03-6: Opposition Letter to Expedition School - June 17, 2024 — original pdf

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City of Austin Parks Board Members, June 17,2024 Hello, this is Bertha Rendon Delgado President of East Town Lake this letter is in reference to the Expedition school that has taken over our new building Lorraine Camacho Activity Center that was name after (Grandma Comacho) that was proposed as our Neighborhood Elderly Center in our barrio. In the last two decades we have watched our beloved activity center be taken over by an PAID Instructor who founded this Large operation that has overgrown to be housed in our beloved Edward Rendon Sr. Holly Shores Master Plan. We have questioned the PARD Staff Former Director Kimberely on how they have been permitted to be housed here in our public park facility not giving the community access.. So many residents are very concerned on how this operation is being operated, the special privileges of receiving an approval of request that was made by the Expedition School dated in 2019 as the last item on the Agenda for that year without any public input brings a red flag to this. The Edward Rendon Holly Shores Master Plan has an ordinance in place that there is no concession can take place unfortunately special favors have been awarded to the Expedition School this contract has expired as well has not been good stewards in our community. There has been major complaints brought to our attention with evidence of the people participating in this Expedition School so call program that has NOT been following safety procedures and the City of Austin Parks can be held liable if an incident occurs here especially in the water here are the following listed: ● Adults renting from this concession not being mandated as well as wearing safety life jackets in the colorado river known as Lady Bird lake ● Destroying the nature of the grass lawns with the U Haul trucks, large storage metal bins & canoes The large amount of trash that is left behind by these users ● Adults drinking alcohol during the time of rental on the water ● ● Children Jumping off the small bridge over the lagoon ● Swimming in a very dangerous water with no lifeguard there is a no swimming ban in place for decades due to drownings. Today the request from our neighborhood concerned residents is to ask for a postponement on this item we have a lot of discussion as well as investigating to be done moving forward as they are requesting a large permit that is not apart of the vision plan of the Edward Rendon Holly Shores Master plan of where this proposal and contract is currently located. In the best interest of our community as well as other stakeholders we believe that a postponement of any action related to the Expedition School be granted. We were not notified of any changes to this master plan as required to be approved by the City Council. We need a six month time to consult with our legal department as well as our community to inform as well as get feedback of this proposal as so many are in full opposition, Thank you this will be a discussion at our next community engagement meeting in July 2024 as we hope to hear from this founder of the Expedition School. Sincerely, Bertha Rendon Delgado President of ETLNCA East Side park users