[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:20]
>> MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE HERE TO SPEAK.
[C. Citizen Communication:]
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS WE WILL START WITH TODAY. FIRST, I HAVE PABLO PEREZ.PABLO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? COME ON UP.
>> IT'S A FOR HONOR 361, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO TO THE POWERPOINT.
SO WE ARE TWO OF THE FOUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR HONOR 361, PABLO IS OUR PRESIDENT AND I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT.
AGAIN, WE ARE IN ALL VOLUNTARY BOARD OF FOUR PEOPLE.
WE ARE A 501(C)(3). WE WERE ORGANIZED INTO THOUSAND 12, WE ARE BASED IN VICTORIA AND WE HAVE THE FOUR BOARD MEMBERS, I SAID THAT TWICE, BUT ANYWAY I'M TRYING TO MAKE THAT POINT. WHAT HONOR 361 IS IS WE REPRESENT THE AREA CODE 361 WHICH IS WHERE WE GOT THE NAME.
WHAT OUR GOAL IS, OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO CONSTRUCT A MONUMENT DEDICATED TO RESIDENTS OF AREA CODE 361 THAT FOUGHT ON THE WAR ON TERROR, WHICH IS THE LONGEST LASTING WAR IN A U.S. WE HAVE LOST 31 INDIVIDUALS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THAT WAR.
THAT KINDA BRINGS IT BACK HOME. QUITE A FEW FROM VICTORIA AREA DOWN TO CORPUS AND WITHIN THAT AREA.
>> WHEN I FIRST JOINED THIS ORGANIZATION.
AS TIME HAS GONE BY WHICH HAD TO KEEP UP, NOW OR UP TO 31.
>> SAID IT REALITY. AND THAT IS FROM A DIRECT COMBAT, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING BEYOND THAT.
THESE ARE OFFICIAL VA NUMBERS AND NAMES WE ARE GETTING.
SO THAT IS THE VISION. OUR PROJECT BEGAN IN 2001, IT WAS A VISION BY GILBERT RAMON, A RETIRED GUNNERY SERGEANT AND HE HAD THIS VISION. HE SERVES AS AN ADVISOR TO THE BOARD IS A FOUNDER OF THE BOAR , HE'S NOT A VOTING MEMBER BUT A VERY ACTIVE PART OF OUR GROUP.
PRIMARY GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO ENSURE THE HUMAN COST AND THE CONFLICT IS NEVER FORGOTTEN. IT GOES SO FAR BEYOND THAT.
. NOT ONLY, WE CAN SAY FREEDOM IS NOT FREE AND OTHER CLICHC)S BUT QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S TRUE.
SO THIS IS A VISUAL REMINDER. A PLACE OF EDUCATION.
A PLACE OF HEALING AND IT DEFINITELY A PLACE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT RESIDENTS OF 361 HAD AND WHAT WERE WILLING TO GIVE WHEN THE COUNTRY CALLED THEM.
SO WE ARE REQUESTING THE CITY GRANT PERMISSION TO PLACE AN AMENDMENT ON CITY PROPERTY. POINTS TO CONSIDER, REASONABLY HIGH VISIBLY. WE WILL ADD TO THE SURROUNDINGS, PEACEFUL LOCATIO , LOCATION WILL BE MAINTAINED AND WE WILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE REQUESTING A RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO PLACE THE MONUMENT TO BE ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW AND MOST OF YOU MIGHT BE AWARE, WE DID COME HERE WITH PAUL THE FORMER MAYOR AND PRESENTED THIS TO THE CITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK. WE DO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE CITY MANAGER THIS FRIDAY TO BEGIN DISCUSSING THE REALITY OF WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING. SO CURRENT STATUS, MOST OF THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE ARE FROM SPECIAL ADVANCE GIFTS IN KIND BUT MOSTLY SPECIAL EVENTS. OUR LARGEST EVENT IS AN ANNUAL CROSSFIT EVENT. LAST YEAR WE HAD TO SCALE IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, IT WAS A LESS THAN 100 TEAMS. SO WERE LOOKING AT 200 ATHLETES, IT'S A REGIONAL PETITION. IT'S GROWING, IT'S FUN, IS VERY INTERESTING. WE JUST CAME OFF OF A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT. WE HAVE HAD SOME DIFFERENT BIRD HUNTS. WE HAVE HAD BIKES, RUNNING EVENTS, FIVE CASE, STUFF LIKE THAT.
THAT IS THE BOOK OF WHERE OUR FUNDS HAVE COME FROM.
NOW, THE ROADBLOCK HAS BEEN YES WERE BUILDING A MONUMENT BUT IT'S HARD TO PRESENT THAT IN STATE IT'S GOING TO BE
[00:05:02]
SOMEWHERE IN 361. SO WITH THE OFFICIAL APPROVAL OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA SAYING THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO PUT IT, IT PUTS US IN A BETTER LINE TO COMPLETE OUR FUNDS FOR GETTING THIS CONSTRUCTED. WE ARE ABOUT HALFWAY THERE FOR TOTAL FUNDS. WE ARE ROUGHLY $10,000 AWAY FROM ACTUALLY GOING INTO PRODUCTION ON THIS.IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD AND OF COURSE WHEN YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING WITH JUST FUNDRAISERS IT'S DEFINITELY A SLOW, SLOW BOAT TO CHINA. NOT THAT WERE GOING TO CHINA.
SO THIS IS A RENDITION OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
THE GENTLEMAN ON THE LEFT, COLTON RUSK HE WAS LOST IN AFGHANISTAN. ALONG WITH HIS DOG ELI.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE NAMES WHICH ARE STILL BEING POPULATED BUT WE GET THE OFFICIAL LIST FROM THE VA WITHIN OUR 361.
SO COLTON IS A KIND OF THE FACE INTO THE MONUMENT, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HIM, IT'S ABOUT THE WHOLE GAMUT OF WHAT THESE VETERANS HAVE DONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US.
YOU HAVE THE DIMENSIONS THERE. WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE JONES MONUMENT HERE IN VICTORIA BECAUSE YOU WANT TO KEEP THINGS LOCAL. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US IN THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND SOON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS MONUMENT.
THE PROPOSED LOCATION, YOU CAN SEE THAT WOULD BE THE ROSE GARDEN JUST BELOW THE RED CIRCLE.
SO WE ARE, WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS A DESIRED LOCATION WASN'T NEAR THAT AREA. OR BY THE ENTRANCE TO THE BOAT RAMP, KIND OF IN THE AREA OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN BUT AN AREA THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS AND GET VISIBILITY.
>> ANOTHER REASON WE DESIRE THE AREA WAS TO IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ADD ONTO NOT JUST FOR THE MONUMENT FOR IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN BUT OTHER COMPLETELY BEEN AND MAYBE A FLAG RETIREMENT AREA THAT THE BOY SCOUTS CAN PROPERLY AND RESPECT WE DISPOSE OF THE COLORS WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO BE DISPOSED OF IT. ALL OF THESE THINGS OF LEARNING AND EDUCATION FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS THINKING ABOUT IT IN STAGES.
>> THIS IS THE LIKENESS LIST WE HAVE DOWNLOADED FROM THE VA.
BUT AS YOU SEE, IT GOES FROM UP TO CAN ETA DOWN TO THE CORPUS AREA TO ORANGE GROVE UP TO ROB'S TOWN MATHIS, THAT AREA.
SO IT GETS VERY PERSONAL WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE NAMES OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND WHERE THEY ARE FROM.
AND THAT IS THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION, DO YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS WE CAN ANSWER?
>> IS ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS CONNECT
>> HOW DID YOU ALL DECIDE ON COLTON RUSK FACE TO BE IN THE FRONT OF IT? OUT OF CURIOSITY.
>> GILBERT RAMON IS A FOUNDER, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE EXACT TYPE IS TO COLTON BUT COLTON WAS KILLED BY A SNIPER.
HIM AND HIS DOG WOULD NOT LEAVE, ELI.
GILBERT RAMON WHO WAS THE FOUNDER AND IS OUR CONSULTANT HE HAS ELI'S OFFSPRING AS HIS SERVICE DOG.
SO THE FAMILY IS VERY INVOLVED, ELI'S FAMILY.
AGAIN, IT'S A RENDITION, IT'S COLTON BUT IT'S A RENDITION TO HONOR EVERYONE WHO HAS FALLEN.
>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ORGANIZATION, THERE WAS A LIST OF ONLY NINE NAMES. IT WAS A LOT MORE PERSONAL AS FAR AS HAVING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES, VERSUS NOW WERE STILL GAINING NAMES AND WE HAVE NOT MADE CONTACT WITH ALL THESE NAMES, SO IT'S VERY PERSONAL.
>> TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU, MAYBE THREE.
TOTAL COST YOU SAID YOU ARE LACKING $10,000 TO ROOT ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL?
>> IS A DONOR THE COST OF THE MONUMENTS?
>> THE COST OF THE MONUMENT IS ABOUT $80,000.
THAT'S A TOTAL FOR THE MONUMENT.
>> FOR INSTALLATION AND EVERYTHING.
>> I THOUGHT IT SAID 70 ON THE APPLICATION.
>> TALKING TO JONES RECENTLY ON ALL THE TERRORISTS THEY HAVE TO DO WITH IT HAS GONE UP BUT THAT STILL HAS SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNT.
>> VETERANS FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN CONNECT?
[00:10:08]
>> THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY IN IRAQ.
>> THAT IS THE ONE UNIT THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN HERE IN VICTORIA.
>> MY NEXT QUESTION, I NOTICED THE LIST IS FROM ALL OVER SO HOW FAR ARE YOU EXTENDING THIS MONUMENT TO CONNECT
>> I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN IN THE MAKING FOR MANY YEARS BECAUSE I ATTENDED ONE OF THE MEETINGS THE YOUNG MAN THAT'S IN THE ADVISORY BOARD WAS INVOLVED, HE OWNS WE BUILD HOUSES.
>> YOU TALK ABOUT BULL? HE WAS ONE OF THE ADVISORS.
THAT WAS IN THE BEGINNING BEFORE OUR TIME.
>> HE HAD THE OFFICE, WE MET HIM SEVERAL TIMES AND DISCUSSED THIS IDEA BUT OTHER THAN THAT, SO YOU BECAUSE ARE PICKING THAT UP?
>> THE QUESTION ON THE LOCATION, WHICH I LIKE.
ARE THERE ANY CONFLICT OR THINGS IN THE WAY FROM THAT CITY'S PERSPECTIVE AND OR THE CURRENT CONCEPT OF MASTER-PLANNED CONNECT?
>> SO THE HISTORICAL SITE, DOES THAT ENCROACH ON THIS?
>> WILL HAVE TO LOOK ON THAT BUT JUST THE LOCATION WHERE IT IS THAT I WOULD SAY NO, THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF THAT.
EVERYTHING I'VE SEEN SO FAR IS REALLY MAPPED WITH ANNETTE OPEN A GREEN SPACE AREA THAT KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE IT WITH THE TREES.
SO ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THAT SO BASICALLY IN BETWEEN THAT AND THE ROSE GARDEN. THAT SOMETHING WE WOULD DOUBLE CHECK BUT I CAN TELL YOU THEY ARE PROBABLY GOOD.
>> IN REGARDS TO LOCATION ITSELF, IS THIS YOUR DEPARTMENT WAITED ON THAT AND FOUND IT TO BE APPROPRIATE AND ACCEPTABLE?
>> WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FULLY YET WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY PRESENTED THIS TO CITY COUNCIL WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON BOARD WITH THAT LOCATION, ETC. THAT SOMETHING WE WILL TALK ABOUT STAFF ABOUT.
I DON'T SEE AND THERE WILL BE AN ISSUE WITH IT.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN AREA THAT CAN BE MOWING AND WEEDING ANYWAY SO I DON'T THINK IT WOULD NECESSITATE A WHOLE LOT OF EXTRA WORK ON THEIR PART.
>> AND HEAVENLY CLOSE TO PARKING FROM THE CHILDREN'S PARK AND THE ROSE GARDEN AND I LIKE THE IDEA OF WHEREVER IT'S GOING TO END UP HAVING ENOUGH SPACE FOR A FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY. SEEMS LIKE THEY THOUGHT THROUGH THE PURPOSE AND PROGRAMMING OF IT.
>> ALSO I NOTICED ON THE LISTING, YET ANGULAR, FROM VICTORIA AND ANGULAR FROM MATHIS.
>> ONE HAS NO NAME, I THINK IS ANDRES.
>> OUR SECRETARY IS ONE THAT GETS INFORMATION AND SHE RECENTLY GOT THAT NAME.
>> WE NOTICED THAT WE JUST DOWNLOADED THOSE NAMES SO WERE STILL VERIFYING. WE DO KNOW IT'S TWO SEPARATE PEOPLE.
>> I SEE ONCE IS MATHIS ONCE IS VITTORIA.
ONE IS ONE OF MY EX-STUDENTS. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU'RE GONNA PUT HIS FIRST NAME.
>> ANOTHER WHEN GARY WALTERS. GREAT, BEST ABOUT PLAYERS.
>> WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE PART WE HAD ALL THE NAMES OF OUR SOLDIERS AND MARINES.
>> THAT'S OKAY WE GOT THE IT PERSON.
>> HOW MANY FEET AWAY WOULD BE FROM THE SIDEWALK.
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO STAND ON THE SIDEWALK AND SEE THE NAMES?
>> WE ARE NOT GOING OVER THOSE DETAILS BUT ONCE WE GOT TO GO WILL GO OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT KIND OF WALKWAY WE WANT TO HAVE TO IT AND OF COURSE LIGHTING AND ALL THAT, IF ARE GOING TO PUT A FLAG, AND IT LIGHTING FOR THAT TO BE RESPECTFUL TO THE TRADITIONS AND STANDARDS AND CODES FOR EVERYTHING.
>> APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THIS UP.
I TAKE THIS AT HEART WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE HERE.
IT IS PRETTY AWESOME THAT THE FEW HAVE ACCELERATED, THE PROUD OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR THIS GREAT NATION.
FOR THIS RIGHT HERE, SPEAKING AS A COMBAT SOLDIER, WHEN I LOOK AT THESE NAMES HERE IT RUNS CHILLS TO ME JUST LOOKING AT THAT. I THINK WHEN THAT GOLD STAR
[00:15:03]
FAMILIES WHEN ALL THIS IS UP AND DONE AND REPRESENTED, THE PLACE AND LOCATION YOU HAVE IT THERE REPRESENTS A PLACE OF SOLIDARITY WHERE FAMILIES CAN GO TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY GOLD STAR FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES, EVEN OUR FUTURE CHILDREN AND SEE THE PATRIOTISM THAT THESE YOUNG MEN TOOK TO CALL.THIS IS SOMETHING THAT VERY FEW, LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, ACTUALLY DO. THESE GENTLEMEN RIGHT HERE, LADIES AND SHOWMAN, ARE THE ONES I GAVE ALL, AND SOME OF US GAVE SOME. THOSE OF US THAT SURVIVED ONLY KNOWS OF THE PAIN AND THE SORROW THAT GOES WITH IT.
I THINK THE GOAL OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS AWESOME, IT'S TREMENDOUS AND IT IS WHAT IS NEEDED IN THIS COMMUNITY SPECIALLY THE LOCATION IN THE PARK IT'S VERY SOLEMN PLACE TO PUT IT. IT'S ALSO AN ACT OF TEACHING PATRIOTISM THAT THESE FOLKS HERE TO NOT DIE IN VAIN AND WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS WE ARE THERE TO CARRY THEIR LEGACY.
I THINK RIVERSIDE PARK, WE OWE THEM INTO SUCH FINE INDIVIDUALS THAT ALLOW US TO SPEAK AND DO WHAT WERE DOING HERE TODAY.
I KNOW AFGHANISTAN WAS NOT AN EASY PLACE TO BE AT.
I LIKE TO SAY I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND HOPEFULLY THE PARKS AND REC CAN SUPPORT YOU IN THIS WITH WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO AND WE CAN FIND WAYS, LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, IT DOES NOT CUT THAT COST THAT MUCH TO MAINTAIN, CUTTING THE GRASS AROUND IT BUT THEN THE FEEDBACK WHAT WE GET BACK IS SEE FAMILIES COMING THERE AND THAT WILL REALLY PROMOTE RIVERSIDE PARK.
>> THAT'S PART OF OUR VISION, SO I'M A HISTORY TEACHER AND I TEACH GOVERNMENT HISTORY, ECONOMICS BUT THERE IS A DISCONNECT. AFTER 20 YEARS OF WORK, AMERICA WAS LIKE YES, LET'S GO. 20 YEARS LATER TO REMIND YOURSELF THAT WE ARE STILL AT WAR.
WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MY GRANDCHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN WILL HAVE AND REMEMBER FOR WHAT THIS AREA, VICTORIA, AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR FREEDOM.
>> WE SEE THESE CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY EDUCATION WE SEE THEM GROW UP AS A CHILDREN AND THE END UP GOING TO WAR AND SOME OF THEM DON'T COME BACK AND PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE.
I CONGRATULATE YOU. I THINK IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO, IF WE KNOW SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP OUT OR DO A GO FIND ME OR SOMETHING HELP COMPLETE THIS MISSION I THINK THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
>> YOUR SUPPORT IS VERY VALUABLE.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION JUST IN GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT, IS THAT WHAT WE, WHAT COUNSEL WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM US?
>> YES, SIR. WE CAN MAKE THEM MORE FORMALIZED WE CAN BRING BACK A RESOLUTION FOR YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING AND YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH ADOPTING THAT RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HONOR 361.
I THINK AT THAT POINT AFTER THEM HAVING A MEETING WITH CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MAYBE IT WILL BE MORE DEFINITIVE IN THE LOCATION OF IT IN THAT WAY THAT WOULD SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AS A COMMISSION TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.
>> WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION ON THE PART OF THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD BE LIKE TO JUST CONSIDER THAT OUR NEXT MEETING, POTENTIALLY ANYBODY HAVE ANY COUNTRY THOUGHT?
>> I AGREE, I'D LIKE IT TO, YOU WILL HAVE SO MUCH OF IT PLANNED OUT AND FIGURED OUT THAT OUR SUPPORT, WE ARE NOT DOING MUCH LIKE YOU SAID, THE LAWN IS THERE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE THERE ANYWAY CUTTING IT. THEY HAVE FIGURE OUT LOGISTICS AND REASONS FOR THE SPOT. SO, IT'S NOT THAT HARD FOR US TO SUPPORT SOMETHING SO GOOD. I AM WITH IT.
>> VERY GOOD, WE WILL DO THAT NEXT TIME AND WE WILL HAVE THAT ON THE AGENDA AS AN ITEM TO VOTE ON AND TAKE ACTION ON.
THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THANKS FOR COMING TO TALK TO US ABOUT IT.
I APPRECIATE IT AND I KNOW THE COMMISSION DOES, AS WELL.
[1. Adoption of Minutes]
[00:20:15]
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO BUSINESS AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE MINUTES OF OUR LAST MEETING WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET THAT WE GOT. IS THERE, EVERYBODY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THOSE, IF SO, IS THERE A MOTION TO MAKE ANY CHANGES OR TO ACCEPT THOSE MINUTES AS PRESENTED? THESE ARE THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 12, 2021.>> UNDER THE MOTION TO ACCEPT.
>> A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED FOR THE JULY 12, TRENT 20 2021.
[1. Honor 361 Presentation]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I.>> MOTION PASSED. IS THERE ANYMORE THEY WANT TO TALK TO US ABOUT?
>> THE ONLY BLESSING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT HONOR 361 IS THEY BEEN ASKING TO COME TO THE COMMISSION FOR QUITE SOME TIME SO FORTUNATELY THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION AND PRESENT IT TO YOU TONIGHT. I CAN TELL YOU WE WILL DEFINITELY WORK WITH THEM ANY WAY WE CAN TO BE MAKE SURE THE PROJECT WAS FORWARD. ONE THING AND WE WILL TALK WITH HIM OFTEN TO THE SIDE JUST PARKING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ADEQUATE PARKING BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY VISITORS THEY ARE GOING TO PLAN OR ANTICIPATE COMING TO THIS MEMORIAL. JUST ONE THING I WAS THINKING ABOUT, KIMBERLY, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PARKING.
NONETHELESS, WE WILL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH HONOR 361 AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM.
I NOTE THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT'S GREAT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
>> I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, TOO. WITH THE NEW SIDEWALK THAT WE HAVE YOU CAN'T ACCESS PARKING BY THE BALLFIELDS AND BACK OVER THE OLD HEADQUARTERS POTENTIALLY.
AND YOU HAVE GOT A GOOD WALKWAY TO GET TO IT SO THAT IS KIND OF NICE.
>> THERE'S A DECENT AMOUNT OF PARKING AT THE ROSE GARDEN AND THE OLD HEADQUARTERS.
>> ARE THEY PLANNING TO FIX THAT ROAD AND THE MASTER PLAN? ARE THEY GONNA FIX THE PARKING LOT, I KNOW THEY'RE CONSTANTLY FIXING IT BUT.
>> SURE, I KNOW THE ONLY THING THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IN THE MASTER PLAN IN REGARDS TO STREET WORK OR THE CONNECTIONS AND INTERSECTIONS, THERE MAY BE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS INTO THEIR TO UPGRADE THE ROADWAY BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE TOP 10, IF YOU WILL.
>> JASON, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE US THROUGH YOUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATES?
[2. Parks and Recreation Department Updates]
>> THIS'LL BE A QUICK MEETING COMPARED TO LAST ONE.
I WANT TO SAVE YOU ALL A LITTLE TIME, IF YOU WILL, MAKEUP FOR LAST MEETING. KIMBERLY AND I WILL TAGTEAM THIS. THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A NEW FORMAT WE WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU.
EACH MONTH. WE WILL GO THROUGH THE FOUR DIVISIONS WITHIN THE PARKING REPARATIONS DEPARTMENT, WILL TALK ABOUT PARKER REQUISITION AND THE GOLF COURSE.
AND WILL HIT ON SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS.
FIRST UP, IS PARKS. IT'S KIND OF A HARD PICTURE TO SEE. WE WILL TRY TO GET SOME PHOTOS AND OF SOME OF THE TEAM MEMBERS FROM THE FOURTH OF JULY BUT AS YOU CAN SEE THE PHOTO WE HAD FOURTH OF JULY JUST THIS PAST MONTH AND WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES SO WE WENT TO PUBLICLY THANK THOSE FOLKS IT WAS VICTORIA COUNTY DOC SO WE HAD JENNA AND RICK.
WE HAD SOME FOLKS FROM THE FIRED APARTMENT FOLKS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PEOPLE FROM PUBLIC WORKS HELPING OUT WITH TRAFFIC CONTROL WE HAD A PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF THERE.
CVB AND PIO. WE HAD A WHOLE SLEW OF CITY DEPARTMENTS REPRESENTING THE PATRIOTIC FESTIVALS ON 4 JULY.
IT WAS NOT FOR THEM HELPING US OUT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE SUCH A GREAT EVENT. DEFINITELY, WANT TO SEND A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THOSE FOLKS. COMMUNICATIONS, SHANE, THERETO.
ANYWAY, A LOT OF THE FOURTH OF JULY STUFF HAPPENED, EVERYTHING WENT GREAT, PRETTY DECENT TURNOUT.
WE LIVE STREAMED IT AND WILL TOUCH SOME OF THE ON THE RECREATION ASIDE. SOME OTHER THINGS ARE WORKING ON IS TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, THE DUCK POND.
WE ACTUALLY MET WITH STAFF FIRST PART OF JULY IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. BASICALLY TO TALK ABOUT OUR PRE-AGREEMENT OUTLINING WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN OUR GRANT GETTING EVERYTHING PUT TOGETHER IN A CONTRACT, STARTING TO WORK ON
[00:25:06]
SOME OF THOSE DEADLINES. FYI, SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE STARTING TO ROLL A LITTLE MORE NOW.WE HOPE TO HAVE CONTRACT AND EVERYTHING WRAPPED UP WITH TBW D IN THE LAST PART OF THIS MONTH BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE THEM THE PLANS FOR REVIEW IN SEPTEMBER.
SO, THINGS ARE STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD IN REGARDS TO THE DUCK POND. AND OF COURSE, ONE BIG ONE THAT WE HAD IS MONTE WEBB OUR PARK SUPERINTENDENT RETIRED.
HE WAS WITH US WITH EIGHT OR NINE YEARS WITH THE CITY.
HE WAS GREAT, REALLY KEY TEAM MEMBER THAT WE HAD TO BE LOST.
AND IN HIS FOCUS, HIS PRIMARY FOCUS WAS AGGRESS, WAS A TURF.
HE DID A REALLY GREAT JOB GETTING THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT ON A TURF MANAGEMENT PLAN. IT MAY NOT SOUND REALLY COOL BUT IT DEFINITELY HELPS OUT WHEN YOU HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE ON A SCHEDULE SO THAT WAY YOUR GRASS IS NOT TWO FOOT TALL BY THE TIME YOU GET BACK TO IT AND YOU TRY TO COLLECT HEY. ANYWAY, MONTE WEBB RETIRED SO KUDOS TO HIM. CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM, WE WILL MISS HIM. ONE REASON WHY WANT TO BRING THIS UP IS SO WE HAVE TWO POSITIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OUR RECREATIONS SUPERINTENDENT WHICH WAS A JAMIE, WE ARE PARKS SUPERINTENDENT POSITION WHO WAS MONTE. SOMETHING THAT WERE DOING INTERNALLY IS LOOKING AT OUR EFFICIENCIES AND PROCESSES.
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS TRYING TO COMBINE THOSE TWO POSITIONS. SO WERE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. WE WILL HAVE A PARKS AND RECREATION SUPERINTENDENT POSITION VERSUS A PARKS SUPERINTENDENT AND A RECREATION SUPERINTENDENT.
SOME OF THE REASON BEHIND THAT JUST SO YOU KNOW IS THAT OUR REPARATION DIVISION IS ONLY THREE.
SO IT IS NOT, WE DON'T FEEL LIKE IT HAS A LOT OF MERIT TO NECESSITATE A SUPERINTENDENT OVER THOSE THREE PEOPLE RATHER WE HAVE A PARKS AND RECREATION SUPERINTENDENT THAT OVERSEES THE PARKS AND REC RATION DIVISIONS.
WE TRY TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND STREAMLINED SOME THINGS GOING THAT WAY. SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE OTHER POSITION? ONE THING WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS SPORTS AND SPORTS AND TOURISM.
WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A SPORTS TOURISM MANAGER POSITION OUT OF THAT. SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS TAKE HER TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, TURN ONE INTO A COMBINED POSITION AND CREATE A SPORTS TOURISM POSITION ALL WHILE STAYING WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE BUZZ IT BUDGET WE HAVE CURRENTLY. WERE NOT INCREASING OUR FULL-TIME THEM EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS SHIFTING THE WAY WERE LOOKING AT THINGS. JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO BE AWARE OF THAT. THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL TO US WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS TOURISM AND OUR LEAGUES IN OUR TOURNAMENTS. WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT ON THE BACKEND BUT THAT IS A DECISION THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE CMO AND THEY ARE IN FULL FAVOR OF IT.
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT.
>> YOU ARE NOT READY TO ANNOUNCE WHO IS DOING WHAT AT THIS POINT?
>> YES, SIR. THEY ARE BRAND-NEW POSITIONS WE HAVE TO CREATE THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW. WE LEFT THE BALL AND HR'S COURTS. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE. KIMBERLY, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH OF JULY BEFORE I GO INTO WHAT TO BE LOOKING FOR.
>> THE END OF JULY, WAS IT ON ANOTHER SLIDE, AND THE PROGRAMS?
>> FOX BEEN HAS BEEN REOPENED THERE WAS A HUGE TREE THAT WAS DOWN BLOCKING THE ROAD THAT SINCE BEEN REMOVED.
>> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TREES DOWN.
>> THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
THAT SOMETHING THAT STAFF WILL BE WORKING ON.
WE HAVE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COMING IN AND CLARINET FOR US. STAFF HAS BEEN SUPER BUSY WITH MOSQUITOES, GRASS, AND THE TREES DOWN AND SOMETIMES THE RIVER FLUCTUATING LIKE A ROLLER COASTER.
THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR, THIS COMING MONTH WE ALSO WORK WITH DANIELLE IN THE DOWNTOWN OFFICE, IF YOU WILL.
SHE HAS BEEN WORKING ON SOME LANDSCAPING IMPROVEMENTS FOR SOME OF THE AREAS DOWNTOWN. THREE OF THOSE YOU MAY START TO NOTICE GETTING A FACELIFT. IT'S GOING TO BE DAILY ON PLAZ . SHE WENT AHEAD WITH THE PROJECT AND YOU'LL START TO SEE SOME PEOPLE WORKING OVER THERE STARTING TO PULL OUT THE OLD VEGETATION AND REPLANTING AND INSTALLING NEW STUFF. WANTED YOU ALL TO BE AWARE OF
[00:30:04]
THAT. ONLY OTHER THING WILL BE WORKING ON IN PARKS IS DISCUSSING A MOWING CONTRACT.THAT MAY NOT MEAN A LOT TO THE COMMISSION BUT I CAN TELL YOU OUT OF THE 16 PARKS THAT WE HAVE, SEVEN OF THEM WHAT WE DO IN-HOUSE, THE REST WE CONTRACT OUT.
IT COULD BE OTHER PARKS, IT COULD BE RIGHT-OF-WAY'S, WE HAVE PARKED EASEMENTS, EVEN THE CEMETERY, SOME OF THE BALLFIELDS SOME OF THOSE STILL GET CONTRACTED OUT.
IT'S A REALLY LARGE CONTRACT SO WHAT WERE DOING IS WORKING WITH IN OUR MENTAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC WORKS, SO I HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO BETTER ALIGN OUR SIDE OF THE CONTRACT WITH THINGS WE FEEL ARE TIED IN WITH PARKS.
JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO BE AWARE OF THAT, AS WELL.
>> DOES THAT GET CONTRACTED OUT BECAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO DO ALL THE MOWING SO IT'S CHEAPER TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DO IT?
>> THAT SOMETHING WERE LOOKING AT AS WELL, KIMBERLY NOTICED AND I NOTICED THAT WERE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON THINGS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY PRODUCE THE SAME QUALITY OF WORK AND ALSO NECESSITATES STAFF TO BE ON THE CONTRACTORS MORE. SO ARE WE REALLY SAVING THERE? WERE LOOKING AT THAT AGAIN TO MAKE SURE WERE COVERING EVERYTHING. ANYTHING ELSE? PASS THE MICROPHONE OVER TO KIMBERLY.
>> FOR RECREATION, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WE HAD FOR JULY IS WE HAD 4 JULY EVENT THAT JASON MENTIONED AT THE COMMITTEE CENTER. WE PARTNERED WITH CORPUS CHRISTI FOOTBALL CLUB. THERE SOCCER CLUB WE HAD A CLINIC WITH THEM AT THE BEGINNING OF JULY AND THAT WAS REALLY FUN. WE HAD AT MEMORIAL STADIUM.
WE HAD ABOUT 30 KIDS OUT THERE AND IT WAS REALLY GREAT.
WHETHER WAS VICTORIA IN THE SUMMER SO THAT WAS INTERESTING BUT WAS REALLY SUCCESSFUL, THE KIDS LOVED IT AND THE PARENTS ENJOYED IT AS WELL. WE ARE LOOKING TO FORWARD TO FUTURE SOCCER CLINICS. WE PARTICIPATED IN THE SELL SIDE COMMUNITIES BACK TO SCHOOL BASH.
WE PARKED THE TRAILER OTHER AND WE ALSO HAD IN THE PARK.
IT WAS A REALLY GREAT EVENT, WE HAD 500 BACKPACKS THAT THEY GAVE OUT WHERE THEY HAD AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS REALLY GREAT. AND THEN, WE HAD A COUPLE DIFFERENT TURBINES AT THE RIVERSIDE AND HONOR 361 HAD A HOMERUN DERBY AT RIVERSIDE, AS WELL AS MONTH.
SO THAT WAS PRETTY COOL. SO THIS SATURDAY WE HAD A CLINIC. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT HELP WITH THAT. WE HAVE THE PEDALING TRAIL THE CAN BE DONATING KAYAKS TO US AND THEN COASTAL PADDLERS WILL BE OTHER SUPPORTING US AS WELL, HELPING US OTHER.
AND FIRE WILL HAVE THEIR SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAM.
AND THEN, WE HAD A STREET DANCE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK ON THE 19TH. I HEARD TODAY FROM GLACIERS THEY NEED TO RESCHEDULE IT, DON'T KNOW WHEN.
TO BE DETERMINED ON THAT. AND THEY WILL LET YOU GUYS KNOW. WILL ROGERS PARK IF YOUR MEMBER WHEN WE WENT OUT THERE THAT IS BEAUTIFUL SIDEWALK THAT GOES FROM THE PARK, UNITED WAY HAS A LEARNING TRAIL SO THE TRAIL FOR READING AND ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS ON THE SIDEWALKS SOMETHING THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN BE A PART OF THAT REALLY ENGAGES THE YOUNG ONES AND TEACHING THEM THESE COLORS READING AND ALL THAT STUFF AND THEY HAVE SPONSORED UNITED WAY GOING TO BE PUTTING IN AUGUST WHEN HE SEVENTH AND WILL ROGERS PARK SO THAT WILL BE REALLY FUN, OR HAVING AN EVENT OUT THERE.
STAY TUNED WITH THAT. WE ALSO HAVE THE PUNT, PASS AND KICK. IT'S REALLY SOME ONTO THE PITCH, HIT, RUN. KIDS WILL COME OUT AND THEY WILL TRY, COMPETING WITH NATIONWIDE FOR HUNTING, PASSING AND KICKING THE FOOTBALL. THAT SHOULD BE REALLY FUN, KICKING OFF FOOTBALL SEASON AS WELL.
THEN YOU HAVE ADULT SOFTBALL AND KICKBALL LEAGUES ARE FINISHING UP AT THE ADULT SPORTS COMPLEX.
IT'S BEEN A VERY WET, RAINY SEASON AND IS GONE MUCH LONGER THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATED. SO WE ARE HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE WRAPPING THAT UP IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS BUT, MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS PUSHING BACK WHEN OUR FAULT LEAGUES START. WE CAN CALL DEFAULT LEAK AND
[00:35:03]
FALL. TODAY, WAS A VERY EXCITING DAY IN REVENUE RECREATION CORD COORDINATOR NAMED JENNA.SHE'S VERY EXCITED, SHE STARTED TODAY, SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON PROGRAMS, SHOULD BE OUT OF THE KAYAK A CLINIC AT THIS WE CAN AND SHOULD BE JUMPING IN AND SHE'S REALLY EXCITED TO JOIN US AND WE ARE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE HER.
>> WE WILL KEEP ON ROLLING. THE GOLF COURSE, A NEW LOOK AS A TIME IT GOES I PROMISE ALL THESE LAWNS WILL BE PRETTIER.
THE GOLF COURSE I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK LOOK AT THIS, I FELT LIKE WE TALKED HEAVILY ABOUT PARKS AND RECREATION BUT WE TEND TO LEAVE OUT COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE GOLF COURSE A LOT OF TIMES. THIS IS MY WAY OF MAKING AN EFFORT TO PRESENT THE GOLF COURSE TO YOU.
IN THE BOX YOU CAN SEE THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR AND MONTH FOR JULY. SO TOTAL TO DATE, $96,609 BEFORE FINANCE GET A HOLD OF IT.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, OUR EXPENDITURES ARE AROUND $85,000 A MONTH. THAT IS ABOUT A $10,000 REVENUE.
>> I'M SORRY. YES, YES, YOU ARE RIGHT.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO WHAT WE DID ON THIS IS GET A SNAPSHOT OF YOUR TOURNAMENT ROUNDS AS WELL AS THE PRACTICE ROUNDS AND THEN THE TOTAL ROUNDS.
SO I PUT THAT OFF TO THE SIDE FOR USE AGAIN 90 LAST MONTH I THINK IT WAS AROUND 2200 Ã2300 ROUNDS TOTAL.
THIS MEANT MONTH IS A LITTLE MORE.
WERE HOVERING AROUND THE 2000 MARK.
WE DID RECEIVE 20 ADDITIONAL GOLF CARTS.
WHAT WE HAVE IS A FLEET OF 50 AND A WHILE BACK WE WENT TO COUNSIL AND ASKED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 20 CARTS AND SO WE DID RECEIVE THOSE ADDITIONAL 20 CARTS THIS MONTH.
WERE LOOKING TO RECEIVE ANY RANGE PICKER, THAT SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. THAT WILL HELP OUT STAFF WITH PICKING UP THE BALLS ON THE DRIVING RANGE, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
>> DO WE OWN OR LEASE THE CARDS?
>> WE LEASE THEM. IT'S A LEASE TO OWN.
AT THE END OF THE FOUR-YEAR MARKET WE HAVE THE OPTION TO BUY. SO I WENT TO PUT UNDER THE CURRENT WAITING LIST. WE HAD A CURRENT WAITING LIST OF ROUGHLY 50 OR SO, RIGHT NOW IT'S AT 47.
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO WITH THOSE NEW ADDITIONAL 20 CARTS IS TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE WAITING LIST MEMBERS SO WE WILL GET SOME OF THOSE MEMBERS OFF THAT WAITING LIST.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, PEOPLE WAITING FOR MENTORSHIPS?
>> IS SUMMER CAMPING MEMBERSHIPS, HOW MUCH IS THAT?
>> 200. SO WERE LOOKING AT DOING THAT IS INCREASING THAT TO MAYBE 230 AND THAT WAY WE CAN MAYBE GET THE REVENUE OFF THOSE NUMBER SHIPS OFF THE TOP AND THEN PULL THOSE MEMBERS PEOPLE OFF THAT WAITING LIST.
BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO BE ON A WAITING LIST FOR TWO YEARS.
>> SO THE CROWDS ARE NOT SO MUCH THAT IS OFFPUTTING RIGHT? YOU CAN COME OUT AND PLAY AROUND WITHOUT TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE WEIGHT?
>> YES, I SHOULD KNOW THIS I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP WHAT THE ROUNDS ARE LIKE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO PLAY A GAME BUT I CAN TELL YOU CAN BE MORE THAN FOUR HOURS.
>> FOUR HOURS IS TYPICAL PACE. WHAT IS THE REASONING BEHIND HAVING 200 MEMBERS BECAUSE ANY PUBLIC MEMBER CAN GO PLAY DOWN THERE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A MEMBERSHIP SO WHAT IS THE REASON FOR CAMPING MEMBERSHIPS AT 200?
>> WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SO CAPPING IT AT A CERTAIN AMOUNT LIKE THE 200 ALWAYS ENSURES THAT WERE GOING THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING WHEN SOMEONE ROLLS OFF WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN JUMP BACK ON TO A MEMBERSHIP. WE JUST OPENED UP TO 300 MEMBERS, I GUESS WE COULD DO THAT IS JUST A LOT OF KEEPING TRACK.
>> SO BECAUSE EVEN IF I'M NOT A MEMBER I CAN STILL GO PLAY.
>> YOU HAVE CERTAIN BENEFITS FOR BEING A MEMBER VERSUS NOT BE A MEMBER. I DON'T KNOW THEM OFF THE TOP BUT THEY DO HAVE CERTAIN DISCOUNTS YOU HAVE WITH THE MENTORSHIP. MEMBERSHIP.
>> YOU GUYS, ANNUAL PASSES, SAME THING.
[00:40:07]
SO YOU GUYS ARE AT 200 AND THAT'S BEEN GOING WELL.SO YOU'RE GROWING THAT WITH THE NEW CARTS?
>> YES, MA'AM. SO SOME DIFFERENT EVENTS WE HAVE HOT AS HECK JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HAD 72 PLAYERS IN THERE. WE HAVE A VERIFICATION THAT'S TAKEN PLACE ON THE 10TH AND THEN WE HAVE THE 9 AM SHOTGUN START HERE AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
JUST A FEW LITTLE TOURNAMENTS /EVENTS WERE GONNA HAVE ETHICAL COURTS. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T LIKE THE LITTLE PIGS IN THEIR WAY. COMMUNITY CENTER, JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU QUICK RUNDOWN OR RECAP OF JULY.
JULY, THE COMMUNITY CENTER I BROKE IT DOWN TO THE CITY OF VICTORIA RENTALS VERSUS NON-VICTORIA CITY RENTALS.
SO WE HAD 26 RENTALS FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF JULY HOWEVER OUT OF THOSE 26, 14 WERE FROM THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND 12 WERE OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS OR PRIVATE ENTITIES.
SOME OF THE BIG ONES INCLUDED 4 JULY, WE HAD THE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, THE CARNIVAL WAS THERE AND THEN WE HAD A BROADBAND MEETING AND THEN SOME OF THE PRIVATE RENTALS JUST INCLUDES SWEET 16'S, GRADUATIONS AND SOME WEDDINGS.
WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON AT THE COMMITTEE CENTER IS AN RFP FOR AN HVAC SYSTEM TO MAKE A REALLY LONG STORY SHORT WE HAD MONEY IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR FOR HVAC REPAIRS.
COME TO FIND OUT WE NEED A COMPLETE RECALL OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. SO WE BUDGETED FOR THAT IN THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. HOWEVER, WE STILL THE MONEY AVAILABLE NOW FOR THE REPAIRS AND SO WERE LOOKING AT ENGINEERING SERVICES TO GET THAT NOT OUT OF THE WAY SO HOPEFULLY WERE ABLE TO SAVE MONEY ON THE BACKEND.
AND THEN OF COURSE, WE A ARE WORKING WITH THE RECREATION DIVISION TO UTILIZE THE FACILITY A LITTLE MORE.
ONE OF THOSE THINGS I CAN MENTION IS RC CARS LOOKING AT USING THE ARENA AREA FOR OUR SEAT CART RACIST.
WE ACTUALLY PUT A SURVEY OUT THERE TO THE COMMUNITY THERE'S AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE, POSITIVE RESPONSE RC CARS.
WERE WORKING WITH SOMEONE IN HIGH PRO.
IT GOES BACK TO WHEN I WAS A KID, WHEN I WAS A KID HI PRO HAD THE LETTER C CARS BACK IN. I GO BACK AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE SO JUST CHALLENGE STAFF TO LOOK INTO IT AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH HIGH PRO ON AND RC DERBY OR LEAGUE. THE BIGGEST THING HERE IS WE CAN USE THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EVENTS AND WERE NOT USING IT MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FOR SOMETHING, WHY DON'T WE SUPPORT RECREATION. WHY DON'T USE IT TO HAVE SOME OF THESE RANDOM RC CAR LEAGUES OR GO YOGA OR WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO BRING IN.
>> WE CAN DO VOLLEYBALL THERE, STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> SO I THINK IN TALKING WITH STAFF AND MIKE IS SUPPORTIVE OF IT AS WELL, JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT DIFFERENT WAYS TO UTILIZE THE FACILITIES WE HAVE. A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT WE ARE. ANYTHING ON COMMUNITY CENTER? SEE, THAT SIMPLE, RIGHT?
>> ONLY THING I DON'T HAVE INHERENT THAT I WANT YOU TO VERBALLY UPDATE YOU ON A FEW OF THE PROJECTS, THE SOCCER FIELDS ARE STILL MOVING FORWARD. WE MET WITH VIEW ISO LAST WEEK.
MIKE WAS THERE AS WELL IN ATTENDANCE AND THEY WILL BE MOVING INTO THE SOCCER FIELDS IF YOU WILL AT RIVERSIDE PARK.
THE FIRST GAME ARE ON SEPTEMBER 11 SO WE WILL WORK WITH THEM.
THEY WILL HAVE, WANT TO HAVE A MINI EVENT, A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY THE WEEKEND BEFORE SO WILL BE WORKING WITH THEM ON THAT. I MENTIONED THE DUCK POND ALREADY. THE PARKS MASTER PLAN, THAT IS STILL GOING ON. JUST MET WITH EVERYONE LAST MONTH. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL SOMETIME IN THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED. JUST REALLY QUICKLY THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CONCEPTS FOR ELT AND MLK RIVERSIDE PARK THERE'S TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RECOGNITIONS THAT WE HEARD. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE ANYTHING ELSE TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS AS FAR
[00:45:01]
AS CONCEPTUAL IS CONCERNED. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THEY ARE STILL ON TRACK WITH EVERYTHING, CHAPTER 3 HAS BEEN SENT OVER TO US AND WERE REVIEWING IT RIGHT NOW WE WILL HAVE IT PUSHED OUT TO YOU IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO FOR YOUR ALL REVIEW.WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE OPEN HOUSE.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE SHOOTING FOR MID TO LATE SEPTEMBER.
IT WILL BE MORE OF AN INFORMATIONAL TYPE OF OPEN HOUSE THAN INTERACTIVE. I WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL AND HEADS UP ON THAT. TAF, THAT IS STILL TAKING PLACE. LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS UPCOMING YEAR. THAT GOES HAND-IN-HAND WITH THAT I MENTIONED EARLY ABOUT A SPORTS FACILITIES ASSESSMENT.
SINCE WE HAVE FIVE OR SIX FACILITIES THAT BE USED FOR TAF WERE LOOKING AT THOSE TO SEE WHAT WE DO TO UPGRADE THOSE.
CITY MANAGER IS BEHIND THAT 100 PERCENT.
THEY HE SAID FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED AND WE WILL UPGRADE IT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. THAT IS ALL I'VE GOT.
OH, TREE CITY USA. LAST THING ON THE LIST.
I PROVIDED THE COMMISSION LESS TIME WITH THE SAMPLE ORDINANCE, TREE ORDINANCE. I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU ALL THAT THAT IS A VERY SIMPLE ORDINANCE, IF YOU WILL.
I DON'T WANT TO PRESENT ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO BE TOO RESTRICTIVE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS BUT ALSO WANT US TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT WILL ALLOW US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME TREE CITY USA AGAIN.
IF YOU ALL ARE OKAY WITH THE TREATMENT SAMPLE I GAVE YOU FOR THAT ORDINANCE WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS WORK ON IT A LITTLE MORE, GET IT OVER TO MIKE AND LET LEGAL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS PRESENT IT TO YOU IN MORE OF A FORMAL DRAFT AND THAT WAY YOU CAN DISCUSS IT AND WILL PUT AN AGENDA ITEM IN THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
>> QUICK QUESTION. UPDATE ON THE SPLASH PAD.
THE COMMITTEE CENTER/PAD HAD SOME ENGINEERING PROBLEMS YOU ALL WERE LOOKING INTO I DID KNOW IF THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THAT?
>> THAT'S A GOOD ONE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING OR I CAN TOUCH ON IT?
>> GO FIRST. NEXT I'M LOOKING AT HER BECAUSE SHE OVERSEES PART PARKS AND REC
>> SHE SAID WERE GETTING A CONTRACTOR OUT THERE.
WE HAD THEM COME OUR LEAD DETECTOR GUYS COME OUT LATE LATE LAST WEEK. SHE SAID THERE'S ONE LEAK THAT WAS FOUND IN ETHEL LEE.
>> ONE AT LEAK AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO WITH THE DAMAGE WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTER ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS IS THE GROUT IN BETWEEN THE SLABS IS REALLY GONE AWAY SO THAT'S REALLY PROBABLY WHAT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HAS BEEN. THERE'S ONE LEAK, DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THE LEAK IS BUT FOR HOW MUCH DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE IT SURPRISING IS JUST ONE LEAK.
>> THE PROBLEM WITH COMMITTEE CENTER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THERE, THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL SHIFT IN THE CONCRETE SLAB SO THAT THE BIGGEST CONCERN WE HAVE IT.
IF THERE IS A MINOR LEAK AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE IT, NO BIG DEAL, LET'S DO THAT. BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A HUGE GAP DIFFERENCE I'M NOT GOING TO OPEN THAT UP AND TAKE THE CHANCE THAT SOMEBODY CAN HURT THEMSELVES.
>> WITH ETHEL LEE TRACY THERE'S MORE LEAKS OUT THERE BUT THOSE LEAKS ONLY FOR EACH PLATE PIECE IT IS NOT SHIFTED THE FOUNDATION, HAS NOT CREATED ANYTHING UNSAFE THAT LEADS TO SCRAPED KNEES AND BROKEN TOES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THEY ARE ABLE TO TURN OFF A WATER FEATURE TO STILL HAVE THE REST OF IT OPEN. SO THAT IS WHY THERE'S MORE LEAKS.
>> THEY ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM ENGINEERING ON COMMUNITY CENTER AS TO WHAT TO DO THERE.
>> WITH ONLY ONE CLOSED YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE WAS HER ONLY SPLASH PAD IN VICTORIA.
YOU WOULD THINK WOULD BE A PRIORITY AND BE BACK OPEN ALREADY.
>> I CAN'T SAY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S NOT A PRIORITY FOR US BUT WHEN WE NOTICED IT WE STARTED THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CONTRACTORS. IT HAS HONESTLY BEEN A CONTRACTORS. WE BEEN WAITING FOR THEM TO COME IN. FRANKLY, I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
I THINK WE HAVE BEEN WAITING JUST AS LONG.
>> WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO NOTICE IT BECAUSE YOU SAID IT WAS A
[00:50:01]
SMALL LEAK SO IT MUST HAVE GONE UNCHECKED FOR QUITE A WHILE, UNDETECTED?>> THAT'S REALLY GOOD QUESTION, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WHEN WE FIRST AGAIN THE SPLASH PADS UP AND RUNNING BECAUSE THEY GO DOWN FOR THE WINTER TIME AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WERE CHANGING INTERNALLY AND IS THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, STAFF HAD NORMALLY SHUT IT DOWN, WINTERIZED IT AND WAITED TILL WE SAID LET'S GET READY AGAIN. I CONTINUED LESTER WE SHUT IT DOWN, WE STARTED GETTING IT READY AGAIN THIS YEAR AND THAT'S WHEN HE NOTICED IT. HOW MUCH IS CHANGED FROM THAT WOULD LIKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT CHANGED THAT QUICK.
I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW THE QUICK CONDITION OF IT LAST YEAR, I DID NOT PHYSICALLY GO OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
IT COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN AN INCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IS JUST FROM THAT POINT TO NOW WHEN WE START LOOKING AT IT FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR, IT SHIFTED MORE. I AM NOT SURE.
>> I DO KNOW BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE QUITE A BIG INVESTMENT TO JUST HOPE IT LAST WITHOUT DOING MAINTENANCE WHETHER IT'S FREEZING OR REALLY HOT.
THAT IS WHAT MY POINT WAS, I GUESS.
>> I CAN TELL YOU ONE OF THE THINGS WERE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT, LIKE KIMBERLY MENTIONED, THAT GROUT HAS DETERIORATED AND HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. THAT IS THE STUFF THAT WE NEED TO START WORKING ON AND BE MORE PROACTIVE ON INSTEAD OF REACTIVE. WE NEED TO PUT THOSE THINGS IN THE BUDGET AND PART OF THAT IS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE VENDORS AND ASK HOW LONG THE GROUT SUPPOSED TO LAST, THREE YEARS? SO OKAY EVERY THREE YEARS WILL HAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO GO THROUGH AND REGRET THIS AND RESEAL IT. WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS BEFORE SO I WANT TO SHIFT THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE AGAIN ARE MORE PROACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE THAT'S WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING WITH THE GROUT, THE SHIFTED, NOW THERE'S A LEAK, IF WE COULD HAVE JUST FIXED THE GROUT FOR MAYBE FIVE GRAND, BUT NOW WE HAVE A 15 THOUSAND DOLLAR ISSUE INSTEAD OF FIVE.
>> A CONTEST, THE CONTRACT MAINTENANCE IS FOR SUGAR ON THE SPLASH PAD AND THEN YOU DON'T KNOW.
>> WE ARE ON TOP OF IT, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO GET IT FIXED. WE HAVE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM THE CELL SITE ASKING ABOUT THE COMMITTEE CENTER/PAD SO WE DEFINITELY KNOW IS ON PEOPLE'S MIND SO WE WENT TO GET FIXED.
>> JASON, DID YOU TELL US BEFORE THIS PARTICULAR SPLASH PAD WAS BUILT ON AN OLD SWIMMING POOL?
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS, YES, MA'AM.
>> IS WAS AVOIDED SPACE THAT THEY HAD TO GO FILL.
SO IF YOU HAVE A LEAK IN THAT ONE AREA THAT COULD DO A WHOLE LOT OF, IT WAS NOT COMPACTED PROPERLY TO START WITH THAT COULD BE A HUGE PROBLEM.
>> YES, MA'AM. IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, THE JOYS OF CHANGING OF HANDS AND PEOPLE DOING DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS UNDERNEATH THE BEFORE UNLESS YOU HAVE THE HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE.
>> WITH MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH ALL OF THE DENSE RAINS WE HAVE GOTTEN AND THEN IT GETS REALLY HOT REALLY QUICK, THE SOIL IT GETS SUPERSATURATED AND ITS CLAY SOIL SO THAT IT EXPANDS AND THINGS MOVE. BUT I DO LIKE YOUR SUGGESTION WHEN YOU GO TO SHUT IT DOWN IN THE WINTER YOU'RE GONNA PUT A NEW PROGRAM IN TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING IN DETAIL AND KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST. AND HAVE SOME MONEY AVAILABLE TO FIX SOME OF THAT. BECAUSE I DEFINITELY THINK THE SPLASH PADS IN THIS TOWN IS THE WAY TO GO.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THEM IN THE NEW MASTER PLAN THEY SEEM TO GET A LOT OF USE LIKE YOU WENT TO THE NEW 929 SCHEDULE, HOW IS THAT GOING?
>> I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING, I THINK THAT NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS, STAFF HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE ON THAT?
>> I CAN SPEAK POSITIVELY BECAUSE I BEEN AFTER SEVEN AND THOSE THINGS ARE FULL.
>> NOW AT EIGHT IT'S THE PERFECT TIME BECAUSE YOU GET TO 90 DEGREES AT 8 PM.
>> I VISITED THE SPLASH PAD OVER THERE BY THE TRAIL BECAUSE I NEAR LIVE NEAR THERE. I JUST ASK THE PEOPLE THERE THEY WANT BEST BALL COURTS, THEY WANT PLAYGROUNDS, THEY WANT WORKOUT EQUIPMENT. THERE LIKE WE HAVE A TRAILER HERE WE WANT TO SEE MORE OF THAT STUFF HERE.
I WAS LIKE WELL, WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MASTER PLAN WITH
[00:55:05]
THREE OTHER THINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.THERE IS OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE OVER THERE, THEY WANT THAT STUFF.
>> AND THEY DO HAVE SOME IDEAS FOR LONA CREEK PARK.
ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? THANK YOU JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS IN FUTURE
[F. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
AGENDA ITEMS, DOES ANYTHING FROM IT COMMISSIONERS ON A THINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OR SEE ON A FUTURE AGENDA?>> I HAVE ONE. I HAD A COMMUNITY MEMBER CONTACT ME, HE HAD SEEN SOMETHING CALLED THE NATIONAL FITNESS CAMPAIGN WHICH IS A GROUP THAT BUILDS THESE FITNESS EQUIPMENT, OUTDOOR FITNESS EQUIPMENT IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AND I MENTIONED IT TO JASON AND JASON WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE COMPANY. THESE ARE VERY, VERY NICE OUTDOOR INSTALLATIONS. THEY ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE AND I THINK THE COMPANY PROVIDES, THEY ARE ALL ABOUT USING COMMUNITY, ACTIVATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RAISE THE MONEY NEEDED TO PUT THEM TOGETHER AND BY THESE THINGS.
THEY ALSO PROVIDE GRANT FUNDS FOR THAT.
I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT BUT I WANTED TO MAYBE PUT A PIN IN IT AS SOMETHING FOR US TO MAYBE KICK AROUND OR MENTION IT.
IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT FOLLOWING THE MEETING I BROUGHT A FEW COPIES OF A COUPLE OF ARTICLES ABOUT ONE OF THESE THAT'S IN THE VALLEY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF AN INTERESTING NEARBY IT'S IN EDINBURG AND I THINK THEY PUT TWO OF THEM IN DOWN THERE. ANYWAY, THE CENTERS THEY ARE VERY MODERN, COOL DESIGNS, BUT THEY ARE OUTDOORS AND I THINK IT ALSO COMES ALONG WITH A GATE TELETHON LIKE WORKOUT DEAL THAT COMES WITH IT. SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO A PROGRAM, A DIFFERENT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS OF WORKOUTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT ON IT. IT'S SOMETHING TO TAKE A LOOK AT. MAYBE WE WANT TO KICK IT AROUND AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> I THINK THOSE ARE GOOD PROGRAMS. THEY ARE MADE OUT OF METAL OR USE YOUR OWN WEIGHT.
AND I DON'T I THINK IT RAN ABOUT ONE HAD A THOUSAND AND THEY PUT ABOUT 17 STATIONS DOWN THERE.
SO AT NIGHT THERE IS FAMILY GATHERED PUTTING BENCHES OUT THERE AND WE HAD THEM DONATE SOME LAMPPOSTS SO THERE'S LIGHTING UP THERE.
>> I WILL HAVE THESE FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY ONE MORE THING WHEN I WAS AT THE SPLASH PAD THERE WERE ALWAYS LIKE 20 TO 30 PEOPLE THERE AND AT LEAST 10 KIDS ON THE SPLASH PAD AT ALL TIMES.
SO WE STAYED THERE FOR A FEW HOURS AND I'VE GOT A FEW TIMES TO SEE WHAT LIFE IS LIKE OVER THERE.
ANOTHER THING THAT WAS MENTIONED WAS MISTERS WOULD BE NICE FOR THE PARENTS SITTING DOWN.
SO IT THE PARENTS SAID THAT THEY HAD SOME KIND OF MR. THAT THEY WOULD STAY A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
>> JASON, I HEARD A COMMENT A COUPLE DAYS AGO IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PARKS. IT WAS VERY POSITIVE.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE SINCE YOU HAVE TAKEN OVER THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH POSITIVE, CLEANLINESS AND PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE, KIDS ARE FEELING SAFE. ONE PARTICULAR FAMILY SAID THEY'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME ENJOYING THE PARKS AS THEY SHOULD BE. I THINK IT'S GREAT WHAT YOU AND THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT ARE DOING, YOU'RE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
>> I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS. ALL THESE THINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SO I CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATIVE, I WILL PASS ALONG THE COMMENTS.
>> YOU HAVE SEEM TO WIPE OUT THE MOSQUITOES, THERE WERE A LOT IN THE BEGINNING ANOTHER GUN AND PEOPLE WONDER WHERE THE
[01:00:03]
MOSQUITOES ARE. I GET LOTS OF CALLS ON WHETHER THEY SHOULD BRING SPRAY BUT ANOTHER GUN.>> WE WANT TO THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ELIMINATING THEM.
>> VERY WELL, THANK YOU VERY
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.