUR LIGHT POLES IN OUR, IN OUR FACILITIES GET VANDALIZED.
AND, UM, SO IT, IT IS A, A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF GIVE YOU GUYS AN IDEA OF WHAT WE FACE ON A DAILY, UH, CHALLENGE, ON A DAILY CHALLENGE APART FROM JUST DESCRIBING WHAT WE DO.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
SO YOU HEARD A BIT ABOUT THEIR DAILY, UH, RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT THIS IS ALSO THE GROUP THAT, UH, MANY TIMES HAS STEPPED IN TO BRING THE DEPARTMENT TOGETHER DURING OUR, UM, ANNUAL EVENTS.
AND THEY REALLY, THEY REALLY KNOW HOW TO PUT AN EVENT TOGETHER AND BEHIND THE SCENES THEY PREPARE FROM, UH, FOOD TO DECORATIONS AND, UH, IT'S REALLY FUN TO WORK WITH THEM.
AND, UH, I'M REALLY, UM, EXCITED EVERY DAY TO BE SOLVING THE MANY, MANY PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM WITH THEIR SUPPORT.
AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OPERATION MAINTENANCE DIVISION
[00:25:01]
TONIGHT, AND, UH, WE'RE HERE FOR ANY QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE.YEAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT A BARBECUE AFFINITY GROUP THERE,
LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU DO FOR PESCATARIANS
UM, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS, QUESTION.
UH, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, QUESTIONS AND, UH, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK, JOE.
YOU'VE DONE GREAT STUFF FOR US AT WILDRED.
SO WE CERTAINLY THANK MAINTENANCE FOR ALL THE, UH, EFFORTS YOU GUYS HAVE HAVE MADE.
I, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A A A, A WIDESPREAD PARK SYSTEM AND MAINTENANCE SPREAD OVER A LARGE LANDSCAPE.
AND, UM, BUT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF AREAS WHERE WE HAVE HIGH IMPACT, REALLY CONCENTRATION, WHICH I'M SURE PUTS GREAT PRESSURE ON YOU, UH, 'CAUSE OF THAT.
ONE OF THOSE I LIVE ACROSS FROM, WHICH IS PEACE PARK AND THE, WELL, ONE OF THE, IT YOU DO A GREAT JOB, DON'T WORRY.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M, UH, CURIOUS ABOUT OR I'VE OBSERVED, UH, AT PEACE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PLAYERS.
WE HAVE A CONSERVANCY, WE HAVE WATERSHED, WE'VE GOT A PR AND YOU ALL SEEM TO HAVE WORKED OUT WHO'S TAKING CARE OF WHAT.
UH, I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU DO THAT, BUT IT, IT'S WORKED
UM, I'M, MY DIRECT QUESTION, AND I'LL START WITH YOU, LEANA, WE HAD THE SAME SITUATION AT, UH, LADY BIRD LAKE AND BUTLER TRAIL, MULTIPLE PLAYERS, MULTIPLE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE INVOLVED.
WHAT DO YOU MAINTAIN ON BUTLER TRAIL, SILICA PARK AND THE SURROUNDING PARKLAND? OKAY.
WELL, WE, YOU'RE RIGHT, WE DO HAVE TO WORK WITHOUT, WITH THESE CONSERVANCIES AND UH, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF MEETINGS AND WE DO HAVE DEFINED AREAS THAT WE DO MAINTAIN.
AND I THINK LIKE FELIX MAINTAINS ALL THE TRAILS AND HE HAS A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND WITH PEACE PARK AND IN PARTICULAR PEACE PARK, WE MAINTAIN ALL THE TRAIL SYSTEM IN PEACE PARK.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT TOO MANY CONVERSATIONS THERE.
WE JUST DO IT ALONG WITH THE MOWING RIGHT NOW, SO WE'RE DOING ALL THAT ALSO.
BUT AS FAR AS THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, I KNOW FELIX, UM, HE WORKS DIRECTLY WITH, WITH THEIR PROJECT, WELL, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HIS TITLE, BUT HE WORKS DIRECTLY WITH HIM WHO MAINTAINED THEIR, THEIR PORTION.
BUT I THINK WE'RE DOING MAJORITY OF THE TRAILS.
AND FELIX MAYBE CAN SPEAK TO THAT OR IF LEONA WANTS TO, UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR, UH, COLLABORATION WITH, UM, AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION.
UM, IT'S ALWAYS ON THE BACKGROUND AND EVERYTHING WE DO, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, WE COORDINATE WITH THEM AND WE, THEY KNOW, WE KNOW EACH OTHER'S GOALS AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO MEET WITH THEM.
UH, WITH THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, AS WITH EVERY PARTNERSHIP, UM, IT'S A, IT'S A COLLABORATION AND IT IS AN ADDITIVE PROCESS.
UM, MANY OF THOSE WE HAVE, UM, THE BASIC SERVICES THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO AND THEN THE PARTNER COMES IN TO ADD TO THOSE.
UH, AND THAT IS AGAIN, THE CASE WITH, UM, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY ALONG THE, UH, HACK AND BIKE TRAIL.
SO BY BASIC SERVICES, THAT'S JUST MAINTAIN THE TRAIL, MOW THE GRASS YES.
PUT IN DECOMPOSE GRANITE WHEN YOU NEED TO, THAT KIND OF STUFF.
AND THEN THEY DO WHAT THEY INVEST IN THE ADDITIVE? THEY DO.
I, I'LL ALSO ADD THAT WE MEET REGULARLY ONCE A MONTH WITH THESE GROUPS MM-HMM
TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND WE ALSO LET THEM KNOW WHEN WE'RE GONNA BE IN THE AREA TO RECONDITION THE TRAIL OR PROVIDE, PROVIDE A MAINTENANCE SERVICE.
SO THEY'RE ALSO, UM, AS LEONA MENTIONED, SHE'S GIVEN THANKS TO WATERSHED.
I ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AUSTIN WATER BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME MAJOR WATER BREAKS OUT THERE IN PEACE PARK AND THEY'VE RESPONDED VERY QUICKLY TO GET THOSE ISSUES RESOLVED.
UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO GET THEM TO, TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES 'CAUSE THEY DON'T, WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, COORDINATE REGULARLY, BUT WE'RE VERY GLAD THAT THEY'VE COME TO THE TABLE WITH SOME OF SIT IN SOME OF OUR MEETINGS TO HEAR NOT JUST OUR CONCERNS, BUT THE CONSERVANCY CONCERNS AS WELL.
WE, WE HAVE, UM, WE OFTEN GET QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AROUND THE PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIPS, UM, AND SO IT'S HELPFUL JUST TO GET MORE INFORMATION EACH TIME.
[00:30:01]
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR, I HAVE A QUESTION FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, LIKE IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE MISSING OR RESOURCES THAT YOU DON'T HAVE, LIKE EQUIPMENT OR PEOPLE OR MORE PARTNERSHIPS, LIKE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD, THAT, THAT YOU THINK WOULD MAKE YOUR JOBS EASIER? ALL THE ABOVE.
I MEAN, EACH ONE HAS ITS OWN SPEC SPECIFIC NEED.
EACH GROUP HAS THEIR OWN SPECIFIC NEEDS, WHETHER IT'S EQUIPMENT OR MORE PERSONNEL OR, OR MORE FUNDING.
I MEAN, THERE'S ALWAYS A NEED AND IT, AS THE CITY GETS BIGGER AND, AND GROWS MORE, THE MORE WE NEED.
AND SO THERE, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT NEED AND IT JUST VARIES IN DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT ARE MAINTAINING THE PARK.
SO THE PARK SYSTEM IS MAINTAINED WITH THE 240 50 PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE NOW.
UM, FTES IN OUR, UM, IN THE DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 20,000 ACRES, ABOUT 250 PLUS MILES OF TRAILS AND ALL THE RESTROOMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
THIS IS A BASIC SERVICE THAT WE KNOW THAT IN SOME CASES IT'S NOT ADEQUATE TO GET BEYOND THAT.
WE WOULD NEED MORE FTES, WE WOULD NEED MORE EQUIPMENT.
SO THAT'S ALWAYS ON THE BACKGROUND.
BUT, UM, THE FIRST PRIORITY IS TO HAVE THAT BASIC SERVICE DELIVERED WITH THE NUMBER, WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE TODAY, WHAT WILL IT HELP? UH, ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
BUT WE KNOW THAT WE ARE ONE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY AND WE HAVE TO, UM, BE MINDFUL OF THE ENTIRE CITY NEEDS.
ANYBODY ELSE? BOARD MEMBERS ONLINE.
I AM GOING TO, UM, ALRIGHT, I'LL READ OUR LETTER AND THEN I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION FROM THE BOARD.
OUR LETTER DATED TODAY, FEBRUARY 23RD, 2026, AND READS, DEAR AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE TEAM, ON BEHALF OF THE, ON BEHALF OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK THAT YOU DO EACH DAY TO CARE FOR AUSTIN PARKS AND FACILITIES.
YOUR TEAM IS THE STEADY FOUNDATION THAT KEEPS OUR PARK SYSTEM SAFE, FUNCTIONAL, AND WELCOMING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THE SCOPE OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS REMARKABLE AS WE HEARD TODAY, UM, AND I DIDN'T PUT EVERYTHING IN THIS LETTER, I WOULD HAVE A VERY, VERY, VERY LONG LETTER.
UM, YOU MAINTAIN MORE THAN 20,000 ACRES OF PARKLAND, 382 PARKS, 287 MILES OF TRAIL, 200 PLAYGROUNDS AND 25 RECREATION AND SENIOR CENTERS FOR MOWING AND HORTICULTURE TO GRAFFITI ABATEMENT, PLUMBING TO HVAC, TRAIL RECONDITIONING, AND PLAYGROUND SAFETY INSPECTIONS.
YOUR WORK TOUCHES EVERY CORNER OF OUR SYSTEM.
THE THOUSANDS OF WORK ORDERS YOU CLOSE EACH YEAR, WHETHER REPORTED THROUGH 3 1 1 OR IDENTIFIED DURING YOUR ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, REFLECTS YOUR RESPONSIVENESS AND YOUR DEDICATION.
WE ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE THE CARE AND PRIDE YOU BRING TO BOTH DAILY OPERATIONS AND TO THE SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT WERE MENTIONED TODAY AND THE ONES THAT WE HAVE YET TO KNOW, UM, WHETHER RENOVATING FACILITIES, RESTORING WARM TRAILS, MAINTAINING ZILKER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS OR SUPPORTING CITYWIDE EVENTS.
YOU CONSISTENTLY SHOW UP EARLY, YOU WORK HARD, AND YOU GO BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.
YOUR WORK ENSURES THAT AUSTIN'S PARKS AND OUR PUBLIC SPACES REMAIN PLACES OF RECREATION, CONNECTION AND ENJOYMENT FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
BOARD MEMBERS, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS.
DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL, UH, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THIS LETTER, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
BURER FRANKLIN, IT IS UNANIMOUS.
UM, ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO, AND WE ARE
[10. Staff briefing on the TxDOT’s construction of the Austin Water wastewater line along Waller Street at Edward Rendon Sr. Metro Park at Festival Beach, including actions taken to mitigate and address the impact to the Festival Beach Food Forest. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (APR Long Range Strategies: Operational Efficiency). Presenter(s): Greg Montes, Program Manager II, Austin Parks and Recreation and Kevin Koeller, P.E., Division Manager, Austin Water. ]
MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER 10.UM, THIS WILL BE THE STAFF BRIEFING ON
[00:35:01]
TAUTS CONSTRUCTION OF THE AUSTIN WATER WASTEWATER LINE ALONG WALLER STREET AT EDWARD REONE SENIOR METRO PARK AT FESTIVAL BEACH, INCLUDING ACTIONS TAKEN AND MITIGATE AND ADDRESS THE IMPACT TO THE FESTIVAL BEACH, FOOD FOREST.AND I BELIEVE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THAT CORRECT, MR. DUNBAT? THAT IS CORRECT.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL GO AHEAD WITH THAT.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE ALI THARP, FOLLOWED BY JODY LANE, AND THEN NATALIE EVANS.
WILL WE ACCEPT A TIME DONATION DURING THIS PUBLIC COMMENT? WE ARE NOT, UM, ACCEPTING, ACCEPTING TIME DONATIONS.
YOU CAN EITHER SPEAK THREE MINUTES OR SOUNDS GOOD.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
I'VE VOLUNTEERED OVER 3000 HOURS IN SUPPORT OF FESTIVAL BEACH FOOD FOREST.
I'VE SEEN THIS PARK BRING JOY, MEANING COMMUNITY AND HEALING TO HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OVER 10 YEARS.
THE FOOD FOREST AND OUR SPONSOR ORGANIZATION, FRUITFUL COMMONS, WERE LEFT OUT OF THE CHAPTER 26 PROCESS AND NOT INFORMED ABOUT THIS EASEMENT.
AND AS A RESULT, THIS BOARD WAS MISINFORMED.
WHEN IT APPROVED THIS PIPELINE IN NOVEMBER OF 2024, ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE PARK WAS CLEARLY NOT DONE.
AS EVIDENCED BY THE RAPID RESPONSE TRIAGING WE HAVE NOW BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST SIX WEEKS, OUR TEAM IS EXHAUSTED.
INSTEAD OF DOING OUR WINTER MAINTENANCE, INSTEAD OF PREPARING FOR SPRING, INSTEAD OF WORKING ON PROGRAMMING GRANT PROPOSALS OR GRANT IMPLEMENTATION, WE'VE BEEN DIGGING OUR OWN HARD WORK OUT OF THE GROUND.
THIS EXPERIENCE HAS CALLED INTO QUESTION THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE CITY'S COMMITTED TO ITS CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
ITS FOOD PLAN, ITS LONG RANGE PARK PLAN, ITS INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND PARTNERSHIPS ON PUBLIC PARKLAND.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE WAYS THE PARKS AND WATER DEPARTMENT STAFF HAVE SUPPORTED US OVER THE LAST TWO AND A HALF WEEKS.
AS WE TRIAGE THIS TRAGIC SITUATION, WE'VE RECEIVED SOME ASSURANCES THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO RESTORE OUR FOOD FOREST BARRIER BERM ON TOP OF THE WASTEWATER PIPELINE EASEMENT.
AND THERE IS STILL MUCH WORK TO DO TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
THIS PROCESS WILL BE ONGOING FOR MANY MONTHS.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY TRANSMISSION LINES ALSO COMING INTO THE FOOD FOREST COMING BEFORE THIS BOARD NEXT MONTH.
WE NEED SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT A CUSTOMIZED EASEMENT AGREEMENT FOR ALL PARTIES IS FINALIZED AND PLANS FOR RESTORATION ARE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED FULLY.
WE NEED SUPPORT TO ENSURE THE FOOD FOREST AND FRUITFUL COMMONS RECEIVE MITIGATION FUNDING AND COMPENSATION FOR LOSSES AND DAMAGES THAT CANNOT BE RESTORED.
WE NEED SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT TDOT DOES THE CITY UTILITY RELOCATION ON PARKLAND UP TO CODE THAT THE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION WITH TXDOT IS AN AREA OF CONTINUED CONCERN FOR US.
TXDOT REFUSED TO JOIN THE MEETINGS WITH CITY STAFF AND FOOD FOREST LEADERS TO COORDINATE MITIGATION EFFORTS OVER THE LAST TWO AND A HALF WEEKS.
THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY MEETING DATES WITH US BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE TRENCHING OF THIS PIPELINE.
A MEETING WITH THEIR COMMUNITY LIAISON TOMORROW FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE WE FOUND OUT, ASIDE FROM ONE BRIEF PHONE CALL, THEY BEGAN TRENCHING IN THE FOOD FOREST TODAY, MAYBE YESTERDAY, SIX DAYS AFTER THEY SAID THEY WOULD BEGIN THE WORK IN THE FOOD FOREST.
IF THEY HAD COORDINATED WITH US MORE FULLY, WE COULD HAVE HAD MORE TIME MOVED AT A MORE REASONABLE PACE.
INSTEAD, WE WERE LEFT IN THE DARK.
THEY HAVE BEGUN MOVING HEAVY EQUIPMENT INTO THE FOOD FOREST WITHOUT PUTTING THE FENCING UP AROUND THE EASEMENT AREA AS THE CONTRACTORS AND CD, UH, AS CDS INSPECTORS SAID WOULD BE DONE.
UH, THIS IS IT PRETTY CONCERNING TO US.
UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THEY ONLY STICK TO THE EASEMENT AREA AND THAT THE FENCING AND OTHER CODES TO ENSURE SAFETY ARE DONE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PARKLAND.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU TO THE AUSTIN WATER AND AUSTIN PARK SUPPORT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JODY LANE.
JODY, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M THE FOUNDING STEWARD OF FESTIVAL BEACH FOOD FOREST AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FRUITFUL COMMONS, THE NONPROFIT THAT FISCALLY SPONSORS THIS PROJECT AND MORE THAN 30 COMMUNITY LED LAND STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVES ACROSS AUSTIN.
WE HAVE A PPA AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING TOWARDS A MORE ROBUST PARTNERSHIP B AGREEMENT WITH, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FESTIVAL BE FOOD FOREST BEGAN AS A REQUEST FROM A LONGSTANDING EAST AUSTIN RESIDENTS WHO WANTED TO KEEP THEIR PARK FAMILY ORIENTED AND TRANQUIL AND
[00:40:01]
ROOTED IN SOMETHING LIFE GIVING.WHAT STARTED, UH, AS THAT COMMUNITY CALL HAS GROWN UP INTO AUSTIN'S FIRST PUBLIC FOOD FOREST AND A FLAGSHIP MODEL FOR COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE PROGRAMMING ON PARKLAND.
THIS PARKLAND IS A GEM ALONG LADY BIRD LAKE.
UNLIKE MANY PUBLIC AMENITIES, IT WAS PRIMARILY BUILT THROUGH VOLUNTEER LABOR.
FOR 14 YEARS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE SHAPED SOIL BERMS, IRRIGATION, AND PERENNIAL PLANTINGS BY HAND.
TODAY IT'S GROWING TOWARDS A THREE ACRE PUBLIC FOREST THAT WILL NOURISH GENERATIONS THROUGH FRUITFUL COMMONS.
THIS WORK SUPPORTS A BROADER CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR PARKS.
WE SUPPORT THE AMAZING MEMBERS THAT OF OUR PARKS MAINTENANCE THAT YOU HEARD SPEAKING, UH, EARLIER.
OUR NETWORK NOW HOSTS MORE THAN 200 PUBLIC EVENTS PER YEAR.
PLANTS MORE THAN 338 TREES ANNUALLY.
CONTRIBUTES TO, UH, OH, I DIDN'T BRING MY WATER AND CONTRIBUTES APPROXIMATELY 10,000 THANK YOU VOLUNTEER HOURS EACH YEAR TO PARK STEWARDSHIP ACROSS AUSTIN.
THIS IS A REAL PUBLIC VALUE CREATED THROUGH SWEAT EQUITY.
WE RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN IN THE CHAPTER 26 PROCESS THAT FAILED TO IDENTIFY THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO THE FOOD FORCE PLANTING AREA.
MINIMIZING HARM IS NOT THE SAME AS MITIGATING HARM.
WE ARE ASKING FOR TWO CLEAR ACTIONS.
FIRST, THAT A FORMAL CHAPTER 26 MITIGATION CALCULATION BE COMPLETED AND PUBLICLY SHARED, AND THAT ALL ASSOCIATED MITIGATION FUNDS BE DIRECTED TOWARDS FULL RESTORATION OF THE FOOD FORCE.
UH, PHASE TWO SYSTEMS. SECOND, THAT YOU SUPPORT THE FOOD POLICY BOARD IN REACTIVATING AND ELEVATING ITS RESOLUTION, CALLING FOR AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL MECHANISM SUCH AS A DEDICATED STAFF ROLE TO COORDINATE URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECTS LIKE THESE ON PUBLIC PARKLAND ACROSS THE CITY AND ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS.
SUCH COORDINATION WOULD DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE FOOD PLAN, CLINICALLY PLAN, AND KEEP THESE THINGS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO ADDRESS THE PARKS BOARD ON THIS ITEM? THAT IS THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
WE WILL TAKE THE STAFF BRIEFING.
THIS ITEM IS A BRIEFING ITEM ON THE WASTEWATER LINE RELOCATION AT FESTIVAL BEACH.
I'M GREG MONTES WITH PARKS AND RECREATION.
UM, I'M GONNA ALLOW THE TEAM TO INTRODUCE THE, SO MAYBE WE COULD START TO OUR LEFT.
RICARDO SOLIS WITH AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION.
KEVIN KOHLER WITH AUSTIN WATER.
THE AGENDA FOR THIS BRIEFING LOOKS LIKE THIS.
UM, KEVIN WILL BE TOUCHING ON THE IMPACTS OF THE TXDOT I 35 CAPEX, UH, EXPANSION PROJECT AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAD ON FESTIVAL BEACH.
I WILL BE PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE CHAPTER 26 PROCESS THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL AND ALSO TOUCHING ON THE EFFORTS TO COLLABORATE AND MINIMIZE IMPACTS TO THE PARK ITSELF AND THE FOOD FOREST AREA.
AND THEN WE WILL, UM, CLOSE WITH THE JUST CURRENT STATUS AND NEXT STEPS.
I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO KEVIN SO THAT HE CAN TALK ABOUT THE I CERTIFIED CAPEX PROJECT.
I'M A DIVISION MANAGER FOR AUSTIN WATER.
MY TEAM, UH, MANAGES THE DELIVERY OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
WE HAVE OVER 4,000 MILES OF WATER PIPE WITHIN THE CITY AND OVER 3000 MILES OF WATER PIPE OR WASTEWATER PIPE.
UM, MY TEAM MANAGES THOSE PROJECTS AND, UH, ACTUALLY ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON THE AGENDA IS ONE OF MY TEAM.
WE VALUE OUR, UH, COLLABORATION AND WORKING WITH AUSTIN PARKS AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND WE DON'T LIKE IT WHEN THE COMMUNICATION IS NOT AS GOOD AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN, WHICH IS THE CASE ON THIS PROJECT.
[00:45:01]
UM, WHILE AUSTIN WATERS, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE'S BEING MOVED, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A TDOT PROJECT.UM, TDOT IS WIDENING, UH, AND IMPROVING I 35.
IT'S 26 MILES THAT THEY'RE IMPROVING.
THE TOTAL COST IS 5.6 BILLION.
IT'S SEVEN SEPARATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE DOING.
THIS SLIDE KIND OF SHOWS THE IMPACT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT TXDOT IS TAKING RIGHT OF WAY AND MOVING OUR UTILITIES OUTSIDE THE RIGHT OF WAY.
AND SO WE ARE BEING, UM, RELOCATED AND THAT, UM, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SPACE DOWNTOWN, AND SO WE'RE HAVING TO FIND THE BEST SOLUTIONS FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BEING MOVED.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS KIND OF GOES THROUGH THE HEART OF AUSTIN WATER'S INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH CENTRAL AUSTIN.
SO THIS IS MAJOR, UH, MOVEMENT OF OUR UTILITIES.
IT'S OVER 13,000 OR 130,000 LINEAR FEET OF WATER THAT'S BEING RELOCATED AND 35, UH, THOUSAND LINEAR FEET OF WASTEWATER PIPE.
THE SPECIFIC AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS THE FESTIVAL BEACH AND THE FOOD FOREST.
UM, THE SLIDE, UM, SHOWS SORT OF WHERE, UM, OUR WASTEWATER LINE IS BEING RELOCATED.
AND THIS SLIDE SHOWS A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.
UM, WE HAVE DESIGN TEAMS THAT HAVE WORKED ON THE ALTERNATIVES AND, UH, LOOKED AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES.
UM, THEY FOUND THAT TRENCHING TRENCHLESS, UH, TRADITIONAL TRENCHLESS CROSSING, UM, WAS NOT A VI A VIABLE OPTION IN THIS AREA.
AND WE DID LOOK AT THE RECENTLY THE COMMUNITY, UM, HAD AN ALTERNATIVE THAT THEY PREFERRED THAT WOULD GO INTO THE, UM, AROUND, WE LOOKED AT THAT DURING THE ALTERNATIVES AND WE FOUND THAT THAT WAS NOT A VIABLE OPTION DUE TO THE ELEVATIONS WITH WASTEWATER PIPE.
WE HAVE TO, EVERYTHING FLOWS BY GRAVITY AND WE HAVE TO GO AND CONNECT TO THE EXISTING SYSTEM.
I WILL SAY THAT I DID TALK TO THE DESIGN TEAM TODAY AND THEY ALSO LOOKED AT A LIFT STATION.
UM, BUT THAT WOULD'VE ALSO BEEN A LOT MORE WORK AND IMPACTS TO THE PARK.
THIS KIND OF SHOWS, UM, THE AREA THAT'S BEING IMPACTED.
WE HAVE, UH, A 48 INCH WASTEWATER LINE THERE.
THE SLIDE ON THE LEFT SHOWS, UM, THE SECTION THAT'S BEING RELOCATED AND THEN THE SLIDE ON THE RIGHT SHOWS A LONG-TERM, UH, PROJECT THAT TSO WILL DO TO INCLUDE A TUNNEL THAT GOES UNDERNEATH 35.
AND, UM, SO OUR UTILITIES ARE IN CONFLICT NOT ONLY IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, BUT ALSO ELEVATION WISE.
I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TIMELINE I MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT COMMUNICATION AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A TEXT OUT PROJECT.
AND, UM, SO WE STARTED PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING IN 2020 2021.
WE HAD A DESIGN TEAM THAT DID THAT.
WE STARTED IN THE DETAILED DESIGN.
WE WENT BEFORE CITY COUNCIL WITH AN AGREEMENT WITH TXDOT IN OCTOBER OF 2023, WHICH WE CALL ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT, WHERE WE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH TXDOT TO RELOCATE OUR UTILITIES.
WE DID COME BEFORE THIS BOARD IN NOVEMBER, UH, OF 2024 TO PRESENT THE OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES.
AND THEN THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN JANUARY OF 2025.
AUSTIN WATER FIRST FOUND ABOUT THE CONFLICT WITH THE FOOD FOREST AT OUR JANUARY BOARD MEETING ON JANUARY 14TH WHEN MEMBERS OF, UH, THE, UH, FOOD FORCE CAME AND, AND TALKED IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, I'VE ADDED THIS TIMEFRAME ON THERE JUST TO NOTE THAT I KNOW THAT COUNCIL APPROVED IN 2021 EXPANDING THE FOOD FOREST AND THAT IN 2024 THERE WAS AGREEMENTS AND THAT THAT WAS EXECUTED IN JULY, 2025.
SO THAT, UM, WE'RE GONNA HEAR BACK FROM GREG ON SORT OF THE COLLABORATION THE NEXT STEPS, BUT THAT'S, UH, THE AUSTIN WATER PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE CHAPTER 26 PROCESS THAT, UH, WE WENT THROUGH THE INITIAL STEPS OF THE CHAPTER 26 PROCESS IS SOMETHING THAT I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN THE OVERSIGHT.
I'LL ALSO BE SHARING TWO MAPS SHOWING THE PARK BOUNDARY AND WHERE THE RELOCATED, UH, WASTEWATER LINE KIND OF IS SITUATED IN THE PARK.
UM, I'M GONNA SHARE SOME PHOTOS SHOWING THE WASTEWATER LINE ALIGNMENT AND IMPACT AREA AND THEN FINISH UP THIS SECTION OF THE PRESENTATION, JUST KIND OF OUTLINING SOME FUTURE PREVENTATIVE STEPS THAT OUR DEPARTMENT WANTS TO TAKE TO AVOID THESE TYPE OF SITUATIONS HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
UM, SO THE FIRST INITIAL STEP THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE WAS THAT AUSTIN WATER AND CDS CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES HAD CONTACTED OUR STAFF ABOUT USING PARKLAND
[00:50:01]
FESTIVAL BEACH IN JUNE OF 2024.SOON AFTER THE, THAT INITIAL MEETING, OUR STAFF, UH, USED GIS TO TRY TO SEE FROM A VERY HIGH LEVEL IF, IF THIS PROPOSED ALIGNMENT WOULD INTERFERE WITH ANY BUILT IMPROVEMENTS OR AMENITIES THAT WE HAVE IN THE PARK, IF WE WOULD HAVE ANY TREE IMPACTS, ET CETERA.
AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, WE DID MAKE A SITE VISIT IN JUNE OF 2024 TO ACTUALLY WALK THE AREA TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE AND TO GET A GROUND VIEW OF, OF THE SITUATION.
UM, DURING THE MONTHS OF JUNE AND NOVEMBER OF 2024, OUR TWO DEPARTMENTS, UH, MET QUITE A BIT TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE PROJECT ITSELF AND THE DETAILS SURROUNDING THE, THE PROJECT AND THEN ALSO OUTLINING WHAT THE APPROVAL PROCESS WOULD BE FOR CHAPTER 26.
AS KEVIN MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, THIS ITEM AND THIS PROJECT CAME TO THE PARKS BOARD IN NOVEMBER OF 2024.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDED IT TO COUNCIL, WHO THEN IN TURN APPROVED IT IN JANUARY OF 2025.
UH, WE BECAME AWARE OF THIS LAST MONTH THAT THIS PROJECT WAS TAKING PLACE.
TXDOT HAD REACHED OUT TO THE, UH, FOOD FORCE PARTNER AND THEN THEY HAD LEARNED US ABOUT THIS.
AND WE HAD DISCOVERED THAT THE INTERNAL COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN OUR CHAPTER 26 TEAM AND THE PARTNERSHIP TEAM WERE WORKING PARALLEL, BUT SEPARATELY IN THE SAME AREA, SAME PARK, BUT UN UNAWARE OF EACH OTHER'S PROJECTS.
UM, SO THAT IS WHAT WE IDENTIFIED AND REALIZED THAT HAD HAPPENED AND WE WERE UNAWARE THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP COLLEAGUES WERE WORKING HARD WITH THE PARTNER TO EXTEND THE BOUNDARY OF THE FOOD FORCE FURTHER SOUTH ALL THE WAY TO NANDES.
AND THEN OUR PROJECT TEAM WORKING WITH AUSTIN WATER AND CDS WERE WORKING HARD ON OUR PROJECT AND PARTNERSHIP STAFF.
I WANTED TO SHARE THESE, THESE MAPS HERE BECAUSE, UM, IT GIVES YOU A PERSPECTIVE OF WHERE THE WASTEWATER LINE IS BEING RELOCATED.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S OUTLINED IN RED.
THIS IS THE SOUTHBOUND OR SOUTHWEST BOUNDARY OF THE PARK ITSELF.
IT'S AT NEAR THE INTERSECTION IN NEZ, UH, SENIOR ROAD AND WALLER STREET, THE IN 2024 WHEN WE WERE CONTACTED BY AUSTIN WATER AND CDS.
WHEN I REFERENCED THAT, WE LOOKED AT GIS, THIS 2023 IMAGE ON THE LEFT WAS THE IMAGE THAT WE WOULD'VE SEEN AT THAT TIME.
AND YOU COULD SEE THAT MOMENT IN TIME WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD, DIDN'T INDICATE ANYTHING IN TERMS OF ACTIVITY WAS OCCURRING IN THAT AREA OF THE PARK.
YOU LOOK AT THE CURRENT IMAGE OF 2026, YOU CAN NOW SEE THE WORK THAT THE PARTNER HAS DONE TO CONTINUE THEIR, UH, PLANTINGS FURTHER SOUTH AS THEIR AGREEMENT GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO DO SO.
UM, AND THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AND IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE THAT BACK IN 2024 WHEN WE HAD MADE OUR SITE VISIT.
I WILL NOTE THAT WALLER STREET IN THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT DOES SHOW THAT THE ROAD HAS BEEN REMOVED AND IS FULLY UNDER, UH, THE CONTROL OF THE TX CONTRACTOR.
UM, AS KEVIN MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, WHAT SINCE THAT AREA IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, IT HAS ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS THERE HAVE TO BE REMOVED, WHICH MADE THE, THE ALTERNATIVE, UM, OPTION THAT THE PARTNER HAD PROVIDED IN FEASIBLE.
AND RIGHT NOW TODAY, THE EXISTING WASTEWATER LINE THAT IS BEING RELOCATED TO PARKLAND EXIST IN THAT RIGHT OF WAY, WHICH IS WHY IT'S BEING MOVED.
THESE THREE PHOTOS, UM, ARE JUST SHOWING THE WASTEWATER LINE ALIGNMENT AREA, UH, WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE IN 2024.
THESE WERE TAKEN BY THE CONSULTANT IN MAY OF JUNE OF 2024.
UM, IT'S AT NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF NASH NDA, SENIOR ROAD AND WALLER STREET.
THE IMAGE ON THE, UH, AND I I SHOULD NOTE THAT ALL OF THESE IMAGES ARE FACING NORTH, BUT THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT, UM, SHOWS N THIS ROAD, UM, IN THE FOREFRONT.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE PARKLAND BEYOND THAT.
AND AT THAT TIME WHEN WE VISITED THE SITE, THERE WAS NO ACTIVITY, NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT THERE WAS PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT AREA OR FUTURE EXPANSION BY THE PARTNER.
THE CENTER PICTURE, UH, DOES SHOW WALLER STREET, WHICH IS WHERE THE VEHICLES ARE PARKED, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS A VERY LARGE LIVE OAK TREE THERE AND A, A MOUNTAIN LAUREL THAT, UM, WE WERE ACCOUNTING FOR.
AND WE KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO BE AN AREA THAT WE NEEDED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT.
BUT AGAIN, NONE OF THESE PICTURES INDICATED ANYTHING TO US THAT WOULD'VE RAISED A RED FLAG TO SAY, OH, THERE'S SOMETHING PLANNED HERE.
THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE WORKS.
WE LOOKED AT GIS AND WE WENT TO THE SITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY ACTIVITY.
WE WALKED AWAY FROM THAT SITE OBSERVATION AS THIS IS JUST OPEN, PARKLAND OPEN FOR THE USE OF, OF THE
[00:55:01]
PUBLIC, AND THIS AREA IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED ONLY NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF NANDES SENIOR ROAD AND, UM, WALLER STREET.THESE PHOTOS PAINT A VERY DI DIFFERENT PICTURE.
UM, THESE ARE, UH, PHOTOS OF THE SITE.
THAT SAME SITE THAT YOU SAW IN THE PHOTOS PREVIOUSLY.
THE ORANGE LINES ON THE, UH, GROUND THAT ARE PAINTED INDICATE THE CENTER LINE OF THE WASTEWATER LINE AS WELL AS, UM, THE WIDTH OF THE EASEMENT, WHICH IS 15 FEET.
YOU CAN SEE THE WORK THAT THE FOOD FOREST PARTNER HAS MADE.
THERE HAVE BEEN IRRIGATION INSTALLATIONS THERE, SMALL PLANTINGS, SHRUBS, UH, SOME SMALL TREES, BERMS THAT THEY'VE BUILT.
UM, AND, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THOSE ITEMS WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THIS PROJECT.
SOME OF THE FUTURE PREVENTATIVE STEPS THAT OUR DEPARTMENT HAS PUT FORWARD, UH, TO AVOID SITUATIONS LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE IS THAT, UM, WE AS A DEPARTMENT WOULD ADD, UH, PROJECT BOUNDARIES OF A ACTIVE CHAPTER 26 PROJECTS AS A GIS LAYER.
SO ANYONE IN OUR DEPARTMENT OR OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE ACCESS TO GIS WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THESE AREAS THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY A FUTURE OR A CURRENT CHAPTER 26 PROJECT.
UM, WE WOULD ALSO DEVELOP A STAKEHOLDER LIST THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED TO ANY DEPARTMENT WHO IS REQUESTING USE OF PARKLAND, AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO THEN CONTACT THOSE GROUPS, NEIGHBORS, ASSOCIATIONS, PARTNERS, IN ORDER TO MEET WITH THEM TO INFORM THEM OF THE PROJECT ITSELF.
THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ALSO CREATE AND MONITOR A CHAPTER 26 PUBLIC INPUT SITE WHERE SPONSOR DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO UPLOAD THEIR PROJECT INFORMATION.
THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE, UH, VIEWED BY THE PUBLIC AND ANY INPUT THAT WOULD, UH, BE RECEIVED WOULD BE USED AS BACKUP FOR PARKS BOARD MEETINGS.
UM, AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO, UH, PROVIDE A MONTHLY REPORT OF ACTIVE CHAPTER 26 CASES.
AND THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PLANNING STAFF IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP STAFF.
AND LASTLY, UM, WE WOULD ENSURE THAT OUR DEPARTMENT'S GIS LAYER IDENTIFIES AND IS UPDATED TO REFLECT THE BOUNDARIES OF PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH.
AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT ALL OF THESE, UH, BULLETS ARE, UM, WHAT THE EXCEPTION OF THE LAST ARE OR NEW REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE DRAFT.
UH, CHAPTER 26 SOP, WHICH YOU ALL WILL BE REVIEWING TONIGHT.
COLLABORATION AND MINIMIZING IMPACTS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY, UH, THAT OCCURRED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT IN THE FOOD FOREST AREA IN OUR PARKLAND.
UM, AUSTIN WATER COORDINATED WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP STAFF AND OUR FORESTRY STAFF AND THE PARTNER TO HAVE, UH, REMOVAL WORK DAYS, UM, WHERE SOIL PLANTS, BERMS, IRRIGATION AND ALL THOSE IMPROVEMENTS WERE REMOVED AND RELOCATED.
UM, AUSTIN WATER PROVIDED SOIL, FERTILIZER AND OTHER MATERIALS AND HELPED WITH THE RELOCATION OF AN EXISTING LARGE MOUNTAIN LAUREL TREE, WHICH IS MY UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN RELOCATED.
AND, UM, AUSTIN WATER STAFF ALSO INCLUDED THEIR WILDLAND STAFF WHO HAVE PLANT EXPERTISE, WHO PARTICIPATED IN THOSE WORK, UH, DAYS, UM, ON SITE.
AND THEN OUR OWN DEPARTMENT PARKS AND REC PROVIDED AND FUNDED THE USE OF, UH, EQUIPMENT TO HELP WITH THE TRANSITION OF THE PLANTS AND, UH, SOILS.
WE ALSO PROVIDED, UH, OTHER MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES AND OUR FORESTRY DIVISION DID HELP AND OVERSEE THE TREE PRUNING THAT OCCURRED.
OUR COMMITMENT WITH FUTURE RESTORATION EFFORTS.
OBVIOUSLY ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE PARTNER AND, UM, ON RESTORATION AND, AND WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE IMPACTED AREAS.
UM, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REESTABLISH ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY HAD THERE.
UM, AND THEN ALSO AUSTIN WATER HAS OFFERED TO PROVIDE AND FUND A WATER METER AND A DRINKING FOUNTAIN FOR THE PUBLIC TO USE, AND THAT WATER METER WOULD BE USED BY THE FOOD FOREST PARTNER.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW IMAGES OF THE COLLABORATION THAT OCCURRED ON SITE.
THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT, UM, IS THE OBVIOUSLY EFFORTS TO RELOCATE THE LARGE MOUNT LAUREL.
UM, THAT WAS ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION, IT'S SINCE BEEN MOVED.
AND THEN THE OTHER PICTURES TO SHOW ALL THE COLLABORATION WITH THE VOLUNTEERS, THE PARTNER AND THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN IN THAT WORK.
AND THEN JUST THE STATUS AND NEXT STEPS WHEN IT PROVIDED TIMELINE AND RESTORATION EFFORTS.
[01:00:01]
KEVIN MENTIONED THE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE, UH, FOOD FOREST AREA AND PARKLAND HAS ALREADY COMMENCED.UM, THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT IS LOOKING TO BE SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS IN TERMS OF RESTORING THE IMPACTED AREA.
THE CITY DEPARTMENTS WILL COORDINATE WITH THE TECH STOCK CONTRACTOR WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF, UH, WASTEWATER LINE.
AND WE WILL COORDINATE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHEN THE PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED SO THAT WE CAN PLAN WITH THE PARTNER WHEN WE COULD START THE RESTORATION EFFORTS SO THAT THEY CAN BE MADE HOLD AGAIN AND PROVIDE THE, UH, RESTORATION THAT'S NEEDED THERE TO EQUAL A BETTER CONDITION.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION BRIEFING AND WE'RE OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, SO I, I'M, I AM, THE FIRST THING I WANNA SAY IS I'M JUST A BIT CONFUSED 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS GROUP HAS BEEN VERY CONNECTED WITH THE CITY.
THEY'VE BEEN CONNECTED WITH TDOT AND THEY'VE BEEN CONNECTED WITH PARD FOR YEARS THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROCESS.
SO I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT IT'S STRANGE TO ME THAT, THAT THEY WOULD GET THIS KIND OF LAST MINUTE SURPRISE NEWS WHEN THEY'VE BEEN SO INVOLVED WITH THE PROCESS.
SO, AND THEN MY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, UM, I I'M GONNA ASK A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU'VE JUST GIVEN, AND THEN I ALSO HAVE SOME KIND OF GENERAL QUESTIONS.
SO GOING BACK TO YOUR SLIDES, UM, ON SLIDE EIGHT, THERE'S UM, THERE'S A TUNNEL THAT'S SHOWN AND, UM, IT'S NOT ON OUR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, BUT WE WANNA KNOW WHAT, UM, WHAT ARE THE FUTURE DISRUPTIONS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TUNNEL MIGHT BRING.
IS ANYTHING PREDICTED AT THIS TIME A BOARD MEMBER? UH, I, I DO, I WANTED TO LET THE EXPERTS ANSWER, BUT JUST IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, TUNNEL NOT SHOWING UP ON THE, UH, SLIDE POST AND BACKUP, IT WAS ACTUALLY A LAYER INSIDE THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT DIDN'T TRANSFER OVER WHEN IT WAS CONVERTED TO A PDF.
SO I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT ONE.
YEAH, SO I, THE TUNNEL IS STILL IN DESIGN RIGHT NOW, AND SO I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK, I MEAN, IT'LL, IT'LL BE TUNNELED.
UM, THERE WILL BE SOME WORK OVER WHERE IT CONNECTS ON THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE, UM, AND THEN OF COURSE ON THE UPSTREAM SIDE.
SO MOST OF IT WILL BE SUBSURFACE, BUT THERE WILL BE SOME WORK WHERE WE MAKE THE CONNECTION.
I WOULD, I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE SET OF PLANS TO LOOK AT THE IMPACTS THERE.
IT'S STILL IN DESIGN RIGHT NOW.
HOW LONG IS THAT DESIGN PHASE GONNA TAKE? WELL, SO WE'RE WORKING, AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS A TDOT PROJECT AND WE'RE UNDER TXDOT SCHEDULE.
SO I BELIEVE, UM, THAT THAT'S GONNA BID IN NEXT YEAR IN THE LATE FALL OR WINTER, BUT I COULD CHECK WITH MY TEAM TO GET THE EXACT DATE THAT'LL BID.
IF YOU CAN EMAIL US A REPORT ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND THEN ABOUT THE IMAGERY, THAT'S, THAT YOU'VE, YOU'VE SHOWN FROM THE TIME, UH, WHEN YOU ORIGINALLY WERE SERVING THE LAND AND NOW, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE THE 2003 IMAGERY MIGHT NOT SHOW THE FUTURE PLANTINGS, BUT, BUT IN, UH, 2021, THE PHASE TWO PLAN WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL AND THAT, UM, AND THAT'S WHEN KIM MCNEELY WAS HERE.
AND IN 2022, IT DOES SHOW THE FUTURE PHASE TWO PLANNING.
SO THAT DOCUMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE AND IT SHOULD HAVE GIVEN NOTICE THAT THIS, THAT, UM, THAT THERE SHOULD BE RED FLAGS THAT, THAT THIS LAND WAS GOING TO BE USED.
SO WAS THAT DOCUMENTATION NOT AVAILABLE OR WAS THAT NOT CONSIDERED? I THINK, I THINK THAT WAS THE GAP THAT I SPOKE ABOUT.
I MEAN, OUR DEPARTMENT IS, IS VERY, VERY BIG, BUT IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S AN AGREEMENT LIKE THAT IS OUR, OUR, OUR FOCUS OF OUR PARTNERSHIP TEAM AND THE CHAPTER 26 TEAM ISN'T ALWAYS NECESSARILY WORKING HAND IN HAND AND WITH, WITH OUR PARTNERS, UH, SHIP TEAM.
SO I THINK THINGS LIKE THAT KIND OF JUST ISN'T IN OUR WHEELHOUSE, UM, JUST AS THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ALL OF OUR CHAPTER 26 PROJECTS.
UM, WORKING SEPARATELY, UM, BUT WITHIN THE SAME DEPARTMENT, IF THAT SENSE, HOW DO YOU SOLVE THAT? WELL, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, WE DISCUSSED INTERNALLY AND THAT'S WHY WE PROPOSED THOSE, UH, PREVENT, LET ME GO TO THAT SLIDE SO YOU CAN LOOK AT THOSE AGAIN, THESE STEPS HERE IN THE HOPES THAT WE CAN AVOID THESE SITUATIONS.
UM, WE DON'T CERTAINLY WANT TO REPEAT THIS, UM, BUT THESE ARE NEW THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE DRAFT SOP FOR THE CHAPTER 26 PROCESS.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THESE THINGS, UH, MAKE IT A LITTLE LESS LIKELY THAT THESE WILL HAPPEN.
IS EVERYTHING FAIL PROOF? I, I, I MEAN, TIME WILL TELL.
I MEAN, THIS COULD SLIP BY AGAIN AT SOME FUTURE POINT, BUT IT WAS NOT DELIBERATE
[01:05:01]
THAT THIS HAPPENED.WE WEREN'T PURPOSELY TRYING TO NOT, UM, INVOLVE THE PARTNER OR TO NOT WORK WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE PARTNERSHIP TEAM.
UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE I, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW WHO MENTIONED IT, BUT SOMEONE HAD MENTIONED THE AE PROJECT THAT'S FORTHCOMING TO THIS BOARD FOR CHAPTER 26.
WE WERE CONTACTED BY AE ABOUT THAT PROJECT AND BECAUSE THE LOCATION OF THEIR IMPROVEMENTS WERE RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE COMMUNITY GARDEN AND RIGHT ADJACENT TO FOOD FORCE, WE KNEW THAT WE HAD TO INVOLVE THEM IN THAT.
AND A E STARTED TO THAT COMMUNICATION WITH THEM.
WE MADE THEM AWARE OF IT AT THE TIME WHEN WE WORKED ON THIS WASTEWATER PROJECT, WE WEREN'T AWARE THAT THEIR BOUNDARY AS A PARTNER HAD EXTENDED OR WAS IN THE WORKS IN, IN EXTENDING TO THE BOUNDARY OF NDAS, THE NORTH SIDE.
WE WERE WORKING SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE SAME AREA AND WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT.
AND SO I THINK THAT WAS WHERE THE GAP WAS.
UM, THE, THE MOU THAT'S IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW WITH A AND A PR, HAS THAT BEEN FINALIZED AND SIGNED ALREADY? OR HAS, LIKE THE WORK ALREADY STARTED BEFORE THAT WAS FINALIZED AND SIGNED? YOU WANNA TAKE THAT ONE? UH, RICARDO SOLI WITH PARKS AND RECREATION.
UM, YES, THE, THE MOU IS IS, UH, BEING, UH, REVIEWED BY OUR DIRECTOR RIGHT NOW.
SO IT'S NOT FINALIZED, BUT THE WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED.
UM, YEAH, IT HAS NOT BEEN SIGNED.
IT'S THAT, THAT INTERNAL, UH, MOU BETWEEN TWO DEPARTMENTS, IT JUST, OKAY.
UM, OKAY, AND THIS IS ANOTHER ONE.
UM, WHY WASN'T THE PIPELINE PROJECT MENTIONED IN ANY OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT TECH STOCK HELD WITH THE FESTIVAL BEACH, UM, FOR THE IMPACTED COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS? WAS THAT BECAUSE IT WASN'T KNOWN? OR WHAT, WHAT WAS THE REASON WHY IT HADN'T COME UP AT THAT POINT? UM, THERE WAS CHAPTER 6, 26 STAFF THAT WERE ATTENDING THOSE MEETINGS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION TOWERS, BUT THE PIPELINE DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP.
I CAN TRY TO TAKE A STAB AT THAT ONE.
THE, THE TIME THAT WE VISITED, WHICH I THINK WAS APRIL OF 2025, IT WAS, UM, WITH AE TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT.
UM, WHAT TDOT DOES IN THOSE MEETINGS WITH QUARTERLY MEETINGS THAT THEY HAVE WITH A PARTNER, WE'RE NOT INVITED TO.
I WASN'T EVEN AWARE THAT THEY WERE HAVING THESE MEETINGS WITH THE PARTNER UNTIL THE AE PROJECT CAME ALONG.
UM, SO WHY TDOT DIDN'T INVITE US OR WHY TDOT DIDN'T MAKE THE PARTNER AWARE OF THAT? I CAN'T ANSWER.
I, I I WORK FOR PARKS AND REC AND DO, WOULD THEY NORMALLY INVITE YOU? SHOULD THEY INVITE YOU? I'M SORRY? WOULD THEY NORMALLY INVITE YOU AND SHOULD THEY BE INVITING YOU? I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I MEAN, I THINK THAT, BUT IF IT'S HAPPENING INFORMATION, AND I THINK WHAT KEVIN TALKED ABOUT WAS THAT TEXT DOTS EXPANSION PROJECT IS IMPACTING A LOT OF UTILITIES WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY OF TXDOT.
AND SO AUSTIN WATER AND AE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE HAVING TO SCRAMBLE TO, TO MOVE THOSE UTILITIES OUT.
AND TXDOT HAS ITS OWN, OWN CONTRACTOR THAT IS DRIVING THE TIMELINE ON THESE THINGS.
SO, UM, THIS, THIS WATER WASTEWATER LINE PROJECT WAS VERY FAST PACED BECAUSE THEY CAME TO US AND SAID, WE HAVE TO START CONSTRUCTION AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO START CONSTRUCTION IN THIS PHASE AT THIS TIME.
AND SURE ENOUGH, IT, IT DID, IT STARTED IN MAY OF LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY QUICKLY ADVANCING AND TXDOT WAS DRIVING THAT MM-HMM
UM, THESE ARE OUR CITY UTILITIES, UH, BUT TXDOT WAS THE ONE THAT WAS REQUIRING THESE UTILITIES TO BE MOVED OUT.
IF I COULD JUST ADD, ONE OF THE LESSONS LEARNED THAT AUSTIN WATER HAS LEARNED FROM THIS IS TYPICALLY ON PROJECTS THAT WE MANAGE.
WE HANDLE ALL THE COMMUNICATION, WE REACH OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS AND WE VALUE THAT COMMUNICATION.
WE HAD RELIED A LOT ON TXDOT TO MAKE THIS COMMUNICATION.
WE KNEW THAT THEY MET WITH THE FOOD FOREST QUARTERLY.
WE WEREN'T, WE ALSO WEREN'T INVITED TO THOSE MEETINGS, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS DISCUSSED.
SO MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE GONNA DO A BETTER JOB TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE THE IMPACTS, LIKE THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED.
UM, AND SO THAT'S SORT OF A LESSONS LEARNED MM-HMM
I, I WOULD ADD BOARD MEMBER TWO THAT THE LESSONS LEARNED IS, IS THAT THE COMMUNICATION GAP THAT OCCURRED WAS INTERNAL TO OUR OWN DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
BUT THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT THESE POINTS WAS VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THEM, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT IS BEING SHARED.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CHAPTER 26 PUBLIC INPUT SITE THAT BEING SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC AND, AND PROJECTS INFORMATION BEING UPLOADED SO THAT THEY CAN VIEW IT, THEY CAN BE INFORMED ABOUT THAT.
UH, OUR DEPARTMENT SHARING INFORMATION WITH THESE, THESE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE COMING, WANTING TO USE PARKLAND
[01:10:01]
CAN ALSO BE THEN MADE AWARE, YOU'VE GOTTA CONTACT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR THIS SPORTS YOUTH ORGANIZATION OR A PARTNER.THEN ALL THAT'S UPFRONT MM-HMM
UM, WHERE BEFORE THAT WASN'T OCCURRING, IS THAT, IS THAT THE NATURE OF THIS I 35 PROJECT? OR IS THAT STANDARD, LIKE IS THIS A LESSON THAT YOU'RE LEARNING FOR OTHER TYPES OF PROJECTS OR IS IT LIKE THE, THE, THE WELL, NO, I, I MEAN LIKE WITH PROJECT CONNECT, I MEAN, WE HAVE A STAFF IN OUR DEPARTMENT THAT'S DEDICATED TO, TO THAT PROJECT, AND THEY WORK IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO, TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THAT PROJECT ON ANY CITY PROPERTY, INCLUDING PARKS.
I THINK WITH, WITH IH 35, I KNOW RICARDO WAS OUR POINT OF CONTACT WHEN IT CAME TO TECH STOCK COMING TO CONDEMN PARKLAND FOR THEIR USE AS PART OF THIS EXPANSION PROJECT.
BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY CITY EFFORT, UM, FROM A LARGER STANDPOINT SAYING, LET'S, LET'S FORM A TEAM OF DEPARTMENTS WHO CAN THEN HELP FACILITATE THE TAKING A PARKLAND AND OTHER CITY PROPERTIES AND THAT'S IMPACTING CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THAT WOULD'VE BEEN PROBABLY HELPFUL IN THIS CASE BECAUSE WE WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER COORDINATED YEAH.
I THINK I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, IF I MAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT KEVIN AND GREG HAVE BEEN SAYING.
UM, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE HAD THE I 35 CONSTRUCTION FROM A STATE, UM, AGENCY, AND THAT WAS AN ADDITIONAL, UM, TO CHALLENGE FOR US TO GET THE INFORMATION AND BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT INFORMATION.
UM, THESE ARE SOME OF THE, AND, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WITH ALL OF THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW ON I 35 ON MOPAC PROJECT CONNECT AND MANY OTHER AREAS, WE FIND OURSELVES, UM, VERY OFTEN TO BE THE RECIPIENT OF MANY REQUESTS FOR THE USE OF PARKLAND.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE RECOGNIZED LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED EX UH, EXPLORING WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT STEPS FOR CHAPTER 26 CASES AND HOW WE CAN BEST COMMUNICATE AND SAFEGUARD THAT PROCESS.
YOU'LL HEAR RIGHT AFTER THIS PRESENTATION, UM, WHAT IS OUR CURRENT REVISED PROCESS, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN THE LAST SIX WEEKS.
IT ACTUALLY TOOK THE LAST YEAR THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT, RECOGNIZING THAT THAT WAS A NEED.
I WANT ALSO TO, UM, PROVIDE SOME PRAGMATIC VIEW.
UM, BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF THE CITY, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED, AND WE HAVE TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, IF IT IS NECESSARY, AND BELIEVE ME, MY, OUR FIRST GOAL IS FOR PARKLAND NOT TO BE USED MM-HMM
BUT IF IT HAS TO BE USED, THEN, UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT COMPLIES WITH BOTH THE, THE STATE STATUE AND THE CITY CHARTER.
NOW, IN THIS CASE, WHAT THE TEAM, UM, CONCLUDED WAS THAT THIS, THIS WAS THE ONLY OPTION FOR THE WASTEWATER LINE TO GO THROUGH, UM, THROUGH PARKLAND.
IF WE HAD BETTER COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND WE OWN THAT ISSUE, IF WE HAD BETTER COMMUNICATION, WE WOULD HAVE ALERTED FOOD FOREST, UM, 60 DAYS AT LEAST IN ORDER TO BE ABLE FOR THEM TO MOVE EVERYTHING THAT WAS THERE TO BE MOVED.
SO THAT 60 DAYS DIDN'T HAPPEN.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS ACTUALLY A VERY, UM, RIGOROUS ENGAGEMENT FROM OUR DEPARTMENT, FROM AUSTIN WATER IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PARTNERS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HELP TO DO EVERYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, THAT IN A VERY, A MUCH SHORTER, UH, TIMEFRAME.
AND WE ARE COMMITTED IN DOING THAT ON THE BACKEND TO HELP THEM RESTORE THE PARKLAND TO WHAT IT HAD TO BE.
BUT SOME OF THESE OTHER ISSUES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH THE, UH, UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT AREA.
AND THE EXPANSION OF I 35 BY TEXT DOT MM-HMM
SO I, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY, THERE'S ABOUT 17 MILLION THAT, UM, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE FROM TDOT FROM MITIGATION FUNDS, UM, INTO THE A PR BUDGET.
UM, HOW DO WE, HOW IS THAT PROCESS GOING TO WORK AND HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT SOME OF THAT MONEY GOES TO MITIGATING THE LOSSES AND LIKE REMEDIATING SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT THE,
[01:15:01]
UH, FOOD FORCE IS, IS HAVING TO GO THROUGH AS A RESULT OF THIS? THE MITIGATION, UM, PRIMARILY DEALS WITH THE LOSS OF THE PARKLAND.UM, IF THE PARKLAND IS BEING USED TEMPORARILY, OBVIOUSLY THAT IS LOST TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THAT.
IF THERE IS AN EASEMENT, THE LAND HAS SOME RESTRICTIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THE FIRST GOAL IS TO REPLACE THE LAND SO THAT THE COMMUNITY REMAINS WHOLE.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE MOU INCLUDES ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS THAT, UM, WE'LL WORK WITH AUSTIN WATER TO MAKE THE PARTNER WHOLE AGAIN, AND WE WILL HELP THEM RESTORE THEIR AREA.
AND THAT IS BOTH ON THE FRONT END TO HELP NOW AND ON THE BACK END AND INCLUDES, UM, THE DRINKING FOUNTAIN AND THE WATER METER THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT IS PART OF THE MOU THAT IS CURRENTLY WITH THE DIRECTOR.
AND SO, AND THAT, AND THAT PROCESS IS COLLABORATIVE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
ACTUALLY THE ITEMS THAT THERE, I THINK A LOT OF THEM ARE COMING FROM WHAT ALI, UH, SENT US.
SO IN THAT RESPECT, YES, WE ARE DEFINITELY LISTENING TO WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ARE THAT THEY NEED.
AND ARE, ARE THEY ABLE TO SEE THAT MOU BE, HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN THAT MOU, ARE THEY ABLE TO SEE IT BEFORE IT'S FINALIZED? I'M SURE.
AND PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK ON IT? I'M SURE THAT DIRECTOR AGIRI IS HOLDING ON IT SO THAT HE WILL HAVE THE DISCUSSION WITH THE PARTNERS.
CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS? UH, YES.
UH, JUST ONE QUESTION DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE FENCING IS NOT UP YET AROUND THE EASEMENT.
IS THAT, WHEN WILL THAT HAPPEN? SO, UM, SO TEXT, THIS IS TDOT'S CONTRACT WITH TDOT'S CONTRACTOR.
UM, I WENT OUT THERE YESTERDAY AND THERE IS SOME FENCING, BUT WHERE THE EASEMENT IS, WHERE THE PIPELINE IS GONNA GO, HAS NOT BEEN FENCED OFF.
I WILL REACH OUT TO TDOT, UM, AND ASK THEM TO IMPROVE THAT.
UM, I, I AGREE THAT THE BARRICADING AND THE MARKING SHOULD, SHOULD BE BETTER.
I, AND I, I'M SURE EVERYBODY THAT HAS EVER VISITED A PARK OR HAS A YARD KNOWS THAT IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE'S STEPS ON OR DAMAGES SOMETHING THAT WAS RECENTLY PLANTED, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO COME BACK FROM THAT.
SO I THINK IS, IF THAT CAN BE EXPEDITED AND MADE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE THAT A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS HOURS WENT INTO WHAT THEY'RE SEEING, UM, AND, AND TO TAKE CARE UNTIL THAT FENCING IS UP, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
I, I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE PLANTS IN THE AREA WHERE THE PIPELINE IS GOING HAVE BEEN MOVED, SO.
I'M GONNA JUST PIGGYBACK ON THIS REALLY QUICK AND THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR, UM, OUR MEMBERS ONLINE AND THEN BRING IT BACK HERE.
UM, BUT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT THERE'S A, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT OBVIOUSLY ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TXDOT AND I'VE, WE HEARD FROM OUR SPEAKERS, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT WERE BEHIND.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WAS TDOT'S.
UM, UM, THEY WERE THE ONES BEHIND, ARE THERE THINGS WE CAN DO AS BOARD MEMBERS TO HELP, UM, PUT SOME PRESSURES ON TXDOT, LIKE AN EMAIL OR ARE THERE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THERE WHERE YOU'RE FEELING LIKE THAT PARTICULAR THING IS OUT OF YOUR HANDS AS PARKS? SO WE, WE MEET WITH TDOT ON A REGULAR BASIS, UM, MULTIPLE MEETINGS A WEEK, AND THEN WE MEET WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP MONTHLY.
UM, I THINK WE HAVE TALKED WITH THEM.
UM, UH, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, UM, FROM AUSTIN WATERS HERE IN ATTENDANCE, AND, UM, WE'LL REACH OUT TO THEM AND EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.
BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY HEARD CLEARLY, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GONNA COME BACK AT EQUAL OR BETTER, WE'VE STRESSED OUT A COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE HEARING THAT Y'ALL REALIZE THAT, UM, BUT YOU CAN'T GET THAT BACK FOR, FROM THEM.
YOU KNOW, ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY WENT THROUGH AND ALL THAT TIME.
UM, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET THAT BACK.
AND SO WE DON'T, WE WE'RE OBVIOUSLY HEARING THAT, YOU KNOW, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT ARE GETTING, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GETTING BETTER FROM THAT.
UM, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S, THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT THAT WHAT WE HAVE PUT THEM THROUGH, UM, CAN'T BE, CAN'T BE FIXED.
[01:20:01]
AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL REBUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP AND WE WILL REBUILD THE TRUST.WE UNFORTUNATELY FIND, FOUND OURSELVES HERE WITH A VERY CHALLENGING PROJECT.
UM, BOARD MEMBERS, ONLINE QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? HOLD.
ANYBODY ELSE? BOARD MEMBER EUBANK.
UH, THIS, THIS SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND I, I, I, I WANNA SAY WHY? UH, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A SOLUTION WHICH IS ALWAYS, UH, HELPFUL NOT JUST TO COMPLAIN, BUT ALSO HAVE A SOLUTION.
UM, TH THIS IS THE, THIS, YOU KNOW, PERFECT STORM IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND IT'S NOT JUST THIS GROUP.
UH, I'M ON TRAVIS COUNTY'S PALM SCHOOL STEERING COMMITTEE.
IT'S PALM SCHOOL IN PALM PARK.
EXACTLY THE SAME SORT OF DISCUSSIONS, EXACTLY THE SAME ALIENATION OF A COMMUNITY, EXACTLY THE SAME DIFFICULTY IN FINDING OUT WHAT'S NEXT.
THE LAST TIME WE MET, WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD NOT HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THAT AREA INDEFINITELY.
UH, IT'S THE WALLER BEACH IMPACT.
IT'S 1 0 6, IT'S FOUR F, IT'S SIX F, IT'S CHAPTER 20.
IT'S ALL, IT'S EVERYTHING ALL PULLED INTO ONE SMALL CORNER OF OUR DEAR CITY WHERE WE'RE ALL TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHO WE SHOULD BE SPEAKING TO.
UH, IF, IF, IF, OH, I'LL BE BOLD ENOUGH TO SAY IT.
TDOT SHOULD DO A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN THEY'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PULLING PEOPLE TOGETHER SO PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT.
BUT WE'VE REACHED A POINT, I THINK NOW, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FOOD FOREST PEOPLE FOR BRINGING THIS UP TO US, WHERE THERE NEEDS TO BE A, BE A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF HOW WE'RE GONNA ENGAGE EVEN AT THIS LATE DATE.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THE TDOT'S IN A HURRY, I'M NOT, AND, UM, IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED AND TO LET THEM KNOW PRECISELY, PRECISELY WHAT TO EXPECT.
UM, THERE ARE MULTIPLE IMPACTS HAPPENING IN THIS AREA.
THIS WATERLINE IS JUST ONE OF THOSE.
AND SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A MUCH BETTER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.
A GOOD EXAMPLE IS RIGHT NOW ON THE PALM SCHOOL SCHOOL STEERING COMMITTEE.
WE JUST FINALLY GOT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CITY, AND THERE'S NO ONE FROM PARKS.
I THOUGHT PALM PARK WAS A PARK AND IT'S PERHAPS TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT PARK FOR EAST AUSTIN.
AND SO IT'S THAT KIND OF DISENGAGEMENT THAT I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO HELP BRING IT MORE TOGETHER TO WHERE THESE SORTS OF THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.
I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY OF THIS PROJECT, AND I'M, I'M SYMPATHETIC, UH, WITH WHAT'S GOING ON, AND I'M SYMPATHETIC TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE COULD, WE COULD BE GOING THROUGH THIS TOGETHER, NOT SEPARATELY.
WE COULD BE GOING THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
SO I HOPE THAT'S WHAT COMES OUT OF THESE DISCUSSIONS.
ANY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY.
UM, THIS IS JUST, IT IS A STAFF BRIEFING, SO THERE'S NO FURTHER ACTION, BUT WE'LL MOVE TO STAFF BRIEFING NUMBER 10 OR NUMBER 11.
UM, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS,
[11. Staff briefing on process and procedure updates to Chapter 26 compliance. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (APR Long Range Strategies: Operational Efficiency). Presenter(s): Paul Books, Planner Principal, Austin Parks and Recreation. ]
UH, NUMBER 11, STAFF BRIEFING ON PROCESS AND PROCEDURE UPDATES TO CHAPTER 26 COMPLIANCE.UM, WE WILL TAKE THE PRESENTATION.
SO WE WILL NEED A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN EIGHT MINUTES.
UM, SO GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M PAUL BOOKS WITH AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION, AND TONIGHT I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH OUR CHAPTER 26 COMPLIANCE APPROACH, WHY IT MATTERS, UH, WHAT IT IS, AND SOME RECENT UPDATES TO THE PROCEDURES.
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SO TONIGHT WE'LL COVER DEFINITIONS INCLUDING FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS, A PR GOALS FOR THE PROGRAM, DETAILS OF THE PROCESS AND ROLES BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS, UPDATES TO HOW THE MITIGATION IS CALCULATED, AND FINALLY, HOW THE MITIGATION FUND IS ADMINISTERED AND SPENT.THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION, WE WILL HIGHLIGHT UPDATES TO THE PROCEDURES IN RED TEXT ON THE SLIDES.
SO FIRST WE'LL START WITH THE DEFINITIONS TO ENSURE A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELEVANT LAWS AND DISCUSS OUR GOALS FOR THE PROGRAM FOR A PR.
SO THIS TABLE SUMMARIZES THE MAJOR LAWS AND POLICIES THAT GOVERN HOW WE PROTECT PARKLAND AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS.
BEFORE WE GET INTO THE, THE DETAILS OF THE TABLE, I'LL DEFINE SOME KEY TERMS THAT YOU'LL HEAR.
FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE REFERS TO A DESIGN OPTION THAT CAN BE BUILT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, AND PRUDENT MEANS IT AVOIDS ANY SAFETY OR OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS OR SEVERE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, OR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
CHANGE OF USE OF PARKLAND IS ANY NON RECREATIONAL USE OF PARKLAND, WHETHER TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT.
FOR A PUBLIC PROJECT, SUCH AS A UTILITY INSTALLATION OR A TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT OPERATIONS, WHICH MAY SUPPORT A RECREATIONAL USE, SUCH AS A TEMPORARY CLOSURE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PARK IMPROVEMENTS, WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS A CHANGE OF USE.
MITIGATION REFERS TO ACTIONS TAKEN TO OFFSET OR COMPENSATE FOR THE IMPACT OF USING PARKLAND.
AND NOW WE CAN JUMP INTO THE TABLE.
SECTION FOUR F OF THE US DOT ACT APPLIES TO TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS USING FEDERAL FUNDS OR APPROVALS.
IT REQUIRES SHOWING THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND IMP PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO USING PARKLAND, AND THAT ALL POSSIBLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM IS INCLUDED.
IF AVOIDANCE ISN'T POSSIBLE, THE OPTION WITH THE LEAST OVERALL HARM MUST BE SELECTED.
THIS REQUIRES A NET ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS ON THE PARKLAND AND ANY BETTERMENTS OR MINI MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT.
SECTION SIX F OF THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND ACT APPLIES TO PARKLAND, IMPROVED OR ACQUIRED WITH LWCF GRANTS.
THESE PROPERTIES MUST REMAIN IN PUBLIC OUTDOOR RECREATION USE UNLESS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPROVES OF A CONVERSION.
THIS CONVERSION REQUIRES TO PLACEMENT LAND OF EQUAL VALUE AND USEFULNESS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
CHAPTER 26 STATES THAT A MUNICIPALITY CANNOT APPROVE THE USE OF PARKLAND UNLESS THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE.
AND THAT ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM IS INCLUDED.
IT ALSO REQUIRES PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS AND A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND LASTLY, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, OUR CITY CHARTER PROHIBITS SELLING, LEASING, CONVEYING, OR OTHERWISE ALIENATING PARKLAND UNLESS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.
THE GOALS FOR APRS STEM DIRECTLY FROM THE RELEVANT FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WORK TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF PARKLAND AND THAT A CHANGE OF USE IS APPROVED ONLY WHEN THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE.
WE COLLABORATE WITH REQUESTING DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE ALL PLANNING EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE HARM TO PARKLAND ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT, AND ENSURE MEANINGFUL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE REVIEW PROCESS.
WE ALSO MAINTAIN PARKLAND VALUE BY REQUIRING MITIGATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT.
THIS IS ALL BALANCED WITH THE NEED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.
NEXT, WE'LL DISCUSS THE PROCESS.
I'LL GO THROUGH THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CHANGE OF USE PROCESS WALKTHROUGH OR PROCESS FLOWCHART.
OUTLINE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND DESCRIBE HOW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS INVOLVED.
FOR CITY SPONSORED PROJECTS WHERE THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP OF PARKLAND, THE INTERNAL CHANGE OF USE PROCESS THROUGH THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL CAN BE USED.
AND THE BOARD IS QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROCESS.
FOR EXTERNAL PROJECTS SPONSORED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS TXDOT OR C-T-R-M-A, A CONDEMNATION PROCESS IS REQUIRED TO CONVEY PARKLAND IN, IN THESE CASES, ALL RELEVANT STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS MUST STILL BE FOLLOWED BY THAT AGENCY.
NOW WE'LL WALK THROUGH THE INTERNAL CHANGE OF USE PROCESS.
A DEPARTMENT ASKED TO USE PARKLAND, WHETHER IT'S ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, EMERGENCY WORK, A TEMPORARY STAGING AREA, OR A NEW PERMANENT INSTALLATION.
Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS FOR PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY USE OF PARKLAND.
THIS PROCESS REQUIRES THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION THAT IS REVIEWED BY A PR STAFF.
STAFF BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS COLLABORATE TO ENSURE THAT ALL POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES ARE EXPLORED AND THE PROJECT MINIMIZES HARM TO PARKLAND.
IT IS AT THIS STAGE THAT SOME PROJECTS MAY COMPLETELY ELIMINATE A NEED TO USE PARKLAND FOR THEIR PROJECT.
FOLLOWING THIS REVIEW, A PR STAFF CALCULATE THE MITIGATION, PREPARE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OR MOU, AND COORDINATE REVIEW AT THE PARKS BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL FOLLOWING APPROVAL FROM CITY COUNCIL, THE MOU IS EXECUTED AND A DECLARATION OF USE
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IS RECORDED.THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT IS THEN READY TO BEGIN THEIR PROJECT WITH A PR STAFF MONITORING CONSTRUCTION ON PARKLAND.
THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE CHART COMES IN WHEN A DEPARTMENT IS CONDUCTING WORK ON PARKLAND.
THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A NEW TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT USE AREA.
OFTENTIMES THIS CAN BE MAINTENANCE WORK WITHIN AN EXISTING PERMANENT USE AREA OR PRELIMINARY SITE WORK, SUCH AS A SURVEY PRIOR TO A REQUEST FOR PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY USE.
IN THESE CASES, CHAPTER 26 DOES NOT APPLY, AND A PR STAFF ARE ABLE TO APPROVE THE REQUEST INTERNALLY.
NOW LOOKING AT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS, A PR STAFF REVIEW AND VET THE PROJECT WITH INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
STAKEHOLDERS CALCULATE MITIGATION AND DRAFT THE MOU COORDINATE NOTICE AND PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MONITOR CONSTRUCTION.
WHILE THEY'RE REQUESTING DEPARTMENTS, SUBMITS APPLICATION MATERIALS AND FIELD NOTES LEADS PUBLIC OUTREACH PRESENTS AT THE PARKS BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL AND FULFILLS MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS AND ANY SPECIAL PROVISIONS IN THE MOU ENSURING COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER BUY-IN IS ESSENTIAL TO THE CHAPTER 26 PROCESS.
A PR STAFF REQUIRE THAT THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT DOCUMENTS, ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES SURROUNDING THEIR PROJECT AND GOING FORWARD.
WE'LL ASSIST IN THIS EFFORT BY PROVIDING A STAKEHOLDER AND COMMUNITY PARTNER LIST TO THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT.
A PR STAFF ALSO ATTEND AND HELP FACILITATE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE CHAPTER 26 PROCESS, THE TWO DEPARTMENTS COLLABORATE ON A PUBLIC INPUT SITE WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN SEE IMPACTS AND REVIEW SCHEDULES FOR THE PROJECT, AND SUBMIT ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE.
API A PR STAFF ALSO COORDINATES STATE LAW REQUIRED PUBLIC NOTICES PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING HELD BY CITY COUNCIL.
NOW WE'LL GO THROUGH THE MITIGATION FORMULA.
THIS INCLUDES ASSESSING LAND VALUES AS WELL AS THE VALUE OF ANY FACILITIES OR AMENITIES WHICH MAY BE IMPACTED.
THERE ARE A FEW UPDATES TO THE PREVIOUS CALCULATION STEPS, AND AS A REMINDER, THESE ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE RED TEXT ON THE SLIDES.
FOR LAND VALUE, WE USE AVERAGE APPRAISED VALUES WITHIN DEFINED GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.
THIS INCREASES TRANSPARENCY, SPEEDS UP REVIEWS, AND REDUCES APPRAISAL COSTS.
THE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS ARE BASED ON AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICES SUB-MARKETS WHERE WE WOULD EXPECT SIMILAR LAND VALUES AND USES ACROSS THE AREA.
AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE MAP FOR PARKLAND ON LADY BIRD LAKE, WHERE VALUES TEND TO BE HIGHER THAN SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
LAND VALUES ARE REQUESTED ANNUALLY FROM THE APPROPRIATE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
WE THEN APPLY A DISTURBANCE VALUE PERCENTAGE TO REFLECT THE IMPACT ON THE FUTURE USE OF PARKLAND.
WE'VE TAKEN A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DISTURBANCE VALUES WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY'S REAL ESTATE OFFICE.
IN GENERAL, DISTURBANCE VALUES SCALE WITH THE IMPACT THE USE WILL HAVE ON THE PROPERTY FROM 10% FOR SMALL SUBSURFACE USES WITH NOMINAL EFFECT TO 100% FOR RIGHT OF WAY OR USES THAT WOULD BE PERMANENTLY DEDICATED TO THE INSTALLATION.
THIS MATRIX HELPS US TRANSLATE IMPACT ON FUTURE USE OF PARKLAND INTO A MITIGATION VALUE.
IF THE AREA IS ALREADY WITHIN AN EXISTING EASEMENT, THE DISTURBANCE VALUE IS CAPPED AT THE REMAINING ELIGIBLE PERCENTAGE BASED ON THE DISTURBANCE VALUE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN APPLIED TO THAT EASEMENT.
FOR TEMPORARY USES, WE DON'T APPLY A DISTURBANCE FACTOR.
INSTEAD, WE USE A 15% ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN TO DERIVE A DAILY USE RATE.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE, UM, I'M GONNA WALK THROUGH, UH, AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE GO THROUGH THIS CALCULATION.
SO, A DEPARTMENT REQUESTS PERMANENT A PERMANENT USE AREA FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A SUBSURFACE WATERLINE.
A PR STAFF RESEARCH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND FIND A $50 PER SQUARE FOOT VALUE.
AND AFTER VETTING THE IMPACT THE USE WOULD HAVE ON THE PROPERTY.
A 35% DISTURBANCE VALUE IS USED DUE TO THE SUBSURFACE NATURE OF THE USE AND ITS LOCATION ALONG THE PROPERTY LINE.
THE AREA APPRAISED VALUE AND DISTURBANCE VALUES ARE MULTIPLIED TO DETERMINE THE, TO DETERMINE THE MITIGATION REQUIRED FOR THE PERMANENT REQUEST IN ORDER TO CONSTRUCT THE WATERLINE.
THE DEPARTMENT ALSO REQUESTS A TEMPORARY WORKSPACE USING THE SAME APPRAISED VALUE AND THE 15% ASSUMED RATE OF RETURN.
A DAILY USE RATE IS DERIVED AND MULTIPLIED BY THE CONSTRUCTION DURATION TO DETERMINE THE MITIGATION REQUIRED FOR THE TEMPORARY AREA.
TOTAL MITIGATION REQUIRED SIMPLY COMBINES THE CALCULATED VALUE OF ANY PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY AREAS.
AND AS WE KNOW, LAND VALUE IS ONLY PART OF THE PICTURE.
IF AMENITIES ARE IMPACTED AND WON'T BE RESTORED BY THE PROJECT, WE USE THE, THE DEPARTMENT'S STANDARD PARK AMENITY MANUAL FOR ITEMS UNDER $250,000 FOR ITEMS OVER $250,000 AND MORE INTENSIVE REPLACEMENT COST ANALYSIS, INCLUDING HARD AND SOFT COSTS
[01:35:01]
IS CONDUCTED TO USE AS THE BASIS FOR ESTABLISHING THE REQUIRED MITIGATION.ALRIGHT, UM, THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES HOW WE CALCULATE AMENITY COSTS BASED ON A PER UNIT COST AND ASSUME SOFT COST FROM THE STANDARD PARK AMENITY MANUAL, THE MANUAL ESTIMATES THAT SOFT AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT COSTS MAKE UP 50% OF THE PROJECT COSTS AND INCLUDE DESIGN PERMITTING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTRACTOR COSTS ADD AN ADDITIONAL 20% WHEN PARKLAND IS ACTIVELY PROGRAMMED OR HEAVILY USED.
STAFF WORK WITH THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCING, SCHEDULING DURING LOWER USE PERIODS, PROTECTING SENSITIVE AREAS, MAINTAINING SAFE ACCESS, COMMUNICATING ANY NECESSARY CLOSURES AND DETOURS, AND ENSURING RESTORATION AND INSPECTION.
ALL OF THESE EXPECTATIONS ARE MEMORIALIZED IN THE MOU BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS.
IN SOME CASES, ADDITIONAL MITIGATION MAY BE REQUIRED TO OFFSET ANY LOSS OF REVENUE DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION.
AND NOW WE'LL DISCUSS HOW THE MITIGATION FUNDS ARE USED THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM AFTER PAYMENT FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATED ANNUALLY.
A PR PRIORITIZES PROJECTS BASED ON TECHNICAL CRITERIA, INCLUDING SOCIAL EQUITY, PROACTIVE REINVESTMENT, SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE, LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS AND ALIGNMENT WITH CITY AND A PR PLANS.
THIS ENSURES FUNDS GO WHERE THE NEED AND IMPACT ARE THE GREATEST.
AFTER THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD, A PROJECT REQUEST USES A SUBMISSION FORM, AND THAT MUST BE APPROVED BY THE LAND USE AND ACQUISITIONS.
MANAGER AND STAFF WOULD THEN DETERMINE IF THERE ARE ANY MITIGATION FUNDS AVAILABLE USING THE SPENDING CRITERIA THAT I'M GONNA GO OVER ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE CRITERIA FOCUSES ON RESTORING RECREATIONAL VALUE WITHIN THE IMPACTED COMMUNITY.
MITIGATION FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR LAND ACQUISITION PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT OF AMENITIES.
NEW GEOGRAPHIC LIMITS ARE PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE FUNDS BENEFIT THE IMPACTED COMMUNITY AND ARE RESTRICTED TO A TWO MILE RADIUS OR RELEVANT PLANNING AREA FOR THE NEAREST DISTRICT PARK OR ANY METRO PARK.
RECENT EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS FUNDED IN PART THROUGH MITIGATION INCLUDE BULL CREEK, BLUFF NEIGHBORHOOD PARK ACQUISITION, AND THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER PHASE TWO DEVELOPMENT.
AND YEAH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.
QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD MEMBERS ONLINE.
SEEING NO QUESTIONS? YES, GO FOR IT.
A A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS REAL QUICKLY.
UM, UH, I DIDN'T NEED NOTICE AND I'M SURE THERE'S A REASON FOR IT, BUT THE, UH, NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT IN SECTION 1 0 6, I SAW NO MENTION OF THAT ON YOUR LIST.
SO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE A HISTORIC OFFICE, UM, THAT MANAGES OUR HISTORICAL ASSETS AND CULTURAL ASSETS AS WELL AS THE CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE.
AND SO WE WOULD WORK WITH THEM ON THAT REVIEW.
I GUESS THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, ME AND THE CHAPTER 26 TEAM WOULD NECESSARILY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REVIEW OF, BUT WE'D WORK WITH THEM IN HELPING TO IDENTIFY, UM, CASES WHERE THAT MAY COME UP.
IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN MINIMIZE THE BALKANIZATION OF THOSE THINGS? BECAUSE THEY TEND TO FLOW TOGETHER AS YOU KNOW? YES.
AND AND I DO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CORRELATION THAT YOU'RE DRAWING IS THE, THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION THAT CAN HAPPEN INTERNALLY.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS ARE THAT WE'RE MAKING ARE KIND OF ENHANCING THIS COMMUNICATION, THIS CROSS, YOU KNOW, DIVISION OR COMMUNICATION ALSO ACROSS THE MENTAL DEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME RELEVANT CASES COMING UP WHERE, UH, CHAPTER 26 IS COMING INTO PLAY, WHERE, WHERE IT ALSO AFFECTS, UM, HISTORIC ASSETS.
AND I, I CAN SPEAK AFFIRMATIVELY, THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH BOTH HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE AND THEN ALSO OUR CULTURAL AND AND HISTORIC, UH, UH, OFFICE HERE AND AT EPR.
YEAH, I, I THINK FROM A, FROM A CLARIFICATION STANDPOINT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT.
UH, I, AN EXAMPLE IS, AND WE'RE GONNA SEE IT, WE HAVE THE BARTON CREEK BRIDGE PROJECT, THAT'S A SECTION 1 0 6, UH, IT IS NOW WITH TDOT AND IT'S BEING REDONE.
AND SO, BUT THE STUDY AREA IS, KER PARK IS PART OF THE GREAT LAWN.
SO WE'VE GOT THAT OVER, YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT WE SHIFT OUT OF THE
[01:40:01]
1 0 6, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA SHIFT OVER TO THIS SIDE.AND I, I, I THINK IT'D BE REALLY HELPFUL IF WE COULD GET IT ALL SO THAT EVERYBODY IS COMMUNICATING, AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE COMBINATION OF IMPACT, IT COULD BE A 4 0 4, YOU COULD HAVE THE ESA INVOLVED.
YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, AND OF COURSE, ABOVE ALL THIS, IN THEORY, NEPA.
SO WE HAVE ALL THESE THINGS THAT AFFECT ONE PLACE, ONE PIECE OF LAND, AND IT, AND IT'S PARKLAND.
AND SO I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL TO CLARIFY WITHIN A PR HOW ALL OF THIS PULLS TOGETHER AT ONE PLACE WITH ONE SET OF VOICES SAYING, HERE'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING TO PROTECT THAT LAND, TO AVOID IMPACTS, MINIMIZE IMPACT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE LAW SAYS.
AND, UM, UM, I'M SURE ALL OF YOU'RE REALLY GOOD IN YOUR, IN YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, LITTLE CUBBY HOLES, BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY IT'S THE IMPACT ON THE LANDSCAPE THAT MATTERS.
I, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, THE EXAMPLE I WAS THINKING OF WAS THE BARTONS BRIEFINGS BRIDGE, AND, AND I'M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH SARAH MARSHALL, AND WE'RE REVIEWING THE HISTORIC RESOURCE INVENTORY THAT WE'VE BEEN PROVIDED AND, AND PROVIDING COMMENT ON THAT CURRENTLY.
BOARD MEMBERS, THIS WAS A STAFF BRIEFING, AND SO THERE'S NO, I'M SORRY, WHAT? I'M DONE.
UM, THERE'S NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM.
WE'LL MOVE BACK TO DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, OH, THANK YOU.
[3. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to authorize a contract for a recreation management software system for Austin Parks and Recreation with the recommended vendor, RecTrac, LLC d/b./a Vermont Systems, for an initial term of two years with up to four two-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (APR Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Park Access for All). Presenter(s): Steve Hammond, Golf Division Manager, Austin Parks and Recreation.]
ITEM NUMBER THREE, PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT FOR A RECREATION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SYSTEM FOR AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION, UH, WITH THE REMAIN RECOMMENDED VENDOR REC TRACK, LLC.MR. DUNBACK, WAS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HEAR THE PRESENTATION.
I AM THE GOLF OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, WHAT WE'RE GONNA PRESENT TONIGHT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR, UH, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE, UH, AWARD BID.
UM, IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, WE CREATED A, UH, WE SOLICITED AN RFP FOR RECREATION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE NEEDED TO NOT ONLY MEET THE NEEDS, BUT UH, WE NEEDED A FULLY, UH, CLOUD HOSTED SOLUTION TO ELIMINATE THE NEEDS FOR, UH, SERVERS ON THE CITY NETWORK.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WEREN'T SEARCHING FOR.
UH, I KNOW YOU WERE ALL, UH, ACUTELY AWARE THAT, UH, WE HAVE A VERY LARGE DEPARTMENT SERVICING THIS EVER-GROWING POPULATION.
UH, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A FULL SOLUTION THAT CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, CURRENTLY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT REVENUE IS ROUGHLY $29 MILLION ANNUALLY.
AND WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IS A FULL SERVICE SOLUTION FROM, UH, TOP TO BOTTOM ON WHAT THE, UH, PARKS DEPARTMENT OFFERS.
THE INTEGRATED, UH, ANALYTICAL PORTION IS ALWAYS VERY ATTRACTIVE TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UH, IT HELPS US MAKE DECISIONS FROM PROGRAMMING TO PURCHASING, TO SCHEDULING.
AND WHILE AT THE TIME WE HAVE THE DESIRE FOR THE USER TO HAVE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE IN FULL ACCESS TO THEIR ACCOUNT INFORMATION, THAT'S NOT MY PHONE, IS IT? UM, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IN THIS, UM, THE RFP PROCESS STARTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024.
UH, THE COMPLETE AND TOTAL SOLICITATION PACKAGE CAN BE FOUND AT AUSTIN FINANCE ONLINE.
UH, THE TEAM HAD A WEIGHTED MATRIX.
THE TEAM HAD A WEIGHTED MATRIX FOR THE EIGHT OFFERS THAT WE RECEIVED.
AND ALL SOLICITORS WERE EVALUATED BASED ON SOLUTION, EXPERIENCE, PRICE, UH, SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS PRE, UH, PRESENCE.
SO THE CONTRACT TERM AND VALUE, UM, FIRST YEAR WOULD BE A TWO YEAR TERM FOR 324,000.
IT WOULD BE A SERIES OF TWO YEAR EXTENSIONS.
UH, WE WOULD RUN THIS UP TO 10 YEARS FOR A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED, UH, $2 MILLION IN ITS ENTIRETY.
SO THE PARKS AND REC BOARD RECOMMENDS, UH, TO THE OFFICE CITY COUNCIL, THE AUTHORIZATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, IS WE'RE LOOKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE AUTHORIZATION CONTRACT OF REC MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND AWARD THAT TO, UH, REC TRACK LLC.
UM, DO YOU HAVE THE MATRIX OF THE, OF
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THE EIGHT, OF THE FOUR CRI OF THE FOUR CRITERIA? UM, I KNOW THAT SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS PRESENCE, THOSE, UM, IS IT, AM I PERMITTED TO TALK ON THIS? YOU CAN'T PROVIDE, I CAN'T, I CANNOT PROVIDE THE, UH, FULL, UH, BREAKDOWN OF THE MATRIX.WE ARE STILL BOUND BY AN NDA ON THIS, BUT THAT, THAT IS THE, UH, UH, EVALUATION CRITERIA THAT THE VENDORS KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE EVALUATED ON.
FOR RECREATION SERVICES, WHAT TYPE OF RECREATION SERVICES DO YOU EXPECT TO BE USED TO USE THE SOFTWARE? WELL, WE, WE USE IT IN GOLF.
UM, WE USE IT IN ALL OF OUR REC CENTERS FOR CAMP REGISTRATIONS, LESSONS THAT ARE RUN BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, IT'S AN ALL ENCOMPASSING SOFTWARE.
WHAT IT DOESN'T DO, YOU SAW THE, WHAT, WHAT TYPICALLY THIS REGISTRATION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE DOESN'T DO IS IT DOESN'T DO THE PARK STUFF THAT, UH, UH, OUR OPERATIONS TEAM WAS, THERE'S NOT AN INTEGRATED SOLUTION FOR THAT OUT THERE, BUT GENERAL FULL SCALE, UM, PARK SERVICES FROM REGISTRATIONS, LESSONS, RESERVATIONS, PICNIC TABLES, PAVILIONS, UM, PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THAT WE COULD THINK OF.
WOULD THIS ALSO BE USED FOR, UH, GOLF OR, I MEAN, NOT GOLF, BASEBALL OR SOCCER FIELD ACCESS? UH, IT IS A LEAGUE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AS WELL.
UM, THAT'S WHAT YOU, WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IS LEAGUE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.
WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU MEAN LEAGUE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE? I'LL, I'LL CHIME IN JUST REAL QUICK.
UH, LUCAS MASSEY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
SO WE'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UH, BOOKING FOR FIELDS RENTALS.
I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE INQUIRING ABOUT.
THIS SOFTWARE CAN DO THAT AND, AND SHOW AVAILABILITY, THINGS LIKE THAT.
STEVE WAS MENTIONING THAT IT DOES ALSO HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF SCHEDULING ADULT LEAGUES, YOUTH LEAGUES, THINGS LIKE, SO THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT X BASEBALL FIELD IS AVAILABLE FOR USE ON YES.
A CERTAIN DATES IN MAY MM-HMM
AND IS IT, UM, DO YOU EXPECT, WELL, THAT'S OUTSIDE SCOPE ANYWAYS.
YEAH, LIKE WOULD THE PLAN BE TO USE IT LIKE FOR GOLF FIRST AND THEN ROLL IT OUT TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS? OR IS IT LIKE, WHAT IS THE LIKE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR IT? IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD, THE, THE RECREATION SOFTWARE WOULD BE, UM, ROLLED OUT AS SOON AS IT, UH, IS ABLE TO BE INTEGRATED WITH EVERYTHING.
UM, IT COULD BE USED FOR, UH, YOU COULD DO IT IN, IN SEGMENTS.
WHAT'S THE CURRENT PLAN FOR HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT? I WAS JUST GONNA SAY IT IS OUR CURRENT VENDOR, SO THERE WOULDN'T BE A TON OF ROLLOUTS.
IT WOULD BE NEW FEATURES BASED ON THE CONTRACT TERMS AND THE RP THAT MIGHT BE ROLLED OUT IN, IN ENHANCEMENTS.
IS THAT HELPFUL? LIKE WHAT ARE THE ENHANCEMENTS? I DIDN'T, I WAS NOT PART OF THE RFP PROCESS, SO I CAN'T NECESSARILY SPEAK TO THAT PIECE.
UM, BUT WE CAN SPEAK, WE, WE, BECAUSE WE ARE UNDER NDA, WE CANNOT SPEAK TO SPECIFIC ACCESS, UH, SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE SOLUTION, THAT'S ALL.
CAN YOU GIVE US ANY, UM, MORE INFORMATION ON TO AS TO WHY THIS ONE WAS? THIS IS THE CHO, THE CHOSEN
UH, IS THERE ANY SPECIFICALLY? NO, WE CAN'T GIVE THAT INFORMATION.
WHAT WE CAN SAY IS THE PANEL OF EIGHT THAT WERE, UM, THAT WE, THAT WE LOOKED AT THIS ONE, UM, RANKED NUMBER ONE OF, OF THE REST OF THEM, AND WE DID EVALUATE ALL OF THEM.
UH, OUR PANEL, UH, CONSISTED OF PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHETHER IT WOULD BE GOLF AND ATHLETICS AND REGISTRATIONS AND EVENTS.
SO WE DID HAVE A FULL PANEL OF, UH, OF EVALUATORS ON THIS.
I DUNNO, WE'RE VOTING, UM, BOARD MEMBERS ONLINE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE GIVING A MOMENT FOR THAT.
UM, DID YOU HAVE A CLARIFY BOARD? WELL, I DO MEMBER, WELL HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE OF THE NON-ANSWERS.
I'M KIND OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT NOW WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON, BUT, UM, I'M TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE SOFTWARE, A SOFTWARE PROGRAM.
UH, I'M ASSUMING REC CENTERS AND YOU NAME IT CAN BE MANAGED BY IT.
I'VE CERTAINLY WORKED WITH OTHER CITIES.
I'M, UM, I, AND I'M FULLY CONFIDENT IN THE POWERS AND ABILITIES OF YOUR PANEL, BUT FOR US TO PROVIDE ANY MEANINGFUL
[01:50:02]
WE'D HAVE TO KNOW SOMETHING.BOARD MEMBER, YOU, I'M AS CONFUSED AS AS YOU ARE SOMETIMES WHEN WE DO THESE INDIANS.
UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT, A LOT OF THE UPGRADES TO THE SYSTEM ARE EX EXPECTED TO BE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE SCENES FROM A FINANCIAL SECURITY STANDPOINT.
SO YOU, YOU, YOU MAY NOT SEE A LOT OF THE ENHANCEMENTS, BUT KNOW THAT THE, THE CITY WILL HAVE BETTER PROTECTIONS BASED ON THE HOSTING AND CAPABILITIES OF THE SOFTWARE THAT WE'RE MOVING TO.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO VERIFY, YOU SAID THAT THE CURRENT VENDOR THAT YOU'RE USING FOR THIS, THE SOFTWARE IS, IS THE NEW VEN OR IS ALSO GOING TO BE PROVIDING THE NEW CLOUD-BASED SOFTWARE? THE, THE CURRENT VENDOR IS, IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD? YES, MA'AM.
AND, UM, AS PART OF THE EVALUATION, WAS THERE ANY KIND OF USABILITY OR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, UM, ASPECT AS TO, UM, HELPING YOU DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, THE RECOMMENDATION? UM, YES.
SO THE, WE'VE, WE'VE ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FEEDBACKS OVER THE YEARS.
UH, WE HAVE WORKED WITH, UH, OUR COMMUNITY, UH, TECHNOLOGY GROUP.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THEIR DEPARTMENT NAME NOW.
IT WAS CTM, BUT THE NEW NAME, UH, WE, THEY'VE DONE A SMALL FOCUS GROUPS WITH US TO, TO IMPROVE OUR, OUR FORWARD FACING PORTION OF THE SOFTWARE.
SO WE'VE HAD FOCUS GROUPS GO THROUGH THE REGISTRATION, YOU KNOW, WHAT WASN'T WORKING FOR THEM, WHAT WAS WORKING, UH, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO BACK AND MAKE THE CHANGES ON OUR END.
UM, AND WE'VE ALSO ENGAGED ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS THROUGH VOLUNTARY SURVEYS AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM.
SO IF, IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS A, A PARTICIPANT OF OURS, WE ALLOW YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A, A SURVEY TO US AND, AND COLLECT FEEDBACK.
OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABOUT 7,000, UH, SURVEYS RETURN TO US, UH, REGARDING PROGRAMS. UH, 27 OF THOSE HAD COMMENTS ON, ON THE REGISTRATION PORTION OR SOFTWARE PORTION THAT WERE KIND OF NEGATIVE.
SO A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OUR CUSTOMERS, YOU KNOW, HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE SOFTWARE.
WE DO GET OTHER UNSOLICITED COMMENTS ABOUT REGISTRATION OR SOFTWARE, AND THOSE TEND TO BE ABOUT, UM, NOT BEING ABLE TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE REGISTERING FOR, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, AND YOU'RE SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY OF REGISTRATION OR, I'M JUST, I'M THINKING MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE BUYING A PARK PASS MM-HMM
A PARKING PASS AT EMMA LONG WAS NOT GOOD.
AND IF, AND I YOU HAD CALLED OUT IN THE PRESENTATION PAST MANAGEMENT, SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF, IF THAT'S THE, LIKE, IS THIS NEW SOFTWARE GOING TO IMPROVE THAT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE? DID YOU GET FEEDBACK? IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DID GET FEEDBACK FROM, FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO, WHO BUY, REGISTER FOR CAMP AND BY PASSES.
SO I I DID YOU HAPPEN TO BUY YOUR PASS THROUGH THE SOFTWARE ONLINE? I DID, YES.
WELL, I, I'M NOT SURE YOU HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS, OR PROGRAM PETITIONS AS A SURVEY OR ANYTHING, BUT WE WOULD CERTAINLY TAKE FEEDBACK FROM CUSTOMERS LIKE YOU OR OTHERS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU PROVIDED THAT TO US.
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WE'RE VERY, OKAY.
UH, AND WHAT'S THE TERMINOLOGY HERE? I PROBABLY SHOULD DO IT OFF OF THIS.
WHAT ARE WE MAKING? WE APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION.
YEAH, I, I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE THE CONTRACT FOR THE RECREATION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR AUSTIN PARKMAN REC WITH THE RECOMMENDED VENDOR REC TRACK, AKA VERMONT SYSTEMS. ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR MEMBER NEWBANK.
WE'VE GOT A SECOND FROM, UM, I'M SO SORRY,
I'VE LOST MY FROM BOARD MEMBER KERNS WHILE, UM, ANY OTHER FURTHER DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO.
AND I WILL JUST TELL YOU ALL IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE DIFFICULTY GETTING INFORMATION, THEY DO PROVIDE IT FOR LA UM, AND IT'S AN EXTREMELY LARGE PROGRAM.
AND I EMAILED MY BUDDY IN BUDDY IN LA AND THE PARK SYSTEM AND SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A GOOD SYSTEM.
SO, UM, EVEN THOUGH YOU COULDN'T GIVE US THE INFORMATION, THERE IS INFORMATION THAT WE COULD GET.
SWINGING POOLS MEAN A BASKETBALL COURTS, YOU NAME IT.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[01:55:02]
UM, OH NINE.UM, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.
WE'RE LOOKING AT DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM
[4. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve 2,369 sq. ft. of permanent waterline use and 19,261 sq. ft. of temporary workspace on parkland located at Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metro Park. Total Mitigation to be paid by Austin Water Utility is $504,498. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (APR Long Range Strategies: Operational Efficiency). Presenter(s): Paul Books, Planner Principal, Austin Parks and Recreation Director; Chris Irwin, Project Manager, Capital Delivery Services; Oystein Moen, Engineer, Austin Water. ]
NUMBER FOUR, PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE 2,369 SQUARE FEET OF PERMANENT WATERLINE USE AND 19,261 SQUARE FEET OF TEMPORARY WORKSPACE ON PARKLAND, LOCATED AT AUDITORIUM SHORES AT TOWN LAKE METRO PARK.UM, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? ALRIGHT, SOUNDS GREAT.
WE WILL TAKE THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SO GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M PAUL BOOKS AGAIN WITH AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION.
UM, HERE TO PRESENT THE SOUTH FIRST STREET RECLAIMED WATER CHAPTER 26 APPLICATION.
THE SOUTH FIRST STREET RECLAIMED WATER MAIN IS PART OF A SERIES OF PROJECTS THAT WILL PROVIDE REDUNDANCY AND RELIABILITY OF SERVICE TO RECLAIMED WATER CUSTOMERS IN AUSTIN.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES INSTALLATION OF APPROXIMATELY 5,500 FEET OF PIPELINE ALONG MONROE STREET AND SOUTH FIRST STREET.
A LARGE PORTION OF THE MAIN WILL BE INSTALLED, INSTALLED USING HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING, AVOIDING OPEN CUT INSTALLATION IN SOUTH FIRST STREET AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND MINIMIZING IMPACT TO ANY TRAFFIC CONCERNS.
AUSTIN WATER HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO COORDINATE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES WITH A PR OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS, PALMER EVENT CENTER AND LONG CENTER STAFF.
THE REQUIRED MITIGATION PAYMENT IS BASED ON THE APPRAISED VALUE OF AN ADJACENT CITY OF AUSTIN PARCEL IN THE AMOUNT OF $504,498, UM, UH, WHICH WILL BE PAID FROM AUSTIN WATER TO AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION.
THIS MITIGATION WAS CALCULATED FOLLOWING THE PREVIOUS STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AS THE APPLICATION HAD BEEN SUBMITTED PRIOR TO THE REVISIONS THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER THIS MEETING.
UM, AND NOW I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO AUSTIN WATER AND, AND CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICE STAFF TO GO THROUGH THE DETAILED PRESENTATION.
I'M WITH AUSTIN CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICE.
WITH ME, I'VE GOT GREG BLACKBURN, UH, WITH HW LOCHNER, THE CIVIL DESIGN ENGINEER, AS WELL AS OSTEIN MOEN, THE SPONSOR WITH AUSTIN WATER.
UH, TODAY WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE PROJECT SUMMARY BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT AND THE DESIGN, A ROUTE EVALUATION, THE CHAPTER 26 EVALUATION, THE IMPACTS AND THE TIMELINE OF THE PROJECT.
THIS IS, UH, THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF 5,500 LINEAR FEET OF RECLAIMED WATER, MAINE, APPROXIMATELY 1,550 LINEAR FEET OF 30 INCH HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE PIPE INSTALLED USING CONVENTIONAL OPEN TRENCH, MOSTLY ALONG MONROE STREET.
AND THE REMAINING 30 INCH HDPE WILL BE INSTALLED USING HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING.
UM, THE REASON BEHIND THIS PROJECT ARE TO, AS PAUL SAID, TO INCREASE REDUNDANCY AND RELIABILITY, EXTEND SERVICE AREAS FOR RECLAIMED WATER, WHICH WILL HELP US TO OFFSET DRINKING WATER USE.
UH, PART OF THIS, THE PROJECT IS, UM, IS PART OF FIVE OTHER PROJECTS, UH, TO CONNECT SOUTH AUSTIN REGIONAL AND WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS IN THE RECLAIMED WATER SYSTEM, UH, CONNECTING THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE REDUNDANCY AND RELIABILITY.
UH, WILL EXPAND THE RECLAIM WATER SYSTEM DOING THIS, AND IT ALLOWS MORE USERS AND DEVELOPMENTS TO USE THE RECLAIM WATER IN THE FUTURE, WHICH WE HOPE TO REDUCE POT POTABLE WATER USAGE.
THE, UH, ROUTE WAS SELECTED, UM, BASED ON, UM, SEVERAL CONSTRAINTS AND CONSIDERATIONS.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ATTACH PIPES TO THE BRIDGES, UH, CROSSING OVER BOLDING CREEK.
UM, THE PROPOSED AND EXISTING RECLAIM LINES TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE DRAWING.
THE YELLOW CIRCLES, UH, THERE ARE, THERE'S A, UH, RECLAIMED WATERLINE BEING CONSTRUCTED ALONG WEST RIVER SIDE, UH, IN FRONT OF AUDITORIUM SHORES.
AND THEN THERE'S ALREADY AN EXISTING ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SOUTH FIRST, AND BOTH OF THOSE WILL BE TIED INTO THIS PROJECT AS WELL.
AND THEN ANOTHER, UH, ONE OF THE FIVE PROJECTS SPOKEN OF EARLIER.
UM, WE'LL BE CONNECTING INTO THIS PROJECT AT WEST MONROE STREET AND NEWTON.
UH, AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT, UH, WE HAVE A QUITE A LOT OF FRONTAGE ALONG SOUTH FIRST, AND WE'RE DOING THE PROJECT THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT TO, UH, LIMIT IMPACT TO THE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA.
SO THE SITE THAT WE SELECTED, OR THAT THAT IS SELECTED IS THE SOUTH FIRST AND WEST RIVERSIDE, THE SOUTHWEST CORNER, UM, AT AUDITORIUM SHORES.
YOU CAN SEE IT THERE IN THE PHOTO.
AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE TIE-IN LOW POINTS FOR THE TWO OTHER, UH, RECLAIMED WATER LINES THAT WILL BE THERE.
THE REASONS THAT WE SELECTED THIS SITE IS
[02:00:01]
THAT, UM, TO CROSS UNDER THE CREEKS, WE HAVE TO, UH, MAINTAIN A CERTAIN RADIUS TO GET DOWN DEEP ENOUGH TO GO UNDERNEATH THEM.AND, UH, IN DOING THAT, WE HAVE A VERY LONG DISTANCE THAT HAS TO BE COVERED.
AND SO YOUR STARTING POINT HAS TO BE BASICALLY EQUIDISTANT FROM YOUR, UH, ENDING POINT.
AND WHEN YOU FIND WHERE WE START, YOU ALSO FIND WHERE WE END, WHICH WOULD BE AROUND THIS INTERSECTION.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF OTHER, UH, AREAS AROUND THE INTERSECTION THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE.
AND, UH, AND SO THAT IS WHY THIS SITE WAS USED.
AND THEN, UM, THE PIPE HAS TO BE INSTALLED WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY OF SOUTH FIRST.
AND SO ALTERNATE ROUTES WERE CONSIDERED INCLUDING, UH, USING SOUTH CONGRESS.
BUT THAT ONE WAS, UM, ULTIMATELY UN WE WERE UNABLE TO USE THAT SITE BECAUSE OF THE PROJECT CONNECT PROJECT.
SO IN EVALUATIONS OF THE EASEMENT, UH, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE TEMPORARY WORKSPACE EASEMENT IS SHOWN IN AN ORANGE BOX.
UH, THAT ENTIRE AREA WOULD BE TAKEN UP FOR WORK, UH, WHILE THEY DO THE HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING.
AND THEN THE SMALLER MAGENTA AREA, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT OF AN OLDER DIAGRAM.
IT'S GONNA BE A, A MUCH SMALLER AND AND EVENER SECTION, UH, THAT REALLY JUST BUTTS UP AGAINST THE SOUTH FIRST STREET PORTION, NOT QUITE AS MUCH COMING OUT, UM, AND ANGLING OUT AND THIS, UM, SO IT, IT DECREASES THE ROAD DAMAGE AND CLOSURES ALONG SOUTH FIRST AND, UH, ALONG RIVERSIDE AND LIMITS THE ACCESS AND DISRUPTION FOR LONG CENTER AND PALMER EVENT CENTER.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH BOTH LONG AND PALMER EVENTS, AND THEY WERE VERY, UH, WORRIED ABOUT TRAFFIC IN THE AREA BEING DISRUPTED WHILE WE WERE DOING THIS WORK.
AND SO IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WE, UH, WE, WE DID COME UP WITH, WITH THIS AS ONE OF OUR OPTIONS.
AND IT CREATES A SAFER WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CONTRACTORS AND FOR THE PUBLIC.
DOING WORK INSIDE THE RIGHT OF WAY CAN OFTEN BE DANGEROUS, AND IT, IT CREATES, UH, HAZARDS FOR PEOPLE DRIVING ALONG THE ROADWAYS AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS TRYING TO ACCESS LONG AND PALMER EVENTS.
THE ALTERNATE OPTION THAT WE CONSIDERED WOULD'VE REQUIRED US STILL TO USE THE, THE HDD, UH, WORK AREA, UM, HIGHLIGHTED IN ORANGE.
UM, BUT IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE, RATHER THAN HAVING A PERMANENT EASEMENT, WE WOULD HAVE TO, UM, TIE OFF TO THE, UH, UM, TO THE PROPOSED WATER LINES, RECLAIMED WATER LINES IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
AND THAT WOULD'VE REQUIRED MOST LIKELY FULL CLOSURES OF SOUTH FIRST STREET, UM, AT THE VERY LEAST HALF CLOSURES OF THE, OF THAT AREA.
AND THEN, UH, SIGNIFICANT CLOSURES ALONG RIVERSIDE AS WELL TO DO THOSE MULTIPLE TIE-INS ACROSS RIVERSIDE AND ACROSS, UH, SOUTH FIRST.
SO CHAPTER SIX ASKS THAT WE, UM, WE FIND THAT THERE ARE NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVES TO THE USE OR TAKING OF SUCH LAND.
AND THEN IT ASKS THAT THE WE, UH, THE PROGRAM, UH, PROJECT INCLUDES A REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE LAND AS A PARK, RECREATIONAL AREA, SCIENTIFIC AREA, WILDLIFE REFUGE, AND SO ON.
UH, THE TEMPORARY WORKSPACE EASEMENT OF 19,000 260 61 SQUARE FEET FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 170 CALENDAR DAYS.
UH, LOCATED AT 6 4 1 WEST RIVERSIDE DRIVE, AGAIN, THE CORNER OF, UH, WEST RIVERSIDE AND SOUTH FIRST.
AND THEN WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR A DECLARATION OF USE OF 2,369 FEET THAT THAT'D BE A PERMANENT, UH, EASEMENT.
UM, LOCATED AT 6 4 1 WEST RIVERSIDE.
THE TOTAL MITIGATION TO BE PAID BY AUSTIN WATER WOULD BE 504,000 FOR MINIMIZING OF IMPACTS.
THE AREA WILL BE USED FOR STAGING AND STORING OF DRILLING EQUIPMENT DURING THE HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING.
THE TEMPORARY WORKSPACE FOR STAGING MINIMIZES THE IMPACT OF HDD AS MOBILIZATION TIME IS REDUCED.
UH, THE PROJECT TEAM IS ACTIVELY COORDINATING WITH SPECIAL EVENTS, ENSURING MINIMUM IMPACTS TO PLANNED EVENTS.
EROSION AND S SEDIMENTATION CONTROLS WILL BE INSTALLED AROUND THE PROJECT SITE TO KEEP, UH, ANY HAZARDS DOWN.
FENCING AND CONTROL ACCESS AND, UH, TO SHIELD AND CONTROL ACCESS FROM VIEW, UH, WILL BE INSTALLED.
AND THIS WAS AT THE REQUEST OF LONG AND PALMER EVENT CENTER IN ONE OF OUR COORDINATION MEETINGS WITH THEM.
UH, THE TEMPORARY WORKSPACE WILL BE RETURNED TO ITS EXISTING CONDITIONS UPON HDD COMPLETION AND THE PERMANENT EASEMENT SHOULD NOT LIMIT FUTURE USE OF ABOVE GROUND PROPERTY.
ONE OF OUR QUESTIONS TO POLYMER AND LONG WAS WHAT IS THIS USED FOR CURRENTLY? AND, UH, FOR THE MOST PART, THEY SAID THEY DON'T USE IT A LOT, BUT THERE WERE, THERE ARE USES THAT THEY HAD INTENDED FOR IT, UH, INCLUDING AS A, YOU KNOW, FOR FOOD TRUCKS TEMPORARILY OR EVEN, UM, UH, A FERRIS WHEEL TO BE INSTALLED THERE FOR A, A FAIR OF SOME KIND.
AND WE'VE CHECKED WITH OUR ENGINEER AND
[02:05:01]
BOTH OF THOSE THINGS, UH, THE GROUND BEARING PRESSURE, UM, WOULD NOT BE CHANGED FOR, UM, HAVING THE, THE WATER IMPLEMENTS UNDERNEATH THEM.SO A PUBLIC MEETING WAS HELD ON AUGUST 21ST, 2025.
WE SENT OUT NOTICES OR AUSTIN WATER PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE SENT OUT NOTICES.
AND, UH, THE ONLY ATTENDEES WERE, UH, PALMER EVENTS, THE LONG CENTER.
AND ONE PERSON WHO CAME TO DISCUSS IT THINKING WAS ANOTHER PROJECT, BUT IT WAS NOT.
UM, AND WE SPOKE TO EVERYBODY, UH, HEARD THEIR, UH, COMMENTS AND CONCERNS AND, UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ENDED THE MEETING, UH, AMICABLY.
UM, THE BID, AN AWARD PHASE IS PLANNED FOR THE SUMMER OF 2026 TO THE FALL OF 20 OF 2026.
UH, THE REASON THAT THESE, YOU KNOW, HAVE A LITTLE SPACE IN THERE IS BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT COULD COME UP THAT WILL CHANGE THAT, UH, WHETHER IT BE PERMITTING AND DESIGN, UM, OR THE ACQUISITION OF OTHER EASEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THIS.
AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE WOULD, UH, TYPICALLY START IN THE FALL OF 2026 AND END IN THE SUMMER OF 2028.
AND THEN, UM, WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE APPROVAL OF A TEMPORARY WORK AREA, UH, FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED A TOTAL OF 170 CALENDAR DAYS.
AND, UH, DECLARATION OF USE LOCATED AT, UH, 6 41 WEST RIVERSIDE.
THE TOTAL MITIGATION, UH, TO BE PAID BY AUSTIN WATER OF 504 4 98 FOR BOTH EASEMENTS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
UM, DO YOU MIND GOING BACK TO THE SLIDE? UH, THE, WHAT IS IT, OPTION A AND B, IT WAS HARD EASEMENT EVALUATION OPTION A AND B, IT WAS HARD TO SEE.
UM, ARE, WILL THE SIDEWALKS BE BLOCKED IN EITHER OF THOSE OPTIONS? NO.
'CAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IN OPTION A, THAT ORANGE LINE EXCEEDS OVER THE SIDEWALK INCLUDE THAT? I DON'T THINK WE DID.
NO, I, THE, THE EASEMENT THAT I HAVE SEEN, UH, THE EASEMENT RECORDING DOCUMENTS THAT I HAVE SEEN DO NOT BLOCK THAT SIDEWALK.
SO NO, UM, NO SIDEWALKS WILL BE BLOCKED, NO RAMPS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE EXITING THE SIDEWALK TO CROSS ANY CROSSWALKS BEING OKAY.
SO NOW A CROSSWALK COULD BE BLOCKED DURING CONSTRUCTION TO TIE IN THE, UH, IN EITHER OPTION THIS WOULD HAPPEN, BUT OKAY.
A, A CROSSWALK, WHILE WE HAVE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, DO OPEN CUT, UH, CUTTING INTO THE ACTUAL PAVEMENT TO TIE INTO THE EXISTING OR THE PROPOSED OTHER RECLAIMED WATER LINES IN WEST RIVERSIDE, UH, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT, THAT EITHER RAMPS OR, UM, OR CROSSWALKS COULD BE, YOU KNOW, DAMAGED, BUT AGAIN, THEY WOULD BE REPAIRED.
UH, AND, AND THAT'S A MUCH SMALLER TIMEFRAME THAN THIS 170 DAYS.
YEAH, I, I, I'M NOT SO CONCERNED ABOUT THAT IS IF MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S AN ALTERNATE PATHWAY MM-HMM
IF YOU DO HAVE TO BLOCK OFF A CROSSWALK, IF SOMEONE WHO IS IN A WHEELCHAIR OR IS PUSHING A STROLLER HAS A WAY TO GET OFF THE CURB IF THEY NEED TO GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE.
SO I'M JUST KIND OF CALLING THAT OUT.
UM, THE OTHER THING, I KNOW WE'RE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THIS AREA BY THE LONG CENTER, BUT I WAS JUST LOOKING AND, AND YOU SAID THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HAD ATTENDED.
UM, I, I GUESS I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THIS WAS AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE MAP AND THAT BIG SECTION ON THE MAP THAT IS BLUE, I THINK THAT'S THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEATH, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO A BIG PORTION OF THIS IS GOING BY THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEATH.
I, ARE YOU GUYS WORKING WITH THEM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING OR THAT WILL BE PLANNED AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S NO DIS DISRUPTION TO THE CAMPUS? UH, WE, WE DID NOTIFY, UH, IN THE PUBLIC NOTICES THAT WENT OUT.
I HAVE NOT, UM, HAD ANY COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM, BUT WE CAN REACH OUT SPECIFICALLY TO THEM AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE OKAY WITH THAT.
OR THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, I, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ACCESS ALONG THAT ROADWAY.
UH, LIKE DRIVEWAYS THOUGH I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT IT WILL BE DISRUPTIVE TO THEM TO HAVE CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREA AND SO WE CAN REACH OUT.
A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS FOR ME.
ONE ON THE, UM, WHAT YOU WERE MENTIONING EARLIER REGARDING THE, UM, LOOKING THROUGH THE POWERPOINT HERE REGARDING THE CREEK, YOU WERE SAYING IT HAS TO BE THE SAME AMOUNT OF DISTANCE FROM THE CREEK AS THE OTHER SIDE, JUST FROM MY UNDERSTANDING.
COULD YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? CAN YOU SPEAK ON THAT? YEAH.
RADIUS OF HDD, PIPE CREEK, AND I THINK YOU MENTIONED EARLIER
[02:10:01]
IT HAD TO BE THE SAME DISTANCE.YEAH, I MEAN, IN GENERAL, UM, YOU KNOW, SO THIS PIPE IS INSTALLED ON A RADIUS.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE A, UM, A SUB-CONSULTANT WHO SPECIALIZES IN TRENCHLESS INSTALLATION.
UM, AND SO BASED ON THE GEOMETRY OF THE DRILLING EQUIPMENT, UM, AND THE CURVATURE OF THE PIPE AND GETTING BELOW THE CREEK, UM, ESSENTIALLY THE LOW POINT AND THE PROFILE IS ABOUT EQUAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BOTH ENDS, WHERE THEY DRILL FROM AND THEN WHERE THEY PULL A PIPE FROM.
IT IS NOT, NOT EXACT, BUT IT'S A GENERAL JUST, UM, REPRESENTATION OF HOW THAT PROFILE LOOKS LIKE.
SO TO CROSS UNDER BALDING CREEK, IT WOULD POP UP BASICALLY AT THE INTERSECTION WHERE YOU HAVE IT RIGHT NOW? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THEN SECOND QUESTION, THIS IS A PRETTY LARGE PIPELINE, BUT WITH THE EXTENSION, UM, IT DOES GO PAST, UH, AN EXISTING PARK THERE NEAR GIBSON STREET AND THEN OF COURSE TIES UP ON NORTH END WHERE THERE'S THIS INTERSECTION THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
ARE THERE ANY METERS OR FACILITIES THAT WOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE CITY'S PROPERTY IN THESE AREAS FOR EASE OF FUTURE USE FOR IRRIGATION TO CITY PROPERTY? I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
I'M, I'M O MOEN WITH AUSTIN WATER.
UH, IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA, THERE ARE FEW CONNECTION OPTIONS JUST BECAUSE OF THE HTD BEING SO DEEP, UH, THE LINE, THERE ARE TWO HDS THAT WILL MEET UP IN THE MIDDLE, NEAR WHERE THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF IS WHERE WE'LL UH, INSTALL, UH, TEES THAT WILL, SO YOU CAN GET A CONNECTION ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDE RIGHT THERE.
UH, OTHERWISE THIS LINE IS MOSTLY FOR TRANSMISSION SO WE CAN, CAN CONNECT THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH SYSTEMS. I SEE.
SO BASICALLY BETWEEN SEGMENT ONE AND SEGMENT TWO IS WHERE THERE WOULD BE SOME TEES TIED OUT, BUT THEN NOTHING ON THE NORTH END OF THE PROJECT NEAR THE, NEAR THE LONG CENTER.
THAT'S, THAT, THAT IS CORRECT.
NOT FOR THIS PROJECT, BUT FOR THE WEST RIVERSIDE RECLAIM WATER MAIN, WHICH CON, UH, CONTINUES THERE, THERE ARE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT FOR AUDITORIUM SHORES AND WE HAVE IN THAT PROJECT INCLUDED A FEW, UM, BID ITEMS FOR THAT PURPOSE.
ANYTHING ELSE? BOARD MEMBERS? ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME I CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I MOVE TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE 2,369 SQUARE FOOT OF PERMANENT WATERLINE USE AND 19,261 SQUARE FOOT OF TEMPORARY WORKSPACE ON PARKLAND, LOCATED AT AUDITORIUM SHORES AT TOWN LAKE METRO PARK.
TOTAL MITIGATION TO BE PAID BY AUSTIN WATER UTILITY TO BE $504,498.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBER VIA LOBOS AND WE'VE GOT A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, A NINE MOTION PASSES.
[5. Presentation, discussion and action on a recommendation to Austin City Council related to the Circuit of the Americas Planned Unit Development Amendment. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (APR Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Park Access for All). Presenter(s): Scott Grantham, Planner Principal, Austin Parks and Recreation. ]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND ACTION ON A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL RELATED TO THE CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ONE? YES.
ALRIGHT, WE WE'LL HEAR THAT NOW.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM WILL BE MICHAEL WAYLAN, AND THEN APRIL BROWN.
IS MICHAEL HERE? MICHAEL? HE'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS, UH, MICHAEL WHALEN AND I'M REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT FOR THE CODE OF PUTMAN NUMBER THREE.
UM, AS YOU'LL HEAR IN A MINUTE, UH, FROM STAFF, WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS THE PARKLAND COMPONENT OF A PROPOSED 1000 KEY HOTEL AND CONFERENCE RESORT AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS, WHICH IS BEING CONSTRUCTED BY RITA DEVELOPMENT, WHO WE REPRESENT, AND A FUTURE DEVELOPMENT UNDER CONSIDERATION AT CODA.
THE THOUSAND ROOM HOTEL WILL BE ON A SITE TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 40 ACRES AND THE RESORT.
AND THE RESORT WILL INCLUDE A CONFERENCE, MEETING CENTER, GOLF COURSE, AND LAZY RIVER.
SEPARATELY FROM THE HOTEL, CODA IS LOOKING TOWARD FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS THAT MAY INCLUDE A SECOND PRACTICE TRACK IN THE NORTHERN PLANNING AREA, PLANNING AREA EIGHT AND POSSIBLE SMALL SCALE HIGH END RESIDENTIAL.
[02:15:03]
THE HOTEL, UH, IS A $925 MILLION PROJECT, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY $650 MILLION IN HARD CONSTRUCTION COSTS.THE HOTEL RESORT IS PROJECTED TO GENERATE ROUGHLY $10 BILLION IN ACTIVITY OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS AND BRING SIGNIFICANT TAX REVENUE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THAT WILL HELP TO CLOSE THE GENERAL FUND DEFICIT AUSTIN FACES, AS STAFF WILL EXPLAIN, THE ORIGINAL PUD INCLUDED 11.38 ACRES OF ONSITE PARKLAND DEDICATION, OF WHICH ONLY 9.71 ACRES WERE CREDITED UNDER THE PRE-EXISTING PARKLAND DEDICATION PROCESS, AS WELL AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOCCER FIELDS AND RELATED AMENITIES, WHICH WERE PROJECTED TO COST $2 MILLION IN 2020.
OUR PROPOSAL OFFERS TWO OPTIONS.
FIRST, A MINIMUM OF 14 ACRES OF OFFSITE PARKLAND, PLUS THE SAME COMMITMENT TO THE AMENITIES IN THE ORIGINAL P.
WE DON'T HAVE AN EXACT ESTIMATE OF THE COST IN 2020 $6, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, THE COSTS FOR CONSTRUCTION HAVE ONLY INCREASED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
THE SECOND OPTION IS FEE AND LIE PAYMENT UNDER CURRENT CODE.
WE ARE REQUESTING THIS OPTION BECAUSE WHILE CODA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROPOSING AND DEDICATING THE OFFSITE PARKLAND, THE HOTELS BEING DEVELOPED BY RITA DEVELOPMENT, THE HOTEL NEEDS THE FLEXIBILITY TO MEET ITS OWN PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS AND OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
IF FOR SOME REASON CODA AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT STRUGGLE TO FIND OFFSITE LAND THAT CAN BE PURCHASED AND DEDICATED, THE LANGUAGE ON THE SCREEN IS THE DRAFT PU LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE, UH, UH, RECOMMENDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARKS.
AND, UH, THIS IS WITH IN PARTNERSHIP AND WITH THE AGREEMENT FROM THE PARK STAFF AND PARK LEADERSHIP.
IT IS BEING REVIEWED BY THE LAW DEPARTMENT NOW, SO IT HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED, BUT THIS GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE TYPE OF LANGUAGE THAT WILL BE, UH, OF, UH, IN THE PUT UNDER THE CALCULATIONS PROVIDED BY PARK STAFF THE OFFSITE DEDICATION AND REQUIRED AMENITIES SHOULD THIS OPTION BE EXERCISED, WOULD COVER PARK DEMAND EQUIVALENT TO MORE THAN 4,000 HOTEL KEYS, THOUSANDS OF MULTI-FAMILY UNITS, AND OVER A THOUSAND SINGLE FAMILY, UH, UNITS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE APRIL BROWN.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
OH, APRIL ROMERO BROWN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UH, THE OFFSITE DEDICATION CONCEPT AROSE THROUGH CONVERSATIONS REGARDING THE, UH, UNMET NEEDS FOR RECREATION, A RECREATION CENTER IN DELL VALLEY, INCLUDING, UH, JUST BROAD, BROADLY AREAS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
THE MAP THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN HERE IS FROM THE CITY'S REC CENTER GAP ANALYSIS.
THE CITY IDENTIFIED HIGH PRIORITY AREAS THAT ARE SHOWN IN PINK, UH, AS APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS FOR FUTURE RECREATION CENTER.
YOU'LL NOTE THAT THESE AREAS ARE LARGELY CONCENTRATED IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN IN SOMEWHAT OF PROXIMITY TO DAKOTA.
THIS IS THE SAME IMAGE THAT, UH, I BELIEVE YOU'LL SEE FROM THE STAFF PRESENTATION UNDER THE PROPOSED CO UH, P LANGUAGE.
THE OFFSITE PARKLAND WOULD BE LOCATED WITHIN A THREE MILE RADIUS, BUT IT IS LIMITED TO FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION OR LAND THAT IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO FULL PURPOSE PER PARK STAFF REQUEST.
SO IT'LL BE WITHIN THAT RED CIRCLE, BUT ONLY LAND IN YELLOW OR IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO YELLOW WOULD BE ELIGIBLE, WHICH GREATLY LIMITS OUR OPTIONS.
SO THOUGH THE OPTIONS WILL BE MINIMIZED BEYOND WHAT'S FULLY AVAILABLE IN THAT THREE MILES, YOU CAN SEE THAT FOR THE MOST PART, THE OFFSITE DEDICATION OPTIONS WOULD BE CLOSER TO THE CITY CENTER.
THIS THREE MILE RADIUS, THOUGH LARGER THAN YOU MAY TYPICALLY SEE, ALLOWS US TO BETTER ALIGN A POTENTIAL PARK INVESTMENT WITH COMMUNITY NEED RATHER THAN PLACING PARKLAND IN A LOCATION WHERE IT MAY BE FUNCTIONALLY INACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE THAT IT'S MEANT TO SERVE.
UH, IN CLOSING, OUR AMENDMENT OFFERS, UH, AND REQUESTS FLEXIBILITY BY OFFERING OFFSITE DEDICATION THAT EXCEEDS THE BASE CODE REQUIREMENTS, WHILE ALSO BUILDING IN AN OPTION TO GIVE DOLLARS DIRECTLY TO THE CITY FOR PARKLAND OR MAINTENANCE NEEDS.
THE OFFSITE DEDICATION PROPOSAL WAS SHAPED THROUGH INPUT AND PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO, TO ADVANCE RECREATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN AN UNDERSERVED AREA.
AND THE FEE IN LIE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CO CURRENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT FEE IN LIEU, WHICH WOULD BE OVER $2 MILLION FOR THE HOTEL COMPONENT ALONE, DOES NOT MEET STAFF'S INTERPRETATION OF SUPERIORITY, BUT WE BELIEVE THE OFFSITE OPTION AND THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE DO WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR RECOMMENDATION, UH, FOR THE AGREED UPON LANGUAGE FOR THE DUAL OPTION THAT WE, UH, DRAFTED WITH PARK STAFF AND WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
[02:20:06]
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.IF THAT IS ALL, WE'LL TAKE THE PRESENTATION.
GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS, SCOTT GRANTHAM FROM AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION, AND I'M BRINGING UP MY PRESENTATION NOW.
SO, THE, UH, CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS PUD UM, UM, PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENTS IN AUSTIN ARE A TYPE OF CUSTOMIZED ZONING AS, UM, MANY OF YOU KNOW, UH, DEVELOPERS RECEIVE EXTRA ENTITLEMENTS AND THINGS OUTSIDE THE BOX OF TRADITIONAL ZONING HEIGHT.
FAR IMPERVIOUS COVER LAND USES IN EXCHANGE.
IN THE IN EXCHANGE, THE CITY RECEIVES EXTRA COMMITMENTS IN THE FORM OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, PARKLAND.
THESE ITEMS ARE REFERRED TO AS SUPERIORITY ITEMS IN 2020.
PARKLAND WAS ONE OF THE SUPERIORITY ITEMS THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD WITH THE PUD AND PART OF THE RATIONALE FOR ITS APPROVAL BY COUNCIL, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION.
PART OF IT'S, UH, THAT WAS PART OF THE RATIONALE FOR ITS APPROVAL IN 2020.
UH, PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD IS ONE OF SEVERAL THAT LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL PUD AND WILL TONIGHT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT IT AGAIN, UH, AND MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL, CALLING ATTENTION TO THE MAP.
THE CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICA'S PUD IS IN THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT OF AUSTIN, EAST OF SH ONE 30 AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 71.
SO THERE'S A CURRENT PROPOSAL TO REDLINE OR REVISE SOME OF THE PARKLAND LANGUAGE IN THE PUT AND, UH, AS THE APPLICANT STATED, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH STAFF AND, UM, AND LEADERSHIP ON SOME OF THAT RED LINE, UM, THE STAFF FINDING.
AND IT'S A, BASICALLY THAT'S COULD BE THE END, END SLIDE, BUT THE STAFF FINDING IS THAT THE AMENDMENT REMOVES THE PARKLAND SUPERIORITY THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF THE PUD.
AND, UM, THE APPLICANT HAS STATED THAT THEY'RE OKAY MOVING FORWARD TO COUNSEL WITH A FINDING OF, UH, OF NO PARKLAND SUPERIORITY.
OKAY, SO THIS SLIDE ZOOMS INTO THE PUD AND POINTS OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
SO, UH, MAJOR ROADWAYS AND, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE OUTLINE OF THE PUD.
UM, THERE'S A FEW ELEMENTS THERE THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED, THE RACETRACK, THE AMPHITHEATER, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL FOR THE PARK IN, UH, GREEN UP AT THE TOP.
UM, AND WHAT YOU, THERE'S AN ACCESS, IT'S SORT OF A PANHANDLE.
THAT'S THE, THE ACCESS TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.
UM, IN THIS SLIDE, YOU, YOU SEE THAT, UH, THERE WAS AN ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND, UM, THERE PARK PLAN WAS TO CONSTRUCT A PARK WITH AMENITIES AND DEDICATE TO THE CITY TRIGGERED BY THE FIRST RESIDENTIAL OR HOTEL SITE PLAN.
AND, UM, SO FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE.
AND SO THE APPLICANT IS, IS NOW SPEAKING ABOUT THE HOTEL PLAN AS THE, THE VERY FIRST ONE TO COME FORWARD.
UM, LOCATION IS AREA EIGHT, SO THAT'S THAT, THAT NORTHERN, THAT, UH, THAT TOP MOST AREA BY, UH, KELLUM ROAD.
SO, UM, AND, UH, I ALREADY SPOKE ABOUT THE, THE ACCESS EASEMENT THAT WAS TO GO THERE.
SO THIS IS ZOOMING IN ON THE, UM, THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
IT WAS A DEDICATION OF PARKLAND OF 11.38 ACRES, UM, THE RECORDATION OF A 30 FOOT PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENT AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO SOCCER FIELDS.
AND WE'RE GONNA DIVE INTO SOME MORE DETAIL ON WHAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE.
UM, IN THE CALCULATION IN 2020, IT SHOWED SUPERIORITY BASED ON THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT THEY HAD AT THE TIME.
SO, UM, IN THE QUESTIONING, UM, WHY SOCCER, UM, IN, UH, AROUND THAT TIME THERE WERE, THERE WERE MANY, UH, THERE WAS AN ACTUAL RESOLUTION PASSED BY COUNCIL THAT, THAT,
[02:25:01]
UM, AUSTIN WAS TO BE A SOCCER CITY, AND IT COINCIDED WITH THE, UH, Q2 STADIUM, LOS VERDES.AND, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL ACTUALLY PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO, UM, TO PUT MORE TOWARDS SOCCER FACILITIES, UH, SOCCER FIELDS TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
SO, UM, THAT WAS AL ALSO IN THE PARK'S LONG RANGE PLAN.
SO THESE TWO SOCCER FIELDS, UM, THERE'S SOME DIMENSIONS THERE, THERE WAS TO BE IRRIGATION, THERE WAS TO BE A PARKING LOT OF 50 SPACES, UM, A DRIVEWAY, UH, DRAINAGE AND WATER QUALITY.
AND THEN THE TRIGGER FOR WHEN WOULD THIS BE CONSTRUCTED? IT WAS TO BE CONSTRUCTED AND DEDICATED PRIOR TO THE FIRST CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
SO SOME OF THIS IS BEING MAINTAINED AND, AND I'LL BE, UM, WE'LL, I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THAT AS WELL.
THE MAINTENANCE, UM, WAS TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL.
UM, SO, UM, BASICALLY THE, THE SOCCER FIELDS, THE, THE TIME CERTAIN AND THE, THE LAND, UM, THE AMENDED PUD AND THIS, THIS IS AGREEING WITH WHAT THE APPLICANT, UH, WAS SAYING.
UM, THERE'S REALLY TWO OPTIONS.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE CREATING TWO OPTIONS.
UH, ONE IS FOR OFFSITE LAND DEDICATION, SO THAT THAT LOCATION THAT WAS SHOWN FOR THE SOCCER FIELDS IS NO LONGER IN PLAY.
IT'S NO LONGER, UH, THE SOCCER FIELDS WILL NOT BE GOING THERE.
UM, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THERE COULD BE AN OFFSITE LAND DEDICATION.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THERE COULD BE 14 PLUS ACRES WITHIN THREE MILES OF CODA UNLESS APPROVED BY THE A PR DIRECTOR.
SO THIS IS SHOWING YOU THAT THAT RADIUS AND, UM, IT'S, UH, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IT COULD BE OUTSIDE THAT RADIUS BUT ONLY APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR.
UM, IT MUST BE IN THE FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION OR DIRECTLY ADJACENT.
AND, UM, UH, MS. BROWN WAS CORRECT IN SAYING THAT IT WOULD, IT WOULD NEED TO BE THIS, THIS MAP IS SHOWING THE, UH, THE YELLOW IS THE FULL PURPOSE, AND THEN THE BLUE IS THE ETJ.
SO IT'S REALLY, IT WOULD NEED TO BE ADJACENT TO THE YELLOW, UM, OR THE LIGHT GREEN.
AND THEN THERE WOULD BE CREDIT GIVEN TOWARDS THAT, TOWARDS THE, THE UNITS THAT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED.
SO REALLY IT'S, IT'S THAT OPTION.
IT'S, IT'S ALL THAT AS A POSSIBILITY OR FEE IN LIEU.
SO THOSE ARE REALLY THE TWO OPTIONS THAT ARE CREATED PER THE, UM, PER THIS AMENDMENT.
UM, THE TRIGGER WOULD BE THE SAME FOR IF, IF THERE IS, UM, PARKLAND DEDICATION.
UM, MAYBE I DIDN'T, UH, SAY IT, BUT, BUT BASICALLY THE APPLICANT HAS SAID IT, IF THEY DEDICATE LAND, IF THEY CHOOSE TO DEDICATE LAND, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD ALSO BUILD THOSE SOCCER AMENITIES.
SO THAT'S, IF THEY DEDICATE THE LAND, THEY WOULD ALSO BUILD THE SOCCER.
SO THIS, THIS BASICALLY IS JUST A TABULAR FORM OF THE SAME THAT I WAS SHOWING YOU.
UM, JUST PAUSE FOR A SECOND SO WE CAN READ THE SLIDE.
UM, SAME AMENITIES, UH, SO THAT YOU HAVE ORIGINAL PUT AND PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
UM, ONE CLARIFICATION IS THAT THE APPLICANT HAS SAID HAS SPECIFIED THAT THE CITY WOULD PAY FOR THE EXTENSION OF UTILITIES IN THE CASE OF IF THE PARK AMENITIES ARE BILLED.
UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S REALLY THIS, IT WOULD BE THE SAME AMENITIES IF THEY ARE BILLED AND IF THE FEE IN LIE OPTION IS NOT NOT EXERCISED.
UM, PARK PARKLAND CALCULATION BASIS, UM, THAT IS THE 508.
THE PREVIOUSLY THEY WERE PROPOSING 508 HOTEL ROOMS. NOW, UM, IT'S, IT'S WHAT THEY SAID, IT'S, IT'S, UM, A THOUSAND PLUS.
AND, UM, THERE'S OTHER LAND USE, UH, CHANGES TO THIS, UH, PER, UH, AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE.
SO, UH, RESIDENTIAL ENTITLEMENTS ADDED, FOR INSTANCE TO THE FORMER PARKLAND AREA.
AND SO THE TRIGGER IS PRIOR TO THE FIRST CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR THE FIRST HOTEL OR RESIDENTIAL SITE PLAN.
AND SO BASICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD GO AND GET THEIR SITE PLAN FOR THAT HOTEL AND THEN THEY WOULD NEED TO BE DONE WITH ALL OF THAT PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE FIRST CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
SO, UM, THAT REALLY IS THE SAME AS BEFORE.
NOW THAT'S IF, IF THE FEE IN LIEU OPTION IS NOT EXERCISED, IF THE FEE IN LIEU OPTION IS EXERCISED, THEN THEY WOULD NEED TO PAY THAT FEE PRIOR TO CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
[02:30:01]
2020, UH, THIS, THE SAME BOARD VOTED THAT THE PARK WAS SUPERIOR IN TERMS OF PARKLAND AND RECOMMENDED IT TO COUNCIL.AND IN THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT, UH, THIS SAME BOARD WILL NOW MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.
AND THESE ARE JUST A FEW LAND USE OBSERVATIONS.
UM, THIS AREA WAS ORIGINALLY VERY RURAL AND, UM, I'VE OBSERVED THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT HERE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
UM, IT IS HIGHLY PARKED DEFICIENT.
UM, THERE ARE REALLY, YOU CAN SEE THE PARKS THERE IN KIND OF DARKER GREEN.
UM, THERE IS MORE PARKLAND COMING IN THIS AREA, BUT THERE IS A LACK OF DEVELOPED PARKLAND.
UM, SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE REALLY, YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ACTUAL AMENITIES OUT HERE YET.
AND THE JURISDICTIONS, UM, YOU CAN SEE THIS IN PRETTY, UM, STARK RELIEF THAT THE BLUE IS THE ETJ AND THEN THE YELLOW IS, IS THE FULL PURPOSE.
AND FINALLY, THIS, IT, IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN PARKS OUT, UH, PRETTY FAR FROM THE CENTER, BUT THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE PARKS THAT IT HAS.
SO IN THE EVENT THAT WE RECEIVE PARKLAND OUT HERE, WE WOULD DEFINITELY BE MAINTAINING.
SO IN CONCLUSION, UM, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT THREE REDUCES THE PARKLAND COMMITMENT COMMITMENT WITHIN THE ORIGINAL PUD WHILE GIVING FLEXIBILITY TO THE APPLICANT.
UH, PROPOSED OPTIONS INCLUDE A FEE IN LIEU AND MAKE ACTUAL PARKLAND DEDICATION.
THE PARKS LOCATION AND TIMING OF COMPLETION, UNCERTAIN PARKLAND SUPERIORITY IS NO LONGER PRESENT.
AND HERE YOU SEE, UH, A, A SELECTION FROM THE PARKLAND DEDICATION, OPERATING PROCEDURES.
AND FINALLY THIS, UH, LIKE NEXT SLIDE.
SO IT IS, UH, THIS BOARD'S, UH, ACTION TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE, UH, PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
BOARD MEMBERS? I HAVE A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE, UM, THAT SHOWED LIKE BLUE, YELLOW, MM-HMM
ETJ, FULL PURPOSE, THE ANNEX, UH, LET'S SEE THAT ONE.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT, AND YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY, IS, IS THAT PART OF WHAT'S GONNA MAKE SOMETHING SUPERIOR IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE? NOT THAT THE THING, BUT PART OF THE THING IS THAT THE PARK LAND DEDICATION EITHER BE IN A FULL JURISDICTION OR ADJACENT TO FULL JURISDICTION.
UM, THE, UH, UH, THE STAFF IS SAYING THAT THAT IT, IT WOULD NOT BE SUPERIOR IN, IN EITHER CASE, BUT, UM, OR HAVE COLLABORATED ON THE, UH, THE REVISION AND THE LANGUAGE THAT WOULD GO IN THE REVISION, UM, TO THE PUTT.
AND HAS, UH, STAFF HAS SAID THAT IN ORDER TO ACCEPT THAT, THAT PARKLAND, IT WOULD NEED TO BE EITHER IN THE YELLOW OR ADJACENT TO IT, I THINK.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO, I THINK WHAT MIGHT HELP, UM, CLEAR THIS UP IS IT, IT'S THE, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FEE AND LIE THAT IS PUSHING US INTO NOT BEING SUPERIOR.
BECAUSE THEY, THE, THERE'S A CHOICE.
AND I GUESS THAT'S, AND SO THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT REALLY WHAT, YEAH, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO BECAUSE IF YOU GO BACK TWO, THREE SLIDES WITH THE RADIUS, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF LAND TO CHOOSE FROM.
UM, AND THAT BIG CHUNK RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE IS ALREADY CODA, CODA IS ITSELF, IS A, LOOKS LIKE TO BE LIKE 50% OF THAT USABLE, UH, LAND, WHICH IS ALREADY, I MEAN, YEAH.
IT'S REALLY, I GUESS THAT'S MY CONCERN, NOT MY, NOT MY CONCERN IN THIS CASE.
IT'S THAT, UM, WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE BACKUP IS THAT I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FEE AND LU, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE MAP, I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO, I'M IN THIS AREA, I TRAVEL THROUGH THIS AREA QUITE OFTEN.
[02:35:01]
THERE'S JUST NOT THAT MANY OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM THAT IS TECHNICALLY CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW, FULL PURPOSE.UM, AND OH, I'LL SHOW YOU FOR DISCUSSION, BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME IS LIKE I HAVE TO BALANCE WHAT IT IS THAT WE WANT VERSUS WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO.
IN ACTUALITY, GIVEN JUST THE NEGLECTED STATE THAT SOUTHEAST AUSTIN HAS HAD FOR A LONG TIME, NOW, WE'RE BEING PRESENTED WITH SEEMINGLY A FALSE DICHOTOMY OF, ANYWAYS, I, I'LL SAY IT FROM OVER DISCUSSION, BUT I, I LOOK AT THIS MAP AND I WAS, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS KIND OF STOOD OUT FOR ME FOR, IN REGARDS TO LIKE, THERE'S A REASON WHY WE'RE IN THIS POSITION RIGHT NOW, SO WHY CAN'T THE SOCCER FIELDS GO WHERE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GONNA GO TO BEGIN WITH? I'M NOT SURE.
I THINK THAT THE APPLICANT, UH, MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT.
I, I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE PARTS OF THIS AMENDMENT IS THAT, THAT AREA AREA EIGHT, UM, THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE ENTITLEMENTS.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT, THAT IN THE LONG RUN THEY WOULD LIKE TO PUT RESIDENTIAL THERE, BUT MAYBE THE APPLICANT CAN SPEAK TO IT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK THE APPLICANT? SURE.
YEAH, IF YOU CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION, THAT'D BE GREAT.
UM, UH, MICHAEL WHALE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, UM, UH, AND THANK YOU, UH, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER FOR IDENTIFYING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS, IN FACT GOING TO BE.
UH, WE HAD TRIED TO PROMOTE DOING IT IN THE ETJ, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THEY WANT IT IN THE FULL PURPOSE FOR ADJACENT AS TO AREA EIGHT.
ONE, IT IS, UH, A LITTLE MORE ISOLATED, UH, FROM AREAS THAT I THINK WE SHOWED YOU ON OUR SLIDE PRESENTATION THAT ARE HIGH PRIORITY AREAS, UH, WHICH IS INTERESTING 'CAUSE MOST OF THOSE HIGH PRIORITY AREAS FOR, UH, REIN ARE IN THE ETJ, UH, ON THAT MAP.
UM, AND ALSO, UH, IT IS AN AREA WHERE THEY'RE GONNA, THEY ARE GONNA BE DOING SOME DEVELOPMENT IN PARTICULAR, POSSIBLY A PRACTICE TRACK AND SOME RESIDENTIAL, WHICH IS, UH, MORE ALIGNED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE SITE.
THERE'S, AS YOU MAY KNOW, AN AMUSEMENT PARK, A 30 PLUS ACRE AMUSEMENT PARK THAT'S GETTING DEVELOPED RIGHT NOW THERE.
UM, AND SO THERE'S PLENTY OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITY ALREADY UNDERWAY THERE.
AND, UH, THE THOUGHT HERE WAS TO, UH, FIND A PLACE TO MEET THE REC CENTER SLASH SENIOR CENTER, UH, NEED THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND TO CREATE THAT OPTIONALITY.
UH, AND AGAIN, IT IS A REC CENTER OR SENIOR CENTER WITH TWO SOCCER FIELDS.
UH, THAT'S THE, UH, OF THE OBLIGATION OF THAT OPTION.
AND, AND I DID WANNA ADDRESS, JUST TO BE SPECIFIC, CAN I PAUSE YOU JUST REALLY QUICK? I DON'T THINK YOU ANSWERED HER QUESTION DIRECTLY.
IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE ORIGINAL SPACE FOR THE SOFTWARE, AND THAT IS, THAT IS AREA A, WHICH IS WHERE THEY'RE GONNA DO A PRACTICE TRACK.
SO BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THEY'RE NO LONGER WILLING TO BUILD PARKLAND THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO USE IT FOR MORE PROFIT GAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES.
WELL, MORE, UH, MORE OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO WHAT THE FACILITY ENTIRE ACREAGE HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR, WHICH IS REALLY MORE OF AN OUTDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITY, WHETHER IT'S A, AN INTERNATIONAL RACETRACK OR AN AMUSEMENT PARK, OR NOW A, UH, A RESORT AND A GOLF COURSE.
UM, THESE ARE MORE OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT, OUTDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATION.
I MEAN, THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS VERSUS PARKLAND, WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE BY THE PUBLIC.
IT IS, WELL, WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE IT'S LOCATED.
THIS IS IN A MORE ISOLATED LOCATION.
IT'S NOT IN THE, UH, BEST LOCATION IN TERMS OF HIGH NEEDS AND CLOSE TO, UH, SINGLE FAMILY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE AERIAL, THE DEVELOPMENT, THERE ISN'T DEVELOPMENT, UH, THAT CLOSE TO, UH, THE RAISE TRACK.
WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK, TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
THERE, THERE, THERE ISN'T, UH, AN SUBDIVISIONS THAT ARE, UH, ADJACENT TO IT.
I THINK, I JUST WANNA PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT THERE, BECAUSE IN THE ORIGINAL APPLICA OR IN THE ORIGINAL, UM, YEAH.
APPLICATION, WE WERE SHOWN THOSE PARTICULAR SOCCER FIELDS IN THAT AREA.
AND SO I GUESS THE, MAYBE WHAT I'M SEEING IS THE CONFUSION IS IF THAT AREA IS A POSSIBILITY, BUT IS PREFERRED USE FOR SOMETHING ELSE? WELL, YOU MEAN THE CURRENT AREA, AREA EIGHT? YEAH.
YOU'RE NOT SAYING LIKE, WELL, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO USE THAT LAND ANYMORE FOR THE SOCCER FIELDS.
[02:40:01]
A BUSINESS CHOICE TO TAKE THAT PARKLAND AWAY, WHICH WAS, WHICH WAS WHAT WE ORIGINALLY AGREED TO.IT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL PUD OBVIOUSLY IT'S JUST, AND IT'S JUST NOT AN AREA THAT'S, UM, THE BEST LOCATION FOR PARKLAND IN TERMS OF THE NEIGHBORING AREA SURROUNDING IT.
THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, THE ONES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO, YOU KNOW, UH, FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION ARE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN KIND OF DIRECTED TO LOOK FOR.
AND, AND I MEAN, I, I'M NOT HERE TO, UH, SHY AWAY FROM YEAH, WE WANT TO USE THAT LAND FOR USE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE, UH, THE RACETRACK AND THE AMENITIES, THE AMUSEMENT PARK AND THE UH, UH, HOTEL, UH, UH, CONVENTION CENTER OR, UH, CONFERENCE CENTER THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED.
I HAVE A, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON ONE POINT.
IT'S OUR DECISION TO DECIDE IF IT'S BEST.
YOU'VE MADE A BUSINESS DECISION, BUT WE GET TO DECIDE THE PARKLAND SIDE OF IT.
THE SECOND THING IS, UM, WELL ACTUALLY IT'S COUNCIL'S ULTIMATE DECISION, BUT YES, I AGREE THAT IT'S, YOU CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, OF COURSE.
THE SECOND THING IS WE, UM, AND I WANNA BE CORRECTED BY OUR STAFF, AND WE BASICALLY MADE A DEAL BASED ON A CERTAIN PLAN, AND FOR THAT WE OFFERED UP SUPERIORITY, WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANT VALUE.
I MEAN, THIS IS NOT JUST, I GOTTA PUT A PLAQUE ON MY DOOR.
I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMES WITH VALUE AND THAT'S NOW BEEN REMOVED.
YOU'RE SAYING IT'S NO LONGER SUPERIOR.
UM, WHAT I'M LOOKING AT HERE, UM, PARTICULARLY WHEN I LOOK IN FEE AND LUBE, WHICH I NEVER AM COMFORTABLE WITH, BUT WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS I'M LOOKING AT 25 YEARS FROM NOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT AT, AND I THINK WE KNOW WHAT IT'LL LOOK AT LIKE 25 YEARS FROM NOW.
SO IT'S KEY TO HAVE CRITICAL PARK LAND CONSERVED AND DEVELOPED NOW BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE THAT OPTION IN 25 YEARS.
AND SO I, I'M SIDING WITH STAFF ON THIS ONE, WHICH IS, WE'VE REMOVED A KEY ELEMENT OF THIS, AND I WOULD NOT WANT TO, WELL, I WOULDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT FEE IN LIEU OF PERIOD, BUT I DEFINITELY WOULDN'T WANT TO PROVIDE SUPERIORITY BA BASED ON A, UH, UH, A PLAN THAT IS NO LONGER SUPERIOR ARE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE ONLINE.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? I THINK, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD ALREADY BEEN MEANING TO ASK ABOUT WERE TOUCHED ON BY THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBERS, AND I THINK THEY BRING UP GOOD POINTS AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, LOCATION OF THE PARKLAND SITE.
UH, THERE WAS NO QUESTIONS ABOUT IT BEING, UM, AT A MINIMUM, I THINK ADJACENT TO EXISTING FULL JURISDICTION PROPERTY, IF NOT WITHIN.
AND I THINK AS YOU GET FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM WHERE KDA IS, IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO MAINTAIN ACCESS AND USE THAT FACILITY.
SO DEFINITELY AT A MINIMUM ADJACENT TO FULL PURPOSE, I CAN SEE WHY THE CITY WOULD BE ASKING FOR THAT.
I THINK THE FACT THAT WITH THIS CHANGE, IT WOULD NO LONGER HAVE SUPERIORITY.
I QUESTION WHETHER THE POD WOULD'VE BEEN APPROVED IN THE BEGINNING IF WE DIDN'T HAVE SUPERIORITY.
UM, NO PARKLAND'S BEEN DEDICATED YET, BUT I THINK WITH THE PROPOSED 14 ACRES, IS THAT, I GUESS A SIDE QUESTION WOULD BE, IS THAT ALL A SINGLE CONTIGUOUS PIECE OF PROPERTY, THE 14 ACRES PROPOSED? UM, BUT THEN THE BIGGER ITEM OR BIGGEST ITEM, I GUESS THAT GIVES ME HESITATION, I WOULD AGREE AS WELL WITH THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBER, IS THE PAYMENT OF FEE IN LIEU.
UM, THAT TO ME DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A GREAT BENEFIT.
I THINK DEFINITELY HAVING THE LAND DEDICATED IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE PROJECT AND HAVING IT CONSTRUCTED IS HIGHLY PREFERABLE OVERPAYMENT FOR FEE IN LIEU OF OFFSITE LAND DEDICATION WITH AN EXACT LOCATION UNKNOWN.
IN THE EVENT THAT, UM, THE LAND DEDICATION OPTION WAS EXERCISED, I THINK WE WOULD, UH, IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT, UH, WE WOULD ONLY WANT ONE SINGLE CONTIGUOUS PIECE OF 14 ACRES.
DID I ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS?
[02:45:02]
YES.I GUESS IT WAS LESS, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I GUESS THE OTHER WAS MORE JUST A STATEMENT KIND OF AGREEING WITH PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBERS.
I, I, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS FEE IN LIEU PORTION.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST PART TO ME.
BOARD MEMBER, BOARD MEMBER KERN RO.
OH, JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON THE MAP THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT BEFORE, WHEN I ZOOM IN, I SEE THERE'S A BUNCH OF STARS.
OH, BLUE STARS, THERE'S A COUPLE OF GREEN STARS.
WHAT ARE THOSE? WELL, IT'S, THAT'S MY FAULT.
UM, I WAS JUST, I WAS TAKING A SCREEN CAPTURE WITH SOME OF OUR LAYERS, AND THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE AREAS THAT WE HAVE, UH, THAT HAVE COME IN FOR DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UM, WE'VE, WE'VE JUST LOOKED AT THEM AND, AND SOMETIMES MADE A DETERMINATION ON WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OWE PARKLAND.
AND, AND I ASSUME LOOKING AT THIS MAP THAT NORTH OF ELROY, THAT'S A NEW SUBDIVISION OR A SUBDIVISION MM-HMM
FURTHER TO THE WEST, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S MORE DEVELOPMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THE COMMENT ABOUT IT BEING ORIGINALLY RURAL, THESE ARE THE SUBDIVISIONS THAT YOU WERE REFERENCING THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT AND THEY'RE JUST WEST OF THE ORIGINAL PARKLAND.
ANYTHING ELSE? BOARD MEMBERS? I THINK THAT, UM, IN LOOKING AT THIS AREA, WE, WE DO WANT PARK LAND AND ACCESSIBLE SPACES FOR, FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND SO THAT'S AT THE HEART OF US MAKING THAT A DECISION.
UM, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE, UM, WILL TAKE ACTION ON.
SO I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR IF THERE IS A MOTION, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, BUT BEFORE, HOW DO YOU WRITE? IT DEPENDS ON WHAT, WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
I MEAN, I WANT TO BASICALLY, UH, THIS IS GOING TO GO, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS TO COUNSEL.
WHAT? SO I WANT US TO EXPRESS OUR OPINION OF WHAT THAT IS.
AND I BELIEVE I WOULD SIDE WITH STAFF IN THIS, THAT THIS IS NOT A SUPERIOR, UM, PROPOSAL.
AND, UM, AND I WOULD WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF, UM, THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT, THE, UH, THAT WAS MADE.
DON'T ASK ME HOW TO WRITE THAT.
I, SO MR. BECK, UM, IN HEARING THAT, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD BE, UH, A MOTION AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATION.
CHAIR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, YOU CAN HELP US.
SO, UH, WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT MR. EUBANKS IS LOOKING FOR HERE.
UH, SO IF THE BOARD WANTED TO MAKE SUCH A RECOMMENDATION, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO CHANGE IT TOO MUCH FROM THE LANGUAGE POST ON THE, ON THE AGENDA, THE BOARD COULD APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, UH, OR THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL NOT APPROVE THE CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICA'S PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT.
SO THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL NOT APPROVE THE, UM, RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CIRCUIT OF AMERICA'S.
PUT, UM, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
THERE'S A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER KERNS OSTER.
AND NOW WE'LL OPEN IT BACK UP FOR DISCUSSION.
YEAH, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT IF THEY, IF THEY WERE ALREADY HERE AND THEY WERE SAYING THIS IS THE LAND, LIKE WE'RE NOT GONNA PUT IT HERE, WE'RE GONNA PUT IT HERE.
IT'S GONNA BE SNEAKERS, IT'S GONNA BE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR AND WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THAT WAS GONNA BE, I WOULD HAVE AN EASIER TIME APPROVING THE CHANGE.
BUT I THINK THAT THE IDEA THAT WE, THAT ONE OF THE OPTIONS IS JUST BE IN LIEU AND WE LOSE THE PARKLAND AND THERE'S NO CERTAINTY THAT IS VERY UNCLEAR.
SO I COULDN'T VOTE FOR IT WITHOUT MORE DETAILS.
I, YEAH, I ALSO AGREE WITH THE COMMENT THAT 25 YEARS FROM NOW, THIS AREA'S GONNA LOOK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SERVING THOSE FUTURE RESIDENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT PARKLAND THAT WAS PROMISED IS, IS DELIVERED.
I WOULD JUST SECOND THAT AS WELL.
THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THIS IS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN DISTRICT ONE AND IS, WE DON'T HAVE LIKE SPACE FOR A PARK EVEN REALLY, IF WE WANTED ONE AT THIS POINT.
AND WE KNOW THAT THAT SUBURBS ARE ONLY GROWING IN THAT AREA.
[02:50:04]
I THINK THE COMMENT AS WELL THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PARK SHOULD BE FINISHED AND DEDICATED OR GOING BACK TO THAT FEE IN NEW PAID, UM, WE WOULD WANNA SEE THE PARK FINISHED AND DEDICATED.I MEAN, IF FEES ARE PAID NOW, I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE LATER TO ACTUALLY FINISH OUT THAT PARK IN TERMS OF COST.
I MEAN, THINGS WILL KEEP GOING UP.
AND, YOU KNOW, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PRESENTATION, THERE WAS THE INTRODUCTION TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE INVESTMENT IS ON THIS LAND, RIGHT.
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND I THINK, UM, IT IS A BIGGER BENEFIT TO THE CITY TO HAVE THE PARKLAND FINISHED AND DEDICATED NOW, AND A MUCH LESS SUBSTANTIAL BENEFIT TO LOOK AT AN OPTION THAT WOULD PROVIDE FEES IN LIEU.
ANYBODY ELSE? THE, THE ONLY THING I SAY IS THAT FOR ME, I FEEL THAT I UNDERSTAND WHERE ALL OF Y'ALL ARE COMING FROM WITH ALL OF THIS, BUT WHAT I WAS HINTING AT WHEN I WAS ORIGINALLY ASKING MY QUESTIONS IS, IS THAT THE REASON THAT THERE AREN'T MANY OPTIONS FOR US TO CHOOSE OF WHERE TO, LIKE THIS WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE, BUT FOR THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY AREAS THAT ARE CONSIDERED FULL PURPOSE IN THAT AREA.
AND THE REASON THERE'S NOT THAT MANY AR UH, THERE'S NOT MUCH LAND THAT'S CONSIDERED THAT THAT'S BEING CURRENTLY CONSIDERED IS BECAUSE THAT WHOLE SOUTHEAST AREA PART OF TRAVIS COUNTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN NEGLECTED.
IT'S ONLY NOW AND RECENTLY THAT WE'VE DECIDED TO BUILD DEVELOPMENTS OUT THERE AND, UH, THE CITY'S NOW CHOOSING TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THAT UNDER ITS BELT.
UM, SO THAT MEANS THAT AS I UNDERSTAND THE, THE, THE HESITANCY ON THE PART OF THE APPLICANT TO COMMIT TO SOMETHING WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY DO IT.
UM, AND I'M ALSO TRYING TO BALANCE THE, I I'M ALSO TRYING TO BALANCE IT WITH THE IDEA OF LIKE, I WANT ECONOMIC GROWTH, I WANT DEVELOPMENT, I WANT ALL OF THIS.
RIGHT? AND AT LEAST FOR ME IS, I'M NOT SO SURE THAT, I'M NOT SO SURE THAT AT THIS POINT I AM WILLING TO SAY NO TO A, WHAT I ASSUME IS GONNA BE A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN THAT AREA.
UM, AND WHICH PROBABLY THE RESIDENTS OF THAT AREA ARE PROBABLY GONNA END UP WORKING AT.
I'M NOT, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M WILLING TO SAY NO TO THAT FOR A FIGHT OVER 11, 14 ACRES OF PARKLAND FOR ME THAT THE BALANCE IS NOT REALLY THERE.
SO I, THAT'S WHAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH.
YEAH, I THINK I DEFINITELY HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THERE.
I JUST WISH WE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE CERTAINTY ON WHAT WE WERE GETTING.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK WITH THIS DEAL.
OR WHATEVER IF IT WERE NOT A DEAL.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.
UM, I CERTAINLY HEAR YOU AND I AM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND FOR BRINGING MORE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I JUST, WHEN LOOKING AT THE CHOICES FEEL LIKE THERE'S PROBABLY A CLEAR CHOICE.
WELL I THINK, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS 'CAUSE IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GONNA GO FEE IN LIEU WITH WHAT I'M LOOKING AT HERE.
I FEEL LIKE I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF THE FEE AND LIE WAS NOT EVEN ON THE TABLE.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT, UM, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO GET THESE FACILITIES ONLINE, UM, IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, IF THE FINISHING OUT AND DEDICATION ISN'T DONE NOW, IT WILL BE A SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER COST I FEEL, THAN WHAT THE IN LIEU PAYMENT WOULD BE.
NOW, I GUESS WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT THE TRACKS PER THE CITY'S ASK SHOULD BE LOCATED NEAR FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION, UM, IF NOT WITHIN, BUT I THINK ALSO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO HAVE IT ANYWHERE WITHIN A THREE MILE RADIUS, THE CITY IS GONNA BE ON THE HOOK TO EXTEND UTILITIES OUT THAT WAY.
SO YOU COULD BE, WITHOUT HAVING THAT REQUIREMENT TO BE NEAR FULL PURPOSE, YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT BEING ON THE HOOK TO HAVE SOME UTILITY EXTENSIONS THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COST FOR THIS AS WELL AS YOU GET FURTHER AWAY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WOULDN'T BE A CONCERN WITH THE CITY'S ASK ALREADY, BUT JUST SOMETHING I WANNA POINT OUT THAT I THINK IT'S A BENEFIT THAT'S BEEN, UM, THAT WE TALKED ABOUT ALREADY, THAT THAT'S BEEN ASKED FOR AND UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE ADDED COSTS AND WASN'T CAPTURED IN THE ORIGINAL ASK ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
I JUST WANNA MAKE IT VERY CLEAR, I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT THE THING MIGHT BE OUTSIDE OF THE FULL PURPOSE
[02:55:01]
JURISDICTION.I'M JUST SAYING IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, THERE'S JUST VERY LIMITED OPTIONS IN THAT AREA IS ALL I WAS SAYING.
BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT OF LIKE COST TO THE CITY, THE FURTHER YOU GET AWAY FROM THOSE AREAS.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD TO THAT OR, OR RESPOND TO, UH, BOARD MEMBER IS WE HAD THE DEAL TO BEGIN WITH, WE HAD THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WE HAD THE PARTNER, YOU KNOW, WE HAD CLARITY IN THAT.
NOW IT'S A CHANGE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO US AND WE'RE RESPONDING TO CHANGE, NOT RESPONDING TO LET'S NOT HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE RESPONDING TO A CHANGE IN THE DEAL.
BUT I'M ASSUMING THAT IF THE, IN A WORLD IN WHICH WE SAY NO AND CITY COUNCIL SAYS NO, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ASK THIS QUESTION, BUT I'M ASSUMING IF THAT'S THE WORLD THAT WE'RE OPERATING UNDER, THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA GET THE DEVELOPMENT.
LIKE, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET THE JUST GONNA BE SAID WRONG.
ISN'T THE, THE DEVELOPMENT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON ONE OF THE PARKING LOTS, THE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT, CAN Y'ALL ACTUALLY GIVE SOME MORE CLARITY AROUND THAT JUST RIGHT.
SO IF YOU GET A NO FROM US AND YOU GET A NO FROM CITY COUNCIL, THEN NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.
IT'S JUST A STA LIKE AS IT IS NOW, IT'S HOW IT'S GONNA STAY.
THE APPLICANT MIGHT WANT TO CHIME IN, BUT I, THEY, THEY'VE SHARED WITH ME THAT THE HOTEL IS NOT PROPOSED TO BE IN AREA EIGHT.
IT'S PROPOSED TO BE SOUTH OF THERE.
SO IT'S NOT THAT THE HOTEL IS GOING WHERE THE PARKLAND WOULD BE, IT'S GOING IN A DIFFERENT ZONE ENTIRELY.
IF I CAN SPEAK TO YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, CORRECT.
IF THE AMENDMENT IS NOT APPROVED, THEN THIS HOTEL DEVELOPMENT CANNOT BE CONSTRUCTED.
IT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL HOTEL THAT WAS PROPOSED IN THE ORIGINAL P THIS IS DOUBLE THE ROOMS AND ACTUALLY THE FOOTPRINT IS ABOUT 200 TOTAL ACRES WITH EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, WHICH REQUIRES THE PUT AMENDMENT AND ALL THE CODE CHANGES.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY HEAVILY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF TO MAINTAIN THE SUPERIORITY THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN.
AND IF I, IF I COULD, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THE TIMING AND THE OFFERS FOR PARKLAND.
THE FIRST IS THAT I'LL SAY IS IN THE CURRENT PUD THE TIMING IS THE SAME.
THE TIMING IS STILL TIED TO A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY AT EITHER A HOTEL OR RESIDENTIAL SITE PLAN.
SO IN TERMS OF TIMELINE AND WHEN SOMETHING GETS DELIVERED, IT IS NOT NOW WHERE AT ZONING IT IS AT SITE PLAN UNDER THE EXISTING PS.
SO THE TRIGGER REMAINS THE SAME THERE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THE REASON THAT WE ASK ARE ASKING TO BUILD IN THE FEE AND LIE IS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH PARK STAFF, WE'VE ALREADY OFFERED TWO DIFFERENT SITES THAT HAVE BEEN DENIED FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
AND WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM TO FIND THAT SITE.
BUT IT IS DIFFICULT, IT IS LIMITED AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THE LANGUAGE ALSO SAYS PARK STEP HAS TO APPROVE THE OFFSITE DEDICATION.
SO IN TERMS OF THE UTILITIES AND WHETHER IT REACHES, ALL OF THAT GETS ANALYZED BY STAFF.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE WE'VE OFFERED TWO SPOTS THAT HAVE BEEN DENIED AND WE'RE STILL WORKING TOWARDS THAT.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE TRYING TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY THAT I THINK ALSO AS I WAS LISTENING IN THE BACK SPEAKS TO SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE NEEDS THAT WE KNOW ARE ONGOING AND EXISTING TODAY, NOT AT SOME FUTURE DATE PARK.
CAN SOMEBODY FROM PARKS JUST ON THE, THE SITES THAT THEY'VE OFFERED THAT HAVE BEEN DENIED, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT AND THEN MAYBE SOMETHING THAT, UM, YOU POTENTIALLY SEE AS A POSSIBILITY? I, I BELIEVE I, I'M SORRY.
I'M RANDY SCOTT, UH, WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UH, I'VE REVIEWED TWO SITES THAT WERE PROPOSED, UH, VERY CLOSE TO THE BASTROP COUNTY LINE WAS ONE.
UH, AND ANOTHER ONE WAS, UH, I THINK ABOUT A MILE EAST OR MILE AND A HALF EAST OF THE CODA P UM, BOTH WELL INTO THE ETJ AS THE TWO PROPOSALS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED SO FAR AS FAR AS LAND.
AND I, I DO WANT TO, TO, I GUESS MAYBE BRING SOME CLARITY TO THIS TOO.
THE, THE VALUES OF FEE IN LIEU OF, AND THE VALUE OF 14 ACRES AND TWO SOCCER FIELDS ARE NOT EQUAL.
UH, THE FEE IN LIEU OF OPTION IS A VERY, UH, WILL BE A CHEAPER OUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME IN THE FUTURE.
UH, THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, APPLES AND APPLES.
IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES, UH, WITH, WITH WHAT WAS PROPOSED.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE COULD GET SOME LAND IN THE FUTURE.
UH, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THAT LAND.
UM, IT'S 14 ACRES 'CAUSE IT'S ALSO MAYBE,
[03:00:01]
UH, A FUTURE POTENTIAL, UH, RECREATION CENTER SITE.UH, SO IT'S MUCH LARGER THAN WHAT TWO SOCCER FIELDS REQUIRE.
UM, SO MAKING A PUBLIC INVESTMENT, WE NEED THAT PROPERTY TO BE ABLE TO BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY SO WE CAN SPEND THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
THAT'S THE REASONING BEHIND BEING ADJACENT OR WITHIN THE FULL PURPOSE.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS? YEAH, THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL THE QUESTION.
WE'VE GOT A, UM, MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM BOARD MEMBER EUBANK AND WE'VE GOT A SECOND.
UM, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE ON THAT.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, IF YOU'LL RAISE YOUR HAND FOR THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.
COULD YOU JUST READ IT? SORRY, COULD WE READ IT AGAIN? WE CAN READ IT.
IT'S JUST TO OPPOSE ESSENTIALLY, RIGHT.
UH, I, I HAVE THE MOTION RECORDED AS IT IS A MOTION TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO NOT APPROVE THE CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE RAISING OUR HANDS FOR.
SO WE'VE GOT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, ALL THOSE OPPOSED TO THE OKAY.
AND THE MOTION PASSES EIGHT TO ONE, SO YOU'RE FINE WITH THE HONOR.
AND THEN, UM, ITEM NUMBER SIX,
[6. Presentation, discussion and action on a recommendation to Austin City Council related to the South Shore Planned Unit Development Amendment. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (APR Long Range Strategies: Urban Public Spaces, Park Access for All). Presenter(s): Robynne Heymans, Planner Principal and Randy Scott, Parkland Acquisition Division Manager, Austin Parks and Recreation. ]
A PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL RELATED TO THE SOUTH SHORE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT.DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ONE? YES, CHAIR.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE, OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE MICHAEL WAYLAN, FOLLOWED BY MALCOLM YATES.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
UH, MICHAEL WHALE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, HERE TONIGHT AGAIN TO DISCUSS A PUT AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ADD THIS 1.43 ACRE PARCEL YOU SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN INTO THE ADJACENT 20 ACRE PUD THAT YOU SEE HERE.
THE EXISTING PUD HAS BEEN FULLY BUILT OUT.
THE GOAL HERE IS TO ALLOW THIS SMALLER CORNER PARCEL, WHICH IS LOCATED AT A FUTURE, UH, LIGHT RAIL STATION.
IT'LL ALLOW 180 FEET OF HEIGHT RIGHT AT THE STATION.
AND HERE AGAIN YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE 1.43 ACRE PARCEL.
UH, THERE'S TWO PARTS OF OUR REQUEST THAT ARE RELEVANT TO PARKS.
UH, THE FIRST WE MET EARLY ON WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM OR OR ROCK THAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM IN A MOMENT.
AND THEIR TOP PRIORITY WAS THAT WE TRY TO ACQUIRE A HALF ACRE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO HERITAGE OAKS PARK, WHICH IS ABOUT A MILE WALKING DISTANCE, UH, TO OUR SITE.
WE HAD NOT HEARD ABOUT THIS PROPERTY BEFORE, BUT WE COMMITTED TO THE CONTACT, UH, TEAM THAT WE WOULD TRY TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY AND DEDICATED TO THE CITY AS PART OF OUR P AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SINCE VOTED TO SUPPORT OUR REQUEST CONTINGENT ON THIS DEDICATION FOR REFERENCE, THE OUR PARKS, OUR FUTURE LONG RANGE PLAN THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT PUBLISHED LISTS THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS SERVICE AREA AS ONE MILE, WHICH MEANS THAT OUR PROPERTY IS WITHIN THE HERITAGE OAKS PARKS SERVICE AREA.
WE ARE WORKING TO SECURE THIS LAND FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'LL BE UP ON AUCTION IN MARCH AS PART OF THE PUD AND WOULD THEN ADDITIONALLY PAY A $650 PER UNIT FEE FOR TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE FEE PROVIDED IN THE ORIGINAL PUD.
WE BELIEVE THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE, THIS IS APPROPRIATE FOR TWO MAIN REASONS.
FIRST, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE ARE WORKING TO ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S DIRECTION.
SECOND, OUR PROPERTY, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, IS ALREADY WELL CONNECTED INTO THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AND TOWN LAKE METRO PARK.
SO WE BELIEVE EXPANDING HERITAGE OAK PARK IS AN AREA WITH GREATER PARK'S NEEDS SHOULD BE THE PRIORITY IN THIS CASE.
HERE AS YOU CAN SEE THE, YOU CAN SEE THE EXISTING PARK, OUR ADDITION AND THE PROPOSED PUD LANGUAGE THAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT TONIGHT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS ONE FINAL ITEM.
PART INFORMED US VERY RECENTLY THAT THEY ALSO INTEND TO BID ON THIS PROPERTY, WHICH WAS NEW INFORMATION TO US.
ALL I CAN SAY TO THIS NEW INFORMATION IS AS FOLLOWS.
WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE TRIED TO EXPAND HERITAGE JOKES AND WE ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THAT COMMITMENT.
WE ALSO TOLD THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT PARD HAS SAID THEY INTEND TO BID ON THIS PROPERTY TOO.
AND OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONTINUES TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO BUY THIS PROPERTY AND TO SUPPORT OUR PUTT AMENDMENT.
WE WOULD ASK THIS BODY TO JOIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN SUPPORTING OUR REQUEST.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE MALCOLM YATES.
[03:05:06]
OKAY.I'M THE CHAIR OF THE EAST RIVERSIDE UL TORF COMBINED CONTACT TEAM.
THE E IRAQ CONTACT TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY TO ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY FOR OVER FOUR YEARS.
THE IRAQ CONTACT TEAM VOTED TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED THE PROPOSAL BY THE SOUTH SHORE POD TO PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY ATTACHED TO THE HERITAGE OAKS PARK AS PART OF THEIR PARKLAND DEDICATION.
THIS ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE DEVELOPER IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST ADDITIONAL PARKLAND.
THE ABANDONED PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE HERITAGE JOKES PARK IS ONLY A FEW FEET AWAY FROM THE NEW CHILDREN'S NATURE PLAY AREA, BUT THE PROPERTY IS ALSO A NEXUS FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT DISCOURAGES THE USE OF THIS PLAY AREA.
THE CITY CANNOT FIND AN OWNER TO SIGN A CRIMINAL TRESPASS FORM, SO THE POLICE CANNOT CONTROL THE ACTIVITY ON THIS PROPERTY.
THE NEIGHBORHOODS GOT DPS STATE TROOPERS IN MARCH OF 2024 TO CLEAR THE CAMPS.
AFTER THE CAMPS WERE CLEARED FROM THIS PROPERTY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZED AN WORKDAY TO REMOVE THE TRASH AND THE BAMBOO GROVE THAT HID THE CAMPS.
HOWEVER, THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, UH, CONTINUES ON THIS PROPERTY.
THE ROC CONTACT TEAM REQUESTS THAT THE PARKS BOARD SUPPORT THE DEVELOPER PROPOSAL.
YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROPOSAL OF THE ACQUISITION OF THIS PROPERTY AS PART OF THE PUD PARKLAND DEDICATION WILL ELIMINATE A SOURCE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT CANNOT BE CONTROLLED BY THE CITY AND IT WILL ENCOURAGE THE USE OF HERITAGE OAK PARK.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE PARKS BOARD ON THIS ITEM? WHAT'S YOUR NAME? GAIL GOFF.
GAIL, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT MALCOLM HAS ALREADY SAID, THAT SINCE OUR CONTACT TEAM BEGAN IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS, WE HAVE WATCHED DEVELOPMENT AFTER DEVELOPMENT IN OUR 3,300 ACRE AREA AND PARTWAY INTO ALL OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS, THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE REQUIREMENTS CHANGED AND THOSE FEES DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE SPENT ANY LONGER IN THE AREA WHERE THEY'RE GENERATED.
AND SO WE HAVE SEEN DOLLARS FLY AWAY AND NOT GO TO THE PARKLAND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, WHICH AGAIN IS 3,300 ACRES.
UM, SO THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DIRECT SOME OF THOSE FEES BACK INTO SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE HAPPEN TO MAKE HERITAGE OAKS PARK MORE AVAILABLE TO NEIGHBORS.
UM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW NATURE PLAY, WHICH IS PHENOMENAL.
IT'S SO CLOSE TO THIS AREA WHERE PEOPLE HANG OUT THAT NEIGHBORS ARE DISCOURAGED FROM USING IT.
SO WE WERE GLAD TO FIND A WAY TO ACQUIRE IT SO THAT WE CAN, UM, CONTROL THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THERE.
THAT IS THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
ALRIGHT, WE WILL TAKE THE PRESENTATION.
I'M A PRINCIPAL PLANNER WITH THE PARKLAND PARKLAND YOUTH AND ACQUISITION TEAM.
I'M REVIEWING THIS P AMENDMENT.
SO THE OVERVIEW OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, IT'S LOCATED IN THE EAST RIVERSIDE ON EAST RIVERSIDE AND LAKE SHORE BOULEVARD AND INCLUDES 20 ACRES DEVELOPED UNDER THE PUD AS MULTIFAMILY.
THE ORIGINAL PUD LANGUAGE VEST PARKLAND DEDICATION TO THE 2007
[03:10:01]
PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE.THE AMENDMENT IN REVIEW ADDS ONE POINT, UH, 1.4 ACRE AREA KNOWN AS AREA EIGHT TO THE PUD.
THIS AREA CURRENTLY OPERATES AS A RESTAURANT AND GAS STATION AND PROPOSES MULTIFAMILY WITHIN WITH THE AMENDMENT.
THE PUD REQUESTS AN ADDITIONAL HEIGHT ON THIS NEW TRACT FROM A MAXIMUM OF 96 FEET TODAY IN THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY TO 180 FEET.
THE MAP ABOVE SHOWS THE ORIGINAL 20 ACRES OUTLINED TO THE RIGHT AND THE ADDITIONAL AREA IS SHOWN HATCH TO THE LEFT.
THE ADDITIONAL AREA IS ADJACENT TO A FUTURE PROJECT CONNECT STATION.
THE ORIGINAL 2009 POD RESTRICTED PARKLAND DEDICATION TO THE 2007 ORDINANCE, WHICH CHARGED $650 PER RESIDENTIAL UNIT AT THE TIME OF THE ADOPTION OF THE ORIGINAL 20 ACRES.
THIS AMOUNT PER UNIT REFLECTS A COST TO BUY PARKLAND AND DEVELOP IT IN AUSTIN 20 YEARS AGO IN EXCHANGE FOR VESTING THE NEW AREA TO THE 2007 PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES, THE APPLICANT HAS DISCUSSED A DONATION OF HALF AN ACRE OF PARKLAND WITHIN THE ROCK NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS PARCEL IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE HERITAGE OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
A PR CANNOT ACCEPT THIS LAND IN CONSIDERATION FOR THE PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS SITE DUE TO ITS DISTANCE FROM THE PUTT BOUNDARY.
THE PARCEL HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED BY PARKS AS AN ACTIVE ACQUISITION TARGET.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR FOUR YEARS AND THE WE ARE WORKING ON BIDDING ON THIS PARCEL AT THE UPCOMING TRAVIS COUNTY AUCTION.
THE PARCEL COULD BE ACCEPTED AS A DONATION AS PARKLAND SEPARATE FROM THE PUT AMENDMENT APPROVAL PROCESS.
SO WE COULD ACCEPT IT AS A DONATION BUT NOT IN CONSIDERATION WITH THIS.
P THE APPLICANT PROPOSED LANGUAGE SHOWN HERE IN BLACK AS AN ADDITIONAL PROVISION THAT AIMS TO VEST THE PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEWLY ADDED AREA TO THE 2007 REGULATIONS.
THE CITY REQUIRES ALL PUT AMENDMENTS TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH OR EXCEED CURRENT PARKLAND DEDICATION CODE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LAKE SHORE PUT AMENDMENT ADOPTED IN 2025 ANNEXED AN ADDITIONAL AREA AND BROUGHT THAT AREA INTO COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT PARKLAND DEDICATION CODE.
FURTHER, THIS POD DEDICATED AN ADDITIONAL TRAIL EASEMENT AND COMMITTED TO BUILDING A 12 FOOT HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL THROUGH THE ADDITIONAL AREA.
THIS CASE IS RELEVANT BECAUSE IT IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE SOUTH SHORE PUD AND IS AS SUCH SUBJECT TO THE EXACT SAME MARKET CONDITIONS.
THE PROJECT WAS ABLE TO PENCIL THEIR BUDGET TO ACCOMMODATE THE CURRENT PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES.
THE PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS SITE MAY BE SATISFIED WITH PAYMENTS OF FEE IN LIEU.
THIS PUTT IS NOT SEEKING SUPERIORITY IN PARKLAND RATHER THAN WITH THE DEDICATION OF LAND DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO EXISTING PARKLAND.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSAL TO VEST THE PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS TO $650 A UNIT GROSSLY UNDERVALUES THE CURRENT COST OF ACQUIRING PARKLAND, WHICH IS SET AT OVER $4,600 A UNIT UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.
THE PROPOSAL LEAVES A PARKLAND FUNDING GAP OF ABOUT $400,000 PER A HUNDRED UNITS THAT MUST BE SHOULDERED BY EXISTING EXISTING AUSTINITES.
THIS FUNDING HAS TO BE SPENT WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA OF WHERE IT IS COLLECTED.
AT BEST, IT IS SPENT WITHIN A QUARTER MILE.
AT MOST, IT'S SPENT WITHIN TWO MILES OF WHERE IT'S COLLECTED.
THAT PROVISION HAS NOT CHANGED THE LAND PROPOSALS DONATION EXCHANGE IN EXCHANGE FOR VESTING THESE FEES TO $650 OF UNIT IS OF INTEREST TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AS AN ACQUISITION THAT CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AS PARKLAND DEDICATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE PUD REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE WELL OUTSIDE OF THE QUARTER MILE SERVICE AREA OF THE SITE, THOSE QUARTER MILE SERVICE AREA IS BASED ON THE 2009 COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO MAKE ALL PARKS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF ITS RESIDENCE.
SO THIS IS QUARTER MILE REPRESENTS A FIVE MINUTE WALK.
STAFF RECOMMENDS BRINGING THIS ADDITIONAL AREA INTO COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT PARKLAND DEDICATION CODE WITH THE PAYMENT OF FEE AND LOSE FEES IN LIEU, IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN SUBMITTAL.
THE PUT AMENDMENT AS WRITTEN REPRESENTS PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE INFERIOR TO CURRENT CODE.
SO THE ACTION TONIGHT IS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SOUTH SHORE PUTT AMENDMENT.
[03:15:01]
NOT CONSIDERED SUPERIOR IS BECAUSE THE LAND THAT THEY WANT TO PURCHASE AT HERITAGE IS OUTSIDE, IS BEYOND A QUARTER OF A MILE.UH, IT WAS NEVER SEEKING SUPERIORITY.
THIS PUB WAS NEVER SEEKING SUPERIORITY.
SO IT WASN'T SUPERIOR IN 2007.
WHAT IT'S SEEKING IS TO BE, TO HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL AREA BE VESTED TO THE 2007 TO LIKE THE REGULATIONS IN TIME, LIKE IN EFFECT AT THE TIME IT WAS ADOPTED.
SO THE ADDITIONAL LAND DEDICATION, IF IT WERE CLOSER, IT COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR JUST REGULAR PARKLAND, LIKE REGULAR CURRENT CODE MEETING, CURRENT CODE, BUT IT'S NOT SEEKING TO BE SUPERIOR, WHICH IS AT A DIFFERENT RATE THAN CURRENT CODE.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? TYPICALLY YOU'RE HEARING A PUD PROPOSAL SEEKING SUPERIORITY AND THAT'S WHEN WE BRING IT.
AND WHEN PUDS ARE NOT SEEKING SUPERIORITY, I DON'T THINK THEY COME TO PARKS SPORT.
WE BROUGHT THIS ONE BECAUSE THIS ONE IS SEEKING BELOW, LIKE TO BE VESTED BELOW THE CURRENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
CAN YOU JUST, UM, REITERATE WHAT YOU STATED ABOUT THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY, UM, AND THE FACT THAT Y'ALL ARE ALSO LOOKING TO, UM, PURCHASE IT? YES.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR FOUR YEARS.
WE'RE WELL AWARE OF THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE CREATING A WHOLE, UH, SYSTEM SO THAT THE CITY'S ABLE TO PLACE A BID THROUGH THE TRAVIS COUNTY AUCTION, WHICH IS HOW THIS PROPERTY CAN BE ACQUIRED.
SO WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON ACQUIRING THIS PROPERTY.
I HAVE A FOLLOW QUESTION ON THAT, BUT IF THERE IS A PRIVATE PARTY THAT'S TELLING YOU THAT THEY WILL PURCHASE IT OR THEY'RE WILLING TO PURCHASE IT, WHY DON'T Y'ALL LOOK AT PROPERTY SOMEWHERE ELSE? WELL, WE COULD ACCEPT IT AS A DONATION.
OUR POINT HERE TONIGHT IS THAT WE CAN'T USE, WE CAN'T CONSIDER ACCEPT IT.
THIS LAND IN CONSIDERATION OF THESE PUD REQUIREMENTS.
THEY HAVE TO BE A SEPARATE DISCUSSION.
WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE IT'S TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE SITE AND WHAT'S TOO FAR AWAY? THE, THE PARKLAND THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING IS OVER A QUARTER MILE AWAY FROM THE SITE.
SO IT WOULDN'T MEET OUR DEFINITION OF SERVING THE, THE RESIDENTS WHERE THE NEED IS GENERATED.
THIS IS BEYOND THE QUARTER MILE WALK.
IS, THIS IS GONNA SOUND LIKE A SILLY QUESTION, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE LIKE RUDE WHEN I ASK THIS QUESTION, BUT CAN, CAN'T THOSE RESIDENTS JUST LIKE WALK ACROSS LAKE SHORE AND GO TO THE TRAIL OR THERE'S THE PARK, THERE'S LIKE PARK AND BENCHES THERE AS WELL.
SO WHAT WE WOULD DO IS USE THE FEES THAT WE COLLECT HERE AND INVEST THEM EITHER IN ACQUISITION OR DEVELOPMENT OF PARKLAND WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF THIS.
SO IT WOULD DIRECTLY BENEFIT, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR PARKLAND DEDICATION TO MEET AN ESSENTIAL NEXUS.
AND THAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE NEW NEED THAT'S GENERATED BY THE RESIDENTS HAS TO BE MET.
LIKE WE HAVE TO MEET THAT NEED WITH THE INVESTMENT OF THE FUNDS OR THE DEDICATION OF LAND.
AND, AND I GUESS MORE STRAIGHT TO THE POINT IS, UM, I DON'T SEE THAT THAT ANYONE WHO GOES TO THAT AREA, I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE THAT THERE'S A LACK OF ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE.
I, I DON'T THINK THAT THE STAFF AT ORACLE IS INCAPABLE OF WALKING ACROSS LAKESHORE BOULEVARD TO GO TO THE TRAIL.
THE SAME THING WITH THE RESIDENTS OF THE DEVELOP OF THE APARTMENTS THAT ARE AROUND THERE.
SO I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, IS THAT FOR ME, IN MY MIND, IT DOES NOT COMPUTE THAT WE'RE SAYING IT HAS TO BE IN THAT AREA BECAUSE IT HAS TO SERVE THOSE PEOPLE.
WHEN THOSE PEOPLE SEEMINGLY ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE.
THEY HAVE THAT, THEY MAY HAVE ACCESS TO THE LAND, BUT THE LAND MAY NEED TO HAVE IMPROVEMENTS BE MADE, ADDITIONAL ACCESS POINTS, ADDITIONAL, UH, TRAIL ADDITIONAL FACILITIES TO MEET THE NEED OF THE NEW AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 180 FEET OF HEIGHT.
YOU'RE ADDING THAT MANY PEOPLE ON THE TRAIL EVERY DAY.
MAYBE WE NEED MORE FITNESS STATIONS.
AND SO THAT'S HOW THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FUNDS GET INVESTED.
CAN, CAN YOU, UM, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT, UM, GOSH, I'M PROBABLY NOT GONNA SAY IT THE RIGHT, BUT THERE'S WHAT I, WHAT I FEEL LIKE IS THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY POTENTIALLY.
UM, CAN YOU JUST REITERATE WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THERE? UM, AS FAR AS IF WE HAD A SPACE WITHIN THE REALM THAT WAS CLOSER TO THE AREA THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT
[03:20:01]
AND GETTING THE, THE LITTLE CORNER PROPERTY.I'M NOT SAYING THIS RIGHT, BUT I, I THINK WHAT I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY IN, IN RELATION TO WHAT BOARD MEMBER VILLALOBOS IS SAYING IS THAT, UM, WE, YOU KNOW, PARKS, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT LITTLE PIE SPACE.
AND SO BY TAKING THAT IN THIS, UM, WITH THIS PUD WE'RE ACTUALLY LOSING OUT, MAYBE I'M NOT, I THINK I NEED A CLARIFICATION.
SO THE, THE LITTLE PIE IS THE ADDITIONAL AREA THAT THEY'RE ADDING TO THE POD AND THERE'S NO PARKLAND PROPOSED THERE, THERE'S NO WHAT PARKLAND PROPOSED IN THAT NEW AREA.
WE WOULDN'T REQUIRE ONSITE DEDICATION HERE.
'CAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, IT THERE IS LAND DIRECTLY ADJACENT.
SO FEES AND LIEU ARE ACCEPTABLE HERE, AND THEY'RE NOT SEEKING SUPERIORITY.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT THIS HERITAGE OAKS SITE THAT'S UP FOR A DISCUSSION IN EXCHANGE FOR VESTING FEES TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LESS THAN WHAT WE WOULD COLLECT UNDER CURRENT CODE TODAY.
IT'S NOT THE BEST INVESTMENT FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
SO WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON BIDDING ON THIS PROPERTY.
IF IT WAS A COMMITMENT MADE BY THE DEVELOPER AND THEY NEEDED TO DONATE IT TO MEET THEIR COMMITMENTS TO THE RESIDENTS, THEY COULD DONATE IT TO THE CITY OF BOSTON AND WE WOULD GLADLY ACCEPT IT.
BUT WE CAN'T ACCEPT IT IN CONSIDERATION OF THESE, THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE SERVICE AREA.
YEAH, I THINK, I'M TRYING, WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS, DESPITE THE OUTSIDE OF THE SERVICE AREA, YOU'RE FEELING LIKE WE'RE, THERE'S A LOSS, LIKE WHEN YOU'RE LIKE DOING THE BALANCE THING.
SORRY, THAT'S WHAT I, I'M NOT AGAIN, UH, RANDY SCOTT, UM, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UH, THE MINIMUM BID ON THE PROPERTY, UH, THAT'S IN QUESTION, UH, STARTS AT, UH, $40,000.
UM, THE, THE GRANDFATHERING, UH, DIFFERENCE PER UNIT ON THE DEVELOPMENT IS ABOUT, UH, $4,000 PER UNIT THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, UH, TO WAIVE.
SO THEY'RE PAYING 650 RATHER THAN 4,600 AND WHATEVER PER UNIT.
SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY UNITS ARE BEING PROPOSED HERE.
A HUNDRED, 200, 300? MORE THAN THAT.
UH, SO MULTIPLY THAT BY THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT YOU'RE, THEY'RE ASKING US TO WAIVE BY CURRENT CODE IN FEE IN LIEU OF HERE.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO.
UM, WE'VE GOT BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN, AND THEN BOARD MEMBER ABU AMARA, I THINK AFTER THAT.
THANK YOU CHAIR, UM, ON THIS PRESENTATION.
SO I THINK WHAT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING IS THE PRE PRESENTATION SHOWS THE AREA, THE 1.4 ACRE TRIANGLE THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO THE PUT, THAT'S NOT PARKLAND.
THE APPLICANT IS COMING FORWARD AND SAYING THAT IN ORDER TO GET THESE THINGS FOR THE PUD, THEY WERE ADDING THE 1.4 ACRES TO THE PUD, IT WOULD INCREASE HEIGHT FOR THE PUD AND THEY WOULD HAVE VESTED FEES TO A CALL OR TO THE TUNE OF $4,000 LESS PER UNIT.
THE APPLICANT WAS OFFERING UP PROPERTY FURTHER AWAY, WHICH IS WHAT WE HEARD ONE OF THE, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS ON.
BUT THAT ADDITIONAL ACREAGE THAT IS ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM THE EXISTING PUT IS NOT SHOWN ON THE POWERPOINT BECAUSE THE CITY CANNOT CONSIDER IT AS PART OF THIS PUTT AMENDMENT DUE TO THE DISTANCE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, YEAH.
SO DUE TO THAT ADDITIONAL PROPERTY BEING SO FAR AWAY, IT WOULDN'T TECHNICALLY BE A PART OF THE P AND UM, I GUESS THE APPLICANT IS TRYING TO SHOW THAT THIS
SO WITHOUT THIS PUD AMENDMENT, AM I CORRECT IN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE APPLICANT'S REQUIRED TO PAY 46 76, $4,676 AND 52 CENTS PER UNIT CURRENTLY? YES.
IF THIS SITE WERE DEVELOPED TODAY UNDER CURRENT CODE, IT WOULD BE 46 75 PER UNIT.
IF IT WAS DEVELOPED UNDER THE, THEY'RE REQUESTING IT WOULD BE 650 A UNIT WITH ADDITIONAL HEIGHT ENTITLEMENT.
AND CAN YOU JUST REMIND US, IT'S, SO THAT'S ABOUT A DIFFERENCE, ABOUT 500,000, CORRECT.
IT'S ABOUT 400,000 PER 100 UNITS.
[03:25:01]
UNITS AT 800,000, ET CETERA, HOW MANY, DID YOU SAY 180 UNITS OR HOW MANY? IT'S 180 FEET.I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY UNITS THEY'RE PROPOSING.
IT'S JUST THE HEIGHT ALLOWANCE OF 180 FEET.
BUT A SITE LIKE THIS WITH A 60 FOOT ALLOWANCE WOULD BE ABOUT 250 UNITS.
IS THE VESTING ON THE FEES TO THE OLDER AMOUNT, IS THAT ONLY FOR THE ADDITIONAL AREA? THE WHOLE ORIGINAL AREA, THE 20 ACRES IS ALREADY VESTED UNDER THAT AMOUNT AND HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.
IF IT GOT REDEVELOPED, IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THAT ORIGINAL LANGUAGE.
THE ONLY THING PART IS, OR, OR APRS REQUESTING HERE IS THAT THE ADDITIONAL AREA THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION BE TREATED LIKE ANY PUT THAT WE WOULD SEE TODAY AND MEET CURRENT CODE.
DOES, UH, OKAY, SO WHAT IS THE DEVELOP, HOW MANY UNITS IS THE DEVELOPER PROPOSING TO BUILD IN THAT LAND? OR DO THE, HAVE THEY SAID, I DON'T HAVE A UNIT COUNT, BUT YOU SAID IT WAS 60.
SO YOU, BUT YOU SAID A 60, IT WOULD BE ABOUT 200 FOR 60 AND THEY'RE GOING FOR 80 OR 180 VERSUS ONE 60? YEAH.
SO IT'S LIKE AT LEAST 200 UNITS AT LEAST.
IS THE, IS THE LOSS THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT, CORRECT? YES.
IT'S $400,000 FOR EVERY 100 UNITS.
SO IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE UP TO A MILLION DOLLARS.
BOARD MEMBER ABARA, YOU HAD A QUESTION OR COMMENT? YEAH.
UH, JUST TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE, UM, PEOPLE THAT SPOKE AT PUBLIC COMMENT, I TOOK A LOOK AT, UM, HERITAGE, UH, OAK PARK AND IF, IF, UH, WHAT I'M LOOKING AT GOOGLE MAPS IS CORRECT.
IT'S BASICALLY THE AREA OF CONCERN, UM, WITH THE CAMP AND ALL THAT IS, IS BEHIND IT.
UM, AND, AND BETWEEN, BETWEEN THE PARK AND A, UH, A PUBLIC STORAGE AREA, IF I'M CORRECT.
UM, AND, UH, A PR IS PUTTING A BID ON THAT LAND RIGHT NOW, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY.
AND IF, IF YOU WIN THAT BID, UM, IS IS A PR WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING, ARE THEY ARE WILLING TO BASICALLY CLEAR IT, DEVELOP IT, AND, UH, CONNECTED TO THE ORIGINAL PARK? IT WOULD BE, IT'S DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE PARK.
SO IT WOULD BE EXPANDED AND MAINTAINED AS THE PARK IS TODAY? YES.
UM, AND YOU'D HAVE A OWNER TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE CRIMINAL TRESPASSING ISSUES THAT ARE THERE? IT WOULD BE THE CITY.
UH, I, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, HOW IMMEDIATE WOULD THAT WORK START IF YOU, IF YOU WENT THAT, WHAT THE QUESTION, HOW IMMEDIATELY WOULD THOSE THE WORK START TO CLEAR, TO CLEAR THE PIECE PROPERTY FOR ONE TO DONATE? UH, IT, IT WOULD, IT WOULD START, UH, IMMEDIATELY AS, AS SOON AS WE ATTAINED OWNERSHIP AND A DEED.
UH, I DO WANT TO, UH, CLARIFY THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S TWO WAYS OR THREE WAYS THAT THIS PROPERTY COULD END UP IN AS A PARK.
UH, ONE IS, UH, WE SOMEHOW, UH, THE CITY, OUR PART, UH, SOMEHOW WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WIN THE BID.
UH, WE ARE LIMITED ON HOW MUCH WE CAN BID ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, IF, UH, THE, THE APPLICANT WINS THE BID IS, IS A WAY THAT IT COULD, UH, WOULD COME TO THE CITY EVENTUALLY, UH, WE COULD EITHER, UH, PURCHASE IT FROM THE APPLICANT OR THE APPLICANT COULD DONATE IT, UH, UH, TO THE CITY.
SO THO THOSE ARE SOME OPTIONS.
UH, BUT ONCE THE CITY OBTAINS THE DEED AND WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ON THE PROPERTY, UH, WE WILL BEGIN, UH, LOWERING THE VEGETATION.
UH, AND, UH, I SEE MOVING ON THE, THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE OCCURRING ON THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY.
UH, I I, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, JUST MIGHT BE OUT OF THE PURVIEW OF PARKS, BUT I AM CURIOUS, UH, SO THE APPLICANT IS INTERESTED
[03:30:01]
IN ACQUIRING THIS 1.4 ACRES, UH, BUT THERE IS A RESTAURANT AND GAS STATION OVER THERE.ARE THE CURRENT OWNERS RELINQUISHING THESE BUSINESSES TO THE APPLICANT? I'M NOT SURE, BUT IS HE ASKING THE CURRENT OWNERS OF THE, OF THE ADDITIONAL AREA THAT'S IN THE PUD APPLICATION? OH, THAT, YEAH.
RANDY WAS DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB.
HE WAS GONNA HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ME, ME, UH, MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
THE, UH, SEVEN 11 IS, UH, IS THERE, THEY HAVE A A, A LEASE AND I THINK THEIR LEASE IS COMING DUE.
I THINK THEIR LEASE IS ALREADY AND IN, THEY'RE JUST ON A MONTH TO MONTH.
I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY.
IT'S THREE DIFFERENT, UH, OWNERSHIP ENTITIES.
UH, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VISION TO INCLUDE IT AS PART OF THIS, UH, POD.
UH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIGHT RAIL STATION BEING LESS THAN 50 FEET AWAY NOW.
UH, RIGHT, RIGHT THERE AT THE, AT THAT STOP.
UM, AND, AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE, I THINK EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT QUARTER MILE TO REMEMBER, UH, THIS IS A PUT, YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT.
AND IF IT'S A MILE AWAY AND THAT'S WHAT THEIR OWN LONG RANGE PLAN SAYS, IS THE SERVICE DISTRICT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, THEN IT, IT, IT'S FINE TO INCLUDE THAT TYPE OF DEDICATION IN THIS, UH, IN THIS.
PUT ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT HERE.
SO THE INCREASE IN HEIGHT, UM, FROM 96 TO 180, THAT WOULD BE ACROSS THE ENTIRE ORIGINAL 20 ACRES IN ADDITIONAL IN ADDITION TO THE 1.4, IS THAT CORRECT? I LIKE IT JUST APPLIES TO THE 1.4.
MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, IT'S ONLY ON THE 1.4 AND WE PAY, UH, I THINK IT'S ALMOST $2 MILLION, WHATEVER THAT IT AN EXTRAORDINARY SUM IN TERMS OF FOR THE, UH, ADDITIONAL SPACE UNDER THE PUD RULES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT GOES TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
BOARD MEMBERS NOW, OH YEAH, GO AHEAD.
UH, I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THIS AND RESPECTFULLY, UM, WHAT WE, WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH IS DEALS WITH A, UH, A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE TO CITY COUNCIL.
UH, IT DEALS WITH A POTENTIAL, UM, ADDITION OF LAND DEDICATION AS A PARK, UM, LAND THAT'S NOT OWNED BY THE P NOR OWNED BY THE CITY, CORRECT? CORRECT.
BOTH OF WHICH ARE BIDDING AND THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES.
SO WE HAVE THIS CONTINGENCY PARKED PROPERTY OVER HERE AND THE SWAP IS, WE'RE GONNA ROLL BACK THE CLOCK TO 2007.
UM, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR IF ANYBODY HAS A MOTION.
MR. BECK QUESTION? YES, CHAIR.
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S COMFORTABLE MAKING A PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION.
CAN YOU JUST REVIEW OUR POTENTIAL OPTIONS JUST FOR THE BOARD? ABSOLUTELY.
SO, UH, THE BOARD ALWAYS HAS THE OPTION TO NOT TAKE ACTION.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE BOARD IS NOT BOUND TO TAKE ACTION IN THIS CASE.
UH, AND THE POSTING LANGUAGE DOES OFFER UP, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE OPTIONS.
BUT THE TWO MOST OBVIOUS WOULD BE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE PUTT AMENDMENT OR TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO NOT APPROVE THE PUTT AMENDMENT, ADMIT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION, CAN I GET OH, CHAIR IF I MAY BEFORE WE TAKE AN ACTION? SURE.
AND THEN WE'VE, I ALSO, SORRY ONE SECOND BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN, WE'LL GO TO YOU AND THEN WE'VE GOT, UM, BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS WANTS A CLARIFICATION, SO I APOLOGIZE.
NO, THANK YOU FOR THE ADDITIONAL TIME.
[03:35:01]
JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, I THINK THAT THE OFFSITE PROPERTY, IT WAS NOT BY STAFF THAT BIDDING STARTS AT $40,000.POTENTIALLY THE DIFFERENCE FOR, WHAT WAS IT FOR UNITS COULD BE 400,000 BASED ON A HUNDRED UNITS, I GUESS.
UM, AND THAT IS THE SOURCE OF MY HESITANCY IS I GUESS WE'RE INCREASING THE POD SIZE AND GRANTING THIS INCREASE IN HEIGHT ONLY FOR THE 1.4 ACRES.
UM, BUT IT WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH CURRENT PARKLAND FEE REQUIREMENTS.
AND IT IS QUITE A BIG ASK IN TERMS OF A DIFFERENCE OF POTENTIAL VALUE OF PROPERTY, WHICH AS NOTED, WE DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD WIN THE BID.
IT MIGHT NOT BE THE CITY, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD WIN THAT BID OR IT'S $400,000.
UM, AND SORRY TO STAFF ONE MORE TIME.
COULD YOU REMIND ME WHAT WAS THE ACREAGE ON THAT PROPERTY? IT'S, THAT'S ABOUT A MILE AWAY, HALF AN ACRE.
AND IT EXPANDS AN EXISTING PARK.
IT'S ABOUT HALF AN ACRE AND IT EXPANDS THE EXISTING PARK.
AND THEN BOARD MEMBER, YOU BANKS, YOU HAD A CLARIFYING QUESTION.
BOARD MEMBER ZOSTER WHILE, NOPE.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? OH, I DO REMEMBER.
UH, OUR, OUR, WE ARE BEING ASKED TO RECOMMEND, UM, OUR, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS RELATED TO THE PUT THE PUTT ISSUE, RIGHT? UM, YES.
AND CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, THIS THE HALF ACRE, RIGHT? IS THAT ROLLED INTO THE PUD PROPOSAL THAT WOULD BE GOING TO COUNCIL? OH, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
UM, I THINK THAT WOULD, SO YOUR QUESTION IS WHETHER IN RECOMMENDING, LIKE IF THE BOARD RECOMMENDED IN FAVOR OF THIS PUTT AMENDMENT, WOULD THE BOARD ALSO THEN BE RECOMMENDING THAT THIS HALF ACRE EXTENSION MOVE FORWARD AS PART OF THE THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
BASED ON STAFF'S DESCRIPTION THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, LAND TRANSFER COULDN'T BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE PARKLAND DEDICATION, I WOULD SAY NO, BUT I'VE GOT TWO EXPERTS SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
SO WHAT'S WRONG? I MEAN, ARE THEY JOINED AT THE HIP? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS.
UH, IT LOOKED LIKE IN THE APPLICANT'S MOST RECENT PRESENTATION, THEY MADE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE THAT I HAVE NOT YET REVIEWED THAT INCLUDED A SECTION B NOTING THAT THEY WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO DEDICATE THIS BARLAND TO THE CITY.
SO THERE WOULD, SO IF IT FELL THROUGH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE.
IN THE ORDINANCE THAT I'VE REVIEWED, IT WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE THAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED TO STAFF.
I, I ASSUME IT MEANS THEY'RE, THEY WANT TO WIN IT.
I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE SCENARIOS WHERE I, I DO THINK IT'S A TOUGH DECISION.
UM, I'M HAVING, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS, BUT I'M LOOKING AT THEM REALISTIC.
SO FOR ME, AND I UNDERSTAND THE HESITANCY OF SOME OF MY BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL.
SO I'M, I THINK I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT.
AND THEN IF IT FAILS THEN I'LL DO ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION AFTER THAT.
BUT, UM, I'M GONNA RECOMMEND THAT WE UH, WHAT NUMBER ARE WE ON? SIX.
UM, I'M GONNA MAKE, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT? NO, I'M GONNA MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE TAKE NO ACTION ON THE CITY THAT WE HAVE NO ACTION ON THE RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL RELATED TO THE SOUTH SHORE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT.
ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT WE TAKE.
SO WAIT, I DO WANNA CLARIFY IS, IS THIS A, A MOTION THAT THE BOARD TAKE NO ACTION? OR IS THIS A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL THERE? THAT CITY COUNCIL TAKE NO ACTION? YOU KNOW WHAT, NO, WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.
WE'RE NOT GONNA YOU CITY COUNCIL AFTER THIS MEETING EITHER WAY THOUGH, CORRECT? RIGHT?
[03:40:01]
THAT IS CORRECT.SO WE'RE NOT MAKING A RECOMMENDATION FOR OR AGAINST IS WHERE WE'RE I THINK WHERE WE'RE SITTING.
YEAH, BUT MR. BECK, YOU'RE SAYING, DON'T WE HAVE TO TAKE SOME SORT OF ACTION? NO, NO.
I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL, EITHER FOR OR AGAINST.
'CAUSE THEY'LL, WE WILL, I MEAN WE'VE GONE OUT THIS A LONG TIME GUYS, SO I FEEL LIKE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION.
CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF THE SAME QUESTIONS POTENTIALLY.
AND I THINK HOPEFULLY BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE ON THE BOARD, WE DO HAVE SOME GOOD BACKGROUND AND INSIGHT THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO COUNCIL.
JUST A FEW EXTRA THOUGHTS THERE, BUT IT IS UP TO YOU IF YOU WANNA MAKE THAT MOTION.
I WILL PROBABLY, SINCE I WAS PLANNING TO HAVE NO ACTION, I WILL LIKE VOTE AGAINST, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU PUT FORWARD.
IS THAT THE CORRECT WORDING, TIM? CORRECT.
SO THE, THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO NOT APPROVE THE SOUTH SHORE PUTT AMENDMENT.
THAT IS THE MOTION FOR THE BOARD.
AND THEN DO WE HAVE A SECOND ON NOT APPROVING? WE HAVE A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER EUBANKS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I THINK WE'RE GETTING TIRED.
I THINK, UH, YOU NEED TO READ.
WHAT ARE WE VOTING ON? BECAUSE WE ARE TIRED.
MR. BECK IS GONNA READ WHAT WERE
THE, THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO NOT APPROVE THE SOUTH SHORE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT.
SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO NOT APPROVE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF RECOMMENDING TO NOT APPROVE.
ALL THOSE AGAINST, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALRIGHT, AND WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO
[7. Discussion and approve the creation of a Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Recommendation working group. Sponsors: (Bazan, Flowers) ]
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.UH, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, DISCUSSION.
APPROVE THE CREATION OF A FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27.
BUDGET RECOMMENDATION WORKING GROUP AND NO SPEAKERS.
I'M ASSUMING, UM, WE GENERALLY, UH, TRADITIONALLY, UH, VOTE TO HAVE A WORKING GROUP.
UM, ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE THE OPTION TO PUT FORTH, UM, IDEAS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THE WORKING GROUP, UH, HELPS US MOVE THIS FORWARD.
AND SO WITH THAT, UM, AND CHAIR, JUST TO NOTE THAT THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BUDGET WILL BE, IT'LL HAVE TO BE APPROVED AT AT NEXT MONTH'S MEETING ON MARCH 23RD.
YES, WE ARE A LITTLE BIT TO BE QUICK.
UM, ALRIGHT, SO CAN I JUST MOTION TO APPROVE THIS? OKAY.
UM, MOTION TO APPROVE THE CREATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2026.
BUDGET RECOMMENDATION WORKING GROUP.
WE'VE GOT A SECOND FOR BOARD MEMBER VILLALOBOS.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION MOVING RIGHT ALONG AND CHAIR.
OKAY, WE'VE GOT, IT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHO'S GONNA CHAIR THIS WORKING GROUP.
IT'S USUALLY VICE CHAIR FLOWERS.
AND I THINK WE'LL ALLOW HER TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
YEAH, I'LL TALK WITH HER ABOUT IT.
CAN I MOVE AHEAD NOW? ALRIGHT.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CREATION OF THE 20 26 20 27 BUDGET RECOMMENDATION WORKING GROUP.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT ALL NINE UNANIMOUS.
[03:45:02]
MOVING ON.[8. Discussion, and change the date and location of the May 2026 regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board from May 18, 2026 at City Hall to May 19, 2026 at the Permitting and Development Center at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) ]
BREAK DISCUSSION AND CHANGE THE DATE AND LOCATION OF THE MAY, 2026 REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD FOR MAY 18TH, 2026 AT CITY HALL OF MAY 19TH, 2026 AT THE PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT 63 10 WILLAMINA DELCO DRIVE, AUSTIN, TEXAS.UM, AND THE REASON BEING IS THAT WE, UM, IN LOOKING AT MOVING THE MEETING DUE TO A HOLIDAY, UM, WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE, UH, THE SPACE WITH, SORRY, TIM, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE SPACE WE WANTED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECORD.
UH, PDCS AVAILABLE, WHICH WE'LL HAVE, UH, ADDITIONAL A TXN AND, AND TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES, WHICH WILL HELP TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED OF THE BOARD'S ACTIONS.
SO THAT IS THE REASONING BEHIND THAT.
I, I THINK I MAY HAVE JUST SAID HOLIDAY, BUT THE HOLIDAY IS THE FOLLOWING WEEK, RIGHT? YES.
IT'S THE BOARD MEETING ONE WEEK.
SO IT DIDN'T CONFLICT WITH MEMORIAL DAY TO THE 18TH.
CITY HALL CONSUL CHAMBERS IS NOT AVAILABLE ON THE 18TH, NEITHER IS THE PDC.
BUT THE PDC WAS AVAILABLE TUESDAY THE 19TH.
I, SO IT WAS RELATED TO A HOLIDAY, WHY IT WAS ORIGINALLY MOVED.
JUST MOVE THIS OR WE JUST DISCUSSING IT? UM, WE CAN HAVE A, WE CAN DISCUSS NOW.
WE CAN NO, NO, LIKE AS IN LIKE, LIKE DO DO I NEED, DO WE NEED A MOTION? WE DO NEED A MOTION.
I MOVED TO APPROVE, DID MOVE, MOVE IN A NEW LOCATION AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND THE MOTION.
TO CHANGE IT TO MAY THE 19TH AT THE PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT WIL CAMINO DOUGLAS DRIVE.
ALRIGHT, ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? NOPE.
ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OKAY.
[9. Discussion and appoint an alternate for the Parks and Recreation Board seat on the Joint Sustainability Committee. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) ]
NUMBER NINE, WE HAVE DISCUSSION AND APPOINT AN ALTER.WE ARE TABLING THIS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
UM, WE NEED MORE INFORMATION FROM THE CITY CLERK ON ITEM NUMBER NINE.
SO WE'RE TABLING THAT, WHICH MOVES THIS
[12. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates. (Sponsors: Bazan, Flowers) (APR Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Urban Public Spaces, Park Access). Presenter(s): Lucas Massie, Assistant Director, Austin Parks and Recreation.]
RIGHT ALONG TO ITEM NUMBER 12, STAFF BRIEFING ON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS, PLANNING UPDATES, DEVELOPMENT UPDATES, MAINTENANCE UPDATES, PROGRAM UPDATES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES.AND WITH THE CHAIR OUT, UH, CHAIR AT THIS TIME, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE MEETING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PASS A SIMPLE MOTION.
UH, THE MOTION THAT THE BOARD WILL NEED TO CONSIDER IS TO WAIVE THE RULES AND ALLOW THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD TO MEET AFTER 10:00 PM IF ANY BOARD MEMBER AGREES, THEY CAN SAY, SO MOVED.
AND A MAJORITY VOTE ON THIS ONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR TO KEEP THE MEETING? GOING TO FINISH IT.
AND I PROMISE NOT TO TAKE MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES, UM, BUT WE WANTED TO SHARE A FEW, UM, UPDATES.
SO, UH, FIRST OF ALL, WITH REGARDS TO REGISTRATION FOR OUR CAMPS, THESE ARE UNDERWAY AND, UH, UH, OUR A PR TEAM HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH, UH, THE, UH, VENDOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE OPTIONS FOR EARLY REGISTRATION AND, UH, AS, UM, ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES WHO PRE-QUALIFY FOR THIS, SO THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PRESERVE THEIR SPACE ON OUR CAMPS.
SO THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE AND NOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH REGULAR SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION, WHICH IS IN PROCESS FOR, UM, MANY OF OUR FACILITIES.
UM, THE, UM, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES REGARDING THE, UM, COMMUNITY PLAY ABILITIES IN ACTION.
AND THESE ARE, OR THE ADAPTIVE VALENTINE'S DAY DANCE PARTY.
THESE ARE, UH, EVENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE AND YOU CAN, UM, SEE WHAT THE, UM, RESPONSE BY THE COMMUNITY WAS AND HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY HAVE BEEN.
UH, SIMILARLY AT THE NEXT SLIDE, THE DOLORES DUFFY, UH, REC CENTER AND DITMAR HAD, UH, EVENTS FOR, UM, UM, SOME OF THESE WERE FOR, UM, YOUTH CLUBS
[03:50:01]
AND, UH, AGAIN, THEY WERE VERY WELL ATTENDED.THEY ARE REPORTING, UM, ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THE, UH, SUMMER CAMP ENROLLMENT SUCCESS STORIES.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY ARE BEING, UM, NOW AT ALMOST AT CAPACITY IN MANY OF THEIR, UH, PROGRAMS. AND THEY ARE ALSO, UM, HAVING ADDITIONAL WORK DONE FOR THE EXHIBIT HOLDER RENOVATION.
THE BIGGEST PART HERE HAS TO DO WITH, UM, THE, UM, PREPARING FOR THE SWIM SEASON.
SO A LOT OF, UH, WORK IS BEING DEDICATED TO HAVE, UM, THE POOLS READY TO START.
BURTON SPRINGS POOL IS CLOSED AS OF TODAY, AND FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS IT WILL BE, UH, IT'LL OPEN AGAIN ON THE 14TH OF MARCH.
AND THAT HAS, IS THAT WORK THAT'S GONNA BE DONE NOW? IT INCLUDES SOME REGULAR MAINTENANCE WORK, BUT ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL WORK ON THE, UH, SCHEMA, WHICH PRESENTED A SAFETY, UM, ISSUE THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE ARE, UH, PLANNING CORRECTLY AND WE ARE, UH, PREPARING IT.
UM, WITH REGARDS TO LIFEGUARDS, A LOT OF EFFORT HAS BEEN, UH, PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, BREACH OUT TO, UM, ALL OF THE POTENTIAL LIFEGUARDS.
AND, UH, UM, SO FAR WE HAVE, UM, I BELIEVE I SAW A NUMBER HERE, BUT THAT WE HAVE, UM, 200, WE HAVE 344 LIFEGUARDS READY TO WORK AND 239 TOTAL LIFEGUARD APPLICANTS THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS.
AND WE ARE IN FEBRUARY FOR THE NEXT ONE, THE, UM, BATHHOUSE, THE JOHN MINELLI, UM, BATHHOUSE PROJECT THAT THERE IS A PART OF THE PROJECT THAT HAS ALREADY, WHICH INCLUDES THE SHOWERS, THE RESTROOMS, AND MOST OF THE PARKING LOT THAT HAS BEEN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SINCE OCTOBER.
HOWEVER, THE NEW EXHIBIT AND THE MAIN ENTRY TO THE POOL AT THE, UH, ROTUNDA IS NOT READY YET.
AND WE EXPECT THAT THAT WILL BE, UM, DONE AND READY TO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, UH, LATER THIS SPRING.
AND AT THAT TIME WE'LL ALSO HAVE A GRANT OPENING FOR THE, UH, FOR THE NEW BATHHOUSE.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON TWO OTHER POOLS, OLI AND NORTHWEST.
AND THESE ARE TOTAL POOL INNOVATIONS THAT, UH, WILL ALSO UPDATE THE, UM, THE BATHHOUSES, THE RESTROOMS THERE, UH, WILL HAVE NEW SHADE STRUCTURES AND WILL BE A DA WILL HAVE A DA ACCESSIBILITY UPGRADES.
UM, MONTOPOLIS IS GONNA BE READY, UM, LATER, UH, IN LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER.
NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO BE READY IN THE LATE SPRING.
BOTH OF THEM, UM, HOPEFULLY WILL BE OPEN FOR THE, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE SWIM SEASON.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, THE PARK IS, ARE GOES ABOVE HOUSE.
THE RENOVATION THERE HAS BEEN COMPLETED, WAS COMPLETED, UH, LATER, LATE LAST FALL AND WILL ALSO BE OPEN FOR THE, UH, FOR THE SUMMER POOL SEASON.
AND LASTLY, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND TOURISM DIVISION IS REPORTING ON TWO ITEMS. ONE IS THE MONIS HISTORIC SCHOOL, WHICH IS NOW UNDER THE, UM, ACME, UM, THE ARTS, MUSIC, UH, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT, UM, DEPARTMENT.
AND PART OF OUR WORK WAS TO, UH, REPORT AT A RECENT MEETING, UM, ABOUT THE SCHOOL'S HISTORY AND THE PROJECT THAT WAS COMPLETED BY, UH, AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION AS PART OF THE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT.
AND ALSO, UM, REPORT ON THE NOMINATION FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
SO THAT EVENT ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE ON FEBRUARY 17TH AND WAS QUITE SUCCESSFUL.
AND THEN WE CELEBRATED THE, UM, UH, THE RENOVATION FOR HENRY JIM ADDISON CABIN.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL, UH, CLOSE THIS AND, UH,
[03:55:01]
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS? I HAVE ONE COMMENT.
A BRIEF COMMENT AND I'LL UH, PASS THIS ALONG TO THE, UH, MENDEZ REC CENTER.
I, UM, WAS ABLE TO LEAD A GROUP FROM MENDEZ OF A TOUR OF THE ST.
MARY CATHEDRAL TWO WEEKS AGO, NO, LAST FRIDAY.
AND, UM, WAS EXPOSED TO THE, THE SENIORS PROGRAM, WHICH MADE ME FEEL VERY YOUNG, I TELL YOU.
AND IT WAS A 12 PEOPLE CAME IN A BUS.
I THINK ALL HEAD WALKERS ALL HAD SOME SORT OF SUPPORT AND, UM, WE HAD A SPECTACULAR TIME.
AND FROM THERE THEY WENT TO, UH, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, UH, FOR LINTON FRIDAY FISH FRY.
AND I, AND I GOT TO TALK TO THE SENIORS GROUP AND YOU KNOW, WE SIT UP HERE TALKING ABOUT HUGE ISSUES, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS, ET CETERA.
BUT REALLY, I THINK ONE OF THE GREAT VALUES OF A PARK SYSTEM IS HOW IT AFFECTS PEOPLE ONE AT A TIME.
AND, UH, THIS PROGRAM IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
SO KEEP UP THE SENIORS PROGRAM AND ALL THOSE PROGRAMS 'CAUSE IT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
I WAS, I WENT TO THE WISHBONE BRIDGE, UM, OPENING, UH, WITH MY SON WHO USES A WHEELCHAIR AND IT WAS, UM, WONDERFUL.
I THOUGHT THE TUNNEL WITH THE MOSAICS SPECTACULAR.
UM, REALLY GREAT EVENT AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU, UH, TO EVERYONE AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
IT WAS, IT WAS A GREAT EVENT AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN BEING THERE.
ANYBODY ELSE ALL WITH THAT? IT IS TEN OH EIGHT AND I'LL CALL THIS MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD TO A CLOSE.