D1-1: PARD Director's Report, May 2022 — original pdf

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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD DIRECTOR’S REPORT DATE: May 2022 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS: Montopolis Community Pool Renovation and Beverly S Sheffield Northwest District Park Pool Renovation: The pool renovation projects at Montopolis Neighborhood Park and Beverly S Sheffield Northwest District Park are entering the community engagement phase. At both locations, the Department will host community events during the summer pool season to gather feedback on the proposed improvements. The meeting dates are anticipated for mid-June and are pending final approval. An online community survey is available on the project websites (Montopolis Pool Project | AustinTexas.gov and Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest Aquatic Facility Renovation | AustinTexas.gov) to gather data on community priorities for the renovation. The online survey closes on May 23. Districts 3 and 7 Downs Field Grandstands Dedication: To celebrate the completion of the historic Downs Field Grandstands Renovation, the Department has scheduled a dedication event on June 10, 2022. The date is still pending final confirmation from Huston-Tillotson University. The 1947 Downs Field Grandstands and field are a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. District 1 Volma Overton Sr. Beach Dedication Ceremony: On June 11, the Department will hold a ceremony to officially dedicate Volma Overton Sr. Beach at Town Lake Metropolitan Park. Formally known as Lamar Beach, the park was formally renamed by Austin City Council in early 2022. Volma Overton Sr. (1924-2005) was a highly significant and influential Austin leader. A World War II veteran and graduate of Huston-Tillotson University, Overton served as president of the Austin NAACP from 1963- 1983, during which time he participated in the March on Washington in 1963 and the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965. He received the Arthur B. DeWitty award in 1967 and many other awards for his service. He was also honored for his contribution to Civil Rights by the LBJ School of Public Affairs on March 25, 2004. District 9 Volma Overton Sr. photo courtesy of George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center 1  PLANNING UPDATES: Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan: The Parks and Recreation Department (Department) and the consultant team continue to compile and analyze the input received on the plan's three draft concepts via survey data, comments, small group discussions, and pop-up events. The last month included discussions with the Boys & Girls Club of Austin, the Housing Authority of the City of Austin's I-MOM Program, The Rise School of Austin (all abilities/inclusive preschool), as well as tabling at The Trail Foundation's Common Waters unveiling. Department staff also engaged with the Pedestrian Advisory Council at their May 2, 2022 meeting to discuss public safety along Barton Springs Road and provided a project briefing to City Council at the May 3, 2022 Work Session. More information including the draft concepts and survey may be found on the project website at https://www.austintexas.gov/ZilkerVision Districts 5 and 8 Commercial Parkland Dedication Ordinance: The public outreach process began on May 9, 2022, with opportunity for public comment, a survey, social media, and interactive tools. Department staff will be hosting stakeholder roundtable discussions in early June. More information, including a link to the survey may be found on the project website at: https://www.austintexas.gov/new-PLD All Districts Project Connect: Department staff continues to collaborate with the Project Connect, Blue Line and Orange Line teams. Recent activity includes: • The Department is evaluating Austin Transit Partnership’s determinations on Section 6F of the Land and Water Conservation Act and 4F of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act, such as whether the Walnut Creek section should go through the 6F conversion, which would require a 1:1 replacement of land. The Department is also evaluating whether 4F impacts can be considered De Minimis. • The Department is meeting with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) about the 6F process and how it would apply to Auditorium Shores, Shoal Beach, and Walnut Creek Metro Park. TPWD will review with the National Park Service, which is the ultimate decision maker. • For 6F conversions (e.g., Waller Beach), the Department will be awarded funds based on the appraisal of land and will need to identify property of equal or greater value to replace it. It is the project team’s understanding that there will be no earmarked funds for building renovation (e.g., at the Youth Hostel), so the Department will need to make an additional ask for these funds or identify another funding source. • For mitigation beyond Waller Beach, the Department has expressed interest in acquiring land. For example, there will be opportunities to acquire parkland in partnership with Project Connect as part of the large eminent domain cases needed for the line. Staff will conduct analysis and discuss with leadership before making requests. More information can be found at the project website: https://projectconnect.com/ Districts: Multiple Waller Creek Boathouse: On May 16, 2022, the Department and the Austin Transit Partnership hosted a stakeholder meeting to discuss the plan for the replacement of the Waller Creek Boathouse at the Hostel site. Districts 3 and 9 2  The Aquatic Division continues getting pools operational for summer with cleaning shifts and coordination with maintenance for any repairs. A tiered opening schedule has been established that is reflective of the number of onboarded lifeguards. Headguard/manager trainings have started along with cashier trainings to be ready for charging season. Many of the forms being used on site have been digitized to help reduce the amount of paper used. Microsoft Forms are being utilized then stored in SharePoint folder to allow for quicker access to onsite chemical readings, maintenance, and supply needs. In addition to new lifeguard staff, new aquatic management has been acquired. Lifeguard Hiring: As of May 17, 2022, there are 632 lifeguard applicants and a total of 207 lifeguards ready to work. Marketing and recruiting continues through flyers, posters, social media, and radio advertising. George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center: On May 10, 2022, CasaBella Architects met with Museum staff and members of the PARD planning department to kick-off renovation plans for the Boyd Vance Theater. Anticipated renovations and repairs are projected to range between $1.7 million and $2 million dollars. Funds being used are from the bond repair and renovation funds. District 1 Asian American Resource Center: Trahan Architects and the Phase II project team were on site to present design plans for the Asian American Resource Center’s theater during Celebrasia on May 14, 2022. The goal of this engagement session is to gather additional feedback to ensure that the plans align with community expectations for a performing arts center. District 9 DEVELOPMENT UPDATES: Nash Hernandez Building Renovation: On May 19, 2022, the Department received approval to proceed with a sole source contract with Cotera + Reed Architects to lead the design of a new facility at the Nash Hernandez building. The 10,000 square foot building, located at 1621 Nash Hernandez Senior Road, was built in 1966 for the Austin Fire Prevention Department, Arson Division, and museum. In 2012, the building was transferred from the Austin Fire Department to the Parks and Recreation Department for the purpose of establishing administrative offices. Following the allocation of deferred maintenance dollars in the FY21 budget, the Department intends to rehabilitate the space to accommodate both administrative offices and community use. Cotera + Reed Architects was selected based on their previous experience working at this site. District 3 Nash Hernandez Building 3  MAINTENANCE UPDATES: Buford Tower Repairs: Construction at the Buford Tower is anticipated to begin late May to repair damage incurred from a fire in 2021. Construction is anticipated to be complete by September 2022. District 9 Maintenance Complete - Dick Nichols District Park – Parking Lot Rehabilitation and Accessibility Improvements: Concrete and asphalt renovations at Dick Nichols District Park were completed on May 12, 2022. Improvements included concrete repairs to the pool entry plaza and basketball court to provide ADA-compliant access, and a fresh asphalt overlay on the entire parking lot. All problem areas in the lot have been excavated, and the sub-base replaced to prevent future failure. Work also included new striping for crosswalks and parking stalls, as well as new wheel stops. Funding provided by 2018 Bonds for ADA and Parking Improvements. District 8 Parking lot improvements at Dick Nichols District Park Parque Zaragoza Neighborhood Park and Recreation Center - Parking Lot Rehabilitation and Accessibility Improvements: Renovations to the existing asphalt parking lot and entry plaza at the recreation center to meet ADA requirements began on May 16, 2022. Scope of work includes the re- design of the ADA parking and sidewalks, repairs to failing asphalt, and paint striping. New limestone seating blocks will be integrated into the plaza area to serve as a gathering space in front of the recreation center. The maintenance is estimated to take 3-4 weeks to complete. Funding provided by 2018 Bonds for ADA and Parking Improvements. District 3 4  Conditions at Parque Zaragoza before rehabilitation began Parque Zaragoza: Zaragoza Recreation Center will celebrate its 90th year as well as receive recognition for National Register of Historic Places. The City celebrated with a ceremony and a plaque unveiling on May 14, 2022, during the anniversary celebration. District 3 Pan Am Recreation Center: Pan Am Recreation Center recently finished repairs to the building interior to include the resurfacing of their lobby, kitchen, and walkway areas of the building. The remainder of the project will now include replacement of the scoreboard, the wall pads as well as the backboards. In addition to these renovations, the site has almost completed the installation of security cameras, after a minor halt to the project. District 3 Givens Recreation Center: Givens recently completed the demolition of the lobby front desk. The next phase of the project will include the installation of a new desk that will be extended forward from the previous front desk location. District 1 5  Montopolis Recreation and Community Center: The clearing and beautification of the rain garden at the Montopolis Recreation and Community Center has been completed. The rain garden was overgrown with invasive trees and plants. The rain garden was cut down and the invasive plants were treated. Informational signs are being created to educate the community of the importance of Rain Gardens. District 3 Roy Kizer Greens Resurfacing -- To date, 13 greens have been stripped of sod and reshaped, one is in progress and four have yet to begun resurfacing. The project is on time to hit the early planting date of Jun 1, 2022 and has not run into any major obstacles. District 2 PROGRAM UPDATES: Waterloo Greenway – The Confluence (Creek Delta): A press conference was held in partnership with Waterloo Greenway Conservancy on April 25, 2022, at the Fairmont Hotel to announce receipt of $9 million in grant funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Confluence project. The press conference included remarks from Congressman Lloyd Doggett, U.S Army Corps Colonel Jonathan Stover, and Mayor Adler, as well as leadership from Waterloo Greenway, Watershed Protection and Parks and Recreation Departments. The Corps grant marked the first infusion of federal dollars into the Greenway and is provided via the Environmental Infrastructure Program, part of the U.S. Army Corps’ 2022 Fiscal Year nationwide investment funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This will be the first project in Texas funded through the Corps’ Environmental Infrastructure program. The announcement resulted in extensive media coverage including 26 prints, online, radio and broadcast news stories, reaching an estimated viewership audience of 7.7 million. A recording and transcript of the press conference can be viewed here. Districts 1 and 9 6  Parque Zaragoza Documentary: The Historic Preservation and Tourism Program launched a short documentary about the history of Parque Zaragoza in advance of the park’s 90th Anniversary Celebration on May 14, 2022, sponsored by Amigos de Parque Zaragoza. Additionally, the Department partnered with Texas Monthly on a special online feature that promotes the park to tourists. Established in 1931, Parque Zaragoza has served as a cornerstone of the Mexican American and Tejano community in East Austin. Throughout its history, many of the largest Cinco de Mayo and Diez y Seis celebrations in Austin have taken place in the park. Residents recall festivities spanning four-day weekends where families from across the county would travel to the park with makeshift tents, food, and brightly colored traditional outfits. Highlights would include parades, barbeques, live music, and dancing. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the park’s namesake, General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. District 3 7  Ricky Guerrero Pocket Park: The Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association will be holding a Grand Opening and Artworks Dedication ceremony at Ricky Guerrero Pocket Park on May 22, 2022 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, to celebrate the Batadillo, a glass and ceramic mosaic sculpture completed in 2021 as part of the Art in Public Places program. The sculpture was completed by artist Gigi Griffin Miller and sponsored by the Department. District 3 Photo provided by visitaustintexas.com MLK Station Neighborhood Park: An event to celebrate the opening of the second official nature play space at MLK Station Neighborhood Park is planned for June 4, 2022, from 12pm – 3pm. This project was funded by Parkland Dedication and led by Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN) as part of the Community PARKnerships Program. Community engagement efforts highlighted the desire for features to climb on, jump across, balance on, and build with, as well as access to water, trees, and native plants. Those desires were echoed in the final design, which includes: Stump, log, and boulder play trail • • Circular stump seating with central space for loose parts • Play hill • Updated bottle folly to provide seating/gathering space • • • Adjusted and re-secured steppingstones across the creek • Ongoing treatment for invasive bamboo Looping natural trail and mulched central trail Limestone block seating A park ID sign will be installed at the entry along 16th street, and signage for the nature play features will be installed in the coming months. To help build understanding and comfort with these new features, CCCN will be hosting several weekend Nature Play Days over the summer. The Department will begin tracking the degradation of the logs and stumps, as well as the use of the new features in an ongoing effort to build communal knowledge around the intricacies of nature play. District 1 8  Fort building at MLK Station Neighborhood Park Eastwoods Neighborhood Park Juneteenth Interpretative Sign and Lone Star Legacy Award: On June 11, 2022, the Eastwoods Neighborhood Association and the Department will dedicate a Juneteenth Interpretative Sign and a Lone Star Legacy Award Plaque at Eastwoods Neighborhood Park. The Park is notable as the site of Wheeler’s Grove, one of Austin’s earliest Emancipation Parks where African Americans would celebrate Juneteenth every June 19, 2022. One of Austin’s first public parks, it was formally opened to the public in 1930. In 1964, it became the first home of Eeyore’s Birthday Party. The Lone Star Legacy designation was received in 2020. The Juneteenth interpretive sign was proposed by the Eastwoods Neighborhood Association in 2021. Both markers were installed in 2021 with the goal of having a joint dedication ceremony on site to celebrate. District 9 2022 City Olympics: The annual City Olympics event kicked off after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. The Centralized Programs Division collaborated with the Human Resource Division’s Healthy Connections team to host over 1,200 City of Austin employees and their families during the event. Centralized Programs Division led the Kid’s Zone, Kickball, Softball, Sand Volleyball, Basketball, Horseshoes, Washers, Brisket Cook-off, and the Salsa Contest. There was a record setting 21 kickball teams along with nine sand volleyball teams, seven basketball teams, and 12 softball teams in which PARD claimed the 1st place trophy (team REC-ing Crew)! All Districts 9  Totally Cool Totally Art (TCTA) End of Year Showcase at the Dougherty Arts Center: The teen art program held their showcase April 9-28, in-person with a Closing Ceremony on the April 28, 2022. The reception was attended by 175 students, parents, and staff. Awards for artistic excellence, artistic dedication, and the spirit of TCTA were distributed. Video tour can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8SZO-cUwyo&t=32s. One of the two students who won the top honor gave a heartfelt speech about how much TCTA has meant to her and helped her through dark times. Some highlights of the event were the large sculptures and the first ever one-hour film screening of all the short films made in the TCTA Film class. The theater was full as patrons laughed and shrieked along with the suspense and the comedy. A link to the playlist of this year's films can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92Lfb4Di9uY&list=PLEVhRzf1XxRudusjtCJXZn9I0fhzTFWQd. Districts: 1, 2, 4, 7 and 9 10  Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center (CGSAC): Older Americans Month: On Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 10 am-1 pm, Austin Public Health (APH) and CGSAC had over 200 participants and volunteers to join the festivities; watching musician All Rhythms Band and Jess Ross, R&B line Dancers from CGSAC, while Jim Spencer, Meteorologist, emceed the event. While these festivities were being held there were many other opportunities patrons to get COVID booster shots with $100 gift cards from APH, prize bingo, dominoes, corn hole, and a full open house of CGSAC programs that are available to the Varsity Generation. District 1 Delores Duffie Recreation Center: The rec center continues to expand its teen club program and has increased enrollment to 35 participants. The free after school program collects teen participants from three middle schools, Kealing, Lamar and East Austin College Prep. The program provides a structured curriculum that presents each teen with an option to take part in outdoor football and indoor basketball program, a drone class, cooking class, or a teen game room. The class is held weekly in the newly renovated teen room at Doris Miller gym. District 3 11  Hancock Recreation Center: Varsity Generation Golf Putting Contest: On May 6, 2022, 42 Varsity Generation members participated in the Putting Challenge on the Hancock putting green. Participants enjoyed the quick competitions and winners walked away with prizes. District 9 Delores Duffie Recreation Center: With the recent funding for Out of School Time (OOST) expansion activities, Delores Duffie is proud to offer its Outdoor Cooking Program. The program is on Wednesdays from 6-8 pm and will teach youth and teen participants the skills needed to cook while engaging in outdoor spaces. The program held weekly in Brushy Creek Park adjacent from the recreation center will not only teach how to meal prep and cook healthy recipes, but also the benefit of cooking outdoors. District 3 12  George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center: George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center wrapped up its ‘’Run Drills Build Skills’’ spring soccer clinic on April 27, 2022. 30 participants attended this clinic and engaged in a variety of fundamental soccer activities and inclusive group play. District 2 George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center: On April 27, 2022, George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center partnered with Common Threads Nutrition to host an educational food workshop. This workshop focused on teaching parents healthy eating and cooking habits at home. 21 parents/guardians attended this class. District 2 Varsity Generation Programs – Return on Congregate Meal Program The Congregate Meal Program made its return to five PARD locations – Gus Garcia Recreation Center, South Austin Senior Activity Center, Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center and Asian American Resource Center on Monday, May 2, 2022. The remaining sites opened for meal service on Monday, May 16, 2022. These sites include George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center, Mendez Recreation Center, Virginia Brown Recreation Center, Turner Roberts Recreation Center, and Alamo Recreation Center. Effective May 16, 2022, the program is fully up and running including two brand new meal sites. Districts 1, 3, 4 and 5 13  To Fika: The Oakwood Chapel’s spring 2022 exhibit, "To Fika" shows the influence of Swedish Immigrants in Austin. In Swedish culture, Fika is a coffee and snack break with friends and colleagues. It is essential to Fika every day. The Swedish Hill Neighborhood is adjacent to Oakwood Cemetery. Hundreds of Swedes and their descendants now rest for eternity just steps from where they originally built homes, worked, learned, and worshiped. District 1 Asian American Resource Center CelebrASIA 2022: The Asian American Resource Center’s annual CelebrASIA Austin event, in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, was held on Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 11 am-3 pm. The attendance was approximately 1,000 people. The event featured performances by local cultural groups and musician, Lara Price. Food vendors, community outreach organizations, and hands on activities for all ages will be offered to the public. The festival received great media coverage including Tribeza, Good Day Austin, and Austin Chronicle’s Five Ways to Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. District 1. 14 Emma S. Barrientos (ESB) Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC): The ESB MACC celebrated La Mujer – A celebration of women inspired by the first feminist of the New World, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, with food, art, and performances on Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 1-7 pm. This year highlighted the accomplishments of mujeres, of inspirational women in Austin. La Mujer is a multidisciplinary festival that featured a stellar lineup of musicians, visual artists, and women business owners participating in community building, networking, education, and entertainment. Please visit www.lamujeratx.net for more details. District 9  Susanna Dickinson Museum presents The Big Change Series an Oral History Project: This oral history project examines three prominent women in Texas history that have made a significant impact in their communities. Through an examination of the relationship between activism and civic engagement, the project inspires us to consider what changes must be made today so that we can thrive in our communities. Click here to preview the project. District 9 The Dougherty Arts Center in collaboration with Austin City Ballet presents Peter Pan: This original story ballet is appropriate for the whole family. Join Peter, Wendy, and the Darling Children as they embark on a magical adventure to Neverland where they meet Tinkerbell, Tigerlily, beautiful mermaids, fun loving cowboys, and swashbuckling pirates. This program is made possible through the Museum’s and Cultural Programs Division’s Artist Access Program. District 9 The Elizabet Ney Museum celebrates National Wildflower Week with Art in Hyde Park: Plein Air Austin Paint Out: To celebrate National Wildflower Week, the Elisabet Ney Museum hosted Art in Hyde Park: Plein Air Austin Paint Out on Saturday, May 8, 2022, 2022. Artists from around Central Texas came out to paint the Museum's natural landscape, as well as Elisabet Ney's historic artist studio. The event culminated with an artist demonstration and a group critique with all the participants. District 9 15  The George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center presents Create & Heal: The Art of Happiness: In collaboration with Mixed Hues and artist Samara Barks led a hands-on workshop that explored the concept of happiness. As a visual artist, she uses her art to inspire viewers to reflect on their own hearts and intentions. Are your actions moving you in a positive direction? What are you doing for your communities to improve and uplift them? This program was presented on May 5, 2022 from 7-9 pm and had 60 attendees. District 1. Community Health Fair: The Asian American Resource Center (AARC) is partnering with Austin Public Health to offer a Community Health Fair that provides free health screenings, resources, and activities for the entire family. The fair is geared toward Burmese, Nepali, and Karen communities and is scheduled for Tuesday, May 24, 2022, 11 am-1 pm. District 1 Park Ranger Program Updates: Park Rangers are Creating Community by fully embedding themselves within it, and offering Information, Assistance, Programs, and Conservation Services within our parks. From April 10, 2022 – May 10, 2022 Park Rangers handled daily operations including 2,646 contacts regarding Laws, Safety, Service and Education. 207 contacts were logged for Dogs Off Leash during this time frame. Park Rangers began issuing warning citations after several months doing outreach at Longview Park and The Mexican American Cultural Center. Park Ranger Hot Spots/ Directed Patrols and Notable Operations • Gillis Park Security Guard Check in’s 2 times per week. • Mother’s Day Weekend: 205 Contacts • Easter Weekend Operations: 394 Contacts • Notifications, Signs and APD support at the Stratford Lot 16  Overall Contact Breakdown: Total Contacts 2,646 Contacts by Location: Park Ranger Total Contacts for April 10, 2022 - May 10, 2022 Pickfair Pocket Park Mary Moore Searight Metro Park Emma Long Metro Park Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metro Park Michael Butler Park at Town Lake Metro… 35 40 41 46 57 k r a P Onion Creek Metro Park Barton Creek Greenbelt Zilker Nature Preserve Eilers (Deep Eddy) Neighborhood Park Zilker Metro Park 94 116 166 537 953 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 Number of Contacts Special Events: May 30, 2022 – CapTex Tri June 02, 2022 – Moonlight Margarita Run June 11, 2022 – Volma Overton Beach Renaming Ceremony, 9 am, Volma Overton Beach June 11, 2022 – Eastwoods Park Art Installation Unveiling, 11 am, Eastwoods Park June 12, 2022 – Zilker Eagle Opening Day, time to be determined, Zilker Park 17  June 14, 2022 – Blues on the Green - Show 1 June 15, 2022 – Blues on the Green - Show 2 ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: Montopolis Neighborhood Park Pool Replacement: On May 6, 2022, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced $61.1 million in grant funding is available to communities in 26 cities across the United States to create new parks and trails, or substantial renovations to existing parks, through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program. The Montopolis Neighborhood Park Pool Replacement was awarded a $3.125 million grant for its significant contribution towards outdoor equity and access, the only project in Texas selected. Deputy Secretary of the Interior, the Honorable Tommy Beaudreau, visited the park on May 16, 2022. District 3 Golf Revenue: Through April 2022, revenue is at 105% compared to April 2021. This is particularly remarkable because the Roy Kizer golf course that is not producing revenue due to the resurfacing project and general fund transfer dollars are half of what they were in 2021. Districts 1, 2, 8, 9 and 10. City of Austin’s FY2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Audit: The City completed the fiscal year 2020 audit with an unmodified or “clean” opinion by the City’s external auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP. The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (Report) as of September 30, 2021, was issued on March 14, 2022. A “clean” opinion was issued based on the audit. The Report is accessible at the following URL: https://assets.austintexas.gov/financeonline/downloads/annual_comprehensive_financial_rep ort/annual_comprehensive_financial_report_2021.pdf FY 2023 Budget Development: PARD submitted its FY 2023 Proposed Budget submission on Friday, May 6, 2022. The Proposed Budget contains a total request of $2 million to support General Fund operations and programming and a request of $436K for the Golf Enterprise operations. Here are some upcoming key dates from the COA Budget Timeline: CALENDAR Proposed Budget Presentation to Council Jul 15 Jul 27 & Aug 2 Public Input Meetings Aug 9 & 11 Aug 17-19 Council Budget Work Sessions Tax Rate Hearing and Budget Readings Zilker Train: The Parks and Recreation Board (PARB) received an update on January 5, 2021, regarding the execution of the Construction, Operations, and Maintenance Agreement for a Miniature Train Operation at Zilker Metropolitan Park with the Austin Parks Foundation (Foundation). During recent testing, the Foundation found additional parts and retrofitting are needed. Additionally, the difficulty in obtaining parts timely has further delayed their timeline. With this recent discovery, the Foundation anticipates the amenity will commence operation by end of July 2022. The Foundation has a website that provides details on opening and activities related to the train at https://www.zilkertrain.org/. 18  Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA): Interlocal agreement (ILA) with LCRA for the installation of buoys at Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, Decker Lake, and the area surrounding Water Treatment Plant #4 on Lake Travis. This agreement will replace the current agreement expiring on December 30, 2022. Per the agreement, PARD and LCRA agree to mutually determine locations and number of buoys needed at each. LCRA will install buoys with PARD reimbursing LCRA for materials and labor. PARD anticipates presenting the ILA to PARB in July 2022 for recommended action of approval by Council. Recreation Management System: The contract with the current vendor, Vermont Systems (RecTrac), for recreation management, expires in September 2022. PARD, with the assistance of the Communications and Technology Management Department (CTM), published a Request for Information (RFI) to survey current technology solutions in the Recreation Management Industry. PARD/CTM received three responses and conducted vendor question and answer sessions and vendor system demonstrations, along with meetings with current user organizations, between September and October 2021. Based on the information gathered, PARD will work with CTM to establish a scope of work (SOW) and conduct a formal solicitation for a future Recreation Management System. As CTM is the principal information technology department that focuses on the delivery and operations of vital IT infrastructure network and telecommunications services for the city, they will facilitate the competitive solicitation process. This includes establishing a CTM project manager and creating a timeline for the solicitation process. A CTM project manager assignment and timeline for PARD are pending. PARD anticipates the solicitation process will take over a year to complete. PARD will continue to utilize RecTrac services throughout the solicitation process until a recommended vendor is established. Pan American Neighborhood Park Renaming: The Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) received an application to consider the renaming of Pan American Neighborhood Park. As required by City Code, PARD conducted community engagement feedback opportunities. As a result of the initial meetings, PARD has agreed to honor the community’s request for additional input opportunities. To provide more opportunities for additional community members to participate in the process, PARD is scheduled two additional virtual meetings for May 19 and June 2, 2022, and an in-person meeting for June 4, 2022. Virtual Community Meetings Thursday, May 19, 7:00 p.m. District 3 Thursday, June 2, 7:00 p.m. Registration Link District 3 In-Person Community Meeting Oswaldo A.B. Cantu Pan American Recreation Center 2100 East 3rd St., Austin, TX 78702 Saturday, June 4, 10:30 a.m. Project Webpage District 3 Summer Camp and Lifeguard Hiring Campaign The Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) has deployed approximately 92% of the allotted $100k marketing budget (4/11/2022 - present) to attract candidates for summer camp and lifeguard positions. 19  Additionally funded advertising efforts include nine over the street banners (up for two weeks each), radio ads on KUT, KUTX, Majic, Mix 94.7, KLJA, 104.3 Que Buena, BobFM, LaZ, KLBJ, KPEZ 102.3 The Beat, 96.7 Kiss FM, KAZI, seven on-air radio interviews, digital advertising, print ads in Community Impact, The Villager, El Mundo, and Daily Texan, social media advertising on SnapChat, TikTok, and Spotify along with a direct mail postcard to 42k households, updated site banners, and updated flyers. Messaging includes the new rate of $16+ per hour plus up to $1,250 in bonuses to employees who meet the eligibility criteria. Board Member Requests Parks and Recreation Board Members requested updates related to a variety of topics. Below outlines the progress made to provide the updates • Off-leash dog working group- A Working Group Update is scheduled for discussion at the May 23rd meeting • Dam release at Roy G. Guerrero Park- The Department continues to coordinate with various departments to draft a comprehensive response. • Crime statistics - Assistant Director Lucas Massie is in the final stages of reviewing a draft • memo for near future release Information about Walter E. Long and John Trevino Park- memo related to the development process for both parks. At this time, there are no additional details to share; however, the Department is committed to producing a future update. The Department produced a 20