01-1: Draft Minutes of March 24, 2025 — original pdf

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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 24, 2025 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MARCH 24, 2025 The PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD convened in a REGULAR meeting on March 24, 2025 at 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas Vice Chair Flowers called the PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Stephanie Bazan, Lane Becker, Kathryn Flowers, Jennifer Franklin, Nicole Merritt. Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Luai Abou-Emara (left meeting at 7:44 p.m.), Holly Reed. Board Members Absent: Shelby Orme, Kim Taylor, Pedro Villalobos. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Liz Barhydt - Austin Rowing Club Chris Flores - Swim scholarships and budget recommendation Gavino Fernandez - Mexican American Land Owners in East Austin Mike Cannatti - Joan Mean Khabele Bathhouse Project Joy Casnovsky - Austin Parks Foundation Fleetwood Jacobs - Zilker 351 Joel Manzo - Barton Springs and Zilker Park budget issues Mary Fero - Wildfire mitigation at Northwest park APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of February 24, 2025. The motion to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of February 24, 2025 was approved on Board Member Franklin’s motion, Board Member Bazan’s second on a 7-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Members Orme, Taylor and Villalobos absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for PARD Staff who have increased low- income access to PARD programs by improving financial aid programs, effective collaboration and removal of barriers. 1 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 24, 2025 Christa McCarthy, Centralized Programming Division Manager and Davin, Bjornaas, Program Manager, Parks and Recreation Department gave a presentation and answered questions. The motion to and approve letters of support for PARD Staff who have increased low-income access to PARD programs by improving financial aid programs, effective collaboration and removal of barriers was approved on Vice Chair Flowers’ motion, Board Member Becker’s second on a 7-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Members Orme, Taylor and Villalobos absent. 3. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement between the City of Austin and the Austin Independent School District for Project SAFE, a swim lesson and water safety education program that includes opportunities for students to continue their education by joining either paid or free swim lessons during the summer months when AISD is not in session. Board Members discussed the value of PARD working with local educational institutions, Project SAFE operating for a number of years, students getting the opportunity to learn valuable swim skills and whether Harris Elementary is still a part of this program. The motion to approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement between the City of Austin and the Austin Independent School District for Project SAFE, a swim lesson and water safety education program that includes opportunities for students to continue their education by joining either paid or free swim lessons during the summer months when AISD is not in session was approved on Board Member Merritt’s motion, Board Member Reed’s second on a 6-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Member Abou-Emara abstaining. Board Members Orme, Taylor and Villalobos absent. 4. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to authorize the negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement between the City of Austin and Austin Community College for restoration of the historic iron fencing surrounding family lots at Oakwood Cemetery. Board Members discussed the iron fencing at Oakwood Cemetery, historical research to take place, and whether sections of fencing in good condition will be replaced. The motion to approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to authorize the negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement between the City of Austin and Austin Community College for restoration of the historic iron fencing surrounding family lots at Oakwood Cemetery was approved on Board Member Becker’s motion, Board Member Merritt’s second on a 7-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Members Orme, Taylor and Villalobos absent. 5. Discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council regarding the Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 operating budget of the Parks and Recreation Department. Board Members discussed budget considerations for aquatics, a public tree inventory, cemetery maintenance, Park Ranger staffing, and maintenance staffing. The motion to approve the recommendation as posted in backup was made by Vice Chair Flowers and seconded by Board Member Bazan. 2 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 24, 2025 The motion to amend the recommendation to add section 6 to address funding for full-time PARD maintenance employees was made by Board Member Reed and seconded by Board Member Abou-Emara. This motion was withdrawn by Board Member Reed. The motion to approve the recommendation as posted in backup was approved with the following friendly amendment on Vice Chair Flowers’ motion, Board Member Bazan’s second on a 7-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Members Orme, Taylor and Villalobos absent. The friendly amendment from Board Member Reed was to add Section 6 “ The allocation of additional funding on top of any proposed PARD FY2026 Budget to address funding for 6 additional FTE for PARD Operations & Maintenance team in order to further move toward an ideal level of service for PARD maintenance”. This was accepted by Vice Chair Flowers who made the motion and Board Member Bazan who seconded the motion. STAFF BRIEFINGS 6. Staff Briefing on the Ball and Soccer Field Contracts Special Report. Tyler Myers, Supervising Senior Auditor and Corrie Stokes, City Auditor, Office of the City Auditor gave a briefing and answered clarifying questions on the motivation behind the audit, notification for public access, Slaughter Creek/Circle C Lonestar soccer club, creating a massive calendar, and communication requirements in contracts. No action was taken on this item. 7. Staff briefing on progress made towards a response to Council Resolution No. 20241121-072 to explore additional funding sources for parks management, land acquisition, amenities, facilities, and maintenance. Liana Kallivoka, Assistant Director and Alyssa Tharrett, Architectural Development Program Manager, Parks and Recreation Department gave a briefing and answered clarifying questions on public communication, the data gathering process, public survey, and funding sources for TFPL cities. No action was taken on this item. 8. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates. Jesús Aguirre, Parks and Recreation Director gave a briefing on the Parks Funding resolution, roof improvements at Givens Recreation Center, parkland acquisitions, It's My Park Day volunteer programming, and answered clarifying question on extending pool hours and $25M in mitigation funding from TxDOT I-35 expansion project. No action was taken on this item. 3 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 24, 2025 WORKING GROUP UPDATES 9. Update from the Joint Sustainability Committee on the Committee’s Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget recommendation. Board Member Becker gave an update on budget items being considered by the Joint Sustainability Committee, including a public tree inventory, land acquisition and preservation, coordination of land acquisition, support for regenerative agriculture, flood plain restoration. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Franklin - Intermediary report on parkland alternative funding resolution Reed - Zilker shuttle and polo field parking for upcoming summer season Reed - Update on PARD Partnership Agreement Audit Vice Chair Flowers adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. without objection. These minutes were approved at the DATE Parks and Recreation Board meeting on Board Member NAME motion, Board Member NAME second on a VOTE. 4