[5. ITEMS NOT REQUIRING ACTION]
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CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE IF THAT REQUEST COMES IN.SO ANY WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION THAT RELATES TO THE PARKS BOARD, UH, IN ESSENCE OR OR TO CITY BUSINESS, UH, COULD BE SUBJECT TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.
UH, IN WHAT FORM IS IT FOUND? AS I MENTIONED, IT COULD BE A TEXT MESSAGE, IT COULD BE A VOICE RECORDING, IT COULD BE A VIDEO.
UM, THERE'S NOT REALLY A LIMIT AS TO WHAT IS INCLUDED IN PUBLIC INFORMATION.
IT IS ANY RECORD, UH, THAT RELATES TO CITY BUSINESS.
SO DO BE, UH, DO CONSIDER THAT, UH, AND BE AWARE OF THAT WHEN YOU PREPARE, UH, DOCUMENTS.
THE PROCEDURE TO ACCESS PUBLIC INFORMATION IS SET FORTH BY STATE LAW.
IT'S REALLY ONLY THAT A PERSON REQUESTED IN WRITING.
THEREFORE, A PERSON COULD COME, THEY COULD WATCH YOU ON, UH, PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND HAND YOU A NOTE FOR THE PARKS MASTER PLAN THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO CONSTITUTE A REQUEST FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION.
SO IF YOU EVER RECEIVE A REQUEST, A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE SO THAT THEY KNOW, UH, THAT THAT REQUEST HAS COME IN.
THEY WILL PROCESS THAT REQUEST.
UM, DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO GATHER THE INFORMATION.
YOU DON'T, BUT DO SUBMIT THAT REQUEST TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
UH, AND AGAIN, ALL REQUESTS HAVE TO BE TREATED.
I DON'T THINK I MENTIONED THIS, BUT ALL REQUESTS DO HAVE TO BE TREATED THE SAME.
UNDER STATE LAW, THERE ARE CERTAIN PROVISIONS UNDER WHICH THE LEGAL DIVISION SUBMITS BRIEFS TO THE AGS OFFICE TO TRY TO WITHHOLD INFORMATION, BUT IT'S IN VERY LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS ON WHAT DEVICE, UH, WOULD, CAN ONE FIND PUBLIC INFORMATION? IT'S REALLY ANY DEVICE.
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SO YOUR PRIVATE CELL PHONE, AGAIN, THAT YOU'RE USING TO SEND THAT TEXT MESSAGE, DOESN'T EXCLUDE THAT TEXT MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.AND AGAIN, THERE'S A LIST OF RESOURCES HERE.
AS I MENTIONED, THE AG, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE DOES PROVIDE A GREAT HANDBOOK AND RESOURCE WITH INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ACT.
THE NEXT ITEM WE WILL DISCUSS BRIEFLY IS JUST PARKS BOARD DUTIES.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT'S, THIS IS SET FORTH IN, UH, THE CITY'S CODE.
UH, YOUR DUTIES ARE TO SOLICIT FUNDS, GIFTS, AND BEQUESTS RELATED TO PARKS, ACQUISITIONS, MAKE ADVISORY RECOMMENDATIONS ON PARKS, UH, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON PARKS AND RECREATION MATTERS.
UH, PROMOTE AND STIMULATE PUBLIC INTERESTS IN PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS. UH, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 74, WHICH IS THE, UH, CHAPTER IN THE CITY'S CODE THAT PROVIDES FOR THE PARKS, UH, DIFFERENT PARKS, ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS, UH, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS IT RELATES TO, UH, YOUR RULES, UH, OR NOT YOUR RULES, BUT THE RULES THAT ARE PROMULGATED BY THE PARKS DIRECTOR.
UH, AS OF NOW, THE CODE ALSO ALLOWS, UH, THE BOARD, AGAIN, TO REVIEW AND APPROVE OR DENY RSA DESIGNATIONS.
BUT AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S A PENDING ORDINANCE.
SO, UH, IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO, UM, VOTE FOR THAT ORDINANCE ON MONDAY, THAT WILL NO LONGER BE ONE OF YOUR DUTIES.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLES THIS BOARD PLAYS IS TO CONSIDER AND REVIEW PARKLAND DEDICATIONS PROPOSALS THAT COME BEFORE YOU FROM DEVELOPERS.
AS YOU KNOW, PARKLAND DEDICATIONS ARE REQUIRED WHEN THERE'S A SUBDIVISION OF LAND FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES IN THE CITY.
UH, THE CODE PROVIDES THAT WHENEVER THERE'S A FINAL PLAT, THE PLAT HAS TO CONTAIN A, A CLEAR FEE, SIMPLE DEDICATION OF AREA FOR THE CITY'S PARKS.
THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE IN JUST A SECOND.
BUT THE PROCESS IS FOR THE, AND KIND OF START FROM THE BOTTOM AND WORK YOUR WAY UP.
THE PROPOSAL COMES IN, YOU ALL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MAKES A RECOMMENDATION, AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL TAKES FINAL ACTION ON THAT PROPOSAL.
THE LAND THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE DEDICATED FOR PARK LAND IN THE CITY IS ONE ACRE FOR EVERY 100 PROPOSED UNITS.
THE ALTERNATIVES, AND AGAIN, THESE ARE THE EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE, DEVELOPERS ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT MONEY IN LIEU OF LAND.
THEY'RE ABLE TO, UH, PAY FOR AN ESCROW FUND THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY KIND OF HOLD THEIR, UH, THE FUNDING THAT'S REQUIRED FOR A PARKLAND DEDICATION.
THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO SUBMIT A SECURITY INSTRUMENT OR LETTER OF CREDIT, OR THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE A PRIVATE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKLAND, WHICH I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE SEEN, UH, IN RECENT MONTHS AS WELL.
SO THAT WAS A VERY FAST OVERVIEW OF YOUR DUTIES AND SEVERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT APPLY TO YOU.
BUT I'M SURE THAT YOU ALL KNOW A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED AND, UM, HAVE ABSORBED A LOT JUST BY BEING ON THIS BOARD.
I HAVE A, AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE TREATS AND I DO APOLOGIZE.
I DON'T HAVE REAL REWARDS OTHER THAN MY, MY RESPECT.
UM, UH, SO I HAVE A FEW QUIZ QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
THE FIRST ONE IS, IF A RESIDENT SENDS A BOARD MEMBER A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR A TEXT MESSAGE BETWEEN THE MEMBER AND A STAFF MEMBER, WHAT SHOULD THE BOARD MEMBER DO? YOU GUYS DON'T ALL RAISE YOUR HANDS AT ONCE.
CONTACT YOU CON THE SECRETARY.
SHOULD A BOARD MEMBER ACCEPT PAYMENT OF $12,000 FOR A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION ON A PARKLAND DEDICATION PROPOSAL? NO.
SHOULD A BOARD MEMBER USE CITY LETTERHEAD TO WRITE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR A FRIEND? NOTHING.
SHOULD A BOARD MEMBER SPEAK AT A COUNCIL MEETING ABOUT A MATTER FOR HER CLIENT? NO.
HOW MUCH LAND IS REQUIRED FOR PARKLAND DEDICATIONS? ONE ACRE PER HUNDRED WRITTEN BUILDING.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES THIS VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION AND TRAINING.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE AT THIS TIME.
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HAVE, I HAVE A QUESTION.THE FIRST, SECOND SLIDE YOU HAD ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR BOARD GOING INTO AN ADVISORY YES.
COULD YOU SHOW THAT SLIDE AGAIN? SURE.
AND IT'S, I CAN ALSO SHOW IT ON THIS SLIDE.
SO CURRENTLY THIS, UH, SLIDE LISTS YOUR DUTIES.
THE LAST DUTY THAT'S ON THE SLIDE IS THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR RSAS, UH, RECOGNIZED, UH, SPORTS DONORS.
WHAT DOES, WHAT DOES IT STAND FOR? AGAIN? RECOGNIZED SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, DESIGNATIONS.
UM, AND SO RIGHT NOW THIS BOARD REVIEWS AND APPROVES THOSE AS THE FINAL DECISION MAKER ON THOSE APPLICATIONS.
SO BEING A FINAL DECISION MAKER, UH, IN ESSENCE MAKES THE BOARD OFFICIALS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
THERE'S CURRENTLY AN ORDINANCE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL THAT WOULD REMOVE THIS REQUIREMENT FROM THE BOARD'S DUTIES.
GIMME AN EXAMPLE OF AN RSA, UM, UM, LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL LEAGUE.
SO LITTLE LEAGUE, THAT SORT OF ORGANIZATION.
THEY APPLY TO HAVE A, A SPECIAL DESIGNATION SO THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE FIELDS, UH, FOR PRACTICES AND GAMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO THIS BOARD, ONE OF THE DUTIES HAS BEEN THAT THIS BOARD WOULD RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE GROUPS AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD HAVE A DESIGNATION, WHICH ALLOWS THEM, UH, TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE FIELDS, UM, FOR THEIR PRACTICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IF THE ORDINANCE PASSES ON FINAL READING, IT HAS BEEN APPROVED ON FIRST READING BY THE COUNCIL, THEN THE, UH, PARKS DIRECTOR WOULD, UH, MAKE THAT FINAL DECISION VERSUS THE BOARD.
AND SO IN, IN REMOVING THAT DUTY, ALL OF THE BOARD'S, UH, DUTIES WOULD BE ADVISORY.
AND AS AN ADVISORY CAPACITY, WE STILL ARE BOUND TO THE OPEN TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT.
SO YOU ALL WOULD, BECAUSE THE CITY HAS TRADITIONALLY AND IN PRACTICE TREATED THIS BOARD AS BEING SUBJECT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
SO YES, YOU WOULD STILL BE SUBJECT TO IT, BUT, BUT WE'VE MOVED TO AN ADVISORY CAPACITY, SO WE COULD STILL CORRECT.
YOU WOULD STILL, BECAUSE EVEN BEFORE THIS RSA DESIGNATION WA, UH, THE DUTIES WERE GIVEN TO THIS BOARD, MISSOURI CITY HAS TREATED THIS BOARD AS BEING SUBJECT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AS IT RELATES TO PARKS AND, UH, RECREATION PROGRAMS. SO THAT WOULD CONTINUE.
YOU SAID, UH, MEMBERS HAVE THE RIGHT GENERAL PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON ANYTHING THAT'S POSTED ON THE AGENDA? YES, MA'AM.
IS THAT A MISSOURI CITY ORDINANCE, OR IS THAT A STATE LAW? STATE LAW.
DO YOU KNOW THE ORDINANCE FOR THAT STATE LAW? I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE STATE LAW.
THAT WAS ONE THAT PASSED WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO, BUT YES, I CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? OKAY.
IF NOT, I WILL TURN THIS BACK OVER TO THE PARKS TEAM.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
NOW, A REPORT FOR DANIELLE STEWART OUT OUTLINE FISCAL YEAR 2024 ANNUAL PLANT AND APARTMENT GOALS.
AND SO, AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, UM, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, WE, WE BROUGHT THIS BOARD OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024 ANNUAL PLAN.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T AWARE EACH, EACH FISCAL YEAR, OUR DEPARTMENT COMES UP WITH AN ANNUAL PLAN THAT BASICALLY SERVES AS OUR, WE DO A, A SWOT ANALYSIS FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE IDENTIFY OUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.
WE SET DEPARTMENT GOALS AND KEY INITIATIVES.
UM, AND THAT'S KIND OF OUR, OUR STRIVING DOCUMENT FOR THAT YEAR.
UM, SO WE, AT THE END OF DECEMBER WAS THE END OF OUR QUARTER ONE FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR.
SO I WANTED TO PROVIDE JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH SOME OF THE MAJOR ITEMS. UM, THIS IS IN YOUR PACKET.
UM, SO I'M GONNA JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT SOME THINGS FOR YOU GUYS THAT, THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET A CHANCE TO BRAG ABOUT
UM, SO ON OUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, THE ONE THAT, THAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT AND STANDING OUT TO ME IS OUR TOTAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORGANIZED RECREATION.
OFTENTIMES, WE PRESENT YOU GUYS WITH OUR TOTAL PARTICIPATION NUMBERS AND THE RECREATION PORT REPORT.
UM, AND THAT WOULD BE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
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PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, THREE TENNIS PROGRAMS, FOUR PICKLEBALL.UM, BUT INSIDE OF THOSE IS OFTEN A BEGINNER, AN INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED, OR A RECREATIONAL BASED, OR AN OPEN PLAY TYPE OF THING.
SO THERE'S REALLY A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO RECREATE.
THEN YOU EVEN REALIZE, UM, SO OUR GOAL FOR THE YEAR IS 2,250.
JUST IN QUARTER ONE WE HAD 780.
UM, SO WE ARE ALREADY APPROXIMATELY 35% OF THE WAY THROUGH OUR, OUR GOAL, UM, JUST AFTER ONE QUARTER OF, OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
UM, THE NEXT ONE THAT I WANTED TO, TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, IS TROXEL PARK, WHICH IS IN INCLUDED IN THIS FIRST DEPARTMENTAL GOAL, UM, AND FREEDOM TREE PARK.
UM, I KNOW DONNIE PROVIDED THE, THE PARKS PROJECTS UPDATES FOR ME LAST MONTH.
UM, BUT TREL PARK, WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT ABOUT 70% COMPLETE, AND WE ARE ON TRACK TO HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING IN MAY.
UM, SO LUCKILY WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THE WEATHER ON THAT ONE.
AND THEN FREEDOM TREE PARK, WE ARE STILL AT 85% DESIGN.
UM, WE DID HAVE ABOUT A SIX WEEK DELAY ON THAT PROJECT TO ADDRESS SOME WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIAL DRAINAGE AND DETENTION ISSUES.
UM, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE INITIAL PLAN, BUT WE, WE SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS WORKING WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING TEAMS AS WELL AS THE, THE MUD FOR THAT AREA.
UM, BASED ON THE, UM, THE INITIAL PLAN FOR THEIR DRAINAGE AND DETENTION, WE ARE ADDING A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCRETE THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
AND SO WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAD THE CAPACITY ON THE DETENTION FOR, FOR THIS PARK.
THIS NEXT ONE, UM, ONE OF THE, UM, KINDA, IT'S A, IT'S A PERSONAL GOAL, BUT ALSO ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTAL GOALS.
AND WE ARE UPDATING OUR, UM, DE DEPARTMENTAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
UM, TWO HIGHLIGHTS ON THAT IS, UM, RECENTLY WE BROUGHT IN A, UM, A PROFESSIONAL FROM THE WOODLANDS AREA.
HE'S VERY WELL RESPECTED IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION INDUSTRY ACROSS THE NATION.
UM, HE DID A PROGRAMMING BOOTCAMP FOR OUR RECREATION STAFF.
UM, OUR, OUR STAFF'S INCREDIBLE, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM TO KIND OF TAKE THAT NEXT STEP.
UM, SO THEY DID A FULL DAY WORKSHOP WITH HIM TO IMPROVE ON SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMMING IDEAS, PROCESSES, PROCEDURES.
UM, AND THEN OUR, OUR PARKS AND FORESTRY TEAMS IN TWO WEEKS WILL BE AT, UH, GOING TO THE CITY OF ANGLETON TO HOST A JOINT TRAINING WITH THEIR PARKS AND FORESTRY TEAMS. UM, THAT WILL BE NOT ONLY SAFETY, UH, RELATED, BUT ALSO SOME EFFICIENCY RELATED ITEMS AND BEST PRACTICES AND KIND OF WORKING TOGETHER TO, TO GET BETTER.
UM, ON THIS ONE, I WANTED TO POINT OUT OUR PARKS MAINTENANCE BUILDING.
UM, SO THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING.
UM, SO, UH, WE ARE IN THE PERMITTING PHASE FOR THAT CURRENTLY, AND WE'LL BE BIDDING THAT PROJECT AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
UM, SO THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT WE ARE, UM, HOMELESS, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER, BUT THAT IS THE BEST NEWS THAT WE COULD HAVE HEARD BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE STARTING ON THAT PROJECT.
UM, IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN, IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS FOR CONSTRUCTION.
UM, SO WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT ABOUT TWO YEARS, BUT HEY, IT'S, UH, IT'S MOVING.
UM, THE LAST ONE I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.
WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING E YOU KNOW, WE SET THIS AS A GOAL.
UM, AND, BUT WE'VE, WE'VE RECEIVED EVEN MORE KIND OF COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY, UM, ABOUT LIGHTING AND OUR PARKS ON OUR TRAILS, UM, PARKING LOTS, CITY FACILITIES.
UM, SO THIS WAS A DEPARTMENTAL GOAL TO DO AN EVALUATION ON OUR, OUR PARKS AND OUR TRAILS.
BUT BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING SOME OF THAT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEGUN TALKING WITH CITY LEADERSHIP TO MAKE THIS A CITYWIDE, UM, INITIATIVE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WILL PLAY INTO OUR, OUR ASPECT, BUT I, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE DARK SPOTS OUT THERE, SO, AND I CAN'T SEE THEM ALL.
IF YOU EVER NOTICE ANY OF THAT, LET US KNOW.
UM, WE ARE STARTING KIND OF THAT INVENTORY OF, UH, LOCATION SO THAT WHEN WE DO AN ASSESSMENT, WE CAN, WE CAN PROCESS THAT THROUGH.
UM, I WILL LET, OH, UH, THIS ONE HAS THE, UH, THE ENTRY POINT AND MEDIAN ENHANCEMENTS.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT TWO YEARS, TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, WORKED WITH TXDOT ON A, UM, MEDIAS AND RIGHT OF WAYS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THE ZEROSCAPE AREAS WITH THE ROCK, UM, ALONG TEXAS PARKWAY.
UM, THAT HAS TURNED OUT REALLY WELL IN THIS FREEZE DROUGHT FREEZE THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
UM, THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD TO REPLACE MUCH OF.
UM, SO WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR CITY ENTRANCE POINTS.
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FROM HOUSTON OR COMING IN FROM STAFFORD, AREAS LIKE THAT, THAT WE CAN IMPROVE, UM, THE LANDSCAPING OF THOSE AREAS AND INCORPORATE SOME OF THAT ZEROSCAPE.SO, UM, PAUL HAS TAKEN POINT ON THIS, OUR CITY FORESTER AND DONE A GREAT JOB.
WE HAVE AN INITIAL DESIGN CURRENTLY THAT WILL BE TAKEN UP TO, TO CITY COUNCIL OR EVENTUALLY, SO TAKEN UP TO CITY LEADERSHIP AND THEN BROUGHT TO THIS BOARD FOR, UM, ADVICE.
AND THEN WE WILL EVENTUALLY GO FROM THERE.
AND I THINK THAT WAS ALL THAT I HAD.
SO, LIKE I SAID, IT IS FULLY IN YOUR PACKET IF YOU, UM, I KNOW I JUST KIND OF HIT ON THE HIGHLIGHTS, BUT IF, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE AS WELL.
ITEM SIX ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION.
I NOTICED THEN THAT ME, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
[7. STAFF REPORTS]
ALL RIGHT.UM, JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A FEW UPDATES OF THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS MONTH IN THE OFFICE.
UM, SO LAST MEETING I TALKED ABOUT HOW WE HAD HAD A COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT BICENTENNIAL PARK.
WE'RE GONNA BE HOLDING A SECOND COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING, UM, ON FEBRUARY 8TH FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS OF BICENTENNIAL PARK.
AND THIS IS GONNA BE AT LANDMARK COMMUNITY CENTER, FEBRUARY 8TH AT 5:00 PM SO THAT'S GONNA BE, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP.
STEP AWAY FROM YEAH, YOU'RE TOO CLOSE.
YOU'RE REVERBING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I CAN, IS THIS BETTER? SORRY ABOUT THAT.
SO ON FEBRUARY 8TH, 5:00 PM WE'RE HAVING A SECOND COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING FOR, FOR BICENTENNIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE AT LANDMARK COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FORT BEND COUNTY.
UM, ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WE STARTED WORKING ON THE PAST FEW WEEKS, UM, IS WE'RE WORKING ON A VIDEO STORY MAP FOR ALL OF THE PARKS THAT'S GONNA INCLUDE TIME LAPSE FOOTAGE SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE, UH, THE PROGRESS FOR ALL THE PARKS.
SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING PHOTOS, VIDEO FOOTAGE, UM, AND PUTTING THAT TOGETHER AND INCORPORATING THAT WITH OUR GIS DATA.
UM, NEXT MONTH WE'RE GONNA BE GOING TO COUNCIL FOR, UH, IMPROVEMENTS, UH, TO, UH, RIDGEVIEW AND BICENTENNIAL PARK.
UM, ANOTHER THING THAT WE ARE WORKING ON IS, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS AND PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL, UH, TO ACQUIRE CELL PHONE DATA SO THAT WE CAN MONITOR PARK TRAFFIC IN REAL TIME TO SEE WHAT, UM, AMENITIES ARE BEING USED, UM, WHAT, WHAT IS NOT BEING USED SO THAT WE CAN BETTER ASSESS THE NEEDS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN, UM, WORK OUT A DEAL WITH THE VENDOR THAT WE'RE SPEAKING WITH SOON SO THAT WE CAN, UH, START ASSESSING THAT DATA.
UM, THERE, THE DISC GOLF COURSE AT COMMUNITY PARK CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE GOING ON NEXT WEEK.
UH, THERE WERE SEVERAL WEATHER RELATED DELAYS, BUT WEATHER HAS BEEN CLEARING UP, SO, UM, THAT SHOULD BE COMMENCING ON MONDAY.
UM, AND THOSE ARE ALL THE UPDATES THAT I HAVE.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? THANK YOU.
IS SOMEONE GONNA GIVE AN UPDATE? AND BARRY IS NOT PRESENT, LIKE, IT'S LIKE THE OLD DAYS WHEN I WAS JUST UP HERE, THE WHOLE MEETING.
UM, I WILL ADD THAT ABOUT 85% OF OUR WORK THE PAST MONTH HAS BEEN PREPARING FOR THE FREEZE, RECOVERING FROM THE FREEZE.
UM, AND WE'RE STILL IN EVALUATION BOTH ON GROUNDS AND LANDSCAPING OF WHAT WAS LOST FROM THAT.
WE, WE DID A LOT MORE PREPARATION THIS, THIS FREEZE THAN WE EVER HAVE DONE.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER 'EM.
NEXT UP, SAME UPDATE ON RECREATION.
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? FINE, ZANE.
SO, UH, JANUARY WAS NOT A GOOD MONTH FOR THE RECREATIONS DIVISION OR ANYBODY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAD PLANTS,
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SO THE WEATHER DID TAKE EFFECT ON OUR PROGRAM.AND SO THE ENROLLMENT FOR A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS WERE LOW.
BUT LUCKILY WE HAD A COUPLE EVENTS THAT KIND OF MADE UP FOR, UH, WHICH ONE, ONE OF 'EM WAS OUR FIT EXPO.
UH, THIS YEAR WE PARTNERED WITH, UH, THE CODY STEVENS FOUNDATION, WHICH THEY DO HEART SCANS.
AND WE DID, UH, WORK WITH THEM.
WE DID SCANS FOR YOUTH, UH, YOUNG ADULTS FROM THE AGES 11 TO 25.
UH, WE HAD A HIGHEST NUMBER, UH, EVER WITH THEM, WITH 400 PEOPLE ACTUALLY SIGNED UP OR KIDS SIGN UP, OR PARENTS FOR THE KIDS SIGN UP.
AND OUT OF THOSE, WE SAVED THREE LIVES.
LAST YEAR WE HAD 200 AND WE SAVED SEVEN LIVES FROM THAT.
SO THE NUMBERS GOING UP AND WE'RE SAVING KIDS, UH, LIVES EACH YEAR WITH THIS PROGRAM.
UM, AND WE'RE GONNA FU UH, UH, PARTNER WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE.
UH, WE ALSO HAD OUR, UM, FORGOT WHAT I WROTE.
WE ALSO HAD OUR FAMILY, UH, FUN NIGHT, WHICH IS, WE HAD 40 PARTICIPANTS IN THAT WITH, WE DID THE ART, UH, EVENT WITH THE FAMILIES ON THAT FOLLOWING FRIDAY NIGHT.
UH, WE DO HAVE SOME UPCOMING EVENTS THAT IT'S VERY EXCITING FOR US.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS, WELL, IT'S HERE,
SO WE HAVE EACH, UH, EVENT, UH, EACH WEEK.
AND THIS WEEK IS GONNA BE THE KICKOFF, WHICH WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE EDISON FOUNDATION.
UH, UH, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE OTHER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE, THE MONTH THAT A GALA.
AND, UM, THERE'S A, UM, I SHOULD KNOW THIS, A JAZZ NIGHT.
AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE, UH, A THEATER PLAY CALLED PIANO LESSONS.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE OUR, UH, TIES AND TIARA'S EVENT ON THE 10TH.
THAT'S GONNA BE HERE AT THE COM AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE HAVE, UH, ONE TENNIS MIX TOURNAMENT AND ANOTHER PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT THIS MONTH.
AND VOLUNTEERS, OF COURSE, IF Y'ALL WANNA VOLUNTEER WITH US OR HELP US WITH ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE YOU
OR IF YOU WANNA AFFORD SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO PARTNER WITH US, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE THEM AS WELL.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, SIR.
[8. DIRECTOR'S REPORT]
THIS TIME, MS. STEWART WILL GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS.SO WITH DONNIE KNIGHT HERE, I HAVE YOUR DIRECTOR'S REPORT TONIGHT.
UM, AND LUCKILY, UM, I GET THE BRAG WORTHY ITEMS THIS MONTH.
UM, SO HE'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT JEALOUS.
UM, SO ON OUR UPDATES, UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF NEW STAFF MEMBERS CURRENTLY.
UM, SO AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, WE HAD TWO RECREATION MANAGERS VACANCIES.
UM, WE HAVE FILLED THOSE POSITIONS, ONE OF WHICH IS WITH ALLISON VICKERY.
UM, YOU WANNA WAVE FOR ME? UM, ALLISON GOT RECEIVED, GOT A PROMOTION.
SHE WAS OUR SENIORS ADAPTIVE AND VOLUNTEERS REC SPECIALIST.
UM, OUR OTHER RECREATION MANAGER IS RODERICK FERGUSON.
UM, HE WILL BE OVERSEEING OUR RECREATION CENTER, UM, FITNESS AND ATHLETICS.
UM, AND WE'VE THROWN HIM THROUGH THE RINGER ALREADY.
AND HE'S OUR, HE'S STILL HERE, SO WE'LL KEEP IT
UM, WE ALSO HAD THREE PROMOTIONS IN OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE HAVE PROMOTED ERNEST PEREZ TO A PARKS CREW LEADER, SO HE'LL BE OVERSEEING OUR MOWING OPERATIONS IN THE HUNTERS GLEN NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, SGE FINN HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO OUR PARKS TECHNICIAN THREE.
UM, THAT IS OUR APPLICATOR POSITION.
UM, IF YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, WE HAVE SOME WEEDS GROWING IN CONCRETE CRACKS HERE AND THERE.
UM, OUR APPLICATOR POSITION'S BEEN VACANT FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW, AND, UM, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IT.
AND THEN SURGE IS CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO, TO GET GOING WITH THAT.
UM, DOUGLAS HAS BEEN WITH OUR DEPARTMENT FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AS A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE THROUGH A TEMP AGENCY.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER HIM A PARKS TECHNICIAN ONE POSITION.
UM, AND THE WHOLE TEAM'S JUST THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO, TO OFFER THAT TO HIM, MAKE HIM A LITTLE BIT MORE PERMANENT AROUND HERE.
IF YOU, YOU MAY HAVE MET HIM AS BOOGIE, THAT'S WHAT ALL THE GUYS CALL HIM.
SO IF YOU HEAR THAT NAME, THAT'S HIM.
UM, AND THEN A FEW STAFF HIGHLIGHTS.
UM, SO THIS IS OUR FORESTRY TEAM AND A FEW OF OUR, OUR, UH, PARKS TEAM.
UM, PAUL, OUR CITY FORESTER, HAS, HAS STARTED A PROGRAM WHERE EACH QUARTER HE WILL BE DOING LUNCH WITH, UM, ONE OF OUR, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR CITY LEADERSHIP TEAM, UM, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, IN, IN KIND OF THAT REALM.
UM, HE, HE CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA TO LET NOT ONLY HIS TEAM KIND OF SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE OF THE CITY, BUT ALSO TO LET THOSE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE, UM, THE CITY MANAGER KIND OF GET A DAY IN THE LIFE TYPE OF THING, UM, TO REALLY SEE WHAT WE DO, UM, WHY WE
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DO IT AND, AND KIND OF WHAT WE GET FROM IT.UM, SO THIS, THIS PAST WEEK, UM, HE WAS ABLE TO DO LUNCH WITH MAYOR PRO, TIM KLAUSER, UM, WHO, IF YOU GUYS HAVE MET HER, SHE'S ALL FULL OF ENTHUSIASM.
SO WE, WE LOST A FEW SHIRTS TO HER
UM, AND THEN HIS TEAM REALLY ENJOYED IT.
OTHER STAFF HIGHLIGHTS, I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT.
SHE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT, BUT, UM, DANIELLE FINNEY, UM, HAS BEEN, UH, RUNNING RAGGED RECENTLY.
UM, IF YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN ANY OF OUR POSTS, OUR MAYOR'S YOUTH COMMISSION HAS OVER 50 KIDS THIS YEAR.
UM, AND THAT'S MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND HIGH SCHOOLERS.
NOT THE EASIEST AGE GROUP TO DEAL WITH.
UM, AND THEN SHE ALSO RUNS MOST OF OUR OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS, ALL OF OUR SUMMER CAMPS AND ALL OF OUR FAMILY EVENTS AND PROGRAMS. UM, SO SHE'S BUSY AND SHE HAS REALLY, UM, TAKEN THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COMMISSION TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
UM, SO I WANNA GIVE HER THAT SHOUT OUT AS WELL.
UM, A COUPLE OTHER UPDATES FOR YOU GUYS.
UM, THE HUNTER'S GLENN JOGGING TRAIL, UM, WHICH I KNOW IT'S KIND OF TOUGH TO SEE ON THIS MAP, BUT IT'S, UH, JUST OVER THREE MILES, 3.25.
UM, ONE OF THE TRAIL HEADS IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AT OUR PARKS MAINTENANCE SHOP.
AND THE OTHER ONE IS, UM, BY, RIGHT BY PROGRESSIVE HIGH SCHOOL.
SO IT LOOPS ALL THE WAY BACK TO FRAN AND THEN BACK UP THIS WAY.
UM, SO THIS WAS PART OF THE 2021 MISSOURI CITY BOND PROJECT.
UM, AND OUR, OUR INTENT, WE, WE RECEIVED $1 MILLION FOR THIS PROJECT, AND OUR INTENT WAS TO CONVERT IT TO CONCRETE.
IT'S CURRENTLY DECOMPOSED GRANITE, UM, DECOMPOSED GRAVEL.
IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK, UM, FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
IT'S RIGHT ALONG THE BAYOU IN MOST OF THE PARTS.
UM, IT'S A DRAINAGE AREA, AND SO MOST, MOST TIMES IF IT RAINS, IT'S INACCESSIBLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
UM, SO THAT WAS OUR, OUR INTENT IS JUST TO GET THAT STARTED, MAKE IT MORE USABLE.
UM, HOWEVER, WE JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT THROUGH THE HGAC TRANSIT GRANT.
UM, WHEN WE, WHEN WE REALLY STARTED LOOKING AT THIS, UM, THIS IS KIND OF THE MAP THAT WE SUBMITTED TO THEM.
UM, THERE IS A METRO STOP ABOUT 15 FEET FROM WHERE OUR TRAIL GOES UP TO FONDREN ROAD.
UM, SO NOT ONLY NOW IS THIS TRANSPORTATION AL ALTERNATIVE, BUT RECREATION, YOU'RE TYING IN ALL OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, MULTIPLE PARKS, THE LIBRARY, CITY HALL, UM, ALL OF THAT TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
UM, SO DUE TO THIS, WE ARE NOW GONNA ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING KIND OF A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND A EVALUATION, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING BIKE RACKS NEAR THE PARKS, UM, SECURITY LIGHTING, UM, SHADE STRUCTURES, WATER FOUNTAINS, THINGS LIKE THAT TO, TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE USABLE.
UM, IT DOES HAVE A LOT OF PARKS ON THE ROUTE, SO, SO WHAT CAN WE ADD TO THAT? SO THAT WAS PRETTY EXCITING, UM, AND WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT IT WITHIN THE YEAR.
UM, BUT IT, IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT TO GET THAT FUNDING.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO, EARLIER THIS MONTH FOUND OUT THAT WE WERE AWARDED $750,000 TOWARDS OUR STAMOS SPORTS PARK RENOVATION.
UM, THIS IS THROUGH THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE LOCAL PARKS GRANT PROGRAM.
UM, THIS IS THE, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT WE COULD HAVE RECEIVED THROUGH THIS GRANT.
WE ALSO RECEIVED IT LAST YEAR FOR FREEDOM TREE PARK.
UM, SO IT'S, UH, MOVING BACK TO BACK WITH IT.
THIS FUNDING PUTS US VERY, VERY CLOSE, UM, TO OUR INITIAL $15 MILLION PROJECT ESTIMATE.
UM, ENOUGH SO THAT WE, WE ARE CONFIDENT WE CAN MAKE IT WORK.
UM, THAT'S WITH THE CITY'S 10 MILLION, THE COUNTY'S 4 MILLION, AND THEN THE GRANT.
UM, SO THAT WAS EXCITING AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN WE, NEXT TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, WE'LL BE GOING TO THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL, UM, TO RECEIVE OUR SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR, UH, 2021 MASTER PLAN.
UM, SO WE, WE SUBMITTED THIS, UH, NOMINATION, UM, BASED ON NOT JUST THE PLAN, BUT OUR ABILITY TO USE THAT PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH, UM, MORE IN OUR PARKS, IN OUR TRAILS AND OUR PROGRAMS. UM, WHEN WE LOOKED THROUGH OUR MASTER PLAN, THE, THE KEY INITIATIVES AND ACTION ITEMS, UM, WE WERE TWO YEARS INTO TO THE A FIVE YEAR MASTER PLAN AND WE WERE ABOUT 65 TO 70% THROUGH.
UM, SO WE'VE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO, TO PUSH SOME OF THESE ITEMS AND IT, IT TIES BACK TO THAT MASTER PLAN.
SO WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT ONE AS WELL.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU GUYS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? CONGRATULATIONS.
[00:50:04]
ITEM[9. BOARD REPORTS]
NUMBER NINE, BOARD REPORTS.YOU HAVE, ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANNA REPORT OR DISCUSS? I GUESS IN THE SAME BROAD CATEGORY? OUR BOARD, I WOULD SAY YOU AND PAM AND I CAN SAY THAT THE ELECTRONIC RECYCLING, RECYCLING WAS, WE GOT PROBABLY OVER 475 VEHICLES CAME THROUGH AND UH, PAUL PIC'S GROUP HELPED WITH THE, UH, TRAFFIC FLOW.
SO IT WAS, UH, IT WAS QUITE SUCCESSFUL.
[10. ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA]
ANYONE HAVE ANY ITEMS THEY WISH TO PUT ON THE AGENDA THE NEXT MEETING? I'M CURIOUS, SINCE, UH, LARRY TURNER IS, WAS THE ACTING, WAS THE CHAIRMAN, WHAT IS THE STATUS NOW OF US VOTING ON ANOTHER CHAIRMAN OR WHERE IS THAT AT AT THIS POINT? I THINK IT'S, UM, I THINK IT WAS SAID THE ACTING CHAIRMAN, BUT I CAN HAVE THE LEGAL PEOPLE ANSWER THAT QUESTION.WELL, IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT NUMBER SEVEN.
SO YOUR RULES PROVIDE THAT YOU ALL ARE TO ELECT A CHAIRPERSON AND A VICE CHAIRPERSON ONCE A YEAR.
THEREFORE, IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE THAT ITEM PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA, THE STAFF CAN CERTAINLY PLACE THAT ON THE NEXT AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AREN'T WE ON HOLD FOR A WHILE? ON HOLD? YEAH.
ARE WE NOT ON HOLD BECAUSE OF THAT? NUMBER SEVEN.
WHAT NUMBER SEVEN THAT WAS ON THE LIST ABOUT ADVISORY.
YOU MIGHT TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE, THE DUTIES.
YOU STILL NEED A PRESIDING OFFICER, SO NO, YOU'RE NOT ON HOLD.
YOU ALL WOULD STILL, I MEAN, YOU STILL OPERATE THROUGH THE NORM, UM, AS YOU YEAH.
OTHERWISE, YOU WOULD STILL, UH, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ONE THROUGH SIX.
SO NO, IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE THAT PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA, THAT CAN CERTAINLY BE INCLUDED.
NO, I THOUGHT IT WAS PLACED ON THIS AGENDA.
I THOUGHT IT, IT HAD BEEN PLACED ON THIS.
OH, I DIDN'T SEE IT ON THIS AGENDA.
NO, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT I, OKAY, WELL IN A MINUTE.
WELL, I, I, I BELIEVE STAFF SAID THAT THEY WILL ADD IT TO THE NEXT AGENDA.
DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE AGENDA? NO.
ALRIGHT MA'AM, IF THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER BRING BEFORE THE BOARD, I MAY ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.