D4: Excerpt of Parks and Recreation Board Minutes, October 23, 2007 — original pdf

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Parks Board minutes Tues. October 23, 2007 (below from the minutes:) E. Discussion and Action Items: 1. Briefing and Possible Action recommending that the City of Austin acquire and preserve the Lions Municipal Golf Course for use by future generations. Farhad Madani, Assistant Director, provided the Board with an overview detailing: 1) the partnership between the University of Texas and the Citizens of Austin; 2) the Brackenridge Task Force Recommendation (which recommended the lease of the golf course not be renewed or extended when it expires in 2019); 3) the history of the lease including the lease payments made throughout the lease term; 4) the importance of low cost golf to the Citizens of Austin and; 5) the impact that the golf course has had on the community. Lions, is was noted, is one of the most popular courses in Central Texas. The course has exceeded over 1.3 million patrons since 1988. Mr. Madani also indicated that the University of Texas Board of Regents will take public comment on November 9, 2007 at 1: 30 p.m. Mary Arnold provided the Board with additional information including how in the 1970’s the Re- gents and the City agreed to continue the lease and how a second agreement was approved to con- tinue with the terms of the lease. After additional discussion, Board Member Chimenti moved to ap- prove a resolution (attached) which recommended: 1) the City of Austin seek to acquire and preserve the Lions Municipal Golf Course for use by future generations and; 2) the City of Austin encourage the University of Texas Board of Regents to include the City, users of Lions Municipal, neighbors and any other interested parties in the Master Planning Process for the Brackenridge Tract. Motion was seconded by Board Member Shang. Board Member Boyt requested that an addendum be added to include “that the City work with the UT to complete the extension of the Town Lake trail to Red Bud Island”. Board Member Vane added “that the resolution be presented to the Board of Regents at their next meeting”. Motion with the addendum passed 8-0. 2. Consider approval of the Paul Grimme Boat Dock Case Number SP-2007-0470DS Board Member Small indicated that the request requires a variance for two different reasons. The first is the applicant is wishing to build within the 10 foot side setback and secondly they are replac- ing existing dock and wish to leave the dock at a width that is greater than 20%. Mr. Small does not think that the second request is valid therefore, moved to approve the Paul Grimme Boat Dock to build only within the 10 foot side setback, seconded by Board Member Francell. Motion passed 8-0. Parks Board Resolution re Lions Municipal Golf Course  Whereas the construction of the first “public” golf course in Austin, Lions Municipal Golf Course, was sponsored by the Lions Club of Austin in the mid 1920’s under a lease of a portion of the Brackenridge Tract from the University of Texas, and Whereas the City of Austin agreed to take over the lease and the management and maintenance of the course in 1937 through a new 50 year lease with the University of Texas, and Whereas Lions Municipal Golf Course was the only golf course operated by the City of Austin until the 1950’s when the Austin Country Club moved to a new location and its golf course became a city- owned golf course, the 9 hole Hancock Golf Course, and Whereas the University of Texas and the City of Austin have negotiated the city’s lease on Lions Mu- nicipal Golf Course in 1973-74, and in 1988-1989, resulting, in both instances, in extensions of the Golf Course lease, and in benefits to the University of Texas from the City of Austin, and Whereas a Brackenridge Tract Task Force, appointed by The University of Texas Board of Regents, is recommending that the Board of Regents not extend the current Golf Course lease but instead let it expire in 2019, and Whereas the Parks and Recreation Board advises the city council concerning improvements in the maintenance, operation and general welfare of the public parks, playgrounds and recreational facili- ties such as the Lions Municipal Golf Course, and Whereas the Parks and Recreation Board recognizes the importance of the Lions Municipal Golf Course to public golf in this community, and recognizes its history as part of the history of Austin Parks and Recreation, Now therefore be it Resolved, that the Parks and Recreation Board recommends to the City Council that ■ ■ the City of Austin seek to acquire and preserve the Lions Municipal Golf Course for use by future generations; the City of Austin encourage the University of Texas Board of Regents to in- clude the City, users of Lions Municipal, neighbors and any other interested parties in the Master Planning Process for the Brackenridge Tract. October 23, 2007  Brackenridge Tract Task Force Recommendation re Lions Municipal Golf Course: October 12, 2007