Dec 16, 2025 Parks and Recreation

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

OUR SOLDIERS, BOTH LOCAL AND ABROAD. GOD, PLEASE CONTINUE TO TO OFFER YOUR HAND OF PROTECTION ON THEM AND HELP US TO NEVER FORGET THE REASON OF THE SEASON, LORD. AND THAT IS YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SENDING YOUR SON. IT'S IN HIS NAME THAT WE PRAY. AMEN.

AMEN. OKAY. THANKS, DAVID. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL OPEN UP THE MIC AND THE PODIUM FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.

ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE COMMENT OR ADDRESS ANY ISSUES FOR BEFORE THIS BOARD, PLEASE STEP FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR AFFILIATION, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO DO SO.

SO AT THIS TIME WE ARE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU EVERYONE AND SEEING NO ONE COMING FORWARD, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.

WE HAVE SOME PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS AND INTRODUCTIONS AND SERVICE AWARDS.

[1. Introduction and Service Award (Discussion)]

TWO FOR TWO. SO THIS MORNING I'M GOING TO BRING YOU IN.

WE GOT A TEN YEAR SERVICE AWARD. I WANT TO BRING CHANCE COONROD UP HERE.

COME ON UP HERE, CHANCE. SO CHANCES ARE EQUIPMENT MECHANIC FOR PARKS.

AND YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE WHAT ALL EVERYTHING HE DOES FOR US ANY REPAIRS OR ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE ON OUR MOWERS EXCEPT FOR THE BIG, BIG STUFF THAT GOES TO FLEET. HE PRETTY MUCH DOES EVERYTHING.

I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR FIVE OF HIS TEN YEARS, BUT I KNOW HE'S DONE A GOOD JOB FOR US SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

THE THING ABOUT CHANCE, THOUGH, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DOES HE DO THE EQUIPMENT WORK HE IS ALSO A TEAM PLAYER.

USUALLY WHEN WE NEED AN EXTRA EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, HE JUMPS ON HE'S A GOOD EQUIPMENT OPERATOR THAT WE UTILIZE FROM TIME TO TIME, AND HE IS ALSO OUR ONLY STAFF MEMBER WHO HAS A CLASS A CDL.

SO WE USE HIM FOR A LOT OF OTHER STUFF, SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES FOR US EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY.

TRIPLE THREAT CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD DEAL. CONGRATULATIONS, CHANCE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND SERVICE AND EFFORT.

WE APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. LESLIE. YES? I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

NOEL, I WILL LET HIM COME FORWARD AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIMSELF.

HE TOOK MINDY PATTERSON'S PLACE. OKAY, GREAT.

WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE PARKS BOARD. THANK YOU, LESLIE, FOR HAVING ME HERE. I'VE BEEN HERE A FULL SEVEN DAYS, A FULL SEVEN DAYS. SO I'M AN EXPERT IN ALL THINGS ABILENE.

I'M NOT BUT I DID HAVE THE PARKS BOARD DEPARTMENT VISIT WITH LESLIE YESTERDAY.

I ALSO HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL BINDER THAT SHE GAVE ME, LIKE, THICK AND THE MASTER PLAN.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD GOING ON HERE. AND I HAVE THREE KIDDOS, 12, SEVEN, AND SIX.

SO THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REC CENTERS.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS MY WIFE SENT ME WITH WHEN I CAME DOWN HERE, YOU KNOW, TO SHOP AROUND FOR A HOME AND AND LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY WAS, HEY, ASK ABOUT THE REC CENTER. SO THEY HAVE A POOL.

ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE POOLS? MY KIDS ARE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF POOLS. WE WON'T HAVE POOLS, BUT WE'LL HAVE ADVENTURE COVE AND A LOT OF OTHER GOODIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

BUT BEING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR 15 YEARS, CITY MANAGEMENT IS ALL I BASICALLY HAVE DONE.

IT'S BEEN A BLESSING. IT'S BEEN A JOY. I'VE SEEN RURAL, I'VE SEEN URBAN, SUBURBAN, HIGH GROWTH, SLOW GROWTH, NO GROWTH, HIGH QUALITY GROWTH. AND SOME, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN KIND OF THING.

SO I THINK THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME IS THE, THE TIME THAT THAT ABILENE REPRESENTS IN MY, IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND MY PERSONAL LIFE AND WHY I FEEL IT'S THE RIGHT PLACE TO BE. SO THERE'S A GREAT TEAM HERE LOOKING FORWARD TO ADDING VALUE AND JUST GETTING SOME OF THE RUST OFF THE THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, I'VE BEEN DOING PRIVATE SECTOR WORK WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO JUST BEING ABLE TO BRING IT ALL BACK TO TO ABILENE, TO ME IS JUST A A TRUE BLESSING. SO GOOD TO MEET YOU ALL.

GOOD, GOOD. WELCOME, WELCOME. WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO LOTS OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN THE CITY AND UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP AND GOOD FUN, GOOD FUN DAYS AHEAD. BUSY TIME FOR ABILENE.

YES, SIR. GOOD. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. YOU BET.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANKS, DEVON. ALL RIGHT.

[2. Minutes (Discussion and Action)]

YOU HAVE A COPY OF THOSE IN FRONT OF YOU? I TRUST YOU.

EVERYONE HAS REVIEWED THEM OR EVERYTHING. IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES, DELETIONS, ADDITIONS.

I MOVE, WE APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 18TH, 20, 25 MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT, ROBIN, SECOND, SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

TO OUR AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE IMAGINATION PLAYGROUND.

[3. Fort Imagination Playground Proposed Location (Discussion, Public Hearing and Possible Action)]

[00:05:09]

THERE IS A FIBER LINE. THERE IS WATER LINES THAT GO UNDER THERE.

YOU ASKED ME TO GET A COST JUST TO MOVE THE FIBER LINE.

IS GOING TO BE AT LEAST $39,000. PLUS, WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK AROUND THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER THERE THAT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE MOVED, AS WELL AS PUT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ELECTRICITY AND ITEMS LIKE THAT, WHICH ARE ALREADY AT THE OTHER LOCATION.

SO AFTER LOOKING INTO IT MORE, HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO LEAVE FOR THE IMAGINATION WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY LOCATED. ALSO IN VISITING WITH JUNIOR LEAGUE WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDRAISING AND AND EVEN THOUGH THE CITY HAS MONEY THAT'S GOING TOWARDS THIS, THE AMOUNT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE RAISED ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MOVE IT.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT IN THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE, I THINK THEY'RE VERY COMFORTABLE AT LEAVING IT AT THE CURRENT LOCATION THAT IT IS AS WELL.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR ANYTHING. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT RESEARCH.

WE KNOW THAT THAT WAS YOU KNOW CERTAINLY AN ENDEAVOR TO DO.

AND SO WE APPRECIATE CITY STAFF AND THE WORK THAT IT TOOK TO TO DO THAT INVESTIGATION.

YOU'RE WELCOME. YOU BET. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP THE PODIUM FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE FORT IMAGINATION PROPOSED LOCATION. ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE COMMENT ABOUT THAT, PLEASE STEP FORWARD.

GIVE US YOUR NAME, YOUR AFFILIATION, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND SEEING NO ONE COMING FORWARD, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH POTENTIAL ACTION ON THIS.

I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE. I MOVE THAT WE RETURN THE FORD IMAGINE PLAYGROUND PROPOSED LOCATION TO WHERE IT WAS OKAY.

DAVID MOTION. LEE. LEE SECOND. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD.

[4. Proposed Field Improvements Legacy Little League (Discussion, Public Hearing, and Possible Action)]

LITTLE LEAGUE. HELLO, BOARD. CHRIS GIBSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, PARKS AND RECREATION.

SO WE HAVE HAD A REQUEST FROM THE LEAGUE TO COME IN AND DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS.

AT THE LEAGUE'S COST FOR A COUPLE OF THE FIELDS OR ACTUALLY PRIMARILY AROUND ONE MAIN FIELD.

ONE OF THE PROPOSALS IS A BATTING CAGE. THE PROPOSED LOCATION FOR THIS IS IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT REDBUD PARK.

IT'S THAT WHERE THE FLAG IS THERE ON THAT KIND OF THAT, THAT EAST SIDE AT THE END OF THAT LOCATION THERE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO WE JUST WANT TO KIND OF FRAME IN THE PARK.

WHICH FIELD AND AREAS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. OKAY.

AND SO THIS IS AGAIN APPROXIMATE FOOTPRINT FOR THE FOR THE PROJECT ITSELF AND WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.

AND SO THIS IS THE, THE KIND OF JUST THE BASIC SKETCH UP OF WHAT THAT PROJECT WOULD ENCLOSE.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT A 35 FOOT BY 50 FOOT LOCATION.

AND PRETTY MUCH CONCRETE PAD AT THIS POINT WITH A STRUCTURE THAT WOULD HAVE A PAVILION TYPE STRUCTURE ACROSS THE TOP OF IT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, BEING ENCAGED SINCE IT'S BATTING CAGES, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE.

THIS IS KIND OF AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEY'RE SHOOTING FOR OR BATTING FOR, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THE SO ONE ANGLE, ANOTHER ANGLE LOOKING DOWN.

AND THAT'S KIND OF THE BATTING CAGES. SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WAS PROPOSED TO COME IN AND DO AN IMPROVEMENT FOR.

AND THEN ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT WAS THE BATTER'S EYE LOCATION.

THIS IS THE WALL SUBSTRUCTURE THAT GOES AT THE OUTFIELD.

IT'S TO HELP THE BATTERS AND BE ABLE TO VISIBLY SEE THE BALL AS IT'S GOING.

SO IT CREATES THEY USUALLY USE A DARK KIND OF A STRUCTURE BEHIND ON THAT FIELD.

IF YOU SEE LIKE SOME OF THE PRO FIELDS, MOST OF THE PRO BASEBALL FIELDS WILL HAVE THAT BIG WALL.

THAT'S THEY CALL IT THE WALL. AND SOME OF THEM THAT THAT'S TO HELP BEING ABLE TO VISUALLY SEE AND TRACK THAT BALL FOR THE FOR THE.

SO THEY CALL IT THE BATTER'S EYE. THE LOCATION OF THAT IS JUST TO THAT FIELD, JUST TO THE NORTH OF WHERE THE PREVIOUS BATTING CAGE STRUCTURES WERE BEING PROPOSED.

IT'S AT THE END OF THAT FIELD ON THAT TOP RIGHT HAND SIDE OR THE NORTHEAST SIDE IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

AND SO THE RED LINE ON THIS GRAPHIC IS ACTUALLY KIND OF WHERE THAT LOCATION WOULD BE.

HOW TALL WOULD THAT WALL? OKAY, HERE YOU GO. IT'S ABOUT NINE FOOT OFF TOP OF THE FENCE.

SO THIS IS A BASIC SKETCH UP OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

I'M GOING TO USE OUR PANEL 26 GAUGE WITH PARYLENE C PARYLENE FOR THE STRUCTURE PART.

[00:10:07]

THIS IS ON THE MAJORS FIELD. YES, THAT'S THE SOUTHERN MAJOR FIELD.

OKAY. I WAS GOING TO SAY LIKE THAT SOUTHERN OF OLD, OBVIOUSLY, BUT EVERYBODY STILL REFERS TO IT AS SOUTHERN.

SOUTHERN DIXIE. AND THOSE BATTING CAGES ARE LOCATED BETWEEN THAT AND THE SOFTBALL FIELD DOWN THERE IN THAT CORNER, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO WE HAVE ANYBODY. I WILL SAY THAT IF PARKS BOARD APPROVES THIS IMPROVEMENT THEN WE WILL GET THE DRAWINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BUILD A STRUCTURE LIKE THIS.

THE CITY WILL BUILD IT OUT, BUT THE LEAGUE IS PAYING 100% OF THIS.

THEIR GOAL IS TO TRY AND HAVE IT IN BEFORE THE SPRING SEASON STARTS.

AS CLOSE AS THEY CAN. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING THIS PARTICULAR ITEM TO YOU EARLIER THAN WE ARE.

SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE POTENTIALLY WILL BE WORKING ON.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

OKAY. WE WILL OPEN UP THE MICROPHONE FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THIS.

PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR AFFILIATION AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON THIS.

OKAY. AND SEEING NO ONE COMING FORWARD, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL FOR POSSIBLE ACTION, AND WE'LL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. JACK. I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS BATTING CAGE PLAN.

OKAY. OKAY. VERY GOOD. ANY SECOND. I'LL SECOND.

RALSTON. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? VERY GOOD. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. SO NICE JOB, BOYS.

WELL THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE FOR THAT.

[5. Setting a Possible Workshop to Discuss League Policies (Discussion)]

IT HAS BEEN MULTIPLE YEARS. I COULDN'T I COULDN'T TELL YOU FOR SURE.

MAYBE FIVE YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD A WORKSHOP TO TO TALK ABOUT MANY THINGS, DEALING WITH THE PARK AND REALLY, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE UNDER THE SAME PHILOSOPHY OR POLICY GUIDANCE THAT WE'RE GIVING CLOSE TO TEN YEARS AGO.

AND IN THE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL WORLD, MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A WORKSHOP WITH PARKS BOARD, AND IT WOULD BE A MORE IN DEPTH CONVERSATION THAN WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO TO GET INTO IN JUST A REGULAR MEETING, SOME TIME CONVERSATION, QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION.

LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR SISTER CITIES, LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SUCCESSFUL BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL LEAGUES REALLY PACKAGING A BUNCH OF INFORMATION, TAKING A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE LEAGUE WORLD AND SEEING IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE FROM A CITY PHILOSOPHY ON HOW WE MANAGE LEAGUES.

AND SO WHAT I AM REQUESTING IS THE ABILITY TO SET A WORKSHOP IN THE JANUARY FEBRUARY TIME FRAME PROBABLY FOR TWO HOURS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ABOUT ABILENE'S APPROACH TO LEAGUES IN THE CITY OF ABILENE.

OKAY. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING? WOULD WE HAVE LEAGUE PARTICIPANTS ALSO THAT CAME NOT AT THAT WORKSHOP.

THIS IS REALLY JUST FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES.

FOR PARKS BOARD. NOW COMING OUT OF THAT IF WE DECIDE TO PUT A TASK FORCE TOGETHER, IF WE DECIDE TO PUT A COMMITTEE TOGETHER, IF WE DECIDE TO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM THEM.

THAT WAS THAT'S NOT THE POINT OF THE WORKSHOP.

THANK YOU. OKAY. CERTAINLY WITH THE GROWTH OF OUR OUR LITTLE LEAGUES AND BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL AND THE APPETITES WE HAVE FOR HERE LOCALLY AND AROUND THE STATE AND NATIONALLY, I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AND DEVELOPING THAT WAY.

I'M I LOVE THAT THE CITY IS OPEN TO THE CONVERSATION. I'M SURE THE LEAGUES WILL BE EXCITED TO HAVE SOME OF THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL. OKAY, WELL, I KNOW THERE'S A PROJECT OR THERE'S AN EFFORT OUT THERE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO TRY TO DEVELOP BETTER FACILITIES, MORE FACILITIES, NOT NECESSARILY BETTER, BUT MORE FACILITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE TOO.

SO IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO VISIT ABOUT THAT.

[00:15:02]

[6. Parks Report (Discussion)]

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T RIGHT NOW ARE IN POSSESSION OF.

WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING AND TRYING TO GET THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, BUT WANTED TO BRING THAT THIS MORNING TO SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND WE'RE, WE TRY TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON ON FUTURE PLANS TO HAVE OUR OWN EQUIPMENT TO TAKE CARE OF THE, THE CEDAR CREEK.

BUT YOU CAN TELL THEY'RE ONE OF OUR GUYS WAS GOING THROUGH AND AND SWEEPING THE TRAIL.

SO THEY A LOT OF A LOT OF CLEANUP THAT WE DID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS A LOT OF TREE LIMBS AND STUFF DOWN AS WELL THAT WE WENT THROUGH THERE AND CLEANED UP SEARS PAVILION, IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER THAT WAS BURNED DOWN A WHILE BACK.

WE FINALLY GOT THE STRUCTURE IN, AND THE GUYS ARE NOW WORKING ON GETTING THE PAD POURED.

RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE THEY FINALLY GOT THE FORMS DOWN.

WEATHER HAS NOT COOPERATED, SO WE'RE HOPING TO PULL THE PAT TOMORROW.

ONCE THE PAT IS DOWN AND THE STRUCTURE WILL GO UP AND THAT WILL BE A BRAND NEW PAVILION THAT WILL HAVE AT SEARS PARK RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLAYGROUND.

AND IT'S A BIGGER PLAY PAVILION THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY.

SO ALSO IN THIS MONTH YOU GUYS REMEMBER THE FENCE AROUND FESTIVAL GARDENS? WE WANTED TO UPGRADE THAT TO KIND OF MATCH THE ESTHETICS WITH EISA GOING IN.

AND SO COMPANY WON THE CONTRACT TO DO THAT JOB, AND THEY CAME IN AND WORKED ON IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WEATHER KIND OF PERMITTED THEM TO GET DONE QUICKER THAN WHAT THEY EXPECTED, BUT THEY FINALLY GOT DONE.

SO THE PRODUCT IS FINISHED. AND IF YOU GUYS GO BY THERE, IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.

AROUND FESTIVAL GARDENS NOW. SO THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE FOR Y'ALL THIS MORNING.

I NOTICED IN THAT PREVIOUS PICTURE THAT IN THE BACKGROUND THERE WAS THE CHAVEZ CENTER.

YES, CONSTRUCTION. AND IT HAS COME ALONG. I SAW IT THE OTHER DAY, AND IT IS COMING ALONG REALLY, REALLY NICE. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE GREAT. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

SO ANY QUESTIONS OKAY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANKS.

ALL RIGHT. RECREATION REPORT. GOOD MORNING.

[7. Recreation Report (Discussion)]

NICE. SO WE ARE GETTING READY FOR OUR 28TH ANNUAL DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE.

AND WE ARE HAVING A LUAU. SO IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO NEEDS TICKETS FOR DADDY DAUGHTER, YOU CAN BUY THEM NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY THEM FOR A DADDY AND A DAUGHTER FOR OUR STOCKING STUFFER, A CHRISTMAS GIFT. THEY'RE AVAILABLE NOW.

SO VERY EXCITED. WE'VE HAD THIS. THIS HAS BEEN A THEME BROUGHT UP TO US FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, SO I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO DO IT. SO IT'LL BE ON FEBRUARY 21ST AND IT'LL BE AT THE TAYLOR COUNTY COLISEUM, BECAUSE EVERY YEAR WE SELL MORE AND MORE TICKETS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A VERY BIG SPACE.

SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN BUY THEM AT $15 PER PERSON.

OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WAIT TILL THE NIGHT OF IT'S $20 PER PERSON.

SO SUPER EXCITED TO BRING BACK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT DADDY DAUGHTER.

OKAY. VERY GOOD. SO NOW WE'LL GO TO SENIORS PRETTY EASY.

THAT WAS PRETTY EASY. GOOD. SO SANTA CLAUS HAS CAME TO VISIT THE SENIOR CENTER AND EVERYBODY WAS ON THEIR BEST BEHAVIOR.

[8. Seniors Report (Discussion)]

HE CAME LAST WEEK AND SAW US. AND THIS WEEK WE ARE HAVING OUR CHRISTMAS MOVIE CELEBRATION ON FRIDAY, AND WE ARE HAVING POPCORN AND A HOT CHOCOLATE BAR.

AND WE ARE WATCHING MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET. JUST WISH MAYBE ON FRIDAY IT WAS A LITTLE COOLER.

WE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE LEMONADE. YEAH, SO BUT THEY'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND THEY'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THEY'RE ADDING THEIR PAJAMAS TO IT. AND I SAID GO FOR IT. SO IT'S BEEN VERY FUN LATELY CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS THERE.

GOOD DEAL. ALL I COMMENTS. QUESTIONS. OKAY, GREAT.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THAT DAY WE'LL HAVE A MIRACLE ON SEVENTH STREET.

THAT'S RIGHT. BORROW ONE OF THE 45 FAKE SNOW MACHINES FROM THE PARADE.

[00:20:01]

OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANKS. AN Z REPORT. JESSE. JESSE, THE ZOO DIRECTOR.

[9. Zoo Report (Discussion)]

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION FROM THE 12TH TO THE 23RD.

WE HOPE YOU CAN COME OUT AND SOLICIT YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

SOME ZONES THAT WE ARE HAVING. WHEN YOU FIRST ENTER, YOU'LL NOTICE THE CANDY CANE LANE.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE REINDEER RIGHT THERE WITH THE LIGHTING OF THE TREE. AT 6 P.M., WE HAVE ARCTIC LIGHTS. WE HAVE LOTS OF INTERACTIONS.

IT'S JUST NOT ABOUT LIGHTS, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE INTIMACY OF THE INTERACTIONS WITH THE REINDEER.

MAKING REINDEER FEED. REPTILE VILLE. WE HAVE THE GRINCH ALIVE.

GRINCH, WHERE YOU CAN MEET AND GREET WITH THE GRINCH DOWN IN LA FLAMINGO.

YOU CAN GET ALL THE PINKNESS OF THE FLAMINGOS, AS WELL AS PRINCESSES ELSA, ANNA AND OLAF ARE THERE AS A MEET AND GREET AS WELL.

DECK THE PALMS IS DOWN IN CARIBBEAN COVE, WHERE IT'S LIT UP VERY CARIBBEAN LIKE GET TO SEE SOME AWESOME ANIMALS.

NOW THAT WE'VE RENOVATED THAT WHOLE AREA, YOU CAN NOW SEE THE SLOTHS AND THE TWO CANS INSIDE.

EVEN DURING THESE COLD NIGHTS, YOU CAN SEE THEM YEAR ROUND.

ICE SKATING RINK. THE BIG BLUE AVATAR TREE. WE CALL IT GOING TO MRS. CLAUS TENT. EVERYBODY GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A COOKIE.

SO, KIDDOS, I WANT TO PUT SPRINKLES ON A COOKIE.

THAT IS PART OF THE INCLUSIVENESS OF THE TICKET.

TICKETED EVENT LONE STAR RANCH BY LAWRENCE HALL.

THAT'S WHERE SANTA MEET AND GREET IS GOING TO BE. THAT'S ALSO PART OF THE INCLUSIVITY OF THIS EVENT.

AND THEN YOU CAN DO AN AWESOME MEET AND GREET WITH THE DRAFTS UP AT THE NUTCRACKER TERRACE AREA.

AND THEN LASTLY, WE GET DOWN TO THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE IS S'MORES AND REAL LIVE FIRE PITS, NOT PROPANE FIRE PITS.

IT'S WITH WOOD AND GIVES THAT AUTHENTICITY OF S'MORES VERSUS A PROPANE S'MORES.

AND THEN LASTLY, OUR FRIENDS AT BELTWAY PARK ARE DOING THE WALK THROUGH BETHLEHEM, WHICH IS A LIVE NATIVITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY SEE LIVE ACTION.

MARY AND JOSEPH WITH A DONKEY WITH THEIR JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM TO HAVE BABY JESUS.

AND IT'S ALL VERY INTIMATE AND AWESOME. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT, PLEASE COME OUT AND EXPERIENCE THIS AWESOME FUNDRAISING EVENT.

ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE A LIVE BIRTH SCHEDULED FOR THAT? THAT'D BE PRETTY CHALLENGING, BUT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THE NEXT GIRAFFE IS READY TO BE BORN.

YEAH, WHICH SHOULD HAPPEN THIS SUMMER. WE SHOULD HAVE A COUPLE DRAFTS BORN THIS SUMMER.

AS LONG AS THE DRAFT IS NAMED. JESUS. YES. YEAH.

VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD. ANYBODY? ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANKS, JESSE. THANK YOU. AND IT IS A IT IS A FESTIVE AREA.

IT IS FOR SURE. IT'S A LOT OF FUN. OKAY, LESLIE, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD ALL HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY. YEAH. BE SAFE. HAVE A GREAT TIME.

AND AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH. THANK YOU.

WE ADJOURNED NEXT YEAR.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.