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GREAT TO SEE YOU, AND THANKS TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE DURING THE DISASTER.AND WITH THAT, GO AHEAD AND PRESENT YOUR PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET.
OH, MIKE, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO FORGE FORWARD WITH BUDGET PRESENTATIONS, AND I'LL BE AS SWIFT AND EFFICIENT AS I CAN.
UH, WE'RE BACK ON SCHEDULE, AND I DON'T WANNA BE THE PERSON THAT GET US BEHIND AGAIN.
SO, UH, I HAVE WITH ME CHERYL JOHNSON, OUR CFO OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
UM, SHE PLAYED AN INTEGRAL PART IN, UM, FORMING THIS BUDGET, WORKING WITH THE NUMBERS, WORKING WITH OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF, WHO I WOULD NORMALLY HAVE WITH ME.
UM, BUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THEY WERE OUT, UM, GETTING OUR CITY SAFE, UH, REMOVING DEBRIS AND PREPARING FOR THE SUMMER.
UH, BUT WITHOUT THEM AND OUR ACTUAL, ACTUAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THERE'S NO WAY WE WOULD, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO EXECUTE AND IMPLEMENT THIS, THIS BUDGET FOR ALL OF THE INVENTORY, AMENITIES, PROGRAMS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE OFFER, WHICH YOU'LL LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT FURTHERING THIS PRESENTATION, BUT I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THEM.
'CAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S 383 PARKS, OVER 172 GREEN SPACES, JUST UNDER 40,000 ACRES, UM, WITHIN A 640 MILE RADIUS.
SO THAT'S JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THIS BUDGET COVERS AND, AND ENTAILS.
AND, UH, AGAIN, HATS OFF TO, TO THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY EFFORT, UM, AND STAND CONSISTENT WITH THE BUDGET.
AND THEN WHERE WE HAVE GAPS, FINDING WAYS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN OUTTA NO WAY.
SO, I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH IN HELPING US DELIVER SERVICES.
UH, IF YOU GUYS DID NOT KNOW, WE ARE ACTUALLY A NATIONAL ACCREDITED ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION, UM, THROUGH THE COMMISSION OF ACCREDITATION AND PARKS RE RECREATION AGENCIES.
THERE'S OVER 151 STANDARDS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH TO GET OUR ACCREDITATION.
UM, IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY.
IT'S, IT'S WHAT YOU DO WITH IT AND HOW YOU, UM, AND HOW YOU SERVICE THE PUBLIC WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.
SO, OUTSTANDING JOB, AGAIN, BY THE TEAM.
GOING PAST THE APPENDIX, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR STRATEGIC GUIDANCE ALIGNMENT, WE HAVE 30% IN GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS, WHICH INCLUDES THE, UH, HOUSTON ZOO CONTRACT, UH, 4% IN PUBLIC SAFETY, 63% IN PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMMING, INVESTMENT.
UM, AND THEN, UM, THAT'S IN QUALITY OF LIFE IN TERMS OF THE, UH, CATEGORY, AND THEN 2% IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE NEXT TWO SLIDES ARE ACTUALLY THE DEPARTMENT'S EXPENDITURES BY PROGRAM.
UM, THE DEPARTMENT HAS OVER 16 PROGRAMS WITHIN THIS BUDGET.
I KNOW THAT'S A LOT, BUT I'M GONNA CATCH 'EM.
UM, SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL MOVE ALONG WITH 'EM, BUT, UM, WE'LL TALK A LOT MORE ABOUT THE, THE PROGRAMS AND UPCOMING SLIDES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT FROM A SUMMARY AND OVERALL STANDPOINT AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT REDUCTION, IT'S ACTUALLY 13%, AND IT'S DUE IN LARGE PART BY THE DEPARTMENT'S RENOVATION DUE TO THE, UH, 5% REDUCTION IN DEVELOPMENT AND A ONE TIME PARK INITIATIVE PROJECT OF, UH, 8.5 MILLION, AND THEN A ONE TIME $10 MILLION DEBT SERVICES FOR MCGREGOR AND SHARPSTOWN PROJECTS, WHICH IS 51% IN ONE LINE LINE ITEM UNDER THIS EXPENDITURE, UH, PROGRAM.
THE NEXT TWO SLIDES IS JUST REALLY AN OVERVIEW OF REVENUES BY PROGRAM.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ARE DUE, IT'S BASICALLY A ONE TIME INCREASE OF $10 MILLION FROM A 24 BUDGET, AND THAT WAS FOR MCGREGOR IN SHARPSTOWN, AND THEN A DECREASE IN FACILITY MAINTENANCE DUE TO, UM, REVENUE NOT EXPECTED FROM PARK PARTNER PROJECTS, DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
THE TOTAL REVENUE BY PROGRAM DE DECREASED BY 57%, PRIMARILY DUE TO THAT ONE TIME $10 MILLION FOR, UM, CONTRIBUTION FOR MCGREGOR AND SHARPSTOWN.
AGAIN, UH, THESE WERE PROJECTS THAT
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WERE DONE IN 24.THE FOLLOWING SLIDES FOR THE FOR H PART ARE ACTUALLY OUR PROGRAMS AND GETTING INTO THE THICK OF IT.
OUR FIRST PRO, OUR FIRST PROGRAM IS ADAPTIVE SPORTS AND RECREATION, WHICH ALIGNS WITH OUR QUALITY OF LIFE PRIORITY.
THE PROGRAM ACTUALLY INCLUDES STRUCTURED CLASSES, A FITNESS ROOM, UM, OUR FULL COURT GYM, INDOOR HEATED POOL BEAT BASEBALL.
IF YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW WHAT BEAT BASEBALL IS, IT'S, UH, BASEBALL FOR THE VISION IMPAIRED.
UM, A TENNIS COURT, A QUARTER MILE OUTDOOR TRACK AND TRAIL, AND A URBAN GARDEN GARDEN.
ONE KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OR MENTION IS WE'RE TRYING TO REACH JUST UNDER 80, 80,000 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN THIS FACILITY ALONE.
ADAPTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM, WHICH ALIGNS WITH, UM, I'M SORRY, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROGRAM.
I AM THINKING ABOUT ADAPTIVE BECAUSE I'M, I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT IT AS WELL.
BUT ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, IT ALIGNS WITH OUR GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS IN THAT PRIORITY.
WE HAVE 21 FTES, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, THIS PROGRAM ALSO, UH, INVOLVES THE, UH, INTER, INTER FUND, UH, CHARGEBACKS AND, UH, RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING, UH, FLEET.
UM, OUR AQUATIC PROGRAM, WHICH ALIGNS WITH QUALITY OF LIFE, IS A HOT TOPIC RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE OVER 49 FTES IN THIS PROGRAM, AND IT INVOLVES THE OPERATION OF 38 POOLS.
IT OFFERS A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES.
LIFEGUARD DEVELOPMENT, ACTUALLY LIFEGUARD CER CERTIFICATION, WHICH WE DO IN HOUSE, LEARN TO SWIM, OPEN SWIM, UM, LAP SWIM, AS WELL AS WATER AEROBICS.
UM, MAJOR PERFORMANCE INDICATOR.
WE'RE LOOKING AT REACHING OVER 145,000 PARTICIPANTS WITH OUR FY 25 BUDGET.
AND YES, WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF RECRUITING, UM, STAFF AND GETTING POOLS BACK ON BOARD FROM THE STORM.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND OUR INTENTION IS TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
UM, THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER FOR OUR AQUATICS PROGRAM, WE'VE ADDED RECRUITING AND OUTREACH AND ROUTINE POOL MAINTENANCE AS PERFORMANCE, UH, MEASURES.
COMMUNITY CENTER OPERATIONS THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR QUALITY OF LIFE PRIORITY.
IT OPERATES OUR 60 COMMUNITY CENTERS, UM, VARIOUS PROGRAMMING WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY.
IT OVERSEES OUR, OUR SPORTS, UH, AND OUR FITNESS CENTERS.
AND, UH, ALSO 12 WEIGHT ROOMS. A SIGNIFICANT MEASURE WOULD BE REACHING 74,000 AFTERSCHOOL PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS 72,000 SENIOR PARTICIPANTS, UM, WHICH IS, UM, ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY.
THE EXECUTIVE OVERSIGHT PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE, UH, GOVERNMENT AT WORKS PRIORITY WITH 13.5 FTES.
UH, THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES THE, UM, ADMINISTRATION IN THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, OUR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE, COUNCIL LIAISON, AND OUR PARTNERSHIPS OFFICE.
UH, PERFORMANCE MEASURES IS, IT ALSO COVERS EVENT INTERNAL FOR PARKS, UM, WHICH REQUIRE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS.
UM, OUR, OUR GOAL FOR THIS PARTICULAR PERFORMANCE MEASURE IS TO, IS TO LOG IN OVER 13,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS, UM, WHICH DEFINITELY HELP US FROM A STAFFING STANDPOINT.
UM, THIS PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH HAS, UH, 92.1 FTES.
IT ACTUALLY COORDINATES AND MONITORS PARK PLANNING, EXPANSION, CONSTRUC, CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE, UH, RENOVATION OF ALL PARK FACILITIES.
UM, PLAYGROUNDS IS ANOTHER HOT TOPIC BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF AGING PLAYGROUNDS.
AS A, UH, MEASURE, WE WANT TO DO, UH, 132 PLAYGROUNDS WITH QUARTERLY, QUARTERLY INSPECTIONS, UH, TOTALING OVER 900 PLAYGROUND INSPECTIONS TARGETED FOR FY 25.
GOLF OPERATIONS ALIGNS WITH OUR QUALITY OF LIFE PRIORITY.
UH, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A VARIETY OF GOLFING OPPORTUNITIES AT MEMORIAL PARK GOLF COURSE, ALONG WITH SHARPSTOWN GOLF COURSE.
UM, DRIVING RANGE IS CRITICAL TO OUR REVENUE GENERATION, AND, UM, OUR GOAL IS TO REACH OVER
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375,000 DRIVING RANGE USERS AND OVER 115,000 ROUNDS OF GOLF BETWEEN THE TWO COURSES AND FY 25.MY, MY AUDIO GROUNDS MAINTENANCE.
UM, THIS PRIORITY FALLS AND ALIGNS WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE PRIORITY.
THIS PROGRAM, I'M SORRY, IT INVOLVES, UH, THE DAILY MAINTENANCE OF HOUSTON'S PARKLAND, ESPANADE, ESPLANADES, GREEN SPACES, URBAN FORESTS, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES, UH, MAINTAINING PUBLIC LIBRARIES BY YOUR GREENWAYS, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF THEIR FACILITY GROUNDS.
UM, WE CURRENT, WE'RE CURRENTLY ON A 14 DAY MORNING CYCLE, WHICH WAS A TASK TO GET TO, UM, AND THEN A 21 DAY MOWING CYCLE FOR ESPLANADES AND AN 18 DAY MOWING CYCLE FOR HIKING BIKE TRAILS.
PRESENT LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK.
THIS PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, AND THAT PRIORITY WITH 13 FTES.
UH, IT INVOLVES THE OPERATION OF LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK, UM, WHICH PROVIDES AN ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATIONAL, UH, PROGRAMMING, LODGING, UH, AND EVENT VENUES, AS WELL AS MAINTAINING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE LAKE, UH, BUILDINGS, STRUCTURAL REPAIRS, REPLACEMENT SECURITY, CUSTODIAL HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES FOR THE LARGE, FOR THE LODGES IN THE CABINS, AS WELL AS THE DINING HALL.
THIS IS A 5,000, UM, ACRE FACILITY, UM, TARGETED FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION AND CAMPING AND THINGS OF THOSE NATURE.
UM, WE HOPE TO REACH ABOUT 85,000 VISITORS IN FY 25 AS A, AS A PERFORMANCE MEASURE.
THAT'S ONE BUSY PLACE EVERY WEEKEND.
IT'S, IT'S BOOKED IN TERMS OF THE CABINS, AT LEAST DURING THE WEEKEND.
UM, THE NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, UH, PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT PRIORITY.
UH, THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY TO PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND RESTORE HOUSTON'S NATURAL RESOURCES WITHIN OUR PARK SYSTEM.
AND THE KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURE IS WE, WE COMPLETED OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO COMPLETE NON-NATURAL RESOURCE PROJECTS THROUGH FY 25.
PARK DEVELOPMENT AND RENOVATION ALIGNS WITH QUALITY OF LIFE.
THIS PROGRAM IS TO, UM, IMPROVE AND UPGRADE PARKS.
IN AN FY 24, WE HAD THE ABILITY TO UPGRADE, UH, SEVEN, I'M SORRY, EIGHT PARKS THAT WERE RENOVATED WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.
AND 25, AS YOU COULD SEE, OUR, OUR BUDGET IS NOW TWO POINT, UH, 3 MILLION.
INSTEAD OF RENOVATING THE ENTIRE PARKS, WE CAN, UH, RENOVATE AN AMENITY IN NON PARKS.
UM, IT'S CRUCIAL FOR US TO CON, CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PARTNERS TO FILL IN THE GAP IN RENOVATING OUR PARKS.
UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE PARK SAFETY AND, UH, SECURITY, WHICH IS IN THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY WITH 46 FTES.
UM, THIS IS REALLY OUR RANGE OF FORCE.
YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM INCLUDES SECURITY OPERATIONS, DISPATCH SERVICES, KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES, WE PLAN TO COVER AND, AND FUEL 5,000 DISPATCH CALLS.
AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA COVER, UH, 500,000 MILES IN PATROLLING, UH, MILES THROUGHOUT OUR PARK SYSTEM FOR FYI 25.
OUR FITNESS, UH, RECREATION AND FITNESS PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE PRIORITY WITH 22 FTES.
UH, THE PROGRAM REALLY OVERSEES THE OPERATION AND PROGRAMMING FOR THE LEE AND JOE JAMELE SKATE PARK, UH, NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM HERE.
OUR DISC GOLF COURSES, WHICH WE HAVE SEVEN.
AND THEN OUR, UM, CITYWIDE YOUTH SOCCER PROGRAM.
WE WANNA REACH THE LEAST 86 8, UH, 68,000, UH, YOUTH SPORTS PARTICIPANTS, 17,000 JEMELE SKATE PARK PARTICIPANTS, AND OVER 65,000 YOUTH FOR OUR CITYWIDE SOCCER PROGRAM.
TENNIS OPERATIONS, UM, ALIGNS WITH QUALITY OF OF LIFE.
UH, WITH THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE 21 FTES, AND IT PROVIDES TENNIS OPPORTUNITIES IN ALL THREE OF OUR MAJOR TENNIS CENTERS, ALONG WITH OVER 20, UH, 200 NEIGHBORHOOD COURTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, AND OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO REACH AT LEAST 26,000 YOUTH, UM, THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD COURTS.
THIS PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, AND THAT PRIORITY.
THIS PROGRAM ACTUALLY OVERSEES THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S TREE CANOPY, INCLUDING PLANTING, PRUNING, AND REMOVAL OF TREES ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY.
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PROGRAM, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE HEART OF REMOVING DANGEROUS TREES, UM, THROUGH THE RECOVERY EFFORTS, BUT THIS IS A YEAR LONG PROCESS.YOU THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF STORMS THAT COME THROUGH HOUSTON, WHERE EVERY TIMES THERE, THERE'S A, THERE'S A STORM AFTERWARDS.
WE'RE SENDING CREWS OUT, UH, KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES, UM, WITH THIS PARTICULAR, UM, PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, AND FY 24, THE DEPARTMENT HAS PLANTED.
WE PLANTED OVER 30,000 TREES THAT FISCAL YEAR.
UM, THIS NUMBER INCLUDED DEPARTMENT PLANTINGS, PARTNERSHIP PLANTINGS, UM, TREE PLANTINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE, UH, ART TREE AND INSURED ORDINANCE, UM, AND FY 25.
OUR GOAL IS TO REACH AT LEAST 20,000 TREES PLANTED AS PART OF OUR OVERALL, UM, PLANTING AND, AND REFORESTING HOUSTON IN OUR, IN OUR IN OUR TREE CANOPY.
OUR LAST PROGRAM, MAN, I COVERED 16.
YOU DID? NO, OUR LAST PROGRAM, DEBT SERVICES AND INTERFUND TRANSFERS, IT ALIGNS WITH GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS AND THAT PRIORITY, UH, THE PROGRAM REFLECTS DEBT SERVICES, UH, PAYMENTS, AND OUR INTERFUND TRANSFERS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES A PAYMENT TO THE ZOO, THE HOUSTON ZOO.
UM, AND WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I PASS ALONG THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION IN CAPABLE HANDS.
UM, I TELL CHERYL, UH, MS. JOHNSON ALL THE TIME, FIND THE MONEY, AND, UM, SHE'S GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE REST OF THE REST OF THE PROGRAM.
THE NEXT, UM, COUPLE OF, WELL, THE NEXT, UH, SLIDE SHOWS PERSONNEL VERSUS NON PERSONNEL.
GENERAL FUND IS OVER 89 MILLION, AND IT'S 52% OF, OF IT IS PERSONNEL, WHICH EQUATES TO 668 FTES.
IT'S NOTICEABLE TO SAY THAT 16, THAT THE RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS IN THE ZOO CONTRACT IS ALSO A PART OF THE 48%.
THE NEXT FUND IS PARK SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, AND IS 4122028% OF IT IS PERSONNEL TO, UH, 72% IS NON PERSONNEL.
AND THEN WE HAVE GOLF SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
PROPOSED BUDGET, 52% IS UH, PERSONNEL, 48% IS NON PERSONNEL.
OUR NEXT FUND IS MAINTENANCE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND.
THE TOTAL OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS 4,489,000.
IT EQUATES TO ABOUT 17 FTES AND 73, 70 3% IS AN OTHER.
AND THEN OUR LAST FUND IS THE BAYOU GREENWAY 2020 FUND.
UH, 84% IS PERSONNEL, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT 16.8 FT.
16.8 FTES, AND 16% IS IN OTHER.
NEXT SLIDE, JUST LIKE, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN TALKED ABOUT THE EXPENDITURES BY PROGRAM.
THESE ARE EXPENDITURES BY FUND.
SO WE HAVE, UH, THE FIVE, THE FIVE DIFFERENT FUNDS.
YOU SEE PROPOSED BUDGET IS 89 MILLION.
THE, UH, FOR GENERAL FUND, THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IS 4 MILLION.
THE, UM, MAINTENANCE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT IS 4.4 MILLION.
AND THE BUY YOUR GREENWAY 2020 IS A HUNDRED IS 1,270,000, UH, 108,371,000 IS THE TOTAL OF ALL FUNDS.
THIS FUND SHOWS US THE REVENUE BY FUND, THE REV.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE LARGEST REVENUE PROPOSED IS IN GOLF SPECIAL FUND TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 8 MILLION.
THE TOTAL REVENUE PROPOSED IN FY 25 IS 18 MILLION.
WHAT'S NOTICEABLE HERE IS THE ESTIMATE OF REVENUE.
IF YOU NOTICE, UH, WE HAVE 28 MILLION IN ESTIMATES, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE, UH, 10 MILLION THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THE ONE TIME, UM, MCGREGOR PARK AND SHARPSTOWN PROJECT.
AND SO, THE REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS KINDA GIVE YOU SOME INCREASES AND SOME DECREASES.
JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, THE MAJORITY OF THE INCREASE OF THE $10 MILLION IN FY 24 FOR MCGREGOR AND SHARPSTOWN WILL NOT BE A PART OF THE FY 25.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE REDUCTION IS.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE A DECREASE IN FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE, RE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT.
AND THERE'S THE REDUCTION BECAUSE OF PARK
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PARTNERS NOT GIVING THE MONEY THAT THEY, THEY, THAT WE RECEIVED LAST PHYSICAL YEAR.AND THEN I JUST WANNA NOTE BEFORE I TURN IT BACK INTO THE HANDS OF DIRECTOR ALLEN, THAT THE APPENDIX YOU WILL FIND, UH, ALONG WITH OTHERS, YOU WOULD FIND DEMO, UH, DEPARTMENT DEMOGRAPHICS, AND YOU WILL ALSO FIND THE DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS DIRECTOR ALLEN.
YEAH, JUST, UH, WITH THE APPENDIX, IT'S A WEALTH OF INFORMATION.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND OUR INVENTORY, IT'S NOT GONNA MATCH
UM, WE DO A LOT WITH WHAT WE HAVE, AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL, UH, FOR WHAT WE DO HAVE.
AND THEN WE GET VERY CREATIVE ON FILLING THE GAP.
BUT WE NEED ADDITIONAL HELP IF WE'RE GONNA UP CONTINUE TO UPLIFT PARKS, UM, AND, AND MEET HIGH STANDARD QUALITIES, UM, IN TERMS OF DELIVERING SERVICES.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION TO MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED.
UM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BEG,
AND MS. JOHNSON, WE ARE, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
JUST CURIOUS ON YOUR, UH, PARTICIPANT NUMBERS, IS THAT A TURNSTILE MEASUREMENT STILL, OR HAVE YOU ALL DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THAT? I'M SORRY, ONE MORE TIME FOR ME.
ON YOUR PARTICIPANT NUMBER, PARTICIPANT NUMBERS, IS THAT TURNSTILE COUNTED? IS YOUR COUNTING TURNSTILE? OH, YES.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE INFORMATION TODAY.
THE ANNUAL, UH, CONTRIBUTION TO THE ZOO THAT WE'RE, UH, MAKING IS THAT IN LINE WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE IN PREVIOUS YEARS IN TERMS OF AMOUNT, IT'S, IT'S INCREASING ACTUALLY.
SO LAST YEAR, UH, SO IT WAS TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 6%, UH, INCREASE.
SO LAST YEAR, THE TOTAL THAT WE GAVE OVER TO, WELL, WE PAID THE ZOO FOR MAINTENANCE FEE FOR THE ZOO.
THIS YEAR IS AT 13 MILLION, SO 13, 12.5.
AND THIS YEAR IS ABOUT 13.6, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THAT, AND THAT INCREASE IS TIED TO CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
UM, ONE OF 'EM, AND WE TALKED TO PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT THIS HERE RECENTLY.
UH, I, I KNOW IN KINGWOOD THERE'S PUBLIC WORKS, DOES SOME MOWING AND PARKS RECREATION, DOES SOME MOWING.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT ONE OF YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE OVER FOR THE OTHER ONE AND JUST TAKE CARE OF IT ALL RATHER THAN, OBVIOUSLY THERE'D HAVE TO BE REALLOCATION OF MONEY TO HANDLE THAT.
BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'D BE A LITTLE SIMPLER IF, IF ONE OF YOU WAS DOING IT RATHER THAN BOTH OF YOU DOING IT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S A KIND OF A, I WOULD SAY TRICKY QUESTION.
UM, BUT IN REALITY, WE COVER 40,000 ACRES.
RIGHT? AND THEN WE ALSO COVER ALL THE ESPLANADES, THE, UH, LIBRARY GROUNDS, UM, AND THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER GROUNDS.
YOU PUT THAT ALL, WE TAKE THAT PLUS WHAT PUBLIC WORKS IS DOING, WE JUST WOULDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO IT.
WELL, AND THAT'S WHY I SAY THERE NEED TO BE REALLOCATION YES.
BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'D BE MORE EFFICIENT FOR ONE TO GET TO DO IT RATHER THAN TWO.
GRANTED, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TAKE ON THE ADDITIONAL WORK WITHOUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
WELL, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA BUILD, I'M GONNA BUILD A LITTLE, NOT SELFISH, BUT THE WAY WE MOW AND THE WAY PUBLIC WORKS MOW, IS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
I MEAN, WE'RE MOWING AROUND AMENITIES, NOT JUST ROADS AND, AND, AND STREETS, BUT WE HAVE PLAYGROUNDS, WE HAVE POOLS, WE HAVE GARDENS, WE HAVE TREES WITH A GREEN, WITH A GREEN SPACE, YOU KNOW, UH, EXPERTS ON, ON THE URBAN FORESTRY PIECE.
IS THERE ANY GRANT MONEY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THIS? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
WE GOT, UM, SEVERAL THOUSANDS AND, AND GRANTS TO DO RIPERION PROJECTS TO REPLANT TREES THROUGHOUT HOUSTON.
UM, OUR NATURAL RESOURCE DIVISION IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB ACQUIRING GRANTS AND OTHER MEANS OF FUNDING TO REFOREST HOUSTON.
I JUST WANNA TELL YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I KNOW THAT MANY DEPARTMENTS DO A LOT FOR THE CITY.
ONE THING THAT Y'ALL DO IS REALLY CREATE QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
DAN, OR ARI WITH CA WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S OFFICE.
UM, BUT FIRST, UM, I WANT TO SHARE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, SO SORRY SHE'S
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NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.UM, SHE'S ACTUALLY ON THE GROUND COORDINATING EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
BUT, UM, WE DO WANNA THANK YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR EVERYTHING OUR GUYS ARE DOING, UM, DURING THE ACTIVATION AS WELL.
UM, WE APPRE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIPS THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR FROM PARK IMPROVEMENTS TO PICKLEBALL COURTS, UH, TO ADVOCATING THE NEED FOR MAJOR INVESTMENTS AT WEST GRAIN MULTI SERVICE CENTER.
UM, AND MY QUESTION, UM, I UNDERSTAND MANGO MANOR PARK, UM, THE PLAYGROUND WAS REMOVED DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES, UM, IN THE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENTLY WORKING ON A PROCUREMENT PLAN.
IS THAT, IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PARK'S PLAYGROUND INCLUDED IN THE PHYSICAL YEAR OF 2025? THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE SO MANY PLAYGROUNDS THAT WERE BUILT IN THE LATE NINETIES.
MANY OF THEM ARE PASSED A USEFUL LIFE.
THE RUSTED WE'RE TAKEN OUT, AND I'VE INSTRUCTED THE TEAM, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT'S UNSAFE, JAGGED EDGES, WE HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT.
AND UNTIL WE IDENTIFY FUNDS TO REPLACE IT, UH, WE HAVE SOME EQUIPMENT THAT WE ARE MOVING AROUND ON A SHORT TERM TEMPORARY BASIS, UH, UNTIL WE GET THE FUNDS AS NEEDED TO REPLACE EVERY PLAYGROUND.
WE DO HAVE SOME IDENTIFIED FUNDING, UM, BUT WE, WE'VE TARGETED THE WORST PLAYGROUNDS FIRST.
WE DO HAVE A PLAYGROUND PLAN AND, AND AN INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS MANY OF 'EM.
BUT LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER SAID, IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF REVENUE AND RESOURCES TO GET EVERYTHING DONE.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR, YOUR BUDGET'S PRETTY FLAT.
I DID NOTICE A SHARP DECREASE IN, UM, RECREATIONAL SUPPLIES.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
LIKE, LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS PLUS A MILLION AND A HALF DOWN.
DID Y'ALL ALREADY BUY EVERYTHING?
UM, YOU KNOW, HIGH USE ITEMS, OF COURSE, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE TURNOVER, BUT, UM, RACKETS AND, AND BATS AND THINGS THAT THE, UH, PARTICIPANTS ACTUALLY USE, YOU HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH 'EM AND TAKE CARE OF THEM.
AND I DO, UH, I DO KNOW WE HAVE A COUPLE SPEAKERS OR I SEE THEM, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE SPEAKING, BUT I DID WANNA ASK YOU ABOUT THE, THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE, UM, THE PARK, UM, NEXT DOOR WITH THE, WITH THE HOUSES AND THE HERITAGE SOCIETY.
IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW WE'VE, UM, WHEN WE PASSED THAT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND WE'VE BEEN FUNDING REGULARLY, THOSE, UM, THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE HOMES AND, AND THAT PARK MAINTENANCE, IS THAT, UM, IS THAT FUNDING INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET? YES, SOME OF IT, BUT NOT NEARLY AS MUCH AS THEY NEED.
UM, THEY'RE IN LINE WITH ALL OF OUR OTHER FACILITIES IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND REPLACEMENT.
UH, YOU KNOW, SAM HOUSTON PARK WAS HOUSTON'S FIRST.
HOW MUCH PARK, UH, IT'S AN HISTORIC LANDMARK, UH, WITH SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL VALUE.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO MORE, UH, IN TERMS OF OUR BUDGET TO, UH, KEEP THOSE HOMES UPLIFTED AND IN GREAT CONDITION.
BUT IT'S, IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY AND WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS, UM, TO MAINTAIN THEM AND, AND PROGRAMMING, UM, AND SHOWING THOSE HOMES TO THE PUBLIC AND ALL THE HISTORICAL VALUE.
UH, I TOOK A TOUR THERE WITH, WITH MY STAFF ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
AND, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID AND THAT WE WERE EXPOSED TO AS AN ORGANIZATION WITH THAT BEING THE FIRST PART WERE INVALUABLE.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME MONIES A ALLOCATED, BUT IT IS JUST NOT ENOUGH.
I DO SEE IN THE LINE ITEMS FOR, UM, FOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE SERVICES, AN INCREASE, UM, IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, BUILDING MAINTENANCE SERVICES FROM TWO 14 TO 470,000 MM-HMM
AND THEN AGAIN, UM, A, A INCREASE FROM 107,000, 300,000 IN MISCELLANEOUS PARTS AND SUPPLIES.
PERHAPS THOSE ARE FOR OTHER FACILITIES, OR THOSE ARE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE PARK SYSTEM.
HVAC SYSTEMS, LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL, UH, CARPENTRY, UM, YOU NAME IT FOR, YOU KNOW, LIGHT SMALL CONSTRUCTION TO, UM, MAJOR REPLACEMENTS THAT MAY BE NEEDED, LIKE PLAYGROUNDS.
AND, AND EXPLAIN TO ME THE, THE, UM, WHAT YOU MENTIONED, CHERYL, ABOUT THE, UM, THE MAINTENANCE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND KIND OF BEING DECREASED DUE TO PARTNERS.
ARE PARTNERS JUST NOT PUTTING IN, I MEAN, EXPLAIN WHO ARE THE PARTNERS THAT PUT THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THAT, AND WHY IS THAT DECREASING? UM, LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED ABOUT 500,000 FROM COMPLETE COMMUNITIES TO ADD TO THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THE, UH, PARK INITIATIVES.
AND THIS, THE PROPOSED FY 25 DOES NOT HAVE THE 500,000 IN THERE.
I REM I, I KNOW, UM, AT SOME OF
[00:30:01]
THE PARK, UM, PROJECTS, THE PARK PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS THAT WERE DONE AND WRAPPING UP, SO, UH, AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, THERE WERE SOME PRIVATE, UM, COMPANIES THAT WERE KIND OF PLEDGING.I WAS AT A COUPLE OF THE RIBBON CUTTINGS WHERE THEY, THEY WERE PLEDGING MORE MONEY.
UM, I, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME.
IT WAS ONE ENERGY COMPANY I THINK THAT SAID, WE WANNA, WE WANNA DO MORE.
I MEAN, IS THAT, IS THAT EFFORT STILL CONTINUING FOR SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS? IT IS GETTING PRIVATE FUNDING IN, WE'RE WORKING, YEAH.
WE'RE WORKING WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND A FEW OTHER PARTNERS THAT'S INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN PARKS.
UM, WE, UM, I LOVE ALL PARKS INITIATIVE, WHICH WE HAD ON THE TABLE LAST YEAR.
WE, WE COMPLETED ABOUT FIVE PROJECTS WITH CORPORATE SUPPORT.
UM, WE'RE STILL, UM, WELCOMING, UH, COMPANIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR TABLE TO MAKE 'EM BETTER OR TO IDENTIFY NEW AND ADDITIONAL PROJECTS THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH.
UM, THE 50 50 INITIATIVE IS MORE SO NOW PROJECTS WHERE WE'RE IMPROVING OUR PARKS AND, UM, WE'RE LOOKING FOR PARTNERS TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WITH.
AND, UM, I APOLOGIZE THAT I MISSED THIS EARLIER.
UH, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PARK RANGERS ARE BUDGETED FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR? 43? WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE 43 IN GENERAL FUND, AND THEN WE HAVE ADDITIONAL 15 IN THE, UH, ARPA FUND.
AND HOW LONG WILL WE BE ABLE TO, TO MAINTAIN THE 15 THAT ARE ARPA FUNDED? I THINK THE DATES CHANGE, BUT THE LAST DATE I HEARD WAS THE END OF THIS YEAR.
SO, AND WE'LL LOSE THAT 15 AND THEN WE, WE'LL HAVE TO, UH, REARRANGE SCHEDULES AND MAKE UP FOR THAT WITH OUR CURRENT 43.
AND I WILL SAY THOSE HAVE BEEN TOUGH POSITIONS TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP BECAUSE OF CONTINUOUS TURNOVER.
UH, WE INCREASE THE PAY TO, UH, $19 AN HOUR NOW, UH, AS OPPOSED TO 15.
SO WE GET, YOU KNOW, WE GET WORKERS, UM, WE GET MORE, I, WE GET MORE CANDIDATES TO APPLY AND RETAIN, BUT THAT'S TOUGH.
DO YOU, UM, THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO INCREASE BEYOND THE 18? YEAH, I THINK SO.
ALONG, ALONG WITH LIFEGUARDS, EVEN THOUGH WE DID AN INCREASE, WE CAN USE ANOTHER ONE.
UM, MS. JOHNSON, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.
GREAT JOB FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE LOVE OUR PARKS AND YOU GUYS DO AN AMAZING JOB FOR US.
AND THANKS FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU'VE DONE DURING THIS DISASTER.
UM, WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
UM, FIRST LAURA GALLAGHER RE GALLIER, GO BACK.
ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? THREE MINUTES.
UH, MY NAME'S LAURA GALLIER AND I LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS.
MY FAMILY USES HOUSTON PARKS ON A DAILY BASIS WITH GRATITUDE.
MY COMMENTS TODAY ARE ABOUT LACK OF ENFORCEMENT OF LEASH LAWS AT THE PARKS.
SPECIFICALLY LOVE PARK, WHICH IS BETWEEN 12TH AND 13TH NEAR SHEPHERD.
UM, ANYTIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT, AND I MEAN, ANYTIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT, PEOPLE HAVE UNLEASHED DOGS RUNNING AROUND THE PARK.
IN THE EARLY EVENINGS, THE PARK BECOMES AN INFORMAL BARK PARK WHERE A DOZEN OR MORE DOGS TAKE OVER THE BALL FIELD.
THIS IS THE PARK WHERE MY GRANDCHILDREN PRACTICED WALKING, THEN RUNNING, THEN PUSHING THEIR LAWN MOWER, THEN RIDING A BIKE, AND NOW USING A SCOOTER.
IT TERRIFIES THEM AND ME WHEN A DOG RUSHES AT THEM UNTETHERED, IT SCARES MY DOG WHEN I'M WALKING HIM TOO.
I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN NEIGHBORS WORKING OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES THROUGH DIALOGUE, NOT THROUGH CALLING LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WHEN I ASK FOLKS, FOLKS TO PUT THEIR DOGS ON LEASHES, I'M SCARED BY THEIR RESPONSES.
I'M OLD AND I'M SMALL, AND I HAVE PRESCHOOLERS TO PROTECT.
UM, I'M NOT, I'M ALSO NOT ONE TO PETITION FOR MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND I'M ASKING YOU TO INCLUDE IN THE BUDGET A WAY TO GET UNLEASHED DOGS OUT OF THE PARK.
IT MIGHT TAKE A SIGN OR AN OCCASIONAL REPRIMAND, BUT I DOUBT IT WILL REQUIRE CONSTANT IN-PERSON ENFORCEMENT.
[00:35:01]
I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU FOR SPRUCING UP THE POOL AND THE MOWING IS VERY GOOD.AND WE WILL CERTAINLY, UM, MAKE THAT REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY GET A SIGN OUT THERE OR SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T SEEM VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT, BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.
NEXT WE HAVE DANIEL A. DANIEL A COME ON UP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
UH, UH, ONE SPECIFIC ISSUE I'M HAVING IS WITH SAFETY ON THE TRAIL NEXT TO THE, UH, MAGNOLIA TRANSIT CENTER, UH, THERE'S A TRAIL THAT CONNECTS FROM THE MAGNOLIA TRANSIT CENTER TO BRACE BAYOU, AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE.
I WALKED THERE TODAY AND, UH, BECAUSE OF THE RECENT STORM, THERE'S A LOT OF DEBRIS, HASN'T BEEN PICKED UP.
UH, THERE IS A LOT OF UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS SORT OF HIDING, UH, WITHIN THE TREES.
UH, I'VE NEVER HAD A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THAT IS A LITTLE SCARY.
UM, SO I, AND IT'S IN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S DISTRICT, SO I'M HOPING SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT.
UH, AND SECOND, AND JUST A MORE GENERAL COMMENT, I, I AM FROM, UH, SOUTHEAST HOUSTON, UM, NEAR EDGEBROOK 45 HOBBY AIRPORT.
AND THERE'S A LACK OF PARKS THERE.
I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY TO JUST FILL A PARK OUT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, EASY TO BUILD A PARK, BUT I'M HOPING THAT MY COMMENTS FOR FUTURE BUDGETS OR FUTURE, UH, COUNCIL MEETINGS, UH, CAN BRING UP THE ATTENTION THAT THERE'S A LACK OF PARKS EVERY TIME I LIKE TO GO TO PARKS.
UH, THEY'RE AMAZING, BUT I HAVE TO, UH, I HAVE TO GO LEAVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I, I TAKE THE METRO, IT COMES EVERY 30 MINUTES.
SO SOMETIMES, UH, IT COULD TAKE UP TO AN HOUR TO GET TO MY NEAREST PARK, AND THERE'S NO SIDEWALKS, AND THE DRIVING DRIVERS ARE JUST CRAZY.
SO, UH, THOSE ARE MY TWO COMMENTS, AND I HOPE THAT, UH, I'M ABLE TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER OR, UH, REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THAT.
AND WHAT WE WILL ALSO SUBMIT THOSE, UM, TO THE DEPARTMENT.
I, I THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND, AND, UM, TELLING US ABOUT YOUR SECURITY CONCERNS.
WHAT'S THE CLOSEST PARK TO YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO, THAT YOU RIDE THE BUS TO OR WHATEVER? UH, WELL, BLACK HAWK PARK IS A, I REALLY LIKE THAT PARK, BUT WHAT'S IT CALLED? BLACK HAWK.
BUT I'M UNABLE TO GO UNLESS SOMEONE TAKES ME IN THEIR CAR 'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE A CAR.
AND IF I WALK AND TAKE UP TO AN HOUR, AND ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, THAT'S REALLY HOT.
SO THE NEXT CLOSEST ONE WOULD BE, UH, UH, DOW PARK.
UH, BUT AGAIN, THERE'S NO SIDEWALKS TO WALK.
UH, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE TAKING MY BIKE ON THE ROAD.
SO I WOULD ASK COUNSEL TO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MINETTE BASIL.
MY NAME IS MINETTE BASAL AND I'M THE CURRENT BOARD CHAIR OF THE HERITAGE SOCIETY IN SAM HOUSTON PARK ACROSS THE STREET.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UM, YOUR PARKS DIRECTOR, KENNETH ALLEN, FOR HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND INTEREST IN WHAT THIS PARK REPRESENTS AND WHAT IT, WHAT IT CAN BE IN THIS, THIS PARK, AS HE MENTIONED, UH, WAS FOUNDED IN 1899.
MAYOR SAM PURSHE SET UP A COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHERS TO ESTABLISH A CITY PARK.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE NO CITY PARKS IN THIS TOWN UNTIL 1899.
IN THAT PARK OF 20 ACRES, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 16 STRUCTURES, 10 OF WHICH ARE HISTORIC.
AND THEY REPRESENT ALL, UM, ASPECTS OF HOUSTON'S HISTORY, INCLUDING THE OLDEST STRUCTURE HOUSE IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT WAS MOVED INTO THE PARK, 1823, INCLUDING THE OLDEST STRUCTURE IN HOUSTON ON ITS ORIGINAL SITE, THE 1847, UH, KLUM NOBLE HOUSE.
SO AS A CITY AND, UH, THAT OWNS ALL THESE STRUCTURES, I JUST EMPHASIZE THAT PART, UM, WE CAN BE VERY PROUD OF, OF THAT HISTORY.
UH, THE HERITAGE SOCIETY STARTED IN 1954 TO, UM, SAVE THE KELB NOBLE HOUSE BECAUSE THE CITY DECIDED IT MIGHT, UH, NEED TO DEMOLISH IT.
IT ALSO HOUSED A SCHOOL AND WAS HOUSTON'S FIRST ZOO.
THERE WAS A ZOO BEFORE THE ONE YOU KNOW OF NOW.
UM, SO THE HERITAGE SOCIETY OVER A 70 YEAR PERIOD HAS BROUGHT IN ALL THESE STRUCTURES, PAID FOR THEM, RESTORED THEM, MAINTAINED THEM, OPENED THEM TO THE PUBLIC.
AND ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, WE REALIZED THIS WAS AN UNSUSTAINABLE MODEL AND WANTED TO PARTNER MORE WITH THE
[00:40:01]
CITY.SO WE DO HAVE A LEASE AGREEMENT, UM, WHICH WAS AMENDED TO REFLECT THAT THE CITY WOULD ASSIST IN MAINTAINING THESE STRUCTURES.
AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK OUR ORGANIZATION WOULD'VE SURVIVED WITHOUT THAT PARTNERSHIP.
UM, WE HAVE ALSO WORKED ON A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS, NOT JUST FOR MAINTENANCE, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, OUR MUSEUM, WHICH I KNOW SOME OF YOU VISITED RECENTLY.
UH, WE RAISED SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO RENOVATE THE INTERIOR OF THAT AND MAKE IT MORE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
UH, WE PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE CITY TO DO EXHIBITIONS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURAL VENUES, UH, ALL OVER.
UM, ALSO WE HAVE THREE STRUCTURES IN THE PARK THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED BY UNESCO, UNITED NATIONAL'S EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC CULTURAL ORGANIZATION AS PART OF WHAT'S CALLED THE SLAVE ROUTE PROJECT.
THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATION OF THOSE SITES THAT, UM, ARE PERTAINING TO THIS SLAVE ROUTE, UH, ALL OVER THE WORLD, UH, PRE EMANCIPATION AND POST EMANCIPATION, AND THAT YOU CAN BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.
WE, UH, ONE OF THOSE STRUCTURES IS THE REVEREND JACK YATES HOUSE, WHICH, UH, IS PROBABLY, HE'S PROBABLY THE MOST EMINENT, UM, FAMOUS HISTORIAN AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY HERE.
SO WE JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT AS YOU WORK THROUGH YOUR BUDGET, THAT THE FUNDING FOR THE, TOWARD THE MAINTENANCE OF THESE HOMES, UH, IS ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO OUR JOB OF PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PRIMARILY FOR FOURTH AND SEVENTH GRADERS SL STUDY HISTORY, AND ALSO TO, UH, ALSO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS.
THERE ARE SO MANY FUN RUNS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE IN THAT, UH, PARK.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE UTILIZE THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK WITH ITS HUNDRED PLUS YEAR OLD TREES.
I INVITE SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE NOT BEEN THERE YET AS NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'LL HAVE A SPECIAL TOUR FOR ALL OF YOU.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ WAS THERE, CASTILLO UH, CARTER CAME, UH, EARLY ON.
SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MANNETTE.
AND ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE ALLISON BELL, WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HERITAGE SOCIETY IN THE AUDIENCE COUNCIL MEMBER CARD.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL CONTINUE TO DO AND HAVE DONE FOR MANY YEARS OVER THERE.
I WISH THERE WAS SOME WAY WE COULD COME UP WITH A CREATIVE, UH, REVENUE STREAM FROM THE, FROM THE CORPORATE WORLD ON THIS, BECAUSE IT'S CERTAINLY A HOUSTON TREASURE.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A, A PARK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN ITS INTEGRITY, THAT WOULD BE FIRST ONE THAT COMES TO MIND FOR ME.
SO, UM, WE NEED TO WRANGLE SOME OF OUR FRIENDS AND COME UP WITH SOME CREATIVE WAYS.
SO, BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO OVER THERE.
WHAT ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT THE HERITAGE SOCIETY HAS RECEIVED SINCE THE AMENDED AGREEMENT? THIS AGREEMENT, UH, WE'VE RECEIVED $250,000 FOR EACH OF THE TWO YEARS THAT THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT, UH, FISCAL YEAR 23 AND 24 EACH, EACH YEAR.
WE, THE NEEDS ARE MUCH GREATER.
HOWEVER, UH, THE, THE ORIGINAL INTENT, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT STATED IN OUR LEASE, WAS TO HAVE UHT 14.
AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INCREMENT.
SO THE FUNDING HAS TO BE FOUND SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WE INCLUDED THE, THE, THE HERITAGE SOCIETY PARK INTO TURS 14, BUT THE INCREMENT ISS NOT ENOUGH TO SUPPORT IT YET.
UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER'S POINT, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOREVER GETTING A, GETTING A, THERE USED TO BE A TEA ROOM IN THAT PLACE,
AND I USED TO GO TO IT WHEN I WAS A YOUNG WORKER DOWNTOWN.
AND, UH, IT WOULD BE SO AWESOME TO HAVE SOME KIND OF CONCESSION OVER THERE.
WE NEED MORE FOOD OPTIONS ON THE WEST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN ANYWAY, BUT, UH, STILL, STILL WANNA EXPLORE THAT.
I'VE BEEN OVER TO VISIT THE AREA.
OF COURSE, I, UH, MANY TIMES WENT OVER AND I LOVE TO GET A CHANCE TO TALK WITH YOU.
'CAUSE EVERY TIME I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW, AND I THINK, AND MY CHIEF OF STAFF HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT, 'CAUSE WE'VE CALLED ON SEVERAL THINGS LIKE THE FENCE AND THE BACK DOOR HOUSE OPEN.
THAT WOULD BE US MONITORING THE FACILITY.
BUT LISTEN, WE, I I, I CERTAINLY WANT TO, UH, DISCUSS WITH YOU MORE WAYS TO WEAR REVENUE.
I JUST BELIEVE FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, THERE ARE MANY, MANY DIFFERENT, UM, WAYS BY WHICH FUNDS COULD BE GENERATED TO HELP WITH THAT FACILITY, ESPECIALLY THE HISTORIC, YOU KNOW, UH, HISTORY OF IT.
YOU KNOW, UH, OF COURSE, UH, JACK YATES, AS WE KNOW, THE HOME'S BEEN THERE.
I'VE BEEN IN THERE JUST GROWING UP THROUGH THE YEARS.
UH, BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME OTHER TOOLS AND METHODS BY WHICH WE CAN GENERATE THOSE DOLLARS.
AND, UH, I LIKE TO, WE, WE'LL, WE'LL MEET TOGETHER AND GREAT.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
[00:45:01]
LOVE THAT PARK.SO, UM, QUESTION DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, ARE THEY ENGAGED AT ALL? UH, WE ARE STILL IN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
UM, BUT WE, UM, WE WERE IN TOURS THREE, THE DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TOURS THREE.
UM, BUT IT WAS SWITCHED OVER TO FREEMAN'S TOWN, UH, FOURTH WARD TOURS BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT WE WERE MORE GEOGRAPHICALLY.
THE PARK IS ORIGINALLY PART OF, OF FOURTH WARD IN FREEMANS TOWN.
UM, SO, BUT IT HAST PROVEN FRUITFUL IN TERMS OF REVENUE FOR THE T SO FAR, REALLY.
AND THEN, UM, AND ANY GRANTS OPTIONS? ANY GRANTS SINCE, SINCE IT IS HISTORICAL, ARE Y'ALL ABLE TO APPLY? YOU CHOOSE? YES.
WE'VE BEEN, UM, APPLYING FOR A NUMBER OF GRANTS THROUGH MOSTLY FOUNDATIONS AND OTHERS.
AND WE HAVE OPERATIONAL EXPENSES, YOU KNOW, TO MEET OUR NEEDS FOR TOURISM, UH, AND THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WE HAVE FOR CHILDREN.
UH, SO THERE'S, THERE'S THOSE GRANTS TOO, THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
WHAT ABOUT FUNDING FROM HOUSTON? FIRST, DO YOU HAVE, DO YOU GET ANY NO.
THROUGH THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE OR NOT AT THIS TIME? WE HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS FROM HOUSTON ARTS, ARTS ALLIANCE.
I'M SORRY, THE LAST THING YOU SAID.
WE HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS FROM HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE, BUT THEY'RE NOT BIG.
THEY'RE MOSTLY FOR OPERATIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR THIS WONDERFUL PARK.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER PUBLIC SPEAKERS, COLLEAGUES, I THINK WE'RE DONE FOR THE DAY.
THANKS FOR, THANKS FOR HANGING WITH US AND WE'LL SEE YOU BRIGHT AND EARLY AT 9:00 AM TOMORROW.
WHERE WE GONNA DO IT ALL AGAIN?