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[00:00:02]

>>> GOOD MORNING, WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING FOR THIS MEETING OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD. WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE INVOCATION.

>> IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND BOWING YOUR HEADS. HEAVEN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY IN THE BEST LIGHT POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE CITY OF ABILENE WORKERS AND ALL THEY DO PRAY THAT THE DECISIONS MADE TODAY DOES HELP THE INTEREST OF OUR CITY, HELPS US ADVANCE AND PROGRESS IN THE RIGHT WAY POSSIBLE. PLEASE PROTECT OUR SERVICEMEN AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND, LORD, THANK YOU FOR THE RAIN. IN YOUR HEAVENLY NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

>> AMEN. >> ALL RIGHT, PRIOR TO OUR DISCUSSION ON ANYTHING, WE WILL DO A MOMENT OF PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA, WE CAN DO THAT LATER. IF YOU HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME TO THE

MICROPHONE AND SAY YOUR NAME. >> LOOKS LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR FORMAL AGENDA AND

[1. Minutes (Discussion and Action]

BEGIN WITH REVIEW OF THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING.

>> SO MOVED AND SECONDED, IN ALL IF FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES, APPROVED THE

MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING. >>> LET'S GO TO AGENDA ITEM 2,

[2. Service Awards]

SERVICE AWARDS. WE HAVE A LOT OF YEARS TO CELEBRATE FROM SOME

OF OUR FOLKS. >> ONE THING I WILL SAY, JOY IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY. BUT WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER FOR 15 YEARS AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT SHE DOES. ANOTHER THING IS IN THE PAST, MOSTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE IS RECOGNIZE PEOPLE THAT DIRECTLY ARE GOVERNED BY THE PARKS BOARD, BUT IN COMMUNITY SERVICES WE HAVE ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR AGO WE ADDED FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND CUSS TOAD DAL MAINTENANCE AND THEY WORK JUST AT HARD ON OUR BUILDINGS AS OUR OWN STAFF SO WE THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE THEM AT PARKS BOARD.

AUGIE STARTED OUT IN RECREATION AS THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE PERSON AND MOVED OVER TO THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE DIVISION.

SO SINCE NONE OF THEM HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE, I ASKED RICHARD TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL LET BRAD DO IT.

>> GOOD MORNING, RICHARD ROGERS. SO HERE WE GO WITH THIS. YOU MAY REMEMBER AUGIE, DID YOU GET YOUR FIVE YEAR IN RECREATION?

>> UH-HUH. I WAS IN THIS DEPARTMENT AS WELL. I HAD LIKE

EIGHT MONTHS. >> YEAH, YEAH. SO BRAD BARTON IS OUR FACILITY DIVISION MANAGER, RESPONSIBILITY OVER ALL THE BUILDINGS, NOT JUST PARK BUT WHAT WE DO IN PARKS AND RECREATION IS A PRETTY GOOD PORTION OF THAT. I THINK BRAD WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT AUGIE. I COULD SAY A FEW BUT BRAD WORKS WITH HIM EVERY DAY.

>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, AUGIE SPECIALIZES IN OUR LOCKS.

AND HE HAS TAKEN ON THAT ROLE AND DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.

AND WE WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK YOU FOR TEN YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE CITY AND YOURMENT COMMITMENT TO THE CITYD ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'VE PUT IN AUGIE'S WORK IS A REFLECTION OF QUALITY. AND WHEN YOU PUT AUGIE AN A TASK, IT'S GOING TO BE DONE GOOD, IT'S GOING TO BE DONE QUALITY. SO WE THANK YOU FOR

THAT. >> THANK YOU.

MANAGER. TEN YEAR MEDALLAN AND THERE MIGHT BE SOME MONEY

INVOLVED. >> OH, OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE THING. WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY, I WORKED IN RECREATION. LESLI WAS MY BOSS.

SHE HAD A LOT OF FAITH IN ME OR I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. SO

I'M STILL HERE. >> ME TOO.

>> ROGER THAT ! THANK YOU. >> SOME DAY THE RANGERS WILL MAKE IT BACK TO THE WORLD SERIES.

>> THERE YOU GO. >> I LOVE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS A BASEBALL TOURNAMENT AND THE

[00:05:04]

ONLY OTHER AUGIE I MET COACHED FOR TEXAS FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

HE SAID TO ME, WITH A NAME LIKE AUGIE, YOU GOT TO BE A HARD WORKER. I THINK YOU EXEMPLIFY THAT SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. THAT'S AWESOME.

>> JESSE? >> JESSE POTTER BALM, ZOO DIRECTOR. WE'RE HERE TO THANK JESSICA LELESCH FOR FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE. JESSICA IS ONE OF OUR MANY ZOOKEEPERS TO TAKE IN DURING THE WINTER STORM. SHE EVEN HAD A NEWBORN AT HOME, JUST TO COME IN FOR THE WINTER STORM YOU CAN'T TELL ME HOW DEDICATED A PERSON THAT IS. SHE'S THE HEART OF THE ZOO, SHE DOES GREAT THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE ANIMALS.

SHE'S THE PRIMARY CARETAKER OF OUR -- MACHO IS OUR BLACK RHINO AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, FIVE YEARS.

>> THANK YOU,.

>> THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. >> SO AWESOME TO SEE -- 25, 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY. IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

[3. Alcohol in City Baseball Complex]

LET'S MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 3, ALCOHOL IN THE CITY BASEBALL

COMPLEX. >> THE CITY HAS BEEN APPROACHED BY A GROUP THAT IS INTERESTED IN OFFERING MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

ONE OF THE LOCATIONS THEY ARE LOOKING AT IS ONE OF OUR BASEBALL FIELDS THAT IS LOCATED IN ROSE PARK. THIS IS VERY HIGH-LEVEL CONVERSATIONS AT THIS POINT BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE BASEBALL SUCCESSFUL IS THEY LIKE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ALCOHOL. CURRENTLY WE DO NOT HAVE THAT ABILITY. SO REALLY THIS IS MORE TO ASK PARKS BOARD, IF THEY CHOSE TO PURSUE THIS LOCATION, WOULD PARKS BOARD BE COMFORTABLE IN ALLOWING ALCOHOL TO BE SERVED AT ONE OF THE BASEBALL FIELDS IN ROSE PARK AND MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION ON TO CITY COUNCIL. IT'S NOT SOMETHING -- IT'S REALLY JUST FOR DISCUSSION TODAY, JUST TO GIVE US DIRECTION ON WHETHER YOU THINK THAT'S EVEN A POSSIBILITY OR NOT. THAT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHERE THEY FINALLY

CHOOSE TO LOCATE. >> THEY'RE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT BEER AND OTHER BEVERAGES OR JUST BEER?

>> BEER AND WINE, BUT TYPICALLY BEER.

>> WHEN TWO OF THE MINOR LEAGUES TRIED TO START ONE HERE AND THAT WAS A DRAWBACK BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T HAVE ALCOHOL.

IT WAS A BIG PROBLEM AND WHY IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT. IT BEARS THOUGHT AND THE

GOVERNMENT THINKING ABOUT IT. >> I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA.

THE ONLY THING I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT IS -- ASIDE FROM JUST PEOPLE BEING PEOPLE AND -- IT WOULD BE MORE OF LITTERING AND THE DEMAND ON OUR STAFF TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES OF PEOPLE NOT BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THEIR TRASH. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING, IF THE CITY STRONGLY CONSIDERS THIS, THAT THERE BE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR THAT. MAKING SURE THAT IT'S NOT AN INCREASED

DEMAND ON OUR PARKS TEAM. >> THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF PRIOR PLANNING TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, WE WERE GOING THROUGH THAT WHEN WE STARTED HAVING SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE ZOO. WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD AND SECURITY, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS INVOLVED SO I'M GLAD WE'RE JUST DISCUSSING IT TODAY AND NOT TRYING TO MAKE A

DECISION. >> I THINK IT'S WORTHY OF CONVERSATION. I AGREE WITH MICHAEL, JUST TO START THE

CONVERSATION. >> I TEND TO AGREE. I HAVE NO DOUBT THERE WILL BE CONVERSATIONS DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT LIABILITY AND LITTER AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO DISCUSS BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE AN INTERESTING PROPOSITION FOR THE CITY. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS KIND OF A EVENTUAL DISCUSSION,

NOT NECESSARILY A 2020-21. >> IT POTENTIALLY COULD BE A 20-21 CONVERSATION. THE CONVERSATION IS IF PARKS BOARD -- IF THIS MEETING SAYS THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF CONVERSATION, WE'LL GO BACK AND TALK DETAILS. THERE WILL BE

[00:10:01]

SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE AND ASSURANCES.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WILL HAVE TO BE ENTERED INTO THAT PARKS BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL APPROVE OF AN ORDINANCE CHANGE.

THERE'S A LOT OF STEPS THAT CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE IT'S A DONE DEAL. BUT BEFORE WE VENTURE DOWN THAT ROAD, WE WANTED TO SEE IF PARKS BOARD WOULD BE COMFORTABLE OF

ENTERTAINING THE IDEA. >> LESLI, DID YOU SAY REDBUD OR

RED ROSE? >> ROSE.

>> WHAT'S THE AS NAL FOR THAT LOCATION?

>> I'M NOT. >> I JUST WONDERED IF THAT

PLAYED INTO IT. >> I'M NOT SURE THIS IS 100% THEIR PERMANENT HOME,R. IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL, THEY WANT TO EVENTUALLY MOVE TO A MORE PERMANENT HOME BUT THIS WOULD GIVE THEM A STEPPINGSTONE TO BUILD UP FOLLOWERS AND FANS.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS BE LEFT TO BE WORKED OUT AND DISCUSSED ON THE DETAILS. BUT ALCOHOL IS IMPORTANT, AND SO WE NEED TO SEE IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO CONSIDER.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED -- WE DON'T NEED ANY TYPE OF ACTION BUT WE ARE RESOLVED WE'RE INTERESTED IN THE CONVERSATION.

>> IS THAT ALL WE NEED IS JUST GET APPROVAL TO PURSUE IT?

>> YES. >> I SUPPORT THAT.

>> THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT TO US. WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA

[4. Aquatics Report (Discussion)]

ITEM NO. 4, OUR AQUATICS REPORT THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION.

>> I USUALLY HAVE TO AD LIB OFF THE PICTURES. GOOD MORNING, BOBBY BROWN, DIVISION MANAGER FOR SENIORS AND AQUATIC. SPLASH PADS ARE UP AND GOING. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MAYBE A FEW GLITCHES NOW AND THEN THAT WE HAVE TO GO OUT, THE WATER'S NOT COMING ON OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. KIDS ARE HAVING FUN.

WE'RE NOT GETTING AS MANY DAYS AS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITH THE WEATHER LIKE IT'S BEEN. YOU CAN BET ON A SUNNY DAY, YOU CAN GO BY AND THERE'S PEOPLE AT ALL THE PARKS, PARTICIPATION AT ALL OF THEM. SO THAT'S IT. VENTURE COVE, WE ARE STILL PRESENTLY TRYING TO HIRE LIFEGUARDS AND CONCESSION PEOPLE. WE HAVE LIFEGUARDS THAT ARE ON DUTY ALREADY, THEY'RE OUT THERE ON THE GOOD DAYS. THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING FROM VACUUMING THE POOL TO WAXING THE SLIDES TO PUTTING UP WIND SCREENS ON THE FENCE, SO -- THEY'RE REALLY WORKING HARD TO GET THERE. THE HIRING PROCEDURE IS KIND OF SLOW. NOT THE PROCEDURE BUT THE APPLICATIONS COMING IN IS KIND OF SLOW BUT THEY'RE STILL COMING IN. SO WE'RE GETTING READY FOR OUR OPENING DATE OF MAY 29TH.

WE HOPE THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE READY BY THEN.

>> CAN YOU TELL US THE REQUIREMENTS -- A LOCAL FACEBOOK GROUP YESTERDAY, I SAW HEY, I'M LOOKING FOR A LIFEGUARD JOB. IS THERE AN AGE REQUIREMENT?

>> THEY CAN GET A CERTIFICATION AT 15 BUT THEY HAVE TO BE 16 TO WORK FOR THE CITY. THEY HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OF AGE AND GET CERTIFIED. THAT'S BEEN KIND OF DIFFICULT AS WELL, FINDING SOME CLASSES FOR CERTIFICATION. WE'VE ACTUALLY MADE SOME CALLS TO SOME PEOPLE AND SET UP CERTIFICATIONS, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE IN CLASSES SO WE CAN GET THEM THROUGH THE HIRING SYSTEM.

WE CAN'T HIRE THEM UNTIL THEY GET THEIR CERTIFICATIONS SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON. I THINK I'VE GOT 26 PEOPLE WAITING IN THE WINGS FOR THEIR ACTUAL PHYSICAL CERTIFICATIONS SO THEY CAN EMAIL IT TO ME SO I CAN CLICK THEM THROUGH AND HIRE THEM. SO IT'S KIND OF RUNNING THE TIME UP CLOSE TOGETHER THERE, BUT I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF THEM YESTERDAY AND THEY SAID THEY DID GET CERTIFIED AND ARE WAITING ON CERTIFICATION PAPERS. IF HE CAY CAN GO GET CERTIFIED, GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL AND BRING A BRICK UP, THEY CAN BE A LIFEGUARD. I DON'T HAVE ROOM TO TURN ANYBODY DOWN THAT'S

CERTIFIED. >> I JUST SPENT THE WEEKEND IN AUSTIN AND MY OLDEST GRANDDAUGHTER IS 16. SHE'S A LIFEGUARD AT THE AQUATICS PARK IN ROUND ROCK, THE LARGEST INDOOR WATER PARK IN THE WORLD. IT'S AMAZING. THEY'VE GOT 50 LIFEGUARDS -- 150 LIFEGUARDS. SHE HAD TO GO THROUGH A TWO-WEEK, VERY INTENSE CERTIFICATIONS PROCESS. SHE MADE IT THROUGH THE TOP LEVEL. THEY HAVE TWO LEVELS, ONE CAN DO DEEP WATER AND OTHERS WORK IN THE SHALLOW WATER. DO YOU BELIEVE 150 LIFEGUARDS? THEY'VE GOT THREE SHIFTS, 18 AT A TIME.

[00:15:02]

MY DAUGHTER SAID DAD, YOU GOT TO SEE THIS PLACE. IT'S A HUGE CONVENTION CENTER THERE. IT'S LIKE A LITTLE LAS VEGAS.

>> I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE. >> THE AQUATIC PARK IS UNBELIEVABLE. IT IS HUGE. SHE'S ONE OF THE LIFEGUARDS.

AND SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES WHAT SHE'S DOING. EVERY TIME SHE GOES, SHE WORKS AT THE DIFFERENT PLACE. THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE ONE TIME AND THE OTHER TIME, THE LAZY RIVER. SO -- IF ABILENE HAS THE SAME REQUIREMENTS THEY DO FOR THAT POOL IN AUSTIN --

AND SHE LOVES WHAT SHE DOES. >> SEVERAL OF OUR GUARDS ARE RETURNING GUARDS. THEY WORKED FOR US FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THEY LIKE IT. THEY -- YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE ONES THAT WE WON'T SEE THIS SUMMER IS BECAUSE THEY'VE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE AND THEY'VE MOVED ON WITH THEIR LIVES AND THEY'RE DOING

SOMETHING IN OTHER CITIES. >> YEAH. SHE DID YOU SEE JUST WHAT YOU SAID, THEY HAVE TO GO EARLY TO MAKE SURE -- WHEN THEY OPEN AND SHE NEVER KNOWS WHEN SHE'LL GET THROUGH BECAUSE THEY WIPE DOWN THE FURNITURE, CLEAN UP EVERYTHING, WORK ON THE EQUIPMENT. NONE OF THEM LEAVE UNTIL THEY GET DONE WITH THE

DUTIES. >> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S PART

OF THE DUTY. >> I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST THROW

THAT IN. >> YOU'RE OKAY. ALSO, WHAT OUR -- OUR DRIVE IN MOVIES, I NEVER REMEMBER THE NAME OF THESE MOVIES WHEN SOMEBODY ASKS TO THERE THEY ARE, THE GR GREATEST SHOW MANRMAN. ELF, WE'RE GOING TO DO CHRISTMAS IN JULY SO WE'LL OUR CHRISTMAS TREES OUT. MAYBE WE'LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW. SANTA CLAUS MAY SHOW UP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEN THE PEANUTS MOVIE ON AUGUSR SENIORS ARE BACK PLAYING. WE

[5. Seniors Report (Discussion]

HAD OUR MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATION AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAD A LOT OF LADIES SHOW UP AND THEY HAD A GREAT TIME. THEY HAD A GREAT TIME. AT THE SAME TIME THEY WERE THERE, WE HAD THE FOOD BANK WAS OUT IN THE ROOM NEXT DOOR GIVING OUT THE FOOD BOXES. SO THAT HALLWAY WAS CLAMORED UP AND SOME OF THOSE LADIES WERE RUNNING THERE TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT THEIR FOOD BOX. IT WAS A BUSY DAY. THAT'S AN INDICATION OF WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE SENIOR CENTER. THE NUMBERS ARE INCREASING SLOWLY. PEOPLE ARE SLOWLY COMING BACK AND THEY ARE HAVING A BALL. AGAIN, CARDIO DRUMMING CLASS, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT WAS FULL THE FIRST DAY BACK AND THEY WERE EXCITED. WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO START A SECOND CARDIO DRUMMING CLASS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY THAT WANT TO BE IN THE CLASS. I DON'T KNOW IF OUR INSTRUCTOR CAN TEACH TWO CLASSES IN ONE DAY BUT WE'LL HAVE TO TEACH SOMEBODY ELSE AS WELL BUT IT'S EXCITING TO SEE EVERYBODY GETTING INVOLVED IN OUR PROGRAMS AGAIN.

WE'RE ANTICIPATING SOME NEW CLASSES AND NEW THINGS GOING ON AND HOPEFULLY THE NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

>> THAT'S SO GREAT. I WANT TO SEE VIDEO OF THE CARDIO DRUMMING

CLASS. >> IT'S GREAT. I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD MAKE IT THROUGH A WHOLE CLASS. ANY QUESTIONS OR --

>> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. GOOD JOB. THEY'RE HAVING A BALL IN THE CARDIO DRUMMING SEGUE WAS THE BEST.

>> JOSE IS COMING SO LET'S -- >> LET'S GO TO AGENDA ITEM 7

[7. Recreation Report (Discussion)]

THEN. >> GOOD MORNING. WE ARE WORKING ON ABILENE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE DAY, SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH.

9:00 TO 3:00 AT CALAN PARK. THERE WILL BE FISHING, WILDLIFE, ARCHERY, HORSE GROOMING. WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SURRENDERS COMING TO THAT EVENT WE HAVE THE ZOO PARTNERING, TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE. LAND AND CATTLE OF PROVIDING HOT DOGS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS. AND EVERYONE IS GETTING INVOLVED.

IT'S BEEN A VERY FUN EVENT. HOPEFULLY WE HAVE GOOD WEATHER THAT DAY. WE'RE VERY EXCITED THIS YEAR TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO OR MOTHER-SON DANCE. OUR THEME THIS YEAR ARE MOTHERS AND SONS ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD SO WE'RE DOING AN OUTER SPACE THEME. IT WILL BE AT THE CIVIC CENTER -- THE FIRST TIME WE TRIED IT WAS AT THE SENIOR CENTER AND DADDY AND DAUGHTER -- IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AT THE CONVENTION CENTER SO THE MOMS ARE EXCITED TO MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, EVERY BOY WILL PRESENT

[00:20:03]

HIS MOM WITH THEIR CARNATION FROM THE MOON.

>> THAT'S AWESOME. >> ANY QUESTIONS? GOOD JOB.

>> ARE TICKETS ON SALE FOR THAT NOW?

>> YES, THEY ARE. >> I HAVE A 12-YEAR-OLD, I SHOULD REMIND. THANK YOU, LET'S GO TO ZOO.

[8. Zoo Report (Discussion)]

>> JESSE POTTER BALM, ZOO DIRECTOR W WE STARTED OFF RECENTLY WITH OUR BIG FUNDRAISING GALA, THE ZOO'S A MUNICIPALITY BUT WE HAVE A NONPROFIT SITE, THE ABILENE -- THIS IS A PRIVATE GALA THEY USE TO RAISE FUNDS. THIS YEAR WE FOCUSED ON EMERGENCY OPERATIONS FUNDS. THE ZOO HAD A $200,000 BUDGET OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS WE USED DURING THE COVID CRISIS AND THIS WAS FOCUSED ON REPLENISHING THAT. WE RAISED ABOUT 30, $35,000 TO GET BACK INTO THAT EMERGENCY OPERATION FUND. IT'S A FUN EVENT -- I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT PRIVATE. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. ANYBODY CAN COME TO THE EVENT. IT'S OPEN AND BY RESERVATION ONLY. THANK YOU FOR COMING. IF NOT, COME NEXT YEAR. WE HAD ANIMAL ACQUISITIONS, WE RECEIVED A FEMALE GIANT ANTEATER FROM NEW JERSEY FROM A FACILITY UP THERE. YOU CAN SEE IN THE BACKGROUND, THERE'S OUR MALE BENNY, HER NAME IS DIMO. SHE GETS HER NAME FROM HER PARENTS.

ONE STARTED WITH A D AND ONE STARTED WITH A MO, I GUESS. WE REQUIRED TWO STRIPED HYENAS. THE LAST LION PASSED AWAY AND THAT EXHIBIT WAS EMPTY. WE HAVE THREE OUR LINES LIONS ALL ON LOAN FROM THE FT. WORTH ZOO. THEY'RE REDOING THEIR HYENA AREA SO WE SAID WE HAD A EMPTY EXHIBIT. WE ASKED IF THEY HAD THE PIPED HYENAS AND THEY DID. ANTEATER IS ON A BREEDING LOAN.

SHE'S MARRIED PRETTY MUCH TO THIS MALE ANTEATER AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL HAVE BABIES IN THE FUTURE. LASTLY WE HAD OUR ABILENE GIVES, THE NONPROFIT SIDE, IT WAS HUGELY SUCCESSFUL.

AGAIN, $200,000 WAS ALREADY USED UP IN A MATTER OF ONE DAY WE REPLENISHED 25% OF THAT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS FUND BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY. KUDOS TO THE COMMUNITY. TO POINT OUT SIGNIFICANT THINGS, LEADERBOARD OF DONATIONS TO ABILENE ZOO WAS AT NUMBER 5 AND WE'RE NUMBER 1 AT TOTAL DONORS. SO THAT REALLY CONTRIBUTES TO HOW WELL THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SUPPORT THE ZOO AND THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT DONATED. HUGE

THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY. >> AMAZING.

>> THAT'S IT, ANY QUESTIONS? >> IS THERE A LONG-TERM REPLENISH. OF LIONS IN PLAN? AFTER THE THREE YEARS -- ARE WE AT A, HEY, WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION LATER?

>> YES, I'LL BE WORKING WITH THE BOARD, THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BOARD COMING UP WITH A MASTER PLAN. THE GOAL IS ALWAYS TO HAVE LIONS, OUR STANDARDS NEED TO BE THIS HIGH AND OUR LION EXHIBITS MIGHT NEED MODERNIZATION FOR THE NEXT -- THERE'S DISCUSSIONS OF THAT HAPPENING HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. AND MY PASSION IS THE TO REJUVENATE THAT WHOLE FOOTPRINT, THE ORIGINAL EXISTING FOOTPRINT NEEDS TO BE MODERNIZED AND POSSIBLY REBUILD THE PRIDE SO HOPEFULLY IT'S PERFECT TIMING.

THERE'S A BIG CAMPAIGN IN THERE. >> I LOVE IT.

>> DID THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY DO A -- ABILENE GIVES, WAS THERE A PRIMARY EFFORT BY THE SOCIETY TO GET MORE DONORS OR WAS IT JUST, HEY, WHEN ABILENE GIVES, IT'S JUST WHERE THE CITIZENS DECIDED

TO GIVE TO? >> CITIZENS GIVE THE MAJORITY BUT IT -- A LOT OF IT WAS STAFF ORIENTED. THE ABILENE ZOO HAS A BIG FACEBOOK FOLLOWING, A LOT OF FOLLOWERS, SO WE WERE LIVE ON FACEBOOK ALL DAY. I THINK THE W THAT AND WILL EXPRESS TO OTHER NONPROFITS. HEY, ABILENE ZOO DID THAT AND IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. THAT WAS STAFFED BASED. OUR BOARD WENT OUT AND ASKED PEOPLE TO DONATE AND SOLICIT AND THEY OBVIOUSLY DONATED THEMSELF. A LOT OF IT WAS WITH THE STAFF.

[00:25:07]

>> I -- HE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE IMPRESSED WITH THE TEAM AND EVERYTHING THEY DID. YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW WELL THEY DID. AND IRONICALLY I'M SEEING IT NOW. WELL DONE.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD JOB.

>> ALL RIGHT, THAT TAKES US TO OUR PARKS REPORT. RIGHT ON

[6. Parks Report (Discussion)]

TIME. >> I COULDN'T GET MY PONTOON OUT THIS MORNING. GOOD MORNING. JESUS, DIVISION MANAGER OF PARKS. WE HAD AT KIRBY LAKE, THIS DOCK RIGHT HERE, BROKE SOME WELLS AND WE HAVE TO PULL THE WHOLE THING OUT OF THE LAKE. I HAD A COMPANY COME IN AND WELD THE BRACKETS BACK TOGETHER AND WE PUT IT BACK OUT AND IT'S OPERATIONAL AGAIN. THAT WAS A BIG TASK TO DO. BUT WE GOT IT DONE AND IT'S BACK OUT THERE AGAIN SO EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY IT AGAIN.

WINN-DIXIE. WINN-DIXIE PROJECT IS A PROJECT WE STARTED DURING THE WINTER PROJECTS. WE FINALLY GOT IT DONE. AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THE GUYS DID A GREAT JOB EVERYTHING IS UP NOW, READY FOR ADMEN TO USE THAT SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR GUYS. THEY DID A GOOD JOB. I'M IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THEY DID. I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD THAT MUCH SKILL BUT WE DO. THEN WE ALSO HAD --

>> CHRIS, CAN YOU GO BACK TO VENTURE COVE?

>> I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN WHAT THIS

IS? >> WINN-DIXIE, WHEN WE MOVED INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE'S A SECTION OF THE OLD WINN-DIXIE THAT THE CITY IS USING AS STORAGE. ONE OF THE BUILDS BUILDINGS WE USED FOR OR RECORDS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP, EITHER INDEFINITELY OR LONG PERIODS OF TIME WAS RIGHT OVER HERE THAT WE HAD TO DEMOLISH FOR ALL THE STUFF HAPPENING DOWNTOWN SO WE'RE MOVING INTO THIS LOCATION. TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AREAS WHERE PEOPLE CAN STORE STUFF, THEY WANTED THESE STORAGE CAGES PUT UP. TO SAVE MONEY, THEY ASKED THE PARK STAFF TO DO IT AS A WINTER PROJECT TO SAVE WHAT IT WOULD COST TO PAY SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND DO IT. THAT WAS ONE OF THE PARKS WINTER PROJECTS. IT'S ALL INTERNAL FOR CITY STAFF AND DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS BUT THERE'S A HUGE TENSION REQUIREMENT FOR

MUNICIPAL RECORDS. >> DID THAT COME UP PREVIOUSLY IN A MEETING THAT I MISSED? THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I HEARD OF

THAT. >> HUH-UH.

>> THAT'S A GOOD USE OF THAT FACILITY. DID RICHARD DO ALL

THAT? >> WELL, IT WAS REALLY JESUS.

>> YOU DID IT. >> THAT PROJECT, WE STARTED THAT IN DECEMBER. I THINK I BROUGHT IT TO PARKS BOARD I BELIEVE IN JANUARY WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT IT, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WORKING ON IT BUT IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS SINCE WE'VE DID AN UPDATE. BUT THE GUYS GOT IT DONE A -- ACTUALLY LAST WEEK.

>> THE OLD WINN-DIXIE. >> YES.

>> GOOD FOR YOU. >> YES, SIR.

>> GOOD USE OF THE BUILDING. >> THE OLD POLICE BUILDING, I STILL CALL IT THE WINN-DIXIE BUILDING BUT IT'S THE POLICE

BUILDING. >> JUST AN EXTENSION. YEAH, VERY GOOD. I WASN'T AWARE OF IT AT ALL.

>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER WITH RECREATION. THERE WAS A LEAK ON A GATE VALVE THAT SPRUNG UP AND OUR GUYS CUT A CU -- SQUE OUT TO THE CONTRACTOR CAN REPAIR THE GATE VALVE. IT'S NOW REPAIRED. AS SOON AS THE RAIN STOPS, WE'LL GET THAT CONCRETED IN AND IT SHOULD BE READY TO GO FOR THE OPENING ADVENTURE COVE.

THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT WAS CURBING THAT GOT DAMAGED. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF GUYS WE HAVE WORKING FOR US.

WE TOOK JOSE OVER THERE AND ASKED IF HE COULD PREPARE THAT AND DO THINKS BEST TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THE ORIGINAL AND HE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB, EVEN ON THE TILES HE PUT BACK. HE DID A GOOD JOB. THIS IS JUST A TESTAMENT OF THE TYPE OF CRAFTSMANSHIP AND PEOPLE WE HAVE WORKING FOR US THAT WERE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS IN HOUSE AND SAVE SOME MONEY. THAT'S JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ON REC AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH FOR PARKS FOR THIS MONTH. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> THAT'S AWESOME. REALLY WELL DONE. IT IS NICE TO HAVE FOLKS

[00:30:01]

IN THE CITY WE CAN MOVE AROUND TO DO DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

THAT'S THE WAY TO SAVE MONEY FOR THE CITIZENS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THEY STARTED DOING IN PARKS IS I MEAN THE GUYS MOW AND TAKE CARE OF THE PARKS AND LAND A GOOD EIGHT MONTHS OUT OF YEAR BUT THERE ARE WINTER MONTHS WHEN THE GRASS ISN'T GROWING. WE HAVE VERY TALENTED MEN THAT WORK FOR US AND SO THEY HAVE STARTED BREAKING THEM UP INTO CREWS OF EXPERTISE SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE IN THAT TWO OR THREE MONTHS OF THE WINTERTIME THAT WE USED TO NOT BE ABLE TO DO, DUE TO THE TALENT AND PAIRING PEOPLE UP WITH THE SAME EXPERTISE SO WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE TO THE PARKS STAFF.

>> A WAY TO KEEP OUR FOLKS BUSY AND THEIR LIST OF PRIORITIES WILL ONLY BE A MILE LONG BEFORE TOO LONG. THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S GREAT. ANY OTHER ISSUES WE NEED TO DISCUSS TODAY OR CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE US ADJOURN.

>> ALL

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.