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[Dallas Park and Recreation Board on October 5, 2023.]
CAN MEAN DALLAS SPARKSIT'S GETTING COOLER AND, UH, SKATE IS ON FOR GO THERE.
FIRST, UH, POINT OF BUSINESS PUBLIC.
WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC SPEAKER WHO MAKES PERSONAL
I LIVE IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, NEXT TO CIVIC GARDEN, A PARK AT 10 14 MAIN STREET.
I'M HERE WITH MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, KATIE UNICORN, WHO'S A REGISTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT FOR 15 YEARS.
UH, AND WE HAVE A DOG TOGETHER, MACY, AND IT'S HER ON MY SHIRT.
IT'S MY JOB TO WALK MACY, BUT MOST OF THE TIME MACY ENDS UP WALKING ME THROUGH DOWNTOWN.
AND ONE OF THE PLACES SHE LOVES TO PULL ME THROUGH IS THROUGH THE TABLE AREA IN CIVIC GARDEN APARTMENTS TOO, WHERE WE LIVE.
AND THAT'S FINE DURING THE COLD MONTHS OF THE YEAR WHEN THE LEAVES ARE OFF THE TREES AND THE BENCHES, THE STEEL TABLES ARE TOO COLD TO SIT ON, BUT WHEN IT GETS HOT, I STARTED TO NOTICE SOMETHING REALLY CONCERNING IN THE TABLE AREA.
IT'S THAT WE WERE WALKING THROUGH GROUPS OF YOUNG MEN WITH NO SHIRTS, WITH PASSING AROUND, SOMETIMES STEEL BATONS AND WEAPONS, UM, SOMETIMES REACHING INTO PACKS AND PULLING OUT THINGS LIKE POTENTIALLY DRUGS.
AND THEY WERE FORMING IN GROUPS AND IT'S, IT'S A LOT DUE TO THE AREA OF CIVIC GARDEN.
IN PARTICULAR, THE AREA IS ENCLOSED BY A LIMESTONE WALL THAT GOES ALL THE WAY FROM MAIN STREET TO COMMERCE.
AND THEN IT'S CONCEALED ON THE FRONT BY BIG PLANTERS, WHICH IN THE WARM MONTHS HAVE BROKEN PRETTY TALL.
AND THEN CONCEALING IT FROM VIEW, FROM THE BUILDINGS AROUND ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL, TALL SHADE.
AND IN THIS PHYSICAL AREA, IT'S NEXT TO THE GREYHOUND STATION WHERE PEOPLE COME WITHOUT TIES TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY MAY HAVE LAYOVERS.
UH, IT'S NEXT TO THE WEST END STATION, WHICH I'M SURE WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT'S LIKE.
AND IT ATTRACTS A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERSON THAT'S MAKING THE AREA UNSAFE.
JUST LAST WEEK ON TUESDAY, I CALLED 9 1 1 BECAUSE THERE WAS A FIGHT, FIVE YOUNG MEN.
AND ON WEDNESDAY THERE WAS ANOTHER FIGHT.
AND THEN ON SATURDAY, A GROUP OF PEOPLE CAME FROM, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE CONGREGATING THERE AND SOMEONE CAME INTO THE RESTAURANT ACROSS THE STREET AND TRIED TO STEAL A CELL PHONE AND THEN RAN BACK TO THE PARK.
NOW I'VE EMAILED D D I ABOUT THIS IN 2021 AND IN 2022 AND IN 2023.
AND THE RESPONSE I'VE GOTTEN IS, WELL, LET'S ENGAGE O H SS.
LET'S GET MORE DOWNTOWN SECURITY PATROL.
I EVEN GOT FROM D V I, LET'S, LET'S TRIM SOME OF THE TREES THEY'VE GROWN IN.
IF THE PARK'S BEEN THERE FOR WHAT, 11 YEARS? LET'S TRIM SOME OF THE TREES.
BUT THE CORE OF IT IS THAT THERE ARE 11 TABLES IN THIS TABLE AREA AND THE COPS CAN'T BE THERE 24 7.
THE GREYHOUND STATION IS STILL GONNA BE THERE FOR THE TIME BEING.
AND WE NEED SAFETY IN DOWNTOWN.
MY PROPOSAL, WHICH I'VE MADE TO THE PUBLIC, AND UH, I HAVE A PETITION THAT'S GOTTEN 400 SIGNATURES AS OF TODAY.
YEAH, PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR, I'LL WRAP IT UP REAL QUICK.
MY PETITION THAT 400 PEOPLE SIGNED WAS, LET'S TAKE THE 11 TABLES AND GO DOWN TO THE THREE TO FOUR CLOSEST TO MAIN STREET.
THAT'S THE ONES THAT THE TAXPAYERS USE.
THE CONVENTION GUESTS, THE WORKERS, THE RESIDENTS, AND LET'S TURN THE REST OF THE AREA INTO A PASSIVE PATHWAY, MEANING JUST A NON PAVED, JUST KEEP THE GRAVEL AREA AND LET PEOPLE WALK THROUGH THE CONVENTION GUESTS ON THEIR WAY TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE WORKERS WHO GO CRISSCROSS MURPHY DRIVE INSTEAD OF THE PARK.
LET'S GET MORE EYEBALLS IN THE PARK AND MAKE IT SAFER.
AND MAYBE LET'S CONSIDER PUTTING A DOG PARK IN THERE SINCE IT'S ALREADY WELL STRUCTURED FOR ONE, SO WE CAN GET, YOU KNOW, DOG OWNERS IN THERE AND GET MORE EYEBALLS.
THAT WAY IT'S NOT JUST, IT DOESN'T JUST FALL ONTO THE POLICE, TO THE MARSHALS, THE O H S, THAT WAY WE GET WORK OR TRAFFIC AND, AND SOLVE THE ISSUE AT ITS CORE.
SO IN CONCLUSION, LET'S NOT LET SEVEN TO EIGHT TABLES STAND IN THE
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WAY OF SAFETY AND CIVIC GARDEN.LET'S GO DOWN FROM 11 TABLES TO THE THREE TO FOUR CLOSEST TO MAIN STREET.
WITH THAT, UH, WITH NO MORE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, WE MOVE TO THE NEXT POINT.
APPROVAL OF S FOR SEPTEMBER 21.
DO HAVE A MOTION, MR. SLAUGHTER AND MR. WOOD? SECOND IT, UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
WITH THAT, I'LL JUST TAKE UP THE CONCEPT AGENT, UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE, PA DO I HAVE A MOTION? UH, MR.
HAVE NOW WE TAKE CONSTANT NUMBER 2, 3, 4.
BEFORE I DO THAT, I HAVE TO RECOGNIZE OUR CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE, JUAN DAVIS, IS HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, PAM.
I THINK REASON NOTHING I'M MENTIONING THESE AGING POINTS ARE HERE BECAUSE OF HER LEADERSHIP AND HER LEADERSHIP IS WHERE WE ARE TO THE LEVEL WHERE WE CAN APPROVE THIS CONTRACT.
WITH THAT, I HAVE A QUESTION, MS. COLLINS, MR. SLAUGHTER, ANY DISCUSSION MS. COLLINS? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS BECAUSE YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH THE SPEAKER MADE THE, THESE FUNDS HAPPEN.
AND NOT ONLY JUST FOR, FOR YOUR DISTRICT, BUT ALSO FOR SO MANY, UM, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BE ABLE TO ENJOY, ENJOY.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY IN AUSTIN AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP AS, UM, OUR CHAIRMAN MENTIONED.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT PARKS AT A, AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THAT TRICKLE DOWN INTO DALLAS BECAUSE IT'S ONLY ADDING VALUE AND QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, TO OUR CITY.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF US.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FROM MY HEART.
IF YOU ONE OF THE FEW POLITICIANS THAT PUT PEOPLE BEFORE POLITIC, I LOVE YOU,
I'M A REPUBLICAN, BUT YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT THAT I HAVE ALWAYS STILL, BUT BLESS YOU.
LAUGHTER AND I'LL RESONATE BOTH TO WHAT, UH, MS. COLLINS AND MR. SLAUGHTER SAID.
YOU HAVE ADVOCAT FOR PARKS, MA'AM, ADVOCAT FOR EQUITY.
AND BECAUSE OF US, I THINK WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN THE PART OF THE TOWN WHERE IT IS BADLY NEEDED.
WE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH THAT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? UH, MS. DAVIS ETAL.
WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
SHALL WE MOVE TO OUR INDIVIDUAL CONCENTRATION CONSENT AGENT ITEM NUMBER FIVE FOR
ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MS. YOU CAN GO AHEAD.
SO, UM, I JUST REALLY WANNA THANK THE, UM, THE DALLAS EDUCATION FOUNDATION, UH, FOR DONATING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, UM, FOR THIS PROJECT IN THE, UM, AND THEN ON THE AGENDA IT SAYS THAT IT'S RESTORING RENOVATION AND CONCESSIONS AT THE RESTROOM AND RESTROOM BUILDING AT RIVERSON.
IT'S ACTUALLY BUILDING NEW, UH, RESTROOMS AND CONCESSIONS ON THE FIRST BASE SIDE.
SO I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR THAT THE VISUAL ISN'T WHAT THE OLD CONCESSIONS THAT WERE USED TO BE THERE.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A NEW BUILD OUT.
UM, SO REALLY AGAIN, THANK THEM FOR, FOR DONATING THIS TO BE ABLE TO COME TO HAVE THIS, THIS DESIGN COME TO FRUITION.
SO, AND THANK YOU TO RYAN FOR REALLY MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
ANY OTHER COMMENT WITH THAT? ALL IN FAVOR, CI A AYE.
DO I HAVE MOTION? MR. GOOD? MS HAS MANY SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION WITH THAT? ALL IN FAVOR, CI? AYE.
OPPOSED? OH, SO YES, MR. BOARD, SORRY, GO AHEAD.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT AND SAY THAT THIS IS ONE OF, UH, A GENEROUS DONATION, UM, BY THE CORONA FAMILY.
UM, AND WE'LL LEARN MORE AND WE'LL HAVE A CELEBRATION OF THIS IN COMING WHEN THEY GO TO COUNCIL.
UM, BUT THIS IS ONE OF A $5 MILLION DONATION, UM, TO THE RE RENOVATION AND THE REVITALIZATION OF FAIR PARKS.
WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO THE CORONA FAMILY FOR THIS, UM, DONATION, SO THANK YOU.
MR. UH, WITH THAT WE MOVE TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, LAKE HIGHLAND TRAIL.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? UH, MR. NER? DO I HAVE A SECOND? MS. HASI? ANY DISCUSSION?
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THAT ALL FAVOR SAY A I OPPOSED YOU? GO AHEAD, MR. THE LAKE HIGHLANDS TRAIL.DO WE JUST HAVE A, AN INFORMATION ABOUT THE, THE INCREASE? I KNOW WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE COMMITTEE.
I JUST, THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AND I WAS ASKED.
SO TO CLARIFY, WE ARE STILL ON DISCUSSION.
I JUST, COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? JUST, JUST WHY, WHY THE, THE, THE INCREASE IN AND WHAT IT WAS FOR? SO BASICALLY WE HAVE, UH, TWO DIFFERENT, UM, BOARDWALKS, UM, IN THIS, UM, CHANGE ORDER THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
THE FIRST ONE, WE MANAGED TO SOME SOFT SOILS AND WE NEEDED TO DRILL THE PI TO AN EXPERT DEPTH.
TYPICALLY WHEN WE'RE WORKING ON A PROJECT, WE DO SOIL BORINGS, UM, WHEN WE START THE PROJECT, BUT WE CAN'T DO SOIL BORINGS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE PROJECT.
SO AS WE WERE CONSTRUCTING THIS PARTICULAR BOARDWALK, THE FURTHER WE GOT INTO THE BOARDWALK, THE SOFTWARE, THE SOILS BECAME, SO WE NEEDED TO DRILL THE PIERS FOR THE, UM, BOARDWALK INTO DEEPER DEPTH.
SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE CHANGE ORDER IS FOR THE SECOND PART OF THE CHANGE ORDER FOR THE OTHER BOARDWALK, UM, WE'RE WORKING IN A DART EASEMENT AND THERE IS A RETAINING FALL IN THAT EASEMENT, AND THERE'S A FOOTING THAT WAS DISCOVERED WITHIN THE EASEMENT THAT WAS NOT SHOWN ON ANY OF THE AS-BUILT PLANS WHEN WE WERE DOING THE PLAN REVIEW, UM, WHEN WE WERE DOING THE DESIGN.
AND BASICALLY, SO WE NEED TO DO SOME REDESIGN OF THE FOOTINGS FOR THE BOARD BOARDWALK TO BE ABLE TO AVOID THE FOOTING FOR THE RETAINING WALL.
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE BOARDWALK BECAUSE WE HAVE A CREEK ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THE OTHER PART OF THE CHANGE ORDER IS.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO ADDING SOME OR, OR REPLACE AND SUB CHAIN LINK FENCES WITH SOME TRACK DECKING FOR SOME, UM, APPEALING, AESTHETIC APPEALING, UM, TO MAKE IT MORE AESTHETIC, AESTHETICALLY APPEALING.
SO THOSE ARE THE BASIC, UH, JUST OF THE CHANGE.
ANY OPPOSED? IYE HAVE IT MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, UH, Q PARK TRAIL.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? UH, MR. KITNER? DO I HAVE A SECOND? MR. SLAUGHTER? ANY DISCUSSION MS.
WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF OCTOBER.
SO WE VOTE ON THIS AND IT GOES, HAS TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL.
AND WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS SO MANY WORK ORDER CHANGES ARE HAPPENING BASED ON, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S, UM, INFLATION OF, OF COSTS OR WHEN THE, THE CONTRACTOR ORIGINALLY BID THIS OUT.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT SETTING OUR, SOME OF OUR CONTRACTORS UP FOR US THEN TO LOOK AT THEM AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU'RE COMING BACK WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT CHANGES, BUT SOME OF THIS HAS TO, YOU KNOW, IS, IS UNREALISTIC FOR THEM TO POTENTIALLY MEET THOSE DEADLINES OR SOMETHING HAPPENS.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A COHESIVE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATION AND, AND, UM, AN OVERSIGHT ON, UH, ON US AND STAFF.
LIKE THAT'S AN UNREALISTIC GOAL FOR THEM TO START CONSTRUCTION OF OCTOBER, 2020.
WHEN WE WERE PREPARING THE AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, WE WERE EXPECTING TO TAKE THIS ACCOUNT OR TO BRING THIS DEPARTMENT WORK A LITTLE BIT SOONER AND UNFORTUNATELY THE AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET WAS NOT UPDATED TO, UM, PUT A UPDATED CONSTRUCTION START DATE.
WE LIKELY WILL NOT GET THE CONTRACT BACK FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UM, UNTIL PROBABLY NOVEMBER.
SO I WOULD EXPECT THEIR START DATE'S GONNA BE LATE NOVEMBER, EARLY DECEMBER AS OPPOSED TO OCTOBER.
SO THANK YOU PART REPORT MEMBER
SO WILL THAT MAKE ANY CHANGES OR SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE COST OF THE CONTRACT OR ANYTHING ELSE? WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES.
DOES IT SPECIFY IN THE CONTRACT OR DO WE NEED TO AMEND THE CONSTRUCTION DATE? CHRIS DOES.
PROTECTIONS? NO, THE, THE A I SS IS REALLY JUST FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
THE CONTRACT WILL HAVE THE START DATE AND THE START DATE WILL BE BASED ON THE NOTICE TO PROCEED THAT WE GIVE THEM, WHICH IS BASED ON WHEN WE RECEIVE THE CONTRACT ITSELF.
AND, AND I SAY THIS A LOT BECAUSE THIS CONTRACTOR'S COME BACK IN THE PAST MONTH WITH A WORK ORDER CHANGE AND WORK ORDER CHANGES A FEW DIFFERENT TIMES.
SO I JUST, UM, AND I'VE PROBABLY BADGERED THEM IN THE, MY, YOU KNOW, SCRUTINY AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE NOW THAT I'M, WE'RE BEING FAIR TO THEM.
UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS PLEASE WITH THAT? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
SO MS. DAVIS, YOU BROUGHT SOME GOOD
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LUCK HEARING.SO WITH THAT, WE MOVE TO OUR BRIEFING.
THIS MORNING, UM, WE HAVE SHELLEY WHITE WHO IS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE TRINITY RIVER
UM, SHE HAS A LONGSTANDING DIRECTOR WITH THE TRINITY RIVER.
SHE'S SERVING AS THE EXECUTIVE, UM, DIRECTOR FOR
SHE ALSO RECEIVED HER MASTER'S DEGREE HERE IN DALLAS FROM SOUTHERN ME METHODIST UNIVERSITY.
SO SHE WILL BE BRINGING US OUR, UM, ANNUAL UPDATES.
AND THEN I'VE GOT, YES, LISA GONZALEZ, WHO IS OUR AUDUBON TEXAS CLASS PRESIDENT.
SO WE ROLL UP TO, UH, ON TEXAS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY, SARAH? HELLO.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THIS UPDATE BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A PRETTY BUSY YEAR.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE PLEASED WITH WHAT YOU SEE.
UM, SO, UH, I ALWAYS LOVE TO BRAG NOT ONLY ON MY TEAM, BUT SOME OTHER THINGS I SEE GOING ON, UM, AT CITY OF DALLAS FACILITY.
SO, UH, YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE.
SO, UH, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE, WE HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS HERE, JERRY HERSHEY, OUR BOARD CHAIR, AND MICHAEL LASHLEY.
OKAY, SO WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF OUR FRIENDS.
THESE ARE FRIENDS YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN.
UM, THEY ARE ALSO TEAM MEMBERS WHO DO WORK FOR US, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
SO WE'VE GOT SHELDON, OUR ONSITE THREE TOTE SLIDER, VERY POPULAR.
WE USE HIM IN OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT HIM AND THE PRE-K STUDENTS GET TO MEET HIM AND OTHER AGENTS AS WELL.
AFTER WE READ THAT BOOK, WE HAVE ALSO ADOPTED A SNAKE.
AND, UM, WE NAMED HIM ROMEO BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE, UM, SCARED OF SNAKES,
SO MAYBE YOU SHOULD COME SEE ROMEO.
SO WE'RE HOPING THE NAME, YOU KNOW, HELPS DIFFUSE SOME OF THAT FEAR OF SNAKES BECAUSE SNAKES ARE A BIG PART OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
UM, THAT'S OUR MEXICAN COGNOS SNAKE.
AND THEN WE'VE OF COURSE GOT OUR GREAT BLUE HERONS.
UM, THE AMERICAN KESTREL, WE'VE GOT LIZARDS AND DUCKS.
WE'VE GOT JUST SHY OF 300 SPECIES OF BIRDS THAT COME THROUGH.
UM, SOME STAY, SOME JUST PASS THROUGH.
WE TELL THE KIDS WE'RE BUCKYS FOR BIRDS AND THEY LOVE THAT.
UM, BUT WE ARE A CRITICAL PART IN THAT MIGRATION FOR MANY SPECIES.
AND THEN WHAT WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF, UM, LATELY ARE DEER.
SO THEY'RE COMING TO OUR PONDS, WHICH THANKFULLY WE GOT RAIN.
UM, BUT COMING TO, UH, DRINK OUT OF THE POND.
SO IF YOU'RE VISITING THE CENTER, YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO SEE SOME DEER.
UM, AND THEN I LOVE THIS PICTURE ON THE RIGHT BECAUSE IT JUST SHOWS THE INTERACTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMALS.
SO YOU CAN BARELY SEE THE DEER.
IT'S IN THE MIDDLE TO THE RIGHT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
UM, BUT IT IS TRULY REPRESENTATIVE OF, OF HOW ANIMALS IN NATURE, UM, GO TOGETHER.
AND THEN YOU HAD HEARD OF JUSTIN BEAVER IN MY LAST PRESENTATION, AND I'M SAD TO REPORT THAT HE IS PASSED.
UM, WE THINK THERE MIGHT BE A MISSED BEAVER AROUND, BUT, UH, HE HAD A GOOD LIFE.
SO, UM, AND HE ALSO DESTROYED A FEW THINGS TOO.
BUT, UM, HE WAS A GOOD TEACHING MOMENT FOR US.
SO, SPEAKING OF TEACHING MOMENTS, UM, THIS IS OUR POLLINATOR GARDEN.
WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING YEARS ON THIS.
SO THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS IS TWOFOLD.
ONE IS IF YOU DON'T WANNA WALK TOO FAR OUT INTO OUR HABITAT, THERE ARE PLANTS
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HERE THAT SHOW EVERYTHING YOU WILL FIND ON THE PROPERTY.UM, SO NATIVE PLANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT THESE PLANTS ALSO ARE MARVEL HOSTS FOR THE INSECTS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO COMPLETE LIFECYCLES, ESPECIALLY FOR THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY.
AND WE LOVE TEACHING ABOUT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY, UM, BECAUSE IT TRULY SHOWS HOW COMMUNITY HAS NO BORDERS.
THEY MIGRATE JUST LIKE BIRDS, UM, FROM CANADA TO MEXICO.
AND IF YOU'VE NEVER READ THE BOOK, UM, BICYCLING WITH BUTTERFLIES, IT'S A SCIENTIST WHO ACTUALLY RODE HER BIKE.
SHE SPOKE AT THE CENTER LAST YEAR AND IT'S AN AMAZING STORY.
ALRIGHT, JUST, UH, SOME REGULAR DETAILS NOW.
SO CURRENT HOURS, WE ARE OPEN WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY TO THE PUBLIC.
SO WE HAVE VOLUNTEER GROUPS THAT COME OUT IN SOME OF OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS. UH, WE ARE OF COURSE FREE RIGHT NOW AND, UM, WE HAVE SUBMITTED ANOTHER GRANT TO HOPEFULLY BE FREE NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
UM, WE ARE HIRING A NEW EDUCATOR.
UH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UM, THAT JOB DESCRIPTION IS OUT RIGHT NOW, IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY SENDING TO OUR WEBSITE, AND WE'RE HOPING TO GET THAT PERSON HIRED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND THEN WE WILL OPEN ON TUESDAYS TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL ONCE WE GET THAT TEAM IN PLACE.
SOME GREAT MOVEMENTS FORWARD THIS YEAR FOR US.
SO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.
THE DARK BUS DROPS YOU OFF A MILE FROM THE ACTUAL CENTER, SO WE'RE ON GREAT TRINITY FOREST WAY AND YOU HAVE TO WALK DOWN, UM, LONG ACRE DRIVE TO GET TO OUR CENTER, BUT WE NOW ARE ADDED ON THE GO LINK, UM, COMMUNITY APP AND ARE ABLE TO USE THAT AS WELL.
AND, AND MARCUS COLE, ONE OF OUR, ONE OF OUR EDUCATORS ACTUALLY TESTED IT AND THEN WAS ABLE TO, UH, WALK ONE OF OUR VISITORS THROUGH THIS SO THAT THEY COULD GET TO THE BUTNER STATION.
UM, WE ALSO HAD, THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS BECAUSE IF YOU'VE DONE THE GO LINK, YOU HAVE TO BE WITHIN A CERTAIN ZONE, SO YOU CAN'T GO OUT OF THAT ZONE.
SO, LIKE THE OTHER DAY, PRAIRIE CREEK LIBRARY CALLED US AND THEY WERE UNABLE, UM, ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN THERE, IT WAS A LITTLE TOO FAR FOR HIM TO WALK TO BE IN THAT ZONE.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT ONE OF THE, UM, EMPLOYEES AT PRAIRIE CREEK DID.
HE HAD BEEN TO OUR CENTER, WE DO A FREE TRANSPORTATION WITH PRAIRIE CREEK, AND HE DROVE THIS GENTLEMAN TO OUR CENTER FOR A VISIT, DROVE HIMSELF BACK TO WORK, AND THEN JUST TOLD DAR KING, CALL ME WHEN HE'S READY TO LEAVE, AND CAME BACK AND PICKED HIM UP.
SO I, ON MY TEAM, BUT I BRAG ON OTHER TEAMS AS WELL.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE SOME GREAT PEOPLE WORKING AT YOUR FACILITIES HERE, SO GET READY FOR MY LIST BECAUSE I'VE, I'VE JUST GOTTA GO INTO SOME OF THE AMAZING THINGS WE'RE DOING BESIDES OUR NORMAL PROGRAMMING, WHICH IS EARLY MORNING, UH, BIRDING, NATURE HIKES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'VE DONE A PARTNERSHIP WITH PRAIRIE CREEK LIBRARY TO DO FREE TRANSPORTATION ON FOURTH SATURDAY.
UM, WE ARE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH OTHER LIBRARIES ON THAT.
WE'VE SPENT ABOUT $5,000 ON THAT TRANSPORTATION ALONE THUS FAR THIS YEAR.
UH, WE ARE ALSO DOING A LOT OF OFFSITE PROGRAMS. SO NOW THAT OUR TEAM IS BUILDING UP, WE'RE ABLE TO GO TO OTHER PLACES.
SO SAMUEL FARMS, WE'VE GOT A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.
FAIR PARK ARBORETUM, WE'RE LEADING SOME OF THEIR BIRD WALKS, HIGHLAND HILLS LIBRARY.
UH, THE J D C TURNER REC CENTER, WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING A, UM, A HALLOWEEN EVENT WITH THEM.
AND JAY POINTS UP, ONE OF OUR PROGRAM MANAGERS OR OUR PROGRAM MANAGER ALREADY HAS HIS BIRD OUTFIT DRESS UP.
AND I THINK HE'S MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE KIDS, UH, I MEAN ABOUT IT THAN THE KIDS.
LIKE HE'S JUST ON CLOUD NINE RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH JUANITA CRAFT RECREATION CENTER, UM, DONE BIRD WALKS AT JOB OF PRESERVE, AND WE'VE CONNECTED WITH SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS LIKE T R HOOVER, HELPING THEM WITH TRANSPORTATION AND SOME OF THE PROGRAM COSTS AS WELL.
WE'RE DOING AN NOCTURNAL NATURE HIKE TONIGHT.
OUR NIGHT HIKES ARE VERY POPULAR AND SELL OUT.
UM, ANOTHER ADDITION TO OUR PROGRAMMING IS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PRESENTATIONS.
SO MARCUS HAS PUT THAT TOGETHER.
ONE OF OUR, UH, BOARD MEMBERS IS AN E P A ATTORNEY AND HE HELPED AS WELL.
AND SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY BRINGING IN A GROUP.
UM, THE E P A IS BRINGING IN AN SS M U LAW GROUP, UM, ON NOVEMBER 2ND FOR THAT PROGRAM.
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THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY IS BRINGING THE AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION TOMORROW.UM, WE'RE DOING A PROGRAM FOR THEM FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BUILDING.
SO FROM AN ARCHITECT, UM, STANDPOINT, WE'RE GOING INTERNATIONAL.
UM, WE ARE ALSO DOING, UH, HOSTING THE NATIONAL PARKS GROUP THAT'S COMING ON MONDAY.
WE'RE TEACHING A CLASS FOR THEM FOR C E U CREDITS.
UM, SO A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPS GOING ON.
WE'VE DONE, WE'VE HAD ABOUT 5,000 TOUCHPOINT WITH THOSE, UM, THUS FAR THIS YEAR.
UM, AND A TOUCH POINT IS WHAT I CONSIDER AND WHEN I GO OVER MY VISITOR NUMBERS WITH YOU.
SO IF WE GO, LIKE I WENT TO THE STATE FAIR, WHICH IS WHY MY VOICE SOUNDS LIKE THIS.
WE WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE TO PROMOTE THE CENTER AT THE STATE FAIR FOR OPENING WEEKEND.
WE DID NOT COUNT THAT THERE WERE A MILLION PEOPLE AT THE FAIR, AND THAT'S HOW MANY VISITORS WE HAD OR, OR TOUCH POINTS.
WE ACTUALLY SEE WHO WE ENGAGE WITH AND USE THOSE NUMBERS.
UM, SO AGAIN, 5,000 LAST YEAR.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE PARTNERSHIPS THIS YEAR.
UM, WE ALSO HAD A GREAT DALLAS, UH, SOUTHEAST DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY EVENT.
THEY CAME OUT, IT WAS COFFEE WITH THE CHIEF, AND THEN WE DID, UM, PRE, PRE GIFTS FOR KIDS.
AND SO HAD SANTA THERE, UH, THAT WAS LAST DECEMBER.
YOU CAN SEE THE LINE OF, OF STUDENTS THERE.
AND THEN, UH, IN THE UPPER RIGHT WE USED IT AS A TEACHING MOMENT TOO.
THE GRINCH CAME IN AND TRIED TO STEAL THE PRESENTS AND THEN THE POLICE OFFICER HAD TO TALK TO HIM, AND THEN THE KIDS GOT MAD AT THE GRINCH.
SO WE HAD TO SAY, WELL, THE GRINCH ISN'T THAT BAD.
AND SO THAT'S MY TEAM, LIKE, HEY, WE'RE ALL FRIENDS HERE.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE ARE TEACHING MOMENTS EVERYWHERE.
UM, WE'VE HAD 13 CITY OF DALLAS EVENTS, UH, OUT THERE.
UM, WE'VE DONE 25 TOTAL PARTNERS, CITY OF DALLAS COMPED EVENTS, UM, FOR $11,000 THIS YEAR.
SO SOME ART EVENTS WITH THE D M A, THAT'S BEEN A FUN, A FUN PARTNERSHIP WE'VE HAD.
WE DO OUR WORLD MIGRATORY BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL EVERY SECOND SATURDAY IN MAY.
NOW THIS HELPS THE CITY OF DALLAS GETTING BIRD FRIENDLY DESIGNATION.
SO WE WORK WITH BRETT JOHNSON ON THAT.
UM, THE C B S SHOW, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE DID A FEATURE ON US.
AND IF YOU'VE EVER WATCHED ICARLY, UM, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE IS MIRANDA COSGROVE FROM THAT.
AND THEN WE ALSO, OUR TEAM HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THIS FOR THE TEAM ALL ACCESS PASS THIS SUMMER.
WE WERE TRYING TO FIND A PROGRAM THAT REALLY APPEALED TO TEAMS. UM, AND SO WE DID A ZOMBIE OF POCKET LOOPS SO YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND WE MADE VIDEOS ABOUT IT.
UM, AND WE SAW WITH OUR BOOKED FULL SUMMER CAMPS, THREE WEEKS OF SUMMER CAMPS WE PARTNERED WITH, WE THOUGHT IT'S FREE.
UM, AND THE TEEN ALL ACCESS PASS, WE SAW OVER 800
WE ALSO HAVE OUR ANNUAL COMMUNITY EVENT, ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PARTNERS ON THIS.
IT'S SECOND SATURDAY IN APRIL.
UM, WE'RE REALLY BUILDING THAT, LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, CONTINUING THAT EVENT.
WE DO YOGA, WE DO A PARTNERSHIP WITH RIVER RANCH FOR TEXAS HORSE PARK.
WE SEE ABOUT TWO TO 300 PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE.
UM, AND THIS ALSO THIS COMMUNITY EVENT.
AND I'M JUST GONNA SHOW YOU SOME PICTURES.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE'RE ALSO PARTNERING WITH KEEP DALLAS BEAUTIFUL TO DO A CLEANUP OF, UM, GREAT TRINITY FOREST WAY.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN THAT, TO GO A LITTLE BIT ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE DO JUST AT THE AUDUBON CENTER.
AND HERE ARE SOME PICTURES FROM OUR COMMUNITY EVENT AND THEN BRAGGING RIGHTS.
I'M GOING TO CALL OUT ONE FOR YOU BECAUSE THIS IS COMPLIMENT TO CITY OF DALLAS AND I'D LOVE TO SHARE COMPLIMENTS.
SO, UM, MKI HAD WRITTEN, I'M SO PROUD OF THE STAKEHOLDERS.
IMAGINE HAVING A VISION OF TURNING LIGHT INTO SERENE SPACE, SUNSHINE AND BEAUTY AS FAR AS YOUR EYES CAN SEE.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS.
THIS WAS AN ILLEGAL LAND OF, AND LOOK AT IT NOW, WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US.
AND HERE ARE OUR TEAM MEMBERS.
YOU MET MANY OF THEM, UM, AT, WHEN I PRESENTED IN JUNE.
YOU'LL SEE JACKIE CRUZ, OUR SUMMER INTERNS.
SO LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT INTERNSHIP.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM, UM, IT WAS PREVIOUSLY CALLED AUDUBON CONSERVATION LEADERS.
AND STUDENTS COME IN AT NINTH, 10TH, 11TH, AND OR 12TH GRADE.
[00:30:01]
FOUR YEARS AND YOU WILL FOCUS ON A DIFFERENT CONSERVATION EFFORT EACH YEAR.SO MAYBE IT'S WATER, MAYBE IT'S CLIMATE.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, AND THIS IS IRMA RAINVILLE SCHOOL, WHICH BY THE WAY, THEIR ENTIRE NINTH GRADE CLASS IS ON SITE AS WE SPEAK.
THE IRMA RAYDALE SCHOOL DOING A PROGRAM AT OUR CENTER.
UM, BUT THE IRMA RAYDALE SCHOOL IS WHERE THOSE, UH, CONSERVATIONISTS COME FROM.
AND THEN WE DO A PAID INTERNSHIP OVER THE SUMMER FOR ONE OF THOSE SENIORS.
AND ON THAT NOTE, UM, TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS WE DO IN IRMA, VILLE SCHOOL BEING ON SITE, I INVITE ANY OF YOU TO JOIN FOR ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS, PUBLIC OR EDUCATION.
IF YOU SEE OUR TEAM AT WORK, YOU WILL BE VERY IMPRESSED.
UM, AND I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE TO GO TO JAKE AND TRY TO ASK HIM A QUESTION ABOUT NATURE OR BIRDS THAT HE CANNOT OR, OR FAUNA OR FLORA THAT HE CANNOT ANSWER.
WE HAVE YET STUMPED HIM WITH THAT.
OKAY, SO A FEW THINGS I WANT TO SHOW YOU FOR OUR ATTENDANCE.
THE UPPER PORTION IS 2022, JANUARY 1ST THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST.
THE BELOW PORTION IN BLUE IS 2023 YEAR, THE DATE, SINCE WE'VE BEEN FREE.
SO 2022 WE HAD, I'M SORRY, IT'S JANUARY THROUGH AUGUST.
SO I HAD NOT UPDATED THOSE NUMBERS.
WE'RE JUST NOW GETTING SEPTEMBER NUMBERS IN.
UM, TOTAL VIS VISITATION WE'VE ALREADY BEAT THIS YEAR.
UM, VISITATION AND EXPOSURE, I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THOSE TOUCH POINTS.
IF YOU LOOK DOWN IN THE YELLOW, THERE'S OUR YEAR, YEAR TO DATE, WE WERE AT 11,000 THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
AND WE ARE, UM, 175% INCREASE IN THAT.
AND THEN IN OUR VISITORS ALONE TO THE CENTER, IT'S A 250% INCREASE.
ANOTHER THING WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THE FREE ENTRY IS IT'S ALLOWING FAMILIES TO BRING IN BIGGER GROUPS LIKE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT BEFORE.
AND THEN ABOUT 60% OF PEOPLE ARE FIRST TIMERS RIGHT NOW WHO ARE COMING THROUGH THE CENTER.
YOU'LL ALSO SEE ON THERE OUR, UM, FACILITY RENTAL PRIVATE EVENTS.
YOU'LL SEE YEAR TO DATE, 47 0 4.
WE ACTUALLY, I JUST GOT THE NUMBER, UM, FOR SEPTEMBER, WHICH WAS 1,207 PEOPLE ONSITE FOR WEDDINGS THIS
UM, SO BOXWOOD HOSPITALITY HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER WITH THAT.
WE HAD 77 BOOKED WEDDINGS THIS THIS YEAR, 111 TOTAL EVENTS.
LIKE I SAID, WE DO SOME PARTNER AS WELL.
AND SINCE WE STARTED, UM, 82,000 PEOPLE HAVE WALKED THROUGH OUR TOUR FOR THOSE EVENTS.
AND SOMETHING INTERESTING I'M SEEING IS I DO WORK THE FRONT DESK TWO SUNDAYS A MONTH AND, UH, PEOPLE COMING IN AND THEY MAYBE WENT TO A WEDDING THE WEEK BEFORE OR TWO DAYS BEFORE AND THEY COULDN'T SEE IT IN THE DAY AND THEY WANTED TO COME BACK.
SO IT'S REALLY HELPING WITH OUR VISITORSHIP AS WELL.
SO I'M GOING TO SHARE OUR FISCAL YEAR 23, WHICH WE ARE JULY 1ST THROUGH JUNE 30TH.
UM, I WILL ALSO SHARE OUR FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET.
AND THEN I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SLIDE THAT TALKS ABOUT REVENUE AND CONTRIBUTIONS ALONE, WHERE WE CAN GET INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THAT.
SO SOME SIGNIFICANT THINGS WITH FISCAL YEAR 23 IS THAT WE ARE IN THE BLACK, THESE ARE PRELIMINARY NUMBERS AND WE ACTUALLY ARE COMING IN ABOVE THIS.
UM, WE HAVE THE CITY OF DALLAS PAYMENTS HELPED, OF COURSE.
OUR EVENTS BROUGHT IN ABOUT 140,000 THIS YEAR.
UM, AND THEN WE HAD SOME MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS, ONE FROM THE EUGENE DER FOUNDATION, UM, WHO WE, WE MAKE GRANT REQUESTS TO.
AND ALSO YOU HEARD OF LIDA HILL'S.
VERY GENEROUS ADX OF KINDNESS.
UM, SO A HUNDRED THOUSAND, UH, FROM THAT ALONE.
THAT HELPED US WITH SOME OF THESE FREE TRANSPORTATION, UH, ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS THE FREE ENTRY, SOME OF OUR MAJOR EXPENSES.
UM, SO A LOT OUR RUNNING THE CENTER OF COURSE ARE HVAC.
WE SPENT $30,000 ON, UM, DOING SOME REPAIRS.
ONE OF THE BOILER REPAIRS IS NOT COMPLETE YET.
THEY'RE COMING BACK NEXT WEEK.
THERE WILL BE MORE CHARGES FOR THAT.
UTILITIES ARE ELECTRICITY ALONE, 27,000.
SO AS WE KNOW, IT'S GETTING HOTTER,
SO I SEE THESE ELECTRIC, I MEAN YOU CAN ONLY DO ABOUT 25 DEGREES DIFFERENCE ANYWAY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE COSTS
[00:35:01]
GOING UP AS WELL.WE'RE DEFINITELY STRESSING THAT SYSTEM OUT.
WE HAVE CUSTODIAL COSTS THAT ARE RUNNING 35 TO 40 K AT LEAST.
UM, THOSE WILL GO UP NEXT YEAR WITH, UM, MORE USE.
AND THE FIRE SYSTEM TOOK ABOUT $4,000 TO REPAIR.
IF YOU HEAR ME TALKING ABOUT BEING AT THE CENTER IN MY PAJAMAS, THAT'S USUALLY A FIRE SYSTEM ISSUE.
UM, AND THEN ALSO IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AUDUBON HAS CONTRIBUTED ABOUT 50,000 TO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ITEMS, INCLUDING UPDATING, UH, OUR HVAC SOFTWARE.
WE HAD SOME, UH, BOARDWALKS THAT NEEDED REPAIR.
THAT IS NOT AN EASY FEAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET INTO A BOAT UNDERNEATH IT.
UM, SOME WORK FLOORING AND THEN SOME REPAIRS TO OUR SEPTIC TANK.
SO OF COURSE, AS FACILITY USE IS INCREASED, IT BRINGS IN MONEY, BUT THERE'S ALSO A COST TO THAT AS WELL.
THERE IS WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CENTER.
AND THEN FISCAL YEAR 24, WE'RE MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
WE DO HAVE SOME EXPENSE INCREASES WITH ADDITIONAL STAFF THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
UM, CUSTODIAL AND SECURITY COSTS AS WELL.
WE'RE PREDICTING BOXWOOD EVENTS.
UM, WE'LL BRING IN ABOUT 250,000.
WE'VE GOT A TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE GRANT FOR $60,000 AND WE ARE MATCHING THAT OR BRINGING IN 15,000 FOR THAT.
WE'RE ADDING A NEW DRILL TO THE PROPERTY THAT WILL GO TO A PREVIOUSLY, UM, INACCESSIBLE POND.
AND WE'RE ALSO VERY CONSERVATIVE ON OUR BUDGETS.
SO THERE'S SOME CONTINGENCY MONEY IN HERE TAKING AWAY FROM THAT REVENUE AS WELL.
BUT SPEAKING OF THAT, TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, UM, GRANT, I WOULD ALSO LIKE, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PARTNER WITH THE SEED.
THERE IS A CO-OP GRANT THROUGH TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE.
IT IS VERY, UM, IT'S VERY HARD TO GET.
I'VE BEEN TALKING TO CONNIE AT THE CITY AND WE WOULD REALLY LOVE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THAT.
I PUT HER, I PUT TRACK ON HER RADAR LAST YEAR, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE PAINTING FOR THAT COULD BE PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL.
SO, SO IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I TALK ABOUT THAT.
UM, TO BE QUITE HONEST, WE HAVE HAD SOME CHALLENGES AT THE CENTER IN THE PAST.
UH, WE DID NOT HAVE A CENTER DIRECTOR WHO STAYED THERE LONGER THAN TWO YEARS.
FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS BEFORE I JOINED.
WE DID NOT HAVE LEADERSHIP AT LISA'S LEVEL FOR AUDUBON, TEXAS AS WELL.
WE HAD SOME TIME AT THE CENTER WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE ANY LEADERSHIP AT ALL.
THERE WAS NO CENTER DIRECTOR, BUT WE ARE CORRECTING THOSE.
I'M THERE NOW, LISA IS IN PLACE.
WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, LORD WILLING.
UM, AND SO WE ARE ABLE TO REENGAGE SOME OF THE DONORS THAT DISAPPEARED DURING THAT TIME.
UH, ONE OF MY BEST EXAMPLES OF THAT IS I DID A GRANT REQUEST FOR $25,000 FROM SOMEONE.
UH, THE, THE LADY WHO RUNS IT WAS ON OUR BOARD YEARS AGO.
SHE SENT US A CHECK FOR $50,000 BECAUSE OF THE WORK SHE HAS SEEN US DO.
UM, I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU, BUT WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM.
IF I WANT YOU TO COME EXPERIENCE A PROGRAM, THE COMMUNITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, WE CARE ABOUT THAT.
YOU CAN TALK TO OUR FACILITIES MANAGER, HE CALLS IT HIS SHOP, HIS ROOF THAT NEEDS WORK.
HE TAKES OWNERSHIP OF THIS BUILDING AS WE ALL DO AND WE CARE ABOUT IT.
SO WHILE I HAVE STILL BEEN SOMEWHAT IN THE TRENCHES, I WORK AT THE FRONT DESK EVERY NOW AND THEN, WE ARE HIRING NEW EDUCATORS THAT'LL ALLOW FOR MORE REVENUE FROM PROGRAMMING THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO STEP AWAY FROM SOME OF THAT DAY-TO-DAY.
THAT HAS BEEN CRITICAL WORKING THE FRONT DESK AND REALLY RE-ENGAGING SOME OF THOSE DONORS AS WELL.
UM, WE HAVE SOME CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT I'M GOING TO LET LISA TALK ABOUT.
WE HAVE ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF OUT IN GRANT REQUESTS RIGHT NOW.
I GET TO GO FOR ANOTHER 250,000 FROM ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT WANTED TO SEE SOME OF THE PREVIOUS DONOR SUPPORT.
SO WE ARE GETTING SOME TRACTION FROM THAT.
AND I'LL TAKE A BREAK NOW AND LET LISA TALK FOR A MINUTE.
AND THEN I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO TALK ABOUT.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO YOU CAN SEE SHELLY'S TEAM IS AMAZING.
IT CONTINUES TO JUST, UM, BLOW MY MIND TO SEE WHAT SHELLY AND HER TEAM OF FIVE TO SIX FTES ACCOMPLISH WITH ALL OF THE PROGRAMMING AND ALL OF THE VISITORS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT THEY'RE ENGAGING IN, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
[00:40:01]
THEY'RE HOSTING AND, AND WITH, UM, THIS YEAR.AND, UM, I JUST WANNA REITERATE OUR APPRECIATION FOR AND COMMITMENT TO THIS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY AND THE CITY OF DALLAS, UH, IN THE PAST AND, AND MOVING FORWARD, UM, IN THE, THE BUDGET AND, AND AND NUMBERS PRESENTATION THAT SHELLY JUST PROVIDED.
UM, IN THAT, LOOKING BACK TO 2015, UH, THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY HAS INVESTED $2.1 MILLION IN TRINITY RIVER AUDUBON CENTER ALONGSIDE THE INVESTMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS MADE, UM, AS WELL AS THE PHILANTHROPIC AND, UM, AND OTHER, UH, DONATIONS AND, AND REVENUES THAT THAT THE CENTER IS ABLE TO BRING IN OF THAT 2.1 MILLION, 1.6 WAS TO COVER THOSE OPERATIONAL DEFICITS.
WE, AS SHELLY SAID, THESE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT.
UM, 750,000 OF THAT ALONE WAS IN 2020 DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SO, UM, I HOPE THAT SHOWS OUR COMMITMENT AS AN ORGANIZATION AND WORKING WITH THE CITY AND THE CITY OWNED FACILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMS. UM, IN ADDITION TO THOSE OPERATIONAL, UH, EXPENSES, AS SHELLY MENTIONED, WE HAVE THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ITEMS, UM, OF THAT LIST.
YOU KNOW, THE CRITICAL FACILITY NEEDS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THAT'S A PART OF OUR BOND ASK IN IN THE BOND PROGRAM, UH, THIS YEAR.
AND WE'RE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
THERE ARE ALSO ADDITIONAL DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ITEMS THAT SHELLY IS WORKING ON NOW WITH, UH, WITH OUR ORGANIZATION TO SEE, UH, THE EXTENT TO WHICH AUDUBON CAN ALSO INVEST IN THOSE ITEMS MOVING FORWARD.
SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE HISTORY OF THIS PARTNERSHIP IS THAT WE ARE ALSO, UH, WILLING TO, TO BE AT THE TABLE AND INVEST IN THIS CENTER ALONGSIDE THE CITY.
AND WE'RE ALSO COMMITTED, UM, TO THAT INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE.
AS SHELLY MENTIONED, WE'RE SEEING SOME EARLY SUCCESS WITH SOME CORPORATE UNDERWRITING AND SPONSORSHIPS THAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO ENGAGE IN.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO BALANCE THOSE SPONSORSHIPS IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING THE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS OPERATION AND AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THOSE FOUNDATION ASKS THAT SHELLY MENTIONED AND THOSE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS, UM, SHELLY MENTIONED THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CO-OP GRANT.
THAT'S AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT DO REQUIRE THAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE CITY OF DALLAS.
BECAUSE VERY OFTEN FOR SOME OF THOSE STATE FUNDS AND THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS, WE AS A NONPROFIT CANNOT APPLY.
IT'S A, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS TO APPLY FOR THOSE FUNDS.
SO WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, MAXIMIZING ON THIS PARTNERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO BRING THAT INVESTMENT TO THE CENTER.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT FOR THIS CENTER AND JUST REALLY PROUD OF OF WHAT SHELLY AND PATINA.
WELL, I I WILL BRAG ON MYSELF ONCE HERE.
SO, UM, I HAD A FIVE YEAR FISCAL PLAN FOR THE CENTER WHEN I CAME IN AND I'VE REACHED THAT GOAL IN THREE YEARS WITH CODE AND WITH STORE PAYMENT.
SO, UM, I HOPE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH ME BEING, UM, LEADING THIS ENDEAVOR HERE.
UH, ONE THING WE WANNA TALK ABOUT IS THE EXHIBIT, AND THAT IS PART OF THE BOND ASK ALONG WITH THOSE OTHER, UH, FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE DA THE STAFF TEAM HAD PUT TOGETHER.
BUT I THINK I'VE TOLD THIS STORY BEFORE, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU AGAIN, WE LOST FUNDING BECAUSE OF THE EXHIBIT.
WE HAVE GARRETT BOONE BROUGHT IN A DONOR, THEY SAW THAT EXHIBIT, THEY TURNED AROUND AND LEFT.
UM, SO WE'VE GOT TO GET, AND AND WHILE WE CALL IT AN EXHIBIT REFRESH, IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
I MEAN IT'S, IT'S REDESIGNING OUR OUTDOOR NATURE PLAY AREA.
WHILE IT WILL BENEFIT EVENTS, PLEASE KNOW THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE FOR PROGRAMMING.
THAT IS OUR, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON HERE.
SO DOING THOSE DIFFERENT, UM, PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THIS, UH, REDESIGN, LET'S CALL IT.
WE PUT IN 55,000 FOR THE, UM, FOR THE DESIGN AS WELL.
AND I THINK IT'S WORTHY TO KNOW WE ARE NOT AT THE SAME STARTING LINE AS SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
SO AS YOU KNOW, I WAS WITH TRINITY STRAND TRAIL FOR EIGHT YEARS.
WE GOT TO BUILD PHASE ONE USING TRANSPORTATION FUNDS.
UM, WE HAD A TIFF, WE HAD, WE DO NOT HAVE PITS OR TIFF WHERE TRINITY RIVER AUDUBON CENTER IS.
THERE CERTAINLY AREN'T ANY TRANSPORTATION FUNDS, BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO BRING TO THE TABLE FOR THESE BIGGER MATCHES.
IT IS ME RAISING MONEY THROUGH THESE DIFFERENT DONORS AND GRANTS AND PROGRAM REVENUE.
SO I'LL TAKE A BREAK RIGHT THERE BECAUSE WE'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE ANYWAY, BUT THEY'RE, I'M HAPPY TO GO BACK AND ANSWER SOME OF THE MORE
[00:45:01]
DETAILED QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT.GREAT, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
AND WITH THAT WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
UM, MS. COLLINS, THANK YOU SHELLY.
I LOVE HEARING THAT AUDUBON'S GOING TO INVEST MORE TIME TALENT RESOURCE INTO TRACK.
AND SHELLY, YOU AND YOUR TEAM, I DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU SLEEP APPARENTLY AT THE CENTER
UM, SO UH, WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR WHEREABOUTS,
UH, I LOVE SEEING YOUR ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, THE CORPORATE UNDERWRITING, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET, BE MORE DIVERSIFIED IN YOUR, UM, FUNDRAISING AND JUST SEEKING ALL KINDS OF SUPPORT.
SO I DID A QUESTION ABOUT FOR SCHOOL GROUPS IF WE WERE INTERESTED.
SO BOTH OUR SCHOOL GROUPS AND THEN LIKE SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS, BOY SCOUTS, UM, 'CAUSE FIELD TRIPS HAVE TO PAY TO COME.
SO IF AT D I S D YOU HAVE SOME FREE PROGRAMMING I THINK FOR D I S D.
SO WE PARTNER WITH BIG THOUGHT THAT HELPS WITH THAT.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE OF LIDA HILLS GRANT, WE ARE ABLE TO DISCOUNT SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT NEED IT.
BUT ABSOLUTELY SCHOOLS WANTED TO PARTICIPATE, DO FIELD TRIPS.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY THEY GO ABOUT REACHING OUT TO YOU TO SCHEDULE THAT? SO YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND IT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING WE OFFER AND YOU CAN SUBMIT THROUGH THAT AND THEN IT GOES STRAIGHT TO US AND TELLS US WHAT DATE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, WHAT PROGRAM YOU WANT.
AND UM, SO WE SEND FEATURES THERE AND WE ALSO REACH OUT TO THOSE TEACHERS ON OUR OWN AS WELL.
I WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT OUTREACH 'CAUSE YOU'RE A SMALL TEAM SO YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY I SAW YOU HAD A COUPLE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ON THERE AS WELL AND YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT EASIER 'CAUSE THEY'RE ONE SCHOOL VERSUS A DISTRICT, BUT UH, AND YEAH, JUST, I'M JUST THRILLED BY YOUR, UM, THE VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING, ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH A SMALL TEAM.
I LOVE THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH D M A AND AND OTHER 'CAUSE THAT'S OTHER INSTITUTIONS 'CAUSE THAT'S BRINGING PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT ORDINARILY COME TO TRACK OUT THERE.
DO YOU ONLY HAVE ONE HOUSEKEEPER AND WHAT'S THE ACREAGE 120.
DO SOME MORE HELP THERE, SHELLY.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE SUPPORTED YOU WITH YOUR FULL BOND AS SO WE REALLY BELIEVE IN YOUR IN IN FRAC AND ITS FUTURE.
AND SO WE WANT BE PART OF, IT'S CONTINUE TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, PART OF
THIS IS A GREAT POSITIVE ROBUST PRESENTATION.
I THINK YOUR NUMBERS ARE LOW FOR 24, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT YEAR.
UH, WELL EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT A BIG FAN I AM OF THE TRINITY RIVER AUDUBON CENTER.
UM, BUT I REALLY DO HAVE TO HAND IT TO SHELLY AND HER TEAM.
AND I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE STAFFING THERE WAS GREATLY REDUCED DURING COVID AND THEY MADE IT THROUGH AND THEY'RE STILL NOT BACK IN.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT ANYWHERE NEAR FULL STAFFING, BUT THEY'RE MAKING IT WORK AND GROWING AND I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW MUCH I THINK WE NEED TO SUPPORT AS A CITY, THIS FACILITY IN EVERY WAY WE CAN.
THEY PROGRAM SO MUCH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR THE KIDS.
AND ONE THING I JUST GOTTA SAY, 'CAUSE I ALWAYS GOTTA TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY WHEN SOMETHING'S ON THE AGENDA, WE NEED A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT GREAT TRINITY FOREST WAY, UH, BECAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS TO TURN LEFT OUT OF THERE.
I MEAN, LIFE THREATENING, DANGEROUS, THERE'S A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE COUNTRY CLUB DOWN THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO A PRIVATE DRIVE, BUT THAT WE CAN'T GET A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT.
GREAT TRINITY FOREST WAY IS A REAL SCARY THING AND A PROBLEM.
SO NOT TO BE BRING IN A NEGATIVE, BUT I BRING IT IN AS A POSITIVE, A HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN GET OUR TRANSPORTATION AND STREETS DEPARTMENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE, UH, NUMBER OF SCHOOL KIDS WHO HAVE TO PULL OUT OF THERE IN A SCHOOL BUS AND MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A BUSY STREET WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR.
SO ON THAT NOTE, UH, JUST SAY, UH, GO FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND GREAT JOB.
AND I HOPE YOU GET EVERY SINGLE PENNY YOU ASK FOR.
MS. MONDELL, ALWAYS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
I'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TO SUPPORT YOU.
UM, AND I THINK THAT YOUR ASKS ARE, ARE WELL DESERVED.
UM, AND IT'S JUST AN AMAZING PLACE.
UM, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN I, WHEN I'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH I DO SUPPORT YOU, LIKE, WELL WHAT IF THEY CHARGED AND, AND WHY?
[00:50:01]
WHAT DOES THAT MAKE? WOULDN'T THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? UM, AND I WOULD SAY NO BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE EXCLUDING A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULDN'T GO, SO YOUR NUMBERS WOULD BE DOWN.CAN YOU JUST ALLUDE TO THAT A LITTLE BIT SO WE HAVE IT OUT THERE THAT UNDERSTAND THAT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR, YOU KNOW, THE MISSIONS TO BE FREE AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR ASK TO BE ORDERED.
SO HAVE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I MEAN, WE MIGHT HAVE TO START CHARGING AGAIN AND IT, IT JUST REALLY IS, IS A TOUGH POSITION TO BE IN BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE THE, WE ARE MAKING FOR A LOT OF THE KIDS AND ADULTS AS WELL.
I MEAN, THIS SUMMER WAS TAUGHT WE WANT TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT CONSERVATION.
WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL WITH THIS.
UM, AND WHERE WE ARE LOCATED IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD IT.
LIKE I SAID, 60% RIGHT NOW ARE FIRST TIMERS AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE BRINGING THEIR FAMILIES, THEY'RE SO EXCITED WHEN THEY HEARD WE WERE FREE.
WE ARE, AS I SAID, ASKING FOR A GRANT TO HELP CONTINUE THAT, TO COVER THOSE.
BUT WE HAVE NOT RAISED OUR PRICES EVER.
UM, I KNOW IT CAN GENERATE SOME REVENUE, BUT WE ALSO LOSE, IT'S, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CAN TAKE THE NUMBER I PRESENTED AND MULTIPLY IT BY, YOU KNOW, THIS MANY PEOPLE WE'RE GONNA, IT'S, I I WOULD SAY A GOOD 20% MIGHT BE GONE BECAUSE OF NO FREE ENTRY.
ALSO, THE DIFFERENCE IS FOR SOME OF OUR, FOR OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS RIGHT NOW, YOU GET AN ALLOTTED NUMBER OF CHAPERONES.
UM, AS THOSE CHAPERONES COME IN.
WE, WE CHARGE ENTRY, NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT WE USUALLY CHARGE FOR ADDITIONAL CHAPERONES BECAUSE SOME, SOMETIMES 20 ADULTS COME BECAUSE THEY JUST WANNA VISIT THE CENTER.
BUT INTERESTINGLY, WELL, I'LL SHARE THE NUMBERS.
SO OUR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM, WE HAVE A LOT OF ROOM TO MOVE ON THAT I THINK IT CAN BRING IN SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WILL HELP WITH THIS.
OUR FIRST LEVEL OF MEMBERSHIPS, WE'RE FREE ENTRY TO THE CENTER.
THOSE WERE HALF OF OUR MEMBERSHIPS.
SO WHEN WE WENT TO FREE ENTRY, THOSE MEMBERSHIPS WENT AWAY 'CAUSE EVERYTHING WAS FREE.
INTERESTINGLY, FISCALLY AND FINANCIALLY, THE NUMBERS ARE THE EXACT SAME AS WHERE WE WERE.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT UP.
I'M LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THAT.
UM, I JUST, I AM NOT, I JUST PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN JUST START CHARGING AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCE.
WE CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND WE WANT TO SHARE NATURE WITH THEM AND SHARE THE STORY OF THAT CENTER.
IT'S HELPING THE CITY OF DALLAS TOO.
LOOK AT THE FEEDBACK YOU'RE GIVING AND I, I DON'T WANNA GIVE THAT UP, BUT IT'S SOMETHING I LOOK AT NUMBERS WISE.
I MEAN, I WAS A CONTROLLER AT A LAW FIRM FOR FIVE YEARS.
I LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, UM, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER POSSIBLY CHARGING IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK THAT, UH, YOU WILL SEE A NEGATIVE IMPACT IF WE DID.
SHELLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PASSION AND THE MAGIC THAT YOU CREATE IN YOUR COMMITMENT.
AND, AND I HOPE THAT ALL YOUR DREAMS FOR THIS PLACE AND EVERYTHING DO COME TO FRUITION AND THAT IT IS OPEN AND AVAILABLE TO, TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS OF DALLAS AND BEYOND.
UM, MS. RICE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? YES.
WELL, UM, I JUST WANNA SPEAK ON A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
UM, I WAS AT THE, AT TRACK RECENT, RECENTLY.
I'M PART OF A, I'M A VOLUNTEER FOR A GROUP CALLED PRIMOS DALLAS, WHICH IS A MENTOR GROUP OF OF PERSONS WHO MENTOR, UM, YOU KNOW, HIGH SCHOOL OR, OR COLLEGE STUDENTS.
AND, UM, SO WE HAD A, YOU KNOW, A PRIMOS AND A A TRACK HAVE PARTNERED, I KNOW THEY'RE ONE OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
AND IT WAS JUST SO AMAZING TO SEE 80 STUDENTS WITH THEIR MENTORS.
AND THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT YOU ALL DO.
UM, SHELLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY.
UM, THE NUMBERS ARE, ARE WONDERFUL AND, AND I LOVE THAT STORY THAT YOU SHARED ABOUT PRAIRIE CREEK LIBRARY, WHICH IS MY COMMUNITY LIBRARY, UM, UH, THAT Y'ALL ARE MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE FOR PERSONS THAT HAVE ISSUES WITH TRANSPORTATION.
SO, UM, AND I JUST LOVE ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND JUST THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING, YOUR COMMITMENT TO LANGUAGE, UM, EQUITY AS WELL.
I NOTICED THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS IN SPANISH AND IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST SUCH AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE, YOU ARE SO ACCESSIBLE TO
[00:55:01]
COMMUNITY.AND TO ME THAT IS WHAT THESE SPACES ARE FOR.
YOU ARE THE EPITOME OF, OF OF WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT A PARK, WHAT, WHAT THESE SPACES SHOULD BE.
AND I LOVE WHAT YOU SAID ALSO ABOUT, ABOUT JAKE, UH, BEING THAT Y'ALL ARE, ARE, ARE UNABLE TO, TO STUMP JAKE.
UM, I, I AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE MY SON AND I WENT ON A BIRDWALK, ONE OF THE BIRD WALKS, AND HE KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT BIRDS.
AND ANY QUESTION WE ASKED HIM OR THAT ANYBODY ASKED HIM, HE KNEW EVERYTHING.
SO JUST SHOUT OUT TO YOU AND, AND YOUR STAFF AND YOUR INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT AND I'M, IT'S ALWAYS JUST SUCH A JOY TO VISIT THAT SPACE AND, AND JUST SEE THE JOY THAT YOU BRING, UH, TO COMMUNITY.
MS. HAS A LITTLE OVER FOUR YEARS, FOUR YEARS.
CONGRATULATIONS YOU THAT, UM, ALSO JUST TO REITERATE WHAT EVERYBODY HAS SAID, LIKE MAKING THE LEAP OF FAITH GOING TO FREE WAS HUGE, BUT I THINK YOU'VE SEEN, UM, THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAD AND HOW YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE WE'RE ALL AFTER HERE DURING THAT EXPERIENCE AS POSSIBLE.
UM, I THINK IT'S JUST INTERESTING FOR ALL OF US TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF YOUR MONEY YOU SPEND ON MAINTENANCE.
UM, 'CAUSE WE STRUGGLE WITH THAT, WITH OUR OWN FACILITIES.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE PRESSURING YOU TO GO OUT AND, YOU KNOW, BE SELF-SUSTAINING.
BUT HERE YOU ARE JUST SPENDING A HUGE CHUNK OF WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING IN JUST TO KEEP YOUR BUILDINGS, WELL ACTUALLY OUR BUILDINGS IN THE SHAPE THAT YOU NEED TO BE.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO STIPEND TIME, WHICH EVERYBODY ALWAYS GETS A LITTLE CRAZY ABOUT, WHY ARE WE SUPPORTING THEM? WHY ARE WE GIVING THEM MONEY? THEY SHOULD BE RAISING THEIR OWN MONEY.
I THINK WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER THAT VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION.
SO MUCH OF YOUR MONEY THAT COULD BE USED FOR PROGRAMMING OR THESE TYPE OF EXHIBITS, UNFORTUNATELY, IS GOING TO THE MAINTENANCE OF YOUR FACILITIES.
I THINK LET'S ALL BE SENSITIVE ABOUT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, OUR STIPENDS.
AND WE ALL, YOU KNOW, I I PREACH ABOUT IT EVERY TIME.
WE NEED TO HAVE MORE MONEY IN OUR BUDGET TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
AND WHEN WE COME TO, YOU KNOW, WE, I THINK WE'VE ALL UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED YOUR BOND ASK.
I THINK YOU'RE COMPETING WITH THE LIKES OF THE PAROLE, YOU SEE AND THE TYPE OF EXHIBIT THAT THEY HAVE.
I'VE BEEN TO YOUR PLACE, I'VE SEEN THEY ARE A LITTLE TIRED NEXT TIME.
SO IF WE WANT TO HAVE THE KIND OF, UM, TRACTION TO GET THE KIND OF VISITORS IN THERE AND, AND TO YOUR POINT TO GRANTS THAT YOU NEED TO HELP CONTINUE TO EXPAND YOUR PROGRAMMING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A, A MORE ATTRACTIVE, UM, EXHIBIT.
WE HOPE YOU GET EVERY BIT OF THAT BOND MONEY, UM, TO DO THAT WORK.
SO AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT.
AND I THINK IF WE COULD KEEP THAT MOVING FORWARD, IT'S JUST SUCH A, IT'S A, IT'S A TOUGH THING TO GET PEOPLE TO GO THERE AND ANY BARRIER OF INJURY THAT YOU HAVE TO GETTING THEM THERE IS AN OBSTACLE.
SO IF WE CAN KEEP IT FREE, UH, UH, ACCESS AS FAR AS TRANSPORTATION, I THINK YOU'LL SEE THE IMPROVEMENT IN, IN THE LONG RUN.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO GO ON THE RECORD AND I THINK MS. HASKIN SAID SPEND MONEY
I KNOW
FIRST OF ALL, PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE THIS GREAT PLACE IS IN DISTRICT EIGHT
I WAS WAITING CHECK WITH SHELLY.
OKAY, THANK LIKE COME ACROSS YOUR MIND.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE ADVOCACY, UH, THE LIAISON, UH, STEVE, COLLEEN, MR. D AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK GOD THAT KEPT NOT CALLING YOU FOR LAWNMOWERS ANYMORE.
YOU MADE THIS PLACE INCLUSIVE FOR EVERYONE.
NOT LIKE THE COUNTRY CLUB DOWN THE STREET WHERE THERE HAS TO BE A CERTAIN GROUP.
AND WHEN WE SAW THIS FACILITY, WE THOUGHT THERE'S GONNA BE KIDS FROM ST.
I'M IN THE CITY, KIDS, SO LIKE GOING TO THE MUSIC HALL, WHEN YOU COME OUT AND SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT BROADEN THE HORIZONS.
AND I, I, I AM SO SUPPORTIVE OF YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE ALWAYS, ALWAYS ON THE GROUND.
[01:00:01]
GOING TO FULFILL YOUR NEEDS BECAUSE THAT PLACE NEEDS TO BE SPRUCE UP.I WISH YOU COULD A DRIVING RANGE OUT THERE.
I WOULD BE LITTLE MORE OFTEN, BUT THANK YOU SURE.
FOR WHAT YOU DO AND, AND I THINK I CAN SPEAK TO THIS WHOLE, YOU APPRECIATE PEOPLE LIKE THANK YOU ALL.
WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN TODAY.
OUR NEXT BRIEFING WILL BE MR. RENEE JOHNSON AND I THINK SHE'S CALLED, NOT CALLED THE PICKLEBALL QUEEN.
IS THAT RIGHT? MR. RENEE JOHNSON.
SHE'S GONNA GIVE US A, UH, UPDATE ON THE PICKLEBALL AND OUTDOOR RECORDS.
IS THAT OUT FOR? OKAY, GOOD MORNING, MS. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UH, WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS OUR FAVORITE SUBJECT AND PARK RECREATION.
IS THAT CORRECT?
UH, SO WITH THAT, UM, PICKLEBALL AND OUTDOOR RECORD, UH, SPORTS
SO TODAY OUR GOAL IS TO, UH, REALLY DISCUSS THE STATUS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH PICKLEBALL TO GET FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL.
UH, OF COURSE A LOT OF YOU HAVE BEEN SO INVOLVED IN THE PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY AND SO IT IS JUST A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH EVERY WEEK
SO TALK ABOUT THE BACKGROUND, KIND OF VISIT, UH, WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, UH, THE INVENTORY, UH, THE MAINTENANCE CRITERIA, WHAT'S, WHAT SITES, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE SHOULD PUT, PICK THEM OFF.
WE'LL LOOK AT SOME COMPARISONS, UH, REGARD IN REGARD TO OTHER CITIES AS WELL AS TRYING TO WORK ON A STRATEGY.