Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Wednesday, June 24, 2020 – 3:00-4:30pm Minutes The Parks and Recreation Board convened in a special meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 via videoconference in Austin, Texas. Chair Lewis called the meeting to order at 3:07pm. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Dawn Lewis; Vice Chair Romteen Farasat; Laura Cottam Sajbel; Richard DePalma; Anna DiCarlo; Sarah Faust; Francoise Luca; Kate Mason-Murphy; Fred Morgan; Nina Rinaldi and Kimberly Taylor. Staff in Attendance: Kimberly McNeeley; Liana Kallivoka; Lucas Massie; Suzanne Piper; Anthony Segura; Scott Grantham; Jim Kotick; Charles Mabry; Gabrielle Restivo; Margaret Stenz and Sammi Curless. A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the meeting of May 27, 2020 were approved on Board Member Morgan motion, Board Member Taylor second on an 11-0 vote. B. STAFF BRIEFINGS AND REPORTS* 1. Census 2020 Presentation made by John Lawler, Census Program Manager, Travis County. C. NEW BUSINESS: PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS CONSENT 1. Recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Director to approve a five-year extension to the Contract between the City of Austin and Lone Star Riverboat, Inc. for the Excursion Boat Operation on Lady Bird Lake. Board Member DePalma made a motion to approve on consent the recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Director to approve a five-year extension to the Contract between the City of Austin and Lone Star Riverboat, Inc. for the Excursion Boat Operation on Lady Bird Lake; Board Member Farasat seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0. 2. Recommendation to the City Council to authorize the negotiation and execution of an agreement with the successful proposer, Texas Rowing Center, Inc., to provide management and operation of a boating concession on Lady Bird Lake. Page 1 of 4 Board Member Morgan made a motion to recommend to the City Council the negotiation and execution of an agreement with the successful proposer, Texas Rowing Center, Inc., to provide management and operation of a boating concession on Lady Bird Lake; Board Member DePalma seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0. 3. Recommendation to the City Council to authorize the negotiation and execution of an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement Amendment between the City of Austin and Capital Area Council of Governments for the direct management of the congregate meal service offered at nine Parks and Recreation Department sites and one Austin Public Health site. Board Member DePalma made a motion to approve on consent the recommendation to the City Council to negotiate and execute an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement Amendment between the City of Austin and Capital Area Council of Governments for the direct management of the congregate meal service offered at nine Parks and Recreation Department sites and one Austin Public Health site; Board Member Farasat seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0. NON-CONSENT 4. Recommendation to the City Council regarding an amendment to the Goodnight Ranch Planned Unit Development as it pertains to parkland. Board Member DiCarlo made a motion to recommend to the City Council an amendment to the Goodnight Ranch Planned Unit Development as it pertains to parkland; Board Member Rinaldi seconded the motion. The motion passed of a vote of 10-0 with Vice Chair Farasat off the dais. 5. Recommendation to the City Council regarding renaming of the Metz Recreation Center to the Rodolfo “Rudy” Mendez Recreation Center. Public comment from José M.A. Velásquez, Dyana Limon-Mercado and Melissa Villarreal in favor of the renaming of the recreation center. Board Member DePalma made a motion to recommend to City Council the renaming of Metz Recreation Center to the Rodolfo “Rudy” Mendez Recreation Center; Board Member Cottam Sajbel seconded the motion. The motion passed of a vote of 10-0 with Vice Chair Farasat off the dais. Due to the time constraints of certain members, Item D2 was taken out of order for discussion. Vice Chair Farasat and Board Member Taylor left the meeting at 4:45pm. 6. Recommendation to the City Council for adoption of the Master Plan for John Trevino Jr. Metropolitan Park at Morrison Ranch. Public comment from Hermelinda Zamarripa, Charles Roeckle and Stephanie Trevino regarding inclusion of skate and BMX parks in the draft plan. Item tabled to July special meeting. Page 2 of 4 7. July special called meeting. Board Member DePalma made a motion to schedule a July special meeting; Board Member Morgan seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0 with Vice Chair Farasat and Board Member Taylor absent. D. ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS 1. Discussion and possible action regarding the Alternative Funding Working Group (Lewis, Farasat, DePalma, Rinaldi). Board Member Rinaldi provided an update and requested further discussion at the July special called meeting. 2. Discussion and possible action regarding the Parking and Mobility Working Group (Cottam Sajbel, Farasat and Rinaldi). Board Member Cottam Sajbel made a motion to recommend to the City Council that the City of Austin not install metered parking around public parkland amenities (trails, parks, pools) until there is adequate, affordable, reasonably quick, and equitable public transportation for taxpayers to access these amenities for recreation and exercise. Metered parking makes sense only at park facilities which have frequent transit. In addition, we strongly encourage the City to implement more of the pedestrian and bike routes to major parks recommended in the Zilker Park Working Group final report of June 7, 2019, allowing safer access to the pools and parks for those not in cars or buses. We recommend the City continue to invest in pools and parks for underserved parts of the city, to provide easier access to all citizens to appropriate trails, parkland, and swimming facilities. Once new routes or protected trails are implemented, we encourage the City to spend time and effort communicating with and educating citizens about the alternate modes of transportation and safe routes, as those become available; Board Member Morgan seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6-1 with Board Member Rinaldi voting nay, Board Members DePalma and Luca abstaining and Vice Chair Farasat and Board Member Taylor absent. 3. Discussion and possible action regarding the Park and Facility Renaming (Ordinance 20160324-021) Working Group (DiCarlo, Farasat, Luca). No report. Chair Lewis left the meeting at 5:11pm due to technology issues. E. DIRECTOR’S REPORT ON PROGRAM AND PROJECT UPDATES AND EVENTS Director McNeeley provided a brief update focusing on staffing levels as it relates to park maintenance. F. FUTURE ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS Board Members Luca, Mason-Murphy and Rinaldi: use of baseball fields. Page 3 of 4 With the Chair and Vice Chair absent, Board Member DePalma made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Board Member Cottam Sajbel. The motion passed on a vote of 8- 0. The meeting adjourned at 5:15pm. Page 4 of 4