Aug 18, 2020 Parks and Recreation

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:02]

TEST >> WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED WITH OUR INVOCATION.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WALK IN A LITTLE BIT LATE.

LEE, COULD YOU LEAD US INTO OUR INVOCATION. >> THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY IN YOUR KINGDOM. HEAVENLY FATHER, I LIFT UP OUR NATION, I LIFT UP OUR STATE.

BUT MOST OF ALL, I LIFT UP OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY OF ABILENE. I PRAY FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THANK YOU THAT EVERY CITIZEN HAS A VOICE.

AND I PRAY FOR, ESPECIALLY THIS PARK BOARD AND WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO SERVE WITH THESE PEOPLE.

I PRAY TODAY THAT YOU GIVE US LISTENING EARS. I PRAY THAT YOU GIVE US WISDOM

TO GUIDE OUR DECISIONS. IN YOUR HOLY NAME I PRAY, AMEN. >> ALL RIGHT.

AS WE GET STARTED THIS MORNING, WE'RE GOING TO START OUR MEETING AS WE ALWAYS DO WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ANY ITEM THAT IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. I KNOW WE'VE GOT A VARIETY OF FOLKS THAT ARE WANTING TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING. SO I INVITE YOU AT THIS TIME TO COME FORWARD TO MAKE ANY COMMENT ON ANY AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO.

PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES, AS WE HAVE SEVERAL FOLKS THAT MAY LIKE TO DISCUSS. IF YOU ARE WEARING A MASK, WE ASK THAT YOU PULL IT DOWN DURING THE TIME THAT YOU'RE AT OUR MICROPHONE SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.

WITH THAT SAID, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA ITEMS? SEEING THAT THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENTS, THAT WILL MOVE US ALONG A BIT QUICKER.

[2. Minutes (Discussion and Action)]

MEETING AND THEN I WILL CALL FOR A MOTION TO ACCEPT. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> MOVED, SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES, SAY AYE. NEGATIVE. WE'RE PASSING MOTIONS LEFT AND RIGHT. THE NEXT PART OF OUR AGENDA ITEM, AS WE GO THROUGH OUR SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS THIS MORNING, SEVERAL OF OUR SPECIFIC ITEMS, ITEMS 4 THROUGH 8, WE WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY AT THAT TIME.

[3. Service Awards (Discussion) Jose Torres Chavarria -5 years of service James Montez Jr. -5 years of service Ornar Rodriguez - 10 years of service]

>> GOOD MORNING, RICHARD ROGERS, I'M NOT THE PARKS DIVISION MANAGER ANYMORE, I'M ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. SO WE HAVE THREE PARKS SERVICE AWARDS THIS MORNING.

FIRST ONE WILL BE JAMES MONTEZ. WE'LL TRY TO STAY SIX FEET APART.

I WANT HIM TO REMOVE HIS MASK SO YOU CAN SEE HIM. JAMES HAS BEEN WITH HIM FIVE YEARS. HE STARTED WHEN HE WAS 11, YOU CAN SEE.

NOT REALLY. HE STARTED AS A YOUNG MAN. BUT WAS PROMOTED FAST.

WE KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT JAMES WAS SPECIAL. TEMPORARY POSITION TO CREW CHIEF IN FIVE YEARS. PROUD OF JAMES. GREAT WORK ETHIC.

COMES TO WORK EVERY DAY, WANTING TO GET EVERYTHING DONE, PUSHES HIS CREW TO DO THE SAME.

JAMES, WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND TIME WITH THE CITY. >> THANK YOU, JAMES.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, SIR. >> NEXT IS JOSE CHAVARRIA.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> JOSE STARTED WHEN HE WAS 11 TOO.

NO. HE STARTED FIVE YEARS AGO AS WELL. JOSE HAS BEEN A GREAT ASSET TO US. HE IS ONE OF THE FEW GUYS THAT HAS MORE LIFE EXPERIENCE THAN I DO. BUT HE CAN OUTWORK ANYBODY IN THE PARK SYSTEM.

HE IS A VALUABLE ASSET TO US. HE HAS GOT A LOT OF SKILLS IN CONCRETE WORK AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. A LOT OF TIMES I TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH CONCRETE WILL BE POURED, JOSE DOES A LOT OF IT. HE ALSO WORKS ON THE MOWING CREW.

WE COULDN'T FUNCTION WITHOUT HIM. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME WITH US.

HOPE YOU'RE HERE ANOTHER 15 YEARS SO WE CAN DO THIS IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL.

>> THANK YOU. >> [APPLAUSE]

>> THE LAST ONE IS OMAR RODRIGUEZ. OMAR HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY TEN

[00:05:02]

EIGHT OF THOSE YEARS. OMAR IS NOW PARK SUPERVISOR. DOES A GREAT JOB FOR US.

HE IS ALSO, HE IS KIND OF A BACKBONE OF THIS GROUP. RUNS ALL OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. HAS A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.

SO HE MANAGES ALL OF OUR SPECIALISTS. BUILDING MAINTENANCE SPECIALISTS AND THOSE KINDS OF GUYS. AS WELL AS THE MOWING CREW.

THERE IS NO TELLING HOW MUCH MONEY WE'VE SAVED THE CITY BY DOING WORK IN HOUSE BECAUSE OF OMAR'S EXPERTISE. THANK YOU FOR TEN YEARS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND MAKING THINGS GO SMOOTHLY FOR US. [APPLAUSE]

>> JOSE, JAMES, AND OMAR, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS MEETING I THINK IS THIS PORTION. WHERE WE GET TO SEE FOLKS, THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS THAT SAY WE'RE DEDICATED TO THE CITY, A LOT OF US DOING OUR PART. BUT YOU GUYS ARE THE HANDS AND FEET.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. WE APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY.

IT IS WHAT IT IS BECAUSE OF FOLKS LIKE Y'ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[4. Cobb Park Disc Golf Course (Discussion and Action)]

>> GOOD MORNING, LESLIE, ANDREWS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE FIRST ITEM WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS IN REGARDS TO DISK GOLF. WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE ABILENE DISK GOLF ASSOCIATION REQUESTING TO PUT A NINE HOLE DISK GOLF COURSE AT COBB PARK.

THEY HAVE THE EQUIPMENT. THEY ARE WILLING TO DONATE THE EQUIPMENT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

THERE IS NO COST TO THE CITY. THE STAFF DOES APPROVE THIS RECOMMENDATION.

JAY, I ALREADY FORGOT HIS LAST NAME, ALBA, IS HERE FOR THE DISK GOLF ASSOCIATION TO SAY A

FEW WORDS. >> COME ON UP TO THE MIC, JAMES.

>> I AM NOT A SPEAKER. >> YOU'RE ABOUT TO BE. COME ON.

>> ONE FUNCTION THAT I DON'T DO WELL. I WAS JUST WANTING TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, DISK GOLF IS STILL ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES. OKAY. IT IS FAMILY FRIENDLY.

WE KIND OF CLEAN UP PARKS AS WE'RE GOING. JUST THE PRESENCE OF US BEING THERE, KIND OF DETERS ANY OF THE NEGATIVE ACTIVITY THAT HAPPENS IN PARKS.

WE'RE EXPANDING SO FAST WITH THE COVID, I WAS TELLING RICHARD THAT WE HAVE MEMBERS THIS LATE IN THE GAME, IN THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF, TO GET 20 NEW MEMBERS THAT QUICK, IT'S PHENOMENAL. WE USUALLY GET EVERYTHING ABOUT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

THE PARKS ARE FILLING UP WITH PEOPLE. AND I'M ASSUMING IT'S BECAUSE YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S A SPORT THAT ANYBODY CAN PLAY. I'VE HAD BACK SURGERY, SHOULDER SURGERY, FOOT SURGERY, I STILL PLAY. IT'S A PHENOMENAL SPORT FOR PEOPLE TO GET OUT, FAMILIES TO GET OUT. AND JUST TRY TO EXPAND, TO ACCOMMODATE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMING IN TO THE SPORT. I WOULD APPRECIATE A POSITIVE

VOTE. >> YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> JUDGING FROM LAST WEEK'S ATTEMPT TO PLAYING GOLF, IT SOUNDS LIKE I NEED TO TAKE UP DISK GOLF AND FORGET THE OTHER.

>> NO TEE TIMES AND NO COSTS. >> GOOD. >> HOW MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATE

GENERALLY ON A DAILY BASIS THAT PLAY THIS? >> I CAN GO FOR THE MEMBERS, WE CALL THEM MINIS, ONE ON WEDNESDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. AND FOR THE MINIS, WE'LL HAVE BETWEEN I WOULD SAY, ON A BAD DAY, ABOUT 15 TO 30. AND THAT IS JUST THE ONES WHERE THEY'RE COMING IN AND PLAYING FOR THE CLUB. OTHER THAN THAT, I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT PARKS, THERE IS LIKE, I MEAN, JUST HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT PLAY.

AND IT'S KIND OF NICE BECAUSE IT'S OUTSIDE AND WE ALL GET TO DO OUR SEPARATE THING.

WE ONLY DO FOUR MAN AND WE CALL STAY IN OUR SEPARATE DEALS. IT'S EASY TO CONTROL.

I THINK ON THE AVERAGE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 50 TO 100 A DAY, EASY.

>> WONDERFUL. I'VE GOT A GRANDSON AND THEIR BABY, AND EVERY SUNDAY

[00:10:05]

IT'S A FAMILY THING THEY DO TOGETHER. IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

>> PERFECT LITTLE VENUE. MY WIFE AND I WERE DOWN THERE FOR MY NEPHEW'S GRADUATION.

AND WE WENT TO I THINK IT'S MCCULLEN PARK. >> MCKENZIE.

>> THE 9 HOLE. >> IT'S BEAUTIFUL. POND IN THE MIDDLE.

FAMILIES WERE EVERYWHERE. MY WIFE AND I, WE PLAY ALMOST ANYWHERE WE GO.

I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY NEAT TO SEE. LITTLE LEAGUE KIDS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO THROW THE DISK. IT'S A GREAT SPORT FOR ANY FAMILY.

>> CERTAINLY SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I CAN THROW A BASEBALL FARTHER THAN I CAN THROW A FRISBEE, WHICH DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR POINTS OF DISCUSSION? SO WE NEED TO APPROVE.

WE DO HAVE TO HAVE AN ACTUAL MOTION. SO WILL YOU MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE ALLOWANCE OF THE DISK GOLF ADDITION. TO BE INSTALLED IN COBB PARK.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, SAY AYE. NEGATIVE. LOOKS LIKE WE PASSED.

[5. Recreation Fall Startup (Discussion and Action)]

>> THE NEXT ITEM IS INFORMATIONAL, MOSTLY, UNLESS YOU HAVE FURTHER DIRECTION FOR STAFF, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING FOR THE RECREATION PROGRAM IS TO REINSTATING OUR AFTER SCHOOL CARE PROGRAM. WITH THE SCHOOLS PLANNING ON OPENING UP AUGUST 24TH, WE PLAN ON OPENING OUR AFTER CARE SCHOOL BACK UP. WITH THE LEAGUES, WE DO PLAN ON STARTING LEAGUES BACK UP, WITHIN COVID REGULATIONS, MEANING SPREADING GAMES OUT SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE TIME TO COME AND GO, CLEAR THE CENTER, CLEAN, LET THE NEXT TEAMS BACK IN. STAGGERING PEOPLE, MASKS, HAND SANITIZER, BUT TO TRY AND GIVE SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY BACK TO THE LEAGUES AND CLASSES. SOME CLASSES, WE'RE KIND OF LEAVING IT UP TO THE INSTRUCTOR. SOME CLASSES LEND THEMSELVES TO GO AHEAD AND STARTING BACK UP. AND OTHER CLASSES DO NOT. AND SO WE'RE KIND OF LEAVING THAT UP TO THE INSTRUCTORS ON WHICH ONES. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE'RE TRYING TO PHASE IN NORMALCY IN THE RECREATION FACILITIES. WE DO PLAN ON HAVING MOST OF OUR FALL SPECIAL EVENTS. MOST OF THEM ARE OUTDOORS, THE ONE THAT ARE INDOORS, WE'VE GOT COMMITTEES EVALUATING THOSE. SOME OF THOSE LIKE FALL FESTIVAL, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST EVENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE FALL, WE CAN HAVE 2500 TO 3000 PEOPLE IN GB DANIELS.

THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN DO THAT IN THE COVID SITUATION. SO THE COMMITTEE THAT CHAIRS THAT EVENT MADE UP OF CITIZENS IN THE AREA, WILL BE MEETING IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO TO EVALUATE HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN SOME SHAPE, FORM OR FASHION THIS YEAR.

AGAIN, ALL SAFETY PROTOCOLS WILL BE ENFORCED AND ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO REGISTER FOR AFTER SCHOOL OR LEAGUES, I INVITE THEM TO WATCH OUR WEBSITE AS WE START GETTING THINGS READY TO TAKE REGISTRATIONS. WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE

ANY QUESTIONS. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING THOUGHT THROUGH.

>> IT'S A CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF FOR INVESTING IN TIME AND RESEARCH TO DO THIS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I KNOW IT'S GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND, WHICH THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY. A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF EFFORT.

>> I'LL PASS THAT ON. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? WE DO NEED A VOTE FOR THIS TO GO FORWARD. SO I WILL HEAR A MOTION TO MOVE

FORWARD WITH THE RECREATION PLAN. >> I SO MOVED WE MOVE FORWARD

WITH THE RECREATION PLAN. >> MOVE. SECOND.

SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. NEGATIVE.

[00:15:02]

[6. Future of Adaptive Recreation Services (Discussion and Action)]

SERVICES. >> ADAPTIVE RECREATION IS A PART OF THE RECREATION PROGRAM.

IT HELPS A SPECIAL NEED IN ABILENE. BEFORE COVID, WE HAD 185 UNDUPLICATED REGISTERED PEOPLE THAT HAD THE POSSIBILITY TO COME TO OUR PROGRAM.

WE WERE AVERAGING 95 PEOPLE TYPICALLY. 56 OF THOSE ARE STATE FUNDED.

101 OF THOSE WERE INDIVIDUAL PAY, IS WHAT WE CALL THEM. IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2020, OUR EXPENSES WERE 305,000, 55,000 WAS ACTUALLY A UNITED WAY GRANT TO PAY FOR THE FOOD, TO PAY FOR THE ADAPTIVE RECREATION ATTENDEES. SO OUR REVENUE WAS 275,000, COSTING THE CITY $30,520. THROUGH OUR FEASIBILITY STUDY, WE KNEW THERE WAS SOME HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS BUILDING, BUT THROUGH OUR FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT WE HAD EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE DID HAVE AN EVALUATION OF THE BUILDING. THERE IS SERIOUS NEEDS IN THIS BUILDING. WHAT STAFF IS COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY IS TO ASK ABOUT REALLY PHILOSOPHICALLY DOES THE CITY OF ABILENE NEED TO BE IN THE ADAPTIVE RECREATION PROGRAM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF HOMES AND DAY HABS OUT THERE THAT HELP TAKE CARE OF INDIVIDUALS.

SOME ARE STILL OPEN, YOU KNOW, SOME HAVE HAD TO CLOSE DUE TO COVID.

BUT IS THIS, IT HAS BEEN, WE'VE HAD ADAPTIVE RECREATION SINCE 1977.

WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PARTICIPANTS. WHEN WE CLOSED OUR DOORS ON MARCH 17TH, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PARTICIPANTS FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS.

SO FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS, THEY HAVE BEEN FINDING OTHER PLACES TO GO TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR DAILY EXERCISE. SO DUE TO THE PHYSICAL ISSUES WITH THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE BUILDING, DUE TO THE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS THAT THE BUDGET IS IN, DUE TO COVID AND REALLY DUE TO YOU KNOW, ARE WE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE.

RIGHT NOW THE BUILDING CAN ONLY HAVE 50 PERCENT CAPACITY. SO HOW WOULD OPENING THAT PROGRAM UP REALLY LOOK IN THIS NEW COVID ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS DIRECTION FROM THE PARKS BOARD ON IF WE NEED TO BE IN THE ADAPTIVE RECREATION BUSINESS, IF NOT, DIRECTION ON LOOKING TO HAND, YOU KNOW, THOUGHTFULLY HAND THAT PROGRAM OFF TO ANOTHER ENTITY, OR IF IT IS TO STAY IN THE PROGRAM, HOW WE

NEED TO LOOK AT OPENING BACK UP AND WHEN. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE ABOUT, HAVE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK IN TO THOSE FOLKS WHO USED TO ATTEND PRE-COVID, HOW MANY OF THEM MIGHT COME BACK? HAVE YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO LOOK INTO THAT?

>> WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT AT THIS POINT. >> I THINK THAT WAS MY QUESTION TOO, GARY, HAVE WE SURVEYED THOSE WHO WILL BE USING THE SERVICES AND WHAT WILL THEY DO

IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT. >> AND ALSO, I WOULD ADD TO THAT, HAVE WE IDENTIFIED THOSE OTHER ENTITIES THAT COULD PROVIDE ADAPTIVE RECREATION SERVICES TO THOSE PEOPLE.

WE COULD SAY, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO EITHER, BY THE WAY, OUT OF THE UNDUPLICATED, 185, HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE ALREADY FOUND SOMETHING OR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED.

I THINK THAT IS DELTA I'M LOOKING FOR, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN SERVED OVER THE

PAST FIVE MONTHS OR HAVE NOT FOUND AN ALTERNATIVE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ALSO.

WHAT WAS THE REASON THAT SO MANY PEOPLE CHOSE NOT TO COME BACK? ANY TYPE OF RESEARCH ON THAT? UNFORTUNATELY, I SPENT SOME TIME WORKING WITH THESE TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY, A LOT OF THE PLACES THAT MAY WANT TO TAKE OVER, I AM NOT REAL COMFORTABLE WITH. SO IF WE HAVE A VOTE, MY VOTE WOULD BE NO. I THINK THE CITY

[00:20:04]

BUT I THINK IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE PEOPLE THAT GET CUT ARE THE LEAST PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE CUT. AND I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS PROGRAM BEING CUT.

>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE 56 PEOPLE THAT ARE STATE FUNDED, WE KNOW THEY HAVE A PLACE TO GO. IT'S THE 101 INDIVIDUALS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO SURVEY TO FIND OUT AND BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, THE REASON THEY HAVEN'T COME BACK SO FAR IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT OPENED THE PROGRAM BACK UP. WE WANT -- WE DID NOT WANT TO OPEN THE PROGRAM AND THEN TURN AROUND AND DECIDE TO CLOSE THE PROGRAM. SO WE WANTED TO COME TO PARKS BOARD AND GET YOUR FEELING ON WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE CITY CONTINUING IN THIS PROGRAM BEFORE WE EVEN TRIED OPENING THE DOORS BACK UP. BECAUSE AT LEAST FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS, THEY HAVE BEEN FINDING SOME PLACE ELSE TO GO OR STAYING HOME.

WE DON'T KNOW WITHOUT DOING THE SURVEY. >> I HAVE KIND OF A NUTS AND BOLTS QUESTION. YOU SAID THIS CAME ABOUT IN 1977.

WAS THERE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE CITY BY LAWS OR CHARTER OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES TO ALWAYS HAVE A WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF CARE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.

>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. >> BECAUSE THAT WOULD CERTAINLY FORM ANY TYPE OF DECISION THAT

WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE, RIGHT? >> I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR THE FACILITY WITH THE UNITED WAY GRANT COMMITTEE. IT'S PRETTY HEART WARMING TO WATCH THE INTERACTION AND THE GOOD JOB THAT THE STAFF DOES. AND THEN IT'S ALSO A WAKE-UP CALL THAT I THINK WE TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT EVERYONE HAS A PLACE TO GO. BUT WHEN YOU SEE THAT THESE CLIENTS OR CITIZENS MIGHT NOT, YOU REALIZE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO FULFILL THAT NEED.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO. IF YOU DO AWAY WITH THE PROGRAM, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A QUALITY PLACE TO GO.

I WAS VERY VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE JOB BEING DONE. >> IS THE BULK OF THE COST THAT THE CITY INCURS STAFF MOSTLY? OR WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE COST, THE

ACTUAL EXPENSE $305,000? >> THE BULK OF IT IS STAFFING. >> MAYBE A SAFE PRESUMPTION TO SAY THAT IF WE HAD 50 PEOPLE, WE WOULD PROBABLY CUT THAT BUDGET, 305,000 DOWN

SIGNIFICANTLY, I GUESS. >> PROBABLY NOT. >> PROBABLY NOT.

>> WE RUN ON MINIMUM STAFFING. AND BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING AND THE WAY THEY SPREAD OUT IN THE BUILDING, WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP THE SIX PEOPLE FOR MONITORING PURPOSES.

>> OKAY. >> DO WE HAVE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING IN THE

REVENUE? >> NOT, I BELIEVE IN THE WAY YOU'RE ASKING THE QUESTION, BUT THE CLIENTS THAT DO COME FROM STATE FUNDED FACILITIES, WE ARE PAID THE STATE RATE.

SO IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE THE STATE-FUNDED PEOPLE, THEN THE COST TO THE CITY WILL GO UP.

BECAUSE INDIVIDUAL PAY DOES NOT COVER THE BULK OF THE EXPENSES. WE ONLY CHARGE $40 A MONTH.

WHICH IS JUST A LITTLE OVER A DOLLAR A DAY. >> I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. MAYBE BEFORE WE ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION ON THIS. BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH OUR PREVIOUS TOPIC ABOUT AFTER SCHOOL, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT LINING UP WITH THE MOVE THAT COUNCIL HAD INDICATED THEY MIGHT TAKE WITH DOING AWAY WITH AFTER SCHOOL AND ACTUALLY AFTER SCHOOL CONTINUES AS A RESULT OF THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS A DEFINITIE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY. SO YOU KNOW, I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST SEE SOME STATISTICS, I KNOW IT'S EXTRA WORK FOR Y'ALL, I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STATS MAYBE ABOUT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE 101 YOU THINK WOULD ACTUALLY COME BACK, HAVE NOT FOUND AN ALTERNATIVE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT BEFORE WE TAKE AN ACTION LIKE THIS. THAT WOULD BE MY

RECOMMENDATION, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> ONE THING THAT IS COMING TO MIND TOO IS I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHERE THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE FINDING AN ALTERNATIVE. IF THEY'RE SEEING SIMILAR PATTERNS. JUST HAVING LOST PEOPLE, JUST DUE TO THE FEAR OF COVID.

[00:25:03]

I'VE BEEN IN THE CENTER, SEEING LAURA WHEN SHE WAS HERE AND INTERACTING WITH SOME OF THOSE FOLKS. IT IS HEART WARMING. IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT THE CITY IS OFFERING SOMETHING THAT SHOWS THAT -- I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE BUILDING. MY FOLLOW-UP QUESTION WOULD BE, IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE

LOCATION THAT WE COULD HOUSE THIS PROGRAM. >> ALTERNATIVE LOCATION IS A BIG QUESTION AND IT WOULD TAKE QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH FOR US TO LOOK INTO.

ANY PLACE WOULD TAKE SIGNIFICANT MONEY PROBABLY A BOND.

>> IF WE KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING, WHEN IS THE ANTICIPATED START-UP?

>> WE DO NOT HAVE ONE. >> IF WE SHOULDER THIS FOR A MONTH FOR RESEARCH, IS THERE AN ANTICIPATED COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT? IS THERE A SIGNIFICANT CITY COST THAT WE'RE INCURRING FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS OR SO? I'M TRYING TO BE REALISTIC, HEY, WHAT DO WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS DO WE HAVE

FOR LESLIE? I DID HEAR, A MOTION FROM GARY. >> ONE QUICK QUESTION, DO YOU

WANT TO OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

GREAT QUESTION. >> IT'S LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ASK.

YES, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES OR LESS IF YOU HAVE ANY. I'LL WAIT THREE MINUTES.

NO. I'M KIDDING. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. WITH THAT, SEEING THAT NO ONE

HAS ANY COMMENT, GARY I GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE MOTION. >> SO MOVED.

>> WE TABLE IT. >> TABLE IT. SECOND BY MARK.

>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. NEGATIVE. ABSTAIN.

SO PASSES. ON THE STATISTICS AROUND THOSE AFFECTED MOST DIRECTLY BY THIS AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

[7. Senior Services Startup (Discussion and Action)]

START-UP. >> THE SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAM, ALSO ON MARCH 17TH, BASICALLY WE CLOSED OUR DOORS TO THE SENIOR PROGRAM AND STARTED OFFERING DRIVE-THROUGH MEALS.

Y'ALL HAVE HEARD BOBBY GIVE REPORTS ON THAT OVER THE MONTHS.

HE HAS ANOTHER REPORT LATER ON TODAY. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS AS WE START MOVING INTO THE FALL THAT WE WANTED TO BRING TO PARKS BOARD IS TO SEE IF AND WHEN AND HOW WE MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN OPENING UP THE SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAM AGAIN.

THIS IS AGAIN, ANOTHER SPECIAL POPULATION THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO PROTECT FROM COVID.

OUR NUMBERS ACTUALLY THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH KEEP GOING UP.

IT IS A POPULAR PROGRAM. WE ACTUALLY HAVE ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE LINE THAT WE HAD PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED.

BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, WITH OUR SATELLITE LOCATIONS, GB DANIELS HAD A SENIOR PROGRAM, COBB HAD A SENIOR PROGRAM, SEARS HAD A SENIOR PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OUR MAIN SENIOR SERVICES. JUST LIKE THE KIDS AND ADULTS AND EVERYBODY ELSE, THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER AND INTERACT AGAIN.

SO WE REALLY WANTED TO BRING BACK TO PARKS BOARD TO GET ANY KIND OF FEEDBACK ON DO WE WANT TO WAIT ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO TO EVEN DISCUSS THIS? DO WE WANT TO LOOK AT OPENING THE DOORS? DO WE WANT TO INDEFINITELY DO DRIVE-THROUGH, LOOKING FOR

GUIDANCE. >> IS THERE A STAFF RECOMMENDATION?

>> IT SEEMS TO ME, FROM WHAT I READ AND HEAR, ALL OF THE MOUNDS OF INFORMATION THAT WE GET ABOUT COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF AN EXPECTED SURGE IN THE FALL. AND IF ACCORDING TO WHAT THE GUIDELINES CDC AND OTHERS ISSUE, THAT I AM IN A HIGH RISK CATEGORY BASED ON AGE, AS ARE A COUPLE OF US IN HERE, BUT YOU

[00:30:01]

FRIENDS. >> I THINK THE DRIVE-THROUGH HAS BEEN, I THINK IT'S FULFILLED A NEED. BUT THEN I THINK IT'S ALSO BEEN A GREAT, I THINK IN THE FUTURE WE'LL SEE THAT AS A RECRUITMENT FOR OTHER SENIOR CITIZENS THAT HAVE NOT KNOWN ABOUT OUR CENTERS AND NOW THEY DO BECAUSE THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH.

I THINK OUR GOAL IS TO GET AS MANY SENIORS ENGAGED IN OUR CENTERS AS POSSIBLE AND I THINK THE DRIVE-THROUGH IS A GOOD SEGUE TO THAT. BUT THEN AGAIN, AS FAR AS I THINK WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SAFETY. BECAUSE THAT IS --

>> BY THE SAME TOKEN, IF WE OPEN IT AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM, WE'VE GOT TO CLOSE IT AGAIN.

>> SOUNDS FAMILIAR. >> YEAH. I'M IN FAVOR OF HOLDING OFF.

>> ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STAFF AS THE NUMBERS START TO GO DOWN AGAIN AND THE WEATHER STARTS TO COOL, MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OUTDOOR OPTIONS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT SAFER THAN BEING IN THE CENTER. BUT STILL PROVIDE THAT. BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL BELIEVE THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL HEALTH RIGHT NOW AND WE KNOW THAT

BEING ISOLATED IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE. >> I'LL SECOND THAT.

>> WELL, IF NOTHING ELSE THE SENIOR STAFF IS VERY CREATIVE, I AM SURE THAT THEY CAN COME UP

WITH IT. >> THEY'RE OUTSTANDING. GREAT.

>> WITH THE IDEA THAT WE CAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE SUGGEST THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AS THINGS ARE PRESENT. WE WILL OPEN THIS UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT, IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR LESLIE. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? WE DO NEED A MOTION, IS THAT

CORRECT? >> SO MOVED. >> SO MOVED.

SECOND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SECOND, MIKE.

I KNOW YOU'RE EXCITED TO MAKE THAT SECOND. I GUESS OUR MOTION IS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE IT WITH OUR CURRENT SITUATION AND LOOK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THE LINE, FOR REOPENING. ALL THE AFFIRMATIVE SAY AYE. NEGATIVE.

ABSTENTION. FULL VOTE THERE AS WELL. SO LESLIE, WITH THAT, LET'S

[8. Parks Improvements (Discussion and Action)]

MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 8, PARKS IMPROVEMENTS. >> YES.

DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, CITY COUNCIL IDENTIFIED $432,000 THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE USED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARK SYSTEM. THEIR MAIN FOCUS AT THE TIME WAS STEVENSON PARK AND ESPECIALLY THE OLD BATHROOM IN STEVENSON PARK.

LAST WEEK AT CITY COUNCIL, THEY DECIDED TO ASK THE PARKS BOARD HOW TO SPEND THAT 432,000, TO REALLY GET THE BEST BANG FOR THEIR BUCK. WITH THE EMPHASIS BEING ON STEVENSON PARK AND MAKING SURE THAT THE BATHROOM IS INCLUDING IN THAT.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A PARKS MASTER PLAN. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE TO STEVENSON SINCE 2014.

MAINLY WITH THE SPLASH PAD BUT THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE OUT THERE. SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE FOR THIS 432,000.

THERE ARE TWO ITEMS THAT ARE REALLY FAIRLY IMPORTANT FOR STAFF AND HELPING MAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. ONE, THE OLD BATHROOM, WE BELIEVE HAS ASBESTOS, JUST FROM THE CURSORY LOOK AT IT. SO WE WOULD LIKE FUNDING TO DO AN ASBESTOS TEST ON THAT BATHROOM. THAT WILL HELP GUIDE US TO KNOW WHETHER AND HOW WE CAN EITHER REPAIR IT OR DEMOLISH IT AND WHAT THAT COST WILL BE. IF IT DOES PROVE TO HAVE ASBESTOS, OF COURSE, THE PRICE GOES UP. IF IT DOES NOT HAVE ASBESTOS, THEN IT WILL BE MUCH CHEAPER TO EITHER REPAIR OR REPLACE, DEPENDING ON THE DIRECTION THAT PARKS BOARD GOES. THE OTHER ITEM THAT IS RATHER IMPORTANT, WHILE WE HAVE THE 2014 PARKS MASTER PLAN, AS Y'ALL KNOW, WE HAVE DONE PARKS SPECIFIC PLANS.

WE HAVE A NELSON PLAN. THERE IS A SEARS PLAN. THERE IS A KIRBY LAKE PLAN.

WE DO NOT HAVE A STEVENSON PLAN. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SPEND A FEW DOLLARS, I SAY THAT, PROBABLY 30,000 OR LESS, ON DOING A PLAN FOR STEVENSON TO

[00:35:07]

IF IT DOES NOT HAVE ASBESTOS, IT WILL BE AROUND 215. IF WE JUST REPAIR IT, WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT WHAT THAT COST WILL BE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ASBESTOS TEST FIRST.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TODAY IS RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PARKS BOARD ON HOW TO SPEND THIS

$432,000 IN OUR PARKS SYSTEM. >> THE FUNDING FOR THE ASBESTOS TEST, IS THAT COMING OUT OF

PARKS BUDGET OR CITY BUDGET? >> NO. IT WOULD COME OUT OF THE $432,000.

AND I BELIEVE THE COST IS EITHER BETWEEN 1500 AND $2,500. >> I HAVE GONE BY STEVENSON PARK 12 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. AND MY PHONE WILL ACTUALLY SAY THIS MANY MINUTES TO STEVENSON PARK WHEN I GET IN MY CAR SOMETIMES.

I SEE THE NEED FOR A PLAN ONLY TWICE HAVE I FOUND FAMILIES IN THE PARK.

I'VE GONE AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY. TWICE I FOUND FAMILIES ON THE SPLASH PAD. THE REST IS PEOPLE SITTING UNDER TREES AND ENJOYING JUST THE OUTDOORS. NO WALKERS. I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO INVEST MONEY INTO A PARK, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO INVEST THE TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK OUR BOARD AND THE CITY ARE VERY OPEN TO INPUT, WHEN WE DID THE PARKS BOARD, WE ALSO DID A REVISITING.

LESLIE, WHEN WAS THE REVISITING OF NEW FACILITIES, STICKY NOTES?

>> THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. >> WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.

THE CITY WEBSITE HAS A BUTTON FOR SUGGESTIONS. AND I KNOW WE'VE DONE SURVEYS AND WALK-THROUGHS AND HAD CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AT DIFFERENT PLACES.

SO IF WE EMBARK ON A PARKS PLAN, I EXPECT WHAT THE CITY HAS ALWAYS DONE, IN ENGAGING THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, BUT RIGHT NOW, WHEN I'VE BEEN BY, THIS IS NOT A VERY UTILIZED PIECE OF PROPERTY. AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS KIND OF MONEY DURING THESE TIMES INTO THIS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT SO THAT SOMEONE

BENEFITS. IT DOESN'T JUST SIT THERE. >> YEAH.

YOU MENTIONED A COMMITTEE. CITIZENS I GUESS ARE IN THAT AREA, IN THAT GENERAL VICINITY OF STEVENSON PARK, I WOULD SURE LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU KNOW, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IN AN EXERCISE LIKE THIS YOU SAY OKAY, TELL ME WHAT IT WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD GET WHAT YOU WANT AND THEN START LOOKING THROUGH AS TO WHAT IS FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE FOR THE CITY. FOR THE BUDGET INVOLVED. I KNOW WE'VE GOT A COMMIT QUOTE/UNQUOTE, WE HAVE A COMMITMENT, NOT QUOTE/UNQUOTE FOR 432,000.

WE DON'T WANT TO JUST THROW STUFF OUT THERE AND SAY HEY, WE WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY WANT. AND SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF US HAVING MAYBE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THIS BOARD TO MEET WITH THAT COMMITTEE AND JUST FIND OUT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT STEVENSON PARK. AND THEN COMPARE THAT TO WHAT IS AVAILABLE, THE COST WOULD BE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOME COST TO CONSTRUCTION, DESTRUCTION OR

WHATEVER ELSE WE HAVE TO DO OUT THERE. >> I WILL SAY ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS IS IN THIS ROOM, WHEN WE OPEN FROM PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU MAY HEAR A FEW OF

THOSE ANSWERS. >> VERY GOOD. VERY GOOD.

>> THIS IS MIP MONEY SO IT'S NOT RESTRICTED TO THE FISCAL YEAR.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LET SIT FOR YEARS AND YEARS. IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE

WOULD BE LOOKING AT DOING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. >> (INAUDIBLE)

>> YES. >> WELL, I ENCOURAGE, WHEN THIS COMMITTEE IS AS ACTIVE AS

[00:40:02]

>> I WANTED TO ADD, I THINK THAT COUNCIL IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH DESIGNATING SOME MONEY FOR STEVENSON OR FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE PARKS IN GENERAL.

FROM WATCHING THE COUNCIL MEETING, I LOVED THE MENTORSHIP OFFERED BY SEARS.

SO WHAT I DID, IS I DROVE THROUGH SEARS PARK. IT'S EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE.

I THINK IT'S IMPRESSIVE BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE IT WHAT IT IS. AND IN THE COMMENTS, THOUGH, THEY TALKED ABOUT THAT SEARS PARK, THE IMPROVEMENTS DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN, IT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF PARTNERSHIPS.

I LIKED THAT THEY SAID THAT IT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. BUT ALSO WITH THE CITY STAFF. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NEED BOTH. I THINK THAT IS WHAT ROBIN IS SAYING.

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS FOR ME WAS SEARS REACHING OUT TO STEVENSON AND OFFERING TO HELP THEM AND SHOW THEM HOW THEY GOT THAT ENERGY TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS.

SO I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. KIND OF MY THOUGHT ON I DROVE THROUGH SEARS AND THEN I WENT TO STEVENSON. I GUESS ROBIN, UNLIKE YOUR EXPERIENCE, THERE WERE PROBABLY 20 OR 30 PEOPLE GATHERED TO WHERE I WAS LIKE YOU KNOW, IS THERE A MEETING? YOU KNOW, AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND THE PARK, THERE IS REALLY NOT A PLACE TO GATHER. THERE IS A SMALL COVERING. SO KIND OF MY IMPRESSION IS THAT I THINK IT'S IN DIRE NEED OF IMPROVEMENT. I REALLY DO.

BUT I THINK IN ORDER TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, TO STEVENSON, WHICH I THINK NEED TO BE DONE, THERE HAS TO BE A PROCESS. AND I THINK WORKING TOGETHER WE

CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. >> I TEND TO AGREE. I DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING FORTH THE SUGGESTIONS AS WELL AS FAR AS A PLAN. I THINK THAT WE DO THINGS BEST WHENEVER WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE. AND WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AND HOW WE COME TO THAT PLAN AS WELL. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I SEE A LOT OF BENEFIT IN. SO I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL FOLKS HERE THAT MAY LIKE TO SPEAK INTO THAT PLAN, OR SPEAK HOW WE GET TO THAT PLAN.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR LESLIE OR BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> ANY CHANCE ON BRINGING THE ROCKET BACK TO SEARS PARK? MY FAVORITE AS A KID.

>> THANKS, LESLIE. WITH THAT, WE'LL OPEN THIS UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES OR LESS. SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY FOR THIS TOPIC. COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SHANTE FLEMING. I AM THE FOUNDER OF THE STEVENSON PARK COMMITTEE. I HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY COUNCIL HALL IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS MORE THAN MY WHOLE LIFE. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO LESLIE ANDREWS AND RICHARD ROGERS, AND THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TO BE AT A PARKS AND BOARD REC MEETING HERE. SO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF LIKE STEVENSON PARK, THAT IS CONSIDERED THE BLACK PARK HERE. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR US, WE HAVE NO CLUBS, NO LIKE SOCIAL, WE HAVE A FEW RESTAURANTS. THE TIMES THAT PEOPLE GO OUT THERE, I'M NOT SURE OF THOSE TIMES. BUT WHEN WE GO OUT THERE AND WE HAVE EVENTS, WE WANT TO HAVE FUNCTIONAL WATER, WATER FOUNTAINS FOR THE KIDS.

WE HAD A JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE, A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION OUT THERE.

THE BATHROOMS, WE HAVE TO GET PORT-A-POTTIES OUT THERE. NO FUNCTIONING WATER FOUNTAINS.

WHY WOULD KIDS WANT TO COME OUT THERE? WE HAVE A HUGE HUGE COMMUNITY OF KIDS THAT WOULD LOVE TO COME OUT THERE. THEY WOULD RATHER GO TO SEARS PARK. BECAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S A WARM FEELING.

IT'S A WELCOMING FEELING. SOMEBODY MENTIONED ABOUT WALKING.

WE CAN'T WALK IN STEVENSON. THERE IS NO WALKING TRAILS. WE WOULD LOVE TO.

WE ARE PLANNING REALLY BIG EVENTS. DUE TO COVID, WE HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN, LIMITED TO THINGS. WE HAVE CLEAN-UP COMMITTEE EVERY TWO WEEKS IN STEVENSON.

[00:45:02]

WE'VE ASKED SOME OF THE CITIZENS OUT THERE EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE HAS COME FROM THAT AREA. MEMBERS THAT LIVE OUT THERE. PEOPLE THAT SAY THAT THIS PARK WILL NEVER BE FIXED UP BECAUSE IT'S BEEN NEGLECTED FOR SO LONG.

WHEN WE CAME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, WE WERE BASICALLY BEGGING FOR SOMETHING THAT I FELT LIKE WAS JUST UNJUST. IT WASN'T EQUAL. WHY CAN'T OUR PARKS, WHY CAN'T OUR SPLASH PADS BE WELCOMING. WHY CAN'T THOSE KIDS DOWN THERE DESERVE TO HAVE SOMETHING.

IT'S JUST BASIC. IT'S LAND. YEAH.

PEOPLE GATHER. IT'S A DUMP. SO PEOPLE GATHER DOWN THERE, THEY DUMP THEIR TRASH, THEY DUMP THEIR WHATEVER INTO THAT PARK.

THAT IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR ME, AS WHEN WE GET DOWN THERE AND WE DO THINGS WITH THE YOUTH, WITH THE SENIORS, FOR JUNETEENTH, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE HAVE FUNCTIONING SUPPLIES TO HELP US. WE HAVE ADDITIONS TO THE SPLASH PAD, TO HELP IT BE MORE ATTRACTIVE, SO KIDS WILL WANT TO COME. WE HAVE SHADE SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO SIT OUT IN TENTS. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M ASKING FOR.

WE JUST BE CONSIDERATE, BRINGING SOMETHING TO THIS PARK THAT IT NEEDS.

DRIVING OUT ALL THIS NEGATIVE ENERGY INTO THIS PARK AND BRINGING POSITIVE TO WEED IT

OUT. AND THAT IS ALL I'M ASKING FOR, THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.

WE'RE GOING TO DOCK YOU FOR BEING LATE. THE SEARS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, WE ARE ADVOCATES, AS ALL OF US ARE, FOR STEVENSON, $432,000 IS REALLY NOT GOING TO GO VERY FAR, REALLY. JUST IN THE RESTROOM, THEY NEED GOOD FACILITIES, JUST IF NOTHING ELSE, JUST FOR THAT. WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MOST OF THAT MONEY FOR THAT.

I WAS OUT THERE AND TALKED TO THE GROUP AND THE SPLASH PAD, IT NEEDS SOME SLIDES ON IT.

I THINK THAT WOULD ATTRACT. BUT THE PROMISE OF IT IS, ALL THAT LAND THAT WE HAVE, I MEAN, WE COULD BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER COMPLEX FOR SOCCER, FOR FOOTBALL, FOR I MEAN, THE POSSIBILITIES ARE TREMENDOUS. SEARS PARK, IT HAS BEEN A JOURNEY OF 20 YEARS.

NONE OF THIS STUFF HAPPENED AT SEARS HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. BUT WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH LESLIE AND MR. ROGERS AND ANN AND BOBBY.

THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB IN TRYING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AT SEARS PARK, WE'RE LAND LOCKED. WE CAN'T REALLY ADD MUCH TO IT.

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYMORE SPACE. SO I'VE BEEN TALKING TO MS. ANDREWS ABOUT MAYBE BUYING PROPERTY TO EXTEND IT. BUT WE HAVE DONE SOME WONDERFUL THINGS AT SEARS, BASEBALL COMPLEX LOOKS FANTASTIC. OUR SPLASH PADS, GAZEBOS.

WE NEED A WALKING TRACK, DESPERATELY. I AM NOT OLD ENOUGH YET WHERE I CAN'T SEE. BUT WE HAVE SOME BIG SERIOUS ISSUES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT AT THE NEXT CYCLE. AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT. LESLIE IS WORKING REAL HARD WITH THAT.

BUT STEVENSON NEEDS ATTENTION TO BRING THAT COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

AND I'M AVAILABLE TO THEM AND SO IS THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM WITH A PLAN. I GAVE LESLIE THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN FOR SEARS THIS MORNING. AND THAT IS A DOCUMENT THAT TOOK A LOT OF COMMITMENT TO MAKE. WE JUST HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PARK AT SEARS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT START TO BUILD OVER AT STEVENSON.

AND AS YOU, I WILL DO MY PART TO HELP. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS FOR LESLIE BEFORE

WE MOVE FORWARD? >> I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT -- HELLO.

I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMETHING. JUST CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THEY DETERMINED THE 432,000.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WAS FUNDS IN MIP THAT ARE NOT COMMITTED TO ANOTHER PROJECT AT THIS POINT.

>> SO BASICALLY IT'S UNRELATED, IT'S UNRESTRICTED FUNDS THAT WERE AVAILABLE.

OKAY. >> IF I'M NOT CORRECT, I WILL LET YOU KNOW.

[00:50:04]

>> IT'S FINE. >> ONE THING I DIDN'T MENTION EARLIER IS ALSO STEVENSON IS ONE OF THE KEY PARKS ON CEDAR CREEK, THE CEDAR CREEK POTENTIAL WATERWAY.

SO THE OTHER ISSUE WITH HAVING THIS PLAN WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP IN MIND, AND ARE MIRRORING THOSE TWO IDEAS AND NOT COMPETING SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, AS THE CEDAR CREEK PROJECT MOVES FORWARD, THAT WE DON'T PUT ANYTHING IN STEVENSON THAT CONFLICTS WITH THAT, OR VICE VERSA. ALSO STEVENSON IS, HAS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION THAT IS IN THE FLOODWAY. SO THIS PLAN AGAIN WOULD ALSO HELP US KNOW WHEN AND WHERE WE CAN BUILD WHAT. TO BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THE SPACE FOR USAGE.

>> WHEN WERE THE LAST IMPROVEMENTS TO STEVENSON? >> WHEN THE SPLASH PAD WAS PUT IN. THE SPLASH PAD AND THE NEW BATHROOM.

STEVENSON ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE FIRST SPLASH PAD OF THE 2015 BOND MONEY.

AND THOSE FUNDS BOUGHT THE BEST THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME.

THE SPLASH PAD AT SEARS DID NOT GO IN FOR THREE TO FOUR YEARS LATER.

BY THAT TIME, SLIDES AND STUFF WERE AVAILABLE. I AM TALKING TO THE COMPANY THAT PUT IN STEVENSON TO TRY AND GET SOME IDEAS OF MAYBE SOME IMPROVEMENTS OR THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. SO WE'LL BE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

>> LESLIE, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THERE IS A 10NIS COURT AT STEVENSON THAT I THINK THE REQUEST WAS TO HAVE IT AS A BASKETBALL COURT. I THINK THAT IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA. FROM DRIVING, IF YOU DRIVE AROUND ALL OF THE PARKS IN ABILENE, IF THERE IS A BASKETBALL GOAL, THERE IS SOMEONE PLAYING.

AND TO ME, THAT IS A QUICK AND EASY. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT FOR SURE ON THE COST. BUT THAT IS JUST ANOTHER SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS DOABLE TO DO. AND INEXPENSIVE WAY. BUT YOU'VE GOT THIS TENNIS COURT THAT IS JUST LITERALLY SITTING THERE. WHICH IS A GREAT PLACE TO BRING

KIDS TOGETHER. >> THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASKED THE COMMITTEE, IS WHAT THEIR PREFERENCE WOULD BE FOR THAT LOCATION, WHETHER TO CONVERT IT AS BASKETBALL OR LEAVE IT AS TENNIS, WHICH WOULD BE PART OF THESE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. >> WOULD IT BE ADVISABLE FOR US

TO MAYBE HAVE A WORKSHOP WITH THE COMMITTEE? >> IT'S POSSIBLE.

>> SO THAT WE COULD HEAR FROM THEM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.

AGAIN, I GO BACK TO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST, THAT WE PUT IN A PARK IN ANY GIVEN PART OF TOWN IS PROBABLY IRRELEVANT, WHEN YOU ASK THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND UTILIZE THAT PARK.

IT'S MORE IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL, WOULD BE GOOD THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. SO I WOULD SUGGEST MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT WE TRY TO HAVE A WORKSHOP, MAYBE IN THE NEXT, BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT MEETING IF IT'S FEASIBLE,

CERTAINLY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. >> I APPRECIATE THAT COMMENT.

AS WE WERE SITTING HERE, I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK OF OTHER SITUATIONS IN WHICH LARGER GROUPS ARE GOVERNING SMALLER GROUPS AND WISH THEY HAD FLEXIBILITY THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY HAVE. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THAT IS A GREAT

SUGGESTION. >> WELL, IF THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO THAT ARE, I'M TRYING TO PICTURE IN MY MIND A CHART THAT SAYS ABSOLUTE HAVE TO HAVE, AND THE NEXT COLUMN WOULD BE WE REALLY REALLY NEED. AND I THINK THE $432,000 IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE SPENT, A BIG CHUNK OF THAT IS ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE IMPROVEMENTS TO SOME EXTENT. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE ARE SOME WAYS THAT WE COULD DEVELOP THOSE PARTNERSHIPS WE TALKED ABOUT. MAYBE THERE'S WAYS, I HATE TO SAY, THAT THE STAFF, WE CAN GO TO THE CITY AND ASK FOR MORE EVEN.

BUDGETS ALLOW AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS NEEDED. I JUST NEED, THAT IS WHAT I NEED TO KNOW.

AND HOW WE DO IT. >> I WOULD LIKELY BE IN AGREEMENT TO MUCH OF THAT.

AS I HEARD, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE MAY BE SOME CITY HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT MAY BE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

IF WE HAVE AN ASBESTOS ISSUE, WITH A CITY PARK BATHROOM, PROBABLY NEED TO GET THAT

[00:55:03]

I WONDER IF THERE IS A WAY TO GO FORWARD WITH BOTH OF THESE THINGS.

WE LEAVE THE REST OF IT OUT TO THE WORKSHOP. THAT PERHAPS WOULD GIVE US TIME TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE EVEN HAVE. TO SAY WE'VE GOT AVAILABLE, $30,000 BUDGET ITEM, WE'RE EATING A LOT OF THAT BEFORE WE EVEN GET STARTED.

>> DO WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF MOTION TO RECOMMEND THAT WE DO THAT ASBESTOS TEST?

>> YES. IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HIRING SOMEBODY TO DO THE PLAN THAT COULD ALSO BE AT THE WORKSHOP, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THE WORKSHOP FIRST, THEN JUST

THE ASBESTOS TEST. >> I DON'T KNOW. I'VE GOT MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT THE SEQUENCE. ASBESTOS, NUMBER ONE, WE NEED TO DO THAT.

AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION FOR THAT PART OF IT ANYWAY, THAT WE GO

AHEAD AND PURSUE THE ASBESTOS TESTING. >> SECOND.

>> MOVED WITH ITEM ONE ON THIS, ITEM ONE ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM, MOVE FORWARD WITH AN ASBESTOS TEST FOR THIS PARK. AFFIRMATIVE PLEASE VOTE AYE. NEGATIVE.

ABSTAIN. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ASBESTOS TEST.

>> I'VE GOT MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE, DO WE MEET WITH THE COMMITTEE, AND THEN HIRE THE CONSULTANT. DO WE HIRE THE CONSULTANT AND MEET WITH THE COMMITTEE.

I TEND TO WANT TO HEAR MY LOCAL PEOPLE FIRST. >> I THINK IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO MEET WITH THE COMMITTEE FIRST. AND GET AN IDEA FROM THE COMMITTEE. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT AND THEN WE CAN TALK TO THE CONSULTANT AFTER WE HAVE THE COMMITTEE'S INTEREST AND WHAT WE THINK IS IMPORTANT.

>> LASTLY, I GUESS THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR YOU IS, IN GOING FORWARD AND HIRING THE CONSULTANT, ARE THEY GOING TO COME BACK WITH THE PLAN OR WE'LL HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR THE CONVERSATION WITH THE WORKSHOP? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I

UNDERSTAND THAT SEQUENCE AS WELL. >> IF WE HIRE THEM AND THEY COME TO THE WORKSHOP AND LISTEN, THEN THEY COULD FAIRLY QUICKLY COME BACK WITH SOME CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS OR SOME PRIORITY LEVELS BASED OFF THE MEETING, POSSIBLY WITH COST ESTIMATES. IF WE HAVE THE COMMITTEE MEETING FIRST, THEN BASICALLY THEY WILL HAVE TO WATCH THAT VIDEO AND THAT STEP WILL, TO COME BACK WITH THE CONCEPTUAL

DRAWING AND STUFF WILL BE DELAYED A FEW WEEKS TO A MONTH. >> SO WE WON'T NECESSARILY BE MAKING, THE DECISION WON'T BE MADE FOR ANYTHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO PRIOR TO THEM MEETING WITH THE, PRIOR TO MEETING WITH THE FOLKS THAT WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO MEET WITH.

THEY WILL BE INFORMED BY THAT CONVERSATION. >> AND I MEAN, IN REALITY, WE CAN NOT HAVE A CONSULTANT. I MEAN, WE COULD DO THE WORKSHOP AND Y'ALL COULD SET THE PRIORITIES AND YOU KNOW, STAFF CAN -- WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO FANCY DRAWINGS.

BUT WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PRIORITIZE AND GET COST ESTIMATES.

>> AS WE'VE MADE ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS TO SEARS, AS WE'RE USING THAT AS KIND OF AN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR FOR STEVENSON PERHAPS, HOW DID THEY GO ABOUT IT? DID THEY HAVE A CONSULTANT THAT CAME IN AS WELL?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. I BELIEVE IT WAS COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO BUY INTO AN IDEA TO GET A CONSULTANT.

TOO MANY PEOPLE THINK CONSULTANTS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

HALF THE TIME ALL THEY KNOW IS THEY GET PAID. I THINK WE HAVE A STAFF HERE THAT DOES PHENOMENAL WORK FOR THE CITY. AND YOU KNOW, THE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE BEEN DUALLY IMPRESSED WITH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE STAFF CAN DO.

I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE THE COMMITTEE AND MAYBE ONE OR TWO MEMBERS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE FROM THE COUNCIL. AND THEN GO FORTH FROM THERE. WE DON'T NEED TO BLANK AWAY

MONEY ON THE CONSULTANT. >> TO THAT POINT, WE NEED TO BE LISTENING.

SITTING DOWN AND LISTENING. AND NO DISRESPECT TO CONSULTANTS, I DON'T NEED A

CONSULTANT TO TELL ME WHAT I'M HEARING. >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MEET AS A GROUP, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, EVEN IF DOWN THE ROAD YOU DID BRING IN A CONSULTANT. MY QUESTION IS WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM?

>> FROM THE 432,000 RIGHT NOW. UNLESS SOMEBODY COULD IDENTIFY ANOTHER SOURCE.

AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO A CONSULTANT TO DO THE PLAN. WE WILL HAVE TO PARTNER WITH SOMEBODY FOR THE FLOODWAY ISSUES. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A

FULL BLOWN MASTER PLAN. >> NO. WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE IN TOWN THAT CAN DEAL WITH THAT.

[01:00:03]

>> I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF UPDATING THE MASTER PLAN AS NEW THINGS HAVE BECOME AVAILABLE. I THINK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES ON WHAT THE LATEST AND GREATEST IS. BUT I THINK IF WE COULD DO AS MUCH WORK AS WE CAN, LISTENING

TO THE NEIGHBORS, THAT IS WHERE WE WANT TO START. >> THAT IS THE START OF WHAT I'LL CALL THE STEVENSON PLAN. WE HAVE GOT THE OTHER PLANS. SO LET'S GET STARTED ON THE

STEVENSON PLAN THEN. >> I THINK THAT IS GOOD. AND I APPLAUD AND APPRECIATE THOSE THAT CAME FORWARD THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.

HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO THIS COUNCIL AND REPRESENT FOLKS IN THIS CITY ARE SO IMPORTANT AND NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE DO IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND DOING IT. I THINK IT WILL INFORM THE FUTURE OF ABILENE.

WITH THAT SAID, DO WE NEED A MOTION TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THIS GROUP OR CREATION OF A

SUB-COMMITTEE FOR STEVENSON? >> YES. >> SO MOVED.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> AWESOME.

AFFIRMATIVE PLEASE SAY AYE. NEGATIVE. ABSTAIN.

SO MOVED. WE'LL MOVE ON DOWN THE ROAD. THANK YOU, LESLIE.

ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO OUR DIVISION REPORTS.

[9. Aquatics Report (Discussion) Splash pads open]

REPORT. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I'M BOBBY BROWN, DIVISION MANAGER OF AQUATICS AND SENIOR SERVICES. BEFORE I GET STARTED, LET ME SAY THAT I APPRECIATE MS. FLEMING AND ENRIQUES FOR SPEAKING OUT FOR STEVENSON PARK. I GREW UP IN STEVENSON PARK. I CAN REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD THE MERRY GO ROUND AND I REMEMBER WHEN THE TENNIS COURTS WERE BEING USED AND I CAN REMEMBER THAT PARK BEING CROWDED ON SUNDAYS. AND TO SEE SOMEBODY TRY TO GET IT BACK TO THAT STATUS IS WONDERFUL. IT MAKES ME FEEL GREAT.

CAN'T FORGET THE SWIMMING POOL. I THINK THAT WAS MORE OF A BABY-SITTER.

SO SHE DROPPED US OFF THERE AND WE WOULD BE THERE ALL DAY. I CAN APPRECIATE PEOPLE HAVING IT IN THEIR HEART TO BRING IT BACK IN. SPLASH PADS ARE GOING GREAT.

AFTER LAST MONTH, ME TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBERS AND STUFF, WE'VE GONE OUT AND WE NOTICED THERE HAS BEEN A SLIGHT INCREASE AT THE SPLASH PAD, EVEN STEVENSON.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE WANT IT TO BE, AS FAR AS PARTICIPATION, BUT WE HAVE NOTICED MORE PEOPLE BEING THERE, WHEN WE GET OUR CALLOUTS, THERE IS GENERALLY A FAMILY THERE OR SOMEONE IS HAVING A BIRTHDAY PARTY. IT IS GETTING USED A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. THE REST OF THEM ARE GOING GREAT AS WELL.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THAT AS WELL. ON THE SENIORS, LAST MONTH, I

[10. Senior Services Report (Discussion) Meats and Car Bingo]

THAT MONTH DID END UP AS AN INCREASE. 8,828, IS WHAT WE DID FOR THAT MONTH. SO WE'RE, I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS, BUT WE SHOULD BE RIGHT UP UNDER OUR 50 THOUSANDTH MEAL SINCE MARCH. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, WHEN THAT 50,000 COMES THROUGH, WE ARE GOING TO THROW BALLOONS AND CONFETTI, WE'LL LET THEM KNOW AND GIVE THEM A GIFT BASKET AND THINGS LIKE THAT. TO KIND OF LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE COUNTING, YOU KNOW. THE HIGH OF JULY WAS 431. WE'VE HAD 461 AS A HIGH FOR AUGUST. SO WE'RE STILL INCREASING. WE'RE STILL GETTING NEW FACES.

OF COURSE, THEY'RE WANTING TO COME INSIDE AND PARTICIPATE. BUT THEY ARE UNDERSTANDING WHY WE'RE CLOSED. SO WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER GOING FARTHER, BELIEVE ME THEY DO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHY. THEY ARE BEING VERY SUPPORTIVE.

WE'RE STILL GETTING THE $100 BILL FROM SOMEBODY. WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS GIVING IT TO US. EVERY SO OFTEN, WE'LL GET A $100 BILL IN OUR DONATIONS.

AGAIN, WE DO HAVE SOME IDEAS FOR WARMER WEATHER, STARTS WITHOUT OUTDOOR EXERCISE UP TO A DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER THAT WE'RE TRYING TO YOU KNOW, TO DO.

SO WE'VE GOT IDEAS OF THINGS THAT WE'LL DO. RIGHT NOW WE'RE HANGING IN

THERE WITH THE DRIVE-THROUGH. THEY'RE BEING VERY SUPPORTIVE. >> I WONDER IF YOU WOULD BE

[01:05:03]

I THINK IT'S SO OFTEN THAT WE GET REPORTS OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO GO BETTER.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME TYPE OF STORY ON THAT. HEY, HERE IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> THAT WILL BE GREAT. WE'LL TALK AND SEE ABOUT DOING THAT AND STUFF.

WE SHOULD BE VERY CLOSE. >> MAY HAPPEN TODAY. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS? THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> OUTSTANDING.

AMAZING. >> DOING A GOOD JOB. >> LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR PARKS

[11. Parks Report (Discussion) Summer maintenance]

BOARD. >> MY MOM IS ONE OF THE ONES DRIVING THROUGH THERE EVERY DAY. AND SHE IS NOT THE ONE PUTTING THE $100 BILL THERE.

>> PARKS, I WON'T TAKE A LOT OF YOUR TIME. THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR FROM ME EVERY YEAR, WE'RE OUT THERE MOWING AND DOING OUR THING TO TRY TO KEEP THINGS LOOKING GOOD. ONE THING ABOUT OUR FOLKS THIS SUMMER HAS BEEN DIFFERENT OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT. AT THIS POINT WHEN YOU ARE EXPOSED TO THIS VIRUS, WE'VE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE STEP UP AND DOUBLE THEIR WORKLOAD AND HAVE COVERED FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN OUT ILL. SO CAN'T THANK OUR STAFF ENOUGH. I REALLY CAN'T GIVE THEM ENOUGH KUDOS FOR THE AMOUNT AND VOLUME OF WORK THAT THEY DO. IT'S A LOT. IT'S A LOT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UPWARDS OF A THOUSAND ACRES THAT THESE GUYS ARE DOING.

AND GALS. THERE IS FAYE. ONE OF OUR CREW CHIEFS.

I DON'T WANT TO BORE YOU WITH KIND OF WHERE THEY'RE MOWING AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE THEM KUDOS AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR EXTRA HARD WORK THIS SUMMER.

>> THAT IS GREAT. >> DID Y'ALL HAVE ANY MAJOR DAMAGE TO OUR PARKS WITH THE

STORM SUNDAY NIGHT WITH THE WINDS AND HAIL? >> NO, SIR WE DIDN'T.

I DIDN'T GET ANY REPORTS OF THAT. I KNOW THERE WAS DAMAGE AROUND

TOWN, I SAW IT. BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY. >> GOOD.

>> THANK YOU. >> LET'S SEE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO RECREATION.

[12. Recreation Report (Discussion) After School Program Fall Youth Volleyball]

>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. >> GOOD MORNING. >> RECREATION.

I WANT TO THANK MY WONDERFUL RECREATION STAFF. WE MADE IT THROUGH SUMMER.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUMMER. IT WAS A VERY GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE. EVERYBODY STAYED HEALTHY, WELL. SOME OF THEM WORKED IN DIFFERENT AREAS. THEY HELPED WITH SUMMER CAMP. SO IT'S A BIG AGE DIFFERENCE.

A BIG ADJUSTMENT. BUT EVERYBODY DID REALLY WELL. SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL. OR WHAT IS NORMAL NOW. SO WE WILL BE STARTING AFTER SCHOOL REGISTRATION HAS STARTED, AT ALL FOUR LOCATIONS. IT'S FREE FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE ON FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH. IF NOT IT'S $15 PER WEEK. WE DO HAVE REGISTRATIONS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. EVERYBODY IS GETTING BACK INTO THE GROOVE OF AFTER SCHOOL.

WE ARE ALSO STILL WORKING ON A LITTLE PROTOCOL AND EXACTLY HOW WE'RE GOING TO RUN VOLLEYBALL THIS SEASON. WE ARE DOING OUR PLANS OF STAGGERING TIMES LIKE LESLIE SAID, TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS CHECKED, HANDS WASHED, NOT CONGREGATING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IN THE BLEACHERS. STILL WORKING ON IRONING OUT ALL OF THOSE DETAILS.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THAT IS ALL I HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> THE ONE QUESTION I WAS ASKED IS YOU BETTER FIND OUT IF VOLLEYBALL IS HAPPENING.

>> VOLLEYBALL IS HAPPENING. >> FANTASTIC. >> I WILL GET YOU A DATE.

>> PERFECT. >> ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? VERY WELL DONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR ZOO REPORT.

[13. Zoo Report (Discussion) Madagascar Rock & Roar Abilene PhiIharmonic]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JESSIE, DIRECTOR OF THE ABILENE ZOO.

JUST WANT TO GIVE A TEASER AND UPDATE OF OUR MADAGASCAR CAMPAIGN, SCULPTURE THAT WILL BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF COMING INTO THE ATTRACTION. IT'S ACTUALLY THE ARTISTIC RENDERING AND DEVELOPMENT IS BY STEVE MEANS, OUR LOCAL ABILENEN.

QUICK SNIPPET OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. IT'S GOING TO BE A PLAY-SCAPE TYPE OF SITUATION. CLIMB AND TAKE A PHOTO ON IT. MAJESTIC COLORS.

BACK SIDE THERE WILL BE A CHALK BOARD THAT KIDS CAN DRAW THESE RAINBOW COLORS.

[01:10:04]

YOU WON'T SEE THIS AGAIN UNTIL THE FINALE, WHEN WE DO OUR GRAND OPENING, SCHEDULED EARLY SPRING BREAK OF 2021. THESE ARE SOME OF THE SPECIES THAT WILL BE COMING TO MADAGASCAR. WE ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO.

THE TOP LEFT CORNER, YOU'LL SEE THE BLACK AND WHITE LEMUR UP ON THE RIGHT HAND CORNER, MIDDLE.

WE'LL ALSO HAVE A RAIDIATE TORTISES. HEDGE HOG LOOKING CREATURE.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE A TEASER. UPDATE ON MADAGASCAR. WE JUST HAD A ROCK AND ROAR SERIES EVENTS. UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF COVID, WE DID NOT DO OUR JUNE CONCERT.

SO WE DID DO OUR JULY AND AUGUST CONCERTS. HUGE SUCCESS.

ABLE TO PROMOTE SOCIAL DISTANCING, AS WELL AS MAKE IT TOWARDS THE EVENING HOUR, WE PUT THE BAND SHOWCASE IN FRONT OF NELSON LAKE. SPECTACULAR OUTDOOR, ADULT BEVERAGES, FOOD TRUCKS, HUGE SUCCESS, EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT TIME AND FELT VERY COMFORTABLE.

MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP EVENT THAT WE DECIDED TO REACH OUT WITH OUR FRIENDS AT PHILHARMONIC. BECAUSE OF COVID RESTRICTIONS THEY DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CONCERT SERIES, BUT THEY LOVED THE IDEA OF AN OPEN AIR SERIES. WE ARE GOING TO PARTNER UP WITH THEM AND OUR FIRST CONCERT IS GOING TO BE REALLY SOON, SEPTEMBER 5TH. THEY'RE GOING TO PERFORM RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE SAME FOOTPRINT OF THE LAKE, LAKE NELSON. WE'RE GOING TO BE OBVIOUSLY SOLICITING THAT AS AN OPEN AIR EVENT, EASY PLACE TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

YOU WILL GET TO SEE THE PHILHARMONIC AT THE ZOO. GREAT MARRIAGE AND HOPEFULLY WE

CAN KEEP GOING. >> THAT IS IT. >> WOW.

WHAT A NEAT EVENT. I LOVE SEEING THESE THINGS POP UP.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR ANY OTHER NEEDS THIS MORNING? OKAY.

WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO END OUR MEETING AND WE HAVE A LOVELY REST OF THE DAY.

SO MOVED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.