Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission January 17, 2024 at 6:00 PM Permitting And Development Center, Events Center, Room 1405 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive Austin, Texas 78752 Some members of the Environmental Commission will be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Elizabeth Funk, Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 568-2244, Elizabeth.Funk@austintexas.gov no later than noon, the day before the meeting. The following information is required: speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Haris Qureshi Peter Einhorn Mariana Krueger Melinda Schiera Hanna Cofer AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Colin Nickells Jennifer Bristol, Secretary Kevin Ramberg, Chair David Sullivan Richard Brimer Perry Bedford, Vice Chair PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on December 6, 2023 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council regarding the creation, continuation, termination, and status of a concession including issuance of a Request for Proposal for a concession in Town Lake Metropolitan Park for inclusion in the joint report between the Parks and Recreation Board and the Environmental Commission that is provided to City Council annually. Presenter(s): Denisha Cox, Contract Management Supervisor II and Pat Rossett, Business Process Consultant, Parks and Recreation Department WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES Update from the Urban Forestry Committee – Richard Brimer (Committee Chair), Mariana Krueger, Colin Nickells, and Melinda Schiera Update from the Joint Sustainability Committee – Haris Qureshi (member) and Richard Brimer (alternate member) Update from the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Jennifer Bristol Update from the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Perry Bedford, Hanna Cofer, Haris Qureshi, and Kevin Ramberg …
2023 ANNUAL ANNUAL CONCESSION CONCESSION REPORT REPORT AUSTIN PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Concession Locations ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 Concession Contracts ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Contract Terms Solicitations and New Contracts Contract Extensions Expiring Contracts Rowing Dock ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Zilker Café ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Rowing Dock ....................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Austin Rowing Club at Waller Creek Boathouse ................................................................................................................ 7 EpicSUP/The Trail Conservancy .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Rowing Dock ....................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Expedition School ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 Zilker Park Boat Rentals ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Other Contract Changes Zilker Eagle ....................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Concession Revenue, Payments, and Expenditures ........................................................................................................ 11 Concessions Outside of Town Lake Park ......................................................................................................................... 18 Parks and Recreation Board Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 19 Environmental Commission Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 20 Revenue Share Payments Capital Improvements Public Benefit Short-Term Permits Concessions at Golf Courses Marine Waste Disposal Watercraft Census Lake Safety Consistency Across Concession Contracts New Concessions Carrying Capacity 5 5 7 9 10 12 14 15 18 18 20 21 23 24 25 25 i Unlicensed Vendor Activity Zilker Eagle Updates 26 28 Appendix 1. Temporary Concessions and Commercial Use Report FY23 .......................................................................... 29 Appendix 2. Austin Lake Water Protection Plan and Marine Waste Information ............................................................. 32 ii Executive Summary The mission of the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is to inspire Austin to learn, play, protect and connect by creating diverse programs and experiences in sustainable natural spaces and public places. In carrying out its mission, PARD has established nine permanent concessions in Town Lake Park that provide recreation services. These services include rentals of canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs); rowing instruction and memberships; food and beverage sales; short-course golf; excursion boats; and a mini train. The concessions were established pursuant to City of Austin Code Section 8-1-71, which authorizes the director of the Parks and Recreation Department to allow a person to operate a food or beverage, rental, or service concession in Town Lake Park. Additionally, Section 8-1-73 requires PARD to present an annual report on the status of concessions operating in Town Lake Park to the Parks and Recreation Board and the Environmental Commission each year. At a minimum, the report must include the following information: • The name and location of each concession; • An income and expenditure statement for each concession; • The total number of boats rented on Lady Bird Lake; and • A statement describing any environmental or other problem caused or created by a concession. Within 30 days of receiving the Annual …
Austin Parks and Recreation Department Presented by Denisha Cox and Patricia Rossett PARD Financial Services Division January 17, 2024 AUSTIN CITY CODE Austin City Code § 8-1-73 requires delivery of an annual report to the Parks and Recreation Board and the Environmental Commission providing the following information regarding concessions on Lady Bird Lake Park: • Name and Location • Income and Expenditures • Total Number of Boats Rented • Environmental Concerns 2 Name and Location Austin Rowing Club at Waller Creek Boathouse Butler Pitch and Putt EpicSUP Expedition School Lone Star Riverboat Cruises Rowing Dock Texas Rowing Center Zilker Café (temporarily closed) Zilker Eagle Railroad (temporarily closed) Zilker Park Boat Rentals 3 3 Contract Terms Concession Contract Begin Contract 0 0 0 End 2 Rowing Dock 2000 2024 2 5 5 5 5 1 1 5 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 5 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 5 2 0 2 0 3 0 2 5 3 0 2 0 4 0 2 Zilker Park Boat Rentals 2006 2024 5 5 5 1 18 mo. 2 2 5 5 2 5 5 4 3 2 . o m 6 2 5 10 10 10 5 5 5 5 10 Expedition School 2020 2024 Lone Star Riverboat 2015 2025 Austin Rowing Club 2012 2026 EpicSUP* 2013 2028 Butler Pitch & Putt 2019 2029 Texas Rowing Center 2020 2030 Zilker Eagle 2021 2031 Interim Period Basic Term Option Executed Option Remaining Extension *After May 15, 2021, all EpicSUP revenue share payments go to The Trail Conservancy. 4 FY23 Gross Sales, Expenditures, and Payments to the City s n o i l l i M $3.5 $3.0 $2.5 $2.0 $1.5 $1.0 $0.5 $0.0 Butler Pitch and Putt (Pecan Grove Golf Partners) Gross Sales Reported Expenditures Payments $2,838,411 $1,315,889 $227,266 EpicSUP $394,144 $292,719 $49,173 Expedition School Lone Star Riverboats Rowing Dock Texas Rowing Center Zilker Park Boat Rentals $51,404 $39,004 $4,750 $1,081,396 $1,035,469 $99,561 $2,206,240 $1,627,750 $262,403 $2,895,049 $2,688,421 $322,984 Austin Rowing Club at Waller Creek Boathouse $3,010,728 $3,282,341 $247,901 $1,077,564 $615,248 $99,548 5 Annual Gross Sales Since 2015 6 6 Capital Improvements Butler Pitch and Putt – $78,795 • New low-voltage safety lighting • New courtyard fans, misters, and string lighting • New well water pump • New sprayer • Repair/replacement of the roofing and siding on the maintenance shed • Greenside collars expansion and sod replacement • Replacement …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MOTION 20240117-002 Date: January 17, 2024 Subject: 2023 Annual Report of City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department Managed Concessions on Lady Bird (Town) Lake Motion by: Jennifer Bristol Seconded by: Peter Einhorn WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission has received a staff briefing of the 2023 Annual Report of City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) Managed Concessions on Lady Bird (Town) Lake. WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board regarding the concessions for Lady Bird Lake. THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends continuation of the concession contracts on Lady Bird Lake with the following conditions: Environmental Commission Conditions: 1. Study and report the impact on watercraft rentals and use due to toxic algae and extreme heat. 2. Report back to commission about shuttles or transportation for underserved populations or people with limited abilities to the concessions and park. 3. Continue reporting on the public benefit concessions provide. 4. PARD staff should continue to review the number of public and private watercraft that are typically on Lady Bird Lake, what the safety strategies of City of Austin, and their ability to meet capacity. 5. Provide an update on any new concessions. 6. Provide information on how carrying capacity is being addressed. 7. Report on the Zilker Eagle reconstruction, track realignment, and environmental impacts be included in the final 2024 report. VOTE: 10-0 For: Ramberg, Bedford, Bristol, Brimer, Einhorn, Kruger, Nickells, Qureshi, Schiera, Sullivan Against: None Abstain: None Recuse: Cofer Absent: None Approved By: 1 Kevin Ramberg, Environmental Commission Chair 2
in a REGULAR meeting on ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, January 17, 2024 The ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION convened Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Ramberg called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Perry Bedford, Jennifer Bristol, Haris Qureshi, Kevin Ramberg, and David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Richard Brimer, Peter Einhorn, Hanna Cofer, Mariana Krueger, Colin Nickells, Melinda Schiera Commissioners Absent: None PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Alicia Valdes -Tree planting event APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on December 6, 2023 The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular meeting on December 6, 2023 were approved on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Qureshi’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Nickells and Cofer abstained. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council regarding the creation, continuation, termination, and status of a concession including issuance of a Request for Proposal for a concession in Town Lake Metropolitan Park for inclusion in the joint report between the Parks and Recreation Board and the Environmental Commission that is provided to City Council annually. Presenter(s): Denisha Cox, Contract Management Supervisor II and Pat Rossett, Business Process Consultant, Parks and Recreation Department 1 Speakers Denisha Cox, PARD (Parks and Recreation Department) Kimery Duda, Expedition School Patricia Rossett, PARD Suzanne Piper, PARD A motion to support the 2023 Annual Report of Austin Parks and Recreation Department Managed Concessions was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Einhorn’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Cofer recused. COMMITTEE UPDATES 3. Update from the Urban Forestry Committee – Richard Brimer (Committee Chair), Mariana Krueger, Colin Nickells, and Melinda Schiera Commissioner Brimer shared an update on the Urban Forestry Committee and asked members to share agenda items. 4. Update from the Joint Sustainability Committee – Haris Qureshi (member) and Richard Brimer (alternate member) Commissioner Qureshi shared an update on a resolution on energy solutions from the Joint Sustainability Committee. 5. Update from the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Jennifer Bristol 6. Update from the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Perry Bedford, Hanna Cofer, Haris Qureshi, and Kevin Ramberg 7. Update from the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – David Sullivan Commissioner Sullivan shared an update from the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS …
