REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD JULY 27, 2026 – 6:00 PM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ROOM 1001 301 W. 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Parks and Recreation Board may 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, click here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/n2FwCzXeS8 or call or email Tim Dombeck, (512) 974-6716, Tim.Dombeck@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Stephanie Bazan (D-5), Chair Lane Becker (Mayor), Vice Chair Shelby Orme (D-1) Pedro Villalobos (D-2) Nicole Merritt (D-3) Maritza Kelley (D-4) Luai Abou-Emara (D-6) Diane Kearns-Osterweil (D-7) AGENDA Kim Taylor (D-8) Jennifer Franklin (D-9) Ted Eubanks (D-10) CALL TO ORDER 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of June 22, 2026. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. 3. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for Golf staff who completed the restoration of ponds at Roy Kizer and Jimmy Clay golf courses, which both added challenge to course play and created habitat for waterfowl. (Sponsors: Bazan, Becker) Presenter(s): Steve Hammond, Golf Division Manager, Austin Parks and Recreation. Approve the Parks and Recreation Board Annual Internal Review and Report. (Sponsors: Bazan, Becker) Page 1 of 2 STAFF BRIEFINGS 4. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates. (Sponsors: Bazan, Becker) Presenter(s): Jesús Aguirre, Austin Parks and Recreation Director. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Tim Dombeck at Parks and Recreation Department, at (512) 974-6716 Tim.Dombeck@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through …
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES JUNE 22, 2026 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES JUNE 22, 2026 The PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD convened in a REGULAR meeting on JUNE 22, 2026 at 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Becker called the PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Lane Becker, Luai Abou-Emara, Ted Eubanks, Maritza Kelley. Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Nicole Merritt, Shelby Orme. Board Members Absent: Stephanie Bazan, Jennifer Franklin, Diane Kearns-Osterweil, Kim Taylor, Pedro Villalobos. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Nicole Netherton - Pease Park Conservancy Steven Brown - Givens Park Advisory Board Julie Fisher - The Trail Conservancy Aubrea Rudder - Austin Rowing Club Alyssa Vargas - Austin Parks Foundation Sophie Kent - Additional Funding for Givens Pool APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of May 19, 2026. The motion to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of May 19, 2026 was approved on Board Member Abou-Emara’s motion, Board Member Eubanks’ second on a 6-0 vote. Chair Bazan, Board Member Franklin, Kearns-Osterweil, Taylor and Villalobos absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for Malin’s Fountain, more commonly known as the Pease Park Troll, who reminded us that we should share water and resources with the animals that live with us. Nicole Netherton, Chief Executive Officer, Pease Park Conservancy, gave a presentation. Board Members discussed how Malin was a neighbor to those who live near Pease Park, the terrible loss that community members are feeling, the risks that a historic park like Pease Park faces, safety, replacing Malin, and memories from the unveiling of the project. Page 1 of 2 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES JUNE 22, 2026 The motion to letters of support for Malin’s Fountain, more commonly known as the Pease Park Troll, who reminded us that we should share water and resources with the animals that live with us was approved on Board Member Eubanks’ motion, Board Member Kelley’s second on a 6-0 vote. Chair Bazan, Board Member Franklin, Kearns- Osterweil, Taylor and Villalobos absent. 3. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the permanent use of 9,852 sq. ft. of parkland at Palm Park and temporary work area use of 2,585 sq. ft. of parkland at Palm …
AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION— GOLF ATX DIRECTOR-JESÚS AGUIRRE ASST DIRECTOR-LUCAS MASSIE OPERATION MANAGER-STEVE HAMMOND PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD JULY 27, 2026 1 ROY KIZER POND REESTABLISHMENT PROJECT • Built in 1994 • Decommissioned Austin Water Treatment Plant • Home to 120 species of migratory and non- migratory waterfowl • Austin’s First Links Style • Currently services over Course • Water Features covering 60 acres 65,000 rounds of golf/year 2 POND HISTORY • Noticeable leaking in 2016 • Unreasonable expense to continue adding water • CBC was down to 45 species in 2022 • Plan for restoration formed in 2024 • Funding established for 2026 3 METHODOLOGY • Investigated solution with Austin Water • Poly-Lining solution was cost prohibitive • Paradigm Construction LLC was introduced in 2025 • Bentonite was determined to be an acceptable solution 4 REESTABLISHMENT SCHEDULE • Work began in March of 2026 • Removal of vegetation • Repair compromised weirs • Application of bentonite • Replace circulation pump and install aerators • To date, project is 70% complete 5 6 WEIR REPAIR 7 VEGETATION REMOVAL 8 MATERIAL APPLICATIONS 9 REFILLING 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2025 to 6/30/2026 Parks and Recreation Board The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: (A) The Parks and Recreation Board membership should include citizens of the city who are interested in public parks and public recreation and persons who are knowledgeable in recreation matters. The director of the Parks and Recreation Department, the city manager or designee, the director of the Financial and Administrative Services Department, and the city attorney are ex officio members of the board. (B) The board shall advise the city council and the city manager regarding: (1)the acquisition, development, improvement, equipment, programming, and maintenance of all land and facilities managed by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Austin; (2)the purchase of additional land to be managed by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Austin. (C) The board shall outline a general plan of development for land, facilities, and programs. The board may submit the plan to the Planning Commission and the city manager for detailed development, and the city manager may then submit the plan to the city council for approval as may be required by the City Code. (D) The board shall promote close cooperation between the City and all private citizens, institutions, and agencies interested in or conducting recreational activities, so that all recreational resources within the City may be coordinated to secure the greatest public Parks and Recreation Board Annual Review & Work Plan 2026 Page 2 Welfare. (E) The board shall perform other duties as prescribed by the City Code or as directed by the city council. Source: The Code of the City of Austin, Texas § 2-1-165 – Parks and Recreation Board 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Board has three areas of responsibility in its advisory function to the City Council. The activities this board took for fiscal year 2025-2026 are listed by area below. Unless otherwise noted, all recommendations were adopted at a meeting of the entire Parks and Recreation Board. A. The board shall advise the city council and the city manager regarding: (1) the acquisition, development, improvement, equipment, programming, and maintenance of all land and facilities …
AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR’S UPDATE July 2026 Recreation Services Division Backpack Giveaway Austin Watershed Protection hosts a backpack giveaway for Dottie Jordan Summer Playgrounds on July 29, from 10am- 12pm, to distribute 40 supply-filled backpacks, talk “Turn Around, Don’t Drown”, showcase operations trucks, and hand out promotional items. Totally Cool Totally Art Summer Show The TCTA Summer Theatre Program wraps up with its Summer Showcase on July 30, at the Asian American Resource Center, inviting families and staff to celebrate teen creativity through artwork, film screenings, and theatre performances. Dottie Jordan Recreation Center – Parents Night Out Dottie Jordan Recreation Center hosted its first Inclusive Kids’ Night Out on June 26th, welcoming 17 children for an evening of activities that promoted inclusion and provided parents with respite. Community Recreation Division Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center Mendez Recreation celebrates the annual Teen Fishing Derby, held each year during summer camp. Activities included food and fun in the sun as teens tried their luck in reeling the biggest hauls, which were caught and released. Virginia L Brown Recreation Center’s HEB Banana Block Party: HEB is going bananas at Virginia L Brown Recreation Center on July 25, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The most a-peel-ing block party of the summer! There will be free snacks, music, yoga, crafts, giveaways, and yes… banana costume contests for kids, grown- ups, AND dogs! We hope to see you there! District 4. South Austin Recreation Center Banana Blitz On July 15th, SARC hosts the H-E-B Banana Blitz. This is a six-week summer initiative aimed at fighting childhood food insecurity when school meal programs are unavailable. It features free fresh fruit, kids yoga, crafts, and games. All 60 participants in the South Austin Recreation Center Summer Camp Program were able to participate in the event. Natural Resources Division Really Small Museum, ROAM Continues Traveling Exhibition ROAM Museum’s newest traveling exhibition, In Place by ceramicist Travis Benton, transformed clay harvested from Blunn Creek Nature Preserve into site- responsive art before the museum moves to Stillhouse Hollow Nature Preserve to feature artist Danny Martin. Greater Greener Tours Camacho Hosts Greater Greener Kayak Tour Camacho Activity Center welcomed 30 Greater Greener conference attendees for a Lady Bird Lake kayaking tour, showcasing its programming, equity and inclusion efforts, and collaborative partnerships with The Trail Conservancy and Austin Watershed Protection. Park Ranger Greater Greener Tours Park Rangers provide a birding tour …
