Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MAY 20, 2024 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MAY 20, 2024 The PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD convened in a REGULAR meeting on May 20, 2024 at 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas Chair Villalobos called the PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Pedro Villalobos, Kathryn Flowers, Lane Becker, Holly Reed. Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Stephanie Bazan, Shelby Orme. Board Members Absent: Jennifer Franklin, Nicole Merritt, Kim Taylor. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Liz Barhydt - Austin Rowing Club Chris Flores - Barton Springs Bathhouse Wolf Sittler - Norwood House Phillip Thomas - Free Zilker Coalition Cedar Stevens - Free Zilker Coalition APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of April 22, 2024. The motion to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of April 22, 2024 was approved on Chair Villalobos’ motion, Vice Chair Flowers’ second on a 6-0 vote with two vacancies. Board Members Franklin, Merritt and Taylor absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural Center and Genealogy Center staff and the 2024 Stay Black & Live Austin Citywide Juneteenth Festival. Carre Adams, Cultural & Arts Education Manager, Parks and Recreation Department gave a presentation and answered questions on the Carver genealogical archives and events at the Carver. The motion to approve letters of support for George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural Center and Genealogy Center staff and the 2024 Stay Black & Live Austin Citywide 1 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MAY 20, 2024 Juneteenth Festival was approved on Chair Villalobos' motion, Board Member Becker’s second on a 6-0 vote with two vacancies. Board Members Franklin, Merritt and Taylor absent. 3. Discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to direct the Watershed Protection Department to seek alternative solutions to the current proposed plan for the Reed Park Water Quality Improvement Project. Board Members discussed the need for green space in this park deficient area, the poor water quality of the creek, the effects of rapid urbanization on this area, the Chapter 26 process, and wastewater infrastructure. The motion to recommend to Austin City Council to direct the Watershed Protection Department and Parks and Recreation Dept. to seek alternative solutions to the current proposed plan for the Reed Park Water Quality Improvement Project that do not require Chapter 26 change of use for this public parkland and; to work with citizens and stakeholders to find a solution that does not alter or diminish the current area or use of the Reed Park open ball field failed on Board Member Reed’s motion, Chair Villalobos’s second on a 4-2 vote with two vacancies. Those voting aye were Chair Villalobos, Board Members, Becker, Orme and Reed. Those voting nay were Vice Chair Flowers and Board Member Bazan. Board Members Franklin, Merritt and Taylor absent. 4. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the negotiation and execution of a Parkland Improvement Agreement with Hill Country Conservancy for the Violet Crown Mile Zero Trailhead project that includes a maximum amount of funding of $900,000 the Parks and Recreation Department will allocate to Hill Country Conservancy for a portion of the cost to construct the project. Christine Chute Canul, Program Manager II, Parks and Recreation Department and George Cofer, Violet Crown Trail Project Manager, Hill Country Conservancy gave a presentation and answered questions on the amount of funding being allocated by the agreement, the development sites which account for the fees being allocated for this project, the cost of maintenance for this area, the roles and responsibilities for maintenance of the trail, and the rules that Hill Country Conservancy will have to follow when it comes to contracting. The motion to postpone this item to the June 24, 2024 regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board was approved on Chair Villalobos’ motion, Vice Chair Flowers’ second on a 6-0 vote with two vacancies. Board Members Franklin, Merritt and Taylor absent. 5. Discussion and create a Public Access to City-Owned Baseball Fields Working Group. Board Members discussed the maintenance and operation of City-owned ball fields. The motion to create a Public Access to City-Owned Baseball Fields working group was approved on Board Member Becker’s motion, Board Member Bazan’s second on a 6-0 vote. Board Members Franklin, Merritt and Taylor absent. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates. STAFF BRIEFINGS 6. 2 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MAY 20, 2024 Jodi Jay, Parks and Recreation Department Assistant Director gave a briefing on an online survey for the all-abilities park at Onion Creek Park, open bids for the aquatics facilities at Montopolis and Beverly Sheffield pools, and the teen and leadership training program. No action was taken on this item. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Reed – Staff briefing on the state, successes and needs in regard to PARKnerships. Chair Villalobos adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m. without objection. These minutes were approved at the June 17, 2024 Parks and Recreation Board meeting on Chair Villalobos’ motion, Vice Chair Flowers’ second on a 9-0 vote with two vacancies. 3