05-1: Parks Board Annual Internal Review and Report 2025 — original pdf

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1 Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025 Parks and Recreation Board The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: (A) The Parks and Recreation Board membership should include citizens of the city who are interested in public parks and public recreation and persons who are knowledgeable in recreation matters. The director of the Parks and Recreation Department, the city manager or designee, the director of the Financial and Administrative Services Department, and the city attorney are ex officio members of the board. (B) The board shall advise the city council and the city manager regarding: (1)the acquisition, development, improvement, equipment, programming, and maintenance of all land and facilities managed by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Austin; (2)the purchase of additional land to be managed by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Austin. (C) The board shall outline a general plan of development for land, facilities, and programs. The board may submit the plan to the Planning Commission and the city manager for detail development, and the city manager may then submit the plan to the city council for approval as may be required by the City Code. (D) The board shall promote close cooperation between the City and all private citizens, institutions, and agencies interested in or conducting recreational activities, so that all recreational resources within the City may be coordinated to secure the greatest public Welfare. (E) The board shall perform other duties as prescribed by the City Code or as directed by the city council. Source: The Code of the City of Austin, Texas § 2-1-165 – Parks and Recreation Board PARB Annual Review & Work Plan 2025 Page 2 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Board has three areas of responsibility in its advisory function to the City Council. The activities this board took for fiscal year 2024-2025 are listed by area below. Unless otherwise noted, all recommendations were adopted at a meeting of the whole Parks and Recreation Board. A. The board shall advise the city council and the city manager regarding: (1) the acquisition, development, improvement, equipment, programming, and maintenance of all land and facilities managed by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Austin; (2) the purchase of additional land to be managed by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Austin. JULY 2024 Recommendation 20240722-007: Additional Funding for Maintenance and Homeless Response Recommend that Austin City Council allocate an additional $2.62 million to the Parks and Recreation Department's budget for the upcoming fiscal year; and that of this amount, $2.24 million be allocated towards parks maintenance, including $1.5 million in ongoing funding and $740,000 in one-time funding, to support 16 year-round full-time equivalent (FTE) positions and necessary supplies; and that $385,000 be allocated towards the Homeless Encampment Response Team, including $375,000 in ongoing funding and $10,000 in one-time funding, to support 4 year-round FTE positions, operations, and necessary supplies. AUG 2024 Appoint Lane Becker as the Primary and Shelby Orme as the secondary to the Parks and Recreation Board’s seat on the Joint Sustainability Committee OCT 2024 Create a Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Working Group NOV 2024 Recommendation 20241125-007: IH-35 CapEx Central LBL Recommends Austin City Council to approve 17,836 sq. ft. of permanent water and wastewater use and 16,105 sq. ft. of temporary use, not to exceed a total of 396 calendar PARB Annual Review & Work Plan 2025 Page 3 days on parkland located at Edward Rendon Sr. Metro Park at Festival Beach, and Waller Beach at Town Lake Metro Park and 572 calendar days at Norwood Tract at Town Lake Metro Park. Total Mitigation to be paid by Austin Water is $2,739,882. Recommendation 20241125-008: Williamson Creek Interceptor Recommends Austin City Council approve Permanent Wastewater Use (9.3 acres) and Temporary Use (8.9 acres), for a period not to exceed a total of 1,735 Calendar Days on parkland located at Williamson Creek Central and East Greenbelts. The total mitigation value for the use of parkland to be paid by Austin Water has been calculated at $2,287,068. MARCH 2025 Approve a recommendation to Austin City Council regarding the Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 operating budget of the Parks and Recreation Department. APRIL 2025 Approved election of Stephanie Bazan to the officer position of Chair of the Parks and Recreation Board Approved election of Kathryn Flowers to the officer position of Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Board MAY 2025 Appoint Stephanie Bazan to the vacant seat on the Parks and Recreation Board Contracts and Concession Committee. Appoint Luai Abou-Emara to the Parks and Recreation Board’s seat on the South-Central Waterfront Advisory Board. B. The board shall outline a general plan of development for land, facilities, and programs. The board may submit the plan to the Planning Commission and the city manager for detail development, and the city manager may then submit the plan to the city council for approval as may be required by the City Code. AUGUST 2024 Recommendation 20240826-003: Expedition School Concession Recommend to Austin City Council to (1.) Review Council Ordinance No. 20191205-070 to determine if it is no longer appropriate and/or in violation of PARB Annual Review & Work Plan 2025 Page 4 Austin’s City Charter and Municipal Code, (2.) Direct the Parks and Recreation Dept. to pause The Expedition School Parkland Improvement Donation Agreement, Concession Agreement and the Amendment to the Holly Shores / Edward Rendon Sr. Master Plan until November 30, 2024. Allow the community to review and comment on these agreements, (3.) Direct the Parks and Recreation Dept. to provide a list of alternative locations for The Expedition School Concession taking into consideration the cultural and historical significance of the proposed alternative locations, (4.) Direct the Parks and Recreation Dept. to examine any legal liability or legal risk that overturning Ordinance No. 20191205-070 poses to the City and request input from City Attorneys for any legal impact to the City, (5.) Determine if the PARD Director and Department reviewed and implemented Code Sections 8-1- 14 and 8-1-73 and if so, provide a report with results to the Parks Board since the inception of the Expedition School Concession Agreement, and (6.) Rescind Council Ordinance No. 20191205-070 if during this time it is determined to be no longer appropriate and/or in violation of City Charter and Municipal Code, and a suitable alternative location for the Expedition School Concession is not provided. Recommendation 20240826-004: Hays Common MUD Recommend to Austin City Council to find that the Hays Common Municipal Utility District application is superior with respect to parkland dedication. SEPT 2024 Contracts and Concessions Committee: Recommend to Austin City Council to approve the inter local agreement between AISD and the City of Austin to provide culture and language revitalization programs. Recommendation 20240923-006: Inter Local Agreement with AISD Recommend to Austin City Council to approve the inter local agreement between AISD and the City of Austin to provide culture and language revitalization programs. Recommendation 20240923-003: UMLAUF Historic Preservation Plan Recommends to Austin City Council to approve adoption of the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum Historic Preservation, Expansion and Unification Plan. OCT 2024 Recommendation 20241028-003: Springfield Liftstation Abandonment Recommends to Austin City Council to approve the permanent use and temporary use, not to exceed 420 days of parkland located at Salt Springs Neighborhood Park, 6401 E. William Cannon Drive, total mitigation fee is $297,992. NOV 2024 Approve a recommendation to support the Bolm District Park Vision Plan. PARB Annual Review & Work Plan 2025 Page 5 JAN 2025 Recommendation 20250127-003: Local Standards of Care Recommends to Austin City Council to approve the renewal of the Local Standards of Care for the City Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Recreation Programs. FEB 2025 Create a working group to explore creating a “rainbow bridge” at a City park as an interactive feature that allows park visitors to honor dogs and pets that have passed away. MARCH 2025 Recommendation 20250324-003: Project Safe Recommends that Austin City Council 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. Recommendation 20250324-004: ACC Welding Agreement Recommends that Austin City Council 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. Recommendation 20250324-005: FY25-26 Budget Recommendation Recommends that Austin City Council 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. MAY 2025 Recommendation 20250519-003: Lakeshore PUD Amendment Recommends to Austin City Council that the Lakeshore PUD Amendment Development application is superior with respect to parkland dedication. Recommendation 20250519-004: 500 S Congress PUD Application Recommends to Austin City Council that the 500 S Congress PUD Development application is superior with respect to parkland dedication. PARB Annual Review & Work Plan 2025 Page 6 C. The board shall promote close cooperation between the City and all private citizens, institutions, and agencies interested in or conducting recreational activities, so that all recreational resources within the City may be coordinated to secure the greatest public welfare. JULY 2024 Approve letters of support for community members and active participation in community engagement for the playscape replacement at Metz Neighborhood Park. AUGUST 2024 Approve letters of support for staff and programming at the Old Bakery and Emporium, Brush Square Museum and the Elisabet Ney Museum. SEPT 2024 Approve letters of support for the PARD Youth Development Program, including Totally Cool Totally ART, Roving Leaders Youth Outreach, and Teens in Leadership Training. OCT 2024 Recommendation 20241028-004: Equity Preservation Plan Recommends to Austin City Council to adopt the Equity-Based Preservation Plan as an element of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan Approve letters of support for the Park Ranger Program for their work as ambassadors for Austin's park system that promote responsible recreation, cultivate stewardship, and conserve parks' cultural and natural resources for the benefit of our community. Recommendation 20241028-005: Ballfield Audit Recommend to Austin City Council: 1. An Audit of Contracts. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department shall conduct or commission a comprehensive audit of all existing contracts between the City and external organizations that manage, maintain, or use city-owned baseball and soccer fields. This audit shall include: 1a. A detailed breakdown of the number of contracts currently in effect; 1b. Identification of the organizations or entities with which the City is contracting; and 1c. The start and end dates of each contract and any options for renewal or extension. 2. Information Regarding Community Access. The audit shall specifically assess the terms of each contract related to public and community access to the baseball and soccer fields, including: 2a. Whether the contract clearly specifies the level and schedule of access that the general public and community groups have to these facilities, as well as whether and how public notice regarding this access shall be made available to the public; 2b. Details as to how often and for how long the fields are available for community use versus reserved for the contracted organization’s activities; and 2c. Whether the contracted organizations are adhering to these terms regarding public access and awareness and, if not, to PARB Annual Review & Work Plan 2025 Page 7 what extent and in what ways access has been restricted. 3. Data on Compliance and Enforcement. The audit shall examine: 3a. The terms and conditions in each contract related to breaches of contract, including penalties or remedies for non- compliance by the contracted organization; and 3b. Any procedures for terminating contracts in the event of material breach or failure to comply with the agreed-upon terms, especially those related to community access NOV 2024 Contracts and Concessions Committee: Recommendation to approve the Parks and Recreation Board 2024 Annual Concession Report Approve a letter of recognition for Council Member Alison Alter for her legacy of service to Austin's parks during her eight-year tenure as a City Council Member. Approve a letter of recognition for Council Member Leslie Pool for her legacy of service to Austin’s Parks during her ten-year tenure as City Council Member. Approve a letter of recognition for Council Member Mackenzie Kelly for her legacy of service to Austin’s Parks during her four-year tenure as City Council Member. Approve letters of support for Parks and Recreation and City Staff who provided critical maintenance to Barton Springs Pool in September 2024. JAN 2025 Recommendation 20250127-004: 2024 Annual Concession Report Recommends Austin City Council approve the Parks and Recreation Board 2024 Annual Concession Report. Approve letters of support for Parks and Recreation and City Staff who led the development and assisted with the premiere of a short documentary focused on the historic Haskell House. FEB 2025 Approve letters of support for Parks and Recreation Forestry Staff for their work planting, watering and maintaining trees, as well as participating in and hosting tree climbs. Recommendation 20250224-003: Go Project Interlocal Agreement with AISD Recommends that Austin City Council authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with AISD to collaborate on the GO Project, an educational program for high school aged students with disabilities. PARB Annual Review & Work Plan 2025 Page 8 Recommendation 20250224-011: City-Wide On-Demand Transit Recommend that Austin City Council 1) support efforts to implement On-Demand city-wide van service in Austin which would allow better access to our parks system and recreational resources, 2) engage qualified professionals to provide detailed, objective modeling of an integrated city-wide On-Demand/BRT transit system as a central feature of our public transit system, 3) work with CapMetro to engage in and support such modeling, and 4) Austin City Council and CapMetro explore all avenues to expanding CapMetro’s On-Demand Pickup service to city-wide scope. MARCH 2025 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. APRIL 2025 Approve letters of support for PARD Staff working behind the scenes in the Support Services Division to maintain excellent administrative services across a large, diverse department. MAY 2025 Approve letters of support for the PARD Nature Play program. JUNE 2025 Approve letters of support for the PARD Senior Programming Team. Recommendation 20250623-003: Zilker Cafe Concession Contract Recommend to Austin City Council to authorize the negotiation and execution of a contract with Legacy Hospitality and Entertainment Group LLC for the operation and management of the Zilker Café to maintain the food and beverage concession at Zilker Park. 2. Determine if the board’s actions throughout the year comply with the mission statement. Yes 3. List the board’s goals and objectives for the new calendar year. A. Take action to recommend to City Council and/or Director enhancements, additions, and deletions to Parks and Recreation Department programs and PARB Annual Review & Work Plan 2025 Page 9 planning; B. Recommend to the City Council and/or Director approval of concessions on City parkland designed to serve citizens using the parks; and C. Recommend granting temporary and/or permanent easements; making repairs or enhancements to City utilities; and/or improving City property adjacent to city parkland through Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) funding. D. The Board this year has prioritized the following goals: • Focus on efforts to best provide parks and recreation related services and opportunities to residents; • Rectify issues and challenges that prevent underserved residents from accessing parks and recreation facilities; • Preserve and enhance the natural parklands/ecology that make Austin a green city; and • Identify ways to recognize citizens of all backgrounds who have and are making significant contributions to our community.