[ CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL MORNING HERE IN ABILENE, TEXAS. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER AND TO SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THE CITY. WE PRAY BLESSINGS ON THOSE THAT LEAD US AND ARE THOSE THAT WORE THE UNIFORM AND THOSE THAT THAT THAT VOLUNTEER LORD AND THOSE THAT THOSE THAT SERVE IN OUR CITY AND IN PROFESSIONAL WAYS. LORD, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR ABILENE AND FOR FOR THE CITY THAT THAT SHE IS.
ALRIGHT. THANKS, DAVID. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN OUR MEETING TO ANY OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK TO THIS BOARD THIS MORNING, YOU WILL PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR AFFILIATION. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ON THIS SIDE BEFORE. SO THIS IS A A UNIQUE FEELING.
YOU GUYS HAVE SHEPHERDED SOME BIG PROJECTS THROUGH HERE, INCLUDING THE REC CENTERS.
THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS CRUCIAL FOR THE CITY AND FOR US.
IT MAKES OUR JOB A LOT EASIER MAKING DECISIONS WHEN WE KNOW THEY'VE BEEN VETTED BY YOU.
SO IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK. I KNOW YOU CATCH A LOT OF FLACK FROM RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR PARK OR THEIR ISSUE AND YOU GUYS HAVE HANDLED IT VERY WELL. AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO ASK QUESTIONS BECAUSE THE MORE QUESTIONS YOU GUYS ASK HERE, THE LESS WORK WE HAVE TO DO ON COUNCIL. SO IT'S A VERY SELF SERVING REQUEST, BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SERVING.
IT'S AN UNPAID JOB, BUT IT'S CRUCIAL AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN.
WE CAN CALL YOU THAT FOR A WHILE LONGER. SO. ALRIGHT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS THIS MORNING? OKAY. SEEING.
THERE ARE NO NO ONE COMING FORWARD. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
MOVE ON TO THE MINUTES OF OUR LAST MEETING. YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY IN YOUR FOLDER.
[1. Minutes (Discussion and Action)]
AND HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ANY CHANGES, DELETIONS, ADDITIONS, OR APPROVAL.MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF MINUTES. ALRIGHT, DAVID.
THANK YOU. SECOND. LI OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. GET TO OUR AGENDA ITEMS THIS MORNING.
[2. Infrastructure (Discussion, Public Hearing and Possible Action)
]
AGAIN, THIS MEETING, I'M GOING TO STAND ON THIS SIDE JUST TO MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER TO SEE YOU ALL.
AND FOR YOU ALL TO BE ABLE TO SEE ME. REALLY, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR FROM PARKS BOARD TODAY IS SOME IDEAS, SOME DIRECTIONS, SOME ISSUES THAT WE AS STAFF CAN TAKE FORWARD TO CITY MANAGEMENT AND CITY COUNCIL ON THE CONDITION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR PARKS SYSTEM.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TRAVELED MULTIPLE PARKS SOME OF THEM ARE IN A LITTLE MORE DISREPAIR THAN OTHERS AND ARE NEEDING SOME LOVE AND ATTENTION. BUT WE CAN'T TACKLE IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
AGAIN, WE CAN'T TACKLE ALL OF THAT YEAR ONE OR EVEN YEAR FIVE.
BUT WE DO NEED TO START SOMEWHERE. AND SO REALLY, THIS CONVERSATION IS A VERY OPEN ENDED WORKSHOP ON WHAT ARE YOU ALL SEEING? WHAT ARE Y'ALL HEARING? AND WHERE DO YOU WANT STAFF TO PUT OUR TIME AND ENERGY IN THE 2023 MASTER PLAN? EXISTING PARKS AND FACILITIES, WE HAVE ADA ISSUES.
WE HAVE 19 PLAYGROUNDS ON MOST OF THEM ARE GETTING CLOSE TO END OF LIFE.
THAT'S NOT HOW WE WANT TO GET NEW PLAYGROUNDS.
AND SO, BUT WE DO NEED TO START FACTORING IN HOW IN HOWEVER MANY YEARS, PLAYGROUNDS ARE NOT CHEAP.
AND THEY DO REQUIRE MONTHLY INSPECTIONS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THERE'S, THERE'S PRETTY STRONG REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN COVER PLAYGROUNDS FALL ZONES, DISTANCE CUSHION INSPECTIONS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
[00:05:02]
SO THERE'S QUITE A BIT THAT GOES INTO PLAYGROUNDS.AND SO WHILE OUR STAFF DOES A WONDERFUL JOB, WE ARE NOTICING THAT SOME OF OUR PLAYGROUNDS ARE GETTING ARE AT END OF LIFE ARE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO IT. RESTROOMS AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO INTO MANY OF OUR PARKS, A LOT OF OUR RESTROOMS ARE VERY OLD.
OUR NEWER RESTROOMS THAT ARE MORE THE DROP IN PLACE RESTROOMS THAT WE'VE DONE AT OUR SPLASH PADS ARE DOING VERY WELL, BUT SOME OF THE RESTROOMS WE HAVE IN OUR PARKS ARE FROM THE 50S AND AS WELL AS STAFF TAKES, I MEAN, THEY CLEAN THEM EVERY DAY AS MUCH AS THEY TAKE CARE OF THEM.
THEY ARE STILL GETTING CLOSE TO END OF LIFE AND ARE, ARE NEEDING SOME TIME AND ATTENTION.
WE'RE DOING NEW PROJECTS AND WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE CALCULATE THAT INTO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE SHADE COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTERS.
VERY EXCITED TO TALK. WE'VE GOT TWO NEW RECREATION CENTERS THAT WILL BE COMING ONLINE IN APRIL.
BUT THERE ARE TWO OLDER RECREATION CENTERS THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT YET, ONE OF WHICH IS BASICALLY A GYM IN OVER 100 YEARS OLD AND IS USED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY BY THE ADAPTIVE RECREATION PROGRAM.
SO IT IS GOING TO NEED A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND ATTENTION AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.
BASEBALL SOFTBALL FIELDS. WE HAVE A LOT OF BASEBALL SOFTBALL FIELDS HERE IN ABILENE.
AND IF THERE IS ONE AREA THAT WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT, IT IS GOING TO BE OUR BASEBALL SOFTBALL FIELDS.
AS YOU KNOW FROM OUR MEETING LAST MONTH Y'ALL DID APPROVE A TASK FORCE TO START LOOKING INTO BASEBALL SOFTBALL FIELDS, PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LEAGUES.
POTENTIALLY COULD ALSO BE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT COME ALONG WITH THAT.
BUT THAT IS AN AREA BOTH ON THE LEAGUE MANAGEMENT SIDE AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE SIDE.
THAT WE DO NEED TO SEE SOME, SOME TIME AND ATTENTION PAVED PARKING TRAILS.
WE DID, WE DID THREE TRAILS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME OTHER TRAILS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED AND ALSO NEED TO LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S NEW LOCATIONS THAT WE NEED TRAILS OR EVEN JUST SIDEWALKS FOR, FOR WALKABILITY OF THE CITY OF ABILENE PICNIC SHELTERS. WHILE THOSE ARE, ARE DOING FAIRLY WELL AND ARE NOT REAL EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN.
WE DO HAVE SOME OLDER. ONE OF THE MODELS THAT USED TO BE IN PARKS IS IS OUR PICNIC.
PICNIC SHELTERS HAD A BATHROOM THAT WAS ADJACENT TO IT.
WE'VE KIND OF GONE AWAY FROM THAT MODEL NOW WHERE WE HAVE STANDALONE BATHROOMS, AND WE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE PICNIC SHELTERS THAT ARE CLOSE IN SERVICE, AND ONE BATHROOM CAN SERVICE MULTIPLE PICNIC AREAS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF A MODEL THAT WE HAVE GONE TO.
ROAD PARKING LOTS. THIS IS ACTUALLY MANAGED BY PUBLIC WORKS.
IT IS NOT MANAGED BY PARKS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT.
BUT WHILE WE HAVE EXCELLENT EXPERTISE IN OUR PARKS SYSTEM STREETS IS NOT ONE OF THEIR EXPERTISE.
AND SO WE HAVE HANDED THAT OFF TO PUBLIC WORKS.
BUT THAT STILL HAS A FUNDING ISSUE COMPONENT THAT COMES WITH IT.
BUT STILL, IT'S THE PARKS EMPLOYEES THAT MAINTAIN THOSE AREAS.
PARKS BOARD DID SEE THAT ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO NOW.
ADDING PARK TRAILS. THAT IS AN EXPENSE IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO.
WATER AMENITIES. WE HAVE SIX SPLASH PADS HERE IN ABILENE, I THINK WE HAVE PLENTY OF SPLASH PADS WELL DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE CENTER WITHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE CITY. BUT ADVENTURE COVE WAS BUILT IN 2017 AND IS STARTING TO GET TO THE POINT THAT IT'S GOING TO NEED MAINTENANCE AND SOME MORE HIGH DOLLAR MAINTENANCE, AND OR WHETHER WE WANT TO CONSIDER ADDING DEEP WATER.
[00:10:02]
AGAIN, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A BOND ISSUE AND WOULD NEED TO BE VOTED ON BY THE CITIZENS PICKLEBALL COURTS.WE DURING THE 2023 MASTER PLANNED PICKLEBALL WAS A VERY HOT TOPIC.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ADDED TO OUR PARK SYSTEM.
I DO KNOW OF 1 OR 2, YOU KNOW, ONE OFF PICKLEBALL AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED.
WE DID ADD PICKLEBALL COURTS IN OUR RECREATION CENTERS.
SO WE WILL HAVE TO FACTOR IN THE USE SETTING UP THE NETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ONE OF THE DOG PARKS, WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT DOG PARK.
DO WE NEED A SECOND ONE? ADVENTURE COVE EXPANSION.
I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT NATURAL SURFACE TRAILS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT Y'ALL APPROVED LAST MEETING WAS THE KIRBY LAKE EXPANSION.
THE ARBORETUM AND NATURAL TRAILS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THERE.
THERE'S NOT VERY MANY SOUTH. WE DO HAVE PARKLAND SOUTH, BUT IT IS UNDEVELOPED PARKLAND.
WE WE HAVE MULTIPLE LEVELS OF PARKS. WE HAVE, WE HAVE FOUR REGIONAL PARKS, WHICH IS WHAT WE CONSIDERED SEARS, ROSE, REDBUD, AND NELSON. WE HAVE LOTS OF NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE TYPICALLY A PARK THAT SOMEBODY CAN DRIVE TO THAT HAS AN AMENITY.
PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WANT TO GO TO POCKET PARKS ARE MORE OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT ARE WALKABLE.
THERE IS NOT A A RESTROOM THERE, THERE IS NOT PARKING WITHIN THE PARK.
IT IS, IT IS LITERALLY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOT ON THE LIST, BUT I WILL MENTION IS WE ONLY HAVE ONE FLAT FIELD FOR FOOTBALL WHILE WE PARTNER WITH AZIZA AND ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE SOCCER FIELDS AND THE FLAT FIELDS THAT THEY HAVE AND ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE REALLY TAKEN ON THE WHOLE OF THE SOCCER COMMUNITY TO PLAY IN THEIR LOCATION.
WE STILL HAVE A RUGBY CLUB THAT PLAYS ON IN OUR COMPLEX AND WE STILL HAVE FOOTBALL.
AND WHILE ISA IS DOING THE FLAG FOOTBALL AND THE NON.
I WON'T SAY NON-CONTACT BUT HELMETS AND SHOULDER PADS, THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN THAT ON.
SO THAT IS STILL ON OUR SIDE AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE FLAT FIELD.
AND SO ONE FIELD IS NOT ENOUGH TO HANDLE THAT VARIETY.
SO REALLY WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR TODAY IS, IS REALLY SOME DIRECTION FROM PARK'S BOARD.
WHAT WHAT ARE YOU HEARING? WHAT ARE YOU SEEING? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? IS THE STAFF FOR DAY ONE NEEDS NEEDS TO PUT OUR TIME AND ENERGY TO.
LAST MONTH I SHARED WITH YOU THE 2023 MASTER PLAN WHERE IT BROKE UP.
1 TO 3 YEARS, 3 TO 5, YOU KNOW, 5 TO 10 YEAR PROJECTS.
SHARE THAT AGAIN WITH YOU. THIS MONTH, BUT REALLY NOW IT'S, IT'S AN OPEN FLOOR.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. I'VE GOT STAFF IN THE AUDIENCE HERE TO ANSWER ANSWER QUESTIONS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR FOOLISHLY.
I'M HEARING A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR SHADE AT ESPECIALLY AT YOUTH SPORTS.
I WAS WITH A GROUP FRIDAY NIGHT THAT ALL HAVE GRANDKIDS AND THAT WAS THEIR COMMENT IS WHEN THEY TRAVEL OTHER PLACES, THERE'S SHADE STRUCTURES OR TREES THAT WE DON'T HAVE HERE.
[00:15:05]
YES. OUR PARKS ARE NOT IRRIGATED EXCEPT IN VERY SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.LASTLY, DID YOU MENTION TENNIS COURTS? I DID NOT MENTION TENNIS COURTS.
WE DO HAVE A MASTER PLAN FOR ROSE TENNIS CENTER.
FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP COURT OR EXPANDING ON THOSE COURTS.
I DID NOT MENTION THAT IN THIS LIST. IT IS IN THE MASTER PLAN.
BUT I DID NOT MENTION IT TODAY. TENNIS COURTS ANYWHERE ELSE IN ANY OF THESE OTHER PARKS.
WE DO HAVE ONE OFF TENNIS COURTS AND I BELIEVE THREE OTHER PARKS THAT PEOPLE CAN PLAY AT.
I THINK THE ONLY CALLS I GET ARE THEY WANT THE PICKLEBALL LINES PLACED ON THE ALREADY EXISTING TENNIS COURTS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN DONE OR NOT. WE HAVE ON A COUPLE OF THEM.
TENNIS PLAYERS DO NOT LIKE THAT. PICKLEBALL PLAYERS WANT MORE LINES.
AND SO WE'RE QUICK AND EASY. YES. SO WE HAVE ADDED IT.
WE HAVE ADDED IT TO TWO MAYBE THREE NOW, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.
I THINK I'VE REFERRED A FEW PHONE CALLS TO YOU.
DO YOU HAVE ON THE PLAYGROUND NEEDS THE THE REPLACEMENT AND AGING OF THE PLAYGROUND.
HAVE YOU PRIORITIZED, YOU KNOW, FROM AGE OR FROM ROTATION OR FROM PARKS? IF YOU, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC PARKS, WHAT, WHAT IS THE PRIORITIZATION OF THE PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT? WE DO HAVE A PRIORITY LIST. I DO NOT HAVE IT HERE WITH ME TODAY.
BUT WE PRIORITIZE PRIORITIZE IT. THERE'S A COUPLE OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO IT.
ONE IS AGE PLAYGROUNDS. TYPICAL LIFE IS 15 TO 20 YEARS.
USE PLAYS INTO THAT BECAUSE IF IT IS IN A PARK THAT IS HIGHLY USED, IT'S GOING TO WEAR OUT FASTER.
VANDALISM, GRAFFITI, PEOPLE TRYING TO SET FIRES AND, AND MELT SLIDES.
THAT TENDS TO IMPACT HOW FAST IT MAY GET MOVED UP THE LIST.
I HATE TO SAY THAT THAT HAPPENS, BUT THAT IS, I WON'T SAY A REGULAR OCCURRENCE, BUT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR WE'RE DEALING WITH A SITUATION LIKE THAT. BUT WE DO HAVE A RUNNING LIST. CITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED REPLACING THE PLAYGROUND AT NELSON PARK.
THE ONE OVER BY THE SOFTBALL COMPLEX. IT IS GOING TO BE A FULL ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND.
WE HAVE THE FOOTPRINT THERE THAT WE CAN DO AN ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND.
SO WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY, YOU KNOW, FOR WHEELCHAIRS TO GO UP HIGH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
A LOT OF OUR PARKS WERE LANDLOCKED AND BECAUSE OF THE REGULATIONS THAT COME WITH PLAYGROUNDS, WE CAN'T ALWAYS DO THAT. WE HAVE COMPONENTS THAT CAN'T BE ALL INCLUSIVE.
NEARLY ALL, EVERY PARK HAS A NEED. AND IT LOOKED LIKE SHORT TERM FOR ADA WALKWAYS.
WHAT'S ARE THERE SOME EXISTING ALREADY THAT I MEAN IS THIS A COMPLETE SYSTEM WIDE ADA WALKWAY SITUATION? FOR THE MOST PART, I'M GOING TO SAY YES. DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT HAS EXCEPT FOR THE THREE PARKS THAT WE REPLACE SIDEWALKS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
IT HAS BEEN DECADES SINCE WE HAVE REPLACED SOME OF OUR WALKING PATHS.
AND SO JUST THROUGH THE NATURE OF TIME AND GROUND SHIFTING, THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS SMOOTH.
WHILE THEY MAY STILL BE IN THE PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE OF WHAT ADA REQUIRES DUE TO GROUND SHIFTING AND, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TRIP HAZARDS. THERE ARE AREAS IN MANY PARKS THAT ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.
THEN YOU ALSO MENTIONED I'LL HAVE ONE OTHER I'LL LET SOMEBODY ELSE TALK.
YOU ALSO MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE WORDS YOU USED TO DESCRIBE THE RESTROOMS THAT ARE A DROP IN PLACE. DROP IN PLACE? YEAH, JUST TRYING TO PICTURE THAT.
SO THE LAST OVER THE LAST, I WOULD SAY SIX YEARS, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS PURCHASE WHAT WE CALL DROP IN PLACE RESTROOMS, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE MANUFACTURED SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEY LITERALLY COME AS A FULL RESTROOM AND ARE PUT IN PLACE.
ALL WE PROVIDE IS THE PAD IN THE PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL THAT GOES TO THE BUILDING.
THE BENEFIT OF THOSE REALLY WELL, THEY LOOK NICER.
THEY'RE BASICALLY THE QUALITY OF A JAIL. SO WE DON'T HAVE THE ISSUES WITH THOSE.
[00:20:04]
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE TRY AND CATCH THEM ON FIRE AND HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL.WE'VE HAD PEOPLE TRY AND BUST OUT THE, THE COMMODES AND SINGS WITH BASEBALL BATS.
THEY'RE NOT AS SUCCESSFUL LIKE THEY ARE IN OTHER PARKS.
THEY ARE MUCH MORE DURABLE THAN SOME OF OUR OLDER PARKS.
IT IS EASIER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN LONG TERM.
AVERAGE AVERAGE COST OF ONE OF THOSE IS HOW MUCH? AROUND. IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO, WHAT WE CALL TWO SEATERS.
FOUR SEATERS. HOW MANY COMMODES AND STALLS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE.
A TYPICAL ONE THAT WE PURCHASE IS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 100 AND 60 AND, AND $200,000.
AND THEN YOU ADD IN ABOUT ANOTHER 50,000 FOR THE GROUND LEVELING THE BASE PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S NOT MENTIONED ON HERE IS SECURITY.
MANY OF OUR PARKS DO NOT HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS.
AND SO AS WE ARE ABLE TO ADD ADD ON AMENITIES, WE'RE ADDING SECURITY ALONG AND WITH THAT.
IS THERE ANY PLACE WHERE WE TALK ABOUT COVERED BASKETBALL COURTS, NOT ENCLOSED OR COVERED TENNIS COURTS, OR COVERED PICKLEBALL COURTS IN THE ROSE PARK MASTER PLAN, THE TENNIS PICKLEBALL MASTER PLAN THAT WE DID THERE IS COVERED TENNIS COURTS AND PICKLEBALL COURTS IN THAT MASTER PLAN.
COVERED BASKETBALL COURTS IS NOT ON ANY PLAN THAT I REMEMBER.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING NICE. WE NEED TO TO EXPLORE.
OKAY. ON, ON SEVERAL OF THESE THERE'S A AND IT MENTIONS IT IN SOME OF OUR PAPERWORK.
POTENTIAL FOR OUTSIDE SOURCING FOR FUNDING. AS FAR AS PURSUING GRANTS? IS THERE A, IF YOU GUYS COME UP WITH LIKE A COLUMN THAT SAYS, WHICH OF THESE THINGS WE COULD ACTUALLY PURSUE GRANTS FOR? AS FAR AS ALL THE DIFFERENT, I MEAN, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A MILLION DIFFERENT THINGS WE CAN WE CAN RUN AFTER HERE.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH, WHICH TO PRIORITIZE WITH OUTSIDE FUNDING OR POTENTIAL STATE GRANTS OR FEDERAL GRANTS OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES SO THAT WE CAN START TO KIND OF THINK THROUGH. AND THERE MAY BE OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCES FOR SOME OF THIS.
THERE ARE OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCES FOR SOME OF THE THINGS.
OF COURSE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE IS, IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.
BUT WE ALSO JUST RECENTLY MET WITH I CAN'T REMEMBER YOU BEST SAY TENNIS ASSOCIATION.
AND SO DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU FALL IN AND WHAT THE PRICE COST IS, WE DO KNOW THAT TENNIS HAS SOME, I BELIEVE PICKLEBALL HAS SOME I KNOW TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT HAS SOME THERE'S WONDERFUL FUNDING SOURCES THERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'LL SAY WE FALL SHORT ON IS HAVING THE BANDWIDTH IN A PERSON THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO WRITE THE GRANTS AND KEEP UP WITH ALL THE DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING THAT COMES ALONG WITH THOSE.
I THINK THAT MAKES TOTAL SENSE. MY, I GUESS I'M TRYING TO THINK THROUGH WHAT THE PROTOCOL OR PROCESS IS FOR US TO FIGURE OUT HOW BEST WE CAN HELP YOU, BECAUSE YEAH, WE CAN'T. I THINK TELLING YOU, HEY, GO RUN AFTER ALL THESE THINGS IS A REALLY BAD ADVICE. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS THERE IS THERE A WAY FOR US TO HELP YOU COME UP WITH A PROCESS FOR WHICH FOR US TO FIGURE OUT WHICH GRANTS WE ARE ACTIONABLE.
IS THERE A PROCESS FOR THAT? THERE MAY NOT BE ANYTHING THAT EXISTS THAT AND THAT'S MAYBE WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US YOU NEED HELP WITH. THAT'S WHAT I'M JUST TRYING TO WRESTLE WITH IN MY BRAIN. PRIORITIZING, I THINK, PRIORITIZING AND THEN LOOKING AT ACCESS TO FUNDS.
THIS IS MORE OF A COMMENT. ONE EXERCISE THAT I FELT WAS REALLY HELPFUL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS WHEN WE WENT BACK TO THE KIRBY MASTER PLAN MANY YEARS AGO WHERE WE HAD AN ACTUAL PART DAY WORKSHOP WHERE WE ACTUALLY SAT DOWN AND WERE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE THESE DIFFERENT THINGS WITH INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, I CAN SEE A LOT OF BENEFIT TO DOING THAT TO IT BEING MUCH LARGER.
[00:25:04]
IT PROBABLY WOULD BE MULTIPLE DAYS, BUT I DO THINK THAT HELPING US HONE IN SOME OF THESE PRIORITIES, IDENTIFYING FUNDING SOURCES OUT THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE A PRUDENT STEP TO TRY.THAT'S JUST MY SUGGESTION, BUT I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO TEASE OUT A LOT MORE BY TAKING THOSE STEPS.
KNOWING AND BEING ABLE TO BRING IN THIS FEEDBACK A QUESTION, WHAT KIND OF DATA EXISTS THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT AS FAR AS LIKE UTILIZATION AND EXPENDITURES VERSUS REVENUE INTO THE ACTUAL PARK SYSTEM BASED UPON THE DIFFERENT PARKS THAT ARE OUT THERE? ARE WE COLLECTING ANY OF THAT? NO, NO. I HAVE SALESMEN WHO, WHO CALL ME ALMOST DAILY WANTING ME TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT THAT.
AND AS OF THIS TIME, THERE HAS NOT BEEN THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT KIND OF MECHANISM.
IT'S NOT CHEAP. BUT IT IS IS DEFINITELY DOABLE.
OUR PARKS. REALLY WE CHARGE IF YOU'RE GOING TO RENT RECREATION CENTERS OR THERE'S THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT. WE DID IT WITH THE OLD RECREATION CENTERS.
WE HAVE FEES FOR THE SENIOR CENTER. WE HAVE FEES FOR PAVILIONS.
IF YOU WANT TO RESERVE A PAVILION, IF IT IS NOT RESERVED, IT'S FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GUARANTEED A SPOT.
AND WHILE I DO NOT DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY GOOD AS WE MAKE A, A WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY A, A LONG TERM PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.
THAT DOESN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION JUST BECAUSE OF TIMELINE.
IS THERE 2 OR 3 THINGS IN THE IN THE FISCAL 27 YEAR THAT WE WANT TO TACKLE THAT ARE VERY, VERY HIGH NEEDS? AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE COULD ALSO BE HAVING MORE OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR MORE OF THE LONG TERM, WHAT I WOULD CALL THE CIP PLAN. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY PLANNING OUT MULTI YEARS ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR SOME OF THESE.
SO IT'S KIND OF A TWO PRONGED. WE NEED ANSWERS AND STAFF CAN COME UP WITH THIS.
ONE IS A A QUICK 27, BUT THERE'S ALSO WE CAN HAVE MORE IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS ON ONGOING YEARS.
AS CITY HEARD FROM OTHER FOLKS FROM THE PAST.
THE ARE THERE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES THAT ARE NOT ON THIS LIST THAT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ABOUT? THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE HEAR ABOUT, I'M ALMOST GOING TO SAY THE WHOLE LIST.
IT'S ADA ISSUES. I GOT AN EMAIL YESTERDAY. LUCKILY WHAT, WHAT THEY SAW IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL ABLE TO DO A QUICK FIX ON. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THOSE NEEDS SIDEWALKS, WALKABILITY IS AN ISSUE. OLD RESTROOMS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REGULARLY HEAR ABOUT.
REALLY THERE'S ANYTHING IN ANY OF THESE THAT DEPENDING ON THE PERSON IN THE PARK THAT THEY REGULARLY ATTEND, THAT'S WHERE THEIR FOCUS IS. WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK CITYWIDE AND IT'S, IT'S FAIRLY DAUNTING.
BUT WE DO HEAR BACK FROM PEOPLE WHO SPECIFICALLY USE A PARTICULAR PARK REGULARLY.
AND WE TRY, IF IT IS WITHIN OUR BANDWIDTH, WE DO TRY AND ADDRESS THOSE IMMEDIATELY.
AND THEN THE LAST. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I GUESS THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT IT IS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS, SOME OF THESE THINGS SEEM LIKE SEEMS IF IT'S NOT EVEN A PRIORITY CONVERSATION, LIKE AN ADA OR A SAFETY OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE PRIORITY. THAT MAINTENANCE PIECE HAS TO BE WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO RUN AFTER FIRST.
[00:30:02]
WHAT'S THE REST OF THE PRIORITY AFTER THAT? BECAUSE THE FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO IS KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE, RIGHT? THAT WAS THE SAME THING I WAS THINKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT PRIORITIZATION MIGHT BE, MIGHT BE TO, TO PRIORITIZE BASED ON SAFETY FIRST AND THEN ACCESSIBILITY FIRST, AND SOME SORT OF A ROTATION FOR REPAIRS TO THE PLAYGROUND.AT THE SAME TIME, TRYING TO LOOK AT THE THE ADA COMPLIANCE.
YOU KNOW, IF RESTROOMS ARE FUNCTIONING REASONABLY WELL THEN SOME SORT OF PLAN MAYBE FOR THE DROP IN RESTROOMS TO REPLACE OLD ONES OR, OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
AGAIN, TRYING TO KEEP IT UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF SAFETY AND IN THAT AREA.
SO I AGREE WITH DAVID. THAT MIGHT BE THE PRIMARY DELINEATION FOR RIGHT NOW IS THOSE THINGS THAT, THAT WE ADDRESSED THAT HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE.
SAFETY NEED. ON GRANTS AND FUNDING. I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF US AS WE'RE INVOLVED IN CIVIC GROUPS OR MEET WITH GROUPS, OR IF SOMEONE OUT THERE WORKS FOR A CORPORATION OR SOMEONE THAT HAS OPPORTUNITIES IF THEY REACH OUT TO THE PARKS BOARD, I'M STILL AMENABLE TO HAVE SOME VOLUNTEERS WORK ON SOME LOOKING FOR SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND NOT PUTTING IT BACK ON PARK STAFF SO MUCH BECAUSE YOUR PLATE IS VERY FULL, AND I THINK THERE ARE GROUPS OUT THERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH US AND HELP.
SO IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE GROUPS, PLEASE CALL US.
THAT'S IT, I THINK. I THINK ALSO, LESLIE, MAYBE A CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF THE PLAYGROUNDS, LIKE WHEN THEY WERE, IF WE COULD JUST LOOK HISTORICALLY WHEN THEY WERE BUILT AND THEN THE ROTATION.
I MEAN, I'VE GOTTEN OUT SOME AND DRIVEN AROUND, BUT TO HAVE YOUR EXPERTISE IN SOMEONE WITH THE HISTORY JUST TO TELL US, YOU KNOW. WHEN WAS THIS BUILT? WHAT'S NEEDED? I JUST NOTICED DRIVING AROUND THAT OUR PLAYGROUNDS ARE USED A LOT, WHICH IS A GOOD FEELING.
FAMILIES WITH PICNICS. AND THEN YOU NOTICE ALL THE KIDS.
AND WE CAN BREAK DOWN. I CAN GET ALL OF THIS INFORMATION FOR YOU.
I WILL, I WILL SAY THIS LIST WILL BE LONGER THAN WHAT WE CAN TACKLE IN FY 27.
BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY START PUTTING A PLAN IN PLACE FOR Y'ALL TO REVIEW AND GIVE US FEEDBACK, MORE FEEDBACK ON. I'M SURE IT'LL BE, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE TO EAT THAT BISCUIT A BITE AT A TIME.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED IN THE LAST MEETING WAS APRIL.
WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE THIS MEETING IN APRIL.
THIS ROOM IS NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE AT 830 ON THE THIRD TUESDAY.
IF PARKS BOARD IS AMENABLE TO IT, WE CAN PLAN A TOUR IN APRIL.
AND INSTEAD OF MEETING IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ON A DIFFERENT DAY.
BUT I COULD SEE WHEN WE COULD GET A QUORUM OR JUST, YOU KNOW, PICK AN AFTERNOON AND BOOK A VAN OR SOME FORM OF TRANSPORTATION THAT WE COULD ALL BE ON AND TAKE A TOUR OF SOME OF OUR PARKS, IF Y'ALL ARE INTERESTED IN THAT.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. I WONDER IF WE COULD.
WELL, I HAVE A QUESTION AND THEN A RESPONSE TO THAT COMMENT, SO I LIED.
I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. IS THERE A TIMELINE WITH WHICH YOU NEED RESPONSE FROM US OR SUGGESTION FROM US, OR IS THAT IS APRIL AMENABLE TO YOU FOR US TO GIVE YOU A SUGGESTION FOR FY 27? APRIL IS OKAY. APRIL WORKS. WHAT? APRIL 22ND WORK.
SO WHATEVER DAY THAT WE HAVE OF OUR. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GREAT IDEA OR A TERRIBLE IDEA, BUT THE DAY THAT WE'RE OPENING OUR REC CENTERS, WOULD THAT BE A GOOD DAY FOR US TO TOUR, OR IS THAT A TERRIBLE IDEA? FOR MY SANITY, I WOULD PREFER IT NOT TO BE ON AUGUST 22ND.
WHAT YOU SAID I WAS GOING TO SAY. THAT'S RIGHT.
OKAY, JUST THINKING THROUGH. I'LL BE IN THE HOPEFULLY IN THE AIR.
BUT I CAN, I CAN PICK A COUPLE DATES FIND 2 OR 3 HOURS EITHER IN, IN A, LIKE A LATE MORNING OR LATE AFTERNOON IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR TIME AND THROW SOME DATES AND TIMES OUT THERE TO SEE WHAT THE AVAILABILITY IS.
OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS? THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK ON THIS.
[00:35:02]
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A ABSOLUTELY A ALLIANCE BIT OF WORK.THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS CLARK'S REPORT.
[3. Parks Report (Discussion)
]
OKAY. OH, OKAY. YOU KNOW, THEY SAY THAT THE LEAD OFF BATTER.
OH, SORRY. OKAY. WELL, I GUESS ON A SECOND, I GUESS WE'LL OPEN THIS.
THE. THIS UP FOR COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT. ANYONE HAVING ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? PLEASE STEP FORWARD. STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO STATE YOUR POSITION.
STANLEY, I'LL DEFER TO YOU. I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED A MOTION.
I THINK I THINK WE'VE CLEARED ENOUGH DIRECTION. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE MOTION WOULD BE FOR.
SO I DON'T THINK YOU NEED ONE. OKAY. WE'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD. OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
HEY, SORRY ABOUT THAT INCONVENIENCE THERE. YOU'RE UP.
YEAH. WE DID. CORONADO PARK'S DIVISION MANAGER.
WE HAD OUR CREWS REPLACE A SCOREBOARD AT WILL.
HAIR. FINALLY WE WERE ABLE TO GO GET THAT DONE.
BECAUSE THE SCOREBOARD WAS NOT THE SAME AS IT WAS IN THE OLD DAYS.
SO BUT WE HAVE A NEW SCOREBOARD AT WHEELCHAIR SOFTBALL.
AND THEN IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER OVER AT NELSON WILSON PARK, WE HAD INSTALLED A NEW PAVILION AND WE COMPLETED THE, THE WHOLE PROJECT AS WE HAVE STARTED, WE STARTED WITH VALENTINE PARK INSTALLING SOFFIT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ROOF TO KEEP BIRDS FROM NESTING. SO WE HAD THE GUYS ALSO DO SOFTWARE INSTALLATION AT NELSON WILSON PAVILION.
SO THAT IS COMPLETE. AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT WE'VE DONE THIS WINTER TIME.
WE HAD A TOTAL OF 526 WORK ORDERS COMPLETED WITH A TOTAL OF ALMOST 7000 LABOR HOURS AND A COST OR INVESTMENT OF $102,814 BETWEEN LABOR AND PARKS.
SO THE GUYS WERE PRETTY BUSY AS ALWAYS DURING THE WINTER WINTERTIME.
WE DON'T GET TO TAKE A BREAK. WE GO STRAIGHT FROM MOWING INTO DOING PROJECTS.
SO I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR Y'ALL THIS MONTH.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SIR.
ALRIGHT. RECREATION DEPARTMENT. GOOD MORNING.
[4. Recreation Report (Discussion)
]
SO LESLIE STOLE MY ONLY THUNDER THAT I HAD FOR THIS MEETING.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE OPENING UP OUR REC CENTERS.
WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. WE'RE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT MOMENT FOR US. OUR REC CENTERS WILL BE OPEN APRIL 22ND FOR, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GV KICK US OFF AT 130 AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO RUN REALLY FAST OVER TO CHAVEZ AND WE'RE GOING TO DO CHAVEZ AT 215.
WE'RE NOT TRANSPORTING, BUT GETTING EVERYBODY TO, TO GET TO ONE LOCATION THAT NEEDS TO BE THERE.
AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR EVERYBODY TO GET TO SEE WHAT WE'VE, WHAT WE'VE DONE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE RIBBON CUTTING? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I REGRET I WILL MISS IT.
I WILL BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA AT ABOUT 40,000FT.
WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE SOME PICTURES FOR YOU. COMING BACK. PLEASE DO. YEAH.
SO VISITING MY GRANDKIDS. ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS FOR CHRIS? IT'S SUPER EXCITING. WE'RE THRILLED. GREAT. I HAD SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY WHO I'VE NEVER HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THINGS THAT GO ON WITH THE CITY BEFORE.
COME UP TO ME THIS LAST WEEK AND SAY, THESE RECREATION CENTERS LOOK AWESOME.
I'M SO EXCITED THAT OUR CITY HAS ACCESS TO THOSE.
[5. Seniors Report (Discussion)
]
[00:40:03]
SO OUR SENIORS REPORT JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS WE'VE GOT COMING UP.WE WANTED YOU TO KNOW ABOUT. SO WE HAVE MARCH 20TH, WHICH IS FRIDAY, 930 TO 1030 IN THE DINING ROOM.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SENIOR ART SHOW. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO PUT TOGETHER.
AND WE'VE GOT SOME QUITE TALENTED SENIORS AT OUR, OUR REC CENTER THERE.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO, TO DISPLAY THEIR WORK. AND KIND OF LIKE A, YOU KNOW, IT'S EITHER ART MUSIC ONE OF THEIR CRAFTS, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME REFRESHMENTS AS WELL. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. SO COME JOIN US AT THE DINING ROOM AT THE ROSE REC AND SEE WHAT OUR TALENTED SENIORS HAVE TO OFFER. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE OFFERING A COFFEE AND CROSSWORDS.
THIS WILL BE ON TUESDAYS FROM 9 A.M. TO 10 A.M.
VERY GOOD. ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? OKAY.
SOUNDS GOOD. THANKS, CHRIS. IS THERE A REPORT, JESSE?
[6. Zoo Report (Discussion)
]
HOPEFULLY THEN MAKE ANOTHER CALF HERE FOR US SOON.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S THE FIRST BUFFALO BORN AT THE ABILENE ZOO BECAUSE WE USED TO HAVE BUFFALO, BUT SHE WAS BORN LAST YEAR. WILD DAYS HAS BEEN EXTENDED.
WE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS REACH OUT FROM LUBBOCK AND SAN ANGELO BECAUSE THEIR SPRING BREAKS ARE THIS WEEK, AND THEY'RE HOPING THAT THIS WOULD BE EXTENDED. SO WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE EXTENDED LIVE SHOWS AND UP CLOSE EXPERIENCES.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO WILD DAYS, PLEASE COME.
IT'S A GREAT TIME AND IT'S LIVE PERFORMANCES WITH PEOPLE GETTING TO MEET OUR ANIMAL AMBASSADORS UP CLOSE, ON STAGE OR BEHIND THE SCENES EXPERIENCES. AND LASTLY, WE'RE INVITING ALL OF YOU TO OUR GROUNDBREAKING.
WE FINALLY TOOK SEVERAL YEARS TO GET THIS GOING, BUT A BOLD ADVENTURES, OUR MASTER PLAN AND THE PHASE ONE IS GOING TO BE CALLED WILD ENCOUNTERS AND FEROCIOUS SEATS. IT'S GOING TO BE MARCH 26TH AT 4 P.M..
THERE'LL BE LIGHT SNACKS AND REFRESHMENTS DURING THAT TIME.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR JESSE? OKAY. THANKS A LOT. OKAY. ARE THERE IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO.
THAT YOU CAN THINK OF, LESLIE, THAT WE NEED TO APPROACH OR DISCUSS THIS MORNING? PART OF OUR MEETING. OKAY. WELL, THAT BEING THE CASE WE SHALL BE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE. BEING HERE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.