[00:00:01]
[FY 2023 Budget Workshop: Parks & Recreation]
AND COUNCIL, UH, STAFF LIKE TO WELCOME, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK.I CAN'T, I CAN'T EVEN SEE THAT BECAUSE OF THE CLARITY.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN AND MS. CHERYL JOHNSON PROVIDE THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
SEE, EVERYBODY IS SMILING AND READY TO GO.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, PRO TIM AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL FOR JUST ALLOWING US TO PRESENT AND YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE, WE'VE HAD TO ADJUST AND PIVOT AND MAKE THINGS WORK, UM, THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
PARTNERING WITH OTHER DIRECTORS, UH, OTHER PARTNERS HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A, A CHALLENGE TO DELIVER JUST REGULAR PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES.
BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT US BEING AS LILY PADS, SHELTER SITES, DISTRIBUTION SITES, JUST REALLY DOING THINGS TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC, I AM SO PROUD OF THE TEAM THAT I HAVE THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF MANAGING DAY TO DAY.
UH, AND THESE ARE GUYS AND, AND WOMEN WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND THAT ARE ACTUALLY DE LITTERING OUR PARKS, ACTUALLY MOWING, ACTUALLY REPAIRING ROOFS, UM, PLUMBING IN THE, IN THE STAFF THAT WORK WITH OUR CHILDREN DAY TO DAY.
I'M SO VERY PROUD OF THEM BECAUSE THEY, THEY GO BEYOND AND ABOVE THE CALL OF DUTY.
UH, THEY WORK WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE SOMETIME LIMITED, BUT GUESS WHAT? THEY'VE MADE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY.
AND WE DO HAVE SOME GAPS, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE STRIVING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
SO I WANT TO HONOR THEM AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR DAY-TO-DAY EFFORT.
UH, IT TAKES A HUGE COORDINATION EFFORT WITH, WITH MY EXECUTIVE TEAM WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THEIR DIRECT REPORTS.
AND I HAVE THEM WITH ME TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, I HAVE MANY OF THEM WITH ME TODAY.
I LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM WITH ME.
I HAVE MY SECURITY BLANKET, SO IF THERE'S A QUESTION I CAN'T ANSWER, I HAVE MS. CHERYL JOHNSON, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF, UH, MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE, OUR CFOI HAVE ABEL GONZALEZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT, MICHAEL EMAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE DEBORAH LATHAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF RECREATION OPERATIONS.
I HAVE TOM ANGELOS, DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RECREATION AND WELLNESS.
I HAVE JASON, HARSH, DIVISION MANAGER OF, UH, GOLF OPERATIONS.
TOM BOURGEOIS, DIVISION MANAGER OF URBAN PARK RANGERS, ESTELLA ESPINOZA COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, AND OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, ERICA MADISON, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR, MIMI RASMUS, ALSO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR, JARRELL WASHINGTON, UH, COUNCIL LIAISON, AND ALSO HAVE LUCY CARRERA PARTNERSHIPS AND LEGISLATIVE LIAISON.
AND ALSO WE HAVE LISA JOHNSON.
SHE'S WITH GSD, BUT SHE'S A PROJECT MANAGER MANAGER FOR PARKS IN TERMS OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
NOW, WITHIN OUR, WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT IN OUR GENERAL FUND, THERE ARE 10 MAIN AREAS THAT IT HAS A COMBINED TOTAL OF $86.6 MILLION IN TERMS OF OUR, IN TERMS OF US OPERATING.
UH, WITH THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT 195.1 FTES.
THOSE MAJOR AREAS ARE GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT WITH 22.6 MILLION OF THE BUDGET.
UM, COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY CENTER OPERATIONS, 11.9 MILLION OF THE BUDGET, RECREATION AND WELLNESS, 6.2 MILLION, UH, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, 8.7 MILLION URBAN PARK RANGERS, 3.5 MILLION.
THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE WITH 1 MILLION.
OUR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE WITH 77 770 1000.
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WE HAVE OUR MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE TEAM, 4.5 MILLION UTILITIES AND INVENTORY, 15.2 MILLION, THE HOUSTON ZOO, 12 MILLION.NOW OUR MISSION IS, IS PRETTY HOLISTIC AND IT'S TO ENHANCE THE, UH, QUALITY OF URBAN LIFE BY PROVIDING SAFE, WELL MAINTAINED PARKS AND OFFERING AFFORDABLE PROGRAM PROGRAMMING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE PROVIDE FITNESS, SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES, NATURE, UH, CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, CULTURAL AWARENESS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AS WELL AS LEISURE PROGRAMS, SOCIAL AND SPECIALTY CLASSES FOR YOUTH, TEEN ADULTS AND SENIORS.
AND THEN WE OPERATE BY A STANDARD OF CARE, WHICH IS A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT FOR OUR AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER ENRICHMENT, UH, PROGRAMS. AND THEN WE PROVIDE FREE MEALS THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR YOUTH, UM, SUMMER AND FALL, UM, THROUGH A FEDERAL, UH, GRANT ADMINISTERED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
RIGHT? WE HAVE SECURITY OPERATIONS AND DISPATCH SERVICES, UM, FOR H PARK, FOR POOLS, FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS, UM, FOR OTHER FACILITIES THROUGHOUT OUR, THROUGHOUT OUR SYSTEM.
WE MANAGE PARK LAND, UM, EXPANSIONS, CONSTRUCTIONS, RENOVATIONS, INSPECTIONS, MAINTENANCE OF PARK FACILITIES.
WE ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ALL PARK BUILDING CODES, FIRE CODES, HEALTH CODES, AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
AND THEN WHEN YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT IT, OUR ENTIRE INVENTORY, WE HAVE MAINTENANCE AND WE MAINTAIN OVER 39,000 ACRES OF LAND OF PARK LAND.
AND THEN WE ALSO TAKE CARE OF ESPLANADES, URBAN FOREST, NATURAL, NATURAL RESOURCES, SPORTS FIELDS, TRAILS, TREES, AND WE ALSO MAINTAIN THE GROUNDS FOR THE LIBRARY AS WELL AS MULTI SERVICE CENTERS.
THAT'S A HUGE INVENTORY AND IT TAKES TEAMWORK AND WORKING TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH COUNCIL AND PARTNERS TO ADEQUATELY SERVE THE PUBLIC.
WE'RE SHORT IN SOME AREAS AND WE'LL IDENTIFY THOSE, BUT I WANT TO GO TO OUR REVENUES BY, BY FUND.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR, UH, PROPOSED BUDGET REVENUES BY FUND FOR FY 23, WE HAVE OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
WE'RE PROPOSING 793, UH, THOUSAND.
WE HAVE FUND 2100, WHICH IS OUR REVENUE FUND.
UM, OUR PROPOSED BUDGET IS 3 MILLION.
AND OUR, AND THAT'S, THAT'S ACTUALLY FOR, FOR EVENTS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, PARK FACILITIES, TEAM REGISTRATIONS, TREE VIOLATION, FI FINES, LAKE HOUSTON RENTALS, AND THE, THE RENTALS FOR TENNIS CENTERS IN TERMS OF REVENUE.
AND THEN WE HAVE FUND 2104, OUR GOLF REVENUE FUND.
UM, WE'RE ANTICIPATING OR EXPECTING 7.8 MILLION IN REVENUE, UH, FOR FUND 2105, OUR MAINTENANCE, RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT.
UH, WE'RE PROPOSING TWO POINT, UM, 6 MILLION, AND THEN FUND 2106, WHICH IS OUR BIO GREENWAYS 2020, UH, 1.4 MILLION.
TERMS OF FY 23 REVENUE AND SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, UH, THIS IS OUR PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET COMPARED TO OUR FY 22 ESTIMATE.
YOU LOOK AT OUR GENERAL FUND 1000, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE SEEING ONE, UH, 1000 LESS.
SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT SIGNIFICANT, BUT THE FACT THAT IT'S, IT'S LESS WANTED THAT TO BE KNOWN.
LOOK AT FUND 2100 SPECIAL REVENUE WE'RE PROPOSING TO MAKE, UH, 400 AND, UH, 60, UH, 8,000, UH, MORE.
AND THIS IS, UH, BUDGET REVENUE THAT'S PROJECTED BECAUSE OF PRE PANDEMIC TRENDS.
ALSO, UM, CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE ASTROS GOLF FOUNDATION FOR PLAYGROUND INITIATIVES.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT 2104 IN TERMS OF GOLF REVENUE, IN TERMS OF HIGHLIGHTS, UH, WE'RE PROPOSING, UH, 560, UH, 5,000.
UM, WE'RE HOSTING THE HOUSTON OPEN ONCE AGAIN.
SO WHEN WE'RE PROJECTED TO INCREASE SOME STREAMS OF REVENUE FOR GOLF AS A RESULT OF, UM, THE TOURNAMENT AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE OPEN, UM, WE LOOK AT FUND 2105, MAINTENANCE, RENEWAL AND, AND REPLACEMENT.
UH, WE'RE PROJECTING, UH, 300,000 CONTRIBUTIONS, AGAIN FROM THE ASTROS GOLF FOUNDATION FOR, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PARK PROJECTS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT FUND 2106, BIO GREENWAYS.
WE'RE PROJECTING, UH, 270 K FOR THAT.
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EXPENDITURES BY FUND.UM, THIS IS FY 20 THREE'S BUDGET COMPARED TO FY 22.
UM, LOOK AT FUND, AND I'LL GO IN MORE DETAIL WITH THIS SLIDE AS WE MOVE, AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT FUND 1000, OUR GENERAL FUND, WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER 8 MILLION IN EXPENSES, RIGHT? IF YOU LOOK AT FUND 2100 SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, UM, 240 270 4K IN EXPENSES, UH, FUND 2104, A GOLF REVENUE FUND, WE'RE LOOKING AT 894,000 FUND, 2105, MAINTENANCE, RENEWAL, AND REPLACEMENT.
OUR BIO GREENWAY 2020, WE'RE LOOKING AT 22.
SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE FUND 1000.
OUR FY 23 PERSONNEL VERSUS NON PERSONNEL.
PERSONNEL IS, UH, 54% OF THE BUDGET.
NON PERSONNEL IS 46% OF THE BUDGET AT 40 MILLION.
UH, SPECIAL REVENUE, UH, 2100, UM, PERSONNEL VERSUS NON PERSONNEL FOR FY 23 PERSONNEL IS 34% OF THE BUDGET AT 1.1 MILLION.
AND NON PERSONNEL IS 66% OF THE BUDGET AT 2.2 MILLION.
SO FOR OUR, UH, GOLF SPECIAL REVENUE, UH, 2104 PERSONNEL, 59% OF THE BUDGET AT 4.7 MILLION AND NON PERSONNEL, 40, 41% OF THE BUDGET AT 3.2 MILLION.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, FOR OUR MAINTENANCE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND, 2105 PERSONNEL IS 35% OF THE BUDGET AND AT 1.1 MILLION.
AND THEN WE HAVE NON PERSONNEL AT 65% OF THE BUDGET AT 2.1 MILLION.
SO, VALUE GREENWAY'S 2020 FUND 2106.
WE HAVE PERSONNEL AT 83% OF THE BUDGET AT 1 MILLION, AND WE HAVE NON PERSONNEL AT 17% OF THE BUDGET AT 200 AND 212 UH THOUSAND.
SO THIS SLIDE ACTUALLY IS, IT COMPARES FY 20 TWO'S BUDGET TO FY 23 PROPOSED BUDGET, AND IT DESCRIBES THE CHANGES BETWEEN THE, UH, BUDGETS.
IF YOU LOOK AT, WHEN WE FOCUS ON 22, AS WAS THE ADOPTED BUDGET, THE OPERATING BUDGET WAS 58 MILLION.
AND THEN RES THE, UH, RESTRICTED BUDGET, WE LOOKED AT, UM, 9.5 AND WITH A TOTAL BUDGET FOR FY 22, WHICH WAS ADOPTED AT 67.2 MILLION.
AND THEN MOVING FROM FY 22 ADOPTED BUDGET TO THE FY 22 CURRENT CHANGE WHERE THE FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENTS MADE, WE HAD A, AN RESTRICTED ACCOUNT AND ADJUSTMENTS FOR 58 MILLION.
AND THEN WE HAD HOPE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WENT TO 726,000.
AND THEN HEALTHCARE BENE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS.
AS FAR AS ACTIVE CIVILIANS, THERE WAS A REDUCTION ACTUALLY OF 103,000.
UM, COUNCIL SURPLUS, 98,000, AND THEN THE ZOO CONTRACT IN TERMS OF ANNUAL PAYMENT, UH, 10.5 MILLION.
SO AFTER COMBINING THOSE ADJUSTMENTS, THAT WAS 11.3 MILLION.
AND WE GOT TO OUR FY 22 CURRENT BUDGET OF 78.6 MILLION.
MOVING FROM, UH, FY 22, OUR CURRENT BUDGET TO FY 23, WE MADE THE FOLLOWING BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.
YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FOR CIVILIANS AND LONG-TERM DISABILITY, 310,000 FY 22 HOPE ALLOWANCES.
WE LOOK AT, UH, THAT'S 250 1023 HOPE ALLOWANCE, UH, 900 AND, UH, 60,000 MINIMUM WAGE ADJUSTMENTS, 140, UH, 9,000 MUNICIPAL PENSION, 224 AS AS FAR AS A REDUCTION.
SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS GOOD NEWS.
YOU LOOK AT RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS AT 221,000.
AND THEN, UH, THE ZOO CIP INCREASE AT 200, UH, I'M SORRY, UM, SEVEN 400, EXCUSE ME, 520,000.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE NEW FACILITY ALLOWANCE, MRS. EA LEAF BRINGING THAT ON AT 588, UH, THOUSAND.
AND THEN I LOVE OUR PARK INITIATIVES.
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BENEFICIAL TO NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT 5 MILLION.SO WE GET TO THE FY 23 PROPOSED BUDGET OF 86.6 MILLION, WHICH IS A 10.3% INCREASE FOR THE CURRENT BUDGET.
WE LOOK AT EXPENDITURES FROM, UH, 23.
IN TERMS OF EXPENDITURE HIGHLIGHTS.
UM, WE HAD SOME VARIANCES BETWEEN FY 23 AND FY 20 TWOS, UH, BUDGET.
UM, ALL OF THE INCREASE WERE INCREASES WERE DUE TO HOPE ALLOWANCES, MINIMUM WAGE ADJUSTMENTS AND RELATED BENEFITS.
SO, EXPLAINING THIS BY FUND, YOU LOOK AT 1000, OUR GENERAL FUND, THERE'S AN $8 MILLION, UM, DIFFERENCE.
THIS INCREASE IS IN, UH, RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS AND FUNDING FOR THE, UH, MAYORS LOVE OUR PARKS INITIATIVE FUND 2100, UH, SPECIAL REVENUE.
AND THIS IS A PURCHASE OF, OF, UH, SPORTS FIELD VEHICLES TO MAINTAIN OUR FIELDS AND OUR INVENTORY.
AS FAR AS GOLF REVENUE, IT'S 800 AND, UM, 94, UH, THOUSAND FOR INCREASED MAINTENANCE COSTS.
AND, UH, UPGRADES TO THE COURSE TO, UM, ENSURE THAT WE MEET THE, UH, PGA STANDARD TO DELIVER THE, UM, TOURNAMENT.
UM, HERE IN HOUSTON, WE HAVE OUR MAINTENANCE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT OF 343,000.
UM, THIS IS DUE TO AN INCREASE IN MAINTENANCE AND PARK MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR COST.
UM, YOU LOOK AT FUND 2106, UM, GREENWAY BIO GREENWAYS 2020 OF 34,000.
AND THIS IS MAINLY THE PURCHASE OF NEW VEHICLES AND, AND EQUIPMENT.
UM, THIS ACTUALLY CONCLUDES MY, OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION.
I WENT THROUGH IT PRETTY QUICK.
I KNOW YOU GUYS MAY HAVE QUESTIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME DEPARTMENT, UM, DEMOGRAPHICS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE APPENDIX, IN THE, IN THE BACK.
UM, I'D LIKE TO OPEN THIS UP FOR QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM FOR CERTAINLY JOINING ME.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
WE'LL START OFF WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN.
THANK YOU
UM, REALLY QUICKLY ON PAGE 16, THE HEALTH BENEFIT ADJUSTMENT, THE 1 0 3, CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT? HEALTH BENEFITS FOR ACTIVE CIVILIANS IN TERMS OF RE THE REDUCTION OF, UH, 203, I'M SORRY, 103,000? UM, MS. CHERYL, COULD YOU ELABORATE ON THAT FOR ME, PLEASE? YEAH, IT'S MOSTLY DUE TO, UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE HEALTH BENEFITS FOR THE ACTIVE CIVILIANS, WHEN WE BRING ON, WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE RETIRE, EMPLOYEES RETIRE, AND WE BRING ON NEW EMPLOYEES, WE, WE BUDGET THEM AT THE LOWEST, UM, UM, HEALTH BENEFIT RATE IN HOPES THAT THEY'RE GONNA COME IN.
AND THAT, THAT, SO WE BUDGET FOR JUST LOWER THAN IF SOMEBODY RETIRE AFTER BEING THERE 32, 35 YEARS SOMEWHERE.
I JUST, I WASN'T SURE IF THAT WAS A COVID CORRELATION OR WHAT.
UM, ONE OF THE, WHILE WE NEVER WANTED A PANDEMIC, UH, STILL WISH WE WEREN'T DEALING WITH SOME OF IT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF IT WAS THE GREATER APPRECIATION I THINK WE HAVE FOR BEING OUTSIDE AND THE SERVICES THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR OUR PARK SYSTEM.
AND NOT JUST THE ENJOYMENT OF THE OUTDOORS, BUT DIRECTOR, TO YOUR POINT, UM, THE SUPPORT WE PROVIDE FOR OUR YOUTH THROUGH THE PARKS PROGRAM.
I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MEALS PROGRAM.
UH, EVERY YEAR I BRING UP ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS WE DO AT THE CITY IS THE AFTERSCHOOL YES.
PROGRAMS. UH, NOT ONLY GIVING KIDS A SAFE PLACE, UH, TO BE WHILE THEIR PARENTS MAY STILL BE AT WORK, BUT, UH, THE FOLKS THAT WORK IN YOUR DEPARTMENT ARE PROVIDING TUTORING, UM, CRAFTS.
UH, I REMEMBER ONE NIGHT I WAS AT A CIVIC CLUB MEETING AT, UH, CHERRY HURST, AND IT HAD TO BE 10 30 AT NIGHT, AND THERE WAS STILL AN EMPLOYEE THERE, UH, TEACHING ONE OF THE KIDS HOW TO PLAY CHESS SO THAT HE COULD BE ON THE SCHOOL TEAM.
UH, AND THAT DEDICATION JUST CHANGES LIVES.
REALLY QUICKLY, UM, GIVEN THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS THAT WE CONTINUE TO FACE AT THE CITY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT CURRENTLY ARE NOT BEING MET? AND IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANNA FLAG FOR COUNCIL THAT MAY BE COMING UP IN THE FUTURE THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF AS A NEED THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE RIGHT NOW, BASED ON THIS BUDGET IN, IN TERMS OF FACILITY RENOVATIONS AND, AND, AND PARK MAINTENANCE AND, UH, REDUCING OUR MOTOR CYCLES?
[00:20:01]
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE CURRENTLY ON A, BASICALLY A 21 DAY CYCLE, UM, FOR MUCH OF THE PARKLAND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.WE DO HAVE SOME PARTNERSHIPS AND WE'RE ENGAGED WITH SOME COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT HELP US TAKE CARE OF PARKS, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS WE WANT OUR PARKS IN GREAT CONDITION.
BUT CURRENTLY BECAUSE OF STAFFING LEVELS AND BUDGET, UH, WE WOULD LOVE TO REDUCE OUR MOWING CYCLES.
UM, AND THEN, AND THEN TWO, UM, IN, IN TERMS OF DELIVERING SERVICES, UH, WE'RE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT WE HAVE AT EACH LOCATION.
AND SO SOMETIMES WE'RE ATED TO PARTNERSHIPS AND OPENING AND, AND CLOSING DOORS WITH OUR PRIMARY, UH, PROGRAMMING BEING OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.
AND THEN SOME SPECIALTY CLASSES WHERE WE INVITE, UH, OTHER GROUPS TO COME IN.
SO WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF THAT.
UM, BUT MAINLY THE OUROUR CYCLES.
AND THEN, UH, SUPPORT FOR OUR YOUTH IN TERMS OF PROGRAMMING, OH, I, I CAN'T FORGET, AND HE'LL KILL ME IF I WALK OUTTA HERE WITHOUT SAYING IT,
WE HAVE SOME AGING FACILITIES.
UM, BUT WE TAKE CARE OF 'EM AS BEST WE CAN.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ TO THE HORSESHOE COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK.
THANK YOU MAYOR PROTO AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, DIRECTOR, HAS THERE EVER BEEN, UM, A STUDY TO SEE IF, UM, FOR THE MOWING OF THE ESPLANADES AND THE LIBRARIES AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, IF WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS, UM, TO LEVERAGE FUNDS OR CONTRACTS, THAT KIND OF THING WOULD SAVE ANY MONEY? WELL, WE, WE SERVE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE COLLABORATIONS AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, UM, THE ESPIONAGE OR VERY INTENSE, UH, WE, WE GET TO THEM LIKE A THIRD PRIORITY, UM, AFTER WE MOW THE PARKS, UM, AND AFTER WE TAKE CARE OF OTHER, OTHER BUSINESS.
BUT THERE, THERE'S A CRITICAL, THOSE ARE, THAT'S A CRITICAL AREA BECAUSE WE WANT 'EM TO LOOK AS NICE AS EVERYTHING ELSE.
UM, AS FAR AS COLLABORATING WITH PUBLIC WORKS, UM, THEY'RE, I THINK THEY'RE JUST AS LIMITED AS WE ARE.
UM, WE DO COLLABORATE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THAT WANNA MAINTAIN.
THAT'S BEEN OUR BEST WAY TO KIND OF DIG INTO THE, THE INVENTORY OF ESPANADE, BUT WITHOUT PARTNERING AND, AND US BEING A SOLO ON IT, UH, 2022 TO 24 DAYS IS WHAT WAS WHAT WE'RE ON NOW BASED ON RESOURCES.
SO WE WELCOME COLLABORATION WITH ANY DEPARTMENT OR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP TO HELP US GET INTO THAT.
ALONG THOSE SAME LINES ON THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN THE BUDGET BOOK, YOU HAVE ACTUALLY A TARGET OF 27 DAYS ON THE MOWING CYCLE.
AND JUST BACK A COUPLE YEARS AGO IT WAS 21.
AND THOSE, THOSE SIX DAYS MAKE A HECK OF A LOT OF DIFFERENCE.
SO I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN, AND I'M TRYING TO FIND, UM, IN YOUR, UH, IN THE RAW DATA, WHERE, WHERE CAN I FIND THE, THE MOWING DOLLARS? I MEAN, YOU HAVE A LANDSCAPE AND GARDENING.
I MEAN, IS THERE, DO YOU REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE, OF HOW YOU CLASSIFY MOWING? IT'S NOT LISTED AS MOWING.
UH, YOU CAN GET THAT TO ME LATER.
WE CAN, WE CAN GET TO THAT SPECIFIC PART.
AND, AND ON THE HEALTH BENEFITS QUESTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ASKED, I MEAN, I SEE CONSISTENTLY ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS, UM, A SAVINGS, A, A BIG SAVINGS IN, IN HEALTH BENEFITS.
IT'S, UH, CONSISTENTLY OVER THE YEARS, AND THIS IS A 400 MILLION PLUS EXPENSE WE DO EVERY YEAR THERE.
THERE'S AN O YOU KNOW, WE'RE OVER, OVER, I MEAN, I KNOW WE WANNA HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR HEALTH BENEFITS ALWAYS, BUT WE'RE OVERDOING IT BY QUITE A BIT.
AND THEN THERE, THOSE SAVINGS ARE PASSED BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT $103,000 IS JUST 'CAUSE WE'RE OVERSTATING WHAT WE THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED ON HEALTH BENEFITS.
AND THAT'S, I'VE SEEN THAT KIND OF ACROSS THE BOARD ON THAT.
IF YOU COULD JUST GET THE, THE EXACT, UM, MOWING COSTS, UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.
AND, AND ARE THEY BROKEN OUT BY PARKS AND LIBRARIES AND, AND, UM, ESPLANADES OR IS IT JUST KIND OF ONE YEAH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, OH YEAH.
IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY IN ONE, SO GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT BUDGET, THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE IT.
SO WE DON'T HAVE REALLY ANYTHING BROKEN DOWN.
NOW, SOME OF THEM HAVE INDIVIDUAL COST CENTERS.
BUT NOT ALL PARKS HAVE A COST.
SO JUST IN THE GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT.
AND ONE THING I KNOW WE'VE TALKED TO THE CITY'S NATURALIST ABOUT, AND, AND THANKS TO BARBARA QUATRO AND JUST IN ALE, SHE HAS BROUGHT UP THE, THE, UM, LINEAR FORESTS, YOU KNOW, PUTTING MORE TREES IN THE ESPLANADES SO THE GRASS ISN'T GROWING SO HIGH, ALSO USING MORE, UM, WE'VE HAD A BIG MEETING WITH LIKE MORE THE NATURAL PLANTINGS AND THE ESPLANADES,
[00:25:01]
WHICH, UM, DON'T REQUIRE AS MUCH MOWING.SO WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT DOING IN, UM, TO FURTHER THOSE INITIATIVES? WELL, ONE THING IN TERMS OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, WE HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR ESPLANADES THAT ARE MAINTAINED BY NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, THEY HAVE TO DO IT BY PARK STANDARD, OF COURSE, IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING AND HOW YOU'RE MAINTAINING.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN GREAT, UM, OVER THE YEARS AND WE HOPE TO ENHANCE THAT EFFORT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS.
AND, UH, TALKING ABOUT ESPLANADES AS WELL.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK Y'ALL DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB, UH, WITH THE NUMBER OF ESPLANADES YOU HAVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO TRY TO KEEP ALL THEM MAINTAINED.
UM, BUT THERE ARE, UM, TWO OR THREE ESPLANADES OVER THERE BY GULF GATE.
UH, I KNOW THAT THE PECAN PARK CIVIC CLUB HAS COMPLAINED, UH, AND, AND, AND, AND I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE THE ESPLANADES ARE ALL CONCRETE, BUT THE CRACKS HAVE GRASS THAT'S GROWING THAT'S LIKE TWO FEET TALL.
UH, SO, UH, THE, UM, UH, THE CIVIC CLUB, UM, UH, PECAN PARK HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THAT.
SO, UH, I'M, I'M HOPING THEY CAN BE ADDRESSED, UH, WHERE THEY CAN GO OUT.
AND, AND AGAIN, I KNOW THEY DON'T GO THERE, GO OUT THERE REGULARLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY'RE CONCRETED OVER.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, DIRT AND GRASS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT IN BETWEEN THE CRACKS, THE GRASS DOES GROW, UH, AND, AND, AND THE GRASS COULD YOU NOT, IT'S LIKE TWO FEET TALL.
UH, SO IF, IF THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED, IT WOULD BE GREAT.
UM, ALSO IN REGARDS TO THE GULF SPECIAL REVENUE FUND OR THE GOLF EXPENSES, I, I KNOW THAT THE, UM, HOUSTON GOLF ASSOCIATION TOOK OVER GU WAREHAM GOLF COURSE IS STILL A CITY GOLF COURSE.
UH, AND THIS COURSE WAS DONE BACK UN UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.
UH, AND WHAT I, I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE A TRIAL BASIS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND I THINK THEY'VE PROVEN THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL.
UH, IS THERE STILL DISCUSSION OF MAYBE THE HOUSTON GOLF ASSOCIATION OF, UM, TAKING OVER OTHER CITY GOLF COURSES, EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE CITY LAND, CITY PROPERTY, UH, BUT THEY WOULD JUST, UH, MAINTAIN IT AND MANAGE IT AND WHAT HAVE YOU? NO, NO CURRENT DIS DISCUSSION AS FAR THE GOLF ASSOCIATION TAKING OVER GOLF COURSES.
I MEAN, WITH, WITH OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE ASTROS, UH, GOLF, GOLF FOUNDATION AND THE ASTROS PRIMARILY AT MEMORIAL GOLF IS DOING GREAT RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF REVENUE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PLAYING, WE'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE COURSES APPROPRIATELY.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE, UH, HERMAN THAT'S COMING UP, UH, PRETTY SOON IN TERMS OF CONSIDERATION OF OPERATING MM-HMM
SO, UM, THAT, THAT MAY BE ON THE TABLE SOON.
YOU COULD PUT ME BACK IN THE QUEUE.
WE'LL PUT YOU BACK IN IN QUEUE.
COUNCIL MEMBER TASHA JACKSON, THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR ALLEN FOR, UM, YOUR PRESENTATION AND JUST ALL YOUR WORK THAT YOU'VE, UM, BEEN DOING AND WORKING WITH MY OFFICE ON TRYING TO GET OUR PARKS, YOU KNOW, JUST UNDERSTAND WHERE WE GOING WITH THE PARKS AND THE NEED.
AND, UM, I KNOW WE'VE DONE A LOT OF TOURS OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
UM, THE PARKS IN MY DISTRICT AND JUST TALKING TO YOUR STAFF, ONE OF THE THINGS IS WE NEEDED MORE STAFF.
YOU NEED MORE STAFF, UM, TO COVER SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE, UM, THAT THAT'S NEEDED WITHIN THE PARKS.
AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, UM, I SEE THAT THERE'S AN INCREASE OF 10.3%.
WE HAVE THE LOVE OUT PARKS INITIATIVE, SO IS THE EXTRA STAFF AND THE, THE 5 MILLION THAT'S IN THE LOVE OUT PARKS, OR HAVE YOU INCLUDED ADDITIONAL STAFF? I KNOW OUR CONVERSATION WAS, I KNOW WE NEED MONEY, SO WE NEED TO ASK FOR WHAT WE NEED.
UM, AND JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M, THAT WE ARE ALIGNED AND SO IS THE ADDITIONAL STAFF IN THIS BUDGET? NO, NO, NO ADDITIONAL STAFF, BUT JUST RESOURCES TO AND MATERIAL TO GET THAT TYPE OF WORK DONE.
AND THEN OUT OUTSOURCING AS, AS WE NEED TO, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LOVE OUR PARKS INITIATIVE, UH, AS WE COMPLETE THOSE PROJECTS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FIVE MORE PARKS WE'RE GOING TO FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UM, BUT CONTRACTING OUT HAS BEEN A WAY TO COMPLETE SOME OF THE PROJECTS.
AND THEN JUST THE, THE RAW MATERIAL THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE UPGRADES.
SO ONE OF THE WAYS I OPERATE IS THE, I DO A, LIKE A PENTO BUDGET AND A, LIKE A BENTLEY BUDGET.
LIKE, WHAT IS YOUR BENTLEY BUDGET? BECAUSE I'M SURE THIS IS A PENTO BUDGET, YOU KNOW, LIKE, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED? AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY GIVE THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY NEED? AND THAT'S PARKS THAT'S FUNCTIONABLE THAT THEY CAN LIKE USE.
AND SO, I MEAN, OF COURSE WE'VE SEEN THE PARKS IN MY DISTRICT AND I KNOW MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE VISITED THE PARKS.
AND SO WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO DO YOUR JOB? THAT'S, THAT'S A LOADED QUESTION FOR ME.
UM, YOU KNOW, WITH HOUSTON BEING THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION, YOU KNOW, WE COVER A LOT OF TERRITORY.
UM, FOR US TO GET TO, UH, 14 DAYS OR, OR SEVEN DAY MOWING CYCLE, IT'S GONNA TAKE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR US TO GET THERE.
AND THEN FACILITY UPGRADES, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
[00:30:01]
AGING FACILITIES, AGING POOLS, IT'S IMMENSE.UH, I'LL HAVE TO DO A STUDY OR SOME TYPE OF, UM, DOCUMENT, UM, THAT WOULD ASSESS ALL OF OUR FACILITIES AND THEN OUR, OUR PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THINGS THAT WE NEED TO, UH, UPGRADE.
BUT I'LL NEED A TIME TO GET THAT TOGETHER FOR YOU.
UH, I CAN'T, I DON'T WANNA JUST THROW OUT A NUMBER.
AND IT'S NOT NEARLY WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I NEED TO TELL YOU.
AND I'M STILL WAITING ON MY LIST FROM THE PARKS THAT WE TOUR, SO I CAN GET THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT BASED UPON WHAT WE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY CITY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE PARK.
AND THAT WAY WE CAN KNOW WHAT WE NEED AND THEN WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR THOSE RESOURCES.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO WITH THE LIMITED BUDGET.
I THINK SOME OF THE COMMENTS WE'RE HEARING FROM AROUND THE HORSESHOE JUST REALLY UNDERLINE, UH, HOW, HOW YOU DO SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE.
AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THINGS RELATED TO THE REQUEST, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE JUST MADE, YOU KNOW, TIME AND MONEY AND PERSONNEL WOULD SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. UM, SO RECOGNIZING ALL THAT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE COMING HERE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION ON THE HEELS OF THE DISCUSSION WITH THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND SOME OF WHAT WE SPOKE ABOUT ALREADY TODAY WAS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
AND AS AN OBSERVATION, YOU KNOW, WHEN ONE DOESN'T MOW THE, THE ESPLANADE THAT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE BECOMES VERY OBVIOUS.
WITNESS MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS WITH THE PROBLEMS DOWN BY GULF GATE AND, AND HEAR THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SAYING AROUND TOWN.
SO YOU HEAR FROM US ALL THE TIME IN RECOGNIZING THAT I WANT TO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH LIMITED DOLLARS AND ALL THOSE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT ARE TOP PILED ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER WITH OUR FAST AND WONDERFULLY, UH, POSITIVE CHANGING CITY.
YOU KNOW, MAYOR TURNER'S, UH, UH, PARKS INITIATIVE, UH, WHAT WE'VE DONE RECENTLY WITH CELEBRATING THE ZOO, UM, SOME OF OUR BRIGHT BAYOU GREENWAYS INITIATIVES, OF COURSE.
AND WITH THE GOLF PROGRAM TO NAME A FEW.
I WANNA FOCUS ON SOME OF WHAT WE'VE DESCRIBED ALREADY TODAY AS MASTER PLANNING INITIATIVES, WHETHER THAT'S THE PARKS MASTER PLAN, WHETHER THAT'S A MASTER PLAN FOR TENNIS, WHICH I APPRECIATE.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A SECTION IN THE APPENDIX ABOUT OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT, AS YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH THE TENNIS PROGRAM.
AND I, I JUST WONDERED IF YOU CAN GIVE A LITTLE NARRATIVE OVERTONE OF HOW YOU SEE THINGS IN THAT MASTER PLANNING CATEGORY OF OUR PARKS FACILITIES.
'CAUSE THOSE, FAMOUSLY, AS THE ADAGE GOES, A MASTER PLAN TENDS TO GET ON A SHELF AND COLLECT DUST.
BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU PUSH FORWARD, SPECIFICALLY IN MY CASE, CURIOUS ABOUT TENNIS, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COUNCIL TO SUPPORT YOUR GOOD WORK? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
'CAUSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR PARK SYSTEM, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT MASTER PLANS AND, AND INITIATIVES, UH, MOVING FORWARD, I THINK COLLECTIVELY, YOU KNOW, IF WE LOOK AT ALL THE DIRECTORS IN THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, ONE IN PLANNING, OF COURSE ONE WITH GSD PUBLIC WORKS, WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE LEVAR PARKS INITIATIVE, UH, IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS.
SO FROM A CITYWIDE PERSPECTIVE, WE LOOK INTERNALLY WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THEN FROM A MORE, UH, BROAD PERSPECTIVE, WE LOOK AT OUR PARTNERS, PARTNERS LIKE HOUSTON PARKS, BOARD PARTNERS, LIKE, UH, THE BUFFALO BIO PARTNERSHIP, ALL, ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.
AND THEN WE LOOK, UH, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK EXTENSIVELY PAST AND BEYOND WHAT WE COULD DO INTERNALLY.
AND THEN, UM, FROM A STUDY STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO OUR NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATE THAT, AND THEN WE JUST COME TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THE GAPS ARE.
AND WE REDEVELOPED THE PARKS MASTER PLAN.
UM, I THINK OUR LAST PLAN WAS, UH, 2016, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY, UM, TRYING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE UPDATE THAT BY 2024, UH, FOR OUR ACCREDITATION THROUGH NRPA, WE NEED A, A, UH, A SOLID MASTER PLAN, UM, TO PRESENT, TO RECEIVE OUR ACCREDITATION.
SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT AGGRESSIVELY IN THE NEXT YEAR.
AND THE TENNIS PROGRAM WILL BE PART OF THAT, SIR.
I MEAN, TENNIS HAS TAKEN A, UH, A UNIQUE, UM, I WOULD SAY POSITION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE, WE, WE INVITED PROS CONSULTANT A FEW YEARS AGO TO COME IN AND DO KIND OF A STUDY ON WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
AND WE HAVE A DRAFT DOCUMENT THAT WE'RE TWEAKING NOW THAT WE'LL UNLEASH WITH THE HELP OF ZENA GARRISON, WHO WE HIRED AS OUR TENNIS, UH, MANAGER.
CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN OUT LOUD THERE? I THINK THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD THAT ZENA GARRISON, WE HIRED AS OUR, UH, OUTREACH AND,
[00:35:01]
UH, OUR, OUR MANAGER FOR TENNIS.UH, SO SHE'S COORDINATING WITH OUR NEW, UH, DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TOM ANGELOS, WHO IS IN THE ROOM.
UH, WE'RE GONNA WORK TOGETHER ON THAT, ON THAT PLAN AND FINALIZE IT.
UM, WHICH WILL ALSO ENCAPSULATE OUR MASTER PLAN THAT WE HAVE TO PRODUCE AND, AND, AND, UM, AND SUBMIT TO RECEIVE OUR ACCREDITATION BY 24, I BELIEVE.
THE OTHER TWO WORDS TO SAY, I THINK I JUST HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN SAY IT.
I'M GONNA CHALLENGE EVERYBODY.
I'M GONNA CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO TRY PICKLEBALL.
UM, WE'RE PLANNING ON USING THE SPORT OF PICKLEBALL.
IT'S SIMILAR TO, IT'S SIMILAR TO TENNIS.
UM, AND WE'RE GONNA, UM, ACTUALLY PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO PLAY.
UH, WE HOPE TO ESTABLISH ABOUT 30 COURTS THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT HOUSTON, COMBINED WITH TENNIS.
UM, THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT DIVISION, UH, TOM ANGELOS, UH, NEWLY HIRED, WELL, HE'S BEEN ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW.
UM, HE'S A PICKLEBALL, A ADVOCATE, AND WE'RE PROMOTING THE, NOT ONLY DEVELOPING COURTS, UM, WITH TENNIS, BUT ALSO PROGRAMMING ALONG THE WAY.
UH, WE'RE HOSTING, UH, THE NATIONAL PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT, UH, IN OCTOBER AT MEMORIAL PARK.
SO WE'LL GET CLOSER TO THAT DATE.
I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU GUYS TO COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
DIRECTOR, YOU VICE MAYOR PROAM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, I HEARD YOU SAY THAT ESPLANADES WERE THE THIRD PRIORITY, UM, AFTER THE PARKS AND SOME OTHER SERVICES.
AND THEN OUR ESPLANADES I WAS DRIVING HOME ON YESTERDAY, UH, ALONG KIRBY.
UM, I USUALLY GO ON 59, BUT I WENT DOWN KIRBY 'CAUSE THE FREEWAYS CLOSED AT SIX 10, AND I SAW A GROUP OF CONTRACTORS PUTTING DOWN TURF IN THE ESPLANADE, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GENIUS IDEA.
UM, SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON TURF IN THE ESPLANADES? AND, AND I, I NOTICED THAT ALONG THAT KIRBY, UM, STREET HEADED TOWARDS HOLCOMB, THERE ARE LOTS OF TREES, SO THE GRASS DOESN'T GROW THERE.
SO I KNOW THEY WERE PUTTING THAT ARTIFICIAL TURF DOWN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THE GRASS TO GROW THERE, BUT IT LOOKED AMAZING.
I SAID I WAS GONNA GO BACK DOWN THAT WAY TODAY TO SEE WHAT THE FINISHED PRODUCT LOOKED LIKE, BUT THERE WAS A WHOLE CREW THERE, AND THEY WERE PUTTING DOWN TURF.
I, I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, BECAUSE IF THAT'S A THING I I, I'D BE, BE INTERESTED IN HAVING SOME ARTIFICIAL TURF AND SOME ESPLANADES IN DISTRICT K.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S A PRETTY AMAZING IDEA.
WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORHOODS IN TERMS OF, UH, TAKING CARE OF, UH, THE ESPLANADES.
UH, IT'S CALLED THE ADOPT ESPLANADE PROGRAM.
AND SO THERE'S SOME GREAT IDEAS.
TURF IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO PUT DOWN, UP FRONT, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT.
SO, UH, I LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT IDEA EVEN MORE.
I THINK'S I'LL GO BY THERE TODAY AND TAKE A PICTURE OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT AND SEND IT TO YOU AND WE, AND WE CAN EXPLORE THAT A LITTLE MORE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT YES.
ABOUT OUR, UH, PARK RICH DISTRICT DI WANTED TO ASK, UH, HOW OFTEN ARE THE ESPLANADE CUT? I JUST GOT A CALL AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY THINK THEY NEED TO BE CUT EVERY TWO WEEKS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF CYCLE THEY ARE ON, AND MAYBE IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED.
WE'RE, WE'RE ACTUALLY ON A 28 DAY CYCLE FOR ESPLANADES, BUT, BUT I THINK EVERY TWO WEEKS IS A LITTLE MUCH, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN FOR A FULL CITY.
SO IT'S A 28 DAY CYCLE, AT LEAST 28 DAYS, BUT MANY OF OUR ESPLANADES ARE ADOPTED BY CIVIC CLUBS AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.
IN SOME AREAS, IT'S KIND OF LIKE HAVING A GARDEN AND, UH, HAVING VOLUNTEERS KIND OF MAINTAIN IT.
WE DO HAVE STANDARDS AND THERE'S A PROCESS FOR ADOPTING AN ESPLANADE.
UM, I ENCOURAGE COMMUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED WITH THAT.
UH, IT'S CERTAINLY A WAY TO KEEP NEIGHBORHOODS BEAUTIFIED, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, VOLUNTEERISM.
AND MY LAST QUESTION, HOW DO THE SECTORS FACTOR IN TO MONEY? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKS, BUT WE DON'T GET AS MUCH MONEY IN REGARDS TO THE SECTORS.
UM, THE PARK SECTORS ARE SPECIFIC TO THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENING IN THOSE SECTORS, AND MONIES ARE ALLOTTED TO THAT SPECIFIC SECTOR.
I'VE HAD RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH LEGAL ABOUT
[00:40:01]
HOW WE CAN PROB HOW WE CAN POSSIBLY EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD IN TERMS OF MONEY AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THIS CITY.WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME POTENTIAL OPTIONS THAT WE COULD, UH, GET INTO IN TERMS OF SHARING IN THE FUTURE.
BUT I DON'T HAVE A DOCUMENT FOR YOU GUYS JUST YET, BUT WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, MARY NAN HUFFMAN, UH, THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
HOW MANY ESPLANADES ARE ADOPTED? DO YOU KNOW? OH, MR. GONZALEZ.
THOUSAND ACRES ARE ADOPTED, ABOUT A THOUSAND ACRES.
AND YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THE PROGRAM, THE ADOPT AN ESCALADE PROGRAM.
UM, BUT I DON'T SEE A LOT OF ADVERTISING FOR IT.
WHAT DO WE DO TO ENCOURAGE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS AND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS TO ENGAGE IN THAT PROGRAM? OH, DEFINITELY.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE NEWSLETTERS, UH, PUT 'EM IN YOUR NEWSLETTERS, UM, ONLINE, UH, AND WE CAN DEVELOP A CAMPAIGN TO ACTUALLY ASSIST WITH THAT FROM OUR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO GET MORE EXPOSURE TOWARD THAT PROGRAM.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, IF ONE ESPLANADE IS ADOPTED, WHAT DOES THAT EQUAL IN SAVINGS FOR THE CITY? OR IS IT BY ACRE? OH, OUR EXPENSE PER ACRE IS ABOUT MR. GONZALEZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, DIRECTOR IN REGARDS TO, I KNOW THERE'S A, UM, Y Y'ALL ARE IN NEED OF, UH, LIFEGUARDS.
I AM SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WE ONLY OPENED 10, UM, THIS YEAR WE'RE SCHEDULED TO DO JUST ABOUT THAT.
AGAIN, THERE'S JUST A SHORTAGE.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME, UM, AMOUNT OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN COMING OUT TO LIFEGUARD.
UM, THEY'RE CHOOSING OTHER THINGS.
OUR, OUR WORKFORCE USED TO BE ABOUT 50% RETURN, BUT AFTER WE CLOSED POOLS, WE LOST THAT.
AND, UH, WE'RE AGGRESSIVELY TRYING TO REGAIN IT.
BUT FOR, FOR A, I'M GONNA SAY YOUNG ADULT, STARTING AT 16, UM, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES ANYWHERE FROM A POOL SUPERVISOR TO A HEAD LIFEGUARD AND A LIFEGUARD.
AND WE TAKE THIS PROFESSION VERY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR LIVES IN THAT POOL.
UH, WE WANT TO OPERATE SAFELY AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED AT EACH LOCATION.
SO IF WE WERE TO OPEN A DAY, IT WOULD BE ABOUT 10 OR 11 POOLS.
WE'RE AGGRESSIVELY RECRUITING AND ASKING FOR HELP, UM, SO THAT, SO THAT WE CAN OPEN MORE.
AND WE'LL DO THAT FROM A STRATEGIC STANDPOINT.
IN TERMS OF ATTENDANCE IN THE PAST, WE MAY GO TO A ROTATING SCHEDULE, TWO POOLS OPEN, AND ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN OR IN THIS DISTRICT, AND THEN MAYBE TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND THEN TWO ON ANOTHER SIDE, UH, MAYBE, UH, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY.
BUT WE HAVE TO GET CREATIVE IN PROVIDING THESE SERVICES ACROSS THE CITY WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF STAFFING RESOURCES.
BUT WE'RE AGGRESSIVELY RECRUITING RIGHT NOW, AND I'M HOPING YOU REACH OUT TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS SO THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE INPUT AS TO WHAT POOLS WE THINK SHOULD BE OPENED.
I KNOW CLINTON PARK HAS ALREADY REACHED OUT TO ME MM-HMM
UH, AND THERE'S NO OTHER POOL IN THE AREA.
UH, SO I THINK CLINTON PARK WOULD BE A GREAT, UH, POOL TO OPEN IN DISTRICT.
I, UH, AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION HERE, UH, LOOKING AT THE DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN, UH, UH, AGAIN, UH, WITH NEARLY HALF THE POPULATION BEING HISPANIC, ONLY 29%, UH, ARE EMPLOYED BY THE PARK DEPARTMENT, ARE HISPANIC.
UH, SO I'M HOPING THAT, UH, THERE CAN BE SOME IMPROVEMENT ON THAT.
UH, AND IF YOU COULD ALSO PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH A BREAKDOWN OF THE, UH, DEMOGRAPHIC BREAK BREAKDOWN FOR THE MANAGEMENT, UH, UM, OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
UM, REALLY QUICKLY, DIRECTOR, ONE THING THAT'S BEEN ON MY MIND HERE IN HOUSTON, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT FLOODING AS WE SHOULD, BUT, UH, WE ALSO HAVE CYCLICAL DROUGHTS, UH, 87% OF THE STATE RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK OVER HALF OF HOUSTON ITSELF IS ACTUALLY IN A DROUGHT.
UM, ARE THOSE COSTS CALCULATED IN, OR HOW MUCH MORE COST IS IT WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH A DROUGHT? SO HAVING TO WATER MORE? UM, AGAIN, 2011 COSTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MEMORIAL PARK ALONE,
[00:45:01]
UM, FROM THE LOSS OF TREES.SO IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK TO THAT REALLY QUICKLY IN TERMS OF THAT COST CALCULATION.
YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE COST BREAKDOWN, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ANY HISTORY FROM PREVIOUS DROUGHTS.
I JUST KNOW WE HAD TO RECOVER.
WE, WE HAD TO DO SPECIFIC THINGS IN TERMS OF SOIL, IN TERMS OF PLANTS, UH, IN TERMS OF PLACEMENT.
BUT, UM, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ANY DATA THAT COULD SUPPORT IT AT THIS POINT.
I CAN CERTAINLY DO A BIT OF LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH WITH OUR GREEN SPACE TEAM AND, UM, GET YOU SOMETHING SPECIFIC.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, I THINK, UH, ME AND DIRECTOR ALLEN COULD DEFINITELY TAKE YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN ON AND A, AND A DOUBLES WITH PICKLE BALLS.
SO LET US KNOW WHENEVER YOU WANT.
WHAT TIME IS SESSION OVER WITH
SO ANYTIME, ANYTIME YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO JUST LET ME KNOW.
WE HAVE FIVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS BEFORE THAT.
UH, I'D LIKE TO GO TO SLIDE I EIGHT THAT'S ON THE LIST AND IT'S ABOUT MEMORIAL PARK GOLF COURSE.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY SATURDAY.
I WENT THERE TO THE, FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST TEE EVENT THEY HAD OVER THERE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, WE GET 1.1 MILLION $333,000 AS A GIFT FROM THE ASTROS FOUNDATION.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT Y'ALL AERATED AND PUT SOME SAND ALL OVER THE COURSE.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE THAT COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, IN GREAT SHAPE IN, IN NOVEMBER FOR THE TOURNAMENT.
BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR, IT WASN'T IN GOOD SHAPE.
AND THERE WAS A QUOTE IN THE SUNDAY PAPER THAT WHEN WE ALL PICKED IT UP AND REREAD IT, WE WERE EMBARRASSED BY IT.
AND THAT WAS THE WINNER OF THE TOURNAMENT.
JASON KRO WAS QUOTED AS SAYING I WOULD'VE SHOT SEVEN SHOTS BETTER IF I WASN'T HITTING OFF OF MUD ALL DAY.
SO AS MEMORIAL PARK GOLF COURSE GOES, SO GOES THE REST OF THE GOLF COURSES IN THE CITY BECAUSE WE USE THE PROCEEDS AND WE FUND A LOT OF OUR OPERATIONS WITH THAT.
SO I SEE A LOT OF GOOD WORK OUT THERE.
ONE THING THAT I DID TALK TO MS. JULIE BLUM ABOUT IS, UM, SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM, TEXAS A AND M HAS A GREAT GOLF TURF MANAGEMENT SCHOOL.
HAVE WE REACHED OUT TO THEM OR DOES IT MAKE SENSE THAT WE DO REACH OUT TO THEM AND TRY AND GET SOME OF THOSE YOUNG KIDS THAT ARE STUDYING TURF GRASS SCIENCE AND COME TO MEMORIAL AND SPEND A SUMMER, BE IT LOOK GOOD ON THEIR RESUME, THAT THEY WORKED ON A PGA TOURNAMENT GOLF COURSE? AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE HAVE HARD TIME ATTRACTING, UH, EMPLOYEES OUT THERE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T QUITE FRANKLY, PAY ENOUGH.
AND THEY GET OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AT OTHER GOLF COURSES ALL AROUND THE CITY.
SO WE'RE DISADVANTAGED RIGHT THERE.
BUT USING SOME OF THOSE TEXAS A AND M KIDS, I THINK WOULD MAKE A GOOD SENSE TO GET THAT COURSE READY, BECAUSE THE GROWING SEASON IS, IS UPON US.
AND IF WE DON'T HAVE IT READY IN NOVEMBER, THE HOUSTON OPEN WILL NOT BE AT MEMORIAL PARK.
AGAIN, MY OPINION AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINION.
SO WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OF TRYING TO GET IT THERE, BUT I WANT TO RAISE THAT WARNING FLAG AND SAY WE HAVE TO NAIL IT IN NOVEMBER.
IF WE DO NAIL IT, WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY, A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE IT TO APRIL.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IN APRIL? WE DON'T COMPETE AGAINST FOOTBALL.
WE DON'T COMPETE AGAINST BASKETBALL, AND WE DON'T COMPETE AGAINST BASEBALL IN OUR ATTENDANCE.
NUMBERS WILL ZOOM AND THE HIGHER THEY GO, THE MORE MONEY WE WILL RECEIVE FROM THE ASTROS GOLF FOUNDATION.
SO ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? YEAH, I AM.
UM, LAST YEAR WAS UNFORTUNATE IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE RESULTS OF MAINTENANCE OF THE COURSE.
UH, I BELIEVE WE MADE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT, UM, THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ASTROS GOLF FOUND FOUNDATION AS WELL AS A PGA.
I THINK WE HAVE QUALIFIED AND GREAT STAFF THERE.
NOW, UM, IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE OF THE COURSE, UH, WE WON'T HAVE THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR WITH THE GREENS AND THEIR APPROACH SHOTS.
UH, MAJOR FOCUS, IF YOU, IF YOU SEE THE AGRONOMY PLAN THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW, YOU CAN ALREADY SEE IMPROVEMENTS.
SO I'M, I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL MEET THE STANDARD THAT WE NEED TO MEET THIS YEAR, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS ACCORDINGLY, AND I KNOW YOU WILL.
COUNCIL MEMBER, CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ.
THANK YOU, MAYOR TIM AND I, I DID WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO TELL YOU THANK YOU AS WELL.
UH, WE HAD OUR FIRST TE GRADUATION ON THIS PAST SATURDAY.
WE HAD 16 STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN A PROGRAM FOR A FEW WEEKS, AND YOU WERE THE IMPETUS FOR THAT IDEA.
YOU AND, AND STEVEN, MY CONSTITUENTS DIRECTOR, THE, THE YOUNG PEOPLE REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED IT.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAINTAIN THE GAME AND PERHAPS GET SCHOLARSHIPS.
AND SO THAT'S SO VERY IMPORTANT.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DID.
[00:50:02]
THANK YOU.WE HAVE FOUR PUBLIC, FIVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, SAME RULES APPLY FOR THIS SESSION.
AS LAST, FIRST, WE'LL HAVE MS. SABA BLINDING DIRECTOR AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND I APPRECIATE IT.
UM, FIRST BEFORE I FORGET, I WANTED TO FOLLOW ON COUNCIL MEMBER ELKHORN AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S COMMENTS ABOUT DROUGHT.
UM, AND I LOVE THE IDEA OF PUTTING SOME MORE NATIVE GRASSES AND NATIVE PLANTS IN OUR ESPLANADES IN OUR CROSS JUST TO HELP.
UM, AND ALSO I WANTED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY 10-YEAR-OLD WHO COULD NOT BE HERE THIS MORNING DUE TO TESTING.
UM, SHE WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE SKATE PARKS AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SHE IS A GREAT FAN OF THE LEE AND JOE JAMELE SKATE PARK, AS WELL AS THE LESSONS YOU OFFER THROUGH THEM.
AND SHE ALSO SHARED A DESIRE FOR MORE GARDENS LIKE THE MCGOVERN CENTENNIAL GARDENS.
SHE ALSO ASKED ABOUT SIDEWALKS, AND I TOLD HER THAT WAS A WHOLE NOTHER BAG.
SO, UM, AND JUST AS A MOM, I, LIKE, I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, I FREQUENTLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER PARENTS DISCUSSING BOTH OF OUR, OUR LOVE FOR HOUSTON PARKS PROGRAMMING AND A DESIRE FOR MORE AS THEY QUICKLY FILL UP ONCE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
A FRIEND OF MINE ONCE SHARED THE LONG LIST OF INCREDIBLE HOUSTON CAMPS HIS SONS ATTENDED.
AND THAT ALL OF ALL OF THEM, THE CHERRY HURST CAMP THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WAS THEIR FAVORITE.
AND THEY LIKED IT SO MUCH THAT THE NEXT SUMMER, IT WAS THE ONLY PROGRAM THEY SIGNED UP FOR.
UM, AND I COULD SAY MORE AND MORE ABOUT WHAT PARENTS TALK ABOUT.
SO COULD I JUST A QUICK QUESTION.
THINKING CITYWIDE, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO EXPAND AND GROW CURRENT PROGRAMMING EQUITABLY ACROSS THE CITY? SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
AND, UH, WE ARE DIRECTING, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN AND MS. JOHNSON THAT WE WILL FEEL ALL THE QUESTIONS.
SO, UM, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT.
IF ANYBODY HAS ANY ANSWERS TO MS. BLANDING'S QUE QUESTION, UH, ON COUNCIL, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN.
BUT YOU'RE, YOU REPEAT QUESTION AS A GOOD TEACHER WOULD SAY, YOU'RE DISMISSED.
OH, UM, I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE LOOK LIKE.
I MEAN, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING.
AND SO WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO EXPAND IT MORE E EQU EQUITABLY ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, GETTING TONGUE TIED TODAY.
WE HAVE NO CITY RUN PARKS IN KINGWOOD, AND WE HAVE ONE CITY RUN PARK IN CLEAR LAKE.
SO I HAVE ONE THANK, SO, AND WE HAVE LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK, WHICH IS THE MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED PARK IN THE CITY, MAYBE IN THE SOUTH.
BUT I THINK, I THINK THAT, UM, A LOT OF IT COMES FROM YOU ALL SOUTH IN THE US DRAMATIC.
I THINK A LOT OF IT COMES FROM YOU ALL, UH, BASED ON THE DYNAMICS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH DISTRICT, UH, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE OF EACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM A PROGRAMMING STANDPOINT AS WELL AS A RECREATIONAL STANDPOINT.
UM, AND SO WE, WE LEAN ON YOU ALL TO LET US KNOW, UH, AS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITHIN YOUR OWN FOOTPRINT.
AND THEN WE WILL WORK WITHIN OURSELVES, EITHER THROUGH OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS ARE DIRECTLY WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ON TRYING TO, UH, FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE PARKS WITH THOSE SPECIALTY NEEDS.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS, PLEASE SEND THEM TO US.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE PASS 'EM ALONG AND THEN WE WILL GIVE 'EM TO YOUR APPROPRIATE COUNCIL MEMBER AS WELL.
'CAUSE AS WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT, WE DO HAVE COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS THAT WE CAN USE FOR, UH, SOME OF OUR PARKS ACTIVITIES.
I KNOW WE USE SOME AT OUR SYLVAN RODRIGUEZ PARK DOWN SOUTH, SO I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION.
F FIRST OF ALL, THANK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I, I KNOW THAT, UH, MAYOR PARK, MAYOR TURNER HAS THE, UH, 50 50 PARKS.
UH, HE'S REACHING OUT TO CORPORATIONS TO HOPEFULLY PUT SOME MONIES IN, IN PARKS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED IN MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS.
UH, I KNOW THAT AT, UH, HARTMAN PARK THERE IN MANCHESTER, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO GET VALERO.
THAT WAS THE FIRST 50 50 PARK.
UH, THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT MONIES FOR NEW PLAY EQUIPMENT.
'CAUSE I KID YOU NOT, SOME OF THEIR PLAY, THE PLAY EQUIPMENT WAS RUSTING.
UH, AND, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED ON THE COST OF PLAY EQUIPMENT.
UH, IT, IT WAS ABOUT $660,000, UH, FOR NEW PLAY EQUIPMENT AT, AT HARTMAN PARK.
UH, SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO, IS THAT THE COST.
UH, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE GOT A REQUEST AT FONDE PARK LAST WEEK AT MY SEAT, AT MY, UH, REDISTRICTING, UH, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR NEW SWINGS.
I ASKED THEM, DO YOU NEED THE WHOLE PLAY EQUIPMENT? THEY SAID, NO, WE JUST NEED NEW SWINGS,
SO, SO I'M GONNA PUT IN THE COST TO THE, UH, PARTS DEPARTMENT TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH THE SWINGS COST.
AND I'M AFRAID TO HEAR THE PRICE TAG JUST FOR SWINGS.
BUT I'M GONNA TRY TO DO THAT AT, AT, UH, AT, UH, FOND PARK AS
[00:55:01]
WELL.UM, I APPRECIATE MR. LANDING, SPEAKING FROM THE THANK THANK YOU, UH, MR. JASON OLIVER.
UM, SO, SO I JUST GOT HERE LATE DURING THE LAST PRESENTATION, BUT I, I WANTED TO ASK WHY AREN'T, AREN'T WE, WHY IS COUNCIL FIELDING OUR QUESTIONS INSTEAD OF THE, BECAUSE EVERY COMMITTEE, I, I LET IT GET AWAY.
I LET IT GET AWAY FROM THIS YESTERDAY.
WE'RE GONNA LIMIT PEOPLE TO ONE MINUTE, LIKE WE GAVE INSTRUCTIONS ON, AND IN EVERY COMMITTEE MEETING WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, QUESTIONS COME TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, NOT TO DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP WITH THAT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.
IT'S OUR BUDGET PROCESS AS WELL.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE YESTERDAY, AND THAT WAS MY FAULT.
SO WE, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO LIKELY GET THE, THE ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS OR AT LEAST CLEAR ANSWERS IN TIME FOR THE, WELL, WELL, HOPEFULLY YOU ALL CAN GET ANSWERS BACK QUICKLY.
I MEAN, OUR, OUR PATH IS WITHIN 48 HOURS, WE GET THE QUESTIONS POSTED, WE GET THE ANSWERS, AND, UH, I WOULD INVITE YOU TO TALK TO YOUR RESPECTIVE COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAKE SURE YOU GET THOSE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS DIRECTED BACK TO YOU.
IN THE PAST, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS SAID THAT THEY CAN EASILY DOUBLE USE SOCCER PARTICIPATION WITH JUST A FEW MORE STAFF TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM.
YOUR GENERAL FUND SPEND IS ABOUT 200,000, BASICALLY THE SAME AS FIVE YEARS AGO.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STILL REACH AN ADDITIONAL 50,000 STUDENTS THROUGH THAT, UH, THROUGH THAT PROGRAMMING? AND I ALSO WANNA KNOW HOW COMPETITIVE LIFEGUARD PAY IS.
SO I'LL TAKE OUR LIFEGUARD PAY.
WELL, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE RIGHT NOW IS IT'S NOT COMPETITIVE, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE DIFFERENT SWIM CLUBS THAT WE HAVE AROUND THAT PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WE DO.
SO, UM, YOU ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT'S NOT COMPETITIVE ENOUGH.
UH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT SOCCER.
A LOT OF THE SOCCER FIELDS IN THE CITY OF 11.
A LOT OF THE SOCCER FIELDS, I'M A SOCCER DAD, ALL THREE OF MY KIDS, HE'S 1513.
1313 TO 16 IS THE OFFICIAL ANSWER.
SO DIRECTOR ALLEN, IS THAT COMPETITIVE? CORRECT.
YOUR QUESTION IS ABOUT SOCCER FIELDS.
A LOT OF OUR SOCCER FIELDS ARE LEASED TO A LOT OF THESE SOCCER ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE MONITOR THE ACTIVITY ON 'EM.
SO IF THEY'RE LEASED, THEY ACTUALLY CONTROL THE SOCCER FIELDS, LIKE THE HOUSTON GOLF ASSOCIATION CONTROLS, UH, GUS WORTHHAM PARK.
SO IT'S UP TO THOSE FOLKS TO DECIDE.
MY, MY QUESTION WAS, BECAUSE THE SOCCER PROGRAM IS, IS GRANT FUNDED AND IN THE PAST THEY'VE SAID THAT, UM, THEY COULD DRAMATICALLY, THEY COULD DOUBLE THE PARTICIPATION WITH MORE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR ADMINISTRATION.
THE, THE LIMITATION IS, IS GENERAL FUND SPEND ON ADMINISTRATION NOT FOR, UM, SO, SO THAT COULD EASILY RAMP UP.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THAT'S STILL THE CASE, IF WE STILL ARE KIND OF LEAVING STUDENTS OUT WHEN WE COULD ALLOCATE, UH, ANOTHER QUICK 200,000 TO REALLY RAMP UP OUR, UH, SOCCER PARTIC PARTICIPATION FOR CHILDREN IN HOUSTON.
WE WILL, WE WILL POST THAT QUESTION AND GET THAT QUESTION ANSWERED.
SO, UM, THE AFTERSCHOOL, UH, ENRICHMENT PROGRAM CURRENTLY OPERATES AT 51 COMMUNITY CENTERS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON AREA, AND THEY SERVICE ABOUT 2,500 YOUTH WITH A RATIO OF 1.25.
UM, SO WHERE IS THAT IN TERMS OF ADEQUATE OR OPTIMAL STAFFING AND HOW COULD WE, UH, STRATEGICALLY FUND THAT EXPANSION IN THE SHORT TERM? ANYONE WANT TO TAKE THIS ONE ON? OKAY, WE WILL GET THAT ANSWER POSTED.
AND, AND I WOULD INVITE YOU TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
ONCE AGAIN, PUBLIC SPEAKERS SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR QUESTIONS IN WRITING AND THEN WE WILL GET IN WRITING A WRITTEN RESPONSE BACK TO YOU WITHIN 48 HOURS.
MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER TO YOUR PARTICULAR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER OR AN AT LARGE JOE ROCHELLE.
SO MY QUESTION IS, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SEEMS TO BE ON PAR WITH THE LIBRARIES IN ITS SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY REACH AND IMPACT.
AND HOW MANY HOUSTONIANS DO YOU THINK YOU'RE ABLE TO SERVE WITH EVERY DOLLAR?
[01:00:04]
APPARENTLY NOT ENOUGH.YEAH, I MEAN, PARK PARKS ARE A, UH, YOU KNOW, I TOLD YOU ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE.
WE HAVE NO HOUSTON PARKS IN THE AREA THAT I LIVE IN.
WE HAVE ONE HOUSTON PARK IN THE AREA THAT IS CLEAR LAKE, UH, AND THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF DEMAND.
FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE GOOD COUNTY PARKS IN BOTH OF THOSE AREAS THAT WE PARTNER WITH IN MANY, MANY WAYS.
UH, COUNTY'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB, MY OPINION OF BUILDING PARKS IN AND AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE ETJ AREAS.
UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, WE STRUGGLE A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FUNDS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, BUT WE DO THE BEST JOB THAT WE CAN, GIVEN THE FACT THAT, UH, THE FUNDS ARE, ARE NOT AS PLENTIFUL AS THEY SHOULD BE.
AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO MAKE A FOUNDATION DONATION, YOU KNOW, I WOULD CONTACT THE GREAT NUMBER OF FOUNDATIONS WE HAVE IN AND AROUND THE CITY THAT ARE VERY PHILANTHROPIC WITH THEIR EFFORTS AND CONTACT THEM AND ADOPT A NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM TO ADOPT A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE AREA THAT I, I LIVE IN.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MOWING OF THE GRASS, THE NEW SOCCER EQUIPMENT, AND WE EVEN HAD A FUNDRAISER FOR THE LIGHTS THAT WE PUT UP.
NOW, NOT EVERY COMMUNITY HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK PHILANTHROPIC AREA AREAS OF, UH, OF FUNDING, UH, WE HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF FOLKS IN AND AROUND THIS HOUSTON AREA.
I'LL THROW OUT THE BROWN FOUNDATION.
THAT HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO US IN MANY REGARDS.
SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UM, MY QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY SUCH AS, UM, HOW HAVE THE NEEDS HAVE CHANGED FOR YOUTH AND ELDERS, UH, PROGRAMMING DURING THE PANDEMIC AND ALSO FOR THE OUR DISABILITY, UH, COMMUNITIES AND HOW DO STAFF AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO SUPPORT THESE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THESE PROGRAMS? AND ALSO, UM, MENTION IN SLIDE 27 IN THE BUDGET, UM, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTMENT OF 14 MILLION AND IMPROVED 18 NEIGHBORHOODS, PARKS, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS.
WHAT WOULD THE IMPACTS BE IF BUDGETS WERE TO BE DOUBLED, SAY LIKE 28 MILLION TO HELP WITH THESE ACCESSIBILITY? I, I THINK THE, THE MAYOR'S 50 50 INITIATIVE IS RIGHT ON TARGET WITH EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING, ESPECIALLY IN COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PARKS AROUND IT.
AND GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE WITH FUNDING OF NICE PARKS, UH, IS ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE FRONT AND CENTER WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION TO MS. MARTINEZ THAT OUR DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, GABE CASTRES, RECENTLY, UH, PRESENTED TO THE TTI COMMITTEE THAT WE CHAIR.
AND THAT PRESENTATION DID TALK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY GENERALLY, BUT ALSO WITH WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF PARKS ACCESS.
SO YOU MAY FIND THAT POSTED ON THE CITY WEBSITE UNDER THE TTI COMMITTEE, UH, HEADING.
AND I THINK YOU MIGHT FIND THAT HELPFUL CONSIDERING YOUR QUESTION.
AND I KNOW DIRECTOR ALLEN, WE MADE A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
YOU KNOW, WE TOOK THE BASKETBALL GOALS DOWN, WE DID A LOT OF THINGS.
IF I MADE THE STATEMENT THAT WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO WHERE WE WERE PRE PANDEMIC, IS THAT ACCURATE? YES.
SO I THINK YOU'LL SEE MORE AND MORE OF THAT WHERE ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SUMMER ROLLS THROUGH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE LIFEGUARDS OUT.
UH, IT'S GONNA BE A DRY SUMMER.
UH, IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE, UH, WE HAD A, MANY OF US WENT TO A HOUSTON PRAYER BREAKFAST THIS MORNING.
I KNOW MANY OF OUR OFFICERS DID AS WELL.
AND, UH, MR. HERZOG FROM ONE OF THE TV STATIONS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE DROUGHT AND THE CONDITIONS AND HOW HE HATES IT.
AND I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT ACTUALLY LOVE A DROUGHT BECAUSE LOVING A DROUGHT MEANS WE HAVE NO STORMS COMING YET AND WE NEED TO BE PREPARED BECAUSE THE AREA THAT I LIVE IN WAS PRETTY DEVASTATED, AS IS COUNCIL JACK, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S.
BUT ABBY CAME AND SHAKING HER HEAD NO.