01-1: Draft Minutes of June 22, 2026 — original pdf

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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES JUNE 22, 2026 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES JUNE 22, 2026 The PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD convened in a REGULAR meeting on JUNE 22, 2026 at 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Becker called the PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Lane Becker, Luai Abou-Emara, Ted Eubanks, Maritza Kelley. Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Nicole Merritt, Shelby Orme. Board Members Absent: Stephanie Bazan, Jennifer Franklin, Diane Kearns-Osterweil, Kim Taylor, Pedro Villalobos. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Nicole Netherton - Pease Park Conservancy Steven Brown - Givens Park Advisory Board Julie Fisher - The Trail Conservancy Aubrea Rudder - Austin Rowing Club Alyssa Vargas - Austin Parks Foundation Sophie Kent - Additional Funding for Givens Pool APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of May 19, 2026. The motion to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of May 19, 2026 was approved on Board Member Abou-Emara’s motion, Board Member Eubanks’ second on a 6-0 vote. Chair Bazan, Board Member Franklin, Kearns-Osterweil, Taylor and Villalobos absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for Malin’s Fountain, more commonly known as the Pease Park Troll, who reminded us that we should share water and resources with the animals that live with us. Nicole Netherton, Chief Executive Officer, Pease Park Conservancy, gave a presentation. Board Members discussed how Malin was a neighbor to those who live near Pease Park, the terrible loss that community members are feeling, the risks that a historic park like Pease Park faces, safety, replacing Malin, and memories from the unveiling of the project. Page 1 of 2 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES JUNE 22, 2026 The motion to letters of support for Malin’s Fountain, more commonly known as the Pease Park Troll, who reminded us that we should share water and resources with the animals that live with us was approved on Board Member Eubanks’ motion, Board Member Kelley’s second on a 6-0 vote. Chair Bazan, Board Member Franklin, Kearns- Osterweil, Taylor and Villalobos absent. 3. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the permanent use of 9,852 sq. ft. of parkland at Palm Park and temporary work area use of 2,585 sq. ft. of parkland at Palm Park, not to exceed a total of 700 calendar days, total mitigation to be paid by Austin Water is $1,897,883. Paul Books, Planner Principal, Austin Parks and Recreation, Stacy Gould, P.E. Project Design Engineer, Pape-Dawson, and Jamie Bernat, P.E., Engineer, Austin Water gave a presentation and answered questions on ownership of the section of parkland that is being permanently taken, the 12" and 16” water lines heading south are going, whether this project is part of the federally funded Capital Express Central Expansion, why this project was not presented to the Palm School Steering Committee, whether the impact to Palm School was covered in the MOU, coordination with Palm School. Board Members discussed the history of Palm Park, consultation as part of the public process, the significance of historic sites, whether the public's use of the park will be impacted long term, and whether the public feels positively about the I-35 expansion. The motion to approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the permanent use of 9,852 sq. ft. of parkland at Palm Park and temporary work area use of 2,585 sq. ft. of parkland at Palm Park, not to exceed a total of 700 calendar days, total mitigation to be paid by Austin Water is $1,897,883 failed on Vice Chair Becker’s motion, Board Member Merritt’s second on a 2-3 vote. Those voting aye were Board Members Kelley and Merritt. Those voting nay were Vice Chair Becker, Board Members Eubanks and Orm. Board Member Abou-Emara abstaining. Chair Bazan, Board Member Franklin, Kearns-Osterweil, Taylor and Villalobos absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 4. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates. Jesús Aguirre, Austin Parks and Recreation Director gave a briefing. No action was taken on this item. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None. Chair Bazan adjourned the meeting at 7:50 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 an VOTE. Page 2 of 2