* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:19] ON OUR FOURTH DAY OF BUDGET WORKSHOPS, UM, I'M SALLY ALCORN CHAIRING THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND I WANT TO WELCOME FIRST THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WHO'LL BE PRESENTING TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THEN WE'LL BE HEARING FROM CITY LEGAL. AND I AM JOINED BY MY VICE STAFF FROM MY VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO, STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, STAFF FROM VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, AMY PECK, STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER, AND YOUR OWN STAFF AND MY OWN STAFF HERE. AND JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY OUT THERE IN HTV THAT TOMORROW MORNING AND AT 10:00 AM IS OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR THE PUBLIC. AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE FONDE RECREATION CENTER. SO HOPE TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE. ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT DIRECTOR, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN. AND HE IS JOINED BY BRIDGET KO IKO. YES. AND SHE COMES FROM HR, BUT WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU AND GLAD TO SEE EVERYBODY WEARING GREEN. I'M WITH THE THEME TODAY, TOO GREEN FOR PARKS. SO, UM, SO HAPPY TO HAVE OUR, OUR HARDWORKING PARKS DEPARTMENT HERE. AND WITH THAT, YOU MAY PROCEED. ALSO, WANNA WELCOME KATE LER WITH COUNCIL MEMBER AMY CA. ABBY CAYMAN. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, I'D LIKE TO ALSO THANK, UM, STAFF FROM OTHER COUNCIL OFFICES AS WELL AS MY ESTEEM COLLEAGUES AND, AND GUESTS THAT ARE HERE AND GENERAL PUBLIC. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO SERVE AS A PARKS DIRECTOR FOR THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AS WE SUBMIT OUR 27, UH, BUDGET PROPOSAL. UM, YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR, UM, BECAUSE OF OPPORTUNITIES AND EFFICIENCIES. UM, I WANT TO INTRODUCE AGAIN, BRIDGET OV OUR, UH, MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE, UM, LEAD FOR OUR DEPARTMENT. UM, SHE'S BEEN WITH US IN TERMS OF THE CITY FOR A WHILE. UM, HR STOLE HER FROM ME, BUT I STOLE HER BACK . SO AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, SHE'S A CRITICAL ROLE IN THIS PROCESS, AND SHE'S WORKED WITH ALL OF MY DIVISION HEADS AND OTHER STAFF TO PRESENT THIS BUDGET, NOT ONLY FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, BUT FROM AN OPERATIONS STANDPOINT AS WE EXECUTE THE BUDGET THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I ALSO LIKE TO, UH, RECOGNIZE OUR FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT'S SITTING BEHIND ME AS WELL AS EXECUTIVE STAFF AND THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK TIRE TIRE TIRELESSLY DAY TO DAY ON OPERATIONS, ON, ON MEETING OUR BUDGET, ON EXECUTING IT, AND ON IMPLEMENTING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE NOW MOVING FORWARD, AS WE LOOK AT THIS COMING YEAR, UM, WE JUST MAINTAIN STEADFAST, OUR BUDGET HAS NOT CHANGED MUCH FROM LAST YEAR. UM, BUT WE ARE A LOT MORE EFFICIENT. I MENTIONED MY TEAM. THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON, AND THAT'S ERICA MADISON, THAT'S ON THEIR ORIGINAL EXECUTIVE TEAM WHEN I STARTED IN THIS SEAT. AND THEY HAVE TRANSITIONED WELL, UH, THEY COMMUNICATE. I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE A TEAM. UM, AND WE WORK TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING. I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT, UM, IT'S JUST THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MANAGEMENT, UM, WE'RE MAXIMIZING OUR RESOURCES AND WE'RE DELIVERING, DELIVERING MEASURABLE AND MEANINGFUL OUTCOMES FOR CITIZENS. LET'S GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE. UM, THIS SLIDE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE TABLE OF CONTENTS, WE HAVE STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT PLANS TO ELIMINATE THE GAP. PROPOSE FY 27 DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES, UH, OUTCOME BASED BUDGET PROGRAMS, PROPOSED FY 27 DEPARTMENT REVENUE, AND THEN AN APPENDIX AT THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION WITH A WEALTH OF INFORMATION FROM OUR ORG CHART TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT, TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR TEAM, UM, PARK FACILITIES, UM, AND OUR INVENTORY KPIS THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOR FY 27, BUT THAT WE WILL START IMPLEMENTING, UM, THIS YEAR INTERNALLY AS WE TURN THE CURVE FROM THE, FROM THE EARNEST AND YOUNG STUDY. AND THEN ALSO DEPARTMENT DEMOGRAPHICS ALONG WITH DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE PARTS AND RECREATION AND HOW WE ALIGN WITH THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES. 45% OF OUR BUDGET IS PRIORITIZED AND ADDRESSED UNDER QUALITY OF LIFE, 4% IN PUBLIC SAFETY, 16% IN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND 35%, [00:05:02] UM, IN GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS IN THAT CATEGORY. I WANNA NOTE IN THIS CATEGORY, IT ACCOUNTS FOR THE HOUSTON ZOO CONTRACT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM, OUR FY 27 BUDGET REDUCTION IS A DECREASE OF, UM, ABOUT $300,000 IN SUPPLIES AND SERVICES. I'LL GO INTO THAT WHEN WE REACHED THE PROGRAM, BUT LIKE I SAID, MINIMAL IMPACT ON OUR OPERATIONS, UH, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS SLIDE CAPTURE, IT CAPTURES THE EXPENDITURES FROM EACH FUND. UM, OUR LARGEST EXPENDITURES IS 88.5 MILLION IN OUR GENERAL FUND, AND THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES FROM ALL FUNDS IS 106 MILLION, 106.4 MILLION. YOU KNOW, WE, IN TERMS OF THE BIO GREENWAY 2020, UH, FUND FROM 2106, NOTED IN, IN THE SLIDE, WE REDUCED, WE WERE REDUCED BY 1.26 MILLION BECAUSE WE NO LONGER SERVICE THE, UH, WHITE OAK BIO HOUSTON PARKS BOARD DECIDE THEY'RE SERVICING THAT AND LEAVING US WITH SOME, SOME GAPS THAT I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO FILL BASED ON VACANCIES THAT WE HAD IN OUR DEPARTMENT. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO LAY ANY OF THAT, THE 11 STAFF OFF THAT WAS OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THAT PART, THAT PORTION OF OUR TRAIL SYSTEM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS EXPENDITURES BY FUND CHARTED FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS, UH, PERSONNEL AND NON-PERSONNEL A BREAKDOWN BY EACH FUND FROM THE GENERAL FUND. 1050 1% OF EXPENSES ARE IN PERSONNEL, 22% IN NON-PERSONNEL AND RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS, AND 14% IS FROM THE ANNUAL ZOO PAYMENT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE NEXT TWO SLIDE SLIDES ARE DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES BY PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, THE, THE DEPARTMENT IS MADE UP OF 14 PROGRAMS. UM, AS I MENTIONED, ERNEST AND YOUNG WE'RE CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT HOW TO REORGANIZE AND BE MORE, MORE EFFICIENT, AND WE'VE DONE SOME OF THAT WITH THIS FISCAL YEAR. WE'LL DO, WE'LL DO MORE IN NEXT FISCAL YEAR. UH, THE TOTAL REDUCTION FOR THE DEPARTMENT, UH, FROM 26 IS 1.2 MILLION, INCLUDING SUPPLIES AND SERVICES. THERE'S A DECREASE OF 12% IN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DUE TO RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS SUCH AS, UH, SEWER, ELECTRICAL DEBT SERVICES, AND F FUND TRANSFERS. AND THERE'S AN INCREASE IN 13% IN AQUATIC OPERATIONS DUE TO PERSONNEL. UH, WE'RE GONNA OPEN ALL OF OUR POOLS THIS YEAR. THAT'S OUR GOAL. UH, AND WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY, UM, WITH HIRING AND PROCESSING. WE'RE, WE'RE CURRENTLY OVER 157 STAFF, AND I LIKE TO RECOGNIZE PRENTICE COLLINS BEHIND ME, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF RECREATIONAL WELLNESS. HE'S, HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN RECRUITING EFFORTS AND KIND OF REALIGNING WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH AQUATICS. SO WE HAVE 13% IN AQUATIC OPERATIONS, LIKE I SAID, DUE TO PERSONNEL, UH, AND HIRING MORE LIFEGUARDS TO OPEN OUR POOLS. UH, THERE'S A 12% INCREASE IN DEBT SERVICES DUE TO THE INTER FINE DEBT SERVICE CHARGES AND CHARGE BACK. UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM, THIS IS THE REST OF OUR EXPENDITURE BY PROGRAM. THERE'S A DECREASE OF 4% IN GROUND MAINTENANCE DUE TO HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND ENDING OUR BIO GREEN WASTE CONTRACT FOR WHITE OAK BIO. UM, OVERALL, THERE'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN OUR PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE FOLLOWING SLIDES, HIGHLIGHT H PARKS PROGRAMS. THE FIRST PROGRAM IS ADAPTIVE SPORTS AND RECREATION. YOU KNOW, THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM PROVIDES INCLUSIVE, UH, SPECIALIZED SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH ALLOWS CITIZENS, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR ABILITY IS, UH, TO ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE HEALTH INCLUSION, UH, AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS. UM, IT'S BEEN SAID, UH, AS A RESULT OF ACT, AS A RESULT OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE MUCH METROPOLITAN MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AT WEST GRAY. IT'S A LIFELINE FOR MANY CONSTITUENTS THAT VISIT THERE. THE FACT THAT WE PROGRAM THAT PLACE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, UM, THEY GO THERE EVERY DAY AND THEY EVALUATE, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CONTINUED, CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT. UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY TRANSITIONING FROM OUR CURRENT FRAMEWORK OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO NEW PERFORMANCE MEASURES OR KPIS FOR 28. AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THESE INTERNALLY FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUT WE'LL ROLL THAT ENTIRE PROCESS OUT. UM, IN 28. AGAIN, THE NEW KP KPIS ARE DESIGNED TO [00:10:01] ACCURATELY MEASURE SERVICE DELIVERY, OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, AND OVERALL COMMUNITY IMPACT FOR OUR PROGRAMS, FACILITIES AND EVENTS. UH, THE PRO THE PROPOSED KPIS CAN BE FOUND IN OUR APPENDIX IN THE BACK. UM, I THINK YOU'LL FIND THEM VERY, UH, USEFUL, UH, AND, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND CURRENT AND, AND, AND TURN THE CURVE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR OUR DEPARTMENT. RIGHT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES IN THAT PROGRAM INCLUDES MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, OUR MARKETING, UH, DIVISION, AND THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE. I I MENTIONED REORGANIZING THE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES WHERE WE'VE MERGED, UH, PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE LOST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STAFF, UM, FOR THE MAYOR'S INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR, UM, STAFF THAT'S RETIRED UP UNTIL NOW. UM, AND STAFF, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S BEEN TERMINATED. UM, WITH THIS PROCESS, WE'RE ABLE TO STREAMLINE, UH, ORGANIZE BETTER, GET LEANER AND MEANER, SO TO SPEAK, UH, AND MORE EFFICIENT. UM, I'VE TOLD EACH DIVISION HEAD TO USE A WHITE BOARD, WIPE IT CLEAN CURRENT, AND LET'S LOOK AT HOW WE COULD BE MORE EFFICIENT. AND THEY'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB, UM, WITH THAT PROJECT AND WHERE WE'RE GOING BASED ON SPAN OF CONTROL, UM, BASED ON SUPERVISORY LEVEL AND REORGANIZING OUR DEPARTMENT. UM, IT ALSO, THIS, UH, PROGRAM, IT TELLS ABOUT ALL THE INTERFOR, INTERFUND, CHARGEBACKS AND RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING FLEET SERVICES. UH, AS A GOAL FOR THIS PROGRAM, WE'RE TARGETING TWO 2000 VOLUNTEERS, UH, TO HELP SUPPORT WHAT WE DO WITH THIS DEPARTMENT, CONSTANT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND HOW WE TRACK THAT. UM, CHANGES MADE, AGAIN, SPAN FROM THE EARNEST AND YOUNG STUDY, UM, SPAN OF CONTROL AND SUPERVISORY LEVELS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED, I MENTIONED AQUATICS, DEFINITELY A POINT OF INTEREST AS, AS WE APPROACH THE SUMMER MONTHS. UH, WE PLAN TO OPERATE, UH, 34 POOLS WITH THREE POOLS DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE, UM, REASONS, UH, THAT TWO OF THEM HOPEFULLY WILL COME BACK ONLINE. AND THEN THE THIRD ONE, IT'LL TAKE A WHILE TO REOPEN. THAT'S HIT WELL BECAUSE OF, UH, RENOVATIONS AND RECONSTRUCTION. UM, WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH OUR LIFEGUARD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, UM, LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATIONS, LEARN TO SWIM OPEN AND LAP SWIM AS WE DID LAST YEAR. UM, WE'RE GONNA STAFF OVER 40 FTES CONSISTING OF FIVE FULL-TIME, 13 PART-TIME, AND 158 SEASONALS. AND WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY. YOU KNOW, SOME MAY ASK, HOW DO WE GET TO THIS POINT WITH AQUATICS? WELL, WE DROP THE INCENTIVE AND INCREASE THE PAY, UM, BY $2 WITH EACH CLASSIFICATION. AND IT'S BEEN A, UH, SHOT IN THE ARM, SO TO SPEAK, FOR RECRUITMENT, BECAUSE WE'RE JUST ABOVE MARKET WITH ALL OUR COMPETITORS, WHICH MAKES IT GREAT. AND WE'RE HIRING 15 YEAR OLDS AS WELL, WHICH HELPED OUT. UM, OUR GOAL FOR POOLS IS TO SERVE OVER 85,000 PARTICIPANTS, UM, THIS COMING SEASON. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. COMMUNITY CENTER OPERATION OPERATES 59 COMMUNITY CENTERS WITH PROGRAMS LISTED ON THE SIDE. SO MANY I I CAN'T GO INTO. UH, IT'LL TAKE AN HOUR AND A HALF TO FINISH, BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR PROGRAM TEAM, UM, THAT'S OFFERING A VARIETY OF SERVICES. UM, IN ADDITION, THIS SECTION, UM, IT OPERATES OUR FITNESS CENTERS AND WEIGHT ROOMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UH, FOR FY 27, WE'RE GONNA TARGET TO REACH OVER 130,000 SENIORS AND IN ADULTS, UH, AND OVER 75,000 AFTERSCHOOL PARTICIPANTS. YOU KNOW, OUR AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS, THERE ARE, THERE ARE CORE PROGRAMS, SO IT DEFINITELY TAKES QUITE A BIT OF RESOURCES TO MANAGE, BUT IT'S SUCH A BENEFIT TO OUR YOUNG KIDS THAT NEED ATTENTION DURING RISK, HIGH RISK HOURS, THAT'S SUMMER AND AFTER SCHOOL. SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS PROGRAM, UM, IT'S DEBT SERVICES INTER FUND TRANSFERS, AND IT REFLECTS THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS OR INTER FUND TRANSFER, UH, PAYMENTS. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE ANNUAL PAYMENT TO THE ZOO. UM, AND THEN WE ALSO NEED, WE ALSO USE IT FOR A, UH, LOAN, UH, FOR GOLF CARTS THAT'S BEEN REPAID. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR FACILITY MAINTENANCE PROGRAM COORDINATES AND MONITORS, UH, PARK PLANNING AND, AND EXPANSIONS EXPANSION, SORRY. UH, [00:15:01] CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE RENOVATIONS, AND PARK FACILITIES. NOW, THESE ARE SMALL CONSTRUCTIONS THAT'S NOT HANDLED BY GSD, BUT THE BADLY NEEDED, UH, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND POCKET PARKS. AND THIS, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AS A RESULT OF THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. UM, ONE GOAL IS TO DOING A 600 PLAYGROUND INSPECTIONS UP FROM LAST YEAR. UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. GOLF OPERATIONS. THIS CITY IS BUZZING ABOUT GOLF. UH, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW. WITH GOLF OPERATION, WE HAVE TWO GOLF COURSES THAT WE MANAGE AND MAINTAIN. THAT'S MEMORIAL AND SHARPSTOWN. UM, AND AS A RESULT OF US MANAGING THOSE COURSES, WE PLAN TO DO 350,000 ROUNDS BETWEEN BOTH COURSES, UM, AND 120,000 ROUNDS OF GOLF, UH, WHICH MAKES US ABLE TO MAINTAIN THOSE FACILITIES AT COST AND A LITTLE BIT ABOVE. UM, I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH GOLF OPERATIONS, UM, WITH A PGA TOUR AND THE LPJ TOUR JUST FINISHING UP AND OTHER TOURNAMENTS AND FUNDRAISERS, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE ABLE TO OPERATE THIS AT, AT NO COST TO THE TAX PLAYERS. THANK YOU. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND OUR GROUND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. IT OVERSEES THE DAILY MAINTENANCE OF HOUSTON'S PARKLAND, ESPLANADES GREEN SPACE, AND URBAN FOREST. THE DIVISION ALSO MAINTAINS GREEN SPACE, UH, FOR OTHER PUBLIC FACILITIES, LIBRARIES, GSD, UM, AND ESPLANADES WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, UM, HUGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS RE FOR THIS REP FOR THIS DEPARTMENT. NEED A LOT OF RESOURCES TO, UM, TO MAINTAIN AN 18 DAY CYCLE FOR MOWING, AS WELL AS A 30 DAY FOR ESPANADE, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE, WHICH IS WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR. UH, WE HOPE TO DIG INTO THIS WITH ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS, UM, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, UM, WITH ORGANIZATIONS, WHETHER IT'S NONPROFIT COMMUNITY GROUPS, ADOPTING OUR ESPLANADES AND PARKS CERTAINLY HELPS US, UM, FOCUS ON OUR CORE, WHICH IS CUTTING PARTS, UM, REMOVING TRASH, UM, AND TAKING CARE OF OUR TREES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK. YOU KNOW, THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS ALL OPERATIONS OF THE PARK, INCLUDING RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING, LODGING, UM, AN EVENT, UH, IN TERMS OF THOSE VENUES THAT SUPPORTED, UM, MAINTENANCE AS WELL, STRUCTURAL REPAIRS, SECURITY, UH, CUSTODIAL SERVICES FOR THE LARGEST AND THE CABINS IN THE DINING HALL. UM, IF YOU GUYS HAVE NOT VISITED LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO. 5,000 ACRE PARK THAT ACCOMMODATES OVERNIGHT CAMPING, FISHING, ARCHERY, UM, TOURS, YOU NAME IT. UH, IT'S A WONDERFUL, UH, PIECE OF PROPERTY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OH, WE HOPE TO, WE HOPE TO SERVICE 85,000 PARTICIPANTS AS A RESULT OF THIS PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS TO PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND RESTORE ALL NATURAL RESOURCES IN OUR PARK SYSTEM. THIS IS WHAT HELPED WITH THIS PROGRAM. KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN, YOU KNOW, THROUGH NATIVE, UM, PLANTINGS, RIPARIAN PROJECTS, RESTORATION OF OUR, OUR FOREST AND OUR WETLANDS. UM, WE HOPE TO SERVICE OVER SEVEN NATURAL RESOURCE PROJECTS, UM, THAT WILL KEEP THIS CITY CLEAN NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE PARK SAFETY AND SECURITY. UH, THIS PROGRAM MANAGES THE SECURITY OPERATIONS AND DISPATCH SERVICES. UH, WE, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO SAFETY. UM, THIS MAY BE A SMALL BUDGET. WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS WITH, UH, 39 RANGERS, UH, THREE SUPERVISORS, THREE IN DISPATCH, TWO SUPERINTENDENTS AND ONE DIVISION MANAGER. COULD WE USE MORE RESOURCES? YES, BUT PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY, PARTNERING WITH HPD, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CITIZEN, CITIZEN GROUPS HELP US, UM, AT LEAST KEEP US, YOU KNOW, AWARE WHEN THINGS HAPPEN AND HELP LOOK OUT. UM, I CALL, I CALL OUR RANGERS LOOKOUT BLOCKERS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT ARMED, BUT THEY'RE ABLE TO SAY LOOKOUT. HERE THEY COME. SO, UM, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UH, RECREATION AND FITNESS PROGRAM. UH, THIS OVERSEES THE OPERATION OF PROGRAMMING OF LEE AND JOE JAMEL SKATE PARK, OUR, UH, DISC GOLF COURSES, AND OUR CITYWIDE SOCCER FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM. AND FY 27, WE'RE TARGETING 75 PARTICIPANTS [00:20:01] FROM OUR ADULT SPORTS PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. TENNIS OPERATIONS. UM, WHEN YOU, WHEN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PROGRAMMING, RECREATIONAL, AND WELLNESS, UM, IN THE FUTURE, MANY OF THIS WILL BE COMBINED INTO ONE PROGRAM, BUT THERE ARE REVENUE PRODUCING PROGRAMS. I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THEM SEPARATE AT THIS POINT. SO OUR TENNIS OPERATION, IT OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THREE MAJOR TENNIS CENTERS, UH, AND MORE THAN 200 NEIGHBORHOOD TENNIS COURTS. OUR GOAL IS TO SERVE OVER 25 OR 24,000 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS IN FY 27. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. URBAN FORESTRY. ANOTHER POTENTIAL, UM, PROGRAM TO COMBINE WITH NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARKS MAINTENANCE. UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, IT MANAGES OUR HOUSTON TREE CANOPY AND IT'S PLANTED AND APPROVED MORE THAN 13,000 TREES, UH, IN, IN FROM VARIOUS INITIATIVES. IN 27, WE PLANTED PLANT ANOTHER 15,000 TREES, UM, WORKING WITH PARTNERS, UH, AND GRANT TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM, THAT CONCLUDES OUR, OUR PROGRAM AND EXPENSE PART OF THE PRESENTATION. I WANT TO PASS OVER TO BRIDGET OV, WHO, AGAIN, WHO'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL WORKING WITH STAFF, UM, TO ACCOMMODATE THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE MAKING AS, AS WELL AS, UH, FOR US AS A DEPARTMENT TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ANDERSON YOUNG STUDY AND WHAT THE MAYOR WANT US TO DO AS A RESULT OF THE FINDINGS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS REVENUE BY FUND. THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IS PROJECTED TO COLLECT 300,000 LESS AS A RESULT OF THE COMPLETION OF LOAN REPAYMENT. THE GOLD SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY 204,000 DUE TO HIGHER CUSTOMER PARTICIPATION AT H PART GOLD FACILITIES AND INCREASED PRO SHOP PURCHASES. THERE IS A DECREASE IN FUND 2105, MAINTENANCE, RENEWAL, AND REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE EXPIRATION OF A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT. OVERALL, THE TOTAL PROPOSED REVENUE FOR FY 27 IS A LITTLE OVER 80 MILLION, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 1% LOWER THAN THE FY 26 ESTIMATE. THE NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES ADDITIONAL REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT REVENUE CHANGES INCLUDED IN THE FY 26. PROPOSED REVENUE BY FUND FUND 2100 REFLECT A DECREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 422,000. THIS REDUCTION IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE COMPLETION OF THE LOAN REPAYMENT FROM FUND 2104, AS WELL AS LOWER PROJECTED MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE FROM DEVELOPERS. REMOVING TREES FOR HOUSING PROJECTS FUND 2104 REFLECT AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 204,000. FUND 2105 REFLECT AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 44,000 DUE TO AN INCREASE IN HOPE REVENUE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS REVENUE BY FUND, WHICH IS CHARTED FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. , THIS SLIDE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS H PART REVENUES BY PROGRAMS. OVERALL, THERE'S A 1% DECREASE IN PROGRAM REVENUE, WHICH EQUATES TO A REDUCTION OF 185,000 IN THE PROPOSED REVENUES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. IN THE APPENDIX, YOU'LL FIND THE DEPARTMENT DEMOGRAPHICS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I'LL NOW TURN IT BACK TO THE DIRECTOR WITH ANY CLOSING REMARKS. THANK YOU, BRIDGET. UM, AS WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR WORKING WITH ALL PARTNERS IN ALL FACETS OF GOVERNMENT. IT'S GONNA TAKE A COLLECTIVE EFFORT, UH, NOT JUST INTERNALLY, BUT EXTERNALLY. AND SO THIS BUDGET RE REFLECT, UM, DEFINITELY US MOVING FORWARD, UM, BUT ALSO DEFINITELY US NEEDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. AND I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF PARKS, UM, AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UM, AND AGAIN, AND MY TEAM, UM, EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING, WE WORK, WE WORK TOGETHER TO GET IT DONE. SO I WANNA THANK THEM PUBLICLY IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. WE'RE OPEN FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. VERY GOOD PRESENTATION. WE'RE NOT PANICKING LIKE LAST YEAR OVER THE MOWING CYCLE. YES. SO WE APPRECIATE, WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. I WANNA WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER JULIAN RAMIREZ AND [00:25:01] MY VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO, AS WELL AS STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MARY ANN HUFFMAN AND TIFFANY THOMAS'S OFFICE AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM'S OFFICE. UM, VICE CHAIR CASTILLO. THANK YOU CHAIR. AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, FOR ALL THE PARTNERSHIP IN DISTRICT H WITH RESPECT TO THE PARKS. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. UH, I'LL START WITH SAFETY AND SECURITY. SLIDE 20 YOU MENTIONED. UH, COULD YOU USE MORE RESOURCES? SURE. UH, WHAT, WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD BE HELPFUL TO PARKS WITH RESPECT TO SAFETY AND SECURITY? ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. THE, THE ABILITY TO HIRE MORE RANGERS. UM, YOU LOOK AT OUR INVENTORY, WE HAVE OVER 386 PARKS NOW. UH, WE ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL FOUR PARKS, BUT LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND POOLS. UM, IT'S JUST A 640 MILE RADIUS THAT WE HAVE TO COVER. IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TO ADEQUATELY COVER ALL OF THE HOTSPOTS. AND SOME, WE HAVE OUR MAJOR SIGNATURE PARKS THAT NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC CONTROL. BUT WORKING WITH HPD, OF COURSE, WE DO THAT. UH, BUT ADDITIONAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND WOULD, WOULD HELP, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT NEED IT, THAT WE KNOW WHERE WE HAVE PROBLEMS. UH, DUMPING IS A HUGE ISSUE THROUGHOUT THIS CITY. IT, IT'LL BE NICE TO USE TECHNOLOGY AND TO MONITOR THAT TECHNOLOGY AND KNOW WHERE THE HOTSPOTS ARE. AND WE DIS, WE DIS DISPATCH STAFF OUT TO, UM, CURTAIL INCIDENTS AND KETCHUM. HOW MANY RANGERS DO Y'ALL HAVE CURRENTLY? UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UH, 40 RANGERS, UH, APPROXIMATELY, BUT WE GET A LOT OF TURNOVER. SO WE'RE NEVER REALLY FULLY STAFFED BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS REHIRING BECAUSE OF OTHERS LEAVING. AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE GET THAT, QUITE FRANKLY. WE GET THAT IN OUR GROUNDS AND OTHER AREAS, WE LIKE TO SAY WE TRAIN PEOPLE BECAUSE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER ENTITIES, UH, PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE. SO, SO IT'S, IT'S CONSTANT TURNOVER. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN MOVING ON TO URBAN FORESTRY, SLIDE 23. YOU TALK ABOUT TREES TRIMMED AND TREES REMOVED, UH, ON PUBLIC LAND. SO IS THIS JUST IN OUR PARKS OR IS IT ALSO IN ESPLANADES, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE ADOPTED BY A GROUP, DO Y'ALL HANDLE THE, THE TREE REMOVAL OR IS THAT ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ADOPTER? WE, WELL, IF THE, WE HANDLE THE REMOVAL. I MEAN, YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A TREE, AN ADOPTER TRYING TO HANDLE IT. IT'S JUST A HIGH RISK TASK. UM, WHEN THERE'S A STORM AND TREES ARE DOWN, WE REMOVE IT IF IT'S ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, AND THAT HAPPENS A LOT. SO WE USE CONTRACTORS AS WELL AS INTERNAL. AND ON THE REMOVAL SPECIFICALLY, I KNOW I'VE USED SOME OF MY CDSF FOR THAT IN THE PAST. IS THERE A GAP THERE AS WELL IN TERMS OF RESOURCES? COULD Y'ALL USE MORE RESOURCES TO, UH, BETTER MAINTAIN AND REMOVE DEAD TREES, DANGEROUS TREES? ABSOLUTELY. UM, OUR FIRST PRIORITY, DEFINITELY WHEN, WHEN STREETS AND ROADS ARE, ARE BLOCKED OR IF THERE'S ANY, UH, SAFETY ISSUES POTENTIALLY BECAUSE THE TREE IS LEANING, WE HAVE TO HANDLE THOSE FIRST. IT'LL BE NICE TO GET ON A ROUTINE SCHEDULE, UH, WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE IDENTIFYING AND REMOVING TREES THAT NEED ATTENTION AS WELL AS PLANNING. YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T FORGET THAT PART. THANK YOU. DIDI CHAVIS WITH THE MAYOR PRO TE'S OFFICE. THANK YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU DIRECTOR ALLEN. AND ALL FOR THE, UM, PRESENTATION. UM, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM, UM, APPRECIATES THE WORKS THAT THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DOES. UM, SHE'S PROUD TO, UH, LEND SUPPORT TO SOME PROGRAMS AT TOWN WOOD PARK, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS. I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. UM, ONE QUESTION I HAVE AND IT'S REGARDS TO AQUATICS, UM, SPECIFICALLY LIFEGUARDS, I DO RECALL, UM, AND I, I DON'T RECALL THE SPECIFICS, BUT I DO RECALL US MEETING VIRTUALLY THE COUNCIL OFFICES, MEETING VIRTUALLY WITH AN AGENCY THAT WAS HELPING WITH THE HIRING OF LIFEGUARDS. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? HR HAS TAKEN A, I HAVE TO THANK DIRECTOR CHEEKS FOR THIS. THEY'VE TAKEN A HANDS-ON APPROACH TO RECRUITING, UM, WHICH HAS HELPED TREMENDOUSLY IN TERMS OF JOB FAIRS, IN TERMS OF PROCESSING ON SITE. WE'VE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, UM, AND IT'S, AND IT'S BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL. WE HAVE A LOT MORE IN THE QUEUE AND WE'RE READY TO OPEN A LOT MORE POOLS [00:30:01] THIS SUMMER. AS A RESULT, WE'LL START, WE'LL START WITH 10 AND, UH, ON, ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, UH, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND WE'LL OPEN MORE AND AS, AS KIDS GET OUTTA SCHOOL AND THEY'RE READY TO WORK, WE'LL HAVE AT LEAST 34 OPEN ON A FULL-TIME SCHEDULE. VERY, WE GOOD. AND WE LOOK FOR THE POOLS IN DISTRICT K TO BE OPEN. TO PLUG THAT IN. UM, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE PRINCESS' WORD THAT THEY'LL BE OPEN. . THANK YOU. AND THEN, UM, WITH REGARDS TO SAFETY, UM, AND THE, UM, PARK RANGERS, ARE THERE ANY TYPE OF INCENTIVE PROGRAMS OR ANY TYPE OF, UM, PROGRAMS THAT WOULD HELP WITH RETENTION? LAST YEAR, UH, WE RAISED THE PAY AND THAT HELPED. UH, BEFORE THAT, UH, WE HAD TURNOVER EVEN MORE SO. AND IT WAS HARD TO HIRE. AT LEAST WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE IN NOW, AND THEY, LIKE I SAID, THEY GET TRAINED AND THEY GO ON FROM OTHER, OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THEIR PAY FOR LONGEVITY AND, UH, SUSTAINABILITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, I SUBMITTED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS IN WRITING, BUT DID WANNA TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, THE, UH, THE MAINTENANCE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT, UM, FUND. I, I DID NOTICE THAT WENT DOWN A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. AND I BELIEVE, BRIDGET, YOU SAID THAT WAS, UM, DUE TO THE EXPIRATION OF A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT. WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON THERE AND WHAT ARE, WHAT'S THE RANGE OF, OF COSTS OF THESE, THESE PROJECTS? YOU SAID THEY'RE NOT THE BIG CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, BUT THEY'RE, YEAH, IT COULD BE LIKE, I'LL USE, LET'S PLAY THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVE. LET'S PLAY HOUSTON AS AN EXAMPLE. WORKING WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, UH, WE'VE COMMITTED ABOUT $10 MILLION. UH, A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM THE PARK DEDICATION FUND, BUT THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE COULD DO INTERNALLY. IT COULD BE, UH, CHANGING OUT, UH, LIGHTING SYSTEMS TO LED FENCING, UH, SOME CONCRETE WORK, NOT, NOT A COMPLETE REDESIGN OF THE PARK, BUT WHEN, WHEN WE NEED SOMETHING MAJOR TO GET IMPROVED IN TERMS OF AN AMENITY. UM, OUR, OUR FACILITIES AND MANAGEMENT SECTION, WE HAVE CREWS AND CONTRACTORS THAT CAN COME OUT AND HELP. UM, MAINLY REPAIR. UH, IS THERE A DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT, THAT DIFFERENTIATES OPERATING MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL MAINTENANCE? TYPICALLY, OR CAPITAL, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS THAT COULD DEAL WITH DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. IT'S TYPICALLY DESIGN. ANYTIME DESIGN IS NEEDED, UM, OR SURVEYS. IT COMES FROM GSD, THEN IT BECOMES A CAPITAL PROJECT. YES. THANK YOU. BRIDGET, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CON CONTRACTUAL AR ARRANGEMENT? YES. UM, IT WAS, IS BECAUSE OF THE CONCLUSION OF A ONE TIME, UM, THE 800,000 FUNDING ALLOCATION THAT WAS RECEIVED IN PROPERTY SALES FOR, UM, NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT. SO WE'VE FINISHED PAYING THAT. AND THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE DECREASE. OH, YES. OKAY. OKAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT. UM, VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR KPIS THAT YOU PUT IN THE APPENDIX. THOSE ARE GREAT. UM, WE'VE BEEN REALLY, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET BOOK DUE TO THE EY WORK. SO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT. AND, UM, VICE CHAIR OR CASTILLO, THANK YOU CHAIR. I DO WANNA ALSO ASK ABOUT GRANTS. I SAW IN THE BOOK YOU HAVE A GOAL OF 25, UH, GRANT APPLICATIONS IN FY 27. ALSO IN YOUR, UH, APPENDIX IN FY 26, YOU SECURED 26.9 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR, FOR VARIOUS PARKS. IS THERE SOMEBODY IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SORT OF COORDINATING AND, AND APPLYING FOR OR, OR SPEARHEADING ALL THE GRANT EFFORTS? YES, THAT'S, UH, TINA ORTIZ, WHO'S SITTING BEHIND ME WITH, UH, SHE'S OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, UM, UM, GURU, SO TO SPEAK. HER AND HER STAFF, THEY GO AFTER GRANTS CAPACITY IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE. UH, YOU CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH WHEN YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THINGS THAT, NOT ONLY GRANTS, BUT BROAD. UM, WHAT, WHAT WE'RE TALKING NOT ONLY GRANTS, BUT ALL THE WORK THAT'S DONE WITH, UH, THE KINDERS, THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, THE CONSERVANCIES, UM, AND NONPROFIT GROUPS. IT STARTS FROM HER OFFICE. UM, WITH HER WORKING WITH OUR TEAM, UH, WE, FOR MAJOR GRANTS 25 IS A GOOD TARGET. UM, WE WOULD LOVE TO DO MORE, BUT WE HAVE, WE HAVE, WE NEED AT LEAST TWO MORE STAFF TO, UM, APPLY AND, AND MONITOR AND EXECUTE, [00:35:01] UH, GRANTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT. UH, SHE'S DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK, UH, WORKING WITH THE TEAM. UH, WOULD LOVE TO MAKE THAT 20 MILLION INTO 781 MILLION . SO, BUT IT'S THROUGH, IT'S THROUGH THAT OFFICE WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IT. WELL, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE. UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF, OF PARKS AND DISTRICT H THAT RECEIVED GRANT SUPPORT. WE HAD AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, UH, THIS WEEK FOR SOME, SOME STATE DOLLARS ALONG WITH, UH, OTHER FUNDS TO HELP IMPROVE SOME PARKS. AND SO, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A IMPORTANT ASPECT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LIMITED RESOURCES TO TRY AND KEEP UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE, THE, UH, SAFETY, YOU KNOW, THE AMENITIES, ET CETERA. UM, SO I, I WANTED TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE ON YOUR END. 'CAUSE IT, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S BEEN SOME SUCCESS LAST YEAR. YOU'VE GOT A GOAL FOR THIS YEAR. UM, SO I APPRECIATE THAT ALL THE, ALL THE EARMARK EARMARKS FROM, FROM THE STATE, UM, AS A RESULT OF US APPLYING FOR THOSE. THAT'S ONE OTHER EXAMPLE. UM, FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, UM, FUNDING SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR THE PRESENTATION. I KNOW YOU WORK UNDER, UH, SOME GREAT CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF RESOURCES AND, AND TRYING TO, UH, TAKE CARE OF, UH, MANY PARKS, MANY OF WHICH ARE IN, UH, NEED OF, UH, A LOT OF ASSISTANCE. IN FACT, I WAS LOOKING OVER THE QUESTION SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT D, WHERE SHE NOTED THAT, UH, IN A SURVEY Y'ALL DID A COUPLE YEARS AGO IN, IN AS FAR AS CONDITION OF THE PARKS, 12 OF THE PARKS, 12 OF THE 20 PARKS IN THE WORST CONDITION WERE LOCATED IN HER DISTRICT. AND I KNOW Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THOSE, BUT THAT'S JUST EMBLEMATIC OF THE CHALLENGES THAT, THAT I KNOW YOU FACE. UM, AND, UM, I'M WONDERING ABOUT HOW MUCH HELP, UH, YOU GET FROM THE TS TO ADDRESS THIS. YOU, YOU SPOKE ABOUT SOME OF THE NONPROFITS THAT, THAT DO A GREAT DEAL OF GOOD H PAR, I'M SORRY, THE PARKS BOARD AND THE KINDERS AND THE VARIOUS CONSERVANCIES AROUND AROUND TOWN. UM, AND I'VE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT ONE PARK THAT THAT HAS RECEIVED, UH, TO DATE MORE THAN $36 MILLION FROM ONE OF OUR WEALTHIER TOURS. UM, I'M ONE, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, ASIDE FROM THAT, HOW, HOW MUCH HELP ARE WE GETTING FROM FOR, FOR SOME OF THESE OTHER PARKS IN, IN, UH, POOR CONDITION FROM THE REST OF OUR T? UM, I THINK WE CAN IMPROVE TREMENDOUSLY WITH S BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S UP TO THEM TO DECIDE TO HELP US. UM, WE HAVE SOME SHINING EXAMPLES. TOURISTS EIGHT, UM, HAS STEPPED UP TO IMPROVE FOUR, FOUR PARKS IN THAT, IN THEIR, IN THEIR AREA, WHICH, WHICH IS TREMENDOUS HELP. UM, WE'VE ADDRESSED THIS WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, UM, TO IDENTIFY OVER 186 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT NEED SUPPORT. THEY'VE HELPED US WITH 50. UM, THERE'S ANOTHER 25 ON THE WAY IN TERMS OF GETTING HELP. THESE ARE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND POCKET PARKS, UM, WITH THE MAYORS LET'S PLAY HOUSTON CAMPAIGN. SO THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS EQUITY OR IMBALANCE ISSUE. UM, WE'RE ALSO TARGETING, UH, ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE, UH, PARK DEDICATION FUND THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO USE 30% OF THE MONEY COMING IN OVER ANY SECTOR. AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE NEIGHBORHOOD AND POCKET PARKS. BUT JUST A CONTINUOUS, UM, OUTREACH AND, AND EFFORT, UH, TO CHANNEL FUNDS INTO AREAS THAT, WHERE IT'S NEEDED MOST. WE TRY NOT ONLY TO, TO HIT THE PARKS THAT ARE IN MOST NEED. UH, SOMETIME IT MAY BE AN AMENITY LIKE PLAYGROUNDS. ALL OF OUR PLAYGROUNDS, MOST OF 'EM WERE BUILT IN LATE 19, WHAT, 19? MID 19? I THINK IT WAS 1994 TO 97. MOST OF 'EM WERE BUILT THEN. SO WE'VE RIPPED OUT QUITE A FEW OF THEM BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES. AND NOW WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING AN, AN INITIATIVE TO REPLACE THEM. UM, SO GRANTS FOR THAT, UH, TARGETED SPENDING. AND THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PARK NO MATTER, YOU KNOW, WHAT AREA YOU LIVE IN. SOME THINGS, SOMETIMES THINGS ARE PAST OR USEFUL LIFE, UH, ALONG WITH FACILITIES. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECT ABOUT TOURISTS, WE NEED, WE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL WORK WITH THEM. GREAT. UM, [00:40:01] LET ME, LET ME ASK YOU AS WELL ABOUT GOLF OPERATIONS. UH, AND I'LL GO, ALRIGHT, I'LL KEEP GOING. SO, UM, AND ON SLIDE 16, I BELIEVE IT IS, YOU REFERENCE, UH, MEMORIAL PARK GOLF COURSE IN SHARPSTOWN PARK GOLF COURSE. THOSE ARE THE, THE TWO THAT, THAT HPR, UH, OPERATES. IS THAT RIGHT? YES, YES. AND, UM, I KNOW THE MEMORIAL PARK GOLF COURSE OBVIOUSLY DOES VERY, VERY WELL. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, KUDOS TO THE ASTROS GOLF FOUNDATION FOR, FOR THEIR, UH, HELP WITH THAT. AND, UH, THE DOUBLE DECKER DRIVING RANGE THAT IS OUT THERE GETS A LOT OF USE. DO YOU HAVE A BALLPARK FIGURE ON HOW MUCH REVENUE COMES IN FROM THAT, UH, DRIVING RANGE THERE? ANY IDEA? OH, I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S, I DON'T QUOTE ME ON IT, BUT IT'S OVER 2 MILLION. OVER 2 MILLION A YEAR. YEAH. MM-HMM . SO, UM, THE DOUBLE DECKER, YOU KNOW, WE RENOVATED THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE RANGE. WE REPAIR THE ROOF, UH, IT STAYS BUSY. UH, LOVE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT SHARPSTOWN. UH, SHARPSTOWN IS MAKING MONEY. WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT SUPPORTING IT WITH MEMORIAL, UH, REVENUE OR ANY OTHER CITY REVENUE. SO GOLF IS, IS BUSY. MM-HMM . PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN PLAYING. AND WHEN WE HAVE WEATHER LIKE WE HAVE NOW, IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO GET A TEE TIME. SO, UM, THE INTEREST IN GOLF, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE PGA TOUR AND LPGA TOUR, WE CAN CAPITALIZE EVEN MORE SO IN GOLF WITH A FEW IMPROVEMENTS. UM, AT SHARPSTOWN, UH, MEMORIAL GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION 'CAUSE OF THE ASTROS GOLF FOUNDATION, OF COURSE. UM, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT GOLF AND WHERE WE CAN GO MM-HMM . IN TERMS OF, IN TERMS OF REVENUE AND DELIVERING A OUTSTANDING GOLFING EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE THAT PLAY GOLF ARE, ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO UPGRADE SHARPSTOWN GOLF COURSE? YES, WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S 10 MILLION, UH, TO GIVE SOME ATTENTION TO THE CLUBHOUSE. UM, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE TOURISTS AND THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IN THAT AREA, WHO HAS, WHO HAS INTERESTS ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. UM, ALONG WITH, UH, THE PLAYERS AT PLAY THERE, UH, WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A FUNCTIONAL DRIVING RANGE THERE. IT'S JUST GONNA, IT'S GONNA TAKE MORE THAN 10 MILLION TO REDO THE CLUBHOUSE. MM-HMM . IT'S OLD. UH, ALL THE SYSTEMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. UM, WE COULD REFI, RECONFIGURE THAT COURSE, FUNCTIONAL DRIVING RANGE, A NEW RESTAURANT, UM, ALSO A RECREATION CENTER WITH, WITH SPACE ALL COMBINED. WE JUST NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNDRAISING TO GET THAT DONE. MM-HMM . OKAY. AND, UM, I KNOW THERE WAS A PLAN TO PUT IN A, UH, A DRIVING RANGE AT HERMAN PARK SIMILAR TO THE ONE AT MEMORIAL PARK THAT WOULD GENERATE A LOT OF REVENUE. I UNDERSTAND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOESN'T RUN HERMAN PARK, UH, CURRENTLY, BUT THAT PLAN ALSO WOULD, WOULD'VE RECONFIGURED THE GOLF COURSE AT HERMAN PARK. YES. DO YOU KNOW THE STATUS OF THAT PLAN AT THIS POINT? WE'RE ON, WE'RE ON HOLD, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST MM-HMM. BECAUSE OF HARRIS HEALTH AND WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE STREET WITH THE TRACK AND BEN TALK. UM, WE'RE GONNA DO SOME MORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH. SOME PEOPLE WERE FOR, FOR THE PLAN, SOME WASN'T. UM, IF THE ASTROS ARE STILL INTERESTED MM-HMM . UM, NEXT YEAR, I'D LIKE TO BRING THAT BACK TO THE TABLE AFTER WE'VE DONE SOME MORE DIGGING, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY. UH, WOULD LOVE TO REDO THAT COURSE AS WELL WITH THE HELP OF HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY AND THE ASTROS. OKAY. LAST THING, AND THEN I'LL, I'LL, I'LL FINISH. UM, SO LAST WEEKEND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PICK UP TRASH ALONG HARRISBURG, UH, HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. AND, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED WAS THAT A LOT OF THE DRAINS ARE CLOGGED WITH, UH, VEGETATION AND DEBRIS AND SO FORTH, UH, BEYOND OUR CAPABILITIES TO, TO, UH, TO ADDRESS. I REACHED OUT TO DIRECTOR MACKAY PUBLIC WORKS, AND HE SAID THAT PARTICULAR TRAIL IS UNDER UNDER PARK. SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION. UH, I MENTIONED IT A COUPLE DAYS AGO IN OUR MEETING, AND, UH, TO HER CREDIT, UH, MARTHA ESCALANTE GOT RIGHT ON IT AND, UH, REACHED OUT ABOUT WHERE EXACTLY THAT WAS. SO, UH, SHE'S ALWAYS VERY RESPONSIVE WHEN, UH, YOU KNOW, WE BRING UP AN ISSUE OR CONCERN. SO KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE HER. DEEDEE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. UM, JUST WANTED TO, UM, GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. UM, ONE OF HIS [00:45:01] QUESTIONS WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE TURS INVESTMENT, UM, IN THE PARKS. IN THE PARKS. AND I JUST WANTED TO, UM, POINT OUT THATT 25 IS IN, UH, ONE OF THEIR CIP PROJECTS IS PARK IMPROVEMENTS. AS SIMON MENTIONED, PARK THE EXTENSION AND IMPROVE IMPROVING PARK CAPACITY AND ALSO PARKING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES, GOOD POINT. AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, WHEN WE'RE REVIEWING THOSE, UM, TS BUDGETS, YOU KNOW, AND WE SEE THEIR PROJECT PLANS, I MEAN, THAT'LL BE A GOOD TIME TO ADVOCATE FOR SOME ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN PARKS. IT WAS, UM, NO MISTAKE THAT HE'S, UH, THAT THE DIRECTOR STATED THAT 781 MILLION THAT HE WISHES HE HAD, THAT THAT'S THE, THE REALLY, THE, THE SITUATION, UM, ACROSS THE CITY OF 386 PARKS. AND THAT'S A BIG NUMBER. AND THAT'S NOT A NUMBER THAT WE RAISE IN BONDS EVERY FIVE TO SIX YEARS. THOSE ARE USUALLY ABOUT $50 MILLION. SO THIS IS A STEEP HILL TO CLIMB. UM, WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. YESTERDAY, AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THIS HORSESHOE TALKING FOR MONTHS ABOUT THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR A FEE INCREASE. UM, THAT FEE HAS BEEN THE SAME SINCE 2007. THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT COULD, COULD ASSIST US IN, IN, YOU KNOW, CLIMBING THAT HILL. SO, AND WE ALSO HAD, UM, SIX OR SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATING FOR A FEE INCREASE AND AS WELL AS THE, THE CHANGES TO MAKE IT MORE EQUITABLE, UM, ACROSS THE PARK SECTOR. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE DIALOGUE WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON THAT, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD FUNDING SOURCE TO HELP US ADDRESS A LOT OF THESE NEEDS. UM, ONE QUESTION I HAD ON COMMUNITY, IT LOOKED LIKE THEY'RE, YOU'RE DOWN ABOUT 30 FTES IN THE COMMUNITY CENTERS. IS THAT, WERE THOSE VACANCIES OR WHAT, WHAT SPECIFICALLY, UH, IS THAT GONNA IMPACT ANY SERVICES OR WHAT'S, WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE? YOU WERE AT, AT, AT THIS YEAR'S ESTIMATE WAS LIKE 1 61, I THINK. YES. AND, AND SO, UM, THE, THE CHANGE COMES FROM SOME OF THEM RETIRING WITH THE INCENTIVE AND THEN SOME RESIGNATIONS AND THEN, UM, SOME REALIGNMENT AND CONSOLIDATION OF SOME OF THE COMMUNITY CENTERS TO SOCIAL SITES AND CAN ELABORATE ON IT IF NEEDED. UM, AND ALSO COMBINATION OF, UM, MERGING SOME POSITIONS INTO FULL-TIME IN SOME OTHER AREAS TO ASSIST WITH THE, UM, VACANCIES THAT ARE IN OTHER COMMUNITY CENTERS. OKAY. SO NOT REALLY GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT, GREAT IMPACT ON, AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER? NO, WE, AND, AND WORKING WITH PRENTICE AND HIS TEAM, YOU KNOW, EVERY COMMUNITY CENTER AND THAT IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE A COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN A SUMMER PROGRAM AT EVERY CENTER. UH, WHERE WE WERE AVERAGING 10 OR LESS, WE DECIDED TO TURN THOSE INTO SOCIAL SITES, NOT RUN THE SUMMER PROGRAM, REFER CONSTITUENTS TO THE NEXT NEAREST LOCATION, BUT WE TURNED THAT INTO MAYBE A SENIOR CENTER, UH, OR, OR MAYBE A TEEN CENTER. SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS, UM, IS DEMANDING OR REQUESTING. UH, AND IT'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE AS WE, AS WE REORGANIZE OUR, OUR DIVISIONS AND OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, BASED ON EFFICIENCIES. GOT IT. THAT'S, THAT'S SMART. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANNA GET TO OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS DIRECTOR, MS. , THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE WHOLE PARKS TEAM, YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING. UH, JOE TURNER USED TO ALWAYS SAY IT'S 103 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND EVERYBODY'S WORKING OUT THERE. I DON'T THINK IT'S QUITE THAT HOT TODAY, BUT WE REALLY, IT'S HOT. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK OF THE PARKS EMPLOYEES, YOU GUYS, UH, PARKS ARE THE, YOU KNOW, A GREAT HOUSTON TREASURE AND REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO TO KEEP 'EM, KEEP 'EM GOING. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUDGET PRESENTATION AND NOW WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL THE SPEAKERS OR THE TALKING POINTS FIRST TAYLOR VALLEY. OKAY. FIRST WE HAVE TAYLOR VALLEY WITH SEER, WITH SEER. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. SHE WAS WITH ME ADVOCATING FOR THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE YESTERDAY. GOOD MORNING. UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT LIKE THE MORE TREES, UM, IN THE URBAN FORESTRY SECTION. UM, THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE MOWING CYCLES, UM, ALL OF THE GRANT WORK THAT, UM, TINA ORTIZ DID, THAT'S REALLY GREAT. UM, ALL OF THAT IS REALLY GOOD TO HEAR. UM, YESTERDAY, WHENEVER WE MET, UM, AT CITY, I MEAN, UM, PLANNING COMMISSION ABOUT THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE, THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE NOTABLY, UM, DOES NOT GO TOWARDS MAINTENANCE. IT'S WRITTEN LIKE THAT IN THE ORDINANCE. SO THOSE GO MORE TOWARDS, UM, PARK IMPROVEMENTS, RENOVATIONS AND LAND ACQUISITION. [00:50:01] AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THERE BEING, UM, THE 70 30 SPLIT AND, UM, POSSIBLY THE, UM, INCREASE IN FEES. HOWEVER, UM, THAT'S STILL GONNA TAKE AN OVERALL, UM, TOLL AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE WITH MORE PARK LAND POTENTIALLY AND MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, RENOVATIONS AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GONNA TAKE, TAKE MORE MAINTENANCE. SO WE STILL WOULD JUST REALLY LIKE TO SEE, UM, MORE, UM, FUNDING ALLOCATED TOWARDS HARD. UM, THAT'S GONNA BE REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE, UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, RENOVATIONS AND UM, UM, PARK ALLOCATION, PARK LAND ALLOCATION. SO, UM, JUST HERE TO EMPHASIZE THAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE MORE GO TOWARDS H PART, BUT UM, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH WHAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH, UM, AND WE JUST HOPE TO SEE MORE MONEY ALLOCATED TOWARDS Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TAYLOR. AND YOU DID BRING UP USER FEES AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE DIDN'T DISCUSS. I DID PUT THAT QUESTION IN, IN WRITING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR USER FEES, YOU KNOW, TENNIS, OTHER, OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT PEOPLE PAY FOR RENTALS HAVEN'T BEEN UPDATED IN DECADES. SO I'VE ASKED A QUESTION IN WRITING ABOUT WHAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE RAISED ANNUALLY IF WE, IF WE, UM, KIND OF BROUGHT THOSE UP TO CPI OR WHATEVER. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. NEXT, UM, NIA THOMPSON, ALSO WITH SEER. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS NIA THOMAS KOVIC AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SEER. AND SO WE'RE A COALITION OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. WE CAME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS POLLUTION PLACE AND PUBLIC HEALTH. AND WE THINK PARKS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR MISSION BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT JUST THE AMENITIES THAT THEY PROVIDE, THEIR CRUCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND SAFETY. AND WE TALK TO A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED FROM THEIR PARKS. MOWING AND MAINTENANCE DEFINITELY COMES UP. OPEN POOLS DURING HOUSTON'S INCREDIBLY HOT SUMMERS PROGRAMMING SOME OTHER ISSUES. WE HEAR ABOUT STORM DEBRIS PILING UP IN PARKS AND ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND WE ALSO HEAR A LOT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO PARKS AND THEY ACTUALLY WANNA SEE MORE PARKS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT THEY CAN WALK TO A COMMUNITY PARK. WE ALSO HEAR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT PARKS AS PLACES FOR, FOR GATHERING, FOR EXERCISE, FOR RESILIENCE, AND SERVING A DOUBLE DUTY. THEY CAN HELP MITIGATE FLOODING. AND MANY PEOPLE THAT WE SPEAK WITH ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIVE PLANT GARDENS AND PARKS. THEY'RE REALLY, UH, EXCITED TO SEE HOW PARKS CAN SUPPORT ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE AS WELL AS HUMAN RESILIENCE. SO TODAY I WANT TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE FULLY IN SUPPORT OF H PARS, UH, BUDGET. AND, AND IF POSSIBLE, LIKE TAYLOR SAID, IF YOU CAN EXPAND THE BUDGET, PROVIDE MORE FUNDING FOR PARKS, ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THE AREAS THAT DIRECTOR ALLEN MENTIONED AND AND TAILOR AROUND MAINTENANCE AND SECURITY, WE THINK ALL HOUSTONIANS COULD BENEFIT FROM THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT, ESPECIALLY AS COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ MENTIONED, THE COMMUNITY PARKS THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND NEED ADDITIONAL CRUCIAL INVESTMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, STEPHANIA. ALRIGHT, NEXT ALLISON BELL. OKAY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'M ALLISON BELL. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HERITAGE SOCIETY IN SAM HOUSTON PARK AND WE WOULD NOT BE IN EXISTENCE IF IT WEREN'T FOR SAM HOUSTON PARK. WE ARE ACROSS THE STREET. WE HAVE THE 10 HISTORIC HOMES, THREE OF WHICH ARE UNESCO DESIGNATED SITES OF MEMORY OF THE SLAVE ROUTE PROJECT. SO OUR BUSIEST MONTH IS THE MONTH OF JUNE. WE'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON OUR PLANTATION TO EMANCIPATION TOURS AND WE ARE IN THE PARK DAILY. WE HAVE 80 STUDENTS TODAY FROM FOUNDER'S CLASSIC ACADEMY THAT ARE JUST ARRIVING IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. SO WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF HOW, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS SAM HOUSTON PARK. WE KNOW THAT IT'S A CHALLENGE. UH, WE, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH TINA AND WITH, UM, DIRECTOR ALLEN AND I GET TO KNOW ALL OF THE, UM, LOWER LEVELS OF THE PARK BECAUSE THEY'RE OVER THERE DAILY TAKING CARE OF, OF THE PARK IN ITSELF. WE COULD ALWAYS USE MORE SECURITY AS COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED [00:55:01] BECAUSE WE DO HAVE FREQUENT BREAK-INS OF OUR HISTORIC HOMES, UM, THAT WE, SO WE DO RELY ON THE PARK RANGERS, SO IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT, THAT THEY DID INCREASE THE PAY AND HOPEFULLY AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY WOULD, UM, INVOLVE SOME INCENTIVES. SO WE'RE JUST JUST THANKFUL THAT WE ARE, UH, ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PARK. WE HEAR A LOT WHEN PEOPLE DISCOVER US THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WE WERE THERE AND WE ARE A HIDDEN TREASURE AND I THINK THE PARK, SAM HOUSTON PARK HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALLISON. WE, I LOOK AT IT RIGHT OUTSIDE MY WINDOW AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARK. AND I KNOW YOU RELY ON PRIVATE FOUNDA, PRIVATE FUNDING AND CITY FUNDING, CORRECT? EXACTLY. OKAY. YES. SO, AND, AND IN THE PAST YOU'VE RECEIVED CITY FUNDING FROM I BELIEVE SOME OF THE KIOSK REVENUE? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. AND DO YOU KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO TRANSPIRE AGAIN? UM, I HAVE REACHED OUT AND I HAVE NOT, UH, RECEIVED, UM, A MESSAGE YET OR A RETURN EMAIL, BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT IS AVAILABLE AGAIN. OKAY. WELL WE, WE WILL, WE WILL TRACK THAT DOWN FOR YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND THANK, THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO THERE. THANK YOU JACK VALINSKI, I THINK YOU ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT, UH, THE METROPOLITAN MULTI-SERVICE CENTER IS TO US IN THE CITY AND IT'S ALSO A PARK AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PARK. UM, AND SEE IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE AN ELECTION DAY EVERY DAY THIS YEAR AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME OUT THERE. SO THE DAY IN THE LIFE OF WATCHING PEOPLE COME AND USE THE PARK IS REALLY INCREDIBLE. FROM 7:00 AM WHEN PEOPLE ARE WALKING INTO THE CENTER OR USING THE PARK OR WALKING OR OR USING THE TENNIS COURTS. ON TUESDAY, A GENTLEMAN DROVE UP, DIDN'T SPEAK A WORD OF ENGLISH, AND HE MOTIONED TO HIS IPHONE WANTING TO KNOW WHETHER THE PARK IS PRIVATE OR PUBLIC. NEVER THOUGHT ME THAT THIS WOULD BE A PRIVATE THING. OUR PARKS ARE PUBLIC. CERTAINLY REMEMBER BUFFALO BAYOU PARK ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, HOW BAD IT WAS. NOW IT IS A WORLD CLASS PARK AND I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT WE'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB. I JUST WISH WE CAN DO BETTER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF WIFI ON THE PARK BUILDINGS ARE IN THE PARKS. I THINK WE'RE DEFICIENT IN THAT. UM, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE IT AT WEST GRAY. UM, I OR A CHERRY HEARST. UM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A BIG HELP FOR THE, ESPECIALLY THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS OR PEOPLE THAT USE IT FOR MEETINGS. AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING. OUR PARK BUILDINGS ARE A LOT USED FOR, UH, FOR MEETINGS AND I THINK SOME OF OUR PARK BUILDINGS NEED A LOT OF HELP. SO ANY, ANYWAY WE CAN DO THAT. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. GREAT, JACK, ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE THAT'S ALL I HAVE SIGNED UP WOULD OKAY. LAURA GALL YOUR, OH, SORRY DOUG, I TOLD YOU I WOULD CALL YOU. SO LAURA GALLIER FIRST AND THEN WE'LL HAVE DOUG SMITH AND THEN YOU . GOOD MORNING COUNSEL. UH, JUST A FEW UNRELATED BUT UH, RELATED BUT RANDOM COMMENTS. UM, THE ADDITIONAL PARKS RANGERS HAS MADE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT AT MY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK LOVE PARK IN TERMS OF THE UNLEASHED DOGS, I CAN NOW TAKE MY GRANDCHILDREN THERE. UM, WE GO THERE A LOT AND IT WAS REALLY FRIGHTENING TO THEM TO HAVE EVEN A FRIENDLY DOG RUN UP TO THE EYE LEVEL WITH A TODDLER. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, I ASKED THE OFFICER WHO SITS AT THE SIGN IN TABLE DOWNSTAIRS WHAT HE WANTED FROM THE PARKS AND HE WANTED ME TO TELL YOU THAT HE MET HIS WIFE AT A HOUSTON CITY PARK. UM, I WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE BEAT BASEBALL AT THE PARK AT, UH, METROPOLITAN MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ELEVATE THAT AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF HOW AWESOME THAT IS. UM, I GOT LIKE 200,000 SOCIAL MEDIA VIEWS FOR THE BUSINESS CARD OF THAT PERSON. I GUESS PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT THE BEAT BASEBALL. MAYBE THAT DOESN'T COME UNDER PARKS. I DON'T KNOW. ALSO, UM, REMOVED PLAYGROUNDS NEED TO BE REPLACED. UM, THE ONE I KNOW ABOUT SPECIFICALLY IS IN MANGO MANOR PARK. UM, IT'S BEEN REMOVED FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS OR MORE AND IT HASN'T BEEN REPLACED AND IT'S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL PARK THAT ANCHORS THEIR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LAURA. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT LAST PARK YOU MENTIONED AS WELL. DOUG SMITH. THANKS FOR COMING. LAURA. [01:00:08] GREAT TO SEE YOU, DOUG. GOOD MORNING. I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS AND I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS. FIRST THE GOOD NEWS, UH, AND I TALKED TO KENNETH ABOUT THIS, IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE, HOPEFULLY RIGHT AFTER THEY'VE DONE THE MAINTENANCE AT THE HAYLE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, IT LOOKS LIKE A PRIVATE HOME IN RIVER OAKS. UH, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PARK TO MAINTAIN BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF BROKEN UP AREAS, HILLS, VALLEYS, ALL KINDS OF STUFF. UH, AND IT'S, IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HOPEFULLY YOU COME RIGHT AFTER THEY'VE DONE IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN IT LOOKS GREAT. SECONDLY, THE BAD NEWS, WE'VE GOT TWO SOCCER FIELDS WHERE THE GOAL AREA, BECAUSE IT'S USED SO MUCH, UH, ARE RELATIVELY LIKE GRAVEL, WHICH IS REALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN YOU PLAY SOCCER YOU SLIDE AND IT CAN CAUSE INJURIES. I'VE SPOKEN TO THEM ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF IT. I WENT TO, UH, BEAR CREEK. MY KIDS GREW UP AND PLAYED SOCCER AT BEAR CREEK 'CAUSE I, BECAUSE THEY'RE HEAVILY USED ALSO, I WENT THERE YESTERDAY AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO OUT THERE VERSUS WHAT THEY'RE NOT DOING AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. BUT I DIDN'T SEE THE SAME PROBLEM. SO MY THOUGHT IS TWO THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, COULD WE MAYBE PUT, UH, WATERING JUST ON THE GOAL AREA, NOT FOR THE WHOLE FIELD, JUST WATER THE GOAL AREA SINCE THAT'S THE AREA THAT'S SUCH A PROBLEM. UH, SECONDLY, UH, MARIO TALKED A LOT ABOUT GRANTS. COULD WE MAYBE GET A GRANT, UH, TO TAKE CARE OF THAT, MAYBE A SOCCER FOUNDATION? UH, BUT THAT'S JUST, IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE THE REST OF THE PARK IS SO, SO WELL MAINTAINED. THEN, UH, AS FAR AS DIRECT QUESTIONS ON THE BUDGET, UH, THIS IS ON THE RECREATION AND FITNESS. HOPEFULLY THIS IS A MISTAKE. IT'S ON PAGE 1 42 OF THE BUDGET. UH, AND THEY'RE SHOWING NUMBER OF SOCCER FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM. THIS YEAR IS 90,000 AND THEY'RE PROJECTING IT, THEY SAY NOT APPLICABLE FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH IT SCARES ME, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE EXCITEMENT OF OUR SURROUNDING THE, UH, UH, WORLD CUP THAT'S COMING. UH, AND IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND WE NEED TO KEEP OUR YOUTH BUSY AND THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO IT. SECONDLY, REGARDING PARK DEVELOPMENT AND RENOVATION, EVERYTHING'S ZERO. UH, SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS FOR, UH, PUTTING NEW PARKS IN OR RENOVATIONS, BUT IT'S A QUESTION THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. YOU MEAN ON THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES? DOES IT SAY NA? YEAH, YEAH. THAT, THAT'S JUST 'CAUSE THEY'RE REVISING THEIR PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND IN THE OH, WELL NO DOLLARS ARE 0 0 0. SORRY. UH, YEAH. OH NO, IT'S STAFFING. UH, NO DOLLARS IS ZERO TWO, IT, THEY HAD 714,000 THIS YEAR AND IT'S ZERO FOR NEXT YEAR. SO, UM, THERE, THERE WAS A BUDGET FOR MRR. IT JUST WAS LESSENED. THIS IS PARK DEVELOPMENT, NOT MAINTENANCE. SO, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT. OKAY. AND THEN JUST TO CLOSE, UH, I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO LAKE HOUSTON PARK, BUT I READ THIS TODAY WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH, BUT AN AMAZING PLACE AND I, BEAUTIFUL. I DEFINITELY HAVE TO GET THERE. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. MAYBE I'LL CHECK IT OUT. MAYBE TO DO AN, MAYBE I'LL HAVE TO DO AN OVERNIGHT SINCE IT'S SO FAR FROM HOME, BUT THERE ARE CABINS THERE THAT I CAN GO TO. THERE ARE CABINS THERE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT A LEAF PARK. IT'S, I WAS OVER THERE RECENTLY. IT'S JUST SWARMING WITH PEOPLE. IT'S AMAZING. BUT GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT THE SOCCER FIELDS. THANKS. AND WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT NUMBER YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AND THANK YOU DOUG, AS ALWAYS. OKAY. AND NOW FROM KARINA BLE. BLESSED YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN AND WOMAN. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT FONDE PARK. FONDE PARK IS NOT THE FONDE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WE HAVE HERE, SABINE, BUT IT IS ALSO NAMED AFTER CORRINE FONDE, WHO WAS OUR FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION. ALSO, UH, CONTRIBUTED TO THE BEGINNING OF OUR LIGHTING OF A CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING. SHE WAS A TRAILBLAZER AND HER MOTTO WAS RECREATION AS A MEANS OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. SO I'M HERE BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE RECREATION. AS Y'ALL KNOW, IT'S A NON-SOCIAL, A NON-MEDICAL DRIVER OF HEALTH. AND WE NEED MORE EQUITABLE RECREATION ACTIVITIES IN ALL OF OUR PARKS. WHY DO I SAY THIS? SO I LIVE IN FONDE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I HAVE TO DRIVE ON SATURDAYS TO LEVY PARK. HAVE Y'ALL BEEN TO LEVY PARK? IF YOU HAVEN'T, YOU HAVE TO GO THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU PLAY AT THE PLAYGROUND BECAUSE IT IS BEAUTIFUL. SO LEVY PARK HAS A ROBUST RECREATION, UM, SCHEDULING OFFERINGS FROM YOGA BOLLYWOOD. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT AT OUR PARK OR WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO HAVE A GYM MEMBERSHIP. AND IT [01:05:01] WOULD BE GREAT TO ACTIVATE FROM THE PARK AS SUCH. ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR OUR STAFFING. PLEASE, PLEASE GIVE SOME BUDGET MONEY. ALLOCATE SOME MORE BUDGET MONEY FOR STAFFING. WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE HAD OUR SURFACE, OUR ENCLOSED PARKING LOT. WE HAVE A DOG PARK, A FOND PARK. WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE ONE. AND, UH, OUR GATES ARE CONSTANTLY CLOSED IN THE MORNING, SO WE HAVE WALKERS THAT COME AND THEY PARK THEIR CARS ON THE GRASS RIGHT OUTSIDE THE BRAND NEW PARKING LOT. SO THE PARKING LOT HAS GATES. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARKS CAN BE USED BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE FOR THE PUBLIC. SO IF PEOPLE CANNOT USE THE BRAND NEW PARKING LOT, THAT'S AN ISSUE. UM, ALSO WE ARE GETTING A NEW PLAYGROUND AND UH, WE ALSO JUST NOTICED THAT, UH, OUR TRACK, OUR TRAIL. SO WE HAVE A A, A THIRD OF A MILE BEAUTIFUL TRAIL THAT YOU CAN USE AT ANY TIME RIGHT ACROSS FROM BRACE BIO. SO WE HAVE AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING LOCATION AND IT'S BEING REDONE. WE WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THAT, WHEN SOMEBODY SHOWS UP TO WALK AND THEY'RE STILL SHOWING UP TO WALK, WHICH IS AMAZING, BUT THE CONCRETE IS ALL BROKEN UP AND THEY HAVE TO GO AROUND IT. SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE, UM, OF THE ASKS THAT WE HAVE FOR FRIENDS OF FOUND THE PARK AND FOUND THE CIVIC CLUB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. WE APPRECIATE IT. ANYONE ELSE WANNA SPEAK ON THE PARKS BUDGET? OKAY. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARKS, DEPARTMENT STAFF AND LEADERSHIP TEAM. WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK. WE'LL TAKE A QUICK BREAK FOR FIVE OR SO MINUTES AND THEN UH, BEGIN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS PRESENTATION. THEY ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.