01-1: Draft Minutes of March 27, 2024 — original pdf

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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 27, 2024 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES MARCH 27, 2024 The PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD convened in a SPECIAL CALLED meeting on March 27, 2024 at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Villalobos called the PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Pedro Villalobos, Kathryn Flowers, Lane Becker, Shelby Orme, Holly Reed. Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Jennifer Franklin, Julie Hayes, Nicole Merritt, Kim Taylor. Board Members Absent: Stephanie Bazan. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Joe Kendall - Texas River School Aubrea Rudder - Austin Rowing Club Joe Riddell - Waterloo Greenway Conservancy Concerns Joel Manzo - Youth Baseball Advocate Jason Williams - Youth Baseball Advocate, Northwest Park Justin Graber - Youth Baseball Advocate, Garrison Park Horacio Garcia - Youth Baseball Advocate Rob Bluestein - Youth Baseball Advocate Sharon Blythe - Parkland used for infrastructure projects APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meetings of February 26, 2024. The motion to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of February 26, 2024 was approved on Vice Chair Flowers’ motion, Chair Villalobos’ second on a 9-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Member Bazan absent. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 2. Report of recommendations by the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Working Group. Vice Chair Flowers addressed the Board regarding discussions of the working group, the needs of Austin’s Park system, and how to realistically have the most impact. No action was taken on this item. 1 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 27, 2024 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve a recommendation to Austin City Council regarding the Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget. The motion to approve the recommendation as posted in backup was made by Board Member Becker and seconded by Board Member Merritt. The motion to amend the recommendation to include funding for three full-time employee positions to implement PARD’s Land Management Plan was made by Board Member Reed and seconded by Chair Villalobos. Board Members discussed this amendment. Board Member Reed withdrew the motion. The motion to amend the recommendation to add Section 4 to read “The allocation of additional funding on top of any proposed PARD FY2025 Budget to address funding for fourteen additional full-time employees for the PARD Ground Maintenance Team in order to align with the same level of service that PARD had in Fiscal Year 2014” was approved on Board Member Reed’s motion, Chair Villalobos’ second on an 8-1 vote with one vacancy. Those voting aye were Chair Villalobos, Vice Chair Flowers, Board Members Becker, Hayes, Merritt, Orme, Reed and Taylor. Those voting nay were Board Member Franklin. Board Member Bazan absent. The motion to amend the recommendation to add section 5 to read “The allocation of additional funding to increase the minimum wage for hourly employees and to allocate money the budget for a cost of living adjustment no less than 4% for salaried employees” was approved on Chair Villalobos’ motion, Board Member Orme’s second on an 8-0 vote with one vacancy. Vice Chair Flowers recused from this item due to a conflict of interest and left the dais. Board Member Bazan absent. The motion was approved on Board Member Becker’s motion, Board Member Merritt’s second on an 8-0 vote with one vacancy. Vice Chair Flowers recused from this item due to a conflict of interest and left the dais. Board Member Bazan absent. 4. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for Cold Weather Shelter staff. David Crabb, Community Recreation Division Manager and Devon Farber, Northern District Rec Center Program Manager, Parks and Recreation Department gave a presentation and answered questions on housing pets in cold weather shelters and pet vaccination services during cold weather shelter activation. The motion to approve letters of support for cold weather shelter staff was approved on Chair Villalobos’ motion, Board Member Reed’s second on a 9-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Member Bazan absent. 5. Approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the permanent use and temporary use, not to exceed 160 days, of parkland located at Waller Beach at Town Lake Metropolitan Park (30 East Ave). Total mitigation fee is $1,774,993. Karen Poff, O.E., Power System Principal Engineer, Austin Energy gave a presentation and answered questions. 2 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 27, 2024 The motion to recommend to Austin City Council to approve the permanent use and temporary use, not to exceed 160 days, of parkland located at Waller Beach at Town Lake Metropolitan Park (30 East Ave). Total mitigation fee is $1,774,993 was approved on Vice Chair Flowers’ motion, Board Member Becker’s second on a 9-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Member Bazan absent. 6. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Board. The nomination to elect Pedro Villalobos to the officer position of Chair of the Parks and Recreation Board was approved on Board Member Becker’s motion, Board Member Hayes’ second on an 8-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Member Taylor abstaining. Board Member Bazan absent. The nomination to elect Kathryn Flowers to the officer position of Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Board was approved on Chair Villalobos’ motion, Board Member Franklin’s second on an 8-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Member Taylor abstaining. Board Member Bazan absent. 7. Approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve a change order for the Barton Springs Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project which would remove the family restroom from the southeast corner of the women’s shower and dressing area. Board Members discussed the concerns of women swimmers, the design of the women's changing area, Barton Springs Conservancy's role, the location of the family restroom in relation to the women's shower area, stall doors vs. full doors, safety concerns, the nature of the concerns, the effectiveness of removing the family restroom as a solution to the problem, the importance of public comment and the possibility of an exterior entrance to this restroom. The motion to recommend to Austin City Council to approve a change order for the Barton Springs Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project which would remove the family restroom from the southeast corner of the women’s shower and dressing area failed on Board Member Reed’s motion, Board Member Taylor’s second on a 1-7 vote with one vacancy. Those voting aye were Board Member Reed. Those voting nay were Chair Villalobos, Vice Chair Flowers, Board Members Becker, Franklin, Hayes, Merritt and Orme. Board Member Taylor abstaining. Board Member Bazan absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 8. Presentation and discussion on the Austin/Travis County Food Plan. Amanda Rohlich, Food Policy Advisor, Office of Sustainability gave a presentation and answered questions on ways that parkland could facilitate the food plan, collaboration with Travis County Parks and food drives at Onion Creek Soccer Complex. No action was taken on this item. STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing on the South-Central Waterfront Combining District and South-Central Waterfront Density Bonus Program. April Geruso, Division Manager, Planning Department gave a briefing and answered clarifying questions on gatekeeper requirements as they relate the percentage of affordable 9. 3 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 27, 2024 housing, options for fee-in-lieu, potential for developers to apply for new PUDs in this area and determination of parkland in this area. No action was taken on this item. 10. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates. Kimberly McNeeley, Parks and Recreation Department Director gave a briefing on and answered clarifying questions on eclipse viewing and the Cap 10K. No action was taken on this item. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None. The motion to waive the rules and allow the Parks and Recreation Board to meet after 10:00 PM was approved on Chair Villalobos' motion, Board Member Becker's second on a 7-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Members Hayes and Taylor abstaining. Board Member Bazan absent. Chair Villalobos adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m. without objection. These minutes were approved at the DATE Parks and Recreation Board meeting on NAME motion, NAME second on a VOTE with one vacancy. 4