Sep 20, 2022 Parks and Recreation

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

>> GOOD MORNING, I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON JEFF TO

GIVE THE INVOCATION. >> HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE. HOPEFULLY THE THINGS WE SEARCH TODAY AND THE THINGS WE DECIDE WILL HELP THE CHILDREN AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF ABILENE. THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL CITY OF ABILENE THAT WE LIVE IN. LORD, YOU LOVE AND CARE FOR US, GUIDE AND DIRECT EACH OF US AS WE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS THIS MORNING. BE WITH US LORD THAT WE GO THROUGH THIS PLACE AND WE HAVE A CHRISTIAN

INFLUENCE ON THE PEOPLE WE HAVE CONTACT WITH DAILY. >> I NOW OPEN THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE BEING NONE, I'LL GO TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. SERVICE AWARDS.

[1. Service Awards (Discussion)]

>> GOOD MORNING, JESUS, PARKS DIVISION MANAGER. THIS MORNING, WE HAVE MIKE HILL. MIKE'S BEEN HERE FOR 10 YEARS. HE WAS THE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR IN THE CEMETERY, NOT TOO LONG AFTER I GOT HERE, HE WAS PROMOTED TO A PARK WORKER THREE WHICH IS JUST BELOW OUR CREW CHIEF, SO WHEN THE CREW CHIEF IS NOT HERE T MIKE TAKES OVER THE CREW. MIKE DOES A GREAT JOB AND HE'S A GOOD

LEADER OF OUR CREW. AND I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. >>

(APPLAUSE) >> CHRIS GIBSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MICHAEL, HE'S ALSO A MUSICIAN.

IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO HIM, HE'S PRETTY GOOD. I'M UP HERE TO GIVE A SERVICE AWARD TO ONE OF OUR FOLKS WHO IS ONE OF OUR MAIN, SHE DOES A LOT WITHIN PARKS AND RECREATION.

JUST SAYING RECREATION MANAGER IS NOT ENOUGH. SHE CARRIES THE LOAD AND ALSO THERE WHENEVER YOU NEED HELP AND IS ALWAYS SUPPORTING HER FOLKS AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS AND HAS A CREATIVE EDGE. SO, I'M EXCITED TO HAVE ANN COME UP AND GIVE HER HER SERVICE AWARD. I THINK YOU

HANDED THE WRONG ONE. >> [LAUGHTER]

>> MISS ANN HALL WHO HAS 10 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH PARKS AND RECREATION. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE HAVE A COIN FOR YOU, YOU COULD PUT THAT NEXT TO THE FIVE YEAR AND MAKE A PLACE FOR THE 20 YEAR. AND A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA FROM THE CITY. DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING?

>> I LOVE MY JOB, EVERYDAY I COME TO WOULD, AND I AM LIKE "WHAT CAN WE DO TODAY TO MAKE A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE? ". NOW, IT'S MY TERM TO GAVE AN AWARD TO A FIVE YEAR. JALEN JOHNSON IS A RECREATION LEADER. AND I'VE SEEN HIM GROW FROM FRESH OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, PRETTY MUCH, GROW INTO THIS WONDERFUL LEADER. HE JUST GOT A PROMOTION, HE WILL BE THE NEW SPECIALIST, HE IS GROWING AND LEARNING AND WATCHING HIM WORK WITH THE CHILDREN AND LEARN MORE

AND MORE EACH DAY. IT MAKES ME SUPER PROUD OF HIM. >> AND HE'S STILL GROWING.

>> THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU, AND WE THANK YOU FOR HELPING MAKE OUR JOBS EASIER. AND JALEN, CONGRATULATIONS.

[2. Minutes (Discussion and Action)]

>> IN YOUR PACKET OR ON YOUR SCREEN, YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING. AUGUST 16TH, 2022. IF YOU WOULD TAKE A MOMENT IF YOU HAVEN'T TO LOOK OVER THOSE

[3. Request to Charge Spectator Fee for Toys for Tots Softball Tournament (Discussion, Public Hearing and Action)]

[00:05:25]

SOFTBALL, DISTRICT 11. >> WHO GETS THE MONEY? >> IT GOES TOWARDS THE TOYS

FOR TOTS PROGRAM. >> OKAY. YES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHRIS?

>> I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR OR AGAINST THE $5 SPECTATOR FEE. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR.

>> I'LL SECOND. >> MOTION'S BEEN MADE TO APPROVE THE SPECTATOR FEE AND

SECONDED. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> ALL OPPOSED? >> ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR THE BOARD BEFORE WE MOVE ON IS WE ARE STARTING TO GET MORE AND MORE REQUESTS TO CHARGE THIS $5 FEE. IT USED TO ONLY BE A COUPLE A YEAR LIKE FOR STATE TOURNAMENTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS AND IF YOU NOTICED OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE REQUESTS HAVE INCREASED GREATLY. WE DO NOT HAVE A POLICY THAT GOVERNS, I MEAN, FOR PARKS BOARD HAVING TO APPROVE IT, THERE'S NO POLICY OR DIRECTION FROM BOARD ON OR YOU

WANT US TO BRING IT FOR YOU EACH TIME IT COMES TO US? >> THERE'S NO LIMITATION ON THE

AMOUNT RIGHT NOW? >> NOT CURRENTLY. >> I WOULD RATHER CONSIDER

EACH EVENT, BECAUSE, EVERY EVENT COULD BE DIFFERENT. >> I THINK THAT WE NEED TO

HANDLE IT ONE AT A TIME. >> OKAY. SO, KEEP IT AS IS. ALL RIGHT.

[4. Aquatics Report (Discussion)]

>> THANK YOU. >> I'M STEPPING IN FOR BOBBY. HE DECIDED TO TAKE TIME OFF AFTER THE SEASON HAS ENDED. SO, I'M GOING TO STEP IN FOR HIM AND DO THE AQUATICS AND SENIORS. WE HAD OUR LAST EVENT OF THE YEAR. ONE OF OUR MORE POPULAR EVENTS, NOT ONLY FROM THE THE FOLKS THAT COME OUT BUT PARTICIPATE IN DOGGY SPLASH, BUT THE FOLKS AT WORKS, AND THE GUARDS, THEY REALLY ENJOY THIS EVENT. THIS IS ONE THEY LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR. WE HAD THAT ON SEPTEMBER THE 10TH, AND WE HAD 57 DOGS PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT. THEY SAID THEY WERE THE MOST WELL-BEHAVED DOGS, EVEN BETTER THAN SOME OF THE PATRONS. IT'S A POPULAR EVENT EVERY YEAR, IT IS OUR LAST EVENT, EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S THE LAST EVENT OF THE YEAR, WE SHUTDOWN AFTER DOGGY

[5. Senior Services Report (Discussion)]

WE'VE OPENED IT PACK UP AGAIN TO START DOING IT. IT'S AT THE ROSE PARK SENIOR CENTER AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND THERE'S LOTS OF EXCITEMENT OVER THIS EVENT, IT'S A POPULAR EVENT EVERY YEAR, IF YOU GET A CHANCE, CHECK IT OUT. JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO SOME OF OUR KITCHEN STAFF. THEY'RE PROBABLY SOME OF THE MOST UNDERSUNG PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. THEY'VE SERVED 62,809 MEALS THIS YEAR SO FAR. WE WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT COME IN EVERYDAY AND GET THOSE MEALS TOGETHER.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE WENT THROUGH COVID AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WENT THROUGH T THEY WERE OUT THERE STANDING IN LINE AND GIVING PEOPLE MEALS AS THEY DROVE THROUGH EVERYDAY MAKING SURE THOSE FOLKS HAD GOOD, HEALTHY MEALS. WE WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT FOR THOSE FOLKS

[00:10:05]

>> I'LL ADD THAT I ATTENDED THE TALENT SHOW. IT WAS SO FUN, AND A WIDE RANGE OF TALENTS. I ENJOYED THE AUDIENCE THE MOST, BECAUSE, THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILY -- I MEAN, I COULDN'T FIND A PARKING PLACE. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILY, BUT, IT APPEARED THERE'S ALSO JUST A LOT OF THEIR FELL SENIOR CITIZENS THAT COME TO CHEER THEM ON. AND IT WAS REALLY, IT KIND OF MADE MY DAY. I JUST WANTED TO ADD, IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, JUST A GREAT EVENT.

[6. Recreation Report (Discussion)]

>> AND IT'S TIME FOR OUR GIRL'S NIGHT OUT. WE'RE CALLING ALL THE GORGEOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS TO COME OUT TO OUR PUMPKIN SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE EVENT. WE DID ONE AWHILE BACK AND IT WAS SUCH A BLAST, EVERYBODY KEPT ASKING TO DO ANOTHER ONE. SO, WE'RE GOING TO DO A PUMPKIN SCRUB AND PAINT SOME PUMPKINS AND WATCH A HALLOWEEN MOVIE AND ENJOY THE DAY WITH THE GIRLS AND THEIR ROLE MODELS OR WOMEN. AND THAT'S OCTOBER 22ND AT ROSE RECREATION CENTER. AND THEN WE'RE HAVING OUR RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE BRAND NEW PLAYGROUND AT ROSE PARK FRIDAY THE 23RD AT

10:00 A.M., IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE. >> WE HAD TO BUMP THIS TO

SEPTEMBER 30TH, AT 10:00 A.M. >> THERE WAS A CONFLICT ON THE 23RD, SO WE MOVED IT TO THE

30TH. >> THE BRAND NEW PLAYGROUND, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THE CHILDREN HAVE ENJOYED PLAYING ON IT ALREADY. THEY'VE BEEN TELLING EVERYBODY TO COME ON

DOWN TO OUR PARK. AND THAT'S ALL. >> THANK YOU, ANN.

[7. Parks Report (Discussion)]

>> JESUS, PARKS DIVISION MANAGER AGAIN. JUST TALKED ABOUT IT, ROSE PARK PLAYGROUND, WE FINALLY GOT IT DONE. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT, WE WERE ANXIOUS TO GET THIS THING STARTED AND OPENED. DIVISION WAS THERE, THEY CAME OUT AS GOOD AS WE HOPED. AND, I CAN'T TELL YOU THE ACTIVITY THAT'S AT ROSE PARK NOW WITH THIS. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE PARKING LOT, IN THE ACTIVITY BUILDING, YOU COULD FIND A PARKING SPOT ALL THE TIME, THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT GETTING A LOT OF USAGE AND WE'RE

JUST REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. >> I WANTED TO BRING UP THE MEMORIAL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR PARTNERS AT KAB, WE INSTALLED A BENCH FOR DAVID, LINDA AND ANNABELL Z ET. SHE WAS AT THE END OF HER LIFE AND WE RUSHED THIS BENCH TO PUT IN SO THAT SHE COULD SIT ON IT. IT WAS A SPECIAL PROJECT TO GET THAT DONE ESPECIALLY WITH THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND THEN, WE HAD A BIG TOURNAMENT AT SOFTBALL COMPLEX AT NELSON. AND, WE WENT THROUGH AND OUR CREW DID A REALLY GOOD JOB, WE TASKED THEM WITH RENOVATING OUR REST ROOMS SO THAT WE COULD GIVE A BETTER IMPRESSION THROUGH THE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT. THEY REPAINTED THE WALLS, REDID THE FLOORS AND THE DOORS AND PUT NEW SIGNS ON THEM. THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OUT THERE. THAT'S IT FOR DISCONNECTED)

[8. Zoo Report (Discussion)]

[00:15:11]

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF RELATIONSHIPS, DAUGHTERS WITH FATHERS, SONS WITH MOTHERS, SO WE CONSORT WITH OTHER ZOOS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. SO, A COUPLE OF OUR FEMALES WILL BE MOVING OUT HERE SHORTLY. WE'LL OUR HERD WILL GO BACK DOWN TO EIGHT, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO MORE. THE MONKEY WAS BORN THAT WAY TO HELP BLEND IN WITH THE MOTHER'S MAIN. AS THEY BECOME SEXUALLY MATURE, THEY TURN THAT NICE, BLACK AND WHITE MAIN. WE DID A STUDY WITH THE BLACK RHINO. WE HAD A YOUNG LADY COME IN AND DID BIOMETRICS ABOUT MACHO. IT GETTING TO STUDY ANIMALS LIKE THIS VERSUS OUT IN THE WILD. TO KNOCK DOWN AN ANIMAL LIKE THIS IS VERY CRITICAL TO THEIR BODIES, IT COULD ACTUALLY END THEIR LIVES, SO IF, WE COULD DO IT CONDITIONALLY WHILE IN CAPTIVITY, IT'S BETTER. WE WERE ABLE TO FIT HIM WITH A FIT BIT, IT'S A BRACELET ON HIS LEG AND WE WERE ABLE TO MEASURE HIS BLOOD PRESSURE AND GET HIS HEART RATE AND DRAW BLOOD AND DO GIRTH MEASURES. YOU SHOULD SUPPORT YOUR ZOO. SO, GOOD JOB, MACHO.

OUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP IS COMING UP FOR ALL PATRONS WITH A ZOO MEMBER SHIP. IT INCLUDES ALL YOU COULD EAT FOOD, AS WELL AS FREE ATTRACTIONS, TRAINS, AND FREE GIRAFFE FEEDING ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, AND IF YOU CAN COME, PLEASE TRY TO MAKE A RESERVATION SO WE HAVE ENOUGH FOOD FOR EVERYONE. LASTLY, IT'S OUR BOO AT THE ZOO EVENT. WE'VE GROWN INTO FOUR DATES AND THAT AWILL YOUS US TO SPREAD OUT THE COMMUNITY. SO, WE WILL HAVE IT THE FIRST THREE SATURDAYS AT THE END OF THE MONTH, 15TH, 22ND, AND 29TH, AND WE'LL HAVE OUR FIRST SUNDAY BOO AT THE ZOO WE'VE ADDED A LOT OF ZONES, SO, THE ZOO'S DECKED OUT JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS WHERE EVERY PLACE HAS A ZONE AND EVERYTHING IS SPREAD OUT. AND THE CANDY IS SPREAD OUT, AND I PROMISE YOU'LL COME HOME WITH CANDY WITH THAT TICKET PRICE. WE HAVE THE WART HOGS RUNNING THROUGH THE ZOO. IT'S A

GREAT EVENT, COME SUPPORT US. >> THANK YOU, JESSIE. >> THAT'S IT.

>> OKAY. SHORT MEETING THIS WEEK. >> I KNOW.

>> Y'ALL NEED TO LET ME DO THIS MORE OFTEN. >> I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT

WE ADJOURN THIS MEETING? >> MOTION'S BEEN MADE AND SECOND?

>> MOTION MADE AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >>

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.