Mar 21, 2023 Parks and Recreation

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:14]

WITH US THIS MORNING FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.

WE WILL GET STARTED SHORTLY WITH INVOCATION.

>> PRAY WITH ME PLEASE. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR A PLACE LIKE ABILENE TEXAS, WHERE WE CAN LIVE AND ENJOY LIFE AND ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF OUR COMMUNITY. FATHER, PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE US TODAY AND HELP US IN OUR DECISION-MAKING.

FATHER, MAY WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT HONOR YOU, AND THAT BRING BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE OF EVERYBODY THAT IS A PEER, VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, AND CITIZENS. BY THE WAY BLESSED THIS TIME IN

JESUS NAME AMEN. >> AT THIS POINT, WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION. OF OUR AGENDA.

PUBLIC CAN COMMENT ON ANY ITEM. HREE MRS. B TO ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA TODAY. LOOKS LIKE WE ARE OUT ON PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THAT

[1. Minutes (Discussion and Action)]

OR LAST MONTH. IT WILL BE A DISCUSSION AND

ACTION. >> I MOVE WE APPROVE THE

[2. Request to Charge Spectator Fee for Wylie Fastpitch Softball Tournament (Discussion, Public Hearing and Action)]

MINUTES. >> SECOND.

>> SO MOVED AND SECONDED. TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL GO THEN TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO. REQUESTED CHARGE A SPECTATOR FEE FOR WYLIE FASTPITCH SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT (DISCUSSION, PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION)

. >> GOOD MORNING COME ABOARD, CHRIS GIBSON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PARKS AND REC RATION.

BEFORE WE HAVE YOU A WEBQUEST TO CHARGE A FIVE DOLLAR SPECTATOR TO GIVE INTO TO UTILIZE KIRBY LIKE SOFTBALL COMPLEX FOR A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT HOSTED BY WYLIE FASTPITCH SOFTBALL MARCH 24-26. IT IS THIS UPCOMING VERY SOON.

THIS IS PRETTY STANDARD LIKE MOST OF OUR SPECTATOR FEES ARE BROUGHT BEFORE YOU. AND PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

>> A CONTINUATION OF PREVIOUS THINGS.

WE'VE DONE THAT WITH WYLIE FASTPITCH.

WITH THAT IN MIND I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THAT.

>> SO MOVED. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> THIS CALLS FOR PUBLIC

HEARING. >> THIS DOES CALL FOR PUBLIC HEARING.HANK YOU, FOR THAT. WITH THAT WE MOVE INTO TIME FOR PUBLIC HEARING.GAIN, THREE MINUTES.

STATE YOUR NAME, FOR THE RECORD AND SPEAK TO THE AGENDA ITEM.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC CARE TO DISCUSS THIS, WE WILL MOVE BACK TO OUR FORMAL PORTION WITH IN THE BOARD.

WITH THAT ON THE TABLE, WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.

DO YOU APPROVE THIS? ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO CARRIES

[3. Spectator Fee Policy (Discussion, Public Hearing and Action)]

BROUGHT FORWARD TO US BY THE CITY.

THIS WILL BE DISCUSSION, PUBLI HEARING AND POTENTIAL ACTION AS

WELL . >> CHRIS GIBSON ASSISTANT DIRECTION OF PARKS AND RECREATION AGAIN.

THIS IS A POLICY THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD FROM THE PARKS BOARD REQUESTED. WE PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.

KIND OF AN IDEA FRAMEWORK OF WHAT MIGHT BE A GOOD STARTING POINT, IS DEFINITELY OPEN FOR CONVERSATION AND WHAT WE DECIDED TO GO WITH WAS CHARGING ANYTHING THAT FALL INTO THE CLASSIFICATION OF A SPECTATOR FEE FOR $20 OR LESS PRIMARILY WOULD BE AT THE DISCRETION FOR APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR PARKS AND REC RATION WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE REQUIRED FOR US TO BRING FORWARD TO THE PARKS BOARD FOR APPROVAL.

GREATER THAN $20 WOULD THEN FALL INTO THE CATEGORY FOR REQUIRING APPROVAL BY THE PARKS.

IN THE RECREATION BOARD ITSELF. IT'S KIND OF WHERE WE LEFT IT.

WE OUTLINE SOME REQUIREMENTS ABOUT THAT.

THUS WE BRING FORWARD TODAY. >> HOW DID WE GET TO THAT $20 NUMBER? WAS IT SOMETHING WE LOOK AT OTHER CITIES FOR? OR WAS A KIND OF AN AVERAGE?

>> WE KIND OF GRABBED IT OUT OF THE AIR.

[00:05:01]

WE'VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING OVER $10.

THIS IS MORE A STARTING POINT AND WHAT WAS A COMFORT LEVEL AND THE PARKS, ANYTHING BELOW THAT.

YOU CAN SEE THE STANDARD PRACTICE.

IT COULD BE FIVE DOLLARS. IT IS REALLY UP TO THE PARKS

BOARD. >> THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> SETTING FREQUENCY LIMITS? >> YES.

THERE AR SOME GROUPS THAT ASK FOR THIS ONCE AND SOME GROUPS ASK FOR THIS 68 TIMES A YEAR. AND MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S FOR TOURNAMENT BY TOURNAMENT. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT'S ONE EVENT. WE DIDN'T SEE A REASON TO PUT A LIMIT ON HOW MANY TIMES ANNUALLY.

I GUESS THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE IF THEY WANTED 52 TOURNAMENTS, THEY COULD HAVE 52 TIMES.

BUT IT IS REALLY UP TO THE PARKS BOARD AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO SAY OKAY, WE WILL APPROVE THE FIRST SIX, ANYTHING BEYOND THAT -- YOU CAN SAY AGAIN, IT'S REALLY UP TO THE PARKS BOARD.

>> A PARTICULAR OBJECTION IN TERMS OF --

>> WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE?

>> BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM, THE IDEA WITH THIS IS THAT IT'S KIND OF A BLANKET APPROVAL FOR SPECTATOR FEES SUB $20 FOR EVENTS WITHIN PARKS AND

RECREATION SPACES. >> CORRECT.

>> UNDERSTAND. >> PARKS DIRECTOR, THE POLICY

BY ITSELF. >> ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, IF WE ARE NUMBER DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD, WE MOVE INTO PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

SPECTATOR FEE POLICY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR THE RECORD. LOOKS AS IF WILL BE ABLE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME.

MOVE FORWARD WITH POTENTIAL ACTION ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER

THREE. >> I MOVE WE PASS IT.

>> SECOND. >> MOVED AND SECOND.

BLANKET APPROVAL FOR THE $20 AND BELOW SPECTATOR FEE.

FOR CITIZENS OF ABILENE. TO USE PARKS AND RECREATION AS FAR AS A FEE. ALL IN FAVOR?

[4. Parks and Recreation Master Plan (Discussion, Public Hearing and Action)]

MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT AND FOR THE PRESENTATION OF IT.

I THINK IT WAS VERY HELPFUL. WITH THIS WE WANT TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN. THIS WILL BE DISCUSSION, PUBLIC

HEARING AND POTENTIAL ACTION. >> GOOD MORNING, DIRECTOR PARKS AND RECREATION PYRAMID NAME IS LESLIE ANDREWS.

I THOUGHT IT MAY BE EASIER FOR ME TO STEP DOWN HERE FOR THIS PRESENTATION. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR A FULL YEAR ON THE PARKS MASTER PLAN.

THE LAST TIME ABILENE HAD A PARKS MASTER PLAN APPROVED WAS IN 2014. WHICH IS NINE YEARS AGO.

WHEN YOU START GETTING BEYOND THE FIVE AND B10 GRANT ELIGIBILITY, SOMEWHAT COMES INTO QUESTION.

TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONSISTENT WITH OUR ABILITY TO SEEK FUNDING AND GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY CHANGES IN ABILENE OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS. WE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO BRING UP A MASTER PLAN FORWARD.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PLAN IS TO PROVIDE A VISION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S. THIS IS KIND OF THE OVERALL GUIDE. IT GIVES SOME THINGS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO CERTAIN PARKS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WE WILL DEFINITELY GET INTO MORE SPECIFICS.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS REALLY JUST THE OVERALL PLAN. IT IS TO ENSURE DEPARTMENTAL OFFERINGS AND PRIORITIES ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

ONE OF THE BIG ASPECTS OF THIS, WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE MADE SURE WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND GAVE THEM AMPLE OPPORTUNITY OVER MULTIPLE MONTHS, TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US FEEDBACK.

THIS ALSO DOES BENCHMARK US AGAINST 42 OTHER CITIES ACROSS TEXAS AND THE NATION TO KIND OF SEE WHERE WE FIT IN, TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANY GAPS OR INEQUITIES IN ABILENE.

IT PREPARED THE DEPARTMENT TO RESPOND TO CHANGING NEEDS AGAIN, THIS HELPS GIVE US A GUIDE.

DESCRIBE FUTURE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST MONTH'S MEETING, SOME POTENTIAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.

A MASTER PLAN OF THIS MAGNITUDE YOU KNOW, GOD IN ALL OF OUR

[00:10:01]

AND SO, THIS GIVES US SOME IDEAS AND GUIDING TO HELP MOVE US FORWARD. IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT STRENGTHENING PHYSICAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO SUSTAINABILITY AND EFFICIENCY AND ENSURES NO -- OF SERVICES SOMETHING PARKS AND RECREATION DOES VERY WELL.

AND CITIZENS WANT US TO DO. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN DO MUCH BETTER THAN WE CAN.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THUS THE OPPORTUNITY, WE GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY. -- HAS THE COMPANY WE BEEN WORKING WITH THE LAST YEAR I APOLOGIZE IT CANNOT BE HERE TODAY. THEY HAD A COMPLICATION, WHICH PREVENTED THEM FROM BEING HERE. BUT OVER THE LAST YEAR, THEY HAVE BEEN HERE MULTIPLE TIMES. THERE WAS A STEERING COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER. TO GUIDE THIS.

A SMALL GROUP OF STAFF, BOARD MEMBER DENSITY OFFICIALS.

THEY HAD FOUR MEETINGS, EACH APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS TO PROVIDE MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE AND CONTENT.

AND TO REALLY HELP PROMOTE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

WE THOUGHT THAT WAS A KEY PIECE FOR THIS MASTER PLAN, TO HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE. TO ENSURE THAT THIS PLAN IS WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING FOR ABILENE.

THERE WERE FOUR STEPS TO THE PLAN, WHICH IS A LOT OF WHY IT TOOK A FULL YEAR FOR IT TO HAPPEN.

THERE WAS EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF VALUATION OF BOTH THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ASSESSMENTS. THEY HAD TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT CAME TO ABILENE, SEPARATE FROM OUR MEETINGS, THAT SPENT DAYS AND DAYS EVALUATING EVERY SINGLE PARK, EVERY SIN ELEMENT AND EVERY SINGLE PARK. IF YOU REMEMBER HOW WARM IT WAS LAST SUMMER, WHEN THEY WERE HERE, I THINK THEY MANAGED TO TIME IT WHEN THEY WERE HERE AND SOME OF THE RECORD HEAT THAT ABILENE HAS HAD. BUT THEY WERE GREAT AND THEY SPENT I COULDN'T EVEN GUESS HOW MANY HOURS, BUT IT WAS MULTIPLE DAYS, MULTIPLE TRIPS. WHEN THEY WERE EVALUATING OUR PARKS. THE ENGAGEMENT PIECE, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE. WE HAD SURVEYS, INTERVIEWS AND WORKSHOPS. I'LL GET INTO THAT MORE IN A MINUTE. WE ALSO HAD SOME ENVISIONING WHERE WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THE VISION OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND WHERE WE WANTED TO GO IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

AND THEN, THEY TOOK ALL THE INFORMATION AND PUT IT INTO THE ACTION PLAN THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY TO BE THE GUIDE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

SOME OF THE DATA THAT THEY CAME UP WITH BASED ON THE EVALUATION OF WHAT WE HAVE, HAS, WE HAVE 28 PARKS, 15 AMENITIES, 33 PERCENT OF ABILENE HAVE LOW TO LOW MEDIUM INCOME.

THAT LIVE ON OUR PARKS, 19 PERCENT WITH HIGH MEDIUM INCOME AT ONLY 20 PERCENT OF PARKS ARE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.

THAT IS CONSIDERED A FAIRLY LOW NUMBER COMPARED TO OUR BENCHMARK. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW OUR PARKS ARE USED, WE CAN ALWAYS SAY OUR PARKS ARE USED BUT EVEN THIS NUMBER WAS VERY STAGGERING.

82 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS VISITED OUR PARKS 60 TIMES OR MORE AND 50 PERCENT, 20 TIMES OR MORE.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 75 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE VISIT PARKS ONE TIME. AND WE HAVE 82 PERCENT OF THE VISITED OUR PARKS SIX TIMES OR MORE.

THAT TELLS US HOW POPULAR OUR PARKS ARE AND HOW MUCH THEY ARE USED. AND SO, THAT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE. OUR POPULATION, WE DO HAVE MORE SENIORS AND FEWER CHILDREN. AND SOME OF THE ESSENTIALS THAT WERE DETERMINED THAT WE LOOKED AT OUR ATHLETIC FIELDS, ADA DEFICIENCIES, AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND LAND AVAILABLE FOR IMPROVEMENT. WHAT SOME OF THE DATA DID TELL US IS THAT WE ARE LOW IN THE NUMBER OF PLAYGROUNDS COMPARED TO OUR BENCHMARKING. WE ARE AVERAGE TO HIGH ON OUR TENNIS COURTS, LOW ON BASKETBALL COURTS.

HIGH ON BASEBALL COURTS.BOUT AVERAGE WITH SOFTBALL AND ADULT SOFTBALL AND THEN, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, HERE THEY CALL IT RECTANGULAR FIELD, MULTIPURPOSE FIELD, FOOTBALL FIELD, SOCCER FIELDS. WHATEVER NAME YOU WANT TO CALL IT. AS YOU CAN SEE ABILENE IS LOW IN THAT AREA. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT AS FAR AS STAFFING AND COMPARISON AGAINST BENCHMARK.

WE HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 6.8 FULL-TIME AND THE AVERAGE IS 8.6. PER 10,000 POPULATION.

AND SO, I'LL TOUCH ON THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ON.

LOWER SERVICE LEVELS FROM ALL OUTDOOR SPORTS EXCEPT FOR DIAMOND FIELDS AND TENNIS. WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE

[00:15:01]

TOURISM, PARTNERS, WE INVITED MANY PEOPLE TO THE 20 STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT WERE HELD OVER A TWO DAY PERIOD AS WELL AS HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE WHERE WE HAD 60 PLUS ATTENDEES THERE. WE WERE EXCITED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME TO THAT OPEN HOUSE. SOME OF THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES THAT CAME FROM THAT. ALL THAT FEEDBACK WAS THE INVESTMENT IN PROGRAMS, FACILITIES AND SYSTEMS. PEOPLE ARE WANTING MORE EVENTS AND PERFORMANCES MORE YOUTH AND ADULT SPORTS LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS, MORE ACTIVE ADULT PROGRAMS AND IN THIS CATEGORY, MORE OF WHAT THEY ARE TALKING TO IS A 50 PLUS. YOU TEND TO FOCUS A LOT ON THE YOUTH, TEND TO FOCUS A LOT ON THE SENIORS.

BUT THERE IS A VERY ACTIVE ADULT GROUP THAT DOES WANT ACTIVITIES AS WELL. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO GIVING THEM EQUAL ATTENTION.

NATURE. A LOT O PEOPLE WANT TO BE OUT IN NATURE. RESTROOMS, SHADE AND OTHER SUPPORT FACILITIES ARE ALSO A KEY THING THAT WE NEED.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A SURPRISE TO US.

WE KNOW THIS IS A NECESSITY. RECREATION CENTERS, WE'VE SEEN MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW OLD ARE RECREATION CENTERS ARE AND YOU KNOW, HAD RECREATION FEASIBILITY STUDY YOU KNOW, THAT TOLD US WHERE OUR FUTURE NEEDED TO GO IN RECREATION.

AND AGAIN IT SHOWED UP IN THE PARKS MASTER PLAN FEEDBACK.

PLAYGROUNDS, THE AVERAGE IS 20 TO 25 YEARS LIFESPAN.

HAVE A LEAST FOUR PLAYGROUNDS ARE OLDER THAN THAT.

LOOKING AT INVESTING IN OUR PLAYGROUNDS IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT. ATHLETIC FIELDS, PICKLE BALL.

PICKLE BALL IS THE NUMBER ONE SPORT IN THE NATION THAT IS GROWING, WE HAVE PAINTED LINES OF SOME OF OUR COURTS TO GIVE THE ABILITY FOR PICKLE BALL. BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY DESIGNATED PICKLE BALL COURTS OF THE SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WITHIN A SHORT TIME FROM THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.

TO BRING TO ABILENE. THEY WERE VERY ACTIVE GROUP THAT SHOWED UP AT OUR PUBLIC HEARING.

AND OF COURSE, UPGRADING OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AGAIN, A LOT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS AGING AND TAKING THE TIME TO INVEST IN THAT AND KEEP IT UP TO STANDARDS, SOMETHING IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND CONNECTIVITY. HE SAW THAT ONLY 20 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION HAS WALK ABILITY TO PARKS.

CONDUCTIVITY IS SOMETHING THAT SHOWED UP AS BEING IMPORTANT AS WELL AS NATURE AGAIN. THIS STRATEGIC PLAN, SOME OF THE ENVISIONING WHERE THE VALUES, SERVICE, INCLUSIVITY AND INNOVATION GOALS, RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP, ACCESSIBLE STASIS, EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT, PHYSICAL RESPONSIBILITY, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS.ANY OF THE THINGS WE DO WELL.

SOME OF THESE AREAS, WE COULD DO A LITTLE BETTER THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND HELPING GUIDE US OVER THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS. WE TAKE ALL FEEDBACK VERY IMPORTANT. OUR MISSION, WE DID TREAT OUR MISSION STATEMENT THROUGH THIS PROJECT OR PARKS AND RECREATION MISSION STATEMENT, IS ASSUMING THAT IT IS APPROVED, IS CREATNG EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT BUILD COMMUNITY AND ENRICH LIVES. OUR VISION REALLY WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN 10 YEARS, IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. WAS NOT RIDDEN HERE BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO BECOME THE GOLD STANDARD BUT REALLY, IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR ABILENE. NOT NECESSARILY THE GOLD STANDARD COMPARED YOU KNOW, TO NEW YORK OR FRISCO OR HOUSTON, IS REALLY THE GOLD STANDARD FAMILY.

WHAT DOES THE COMMUNITY AND ABILENE WANT? WHAT IS THE GOLD STANDARD THEY WANT US TO ACHIEVE? AND HOW CAN WE GET THERE? THAT IS OUR VISION THAT WE ARE AIMING FOR. IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

SOME OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

THAT CAME FROM THIS. STRIVING TO REACH NEW VISION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION, MAYBE TRYING UNIQUE APPROACHES.

INSTEAD OF DOING WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE, MAYBE TRY SOME NEW THINGS. CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. OVER THE YEARS, WOULD YOU HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND FEEDBACK. BUT YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY.LWAYS MAKING SURE WE ARE MAKING KEY DECISIONS AND

[00:20:01]

INCREMENTING THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FLAT FIELD AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH A GROUP THAT IS WANTING TO ADD FLAT FIELD AT NELSON PARK.

AND BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT DID RATE SO LOW AND HOW MANY FLAT FIELD HAVE IN ABILENE, IS A RECOMMENDATION TO IMPLEMENT THE PARTNERSHIP. FINDING DEPENDABLE FUNDING SOURCES, THIS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST MONTH. ONE OF THE THINGS, WE CAN'T DEPEND ON THE GENERAL FUND. TO DO EVERYTHING.

TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT IS IN THIS PLAN IN THE NEXT TWO, FIVE, EIGHT, 10 YEARS, IS GOING TO TAKE SUBSTANTIAL DOLLARS AND LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THOSE KINDS OF MONIES, TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. CONTINUE TO ADDRESS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AS A DEPARTMENT, WE REALLY FOCUSED ON IN THE LAST YEAR.

THERE WILL BE MORE COMING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WITH THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT, WITH CITY MANAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, WITH CITY COUNCIL, DEFERRED MANAGEMENT MAINTENANCE TAKING CARE OF WHAT WE HAVE AND TRYING TO BRING IT UP BETTER IS SOMETHING THAT IS A KEY POINTS THAT IS ON EVERYBODY'S MIND. ENSURE STAFFING LEVELS MEET THE NEEDS. THIS IS ONE OF THINGS YOU ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT. IF YOU'RE GOING TO BRING ON A NEW ASSET, IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING ON A NEW PARK, IT ALREADY SAYS THAT WE ARE A LITTLE BIT LOW IN THE STAFFING LEVEL.

COMPARED TO ACREAGE. IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING ON SOMETHING NEW, WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR STAFFING MODEL. BE IT IN RECREATION, SENIORS OR PARKS. AND STAYING COMPETITIVE FOR POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MANY BUSINESSES HAVE, IS BEING ABLE TO HIRE IN AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES. PARKS AND RECREATION IS JUST A PART OF THAT IS BEING ABLE TO GIVE AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYEES, IS VERY CRUCIAL. SOME OF THE TRANSFER IMPROVEMENTS COME UPGRADING AND MODERNIZING FOOTBALL FIELDS AND SOFTBALL FIELDS. WE HAVE PLENTY OF THEM.

IT DOES MEAN THAT THEY ARE NOT NEEDING LOVE AS WELL.

BE THE PLACE THEY WANT TO VISIT, PLAY THAT TERM IS, SPEND WEEKENDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. ADDING GAME COURTS ESPECIALLY PICKLE BALL. IMPROVING OUR RECREATION CENTERS, IMPROVING RESTROOMS AND SHADE.

SHADE WAS A KEY POINT THAT CAME OUT LAST YEAR.

I WILL ALSO SAY, IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES FOR MANY DAYS.

BUT SHADE AND SOME PARKS HAVE ABUNDANCE OF TREES THAT PROVIDE A LOT OF SHADE. OTHER PARKS WOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT MORE SHADE STRUCTURES BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH TREES TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT KIND OF SHADE.

AGAIN, ADD UPGRADE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SAFE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT. WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE STAFF THAT IS CERTIFIED AND PLAYGROUND? TO BE ABLE TO CHECK THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.

ALL THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IS INSPECTED REGULARLY IF WE FIND SOMETHING AND SAFELY ADJUSTED. ONE OF THE ISSUES WE ARE RUNNING INTO IS SUPPLY CHAIN. WE HAD A PARK THAT NEEDED A SLIDE, WE ORDER THE SLIDE AND IT TOOK 10 MONTHS TO GET IN.

YOU KNOW, THE VAUGHN CAMP PLAYGROUND THAT WAS APPROVED, YOU KNOW, YEAR AND 1/2 AGO, IT TOOK A YEAR AND THREE DAYS FOR THE PLAYGROUND TO GET IN. SO, THERE MAY BE ISSUES.

YOU MAY BE AWARE OF SOME OF THOSE ISSUES, WE MAY HAVE HAD THE PARTS ON ORDER. IS TAKING ANYWHERE FROM 9 TO 14 MONTHS TO GET THOSE. TO GET THE EQUIPMENT.

THAT IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THERE IS A VERY LONG LEAD TIME ON CLICK ON EQUIPMENT.

THEN AGAIN ADDING TRUST PARKS AND CREATING LANGUAGE, WE JUST DID, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THE NEW TRAIL THAT SEARS NELSON AND -- ALSO CREATING THE TRAIL WHICH WE PLAN TO OPEN THIS SUMMER. SO, MORE IS COMING ON THAT.

BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY A NEED FOR MORE.

ONE THING I DIDN'T TOUCH DOWN IS ADA ACCESS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MAKE SURE WE DO WHAT WE ARE BUILDING NEW THINGS, MAKING SURE IT IS ADA ACCESSIBLE WON'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 60 YEARS OLD, IT WAS BUILT WITH ADA ACCESSIBILITY AT THE TIME.

IT DOES NOT MEAN IN TODAY'S STANDARDS, ESTIMATES APPEARED

[00:25:02]

THE TOP 10 CAPITOL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED, ALL OF THESE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT. PLAYGROUND, RESTAURANT, SHADE, RECREATION CENTERS, FIELDS, ROADS AND PARKING LOTS IS NOT SOMETHING WE ADDRESSED. THAT IS ACTUALLY MANAGED UNDER THE PARKS AND RECREATION -- AM SORRY RATHER PARKS AND RECREATION THAT IS APTLY MANAGED OUT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

WE WORK WITH PUBLIC WORKS WILL WE HAVE ROAD AND PARKING LOT ISSUES. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT SIGNAGE IN PARKS. ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WHEN THIS WILL COME OUT OR ONE OF THE ACTION PLANS ASSUMING THAT THIS PLAN IS APPROVED, THERE'S 122 RECOMMENDATIONS.

SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS MAY BE POLICIES AND IT MAY BE CONTINUE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND ENCOURAGING US TO HAVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, SOME THE ITEMS MIGHT BE CAPITOL EXPENDITURES. AND MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WILL REQUIRE A BOND. IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WILL REQUIRE US TO ENTER INTO A PARTNERSHIP OR GO AFTER GRANTS.

THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT WAYS THE FUNDING SOURCES CAN COME FROM FOR THESE PLANS.

BUT OUR 122 RECOMMENDATIONS. IF APPROVED BY PARKS BOARD, OR TODAY YOU'D MOVED ON TO CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THE PLAN DOES HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL AS WELL.

WE ARE ASKING THE PARKS BOARD IS TO APPROVE THE PLANS TO MOVE NOT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR REVIEW. THIS IS JUST A STARTING PLACE IN TODAY'S DOLLARS. DEPENDING ON WHAT YEARS WE ADDRESSED THESE ISSUES, YOU KNOW, THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS CAN CHANGE. NUMBERS THAT WE GOT FROM 2022, ARE NO LONGER ACCURATE. NUMBERS WE GOT FROM 2015 ARE NO LONGER ACCURATE. EVEN SOMETIMES, NUMBERS I GOT IN JANUARY HAVE CHANGED.T IS JUST THE FLUIDITY OF THE MARKET. THIS IS REALLY JUST A STARTING POINT FOR MOVING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS.

IF THERE WAS ONE PAGE THAT I CAN PUT FORWARD THAT KIND OF SUMS THE WHOLE PARKS MASTER PLAN, IT IS THIS PAGE RIGHT HERE. IT TALKS ABOUT THE MISSION, VISION, HOW DO WE GET THERE? 16 KEY ELEMENTS.

OUR VALUES YOU KNOW, PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL AND ENRICHING PROGRAMS. THAT IS A SERVICE THAT IS IMPORTANT. ENTERING -- AND SHARING, COULD HE REREAD THIS. I NEED TO GET MY CHEATERS ON.

THIS IS ONE POSTER THAT WE COULD PUT UP EVERYWHERE.

IT REALLY SUMS THE PARK MASTER PLAN AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO IN THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS. AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO

ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> AS WE GET INTO QUESTIONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND EVERYONE PART OF THE COMMITTEE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF WORK AND TENURE PLANS ARE NOT SIMPLE THINGS.

ESPECIALLY WHEN DEALING WITH THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION IN PARKS AND INFORMATION WE ARE LOOKING AT HERE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. IT IS APPARENT EVEN AS WE GET INTO DISCUSSION, PEOPLE HERE ARE CERTAINLY DOING A LOT WITH UTILIZING THE PERSONAL AS WELL AS THE COMPUTER WE LOOK AT THE NEED FOR MORE THAN ONE PEOPLE PER THOUSAND BELOW WITH THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. PEOPLE ARE WORKING HARD SO TAKE YOU FOR THE WORK. YOU DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB, THANK

YOU. >> IT'S WHAT DAVID HAD SAID.

THIS LOOKS LIKE AN AMBITIOUS PLAN.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WILL IMPROVE BY STAYING STATICALLY DON'T IMPROVE AND OPPORTUNITY OUR CITIZENS HAVE.

CHILDREN, ADULTS, SENIORS, WITHOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS A VISION FOR THE FUTURE. FOR US TO OBTAIN.

YOU KNOW, I APPLAUD THE EFFORTS AND APPLAUD THE WORK THAT THEY DIDN'T CERTAINLY THE WORK STAFF HAS PUT IN, THE TIME STAFF HAS PUT IN. TO ANALYZING THIS AND EVERYTHING. JUST TO CLARIFY ONE THING.

YOU ARE REQUESTING US TO IF WE CAN COME IF WE CAN COME TO A CONCLUSION TODAY OR AN AGREEMENT, TO PUSH THIS ONTO COUNCIL FOR THEIR REVIEW. JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE'RE NOT SPENDING ANY MONEY YET, AND THAT'S FINE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.

OTHER EFFORTS BY PRIVATE CITIZENS.

[00:30:02]

>> THAT IS CORRECT. THIS IS JUST A PLAN TOGETHER VISION FOR THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS.

WE ARE NOT REQUESTING ANY FUNDING AND WE ARE NOT REQUESTING ANY AMENITIES AS A PART OF THIS PLAN.

THIS IS REALLY JUST THE GOALS VISION AND GUIDE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. WHEN IT GETS INTO THE MORE SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF SPECIFIC PARKS, THOUGH COME BACK TO PARKS BOARD TO TALK ABOUT MORE DIRECTLY AT THAT TIME.

>> THANK YOU. >> WHERE THE QUESTION IS DO WE

HAVE? >> I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SAME THING. NO TELLING HOW MUCH WORK STAFF IS BEEN PUTTING ALL THIS TOGETHER.

INTERNALLY AND EXTERNAL, THE SUPPORT.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FORT APPEARS TO BE

A MARVELOUS JOB. >> THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO ONE PIECE ON THIS PLAN AND I LIKE HOW YOU MENTIONED THAT WE TALK ABOUT THE VISION ABOUT BEING THE GOLD STANDARDS OF PARKS AND REC FOR ABILENE.

CAN YOU EXPAND ON THIS A BIT? WHAT DOES IT MEAN OPPOSED TO

YOU SAID -- WE MEAN BY THAT? >> REALLY WHAT IT MEANS, ABILENE IS A WONDERFUL CITY AND WE HAVE, WE ARE LOCATED IN WEST TEXAS. WE DON'T HAVE ANY LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS AROUND US. WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT ABILENE CAN BE FOR ABILENE, AND SURROUNDING AREAS, NOT TRY AND COMPETE WITH A METROPLEX. WE WILL LET THE METROPLEX COMPETE WITH THE METROPLEX. WE REALLY WANT TO BE ABILENE.

WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE AND CITIZENS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT AND TOURISM FOR ABILENE.

AND MAYBE STEAL SOME OF THOSE TOURNAMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FROM THE METROPLEX AND BECAUSE ABILENE IS ACTUALLY VERY KEY LOCATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

IF WE HAVE THE AMENITIES, THERE IS A LOT OF TOURISM DOLLARS AND PEOPLE THAT WILL COME TO ABILENE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH THE CONGESTION.

YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH THE TRAFFIC.

LIKE YOU HAVEN'T SOME OF THE METROPLEX AREAS.

IT IS REALLY BEEN THE GOLD STANDARD FOR ABILENE AND WHAT

ABILENE WANTS FOR ABILENE. >> MENTIONED A COUPLE OF ASPECTS OR IS ONE THAT WE DEAL WITH IN ABILENE EVERY DAY.

AND IT IS A MAJOR CONCERN. IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WE GROW, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE THE MEETING THIS MORNING, WORKFORCE.F YOU HAVE THE AMENITIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO OFFER A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE, FOR OUR CITIZENS AND FOR PEOPLE AND LIKE TO RELOCATE HERE WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A VERY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, STATISTICALLY SPEAKING.

BUT THE ISSUE IS THAT WE'VE GOT JOBS TO FILL.

HE HAS CHALLENGES IN HIS BUSINESS, AS HE INDICATED.

AND THERE ARE OTHERS THAT DO BUT HAVING THAT KIND OF AMENITIES AND THE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE FOR FAMILIES, YOUNG FAMILIES, WE HAVE A RETIRED BASE FROM A MILITARY AND OTHER AREAS. WE HAVE TO HAVE THINGS LIKE THIS IT WILL DRAW PEOPLE IN, THAT WILL GIVE THEM REASON TO STAY. SO WE CAN ENHANCE THAT WORKFORCE. OPPORTUNITIES FORCE IN THE COMMUNITY. OFTEN TIMES, THAT'S A KEY ISSUE A LOT OF PEOPLE OVERLOOK. THEY JUST DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONSIDER THE MASTER PLAN FOR PARKS AND RECREATION GIVES OUR COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THOSE AMENITIES. AND SPEAK TO THOSE DESIRES

ABOUT OUR CITIZENS. >> STAFFING IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE TO ABILENE OR PARKS AND RECREATION. CHRIS GIBSON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, I ASKED HIM TO GO TO A MEETING FOR ME A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. IT WAS AN ALL-DAY MEETING WITH PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTORS FROM AROUND THE STATE THAT ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. AND IT'S ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TO YOUR LOCATION AND GETTING THEM TO COME AND WORK FOR YOU, AND HOW TO GET THEM TO APPLY AND RETAIN THEM.

IT IS NOT UNIQUE TO ANY PARTICULAR AREA OR ANY PARTICULAR CITY. WE ARE ALL FACING THAT.

>> I WANT TO SPEAK ON -- YOU SAID AS FAR AS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR ABILENE AND NOT REALLY COMPETING WITH OTHER PLACES WHERE DEMOGRAPHICS OR YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS DIFFERENT FROM A BIGGER CITY.

SO, HOW DO YOU SEE US BALANCING NOT COMPETING, BUT STILL MEETING THE VALUES OF THE INNOVATION AND THE MODERN PARKS

[00:35:01]

>> I THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT IS MORE OF, WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON GIVING THE BEST OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE TODAY TO OUR CITIZENS. WE NEED FLAT FIELDS, THERE'S A GROUP LOOKING AT BUILDING 10 FLAT FILDS.T DOESN'T MEAN MEETING TO BUILD 20 FLAT FIELDS COMPARED TO METROPLEX WHEN 10 WILL WORK GREAT. WE WANT TO SERVICE THE NEEDS OF ABILENE VERSUS HAVING 10 RECREATION CENTERS, IS MORE OF WHAT YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

REALLY ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO SEE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. WHAT GETS PEOPLE TO STAY IN ABILENE AND RECREATE VERSUS GOING SOMEPLACE ELSE? WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM.

WE WILL HAVE A PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS ABILENE OFFERS.

IN ALL SPECTRUMS, IT MAY NOT BE EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND BUT IT'S PROBABLY AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES A MONTH.

MAYBE DOING A BETTER JOB OF PARTNERING WITH SOME OF THOSE GROUPS, TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT.

RECREATION IS VERY ALL-ENCOMPASSING.

IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO PROVIDE EVERY SINGLE THING, BUT IT MEANS WE CAN PARTNER WITH SOME GROUPS TO HELP THEM PROMOTE IT. MAYBE TO A DIFFERENT GROUP THEY HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF IN THE PAST. THOUGHT OF IN THE PASTOR BEEN ABLE TO REACH. SO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT ALL ABILENE DOES HAVE TO OFFER BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT DEAL AND SOMETIMES YOU FORGET ABOUT THAT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

AND DOING A MASTER PLAN LIKE THIS HELPS BRING ALL THAT BACK

INTO FOCUS. >> WANT THEM EXCITED ABOUT IS WHEN YOU MENTIONED ABOUT TARGETING A SPECIFIC AGE GROUP AND NOT JUST YOUTH AND THE SENIORS A CERTAIN AGE GROUP, I'M EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO BE IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS SYNERGY FOR ALL, THERE'S ACTIVITIES FOR YOU AS WELL AS YOU KNOW, OUR YOUNG ADULTS. AND WE CAN GO IN THE PARK FOR

EVERYONE TO DO HIS FAMILY. >> ANY OF THE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WHAT I GOT FROM IT IS WE WANT TO COPY NO ONE AND KEEP IT AUTHENTICALLY ABILENE.

SET THE NEW STANDARD WHICH I LOVE.

I THINK IT'S A HIGH MARK. IT'S A HIGH GOAL AND I APPLAUD THAT, IT'S FANTASTIC. BEFORE WE GO INTO ANY TYPE OF ACTION ON THIS AGENDA ITEM 4, WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC HEARING.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO STAY PLEASE COME AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. YOUR THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON

THIS AGENDA ITEM, NUMBER FOUR. >> GOOD MORNING, JUST FOR THE RECORD CYNTHIA -- IS IT.

PRONOUNCING ALL WRONG THESE YEARS.

I WANT TO THANK MR. SHOWING UP AT THE MEETING AT SEARS.

IT WAS ALL CONFRONTATIONAL AND STICKY BUT, THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE GET PLACES. THOUGH WE HAVEN'T BEEN BEFORE.

I DID WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR YOU GUYS SHOWING UP. THE MASTER PLAN LOOKS GREAT.

WE HAVE PLANS EVERY TIME ABILENE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE NOT FOLLOWED LOOKS PRETTY ON PAPER BUT IT IS NOT IMPLEMENTED IN YOU KNOW, IN THE CITY.

NOT TO HARP ON LESLIE BUT I'M WORKING ON FOR FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE I STARTED COMING UP HERE YELLING AT EVERYBODY THERE WERE CONCERNS BACK DOWN THAT WERE NEVER ADDRESSED.

THOSE CONCERNS NOW THAT STILL WANT ADDRESSED.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE COUNCIL, PROXEMICS DEPARTMENT OR LESLIE'S INABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH HER PARKS BECAUSE SHE'S THE DIRECTOR.

YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO BLAME AT THIS POINT.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYBODY'S FAULT.

PROBABLY A LITTLE OF MINE AS WELL.

THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT INCLUDED.

WE SAT THERE LAST WEEK AND LET YOU GUYS KNOW OF SOME ISSUES WE HAD AT SEARS PARK. THE CONCERNS WILL BE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL BE IMPLEMENT IT IN THIS PLAN.

THERE WERE PROGRAMS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO LESLIE, SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO BECAUSE IS PREGNANT REGARDING PROGRAMMING AND PROGRAMMING WAS ON THE MASTER PLAN.

ONE PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR WAS A PROGRAM I RAN INTO WHENEVER WE WERE IN SANTA BARBARA. IT WAS AN AFTERSCHOOL CARE PROGRAM THAT IMPLEMENT A SPORTS CURRICULUM.

THAT ALLOWED CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE TWO HOURS

[00:40:01]

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS HERE, A LOT OF OUR YOUTH, THE POOREST POPULATION IN OUR CITY ARE CHILDREN, SECOND OR FIRST TWO WOMEN.

THAT POPULATION ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE AN AFTERSCHOOL CARE PROGRAM, THEY ARE NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THESE PLANS.

THE MASTER PLAN IS SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED YEARS AGO.

NEVER EVEN TALKED ABOUT. IT IS NOT JUST SEARS, IT'S ALL THE PARKS. THE PLAN IS PRETTY ON PAPER.

BUT THE WE ARE PREVENTING IT IS NOT PRETTY AND IS NOT INCLUSIVE AND THOSE ARE ALL WORDS ARE HEARD IN THIS PLAN.

DO I APPROVE OF THE PLAN? YES BUT IS THE WAY IN WHICH IT IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU GUYS DO, IT'S THE WAY YOU GO ABOUT DOING IT. IT SOUNDS? ALSO BUT HAS BEEN INCLUSIVE THE LAST SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS.

RECOMMENDATION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU GUYS IS TO BE INCLUSIVE, TO LISTEN. THERE WAS A GROUP LAST WEEK THAT SAT THERE AND TOLD YOU EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED AND THEY BEEN TELLING YOU WHAT THEY WANTED FOR YEARS.

AND YOU HAVE YET TO LISTEN. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP, WE APPRECIATE THAT AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> WE REMAIN IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IF YOU'RE ANYTHING ELSE YOU LIKE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

LOOKS AS IF WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THIS MEETING. WE WILL FORWARD WITH ANY OTHER ACTION ANY OTHER DISCUSSION AROUND THIS ISSUE.

THIS TIME WE ARE READY FOR POTENTIAL ACTION FOR THIS POTENTIAL MOVE TOWARDS ACCEPTANCE OF THIS OR OFFERING TO CITY COUNCIL FOR ACCEPTANCE. IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR?

>> MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON TO CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN THE LAST YEAR. IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED.

YOU WILL PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT.

>> GETTING THE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF THE PARKS, I THINK IT'S A GREAT PLAN GOING FORWARD AND CERTAINLY MORE TO PUT ON.

[5. Sears Park Playground Update (Discussion)]

PARK PROGRAM UPDATE. >> YES.S YOU ALL KNOW WE HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING AT SEARS PARK LAST WEEK.

WE HAD FIVE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT SUBMITTED PLAYGROUNDS, PROPOSAL SOME OF THEM MULTIPLE PLAYGROUNDS.

WE PUT THEM AROUND THE ROOM FOR EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED.

WE HAD RIGHT AROUND 30 PEOPLE THAT ATTEND THE MEETING.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT TURNOUT. WE GAVE THEM THE ABILITY TO VOTE ON THE PLAYGROUND LIKE THE MOST.

THE ONE THAT WAS CHOSEN, IS A PARALLEL PLAY PROGRAM WITH THE SAME SURFACING, MUCH LIKE WHAT WE DID AT ROSE PARK.

WE ARE TAKING THAT FEEDBACK AND REGRESSIVE PLAYGROUND, CONTACTING THEM AND WORKING OUT THE DETAILS AND HOPEFULLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ORDER THAT PLAYGROUND WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, KEEP IN MIND THE LAST TIME IT TOOK TO GET IN.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE KEEPING THIS GOING SO WE CAN GIVE BACK TO THE PEOPLE AT SEARS PARK.

AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. WE DID HEAR FEEDBACK IN REGARDS TO A FEW OTHER THINGS SO WE STARTED THE PROCESS ON WORKING THAT AS WELL. NOTHING WORSE AT THIS POINT IN REGARDS TO THAT LOOK ATTHIS AND GIVE US RECOMMENDATIONS

BOTH IN WHAT IS NEEDED. >> TO CLARIFY THAT, IS THAT THE PART THAT WE HAD THE RIBBON-CUTTING AT? LAST YEAR WHERE A LOT OF ARTIFICIAL SURFACE, CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT TO. ASTROTURF OR WHATEVER.

IT WAS VERY NICE. VERY NICE PARK.

THAT'S A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> THAT PLAYGROUND WAS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD WHEN IT WAS -- WE TRY TO GET AS MUCH LIFE OUT OF IT AS WE CAN, 20 TO 25 YEARS.

AS A SIT IN THE COMMUNITY MEETING, MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS. WE HAVE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY

[00:45:04]

THE FIRST PERSON TO MENTION LIGHTING EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM -- I THINK THAT'S A PRIORITY. WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT IN

ADDITION TO REPLACING -- >> WE ARE.

[INAUDIBLE] >> NOT ON THIS ITEM.

>> I DO NOT HAVE A PICTURE OF THE PLAYGROUND AT THIS TIME.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A FEW CHANGES AND TWEAKS.

WE WILL RELEASE THE CONCEPTUAL DRAWING WHEN IT'S READY.

[INAUDIBLE] >> NOT TODAY.

[INAUDIBLE] >> WE ARE NOT IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION. I WILL ASK LESLIE FOR THE NEXT MEETING TO BRING BACK MORE INFORMATION.

THANKS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FOR

LESLIE? >> I THINK IT'S A YEAR HE SAID, NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS TO UPDATE --

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A MATTER OF FUNDING. WE HAVE THE CONCEPTUAL IDEA, AND I WAS THE PART OF ENGAGING SOMEBODY TO DO THE ENGINEERING PEACE AND ESTABLISH THE COST AND TO SEE WHAT FUNDING IS

AVAILABLE. >> IS NOT A PART OF -- IS THAT

THE CHAVEZ REC CENTER? >> NO, HE'S TALKING ABOUT AN OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND IN THE PARK, RIGHT?

>> ANOTHER BASKETBALL. >> THE OUTDOOR ONE?

NOT THE INDOOR ONE? >> THE OUTDOOR ONE.

SHE SAID IS GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST A YEAR MAYBE THE NEXT FEW

MONTHS. >> I WOULD EXPECT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THE PARKS AND THE MASTER PLAN INVOLVES -- TO SEE, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FIRST AND GO FROM THERE. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FOR THE SEARS PARK PLAYGROUND FOR LESLIE?

[6. Aquatics Report (Discussion)]

THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

TODAY IS THE SECOND DAY SPRINGS AQUATIC SEASON IS UPON US.

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH ALL OF THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE ARE FINDING WRONG AND GETTING THOSE REPAIRS DONE, GETTING READY. SPLASH PADS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE OPEN APRIL 22. SO FAR, EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GOOD. MAKING A LOT OF REPAIRS.

WE HAD A FEW POINTS COMING IN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF TIMES IN THOSE THINGS ARE SHUT DOWN WE DON'T REALIZE SOMETHING IS WRONG UNTIL WE TURN THEM BACK ON.

THAT IS JUST SOMETHING WE DO EVERY YEAR BUT SO FAR SO GOOD, NOTHING SERIOUS. WE HOPE TO HAVE THEM READY.

MAY 27 IS THE DATE THAT WAS SCHEDULED TO OPEN BACK UP.

LIFEGUARDS ARE CALLING AND GETTING IN CONTACT AND WANTING TO GET BACK ON FOR THE SUMMER. WE ARE FORWARDING THOSE TO OUR CONTRACT COMPANY AND SO FAR SO GOOD.

THE TRANSITION IS MOVE SEEMS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE RIGHT NOW.

>> GETTING GOOD APPLICANTS?> YES I AM SURPRISED I WOULD SAY, 60 TO 70 PERCENT OF LIFEGUARD APPLICATIONS I HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH, OR NEW PEOPLE. SO, IT'S GOOD WE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST. A LOT OF KIDS ARE OLD ENOUGH TO BE LIFEGUARDS GETTING THEIR CERTIFICATIONS AND WANTING TO

BE LIFEGUARDS. >> DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN CERTIFICATION FOR LIFEGUARD? WHO TRAINED YOUR LIFEGUARDS?

>> LAST YEAR WITH OUR AQUATICS MANAGER, WE DID, WE REFER THEM A LOT NOW, THE YMCA, ACU, THEY'LL HAVE CLASSES.

-- WHOEVER HAS CLASSES. WE GET A LIST OF THEM AND REFER

THEM. >> YOU DON'T DO THAT IN-HOUSE?

>> NOT, WE DID LAST YEAR. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WILL

DO THIS YEAR. >> WE MOVE FORWARD WITH PARKS

[7. Parks Report (Discussion)]

[00:50:08]

WELL. >> GOOD MORNING.

PARKS DIVISION MANAGER. WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE MORAL BENCH PROGRAM. HAVE A COUPLE OF BENCHES THAT WE INSTALLED THIS PAST MONTH. WE HAVE ONE AT REDBUD WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE AWAY FROM. WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE THAT WENT INTO NELSON. WE ARE KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT THAT. YOU CAN SEE THE GUYS THERE PUTTING THE FORMS DOWN TO DO THE PADS FOR THE MEMORIAL BEDS BUT JUST AGAIN, WE ARE EXCITED WE HAVE A LOT GOING IN THERE.

WE ALSO CONTINUE WITH MEMORIAL TREE INSTALLATION AS WELL.

WE HAD ONE AT REDBUD PARK THAT WENT IN FOR SMITH AND ALSO HAD WHEN THEY WENT TO NELSON PARK FOR MS. JONES, WHICH WAS A COMBINATION OF BENCH AND A TREE FOR EACH ONE AT EACH PARK.

WE HAD A BENCH AND TO TREAT NELSON SO IT'S EXCITING! LAUGHTER] IF YOU WALK OUTSIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE FRONT OF CITY HALL. THERE WAS AN AREA THERE IN THE FRONT THAT LOOKED AWFUL FOR A GOOD WHILE BUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, STAFF WENT THROUGH THERE AND MOVE SOME OF THE OLD MATERIAL AND INSTALLED NEW GRASS.

THE FRONT LAWN TO LOOK A LOT BETTER THIS YEAR.

WE ARE KIND EXCITED ABOUT THAT TRYING TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL. WE WILL START -- BACKUP NEXT MONDAY. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THE GUYS ARE EXCITED TO DO SOME OF THE PROJECTS, ALSO READY TO MOVE ON AND START DOING MOWING AS WELL.

FINALLY, A LANDSCAPE CREW CUT A LOT OF THE GRASS OUT AT FRONTIER TEXAS. YOU GUYS EVER DRIVE BY THERE, THE ONLY GRASS IT IS THERE, THERE'S A BIG TASK.

THEY WORKED ON THAT, IT LOOKS GREAT.

SHOULD GO BACK AND LOOK AS GOOD AS IT DID BEFORE.

ALSO, WE ARE HAVING A PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST FROM MARCH 20 THROUGH THE 26TH. WE JUST NEED FOR PEOPLE TO GO OUT TO THE PARKS AND TAKE PICTURES AND DO THEIR BEST AS THEY CAN, TO TAKE A GOOD PICTURE AND THEN BRING THOSE BY. AND SUBMIT THEM.

TO PARKS AND REC. YOU CAN USE HE QR CODE TO DO THAT. AND THEN, WE WILL JUDGE THOSE AND THE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE THEIR CANVASSING OF THE PICTURE FOR THEM TO SIGN AND WILL DISPLAY IT AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION OFFICE FOR 90 DAYS. ONCE THAT'S DONE, THEY'LL GET PICTURES BACK. WE REALLY WANT TO SEE PEOPLE GO OUT TO THE PARKS AND JUST GIVE US THEIR TAKE FROM THERE I AND TAKE PICTURES OF WHAT THEY LIKE AND PUT IN THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

>> I LOVE THE IDEA. >> GREAT IDEA.

>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT,

[8. Recreation Report (Discussion)]

THIS WILL ALSO BE A DISCUSSION. QUEST GOOD MORNING, RECREATION DIVISION MANAGER. SOME TIME FOR THE EASTER BUNNY TO COME VISIT US AND WE ARE GETTING READY FOR THE EGG-SELENT EXTRAVAGANZA.WE WILL HAVE THE EASTER BUNNY OUT FOR ALL THE CHILDREN TO COME COLLECT EGGS AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT BREAKDOWNS ON THE AGES.

SO EVERYBODY CAN BE ABLE TO GRAB SOME EGGS AND AGAIN, WE ARE DOING THE ADAPTIVE -- FOR EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE.

WE ARE ALSO GETTING READY FOR OUR NACHO AVERAGE FIESTA THAT OUR MOTHER SUNDANCE ON MAY 6. 7 O'CLOCK TO 9 O'CLOCK.

MOTHERS AND SONS COULD COME AND HAVE A FIESTA WITH THEIR SONS

AND HAVE A GREAT TIME. >> IS THE OPEN?

>> YES YOU CAN BUY TICKETS AS OF NOW.

ALSO, WE ARE HAVING OUR COED VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE.

ANYONE READY TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL, REGISTRATIONS GOING ON NOW. GAMES WILL HOPEFULLY START ON

NEXT TUESDAY. >> THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT PROGRAMMING AND OFFERING MORE PEOPLE THIS IS ONE OF THE REQUEST THAT WE HAVE.

VERY EXCITED TO MENTION THAT. >> AND A WONDERFUL TIME COMING, SUMMER. WE ARE HIRING FOR PLAYGROUND AIDS FOR SUMMER CAMP. WE START INTERVIEWS ON SPRING BREAK SINCE WE HAD PEOPLE HOME FROM COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL KIDS WERE ABLE TO COME MEET. ALL INTERVIEWING AWAY LAST WEEKEND. YOU GOT A LOT OF CANDIDATES AND WE STILL HAVE MORE SPOTS. IF YOU KNOW ANYONE THAT WOULD

[00:55:03]

THEY ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO APPLY AND I WILL SCHEDULE A TIME TO VISIT WITH THEM. ANY QUESTIONS?

[9. Seniors Report (Discussion)]

>> WELL DONE. MOVING ON TO THE SENIOR REPORT.

THIS IS A DISCUSSION. >> ONCE AGAIN, BOBBY BROWN, DIVISION MANAGER, AQUATICS. THE KIDS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT GET EXCITED ABOUT THE EASTER BUNNY.

AND HUNTING EASTER EGGS.I JUST WANT YOU ALL KNOW THAT.

LAST YEAR, STAFF WAS NEW AND IT WAS THEIR FIRST TIME DOING THIS AND THEY COME TO FIND OUT THAT SOME OF THE SENIORS CHEATED AND THEY WENT INTO THE ROOMS BEFORE WE STARTED THE EVENT AND GOT SOME EGGS AND SO, IT WAS AS MANY EGGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WHEN THE HUNT STARTED. BUT WE FIX THAT THIS YEAR.

APRIL 5. >> WATCH OUT FOR YOU.

>> THEY CAUGHT ME![LAUGHTER] >> WE WILL HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL THIS YEAR AND HAVE ENOUGH EGGS FOR EVERYBODY.

THAT WILL BE THE FIFTH OF APRIL AT THE SENIOR CENTER.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND WE WILL HAVE THE EASTER BUNNY OUT THERE AS WELL. IF YOU MUST BACK WE HAD A CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT. AND IT WAS AT ROSE PARK SENIOR CENTER. AND WE DIDN'T PUT IT OUT TO THE OTHER CENTERS, JUST THINKING WAS A SMALL EVENT BUT IT TURNED OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED AND A LOT OF THE SENIORS OF THE OTHER SITES WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT. WE DECIDED TO HAVE ANOTHER CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT AND THIS TIME WE ARE INCLUDING ALL THE CENTERS SO THEY KNOW ABOUT APPEARED WILL HAVE ANOTHER CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT THURSDAY, APRIL 20 AT THE SENIOR CENTER AS WELL. AND THAT'S ALSO ANOTHER GROWING ACTIVITY, IS NOT GROWING AS FAST AS PICKLE BALL BUT IF YOU LOOK AROUND, A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING BACK INTO PLAYING.

IT'S PRETTY POPULAR. THE KARAOKE, WE HAVE KARAOKE EVERY TUESDAY AT ROSE SENIOR CENTER AND IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS IS GROWING. YOU LOOK UP THERE AND YOU THINK THERE'S A CONCERT GOING ON PEOPLE SITTING ENJOYING THEMSELVES CLAPPING FOR EACH OTHER IN THIS KIND OF THING.

AND SO WE DECIDE TO DO ONE WHERE WHATEVER TYPE OF MUSIC THEY DO, THEY WILL DRESS THE PART.

JUST TO SEE HOW THIS WILL GO IT'S EXCITING AND YOU GET EVERYTHING FROM JOHNNY CASH TO THE TEMPTATIONS.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE OTHERS WILL COME UP TRYING TO COME UP WITH NEW IDEAS AND KEEP THEM EXCITED WITH THE WANT TO DO.

>> WILL HE BE DRESSING UP AS WELL?

>> I THINK ABOUT DOING SOMETHING.

>> THEY GO. >> PRINCE.

[10. Zoo Report (Discussion)]

>> THAT WOULD BE A SHOW! >> MOVING ON TO THE ZOO REPORT.

THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION AS WELL.

>> ABILENE ZOO. JUSTIN POTTER ABILENE ZOO DIRECTOR. SOME ZOO UPGRADES THE STAFF FACILITY STAFF DO A GREAT JOB. WE HAVE TWO BY SIX BOARDS ON THE DECK THAT REVEAL THAT WEATHERED THROUGH THE YEARS.

WE FINALLY DECIDE TO STRIP THOSE DOWN AND INVEST IN TRACKS SO IT HAS NEW FACELIFT AND A LOT MORE SMOOTH FOR THE STROLLERS AND PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH.

IT'S A NICE UPGRADE. RECENTLY, WE DID HAVE OUR THREE LINES FROM FORT WORTH LEAVE US AS ALWAYS WE HAVE A SUCCESSION PLAN SO WE ALREADY ARE REACHING OUT TO THE COHORTS AND THEY ARE ABLE TO LOCATE TWO OTHER ADDITIONAL LANES FROM ALBUQUERQUE. THESE MAGNIFICENT BEASTS CAME FROM ALBUQUERQUE ZOO. THEIR NAMES ARE KENYA AND DIXIE. THEY ARE ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW, SO COME SEE THEM! WE ALSO RECEIVED TWO NEW OCELOTS. THE ZOO HASN'T HAD ONE SINCE I GOT HERE AROUND 2019. WE ALL STARTED MOVING THE ANIMALS TO THE BACK, LATER THAT OCELOT PASSED AWAY DUE TO GERIATRIC NATURAL CAUSES. BUT THAT WAS IN ORDER TO GET US TO GO WITH MADAGASCAR. SO THE OCELOT EXHIBIT HASN'T BEEN IN PLACE UNTIL NOW.THESE TWO WILL BE LOCATED IN THE BACKYARD AREA. THEY NOT ONLY COME FROM BRAZIL TO CENTRAL MARKET MEXICO BUT ALSO THE TIP OF TEXAS.

APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 500 OCELOT ARE HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE ARE REPRESENTING THE SPECIES.

NAMES ARE LINDY AND -- >> I DON'T GUESS HER ANY HERE?

ARE THERE? >> I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT IT IS TEXAS NATIVE SO WE ARE ABLE TO REPRESENT THAT.

BUT ELM CREEK I ASSUME, BLOWS INTO ANOTHER BIG RIVER AND TEXAS. THE RIO GRANDE.

ZOOBILATION IS OUR FUNDRAISING GALA.

LFL SAID NO I WANT TO MAKE THE PUBLIC KNOWS.

THIS IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IT IS A PRIVATE EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IT IS A BLACK-TIE AFFAIR ONE OF THE BIGGEST FUNDRAISING EVENTS TO GET MONIES TO THE ZOO.

TO FOCUS ON THE 501(C)(3) ARM. ALL THE MONEY RAISED FROM THIS

[01:00:03]

WILL FOCUS ON THE PLIGHT OF THE CHEETAH.

THE CHEETAH IS A VERY HARD AND SPECIES NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

PFIRSTLY, THEY WILL BE EXTINCT WITHIN MY LIFETIME IF NOT MIND THAT MY CHILDREN'S LIFETIME. IT IS VERY CRITICAL FOR THE ZOO TO HAVE THESE ANIMALS IN THEIR FACILITIES.

AND TO BE THERE BECAUSE LIKE THE BLACK FOOTED BEAR, THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR, AND OTHER SPECIES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM EXTINCTION, BECAUSE OF ZEUS AND REINTRODUCING IN THE WILD. THAT WILL BE THE MESSAGING.

PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

AND SUPPORT THE ZOO! >> ARE THE TICKETS AVAILABLE?

>> YES IT'S ALREADY ONLINE.F YOU GO TO ABILENE ZOO.ORG YOU CAN GO TO EVENTS AND ZOOBILATION TO BUY A TICKET TODAY. RECENTLY, WE PARTNERED UP WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED PLACE YOUR AI THEY'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO PROVIDE HEAT MAPPING OF THE FOLKS COMING TO THE ABILENE ZOO. WHAT THIS TECHNOLOGY DOES, CRAZY GEO-FENCE WITHIN THE ZOO GROUNDS.

IT PICKS UP ALL THE CELL PHONE DATA AND IT'S THE ZIP CODES FROM THEIR BILLING INFORMATION. WE CAN SEE AN INFLUX OF OUT-OF-TOWNERS COME TO ABILENE ZOO.

WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE THE APPROXIMATION WAS ABOUT 55 PERCENT FROM ABILENE, LOCALS COMING TO THE ZOO.

THAT SHIFTED SIGNIFICANTLY. IT DOESN'T MEAN OUR ATTENDANCE HAS DECREASED. THESE OUT-OF-TOWNERS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.HE NEW NUMBERS NOW 36 PERCENT IN ABILENE. 64 PERCENT OUT OF ABILENE.

>> I WOULD THINK THAT NUMBER, IF THIS PRIVATE GROUP THAT IS PUTTING FORTH THE EFFORT ON THE FIELDS ARE SUCCESSFUL, FUNDING WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, AND I SUSPECT THEY WILL BE.

IT JUST EMPHASIZES WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED IN RETROSPECT.

WHAT AYSA INDOOR FACILITY HAS DONE.

I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS WERE PRESENTED BY TOURISM THAT IS DRAWN TO ABILENE. FOR EXAMPLE, FOR YOUTH EVENTS.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE THE PARKING LOTS FULL OVER THERE WITH ACTIVITIES.

VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, INDOOR SPORTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND IT IS NATURAL TO ACTION AND BETWEEN GAMES OR IN BETWEEN THE EVENTS. FOR THEM JUST TO WALK ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, TO THE ZOO AND EXPERIENCE WHAT A WONDERFUL ZOO WE HAVE. I WOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ELSE TO THE POSITIVITY OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN

AND WHAT -- >> THE RELATIONSHIP.

>> TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF ABILENE THAT WILL VISIT.

>> OUR GOAL IS THE EAST SIDE. ENTERTAINMENT, ANIMALS, SPORTS AND TOURISM. YOU LIKE THAT?

>> I LIKE THAT. [LAUGHTER]

>> IT'S GOOD. >> INCLUDE AVIATION AND THAT

TOO? >> YEAH!

WHY NOT? >> THIS IS SUPER ENCOURAGING TO SEE. I FEEL LIKE WE SAY THIS EVERY WEEK, ALWAYS BLOWN AWAY. BY THE EVOLUTION OF WHAT'S BEEN IN ABILENE AND HOW IT CONTINUES TO GROW.

NOT JUST WITH THE ANIMALS THAT ARE HERE BUT WITH OTHER FOLKS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY. IN-STATE, CLEARLY IT IS SUPER EXCITING TO SEE. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. I HEARD MONEY-SAVING EFFORT, INSTEAD OF HIRING PROFESSIONALS TO GO GET THOSE LIONS IN ALBUQUERQUE, EXPLAINED THAT TO US?

>> ONE OF MY BIGGEST PASSIONS IS MAKING SURE MY STAFF GET THE EXPERIENCE OF MOVING ANIMALS. ELECT PEOPLE AS HEADY MOVE GIRAFFE, HOW DO YOU MOVE LIONS? WE CONTRACT HAULERS, PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE, THAT'S ALL THEY DO FOR LIVING.

THESE PEOPLE INVEST IN BIG TALL ALUMINUM TRAILERS LIKE YOU SEE THOSE BIG LIVESTOCK TRAILERS GOING DOWN THE ROAD.

THEY DO THAT FOR HAULING DRAFTS. SHOULDN'T SAY ME BUT THE ZOO PAID FOR OUR DRAFT ALL THE WAY FROM SAN DIEGO TO GET TO THE ZOO APPROXIMATELY $35,000.

JUST TO HAUL THE ANIMAL. TO HAUL SOME LIONS WOULD BE 8 TO 10 GRAND. THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE FLEET THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY, WE GOT A TRUCK.

THE ZOO HAD PURCHASED A HORSE TRAILER.

WE GOT A LOANER BOX, TRANSPORT BOX FOR BIG CATS FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE ZOO. SINCE REMOVE THE LIONS THERE WAS A? BARTHA FOR OUR SHIPMENT? THEY SAID ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE WE ARE ALL FRIENDS.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK FROM FLEET THE TRAILER, SEND THREE PEOPLE TO ALBUQUERQUE. LOAD UP THE LIONS PUT THEM IN AUSTRALIA AND BRING THE TWO ABILENE UNDER $600.

AND GET THE EXPERIENCE. >> YOU SAY PUT THEM BACK IN THE

[01:05:02]

TRAILER. >> WE PUT THEM IN A CONTAINER.

>> PUT A COVER OVER THE PICKUP. [LAUGHTER]

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE. THIS IS AMAZING, I CAN IMAGINE THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOUR FOLKS HAVE.

WHAT A STORY YOU GET TO TELL FOR YOUR LIFETIME.

>> INCREDIBLE. >> WE WILL SEE WITH PARKS, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T NOTICE WE HAVE A PARK IN OHIO EVERY YEAR WE FLY WILLS FROM OHIO TO FLORIDA THEM BACK.

I GOT TO DO THAT QUITE A BIT AND IT IS THE GREAT EXPERIENCE PROTECTING WHALES, DOLPHINS, SEA LIONS, WALRUSES.

MOVING UP FROM FLORIDA TO OHIO. TWICE A YEAR.

IT'S CRAZY EXPERIENCE. >> THAT'S AWESOME.

THANK YOU FOR BRING IS THAT EXPERIENCE.

IT'S AWESOME. >> THANK YOU.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR THEIR TIME THIS MORNING. GREAT MEETING, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY'S FACES HERE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.