Parks and Recreation Board Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board - Meeting to be held with Social Distancing Modifications. See agenda for details.
Versión en español a continuación. Parks and Recreation Board Meeting May 25, 2021 Parks and Recreation Board to be held May 25, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (May 24, 2021 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the May 25, 2021 Parks and Recreation Board Special Meeting, members of the public must: • Call or email the board liaison at 512-974-6716 or sammi.curless@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. • Once a request to speak has been made to the board liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call. • Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start time in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. • Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. • Handouts or other information may be emailed to sammi.curless@austintexas.gov by noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live • Reunión del Parks and Recreation Board May 25, 2021 La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (May 24, 2021 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en 512-974-6716 or sammi.curless@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). Se requiere la siguiente información: nombre del orador, número (s) de artículo sobre el que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutral, dirección de correo electrónico (opcional) y un número de teléfono (debe ser el número que se utilizará para llamar ). • Una vez que se haya realizado una solicitud …
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Tuesday, April 27, 2021 – 6:00pm MINUTES The Parks and Recreation Board convened in a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 via videoconference in Austin, Texas. Chair Lewis called the meeting to order at 6:03pm. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Dawn Lewis, Laura Cottam Sajbel, Richard DePalma, Anna Di Carlo, Sarah Faust, Francoise Luca, Kate Mason-Murphy, Nina Rinaldi and Kimberly Taylor. Board Members Absent: Vice Chair Romteen Farasat and Fred Morgan. Staff in Attendance: Kimberly McNeeley, Liana Kallivoka, Lucas Massie, Suzanne Piper, Anthony Segura, Carre Adams, Christine Chute Canul, Megan Eckard, Laura Esparza, Gregory Montes, Vanorda Richardson and Sammi Curless. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Adam Sparks – Hancock Conservancy and support for turning the golf course into park/green space. A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the regular meeting of March 23, 2021 were approved on Board Member Rinaldi motion, Board Member Cottam Sajbel second on an 9-0 with Vice Chair Farasat and Board Member Morgan absent. B. NEW BUSINESS: PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS CONSENT 1. Discussion and possible action regarding the Parks and Recreation Department Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget. Chair Lewis made a motion to recommend approval of the Parks and Recreation Department Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Operating Budget as presented in its Budget Forecast; and the Parks and Recreation Board recommends that City Council make the additional allocations on the attached “FISCAL YEAR 2022 UNDER RESOURCED NEEDS” to the Parks and Recreation Department as these are priority items needed to address changes in city services, for parks programming, and pressures on the parks system which are not addressed under the current definitions provided in the budget process; Board Members Faust and Taylor seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0 with Vice Chair Farasat and Board Member Morgan absent. Page 1 of 3 2. Discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to the City Council for the negotiation and execution of a partnership agreement with Pease Park Conservancy for the operations, maintenance and programming for Kingsbury Commons within Pease District Park. Board Member Luca made a motion to recommend to the City Council the negotiation and execution of a partnership agreement with Pease Park Conservancy for the operations, maintenance and programming for Kingsbury Commons within Pease District Park; Board Member Di Carlo seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0 with Vice Chair Farasat and Board Member …
A Sustainable Greenway for South Austin Presentation to the Parks and Recreation Board May 25, 2021 Photo Credit: Kari Spiegelhalter Photo Credit: Kari Spiegelhalter Community Engagement ● Community & City Working Groups ● iNaturalist ● Conversation Toolkit ● Virtual Creek Stomps ● Creek Stomp Journal ● Flat Stanley ● Social Pinpoint interactive map ● Creek Chats - Virtual & socially distanced Pop-ups ● Virtual Community Picnics ● Newsletters, social media, listservs ● Participatory Budget ● Creek Idea Cards SUSTAINABLE SITES AND CENTRAL WILLIAMSON CREEK GREENWAY Meets PreCertification, Targets Gold-Platinum for Implementation Vision Plan Includes SITES Materials and Plants Criteria QUESTIONS + DISCUSSION Photo Credit: Steve Prather centralwilliamsoncreek.org ADDITIONAL REFERENCE BILINGUAL CREEK IDEA CARDS EXAMPLE English | Ingles Spanish | Español SCORING AND APPLICATION OF CREEK IDEA CARDS
Vision Plan DRAFT 1 Central Williamson Creek Vision Greenway Vision Plan DRAFT Acknowledgments Project Team Nicole Joslin, AIA, LEED AP Executive Director Marla Torrado, Ph.D. Planning Director Shavone Otero Community Coordinator Thomas Medina Community Planner Community Working Group Mary Olmstead Anna Pittala Steve Prather Jessica Sager Nicole Sanford Greg Stevens Michael Usher Esther Weekes City Departments Watershed Protection Department Parks and Recreation Department Public Works Office of Sustainability Office of Innovation Housing and Planning Department Equity Office 2 Amy Belaire, Ph.D. Texas Director of Science and Strategy Katie Coyne, AICP, ESA, SITES AP Principal-In-Charge Claire Eddleman-Heath PLA, LEED AP, SITES AP Project Manager Kari Spiegelhalter Deputy Project Manager Andrew Wright Landscape Designer City of Austin Working Group Christine Chute Canul Parks and Rec. Dept. Justin Stewart Parks and Rec. Dept Marc Coudert Office of Sustainability Megan Eckhard Parks and Rec. Dept. Sydney Garcia* National Parks Service David Trujillo Watershed Protection Dept. LaJuan Tucker Parks and Rec. Dept Staryn Wagner Watershed Protection Dept. Leah Gibson Watershed Protection Dept. Katie Wettick Urban Trails Program Marie Lancaster Watershed Protection Dept. Jessica Wilson Watershed Protection Dept. Gibran Lule-Hurtado* National Parks Service *Working Group Members from the National Parks Service Letter From the Community Working Group Williamson Creek is a gem crossing West to East in South Austin between Oak Hill and McKinney Falls State Park. Residents of the neighborhoods surrounding Williamson Creek have enjoyed this natural beauty for more than twenty years. Community efforts over a number of years, including trash pick-ups, tree planting and the removal of invasive species, have resulted in improving the health of the creek and supporting the native flora and fauna. Central Williamson Creek Greenway is slowly becoming a more welcoming green space for residents to connect with nature and for nature to thrive. We are thrilled to envision the future of a place we love so dearly with the Central Williamson Creek Greenway Vision Plan. This Vision Plan represents a 12-month process of both Williamson Creek Working Group (WCWG) formal and creative efforts to engage the community and input derived from public engagement. Community engagement activities included: community members recording their own oral histories through WCWG interviews; virtual community picnics; virtual mapping that enabled community members to propose ideas such as food forest planting and hiking trails in and around the creek; several in-person and socially-distanced “Creek Chats” to engage the community; and a final community picnic to …
4: Community Engagement 78 Central Williamson Creek Greenway Vision Plan FEBRUARY 2021 DRAFT Central Williamson Creek Greenway Vision Plan FEBRUARY 2021 DRAFT 79 Engagement Strategy Digital Engagement To ensure a process of co-creation of the vision for the Central Williamson Creek Greenway between the consultants and community, an extensive and comprehensive engagement strategy with both the Community Working Group and the general public was planned for this project. However, due to the COVID-19 crisis beginning in March 2020 and continuing throughout the entirety of the project, much of this engagement shifted from in-person to online, digital engagement with some outdoor, socially distanced “creekside” events, where participants could pick up a “creekpack” of engagement activities in English and Spanish. These activities could also be mailed to community members upon request. The majority of digital engagement took place using a platform called Social Pinpoint. Virtual Community Working Group and City Working Group meetings were held monthly on Zoom (See schedule on pages 14 - 15). Three public virtual creek chats were held on Zoom to demonstrate Social Pinpoint, present designs, and solicit feedback. Community Mapping During the Existing Conditions Phase, community members were asked to use Social Pinpoint to geographically share their ideas, activities, and unique places along the Greenway. Categories included identifying locations for “Unique and Interesting Features,” “Ideas and Suggestions,” “Trailheads,”, and “Challenges.” This online mapping activity was open from July 23rd, 2020 to October 13th, 2020. Toolkit Idea Cards Findings from the Community Greenway Map and outcomes from the Storytelling activities, conversations with the Community Working Group, and other community engagement activities were then used to craft the four primary goals of the Central Williamson Creek Green Vision Plan. 1. A Restored, Biodiverse Greenway 2. A Community-Centered Greenway 3. An Accessible and Visible Greenway 4. An Active and Connected Greenway These four goals guided the development of 52 unique “Creek Idea Cards,” each organized into one of the four goal categories. Community members on the Central Williamson Creek Greenway Social Pinpoint website voted on ideas by adding a thumbs up on ideas they wanted to see at the Greenway or a thumbs down on ideas they did not want to see. After voting closed on November 7th, the design team tabulated the votes, and integrated the highest scoring idea cards into the Vision Plan for the Central Williamson Creek Greenway. Idea Card Key 1. A Restored, Biodiverse Greenway 2. …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MOTION 20210407 003a Date: April 7, 2021 Subject: Central Williamson Creek Greenway Vision Plan Motion by: Kevin Ramberg RATIONALE: WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the Central Williamson Creek project team has been developing a vision plan since June 2020 for Williamson Creek between Manchaca Road and South Congress in South Austin. WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes that the draft vision plan includes three tiers for engagement and implementation from: Tier 1 which are community led, Tier 2 which are City of Austin projects less than $50,000, and Tier 3 which are City of Austin more than $50,000. Seconded by: Perry Bedford THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends support of the Central Williamson Creek Greenway Vision Plan with the following conditions: Environmental Commission Conditions: 1) The Env. Commission recommends that the South Congress Combined Neighborhood Plan Contact Team - SCCNPCT be involved with future studies, input, feedback, and working groups related to the Williamson Creek Greenbelt. 2) The Environmental Commission recommends reaching out to neighborhood associations upstream and downstream of this section of Williamson Creek and to the maximum extent practicable, meeting with these groups prior to the Parks Board meeting later this month. 3) The Environmental Commission recommends that the trails and improvements avoid, to the maximum extent practicable, CEFs and 50 foot setbacks around these features. VOTE 7-0 For: Bedford, Creel, Thompson, Ramberg, Barrett Bixler, Guerrero, and Brimer Against: None Abstain: Coyne Recuse: None Absent: None Approved By: Linda Guerrero, Environmental Commission Chair
N A L P Y T I L I B O M & Y T E F A S I N A L P Y T I L B O M & Y T E F A S TIMELINE: Oct 2019: Study Com m enced Ma r 4– J un 30, 2020: Com m unity Enga gement Event # 1 Oct 16– Nov 13, 2020: Com m unity Enga gement Event # 2 Ma r 9, 2021: Mem o Sent to City Ha ll + Pres s Relea s e Ma r 10-12, 2021: Com m unity Meetings (# 3) & Announced Report to Com m unity ACTION REQUESTED: Pres enta tion, dis cus s ion a nd pos s ible a ction for a recom m endation to the Pa rks a nd Recrea tion Depa rtm ent Director to a pprove the Sa fety a nd Mobility Pla n for the Ann a nd Roy Butler Hike-a nd-Bike Tra il. TTF is currently integra ting report recom m enda tions into a ctive projects . It is our reques t tha t other orga niza tions working in this tra il a rea prioritize viewing this report, colla bora ting a nd integra ting the recom m endations a s well. THE STUDY REPORT CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE: thetrailfoundation.org/safety CONSULTANT TEAM: N A L P Y T I L I B O M & Y T E F A S GUIDING PRINCIPLES: These were developed by the consultant and project team as the framework to steer recommendations as well as to advise the implementation. ·Accept crowding at locations where more capacity is needed but the park width and slope prohibit widening and alternative routing options are not possible ·Maintain Trail character as a place of respite ·Steward the natural habitat and ecology along the Trail ·Use universal design to support accessibility for all ·Maintain slow speeds on the Trail ·Integrate the Trail into the larger mobility ecosystem ·Expand sense of safety, welcome, and place ·Align with national trail design standards and improvement practices STUDY OUTLINE N A L P Y T I L I B O M & Y T E F A S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Community Input Maps & Surveys N A L P Y T I L I B O M & Y T E F A S Focused Conversations Conversed with a dozen of the …
Waterloo Park Conditional Use Permit Overview Requesting Support Sponsoring Departments: Community Leadership PARD & Watershed Protection • Operations & Maintenance • • • • Programming & Art Environmental Stewardship Design Excellence • • • • • Code Compliance Public Health, Safety & Welfare Environmental Stewardship Subject Matter Expertise Council approved project and partnership Mission Waterloo Greenway Conservancy creates and maintains an extraordinary urban park system and a restored Waller Creek, in partnership with the City of Austin, for the benefit of all. The Conservancy renews the natural environment, promotes play, health and wellness, economic vitality and mobility, and engages the community through outreach, education, cultural events, and the arts. ECOLOGY MOBILITY PARKS N 2 N D S T 3 R D S T 4 T H S T 5 T H S T 6 T H S T 7 T H S T 8 T H S T 9 T H S T 1 0 T H S T 1 1 T H S T 1 2 T H S T 1 3 T H S T 1 4 T H S T 1 5 T H S T Pontoon Bridge Austin Convention Center La d y Bir d La k e C E S A R C H A V E Z S T Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Creek Delta D A V S S T I D R I S K I L L S T RAINEY ST Palm School Palm Park SAN JACINTO BLVD TRINITY ST NECHES ST RED RIVER ST SABINE ST Red River Cultural District The Refuge IH-35 Waterloo Park Dell Seton Medical Center Dell Medical School at the University of Texas Central Health Brackenridge Redevelopment Site Frank C. Erwin, Jr. Special Events Center Symphony Square Capture the Opportunity of the Tunnel SECONDARY INLET FACILITY TUNNEL OUTLET L a d y B i r d L a k e SECONDARY INLET FACILITY PIPED WATERSHED 28’ DIAMETER UNDERGROUND BYPASS TUNNEL PRIMARY INLET FACILITY WALLER CREEK LAKE WATER FED WALLER CREEK STORMWATER FED 70,000 Attendees Community Programs 2019 Arts + Culture Health + Environment Civic Infrastructure Economic Opportunity 60 Free Programs & Events 50+ Community Partners 275 Volunteer Hours 100+ Volunteers Engaged Texas Capitol Frank C. Erwin, Jr. Special Events Center N z c:, U'J -I VJ ::::0 c:, U> -I -"' -I I en -I SAN JACINTO BLVD (11 -I I U> -I …
Date: Subject: WALLER CREEK LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION RECOMMENDATION 20210512-002 May 12, 2021 Recommendation to the Planning Commission for the approval of a Conditional Use Permit for Waterloo Park Seconded By: Rudy Green Motioned By: Jesús Garza Recommendation: The Waller Creek Local Government Corporation (“LGC”) recommends that approval of a Conditional Use Permit for Waterloo Park by the Planning Commission. Description of Recommendation: The LGC recommends that Planning Commission approve the proposed Parks Special Use of permitting alcohol consumption in designated areas of Waterloo Park, as applied for by the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) in partnership with the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy. Rationale: The proposed Planning Commission action would allow for alcohol to be served and consumed during programming and events at the Moody Amphitheater in Waterloo Park and other limited food/beverage areas of the park, in compliance with all Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission regulations. Waterloo Park and Moody Amphitheater will be operated by the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy (WGC), a Texas non-profit whose mission is the create, operate, and maintain a chain of extraordinary urban parks around a restored Waller Creek as part of a public-private partnership with the City of Austin. PARD and WGC will be doing outreach to communicate with property owners, neighborhood entities and other stakeholders as part of this permit application. 1 of 2 DocuSign Envelope ID: C1D5DC64-AB04-4DCF-83DD-0D615E0D0410 VOTE: 6-0-1 For: Rodney Gonzales, President Lucia Athens, Director Jesús Garza, Director Rudy Green, Director Jorge Morales, Director Allan Shearer, Director Against: None Abstain: Liana Kallivoka, Director Absent: Cotter Cunningham, Vice President Martha Smiley, Secretary Attest: ____________________________________________ May 12, 2021 J. Rodney Gonzales, Waller Creek LGC President Date 2 of 2 DocuSign Envelope ID: C1D5DC64-AB04-4DCF-83DD-0D615E0D0410
Interlocal Agreement(s) For Wildland Fire Management Activities Travis County and The University of Texas at Austin Parks and Recreation Board Meeting May 25, 2021 Matt McCaw Environmental Conservation Program Manager Land Management Program Natural Resources Division Austin Parks and Recreation Department matt.mccaw@austintexas.gov 2 Background • • • • • The majority of PARD’s lands are protected as natural areas. A natural area is an area that retains or has reestablished its natural character, typically dominated by native plants and animals. They provide critical services to Austin residents: • Mental health Social benefits • Economic benefits • Recreational opportunities • • Water cleansing Air cleansing • Climate regulation • • Most PARD natural areas have not been managed to maintain ecosystem health. Have been degraded by past management, invasive species, and loss of biodiversity, which make them more vulnerable to heat, drought, disease, and wildfire. These vulnerabilities will be exacerbated by climate change. 3 Background • • • • Further, in 2019, the City Auditor found that PARD is not strategically addressing wildfire risk on parkland and recommended that PARD create and implement land management plans to manage natural areas and address wildfire risk. • (Office of the City Auditor. October 2019. Wildfire Preparedness Audit Report) PARD is in the process of procuring a land management plan for several thousand acres of natural areas. Fire is a natural process Is critical for: • • • Economical restoration and management of land at large scales Sustainability and resiliency of natural systems Prescribed fire will be an important piece of the land management plan to reintroduce fire safely. 4 Purpose • • To achieve these goals and commitments, PARD is seeking to establish cooperative agreements with a group of land managing entities (and Austin Fire Department) in the Austin area, including interlocal agreements with: 1. Travis County, and 2. The University of Texas at Austin The interlocal agreements with Travis County and the University of Texas at Austin will each allow for mutual support and cooperation for prescribed fire management and training, land management planning, as well as planning and assistance for certain hazardous events. • Collectively, these agreements will be important for PARD in fulfilling the commitments made in response to the Wildfire Audit as well as implementing restoration and land management plans for Preserves and other parkland natural areas. 4 Purpose • • • These entities each use prescribed burning as …
Austin Parks and Recreation Department Renaming Payton Gin Pocket Park Kimberly McNeeley, Director Parks and Recreation Board Meeting May 25, 2021 Payton Gin Pocket Park • 801 Payton Gin Road • 0.97 acre • District 4 2 History • Purchased by City in 1965. • Land was Right of Way and transferred to Parks and Recreation Department and identified as Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt until approximately 1987 when it was first identified as Payton Gin Pocket Park in Department land inventory. • Early 2000’s the North Austin Civic Association (NACA) conducted community stakeholder process to name the park “Heron Hollow Pocket Park”. • Renaming was not memorialized by the Department when the community stakeholder process was conducted by NACA. 3 Today Park. • NACA has requested that the Park officially be named Heron Hollow Pocket • NACA Board voted unanimously on May 20 to reaffirm its commitment to the name as selected by the community in early 2000s. • Due to extensive history of documents, event listings, public comment/testimony at City Council meetings provided by NACA, Department considers this sufficient community stakeholder engagement for renaming. • Funding available in Fiscal Year 2021 operating budget for updated signage. • Scheduled for June 10 City Council meeting. 4 Recommendation Recommend to the City Council to approve the renaming of Payton Gin Pocket Park to Heron Hollow Pocket Park. 5 Questions
Grey Rock Golf and Tennis Club PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD May 25, 2021 Kevin Gomillion, Golf Division Manager, PARD PRESENTER Grey Rock Golf and Tennis Club Overview The City of Austin purchased the Grey Rock Golf and Tennis facility in June of 2014. The management agreement with Touchstone Management was assumed with the purchase. This agreement expires December 2021 Agreement Background No additional extensions available Requires Qualified Management Agreement – IRS implications Will require outside Legal Counsel 2 Facility • Grey Rock is a 292-acre facility with: • An 18- hole golf course; • Eight lighted tennis courts; • Restaurant and clubhouse; and • Venues for a variety of events such as weddings and receptions (Ceremony Lawn, the Pavilion, the Live Oak Patio, the Grill, and Biergarten). 3 Restaurant and Clubhouse 4 Maintenance Facilities 5 Tennis Operations 6 Draft Solicitation 7 Proposed Timelines & Next Steps ACTION DATE Discussion with PARB May 25, 2021 Issue Request for Proposals June 2021 Review Received Proposals Late Summer 2021 Recommendation to CCC Recommendation to PARB Fall 2021 Fall 2021 Council Request for Action Late Fall 2021 8 QUESTIONS ? Kevin Gomillion, Golf Division Manager (512) 974-9351 Kevin.Gomillion@austintexas.gov Anthony Segura, Assistant Director, PARD (512) 974-9411 Anthony.Segura@austintexas.gov 9
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD DIRECTOR’S REPORT DATE: May 2021 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS: Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest Park Vision Plan Community Engagement #2, June 15: The Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) hosted the first community-wide meeting for the vision plan on May 4, where the design team presented what they heard so far from a series of small group meetings and an online survey. They also presented a series of planning values that will guide what is included in the vision plan alternatives presented in the next public meetings on June 15. June 15 meeting registrations noon and 5:30pm and project webpage: http://www.austintexas.gov/sheffieldNWpark. District 7 Highland Neighborhood Park Community Meeting #2, June 24: Phase 2 Implementation engagement will continue June 22 with a second community meeting hosted via Zoom. At this meeting, a final proposed park design will be presented to the community for feedback. June 24 meeting registration and project webpage: https://www.austintexas.gov/HighlandParkProject. District 4 Zilker Park Vision Plan Survey and Community Meeting #1, June 29: The Zilker Park Vision Plan, the first comprehensive plan for the entire park since it became a public park, concluded the series of 14 small group discussions on May 18. The initial survey is set to close on June 1 and already has more than 3,000 participants. Community Meeting #1 (held virtually) will take place on June 29 and will be followed by a series of pop-up meetings throughout the city. At this meeting, community members will be re- introduced to Zilker, including the area and scope of the vision plan, the plans and studies that have taken place in and around the park, and community input received so far. June 29 meeting registration and project webpage: https://www.austintexas.gov/zilkervision. Districts 5 and 8 Colony Park Aquatic Facility, June 30: PARD will host the third virtual meeting on June 30 at 5:30pm. At the second community meeting in April, PARD presented three preliminary concepts for consideration. Based on feedback from that meeting, subsequent survey and community conversations with students at area schools, the Project Team will present the proposed final concept for the new pool and facility at the third meeting. Community members will be asked to identify how well the draft final concept connects with key values and aligns with feedback collected. June 30 meeting registration and project webpage: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/colony-park-aquatic-facility. District 1 Givens Aquatic Facility Renovation Community Meeting #3, July 1: PARD will host the third …
Interlocal Agreement(s) For Wildland Fire Management Activities Travis County and The University of Texas At Austin Parks and Recreation Board Meeting May 25, 2021 Matt McCaw Environmental Conservation Program Manager Land Management Program Natural Resources Division Austin Parks and Recreation Department matt.mccaw@austintexas.gov 2 Background • • • • • The majority of PARD’s lands are protected as natural areas. A natural area is an area that retains or has reestablished its natural character, typically dominated by native plants and animals. They provide critical services to Austin residents: • Mental health Social benefits • Economic benefits • Recreational opportunities • • Water cleansing Air cleansing • Climate regulation • • Most PARD natural areas have not been managed to maintain ecosystem health. Have been degraded by past management, invasive species, and loss of biodiversity, which make them more vulnerable to heat, drought, disease, and wildfire. These vulnerabilities will be exacerbated by climate change. 3 Background • • • • Further, in 2019, the City Auditor found that PARD is not strategically addressing wildfire risk on parkland and recommended that PARD create and implement land management plans to manage natural areas and address wildfire risk. • (Office of the City Auditor. October 2019. Wildfire Preparedness Audit Report) PARD is in the process of procuring a land management plan for several thousand acres of natural areas. Fire is a natural process Is critical for: • • • Economical restoration and management of land at large scales Sustainability and resiliency of natural systems Prescribed fire will be an important piece of the land management plan to reintroduce fire safely. 4 Purpose • • To achieve these goals and commitments, PARD is seeking to establish cooperative agreements with a group of land managing entities (and Austin Fire Department) in the Austin area, including interlocal agreements with: 1. Travis County, and 2. The University of Texas at Austin The interlocal agreements with Travis County and the University of Texas at Austin will each allow for mutual support and cooperation for prescribed fire management and training, land management planning, as well as planning and assistance for certain hazardous events. • Collectively, these agreements will be important for PARD in fulfilling the commitments made in response to the Wildfire Audit as well as implementing restoration and land management plans for Preserves and other parkland natural areas. 4 Purpose • • • These entities each use prescribed burning as …
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Tuesday, May 25, 2021 – 5:30pm Via Videoconference MINUTES The Parks and Recreation Board convened in a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 via videoconference in Austin, Texas. Chair Lewis called the meeting to order at 5:32pm. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Dawn Lewis, Vice Chair Richard DePalma, Nancy Barnard, Laura Cottam Sajbel, Anna Di Carlo, Sarah Faust, Kate Mason-Murphy, Nina Rinaldi and Kimberly Taylor. Board Members Absent: Romteen Farasat. Staff in Attendance: Kimberly McNeeley, Liana Kallivoka, Lucas Massie, Suzanne Piper, Anthony Segura, Jorge Morales, Jose Guerrero, Leah Gibson, Denisha Cox, Megan Eckard, Kevin Gomillion, Matt McCaw, Gregory Montes, Amanda Ross, Patricia Rossett Ricardo Soliz, Idella Wilson and Sammi Curless. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Malcolm Yeatts – encampments in Country Club Creek Greenbelt. A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the regular meeting of April 27, 2021 were approved on Board Member Rinaldi motion, Board Member Cottam Sajbel second on an 8-0 with Board Members Farasat and Taylor absent and one vacancy. Board Member Kimberly Taylor joined the meeting at approximately 6:20pm. Due to time constraints items were heard in the following order: B1, B3, B5, B7, B4, B2. Item B6 was not heard. B. NEW BUSINESS: PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS NON-CONSENT 1. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Department Director to approve the Central Williamson Creek Greenway Vision Plan. Board Member Mason-Murphy made a motion to not recommend the plan which died due to lack of a second. Board Member Cottam Sajbel made a motion to table the item Page 1 of 4 for future discussion; seconded by Board Member Mason-Murphy. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0 with Board Member Farasat absent and one vacancy. 2. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Department Director to approve the Safety and Mobility Plan for the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Board Member Faust made a motion to recommend to the Parks and Recreation Director the approval of the Safety and Mobility Plan for the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail with the following condition that no position is taken by the Parks and Recreation Board in support or against the Double Deck Bridge over Barton Creek described as a potential project in the southwest quadrant within the plan; Vice DePalma seconded the motion. The motion passed on a …
