[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:11]
OUR MEETING, AND WE WILL OPEN WITH PRAYER.
>> THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD , GOD WE THANK YOU FOR JUST ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED US TO SEE, AS WE COME HERE JOINING TOGETHER IN UNITY, TO MAKE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY AND ON BEHALF OF ALL, I ASK THAT YOU GIVE US GUIDANCE, WISDOM AND THAT WE HAVE EARS TO HEAR AND A HEART TO RECEIVE WHAT IT IS YOU HAVE FOR US TO DO ON THIS DAY AND WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR US, ALL YOUR MANY BLESSINGS, IN JESUS NAME WE
PRAY, AMEN. >> THANK YOU, WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. SEEING NONE, WE WILL PROCEED
[1. Minutes (Discussion and Action)]
WITH THE AGENDA. WE NEED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING, IF YOU WILL SEE IN YOUR PACKET, FROM OUR FEBRUARY 18TH MEETING. IF YOU LOOK OVER THOSE, I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS. SEEING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTIONTO APPROVE. >> I MOVED TO APPROVE THESE
MINUTES. >> JACK MAKES THE MOTION TO APPROVE, MICHAEL, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THROUGH OUR
[4. Adoption of Camping Policy (Discussion, Public Hearing and Possible Action)]
AGENDA, AND GO TO THE ADOPTION OF CAMPING POLICY, CHRIS YOU PRESENTED THIS LAST TIME. I THINK THIS GIVES US MORE CLARIFICATION ON THE POLICY. AND LESLIE, CORRECT ME, BUT THIS IS FOR APPROVAL TO MOVE TO CITY COUNCIL.>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> GOOD MORNING, CHRIS GIBSON, DIRECTOR, JUST BRINGING BACK THE POLICIES. THE FIRST PART OF THE MATERIAL IS THE SAME INFORMATION WE PRESENTED LAST MONTH, SO NOTHING HAS CHANGED, AND THE SECOND, THE SAME INFORMATION, NOTHING IS CHANGED ON THIS. THE AREA WE WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT, AND WE ARE DIRECTED TO DO SO IS THE NOISE RESTRICTIONS, TO BE A LITTLE MORE DISTINCT ABOUT THOSE RESTRICTIONS AND WHAT THOSE ENTAILED. AS YOU WILL SEE, AND I DID TAKE THIS FROM THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL CODE, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE PARKS USE, SO I ADOPTED THE INFORMATION AND INCORPORATED IT INTO THIS AS WELL. PRIMARILY, ANY KIND OF DISTURBANCE THAT WOULD OCCUR ACROSS A CAMPSITE OR ANY SLEEPING QUARTERS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THAT WOULD CAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE TO HAVE A POOR EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE PARK ITSELF. AND THERE ARE SOME DESIGNATIONS, OPPORTUNITIES HERE, THERE ARE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH YOU MAY NEED TO HAVE NOISE IN A TIME OUTSIDE THOSE QUIET HOURS, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR THE DIRECTOR OR FOR THE DESIGNEE TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THOSE IF IT IS NECESSARY OR TO ALLOW IT TO COME IN THIS CASE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE MAYBE YOU ARE DOING A 10K RUN IN THE FACILITY WHERE THERE HAPPENS TO BE CAMPING INVOLVED AND THERE IS MUSIC PLAYING, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND IT IS OUTSIDE OF THOSE NORMAL HOURS, THE DIRECTOR HAS THE LEEWAY TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THAT TO OCCUR. SO THAT IS THE ADDITION WE ADDED THIS TIME.
I'M WELCOMING ANY QUESTIONS, CHANGES OR SUGGESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? I DID HAVE ONE, YOU CAN CAMP FOR THREE DAYS, CORRECT? SO, CAN YOU CHECK OUT OF ONE CAMP AFTER THREE DAYS AND THEN JUST MOVED TO THE OTHER?
>> AS OF RIGHT NOW, YES. >> OKAY, AND MY OTHER QUESTION WAS THE PROXIMITY OF THE CAMPSITES, AS FAR AS TALKING ABOUT NOISE, I WAS CURIOUS FROM A BAD EXPERIENCE IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS WHERE OUR NEIGHBOR WAS LITERALLY NEXT-DOOR, IT WAS CRAZY, SO ARE THEY MARKED OFF, HOW DO THEY KNOW?
>> THERE WILL BE DESIGNATED CAMPING AREAS, THERE WILL BE SIGNAGE THAT SAYS BY PERMIT ONLY. WE HAVE ADDED A VARIATION ON THE CAMPING SITES THEMSELVES, SO DEPENDING ON WHAT EXPERIENCE YOU WANT TO HAVE IN THE FACILITY, JOHNSON IS JUST A LARGE AREA . IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR, YOU TURN INTO THE MAIN
[00:05:04]
ENTRY FOR THE PARKING, THE GRASSY AREA IS TO THE RIGHT, IT IS USED AS A CAMPING AREA ALREADY BY FOLKS THAT COME ON THE WEEKENDS, THEY CAN PUT UP A TENT AND GET OUT OF THE SHADE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. WE ARE GOING TO DESIGNATE THAT WHOLE AREA AS INDIVIDUAL CAMPING LOCATIONS AS A RIGHT NOW AND BEHIND, WHERE THE GOLF COURSE STARTS, THERE IS A DESIGNATED AREA THAT IS ALONG THE FENCE , AND WE WILL DESIGNATE THAT AS NON-CAMPING. SO WE ARE GOING TO ENCOMPASS THAT WHOLE AREA, SO IT'LL BE MORE OF A FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVED TYPE OF THING. CB IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE SPECIFIC SITES THAT ARE DESIGNATED AS A CAMPING AREA, FOR ONE CAMPING AREA AND YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE BETWEEN THE NEXT CAMPING SPOTS. I DON'T KNOW EXACT DISTANCES AND THERE'S NOT AS MANY COME ONLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FOR CAMPING LOCATIONS. IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE LAID-BACK, IT IS A LOT MORE NATURE ORIENTED WHERE YOU WILL HAVE THE WALKING AREAS, YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO WATER AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, SO IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE LAID-BACK ENVIRONMENTS. WHAT WE ARE THINKING, SOMETIMES OUR PATRONS HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA AND WE LEARN FROM THAT, BUT THAT IS THE IDEA SO FAR.>> I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. WITH REGARD TO THE CAMPING SITES, ARE THEY GOING TO BE PUTTING ANY KIND OF DESIGNATED FIRE RINGS OR FREESTANDING, LIKE GRILLS IN ANY OF THESE LOCATIONS? I'M SURE AS YOU KNOW, PEOPLE PUTTING UNSOLICITED FIRES IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS CAN BE AN ISSUE AND THAT IS WHY I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE I KNOW WITH CAMPING, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO HAVE FIRES. SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE THE PLAN FOR THAT.
>> YES, IN CB, WE HAVE SOME AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN THOSE WAYS, SO IT'LL BE EASIER, AND I THINK ONE SITE HAS A RING ALREADY IN IT. BUT WE WANT TO WORK ON WHERE WE WANT TO SET THOSE, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL DO WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND SAY HERE IS AN AREA WHERE YOU CAN HAVE AN OPEN FLAME, PER POLICY. WE HAVEN'T GONE OUT AND MAPPED THAT SPECIFIC PART YET. JOHNSON IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, IN MY MIND, AND AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THESE THINGS , IT WAS MORE OF AN OPEN SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO SET UP A TENT SO WE WILL HAVE TO PLAY THAT BY EAR AND SEE WHAT IS GOING TO WORK BEST FOR US. THE POLICY GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY IN DOING THAT. THANKS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. ANY QUESTIONS? I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS POLICY TO MOVE FORWARD TO
CITY COUNCIL. >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO
APPROVE THIS POLICY. >> SECOND.
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE . THE MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE GLAD TO
[5. Lake Kirby Arboretum (Discussion, Public Hearing and Possible Action)]
HAVE MITCH HERE FOR LAKE KIRBY ARBORETUM FOR A PRESENTATION.MITCH WILL BE PRESENTING FIRST.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROJECT, SO MY NAME IS MITCH WRIGHT AND I LIVE IN THE AUSTIN AREA, I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH KIRBY LAKE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BACK IN 2013 SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER, I KNOW MICHAEL WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT, WE DID A MASTER PLAN FOR KIRBY LAKE. OF COURSE LESLI WAS INVOLVED IN THAT AS WELL, MANY GOOD IDEAS FROM THE COMMUNITY. SO BASED ON THE SUCCESS OF THAT, WE'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR SEVERAL THINGS OUT THERE. AND FROM THE GOOD BENEFIT OF BILL, HE GAVE $30,000 THAT HAS BEEN RESTING ON THE ACCOUNTS OF THE CITY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW I THINK. SO, WE NEEDED TO COME UP WITH A PROJECT THAT WAS SUITABLE TO HONOR HIS DONATION AND CAME UPON THE IDEA OF, IN KEEPING WITH THE MASTER PLAN OF 2013, TO PUT TOGETHER AN ARBORETUM FACILITY. SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE DRAWINGS GOT INTO YOUR PACKET BUT, I THOUGHT
[00:10:02]
I WOULD BRING THIS ALONG. SO FOR ORIENTATION PURPOSES, WHEN YOU PULL INTO THE LARGE PARKING FIELD, AND YOU HAVE BASEBALL FIELDS ON THE RIGHT AND ON THE LEFT, THIS IS A FAR CORNER, I GUESS THAT IS THE SOUTH END OF THE PARKING LOT, THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGE ALL DIAMONDS OVER HERE, THIS IS THE EXISTING PAVILION, THE CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA, AND WE HAVE A GRASSY HILL RIGHT HERE. SO THIS IS JUST TALKED INTO THIS CORNER BETWEEN THE BALL FIELDS IN THE GRASSY HILL AND ALL THIS DARKER GREEN IS THAT FORESTED AREA WHERE BACK IN 2014 MAY BE, 2015, WE MAPPED OUT A TRAIL, BUSHWHACKED OUR WAY THROUGH AND PLAITED A TRAIL , THAT GOT AS FAR AS THE NEXT WATER CROSSING AND THAT IS WHERE IT STOPPED AND WE WORKED IT ALL THE WAY TO THE DAM AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN OUT THERE RECENTLY AND PEOPLE DO USE THAT TRAIL, YOU CAN STILL FIND IT, IT IS WALKED ON, AND WHEN THE SPRING GROWTH GETS GOING, IT GETS COVERED UP A LITTLE BIT. BUT WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE AN IDEAL SPOT AND THE COLOR CODING YOU CAN SEE HERE IS KIND OF REPRESENTING THE TREES COMING INTO THE FALL SEASON. SO YOU HAVE THE CEDAR ELMS AND THE RED BUDS BRINGING ON THEIR YELLOW AND GOLD COLORS, THE OAK TREES AND THIS IS CHINESE PISTACHIO TREE, BRINGING THE RED COLORS. I WANTED THIS TO BE A REALLY NICE COLORFUL PLACE, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE, IT WOULD BE A FUN THING TO SEE SO MUCH COLOR IN ONE PLACE IN THE FALL. MOST OF THOSE TREES WITH THE COLOR ON THEM WOULD BE LOSING THEIR LEAVES SO IN THE WINTERTIME, YOU WOULD GET A LOT OF SUNSHINE DOWN TO THE GRASS LEVEL. SO IT WON'T BE A COMPLETELY COLD AREA. UP AGAINST THE BALL DIAMONDS, YOU SEE THESE GREEN TREES ARE LIVE OAKS, A COUPLE OF REASONS, WE WANTED TO HAVE LIVE OAK OUT THERE AS REPRESENTED IN THE ARBORETUM BUT WE ALSO WANTED SOME LEVEL OF SHIELDING, OF THE BALLS THAT MIGHT FIND THEIR WAY OVER THE FENCE. THAT INCLUDED THOSE UP THERE AS A BIT OF A BUFFER. ANYWAY, IF THIS MEETS THE APPROVAL OF THE PARKS BOARD PLAN ON GOING FORWARD WITH A FUNDRAISING SCHEME, WE HAVE, AS I SAID, $30,000 FROM MR. CENTER, AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE GAINED ANOTHER $10,000 COMMITMENT, SO WE HAVE $40,000 IN HAND, AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH MASTER SCAPES TO GIVE US BACK OF THE NAPKIN FIGURES WHICH INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE TREE PLANNING BUT ALSO THE EXTENSION OF DRIP IRRIGATION FROM THE EXISTING SYSTEM OVER HERE. ON THIS PLAN, IT IS KIND OF HARD TO SEE BUT IF YOU HAVE THE TECHNICAL DRAWINGS I HAVE CIRCULATED TO THE CITY, THERE IS A SIX FOOT WIDE TRAIL THAT SNAKES THROUGH THE NEW TREES AND FOUR FOOT WIDE TRAIL THAT SNEAKS THROUGH THIS UNMAINTAINED AREA WHICH REALLY HOPEFUL THAT MASTER GARDENERS, MASTER NATIONALISTS CAN TAKE ON AS A PROJECT TO ERADICATE INVASIVE SPECIES AND TO PLANT NATIVE SPECIES SO WE CAN HAVE THIS AS A DEMONSTRATION POLLINATOR HABITAT AS WELL. AND KEEP IT IN MORE OF A NATURAL STATE. THE SIX FOOT TRAIL CONNECTS ALL THE WAY OVER HERE, THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION IS THE INFORMAL PLACE OF ENTRY WHERE WE STARTED TO BLAZE THAT TRAIL GOING UP TO THAT FIRST WATERWAY CONNECTION. SO I KNOW THAT AT SOME POINT, THE GOOD CITIZENS OF ABILENE WILL APPROVE GETTING THAT TRAIL SEGMENT BUILT THAT WAY AND AROUND KIRBY LAKE BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THAT CONNECTION SET UP. THERE WILL BE A TRAILHEAD DOWN HERE AT THE CORNER OF THE PARKING LOT WHERE PEOPLE WOULD ENTER AND OF COURSE THEY CAN WALK FROM THE CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA. AM THIS IS SIMPLE, MAYBE IT IS A POST, BUT WE WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND SIGNIFY THOSE ENTRY POINTS SO PEOPLE COULD COME HERE AND ON MAYBE GAME DAY, THEY CAN COME AND PICNIC AND COME OUT AND WALK THE TRAILS AND SO FORTH. THROUGH MY DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. HAUGHT ,[00:15:10]
HIS BACK OF THE NAPKIN INCLUDES THE TREES, THE IRRIGATION, THE TRAILS, THE TRAILHEADS AND I BELIEVE HE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT ON THE TECHNICAL DRAWING, THERE'S A CALLOUT OF SIDEWALKS THAT GO ON EITHER EDGE OF THAT PARKING LOT, JUST TO MAKE IT EASIER ACCESS AND GETTING SOME STRIPING FOR HANDICAP AND SO FORTH, AT RETAIL PRICE, IT CAME IN AROUND $100,000. BUT, ALSO HE NEEDS TO GO BACK AND CONFIRM THAT HE IS ABLE TO GIVE US TREES AT HIS COST AND NOT AT RETAIL. SO WE ARE HOPEFUL FOR THAT, HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO SHARPEN HIS PENCIL AND RUN SOME NUMBERS, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON THAT YESTERDAY AND WE THINK WE CAN GET THAT DOWN. HE ALSO WAS IN A LITTLE BIT OF DISAGREEMENT WITH THE ANCHORS I CALLED OUT FOR THE TREES, MY GOAL WAS TO NOT HAVE WIRES FOR TRIPPING ELEMENTS, BUT HE THINKS WE CAN GET AWAY WITH TREE POSTS THAT GO INTO THE GROUND CLOSE TO THE TREE TO ELIMINATE THE TRIPPING ASPECTS OF IT ALL. AND THE ANCHORS THAT I HAD USED ARE BASICALLY HIDDEN BUT HOLD THE BALL IN THE GROUND, BUT THOSE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND HE THOUGHT THAT WITH THE QUANTITY OF TREES, THAT MIGHT BE UP TO $20,000 OF PURCHASING MATERIALS AND GETTING THOSE INSTALLED PROPERLY. SO WE ARE SEEING SOME SAVINGS, SOME THINGS WE CAN DO TO TRIM THAT ROUGH ESTIMATE DOWN, AND IF THIS BOARD IS FAVORABLE OF THIS PROJECT, WE WILL START GOING OUT TO DIFFERENT CORPORATIONS THAT ARE EMBEDDING IN THAT KIRBY LAKE REGION, BRIDGESTONE HAS BEEN OTHER COLLECTING TIRES AND DOING WONDERFUL WORK, AND KEEP ABILENE BEAUTIFUL HAS BEEN OUT HERE DOING TRASH COLLECTIONS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ADDITIONS I CAN HELP OUT WITH THIS PROJECT AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS BUILT ALL IN ONE TIME, OTHERWISE WE WILL FAZE IT AND NO BIG DEAL, WE WILL GET IT DONE ULTIMATELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, ANY QUESTIONS?>> WHAT IS THE DISTANCE, IF YOU ARE WALKING WITHIN THOSE TREES .
>> IF YOU ARE JUST WALKING THE TRAIL? I HAD NOT MEASURED THAT, BUT THAT IS 60 FEET HERE, SO YOU PROBABLY HAVE SOMEWHERE ON THE ORDER OF ABOUT 400 FEET OF TRAILS, GIVE OR TAKE, JUST TO GUESS, AT THAT SCALE. SO IT'LL BE SOME NICE WALKING. THERE'S A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IN THE CITY AND EVERY CITY, WHERE THERE'S JUST A LOOP AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE TRAIL, THIS ONE GIVES IT A LITTLE MORE EXCITEMENT, I SEE THE BLACK TRIANGLES ARE PICNIC TABLES, AND SOME OF THE PICNIC TABLES WILL BE UP AGAINST THE TRAIL FOR A.D.A. ACCESS, TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER, AND SOME WILL BE OFF TRAIL. BUT, THAT PATH WINDING AROUND AND WITH THE POLLINATOR GARDEN, YOU CAN HAVE A LITTLE MORE SIMPLISTIC FACILITY. AT THIS POINT I'M NOT ENVISIONING THAT TRAIL TO BE LIKE WHAT WE ARE DOING IN STORYBOOK WITH A HIGHLY DETAILED TRAIL SEGMENT, BUT MORE OF A NATURAL TRAIL, SOFT TRAIL, WITH DECOMPOSED GRANITE COMPACTED IN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. >> I THINK THAT IS GREAT, WE WALK CEDAR CREEK PERIODICALLY AND WE HAVE BEEN AMAZED AT HOW THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST HUNGRY FOR A PLACE TO GO AND WALK. AND IT HAS PROBABLY TRIPLED SINCE THE FIRST TIME WE WENT. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING. I JUST THINK OUR COMMUNITY IS SEARCHING FOR MORE PLACES TO GO.
>> SO THAT WAS PART OF THE PROJECT, TO MAKE SURE WE DID CONNECT TO THAT EXISTING SOFT TRAIL THAT IS OUT THERE, INFORMAL TRAIL, AND AS PART OF THE FRINGE KIRBY LAKE GROUP, WE WANT TO START TO RAISE MORE AWARENESS, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS INVOLVED WITH THAT BUT THEY ARE NOT VERY VOCAL. SO I'M TRYING TO STEP UP THEIR VOLUME A LITTLE BIT AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL DO SO. IT WILL CERTAINLY INTRODUCE MORE PEOPLE TO THAT
[00:20:01]
>> IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY, JUST TO RECAP, YOU ALL CURRENTLY HAVE 40,000 IN HAND FROM THE INVESTOR DONATION, AND TOTAL COSTS COULD BE UP TO $100 BUT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK THAT BUDGET.
>> WHAT WAS THE LAST PART OF THAT?
>> THE TOTAL COST IS ABOUT 100,000 BUT YOU ARE TRYING TO
WORK THAT DOWN. >> THAT IS A VERY ROUGH
ESTIMATE. >> OKAY, SO I'M ASSUMING THAT FUNDRAISING EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND I WANTED TO WAIT FOR THIS BOARD TO WEIGH IN ON THE PROJECT BEFORE I WENT OUT AND STARTED MARKETING THE
>> I MEAN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT OF COURSE.
>> I WILL WEIGH IN, I'M FAVORABLE, IT LOOKS REALLY NEAT AND SOUNDS GREAT AND I LOVE THE IDEA. AND FOR ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS, WHAT YOU JUST SAID, I LOVE WALKING CEDAR CREEK AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ANOTHER PLACE TO DO THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU. >> I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT. THIS IS SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE, I LOVE TO BE OUTSIDE AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS PROFESSION. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO RECOGNIZE MORE AND MORE THE VALUE OF GREEN SPACE AND WHAT IT DOES FOR THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST BRINGING FAMILIES IN BUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE ASPECT, WHAT IT DOES TO PROPERTY VALUE, THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT THINGS AND I THINK THIS PROJECT IS CERTAINLY STEPPING OUTSIDE THE BOX. THIS IS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND I THINK IT IS GREAT.
>> FUNNY STORY ABOUT THE PROJECT, EARLY ON, AFTER LESLI AND I MET ON THIS, WE TALKED ABOUT IT, I'M SURE MOST OF YOU KNOW DR. HAMMER, SO I CALLED RICK UP AND I SAID, I NEED TO KNOW, WHAT ARE THE TRUE NATIVE TREES OF THE ABILENE REGION. AND HE WAS LIKE, THERE'S NOT REALLY ANY. SO, WE KIND OF SETTLED ON THIS IDEA OF WHAT IS MOST SUCCESSFUL AND APPROPRIATE. SO, EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUSLY AN ASIAN ORIENTED TREES AND SOME OF THE OTHERS AS WELL ARE FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT WE DO THE BEST WE CAN. WE WEREN'T GOING TO DO A HIGH PLAINS PRAIRIE FOR
THE ARBORETUM. >> YOU NEEDED OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT, CONTACTING THE TEXAS
FOREST SERVICE? >> GOOD IDEA, I HAVE NOT DONE
THAT. >> THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION, THEY TEND TO DO A LOT OF PROGRAMS, THEY WILL EVEN DONATE TREES SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO THEM.
>> OKAY, VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. >> OKAY, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT OR QUESTIONS FOR MITCH. OKAY, SEEING NONE, I THINK WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU, AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CONTINUE COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR THIS PROJECT.
>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TOWARDS THE EXPANSION OF THIS KIRBY LAKE PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU, SECOND? >> I WILL SECOND.
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AND HE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. THE MOTION CARRIES, THANK YOU, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS.
>> FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THE WAY THEY MADE THE MOTION WAS FOR THE FUNDRAISING, DO THEY NEED TO MAKE A SECOND MOTION FOR THIS TO BE BUILT, OR IF THE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, DO WE NEED
TO BRING IT BACK? >> IT CAN BE DONE EITHER WAY, IF THE BOARD WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROJECT, THEY
COULD DO THAT TODAY. >> I WILL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE APPROVED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT.
>> MICHAEL MAKES THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSTRUCTION. I NEED
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? THE MOTION CARRIES. GREEN LIGHT.
[6. Lake Kirby Softball Warmup Areas (Discussion, Public Hearing and Possible Action)]
OKAY, WE WILL HEAR FROM CLINT ROSENBAUM.>> I WILL TAKE THIS ONE. LAST MONTH WE VISITED VOLLEY SOFTBALL
[00:25:07]
AND APPROVED THEIR BATTING CAGES AND THEY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BUILD SOME SOFTBALL WARM-UP AREAS, SO CLINT AND MARISSA ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, MARISSA IS THE PRESIDENT OF WALLY SOFTBALL, CLINT IS HELPING THE CITY WITH THIS DESIGN, SO IF YOU GO OUT THERE, THIS IS SORT OF ALMOST THERE BUT IT'S NOT CAGED IN, SO BALLS CAN GET LOOSE. IT CAN BE A LITTLE DANGEROUS FOR THE KIDS WALKING AROUND AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION, SO THIS WOULD SINCE IN THE WARM-UP AREAS, SO TO CONTAIN THE BALLS FROM FLYING AROUND, EITHER OUT INTO THE OPEN AREA WHERE KIDS ARE WALKING OR ONTO THE FIELD WHEN A GAME MIGHT BE GOING. SO, WALLY SOFTBALL DOES PLAN ON FUNDING THIS PROJECT, BUT THEY DO NEED YOUR APPROVAL FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANYQUESTIONS. >> QUESTIONS? OKAY, I WILL
ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> WE NEED A PUBLIC HEARING
FIRST, I'M SORRY. >> I'M SORRY, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC HEARING. YES, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. SORRY, I ALMOST FORGOT YOU. AND YOU HAVE A POSTER AND
EVERYTHING. >> DON'T START MY THREE MINUTES YET. I'M JUST KIDDING. I WILL BE QUICK. I HATE THIS CLOCK, BY THE WAY. SO LAST NIGHT WE HAD OUR OPENING CEREMONIES, SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS BUT NOT, SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, IN OUR LEAGUE WE HAVE 500 624 KIDS. 57 TEAMS AND THE THINGS -- THE KIDS ARE EXCITED, THE PARENTS ARE COMING UP TO ME NONSTOP, ASKING WHAT THAT IS GOING TO BE AND I SAY THAT IS GOING TO BE BATTING CATCHES, AND THEY ARE SUPER EXCITED. PART OF THE REASON THIS IS BEING DONE, AS YOU SEE THOSE RED SQUARES, THOSE ARE PATHWAYS OBVIOUSLY BETWEEN THEM. ALL OF THE FAMILIES ARE WALKING IN AND OUT, THERE'S NOTHING TO BLOCK THINGS FROM WHEN THESE GIRLS ARE WARMING UP, SO IN CLOSING THOSE, THAT GIVES US A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO HELP KEEP ALL THE LITTLE SAFE. THE PARENTS CAN TAKE A FEW BALLS, THAT IS FINE, BUT I WANT TO KEEP THESE FOR THE KIDS. HIS PROJECT, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE SPOKE OUT A FEW MINUTES AGO, THAT PLAYGROUND AND STUFF THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT, LIKE THE REDOING, THAT IS AWESOME, THAT ABSOLUTELY HELPS OUR KIDS AS WELL, WHEN THEY ARE STAYING THERE FOR TOURNAMENTS DURING THE WEEKEND, OR SOME OF THESE KIDS ARE JUST -- THAT IS AMAZING. SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL APPROVING THAT AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP THAT PROJECT -- BOTH OF US, I MEAN, LOOK, BUT REALLY, I WANT THAT JUST AS MUCH FOR YOU GUYS BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUILD A PLAYGROUND ON MY AREA THERE, BUT THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE. SO FOR YOU GUYS, ABSOLUTELY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
IT IS A GROUP EFFORT. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY ANYTHING FROM WHAT THEY HAVE GOING ON. OBVIOUSLY I'M GOING TO BE HERE EVERY MONTH, A LITTLE LESS NERVOUS EACH TIME HOPEFULLY, AND THE FOUR FIELDS, I WOULD LOVE TO HELP HIM DO THAT, IF I HAVE TO HELP FUND RAISE AS TO, THAT BENEFITS THE PARK, BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, SO ANYTHING I CAN DO, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS APPROVING THESE PROJECTS. ONE AT A TIME, MY PLAN IS TO JUST GET BIGGER AND BETTER SO I CAN KEEP THIS GROWING. 564 KIDS IS AMAZING, THE ENTIRE SURROUNDING, IT'S NOT JUST A WILY THING, THE WHOLE CITY GETS TO PLAY IN THAT, SO MY GOAL IS TO MAKE IT AS BIG AS MY FOUR FIELDS WILL ACCOMMODATE. SO THAT
IS IT. >> WELL, WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, I THINK WE WILL SEE GREAT THINGS COME FROM THAT. SO THANK YOU. I THINK ALSO ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT, IN THE MIDDLE OF EXPANSION, YOU ARE
[00:30:05]
ALSO CONSIDERING SAFETY AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. ANYOTHER DISCUSSION? >> I THINK IT IS GREAT, AGAIN, THE POINT HE MADE ABOUT THE SAFETY BUT ALSO JUST TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO GO AHEAD, EVEN BEFORE HAVING THE DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL, THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE FUNDS IN MAKE WAYS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> I AGREE, THAT IS EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY, I THINK WE ARE ABOUT READY TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ADDITION OF THE WARM-UP AREAS.
>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ADDITION OF THE
WARM-UP AREAS. >> MICHAEL SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES, THANK YOU.
[3. Habitat and Angler Access Program Grants (Discussion, Public Hearing and Possible Action)]
>> I'M GOING TO BACK UP TO NUMBER THREE, WE INTENTIONALLY SKIPPED THIS ITEM, THIS ITEM WAS TO ASK FOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE CITY APPLYING FOR THE HABITAT AND ANGLER ACCESS PROGRAM, THIS REQUIRES -- THE PARKS BOARD HAS SEVEN MEMBERS, IT REQUIRES FOUR MEMBERS TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE BECAUSE MICHAEL WORKS FOR PARKS AND WILDLIFE AND THIS IS ONE OF HIS GRANTS AND HE IS ASSISTING US IN APPLYING FOR THIS GRANT, HE IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, THEREFORE WE DO NOT HAVE A QUORUM, BUT I DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THIS ONTO CITY COUNCIL AND GET A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM THEM. THE DEADLINE IS THE END OF THE MONTH SO WE ARE NOT ABLE TO MOVE THIS TO NEXT MONTH, BUT WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET THE LETTER FROM CITY COUNCIL SO I WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT REQUEST, BUT THAT IS WHY WE ARE PULLING THIS ITEM FROM TODAY'S AGENDA.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
>> THANK YOU, LESLI. THE AGENDA IS JUMPING AROUND, BUT WE ARE NOW GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> OKAY, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE 551.072, A GOVERNMENTAL BODY MAY CONDUCT A CLOSED MEETING TO DELIBERATELY PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY IF DELIBERATION IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH A THIRD PERSON. ADDITIONALLY, SECTION 551.087 ALLOWS A GOVERNMENT BODY TO DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE ON COMMERCIAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM A BUSINESS PROSPECT THAT THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY SEEKS TO HAVE LOCATE, STAY, OR EXPAND IN OR NEAR THE CITY AND WITH WHICH THERE MAY BE ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS OR DELIBERATE THE OFFER OF A FINANCIAL OR OTHER INCENTIVE TO A BUSINESS PROSPECT. FURTHER, SECTION 551.071 PROVIDES THAT A GOVERNMENTAL BODY MAY SEEK ADVICE FROM ITS ATTORNEY REGARDING A PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION SUBJECT, SETTLEMENT OFFER, OR ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED INFORMATION. AFTER DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, ANY ACTION OR VOTE WILL BE TAKEN IN PUBLIC. THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF ABILENE WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ANY OF THE MATTERS LISTED BELOW ARE LISTED IN THIS AGENDA, AS AUTHORIZED BY THE FOLLOWING TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS: OSCAR ROSE PARK, TENNIS FACILITY.
>> OKAY, NO VOTES FOR ACTION WERE TAKEN IN THE EXECUTIVE
[7. Parks Report (Discussion)]
SESSION SO WE WILL REFUND TO THE PARKS REPORT.>> GOOD MORNING, PARKS DIVISION MANAGER. I WANT TO START OFF WITH THE PURPLE HEART TRAIL SIGNS, YOU KNOW THE CEDAR CREEK TRAIL WAS AS NEEDED AS PURPLE HEART TRAIL SO WE GOT THOSE SIGNS IN AND INSTALLED THEM ON THE CEDAR CREEK TRAIL AND THEY ARE UP, SO NOW IT IS THE OFFICIAL PURPLE HEART TRAIL. WE HAD A BIG DRAINAGE ISSUE AT FLORIDA'S REYES PARK, SO WE TASKED THEM TO GO IN AND INSTALL A DRAINAGE SYSTEM, THAT WAS ONE
[00:35:02]
OF OUR BIG PROJECTS THIS WINTER, AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH AND DITCHED AND PUT THE NEW DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN THERE.THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT IS AFTER THEY WERE DONE, THEY GOT ALL OF THE PLAYGROUND MULCH BACK SO THAT IS OPERATIONAL NOW. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK WRAP UP ON OUR WINTER PROJECTS AS WE STARTED MOWING SEASON THIS WEEK, WE FINISHED THE WINTER PROJECTS WITH A TOTAL OF 356 WORK ORDERS, WHICH TOOK 5474 HOURS TO COMPLETE AND WE COMPLETED A NUMBER OF 14 SPECIAL PROJECTS THIS YEAR. SO THE GUYS GOT A LOT DONE THIS WINTER. SO WE ARE PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT THAT AND YOU CAN SEE WE INSTALLED SOME NEW BENCHES AT NELSON WILSON PAVILION AND REPLACED SOME OF THE SPLASH PAD THROUGHOUT THE CITY, ESPECIALLY AT NELSON, WE HAD THE PROJECTS WE WERE WORKING WITH, LAKE KIRBY GIRLS SOFTBALL, REDOING THEIR GATES AND ALSO AT LAKE KIRBY, THE BOAT DOCK COMING LOOSE WITH THE WIND SO THE GUYS WERE ABLE TO PUT THAT BACK. BUT THEY DID A GOOD JOB THIS YEAR AND THEY GOT A LOT OF PROJECTS DONE. THAT IS IT FOR ME. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING BART, CHRIS
[8. Seniors Report (Discussion)]
GIBSON, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC, SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE NATIONAL PLANT FLOWER DAY, THAT IS GOING TO BE MARCH 20TH, 9:30 TO 10 QUANDARY AT SENIOR CENTER, WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CHECK IT OUT AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WE HAVE A POOL TOURNAMENT THAT WAS SO POPULAR LAST TIME, WE DECIDED TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ONE ON MARCH 21ST COMING UP, STARTING AT 9:00 A.M. AND I HOPE TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME OUT AND TRY THEIR BILLIARD SKILLS. I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE. THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER ACTIVITY WE CALL ELDERCISE, IT IS REALLY ALMOST LIKE CHAIR AEROBICS TYPE THING, IT IS STARTING MARCH 6, ON THURSDAYS AT 1:00 P.M. AND THAT IS IN OUR BALLROOM AREA AT THE SENIOR CENTER SO WE'VE GOT QUITE A BIT GOING ON. ANY QUESTIONS?[9. Zoo Report (Discussion)]
>> ARE YOU GETTING THE ZOO REPORT? DON'T GO AWAY.
>> OKAY, SO THE ZOO, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN OUT LATELY, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AT THE ZOO, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IN THE ANIMAL UPDATES AREA IS THERE IS A NEW MAIL, THIS IS UNIQUE, HE IS FROM THE WILD, SO THAT AS FAR AS THE SPECIES SURVIVAL PROGRAM, IT ADDS NEW GENETIC LINE TO THAT PROGRAM, SO IT'S AN EXCITING THING TO DO TO GET A NEW ANIMAL LIKE THAT AND BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THEM INTO THAT PROGRAM, SO IT HELPS THE VITALITY OF THAT SPECIES. SO, HE IS HERE FOR THAT AND HE WILL RETURN BACK TO THE ZOO THAT HE PARTNERED WITH TO DO THIS. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE ZOO RELATIONS, ONE OF THE LARGEST FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE ZOO, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN , I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT, THERE IS A DINNER INVOLVED, THERE'S USUALLY AN AUCTION, THIS YEAR THE THEME IS THE WESTERN THEME.
SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT EVENT, YOU CAN GET TICKETS ONLINE OR GO TO THE ZOO. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> NO QUESTIONS, THANK YOU. OKAY, I THINK THAT IS IT, SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.