May 17, 2022 Parks and Recreation

[00:00:01]

JOIN. JOINING US THIS MORNING FOR OUR PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING.

WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED WITH AN INVOCATION LED BY ROBIN.

WOULD YOU BEAR WITH ME, PLEASE? DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY THANKING YOU FOR ALL OUR BLESSINGS AND ASKING FOR RAIN LORD.

WE ASK FOR WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, AND FOR OUR SUMMER RENT PROGRAMS TO REMAIN SAFE.

WE THANK YOU FOR OUR STAFF AND OUR PARTICIPANTS AND FOR A CITY THAT LOVES ONE ANOTHER.

IT'S IN YOUR NAME. WE PRAY, AND THEN WE'LL GO AND GET STARTED.

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

SAY YOUR NAME AND YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES TO MAKE ANY COMMENT ON ANY OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS. WE WILL HAVE SOME TIME LATER ON.

I DIDN'T GET A COPY OF JAMIE.

COULD YOU JUST BRIEFLY GO? I'M SURE YOU HAVE A LIST OF.

GIVE YOU A SECOND TO REVIEW IT.

COME ON, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES. 4 MINUTES.

GOTCHA. GOTCHA.

MY NAME IS CLAY WILLIAMS. I'VE BEEN ABILENE RESIDENT FOR 31 YEARS.

A TAXPAYER. FAMILY'S BEEN IN TEXAS SINCE 1843, SO WE'VE BEEN AROUND IN TEXAS.

THIS BUSINESS OF CHANGING THE NAMES OF OUR PARKS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE REAL CAREFUL WITH BECAUSE.

DENIGRATING A HERO LIKE GENERAL ROBERT E LEE IS NOT A GOOD LESSON FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THEY NEED TO KNOW WHO HE WAS.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE WAS A CHRISTIAN, A PATRIOT, A GENIUS AS A MILITARY LEADER.

PRESIDENT OF A COLLEGE IN VIRGINIA.

A FAMILY MAN.

AND GRADUATED SECOND IN HIS CLASS AT WEST POINT.

SERVED IN TEXAS AT CAMP COOPER.

FORT MASON. FORT BROWN.

RINGGOLD BARRACKS.

TWO TOURS IN TEXAS.

HE WAS NOT A TEXAN. HE WAS A VIRGINIAN.

BUT HE'S SOMEONE THAT SHOULD BE EMULATED.

A GOOD EXAMPLE.

A CHRISTIAN MAN IN.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT NAME Y'ALL HAVE PICKED OUT FOR THE LEE PARK HERE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP THAT NAME AS IT IS.

THANK YOU. WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF OUR OF OUR MEETING.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP AND MAKE ANY COMMENTS.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO THE SUN.

AND THIS TIME WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION AND WE'LL MOVE ON.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE SKIPPING OVER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA.

[2. Minutes (Discussion and Action)]

WE IMPROVED THE MINUTES FROM APRIL 18TH, 2020 TO THE SECOND, MOVED IN SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE, I OPPOSED.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

IT'S MICHAEL HAMMOND. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE THAT A SELECTION OF OFFICERS THIS WILL BE DISCUSSION AND ACTION FOR THE COURT EVERY

[3. Election of Officers (Discussion and Action)]

DAVID HAS BEEN OUR CHAIRMAN AND GARY GRUBBS HAS BEEN OUR VICE CHAIR.

GARY IS OUT OF TOWN AND NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY.

AND HE DID EXPRESS TO ME HE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SERVING IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD SO ELECTS.

BUT IT'S REALLY OPEN FOR DISCUSSION ON WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, BUT IT'S TIME TO ELECT OFFICERS FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

IS THERE A LIMIT ON HOW LONG YOU CAN BE CHAIR? I NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK. IT'S EITHER FIVE OR SEVEN YEARS.

SO DAVID'S. DAVID'S DAY.

HE'S SAFE. THAT'S A MATTER OF OPINION, I SUPPOSE, BUT.

WELL, I THINK YOU'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

I MEAN, ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NOMINATION? ARE YOU OKAY WITH IT? SURE.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE DAVID TO CONTINUE HIS SERVICE AS CHAIR, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT MOTION.

AND WE APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU PUT INTO THIS.

I APPRECIATE IT. IT'S AN HONOR.

IT REALLY IS. I'M HONORED TO SERVE.

YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. I DON'T LIKE TO SEE YOU DO IT ANYWAY.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO STAY.

WELL, THANK YOU. WE DO.

WE DO NEED A VOTE.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO VOTE ON A CHAIR.

CAN WE MOVE THOSE THINGS AT THE SAME TIME? OKAY, THEN I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE GARY GRUBBS AS VICE CHAIR.

[00:05:03]

IN ALL, IN A FAVOR SAY I.

I OPPOSE.

GARY WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR VICE CHAIR.

NOT GOING TO COMMENT MYSELF.

OKAY. I GUESS WE NEED TO CALL A VOTE ON DAVID FOR MAINTENANCE CHAIRS.

CORRECT. SO ALL IN FAVOR.

SAY I. ALL RIGHT.

SURE. PERFECT.

WE'LL MOVE ON WITH THAT THEN.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE.

IT REALLY HAS BEEN A BLESSING.

AND SO I'M LOOKING FOR ONE MORE TIME TO SEE IF MIKE'S HERE YET.

WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA.

[4. Request to Rename Lee Park (Final Reading, Discussion, Public Hearing, and Action)]

WE HAVE A FINAL READING DISCUSSION, PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION, AN APPLICATION TO RENAME LEE PARK TO ROBERT AND SAMMY STAFFORD PARK IN AN APPLICATION TO RENAME LEE PARK TO COACH JAMES VALENTINE PARK OR VALENTINE PARK IS ALL IN IMPORTANT FOR US JUST TO GO OVER THE TIMELINE AGAIN WITH EVERYONE.

ON DECEMBER 21ST, THE PARKS AND REC FACILITY NAMING A POLICY WAS ADOPTED.

ON JANUARY 18TH OF 2022.

AN APPLICATION WAS PRESENTED TO THE PARK'S BOARD TO NAME FOR A NAME CHANGE OF LEE PARK TO ROBERT AND SAMMY STAFFORD PARK OR FOR SHORT.

IF WE CALLED IT STAFFORD PARK ON MARCH 15TH, APPLICATION WAS PRESENTED FOR A NAME CHANGE OF LEE PARK TO COACH JAMES VALENTINE PARK OR FOR SHORT VALENTINE PARK PARK'S BOARD TABLED THE NAME CHANGE TO APRIL BOARD MEETING AND APPOINTED A SUBCOMMITTEE.

THAT SUBCOMMITTEE MET ON APRIL 12TH.

ON APRIL 19TH WAS THE FIRST READING IN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED NAME CHANGES ON APRIL 19TH.

WE ALSO HAD A PRESENTATION FROM WILL FORD FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDING THAT LEE PARK BE CHANGED TO COACH JAMES VALENTINE PARK OR FOR SHORT VALENTINE PARK.

AND THEN HERE WE ARE TODAY ON MAY 17TH, WHICH IS THE SECOND AND FINAL READING AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED NAME CHANGE.

SO WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO SAY, TODAY WILL BE FINAL FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

AWESOME. THIS IS A FINAL READING DISCUSSION, PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION.

WE WILL ENTER AT TIME OF PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AS WELL.

YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES TO COME FORWARD IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE ANY PRESENTATION.

SO WHAT DISCUSSION DO WE HAVE WITHIN OUR BOARD? THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE SUBCOMMITTEE BECAUSE THEY MET AND DID SOME YEOMAN'S WORK FOR US AND I APPRECIATE THEIR TIME.

THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, SPEAKING TO FACULTY AT STANFORD ELEMENTARY AND NEIGHBORS IN THE PARK, THERE IS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT STAFFORD ELEMENTARY, STAFFORD ATHLETIC FIELDS AND AND STAFFORD PARK.

AND WE HAVE PEOPLE SHOWING UP AT THE WRONG PLACE AND IN SOME FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SECURITY PROBLEM.

AND I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE THAT I HAD TALKED TO SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE AND ASK THAT.

OF COURSE, THE NEIGHBORS FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT BOTH FAMILIES.

AND THAT'S SUCH A SUCH A GREAT PART OF HISTORY THAT ABILENE SHARES WITH THESE TWO FAMILIES.

AND AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, WE WE WE WE GROW BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE THEM WERE INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I WANT TO THANK THOSE TWO FAMILIES.

BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT NAMING IT STAFFORD AND HAVING PEOPLE SHOW UP ON CAMPUS AND WANDERING AROUND CAMPUS.

THIS IS NOT MY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, ROBIN. WHAT OTHER DISCUSSION OR CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE? ROBIN, CAN YOU CLARIFY YOUR POINT FOR ME? ARE YOU SAYING YOU FIND IT CONFUSING? STAFFORD AND VALENTINE ARE.

I'M STILL NOT CLEAR BECAUSE EVERYTHING, LIKE SOMEBODY SHOWS UP FOR STAFFORD ATHLETIC FIELDS.

THEY COME TO CAMPUS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, AND THERE THEY FIND THEM ON CAMPUS OR THEY GET IN A DOOR AT THE CAMPUS.

AND THEN WE HAVE AN UNSECURE CAMPUS.

AND SO THEY FELT LIKE IF WE NAMED IT SOMETHING OTHER THAN STAFFORD, THAT WOULD HELP CUT DOWN THE CONFUSION AND HOPEFULLY LESSEN THE SAFETY ISSUE FOR THAT CAMPUS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION WE LIKE TO HAVE? AND I THINK I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO HAS COME TO TO SPEAK AND TO HONOR MR. STAFFORD AND MR. VALENTINE.

[00:10:01]

I DID NOT GROW UP IN ABILENE.

AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, I WAS TEARY EYED AT THE LAST MEETING TO HEAR THE STORIES OF BOTH THESE MEN AND JUST THE IMPACT THAT THEY MADE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ESPECIALLY THE IMPACT I THINK THEY MADE ON CHILDREN.

AND MANY OF THE CHILDREN THAT THEY IMPACTED ARE THE ONES WHO CONTINUE TO GROW UP AND LIVE IN ABILENE AND I THINK REPLICATE THAT THE VALUES OF THOSE MEN.

SO I THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP.

BUT AND THEN MOST OF ALL, I JUST I GUESS I'M VERY HONORED TO TO HAVE KIND OF A LITTLE GLIMPSE INTO YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR LOVED ONES AND YOUR FRIENDS.

SO THANK YOU. YOU HAVE TO GIVE ANYTHING.

BEFORE WE GO INTO AN ACTION ON THIS, WE WILL OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC IS REQUESTED TIME TO COMMENT ON.

AND SO IF YOU DO HAVE A COMMENT SPECIFICALLY ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.

YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AT THE MICROPHONE.

NBC. MCCRORY, 37 SIX.

PENROSE, A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF BABBLING TAXPAYER.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF I COULD GET A CLARIFICATION OF WHAT YOU'RE DESIRING, BECAUSE I'M SOMEWHAT CONFUSED WHEN IT WAS ALL LEGAL.

WAS THERE A PROBLEM AT THAT POINT? YES, I WAS.

SO WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING? AT THIS POINT, I'M NONE OF THIS EVER COME UP BEFORE.

NOW, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I'M SURE I'M JUST MAKING SURE I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING.

I DID BRING THIS UP AT THE LAST MEETING THAT THERE WAS A THE LAST THING I WAS MEETING BEFORE LAST THAT PEOPLE SHOW UP NOT LOOKING, NOT KNOWING WHERE THEY'RE GOING, LIKE FROM OUT OF TOWN DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

AND THEY THEY MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE GYM OR TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OR TO THAT LOOKING FOR WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.

AND AND THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE PEOPLE ON THAT.

A FEW PEOPLE ON THAT CAMPUS THAT I'VE SPOKEN WITH AND THEY WERE TRYING TO AVOID CONFUSION.

SO IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, ALL OF IT BEING NAME ONE UNDER ONE NAME IS A PROBLEM.

YES. WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING THAT WE LOOK AT CHANGING OTHER WORDS, DOING AN INDIVIDUAL NAME ON THE SCHOOL, THE COMPLEX.

AND THEN THE PART IS THAT, WELL, I ONLY HAVE SAY OVER MY VOTE ONLY COUNTS ON THE PARK.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS THE RIGHT HAS THE AUTHORITY ON THE OTHER TWO.

SO YOU GO BACK TO.

SO SO THAT'S THAT'S A IF THE SCHOOL BOARD WANTS TO DO SOMETHING, THAT'S UP TO THEM.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE CONSIDERING THAT.

BUT BUT YES, ME PERSONALLY, I THINK IT SHOULD BE A I THINK IT SHOULD BE A SEPARATE NAME FOR SAFETY ISSUE.

AND IT'S ALSO WHEN OUR SUBCOMMITTEE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO TRY TO BE CLEAR ON.

THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. I WAS UNCLEAR, I THINK.

WE REMAIN IN PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE CONTINUE TO COME FORWARD.

ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND FROM OUR HEARING AND MOVE INTO ACTION.

HE GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THIS BOARD KNOWS THAT THIS IS CERTAINLY A DIFFICULT ISSUE.

THIS IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT WE WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL, MINDFUL OF AS AS A GROUP AND AS AS A REFLECTION OF OUR CITY.

AND WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING FORWARD WITH WITH THEIR PERSPECTIVES.

WE DO WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK INTO THIS AS AS A CITY.

AGAIN, WE'RE JUST YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL WITH OUR FOLKS THAT ARE HELPING TO LEAD.

BUT WE WANT US TO BE REFLECTIVE OF EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE WANT TO HONOR, HONOR OUR CITIZENS.

AND AS LEE SAID, THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS REALLY HAVE BEEN HONORING AND I, I WENT HOME AND TALKED TO MY FAMILY ABOUT I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME THEIR BATTLING THIS LONG HAD A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE IN IT AND IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THEM AND AND OUR PAST AND AND HELPED US TO SPEAK TOWARDS THE FUTURE.

AND SO IN FRONT OF US ARE PROPOSALS TO RENAME THESE PARKS.

WE ARE STAN LEE, CORRECT ME, BUT THIS IS OUR FINAL READING OF THIS.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

SO AS AS I MENTIONED, WHATEVER IS DONE TODAY WILL THEN LAST 50 YEARS.

[00:15:05]

ONE ARE TO RENAME SAPPHIRE PARK AND ONE TO RENAME IT VALENTINE PARK.

DO WE HAVE ANY MOTIONS TO BE MADE? WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THAT NOW.

THAT'LL BE OUR FINAL DECISION MAKING PROMISES.

BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I'D JUST LIKE TO ECHO SOME OF THE COMMENTS OF THE REST OF THE BOARD FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT LOTS OF BEHIND THE SCENES WORK, A LOT OF UPFRONT WORK.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE, THE SUBCOMMITTEES AND EVERYBODY WHO HAD BEEN A PART OF THAT.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK TO THIS.

AND AND THE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED EVIDENTLY ARE WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND JUST JUSTLY FOR THAT.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR CONCERNS.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SHARE THAT.

THESE ARE THESE ARE AMERICAN HISTORY PEOPLE THAT WERE NAMED IN THESE PARKS.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

I THINK BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS.

STANLEY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT, PLEASE? WELL, IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD, SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE A MOTION AS TO HOW YOU WANT THE PARK TO BE NAMED.

HOWEVER, THAT MAY ONE PART OR BOTH OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. THERE'S JUST ONE PARK.

THERE'LL BE ONE NAME, ONE PARK AND ONE NAME.

SO ONE OR THE OTHER OR NEITHER.

IT WOULD BE MY UNDERSTANDING THAT'S BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE APPLICATIONS.

BEFORE YOU IS APPLICATION FOR ONE NAME AND APPLICATION FOR ANOTHER NAME AND THEN I GUESS THE OTHER.

YOU COULD DENY BOTH APPLICATIONS.

ALSO, AT THIS POINT, IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ONE NAME, IF WE HAD A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ONE NAME, IT WOULD MAKE THE MAKE IT MOOT AT THAT POINT.

CORRECT. THE OTHER THING WOULD BE NOT JUST.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? IN MOTION. WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE RENAMING OF LEIGH PARK TO COACH JAMES VALENTINE PARK.

VALENTINE PARK FOR SHORT.

ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEE, LET'S TAKE OF THAT MOOD.

AND SECOND OF ALL, IN FAVOR OF CHANGING THE NAME OF LEE PARK TO COACH JAMES VALENTINE PARK.

I WOULD SAY I.

I OPPOSE WITH OUR QUORUM THAT PASSES THAT WILL NOW BE VALENTINE PARK.

WHAT WE NEED TO THEN GO INTO THE SECONDARY PARK NAME OR WHAT I WILL SAY JUST FOR Y'ALL'S INFORMATION AS WELL AS ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE.

WE WILL ORDER NEW SIGNS FOR THE PARK.

BUT WE ORDERED SOME SIGNS A FEW MONTHS AGO FOR SOME FOR SOME PARKS JUST TO CLEAN THEM UP.

AND IT TAKES QUITE A FEW MONTHS.

SO JUST BE AWARE WE WILL GET THE SIGNS ORDERED.

BUT IT MAY BE A FEW MONTHS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GET IT CHANGED OUT JUST TO THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND ALL THE THINGS GOING ON IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE WILL GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU FOR FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

THAT IS IMPORTANT. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE'VE MOVED ON WITH THESE PIECES.

AND SO AND THANK YOU THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR THIS AS WELL.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT AN EASY DECISION BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

AND I ECHO AGAIN OUR SUBCOMMITTEE, PLEASE PASS IT ALONG TO OUR SUBCOMMITTEE, FOLKS THAT WE APPRECIATE THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON.

THIS WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THAT AT THIS TIME.

[1. Service Award (Discussion) Michael Abila - Parks - 5 years]

LET'S BOUNCE BACK TO OUR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE FOR OUR SERVICE BOARD.

MORNING. MRS. CORNELIA PARKS DIVISION MANAGER.

THIS ONE WE HAVE MIKE AVILA, WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR FIVE YEARS.

MIKE IS A CREW CHIEF IN OUR DIVISION.

PRETTY YOUNG GUY, BUT HE'S A GO GETTER.

HE WAS OVER THE CEMETERY OVER THE MORNING BEFORE WE CONTRACT IT OUT.

ONCE THAT WAS DONE, WE TALKED TO HIM AND ASKED HIM TO TAKE OVER THE ATHLETICS, WHICH HE DID ENTHUSIASTICALLY.

HE WANTED TO SHOW WHAT HE COULD DO, AND HE'S A GREAT GUY TO WORK FOR US.

SO JUST THE 1% HIM WITH HIS AWARD AND A LITTLE A LITTLE EXTRA FOR HIM THIS MORNING.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT MIKE.

IT'S HARD BEING OVER THE CEMETERY AND DEALING WITH ALL OF THE FAMILIES OF PEOPLE OF ALL OF THE AGES.

HE WAS ALSO OVER THE CEMETERY WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE COVID STUFF AND HAD TO DEAL WITH SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTIES.

SO I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MIKE, TO HIM AND HIS CREW AND ALL THAT THEY DO, BECAUSE IT IS A LOT THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE BEING OVER A CEMETERY GROUP.

MY MY, MY FAMILY GOT TO GO OR MY FAMILY HAD A DEATH IN OUR FAMILY THIS LAST WEEK AND WE HAD A FUNERAL IN DALLAS.

AND IT WAS REMARKS IN THIS ENTIRE THING WAS HOW EASILY THE FOLKS THAT WERE BEHIND THE SCENES MADE SUCH A DIFFICULT DAY FOR THE FAMILY.

[00:20:08]

SO THANK YOU. IT'S A SERVICE THAT I ENJOY.

WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THAT'S JUST 55 MORE YEARS HERE AT EIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE WILL BOUNCE BACK TO OUR FORMAL AGENDA AND WE WILL GO ON TO OUR AGENDA.

[5. Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update (Discussion and Public Hearing)]

THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION AND ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.

AND YES, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ENTERED INTO THE REDOING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN, AND PART OF THAT IS GOING TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING.

THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR JUNE 16TH, 530 TO 730 AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

THAT IS ACTUALLY THE THURSDAY BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING.

SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND GET THIS ON YOUR CALENDARS AND WE WILL BE ADVERTISING THIS, TRYING TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO COME TO THIS OPEN HOUSE AS POSSIBLE. WE WILL ALSO SOON BE SENDING OUT A SURVEY.

THAT SURVEY WILL BE OPEN FOR A FEW MONTHS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE'S FEEDBACK.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS THIS IS THE FULL CITY WIDE ABILENE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING PARKS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING NEEDS IN OUR PARKS.

WHAT WE DO WELL, WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE RECREATION, WHAT WE DO WELL, WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE SENIORS, WHAT WE DO WELL, WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE AQUATICS, WHAT WE DO WELL, WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE.

AND SO PUBLIC COMMENT AND PUBLIC FEEDBACK IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY CRUCIAL.

WE'VE BEEN SPENDING THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ON RESEARCH AND SENDING THEM ALL OF THE DATA AND EVERYTHING FROM THE LAST FEW YEARS, AS WELL AS THE LAST MASTER PLAN.

AND SO NOW WE'RE MOVING INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PART, WHICH WILL BE BASICALLY THE MONTH OF JUNE, IN JULY.

IT WILL TAKE QUITE A WHILE TO PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER.

SO THE PLAN WILL PROBABLY NOT BECOME BEFORE YOU UNTIL LATE IN THE FALL.

BUT THIS JUNE 16TH MEETING IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN ABILENE AND WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE THE PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM IN ABILENE TO GO FOR THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS.

WILL THIS BE MORE OF A WORKSHOP OF THAT POINT? THIS MORNING, JUNE 16TH, IS GOING TO BE MORE OF AN OPEN FORUM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF TIMES, IF YOU'VE COME TO DIFFERENT THINGS, YOU'LL BE GIVEN SO MANY DOTS THAT YOU CAN VOTE ON DIFFERENT THINGS, OR YOU MAY BE GIVEN FAKE MONEY THAT YOU PUT IN A BOX TO VOTE ON DIFFERENT THINGS.

IT'S HOW WE FIGURE OUT THE PRIORITY LIST FOR WHAT ABILENE WANTS, AS WELL AS MAYBE SOME NEW IDEAS THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT TO THIS POINT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR LESLIE ON THIS TOPIC? I JUST APPRECIATE STAFF PUTTING THIS IN THE EVENING SO MAYBE MORE PEOPLE CAN ATTACH VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, THEN WE WILL MOVE ON WITH OUR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX, THAT IS PRESENTATION OF THE TEN YEAR MASTER PLAN.

[6. Presentation of the Zoo 10 Year Master Plan (Discussion and Public Hearing)]

I DON'T HAVE MY AGENDA WITH ME.

WE NEED A PUBLIC HEARING.

OH, YEAH, WE DO. SORRY.

MY APOLOGIES.

WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE? YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES TO SPEAK.

WITH THAT, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR CATCHING THAT, BECAUSE YOU ALL BRAGGED ON ME EARLIER AND I'M GOING TO WE'LL THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX.

THAT IS THE PRESENTATION OF THE TEN YEAR MASTER PLAN.

THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION, ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.

JESSIE PAT SUE, DIRECTOR.

WE DID UNVEIL OUR RENDERINGS OF THE MASTERPLAN.

WE HAVE NOT KICKED OFF THE OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN.

WE ARE STILL HOLDING THAT BACK UNTIL WE'RE READY TO PRESENT THAT WITH A BEAUTIFUL UMBRELLA OF INFORMATION.

BUT WHAT WE DID SOLICIT DURING OUR ZOOM RELATION EVENT IS THE MAJOR GROWTH OF THE ZOO HERE.

HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS THERE'LL BE A PHASES OF ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR.

THESE PHASES WILL BE ENCOMPASSED OVER THOSE TEN YEARS, AND THE GOAL IS TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT STRATEGY THAN PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS, AND THAT WOULD BE THE CAMPAIGN.

THE SOCIETY RAISED PRIVATE FUNDS AND THEN THEY PAUSE ONCE THEY RAISE THE FUNDS AND THEN BREAK GROUND AND BRING IN IRAQ THE NEW FACILITY SUCH AS MADAGASCAR AND THE DIRECTORS.

[00:25:01]

SO ONCE THOSE MONIES ARE RAISED AND PHASE ONE WILL PUT THE SHOVEL IN THE GROUND AND START BUILDING, BUT OTHER CAMPAIGNS WILL THEN MOVE FORWARD. SO WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION START IN PHASE ONE, THERE'LL BE PRIVATE FUND RAISING GOING ON WITH THE SOCIETY DURING PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE.

SO THERE'S NEVER A PAUSE.

SO THEN ONCE PHASE ONE IS DONE, WE GO RIGHT INTO PHASE TWO.

THERE'S NO BIG GAPS.

AND THE GOAL IS TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE FOOTPRINT OF THE ZOO WITHIN THIS TEN YEARS.

SO I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE RENDERINGS REALLY QUICK.

ONE OF THE POPULAR THINGS HAVE BEEN AT THE ZOO IS ALL THE EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING UP IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND WE WANTED A BETTER FOOTPRINT AND WE CHOSE THIS LOCATION, WHICH IS ON THE SOUTH WEST SIDE OF THE ZOO, WHICH IS THE LAKEFRONT, AS WELL AS THAT AMPHITHEATER WOULD BLOCK THE SOUTHEAST WIND.

THIS FOOTPRINT IS SIMILAR TO WHERE WE DID OUR ZOO ABOUT THE LAST TWO YEARS.

IT ALLOW ABOUT 600 PEOPLE ON ROUND TOP TABLES AND THEN ANY TYPES OF LARGE GATHERINGS SUCH AS WILD, WILD DAYS, ROCK AND ROAR, WHICH CAN FIT CLOSE TO 2000, MAYBE 3000 GUESTS.

SO IT REALLY EXPANDS THIS WHOLE LAWN AREA AS WELL AS GIVES A BEAUTIFUL LAKEVIEW.

WITH THAT COMES AN EXPANSION OF THE RIDING YARD.

CURRENTLY, WE DO HAVE ONE BLACK RHINO.

OUR GOAL IS TO GROW THAT HERD, GIVE OUR BLACK RHINO OF GIRLFRIEND OR ANOTHER SPECIES OF RHINO SO THE LION AND HYENA EXHIBITS WOULD BE DEMOED.

AND THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE RHINO PADDOCK TO ALLOW US TO HAVE HOPEFULLY BREEDING OPPORTUNITIES.

SO THIS IS ALL PART OF PHASE ONE.

WITH THAT, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO ASK, WELL, WHERE ARE THE LIONS AND HYENAS GOING? WELL, CURRENTLY LIONS AND HYENA COLLECTION THAT WE HAVE AT THE ZOO IS NOT OURS.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY ON LOAN FROM FORT WORTH ZOO.

THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING AS WE ARE REQUESTING TO DO, AND THAT IS THEY'RE BUILDING A BRAND NEW HABITAT FOR THESE EXACT ANIMALS.

WE WILL HAVE THESE ANIMALS IN APPROXIMATELY ABOUT ONE YEAR.

THEY'LL BE GOING BACK TO THEIR HOME IN FORT WORTH.

SO HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE PERFECT TIMING THAT WE BREAK GROUND AND NOT HAVE TO DISPLACE SOME ANIMALS THAT NEED TO BE MOVED IN THE BACK WHILE WE DO CONSTRUCTION.

WITH THAT COMES THESE LARGE PANELS OF GLASS.

IT GIVES MORE UP CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH LIONS.

I THINK YOU'VE ALL BEEN AT THE ZOO AND SEEN HOW BIG THOSE LION HEADS ARE.

THEY'RE JUST MORE MAJESTIC WHEN THEY GET CLOSER TO YOU AND YOU CAN COMPARE THEIR BODY SIZE TO YOU, YOU KNOW, THE BIG MAJESTIC ANIMALS THAT HOPEFULLY ALLOW US TO GET THEM CLOSER TO THE PUBLIC. WITH THAT, THERE WILL BE SOME FEATURES THAT ENCOMPASS INTERACTIVE COMPONENTS.

SO SUCH AS THIS AIRPLANE THAT'S HALFWAY IN THE EXHIBIT AND HALFWAY INTO THE GUEST AREA WHERE KIDS CAN CLIMB IN.

IMAGINE WHAT THEY COULD DO.

IT ALSO BRINGS A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY WITH ABILENE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, BUT OUR CURRENT PARKING LOT IS AN OLD RUNWAY WHERE THE AIRPORT USED TO BE.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF AVIAN PIONEERS THAT LAND IN ABILENE, AND WE HOPE TO TELL THAT STORY ALONG WITH THE CONSERVATION MESSAGE OF THE LIONS.

WITH THAT LION EXHIBIT, IT IS MARRIED TO A CAFE.

AGAIN, A LOT OF ZOOS ARE DOING A LOT OF ATTRACTIONS THAT ARE CLOSE TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO EAT.

THE ZOO DOES VERY WELL AND THE GIFT SHOP WITH THE REVENUE.

OUR CONCESSIONS AREN'T THERE YET AND IT'S BECAUSE IT'S AN OUTDOOR REVENUE SOURCE WHERE THIS WOULD GIVE TWO OPTIONS OF SITTING INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.

AND AS WE KNOW, WITH THESE TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT WAVES RIGHT NOW, IT'D BE NICE TO SIT IN A SEAT AREA TO GRAB A NICE BURGER WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MAJESTIC ANIMAL.

AND THAT WOULD ALL BE PHASE ONE.

PHASE TWO WOULD THEN INCLUDE STARTER ADA RAMPS AND BOARDWALKS THAT INCLUDE THESE POCKET EXHIBITS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE CAFE, A MULTI SPECIES YARD THAT INCLUDES NOT JUST ADDRESS SPECIES, BUT OTHER HOOP STOCK THAT CAN ROAM WITH THE GIRAFFE.

AS WELL AS THIS SORT OF ORGANIC PLAYSCAPE THAT YOU SEE IN THE BACKGROUND FOR KIDS CAN ROLL DOWN THE HILL, SLIDE THROUGH AN ORGANIC SLIDE, CLIMB A WEB OF ROPE AND KEEP THEM REALLY GROUNDED IN THE ZOO.

AND THEN PHASE THREE WOULD ENCOMPASS A RAILROAD TRAIN AS WELL AS THE REMAINDER PART OF THE BOARDWALK, GIVING GUESTS TWO OPTIONS.

THE FIRST OPTION, HOPEFULLY, WOULD BE RIDE THIS SERENGETI TRAIN THAT ALLOWS YOU TO GO OUT THROUGHOUT THE PASTURES OF THE BACK 22 ACRES TO SEE MULTI SPECIES, ANIMALS GOING TO A WATERING HOLE. BUT IF YOU CHOOSE, YOU CAN ALSO DO THE BOARDWALK THAT HAS A LOT OF AWNINGS AND STRUCTURES THAT KEEP YOU PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS OF.

OR RAIN, AND YOU CAN GO OUT THERE AND JUST TAKE SELFIES JUST AS THIS YOUNG GAL IS DOING THERE.

THAT'S IT. I MIGHT ADD THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU WENT TO THE JUBILATION.

WELL, THAT WAS WONDERFUL, THE WAY YOU PRESENTED THAT AND THE WAY THE ZOO WAS DECORATED.

AND IT WAS JUST A WONDERFUL EVENT.

AND SO TELL YOUR STAFF A LOT OF WORK WHEN THE PREPARATION FOR THAT.

SO WE AS A PARKS BOARD, WE THINK THAT WENT INTO THAT JUBILATION, UNDERSTANDING IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

IT WAS. AND I'LL PRESENT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.

WELL DONE, JESSE. IT IS EXCITING TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ZOO AND LITTLE ABILENE, TEXAS, AND JUST PRETTY, PRETTY, PRETTY AMAZING.

[00:30:01]

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL.

THANKS AGAIN FOR MAKING THE PRESENTATION.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL GO INTO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

[7. Aquatics Report (Discussion)]

THIS WILL JUST BE A DISCUSSION.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. EXCUSE MY VOICE.

I'M BOBBY BROWN, DIVISION MANAGER FOR SENIOR SERVICES AND AQUATICS.

AND IN CASE YOU ALL HAVEN'T NOTICED, IT'S HOT OUTSIDE.

SO IT'S QUITE A SEASON AND WE'RE.

OH, I DO HAVE IT. I WAS GOING TO LOOK AT YOU.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE SPLASH PADS ARE ALREADY OPEN.

WE'VE BEEN OPEN FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS NOW.

EVERYTHING SO FAR IS GOING REAL GOOD.

WE'RE GETTING GOOD PARTICIPATION.

LAST YEAR, STEVENSON PARK WAS OUR SLOWEST PARK.

BUT I'VE BEEN GOING BY STEVENSON PARK ON THE WEEKEND AND IT'S BEEN GETTING A PRETTY GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING GOOD RIGHT NOW WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FIXING A FEW THINGS HERE AND THERE.

BUT THEY ARE ALL OPEN AND NOTHING HAS HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN YET.

KNOCK ON WOOD. AND SO WE'RE DOING GOOD WITH THE PARTICIPATION NUMBERS.

WE'RE PREPARING, PREPARING ADVENTURE COVE FOR THE SEASON.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT SOME OF OUR HEAD GUARDS AND OUR POOL MANAGERS ON BOARD AND WE'VE BEEN TAKING THEM THROUGH THE PUMP ROOM AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND GIVE THEM A LITTLE EDUCATION ON ON SOME THINGS.

SO THEY'LL KIND OF BE AWARE OF WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND WHAT TO LOOK AT AND.

THINGS LOOKING GOOD. WE OPENED MAY THE 28TH.

WHICH IS OUR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, WHICH IS WHAT WE NORMALLY DO.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE COMING ON BOARD THE HIRING OF LIFEGUARDS.

SO FAR, IT'S LOOKING GOOD.

WE'VE INTERVIEWED OVER 60 LIFEGUARDS.

WE HAVE MADE OVER 40 OFFERS.

SO IF ALL OF THAT COMES THROUGH THE HR PROCESS, WE'LL BE LOOKING GOOD, A LOT BETTER THAN WE DID LAST YEAR.

THE PLAN THIS YEAR IS TO BE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK LIKE WE HAD PRE-COVID.

WE GOT SWIMMING LESSONS BACK.

IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD THAT.

WE'VE GOT THAT GOING AND THOSE ARE FILLING UP, ACTUALLY.

SO WE'RE DOING GOOD WITH THAT AS WELL.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

SENIORS. ON THE 15TH OF JUNE.

[8. Seniors Report (Discussion)]

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO LEARN ABOUT ORCAS.

I THINK I WANT TO SIT IN ON THIS ONE MYSELF BECAUSE I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ORCAS.

BUT WE'VE BEEN TRYING SOME NEW THINGS.

SOME OF THE SENIORS HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT THEY WANTED MORE SEMINAR TYPE, YOU KNOW, ONE DAY TYPE CLASSES AND THINGS LIKE THIS.

AND IT'S BEEN WORKING.

WHEN WE DID THE DOG THERAPY LAST MONTH, IT WENT GREAT TO THE POINT TO WHERE HENDRIX IS ASKING US TO PARTNER WITH THEM WITH PET THERAPY, TO WHERE THEY CAN COME OUT ON A CONTINUAL BASIS BECAUSE THE SENIORS LIKE IT SO MUCH AND THEY THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S A REAL GOOD THING FOR FOR THEM.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON HOW OFTEN WE CAN GET THEM TO COME OUT AND DO THE PET THERAPY.

SO. MEDICARE.

DO YOU QUALIFY FOR ORTHOPEDIC SHOES? NO COST.

THEY'RE GOING TO COME OUT AND THEY'LL DO SOME TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR IT.

THEY'LL DO SOME MEASURING FOR THOSE THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY NEED ORTHOPEDIC SHOES AND THEY'LL GET FREE ORTHOPEDIC SHOES.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT. AND THAT'S JUST A COUPLE OF THE THINGS WE HAD.

THAT'S FANTASTIC. ANY QUESTIONS? I'M GOING TO BOUNCE BACK. I DID A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT ADVENTURE.

I SHOULD ASK YOU SEVEN THOUGHTS WITH SEASON PASS REQUIREMENT.

WE'VE BEEN WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THAT FOR A WHILE AND WE DO WANT TO DO IT.

AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO LIKE CALL SOME OTHER PLACES AND SEE HOW THEY DO IT AND HOW THEY PRICE THEM AND SOME THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WE'LL COME TO A CONCLUSION ONE OF THESE DAYS, I GUESS, TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT THAT AND MAYBE GET THAT PASSED AND OFFERED.

CERTAINLY TRUST THE DIRECTION YOU GUYS GO WITH IT.

I KNOW THAT WE BUY ONE AND WE PROBABLY GO THREE TIMES AND ALL WOULD MAKE MORE MONEY.

SO YEAH, THAT IS THINGS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.

I MEAN, WE LOOKED AT IT AND THEN COVID HIT AND THEN WE'VE LOOKED AT IT AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE DO HAVE TO PRESENT TO CITY COUNCIL AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

SO IT WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE IN EFFECT FOR 2022.

BUT IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING AS A PROPOSAL FOR THE 2023 YEAR, AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT DIRECTION IT GOES.

PERFECT. JUST THINKING AS FAR AS REVENUE DRIVERS, WELL DONE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GETTING READY TO GET EVEN BUSIER AND YOU ALREADY ARE GETTING HOTTER AND HOTTER FOR SURE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR PARKS REPORT.

THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS CORONADO PARK'S DIVISION MANAGER.

[9. Parks Report (Discussion)]

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS YEAR, WE'RE STILL FEELING THE EFFECTS OF ICE AGAIN.

[00:35:03]

BUT THOSE GUYS DO A REALLY GOOD JOB AND THEY JUST THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING THEIR HEAD DOWN AND GETTING SOME SOME PROJECTS DONE.

YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT WE INCURRED OVER AT LAKE KIRBY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WHAT THEY DO AND THAT'S THE FINAL PROJECT THERE.

THEY'VE BEEN REALLY DILIGENT ON TRYING TO UPGRADE HOW WE DO THINGS IN IRRIGATION.

SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF RECOGNITION IN PREPARATION FOR THE SPLASH PAD SEASON.

WE HAD SOME SIGNS THAT WERE DAMAGED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I GUESS, DURING THE TORNADO.

AND WE'VE GONE BACK AND AND GOTTEN AWAY FROM THE WOODEN POST HOLES OR POST TO HOLD THE SIGNS.

AND WE'VE WE'VE TRANSITIONED INTO A FOUR INCH SQUARE TUBING, TRY TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

ALSO, AQUATICS HAD THEIR SIGNS REDONE AND WE PUT THEM UP.

SO EVERYTHING'S STARTING TO LOOK GOOD OVER AT STEVENSON PARK.

IN PREPARATION FOR JUNETEENTH, WE WE'VE TAKEN ON SOME PROJECTS.

WE DID SOME SIDEWALK REPAIR, SOME SIDEWALKS WERE KIND OF GOING DOWNHILL AND WE'RE BROKE THEM OUT AND REDID THEM.

SO THE GUYS DID A REALLY GOOD JOB ON THAT.

AGAIN, FOR PREPARATION FOR JUNETEENTH AND THEN PINE STREET, THE BED RENOVATIONS.

THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE THE ICE STORM TOOK A TOLL ON OUR LANDSCAPING.

AND MIKE AND HIS CREW HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF GOING BACK AND REESTABLISHING A LOT OF THESE MATERIALS.

AND IT'S A SLOW WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT WE'LL GET THERE AND EVERYTHING WILL START LOOKING GOOD AGAIN DOWN PINE STREET AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR OTHER BEDS.

THAT'S IT. AWESOME.

QUESTIONS. DID WE HAVE SOME VANDALISM AT OUR RESTROOM? YES. SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IS A LOT OF VANDALISM.

WE HAD A RESTROOM AT REDBUD PARK THAT GOT REALLY, REALLY DAMAGED.

IT'S STILL CLOSED, THOUGH.

I THINK AT THE END OF THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT BACK UP.

THAT WAS OVER $2,500 OF DAMAGE.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER ONE THAT WE'LL HAIR LAST WEEK THAT GOT DAMAGED PRETTY BAD THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AS WELL.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR.

PEOPLE ARE STARTING GETTING OUT AND JUST START SEEING THESE THINGS.

BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL WE'LL TURN THE CORNER ON THAT AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE START REALIZING THAT IT DOES COST MONEY TO REPAIR THESE THINGS AND GET THEM BACK OPEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE CLOSE THEM DOWN.

IT CAUSES A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM FOR THE PEOPLE THAT USE THE PARKS.

SO. IT SEEMS LIKE I SAY THIS EVERY SINGLE TIME, THAT I'M ALWAYS BLOWN AWAY BY THE DIVERSITY OF YOUR WORK CREWS ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE. AND THAT'S FOR ALL OF OUR THAT'S FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE REPORTING WEATHER.

IT SOUNDS LIKE DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT IS, WE'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET IT DONE AND KEEP THE COSTS DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

SO WE APPRECIATE IT.

AN AWESOME JOB. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR REC REPORT.

[10. Recreation Report (Discussion)]

WE HAVE STARTED A COLORING AND CONVERSATION CLUB OVER AT COBB RECREATION CENTER.

SO IF YOU ARE BORED THIS EVENING AND WOULD LIKE TO COME COLOR, COME JOIN US.

WE CAN EVEN HAVE A COFFEE.

GO IN FOR YOU. SATURDAY NIGHT WE ARE HAVING A GIRLS NIGHT OVER AT ROSE RECREATION CENTER AND WE ARE HAVING A PARTY IN YOUR PJS WHERE WE WILL HAVE A SMALL CRAFT SO YOU CAN GET YOUR NAILS DONE AND YOUR HAIR DONE AND SNACKS AND A REALLY FUN MOVIE AND A GUEST SURPRISE.

SO WE ARE ACTUALLY FILLING UP TICKETS OR SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES ON THAT ONE.

MEN'S BASKETBALL LEAGUE.

WE ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLING FOR THAT.

GAMES ARE AT ROSE AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET SO MANY TEAMS, WE'LL HAVE TO OPEN UP THE OTHER GYMS. PICKLEBALL. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN PICKLEBALL RIGHT NOW.

ON MONDAY EVENINGS, YOU CAN GO TO ROSE RECREATION CENTER FROM 6 TO 9 AND PLAY PICKLEBALL.

WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE THAT IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PLAY, THEY WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO PLAY.

AND ALSO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET OUTSIDE EARLY, YOU CAN GO TO BOND CAMP BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEW LINES ADDED TO THEIR COURTS AND WILL HAVE ALSO GOT LINES ADDED TO THEIR COURTS.

SO HOPEFULLY WHAT WE'LL BE HAVING A PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT OUT AT WILL.

HER SUIT. YOU HAVE TO BRING YOUR OWN PADDLE.

WE HAVE SOME AVAILABLE, BUT WE DO.

IF YOU WANT TO PRACTICE A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU PROBABLY WANT YOUR OWN.

WE DO HAVE SOME AVAILABLE IF YOU.

I WILL SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT PICKLEBALL AND IT BEING AN UP AND COMING SPORT.

I ACTUALLY RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A REALTOR IN TOWN AND THAT IS THEIR NUMBER ONE QUESTION ON RECREATION RIGHT NOW.

[00:40:02]

SO IT IS HIGH ON OUR PRIORITY LIST TO BE WATCHING FOR DAVID, YOU CAN BORROW MY PADDLE.

I'VE GOT A PADDLE. TOMORROW.

PEOPLE ON MONDAY NIGHT ARE VERY GRACIOUS.

YES, WE HAVE A LOT OF TEACHERS THERE.

IT IS REALLY, REALLY GROWING.

I MEAN, IT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS ARE PLAYING.

A LOT OF YOUNG ONES ARE, TOO.

IT'S JUST AMAZING.

FAR, IT SEEMS. IT SEEMS SO SIMPLE, YOU KNOW, BUT THERE ARE SPECIAL RULES.

YOU GOT TO KNOW THE RULES TO PLAY.

THAT'S THE HARDEST PART.

YEAH. I TOOK IT AS CLASS AT COLLEGE WHEN I WAS HERE AS A STUDENT AT ACU.

SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT'S GO UP.

HOW ARE SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATIONS? SUMMER CAMP IS GOING REALLY WELL.

ALMOST ALL THE CENTERS ARE FULL, SO IF SOMEONE WANTED TO GET IN, THEY NEED TO CALL SOON? YES, VERY SOON.

AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR MORE STAFF.

YES. ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE STUFF.

SO SEND THEM OUR WAY. NO, THANKS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT BRINGS US BACK TO JESSE FOR YOUR REPORT, I BELIEVE JUST ABOUT ABOUT MY ABILENE ZOO DIRECTOR, SOME

[11. Zoo Report (Discussion)]

ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, YOU CAN SEE A NEW SPECIES OF LEMUR.

IT'S CALLED THE CROWN LEMUR.

SO WE NOW WILL HAVE THREE DIFFERENT SPECIES IN OUR MADAGASCAR EXHIBIT THAT THESE LEMURS WILL BE COHABITATING.

PREHENSILE TAILED PORCUPINE.

WE ACQUIRED A FEMALE THROUGH CESP, WHICH IS OUR ACCREDITATION ASA SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN.

THESE TWO ARE HOPEFULLY TO BECOME LOVERS AND MAKE BABIES AND THAT'S PART OF THE ESP.

AND WE ALSO ACQUIRED A NEW FEMALE HOWLER MONKEY AGAIN WITH ESP THAT WILL HELP US HOPEFULLY KEEP THE DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR GENETICS THROUGH THE AZA ORGANIZATION.

JUBILATION WAS A HUGE HIT.

A FEW PICTURES OF THE NIGHT EVENT.

WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE WITH WEATHER.

IT WASN'T TRIPLE DIGITS AND IT WASN'T RAINING, SO THAT WAS A GOOD THING.

BUT PEOPLE GOT UP CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH LOTS OF ANIMALS, INCLUDING SLOTHS, RHINOS.

WE HAD ARTISTS DOING PAINTINGS THAT WERE RAFFLED OFF, ELEGANT CHAMPAGNE, WALL ARCHES.

THE CULINARY TEAM DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT EVENING AND THE FUNDRAISING SIDE DID VERY WELL.

IT ACTUALLY WAS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR HIGHEST FUNDED EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD FOR JUBILATION IN THE HISTORY OF DOING THIS.

JUBILATION. AND THEN LASTLY IS ZULU.

JUST WANT TO LET ALL THE CITIZENS KNOW THIS IS FREE ADMISSION TO ALL ACTIVE AND RETIRED MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SO NOT JUST THEM GETTING IN FOR FREE, BUT THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES.

SO IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY THAT SERVED OUR COUNTRY, PLEASE SOLICIT THIS.

H-E-B IS SPONSORING IT.

IT'S ALSO BEING FED BY H-E-B.

SO IT'S NOT ONLY FREE ADMISSION, BUT IT'S ALSO FREE FOOD.

SO IT'S THIS SATURDAY, MAY 21ST, SO PLEASE COME IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE VETERANS.

THAT'S IT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR JESSE? ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT TAKES US THROUGH OUR AGENDA ITEMS TODAY.

AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALL FOUR FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE TODAY.

WE WILL MEET AGAIN NEXT MONTH.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THE CLOSE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.