[FY 2026 Budget Workshop: Houston Parks and Recreation Department on May 16, 2025.]
[00:00:17]
A BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND WELCOME TO THE MAY 16TH, 2025 BUDGET WORKSHOPS.WE WILL BE LEADING OFF AT 9:00 AM WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, FOLLOWED BY DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEN FLEET.
SO I WANNA WELCOME MY COLLEAGUES IN ATTENDANCE.
I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER JULIAN RAMIREZ, COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ IS HERE.
UH, STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AMY PECK ONLINE, AND I'M SURE OTHERS WILL JOIN.
UH, HAVING WORKSHOPS ON A FRIDAY, BUT WE'VE GOT A, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS TO GO THROUGH, SO I'M HAPPY TO HAVE H PART DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN, AND SENIOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR CHERYL JOHNSON, JOIN US UP HERE AT THE PODIUM.
UM, I'VE SPENT SOME TIME ON THE PARKS BUDGET DIGGING IN, UM, DIRECTOR AND REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE CUTS THAT YOU'RE HAVING TO ENDURE AND MOWING CYCLES THAT ARE HAVING TO LENGTHEN AND PARK RENOVATIONS THAT AREN'T GOING TO BE DONE.
AND, AND, UH, I'M GONNA CERTAINLY BE SOUNDING THE ALARM THAT WE NEED TO GET, UM, UH, MORE MONEY INTO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE FALLING BEHIND OTHER CITIES IN THEIR INVESTMENT IN PARKS, AND WE ALL NEED TO BE UP HERE IN THIS HORSESHOE ADVOCATING FOR MONEY FOR VERY IMPORTANT PARKS.
SO, I KNOW IT'S TOUGH, BUDGETARY TIMES, BUT MAN, WE LOVE OUR PARKS AND, AND I THINK HOUSTONIANS LOVE THEIR PARKS.
AND, UM, WITH THAT, I WILL LET YOU PROCEED.
PARKS THE HEARTBEAT OF THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THERE ARE, THERE ARE NEUTRAL PLACES THAT PEOPLE CAN COME TO RELAX, DE-STRESS UNWIND FROM A HEALTH STANDPOINT.
PARKS VIBRANT PARKS ARE CERTAINLY NEEDED TO CREATE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES AND VIBRANT PEOPLE.
I, I WANTED TO START WITH THAT.
SO IT'S REALLY AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE AND A TRUE COMMITMENT TO SERVE AS A DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU GUYS A BROAD PICTURE OF WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME IN TERMS OF OUR SERVICE AREA.
YOU KNOW, HOUSTON AS A 640 SQUARE MILE RADIUS, WE MAINTAIN OVER 40,000 ACRES WITHIN THAT RADIUS.
WE HAVE OVER 383 PARKS, 38 SWIMMING POOLS, 60 COMMUNITY CENTERS.
AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT OUR INVENTORY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE IN THE APPENDANT.
UH, IT'S A HUGE, UH, RESPONSIBILITY AND, UH, WE DON'T TAKE, UH, WE DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY IN TERMS OF SERVING WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH.
SO, I'M SO APPRECIATIVE FOR ONE THAT I HAVE THE TEAM THAT I HAVE.
'CAUSE I COULD NOT DO THIS JOB WITHOUT THEM.
I LIKE TO START BY THANKING CHERYL JOHNSON, OUR SENIOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, HER AND HER TEAM ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
KEEP UP WITH ALL THE STATIST, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND THE FINANCIALS.
UM, SHE IS A THREE DECADE EMPLOYEE WHO I WILL LEAD, WHO I WILL LOSE IN JULY, UNFORTUNATELY.
SO, IT'S THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN TAKE THE DEAL, MAN.
WE JUST, OH, SHE TOOK THE DEAL.
UM, BUT TRUST ME, WE'LL BE IN GOOD HANDS BECAUSE SHE LEAVE A GREAT LEGACY WITH TRAINING STAFF.
COULD YOU GUYS PLEASE STAND, UH, WITH US ALSO? AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WORK, THEY WORK DAY TO DAY, JUST KEEPING US IN LINE AND IN COMPLIANCE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CANDIDNESS AND, UH, THE WORDS THAT SAY, DIRECTOR, YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT ALL.
AND THEN ALSO, THIS JOB WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, UH, WITHOUT, AGAIN, DEDICATED EMPLOYEES THAT GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.
FROM A, FROM A PASSION STANDPOINT, YOU GIVE 'EM A CONCEPT AND THEY RUN WITH IT.
SO, MY EXECUTIVE TEAM, UH, FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND LEADERSHIP, THEY'RE ALSO WITH ME TODAY.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? YOU'LL GET TO KNOW THEM A LITTLE BIT BETTER IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW THEM.
UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE CRANK THAT ACTUALLY TURNS THE WHEEL IN THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, GIVEN OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY AND THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, UH, I SEE A WORD AND, AND IT'S DONE WITHIN OUR CAPABILITY, SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THEM.
AND BOOTS ON THE GROUND FOR THE REST OF THE STAFF THAT'S ON ROOFS, THAT'S ON THE ROADWAYS, MOWING AND
[00:05:01]
DEL LITTERING.UH, WE TRULY DO HAVE A SPECIAL GROUP, UH, OF EMPLOYEES THAT'S DEDICATED TO THEIR SKILL AND CRAFT.
SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF H PARK STAFF IN THIS PROCESS.
IN TERMS OF THE TABLES OF CONTENT, WE'LL COVER STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT, UH, PLANS TO ELIMINATE THE GAP, VOLUNTARY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE, UH, RETIREMENT, THE PAYOUT OPTION, UH, RESTRUCTURING OUR DEPARTMENT, PROPOSED FY 26 DEPARTMENT, UH, EXPENDITURES, OUTCOME BASED BUDGET, THAT PROGRAM.
AND THEN, UH, PROPOSE FY 26 DEPARTMENT REVENUES.
AND THEN AS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION IN THE APPENDIX IN THE BACK.
IN TERMS OF STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT, UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES, WE HAVE 57% OF OUR BUDGET THAT'S PRIORITIZED AND ADDRESSED UNDER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
AND THEN WE HAVE 36% IS ALLOCATED, UH, TO GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS IN THAT CATEGORY.
I ALSO LIKE TO MENTION IN THAT CATEGORY, WE HAVE THE HOUSTON ZOO CONTRACT, WHICH IS A $12.5 MILLION COMMITMENT.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE 4% IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND 3% IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
IN TERMS OF PLANS TO ELIMINATE THE GAP, AS YOU MENTIONED, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE WERE HIT PRETTY HARD, UM, IN TERMS OF BUDGET REDUCTIONS AND TO, IT IS GONNA BE A CHALLENGE, BUT WE HAVE CAN-DO, STAFF CAN DO ATTITUDES AND GREAT RELATIONSHIPS.
UH, THAT'S ONE WAY WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THE GAP IN SOME ASPECTS.
BUT OUR DEPARTMENT, IN TERMS OF RENOVATION AND THOSE PROJECTS, WE WOULD DEFINITELY SCALE BACK, UH, AND REFOCUS MORE ON AMENITIES, BEAUTIFICATION, PRO PROJECTS, AND REPLACEMENT INSTEAD OF ALL OUT RENOVATIONS.
UM, WE ARE EXTENDING OUR MOR MORNING CYCLES.
UM, WE, BETWEEN PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, WE PROJECT GOING TO A 24 DAY, UM, CYCLE FOR THOSE FACILITIES.
AND THEN, SO GET READY FOR THE PHONE CALLS, COLLEAGUES.
YEAH, WE'RE ALREADY GETTING THEM, TO BE HONEST.
SO A 45 DAY CYCLE FOR OUR ESPLANADES.
AND IF YOU COULD THINK ABOUT THE INVENTORY OF MOWING AND DEL LITTERING, AGAIN, I MENTIONED 40,000 ACRES OF DEVELOPED PARKS.
UH, NOT JUST PARKS, BUT ESPLANADES, MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS AND LIBRARIES.
BUT WE DO HAVE A, A PLAN TO TRY TO MEET SOME OF THIS GAP WITH OUTREACH PROMOTIONS AND MARKETING.
UH, MATT MUSEL BEHIND ME IS ON OUR TEAM, HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB PROMOTING PARKS.
SO STARTING MONDAY NEXT WEEK, YOU'LL SEE A HEAVY CAMPAIGN FOR ADOPTIONS.
UH, OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM, IT'S PRETTY SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE OVER 500 GROUPS ADOPTING PARTS AND ESPLANADES.
UM, OVER 1400 ACRES ARE, ARE DONE BECAUSE OF THIS EFFORT.
AND WE'RE GONNA EXPAND THAT TO HANDLE THIS GAP.
WE HAVE A REDUCTION IN DAILY PATROLS IN TERMS OF OUR RANGERS WILL ALSO IS ALSO IMPACTED, AND IN SOME CLOSING PROCEDURES AS FAR AS GATES WE'LL HAVE TO MODIFY.
AND THEN, AND WE LOST THREE, SIX TOTAL PEOPLE IN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, EITHER DEPARTMENT MERGERS THE, UH, RETIREMENT, UM, UM, INCENTIVE ARE VACANCIES.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE TO DO SOME ADJUSTMENTS THERE.
WORKING WITH FINANCE CENTRAL, UH, AND INTERNALLY WITH REASSIGNMENT, REASSIGNMENTS AND, UH, AND REORGS.
THE VOLUNTARY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE PAYOUT RETIREMENT OPTION, MS. JOHNSON.
AND I'M JUST LOOKING AT HER
CERTAINLY YOU CAN'T REALLY JUST SHAKE A STICK AT TO IN TERMS OF REPLACEMENT.
BUT OUT OF 71, OUT OF 180 ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TOOK THIS OPTION.
THAT'S 39% THAT WAS ELIGIBLE, THAT ACCEPTED.
UM, AND THEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE 40 POSITIONS, UM, THAT ACCEPTED BY APRIL 20TH, YOU KNOW, TOTAL IN TERMS OF SAVINGS IS ABOUT SIX, I'M SORRY, $3.8 MILLION.
SO A SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS, UH, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY FEEL THE IMPACT.
PROPOSED DEPARTMENT, UH, RESTRUCTURE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO GET REALLY CREATIVE, UM, TO HANDLE THIS REDUCTION, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS, IN MY OPINION, NEEDED.
ANYWAY, LOOKING AT THE, THE SPAN OF SERVICES, THE SCOPE, HOW WE'RE DELIVERING IT, UM, IN TERMS OF OUR DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE, UH, WE'RE FOCUSING ON ENHANCING EFFICIENCIES
[00:10:01]
AND IMPROVING OUR SPAN OF CONTROL.UH, CURRENTLY SPAN, CURRENTLY SPAN OF CONTROL IS FOUR.
SO WITH A RESTRUCTURED PROPOSAL, WE'RE GOING TO SIX.
UM, IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE OF MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS WITH LESS THAN FOUR DIRECT REPORT, WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 49% WITH THIS PROPOSAL, WE'RE GOING TO 35%.
SOME MAY SAY THAT'S STILL HIGH, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT 60 COMMUNITY CENTERS, YOU LOOK AT 38 POOLS, YOU LOOK AT 50 CREWS, THAT'S GOING OUT AND MORE TO MAINTAIN OUR PARKS.
THERE'S A SUPERVISOR ON EVERY CREW, UH, AND THERE'S A SUPERVISOR FOR EVERY CENTER.
UH, AND THERE'S A SUPERVISOR FOR EVERY POOL.
AND THE, THE REPORTS ARE AVERAGE THREE, WELL, I'M SORRY, TWO TO THREE.
SO THAT NUMBER WILL REMAIN HIGH, WHERE WE CANNOT REPLACE SUPERVISORS BECAUSE OF THE, UH, INCENTIVE, THE RETIREMENT INCENTIVE OR THE, UH, REDUCTION IN STAFF, OR SIMPLY WE'RE IN A HIRING FREEZE.
WE HAVE TO GET CREATIVE AND COMBINE SOME OF THESE SERVICES.
ONE SUPERVISOR MAY, UM, MAY ACTUALLY SUPERVISE TWO LOCATIONS OR THREE.
UM, WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE DESIGNATION, ESPECIALLY OF COMMUNITY CENTERS.
UM, EVERY SITE MAY NOT NEED A SUPERVISOR BASED ON OUR, OUR PLAN TO RESTRUCTURE AND RE MODIFY SERVICES FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE CENTERS.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE'RE ALSO STREAMLINING, UM, AND CROSS TRAINING, UH, DEPARTMENTS TO, TO HAVE STABILITY AND, UH, CONTINUED SERVICES AS WE OPERATE.
RIGHT NOW, SUMMER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, FAST APPROACHING.
WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE ADJUSTMENTS IMMEDIATELY.
UM, AND I THINK WE HAVE A, A GOOD PLAN IN MAKING THESE ADJUSTMENTS.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GETTING CREATIVE.
UM, THE OTHER WAY FOR US TO HANDLE IT IS COLLABORATING WITH PARTNERS, UM, WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE A GOOD HISTORY OF, BUT EVEN MORE SO NOW, WE ARE MERGING DEPARTMENTS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE OUTREACH, MORE MARKETING, UM, AND, AND MORE PARTNERSHIPS.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, THE CONSERVANCIES, UH, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE TOURS, CIVIC CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, UH, MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, ADOPTION GROUPS, AND OTHER PARTNERS, IT'S CRITICAL FOR US TO MAINTAIN GREAT RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN EAT INTO THIS GAP.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE.
WE'RE GONNA ENHANCE IT, UH, AND DO IT EVEN MORE SO, UH, IN THE COMING MONTHS.
UH, THIS SLIDE CAPTURES EXPENDITURES FOR, FOR EACH FUND THAT MAKES UP OUR BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, THE LARGEST EXPENDITURE, UH, 87.7 MILLION IN A GENERAL FUND THAT BRINGS OUT TOTAL EXPENDITURES TO OVER, UH, 107 MILLION, 100, 107 0.4 MILLION FOR OUR PROPOSED FY 26, UH, BUDGET.
THIS IS ABOUT A 5% CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THIS IS A, UM, A CHART, UM, UH, INDICATING HOW THAT LOOKED FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
UH, PERSONNEL VERSUS NON-PERSONNEL.
UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BREAK BREAKDOWN, WE'RE 49% OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENSES IN PERSONNEL, YOU KNOW, OUT OF THE NON-PERSONNEL AND GENERAL FUND, UH, AND RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
UH, AGAIN, THE ZOO PAYMENT IS, IS A PART OF, THIS IS ABOUT 38% OF OUR BUDGET.
ALRIGHT? UH, 26% IN SPECIAL REVENUE IS PERSONNEL.
53% IN GOLF IS PERSONNEL, 21% MANAGEMENT, RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT.
AND THEN, UH, GREENWAY BIO IS WHITE OAK BIO AND SOME OF THE OTHERS.
UM, THAT'S HIGH, 94% WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THAT'S AWFULLY HIGH, WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY REBUY EQUIPMENT EVERY YEAR.
SO SOME OF IT IS A ONE-TIME PURCHASE THAT MAY LAST FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
AND, UM, SO WE'RE JUST STAFF IS, UH, ACTUALLY MAINTAINING AND TAKING CARE OF THOSE AREAS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OVER 16 PROGRAMS IN THIS FY 26 BUDGET.
UM, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THESE RELATIVELY QUICK, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL IN TERMS OF REDUCTION FOR THE 16 PROGRAMS, IT'S $1.4 MILLION FOR THE FY 26 PROPOSED BUDGET.
UM, SOME NOTABLE CHANGES, AS WE MENTIONED, UM, WILL TRANSPIRE AS A RESULT OF, UH, THE RETIREMENT BUDGET REDUCTION TRANSFER OF STAFF TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
I HAVE TO FACTOR THAT IN, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE
[00:15:01]
TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS UNTIL WE CAN'T HIRE.ALRIGHT? UM, THE INCREASE IN THE RATE OF THE INTER FUND TRANSFER ACCOUNT HOPE, MEET, THE HOPE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT.
AND, UH, PENSIONS AND HEALTH INSURANCE, UM, ARE INDI ARE, ARE INDICATORS IN THIS, IN THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PROGRAM.
EXPENDITURES BY PROGRAM AGAIN.
UH, THE PARK DEVELOPMENT AND RENOVATION DECREASE, IT'S ABOUT 74%.
UH, AND THE OVERALL FOR THE BUDGET IS, UH, 4% REDUCTION IN ALL PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ADAPTIVE SPORTS AND RECREATION.
UH, THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS FOR THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT SPEAKS TO SOMETHING THAT'S UNIQUE, VERY SPECIAL FOR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES.
UH, THEY HAVE A UNIQUE PLACE TO GO.
I WISH WE HAD MORE OF THESE AROUND THE CITY, BUT WE DO TRY TO MAKE ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS INCLUSIVE.
BUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL DESIGNATED LOCATION AND A FACILITY THAT'S OUTDATED, GRANTED, BUT THE PROGRAMMING IN THIS PLACE IS OFF THE CHAIN, AND I HAVE TO SAY IT THAT WAY.
UH, PEOPLE CONSIDER THIS PLACE THEIR LIFELINE, RIGHT? UM, THIS PLACE GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO, TO CARRY ON, TO DO MORE, TO STAY HEALTHY, TO STAY REVENT.
UM, SO I'M SO PROUD OF THE JOB THAT'S HAPPENING THERE.
UM, BUT WE DO NEED HELP FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT.
AND THEN WE HAVE A FEW THINGS IN PLAY WORKING WITH DIRECTOR PONDS AND, UM, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT'LL ALLOW SOME UPGRADES TO THIS PLACE.
SO OVERDUE, AND ABOUT TIME FOR THAT.
UM, FOR OUR FY UM, BASED ON OUR FY 25 CURRENT DATA, IN TERMS OF, UM, A MEASUREMENT, THIS PLACE WILL REACH OVER 105,000 PEOPLE IN 26.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I AM DEFINITELY PROUD OF AND THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS CAN BE PROUD OF.
UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR INTRA FUND, UH, CHARGEBACKS AND RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS, UH, FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND FLEET, UM, THIS OVERSEE OUR FINANCIALS, ALL OF OUR, UM, PURCHASING ALL OF OUR, UH, COMPLIANCE.
UM, FROM THIS SLIDE, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
EVERYBODY'S WONDERING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, WHERE I COULD HONESTLY SAY THAT WITH AQUATIC OPERATIONS, WE'RE IN THE BEST SHAPE NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
AND SINCE COVID, UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 120, UH, AQUATIC STAFF ONBOARDING.
AND, UH, WE'LL BE READY TO GO BY MAY 25TH.
AND WE HAVE ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND CLASSES GOING ON.
WE'RE PROJECTING TO OPEN AT LEAST 31 POOLS THIS YEAR, AND THE OTHER SIX ARE DOWN FOR SOME TYPE OF REPAIR OR, UM, OPERATIONAL ISSUE.
UH, SO I'M, I WANT TO JUST THANK MATT AND PRENTICE FOR THE GREAT JOB THEY'VE DONE OVER THE MONTHS, SINCE JANUARY, TO BE HONEST, IN RECRUITING AND PROMOTIONS, THAT'S WHY WE'RE AT THIS POINT.
AND THEN ANOTHER, ANOTHER FACTOR IS THAT WE'RE HIRING 15 YEAR OLDS THIS YEAR, WHICH, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO OUR ABILITY TO GET MORE CANDIDATES.
SO YOU'LL SEE A LOT MORE POOLS OPEN.
YOU'LL SEE THEM OPEN FOR A, A MORE REGULAR SCHEDULE INSTEAD OF THREE DAYS A WEEK, ACTUALLY SIX DAYS A WEEK.
UM, AND WE'RE ASSESSING THAT DAY BY DAY.
SO I'M, I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT, AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT IT IF YOU, IF YOU'RE WONDERING HOW, UH, THAT PROCESS IS, YOU CAN GO ONLINE.
IT'S A DETAILED PROCESS ON HOW WE RECRUIT AND WHAT'S REQUIRED, AND THAT'S WHY IT TAKES A BIT OF TIME TO RECRUIT AND, UH, HIRE OUR, OUR AQUATIC STAFF.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE, AS I MENTIONED, 60 COMMUNITY CENTERS THROUGHOUT THIS CITY.
UH, A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH, ADULT, AND SENIORS.
UM, WE'RE FOCUSING ON NOT ONLY PHYSICAL FITNESS, BUT COGNITIVE, UM, AND MENTAL.
UM, AS I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING STATEMENT, PARK AND RECREATION IS CONSIDERED THERAPEUTIC.
AND IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE OPERATE THESE CENTERS, UM, IN A WAY THAT IT MAKES SENSE AND IT BENEFITS COMMUNITIES.
EVERY CENTER WON'T BE THE SAME, UH, GOING INTO THIS BUDGET.
UM, WE'RE ADJUSTING CENTERS TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S NEED, AND WE'RE NOT DOING A COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH TO EVERY ONE OF THEM.
UM, WE HAVE TO DO THIS FOR TWO REASONS.
THE CUTS FOR ONE AND A NUMBER OF SUPERVISORS THAT WE'VE LOST, UM, IN THE, UH, RETIREMENT INCENTIVE, AS WELL AS, UM, VACANCIES AND, AND HIRING.
[00:20:03]
ONE STATISTIC I WANT TO, I WANNA BRING OUT IN THE MEASUREMENTS IS THAT 75,000 AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PARTICIPANTS IN OVER WAR TWO ACTUALLY, AND 126,000 SENIORS WILL GO THROUGH OUR CENTERS, UM, THIS YEAR.UM, IN TERMS OF MY OFFICE, IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION AND PARTNERSHIPS, UM, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.
UM, IT, IT ALSO INCLUDES THE COUNCIL LIAISON AND THEN, UH, PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANTS, UH, WHICH ARE BECOMING EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO FILL THE GAP.
UH, ONE MEASURE I WANNA POINT OUT, UM, FOR FY 26, IT'S, WE HAVE 6,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS, UM, THAT WILL HAPPEN AND MORE IN FY 25.
AND I DO HAVE SOME STATISTICS FROM, FROM A VOLUNTEER STANDPOINT.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR ESPLANADES, IF YOU LOOK AT ADOPTIONS, UH, WE HAVE OVER 540 GROUPS THAT ADOPT FIELDS AND ESPLANADES AND PARKS.
IF YOU PUT A FIGURE TO THAT, THAT'S OVER $5 MILLION IN PERSONNEL EXPENSE.
UH, ONE THING THAT WE'RE GONNA DO MORE OF, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, UM, IN TERMS OF COORDINATING AND, UH, MONITORING PARKS, PLANNING, UH, EXPANSIONS, CONSTRUCTIONS, LIGHT CONSTRUCTION, UH, MAINTENANCE AND RENOVATION OF PARKS, WORKING WITH GSD.
UM, THIS, THIS DEPARTMENT IS CRUCIAL FOR WHATEVER PROJECTS THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH.
UM, AND ONE, ONE THING WE HAVE TO DO IS MORE PLAYGROUND INSPECTIONS IS, WHICH, WHICH IS A PERFORMANCE MEASURE THAT I'M, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UM, SPEAKING OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES, BY THE WAY, UH, THROUGH THE EFFICIENCY STUDY, UH, WE'RE UPGRADING AND CHANGING PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN EVERY PROGRAM.
SO WHAT YOU SEE NOW WILL MORE THAN LIKELY CHANGE SO THAT IT'S MORE MEANINGFUL, SO THAT IT'S MEASURABLE, UM, AND, AND, AND SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY EVALUATE HOW WE'RE DOING AND MAKE CHANGES BASED ON THE RESULTS.
ANOTHER ONE OF MY PERSONAL, UM, PASSIONS.
I'M, NO, I'M NO GOOD AT IT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I LIKE TO PLAY, IT'S LIKE A WALK IN A PARK FOR ME, BUT I, I, GOLF, GOLF OPERATIONS.
THIS INCLUDES, UH, MEMORIAL PARK GOLF COURSE IN SHARPSTOWN, AND THEN CONTRACT MANAGEMENT FOR, UH, UM, FIRST TEE, UM, AT MACAU FM LAW PARK.
UH, IT ALSO INCLUDES, UH, MELROSE HERMAN AND GUS WORTHHAM IN TERMS OF OVERSIGHT.
AND, YOU KNOW, GOLF IS WELL ATTENDED.
UH, IT'S IN, IT'S GROWING IN TERMS OF THE GAME, UH, FOR THE DRIVING RANGE USE FOR ALL OF THE COURSES THAT WE MANAGE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT 375,000 USERS, UH, IN TERMS OF GOLF ROUNDS.
UH, OVER 110,000 BETWEEN BOTH COURSES.
GOLF IS DOING WELL, UM, WITH PARTNERS, UM, LIKE THE ASTROS GOLF FOUNDATION, UM, AND WITH VENDORS THAT ARE OPERATING, UH, CONCESSIONS.
GOLF IS DOING, LIKE I SAID, PRETTY WELL.
WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER THOUGH.
SO, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A BANNER YEAR AGAIN IN GOLF.
HAVING THE PGA TOURNAMENT HERE, UM, DEFINITELY HELPS PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THE GAME.
WE HAVE SOME OTHER PLANS ON THE TABLE THAT I WON'T MENTION NOW THAT'S GONNA BENEFIT GOLF OVERALL FOR THIS CITY.
YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF OVERSIGHT OF THE DAILY MAINTENANCE OF HOUSTON'S PARKLAND, ESPLANADES, GREEN SPACES, AND URBAN FOREST, WE'RE ALSO, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FACILITIES THAT NEED TO BE MAINTAINED FOR EQUIPMENT.
UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LIBRARIES AND THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, THE GREENWAYS, UH, AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THAT'S A LOT OF, THAT'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY IN A LOT OF AREA.
AND THEN, UM, WE'VE BEEN DOING PRETTY GOOD, BUT THE 24 DAY AVERAGE MOURN CYCLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO, I WANT YOU TO GUY, I WANT EVERYONE TO KEEP IN MIND SEASONALLY BLESS YOU AND BLESS YOU SEASONALLY.
WE HAVE TO MORE, MORE DURING THE LATE SPRING AND SUMMER.
THOSE AVERAGES ARE GONNA HURT US DURING THAT TIME OFF SEASON.
WE CAN GET AWAY WITH A 24 DAY CYCLE IN SEASON.
IT'S NOT GONNA LOOK TOO GOOD, YOU KNOW, BUT
[00:25:01]
WE HAVE A CAN-DO ATTITUDE.WE'RE OPTIM OPTIMISTIC, AND WE'RE GOING TO EAT INTO THIS WITH OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING WITH COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS BECAUSE WE'VE, WE'VE USED, UM, SOME OF YOUR, UM, INITIATIVES AND HELP TO EAT INTO THIS, WHETHER IT'S EQUIPMENT OR WHETHER IT'S HIRING CONTRACTORS.
UM, THAT'LL, THAT'LL HELP US OUT TREMENDOUSLY.
UM, DON'T BE TOO PRIDEFUL OF THE 24 DAY.
THE ONE THAT'S GONNA BITE US PRETTY BAD IS THE ESPLANADES 'CAUSE THAT'S A 44, UH, CYCLE ROTATION THAT WE'LL HAVE TO GO TO.
I GOT A LOT OF FAVORITES IN PARKS.
I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU THAT I'M A PARK USER AND A PARK ADMINISTRATOR, UH, AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE THESE ASSETS.
BUT LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK, IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN THERE, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO.
IT'S A 5,000 ACRE WILDERNESS PARK WITH A VARIETY OF OUTDOOR NATURE OPPORTUNITIES IN TERMS OF CONSERVATION, UH, IN TERMS OF EDUCATION, IT'S, IT'S A KEYSTONE FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND A JEWEL, UM, THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY.
UM, A MEASURE FOR, FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, 85,000 RESIDENTS, UH, WILL COME THROUGH LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK, AND FY 26.
UM, AGAIN, IF YOU HADN'T BEEN THERE, PLEASE GO.
YOU HAVE AN INVITATION FROM ME.
UH, THERE'S ARCHERY OPPORTUNITIES, FISHING, HIKING, CYCLING, CAMPING.
IT'S THE ONLY PARK THAT WE HAVE WITH OVERNIGHT STAYS.
AS A PART OF OUR GREEN SPACE, UM, DIVISION, UM, WE HAVE A NATURALIST, UM, THAT TAKE CARE OF THE CITY AND PRESERVE IT IN TERMS OF OUR TREES, IN TERMS OF OUR WILDERNESS, UH, AIR AND WATER QUALITY RIP REPAIR PROJECTS, UH, OUTDOOR EDUCATION.
UH, WE HAVE SEVEN, UH, NATURAL RESOURCE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GONNA COMPLETE IN FY 26.
AND THESE ARE RIPERION TYPE PROJECTS THAT KEEP OUR WATER CLEAN, UH, AS WELL AS OUR AIR WITH TREES AND PLANTINGS ALL OVER THIS CITY.
UM, PARK DEVELOPMENT AND RENOVATIONS.
UH, ANOTHER ONE THAT'S HIT PRETTY HEAVY IN TERMS OF THE FY 26 BUDGET.
UM, YOU KNOW, 25, WE HAD ABOUT 58 PROJECTS THAT WERE CONSIDERED, UH, MODERATE.
IT'S NOT CIP TYPE RENOVATIONS, BUT LIGHTING, FENCING, PLUMBING, UH, PLAYGROUND REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, NOT NEW, UH, ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO 12 PROJECT 12 PARKS WHERE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO PROJECTS LIKE THAT, UM, IN FY 26.
PLEASE PARK SAFETY AND SECURITY.
UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR PARK RANGERS, UM, WE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT WITH A FUNDING PREVIOUS YEARS THAT'S NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
UH, ALONG WITH CUTS, WE WILL HAVE, UH, SOME REDUCTION IN COVERAGE IN TERMS OF SITES.
UM, BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, FROM THE COUNTY AND FROM HPD TO WORK WITH US.
UH, AND I'M WORKING WITH, UM, DIRECTORS TO COME UP WITH SOFTWARE WHERE WE CAN IDENTIFY SPECIFICALLY WHERE INCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE KNOW, WE'LL KNOW EXACTLY WHERE INCIDENTS ARE WHEN THEY HAPPEN, AND WE CAN FOCUS OUR ATTENTION MORE STRATEGIC ON WHERE WE'RE SENDING RANGERS.
UM, AND THEN USING TECHNOLOGY, AS I MENTIONED.
I AM NOT GIVEN A PLUG FOR GATORADE, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW.
I AM JUST SERVING A DEHYDRATION NEED.
ALRIGHT, RECREATION AND, AND, UH, FITNESS, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS PROGRAM, PRETTY MUCH OVERSEES PROGRAMMING AT LEE AND JOE JEL SKATE PARK, OUR DISC GOLF COURSES, OUR OUR WEIGHT ROOMS, OUR SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR ADULT AND YOUTH KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURE.
WE, WE, WE WILL, WE WILL REACH 70,000, UH, ADULT IN OUR ADULT SPORTS, UH, PARTICIPATION.
[00:30:01]
THIS PROGRAM, IT GETS CITIZENS MOVING, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH A VARIETY OF, UH, OPPORTUNITIES.UM, TENNIS OPERATIONS IS KIND OF UNIQUE IN HOUSTON.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE THREE, UM, TENNIS FACILITIES, TENNIS CENTERS WITH, UM, MULTIPLE COURTS, YOU KNOW, ON AN AVERAGE 15 COURTS OR MORE.
UH, LEILA CLAIRE HAS, UH, 24 COURTS.
THE OTHER ONES MEMORIAL AND HOME OF FORD.
WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 16, BUT THIS IS FOR THE PROGRAMMING AND THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT OUR TENNIS CENTERS.
WE HAVE OVER 200 NEIGHBORHOOD COURTS, AND ON MANY OF THOSE COURTS, WE, WE PROGRAM TENNIS OPPORTUNITIES LIKE LESSONS, UM, UM, CARNIVALS AND, AND EVENTS.
SO, ONE MEASURE YOU, YOU'LL SEE 26,000 YOUTH THAT, UH, WE'RE EXPECTING TO ACTUALLY, UH, SERVE IN FY 26.
UM, WITH THIS, UH, TREE CANOPY IS SERVED, UH, WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
UM, WE PLANTED ABOUT 31,000 TREES IN FY 25.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT EARTH DAY, WE DID A LOT OF TREES FOR THAT IN ARBOR DAY.
UM, FY 26, WE'RE PLANTING ON PLANTING 27,000 TREES IN APPROPRIATE PLACES.
LEMME JUST SAY THAT, UM, WE HAVE LEARNED LESSONS WHERE TREES SHOULD NOT BE PLANTED UNDER POWER LINES AND OPEN AREAS.
UM, SO WE HAVE A NEW STRATEGY, UH, TO, TO PLANT THESE 37,000 TREES.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE WORKING WITH PARTNERS LIKE APACHE TO HELP US DELIVER THAT.
DEBT SERVICES AND INTER FUND TRANSFERS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHEN KNOW, DEBT SERVICES, PAYMENTS, INTER FUND TRANSFERS, UM, I HAVE TO MENTION THE ZOO.
THAT'S A PART OF THIS, THIS PROGRAM.
I THINK YOU GUYS HEARD FROM ME QUITE A BIT.
UH, THAT'S WHY I HAVE MS. CHERYL RIGHT NEXT TO ME.
UH, SHE REPORTS WELL ON MONEY
THE, SO WE ARE GONNA TALK ABOUT REVENUE BY FUND.
AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED BUDGET COMPARED TO THE, ACTUALLY, UH, THE FY 25 ESTIMATES.
IF YOU LOOK, UH, THE TWO LARGEST REVENUE PROPOSED INCREASES ARE IN REVENUE, THE REVENUE SPECIAL FUND, AND THE GOLF SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
ALSO, UH, THE DECREASE IN REVENUE FROM MAINTENANCE, RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT.
I THINK, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EXPENSES, BUT THIS IS THE REVENUE PART OF IT.
THE TOTAL REVENUE RECEIVED FOR FY 26, IT'S 19.6 MILLION, 2% LESS THAN, UH, FY 25 ESTIMATES.
UH, THE NEXT SLIDE IS GONNA GIVE US THE HIGHLIGHTS.
SO IN FUND TWO, UH, 2100 PARK SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, 215,000, IT'S AN INCREASE DUE TO DEVELOPERS PAYING MORE REPLACEMENT OF TREES AT WORK.
SITES INCREASED DUE TO MORE CUSTOMERS RENTING FACILITY AMENITIES INCREASED DUE TO CUSTOMERS PURCHASING FIREWOOD FROM LAKE HOUSTON.
WI WILDERNESS PARK INCREASED DUE TO LEAGUES TEAM PERMITTING TO PLAY AT H PARK LOCATIONS.
GOLF, UH, GOLF FUND OF COURSE INCREASES MORE REVENUE EXPECTED IN THE PRO SHOP.
THAT'S TO THE TUNE OF 355,000.
AND THEN MAINTENANCE, RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT, WE HAD A ONETIME, UM, WE HAD A ONETIME ESTIMATE OF, OF SOME REVENUE RECEIVE, SORRY, THAT WILL NOT BE, UH, WILL NOT BE RECEIVED OR NOT PROPOSE TO BE RECEIVED NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
AND THE END OF BUFFALO BAYOU GREENWAY, THE BAYOU GREENWAY 2020 FUND, 2106, OR 142,000.
THIS GREET DECREASES DUE TO SAVINGS AND EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES COST FOR THE WHITE OAK BAYOU TRAIL MAINTENANCE.
THIS CHART, UH, SHOWS US THE EXPENDITURE, THE REVENUES BY FUND THAT'S CHARTED ON THE SLIDE THAT WE JUST SAW.
AGAIN, THE TOTAL REVENUE RECEIVED FOR ALL FUNDS IS A 19.6 MILLION, 2% LOWER THAN THE ESTIMATED FY 25 ESTIMATES.
THESE ARE REVENUE BY PROGRAMS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT WITH REVENUE.
[00:35:01]
JUST BREAKS IT DOWN BY THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF REVENUE.UM, OF COURSE, WE KNOW PARKS IS NOT A REVENUE GENERATED DEPARTMENT.
SO VERY LITTLE REVENUE 19 POINT, UH, 6,395,000 LESS THAN WHAT WAS WHAT WE RECEIVED ON LAST YEAR.
IN THE APPENDIX, YOU WILL FIND, UH, THAT THE DEPARTMENT DEMOGRAPHICS, DEMOGRAPHICS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I WILL NOW TURN IT BACK INTO THE HANDS OF OUR DIRECTOR SO HE CAN, FOR FINAL COMMENTS.
I JUST WANNA, AGAIN, THANK EVERYBODY, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, WHEN WE CALL YOU GUYS, YOU ANSWER AND VICE VERSA.
UH, FOR US TO REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT, MORE OF AN IMPACT ON CITIZENS AND COMMUNITIES, WE NEED HELP AND WE NEED SUPPORT.
UM, WE'RE GONNA DO THE BEST JOB WE CAN POSSIBLY DO WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT 'CAUSE I'M GONNA COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
UM, WE, WE NEED TO BETTER FUND THIS DEPARTMENT.
UM, I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE BEEN JOINED THE WHOLE TIME BY THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR, UH, MY VICE CHAIR, MARIO CASTILLO.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE STAFF, UM, FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER, COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER, COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK, COUNCIL MEMBER TASHA JACKSON.
I THINK THAT I'VE ACKNOWLEDGED EVERYBODY ELSE EARLIER.
HUFFMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ IS ONLINE.
AND WHO? HUFFMAN CAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN'S ONLINE.
MARTHA CASTEX, TATUMS ONLINE MAYOR, MARTHA CASTEX, TATUMS, CHIEF OF STAFF DEI IS HERE.
PLUM COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER'S ONLINE.
AND, UM, WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO QUESTIONS.
UM, FIRST, UH, AND THANK YOU CHERYL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S YOUR DEDICATION IS WHAT REALLY KEEPS, YOU KNOW, THESE PARKS MOVING AS WELL.
UM, AND, AND DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO A PARK USER AS WELL, HAVE YOUNG ONES AND, AND WE FREQUENT ALMOST EVERY PARK IN THE DISTRICT AND THEN EVEN SOME OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT.
UM, AND, AND SO IT, FOR ME, IT DOES CONCERN ME THAT THE GREEN SPACE AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY IS, IS WHAT'S WE'RE GONNA SEE CUT.
UM, QUITE FRANKLY, I, I FEEL, AND I, AND I GET IT, UM, I, I PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMMING AT PARKS, UM, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE CORE RESPONSIBILITY IS MOWING, DE LITTERING, MAINTAINING THE PARKS.
UM, I, AND I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO PRINCE A COUPLE TIMES AS WELL, PARTNERSHIPS NEED TO COME TO PLAY, UH, WHERE WE'RE PROBABLY HAVING SOME STAFF AT.
UM, I BACKGROUND IN NON-PROFIT AS WELL.
WE LEANED INTO THESE GREEN SPACES FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, UM, OUTTA SCHOOL TIME DURING THE SUMMER AS WELL.
UM, AND, AND SO I KNOW THESE ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS, SOMETHING THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, UM, IT'S NOT EASY TO MAKE.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, 45 DAYS FOR ESPLANADES, UM, YOU KNOW, 24 DAYS FOR PARKS.
UH, WE, WE KNOW WHEN PARKS ARE STARTING TO LOOK A CERTAIN WAY.
AND I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNG WALKING TO EASTWOOD PARK AND BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THE SUMMER PROGRAM ACTUALLY KICKED OFF THE, THE GRASS WAS UP TO MY KNEES.
PROB PROBABLY RIGHT BEFORE THE SUMMER PROGRAM WAS GONNA KICK OFF.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT REALLY JUST CHANGES, CHANGES WHAT A COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE, UM, AND THEN ATTRACTS OTHER THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT.
SO, UM, TO WHATEVER EXTENT I, I KNOW THAT THERE'S PROBABLY SOME PARTNERSHIPS ALREADY WITH, UH, CAREER AND RECOVERY, HOWEVER, THOSE FOLKS CAN JUMP ON BOARD TO HELP MINIMIZE THE, THE LENGTH OF, OF THOSE, UH, MOWING SCHEDULES.
AND, AND YOU MENTIONED EARLIER AS WELL, YOU KNOW, UM, I THINK THIS FISCAL YEAR WE PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED PROBABLY ABOUT 250 OUT OF OUR CDSF FOR MAINTENANCE.
WE KNOW THAT'S A TOUGH, TOUGH SPACE.
I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, UM, ON AVERAGE, UH, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE, UM, PER PARK FOR MAINTENANCE THAT YOU HAVE? ROUGHLY? DOLLAR AMOUNT.
I'LL, I'LL, WE'LL HAVE, I'LL HAVE TO GET THE STATISTICAL DATA, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE SOME PARKS ARE, ARE, ARE DIFFERENT IN ACREAGE.
UM, BUT I THINK I COULD TELL YOU THE AVERAGE COST PER ACRE, UM, TO MAINTAIN.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OVER $3,000.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, ERIC, WHICH IS THAT'S CORRECT.
WHICH, WHICH IS NOT A LOT WHEN YOU HAVE LIGHTS AS WELL.
UM, TRASH CANS THAT, YOU KNOW, GLITTERING, MOWING, EDGING.
UM, AND, AND SO, UM, I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL THROUGH OUR OFFICE.
UM, I, LAST YEAR I SUBMITTED A BUDGET AMENDMENT OF
[00:40:01]
A, YOU KNOW, AND I APPRECIATE THESE ADOPTION PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO, UH, INCREASE.UM, BUT AN ADOPT A GATE AS WELL.
UH, THERE'S SOME COMMUNITIES THAT WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT.
I KNOW THERE'S A SECURITY SAFETY CHALLENGE MAYBE IN THE EVENING.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY TO, AND THEY OWN THESE PARKS ULTIMATELY.
UH, THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS THEIR PARK.
AND SO, AND I'LL GET BACK IN THE QUEUE, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THE MAINTENANCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS PRIORITY.
UM, AND I KNOW AGAIN, THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON, BUT THE OTHER PROGRAMMING SHOULD COME SECONDARY TO THAT.
AND IF I COULD GIVE SOME OF MY TIME TO KATE, IF YOU DON'T MIND SORT OF UPDATING, WE, WE'D HAD, UH, CALLS ABOUT GRAHAM PARK DRAINAGE AND CHERRY HURST, UH, TENNIS RESURFACING.
AND I THINK, UH, KATE, YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON THOSE.
SO, UM, RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO US ABOUT THOSE TWO PARTS AS WELL AS MULTIPLE PARTS IN OUR DISTRICT.
AND I'M SURE CITYWIDE, UM, RELATED TO THE DRAINAGE ONE AT GRAND PARK, Y'ALL, UM, ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO, UM, INSTALL A PLAYGROUND BECAUSE THAT WAS REMOVED DUE TO HOW UNSAFE IT WAS.
AND I KNOW Y'ALL DID AN ANALYSIS FOR GRAND PARK DRAINAGE, IT'D BE UPWARDS OF 250,000.
AND I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER PARTS CITYWIDE WITH MAJOR DRAINAGE ISSUES AS WELL.
IS THERE A, IS THERE FUNDING IDENTIFIED IN THIS BUDGET FOR ADDRESSING SOME OF THAT LONG-TERM DRAINAGE NEEDS AT PARKS? NOT, NOT IN THIS BUDGET, BUT WORKING WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD ON, UH, LET'S PLAY HOUSTON.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES AT PARTICULAR PARKS.
UM, THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER ON WHICH PARKS WERE SELECTED AND SELECTING PARKS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THAT PARK WAS ON A LIST.
I THINK THAT'S A LET'S PLAY HOUSTON PARK FOR THE PLAYBACK.
AND WE'LL ADDRESS DRAINAGE ISSUES THROUGH THAT INITIATIVE.
WE'LL SUBMIT THAT IN WRITING AS WELL.
AND THEN RELATED TO CHERRY HURST TENNIS COURTS, I BELIEVE THE TENNIS COURTS WERE JUST RESURFACED, UM, AND THAT WE'RE FURTHER CONNECTING ON PICKLEBALL, BUT SHOUT OUT TO MARTHA ESPECIALLY FOR ALWAYS YES, YES.
ANSWERING ALL OF MY QUESTIONS.
SO I'LL DEFER BACK TO RAMIREZ FOR HIS THANK YOU, KATE.
SO AGAIN, KUDOS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND OTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HELP OUT ON PARKS BY SPENDING OUT OF THEIR DISTRICT, UH, SERVICE FUND BUCKET.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, OUR AT LARGES DO NOT GET THAT SAME BUCKET, SO OTHERWISE I'M SURE WE'D BE HAPPY TO HELP WHERE WE COULD.
SO DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT, UM, THE BREAKDOWN HERE.
THE CITY HAS 60 COMMUNITY CENTERS AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND, COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTERS, AND WE HAVE 12 OR 11 FUNCTIONAL MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS.
UM, SO SOME ARE SPLIT BETWEEN HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, SOME ARE SPLIT BETWEEN PARKS AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
ARE THERE WAYS, DO YOU THINK, TO OBTAIN EFFICIENCIES IF WE WERE SOMEHOW ABLE TO, UH, CONSOLIDATE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THESE FACILITIES? WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT? YOU KNOW, OF COURSE IF THERE'S LIKE SERVICES, UM, CONSOLIDATIONS MAKE SENSE, BUT TYPICALLY IN THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER ENVIRONMENT AND OFFERINGS, YOU HAVE SOCIAL SERVICES THAT'S OFFERED.
UM, FROM A RECREATIONAL STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO? WE, WE CONSIDER OURSELVES RECREATION PROFESSIONALS.
UH, THERE'S A SYSTEM THAT'S IN PLACE ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS, YOUTH AND, UH, ADULTS AND SENIORS.
UM, THE FACT THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR GSD MAY OPERATE A MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, WE GO IN, WE CAN GO IN.
PRIME EXAMPLE IS, UM, THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AT WEST GRAY.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T OWN THAT FACILITY.
SO THE AQUATIC OPERATION, WE, WE PRETTY MUCH COVER THAT SIDE OF IT.
BUT THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE CENTER, OUR STAFF IS THERE TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAMS. BUT GSD IS PRETTY MUCH TAKING CARE OF THE BUILDING.
AND THEN WE OUTSOURCE SERVICES TO PARTNERS, NONPROFITS THAT HELP US WITH THAT PROGRAMMING.
SO WHERE IT MAKES SENSE IN THOSE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS FOR US TO OPERATE, AS LONG AS WE HAVE STAFFING, WE CAN GO IN AND DO THAT.
AND VICE VERSA, WE'RE OPENING UP OUR CENTERS TO NONPROFITS AND OTHER GROUPS TO OFFER SERVICES THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S RELATED TO RECREATION, EDUCATION OR ENRICHMENT.
NO, AND I APPRECIATE THAT IN THOSE, THOSE CENTERS, WHETHER THEY'RE OPERATED BY PARKS OR HEALTH SERVE, A GREAT NEED IN THE COMMUNITY AND MANY, MANY SERVICES ARE OFFERED.
UH, AND SO, BUT I'D ENCOURAGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO, TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN'T GAIN SOME, SOME COST SAVINGS.
UH, THERE, YOU SPOKE ABOUT MOWING MM-HMM
[00:45:01]
AND, AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT, UH, TIME PERIODS DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT'S AN ESPLANADE OR, UH, PARK GRASS OR A DIFFERENT TYPE OF, UH, PROPERTY.IS THAT RIGHT? NOT, NOT EVERYTHING IS 24 DAYS, IF I READ YOUR PRESENTATION CORRECTLY.
THE, THE PARKS, THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS AND THE LIBRARIES 24 DAYS.
UM, THE ESPLANADES 45 DAYS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ESPLANADES, THERE ARE UNITS AND POCKETS OF LAND, THEY'RE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO JUMP CURVES AND YOU'RE IN TRAFFIC.
UH, IT'S DANGEROUS FOR ONE AND FOR TWO EQUIPMENT TAKES A BEATING.
UM, BUT WE, WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT OUR PARKS ARE CUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN CUT 'EM.
AND THAT, UM, AND YOU KNOW, YOU GOT HORTICULTURE, YOU GOT TREES, YOU GOT OTHER, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO.
BUT MOWING, WE HAVE TO LITTER THE PARK ALSO BECAUSE WE, IF WE MOW OVER THE LITTER, IT'S GONNA BE EVERYWHERE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S HAPPENING IN SOME CASES.
UH, BUT IT'S OUR JOB TO ERADICATE THAT.
SO THE DE LITTERING EVERY THREE DAYS AND THEN THE MOWING AVERAGE OF 25 IN SEASON.
RIGHT NOW, THAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU LEARN IS YOU PICK UP THE TRASH BEFORE YOU MOW.
ALRIGHT, I'LL, I'LL GO BACK IN THE QUEUE AND COME BACK.
I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, MY VICE CHAIR, MARIO CASTILLO HAS JOINED US.
NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM DEDE CHAVIS WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEMS OFFICE.
OH, AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS IS ONLINE.
AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR ALLEN AND SENIOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR JOHNSON FOR THE, UM, WORKSHOP REPORT.
UM, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT STAFF, ALWAYS RESPONSIVE.
UM, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM IS ONLINE AS, UH, CHAIR, ALCON STATED.
UM, AND SHE DOES HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
SO, AND, AND GOING TO SLIDE 19, UM, SPECIFICALLY THE MOWING CYCLE FOR THE ESPLANADES, THAT CYCLE OF 45 DAYS, UM, THAT'S GONNA HAVE THE DISTRICTS LOOKING SO UNKEPT.
UM, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GET THIS CUT DOWN? UM, ADOPTIONS AND, AND PARTNERS, UM, TO CONTRACT OUT THAT, THAT WORK, UM, TO MAINTAIN OUR CYCLES AS WELL AS CUT ESPLANADES.
IN THE PAST WITH VACANCIES, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE CONTRACTORS.
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT NOW, WHICH IS WHY THE CYCLE IS GOING TO, IS SO, UH, BROAD.
LIKE THE CAMPAIGN THAT WE'RE GONNA UNLEASH ON THIS CITY MONDAY WITH ADOPTION GROUPS THAT MAY WANT TO COME IN WILL DEFINITELY HELP US.
I MEAN, WE'RE SAVING $5.5 MILLION NOW BECAUSE COMMUNITIES HAVE STEPPED UP AND SAID THAT, HEY, THIS IS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WANT MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO LOOK NICE.
SO MY PROPERTY VALUES WILL STAY AS THEY ARE INCREASE.
SO WE HELP TRAIN THEM, UH, AND WE EVEN ASSIST ONCE THEY'RE COMFORTABLE, WE LET 'EM HAVE IT.
UH, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE SIGNAGE IN SOME CASES AS A RESULT OF THE ADOPTION AND SOME NOTORIETY.
WE, WE, WE WOULD LOVE TO DO A STORY ON THOSE GROUPS.
UH, BUT WE'RE GONNA CAMPAIGN HEAVY, UM, TO ENHANCE THAT, THAT PROGRAM.
SO THAT'LL HELP US IF, UH, YOU KNOW, OF ANY BUSINESSES OR CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS OR ANYBODY THAT WANT TO, UH, JOIN FORTH IN THIS EFFORT, UH, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH 'EM ALL INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY.
LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, MAYOR PROTI, UH, MEETING WITH YOU TO DISCUSS FURTHER.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, FEEDBACK.
AND THEN ALSO ONE OTHER QUESTION, UM, IN THIS, IN REFERENCE TO THE AQUATIC CENTERS, IS THERE A LIST OF POOLS THAT WILL BE OPEN THIS SUMMER? I CAN TELL YOU THE POOLS THAT WON'T BE OPEN.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND LIST THE POOLS THAT WON'T BE OPEN.
UH, LET ME FIND MY AQUATIC SLIDE.
THERE'S SIX, I THINK THERE'S SIX POOLS.
YOU SAID THAT WOULDN'T BE OPEN BECAUSE OF OPERATIONAL OR MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS. YES.
NOT NECESSARILY LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE.
WELL, I DON'T HAVE TO SEARCH FOR THE SLIDES.
I HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER GURU IN THE HOUSE.
UH, I KNOW WE HAVE EMANCIPATION ON THAT LIST, BUT THE INSPECTION FOR EMANCIPATION IS TUESDAY NEXT WEEK IF IT PASSES, INSPECTION WILL BE OPEN.
UH, WE'LL BE OPEN AND READY TO GO.
COULD YOU HELP ME OUT PLEASE, SIR? YES, SIR.
SO, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING ONLINE AND YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO SPEAK IN THE MIC.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR, UH, HAVING US TODAY, UH, TO, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, UM, JOHNSON
[00:50:01]
AND DIRECTOR ALLEN.THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO STAND HERE AND TALK ABOUT OUR AQUATICS PROGRAM.
NOW WE HAVE, UH, 31 POOLS WILL BE OPEN.
SIX OF THOSE POOLS WILL BE CLOSED DUE TO MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND REPAIRS.
UH, AGNES MOFFITT, EMANCIPATION TIDWELL, UM, UH, CLOVER LAND.
AND THE THE LAST ONE ON THE LIST IS, UM, REALLY CAUGHT ME OFF.
I KNOW MAYOR PROAM WANTED TOWN, TOWN WOOD OPEN.
SO, SO I WANT TO GIVE A CAVEAT TO THIS IF I CAN.
UM, AS DIRECTOR ALLEN SAID THAT EMANCIPATION WILL BE INSPECTED THIS WEEK AS OF MAY 15TH.
UH, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OUR AQUATICS TEAM WAS OUT INSPECTING POOLS TO GET THEM CLEARED SO THEY CAN OPERATE.
AND WE HAD MORE OF THOSE POOLS COME ONLINE.
I WANT TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT WEEK WITH THAT INSPECTION HAPPENING.
WHETHER IT COULD BE A STORM, IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT BREAKS MALFUNCTIONS.
BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN ALL OF OUR POOLS.
BUT THAT IS A CAVEAT THAT, UH, I'M, I'M, I'M PUTTING MY HAND ON HIS SHOULDER 'CAUSE I'M GONNA LEAN ON HIM.
WE GONNA OPEN ALL OF OUR POOLS THIS SUMMER.
SO HOPEFULLY ALL 38 WILL BE 37 WILL BE OPEN, UH, FOR SWIM TIME JUNE 14TH.
WHAT, CAN YOU QUICKLY SAY WHAT THE ISSUE IS AT TOM WOOD? UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU GIMME A SECOND, I CAN PULL UP MY EMAIL AND SEE WHAT THE IN INSPECTION REPORT SAID AND I CAN LET YOU KNOW.
COUNCIL, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PLASTER ISSUES.
UM, SO SOME OF IT IS PLASTER WORK.
UM, THE CONTRACTOR WE'RE WORKING AT THEIR PACE, UM, TO COMPLETE THAT, TO COMPLETE THAT WORK.
SO, SO POTENTIALLY COULD BE OPEN LATER IN THE SUMMER? YES.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ DO THAT.
AND JUST GOING BACK TO THE ADOPTION, UH, PRINCESS, YOU'RE GOOD.
EASTWOOD IS GONNA BE OPEN, I KNOW IT'S IN DISTRICT H, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN THE EASTWOOD AREA.
INTERESTED IN GOING TO EASTWOOD PARK FOR SWIMMING POOL.
IS PROJECTED NOT TO OPEN, NOT TO OPEN ON AT LEAST BY JUNE THE 14TH.
SO DURING THE SUMMER, POSSIBLY SOME, YEAH.
THAT WAS MY PARK WHEN I WENT SWIMMING, BY THE WAY.
UM, BACK TO THE ADOPTION WE HAVE, AND EXCUSE ME, AND, AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH IT.
I COACHED, I WAS ON THE BOARD OF LITTLE LEAGUES AND FOOTBALL, BASEBALL MM-HMM
AND WE MOW, WE DETER, UM, OTHER ASPECTS THAT COULD POSSIBLY HELP OUT AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A, A KIND OF PULLING BACK ON RESTROOM KEYS AND LIGHTING, TURN THEM ON.
UH, I'VE HEARD COMPLAINTS WHERE FOLKS ARE READY TO HAVE THE LIGHTS ON AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO GO AND TURN ON THE LIGHTS.
I THINK, AGAIN, THAT OWNERSHIP, I KNOW AGAIN, MAYBE SOME, SOME LIABILITY, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN RELEASE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT TO THE YOU, TO THE COMMUNITY, SO THAT WAY THEY'RE NOT WAITING ON LIGHTS AND THERE'S NOT A STAFFER HAVING TO COME OUT AND, AND TURN ON THE LIGHTS FOR THEM.
OPEN A CONCESSION, STAND OPEN A RESTROOM.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE Y'ALL JUST TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THAT ADOPTION LOOKS LIKE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, ON THE GOLF COURSES, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S ABOUT THREE THAT, THAT, UH, HOUSTON GOLF ASSOCIATION IS, IS, HAS THE FIRST TEE PROGRAM A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE FIRST TEE? UH, I HAVE MY 9-YEAR-OLD THAT'S IN IT RIGHT NOW.
UM, THE MORE THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY EVEN TAKE ON SOME OF THESE GOLF COURSES, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING A HECK OF A JOB AT GUS WORTHHAM.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A PLAN ON EXPANDING, UH, A CONTRACT WITH THEM, BUT I'D BE INTERESTED IN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, STEVE, TIM IS GONE, BUT CLA BAY IS NOW LEADING MM-HMM
AND SO, UH, IT JUST, IT IT'S A NATURAL FIT, RIGHT.
WITH THE FIRST TEE PROGRAM AT MOST OF THESE, UH, MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES ALREADY.
AND JUST TO HAVE THEM THERE TO HELP MANAGE THE SPACE, UM, I I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER MM-HMM
AND, UH, LASTLY, UM, YOU KNOW, I LIKE, I LIKE HEARING ABOUT LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK AND THE CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK WE HAVE OTHER GREEN SPACES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
I KNOW THERE'S A COST TO GET IT UP TO PAR MM-HMM.
BUT HERMAN BROWN PARK IS GOING THROUGH A MASTER PLAN RIGHT NOW.
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF OUR LARGEST GREEN SPACES IN THE CITY.
UM, THAT'S, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE WITH A PARKS BOARD.
THERE'S ALSO A COOL GREEN CORRIDOR WHERE THE, UM, THE GOLF COURSE WAS AT, UM, TEXACO GOLF COURSE WAS MM-HMM
IF WHEN YOU TAKE A WALK OUT INTO THESE SPACES, YOU DON'T EVEN FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH REVENUE'S COMING IN FOR LAKE HOUSTON.
UM, UH, BUT I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IN REVENUE AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO CAPPING IN, IN THE INNER CITY.
UM, NOT EVERYBODY'S ABLE TO DRIVE OUT AN HOUR, 45 MINUTES TO GO CAMPING.
[00:55:01]
THE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE IN THAT, IN THAT, IN THAT SPACE, I THINK WOULD BE GREAT.UM, AND, AND I'LL JUST CLOSE WITH THIS, UH, DIRECTOR.
I KNOW IT'S TOUGH AND USUALLY WHENEVER THERE'S CUTS, PARKS, LIBRARIES GET HIT.
UM, I KNOW YOU NEED MORE MONEY, UM, AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS SUFFICIENT STUDY AND WHAT'S, WHAT'S WASTE, WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S, WHAT'S INEFFICIENT, WHAT'S, WHAT DO WE, WHAT, WHAT CAN WE REDUCE? UM, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, AGAIN, JUST WHAT A PARK LOOKS LIKE, THAT MAINTENANCE, THE MOWING THAT NEEDS TO BE PRIORITY BECAUSE THEN THAT ELIMINATES OTHER BAD THINGS THAT HAPPENED.
SO, UM, WE'RE HERE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU.
AND JUST TO TIE THE KNOT ON THE MOWING 24 DAILY AVERAGE, UH, DIRECTOR, DOES THAT, ARE WE SHOOTING FOR 24 DAYS, WHETHER IT'S JULY OR DECEMBER? BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOW AS OFTEN IN THE WINTER AS YOU DO DURING THE SUMMER.
SO ARE WE VARYING THE, THE MOWING TIMES GIVEN, UH, DEPENDING ON THE SEASON OF THE YEAR? OR IS IT JUST YEAH, IT, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE STAFFING, WHICH WILL DETERMINE THE ULTIMATE NUMBER OF DAYS.
UH, WE KNOW IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE PEAK SEASONS, WE SHOULD BE AT PARKS NO LESS THAN EVERY TWO WEEKS, YOU KNOW, UH, NO MORE, I'M SORRY, THAN TWO WEEKS AT A TIME.
THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT WE'VE AVERAGED, UH, IN 24 AND 25.
UM, WE DIDN'T GET MANY COMPLAINTS DURING OFF SEASON.
WE CAN GET AWAY WITH 2124 DAYS, BUT DURING END SEASON, PEAK SEASON, WE, WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO REDUCE THAT.
AND, UH, REGARDING THE MOWING, YOU, AS YOU SAID, YOU GUYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOWING THE ESPLANADES MM-HMM
BUT THE REGULAR RIGHT OF WAYS, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE, THOSE BELONG TO WHAT PUBLIC WORKS? YES.
THOSE ARE AMONG THE PUBLIC WORKS.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER HAS COMMENTED BEFORE ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, IN KINGWOOD, THE ESPLANADES THAT'LL BE PARKS, BUT THEY CAN'T MOW, YOU KNOW, THE REGULAR STREET RIGHT OF WAY.
WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL PUBLIC WORKS COMES OUT, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE.
ARE THERE WAYS TO MERGE THOSE OPERATIONS? 'CAUSE THAT SORT OF DOESN'T MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE TO ME.
WE'LL, THERE WAYS TO MERGE THOSE OPERATIONS, WE'LL STILL NEED, IT WON'T SAVE ANY COST BECAUSE YOU'LL STILL NEED BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO DO THE WORK.
UH, PUBLIC WORKS MORE IN CYCLE.
IT'S EVEN FURTHER OUT THAN OURS.
UH, THEY MAY ONLY MOW EVERY QUARTER.
SO IF, IF YOU GIVE ME THEIR, UM, MOWERS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT, I, I WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IT.
ANY AND THEIR STAFF, I WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IT ANY MORE OFTEN.
AND IF YOU TURN AROUND AND GIVE I YOU GIVE, I GIVE THEM MY STAFF, THEY STILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PARKS.
SO MERGING WITHOUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WILL KEEP US IN THE SAME SITUATION.
UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT WE'RE GONNA LOWER THE, THE AGE, UH, ON, ON OUR POOL WORKERS YES.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING SOME 15 YEAR OLDS.
SO I ASSUME THAT WHEN WE, WHEN WE TAKE SOMEONE AS YOUNG AS THAT, WE'LL HAVE ADEQUATE SUPERVISION AT THE POOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT SAFETY IS MAINTAINED.
THEY'LL BE PLACED WITH A, UM, EXPERIENCED GUARDS AS WELL AS A POOL SUPERVISOR.
UH, AND THEY HAVE TO PASS ALL THE REQUIREMENTS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
WE'RE NOT LIFE SAVING AND ALL THAT.
THEY HAVE TO PASS THE TEST, THE WATER TEST, AND THEY ALSO HAVE TO PASS THE WRITTEN TEST.
THEY HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED LIFEGUARDS AND, AND WE'LL, YOU KNOW, KIDS WILL BE KIDS THROUGH THE INTERVIEW AND TRAINING PROCESS.
UM, WE CAN IDENTIFY WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GONNA BE A CAPABLE, UM, GUARD.
AND JUST REAL QUICK, UH, SHOUT OUT TO THE PARKS BOARD AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN, IN HELPING KEEP OUR PARKS BEAUTIFUL AND MAINTAINED.
AND, UH, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
THANK YOU, KATE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S OFFICE.
MY LAST QUESTION, UM, I REALLY ENJOYED THE FOCUS Y'ALL PUT ON THIS PRESENTATION OF SHARING EVERYTHING THE COMMUNITY CENTERS DO.
UM, WE'VE SEEN, UM, SOME OF YOUR COMMUNITY CENTER WORKERS STAY LATE TO PLAY CHESS WITH SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS.
ARE THERE ANY, UM, RISK OR FEARS THAT ANY PROGRAMS YOU HAVE ARE FEDERALLY FUNDED THAT MAY NOT RECEIVE FUNDING IN THE FUTURE? SPECIFICALLY COMMUNITY CENTERS.
UM, OUR, OUR, OUR FOOD PROGRAM, OUR SUMMER, UM, OUR SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM, AND OUR AFTERSCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOOD, BUT WE'RE SCALING BACK ON WHERE WE CAN'T AVERAGE MORE THAN 20
[01:00:01]
KIDS OR 20 PARTICIPANTS SERVE MEALS.UM, BECAUSE IT'S A WASTE AND IT, AND IT EATS OUR BUDGET BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SUPPORT IT.
UH, BUT FROM A FEDERAL STANDPOINT, WE HADN'T RECEIVED ANY INDICATION THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL STOP.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ ONLINE.
UM, DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, MCGREGOR PARK.
WILL ANY OF THESE CUTS IMPACT MCGREGOR AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, THOSE PICKLEBALL COURTS THAT I'M WAITING ON
YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT IN TERMS OF MCGREGOR, ESPECIALLY WITH IT GOING THROUGH A MASSIVE RENOVATION THAT'S COMING IN THE FUTURE.
BUT THIS SUMMER, UM, WE'RE GONNA OPERATE, UM, THE POOL AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, AND IN SOME CASES WE WILL KIND OF REDEFINE WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF PROGRAMMING.
UM, WE HAVE SEVERAL SITES THAT WE'RE TURNING INTO SOCIAL RECREATION SITES.
UH, BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF SUPERVISORS, THESE SITES, WE COULD PRETTY MUCH, UM, JUST OPEN THE DOOR AND ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO COME IN WITH SELF-DIRECTED PLAY OPPORTUNITIES AND ALLOW ORGANIZATIONS TO COME IN THAT ARE NONPROFITS THAT PROVIDE RECREATIONAL AND ENRICHMENT SERVICES.
SO, UM, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT CLOSING AND WE'RE NOT CLOSING ANYTHING AT MCGREGOR.
THE GRASS MAY BE A LITTLE, ONE OTHER QUESTION IS FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT WE'RE NOT CLOSING FOR PROGRAMMING.
UH, SOMEONE ASKED ME ABOUT THE TENNIS PROGRAM AT SUNNYSIDE PARK.
I DID HAVE A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH PRENTICE AND HE SAID THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE OPERATING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO VERIFY THAT, UM, THE TENNIS PROGRAM WILL STILL CONTINUE TO, UH, HAVE THEIR SUMMER PROGRAM IN SUNNYSIDE PARK.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY ENJOY ALL OF OUR ENGAGEMENTS AT THE PARK AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT, THAT ALL OF THAT YOU AND ALL OF THE STAFF DO FOR OUR CITY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS, PARTICULARLY OUR SENIORS.
AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS.
AND, UH, WE'RE AT THE HOUR MAR OH, I'M SORRY.
UM, AND Y'ALL ARE ALREADY DOING THIS AT SEVERAL PARKS, BUT WHEREVER Y'ALL CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS, I KNOW LISA JOHNSON LIKE, LIKE REALLY DROWNING IN PROJECTS, BUT HOWEVER Y'ALL CAN, YOU KNOW, OFFLOAD THOSE TO TURS, EVEN MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS TO MANAGE THOSE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, RENOVATIONS, UH, I THINK Y'ALL SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AGAIN, I, I'M SURE Y'ALL ALREADY DO IT IN, IN GULF GATE.
Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH GULF GATE TURS, UM, HARRISBURG TOURS, BUT EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY, THE MORTGAGE, Y'ALL CAN DO THAT.
LET THEM HELP OUT WITH, YOU KNOW, THE COST AS WELL.
AND THAT WAS A SHOUT OUT FOR LISA, BY THE WAY.
I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS I'LL SUBMIT ONLINE SINCE WE'RE AT THE HOUR MARK, BUT I DID WANNA JUST REITERATE, YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT THESE PARKS ARE.
UM, AND, AND HOW, YOU KNOW, LACK OF LIGHTING AND FENCING AND THE THINGS THAT REALLY MAKE PARKS SAFE.
THE URBAN RANGERS GOING DOWN GROUND GREEN, SPACE MANAGEMENT GOING DOWN THE MOWING CYCLES, INCREASING IT, IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT AND IT WILL, UH, IT, IT KIND OF OVERALL IN OUR CITY, THAT'S NOT REALLY, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASK RE RESIDENTS WHAT KIND OF CITY DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN? AND, AND AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, IN MY OPINION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK RESIDENTS, UM, FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO HELP, UM, WITH IMPORTANT, UM, THINGS LIKE PARKS.
SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE EXCELLENT WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO.
CHERYL, MAN, WE'LL BE SORRY TO SEE YOU GO.
I'VE BEEN SEEING YOUR FACE AT THIS PODIUM FOR SO LONG, AND, UM, APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK, ESPECIALLY OUT THERE IN THE HOT SUN.
EVERYBODY THAT WORKS OUT THERE IN THE HOT SUN ALL SUMMER, UM, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL.
SO WITH THAT, UM, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS HAS A QUESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU IF YOU'RE TRYING TO ASK A QUESTION.
SO, UM, WE'LL GET THAT QUESTION FROM
[01:05:01]
HER, GET IT SUBMITTED ON.REMEMBER COLLEAGUES, YOU CAN SUBMIT ALL QUESTIONS ON SHAREPOINT AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY.
ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES, WE WILL REGROUP FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE WE, OH, WERE THERE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS? SO SORRY, JACK VALINSKI, EVERYBODY SIT BACK DOWN AND I FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY AND I FORGOT ALL ABOUT 'EM.
SO LET'S, LET'S HEAR FROM THE, LET'S HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE.
NOBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, THERE AREN'T MORE PEOPLE HERE FROM THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS BUDGET WE'RE GOING INTO.
BACK IN THE NINETIES, UM, I TRAVELED AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR A JOB AND I'D SEE THE AMENITIES THAT THESE CITIES HAD.
SAN FRANCISCO, AUSTIN, NEW YORK, BOSTON, SEATTLE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND I'D COME BACK TO HOUSTON AND SAY, WHY DON'T WE HAVE THIS STUFF HERE? AND I REMEMBER INTERVIEWING BEFORE MAYOR PARKER BECAME MAYOR ON KPFT AND HOW SHE COMMENDED THE STAFF, BUT WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES.
I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN I USED TO RUN IN BUFFALO BAYOU PARK, HOW BAD IT WAS.
NOBODY WAS THERE, OVERGROWN GRASS.
AND NOW IT'S A WORLD CLASS PARK.
I REMEMBER SEEING IN USA TODAY, TOP 10 PARKS IN THE COUNTRY AND TWO OF THEM WERE IN HOUSTON, BUFFALO BAYOU PARK AND DISCOVERY GREEN PARK.
BUT THOSE RESOURCES CAME FROM OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE RESOURCES, NOT THE CITY.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE PARKS BOARD AND BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP AND MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY THAT THEY DO SUCH GREAT JOBS.
I'M GRATEFUL HOW MEMORIAL PARK WENT TO THE PUBLIC, NOT ONLY MEMORIAL PARK, BUT IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN TO ASK BECAUSE THOSE WERE JEWELS OF THE CITIES.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY ARE THE SMALL PARKS THAT WE HAVE.
I REMEMBER MARCHING IN, UH, AUSTIN IN 1989, UM, AT THE CAPITOL AND SEEING THOSE POCKET PARKS IN AUSTIN AND THEY WERE JUST ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.
AND WE'VE MADE SOME STRIDES, BUT IT TAKES RESOURCES TO KEEP THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS GOING.
'CAUSE THOSE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE BIG PARKS.
WE CAN'T SAY NEXT YEAR WE'RE GONNA DO BETTER.
WE GOTTA DO BETTER THIS YEAR BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS I TALK, TALKED ABOUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY, PEOPLE, AND I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT DECIDED TO STAY HERE AFTER I RETIRED.
I'M NOT SURE I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION AT THIS POINT.
I THINK SHE JUST HAD TO SIGN OFF.
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN PERSON.
OSCAR OR YES, HE DID NOT CALL IN, NOT ONLINE.
CALLING AGAIN FOR COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
ANYBODY ELSE IN THE ROOM LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS GROUP? THANKS EVERYBODY FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND WE'LL REGROUP IN IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
UM, START IN ON THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.