Jan 17, 2023 Parks and Recreation

[00:00:11]

THE ESTEEMED CHAIRMAN IS RUNNING LATE AND STUCK IN SURGERY AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS LIKE UNLESS I'M LYING ON THE TABLE SO I WILL NOT WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT IT OR ANYTHING BUT WE WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND JEFF WOULD

YOU MIND GIVING AN INDICATION . >> PRAYED WITH ME PLEASE.

HEAVENLY FATHER WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE IN OUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR CITY AND OUR CHILDREN AND OUR SENIOR CITIZENS AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN. PLEASE LORD, BE WITH THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE IN THE DECISIONS WE MAKE THIS MORNING THAT WILL BENEFIT AND BENEFIT OUR CITY. AND THANK YOU LORD FOR WATCHING US TO BE GOOD SEARCH FOR WHAT YOU ARE GIVING US.

>> THINK YOU JEFF BURKE AT THIS TIME WE WILL ENTER A PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF OUR MEETING THIS MORNING IF THERE IS ANYONE ATTENDING THIS MORNING THAT HAS PUBLIC COMMENT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ABOUT ANY ISSUES WOULD YOU PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ANY AFFILIATION IF YOU HAVE ONE AND THEN GO AHEAD AND MAKE HER COMMENTS AND PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN FOR

PUBLIC COMMENT. >> SEEKING THERE IS NO ONE

[1. Minutes (Discussion and Action)]

IF YOU NEED TO . >> I LOOKED THEM OVER AND

APPROVE WE APPROVE . >> ALL IN FAVOR C'EST AYE.

[2. Aquatics Facilities Management Agreement with Sports Facilities Management, LLC (Discussion, Public Hearing and Action to Approve)]

>> OPPOSED . >> MOTION CARRIES IN THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AQUATICS FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH SPORTS FACILITIES MANAGEMENT LLC. BAY WILL HAVE DISCUSSION AND ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AS WELL AND

ACTION TO PREPARE LESLIE. >> YES AND I WILL GET US STARTED AND ONE OF THE THINGS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO WE HAVE NOTICED IN MANAGEMENT OF ADVENTURE COVE IS KEEPING A MANAGER AND WE ARE A MIDSIZE MARKET AND WE ARE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN AND MOVE ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS AND HAPPY FOR THEM TO DO THAT AND AT THE SAME TIME IT PUTS US IN A BAD POSITION FOR BAD CONSISTENCY GOING FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO LOOK AT IS POSSIBLY GOING OUT WITH THIRD-PARTY MANAGEMENT OF ADVENTURE COVE TO HELP US INCREASE ADVENTURE COVE AND DO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS WITH ADVENTURE COVE AND HOPEFULLY HAVE CONSISTENCY FROM YEAR TO YEAR. IN THE FALL WE SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND WE RECEIVED THOSE BACK AND SPORTS FACILITIES COMPANIES WAS BY FAR THE LEADING PROPOSER AND WE HAVE SPENT PROBABLY A MONTH OR MONTH AND A HALF GOING BACK AND FORTH AND NEGOTIATING ON WHAT WE COULD DO HERE AND I AM HAPPY TO HAVE EVAN COME UP AND DO A PRESENTATION.

>> GOOD MORNING . >> GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING THIS IS EVAN WITH SPORTS FACILITIES COMPANIES AND BEFORE I GET STARTED I WANT TO SHARE MY EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM TO TALK TO YOU AND REPRESENT OUR COMPANY WHICH I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT IN A MOMENT. THIS HAS BEEN A PHENOMENAL PROCESS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AND WHEN WE SAW THE RFP YOU ISSUED WE WERE CERTAINLY EXCITED AND ABSOLUTELY IT IS AND I WILL HOUSE OF WHAT WE DO AS A COMPANY AND WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ALTHOUGH WE ARE FLORIDA-BASED AND ANY CHANCE WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND IDENTIFY OUT THEY EVER CREATION AS IT TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITY WE WANT TO BE PART OF IT AND SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE RFP AND WE WERE THRILLED TO LEARN WE WERE SELECTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND

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>> VERY QUICKLY WE WERE FOUNDED 2003 AND THIS IS A BIG YEAR FOR US, OUR 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND OVER THE TIME WE HAVE BECOME THE COUNTRIES LEADING PROVIDER OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR SPORTS AND RECREATION ASSETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE MANAGE AND 21 DIFFERENT STATES AND OVER 40 DIFFERENT FACILITIES AS FULL TIME MANAGERS AND ARE PLANNING ARM WHICH IS WHAT I LAY DIRECTLY WHICH TAKES ME FACILITY PLANNING AN EXISTING FACILITY OPTIMIZATION OPPORTUNITIES AND PUT THOSE INTO FINANCIAL PLANS THAT CAN BE EXECUTED TO SERVE COMMUNITIES AND BETTER SERVE RESIDENTS AND WE HAVE DONE THAT OVER 2500 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND REPRESENTING A PORTFOLIO OF $15 BILLION WORTH OF PLANT ASSETS AND WE BRING ALL THAT TOGETHER REALLY FOR ONE REASON AND THAT IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC ONTOLOGY OF COMMUNITIES THROUGH SPORTS AND RECREATION AND WELLNESS AND EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. ADVENTURE COVE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME OF ALL OF THOSE WITH A CONTINUATION OF THE SERVICES YOU ARE PROVIDING AN EXPANSION OF THE SERVICES AND SO WE COME WITH ALL OF THE VENUES AND ALL OF THOSE STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACILITIES AND FACILITY TYPES AND BUSINESS MODELS AND OBJECTIVES AND PRIDE OURSELVES IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY WE ARE SERVING AND HOW CAN WE MAXIMIZE SERVICE FOR THE ASSETS WE MANAGE . WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A VERY GOOD HANDLE ON THE OBJECTIVES AND PRIMARY PURPOSES THE RP WAS ISSUED AND ARE VERY CONFIDENT IN OUR ABILITY TO WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE TO REPRESENT YOU AND REPRESENT THE CITY AND ULTIMATELY TO SERVE RESIDENTS .

>> >> A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO OUR PLAN IN THE FIRST COMPONENT IS REALLY ABOUT ONE OF THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES HERE AND THAT IS LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND ENHANCING NET OPERATING INCOME OF THE ASSET THAT IS PRIMARILY DRIVING REVENUE AND OBVIOUSLY THAT IS ADVENTURE COVE AND LOOKING ACROSS ALL OF YOUR OUTDOOR AQUATIC COMPONENTS AND ENSURING THERE IS A LONG-TERM PATH TO SUSTAINING THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF THOSE ASSETS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND ULTIMATELY TO EXPAND SERVICES AND THE WAY WE WILL DO THAT IS TWOFOLD NUMBER ONE WE NEED TO FOCUS ON REVENUE GENERATION AND REVENUE GENERATION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND TO DO THAT WITH ANY SKILL THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT MAINTAINS ACCESSIBILITY OR THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO COVERS THE, I WILL CALL IT RAPIDLY RISING COST OF OPERATIONS AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT STAFF COST AND PORK IN , CHEMICAL COST AND WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR CAPITAL REPLACEMENT, ALL OF THOSE NEED TO BE COVERED AND THEY CANNOT BE COVERED WITHOUT FOCUSING ON REVENUE GENERATION. WHILE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF REVENUE GENERATION IN THE PLAN I WILL DIVE INTO THE FINANCIAL FORECAST OF THE PLAN AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THE GOAL IS NOT TO SIMPLY SQUEEZE EVERY DOLLAR WE CAN POSSIBLY GENERATE OUT OF THE ASSET, IT IS TO GET TO A LEVEL SUSTAINABILITY TO WORK FOR THE CITY IN SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS AND TO THE FEES WHICH WE BELIEVE BASED ON HISTORIC'S ARE OVERDUE AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE RISING COST OF OPERATIONS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND ADJUST THESE WITH YOU AND GETTING APPROVAL BEFORE GETTING CHANGES OR UPDATES AND ULTIMATELY THE SECOND PART IS CONTROLLING EXPENSES AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE AND WE HAVE A FEW , SEVERAL AQUATIC ELEMENTS AND THERE IS ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT IS VERY COMPARABLE TO THIS AND GIVES GREAT INSIGHT INTO HOW WE CAN EFFECTIVELY CONTROL EXPENSES THAT IS A FACILITY CALLED PELICAN BAY IN EDMONTON OKLAHOMA AND I CAN TALK FOR DETAILS OF THAT AND ULTIMATELY

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A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY, 2019 ADVENTURE COVE SAW ALMOST 46,000 VISITS AND IN 2022 AS IT STARTED TO REBOUND FROM THE INTERRUPTION OF THE PANDEMIC GOT UP TO ABOUT 40,000. WE AGREE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY MEET BUT EXCEED THE 2019 NUMBERS AND CONTINUE TO EXCEED THOSE AS WE BRING MORE PROGRAMMING AND AS WE WORK ON A MARKETING AND MESSAGING PLAN THAT REALLY PROVES AND COMMUNICATES TO THE RESIDENTS OF ABILENE THE FOCUS ON AQUATICS AND HOW MUCH OF A GYM ADVENTURE COVE IS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THE 2023 BUDGET FOCUSED ON BASICALLY 50,000 JUST UNDER 150,000 TOTAL VISITS WE AGREED THAT IS A SMART TARGET FOR 2023 THE PROJECTIONS HAVE IS GETTING HIGHER THAN THAT BUT IN THE SAME RANGE OF ABOUT 50,000 VISITS AND ULTIMATELY BECAUSE OF THE SEASONALITY WHICH IS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN OFFER OPEN ACCESS TO THIS FACILITY GIVEN THE CLIMATE WE CAN EXPAND THAT TO ABOUT 61,000 VISITS PER YEAR . ON THE ADMISSION SIDE THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW HISTORIC CHANGES TO THE ADMISSION RATES AND FEES HERE AND I THINK ONLY ONE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE OPERATION AND SO 2019 AND 2022 YOU SAW AN AVERAGE PER CAPITA MISSION FEE AND THAT IS ALL OF

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ADDITIONALLY ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW YOUR TEAM HAS DONE VERY WELL AND GENERATE REVENUE THROUGH CONCESSIONS AND THE STRATEGIES AS I TALKED TO LESLIE AND CHRIS ABOUT HAVE BEEN, REALLY, OUTSTANDING ESPECIALLY AS COMPARED TO MANY OPERATIONS THAT ARE PUBLICLY RENT AND THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE CONTINUITY OF A GENERAL MANAGER AND SO THE APPROACH YOU HAVE TAKEN TO MAKE CONSTANT UPDATES TO YOUR MENU BOARD AND PRICING AND RESPOND TO FEES NEEDS TO CONTINUE. OF THE LAST TWO YEARS FOOD HAS INCREASED OVER 30% IN TERMS OF ACTUAL COST TO BRING IN AND DELIVER THROUGH CONCESSION STANDS AND CONTINUING THOSE ADJUSTMENTS WITH THE PLANNED ADJUSTMENTS TO MAINTAIN THE RECOMMENDED COST OF GOODS SOLD FOR CONCESSIONS IS IMPORTANT AND SO THE MODEL ALSO INCLUDES A 10% INCREASE ON AVERAGE OF A PER CAP WHERE YOU ARE AROUND THREE DOLLARS AND 2022 AND 2023 IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH PEOPLE SPEND ON AVERAGE THEY COME TO ADVENTURE COVE AND AN ADJUSTMENT OF 10% AND 5% ACROSS THE BOARD AND REALLY IT MODELS OUR PLAN BAKES IN INCREASING COST FOR FOOD COST AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE COVERED THAT RESPONSIBLY WITH THE FEES AND CONCESSIONS OPTIONS. ULTIMATELY LESSONS AND PROGRAMS WE KNOW HISTORICALLY YOU HAVE NOT OFFERED VERY MANY LESSONS AND PROGRAMS AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT WITHOUT CONTINUITY FROM A MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE AND LAST YEAR YOU DID ABOUT 6000, A LITTLE OVER $6000 IN TOTAL LESSONS IN TIME AND THAT WAS REVENUE I SHOULD SAY AND PRIMARILY SWIM LESSONS OFFERED BY GENERAL MANAGER AND WANT TO CONTINUE THAT AND OPEN TIMES TO PROGRAM AND PLAN FOR ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS TO COME AND HAVE WATER FITNESS CLASSES AND PROGRAMMING ULTIMATELY THAT BRINGS PEOPLE IN SO THEY ARE NOT FOR FREE PLAY ONLY BUT HAVE PROGRAMS AND SPECIFIC OPTIONS TO PARTICIPATE AND RECREATE ADVENTURE COVE. AND SO WITH THE TOTAL PROJECTION OF INCREASED VISITATION I WANT TO AGAIN SHOW THE TREND I SHOWED AND NUMBERS ON THE TABLE EARLIER WERE THE NUMBERS ARE AND YOU HAD A REBOUND YEAR IN 2022 GETTING UP TO 40,000 VISITS AND A PROJECTED WITHIN THE BUDGET ABOUT 50,000 VISITS WHICH IS IN LINE WHERE WE ARE AND 55 AND UP TO 61,000 VISITS PER YEAR IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS COMMUNITY GIVEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THE LOCATION OF THIS FACILITY WHICH IS REALLY ACCESSIBLE FROM 360 DEGREES INTO YOUR DENSELY POPULATED RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND SO THAT IS A PRIMARY FOCUS. IT DOES NOT JUST HAPPEN OPENING THE DOORS WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND YOU HAVE TO INTERACT AND ENGAGE WITH THEM AND MAKE SURE THERE IS MARKETING AND MESSAGING SUFFICIENT TO DRIVE THEM TO ADVENTURE COVE AND THAT IS IN THE PLAN AS WELL. THE GOAL IS TO MONITOR EXPENSES AND BE STRATEGIC ABOUT LIFEGUARD AND STAFFING POLICIES AND I WILL SAY IF THERE IS ONE AREA ABOVE ALL ELSE WHEN WE LOOK AT HISTORIC FINANCIALS AND LOOK AT HOW OTHER FACILITIES OPERATE IN THOSE THAT ARE MAXIMIZED AND I'LL USE PELICAN BAY AS AN EXAMPLE OR A FACILITY WE OPERATE IN ALABAMA WITH THE MAJOR UNDERWATER PARK, ONE AREA WHERE YOU ARE VERY HIGH AND WILL CERTAINLY BE A STRATEGY AND AS SOON AS WE ARE ON BOARD IS LIFEGUARD STAFFING AND UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBER OF VISITS IN THE DAYS DURING WHICH WE NEED TO HAVE FULL STAFF LIFEGUARDS AND IN JUNE YOU'RE HITTING 500 PERSON CAPACITY MOST DAYS AND NOT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AND WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SAFETY FIRST AND ALSO IN YOUR SHOULDER SEASONS AND DOWN TIME AND DOWN DAYS AND DOWN HOURS THE LIFEGUARD SCHEDULE REFLECTS NUMBER ONE SAFETY AND NUMBER TWO EFFICIENT OPERATIONS AND YOU WILL SEE

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>> FROM A STAFFING PERSPECTIVE KEY COMPONENTS LET YOUR FULL-TIME AQUATICS MANAGER WAS A PARTIAL YOUR POSITION BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT THERE ALL YEAR AND IN THE OPERATING BUDGET PUT TOGETHER IT WAS A FULL YEAR POSITION BUT THERE IS AN AS SOON AS WE GET ON BOARD, WILL OPEN THE POSITION AND BRING IN THE OPERATIONS TEAM AND COVER THE GAP FOR THE STRATEGY AND MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING AND PLANNING WITH THE OPERATIONS TEAM BEST OUT OF CLEARWATER AND OPERATING EXPERTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND WILL WEIGH IN AND MAKE SURE WE ARE SET UP FOR SUCCESS AND BECAUSE OF YOUR FISCAL YEAR IT MEANS THE AQUATICS MANAGER IN 2023 WILL BE BASICALLY HITTING SIX MONTHS OF THE BUDGET AS YOUR FISCAL YEAR ALIGNS WITH WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE YEAR AND ULTIMATELY THAT IS A FULL TIME POSITION WITH A 12 MONTH SALARY EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND WE HAVE THE CONTINUITY PICK THE AQUATIC TECH POSITION WHICH IS CURRENTLY FILLED WHICH WAS NOT FILLED FOR ALL THE 12 MONTHS IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 SO GOING INTO 2023 WE EXPECTED TO BE FULL POSITION AND ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT CONTINUE TO HAVE FULL-TIME AQUATICS MANAGER ON BOARD AND THEN FROM THE STAFF SALARIES AND IN PARTICULAR PART-TIME LIFEGUARDS AS I MENTIONED BEFORE IN 2022 THE ACTUAL WERE ABOUT 295,000 IN THE BUDGET CALLED FOR $363,000 AND LIFEGUARD EXPENSES AND WE KNOW WE WILL HAVE TO ENSURE WE PAY THEM THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BRING THEM AND ATTRACT THEM TO TAKE ON THE VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY BASE POSITION AND WE WANT TO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY HOW WE DO THAT IN THE SCHEDULING COMPONENT WILL BE IMPORTANT AS I MENTIONED BEFORE ABOUT A 5% INCREASE OVER

LAST YEAR'S ACTUAL. >> WHEN WE LOOK AT ADVENTURE COVE AS AN ISOLATED ASPECT THIS IS WHERE YOU DRIVE REVENUE AND CONTROL EXPENSES MOST EFFECTIVELY THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE TO DRIVE THE IMPROVED NET OPERATING INCOME TO HAVE THE SUSTAINABLE PERSPECTIVE FROM ALL OF YOUR OUTDOOR AQUATICS POSITIONS AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE TREND AS YOU WENT FROM 2022 INTO 2023 IT WAS A DOWNWARD TREND IN TERMS OF NET OPERATING INCOME IN COST RECOVERY ULTIMATELY FOR ADVENTURE COVE AND OUR PLAN THAT INCREASED AN ADMISSION FEE WITH THE INCREASED NUMBER OF GUEST AND CONTROLLING EXPENSES AND MAKING SURE TO MONITOR THOSE EFFECTIVELY LEAD US TO ADVENTURE COVE GETTING TO A POSITIVE IN 2025 OF ABOUT $36,000 WHICH IS BY THE WAY NOT INTENTIONAL THIS IS THE WAY THE PROJECTIONS WORK IN THE ANALYTICAL PROCESS WHICH IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO A NET OPERATING INCOME AND PELICAN BAY OKLAHOMA AND AS A COST PERCENTAGE OF YOUR TOTAL EXPENSES IT MEANS ADVENTURE COVE, WE HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE CAN BE A SELF-SUSTAINING ISOLATED OPERATION AND GETTING TO 105% COST RECOVERY BY 2025. NOW WE DON'T GENERATE REVENUE THROUGH SPLASH FATS AND THEIR IS EXPENSES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT, AND I AGAIN APOLOGIZE AND WE WILL FIX THE CONVERSION ISSUES BETWEEN THE MAC POWERPOINT AND YOUR POWERPOINT READER, BUT ULTIMATELY THIS

WILL BE VERY CLEAR. >> THE PROJECTIONS INCLUDING THE SPLASH PAD AND INCLUSIVE OF THE MANAGEMENT FEES HAVE US RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE 2023 APPROVED BUDGET BOTTOM-LINE OPERATING INCOME IN 2023 AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THAT YEAR-OVER-YEAR INTO 2024 AND 2025 AND PUTTING THAT INTO A PERCENT, IT BRINGS HER HISTORIC COST RECOVERY, WHICH IS BEST IN 2018 FOR OBVIOUS REASONS WITH OPENING THE FACILITY AND THEN 66% IN YOUR BEST VISITED YEAR OF 2019 WHICH WAS THEN 57% IN 2021 AND PROJECTED TO ONLY GO TO 58% FOR ALL NET OPERATING INCOME AND ULTIMATELY COST RECOVERY IN 2023 AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO BEAT THAT IN 2022, 2023 AND 2024 AND GET TO 70 OR 76% OPERATING, EXCUSE ME 76% COST RECOVERY FOR AQUATIC ASSETS BY 2025 AND WE VIEW 2025 AS A THREE-YEAR PLAN AGAIN RAMPING

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>> TO WRAP UP WITH KEY BENEFITS I MENTIONED THE FIRST DAY BEFORE NUMBER ONE WE NEED TO FOCUS ON ENHANCING THE NET OPERATING INCOME TO MAKE SURE ASSETS ESPECIALLY ADVENTURE COVE BUT ALSO OF COURSE SPLASH PADS CONTINUE TO BE THE COMMUNITY GYMS AND CONTINUE TO BE WE HAVE TO DO THAT ARE GENERATING ENOUGH REVENUE AND CONTROLLING EXPENSES SO IT IS SUSTAINABLE FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF ULTIMATE BUDGET AND NET OPERATING INCOME AND WE WANT TO ENHANCE SERVICE AND USE BY RESIDENTS MORE PEOPLE COMING FOR MORE REASONS AND MORE PROGRAMMING AND NUMBER THREE LEADING THE COMMUNITY MESSAGING AND AGAIN IN TERMS OF THE COMMITMENT THE CITY HAS MADE AND YOU HAVE MADE TO AQUATICS AS A PRIMARY SERVICE TO RESIDENTS FOR RECREATION AND ULTIMATELY MAKING SURE THE MESSAGE IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE FACT WE HAVE TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE AND WE HAVE TO INCREASE FEES IN ORDER TO KEEP THESE THINGS SUSTAINABLE AND IF WE LEAVE THESE AND OPERATING EXPENSES INCREASE OVER TIME IT LEADS TO AN UNSUSTAINABLE ASSET AND RATHER THAN MAKE THIS A 20 OR 30 OR 50 YEAR ASSET IN THE COMMUNITY YOU COULD EASILY HAVE A FACILITY THAT ULTIMATELY GETS WORN OUT AND FALLS INTO DISREPAIR AND BECOMES OBSOLETE OR CANNOT FUNCTION . I WANT TO WRAP WITH THIS, WE HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO THE BOTTOM LINE NUMBERS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE APPROVED INTO THE BUDGET AND WITH THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO PUTTING SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE FEES IT WILL TAKE TO US TO MANAGE THIS FACILITY AT RISK AGAINST OUR PROJECTIONS AND SO WE WILL OFFER UP TO 20% OF A REBATE OR OF NOT PAYING THE 2023 FEES WE HAVE IN THE CONTRACT BEING FINALIZED NOW IF WE FALL BELOW THE BUDGET. IF THE BUDGET FALLS BELOW $5000 OR $10,000 OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE WE WILL COVER THAT BY NOT CHARGING IT BACK TO YOU SO THE ULTIMATE BOTTOM LINE INCLUSIVE OF OUR FAITH IS IN LINE WITH THE APPROVED BUDGET AND WITH THAT I WILL SAY THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN AND I HOPE IT WAS CLEAR AND I HOPE I DID NOT GO INTO MUCH DETAIL BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE .

>> THANK YOU, EVAN A BUNCH AND I'M SURE WE HAVE QUESTIONS. I WILL OPEN THOSE UP TO THE BOARD MEMBERS.

>> I HEARD EVERYTHING YOU SAID AND IT CAME ON PRETTY FAST FOR ME AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS HOW WILL WE FINANCIALLY , WHAT WILL BE THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO YOU?

>> THAT IS IN THE CONTRACT BEING WORKED OUT. WE HAVE A, SORT OF A MULTIFACETED APPROACH AND WE HAVE A MONTHLY MANAGEMENT FEE THAT IS A BASE MANAGEMENT FEE AND IT HAS AN ESCALATION IN EACH OF THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS AND WE START LOWER AND IT ESCALATES AND THEN WHAT IS BEING WORKED OUT CURRENTLY IS A VERY SMALL INCENTIVE 1% OF TOTAL REVENUE IS WHAT IS IN THE CONTRACT CURRENTLY AS WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY'S LEGAL COUNSEL AND SO THE FEES ARE PRIMARILY MONTHLY FLAT FEE SERVICE BASED FEES AND THEN SOME VERY SMALL INCENTIVES ON TOP OF THAT.

>> JEFF, TO HELP ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BASICALLY CITY COUNCIL IS ALREADY APPROVED A BUDGET TO MANAGE ADVENTURE COVE AND BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS INSTEAD OF US HIRING ALL OF THE STAFF IN MANAGING ALL OF THE STAFF WE ARE PAYING THEM TO DO THAT AND SO BUDGET WISE, IT IS NEUTRAL .

>> YOU SAID IT IS NEUTRAL? >> YES .

>> FOR THEM COME IN AND MANAGE VERSUS WHAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY. IF THERE ARE SHORTFALLS OF ANY SIGNIFICANT LEVEL HOWEVER SMALL OR LARGE IS THE CITY RESPONSIBLE FOR

COVERING THE SHORTFALLS ? >> YES AND I THINK THE EASIEST WAY TO CONSIDER OUR MANAGEMENT APPROACHES WE ARE OWNER REPS AND IF THE CITY IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES YOU WANT TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO ADMISSION FEES WE WILL MODEL THAT FOR YOU AND ULTIMATELY WE ARE THERE TO REPRESENT YOU AND WE WILL NOT HAVE OUR LOGO ON THE FRONT OF THE SHIRT IT WILL BE THE CITY OF ABILENE LOGO ON THE SHIRT AND THE GENERAL MANAGER, YES THEY REPRESENT YOU AND WE REPRESENT YOU AND WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING THE PLAN YOU WANT US TO EXECUTE AND WE ARE STRATEGIC ADVISORS AND THE IMPLEMENTERS AND WE EXECUTE THE PLAN ON THE CITY STILL DOES OWN AND HAS FULL RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNERSHIP WHICH MEANS IF THERE WERE, IF

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AND I EXECUTION . >> YOU MENTION THE REBATE .

>> YES . >> YOU TALKED ABOUT RATE INCREASE SO WHAT ARE THE CURRENT RATES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN OR IS THERE A DELI NATION?

>> THERE IS. DO YOU NOT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD?

>> I WANT TO SAY YES BUT I KNOW YOU DEFINITELY DO --

>> I DON'T KNOW . >> ADULTS ARE SEVEN DOLLARS .

>> THIS IS KIND . >> THIS IS CURRENT AND THERE IS A TIERED INSTRUCTION THOSE UNDER 40 INCHES ARE FREE AND I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT IS FOUR DOLLARS OR FIVE DOLLARS BUT WE HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND HAPPY TO LOOK IT UP AND

HAPPY TO SHARE THE NUMBERS . >> YOU ARE PROPOSING IN 2023 THE ADULTS WOULD BE CHARGED EIGHT DOLLARS AND THE KIDS UNDER 48 INCHES OR OVER WHATEVER -- LIKE IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY TWO AND UNDER ARE FREE AND UNDER 40 INCHES IS FIVE DOLLARS AND OVER 48 INCHES A SIX DOLLARS AND ADULTS AND

OLDER ARE SEVEN DOLLARS . >> OKAY SO EACH OF THE RATES WOULD INCREASE BY ONE DOLLAR.

>> I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THERE IS A NUMBER THAT IS CURRENT ON THE COST OF LIVING INDEX THE GOVERNMENT PUTS OUT AND IF THE COST OF LIVING INDEX IS 100 AND OPERATES AT 84 , IT MAKES A VERY DESIRABLE POSITIVE LIVING STANDARD AND WE KNEW YOU CAN LIVE IN TAX IS BETTER THAN YOU CAN LIVE IN MOST PLACES AND THE CONCERN FROM THE STANDPOINT OF UNDERSTANDING A RATE INCREASE AS TO WHERE THE WRONG NUMBER ACTUALLY COME IN AS TO HOW IT WILL AFFECT CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, OUR CITIZENS AND TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT LOOKING AT SOME SORT OF INCREASE , AND PEOPLE ARE ADVERSE TO ANY INCREASE,

BUT IF IT IS PALATABLE . >> YES AND ABSOLUTELY. A COUPLE OF THINGS, ABSOLUTELY. THE 2022 CENSUS OR THE UPDATED CENSUS NUMBERS WILL COME OUT AND IT WILL AGAIN UPDATE THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN IS A CRITICAL POINT TO UNDERSTAND YOUR COST OF LIVING IS 16% LESS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS ABOUT 10% LESS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OR NATIONAL MEDIAN AND THERE IS BALANCE WHICH IS PHENOMENAL AND WHAT IT MEANS IS EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME HERE THE COST OF LIVING IS LOWER AND THAT IS WHY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE RANGE OF PER CAP FOR THE VALUE AND PUT IT IT EIGHT DOLLARS UP TO $10 BASED ON FACILITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WE WANT TO GET AT EIGHT DOLLARS AT THE VERY BOTTOM END OF FAIR MARKET VALUE BUT NOT EXCEED THAT. COMING IN IS THE MANAGERS AND OPERATORS OF ASSETS IT IS NOT OUR PURVIEW AND NOT OUR RIGHT TO JUST CHANGE RATES AND DO IT AS THE OPERATOR BUT WE HAVE TO GET APPROVAL FOR THAT AND WE WILL WORK WITH YOU ON THAT AND IF THERE ARE CONCERNS AND IF THE CITY COUNCIL AND IF YOU AS A BOARD SAY WHAT IF WE DID THIS OR THAT THE FIRST STEP IS TO SAY NOT YES OR NO BUT TO SAY HERE ARE THE IMPACTS OF THAT AND HERE'S WHAT IT MEANS FOR FINANCIALS AND CREATE AN ANALYSIS THAT SHOWS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE DECISIONS WHETHER INCREASE MORE OR INCREASE LESSOR MAINTAIN AT NEUTRAL AND WE WILL SUBMIT THAT BACK AND ULTIMATELY THE CITY HAS FINAL SAY AND IT IS OUR JOB TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES

AND EXECUTE . >> OKAY. OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> IN THE WEEDS, IT APPEARS LIFEGUARDS ARE THE BASE OF SUCCESS FOR THE WATER PARKS AND I WAS CURIOUS HOW OUR LIFEGUARD SALARIES ALIGN WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES YOU WORK

WITH? >> VERY COMPARABLE IN TERMS OF TOTAL NUMBERS AND I THINK YOUR AVERAGE IS ABOUT $13 PER HOUR WHICH IS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND ULTIMATELY WERE WE IDENTIFIED VARIANCES IS THE NUMBER OF HOURS YOU PAY LIFEGUARDS RELATIVE TO OTHERS AND WE HAVE NOT TAKEN AN APPROACH BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HERE A OPERATOR AND HAVE NOT DONE A FULL AUDIT AND IT IS SAFETY FIRST FOR YOU HAVE

[00:35:03]

LINE. >> MY OTHER QUESTION, FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

>> SURE THING. >> I LIKE THE MENTION OF MULTIGENERATIONAL AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE REALLY MARKET THAT MUCH IN ABILENE BUT I THINK THERE IS A NEED FOR THAT BECAUSE WHEN I DRIVE BY ADVENTURE COVE I THINK I NEED TO TAKE MY KIDS AND GRANDKIDS BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF INCREASING THE MARKETING TO MAYBE AN OLDER POPULATION. MY OTHER QUESTION WAS THE SEASON AS FAR AS WHEN YOU OPEN AND WHEN WE CLOSE, DO YOU SEE US EXPANDING THAT ANY OR KEEPING

AT THE SAME? >> YOUR SEASON CURRENTLY IN TERMS OF WHEN YOU OPEN AND WHEN YOU CLOSE IS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH SORT OF THE LONGEST SEASON FOR AN OUTDOOR WATERPARK AND FOR A COMMUNITY-BASED OUTDOOR WATERPARK AND THERE ARE BIG ONES THAT OPEN EARLIER AND PEOPLE COME DOWN FROM UP NORTH BECAUSE THOSE ARE DESTINATION PARKS OPPOSED TO COMMUNITY-BASED WATER PARKS IN THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD NOT BE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST YEAR UNTIL THERE IS MORE DATA TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR SEASONALITY WHEN YOU'RE OPEN AND IT IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MAXIMUM TIME AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS TO USE ASSETS AND RIGHT NOW YOU ARE MUCH IN LINE WITH THAT SCHEDULE AND I WOULD NOT ANTICIPATE ANY CHANGES IN THE SCHEDULE BUT THE DATE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE SEASON AND EXPAND OR CONTRACT ON THE FRONT AND/OR BACK END WE WILL USE THE DATA DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATIONS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS HEADING INTO 2024.

>> WITH THAT ADDING A POLAR BEAR FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY , WHAT

IS OUR SEASON? >> MEMORIAL DAY UNTIL LABOR

DAY . >> OKAY.

>> ONE OTHER QUESTION I HAD AND I JUST LOST IT SO LET ME FIND A SECOND QUESTION,

>> KIND OF TO LESLIE MORE THAN ANYTHING I SUSPECT THIS IS TIED TO WHAT YOU SUGGESTED IN YOUR PLAN TO BEING A SIX-MONTH EMPLOYMENT THE FIRST YEAR I GUESS THAT IS 2023 FOR THE MANAGER AND YOUR AQUATICS TECH IF I READ THAT CORRECTLY SO CORRECT ME IF I DID NOT SO IS THAT CORRECT, SIX MONTHS FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN FULL-TIME THE SUBSEQUENT TWO

YEARS? >> THE REASON IT SHOWS A SIX-MONTH IS BECAUSE OUR FISCAL YEAR IS NOT A CALENDAR YEAR AND WE ARE ALREADY FOUR MONTHS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR AND SO REALISTICALLY COMING ON BOARD AND POSTING THE POSITION AND INTERVIEWING AND SELECT THING THE RIGHT MANAGER WE EXPECT IT WILL HAPPEN IN MARCH AND THAT MEANS THE FISCAL YEAR WILL CARRY FORWARD ONLY SIX MORE MONTHS BUT THAT IS A FULL POSITION FROM THE MINUTE WE HIRE IN PERPETUITY.

>> OKAY AND YOU ANTICIPATE OR WHAT LEVEL OF SALARY WOULD BE

COMPARABLE? >> YOUR SALARY OUTLINED IN YOUR BUDGET AND WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD FOR HISTORICALLY IS EXACTLY IN LINE WITH THE FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR THE SALARY AND ALSO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ULTIMATELY WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES AND A BENEFITS PACKAGE THAT WE OFFER IS PHENOMENAL FOR THOSE AND SO WE WANT TO ENSURE, AGAIN, WHAT IT TAKES TO HIRE THE RIGHT PERSON IS IN PLACE AND WE HAVE THAT IN THE PLAN ALIGNED EXACTLY WITH WHAT YOUR SALARY HAS BEEN .

[00:40:01]

>> GOING BACK TO THE FIRST DIRECTION OF THE QUESTION, I AM SUSPECTING AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, A LOT OF THE EFFORT THAT WILL BE TAKEN OVER BY THE ORGANIZATION TO MANAGE WILL HOPEFULLY FREE UP SOME OF OUR CURRENT STAFF AND I KNOW PART OF, I MEAN TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE WE COULD OR THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY HOURS IN THE DAY OUR STAFF CAN SPEND MARKETING AND BY WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, THE STAFF HE IS TALKING ABOUT AND UNDER THEIR AGREEMENT WOULD RELIEVE OUR STAFF FROM THAT RESPONSIBILITY OR I SAES THAT BURDEN , OR I SAES THAT BURDEN TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT THEY OVERSEE SENIOR AND AQUATICS AND BY GOING INTO THIS THAT PIECE IS RELIEVED AND GIVES MORE FOCUS ON PARKS AND RECREATION AND SENIORS AND FROM THE MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT OF HIRING 100+ PEOPLE EVERY YEAR AND BOTH FROM OUR DEPARTMENT BUT AS WELL AS THE HR DEPARTMENT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO ONBOARD AND OFF BOARD SEASONAL IT WOULD BE HANDING THAT ALL .

>> ABOUT THE WAY STAFF THAT IS NOT A REFLECTION OF THE JOB YOU DO, YOU ARE FABULOUS IN MY OPINION AND ONE LAST QUESTION, LIABILITY, SAID LIABILITY OR CITY?

>> THERE IS OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE TWO FORMS OF INSURANCE LIABILITY IS BUILT INTO IT AND THE LIABILITY IS ON THE FACILITY BUT WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE LIABILITY CLAUSE WITHIN OUR AGREEMENT AND SO I WILL DEFER TO LAWYERS ON THAT ULTIMATELY IN TERMS OF EXACTLY HOW IT WORKS BUT THERE IS AN INSURANCE POLICY WE WILL HOLD AS THE OPERATOR AND AN INSURANCE POLICY THE CITY WILL HOLD .

>> BUT YOU HAVE AN OPERATORS LIABILITY?

>> THAT COVERAGE IS REQUIRED IN THE CONTRACT .

>> THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO SAY THAT, YES SIR .

>> I HAVE ASKED ENOUGH QUESTIONS, ANYONE ELSE?

>> WITH THE VETTING AND HIRING PROCESS WHAT IS YOUR RETENTION SUCCESS RATE AS FAR A AQUATIC MANAGER AND THAT IS ALSO A PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD AND CONTINUING TO HIRE A NEW PERSON

EVERY SEASON. >> ABSOLUTELY WE HAVE HAD THE SAME AQUATICS DIRECTOR IN THE FACILITY THAT HAS, IT IS A BIGGER BUT SOMEWHAT COMPARABLE FACILITY IN ALABAMA AND IN EDMON THE GENERAL MANAGER HAS BEEN THERE SINCE WE STARTED MANAGEMENT AND THEN STILL THERE TODAY AND THAT HAS BEEN OVER THE COURSE, SHE IS PROBABLY BEEN WITH US FOR FIVE YEARS AT THIS POINT IN THE RETENTION, BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURE WE HAVE AND THE SUPPORT WE GIVE IS PHENOMENAL I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE IN REALITY YOU CANNOT CONTROL ALL OF THE VARIABLES AND ONE OF THE BENEFITS IS OF THE SERVICE IS THE CONTINUITY AND SO IF FOR WHATEVER REASON THE GENERAL MANAGER DECIDES TO MOVE ONTO AN OPPORTUNITY WE DO NOT HAVE TO BRING BACK PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF TO FILL THE GAP AND WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS IT HAPPENS TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE SO UNDERSTANDING THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY STAFF DECIDES TO LEAVE OR NEEDS TO LEAVE ULTIMATELY IT COMES DOWN TO WHO THEN WILL FILL THE GAP TO QUICKLY MOBILIZE AND REHIRE AND NOT MISS A BEAT DURING THE PROCESS AND THAT WOULD FALL TO

US IN THE COVERAGE WE BRING. >> ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ADVENTURE COVE WHICH IS A REVENUE PRODUCING PART OF IT SO EXPLAIN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE COVE AND THE SPLASH PADS?

>> I WOULD BEST DESCRIBE THAT AS A CONTINUITY OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE AND REALLY IMPORTANT THE AQUATICS TECH POSITION IS CURRENTLY FILLED AND A KEY COMPONENT OF HOW THESE SYSTEMS ARE MAINTAINED AT THE SPLASH PADS BECAUSE THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE AND THERE ARE NO LIFEGUARDS AND REALLY ABOUT A MAINTENANCE COMPONENT AND ELEMENT TO MAKE SURE BATHROOMS ARE CLEAN AND I THINK THE TAKE OUT TRASH AND I THINK WE WILL LEAVE THE STRUCTURES IN PLACE AND ULTIMATELY WE WILL HAVE THAT WRAPPED UP INTO THE FULL AQUATICS PURVIEW.

>> OKAY. THE SPLASH PADS ARE NONREVENUE PRODUCING AND I JUST

WANTED TO MAKE SURE. >> ABSOLUTELY .

>> AS FAR AS SPLASH PADS AND THE MAINTENANCE DO YOU EVER

[00:45:01]

UPGRADE? >> ABSOLUTELY IN THE SERVICES ARE INCLUDED IN ANYTHING ANALYTICALLY WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE IN THE FUTURE BASED ON THE LOCATION OR ANY NUMBER OF COMPONENTS INCLUDING CAMEA PARTNER QUOTATION , YOU HAVE YOUR PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN AND IT WILL SHARE INFORMATION ON ACCESS AND ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS AND WORKING WITH YOU AS THE OPERATOR TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES FOR RECREATION IN SPECIFIC AREAS AND WHAT GAPS NEED TO BE FILLED SO ABSOLUTELY IT WILL BE SIDE-BY-SIDE IN WE HAVE A ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND ALSO AN IMPORTANT FACTOR OUR DEVELOPMENT TEAM LEADS THE PROCUREMENT FOR A LOT OF FACILITIES AND WE IN THE LAST SIX PROJECTS WE HAVE BUILT AND OPENED WE HAVE SAVED OVER 20% ON AVERAGE OF EQUIPMENT COST FOR PURCHASING BECAUSE OF OUR PURCHASING POWER AND WE CAN WEIGH IN ON THAT AND PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO HELP REDUCE THE COST OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT IN CAPITAL REPLACEMENT AND NEW

FACILITY CONSTRUCTION. >> ONE OTHER QUESTION OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHAT YOU ANTICIPATE YOUR STAFF PRESENT HERE TO BE

OR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE? >> WE WILL HAVE THE GENERAL MANAGER WHO WILL BE ON THE GROUND FULL TIME IN OUR STAFF MEMBER AND THE OTHER COMPONENTS INCLUDING THE AQUATICS TECH THAT IS A POSITION WE DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER YET AND EITHER WILL STAY THE CITY POSITION OR COULD COME INTO OUR FACILITY BUT AS YOU OPERATED ASSETS AND AS YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO THOSE WILL BE THE TWO FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS ASSOCIATED SO THE GENERAL MANAGER WILL BE ON OUR PAYROLL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A HARD POSITION AND WE WANT TO PROVIDE EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTINUITY AND THE BEST THING POSSIBLE FOR YOUR CURRENT STAFF TO CONTINUE THE WAY THEY WANT TO CONTINUE.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN I YELLED THE GAVEL BACK TO YOU, SIR .

>> MY APOLOGIES FOR MY TARDINESS THIS MORNING EVERYONE

. >> DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER

QUESTIONS THIS MORNING? >> I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MISSING AND UNFORTUNATELY

DUTY CALLED THIS MORNING . >> NO PROBLEM AND IF IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO RECONNECT ON ANYTHING USHERED TODAY YOU WERE NOT HERE FOR I AM HAPPY TO DO THAT .

>> WE DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR THE

QUESTIONS . >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND IF THAT IS IT I WANT TO REITERATE MY PERSONAL ENTHUSIASM AND EXCITEMENT AND ON BEHALF OF ALMOST 1600 PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO LOOK AT ALL OF THE FACILITIES WE COME AND HELP TO SERVE COMMUNITIES WE ARE ALL EXCITED AND THIS IS WHAT WE LIVE FOR AND WE WANT TO IMPROVE COMMUNITIES THROUGH SPORTS AND RECREATION AND IN THIS CASE AQUATICS AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE AT THIS POINT AND CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO GOING FORWARD AND BEING THE OPERATOR IN ABILENE AND SERVING

THE RESIDENCE REALLY WELL . >> THANK YOU. THIS DOES REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING AND WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR AS THE PARKS BOARD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE THIS ONTO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OR DENIAL AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT IS BEFORE

YOU TODAY. >> THANK YOU LESLIE AND AT THIS TIME WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC HEARING ON PUBLIC AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO AND IF YOU HAVE A PUBLIC TO MAKE COME FORWARD AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM .

>> I THOUGHT YOU SAID I MIGHT GET UP.

>> THERE IS NO ONE COMING FORWARD WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THIS AGENDA ITEM AND MOVE ON TO FURTHER DISCUSSION OR ACTION OR POTENTIAL ACTION .

>> I WOULD THINK AS A BOARD , A LOT OF TIMES THE CITY EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO DO SUCH A BROAD RANGE OF ACTIVITIES OR A BROAD RANGE OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND THERE IS SOMETIMES A NEED FOR A FOCUSED , SPECIALIZED, ORGANIZATION TO COME IN AND TAKE SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT, BY ABILITIES BUT BY TRAINING PREPARED TO NECESSARILY MANAGE AND SO

[00:50:04]

>> BEFORE WE GO FORWARD TO THIS IF WE HAVE A CONTRACT, LESLIE, WITH THIS COMPANY ALONG WITH THE CONTRACT BEFORE?

>> I BELIEVE IT IS A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT BUT THERE IS, IF FOR SOME CRAZY REASON IT DOES NOT WORK OUT, THERE IS AN OPTION

TO GET OUT OF IT . >> OKAY. OKAY .

>> I WILL SECOND THE MOTION. >> WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND A SECOND I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION BEFORE I MOVE FORWARD AND WAS THIS AD SOUGHT OUT BY THE CITY OR WAS THIS, WAS THE CITY FOUND BY THIS COMPANY WHO SOUGHT US

OUT? >> THE CITY , THIS WAS THE CITY'S IDEA TO GO OUT FOR PROPOSAL .

>> THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND SECOND TO MOVE FORWARD ONTO CITY COUNCIL SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OF QUESTIONS AND AGAIN I AM PROBABLY SCREWING UP BECAUSE I

WAS LATE SO WHATEVER. >>

>> IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THERE IS ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE .

[3. Parks Report (Discussion)]

>> ANY OPPOSED? >> WE WILL MOVE FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION THIS MORNING.

AT THIS TIME WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE PARKS REPORT AND THAT IS A

DISCUSSION. >> PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GIVE US YOUR

REPORT. >> THIS IS CARL PARKS DIVISION MANAGER AND I WANT TO GIVE A COUPLE OF THINGS WE HAVE WORKED ON IN THE LAST MONTH AND RECENTLY WE ARE STILL SEEING THE EFFECTS OF WHAT THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND WE BEGAN REMOVING SOME OF THE TREES THAT HAVE DIED AND HAVE DECLINED AND YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE PLANTED 10 NEW AFGHANISTAN PINES BY THE ZOO SIGN WHICH IS AFFECT DEAD BY THE STORM AND WE HAVE ALSO GONE THROUGH THE STREET MEDIANS AND DONE SOME CLEANUP AND WE HAD A COMPANY LASTER THAT CAME UP AND DID A LOT OF REMOVAL FOR US AND WE ARE STILL SAYING A LOT OF TREES STILL DECLINING FROM THAT AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND CLEAN SOME OF THOSE THINGS UP AND THEN THE BIGGEST ONE WAS A LONG SOUTH FIRST RIGHT-OF-WAY AND IF YOU GUYS HAPPEN TO DROP BY THERE LAST WEEK OR SO OUR GUYS WENT THROUGH AND REMOVED , I BELIEVE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 40 OF THE PINE TREES THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE LOST BECAUSE OF THAT AND WE HAVE PLANS TO GO THROUGH AND STRATEGICALLY REPLANT TREES AND MIKE MCBRIDE IS WORKING ON A PLAN FOR THAT AND MOVING FORWARD AND SO WE WILL LOOK AT HOW MANY TREES WE WILL REPLANT GROWING OR GOING

FORWARD. >> WE REPLANTED FLOWER BEDS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER AND SOME WERE DAMAGED FROM THE STORM AND RENOVATIONS THE COMMISSIONER HAS GONE THROUGH AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND REVAMP SOME OF THE BEDS AS WELL AT THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THEN WE HAVE STARTED BUILDING AND RETAINING WALL AT OSCAR ROSE PARK TO GO AROUND THE NEW PLAYGROUND AND WE HAD ISSUES WITH FLOODING GOING INTO THE PLAYGROUND AND THE FLASH FLOODING LAST YEAR AND SO WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO ALLEVIATE THAT GOING FORWARD AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE GUYS I'VE BEEN WORKING ON. WE HAVE

[00:55:02]

AS WELL WHEN DOING THIS. >> THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT I

HAVE FOR YOU THIS MORNING . >> I WILL ADDRESSES TO BOTH OF YOU BECAUSE THIS PROBABLY FALL UNDER JESUS, YOUR PURVIEW, I WAS JUST ENRAGED PUTTING IT NICELY, I WAS PASSED WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO THE PLAYGROUND .

>> YES, SIR. >> I UNDERSTAND PROBABLY THERE WILL CARRY A PRICE TAG OF 200 GRAND TO FIX AND IF WE HAD A CHANCE TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE FURTHER AND POSSIBLY START WORK ON REMOVING THE DAMAGE ITEMS, HAVE WE HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT? I GUESS I'M ASKING JESUS TO ANSWER .

>> YES, THE GUYS WENT OUT AS SOON AS WE GOT THE CALL AND STARTED REMOVING THE STUFF BURNT UP AND WE ALSO DID AN ASSESSMENT WHILE WE WERE OUT OF WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO MOVING FORWARD AND WE HAD NO SAFETY ISSUES. TALKING THROUGH IT, WE DECIDED TO PRETTY MUCH REMOVE PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE PLAYGROUND AND THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD KEEP THE PLAYGROUND OPEN WITH THE COMPONENTS AND NOT HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE OR FOR IT TO BE USED LIKE IT WAS MEANT TO BE USED FOR AS FAR AS ASSESSMENT MOVING FORWARD RIGHT NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT , I GUESS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO FROM THE CITY STANDPOINT MOVING FORWARD THE DAMAGE WAS, IN TODAY'S PRICE, THE PLAYGROUND DID NOT COST AS MUCH IS WHAT IT WILL COST US TIME SO WE ARE LOOKING AT 150,000 UP TO $250,000.

>> I GUESS, POSSIBLY, OUT OF ADVERSITY, WE MAY BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOME DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT , NEW INNOVATIVE TYPE STUFF AS WELL TO ENHANCE THE PARK AND I MEAN WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE STUFF WE MIGHT AS WELL TRY TO ENHANCE IT AND SO I AM SO SORRY THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS AND I KNOW IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY BUT I AM SO SORRY WE ARE HAVING TO TALK

ABOUT IT . >> UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS HAPPENED EVERYWHERE I HAVE BEEN AND IS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, IT HAPPENS BUT FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WE WANT TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND COMMITTEE MOVING FORWARD AND IT IS A BUMP IN THE ROAD WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND WE WILL

ADDRESS IT AND MOVE FORWARD . >> I AM GRATEFUL WE HAVE YOU TO DEAL WITH IT.

>> I WILL SAY, WE WALKED OUT TO THE PARK YESTERDAY AND IT IS DISHEARTENING AND I WAS SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU CAME SO QUICKLY TO ADDRESS IT AND HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE WE WILL ADDRESS IT IN THE WAY SAID IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAMS WORK ON THAT . NOT MUCH MORE TO SAY.

>> WE WILL MOVE FORWARD. >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU ARE COVERING ALL OF THE ISSUES I WAS GOING TO COVER.

[4. Recreation Report (Discussion)]

LAUGHTER ] >> GOOD MORNING ANN HALL THE DIVISION MANAGER AND AS YOU KNOW THE TROUT FEST WAS GOING ON YESTERDAY AND SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE PICTURES OF THE WINNERS TO BE ADDRESSED TODAY AND THEY HAVE WONDERFUL PRIZES PARTS OF OUR LIFE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO DONATE AND THERE WERE FISHING POLLS AND EQUIPMENT AND SO THE AGE GROUPS I'M EXCITED TO SEE . THE DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE SIGN-UPS ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND AS OF TODAY WE HAVE SO 327 TICKETS AND WE ARE EXCITED BECAUSE THERE ARE PROBABLY MORE COMING AND HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE. WE ARE HAVING A NEW DANCE ON SATURDAY INSTEAD OF THE WEEKDAY AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HAVE PEOPLE COME OUT SO WE'LL GLOW THE NODAWAY SO IT'S A GLOW IN THE DARK PARTY. ALSO THE ASL MIXER IS TONIGHT AT COBB PARK STARTING AT 6:00 AND IT IS TO MEET PEOPLE IF YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEARING ISSUES OR WANT TO MEET NEW FRIENDS AND THEY WILL PLAY UNO AND SKIP BO I BELIEVE SO THEY ARE PLAYING GAMES. AND ALSO GALENTINES IS COMING UP NOT VALENTINES BUT GALENTINES SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DITCH YOUR DATE WE WILL HAVE A NIGHT OF BUNKO SO IT IS A FUN NIGHT FOR THE LADIES TO GET OUT. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> YOU LOOK BUSY . >> WE HAVE BEEN BUSY .

[5. Seniors Report (Discussion)]

>> A LOT GOING ON . >> THANK YOU, ANN.

[01:00:03]

>> STEPPING IN FOR BOBBY WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY I WILL GIVE YOUR SENIORS REPORT . THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS GOING ON WE HAD THE EVENT WE ARE OCCURRING , WE ARE CALLING ARMCHAIR TRAVEL ON MONDAY GENERATE 23RD AT 1:00 IN THE SENIOR CENTER AND THIS WILL BE A DIFFERENT EVENT AND THEY WILL WATCH DOCUMENTARIES AND SAMPLE FOODS BECAUSE IT IS GOOD IF YOU FEED PEOPLE AT THOSE EVENTS AND SO THEY WILL FEED THEM SOMETHING COMMONLY EATEN AT THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION TO THAT TYPE OF CULTURE SO A NEAT EVENT AND WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF RETURN WE GET ON THAT AND PARTICIPATING SO WE ARE

EXCITED ABOUT THAT. >> WE HAVE THE THURSDAY NIGHT DANCES AND ALWAYS VERY POPULAR AND WE HAVE A NEW GROUP THIS TIME CARD EXIT 277 AND THESE ARE THE DANCE DATES FOR THE THURSDAYS THROUGH JANUARY AND WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED THOSE UP AND WHEN I WAS TALKING TO STEPH ABOUT THIS THIS IS AN ERROR THEY GET THE MOST PHONE CALLS BESIDE WHAT IS FOR LUNCH TODAY AND IT IS WHO'S THE BAND ON THURSDAY WHO WILL PLAY THURSDAY SO WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITY ON THIS EVENT AND IT IS A VERY POPULAR ONE IT IS 7:00 UNTIL 9:00 AND FIVE DOLLARS PER TICKET. WE ALSO HAVE SENIOR VALENTINES CELEBRATION COMING UP ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 CALLING IT THE SWEETHEART DANCE ALSO FROM 7:00 TO 9:00 FIVE DOLLARS PER PARTICIPANT AND WE WILL HAVE BINGO AND KARAOKE WHICH ARE ALWAYS A FAVORITE FOR THE GROUP AND SO THEY ENJOY A GOOD BINGO AND IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN OUT AND PLAYED BINGO WITH THE SENIORS, YOU NEED TO GET OUT AND TRY IT. IT IS VERY FAST, IT IS NO JOKE, AND THEY WILL PLAY THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE CARS AT ONE TIME AND I CANNOT KEEP UP. IT IS PRETTY COOL TO SEE AND PARTICIPATE. KARAOKE IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU THINK IT IS.

>> WE ALSO HAVE BECAUSE IT IS FEBRUARY, BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WE WILL HAVE OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH EXHIBIT FEBRUARY 6 THROUGH THE 10TH IN THE MAIN ROOM AND WE WILL HAVE IT SPONSORED BY CURTIS HOUSE CULTURAL CENTER SO COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?

>> I DON'T THINK SO . >> THANK YOU.

[6. Zoo Report (Discussion)]

>> JESSE POTTEBAUM , DIRECTOR. IF YOU DID NOT KNOW WE EXTENDED OUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION INSTEAD OF SANTA CLAUS AND THE REINDEER AND THE EXPERIENCES FROM CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION THEY WENT BACK MORE THAN WE ALLOWED OUR GUESTS EXCLUSIVELY EVEN THE MEMBERS TO COME BACK FOR FREE TO DO ZOO LIGHTS AND WE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY INTO PUTTING UP THE LIGHTS AND WE FIGURED WHY NOT GET THEM BACK TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT WANT TO PAY THE EXTRA CHARGE FOR THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION AND ESPECIALLY MEMBERS IS A GOOD SUCCESS AND IT HELP RECOVER THE ZOO. WE DID NOT GET AS MUCH FUNDING AS WE WERE HOPING FOR AND TO THINGS PLAYED INTO THAT AND FIRST OF ALL IT WAS THE WEATHER OUR GREATEST ENEMY IS THE WEATHER AND WHEN WE HAD THE COLD SNAP THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS BUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAD SCHOOLS IN SESSION LONGER AND THAT IMPACTED THE FUNDRAISING SO THE ZOO LIGHTS HELP RECOVER SO IT WAS A HUGE

SUCCESS . >> ANIMALS, WE HAD A BABY PORCUPETTE WHICH IS WHAT YOU CALL IT BABY PORCUPINE AND THIS IS A COUPON IN SOUTH AMERICA AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE RIGHT HAND OF THE SCREEN THE MOTHER WHO TURNS INTO A WHITE BLACK GRAY AND RIGHT NOW SHE IS A REDHEAD AND SHE WILL SOON TURN INTO HER MOTHER AND DAD COLORATIONS THAT SHE ACTUALLY HAS A FIRST QUILT COMING THROUGH YOUR FOUR HEAD WHICH IS

WHAT IT WILL TURN INTO . >> THAT HIS HAIR .

>> THAT IS SOMETHING I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

>> IT TURNED INTO A QUILL SO COME LOOK AT HER VERY QUICK SHE WILL LOOK LIKE HER PANTRY QUICKLY NORMALLY SHE IS IN THE ONE HOLDING BUILDING THAT IS CARIBBEAN STYLE IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE GLASS PANEL ALL YOU CAN SEE, HIM OR HER WE HAVE NOT

DETERMINED THE SEX YET . >> WHAT IS THE STORY WITH A QUILL ON THE ONE ON THE RIGHT .

>> THAT IS THE FIRST QUILT IT COMES OUT OF SOFT FUR AND AS THEY GROW AND OLDER IT BECOMES VERY DENSE BECOMES SHARED .

>> DO NOT PET IT ON THE HEAD . >> WE HAD MORE CAPYBARAS AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIFTH LETTER, SIX SO THEY ARE ALSO A SOUTH AMERICAN ANIMAL IN THE ELM CREEK AREA. AND LAST WE HAD ONE OF OUR OLDEST SPECIES OF SNAKE THAT HAS BEEN AT THE ZOO

[01:05:02]

OF OLD AGE . >> HOW BIG WAS HE?

>> GOSH, HE WAS ABOUT SIX FEET OR MAYBE EIGHT, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME TO LOOK AT HIM AND HE WAS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR BEEN MISTAKES THAT PEOPLE SEEK OUT AND WE'RE LOOKING TO REPLACE HIM AND WE HAVE ANOTHER SPECIES ON DISPLAY I DON'T RECALL THE NAME BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO GET BACK THE KING COBRA IN THE

FUTURE. >> THAT IS IT.

>> HOW MANY SPECIES ARE YOU LOOKING TO REPLACE OR SO WHAT IS THE LIST FOR THE ZOO LOOK LIKE?

>> IT IS ACTUALLY VERY GOOD AND BEING THE ACCREDITED FACILITY WE PUT OUT FEELERS AND I CANNOT TELL YOU, TODAY I WAS HOPING TO SHARE BUT AT NEXT MEETING WE WILL HAVE A REPLACEMENT ON HERE SOON AS WELL AS THE LINES WHICH ARE STILL ON LOAN TO FORT WORTH BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER SET OF LIENS AND WE DO HAVE THE FEELERS OUT REACTIVELY SUCH AS THE KING COBRA OR RHINO BUT WE SEEK OUT NEW SPECIES .

>> I AM ALWAYS IMPRESSED BY HOW MANY ANIMALS YOU ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LEGISLATING TRADITIONAL PLACES OR ANYTHING

ALONG THOSE LINES . >> ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS HAPPENS LITERALLY ALMOST EVERY WEEK AND A MEANS ANIMALS LEAVE OR COME WE HAVE ANIMALS STAFFED AND MOVING TO THE AIRPORT TO BE FLOWN TO FLORIDA OR NORTHEAST OR STAFF GOING TO THE AIRPORT TO PICK UP OR PHYSICALLY DRIVING TO THE NEW INSTITUTIONS. RIGHT NOW ONE OF THE CALF WHO IS NOT A CALF ANYMORE BUT ONE OF OUR YOUNG GIRAFFES WILL BE MOVED TO FORT WORTH IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS FOR PURPOSES, IT IS A FEMALE GETTING

REPLACEMENT. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH . >> THANK YOU .

>> ANY OTHE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.