Recommendation 20250219-002: PARD Concessions Report Recommendation — original pdf

Recommendation

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20250219-002 Date: February 19, 2025 Subject: 2024 Annual Report on City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department Managed Concessions on Lady Bird (Town) Lake Motion by: Jennifer Bristol Second by: Mariana Krueger WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission has received a staff briefing of the 2024 Annual Report on City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) Managed Concessions on Lady Bird (Town) Lake; and WHEREAS, The Annual Concession Report is created as the result of an Austin City Code provision. That ordinance states: § 8-1-73 - DEPARTMENT REPORT AND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS. (A) On or before January 31st of each year, the director shall deliver a report to the board and the Environmental Commission on the concessions granted under this division. (B) A report prepared under this section shall include: (1) the name of each concession operating in Town Lake Metropolitan Park; (2) an income and expenditure statement for each concession; (3) the total number of watercrafts rented in Town Lake Metropolitan Park; and (4) a statement describing any problems that are caused or created by a concession. (C) The board and the Environmental Commission may make a recommendation related to: (1) continuing an existing concession; (2) terminating an existing continuation; and (3) issuing a request for proposal for an expiring or new concession under this division. WHEREAS, City staff presented the Environmental Commission with the report in February 2025 in two separate meetings; and WHEREAS, The Environmental Commission requests Council initiate a code update to reflect the following: A.) Concessions report to the Environmental Commission shall include concessions from parks other than Lady Bird Lake, B.) Only be presented an environmental impact assessment of those concessions; and WHEREAS, The Environmental Commission requests City Council initiate the establishment of a citizen advisory commission to assist with the oversite of the concession in all CoA parks and public lands. The new Commission or committee shall include a member of the Environmental Commission, Parks Board, and other related commissions and boards; and 1 of 2 THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission approves the 2024 concessions report acknowledging that staff meet the current code. We will consider the 2025 report next year, so long as it reflects the requests above and reflects the mission of this commission. Additional Recommendations: 1. Address the erosion around Lady Bird Lake and report on the revenue used from the concessions to repair the erosion. 2. Delay the implementation of Phase II of the Trail Conservancy POMA until it can be examined to determine the impact on the Environment within the Park and the ability of the Trail Conservancy to meet its environmental requirements based on its current finances. Vote: 8-1 For: Perry Bedford, Jennifer Bristol, Justin Fleury, Mariana Krueger, Colin Nickells, Haris Qureshi, Melinda Schiera, David Sullivan Against: Richard Brimer Recuse: Hanna Cofer Abstain: None Absent: None Attest: Perry Bedford 2 of 2