[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
>>> LET'S START WITH OUR MEETING FOR PARKS AND RECREATION.
>> GOD, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, WE THANK YOU FOR OUR CITY, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STAFF. LORD, WE HAVE SO MANY POSITIVE THINGS IN ABILENE, TEXAS AND WE'RE SEEING THE HAND OF GRACE IN THAT IN PROVISION. LORD, KEEP OUR CONVERSATION, OUR THOUGHTS, HONORING YOU THIS MORNING, LORD, AND WE PRAY THE DECISIONS WE MAKE WILL DO THAT AND BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY. WE THANK YOU AND PRAY IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
>> AMEN. >> WE WILL START OUR MEETING WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ANY AGENDA ITEMS FOR TODAY. IF YOU HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND I'M BETTING WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY. WITH THAT, WE WILL CLOSE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO REVIEW OF THE MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING.
[MINUTES]
>> WE APPROVE THE MINUTES? >> MOVED AND SECONDED, ALL IN
>> OPPOSED? IT CARRIES. LET'S MOVE INTO THE AGENDA ITEMS, WE
[2. Parks Bucks Update (Discussion and Action)]
HAVE A PACKAGE AGENDA STARTING WITH THE PARKS BUCKS UPDATE.>> JUST BRIEFLY, I DID CONTACT ODESSA AND WAS REFERRED TO THEIR PARKS DIRECTOR AND SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT THE MECHANICS OF HOW THEY DO IT AND REALLY MY OPINION HAS NOT CHANGED AS TO WHETHER THE OPT IN VERSUS OPT OUT. I THINK THE OPT OUT IS SUBJECT TO LEGAL CHALLENGE. ODESSA IS THE ONLY CITY THAT'S DONE IT. I CAN LOOK AT IT FURTHER BUT I DON'T THINK MY THOUGHTS WILL CHANGE. I THINK THEY'VE JUST CROSSED THEIR FINGERS THAT THEY'VE NOT BEEN CHALLENGED. SO THAT'S THE ONLY UPDATE I HAVE.
>> WHAT QUESTIONS DO WE HAVE REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE?
>> NOW THAT THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN ANSWERED, STAFF NEEDS DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD ON WHERE WE WANT TO TAKE THIS PROGRAM. DO WE WANT TO JUST CONTINUE DOING IT AS IS? DO WE WANT TO SUNSET IT? DO WE WANT TO DO AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN TO REENERGIZE IT ARE OUR BASIC OPTIONS.
>> IF I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY, WE'RE THE OPT OUT CAMPAIGN IS WE'RE THROWING THAT BY THE WAYSIDE. THAT SOUNDS AS IF THAT'S THE MOST INTERPRETIVE WAY AND EASIEST WAY FORWARD. SO I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. TO ME, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO NECESSARILY SUNSET THE PROGRAM. WE'RE JUST GETTING VALUE OUT OF THE PARKS BUCKS PROGRAM. PERHAPS IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO GET A MORE ROBUST MARKETING CAMPAIGN BEHIND IT TO GET THE WORD OUT. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> I THINK IF THERE'S A WAY THAT MAYBE STAFF WOULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT BETTER PUBLICIZE AND MARKET PARKS BUCKS, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT. WE HAVE GOT SIGNIFICANT NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE TO TRY TO FIND SOME WAY TO ADDRESS THOSE AS BEST WE CAN. WHATEVER -- NOT ONLY LEGAL BUT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY. SO ... THAT WOULD BE MY
RECOMMENDATION. >> CHRIS HAS A FEW COMMENTS.
>> SURE. >> CHRIS GIBSON. WE STARTED BRAINSTORMING WITH STAFF ALREADY. WORKING WITH OUR MULTIMEDIA PERSON TO THINK ABOUT A CAMPAIGN PROJECT AND WE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE PAIRING IT WITH THE UPCOMING PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH IN JULY. IT'S INTERESTING IF YOU PUT THE STATS TOGETHER ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE RECEIVED, WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THAT MONEY AND SHOWN THE HISTORY AND GOOD WE CAN DO FROM THE CAMPAIGN.
THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'VE ABOUT TALKING ABOUT, WHERE YOU GET THE MOST BANG FOR THE PARK BUCK AND PAIR IT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, OUTGOING ON ALL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND PROMOTE IT THAT WAY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE JULY PARKS AND REC MONTH. THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT NOW. >> ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THAT'S GREAT. THAT SOUNDS PERFECT. AND THE IDEA THAT YOU FEEL LIKE AS -- THERE ARE OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO COMMUNICATE THIS IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND TO BE ABLE TO TELL THAT STORY TELLS US ALL WE NEED TO KNOW.
[00:05:03]
>> SO WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION THEN OFFICIALLY?
>> NO, YOU HAVE REALLY GIVEN US THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO MOVE
FORWARD. >> WE CAN TAKE ACTION IF WE NEED TO BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 3, THE SUMMARY COUNCIL WORKSHOP PRESENTATION.
[3. Summary Council Workshop Presentation (Discussion)]
>> ON MARCH 22ND I GAVE A PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL ABOUT SOME NEEDS IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM WAS IT WAS OVER AN HOUR LONG. IN THE AGENDA WAS A COPY OF THE PRESENTATION BUT I WANT TO HIT HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT. BEFORE YOU NOW IS A QUOTE. PARKS AND GREEN SPACE MAKE US HEALTHIER, HAPPIER, MORE CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY AND EACH OTHER AND INCREASE ECONOMIC VALUE, REDUCE CRIME, INCREASE SOCIAL EQUITY AND MAKE YOU WILL FEEL WE'RE PART OF A PLACE.
THAT'S THAT'S OUR EMOTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE. WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU THINK ABOUT STREETS, WATER, PIPES, THINGS LIKE THAT. WHAT THIS GENTLEMAN AND IN THIS BOOK TALKS ABOUT IS THERE'S ALSO EMOTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IS REALLY YOUR CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU'RE LIVING IN. AND PARKS AND RECREATION PLAYS A HUGE PART IN THAT. THAT WAS A QUOTE WE USED. THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WERE WALKING TRAILS, RESTROOMS, GROVER NELSON, RECREATION AND CEDAR CREEK. REDBUD AND SEARS, YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THOSE OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS. THIS IS A GUESSTIMATE ON PRICING. WE WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT TO BID.
LOOKING AT THIS WE'RE LOOKING AT REBUD, REDOING REDBUD WITH A CONCRETE, 8 FOR THE WIDE CONCRETE WALKING PATH FOR $727,000 AND 8-FOOT WIDE CRETE WALKING PATH AT SEARS. CITY COUNCIL WILL LIKE THIS PROPOSAL SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SEEING IF WE CAN PROPOSE THIS AS PART OF THE BUDGET IN JULY THAT WE'LL BE GOING TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
RESTROOMS, WE TALKED ABOUT REPAIRING RESTROOMS. IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO ANY PARKS, YOU REALIZE A LOT OF OUR RESTROOMS ARE GETTING OUTDATED AND IN SORE NEED OF HELP. THIS PICTURE IS SOME OF OUR OLDER RESTROOMS THAT REALLY COULD USE TLC. THIS IS PICTURES OF SOME OF OUR MORE MODERN RESTROOMS WE ACQUIRED WHEN WE'VE DONE SPLASH PADS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE ESTIMATE A COST OF $200,000 PER RESTROOM. WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED HERE WERE SIX PARKS THAT REALLY COULD USE NEW RESTROOMS. THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY AND IT WOULD TAKE A BOND TO DO THAT VOL VOLUME. WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT START PUTTING INTO THE BUDGET MAYBE ONE RESTROOM A YEAR FOR REMODEL. AGAIN, IT WILL BE UP TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE JULY BUDGET AND HOW THINGS ARE GOING, SALES TAX, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHETHER THIS WILL BE AN OPTION OR NOT. BUT WE ARE GOING TO PUT IT IN THE BUDGET TO SEE. GROVER NELSON MASTER PLAN. Y'ALL APPROVED GROVER NELSON MASTER PLAN IN 2016. THEN WHEN THERE WAS CONVERSATION ABOUT ANIMAL SERVICES GOING INTO THE PARK, WHERE YOU SEE THE PAVILION AND OPEN SPACE IN THE BOTTOM CENTER WAS THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED LOCATION FOR ANIMAL SERVICES.
WE DID WORK WITH THE PARK DESIGNER AND PROPOSED A NEW LOCATION WITH A STOREFRONT ON LOOP 322. SO IT'S RIGHT THERE JUST NORTH OF AYSA. WE PRESENTED THIS TO CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 22ND AND RECEIVED POSITIVE FEEDBACK. SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS IN THE PARK WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE SOCCER FLEX FIELD COMPLEX. MOVING FESTIVAL GARDEN, IMPROVING THE ZOO PARKING IMPROVEMENTS. IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO THE ZOO RECENTLY, THE PARKING LOT IS IN SIGNIFICANT NEED OF IMPROVEMENT TO M THESE CHANGES, MOVE FESTIVL GARDENS AND REDO PARKING, NEW INTERNAL ROADS WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE PARK. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED OR WHAT I PROPOSED MARCH 22ND WAS $18 MILLION. THAT WOULD REQUIRE A BOND. I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT POINT IN TIME CITY COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER DOING A BOND BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IN A NORMAL ANNUAL BUDGET CYCLE.
[00:10:01]
THERE'S ALSO IN THIS PARK A DESIGN FOR A FIVE FLEX BASEBALL FIELD AS WELL AS LAKE AND FISHING AREA, TXDOT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS ON LOOP 322. THE TOTAL GROVER NELSON MASTER PLAN IS A $31 MILLION PROPOSAL. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A POTENTIAL BOND WOULD BE THE $18 MILLION. IF WE DID NOTHING IN THE MASTER PLAN BUT JUST DID IMPROVEMENTS ON THE ZOO PARKING, THE ESTIMATE IS $1.3 MILLION. IN THIS PROPOSAL, YOU CAN SEE ZOO PARKING IS 1.3 MILLION. SO IN THIS PLAN, I MEAN WE CAN GO WITH THE NEW MASTER PLAN AND IT WOULD BE THE SAME COST JUST TO REDO THE PARKING STRIP AS IT IS NOW, WHICH IS NOT IDEA. THAT IS AN OLD RUNWAY. ALSO IF YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED, THE ZOO HAS A FOOTPRINT THAT WE HAVE -- THE CITY, MANY DECADES AGO, HAD DEDICATED AS ZOO EXPANSION AREA. BUT IT WAS -- IT DID HAVE THE FESTIVAL GARDENS IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT DESIGNATED AREA. GOING WITH THIS MASTER PLAN GIVES THE ZOO THE PARKING SPACES IT NEEDS BUT ALSO SHIFTS THE FESTIVAL GARDEN SO THAT THE ZOO'S EXPANSION AREA IS ALL CONTIGUOUS AND NOT SPLIT IN HALF BY THE FESTIVAL GARDEN. IT ALSO SHIFTS THE FESTIVAL GARDENS CLOSE TO AYSA. IF YOU HAVE TRAVELED WITH A SOCCER CLUB, VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL AND YOU NEED A PLACE FOR THE TEAM TO HAVE LUNCH OR SIBLINGS TO PLAY WHEN IN BETWEEN GAMES, THIS WOULD MAKE IT A GREAT ADDITION. THE SYNERGY WITH AYSA WOULD MAKE THIS A PLACE PEOPLE WANT TO COME PLAY SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING HERE. RECREATION CENTERS, IF YOU REMEMBER, WE DO A RECREATION FEASIBILITY STUDY. THERE WAS A PRESENTATION TO PARKS BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THE NEEDS IN THE RECREATION CENTERS. COVID HIT RIGHT AFTER THAT PRESENTATION AND SO THAT WAS PUT ON THE BACK BURNER. BUT WANTING TO BRING SOME OF THESE THINGS BACK FORWARD AGAIN TO LOOK AT OUR RECREATION CENTERS AND SEE WHAT THE NEEDS IN ABILENE ARE.ALL OF THIS, Y'ALL WERE PRESENTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BUT IT IS THE REMODEL OF -- PROPOSED IS THE REMODEL OF G.V. DANIELS, SEARS RECREATION CENTER, CESAR CHAVEZ, WE ARE OUT TO BID FOR THE DEMOLITION OF CESAR CHAVEZ BUT THERE IS A PROPOSAL HERE IF WE DID WANT TO RECONSTRUCT A RECREATION CENTER IN THAT LOCATION AS WELL AS A FUTURE CONCEPT OF BUILDING ONE AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION, WHICH IS WHERE WE PROPOSE ASKED KIRBY LAKE BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR MAP HERE, ALL OF OUR REC CENTERS ARE REALLY SOUTH 7TH AND NORTH EXCEPT FOR A YMCA. EASTBOUND THE GYM AT SOUTH 7TH IS JUST A GYM AND THE BUILDING IS 100 YEARS OLD.
SO REALLY OUR THREE REC CENTERS ARE ALL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN. WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING THE CITY IS OFFERING ON THE SOUTH SIDE. THE COST FOR THE RENOVATION OF G.V. DANIELS IS 12 MILLIONS. SEARS PHASE 118000000, PHASE XXVII, CHAVEZ 12.7, KIRBY LAKE PHASE I, 26ND PHASE II, 23. KIRBY PHASE ONE AND TWO INCLUDES AQUATIC WHICH IS WHY WE'RE IN PHASE II. HERE'S JUST SOME OF THE ESTIMATES OF WHAT THEY THOUGHT THE OPERATIONAL EXPENSE WOULD BE FOR THESE LOCATIONS.
THEN THEIR CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS, THE WAY THE -- THE STATE TYPICALLY DIVIDES -- OFFERS THINGS TO CITIZENS, THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS REPLACEMENT OF G.V. SEARS AND CESAR CHAVEZ AND ADDITION OF KIRBY LAKE. IN THE 2015 2015 BOND WE HAD APPRL
[00:15:04]
FOR CEDAR CREEK BUT BECAUSE IT TOOK SO LONG TO GET PERMISSIONS FROM THE RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY AND THINGS LIKE THAT, COSTS HAVE GONE UP AND SO THE BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED IN 2015 WE'RE NOT SURE WILL BE ENOUGH. SO WE COULD POTENTIALLY NEED MORE MONEY. THIS IS THE ESTIMATE, A MILLION AT THIS POINT. BUT UNTIL WE'RE FINISHED WITH THE DESIGN PHASE AND READY TO GO TO BED, THAT COULD DROP SIGNIFICANTLY AND IT COULD INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. AT THIS POINT WE JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW.SO THAT IS A VERY QUICK PRESENTATION OF ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 22ND. BUT ALL OF THIS WOULD FALL UNDER BAPARKS BOARD SO ANYTHING GOING FORWARD WOULD BE COMING TO PARKS BOARD PRIOR TO THAT. I JUST WANTED YOU TO HAVE A COPY OF WHAT WAS PRESENTED AND A CHANCE TO SEE IT. ALSO, TO GIVE STAFF ANY COMMENTS Y'ALL HAVE OR THINGS THAT MAYBE WE MISSED OR YOU WANT US TO LOOK AT IN ANY OF
THESE PROPOSALS. >> AFTER READING THIS LAST NIGHT, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE HAVEN'T BUILT ANYTHING HERE IN 50 YEARS. THAT'S THE FIRST THING -- 1970, I WASN'T AROUND IN 1970. BUT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING DONE.
>> WHAT WAS THE LAST THING THAT WAS BUILT IN 1970?
>> I WOULD TO GO BACK -- CESAR CHAVEZ WAS THE NEWEST REC CENTER
AND IT'S THE ONE WE HAVE TO -- >> I WAS HERE IN 1970, BUT -- I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT THE LAST THING BUILT WAS. I DON'T
KNOW. >> IN THE 90S, WE HAD ADDITIONS TO SOME REC CENTERS. I DON'T REMEMBER THE LAST ONE
BUILT. >> YOU SAID PHASE II FOR CHAVEZ AND -- I MEAN SEARS AND KIRBY LAKE INCLUDED AQUATIC. SPLASH
PADS? >> IT COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS, INDOOR LAP SWIM, INDOOR FLASH PAD TO BE USED IN THE WINTERTIME. THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS BUT THAT'S WHAT -- ALSO AT KIRBY LAKE PHASE FRIENDS OF KIRBY LAKE AND THE MASTER PLAN WE APPROVED INCLUDES A NATURE CENTER. IT WOULD BE A COMBINATION NATURE CENTER, RECREATION CENTER, SO MOST OF THAT EXPENSE REALLY IS THE NATURE CENTER.
>> HOW FAR SOUTH IS OUR CITY BOUNDARY?
>> I MEAN IT WIGS WIGS WIGGLES T BASICALLY 707 TO THE WEST SIDE OF KIRBY LAKE. A LOT OF THE HOUSING THAT'S GOING IN JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM KIRBY LAKE IS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
ONCE YOU GET TO 1750, THAT'S OUTSIDE.
>> I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER WHERE WE CHANGE OVER THERE.
WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS DO WE HAVE? >> HOW AGGRESSIVE HAS THE CEDAR CREEK PROJECT LOOKING INTO PARKS ENHANCEMENT THROUGH PARKS AND
WILDLIFE? >> THE CEDAR CREEK NONPROFIT HAS NOT LOOKED INTO THOSE GRANTS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. STAFF HAS A MEETING WITH KEEP ABILENE BEAUTIFUL NEXT WEEK TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE GRANTS TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THIS STUFF, WHICH IS ALSO WHERE PARKS AND REC COMES IN HANDY BECAUSE A LOT OF GRANTS REQUIRE A MATCH AND PARKS BUCKS WOULD BE MONEYS WE COULD USE TO MATCH GRANTS, DEPENDING ON THE REQUIREMENTS.
>> I DO HAVE A SECOND QUESTION, THIS PERTAINS TO NELSON. I WOULD SENT EVERYBODY A EMAIL BUT ONE THING I WASN'T SURE WAS INCLUDE IN THE PLANS, A LONG TIME AGO WE TALKED ABOUT THE STATE OF THE PONDS ON-SITE. I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR BUT THE PONDS ARE QUITE OLD AND LIKE ANY RESERVOIR WOULD REQUIRE SOME KIND OF MAINTENANCE STRATEGY BECAUSE OF SILT LOADING, NUTRIENT LOADING AND DDEPOSITION THAT CHANGES THE WATER QUALITY. WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A SHIFT AS WELL AS THE HABITAT ITSELF WILL CHANGE THE QUALITY OF FISHING AS WELL.
GROVER NELSON IS ONE OF TWO SITES THAT ARE TECHNICALLY COMMUNITY FISHING LOCATIONS. YOU DO HAVE KIRBY LAKE AND YOU ALSO HAVE FT. FAN TAM BUT A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE INTIMIDATED BY
[00:20:04]
LARGE RESERVOIRS SO PONDS IN TOWN PROVIDE A DIFFERENT FORM OF FISHING RECREATION FOR SOMEBODY WITH FIVE-YEAR-OLD KIDS THAT WANT SOMETHING CONVENIENT, CLOSE TO HOME THAT THEY CAN WALK TO.UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT THESE ARTIFICIAL SYSTEMS DO REQUIRE MAINTENANCE. WHAT I WASN'T SURE IS IF THESE PLANS, THAT WAS CONSIDERED BECAUSE WE HAD HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS A WHILE BACK. YOU KNOW, DREDGING IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT THESE PONDS NEED. THE ZOO IS POTENTIALLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PARK BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY SILT LOADING THAT'S OCCURRED. THEY'RE VERY SHALLOW. AND I WASN'T SURE IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS CONSIDERED IN
THIS PLAN. >> THESE NUMBERS COME FROM THE MASTER PLAN OF 2016 TO KNOW THAF THIS CONSIDERATION. THIS IS MORE OF THE SURFACE AREA. BUT WHEN WE DO GO -- WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT WE CAN START MAKING IMPROVEMENTS OUT THERE, THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN PUT IN -- WHETHER IT'S THE BID PACKAGE OR THE DESIGN OR THE RFP, TO HAVE A COMPANY COME AND TAKE A LOOK AND GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS AND -- SO IT'S NOT OUT OF THE ABILITY TO BE DONE. BUT FOR THIS THAT WAS DONE IN 2016, WHICH A LOT OF THESE NUMBERS HAVE COME FROM, ARE REALLY MORE SURFACE STUFF,
NOT THE WATER QUALITY. >> ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF EVERYBODY IS PARKS AND WILDLIFE IS ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A NEW GRANT PROGRAM FOR SHORELINE ACCESS AS WELL AS FOR HABITAT ENHANCEMENT. RIGHT NOW THE FRAMEWORK IS BEING DEVELOPED AND CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH APPROVAL AND IS DEPENDENT UPON APPROVAL FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE FROM ITS BUDGET. THE MONEY WOULD BE FUNDED BY ENDORSEMENT FOR FISHING LICENSES FOR FRESH WATER. THIS COULD PERTAIN TO DREDGING, FISHING PIERS, LIGHTING AND ACCOMMODATION. THE GOAL IS TO EXPAND THESE PROJECTS FROM A MAXIMUM OF 50,000 TO 250,000. WE'RE HAVING TO START OFF SMALL BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE WITH A SMALLER REQUEST. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE CALLING HOPEFULLY FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS COMING LATER ON MAYBE THIS SUMMER, IF ALL IS GOOD. I WOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER WITH SOME OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS THAT PERTAIN TO THIS RELEVANT AREA OF PARKS ENHANCEMENT THAT MAYBE CITY OF ABILENE CONSIDER.
THIS IS 100% REIMBURSEMENT AND FUNDS I BELIEVE -- I WANT TO SAY IT'S WITHIN TWO YEARS, THAT BIENNIUM FOR THE GRA GRANT CYCLD IT CAN BE MULTI-PHASED SO IF YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR MORE THAN ONE, THAT'S SOMETHING WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK AS WELL. THERE'S ALSO OTHER GRANTS OUT THERE THAT DO PERTAIN TO HELPING WITH EXCAVATION, THE RESERVOIR FISHERIES HAVE TO BE PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROVIDES UP TO 50,000 FOR HELPING WITH EXCAVATION. IT IS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A MATCH SO HAVING OTHER PARTNERS THAT DO BRING ADDITIONAL MONEY TO THE TABLE IS CERTAINLY HELPFUL. BUT CERTAINLY I WOULD CONSIDER THOSE OTHER GRANT SOURCES AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL PARK GRANT. THEY ALSO DO HAVE TRAILS GRANTS AND THE LOCAL PARK GRANT CAN APPLY TO RESTROOMS, IT CAN APPLY TO FLAT FIELDS. IT HAS A LARGE ARRAY OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN BE APPLIED FOR. I WANT TO SAY THE MAX FOR THAT IS EITHER 750,000 OR 500,000. THAT ONE IS, I BELIEVE, A 75-25% MATCH. I'M JUST -- SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. I KNOW GRANTS, THEY CAN BE A LABORIOUS PROCESS BUT THESE ARE CERTAINLY SOURCES OUT THERE TO HELP WITH A LOT OF TH THESE EFFS WE'RE TRYING TO DO SO I ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO LOOK INTO THAT.
>> OKAY. >> DO YOU KNOW OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND RECEIVED FUNDING?
>> MANY DOWN NEAR AUSTIN, FOR SURE. WE HAD ONE OF OUR PARKS -- JOHNSON PARK IN ABILENE WAS FUNDED WITH A PARKS ENHANCEMENT GRANT SO THE CITY CITY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL BEFORE, IT'S JUST BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE'VE PURSUED SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I WANT TO SAY -- THERE WAS ANOTHER LOCAL -- SOMEWHERE
[00:25:01]
LOCAL. IT'S ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE AND IT'S GOING TO COME TO ME AFTER THE MEETING IS DONE, BUT WE GENERALLY GO THROUGH THESE APPLICATION THROUGH PARKS AND WILDLIFE ANNUALLY BECAUSE EVERY YEAR IS A NEW GRANT CYCLE BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS OUT THERE FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND DIFFERENT CITIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. AND THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME REALLY GREAT WORK DONE. IT'S JUST HAVING -- BEING A REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME OF THE MONEY UPFRONT. SOME OF THAT CAN BE ENKIND MATCH, IF YOU ARE ABLE TO PUT A DOLLAR SIGN TO WHAT'S BEING DONE ON THE GROUND OUTSIDE OF JUST HAVING TANGIBLE MONEY. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD COUNT TOWARDS SOME OF THESE GRANTS.>> ARE THESE AWARDED FISCAL OR ANNUAL?
>> GENERALLY A FISCAL YEAR. I WANT TO SAY THAT THE GRANTS ARE GENERALLY -- THE APPLICATIONS ARE GENERALLY DUE OCTOBER 1ST SO A MONTH RIGHT AFTER THE FISCAL YEAR STARTS.
>> THAT MIGHT BE GOOD TO HAVE MAYBE PUT A -- SOMEWHAT OF A LIST OF PRIORITIES THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE. FIND OUT WHAT WE HAVE THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE AND PRIORITIZE THOSE AND, YOU KNOW, NEVER HURTS TO ASK FOR FREE MONEY OR AT LEAST MATCHING MONEY, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA TO PURSUE THOSE.
>> WITHIN THESE SUGGESTIONS AND PRESENTATION I WAS GOING THROUGH LAST NIGHT I NOTICED ZONING, CODING, ALL THE DIFFERENT PARKS, I THINK MIKE BRINGS UP A GOOD QUESTION ABOUT MAINTENANCE SCOPE OF WORK. IF WE WANTED TO HAVE ADDED MAINTENANCE ONGOING FOR THESE PARKS SO WE DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU UP 50 YEARS FROM NOW WITH THE SAME ISSUES, WOULD THAT BE PART OF THIS SCOPE OF WORK, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT? WE HAVE PARKS BUCKS AND OTHER PIECES WE COULD GO TOWARDS THAT OR HOW IS THE CITY PLANNING ON
LOOKING AT THAT GOING FORWARD? >> WE ARE IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PUTTING IN SOME FORM OF CAPITAL FORECASTING SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR ASSETS MOVING FORWARD AND IN A MORE ECONOMICAL FASHION VERSUS BEING CRISIS MANAGEMENT.
>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IMPRESSED WITH WHAT OUR PARKS ARE DOING WITH WHAT THEY HAVE. IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT CAN GET $5 OUT OF ONE, IT'S OUR GROUP. I APPLAUD THAT. I JUST WONDER GOING FORWARD HOW WE CAN BE PROACTIVE YOU SAID IT WELL. WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION DO WE HAVE?
>> THAT SOUND SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT RESOURCE, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION. LESLI, YOU THINK PARK BUCKS
COULD BE A POSSIBLE MATCH? >> POSSIBLE. I DON'T THINK THE REVENUE FROM IT IS ENOUGH TO GO VERY FAR. BUT EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE. THE GRANT COMMITTEE THAT KEEP ABILENE BEAUTIFUL PUT TOGETHER, I HAVE HOPES FOR THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAYBE GET SOME THINGS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THAT PARTNERSHIP.
>> AT LEAST IT GIVES YOU AN INCENTIVE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> AFTER THIS NEW CAMPAIGN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY FOR IT, WI.
>> NO PRESSURE. >> ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. LET'S GO ON TO THE STEVENSON PARKUP DATE.
[4. Stevenson Park Update (Discussion)]
>> I PUT THIS IN THERE TO UPDATE YOU -- WE ARE STILL IN REALLY THE DESIGN PHASE. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO TO BID YET. I KNOW WHEN WE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD, I THINK IT WAS BACK IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY FOR APPROVAL, I JOKINGLY SAID, YOU KNOW, NO PRESSURE TO GET IT DONE BY JUNETEENTH. I KNEW THAT WAS A LOFTY GOAL. WE DID HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH THE SURVEY AND THEN WHEN THE WINTER STORM HIT AND EVERYTHING REALLY JUST GOT SHUT DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, IT DID PUT US BEHIND SCHEDULE.
ALSO THE MAIN RESTROOM AT STEVENSON THAT WE WERE GOING -- THAT'S IN THE PROPOSAL TO REMODEL TOOK A SIGNIFICANT HIT DURING THAT FREEZE. WE HAVE IT BARELY FUNCTIONING ON A DAY-TO-DAY, FINGERS CROSSED PROCESS RIGHT NOW. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO DO WHAT WE CALL AN EARLY OUT PACKAGE SO WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE RESTROOM. I'M HOPING TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION ACTUALLY BY THE END OF THIS WEEK TO GO TO BID. SO MAYBE WE CAN GET THE RESTROOM REMODEL DONE BY JUNETEENTH. BUT
[00:30:03]
AS FAR AS THE IMPROVEMENTS, EITHER FOR THE FIELDS OR THE BASKETBALL COURTS WITH LIGHTS, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE NOW TO HAVE THAT DONE BY JUNE. BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH THAT COMMITTEE. WE WERE GOING TO TRY AND HAVE A MEETING SET UP PRIOR TO THIS ONE AND WE COULDN'T GET EVERYBODY SCHEDULED TOGETHER.BUT THEY HAVE QUITE A FEW PLANS THEY WANT TO DO ON JUNETEENTH SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO SEE WHETHER IT'S MOVING IN TEMPORARY BLEACHERS OR WHATEVER IT IS TO TRY AND SUPPORT THEIR EVENT IN JUNE. BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS START THE CONSTRUCTION WHERE THEY CAN'T HAVE THEIR EVENT. SO NOW IT'S KIND OF A BALANCING ACT ON MOVING FORWARD AT A PACE TO GET IT DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT YET NOT INTERFERE WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS IN THE PARK. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE TO KEEP THEM INFORMED AS WE'RE GOING ALONG. IT IS GOING SLOWER ON THIS PART. A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL ON A LOT OF PROJECTS IS SOMETHING GETS APPROVED THEN YOU DON'T SEE ACTION BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE CONTRACT PHASE, THE BID PHASE, THE DESIGN PHASE AND THAT IS STILL WHERE WE ARE. WE DO HOPE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE UP SOME TIME ON WHAT WE LOST IN FEBRUARY, NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT AND DO THE TOPOGRAPHY AND SURVEYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. JUST WANTED, IN CASE ANYBODY ASKS YOU, IT IS STILL GOING, WE ARE STILL MOVING FORWARD, IT IS STILL FUNDED AND WE DO HAVE PLANS TO HAVE IT DONE
IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. >> WILL CONSTRUCTION BE
COMPLETED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR? >> IT DEPENDS. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL BE -- PHYSICAL -- IN THIS CALENDAR YEAR, I WOULD THINK SO, IN THIS FISCAL YEAR OF THE CITY OF ABILENE, MAYBE,
MAYBE NOT. >> OCTOBER TO SEPTEMBER.
>> UH-HUH. >> WILL WILL BE FUNDING EVEN TO PUT A SIGN UP THAT SAYS, HEY, JUNETEENTH, 2022, HERE'S SOME EXPECTED CHANGES THAT ARE COMING? I WONDER IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES TO COMMUNICATE TO THE FOLKS THERE, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S -- THIS PLACE IS IN DISREPAIR, WE HEARD YOU, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR. WE'RE EXCITED YOU'RE HERE.
SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. THE FOLKS THAT ATTEND THAT EVENT, THAT MIGHT BE THE EASIEST WAY TO REACH THEM, SOMETHING ON-SITE AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING ELSE.
>> THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. ALSO, THE TOPIC HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP ABOUT -- AND I'M GLANCING OVER THE AGENDA TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT STEPPING ON A FUTURE TOPIC, REPAIRING THE WALKING TRACK AT SEARS. WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THAT?
>> WE DID PRESENT THAT TO CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 22ND. AND THEY DID ASK US TO PUT THE NUMBERS TOGETHER TO PRESENT AS PART OF THE BUDGET PACKAGE IN JULY. SO IT WILL BE UP FOR CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION AT THEIR BUDGET WORKSHOP IN JULY.
>> OKAY. VERY GOOD. >> FANTASTIC, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ABOUT STEVENSON? LET'S GO ON TO
[5. Adaptive Recreation Update (Discussion)]
AGENDA 5. >> I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH BETTY HARDWICKE AND THEIR BOARD AGREED TO TAKE ON THE ADAPTIVE RECREATION PROGRAM. WE'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF THE AGREEMENT FOR THEM TO SIGN AND THEN HOPEFULLY THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS TO TAKE IT TO CITY COUNCIL IN MAY. AND THEY WERE ALSO WORKING ON A PARTNERSHIP FOR THEM TO PARTNER WITH THE SENIORS, THE SENIOR PROGRAMMING, TO STILL BE ABLE TO OFFER LUNCHES. SO EVERYTHING IS MOVING FORWARD AND VERY -- LOOKING VERY WELL. THEIR TARGET DATE TO START THE PROGRAM I BELIEVE IS SEPTEMBER 1ST SO THAT'S THE TIMELINE WE'RE WORKING ON BUT THE BOARD DID APPROVE IT SO NOW WE'RE IN THE PAPERWORK SIDE OF THE PROPOSAL SO THAT'S VERY GOOD NEWS FOR THAT POPULATION.
>> FANTASTIC. ARE THERE CAPITOL RESOURCES FOR THAT? WILL WE HAND ANYTHING OVER TO BETTY HARDWICKE OR JUST THE NAME AND
TITLE OF THE PROGRAM? >> WE'RE LEAVING THE BUILDING TO
[00:35:01]
THEM. THE BUILDING IS STILL OURS, STILL ON PARKLAND, IT'S STILL ON OUR INSURANCE SO FOR THE MOST PART WE'LL STILL BE DOING MOST OF THE CAPITAL MAINTENANCE. THEY WILL DO THE DAY-TO-DAY AND JANITORIAL AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THEY DID REQUEST A FEW THINGS IN THE BUILDING STRUCTURALLY AND SO WE HAVE GOTTEN BIDS ON THAT AND I HOPE TO BE EITHER GETTING THAT WORK DONE OR TAKING IT TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THENEXT MONTH OR TWO. >> WHAT A WIN. THAT'S AWESOME.
>> UH-HUH. >> THAT'S FANTASTIC. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 6, THE
[6. Charter Update (Discussion)]
CHARTER UPDATE DISCUSSION. >> PART OF THE MARCH 22ND CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP WAS A COUPLE O, POTENTIAL CHARTER REVISIONS.
TOMORROW OF THE THINGS IN THE CHARTER NEED TO BE BROUGHT UP TO DATE DUE TO LAW CHANGES BUT THERE ARE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, TWO OF WHICH PERTAIN TO PARKS BOARD. SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE Y'ALL AWARE OF THOSE. ANY CHARTER REVISIONS -- STANLEY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG -- DO HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE
CITY OF ABILENE. >> IT REQUIRES A VOTE.
>> ANY REVISIONS TO THE CHARTER. >> TWO AREAS MR. HANNAH IS REQUESTING IS THE CHARTER CONFUSES THE ROLE OF THE CITY MANAGER AND PARKS BOARD. THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PARKS THROUGH THE CITY. THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE ONE THAT GIVES DIRECTION ON POLICY WITH GUIDANCE OF THE PARKS BOARD. THE PARKS BOARD DOESN'T TYPICALLY CRAFT THE POLICY CITYWIDE. AND SO EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPS AND DISCUSSIONS, THAT'S REALLY THE JOB OF CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER TO MANAGE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL'S DIRECTIVE SO IT'S CLEANING UP THAT LANGUAGE JUST A LITTLE BIT THEN THE SECOND ONE, THE WAY THE CHARTER READS THAT IT'S UP TO THE PARKS BOARD TO HIRE THE PARKS AND RECREATION ATTRACTER.
AND THAT'S REALLY THE CITY MANAGER'S -- WITHIN HIS PURVIEW TO HIRE. I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY MANAGER DOES TALK TO PARKS BOARD AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND YOU KNOW, REALLY VALUES Y'ALL'S INPUT BUT IT'S THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION ON WHO IS
HIRED AS THE DIRECTOR. >> ANY QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION? THIS IS JUST REFLECTIVE OF EVERY OTHER BOARD WE HAVE WITHIN THE
>> DOES THIS HAVE ANY IMPLICATIONS AS TO DECISIONS PARKS BOARD MAKES OR THE AUTHORITY PARKS BOARD HAS OVER
LAND USE? >> NO CHANGES THERE.
>> SO WE STILL RETAIN -- >> YOU STILL RETAIN THAT.
>> MORE PERSONNEL. DOES THIS REQUIRE ACTION?
>> NO, THIS IS JUST INFORMATIONAL. THE ONLY ACTION ON A CHARTER IS FROM A CITIZEN VOTE.
>> OKAY. SO THIS WILL -- THE NEXT VOTING CYCLE, THIS WILL BE
A -- >> I'M NOT SURE. THAT WILL BE THE UP TO CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL WHEN AND IF THEY WANT TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUT IT UP FOR VOTE. I'M NOT AWARE OF A
TIMELINE. >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL GET ON NOVEMBER OR NOT. JUST DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT. OR WHAT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE WILL BE. I DON'T KNOW.
>> LET'S NOT CHANGE PARKS AND RECREATION UNTIL THEN.
>> THANK YOU. >> I THINK THAT'S -- DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK THAT'S -- THANKS FOR THAT INFORMATION. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR AQUATICS REPORT.
[7. Aquatics Report (Discussion)]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. >> GOOD MORNING.
>> AQUATIC AND SENIOR SERVICES. OUR SPLASH PADS ARE DUE TO OPEN THIS WEEKEND. WE GOT THEM ALL UP AND RUNNING. JUST A FEW MORE DETAILS THAT WE'LL TAKE CARE OF BUT THEY ARE READY. WE HAD ONE PROBLEM AT STEVENSON, WE COULDN'T GET ANY WATER AND COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS A STUCK VALVE AND WE FOUND WHICH ONE IT WAS AND GOT IT OPEN. SO THEY'RE ALL LOOKING GOOD AND THE WATER IS COMING OUT WHEN WE PUSH THE BUTTON NOW. SO LET'S HOPE IT CONTINUES TO DO THAT. OUR SUMMER JOB, WE'RE PUSHING TO GET LIFEGUARDS. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE 30 LIFEGUARDS WE'RE READY
[00:40:07]
TO PUSH THROUGH AND HIRE, MAYBE 20 OF THOSE ARE LIFEGUARDS RETURNING FROM 2019, WHICH IS GREAT. SO WE'RE PUSHING TO GET HOPEFULLY ABOUT 25 MORE. HOPEFULLY THIS WEEKEND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO SOME INTERVIEWS AND GET MORE LIFEGUARDS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM AROUND THE STATE FROM WHAT WE'RE GATHERING THAT THESE KIDS ARE WAITING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO PUT IN APPLICATIONS. THEY'RE MORE WORRIED ABOUT PROMISE AND GRADUATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO A LOT OF THEM, WE'RE ABLE TO CONTACT THEM AND SEND EMAILS AND MESSAGES AND LET THEM KNOW WE NEED YOUR APPLICATION SO WE CAN GET YOU PROCESSED. HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET STARTED ON TIME. THE ADVENTURE COVE IS DUE TO OPEN MAY 29TH. OUR SENIORS ARE BACK. WE OPENED UP APRI[8. Senior Services Report (Discussion)]
APRIL 5TH AT THE ROSE SENIOR CENTER AND THE OTHER THREE SATELLITE SITES. I WOULD SAY WE STARTED OUT THE FIRST DAY WITH ABOUT 125 SENIORS. THIS IS JUST ON MEALS. WHEN I GIVE YOU A NUMBER, YOU CAN ADD ABOUT 20-25 MORE PEOPLE THAT DON'T EAT THAT PARTICIPATED AT THE CENTER. WE'VE BEEN COUNTING BY THE NUMBER OF MEALS WE SERVED. WE STARTED WITH 125 MEALS THE FIRST DAY. AS OF YESTERDAY, WE WERE UP TO ABOUT 153 MEALS. THAT'S JUST AT ROSE. IF YOU ADD ABOUT 20-25 MEALS FROM THE OTHER THREE SATELLITES, WE'RE UP TO 75 MEALS. THAT'S REALLY CLOSE TO WHAT WE WERE SERVING BEFORE COVID THROUGHOUT THE CITY SO WE'RE GETTING BACK TO WHERE WE WERE. A LOFT THOSE MEALS, WHEN WE WENT OVER 400 WERE PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF BEING ABLE TO COME TO A DRIVE-THRU AND GET A MEAL. THE GOOD THING IS SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE WE HAVE ARE NEW. THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT US THROUGH THE DRIVE THROUGH AND THEN WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OUR USUAL PEOPLE SAYING THEY'RE COMING BACK BUT IT'S TOO EARLY, TO NOT COME BACK YET. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM COMING BACK AS WELL. SO I GOT INVITED -- I'M GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF. FOOD BANK, WE ESTABLISHED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FOOD BANK TO GIVE US A BOX -- FOOD BOXES. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATE OF THE FIRST ONE, LESTER, I KNOW YOU DON'T EITHER, DO YOU? IT WAS THROUGH THE DRIVE THROUGH AND THEY PARKED THE REFRIGERATED TRUCK OUT THERE IN THE PARKING LOT AND AS THE SENIORS CAME THROUGH AND GOT THEIR MEALS FROM US AND THEN PULLED OUT, THEY HAD SOMEONE PUT A FOOD BOX IN THEIR CARS. I WOULD SAY THAT WAS OVER 150 150D BOXES THAT DAY. THEY INCLUDED NUTRITIONAL MEALS. FRUITS, MEATS, MILKS, JUICES. LAST WEEK THEY DID THE SECOND ONE ON THE INSIDE OF THE FACILITY AND WHEN THEY DO IT ON THE INSIDE OF THE FACILITY, IT'S MORE OF THE DRY FOODS, BOXED DINNERS. I HAD TO LEAVE OUT THAT DATA TO WORK THE VACCINATION SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY BUT I KNOW WE HAD OVER 100 SENIORS THAT DAY AT THE FACILITY SO I ASSUME THEY ALL GOT A BOX.WE'RE GOING TO DO IT TWICE A MONTH. THE SENIORS ARE ECSTATIC ABOUT IT AND THEY LOVE IT, THE FOOD BANK IS EXCITED BECAUSE THEY HAVE FOOD TO GIVE AWAY AND NEED SOMEWHERE TO GIVE IT AWAY.
SO THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED.
>> GREAT. >> I WAS INVITED BY THESE GENTLEMEN PLAYING TENNIS TO TALK TO THEM BEFORE WHAT WE COULD DO TO ACTUALLY GET MORE SENIORS TO PLAY TENNIS. I HAD FOUR GENTLEMEN THAT PLAY TENNIS EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AT ROSE. THEIR AGES ARE ACTUALLY 65, 79, 82, AND 92.
>> AWESOME. >> I TELL YOU, WHEN I T TOOK THE PICTURES, IT WAS THE THREE SECOND MOTION BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO DO THE 92-YEAR-OLD SERVING. IT IS AWESOME. SO WHAT I -- I WENT OVER AND TALKED TO THE TENNIS PRO AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO COLLABORATE AND GET MORE SENIORS THAT ARE ACTIVE IN THIS WAY TO COME OUT AND PLAY TENNIS AS WELL AS GOLF AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE DISCOVERING OUR SENIORS ARE DOING. A LOT OF THEM ARE DOING THESE THINGS SO IT'S THE -- THE IDEA IS NOT JUST TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE REC CENTER, THE SENIORS ARE OUT THERE DOING ACTIVE THINGS. WE WANT TO GET INVOLVED WHERE WE CAN GET MORE SENIORS TO GET INVOLVED. BUT SHE COULDN'T PUT THE PICTURE UP TO SEE HIM
[00:45:03]
SERVING BUT IT IS THE GREAT AND THEY'RE EXCITED TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE.>> GREAT JOB. THAT'S AWESOME. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> NONE. >> WELL DONE, THANK YOU. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ONTO THE RECREATION REPORT.
[9. Recreation Report (Discussion)]
>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION HAS STARTED. WE ARE HAVING SUMMER CAMP AT ALL FOR LOCATIONS THIS YEAR. SO FAR, ROSE IS ALREADY FULL THE FIRST SESSION AND SECOND SESSION BUT ALL THE REST OF THEM ARE SLOWLY GETTING THEIR REGISTRATION UP. THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THE STAFF ARE DOING. WE'RE DOING RED, WHITE, AND BLUE, LEARNING ABOUT ALL THE HEROES WE HAVE IN TOWN. WE HAVE DAIS COMING OUT AND DOING THINGS WITH THEM SO IT'S FUN TO INCORPORATE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE WAY THEY'RE SO CREATIVE ON THINKING OF THINGS TO DO WITH THE CHILDREN. WE ALSO ARE HAVING -- LEARNING WHAT IS IN YOUR BACKYARD SO THEY'RE HAVING A TEXAS CAMP. THEY'RE VERY CREATIVE ON WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING THE TO CHILDREN. IT'S FOR AGE CHILDREN 6-13. AS SOON AS YOUR DAUGHTER TURNS 6, WE'LL BE WAITING FOR HER. ALSO WE'RE HIRING SUMMER HIRES, JUST LIKE BABY SAID. SOME OF THESE YOUNGER ONES DO PROCRASTINATE SO WE HAVE TO TELL THEM COME ON, LET'S GET GOING. IT IS COMING RIGHT ALONG. I'M JUST GLAD EVERYONE IS READY TO COME BACK AND WORK AND GET TO WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN IN CAMPUS.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> WHEN DO WE TYPICALLY FILL UP OUR CAMPS? IN THE PAST HOW
QUICKLY DID THEY FILL? >> USUALLY ROSE IS THE FIRST ONE TO FILL DUE TO THE LOCATION I BELIEVE. AFTER THAT, SINCE WE'RE THERE, THEY'RE GOING TO START SPREADING EVERYWHERE ELSE IT'S EXCITING. LAST YEAR WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO HOST TWO DUE TO COVID SO THIS YEAR I'M EXCITED TO HAVE ALL FOUR LOCATIONS AND I'M PRETTY SURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO FILL UP.
>> I IMAGINE YOU WILL. >> BOTH BOBBY AND ANN MENTIONED HIRING SUMMER HELP. THE ZOO DOES AS WELL. IN OUR DEPARTMENT, WE CAN POTENTIAL LI HIRE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 200 AND 250 SUMMER SEASONAL WORKERS, SO ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT KNOWS SOMEBODY LOOKING FOR A JOB, WE HAVE LOTS OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE
ON OUR WEBSITE. >> WE'LL MOVE ON THEN TO THE
[10. Parks Report (Discussion)]
NEXT REPORT. ONE OF MY FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK YESTERDAY POSTED, A TEACHER IN TOWN AND SAID I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING CRAZY AND TAKE A SUMMER JOB SO DOES ANYBODY KNOW OF ANYTHING? SO IHAVE SOMETHING TO SEND THEM. >> WE DO LIKE OUR TEACHERS.
>> GOOD MORNING. WE HAVE WOUND DOWN OUR WINTER PROJECTS. ONE OF THE LAST THINGS WE DID IS INSTALLED OUR ENGINEER APPLY BAR IN THE PLAYGROUNDS AND INSTALLED 420 CUBIC YARDS OF WOOD MULCH AND 12 PLAYGROUND PARKS. CAL YOUNG, CON, LAKE KIRBY, NELSON, ROSE, REDBUD AND SOME OF THE OTHER PARKS. THAT'S A LOT OF ENGINEERED FIBER. AND WHAT THAT IS JUST A CUSHION TO FALL FOR THE KIDS. FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES IT'S A SAFETY THING WE HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH. WE DO THAT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.
WITH THE WOOD PROJECT DONE WE'RE GETTING BACK TO MOWING. WE STARTED THAT ON MARCH 29TH. RIGHT NOW, DON'T CALL ME ON THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE I PULLED IT OFF THE AIR. I WENT OUT AND ADDED THOSE BUT WE MOW APPROXIMATELY 200 PLUS ACRES OF LAND. THOSE ARE SPLIT INTO SEVEN DIFFERENT SECTIONS FROM PARKS TO OUR DOWNTOWN STUFF AND CEMETERIES. MOST OF OUR MOWING IS COMPLETED ON A TEN-DAY TO TWO-WEEK OR MONTH CYCLE, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE CYCLES FALL. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE IN PARKS, GETTING BACK TO OUR REGULAR STUFF, GETTING INTO THE
>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> A LOT OF GRASS, A LOT OF
MULCH. WELL DONE, THANK YOU. >> WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ZOO
[11. Zoo Report (Discussion)]
UPDATE. >> GOOD MORNING, JESSE
[00:50:11]
POTTERBALM, ZOO DIRECTOR. MADAGASCAR WAS APRIL 10. LOTS OF PEOPLE CAME, COLOR, GREAT THINGS. WE HAD ZOO CREW PARTY TO THEN -- THAT'S THE OPENING. FLASHBACKS OF THE PICTURES DURING THE EVENT, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN AT THE ZOO. WE DECIDED TO ADD A LOT OF COLOR. THE ORIGINAL SIDE OF IT, THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING HAD ORGANIC ZOO TAN SO WE PUT A LOT OF POP IN IT. WE HAVE OUR LOCAL ARTIST, STEVE NIECE, DO THIS. THE PRETTY SIDE HAS THE TILE AND THE BACKSIDE HAS ORGANIC, RAW FOOTPRINT WHERE KIDS CAN CHALK DRAW. SO EVERY DAY KIDS CHALK DRAW ON IT AND MY STAFF HOSES IT DOWN EVERY EVENING SO IT'S READY FOR THE KIDS THE NEXT DAY. IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT.THE LAST THING IS ZOOBILATION, A FUNDRAISING GALA. WE'RE GOING TO HONOR GROVER NELSON, WHO IS THE MAIN FUNDRAISER FOR THE ZOO 100% OF THE MONEY GOSS TO THE ZOO. THAT'S THIS SATURDAY, IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT TICKETS, THERE'S A FEW TICKETS REPRESENTATIVE.
IT'S 6:00 TO 10:00 P.M. A BLACK, WHITE TIE AFFAIR SO IT'S A GREAT GALA SO PLEASE PARTICIPATE. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> GLAD TO SEE MADAGASCAR OPEN. I WISH I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT WITH MY GRANDKIDS HERE BUT WE DIDN'T, UNFORTUNATELY BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT EXHIBIT. I LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING IT. >> GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> VERY WELL DONE. SOME OF US WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THE HONORING OF THE CITY WORKERS AT THE ZOO. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE AT THE ZOO. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EXHIBITS GOING ON THERE BUT ALSO JUST BE EXPOSED TO SO MANY CITY EMPLOYEES. IT WAS A GREAT TIME AND GOOD FOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE. GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ELSE?
>> OTHERWISE, I WILL TAKE AND MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> SECOND. >> SECONDED. WITH THAT, LET'S ENJOY OUR DAY. THANK YOU ALL
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.