[B. Citizen Communication:] [00:00:24] VICTORIA PARKS AND REC COMMISSION,. WELCOME, EVERYONE. THANKS MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I LIKE TO CALL A MEETING TO ORDER TOUR TODAY AND LET'S GET STARTED WITH OUR BUSINESS. FIRST ITEM IS CITIZEN COMMUNICATION AND WE DO HAVE SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO APPROACH? >> HELLO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I MICHAEL. I LIVE AT 2107 NORTH BEN JORDAN. THANKS FOR STEVE, KIM, AND ALL -- OH, AND LISA TWO. ALL THE REST OF THE PARTS PEOPLE FOR DOING THEIR GOOD JOB IN THE COMMISSION. JUST RECENTLY, THERE WAS A FIRE IN QUEEN CITY PARK. MORE THAN LIKELY THEY JUST DOUSED THOSE TABLES WITH GAS AND IT'S GOT PLASTIC COATING ON IT AND THEY SET IT ON FIRE AND IT GOT SO BAD THE CITY OF VICTORIA HAD TO TAKE OUT HUNDRED PERCENT OF ALL THE TABLES. THERE IS NO MORE TABLES. SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LEAVING BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLACE TO SIT TO EAT AND THERE'S ALSO A BARBECUE PIT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM TAKE AWAY THE BARBECUE PIT IN THE PAST. THEY'VE TAKEN AWAY ALL THE BARBECUE PITS BECAUSE THEY USED IT FOR EVERYTHING EXCEPT BARBECUING AND IN THE PAST THEY TOOK AWAY THE SLIDES AND STUFF BECAUSE THEY USE IT FOR EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR SLIDING AND FOR HOURS IN THE CITIZEN GUIDELINE IS TO TO 20 YEARS AND A $10,000 FINE. IT MIGHT BE FUNNY BUT, YOU KNOW, BEING IN PRISON FOR 20 YEARS AND BEING FINED $10,000 IS NOT FUNNY AND WE HAVE HAD A CONVICTION IN VICTORIA FOR ARSON AND HE DID GET A LIFE SENTENCE EVEN WITHOUT KILLING ANYONE. SO, IT IS A SERIOUS CRIME AND I WISH THEY COULD PUT SOME KIND OF AWARD MONEY LIKE $1000 AND MAY BE PUT SOME CAMERAS UP THERE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE CAMPING ILLEGALLY YOU KNOW, WITH TENTS AND THEY ARE STAYING THERE AFTER 11:00 P.M. TO 6:00 A.M. AND THERE IS A LOT OF TRASH ALL OVER QUEEN CITY PARK AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS AND I WISH SOMEONE COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. A LOT OF SKETCHY PEOPLE THERE AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE EACH WEEK IT JUST GETS BETTER BUT TAKING DOWN THE TABLES WAS A SMART DECISION. WHOEVER MADE THAT DECISION AND, YOU KNOW, THE BAD CROWD IS LEAVING BECAUSE WHO WANTS TO SIT ON THAT HARD DIRT? THEY WILL PROBABLY GO TO WILL ROGERS PARK OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY GO. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MAYBE CAMERAS PUT UP OR SOMETHING AND HAVE THE [C. Approval of Minutes:] DOGS ON LEASHES. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE, YOU KNOW, USE A LEASH AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO POSTED LEASH LAWS OR ANYTHING. IT'S LIKE THE WILD WEST. THANKS AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. WE MOVE INTO ITEM C. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW? ANY COMMENTS? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT? I HAVE A MOTION. TO HAVE A SECOND? [1. Department Updates] SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR , AYE. THE MOTION PASSES. ALL RIGHT. MOVING INTO ITEM D. OTHER BUSINESS. WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM LISA, OUR PARKS DIRECTOR. >> HELLO. HI. GOOD EVENING. CHAIR, BOARD COMMISSIONERS, GLAD TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. ON MARCH THE 10TH. SHOUT OUT TO MY MOM IF SHE IS LISTENING. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. >> TO SHOW SOME BRIEF UPDATES FROM OUR DEPARTMENT AND BE HAPPY TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS AT THE END. ALL RIGHT. SO, OUR AGENDA TODAY WILL COVER OUR FOUR CORE OPERATIONS WHICH WILL BE GOLF, PARKS, RECREATION AND OUR COMMUNITY CENTER AS WELL AS OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. WE HAVE LISTED SEVERAL, NOT JUST A MORE EVIDENT ONES THAT ARE HAPPENING LIKE AT THE LEE TRACY BUT WE HAVE DECIDED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW MORE OF OUR INITIATIVES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN 2025. I THINK YOU WILL BE PLEASED TO SEE THOSE. GOLF OPERATIONS AT THIS TIME, THANKS, JOEL, FOR THE GRAPHIC. WELCOME THAT HIS BEEN WITH OUR GOLF COURSE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. DOUBLE DIGITS. SO, THAT IS GOING TO BE REPLACED. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT . JADEN S IS THE COMPANY WE WILL BE USING. THE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN ORDERED. THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN SIGNED. ONCE THE LINER IS IN, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT [00:05:01] INSTALLED. OBVIOUSLY, THAT CONNECTS WITH OUR DUCK POND AND ALSO THE WATER THAT GOES TO THE GOLF COURSE. WE ARE UPDATING AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE GOLF TOURNAMENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE JUST IN THE MONTH OF MARCH. THAT TELLS YOU THIS IS OUR MORE HIGH PEAK TIME. AS YOU CAN SEE, WEEKEND AFTER WEEKEND, THINGS ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. ROLANDO IS NOT WITH US TODAY BECAUSE HE IS AT THE MONARCH GOLF ASSOCIATION THIS WEEK. OUR PARKS MAINTENANCE TEAM, AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE ATTENDED FEBRUARY 24TH THROUGH THE 28TH. WE HAD A WEEKLONG CONFERENCE IN ALLEN, TEXAS. THAT WAS BACK IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS AND I GOT TO SEE A LOT OF COLLEAGUES THERE AND THE BEST PART ABOUT NOT ONLY THE CONFERENCE IN ITSELF IS JUST TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OUR COLLEAGUES STARTING OFF WITH THE MOST FUN EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE THERE AND THAT IS THE MAINTENANCE RODEO. I HAVE KIM HERE TODAY WHO IS OUR PARKS SUPERVISOR AND STEVES KNOWS THIS, I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL OUR TEAM IS READY TO COMPETE. SO, I SAID THIS WILL BE THE ONLY YEAR WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO A BACKHOE, IRRIGATION, PLANT I.D., TRUCK AND TRAILER, THEY ARE SO FUN TO WATCH. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE TRAPS AT THE WEBSITE. THE MAINTENANCE RODEO IS A HOOT. IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN BE DOING WITH A BACKPACK BLOWING A TENNIS BALL. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT. I CAN'T WAIT TO PUT OUR TEAMS NAMES TO THOSE SPOTS BECAUSE I REALLY THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO WIN. CITY OF VICTORIA, HERE WE COME. WE HAD TO TAKE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FOR THE WINNING CATEGORY BUT STEVE TOOK IT HOME FOR US. ] ARE INSIDE JOKE IN OUR DEPARTMENT IS WHATEVER STEVE TOUCHES, HE WINS. IT'S THE ODDEST THING. HE HAS THAT GOOD LUCK ENERGY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. I WOULD GIVE YOU A RUNDOWN OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY. SO, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW MY STAFF, THEY DON'T WANT TO HANG OUT WITH THE BOSS, RIGHT? I'M DOING MY THING AND I GET A TEXT AND IT'S PROBABLY AROUND NOON AND I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO PLAY THIS WORK PLAYGROUND MOVEMENT. IT'S WHERE YOU HIT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT -- IT'S ALMOST LIKE A DRUM AND YOU GO AS FAST AS YOU CAN. HE CAN'S EXPLAIN MORE. HE'S TOLD ME ABOUT IT BEFORE. HE'S DONE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL. 12:00, HE'S IN THIRD PLACE. I'M LIKE OKAY. GREAT JOB. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S GOOD, YOU KNOW? AND, SURE ENOUGH, HOURS LATER, HERE YOU GO. I KNOW IT IS HARD TO SEE. WELCOME TO OUR CHAMPIONS. STEVE GALLAGHER. >> BECAUSE HE IS SUPER COMPETITIVE AND AS YOU CAN SEE THE CITY OF VICTORIA'S NAME IS ON THE MAP NOW. IT MAY NOT MEAN MUCH BUT WHEN YOU KEEP SEEING, LIKE, THE ALANSON ALL THESE OTHER ONES. WE'VE GOT VICTORIA IN THERE. IT'S A BIG DEAL. I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION ONE BIG HIGHLIGHT FROM THE CONFERENCE AND IT TELLS YOU HOW FAR THE REACH IS GOING, EVEN WHEN WE DO NOT INTENTIONALLY MEAN FOR IT TO HAPPEN JUST THE WORD SPREADS AND IT'S GOOD NEWS. WE SAW SEGMENT IN ONE OF THE SESSIONS THAT MENTIONED OUR VICTORIOUS SALES-TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THEIR ACTUAL SET UP WAS SHARED WITH A WHOLE CLASSROOM FULL OF OUR COLLEAGUES. OUR NAME WAS IN THERE AND IT TALKED ABOUT OUR PROGRAM AND HOW IT WORKS . SO, WE WERE VERY, VERY PROUD AND WE SHARE THAT WITH DANIEL WILLIAMS. WE WANTED TO SAY THAT VICTORIA IS MAKING ITS WAY. IT'S MAKING ITS WAY AND IT ALREADY IS MAKING AN IMPACT. ALL RIGHT. YOU WON'T SEE ELIJAH HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE HE IS AT THE ADULT LEAGUES. SOFTBALL LEAGUES HAVE STARTED TONIGHT. WEDNESDAY KICKS OFF KICKBALL. AWESOME. WE ALSO HAVE SENIOR BINGO . FREE EVENT. JUST A PLUG TO THE PUBLIC. PLEASE COME OUT. THERE IS A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE SHARED AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. NOT JUST FOR SENIORS BUT IT ALSO REALLY HELPS YOU CONNECT AND SOCIALIZE WITH OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE, COME JOIN US. COME CHECK IT OUT. THERE ARE PRIZES THERE. AND, OF COURSE, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ABOUT OUR WINTER GAMES. WE HAD OUR SECOND ROUND AND I WILL ALSO LET YOU PLUG A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WINTER GAMES AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED FOR THE FUTURE. IT'S LIKE ARE WE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN? OR WERE NOT GOING TO DO IT AGAIN? I WILL LEAVE THAT TO MY TEAM. THEY CAN BRAG. SO, WINTER GAMES. 51 SOFTBALL TEAMS. THAT'S OVER 600 PLAYERS. FLAG FOOTBALL. GOT TO SEE THAT FOR MYSELF. IT'S AS INTENSE AS YOU WOULD IMAGINE IT TO BE. LADIES AND MEN, THEY'RE REALLY HAVING A GREAT TIME ON OUR BEAUTIFUL SOCCER FIELD. WE HAD 16 GOLFERS AT OUR EVENT AT THE GOLF COURSE AND OUR NEW EVENT, E-SPORTS WHICH IS TRENDING QUITE RAPIDLY, THERE WAS A SERIES OF EVENTS [00:10:04] THAT HAPPENED WITH THE COORDINATOR AT THE TIME. SOMEHOW THINGS THAT HAPPENED BUT WE WERE JUST SO PLEASED. WE DID NOT CARE IF IT WAS ONE. WE GOT THEM OUT THERE. THE SETUP WAS AMAZING. ELIJAH ACTUALLY HELD TO FACILITATE THAT EVENT. THERE WERE BIG SCREENS EVERYWHERE AT THE UH B CAMPUS AND IT REALLY , IT'S REACH WAS AMAZING. A VERY COMPETITIVE. I THINK THEY PLAYED SMASH BROTHERS AND SOME OTHER GAMES. I'M NOT INTO VIDEO GAMES BUT I WANTED TO AFTER I SAW THAT. I MEAN, IT WAS SUPER COMPETITIVE. THEY HAVE ALIASES. THEIR NAMES ARE DIFFERENT. IT'S REALLY COOL. THANK YOU TO YOU HV FOR YOUR EXTENDED PARTNERSHIP AND LETTING US USE YOUR FACILITIES. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HIS NAME I CAN'T REMEMBER RIGHT NOW. >> FOR RANDALL. >> HI, RANDALL. HE DID A WONDERFUL JOB DONATING THIS E-SPORTS. IT WAS A STARTER, GRASSROOTS THING AND WE WEREN'T SURE HOW IT WAS GOING TO GO AND SURE ENOUGH WE HAD 12 OF THE BEST PLAYERS HERE IN VICTORIA COME OUT AND SUPPORT US. SO, THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. COMMUNITY CENTER. THE LIVESTOCK SHOW WAS A SUCCESS. WE WERE GONE THE WHOLE WEEK. SO, KUDOS TO BARBARA AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER TEAM FOR REALLY TAKING ON SUCH A MASSIVE EVENT. IT WAS DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS IN YEARS PAST. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ALL GOT TO CHECK IT OUT BUT THE CARNIVAL IN ITSELF BROUGHT IN TONS OF TRAFFIC AND WE KEPT UP WITH THE SPEED AND IT SAYS A LOT TOO. WE HAVE A SMALL TEAM OVER THERE. SIX MEMBERS. BARBARA WITHOUT THE SUPERVISOR THERE DID A WONDERFUL JOB AND WE THANK YOU TO GARY FOR JUST EXTENDING SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE TO US FOR SOMEONE THAT WAS NEW TO THE LIVESTOCK AND HOW THAT WORKS AND I READ ABOUT IT BUT TO ACTUALLY BE HELPING TO PLAN AND FACILITATE WITH OUR TEAM, GOOD JOB. HER TEAM HELD WITH LANDSCAPING OUT FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER. IT'S A WHOLE SHOW. IT'S A WHOLE TEAM EFFORT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE TEAM FOR THAT. WAY TO GO, LIVESTOCK. WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ON FEBRUARY THE FOURTH THE CITY COUNCIL HAS UPDATED OUR COMMUNITY CENTER FEES WE PROPOSED OUR MASTER FEE SCHEDULE UPDATES AND WE HAVE DONE SOME UPDATES. I PLACED THOSE -- THAT INFORMATION. IT'S ON THE FLYER HERE . OUR WEBSITE HAS BEEN UPDATED AS WELL. THE RENTAL INFORMATION ON THIS FLYER SIMPLY SHOWS THAT SOME OF THE INCREASES WENT FROM ABOUT $25 IN EACH CATEGORY. I'LL BE HAPPY TO WALK THROUGH THOSE SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BUT WE SURVEYED CITIES AROUND IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITY CENTERS AND WHAT THEY WERE CHARGING PRICES. WE WERE ON TARGET BUT IT HAD BEEN ALMOST SINCE 2018 SINCE WE UPDATED OUR FEES. THANK YOU TO COUNSEL FOR PUTTING US IN A POSITION TO NOT ONLY GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO MAKE OUR PRICES MORE COMPETITIVE AND APPEALING TO THE PUBLIC AS WE GROW AS A FACILITY. AND THE NEWS OF THE DAY. I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE HEARD. ALL RIGHT. THE COMMUNITY CENTER MASTER PLAN WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT. THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR. I'M JUST GOING TO READ A LITTLE BIT HERE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW BUT THE VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE ELECTION FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT. VICTORIA VOTERS WILL GET TO DECIDE ON A FUNDING MEASURE IN MAY THAT WILL HELP FINANCE THE RENOVATION OF THE VICTORIA COMMUNITY CENTER WITHOUT IMPACTING PROPERTY TAXES. THE VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL CALLED A SPECIAL ELECTION AT ITS FEBRUARY 4TH MEETING FOR THE CREATION OF A VEHICLE RENTAL TAX AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX TO HELP FUND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. WHAT I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, THAT ELECTION WILL BE HELD ON MAY THE THIRD. A PRESS RELEASE WENT OUT AND THE CITY HAS LAUNCHED A WEBPAGE. IT'S AN FAQ SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR ANYONE THAT HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM FOR ALLOWING US TO EXPOUND ON THE EFFORTS THAT THE CITY IS DOING. THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT WHAT DIRECTION WE ARE GOING, WHY WE ARE GOING AND WHAT WE'RE DOING. THEY PUBLISHED THE INFORMATION PAGE WITH THESE FAQS ABOUT THE VENUE TAXES BEING PROPOSED TO FUND THE EXPANSION AND THE RENOVATION OF THE CENTER AND THE PAGE CAN BE FOUND AT VICTORIA TX.GEO V /COMMUNITY CENTER. AGAIN, THAT'S W WW. VICTORIA TX.GEO V/COMMUNITY CENTER. THE COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT WILL IMPROVE THE VENUE'S CAPACITY TO HOST LIVESTOCK SHOWS, RODEOS, CONCERTS AND RECREATIONAL [00:15:01] ATHLETIC EVENTS AND LARGER CONVENTIONS AS WELL AS LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS CHURCH FESTIVALS, FUNDRAISERS, WEDDINGS AND KEENES ANY ERAS. ALL OF US WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE STAY INFORMED SO WE CAN SHARE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR OWN BACKYARD. >> HAVE A QUESTION. >> YES. >> I THOUGHT THERE WAS ALREADY A TAX IN PLACE. >> YES, SIR. >> IT'S A 2% INCREASE? >> THE VENUE TAX, IT'S WHAT I'M SPEAKING TO TONIGHT. THERE IS A VENUE TAX THAT IS HAPPENING THERE. THE FAQS WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER ALL OF THAT FOR YOU AS FAR AS A PERCENTAGE. I DON'T WANT TO MISQUOTE ANYTHING. >> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YES. THEY WILL INCREASE AT 2% AND THEN THE NEW TAX WILL BE A CAR RENTAL TAX. 5% ON SHORT-TERM CAR RENTALS. >> WOW. LET ME GO TO THE [2. Capital Improvements Updates] WEBSITE. >> THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. FOR THIS NEXT SECTION I WILL SHARE THE SCREEN WITH STEPHEN GALLAGHER OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. I APOLOGIZE. HE'S A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER BUT I THINK HE'S GOING TO TALK CLOSE TO THE MIC AND BE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> ALL RIGHT. >> ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONS. GETTING OVER THE RAGGEDY WHATEVER RAGWEED WE GOT DOWN HERE IN TEXAS THIS TIME OF YEAR. THE LAST TIME WE MET A BRIEF UPDATE OF SOME OF THE LARGER PROJECTS BUT IF YOU GO OVER TO TRACY, PARK, YOU WOULD'VE SEEN SINCE LAST COMMISSION MEETING WE HAD TWO TRUCKS WITH THE FACILITY THERE. THEY HAVE SINCE INSTALLED THAT PUT IN THE SEWER, WATER, ELECTRIC AND TODAY THEY WERE STARTING TO FORM UP THE SIDEWALK FROM THE PLAYGROUND TO THE SPLASH PAD AND THEN THE LITTLE SERVICE ACCESS DOOR. WE DO EXPECT TO HEAR WITHIN A WEEK OR SO TO BE ABLE TO START OPENING THAT UP AND WE WILL MAKE A PRESS RELEASE OF AN OFFICIAL OPENING BUT IT HAS COME ALONG BEAUTIFULLY, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT. A.B. ONE WEEK OF A WEATHER DELAY . WE HAD THAT EXTRA COLD BOUT IN FEBRUARY. THE BUILDING HAS BEEN GETTING A LOT OF GREAT REVIEWS FOR FACEBOOK EVEN WITH HOW IT'S BEING USED. PEOPLE ARE SEEING IT AND IT'S IN A PERFECT SPOT. I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE ELATED WITH HOW IT CAME OUT. WE ARE CONTINUING MEETINGS HERE ON THE PARK AND THE SPLASH PAD. I DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR UPDATES BUT JUST KNOWING IT'S ON THE RADAR YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SEE US MEET WITH COUNSEL AND GET DIRECTION ON WHICH WAY WE WILL GO WITH THAT ONE BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH THE PROPOSAL THAT WE GOT FROM THE VENDOR AND AS SOON AS WE CAN WRAP UP THOSE DETAILS WE WILL BRING IT TO YOU GUYS AND COUNSEL RIGHT AWAY. >> WHAT WHEN YOU THINK WE WILL SEE A CONCEPT DRAWING OF THAT? A PICTURE. >> THE FIRST THING IS TO GET THE SCOPE OF WORK FINALIZED AND WE ARE FINALIZING THOSE DETAILS. AND THEN PROBABLY STILL TWO TO FOUR MONTHS AWAY FROM THAT. ONCE THAT SCOPE TAKES PLACE WHERE THE GENTLEMAN CAN COME AND START ACTUALLY BEING MORE ON-SITE WORK AND STARTING TO GO THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES THEN WE ARE PROBABLY STILL TWO TO FOUR MONTHS AWAY FROM THAT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> AND THEN, FOR THE GRANT THAT WE HAVE FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE $95,000 THAT INCORPORATES PINE STREET BROWNSON PARK , WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH CITY ENGINEERS TO GET TOGETHER THE PROPOSAL ON THE STREET HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AND THAT WILL BE OPEN FOR BIDDERS TO GO TO THE PROGRAM AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS BRONSON PARK HAVING A NICE WALKING TRAIL THERE. ONE TO TWO SOLAR LIGHTS THERE AS WELL AS OVER AT MEADOW LANE. AND ANYTHING IT PINE STREET WE'VE GOT THREE SOLAR LIGHTS THERE. WE TALKED ABOUT ADDING A FEW MORE FOR SECURITY LIGHTING AS WELL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ENGINEERING MENTIONED TOO IS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT A SPECIALTY SOLAR LIGHT THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO INTEGRATE INTO OTHER CITY PROJECTS. THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT IS NONTRADITIONAL TO THE PARK BUT YOU WOULD STILL SEE IT ILLUMINATE JUST AS MUCH IS YOU ALREADY SEE SOME OF THE OTHER FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE. THEY WILL BE NEWER STANDARDS FOR 2025 STYLE SO THE LIGHTING , IF YOU GO OVER TO THE SOCCER COMPLEX YOU WILL SEE THAT ENGINEERING HELP THROUGH SOME STREET IMPROVEMENTS FOR PARKING FOR OFFSTREET PARKING ON THE NORTH, LEFT SIDE RIGHT OFF OF RED RIVER OVER TO 1501 AND THAT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO THE ORGANIZATION FOR PRACTICES IN THE LEAGUE TO HAVE THE HARDPACKED SURFACE AND NOT THE GRASS PARKING OVER THERE BUT IT'S MORE PERMANENT PARKING IN THAT CONDITION OVER THERE TO HELP PEOPLE STAY OFF OF RED [00:20:01] RIVER ITSELF. IT'S VERY NICE THAT THEY CAN FINISH THAT JUST IN TIME FOR THE SEASON. YOU GET A CHANCE TO GET OVER THERE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF RAVE REVIEWS FROM THE LEAGUE AND FACEBOOK AS WELL THOSE USERS OF THAT PARK OVER THERE. WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE PHASE OVER BY THE MAIN PARKING LOT WHETHER IT'S THE OLD COMMUNITY CENTER, YOU'LL SEE THEM REMOVING IN THE PROJECT. EARLY JUNE , JULY AND AUGUST TO LEVEL THAT AREA AND TRY TO DETERMINE THE BEST ROUTE FOR BETTER PARKING IN THAT AREA. IT WILL HELP THE GRAND SCHEME OF THE PARK FOR MANY EVENTS LET ALONE SOCCER AS YOU KNOW HOW WE HAVE DONE OTHER LARGE EVENTS WITH THE FOURTH OF JULY DOWN THERE. HAVING ANOTHER HUNDREDS OF PARKING SPACES OVER THERE IS GOING TO BE HUGE FOR THAT AREA OF THE PARK. THE FINAL THING, GO AHEAD, MR. BRIAN. >> IS GOING TO ASK, I MEAN, WE TALKED AND HAD GENTLEMEN COME IN AND COMMUNICATE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE LIGHTS IN THE SOCCER COMPLEX. HAS THERE BEEN ANY THOUGHT WITH PHASE TWO OF POTENTIALLY ADDING IN LIGHTS OR HAVING THE ABILITY TO AT SOME POINT PUT LIGHTS AND >> SO, WE DID GO BACK TO THE CITY ENGINEERS AND OUR FINANCE TEAM WITH OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TEAM MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE MONTHLY AND TALKED ABOUT THAT IS A BROAD IDEA BUT NOTHING IS BEEN PUT INTO ANY TYPE OF YEARS OR IMPLEMENTATION OF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. BUT, YES, EACH PHASE WHATEVER PHASE YOU WANT TO CALL THIS IF IT'S A NEW ONE ARE NEW TO PHASE WE'VE BEEN GOING ON THIS PROJECT SINCE 2019. COULD BE PHASE FOUR BY THIS TIME. YES. THESE PHASES AND THESE UPDATES AND OTHER FUTURE RENOVATIONS THERE ARE WELL RECEIVED FROM OUR CITIZENS THAT HAVE GOOD IDEAS LIKE THIS AS WELL AS WORKING WITH THE LEAGUE TO CONTINUE TO FIND THE BEST ROUTE FORWARD OF THAT COMPLEX. >> THANKS. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN THE FINAL THING IS THAT WE DID RECEIVE PROPOSALS FROM URBAN ENGINEERING. OUR GRANT WRITER MISS KATIE SHOULD BE BRINGING THAT TO COUNSEL PRETTY SOON HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. I WANT TO SAY IT'S ABOUT $110,000 CONCEPT AND DESIGN PACKAGE THAT WILL BE PUT TOGETHER AND THAT WILL IN THE NEXT TWO TO SIX MONTHS START TO SHOW WHAT DOES THE RENOVATIONS AT THE ORIGINAL ROSE GARDEN LOOK LIKE AS WELL AS OVER BY THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PUMPHOUSE WHERE WE WOULD PUT IN THE FUTURE KAYAK AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND ENTAIL WITH ANY TYPE OF STREET USAGE TO THE STAIRS OR ANYTHING WHERE SOMEBODY WOULD NEED TO BRING A KAYAK OUT OF THE RIVER AREA AND HOW THAT WOULD START TO LOOK. WE ARE GETTING MUCH CLOSER ON GETTING THAT GOING INTO THE DESIGN AND CONTRACTS. >> THE ESTIMATED CAUSES WOULD YOU SAY HUNDRED AND 10,000? >> THERE'S FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE SCOPED OUT TO INCLUDE CORE OF ENGINEERING AND OTHER WATER RESOURCES, A NOTE , ACTIVITIES WITH THAT BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE WRAPPED APPEARING COUNSEL PRETTY SOON TOO. WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THAT PROJECT BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN A HUGE PASSION PLAN IMPROVEMENT OF OUR WATERWAY AND RECREATIONAL USES HERE IN TOWN. ONCE THOSE DESIGNS COME OUT, THEY WILL HELP LEAD THE WAY OF WHAT'S THE NEXT CONVERSATION PIECE AND THAT FOR ANY GRANTS OR NEEDS OR FUNDING SOURCES AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THAT. SO, THOSE OF THE FIVE BIG ONES THAT WE WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON TODAY. >> PARDON ME. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER, I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY, IT'S BEEN BUDGET TIME FOR ME. I DON'T WANT TO MIX UP NUMBERS BUT I'M GOING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THAT JUST SO WE'RE ALL CLEAR. SO, BACK TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND TO BE CLEAR, WHAT EXACTLY IS ON THE BALLOT FOR ANYONE THAT IS LISTENING AS WELL THE PROPOSED VENUE TAX WILL BE PAID EXCLUSIVELY BY VISITORS STAYING IN VICTORIA HOTEL ROOMS AND ANYONE RENTING A CAR. THE VENUE TAX WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING. A 2% HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX ON OVERNIGHT HOTEL ROOM STAYS IN ADDITION TO THE CITY'S EXISTING 7% HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND THE SIX STATE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. ALSO, A 5% SHORT-TERM MOTOR VEHICLE TAX ON DAILY CAR RENTAL COSTS. NEITHER OF THESE ELEMENTS WILL IMPACT RESIDENCE PROPERTY TAXES. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. SO, I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY AT THIS TIME. >> WELL, I KNOW LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THE PARK ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS COMING IN AND I DID NOT SEE IT LISTED ON YOUR CAPITAL -- IS THAT GOING TO BE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD? >> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MISS [00:25:01] NICHOLS. ONE OF THE THINGS WITH SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO REITERATE INFORMATION IF WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION RIGHT NOW. SO, THE LAST STEP WAS AS IT WAS. THERE WAS A $360,000 GRANT THAT WE APPLIED FOR AND THE CITY WAS VOTED THAT COUNSEL SAID WE WOULD PAY FOR 60,000 OF THAT SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WAITING RIGHT NOW. WE'RE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS OUT BEFORE THEY MAKE THAT DECISION AS THEY GO THROUGH EVERYBODY'S APPLICATIONS. >>. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I HAD A COUPLE OF FOLLOW-UPS ON THINGS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST LIKE LIGHTS ON THE SOCCER FIELD. HAPPEN TO BRING UP THE SOCCER FIELD. I'LL THROW THAT IN THERE. I MIGHT'VE BEEN SIX MONTHS AGO, Y'ALL HAD TALKED ABOUT A REVAMPED PORTAL FOR RENTALS. A ONE STOP SHOP FOR EVERYTHING ACROSS VICTORIA FOR PARK RENTALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THAT. >> INTERNALLY, WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD SOME MOCK EXCEPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP. IT'S CALLED THE SPECIAL MEN'S REVIEW COMMITTEE AND IT'S FOR ALL EVENT HOSTS THAT ARE LOOKING TO COME INTO OUR CITY AND SHARE THEIR EVENT WITH US. WE HELP WALK THEM THROUGH THE LOGISTICS THAT COME AS A PART OF HOSTING AN EVENT WHETHER THAT IS POLICE, FIRE, FIRE MARSHAL AND WE'VE EXPLAINED TO THEM, THESE ARE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE A THRESHOLD OF 500 OR MORE. WE HAVE USED SOME PILOT TESTING WITH A FEW ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY AND THEY HAVE RESPONDED QUITE WELL. IT'S AT THIS POINT WITH OUR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AS WELL AS OUR INTERNAL CONSTITUENTS TO FIGURE OUT WHEN WE HAD THE GREEN LIGHT. LAUGHTER ] BUT IT HAS GONE QUITE WELL. IT REALLY HAS. I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPEDITE A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT GO VIA EMAIL THAT ARE SO QUICKLY ANSWERED BECAUSE REPRESENTATION IS IN THE ROOM. WE HAVE BEEN USING OUR PARKS OFFICE AS THE SET LOCATION WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE WE CAN ALSO HIGHLIGHT OUR BEAUTIFUL RIVERSIDE PARK IN THE MEANWHILE AS OUR GUESTS COME INTO OUR AREA. >> GOT YOU. THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE WELCOME. >> IS THAT GOING TO BE -- SO, THAT'S FOR THE LARGER VENUES, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS THE FESTIVAL THAT WE DID THIS YEAR? TEXAS FEST. >> WE ALSO HAVE CHICK-FIL-A RACE. THAT MAY BE ONE. MEMORIAL DAY ASHWELL WILL BE ANOTHER ONE THAT WE WOULD HAVE. RIVERSIDE . >> WE MET THE END OF THE MONTH WITH THE BARBECUE IN THE PARK FOR THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. ANYTHING BETWEEN MAIN STREET AND THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT OR RIVERSIDE PARK. EVEN ETHEL AND TRACY WE MET WITH A GENTLEMAN WANTING TO DO A CAR SHOW THERE IN APRIL. ALTHOUGH SMALL TYPES OF EVENTS WILL HELP GET STREAMLINED INFORMATION TO HELP BETTER SERVICE THE CUSTOMER. >> GOT YOU. YOU BROUGHT UP ETHEL AND TRACY. THE PAVILION THERE IS RENTABLE BUT EVENTS HAVE TO BE DONE BY 8:00 AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY TO THE ELDERLY HOME, THAT SORT OF THING. >> NOT TOO FAMILIAR. WE'VE GONE UNTIL 10:00 OVER THERE BEFORE. >> OKAY. >> YEAH. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT TYPE OF RESTRICTION. NOT IN OUR DEPARTMENT TODAY. NO, SIR. BUT THEY'RE WELCOME TO REACH OUT TO US SHOULD THERE BE ANY QUESTION SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THE RENTAL GOES SMOOTHLY. THERE'S NO RESTRICTIONS ON THAT TIMEFRAME. >> IT'S GOOD UNTIL 10:00 P.M. >> PARKS OPEN UNTIL 11:00. IF SOMEONE'S DOING LARGE EVENTS LIKE THE CITY ALREADY HAS AN OUTDOOR ORDINANCE WITH 90 DECIBELS OR WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE. WITHIN THAT SENSE OF SOUND AND BUFFER OUT THERE I DON'T KNOW OF ANY RESTRICTIONS THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD. DO YOU KNOW OF ANY? NOTHING OVER HERE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> AWESOME. THANK YOU. >> NO PROBLEM. >> WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE VACANCIES? HAVE THEY BEEN FILLED? WASN'T THE SPORTS TOURISM DIRECTOR, YOU COMBINE SOME, AS I RECALL AND ARE THEY ON TRACK? >> YES. THEY ARE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT, AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES , NINA. UPON HER ARRIVAL, WE HAVE ACTUALLY LOOKED OVER OUR RECRUITMENT SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. SO, FOR ABOUT TWO TO THREE WEEKS THERE BETWEEN THE FIRST ROUND OF INTERVIEWS THAT WE DID WHERE STEVE AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN MY TEAM FILTERING THROUGH APPLICANTS WE WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH NINA TO FIGURE OUT A MORE EFFICIENT WAY OF ATTRACTING THESE QUALITY CANDIDATES. WE WENT THROUGH A COMPLETE REVAMP OF THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS, HOW THE CANDIDATES ARE SCORED, AND HOW WE INTERVIEW , HOW THOSE ROUNDS ARE SET UP. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE ARE ALMOST TO THE ST TYING THAT BOW [00:30:03] BUT WE JUST RECENTLY EXTENDED SOME OFFERS IN THE CATEGORIES OF RECREATION COORDINATOR . A MAINTENANCE WORKER THREE AND WE JUST INTERVIEWED, WE HAVE THREE MORE INTERVIEWS THIS WEEK FOR OUR COMMUNITY CENTER AND SPORT TOURISM. WE ARE WINDING DOWN. I EXPECT VERY SOON IN MARCH THAT WE WILL BE GOOD TO GO. I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT PROCESS HAS HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF OUR INTERNAL PRACTICES THAT MAY BE NEEDED SOME UPDATING BUT AT THE SAME TIME, BRINGING THE RIGHT TOWN AND PERSONNEL TO OUR DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. SO, YOU WILL SEE SOME NEW FACES SOON. >> THAT'S EXCITING. >> IT IS EXCITING. IT IS. I WILL ADD FROM A MANAGEMENT TEAM, WHEN WE MEET EVERY WEEK, EVEN THOUGH DEMANDS ON OUR TEAM HAVE BEEN INTENSE AT MOMENTS IN TIME JUST BECAUSE OF HOW OPERATIONS ARE, IT ACTUALLY HAS HELPED US, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, GROWS CLOSER TO SEE WHERE THE PERFORMANCE GAPS ARE. WHEN YOU HAVE THE AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND THEY ARE WEARING MULTIPLE HATS YOU HEAR MORE OF WHAT COULD BE BETTER AND THOSE ARE TO OUR ADVANTAGE. WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE WRITTEN THOSE DOWN. NEXT WE WILL BE WELL PREPARED FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS FILLING THOSE ROLES AND WE CAN LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE EXPERIENCED. SO, TAKE IT AS YOU WISH. POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. I COMMEND MY TEAM FOR THE HARD WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE ONE COMMENT. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. OH. THAT'S MY MICROSOFT. I WILL TURN THIS OFF. >> SO, THE INDIVIDUAL THAT SPOKE , I MEAN, IT'S FAIRLY ROUTINE HE COMES UP HERE AND ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE? I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. >> I WILL COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT BACKUP. THERE ARE SEVERAL LAYERS TO THE QUEEN CITY SCENARIO THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A LONG-STANDING CONVERSATION OVER THE LAST YEARS BEFORE I BECAME A PART OF THE TEAM. MORE RECENTLY, THERE WAS AN INQUIRY FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM YOUNG WHO HAD ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE CRIME STATISTICS IN QUEEN CITY PARK. THAT IS ONE COMPONENT OF SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT WE ARE DOING IN THAT REPORT WILL BE GOING TO COUNSEL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. KEISHA SMITH AND I ARE WORKING ON THAT. THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER. THE OTHER COMPONENT IS WHAT HE IS MENTIONING ABOUT THAT THERE ARE AT TIMES BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITY WE HAVE IN THAT AREA AND THOSE PERSONS NOT USING THE PARK FOR WHAT IS IT INTENDED TO WHERE WE HAD THE SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS A PARK BENCH THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ON FIRE. WE ALSO HAD AN INCIDENT BEFORE WHERE THERE WAS A YOUNG KIDDO WHO ACTUALLY DROVE INTO OUR SIGNAGE POST AT QUEEN CITY. SOME OF THOSE WHERE MAY NOT HIGHLIGHTED OUR TEAMS TOOK THE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE. THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. IT'S THE NATURE OF OUR PARK INDUSTRY AND WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE MATTERS. WHAT I CAN SAY IS -- >> I'M NOT CLEAR WHAT THAT MEANS. TAKE CARE OF THOSE MATTERS. >> THAT MEANS WE ACTUALLY REPAIRED THOUGH SIGNAGE THAT WERE BROKEN. AND, SO, TO FURTHER CLARIFY, IT IS ALL -- AND NOT TO SIMPLIFY, ALL IN A DAYS WORK. OUR PARKS ALL HAVE ITS OWN ATTENTION. QUEEN CITY IS ALSO ON OUR WEEK. WE TREAT OUR PARKS AS BEST AS WE CAN WHERE ONE PROBLEM MAY SEEM IN A CERTAIN FASHION AT QUEEN CITY, IT'S THE SAME THAT CAN HAPPEN AT ART PARK OR THE LEE TRACY PARK. WHEN OUR RESIDENTS, AND THEY SHARE ABOUT THESE INCIDENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING, WE APPRECIATE IT AND WE TAKE NOTE OF THAT AND WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE IT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. WHEN THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, I GET THE CALL RIGHT AWAY. OUR TEAM WAKES UP AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING. THEY'RE DOING THE ROUNDS. WE ARE STOPPING THESE INCIDENTS EARLY FROM HAPPENING. THEY REPORT IT. THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO AT THIS POINT. YEAH. WE'VE TRIED ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLANS THERE. >> REMEMBER THEY DID A SURVEY WITH THE RESIDENCES AND THEY DID THE UPDATED QUEEN CITY PARK AND TRYING TO UPDATE THINGS. IT STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS. OBVIOUSLY. I DRIVE THROUGH ONCE IN A WHILE . >> THERE WAS A COMMISSION THAT [00:35:03] WAS FORMED AND YOU ARE ON IT, I BELIEVE, SOMEBODY WAS ON IT FROM THE COMMISSION WITH THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS. CHRIST KITCHEN, THE CITY, >> OH. THANK YOU. >> I'VE GONE TO A NUMBER. >> IS THERE ANY PROGRESS ON THAT? IS ANYTHING COMING OF THAT? >> SINCE TRISH LEFT CHRIST KITCHEN, I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY MORE MEETINGS. I WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT. ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THAT AS MICHAEL SAID, WE SHOULD DRIVE THE UNDESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PROBLEM IS WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? >> THOUGH JUST GO TO ANOTHER PARK. >> SHUFFLED THEM AROUND. YEAH. >> SHUFFLED THEM AROUND. I KNOW I'VE BUGGED THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE SEVERAL TIMES ON INSPECTING SOME OF THE PROPERTIES THERE THAT ARE PROBABLY NOT TRULY SUITABLE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN BUT THEY HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THEM. AND, PART OF THE PROBLEM THERE IS BECAUSE THEIR RENTAL PROPERTIES, IT IS HARDER FOR THE CITY TO TAKE ANY ACTION. RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IF YOU OWN ONE OF THOSE HOUSES AND YOU'RE LIVING IN IT, THEN THERE IS MORE THAT THE CITY CAN DO. BUT IF YOU LIVE IN AUSTIN AND YOU ARE RENTING THAT PROPERTY , IT'S A LOT HARDER FOR THE CITY TO TAKE ACTION. >> SO, IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE PARK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOME OF THE HOUSING. >> RIGHT. PERSONAL FEELING IS IS IT IS MORE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I HATE TO SAY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THAT SAYS EVERYBODY THAT LIVES THERE IS THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE RUINING THE IMAGE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE ASKED STAFF TO DO IS CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE THEM COME AND GIVE US AN UPDATE ON PARK SECURITY AND INCIDENCES ACROSS THE PARKS . WE HAD AN UPDATE LAST YEAR. THEY'RE GOING TO SCHEDULE THAT IN. WE WILL SEE FROM A PARKS PERSPECTIVE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS, WHAT THAT REALLY LOOKS LIKE AND ALSO, LISA, THANK YOU FOR VERY ELOQUENTLY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM AND ALSO FOR REMINDING ALL OF US THAT IN YOUR BUDGET AND IN YOUR TEAM THAT REGULAR MAINTENANCE FOR VANDALISM IS A PART OF WHAT YOU DO. REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT HAPPENS OR WHAT PARK BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED BUT THEY DO, AS WE ALL LIVE IN A WORLD THAT THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. IT'S PART OF YOUR TASK AND YOUR BUDGET. SO. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. >> ONE DAY WE WILL HAVE A PARK LIAISON OFFICER. ONE DAY. >> THAT WOULD BE NICE. >> A REAL RANGER. APPRECIATED. WE ARE DOING A LOT OF GOOD THINGS. JUST GLAD THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BOARD THAT WE CAN SHARE. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. GOOD BAD OR INDIFFERENT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE CITY BETTER. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE DID IN 2024 FOR OUR ANNUAL REPORT. JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH EACH OF YOU ON MARCH THE 18TH. WE WILL BE IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL. I WILL BE PRESENTING ACROSS THE BOARD ALL OF OUR DIVISIONS AND THE IMPACT THAT WE MADE IN 2024. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT I HIGHLIGHT I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO EMAIL ME AND SEND THAT INFORMATION OUR WAY. I THINK I'VE CAPTURED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING BUT IT NEVER HURTS. SO. >> AND THAT'S AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 6:00 P.M.? >> 5:00. >> MARCH 18TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING. >> CORRECT. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? >> ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO ANY [E. Items from Commissioners:] ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD? YES, SIR. >> HAVE A VERY MINOR THING. IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE PARKS OR THE CITY COULD PUT A DEAD END SIGN AT THE CORNER OF INDEPENDENCE AND WHATEVER THAT BACKSTREET IS. BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR, I KNOW THERE IS ONE AT VINE AND INDEPENDENCE. WHAT HAPPENS, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS GETTING GOOD, SCHOOL BUSES ARE GOING TO PULL IN TRYING TO GET AT [00:40:01] RIVERSIDE PARK AND THEN THEY HAVE TO BACKUP WHICH IS A NUISANCE FOR SCHOOL BUSES. THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER CARS THAT DO THE SAME THING AND, YES, THERE IS A SIGN AT VINE AND INDEPENDENCE THAT IS VERY WELL IGNORED. BUT IF WE HAD ASSIGNED BACK THERE THAT SAID RIVERSIDE PARK WITH AN ARROW, RIGHT? AND A DEAD END SIGN THAT WOULD SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN BACK UP. >> THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT IN THE MASTER PLAN AND THE PARK SIGNAGE ABOUT ON MAIN RIGHT THERE BECAUSE IF YOU'RE COMING NORTH ON MAIN THERE IS NOT REALLY ASSIGNED TO GO INTO RIVERSIDE. THERE WERE SOME TALK ABOUT BASICALLY WHAT HE IS SAYING ON SIGNAGE OUTSIDE OF RIVERSIDE PARK. >> I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT THIS TIME. >> THE OVERALL MASTER PLAN FOR THE PARK SYSTEM SIGNAGE NEEDS TO BE PRESENTED TO COUNSEL. IF THERE'S WAYFINDING SIGNS WE CAN CHECK WITH THE CONVENTION BUREAU IF THEY HAVE THEIR OWN UPDATE FOR THE OTHER TOURISM AND DISCOVER TEXAS OR DISCOVER VICTORIA FOR NEW LOCALS AND STUFF, WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO WITH THOSE WAYFINDING SIGNS. ONCE WE PRESENT, COUNSEL WILL BRING THAT WAYFINDING SIGN AND REGULAR PARK SIGNAGE MASTER PLAN TO THE COMMISSION HERE. >> WITH HALF. >> AND WITH REGARDS TO COMMISSIONER FISK'S REQUEST YOU MIGHT PUT NO PARK ENTRANCE. PEOPLE READ DEAD END BUT IF YOU PUT NO PARK ENTRANCE. >> YEAH. THAT'S THE DELIVERY ENTRANCE TO THE WATER PLANT. >> RIGHT. THEY MISS THE END OF THE STREET INTO THE PARKING LOT RIGHT THERE BY THE DREAM COMPLEX AND THAT'S WHERE THEY GOT THE BACKUP AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET BACK AROUND. >> YES. YES. >> I HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT. SOMEBODY SAID PARK RANGER. I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING, WHAT? $35 MILLION? FOR AN UPDATE HERE, RIGHT? YOU CAN GET $100,000 A YEAR FOR A PARK RANGER? I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN APPROACH CITY COUNCIL. ABOUT THAT. I MEAN, IT CERTAINLY WOULD NOT HURT. >> IS THERE A NEED FOR ONE? I HAVEN'T BEEN IN ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT A PARK RANGER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. WHAT IS THAT -- LIKE, A SECURITY PERSON FOR THE PARK? >> CAN I SPEAK TO THAT? >> YES, YOU CAN. >> WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT A PARK RANGER MAYBE TWO, THREE YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE FIRST TAKING ON THE MASTER PLAN AND THE IDEA WAS IF THERE COULD BE SOMEONE THAT WAS ON-SITE, PRETTY MUCH AT RIVERSIDE TO DO DRIVE-BYS, TO HELP TO BE THE GUIDE AND ALSO THE PARK RANGER WOULD HOST DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES WHETHER IT BE FISHING OR DUCK EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO DO ALL OF THAT IT ALSO THEY WOULD HELP OUT WITH RV PARKS. SOMEONE LOCAL, SOMEONE AVAILABLE ON THE WHOLE THING. THEN WE WERE VERY QUICKLY TOLD IT DID NOT FIT INTO THE BUDGET AND IT WASN'T A BUDGET ITEM. WITH THAT SAID, WE STILL HAVE HOPE. WE STILL THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA. TALKING OUT LOUD, THE JOB DESCRIPTION, OF COURSE I JUST SPOKE ABOUT BUT IT WOULD BE THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT OF IT AS WELL AS VISITOR LIAISON KIND OF THING. I'VE GOT TO WONDER IF THE GRANT COORDINATOR, IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY FOR GRANTS FROM TW PD OR ANYWHERE ELSE. ANY KIND OF AN EDUCATIONAL OPPONENT -- COMPONENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT COULD HELP WITH THAT. ALSO HELP WITH THE DEER HUNTING THAT WE HAVE. JUST DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. I THINK THERE COULD BE A NEED . WE NEED A JOB DESCRIPTION AND ALL THAT. >> SO, MISS, WHEN YOU SPEAK -- WHEN YOU UPDATE YOUR CITY COUNCIL UPDATE, IS THAT -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE SUBMITTING SOMETHING TO THEM. JUST A BULLET ITEM? PARK RANGER? HEY, GUYS, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS. >> KNOW. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO MY ATTENTION. I WASN'T AWARE OF THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF IT BUT I'M CERTAIN THAT IN OUR CONVERSATIONS AS WE GO THROUGH BUDGET CONVERSATIONS IT'S GOING TO COME UP AS REQUESTS. >> CAN WE SELL THE SEAT AND START THROWING IT OUT THERE? >> A PUT A PLUG IN THERE. I WOULD BE GLAD TO. I WILL LOOK BACK OVER SOME PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS JUST SO I CAN [00:45:02] GET SOME CONTEXT BUT IT NEVER HURTS TO BRING IT UP. >> WHEN SOMEONE RUNS THE COMMUNITY CENTER THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THEIR OWN SECURITY? >> IF YOU HAVE ALCOHOL, YES, THAT WOULD BE AND HOW MANY ATTENDEES ARE FACTOR. YES, SIR. YES. >> SOMETHING TO LOOK AT FROM AN OUTSIDE THE BOX KIND OF PERSPECTIVE IS, AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES IN THE NATIONAL PARKS YOU WILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE VOLUNTEER PARK HOSTS , IS YOU HAVE A LARGE CONTINGENT OF RETIREES THAT RETIRE IN TEXAS AND ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH TEXAS BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER DOWN HERE, MAYBE THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE A VOLUNTEER PARK COAST TYPE PERSON SINCE WE HAVE THE RV PARK IN THE PARK. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE IS A TRADE-OFF OF, HEY, YOU GET A FREE RV SPOT TO STAY OUT IN THE PARK AND, IN TURN, YOU ARE A PARK HOST FOR THE PARK FOR SIX MONTHS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I COULD SEE THERE IS A LOT OF RETIRED PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO HERE TO THIS MIGHT GIVE THEM SOMETHING AND IT DOESN'T EAT INTO YOUR BUDGET TO HAVE TO HIRE A STAFF. >> ALL OF THE RV PARKS, AND I'VE BEEN TO MANY, THEY ALL HAVE A PARK HOST AND THEY GET THE SITE FREE. THE SITE FREE AND THEN THEY DO REGULAR CHORES AROUND -- >> I'M THINKING MORE ALONG THE LINES OF SOMEBODY THAT IS PERHAPS A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL. >> BACK IN THE '70S, THEY DID HAVE A PARK RANGER THAT, I MEAN, IF YOU ARE THERE AFTER 11:00, HE WROTE YOU UP WEIRD IF YOU WERE DOING 27 MILES AN HOUR THROUGH THE PARK, HE PULLED YOU OVER AND GIVE YOU A TICKET. SO, I MEAN, THEY NEED TO HAVE A LICENSED PARK RANGER TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT. >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RESEARCH. >> JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE. >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RESEARCH BOTH COMPONENTS, BOTH PERSPECTIVES. YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >> YET. >> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? >> CHAIR, IF I MAY ADD, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE TOPICS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION. I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THEM NOTATED CORRECTLY. I KNOW RESTAURANT PRACTICES WAS ONE OF THEM. WE WANTED TO SEE THE UPDATES THERE. WE ALSO MENTIONED THE CRIME STATISTICS ACROSS THE PARKS. I WILL ADD TO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PARK RANGER ONCE I GET UPDATES. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADD AND THE BENEFITS THERE. AM I MISSING ANY OTHERS? >> EXCUSE ME. THE YMCA SWIM HOURS. >> YMCA SWIM. YET. >> OH AND FOOD TRUCKS. >> FOOD TRUCKS. >> I DID TALK TO OLIVER. HE'S HAPPY TO COME BACK AND GIVE THE PRESENTATION ON THE Y IN THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE POOL AND ALL THAT. >> GREAT TIMING. >> AND THE SIGNAGE. REMEMBER YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SIGNAGE. >> THAT'S A LITTLE THING. >> WE'VE GOT YOU. >> SHE CAN WHIP THAT UP IN THIS OFFICE AND KNOWN TIME. >> RIGHT AFTER YOU TAKE DOWN THE TREES BY THE FENCE. >> >> GOT IT. THANK YOU. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE MY NOTES * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.