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TO BEGIN.[Dallas Park and Recreation Board on May 21, 2026.]
SO WE NOW CALL THE MAY 21ST CHECK ONE, TWO, CALL THE MAY 21ST, 2026.OUR COURT MEETING ORDER AT 10:01 AM WE HAVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH CORRECT PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
OUR FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER IS, YEP.
I'M GONNA READ THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD.
ONLY ANY SPEAKER WHO MAKES PERSONAL IMP PERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS, OR BECOMES BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE PARK BOARD WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE MEETING.
UM, OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS, UM, MS. HELEN GIDDINGS.
AND IF YOU COULD COME TO THE PODIUM.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PARK BOARD FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I'M GONNA READ RATHER THAN SPEAK, I HAVE THE HONOR OF CHAIRING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM IN 2024.
ONE OF THE CHARGES GIVEN TO ME WAS TO HELP IDENTIFY INAPPROPRIATE AND LASTING WAY TO RECOGNIZE TWO MEN WHOSE VISION, LEADERSHIP, AND PERSISTENCE MADE THE MUSEUM WHAT IT IS TODAY.
DR. ROBINSON FOUNDED THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM IN 1974, THE BASEMENT OF BISHOP COLLEGE.
WHEN BISHOP CLOSED, THE FUTURE OF THE MUSEUM WAS UNCERTAIN RICHARD KNIGHT, THEN SERVING AS AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR DALLAS, UNDERSTOOD THE CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF THE MUSEUM AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAIR PARK.
HE CHAMPIONED LOCATING THE MUSEUM IN FAIR PARK WHERE IT STANDS TODAY.
SIMPLY PUT, WITHOUT DR. HARRY ROBINSON, JR.
THERE WOULD BE NO AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM WITHOUT RICHARD KNIGHT, JR.
IT WOULD NOT BE LOCATED IN FAIR PARK AS ONE OF DALLAS'S MOST IMPORTANT CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.
THIS COMMITTEE SUPPORTING THIS REQUEST INCLUDES MYSELF, JUDGE ERIC MOYE, JAMES ESTES, AND MARVIN DELANEY, INDIVIDUALS WHO DEEPLY UNDERSTAND THE HISTORIC AND CIVIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS RECOMMENDATION.
YOU HAVE THE BIOS BEFORE YOU, SO I WILL SIMPLY CLOSE WITH THIS.
BOTH OF THESE GENTLEMEN DEVOTED THEIR LIVES TO PRESERVING HISTORY, EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY, AND ENRICHING THE CULTURAL LIFE OF DALLAS.
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM IS A TREASURE FOR THIS CITY AND FAR BEYOND IT.
NAMING STREETS IN THEIR HONOR WILL BE A FITTING AND LASTING TRIBUTE TO TWO MEN WHO HELPED SHAPE THE CULTURAL LEGACY OF DALLAS.
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BOBBY ABTAHI.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE PARK BOARD.
UH, UH, I'VE BUGGED YOU ALL ENOUGH OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS ABOUT THE DALLAS ZOO.
SO I'M NOT, NOT ACTUALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ZOO.
I'M HERE TO FOLLOW UP ON REPRESENTATIVE GIDDINGS COMMENTS ON THE FAIR PARK STREET NAMING.
UM, MYSELF AND MY FELLOW STATE FAIR OF TEXAS BOARD MEMBER LOIS FINKELMAN, UH, ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THAT AS WELL.
UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THESE TWO PILLARS OF CIVIC LIFE IN DALLAS ARE RECOGNIZED.
UM, REALLY IF YOU KNEW THOSE MEN, YOU KNEW THEY DIDN'T DO THIS ANYTHING FOR RECOGNITION, THEY DID IT BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND THE PARK DEPARTMENT, BUT JUST STRONG SUPPORT FOR CONTINUING TO RECOGNIZE THOSE CI CIVIC VOLUNTEERS IN OUR CITY THAT HAVE DONE SUCH GREAT THINGS.
THANK YOU, MR. THAT, UH, CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
UH,
UM, WELCOME PLACING SCOTT GOLDSTEIN.
UM, HE WAS, IT WAS ABOUT TIME SCOTT NEEDED, UH, JUST KIDDING.
WE HAVE, UH, MR. JENKINS, DO YOU WANNA, UH, YES.
WE HAVE, UH, TWO RETIREMENT RECOGNITIONS TODAY.
MR. CONNOR, WILL YOU JOIN ME UP FRONT? WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS.
IF I CAN HAVE MS. UH, IT'LL READ VIA, IS SHE, YOU CAN JOIN US RIGHT UP FRONT.
WE HAVE YOU JOIN US IN THE MIDDLE, RIGHT HERE.
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION.SPECIAL RECOGNITION ON APRIL THE 15TH, 2026.
ILINA AT ARABIA, RETIRING FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AFTER 32 YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND DEDICATED SERVICE.
ON MARCH THE 30TH, 1994, IDLING BEGAN HER CAREER WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AS A FULL-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT WITHIN THE WOMEN INFANTS CHILDREN WIC PROGRAM, SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM IN THE OFFICE OF HOUSING COMMUNITY, EMPOWER.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, PROFESSIONALISM, COMPASSION, WHILE SUPPORTING RESIDENTS, STAFF AND DAY DAILY DEPARTMENTAL OPERATION WITH CARE AND EXCELLENCE.
ON MAY THE 14TH, SHE TRANSFERRED TO THE PARK MAINTENANCE OPERATION DIVISION AT THE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT FIVE, DISTRICT FIVE SERVICE CENTER WITHIN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
I WAS ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZED FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST SPANISH SPEAKING EMPLOYEES AND RESIDENTS BY HELPING TRANSLATE INFORMATION, EXPLAIN PROCESSES, AND ENSURE INDIVIDUAL RECEIVED THE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT THEY NEEDED.
HER KINDNESS, RELIABILITY, AND DEDICATED, CREATE A LASTING IMPACT ON THOSE.
SHE SERVED AND WORKED ALONGSIDE MR. REVIEW'S COMMITMENT TO TEAMWORK SERVICE.
AND THE CITY OF DALLAS LEADS BEHIND A LEGACY OF PROFESSIONALISM, COMPASSION, SUPPORT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE APPRECIATED BY HER COLLEAGUES, RESIDENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME.
AND THEREFORE, I JOHN D. JENKINS DIRECT ON BEHALF OF THE DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, DO HERE BACK STAND SPECIAL RECOGNITION SIGN, ARUN NAGARRO, PARK AND RECREATION BOARD CHAIR, AND JOHN D. JENKINS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
WHEN WE KNOW AFTER 32 YEARS OF SERVICE, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE COME BACK, YOU GOTTA HAVE YOUR OWN MS. A ADELINA WAY.
UH, ANY WORDS? WE, UM, I IT WAS AN AMAZING, UM, 32 YEARS, AND IF I WOULD HA IF I WOULD DO IT AGAIN.
AND, UH, THE LAST 23 MONTHS WERE AMAZING.
I REALLY ENJOYED THAT I WAS ABLE TO TRANSITION TO PARK AND REC.
NOW I'M FEELING OLD WITH THIS NEXT PERSON COMING UP, I'M GONNA TELL YOU.
'CAUSE I WORKED WITH HIS FATHER FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND NOW THIS PERSON IS RETURNED.
I DON'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO BRING HIM UP.
WE, WE MAY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE HIM AT THE YEAH, WE CAN, WE'LL COME BACK TO HIM.
UM, UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR MAY 7TH, 2026.
MS. MONDELL, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, AYES HAVE IT.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, A WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION PRESENTATION.
LET'S DO THAT FIRST ACTUALLY FROM ELISA NEW, WHO'S THE CEO OF THE DALLAS ZOO.
UH, LET'S DO THAT AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO THE, UH, CONSENT ITEMS. THANK YOU AND WELCOME EVERYONE TO DALLAS ZOO, YOUR DALLAS ZOO.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR WALK IN AND SAW ALL OF OUR STAFF GETTING READY FOR A BUSY, UH, SCHOOL GROUP.
UM, WE ARE ALWAYS SO HAPPY TO HOST YOU.
AND I BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE MY THIRD TIME, UH, TO WELCOME YOU TO THE ZOO.
UM, I DO WANNA CALL YOUR ATTENTION, UM, AT YOUR DESK, OUR, UM, IS A HANDOUT A LEAVE BEHIND FOR YOU, UM, ABOUT
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OUR SHARED STORY, OUR SHARED HISTORY, UM, JUST FOR YOU TO LOOK AND TAKE WITH YOU.UM, I KNOW THESE THINGS ARE ALL THINGS YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, BUT WE JUST WANT TO BE SURE, UM, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP.
AND I WANNA START WITH A VIDEO, UH, TO JUST SHOW YOU WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AROUND HERE, UM, THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
EVERY HEARTBEAT, EVERY BREATH, EVERY TRIUMPHANT STEP FORWARD AT YOUR DALLAS ZOO.
EACH ONE IS A PROMISE KEPT TO LIVE UP TO OUR VISION OF CREATING A BETTER WORLD FOR ANIMALS.
AND THIS YEAR, YOUR SUPPORT NOT ONLY HELPED CREATE THAT BETTER WORLD, BUT ALLOWED US TO DELIVER ON THAT PROMISE IN AMAZING WAYS.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE WELCOMED THREE CHIMPANZEE INFANTS, ENT, SIERRA, AND MAKUTU.
EACH BIRTH WAS A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE, BUT
OUR ANIMAL CARE TEAM STEPPED IN TO FOSTER HIM 24 7, FEEDING HIM THROUGH THE NIGHT, HELPING HIM GROW STRONG, TEACHING HIM HOW TO BE A CHIMPANZEE.
AND THEN SIX MONTHS LATER CAME THE MOMENT WE HAD ALL HOPED FOR MAKUTU AND JB STEPPING ONTO HABITAT TOGETHER, REUNITED AS FAMILY AND EMBRACED BY THE TROOP WINTON DODGY.
OUR 10,000 POUND AFRICAN BULL ELEPHANT SUFFERED A SEVERE TUSK FRACTURE.
MORE THAN 50 EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAME TOGETHER ALONGSIDE OUR TEAM TO SAVE JI'S TUSK.
TODAY, JI IS BACK TO ROAMING THE GREG HUDSON GIANTS OF THE SAVANNAH HABITAT, AND THRIVING, FOLLOWING THE COMPASSION AND CARE HE RECEIVED FROM THE MIGHTIEST OF ELEPHANTS TO THE TINIEST OF HOUSTON TOADS.
OUR COMMITMENT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND OUR GATES.
OVER 144,000 HOUSTON TOAD EGGS AND TADPOLES INTO THE WILD, GIVING HOPE TO ONE OF TEXAS'S ENDANGERED NATIVE SPECIES.
AND ACROSS THE ZOO, LIFE FLOURISHED.
ALREADY IN 2026, WE HAVE WELCOMED LITTLE ONES AMONG SOME OF OUR MOST CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES, ALONG WITH OTHER BABIES THAT ARE BRINGING SMILES TO GUEST FACES.
WE ARE COMING OFF ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF DALLAS ZOO LIGHTS PRESENTED BY RELIANT.
AND WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING FOR THIS YEAR'S EVENT, OUR 10TH YEAR OF THIS ANNUAL HOLIDAY TRADITION BACK FOR ITS SECOND SEASON.
I SPY BUTTERFLIES IS ONCE AGAIN FILLING OUR REIMAGINED WILD FLOWER RIDGE WITH FLUTTERING WINGS AND VIBRANT BLOOMS, GIVING GUESTS THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE DELICATE MAGIC OF BUTTERFLIES UP CLOSE.
AND THAT CONNECTION CARRIES THROUGH EVERY VISIT.
SPRING BREAK BROUGHT BIG CROWDS THROUGH OUR GATES THIS YEAR, FILLING THE ZOO WITH GUESTS FROM NEAR AND FAR ALONG THE WAY, CURIOUS MINDS WERE GROWING TOO.
MORE THAN 130,000 STUDENTS CONNECTED WITH WILDLIFE THROUGH FIELD TRIPS, CAMPS, HOMESCHOOL PROGRAMS, SENSORY FRIENDLY EXPERIENCES, AND HANDS-ON EDUCATION PROGRAMS, ALL DESIGNED TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF WHAT'S AHEAD.
OUR NEW PARKING GARAGE IS NOW OPEN, MAKING VISITS EASIER AND MORE WELCOMING THAN EVER.
OUR BRAND NEW LANTERN FESTIVAL, ILLUMINA, IS BRINGING A WHOLE NEW GLOW TO THE ZOO AFTER DARK.
AND THIS SUMMER, AS THE WORLD CUP BRINGS VISITORS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE TO DALLAS, YOUR ZOO IS READY TO WELCOME THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR SOCCER THEMED AREA THAT ADDS EVEN MORE EXCITEMENT TO EVERY VISIT.
AND LATE THIS YEAR, GUESTS WILL SEE PROGRESS FIRSTHAND DURING THEIR VISIT.
AS WE EMBARK ON THE FIRST PHASE OF OUR SAFARI TRAIL PROJECT, WE WILL BREAK GROUND ON AFRICAN SHORELINES THIS FALL.
EVERY SUCCESS, EVERY LIFE HERE, AND EVERY CONSERVATION MILESTONE BEGINS WITH YOU, YOUR YEAR-ROUND SUPPORT GIVES MAKUTU A FUTURE, HELPS 10 DODGY RECOVER AND SENDS HOUSTON TOADS BACK INTO THE WILD.
EVERY FAMILY THAT FINDS WONDER HERE, EVERY CHILD WHOSE EYES LIGHT UP WITH DISCOVERY DURING THEIR VISIT, AND EVERY FRIEND OF THE ZOO WHO LEAVES INSPIRED TO PROTECT WILDLIFE, IT ALL BEGINS WITH YOU.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON.
UM, AND ALL OF THAT IS, UM, IS A, A PARTNERSHIP AND A RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH YOU IS WHAT MAKES THAT POSSIBLE.
UM, I DO WANNA SPEND JUST, UM, IF I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF LAURA AND THE SECOND TIME TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS YEAR, UH, JUST TO QUICKLY REMIND YOU, UM, OF THE VALUE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP
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AND, UM, AND WHY WE FEEL IT'S SO CRITICAL AS WE CONTINUE TO, TO GROW AND PROSPER FOR SOUTHERN DALLAS.SO, JUST A REMINDER THAT, UH, THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP IS A, IS LONG STANDING AND EMBEDDED, UM, IN, WE ARE EMBEDDED IN THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UM, WE PRIVATIZED IN 2009 AND AT THAT TIME, SAVED THE CITY $6 MILLION DURING A BUDGET SHORTFALL.
UM, THE ZOO OPERATES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO DELIVER MISSION-DRIVEN BENEFITS FOR ALL OF, UM, ALL OF OUR VISITORS.
WE ARE A 5 0 1 C3, UM, AND PROUD OF, UM, OF THE STEWARDSHIP THAT WE GIVE THE PARK.
AGAIN, WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN ALL CATEGORIES SINCE WE PRIVATIZED.
OUR ANNUAL ATTENDANCE HAS INCREASED BY 51% OPERATIONAL REVENUES BY 135% TOTAL EMPLOYEES BY 90%, AND SCHOOL AND CAMP PROGRAMS BY 106%.
IT IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT HAS PAID OFF AND IS AN INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY.
I THINK I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE, UH, JUST COMMISSIONED AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY.
AND THAT STUDY SHOWS THAT EVERY, UM, SHOWS THAT VISITOR SPENDING, JOB CREATION AND TAX REVENUES GENERATED WELL BEYOND THE ZOOS GATES.
FOR EVERY $1 THAT THE CITY INVESTS IN THE ZOO, UM, THERE'S A $18 RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT.
AND LOOKING AT THAT, THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT IS $268 MILLION, UM, ON AN ANNUAL AVERAGE WITH 1800 JOBS SUPPORTED AND GENERATING 12.5 MILLION, UH, A YEAR IN ANNUAL, UM, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.
AND WE'RE A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE PARTNER.
WE HAVE A STRONG HISTORY OF STEWARDSHIP OF OUR PUBLIC FUNDS AND CITY ASSETS.
OUR MANAGEMENT SERVICE FEE FROM THE CITY PROVIDES SPECIALIZED OPERATIONS, EXPERTISE, COMPLIANCE, AND ACCESSIBILITY, JUST LIKE OUR VIDEO SHOWED YOU THAT ALLOWS YOU TO CARE US TO CARE FOR MORE THAN 2000 ANIMALS.
TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL VETERINARY, NUTRITIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT.
WE MANAGE 111 ACRES ACROSS THE ZOO CAMPUS.
AND OUR, UM, OUR WHOOPING CRANE CONSERVATION CENTER AT SAMUEL FARM, WE SUPPORT, UM, WE PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR FREE AND DISCOUNTED ADMISSION FOR PUBLIC AND SCHOOLS.
UM, AND THE ZOO INVESTS ITS EARNED REVENUE BACK INTO MAINTENANCE AND ASSETS HERE FOR THE CITY, SO THAT BOND FUNDING CAN BE RESERVED FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL CAPITAL PROJECTS AND GROWTH.
THIS SLIDE'S AN IMPORTANT ONE BECAUSE IT SHOWS A LOOK AT THE HISTORY AND FUTURE PROJECTIONS WITH THE, UM, CONSTRUCTION AND CAPITAL FUNDS THAT PLANS THAT WE HAVE UNDERWAY.
THAT SHOWS A DECREASING RELIANCE ON THE MANAGEMENT SERVICE FEE AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR REVENUES OVER TIME.
OUR BUSINESS, UH, FEASIBILITY STUDY OF OUR CAPITAL PROGRAMS HAVE SHOWN ATTENDANCE GROWTH, OUR PROVEN RECORD OF REVENUE GROWTH THAT WILL INCREASE OR DECREASE RELIANCE ON OUR STI UH, MANAGEMENT SERVICE FEE OVER TIME.
WE'RE A CENTER POINT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AS AN ANCHOR FOR PLACEMAKING AND REVITALIZATION IN SOUTHERN DALLAS, WE'RE CREATING A DISTRICT CENTERED AROUND THE ZOO WHERE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN SEE THEMSELVES AT THE ZOO.
UH, WE'RE SO EXCITED THAT THIS YEAR, IN LATE DECEMBER, WE LAUNCHED A ZOO FOR ALL DISCOUNT MEMBERSHIP, UM, FOR PARTICIPANTS OF SNAP AND WIC THAT HAS WELL OVER 2,400, UH, HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE JOINED.
UM, AND, UH, AND 77% OF THEM HAVE NEVER ATTENDED THE ZOO BEFORE.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY ATTRACTING A NEW AUDIENCE FOR US.
WE OFFER TITLE ONE FIELD TRIP DISCOUNTS, FREE BUS PARKING.
WE'RE THE SECOND LARGEST EMPLOYER IN OAK CLIFF WITH 35% OF OUR EMPLOYEES LIVING IN OAK CLIFF.
OUR NEW PARKING GARAGE IS OUR FIRST IN A SET OF NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENTS, ENHANCEMENTS THAT IMPROVE WALKABILITY AND CONNECTIVITY.
WE ARE ALREADY SEEING INCREASED TRAFFIC FROM OUR NEIGHBORS.
UM, AT HALPER PARK, WE HAVE A SHARED GOAL OF INCREASING ATTENDANCE AND DRIVING REVENUE GROWTH TO BENEFIT CITY REVENUES IN THE DALLAS ZOO.
THE NEXT FEW SLIDES WILL SHOW YOU THOSE TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS IN THE WORKS THAT
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WILL HELP US DO THAT.SO YOU ALL HAVE HEARD A LOT I HOPE ABOUT SAFARI TRAIL, UM, WHICH IS WHAT THE CITY BOND PROJECT HELPS SUPPORT.
IN ADDITION TO OUR PRIVATE FUNDRAISING AND PHILANTHROPY, ALL OF THE CIRCLES THAT YOU SEE SHOW OPENINGS PROJECTED OVER THE YEARS, UM, FROM 2028, WE BREAK GROUND THIS SUMMER, UM, AND OPENINGS THROUGH 2030 AGAIN TO HELP DRIVE REVENUE, GROWTH, ATTENDANCE, AND NEW REASONS TO COME AND VISIT DALLAS ZOO.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE PARKING GARAGE.
UM, AGAIN, WE ARE VERY PROUD, UM, TO HAVE THAT ASSET.
IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST, UM, CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE HERE IS PARKING.
UM, AND THEN THE IMAGES THAT YOU SEE TO THE RIGHT OF THAT IS OUR NEW SAVANNAH ENTRANCE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE RIGHT BEHIND THE SAVANNAH PARKING AND PROVIDE A NEW ENTRANCE, UM, JUST BEHIND THE WILDS OF THE SAVANNA.
SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT'S UNDERWAY NOW.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT OPENING, UH, LATER THIS YEAR.
AND THEN THIS FALL, AS THE VIDEO ALSO HIGHLIGHTED, WE WILL BE BREAKING GROUND ON THE FIRST OF THOSE TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS.
AFRICAN SHORELINES WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST, UM, PENGUIN EXHIBITS IN THE NATION, UH, IMMERSIVE.
WE CAN WALK IN AND SEE THEM SWIMMING, DIVING, UM, AND SEE THEM WITH NO BARRIERS.
UM, AND THEN A FREE FLIGHTED FLAMINGO EXHIBIT COUPLED WITH A NEW RESTAURANT AND CAFE AND EVENT VENUE CENTER.
SO THAT WILL BREAK GROUND, UH, THIS FALL WITH A OPENING PROJECTED IN 2028.
BEHIND THAT IS, UM, ONE THAT WE ARE INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT.
WE'RE CALLING WILD GRASSLANDS.
UM, ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE BRINGING BACK ON ABOUT 10 ACRES OF PARKLAND THAT WENT OFFLINE WHEN THE MONORAIL CLOSED IN 2020.
UM, THE WILD GRASSLANDS WILL FEATURE RHINOS AND CHEETAH LIVING TOGETHER, UM, IN, UH, JUST AS WE HAVE IN THE WILDS OF THE SAVANNAH, A LARGE IMMERSIVE, UH, WALKTHROUGH AVIARY SPACE AS WELL.
AND THEN FINALLY, OPPI FOREST.
UH, WE ARE A WORLD LEADER IN THE BREEDING AND CONSERVATION OF OPPI.
UM, BUT THIS FINAL HABITAT WILL BE AN INCREDIBLY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH PRIMATES AND MONKEYS OVERHEAD OF YOU.
AND, UM, UH, INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT WHERE THEY'LL COPY WILL LIVE, UM, WITH THE PRIMATES AND EDUCATION TREE HOUSE CLASSROOM THAT'LL OFFER CONDITION, SPACE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVENTS AS WELL AS EDUCATION INITIATIVES.
UM, AND ALL OF THESE, AGAIN, IN A SERIES OF OPENINGS PROJECTED ACROSS THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO DRIVE ATTENDANCE TO WHAT WE ARE HOPING AROUND 1.3 MILLION VISITORS IS WHAT OUR FEASIBILITY STUDIES SHOW, UM, CONTINUED EXCITEMENT, GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR THE ZOO.
I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS.
I HOPE YOU'VE SEEN THE BEAUTIFUL LANTERNS, UH, FROM OUR ILLUMINA, UM, EVENT THAT IS HAPPENING AND RUNNING, UH, THROUGH THE END OF JUNE.
UM, WE HAVE A SOCCER, UH, BLOCK PARTY THAT'S HAPPENING WITH HALPER AND PARK ON JUNE 21ST.
SO A LOT OF ACTIVATIONS, UM, AND ATTENTION HERE AT THE ZOO.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE PARK BOARD AND THE PARK DEPARTMENT AND THE GREAT RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE.
WE, UH, WE HAVE, UM, NO, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE.
THIS ISN'T, WE'RE NOT TAKING QUESTIONS, RIGHT.
OF OUR SECOND RECOGNITION NOW FROM MR. JENKINS.
HEY, IF I CAN HIRE MR. MENDOZA, JOIN US UP HERE.
HOW ARE YOU, SIR? I'M DOING GOOD.
I'LL TELL YOU, IT, IT IS GREAT TO SEE THAT WE HAVE A SECOND GENERATION THAT'S RETURNED FROM, FROM THE PARK SYSTEM.
AND, UH, I THINK CURRENTLY, I THINK I HAVE SOMEONE WORKING RIGHT NOW WHERE WE GOT THREE GENERATIONS ACTUALLY WORKING FOR US RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UH, IT IS JUST, IT'S JUST GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I WAS JUST TELLING BEFORE YOU GOT HERE, I USED TO WORK WITH YOUR FATHER
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MANY YEARS, AND NOW HERE I AM CELEBRATING YOUR RETIREMENT.SO SPECIAL RECOGNITION ON MAY THE 12TH, 2026, RUBY MENDOZA JR.
RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AFTER 27 YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED AND DEDICATED SERVICE.
IN 1997, RUBEN BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AS A THERAPEUTIC RECREATION ASSISTANT AT BACHMAN RECREATION CENTER.
IN 2002, HE WAS PROMOTED AS A RECREATION CENTER PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT ANITA N MARTINEZ RECREATION CENTER, WHERE HE CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE HIS COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING AND SERVICE EXCELLENCE.
IN 2005, HE WAS PROMOTED TO YOUTH SERVICES SUPERVISOR.
IN 2006, HE WAS PROMOTED TO RECREATION SUPERVISOR AT REC AT RIVERON RECREATION CENTER, WHERE HE CONTINUES SUPPORTING RECREATION PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT.
IN 2014, MR. MENDOZA WAS PROMOTED TO RECREATION AREA SUPERVISOR OVERSEEING ARCADIA PARK RECREATION CENTER, JC ZARAGOZA RECREATION CENTER.
HAS SERVED AS A VALUE COLLEAGUE, RECREATION PROFESSIONAL MENTOR AND ADVOCATE WHO WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS COMPASSION LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE TO THE CITY OF DALLAS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I JOHN D. JENKINS, DIRECTOR ON BEHALF OF THE DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DO HEREBY EXTEND A SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO RUEN MENDOZA JR.
SIGNED BY ARUN AGARRO PARK RECREATION BOARD PRESIDENT AND JOHN D. JENKINS PARK DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
AND WE HAVE ONE MORE PRESENTATION FOR AFTER, AFTER 27 YEARS SERVICE.
WE CAN'T LET YOU GO AWAY WITHOUT HAVING YOUR OWN STREET CALLED RUBEN MENDOZA WAY.
I'LL KEEP IT SIMPLE AND QUICK, GUYS, THANK YOU, UH, VERY MUCH.
I WAS ON RETIREE TIME, SO YEAH, IF I WAS STILL BEING PAID BY PARK DEPARTMENT, I'VE SHOWED UP ON TIME.
I'D HAVE SHOWED UP AHEAD OF TIME.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UH, SERVING THE, UH, IMMUNITY, SERVING THE CITIZENS, UH, GETTING TO KNOW SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE AND JUST BEING A PART OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS REALLY CHANGED MY LIFE, CHANGED A LOT OF LIVES.
AND YEAH, THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY.
I'M GONNA GO PUT THIS UP ON MY STREET,
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE, UH, MOTION APPROVE MINUTES.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR CONSENT.
UH, KEITH PARK AND CAMPBELL GREEN RECREATION CENTER.
MS. MONDE, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
NUMBER THREE, URBANDALE MURAL APPLICATION.
I DO HAVE A MOTION, UM, MR. MCGAHN SECOND MR. WOOD, ANY DISCUSSION? NUMBER THREE.
AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
NUMBER FOUR, FAIR PARK STREET RENAMING FOR DR. HARRY ROBINSON, JR.
SECOND MS. MANDELL, ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
NUMBER FIVE, UH, FAIR PARK STREET RENAMING RICHARD KNIGHT JR.
MR. MCGANN, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, OH, EXCUSE ME.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
JOEY ZARAGOSA PARK, UH, A PUBLIC HEARING? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MR. ERTA? OH, SORRY.
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MR. MADANO IS RECUSING HIMSELF FOR THE NEXT COUPLE ITEMS. APOLOGIES, MR. MEDRANO.ALRIGHT, NUMBER SIX, START OVER.
GUA PARK PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE.
UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION HERE, MR. ERTA? A SECOND? MS. MONDELL, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT.
ANY OPPOSED? NUMBER TWO, WHICH SHOULD BE NUMBER SEVEN, JOEY ZARAGOSA PARK, THE ENCORE EASEMENT.
UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION HERE, MR. ERTA? SECOND.
MR. WOOD, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT LAST.
MR. WOOD, UH, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT.
WE CAN BRING MR. UH, MADANO BACK.
LET, LET, BY THE WAY, I THINK THAT WAS THE MOST EFFICIENT VOTING AGENDA WE'VE EVER HAD.
WE DON'T NEED ARUN, THESE MEETINGS WITH SAM ON POINT TODAY.
UM, UH, NUMBER NINE, WE HAVE TWO BRIEFING ITEMS, UH, CREATING A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE EXCUSE, FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE PARK SYSTEM.
UH, AND THIS IS GONNA BE MR. RYAN O'CONNOR.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UM, ROBIN WILL BE GIVING THE PRESENTATION, BUT I WANTED TO DO A QUICK INTRODUCTION.
SO, AS Y'ALL KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN, UH, AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING IDEAS FOR NEW REVENUE GENERATION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE ABOUT TO, UH, HEAR THE NEXT PRESENTATION RELATED TO THE BUDGET, WE KNOW THAT THIS DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES FROM A GENERAL FUND PERSPECTIVE.
SO IT'S REALLY AN OBLIGATION ON OUR PART AS A STAFF TO BRING FORWARD IDEAS TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THAT CAN HELP US CONTINUE TO GROW AS A PARK SYSTEM WHILE LESSENING OUR RELIANCE ON THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S REALLY THE FUTURE OF THIS PARK SYSTEM.
THE IDEA THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU TODAY, UM, PERHAPS WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD'VE CONSIDERED A DECADE AGO, OR TWO DECADES AGO, BUT WE FIND OURSELVES IN A PLACE NOW WHERE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SHARE THESE IDEAS WITH THE BOARD TO GET FEEDBACK AND INPUT ONTO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE RIGHT TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY TO BE PURSUING.
IT'S A, A VERY MEANINGFUL AMOUNT OF FUNDING.
AND SO, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO VET THESE IDEAS AND BRING FORWARD THESE IDEAS, UM, FOR Y'ALL TO FURTHER CONSIDER.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT OFF TO ROBIN, GO THROUGH THE SLIDE DECK AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
UM, ROBIN SCHNEIDER IN THE PARTNERSHIPS IN REVENUE DIVISION.
WE'RE GONNA GO OVER THE BACKGROUND AND HISTORY, THE PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION, WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY IS, AND OUR NEXT STEPS.
SO WE, PRIOR TO JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE EXPERIENCED A REALLY STRONG DECADE OF STEADY BUDGET GROWTH.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND A LOT OF OUR PARK SERVICES, BUT NOW WE SEE OURSELVES MOVING INTO A TIME WHEN WE'RE SEEING, UH, FLATTER BUDGETS AND BUDGET REDUCTIONS, EVEN THOUGH INFLATION AND THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS CONTINUES TO RISE.
SO, IN RESPONSE, WE ARE LOOKING, UM, AT ALL SOURCES OF REVENUE AND EXPLORING OPTIONS TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT REDUCTION IN THE GENERAL FUND, UM, APPROPRIATIONS AND TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE ON A GROWTH TRAJECTORY.
AND THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR, UH, DEPARTMENT'S, UH, PRIORITY OF OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE.
SO YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE TREND OF OUR FUNDING OVER THE YEARS.
UH, WE'RE, UH, FACING OUR SECOND, AND THEN POTENTIALLY MOVING INTO OUR THIRD YEAR OF BUDGET REDUCTIONS AFTER A PERIOD OF VERY, VERY STRONG GROWTH.
SO YOU CAN SEE ON THE CHART, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A 8%, 11%, 9% INCREASE.
THEN SLOWLY WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE DECREASES INCREASE.
AND THE RED SECTION ON, UH, THE SLIDE, UH, REPRESENTS THE ADDITIONAL $13 MILLION THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS BEING REQUESTED TO CUT FROM HIS BUDGET OR FROM ITS BUDGET.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT OUR FUNDING IS AND WHAT WE ARE USED TO ON THAT, UH, GROWTH PATTERN, UH, WITH INFLATION, UM, AND THE COST OF BUSINESS, UH, YOU CAN SEE THAT GAP IS GETTING LARGER.
SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS, UH, THIS IS A SECOND IN A SERIES OF BRIEFINGS.
[00:35:01]
UH, BRIEFED YOU ON THE NON-TRADITIONAL USE OPPORTUNITIES TODAY.OUR TOPIC IS ON ADVERTISING AND SIGNAGE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A FEW OTHER, UH, OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL BE QUEUED UP, CONCESSION OPPORTUNITIES, PRICING STRATEGIES, LOOKING AT GOVERNANCE, UM, AND REVENUE MODELS, AS WELL AS OTHER IDEAS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO EMERGE THAT WE WILL EXPLORE AND BRING BEFORE YOU.
SO THE ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES, SIGNAGE, UM, JUST TO KIND OF, UH, GIVE YOU THE, THE BACKGROUND ON HOW, ON HOW THE SIGNAGE IS CLASSIFIED, THERE'S PREMISE SIGNAGE, WHICH IS A SIGN THAT'S RELATED TO THE BUSINESS THAT IT'S ON.
SO, LIKE CANE'S CHICKEN IS ALLOWED TO HAVE A CANE'S SIGN.
ADVERTISING ITS BUSINESS NON-PREMISE SIGNAGE, OR SIGNAGE IS SIGNAGE THAT DOES NOT RELATE TO THE BUSINESS, UH, WHERE IT IS LOCATED.
AND THESE ARE USED FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES.
SO WE ARE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT NON-PREMISE SIGNAGE TODAY.
AND, UM, THERE ARE CITY AND STATE REGULATIONS THAT, UH, GOVERN NON-PREMISE SIGNAGE, AND WE'LL DIVE INTO THOSE DEEPER, UH, ONCE WE RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD ON WHETHER THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY YOU WISHES TO PURSUE.
SO THE SIGNAGE STRUCTURES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, FOR THIS WOULD BE CUSTOM ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS FOR EACH LOCATION.
WE'RE NOT, UH, CONTEMPLATING YOUR TRADITIONAL LOOKING BILLBOARD OR WITH JUST A SIGN ON A POST.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT WOULD COMPLEMENT THE PARKS CHARACTER AND COULD INTEGRATE ELEMENTS INTO THE PARK, SUCH AS SHADE OR SEATING, OR CONVERSELY COULD BE SCREENED TO BLEND IN.
SO, UH, YOU DON'T REALLY SEE MUCH OF THEM AT ALL.
UH, THESE WOULD BE LOCATED NEAR THE EDGES OF PARKS AWAY FROM THE CORE EXPERIENCE AREAS.
UH, THEY WOULD BE DESIGNED TO BE VISIBLE PRIMARILY FROM THE ROADWAYS, UH, THAT SURROUND THE PARK AREAS AND TO HAVE MINIMAL ADVERTISING VISIBILITY FROM WITHIN THE PARK.
AND THESE NEXT FEW SLIDES WE'LL RUN THROUGH PRETTY QUICKLY.
THESE ARE DESIGN EXAMPLES OF ACTUAL SIGNS IN PLACE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SOME THAT ARE CONCEPTUAL.
THIS ONE IS IN, UH, WEST HOLLYWOOD.
THIS NEXT ONE IS IN WEST LONDON.
AGAIN, THIS NEXT ONE'S WEST HOLLYWOOD SUNSET STRIP.
THEY'VE DONE A SERIES OF, UM, KIND OF ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT, OR, YOU KNOW, CREATIVELY DESIGNED, UH, BILLBOARDS IN CALIFORNIA.
THE NEXT ONE'S ALSO IN CALIFORNIA.
AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS ONE KIND OF, UH, INVOLVES KIND OF SOME OF THAT SEEDING SHADE, UH, ELEMENT TO IT.
UH, THE NEXT SLIDE IS FROM MIAMI.
UH, THE NEXT ONE IS ALSO MIAMI.
AND THEN THIS NEXT ONE IS MORE STREET LEVEL.
UH, THIS IS CHICAGO AND CALIFORNIA.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN, UM, THAT'S COME OUT OF ASIA.
AND WHILE THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY A SIGNAGE, THIS ILLUSTRATES THE CREATIVE WAYS THAT STRUCTURES CAN BE DISGUISED TO TRY TO BLEND INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.
THESE ARE ACTUALLY CLEVERLY DESIGNED CELL CELL PHONE TOWERS.
SO THE ONE ON THE THIS ONE, ONE IS STANDS ALONE.
AND THEN THE ONE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE FAR RIGHT ONE IS A CELL TOWER.
SO THE WAY THEY HAVE BLENDED THAT IN TO NOT BE, UM, AS, UH, VISUALLY STANDING OUT AS NOT PART OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
UM, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL KINDS OF WAYS, UH, THAT WE COULD DISGUISE THE SIGNAGE OR HAVE IT COMPLIMENT THE AREA THAT IT'S IN.
AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE SOME LARGE FORMAT SIGNAGE, UH, FACING PUBLIC SPACES IN DALLAS ALREADY.
SO, VICTORY PLAZA, UH, WITH THE SIGNAGE THAT'S USED FOR ADVERTISING AND ALSO, UH, DURING EVENT ACTIVATIONS AND THE NEWEST SIGN THAT'S BEEN ERECTED AT HALBURN PARK.
SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS FIRST, THIS IS NOT ONE OF OUR PARKS.
THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE SITE PLAN, UM, KIND OF ILLUSTRATING WHERE WE WOULD TYPICALLY WANT TO LOCATE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WITHIN A PARK.
IT WOULD BE AT THE FAR EDGES OF THE PARK, UM, ON THE PERIMETER AND BE OUTWARD FACING.
SO THE REVENUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT, THIS COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY FROM OUR PRELIMINARY RESEARCH.
UH, THE DEPARTMENT COULD SEE A SIX TO SEVEN FIGURE SIGNING BONUS.
SEVEN TO 10, UM, SELECTED LOCATIONS COULD GENERATE, UM, UP TO $10 MILLION PER YEAR, UH, BRINGING IN 300 MILLION OVER A 30 YEAR TERM.
[00:40:01]
UM, AND WE WOULD PROPOSE, UM, WE WOULD PROPOSE DEDICATING, UM, A PERCENTAGE OF THAT REVENUE TOWARDS A PARK ENDOWMENT.UM, ASIDE FROM THE REVENUE BENEFITS, UH, WE WOULD HAVE THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF THE CITY MESSAGING AND EVENT PROMOTION, UM, AS WELL AS EMERGENCY ALERTS, UM, WAY FINDING OPPORTUNITIES AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SECURITY CAMERA AND WIFI INTEGRATIONS INTO THE STRUCTURES.
SO THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE, UH, WE ARE CONSIDERING THIS AS A, IT WOULD BE POTENTIALLY A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH LOCATIONS APPROVED BY THE CITY AND CITY OVERSIGHT OF THE PROGRAM.
THE SIGNAGE WOULD HAVE A DESIGN FIRST APPROACH, UH, MAKING IT EITHER ARCHITECTURALLY INTERESTING OR BLENDING IT INTO THE CHARACTER OR THE PARK.
AND AGAIN, ADDING, POTENTIALLY ADDING ELEMENTS TO THE PARK, SUCH AS SHADE AND SEATING.
SO OUR NEXT STEPS IS TO GATHER YOUR FEEDBACK.
UM, LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY.
UM, DEPENDING ON THAT FEEDBACK, WE WOULD IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND BEGIN IDENTIFYING LOCATIONS, UM, EXPLORING ANY CODE RESTRICTIONS, EITHER STATE OR LOCAL, UM, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THAT MIGHT POTENTIALLY BE REQUIRED.
AS WELL AS LOOKING AT ANY OF, UH, THE CITY'S CURRENT CONTRACTS, UM, WITH OTHER ADVERTISING, UH, COMPANIES TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T CONFLICT WITH THOSE.
UH, THEN WE WOULD DEVELOP SOME DESIGN CONCEPTS AND PRESENT A PROPOSAL TO YOU.
SO THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF THE PRESENTATION, AND WE ARE ANXIOUS TO HEAR WHAT YOUR FEEDBACK IS AND SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS YOU.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT, UH, MR. CONNOR AND WHAT MS. STEIN SNYDER SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BRIEFING.
THESE ARE MANY REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ARE RESEARCHING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SEEING WHAT OTHER PARK SYSTEMS ARE DOING, AND BRINGING THOSE IDEAS BACK TO THE BOARD AND SEE IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE US TO PURSUE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FURTHER.
SO WE, AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS.
SORRY, THREE QUICK QUESTIONS REAL QUICK.
BEFORE I, WHEN WOULD, HOW, HOW LONG WOULD THIS PROCESS TAKE TO, TO SET UP? WHEN, WHEN WOULD WE ACTUALLY START SEEING REVENUE POINTS? MY, MY ANTICIPATION WOULD BE 'CAUSE WE NEED TO RUN ALL THE TRAPS ON THE CODE AND THE, ANY REGULATIONS, IF THERE'S A, IF ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, THAT PROCESS IN ITSELF IS PROBABLY NINE MONTHS TO A YEAR.
UM, AND THEN CONCURRENTLY WE COULD BE WORKING ON THE PROCUREMENT SIDE OF THAT.
UM, BUT I WOULD SAY WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT A YEAR OUT TO 18 MONTHS.
WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD VOTE ON INDIVIDUALLY OR AS A LARGE, LIKE TO VOTE ON THE PARK BOARD FOR US TO PURSUE THAT? OR IS THIS SOMETHING DIRECTIONALLY THAT WE WOULD, HOW DOES THIS WORK FROM A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE? WELL, YOU HAVE OPTIONS AND RYAN CAN, UH, EXPAND ON IT, BUT WE COULD APPROACH THIS IF WE GONNA LOOK AT A PACKAGE AND TRY TO MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, TO GET THE, THE MOST DOLLARS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE STILL HAS TO BE A PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO APPROVING EVERY SINGLE LOCATION.
OR WE CAN DO IT INDIVIDUALLY, BUT I THINK IT WOULD NOT MAXIMIZE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE MOST, UH, FINANCIALLY.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT LATER, AND WE, THE BUDGET IS SIGNAGE ON FENCING THAT WASN'T PROPOSED IN THIS.
AND RYAN, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS, I JUST WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FENCING AS WE DO CONSTRUCTION, A LOT OF FENCING AT OUR ATHLETIC FIELDS.
SELLING SIGNAGE ON FENCING IS LOW COST EASY AND WE SHOULD DO THAT.
WE, WE ARE ACTUALLY ALREADY PURSUING THAT.
UH, ADVERTISING ON ATHLETIC FIELDS IS ALREADY ALLOWED BY CODE.
UM, SO WE, UH, ARE ACTUALLY WORK WORKING ON A PROCUREMENT ITEM RIGHT NOW TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
LIKE AGAIN, WE EVERY, YES, WE DOING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND THERE IS A CHAIN LINK FENCE.
WE CAN MAG, WE CAN, WE CAN MAXIMIZE THAT REVENUE OPPORTUNITY.
IN THE LAST, FOR ME, I SAW THAT A LOT OF THESE, UM, BILLBOARDS HAD, WERE ARTISTIC.
HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ARTISTS AS WE DO THIS TO, YOU KNOW, SO THESE AREN'T EYESORE IN OUR PARK ENVIRONMENT, THAT YOU ACTUALLY TURN THIS INTO SOME KIND OF ARTISTIC INSTALLATION AS WELL AS BEING A REVENUE OPPORTUNITY.
YEAH, THAT IS, THAT IS A GOOD SUGGESTION.
THERE'S, THERE WAS ALSO, UM, A THOUGHT ABOUT LIKE, AT THE BASE OF SOME OF THESE STRUCTURES.
WE COULD EVEN HAVE MOVIE, YOU KNOW, SCREENS INSTALLED TO HELP ACTIVATE THE PARKS, YOU KNOW, MOVIES IN THE PARK.
[00:45:01]
I THINK, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE AT THE VERY EARLY STAGES OF THIS AND WE CAN INCORPORATE WHATEVER WE THINK IS BEST, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY.AND, AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
UH, NEXT, MR. GREENIE, I SAW YOUR HAND FIRST.
WERE YOU, I KIND OF PUT YOUR, EARLIER YOU, SO I, WHERE YOU PUT YOUR HAND UP OR NOT? YES.
I JUST FELT YOUR HAND FIRE UP A SECOND AGO AND NOTHING MAKES ME HAPPIER AND TALKING ABOUT PARKS.
UM, SO GOOD SHOUT OUT TO KANE'S, BY THE WAY.
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYWHERE I GO IN THE SUMMERTIME IN THE PARKS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE FEEDING PEOPLE FOR FREE AND BRINGING FOOD AND DRINKS.
I DO APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY ON THIS.
UM, AND WILL ALWAYS BE SUPPORTIVE OF OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING.
UH, BUT I DO NEED TO SAY, UH, ON THE RECORD FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR.
I BELIEVE IT'S EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE YOU HAVE TO GO THIS FAR IN THE FACE OF THESE REAL FINANCIAL PRESSURES TRICKLE DOWN FROM POOR BUDGETING AT THE CITY LEVEL.
UM, AS YOU PROBABLY ALL KNOW, WRITTEN ON MY TOMBSTONE ONE DAY WE WILL READ PARKS ARE FOR THE PEOPLE, AND I STAND BY THAT EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE.
THESE ARE, SOME OF OUR PARKS ARE TRULY, UM, LIKE THE LAST PUBLIC SPACES, UH, PEOPLE FEEL LIKE BELONGS TO EVERYONE.
AND, AND NATURALLY WE'RE GONNA BE PROTECTIVE OF THAT, UH, IF WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, I THINK RESIDENTS NEED TO EXPECT STRONG GUARDRAILS IN THIS BECAUSE THIS COULD CREATE SOME ANGST IN PARTICULARLY SOME OF OUR SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, MAYBE LESS IN THE REGIONAL METROPOLITAN PARKS.
BUT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, MY COUNCIL DISTRICT IS FULL OF NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
MY BIGGEST PARK IS 16 OR 17 ACRES.
SO I DON'T HAVE A BACHMAN, I DON'T HAVE A WHITE ROCK, I DON'T HAVE A FAIR PARK.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA CLOSE BY SAYING ANY ADVERTISING SHOULD BE LIMITED, TASTEFUL, IT SHOULD BE, UH, APPROPRIATE TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND OUR PARK ENVIRONMENTS.
UM, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
CAN I TELL YOU FROM MY POSITION THAT I'VE ALREADY SAID I HAVE NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY APPETITE FOR THESE TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
JUST DON'T THINK THEY'RE APPROPRIATE FOR IT.
AND TRUST ME, WE GOT 420 PARKS.
ASSURE YOU, WE CAN FIND SEVEN OR 10 LOCATIONS THAT DO NOT IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS.
SIR, MS. MONDELL? YES, THANK YOU.
SO GREAT SEGUE FOR ME AS WELL.
SO MY FIRST COMMENT WAS, CAN WE IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMUNITY PARK, NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND POCKET PARKS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE LIMIT, UM, THIS USAGE IN THOSE AREAS AND ONLY TO BIGGER COMMUNITY PARKS AND POTENTIALLY THE ONES THAT HAVE MORE VISIBILITY IN AREAS THAT WOULD REALLY BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, CATER TO THIS TYPE OF MARKETING AND THEN BANK ON THAT REVENUE.
UM, HOW DOES THIS ALIGN WITH OUR POLICY FOR SIGNAGE NOW? AND LOOKING AT WHAT SIGNAGE MEANS IN THAT POLICY? UM, AND THEN POTENTIALLY WE GOING, GOING BACK INTO OUR PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, PRIVATE PARTNER MANAGEMENTS WITH CURRENT, YOU KNOW, UM, PEOPLE TO, OR PARKS TO SEE HOW WE CAN SAY, HEY, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
UM, CAN WE PUT THIS HERE? AND WE GET SOME OF THE MONEY.
UM, I KNOW PARKING, YOU KNOW, FACILITIES ISN'T A WAY TO, TO, FOR PEOPLE TO FUNDRAISE.
MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD PARTNERSHIP THERE TO SAY, HEY, CAN WE DO THIS HERE AT, YOU KNOW, A HIGH USE PARK AND SEE HOW THAT WORKS.
UM, MY OTHER IS, UM, I THINK WE, I THINK I'VE SEEN THIS IN MEXICO CITY.
WHERE ELSE IN PARKS IS THIS HAPPENING? WHERE OTHER CITIES, UM, IS THIS HAPPENING? THAT'S JUST A NOTE THAT I HAD.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IF YOU DON'T KNOW RIGHT AWAY.
UM, AND THEN THE COST TO BUILD THIS VERSUS THE REVENUE RECEIVED, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE WOULD BE NO COST BORNE BY THE CITY.
THERE WOULD BE NO COST, UH, BORNE BY THE CITY.
ANY SORT OF, UH, CAPITAL EXPENDITURE WOULD BE BORNE BY THE, THE VENDOR.
UM, SO IT WOULD JUST BE A, A STRAIGHT LEASE ARRANGEMENT THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT WOULD BE A REVENUE
AND THEN BACK INTO THE CAMERA AND WIFI INTEGRATION WITH SECURITY.
I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO IT REALLY IS AN, AN EVENT OF OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I'M NOT SAYING, I MEAN, I'M, I'M INTERESTED, YOU'VE INTRIGUED ME AND AGAIN, REALLY WANNA IDENTIFY WHAT YOU GUYS THINK, WHERE YOU THINK THIS IS GONNA GO.
[00:50:01]
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.UH, YEAH, JUST A COUPLE OF, OF FEEDBACK AND I LOVE THE, THE TWO CURRENT, THE COLLEAGUES MENTIONING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, UH, IN OTHER PARKS.
YOU KNOW, THE, WE HAVE A SIGN ALREADY AT KISS SPRINGS AND IT'S OFF AND ON.
DEPENDS ON WHETHER IT WORKS OR NOT.
SO THAT'D BE ONE OF MY CONCERNS.
EVEN MS. BELL BROUGHT UP HOW WE GONNA ALSO, WE'RE GONNA BILL IT, WE'RE GONNA MAINTAIN IT IF THE, IF THE CONTRACT FAILS AFTER A COUPLE YEARS, NOW WE'RE ON THE HOOK OF KEEPING IT GOING FOR OURSELVES OR, OR THE INSTALLER HAS TO REMOVE IT.
SO THAT'D BE THE ONLY CONCERNS THAT I HAVE.
'CAUSE I'M, I'M FOR THIS AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SURE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE SMALL PARKS ARE NOT HAVING A BIG BILLBOARD ON IT, BUT THE PIECE, THE WHITE ROCKS, THE, YOU KNOW, THE BIG PARKS, HOW CAN WE GENERATE THAT INCOME? IT'S REALLY, IT IS REALLY A GREAT IDEA THAT WE HAVE.
BUT DOES THIS ONLY, IS THIS ONLY FOR OUR, THE ONES PARKS THAT WE MANAGE OR WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT IE THE ZOO AND, AND OTHER PARKS THAT WE HAVE? OR IS THIS OPENING UP FOR EVERYBODY? ALL OF OUR PARTNERS ALSO? WELL, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY THAT AGAIN, WE'RE AT THE INFANCY OF THE IDEA.
SO AS, AS ROBIN MENTIONED, WE'RE REALLY AT THE INFANCY OF THIS IDEA.
AND, UM, IT COULD GO IN A COUPLE DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, BUT WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR AND WE'RE VERY MUCH IN AGREEMENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK COMMENT.
AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE LOCATIONS THAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT HERE ARE GOING TO BE PLACES THAT ARE VISIBLE FROM BIG ROADWAYS OR FREEWAYS.
UM, BUT, BUT AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, WOULD THE ZOO, SINCE WE'RE AT THE ZOO, WOULD THE ZOO BE, UH, APPLICABLE? WE DON'T KNOW YET.
SO AGAIN, AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE IDEA, WE'LL BE ABLE TO KIND OF TEASE OUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
UM, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW IT'S, IT'S REALLY KIND OF FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING LOCATIONS, UM, THAT WOULD BE REALLY VISIBLE FOR MAJOR ROADWAYS OR FREEWAYS.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE, WHAT THE BANG FOR THE BUCK IS.
AND I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING I'M A POST, I'M, I'M FOR THAT.
IF WE GET OUR PARTNERS ALSO SOME WAY REWRITE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT TAKES, AND THEY HAVE A WAY TO PUT A SMART SIGN SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE PARK OR, YOU KNOW, LIKE LET'S SAY KEY.
SHE PUT A SMART SIGN INSIDE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, ALL THE COMMUNITY EVENTS, STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT THAT'D BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL EXPLORE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM AND GIVE THEM WAY TO ALSO THEM TO REVENUES SHARE OR BRING REVENUE IN.
WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT CUTTING THEM BACK, RIGHT? SO MAYBE THIS IS A WAY THEY CAN EXPAND ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW.
UH, AND I DON'T REALLY DO A LOT OF IT, BUT I'M JUST SAYING JUST LOOK AT THE WHOLE THING INSTEAD OF JUST OUR PARKS THAT WE ARE PARTNERS CAN ALSO HAVE A WAY TO BRING IN REVENUE FOR THE FUTURE.
ONE OF THE POSITIVES OF SERVING ON THIS BOARD IS, YOU KNOW, HAVING SUCH THOUGHTFUL AND CARING AND INTELLIGENT COLLEAGUES, ONE OF THE DOWNSIDES IS TO TAKE THE WORDS OUTTA YOUR MOUTH OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU'RE NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO SPEAK.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO ALSO RE YOU KNOW, REITERATE AND GO ON THE RECORD, UM, THAT WHEN LOOKING AT THESE LOCATIONS, REALLY THEY, THEY SHOULD NOT BE PARK FOCUSED, BUT RATHER WHAT ARE THE SURROUNDING STREET FOCUS, RIGHT? LIKE THE, THE THREE LANE, THE A LARGE, UM, TRAFFIC AREA, THE HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF LIGHTING PRESENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOTHING RUINS A BEAUTIFUL NATURAL VISTA, LIKE A GIANT BILLBOARD IN IT.
AND I WOULD HATE, UM, TO DO THAT TO ANY PARK.
AND I ALSO, IF I WAS A RESIDENT WHO LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM A PARK SPECIFICALLY, SO I COULD SEE THAT WATCHING SOMETHING BE ERECTED THAT BLOCKS MY VIEW COULD BE VERY DISAPPOINTING.
SO REALLY FOCUSING ON LIKE WHAT'S THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF PARK LAND THAT WE COULD USE TO ADVERTISE TO A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED, HIGHLY LIGHTED THOROUGHFARE SO THAT WE DON'T DISRUPT, YOU KNOW, MIGRATORY BIRD TRAFFIC.
WE DON'T RUIN THE CONCEPT OF WHAT A GREEN, AN URBAN GREEN SPACE IS SUPPOSED TO BE INTENTIONALLY OR, OR UNINTENTIONALLY.
UM, ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL ARTISTS, I, IN, IN NEW YORK CITY IN TIMES SQUARE, THEY STARTED DOING AN ARTIST TAKEOVER.
SO IF WE HAD SEVEN OR 10 OF THESE BILLBOARDS ACROSS THE CITY IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS, I THINK LOOKING AT THAT AS A POTENTIAL WAY TO END THE DAY MODEL, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE LED SCREENS, YOU KNOW, HAVING THOSE NOT BE ON AT ONE OR TWO IN THE MORNING, BUT KIND OF ENDING THEIR DAILY ADVERTISING SERVICE BY PROMOTING SOMETHING POSITIVE AND ARTISTIC IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, LIKE LOCAL ARTS AND HAVING THEM ALL, UM, YOU KNOW, SHOWCASE THAT KIND OF WORK FOR THE LAST 15 TO 30 MINUTES OF THEM BEING ON, THAT'S ACTUALLY BECOME KIND OF A, A GATHERING SPOT IN NEW YORK CITY.
PEOPLE SHOW UP AT MIDNIGHT IN TIMES SQUARE TO SEE THE ART TAKEOVER.
UM, SO I WOULD JUST PUT THAT ON YOUR RADAR WHEN YOU LOOK AT DEVELOPING THIS CONCEPT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, OKAY, SO AT ONE POINT OUR PARK CZAR IDENTIFIED GREEN SPACE, UM, AND IF WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THAT, I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF WE HAVE
[00:55:01]
THAT STILL AVAILABLE, BUT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT LITTLE, UM, THAT WOULD BE GREEN SPACE THAT YOU COULDN'T PUT A PLAYGROUND YOU COULDN'T PUT, BUT THAT MAY BE SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT COULD USE WHERE YOU'RE BUILDING SOMETHING THAT'S UNDER THE PARKS, BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF EYEBALLS THAT ARE SEEING THAT FROM AFAR.SO I MEAN LIKE IN DEEP EL OR SOMEWHERE WHERE I, I'M NOT SURE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE, OKAY, SO IF WE CAN LOOK AT THAT LAND AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A COMMUNITY PARK, THAT'S NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, BUT IT IS GREEN SPACE THAT IS UNDER US NOW.
JUST ONE ONCE AGAIN, JUST WANT TO REASSURE THIS BOARD AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.
UH, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE ONE OF THESE THINGS WHERE WE TRYING TO CHASE DOWN, UH, THE DOLLAR AND SAY WE WANT TO GO FIND 40 OR 50 PARKS FOR THIS.
THIS IS GONNA BE VERY INTENTIONAL WHERE NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO INUNDATE OUR PARK SYSTEMS WITH THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS IS GONNA BE A VERY SELECT PARKS THAT MEET A VERY SPECIFIC, UH, REQUIREMENTS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL TODAY.
AND WE WILL GO OVER TO THE PARKS AND TRAILS COMMITTEE AS WELL AND GET THEIR FEEDBACK BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE ROLLED THIS OUT RIGHT.
AT THE SAME TOKEN, WE GOTTA REASSURE THE PUBLIC, UH, THIS IS NOT ONE OF THESE WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, OH YEAH, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN BRING IN $400 MILLION.
THIS WILL BE ONE REVENUE SOURCE OF MANY RE REVENUE SOURCES, BUT WHAT WE'RE NOT GONNA DO IS INUNDATE OUR PARKS JUST TO GO CHASE A DOLLAR.
SO IT MAY BE, AS THEY MENTIONED, A MAX OF 10 LOCATIONS IN THE ENTIRE PARK SYSTEM, OR, OR UNLESS THIS BODY OR THE COUNCIL SAYS, WE WANT YOU TO LOOK AT 15.
AND I'M JUST TELLING YOU AS THE PARK DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT MY DECISION, BUT I'VE INFORMED MY STAFF, WE'RE ONLY TALKING PROBABLY 10 TO 15 SITES MAX.
AND UM, I SEE IT AS THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SIGN APPROACH.
ONE IS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE OUTWARD FACING SIGNS, AND THAT'S REALLY DEFINED BY WHAT EACH, UM, CITY ORDINANCE IS.
I KNOW WE, WE VERY MUCH HAS BEEN A LONG-TERM MOVEMENT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BILLBOARDS, BILLBOARD SIZES.
I MEAN, IN CHINA YOU HAVE BILLBOARDS THAT ARE FOUR TIMES AS LONG AS SOME OF OUR BILLBOARDS HERE AND WE WE'RE NOT CERTAINLY NOT GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THESE SIGNS IN PARK AREAS ARE NOT GONNA BE THE SAME KIND OF SIZE AS HIGHWAY BILLBOARDS ARE.
SO, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, UM, THAT'S REALLY UP TO EACH LOCALE TO BE ABLE TO GET ZONING APPROVAL TO, TO PUT A BILLBOARD IN EACH LOCATION.
AND, AND UH, SO, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THOUGH THAT ALSO IT NOT BE ONE, UM, ADVERTISING COMPANY THAT DOES THE WHOLE BLANKET, BUT IT'D BE DIVIDED SO THAT, UM, TERMS OF UM, LEASE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THERE'S MULTIPLE COMPANIES INVOLVED.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS THAT GUIDELINES FOR WHAT IS ADVERTISING 'CAUSE IT IS ON CITY PROPERTY AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THINGS THAT ARE HARMFUL AND, UM, UM, SHOULD BE POSITIVE.
SECOND CATEGORY OF SIGNAGE THAT I THINK THAT WE LOOK AT AS YOUR INTERNAL SIGNS OF FENCES AND WITHIN, WITHIN REC CENTERS AND, AND PLACES LIKE THAT.
AND THOSE SHOULD BE SIGNS THAT ARE TASTEFUL IN RELATION TO THE HEALTH GUIDELINES FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF NOT PROMOTING, UM, CHEMICAL DYES AND, UM, UNHEALTHY FOODS, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND, AND WE SHOULD REALLY BE, USE THOSE TO HELP ENCOURAGE THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE EXPOSED TO, UM, MORE POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE HEALTHIER FOR THEM RATHER THAN JUST WHAT'S PROMOTED ON TV, FOR EXAMPLE.
ANY MR. WOOD, I THINK THIS IS GREAT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.
UM, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR AN EXAMPLE, SAMUEL FARM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, I THINK YOU COULD BLEND IT.
IT'S ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND IT'S NOT GONNA AFFECT A NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLETELY BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY BILLBOARDS THERE.
SO I THINK, UH, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A WONDERFUL IDEA.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WE SHOULD DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THIS GOES INTO A LONG-TERM TYPE FUND THAT KEEPS OUR PARKS, UM, MAINTAINED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
[01:00:01]
SOME OF THE BEAUTY AND ALL OF THAT FOR THESE SIGNS, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT IT IS FRUITFUL FOR GENERATIONS TO COME IN THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR PARK.SO I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE DO 50% AUTOMATICALLY HAS TO GO INTO AN ENDOWMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN'T BE TOUCHED, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE USE SOME AND WE SAVE SOME SO THAT WE'RE ACCUMULATING A MAINTENANCE FUND FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF OUR PARKS.
UH, MR. WOOD, YOU'RE DEFINITELY ON POINT AND THAT'S WHY YOU, YOU SAW US AT LEAST SAY A MINIMUM 25% NEEDS TO GO TOWARD AN ENDOWMENT BECAUSE WE REALLY HAD TO THINK ABOUT OUR PARK SYSTEM JUST LIKE, UH, THE FOUNDERS OF OUR PARK SYSTEM THOUGHT ABOUT MAKING SURE WHEN THEY ACQUIRED THE FIRST PARK LAND IN 1876, YOU KNOW, CITY PARK OR, OR JUST LIKE THE FOUNDERS THOUGHT ABOUT, UH, THE RESERVOIRS CONTINUE TO BUILD THOSE RESERVOIRS OUT WAY BACK MANY YEARS AGO THAT ALLOWED THIS CITY TO GROW.
THIS CITY IS ONLY GOING TO GET MORE WITH MORE DENSITY AND WE HAVE TO SET UP A SUSTAINABLE PARK SYSTEM, AS YOU MENTIONED, MR. WOOD, FOR THOSE NEXT GENERATIONS.
BECAUSE IF WE GET THE ENDOWMENT GOING, NOW IMAGINE WHAT, 30 OR 40 YEARS FROM NOW, IF YOU GOT AN ENDOWMENT THAT SOMEHOW GETS TO 25 OR $50 MILLION TODAY, IN 30 OR 40 YEARS FROM TODAY, YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE WORTH, UH, PROBABLY IN THE RANGE OF HALF A BILLION TO CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS.
AND WE KNOW BECAUSE THANK GOODNESS FOR MR. UH, SAMUEL FARM WHO LEFT AN ENDOWMENT, UH, FOR THE SAMUEL FARM PROPERTIES.
AND GUESS WHAT, FROM THAT 1980 ENDOWMENT, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE CAPITAL, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, COSTS, OPERATIONAL COSTS, AND FIVE OTHER SAMUEL PROPERTIES.
SO WE HAVE TO START THINKING ALONG THOSE LINES.
UM, IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, CAN WE GET A LIST OF WHERE WE'RE THINKING ABOUT? I KNOW THIS IS PRELIMINARY, IT'D BE GREAT TO SEE A LIST OF LIKE SAMUEL FARMS A GREAT IDEA, YOU KNOW, OTHER, OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT
UH, PERFECT HEARING NOTHING ELSE ON THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU ROBIN RYAN, VERY MUCH HIS PRESENTATION.
CRAIG CREATIVE, WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST QUARTER PARK BOARD MEETING.
I MEAN, CREATIVE WAYS FOR US TO GENERATE REVENUE IS, IS UH, WHAT WE NEED TO START MOVING TOWARDS.
UH, NEXT IS RACHEL BARRY WITH OUR BUDGET IMPACT AND UPDATE.
UM, WE ARE HERE FOR ANOTHER UPDATE ON OUR BUDGET.
OKAY, SO WE ARE HERE AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT WHAT, UM, THE CITY MANAGER HAS ASKED FOR US TO, UM, DO A PROPOSED BUDGET REDUCTION.
SO WE KNOW THAT AS PART OF THIS, UM, WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET, UM, I DON'T WANNA SAY NECESSARILY EFFICIENCIES, BUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH THAT IS A NON-SERVICE LEVEL CUT ALONG WITH SOME SERVICE LEVEL CUTS, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL PROPOSED REVENUES AND WHAT THE TOTAL IMPACT WILL BE TO OUR BUDGET, UM, FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE'RE GONNA GO BACK AND REVISIT THOSE OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION.
UM, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE COULD DO.
SO WE DO KNOW THAT OUR REQUEST WAS FOR A 15% BUDGET REDUCTION.
UM, WE'VE LOOKED THROUGH THAT AND THAT HAS COME UP TO THE TOTAL OF $13.1 MILLION,
[01:05:02]
UM, FOR THE BUDGET.SO WE'RE, WE'VE IDENTIFIED RIGHT NOW 4.5 MILLION, THOSE ARE NON-SERVICE LEVEL CUTS, UM, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHICH INCLUDES NEW REVENUE AND THE OFFSET, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, OFFSET THE REDUCTION REQUEST.
SO THAT WOULD AVOID SOME SERVICE LEVEL CUTS FOR US.
AND I'M GONNA GO RIGHT INTO LOOKING AT WHAT THOSE MIGHT BE.
UM, SO AS WE HAD DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME, UM, ABOVE THE LINE AND BELOW THE LINE ITEMS ABOVE THE LINE.
THESE ARE, UM, I DON'T WANNA SAY THEY'RE NOT GONNA IMPACT OUR BUDGET, BUT THESE ARE LESS, UM, OF AN IMPACT.
WE'VE LISTED 'EM HERE AS EFFICIENCIES, BUT OF COURSE WE WOULD'VE LIKED TO KEEP, UM, THESE VACANT POSITIONS.
BUT LOOKING AT THIS MOVING FORWARD IN LIEU OF TRYING TO CUT, UM, SO MANY THINGS THAT WOULD IMPACT OUR SERVICES, WE'RE LOOKING AT CUTTING AN ADDITIONAL, UM, 20 VACANT POSITIONS THAT WOULD BE CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS FOR US.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE WE'RE, UM, GOING TO MOVE SOME STAFF.
WE HAVE SOME OTHER FUNDS OUTSIDE OF OPERATING LIKE THE PARKLAND DEDICATION WHERE WE COULD MOVE STAFF INTO THOSE FUNDS AS THAT IS NOW ALLOWED.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER 317,000 WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT DOING, UM, SEVERAL THINGS LIKE THE KEY QUADPLEX AND ALSO AS YOU SEE HERE, SOUTHERN SKATES, UM, PUTTING THOSE OUT FOR BID.
SO THOSE WOULD BE, UM, COMPLETELY TAKING THAT OFF OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND MOVING THAT ONTO THE OUTSIDE FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO OPERATE FOR US.
UM, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE PROVI, UM, PRIVATIZATION OF CEDAR CREST, UM, WHICH WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 572,000 THAT WE COULD MOVE TOWARDS, UM, DOING A SERVICE LEVEL CUP, BUT NOT AN IMPACT TO OUR BUDGET AT THIS POINT.
AND THEN WE LOOKED AT SOME OTHER THINGS LIKE CAN WE, CAN WE DO WITHOUT LESS, YOU KNOW, LESS RENTAL VEHICLES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
UM, I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AND PERHAPS IT WAS NOT WHAT WAS WANTED, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT PERHAPS REDUCING DPD, UM, THAT OVER TIME AND JUST SWITCHING THAT SECTION TO CONTRACTED SECURITY.
THAT WOULD BE A MIX IN WITH THE MARSHALS AND OTHER ITEMS THAT WE HAVE.
SO THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST SECURITY ON A WHOLE, BUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO SUPPLEMENT OUR SECURITY.
AND THEN OF COURSE, JUST A SMALL CUT OF, UM, TAKING OFF SOME OF THOSE SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE AQUATIC FACILITIES.
SO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS ABOUT 2.4 IN ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT WE COULD DO TO KIND OF HELP US TOWARDS THAT SERVICE LEVEL, NON-SERVICE LEVEL.
UM, AND THIS IS ABOVE THE LINE CUTS.
THESE ARE NON-SERVICE LEVEL IMPACTS WHEN WE START LOOKING AT BELOW THE LINE SERVICE CUT IMPACTS, UM, OF COURSE WE'VE GOT, UM, WE'VE GOT SOME CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SERVICES OR, AND OR PARTNER STIPENDS.
IF WE DO A 3% CUT ON THAT, THAT'S ALMOST, UM, HALF, YOU KNOW, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS THERE.
UM, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT FOUR DAY OPERATIONS AT SOME OF THE AQUATIC CENTERS INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT OPERATION, THAT GETS US ABOUT $136,000.
THAT'S A NET 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT WE WOULD LOSE SOME REVENUES.
UM, REDUCING THE DISD DAYTIME PROGRAMMING, UM, TO TWO DAYS A WEEK.
OF COURSE, WE'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE DELAYING THE BOMB HUNT BEACH OPENING.
AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DELAYING THAT OPENING, THAT'S JUST THE HOURS DURING THE DAY, UM, THAT WE WOULD START A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE DAY AS OPPOSED TO EARLIER IN THE MORNING.
UM, B WHEN INDOOR POOL REDUCING THOSE HOURS, UM, OUR MOWING FREQUENCIES, THAT IS KIND OF SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS.
AND SO THAT IS A SERVICE LEVEL IMPACT BECAUSE THE PARKS WILL LOOK, UM, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, UM, WITH LESS MOWING.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT PERHAPS CLOSING FOUR FACILITIES AND THOSE ARE LISTED HERE, OR, UM, AS ARCADIA, MARCUS ANNEX, THE TEEN TECH CENTER AND UMRA, UM, REDUCING OUR OPERATING DOLLARS.
SO THIS YEAR WE DO HAVE INCLUDED OUR 600,000 FOR O AND M TO SEE PERHAPS HOW WE COULD MOVE ON WITHOUT HAVING THAT O AND M ADDED TO OUR BUDGET.
UM, THINKING OF REDUCING REC CENTER HOURS AND, UM, ONCE AGAIN, LITTER FREQUENCY.
THAT DOES LOOK ALSO, ONCE AGAIN, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN OUR PARK SYSTEM.
BUT THAT IS, UM, THERE, THE DELETION OF SOME SERVICES AND SOME FIELD POSITIONS.
AND THAT GETS US OUR $6.4 MILLION.
SO OUR PROPOSED TOTAL IMPACT IS $8.9 MILLION.
AND THIS IS ALL BASED ON SERVICES.
BUT THE NEXT THING WE DO, AND I KNOW WE JUST BROUGHT BACK, BROUGHT FORWARD SOME REVENUE THOUGHTS.
SO HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL PROPOSED REVENUES,
[01:10:01]
UM, OUTSIDE OF WHAT WAS BROUGHT THIS MORNING.BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, PROGRAMS, FEES, UM, RESERVATIONS, RENTALS, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING BETWEEN ALL OF THE DIVISIONS, EVERYBODY SUBMITTING SOME NEW REVENUE, UM, PROJECTIONS HERE.
UM, $2.4 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES.
AND SO OUR TOTAL PROPOSED IMPACT AT THIS POINT IS AT 11.6, NOT QUITE MEETING THAT 13.1 NUMBER, BUT WE'LL WAIT TO SEE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WHAT, UM, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO THE CITY MANAGER ON OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.
THAT'S, SO GO BACK TO THE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION.
THIS WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BEFORE AND THIS IS, UM, JUST A REMINDER THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE NON-TRADITIONAL REVENUES AND BEING VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT IT.
THAT'S THE PRESENTATION YOU SAW THIS MORNING, UM, DEVELOPING NEW PROGRAM SERVICES, ESTABLISHING NEW FEES.
THEN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE COULD ALSO HAVE PARK BORDER CITY COUNCIL ADVOCATE FOR STATUS QUO OR PURSUE A DEDICATED PERCENTAGE OF GENERAL FUND BUDGET, UM, FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE.
AND ONCE AGAIN, WE COULD LOOK AT PURSUING A TAXING DISTRICT.
SO OUR NEXT STEPS AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GONNA KEEP LOOKING FOR BUDGET INFORMATION.
WE'RE GONNA PUT THAT TO PTE COMMITTEES IN JUNE.
UM, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AN APPROVED PLAN TO BE CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCIL.
SO ONCE WE, UM, JUST GET SOME FEEDBACK ON WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING HERE TO SEE WHAT WE COULD PRESENT MOVING FORWARD.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU HERE, IF YOU'LL JUST LOOK IN THE APPENDIX, IT'S JUST OUR BUDGET SUMMARY.
AND WE JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET, WE DO HAVE A PLANNED $119 MILLION BUDGET, UM, WHICH IS WHERE THEY'RE BASING OUR CUT.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT, 30 MILLION OF THAT IS SACRED FOODS.
THOSE ARE INTERNAL, INTERNAL SERVICE COSTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT CONTROL AT ALL.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT, WE HAVE 75% OF OUR BUDGET LEFT, THAT'S $89 MILLION.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND THAT'S WHERE THE CUTS WILL BE TAKEN, UM, FROM THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS. AND THIS IS JUST KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF A CHART SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF THAT IS IN OUR BUDGET, OF COURSE, REALIZING THAT SALARIES ARE OUR HIGHEST COST AT 39%.
SO WHEN YOU SEE US TAKING SOME OF THOSE CUTS IN VACANT POSITIONS, UM, BECAUSE WE DO REALIZE THAT THAT IS OUR HIGHEST, UM, COST TO OUR BUDGET.
UM, AND THEN IT'S JUST A REMAINING, UM, BUDGET TIMELINE FOR US.
OF COURSE, WE'RE MOVING INTO OUR BUDGET, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND SOME OTHER ADDIT ADDITIONAL BUDGET WORKSHOPS.
UM, AND THAT IS THAT FOR THIS MOMENT.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ADD, GO BACK TO THE LAST PAGE THAT RACHEL JUST, UH, THE ONE BEFORE THIS ONE, UH, I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO REMEMBER THAT PAGE BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE SAID WE'VE BEEN REQUESTED A 15% WHATEVER, 13%, UH, REDUCTION, BUT IT'S REALLY MORE LIKE IF YOU LOOK AT ALL WE CAN TOUCH IS THAT $89 MILLION? SO YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT NO, WE'RE PROBABLY, IF THOSE CUTS WERE TO BE ACCEPTED, NO, WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING MORE AT LIKE A 16% CUT 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE CONTROL.
AND SO NOW LET'S GO BACK TO PAGE, BACK TO PAGE FOUR.
'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THE BOARD UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS CHART REALLY ILLUSTRATES ON PAGE FOUR.
SO WE WANTED TO PUT IT IN THIS FORMAT SO THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE LAST MEETING, REMEMBER I TALKED TO THE BOARD ABOUT, LOOK, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK AND TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOME MORE EFFICIENCIES.
AND AS YOU REMEMBER, THE LAST TWO YEARS, I THINK OUR EFFICIENCIES THAT WE'VE BEEN, UH, IDENTIFYING OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS EQUATES TO HOW MUCH, RACHEL, WAS IT? $8 MILLION OR $7 MILLION THAT WE ALREADY HAVE REDUCED OUR BUDGET THROUGH EFFICIENCIES.
SO WHEN YOU TAKE 8 MILLION AND THEN I'M BEEN ASKED THIS YEAR TO TRY TO LOOK FOR SOME OTHER EFFICIENCIES BEFORE I GET INTO, INTO SERVICE LEVEL CUTS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $10 MILLION AND THEN TRYING TO FIND SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUES.
SO WE'RE TALKING $12 MILLION THAT OVER THREE YEARS.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EFFICIENCIES I CAN FIND ANYMORE.
I GOTTA STRESS THAT TO THE PUBLIC AND I GOTTA STRESS THAT TO THE BOARD.
'CAUSE I'VE BEEN REDUCING STAFF LEVELS.
I'VE BEEN E I'VE BEEN ELIMINATING VACANT POSITIONS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
I'VE GIVEN UP MY HIGH LEVEL POSITION AS A, AS, UH, ONE OF MY DEPUTY DIRECTORS AND WE'VE BEEN GIVING UP OTHER POSITIONS LIKE THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO HAVE THE FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT I AM FINN TO GO FIND YOU $15 MILLION, $14 MILLION WORTH OF CUTS WITHOUT INCLUDING SERVICE LEVEL
[01:15:01]
CUTS.I DON'T THINK WE WILL GET TO A TRUE $13 MILLION CUT.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL BUDGETS.
THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN CHANGE BETWEEN TODAY AND BEFORE THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE BUDGET.
YOU ALL WILL CONTINUE TO WEIGH IN.
I WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS AND SEE IF WE CAN AGREE TO A NUMBER.
UH, THE SALES TAX NUMBERS MAY TURN BETTER FAR AS THE FORECAST, UH, THE PROTEST NUMBERS AS FAR AS PROPERTY TAX MAY NOT BE WHAT'S BEING PROJECTED NOW.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO TELL YOU THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND BEFORE THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE FINAL BUDGET.
UH, MR. KAMI, THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. VICE CHAIR.
I WANT TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE VERY DIFFICULT POSITION THAT STAFF IS IN HERE.
I UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THIS, THIS EXERCISE, THESE SCENARIOS IS TO DEMONSTRATE REAL WORLD CONSEQUENCES OF A GIVE OR TAKE, 15% REDUCTION IN THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, IT'S WORTH REPEATING THAT 15% APPEARS TO BE, UM, KIND OF A WORST CASE SCENARIO AT THIS MOMENT.
UH, BUT IF NOTHING CHANGES, THAT'S GONNA BE OUR REALITY.
UM, MY INTENT IS, IS NEVER TO BE ADVERSARIAL HERE.
UH, WE ARE FIGHTING THE SAME FIGHT, EVERYONE WATCHING AT HOME AND HERE IN THIS ROOM.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE TRANSLATE SOME OF THESE NUMBERS.
COULD YOU GO BACK TO SLIDE FOUR THAT WE TRANSLATE SOME OF THESE LINE ITEMS INTO PERCENTAGES, PERCENTAGE REDUCTIONS IN, IN THESE SERVICES? BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA UNDERSTAND WHEN WE WATCH THIS.
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND NUMBERS, WE UNDERSTAND PERCENTAGES AND THE PUBLIC WILL NEED TO SEE IT IN THAT TERMS, NOT THESE DOLLAR AMOUNTS.
SO I WANT TO GO THROUGH HERE A FEW OF THESE LINES AND KIND OF PLUG IN SOME PERCENTAGES SO WE'RE ALL CRYSTAL CLEAR AT HOME WHAT THIS IS.
UM, LINE ITEM TWO, AND I'M GONNA LOOK AT THE RED LINE BELOW THE LINE HERE.
REDUCING AQUATIC CENTERS FROM SIX DAYS A WEEK TO FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
THAT'S A 33% REDUCTION IN ACCESS TO THOSE FACILITIES DURING THE AQUATIC CENTER, DURING THE AQUATIC SEASON LINE.
ITEM THREE TALKS ABOUT DISD PROGRAMMING.
IF WE GO TO TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, THAT IS A 60% REDUCTION IN PROGRAMMING IF WE'RE AT OFFERING IT FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
LINE ITEM FIVE TALKS ABOUT BACHMAN INDOOR POOL.
A REDUCTION FROM 55 HOURS TO 40 HOURS A WEEK IS A 27% REDUCTION IN THOSE HOURS.
LINE ITEM SIX, MOWING OUR GREEN SPACES, IF WE GO MOW IF WE MOW ONCE EVERY THREE WEEKS INSTEAD OF ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS, THAT'S A 33% REDUCTION IN THAT SERVICE.
CLOSING FOUR, UH, LINE ITEM SEVEN, CLOSING FOUR FACILITIES.
THIS IS NOT A PARTIAL REDUCTION.
THIS IS A 100% ELIMINATION OF SERVICES AT THOSE LOCATIONS.
IF WE'RE PICKING UP LITTER, IF WE'RE PAYING FOR HIRED LITTER SERVICE THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK AND WE GO TO TWO TIMES PER WEEK, THAT'S A 33 TO 50% REDUCTION IN THAT SERVICE.
IT WE NEED TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR.
OUR CITIZENS WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THESE NUMBERS.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND A $42,000 CUT TO LINE ITEM THREE THAT DOESN'T HIT 'EM EMOTIONALLY, BUT WHEN YOU TELL 'EM WHAT PERCENTAGE THAT IS, THAT REALLY HITS 'EM IN THE HEARTSTRINGS.
UM, AND THEY NEED TO, THEY NEED TO HEAR THAT.
SO, SO, UM, I'M NOT CRITICIZING THE STAFF HERE.
THAT'S THE VERY LAST THING I'M EVER GONNA DO IN, IN A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION LIKE THIS.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT WORK AND, AND THIS TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT.
I MADE A JOKE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE NEED TO GO FULL FRONTAL WITH THIS, WITH THIS TRANSPARENCY SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THIS.
OUR BEST WAY OF FIGHTING IS FIGHTING TOGETHER.
AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.
I THINK WE'RE PRETTY GOOD AT IT.
UM, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THESE SERVICE CUTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT.
SO YOU CAN STAY ON THAT SLIDE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE, UM, SO IF YOU CAN TELL ME WHO OPERATES SOUTHERN SKATES NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THIS, BUT IF, IF IT'S US AS A CITY OR, AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS STILL OPERATING.
UM, WHAT I DON'T THINK IS NEGOTIABLE IS NUMBER SEVEN, SWITCHING TO CONTRACTED SECURITY.
WHEN WE REALLY NEED THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH MARSHALS AND DPD IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, WITH OUR PEOPLE.
IT'S A REALLY, I MEAN, IT'S A STRONG PARTNERSHIP AND IF YOU HAVE CONTRACTED SECURITY COME IN TO OUR PARKS AND REC CENTERS AND FACILITIES, UM, THAT PARKS CONTROL, IT'S REALLY GOING TO JUST DISTURB THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.
[01:20:01]
THE SENIORS.UM, AND I'M NOT SURE HOW WE CAN TRY TO TALK WITH DBD.
WE'RE ALL UNDER THE SAME UMBRELLA, SO MAYBE THERE'S SOME ROOM IN THERE.
UM, I DON'T THINK, WHAT'S NOT NEGOTIABLE TO ME IN MY MIND IS NUMBER TWO.
UM, IT REALLY IS WHERE OUR TEENS IN SENIORS AND ADULTS USE FOR THE SUMMER.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER IS, UM, THE CLOSURE.
WHERE DO YOU EXPECT THESE PEOPLE TO GO? UM, AND IF WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON ARCADIA, MARCUS ANNEX, TEEN SET, TEEN TECH CENTER AND RIS, UM, THAT'S A HARD, LIKE, THAT'S A GUT WRENCHING.
LIKE YOU'RE CLOSING FOUR FACILITIES, WHERE DO THESE PEOPLE GO? UM, AND THE OTHER IS, WHAT I DON'T FEEL IS NEGOTIABLE IS, UM, NUMBER NINE, REDUCTION OF 40 RECREATION CENTER HOURS TO 40 HOURS PER WEEK.
UM, IT SAYS BELOW THE LINE, SERVICE CUTS ARE THERE ABOVE THE LINE CUTS THAT I'M MISSING.
AND THEN WHEN DOES THIS ALL GO INTO A, AND THANK YOU.
I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT PLACE TO BE.
UM, AND I DO APPRECIATE JOHN, YOU ALLUDING TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT YOU WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AND AND US TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF LAYERS TO, TO GET TO, SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT, UM, THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
UM, I CAN ANSWER THE ABOVE BELOW LINE.
SO ANYTHING THAT'S LISTED HERE AS AN EFFICIENCY IS CONSIDERED ABOVE THE LINE.
UM, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK ON AND IT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR CORE SERVICE.
SO THOSE ARE CONSIDERED ABOVE THE LINE.
UM, ANYTHING ADDITIONAL REVENUES WE BRING IN THAT'S ALSO ABOVE THE LINE.
SO THAT'S GONNA BRING US TO THAT NUMBER.
UM, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, THE BELOW THE LINE, THOSE ARE SERVICE LEVEL, UM, CUTS.
THAT'S THAT 6.4 MILLION THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THOSE ARE IN FACT SERVICE LEVEL CUTS.
AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED, UM, THREE OF THOSE.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THE FEELING ABOUT THE AQUATICS.
UM, THE FOUR FACILITIES, WE CAN, WE CAN ADDRESS THAT WITH YOU, UM, AS TO WHAT THAT'S LOOKING LIKE BECAUSE OF, THESE ARE NOT REC CENTERS PER SE, THESE ARE COMMUNITY CENTERS.
UM, SO THEY'RE NOT BRINGING IN A WHOLE LOT OF, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, REVENUE.
SO BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE TO DEDUCT ANYTHING THAT WE LOOK AT, THE REVENUE ALSO COMES OFF AS PART OF A PART OF A COST ON THAT.
LEMME MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON THAT.
WE'RE NOT CLOSING THESE REC CENTERS BECAUSE OF LACK OF REVENUES, RIGHT? NOT EVEN PROPOSING THAT.
MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THAT.
WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WHY THEY'RE ON THE LIST IS BECAUSE THESE ARE OUR SMALLER CENTERS THAT WAS BUILT IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES, AND NOW WE HAVE THESE MORE NEW MODERN, I MEAN, MODERN CENTERS THAT ARE LARGER.
THESE ARE WHAT WE CALL COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT ARE AT BEST 5,000 SQUARE FEET.
SOME ARE ONLY PROBABLY LIKE THE TEEN TECH.
AND JUST TALK ABOUT THE TEEN TECH.
TEEN TECH IS, IS FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT.
THAT GRANT IS GOING TO RUN OUT IN A YEAR.
SO THIS CONVERSATION WILL COME BACK UP.
BUT THOSE OTHER 5,000 OR LESS SQUARE FOOT FACILITIES COMPARED TO OUR, OUR, OUR OTHER CENTERS, THE OTHER WHAT, 38 CENTERS? THOSE ARE 39.
THOSE ARE TYPICALLY 18,000 TO 25,000 SQUARE FOOT CENTERS.
AND SO THOSE GET A LOT MORE ATTENDANCE.
THESE SMALL CENTERS DO NOT, AND I'M NOT, ONCE AGAIN, IF WE EVER GET TO THAT LEVEL, THAT'S A DISCUSSION.
THE BOARD, WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION IF YOU STILL WANT US TO PURSUE THAT, TO GET TO A DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT'S BEING REQUESTED OF US FROM THE COUNCIL OR THE CITY MANAGER.
AND YOU CAN ANSWER THE REST OF THE QUESTIONS.
O OKAY, SO THE RECREATION CENTER HOURS, OF COURSE THAT IS A CUT THAT THESE ARE MADE TO HAVE A NON-IMPACT TO THE CORE SERVICE.
IT DOES IMPACT, BUT IT IS A LESS OF AN IMPACT TO THE CORE SERVICE THERE.
SO THEY'RE STILL ABLE TO OFFER SOME PROGRAMMING AND SOME HOURS FOR SENIORS AND YOUTH.
BUT IT'S LESS OF AN IMPACT IF WE JUST CUT THE HOURS.
THESE WOULD GO INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST UP TO THAT, IF, IF PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN CONSIDER THESE SMALL CENTERS, WE ARE LOOKING AT AN ALTERNATIVE TO, TO LOOK AT A NONPROFIT TO COME IN AND OPERATE BECAUSE THEY'RE SMALL ENOUGH THAT A NONPROFIT THAT WOULD PROBABLY SERVE THEIR PURPOSE VERSUS THE TRADITIONAL TYPE RECREATIONAL SERVICES WE PROVIDE AT THE LARGER
[01:25:01]
CENTERS.CAN YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I REMEMBER MARCUS ANNEX JUST, WE JUST VOTED AND RECEIVED, THEY RECEIVED MONEY.
DIDN'T THEY JUST GET A $5 MILLION RENOVATION FOR THE REC CENTER? YEAH, THAT'S FOR THE, THAT'S FOR THE, AND SEE, GOOD QUESTION.
SO WE HAVE MARCUS DIRECT CENTER, WHICH IS ABOUT 18,000 SQUARE FEET.
AND THEN WE HAVE ON THE SAME PROPERTY, WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL THE MARCUS ANNEX CENTER.
THAT'S BEEN, UH, THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON SENIOR PROGRAMMING, BUT OVER THE YEARS NOW, WHAT HAS EVOLVED OUT THERE NOW, AT ONE TIME THE SENIORS DIDN'T WANNA BE IN THE LARGE CENTER.
THERE'S A GROUP OF SENIORS NOW WHO'S ACTUALLY HAVING SENIOR PROGRAMMING IN THE LARGE CENTER.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP WHO'S HAVING PROGRAMMING IN THE SMALL FACILITY, WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE BEFORE NONE OF THE SENIORS WANT TO BE INTO THE, THE 18,000 SQUARE FOOT.
WELL, SINCE WE'RE HERE FOR THE PEOPLE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IF WE'RE HERE FOR THE PEOPLE, THEN WE'RE SERVING THE PEOPLE.
LIKE I SAID, THE PREVIOUS MEETING WE HAD THIS THREE THINGS I'LL NOT GO FOR IS CLOSING REC CENTERS OR COMMUNITY CENTERS, MAINS AND STAFF.
I'M STILL GONNA HOLD TO THAT, BUT I DO WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME FOR THOSE FOUR REC CENTERS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING, NUMBER SEVEN DOWN BELOW THE LINE, A LEASE AGREEMENT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO GO THROUGH A PARTNER.
'CAUSE IF WE, IF WE START GOING THROUGH A PROCESS OF GETTING BIDS AND TRYING TO GO THAT, THAT'S GONNA TAKE A YEAR TO TWO YEARS, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO IN BETWEEN? WE'RE GONNA JUST 'EM SHUT 'EM DOWN FOR A YEAR OR TWO UNTIL WE GO THROUGH THE, THE, THE LEAD, THE PRIVATIZE AND, AND GET THE BID OUT.
OR CAN WE GO THROUGH A LEASE AGREEMENT WHERE SOMEBODY PAYS US RENT AND WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIGH END ITEMS LIKE THE ROOF AND THE AC IF THEY KEEP MAINTAINED, RIGHT, THEY GOTTA KEEP MAINTAINED.
WE GOTTA FIGURE, IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY RENTING OUT A, A HOME, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN WRITE THAT CONTRACT AND MAKE IT AND MAKE A NONPROFIT WANT COME IN REAL QUICK AND FIGURE THAT OUT FASTER THAN US TRYING TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE BID PROCESS AND IT GETS DELAYED, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
BECAUSE THAT COULD BE A ONE TO TWO YEAR PROCESS ON THAT.
AND ALSO SOUTHERN SKATES, WE'VE TRIED IT BOTH WAYS.
THE THE STAFF HAS RAN IT AND ALSO WE'VE HAD A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR OUT THERE AND IT'S, IT HAS NOT WORKED.
MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALSO CONSIDER EITHER A LEASE AGREEMENT OR, OR WE SELL IT.
WE'VE BEEN HAD IT FOR A LONG TIME AND WE, WE FIGURE OUT THOSE, THOSE THAT ON ON SOUTHERN SKATES, HOW WE DO IT.
IF KEISHA, MS. RANDALL COME UP AND GIVE YOU ALL THE STATUS WHERE WE ARE ON SOUTHERN STATES.
SO THE STATUS ON SOUTHERN SKATES, UM, SO SOUTHERN STATES IS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS.
SO IT ACTUALLY ON THE 27TH NEXT WEEK IS HAVING PRE-BID MEETINGS.
AND SO WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW PEOPLE REACH OUT WITH INTEREST, UM, TO MOVE THAT TO A MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.
SO HOPEFULLY BY OCTOBER 1ST WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOUTHERN SKATES TO HAVE A NEW MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.
BUT I DID WANNA, UM, STATE IN REGARDS TO THE BUDGET FOR SOUTHERN SKATES WHEN THE QUESTION WAS ASKED.
SO WE DID HAVE A, KNOWING THAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS, THE BUDGET WAS REDUCED IN LAST, IN THE LAST BUDGET YEAR.
SO RIGHT NOW THE BUDGET IS ONLY FOR THE, THE OPERATION OF SOUTHERN STATES IN THE TERMS OF THE ELECTRICITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IT IS NOT A STAFFED FACILITY THOUGH WE ARE STILL OPERATING WITH A SKELETON CREW THAT WE ARE BORROWING FROM OTHER OPERATIONS.
AND, AND THEN IF, IF I CAN, I UNDERSTAND NUMBER SEVEN DPD OVERTIME AND, AND I'M, I'M FOR POLICE, BELIEVE ME, BUT THEY CHARGE SO MUCH OVERTIME PER, PER OFFICER $70 TO START.
SO I DON'T MIND US GOING THROUGH CONTRACTOR SECURITY, PEOPLE THAT OBSERVE AND, AND, AND, AND FOLLOW UP WITH DPD CALL DPD.
AND I DON'T MIND US DOING THAT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE GOTTA THINK ABOUT.
I KNOW, I KNOW WE WANT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH DPD, BUT THEY START AT $70 AN HOUR AND THAT'S FOR THE GUY THAT JUST GRADUATED THE, THE, THE, THE ACADEMY.
AND THEN AFTER THAT IT JUST GOES UP.
DEPENDS ON WHAT LEVEL THEY ARE, HOW MANY YEARS SENIOR ARE.
SO IT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
I, I'M GOOD WITH HIRING SECURITY, BUT I DO WANNA PARTNERSHIP WITH DPDS.
WE'VE GOTTA FIGURE OUT THAT BALANCE, HOW WE DO THAT.
UM, AND THE LAST ONE THAT I HAVE IS JUST FINDING MORE PARTNERS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT MANY A TIMES.
IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP, UH, MANY TIMES.
AND I'LL TELL YOU ONE THAT'S REALLY WORKING.
IE USED TO BE KNOWN AS MONEYGRAMS. JUST EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I WAS THERE THIS WEEKEND TO, UH, VISIT A, A TOURNAMENT THAT WAS HAPPENING THERE.
AND OUR NEW PARTNERS, PIONEER SPORTS, AMAZING.
THE FIELDS HAVE PROBABLY BEEN THE BEST WE'VE SEEN IN A FEW YEARS.
THEY ARE REALLY NICE AND THEY PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO
[01:30:01]
THOSE FIELDS AND IT WAS SPECTACULAR TO BE OUT THERE ON A HOT DAY.AND THE FIELDS WERE HOLDING UP AND THEY FELT GOOD JUST LIKE ABR WALKING A RUG.
BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF AGREEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT TO FIND THE PARTNERS THAT ARE GONNA INCREASE THE LEVEL OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN, IN OUR, IN OUR FACILITIES.
AND, AND JUST, JUST WANTED TO JUST PIGGYBACK.
THAT WAS A GREAT, SO FAR IT LOOKS GREAT.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, MR. HUERTA, UH, YOUR COMMENT AROUND LEASES IS NOTED.
UM, AND YOU SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED DALLAS SOCCER PARK.
AND YOU'LL REMEMBER OF COURSE, IN THAT CASE, NOT ONLY DID WE SHED ALL OF OUR MAINTENANCE OBLIGATIONS, INCLUDING UTILITIES, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING A REVENUE NOW A GUARANTEED REVENUE OFF OF THAT SITE.
SO, UM, YOUR, YOUR POINT IS, IS WELL TAKEN BY ME, UM, GOING THROUGH PROCUREMENTS TO FIND MANAGEMENT PARTNERS IS, UH, IT'S A PROCESS THAT CAN TAKE A WHILE.
HOWEVER, A LEASES ON THE OTHER HAND ARE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL DEFINITELY EXPLORE AGGRESSIVELY.
AND I JUST WANNA, UH, 'CAUSE YOU TOUCHED ON ABOUT THE SMALL CENTERS AND ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE A LEASE OR MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT? THE REASON WHY WE KINDA LEAN TOWARDS MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS, 'CAUSE WE, WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF DEFINE IF THEY'RE GONNA BE AN EXTENSION OF OUR SERVICES.
AND THAT'S THE WAY WE LIKE TO LOOK AT OUR PARTNERS.
THEY ARE AN EXTENSION OF OUR SERVICES.
WE'RE JUST NOT, WE'RE JUST NOT OUT THERE DOING IT PHYSICALLY.
WE HAVE NOW PARTNER WITH SOMEONE ELSE TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE SAME SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST IN THE ZOO IS A GOOD EXAMPLE WHERE WE WOULD NEVER, WE NEVER MANAGED THE ARBORETUM, BUT WHERE SOMETIME, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE SMALL CENTERS IS JUST NOT SOMETHING WE CAN MAXIMIZE.
WE DO GOOD AT THE LARGER CENTERS AND WE STILL NEED TO DO SOME WORK THERE AND PROBABLY TRY TO FIND SOME PARTNERS TO PARTNER WITH US.
BUT THESE SMALL CENTERS, WE JUST, IT, IT JUST DOESN'T HAVE WHAT WE DO.
BUT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN A NONPROFIT CAN'T COME IN AND RUN SOME SENIOR PROGRAMMING 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY SPECIALIZE IN.
OR RUN SOME TYPE OF FITNESS PROGRAM OUT SOME OF THESE SMALLER CENTERS OR WHERE, OR, OR RUN SOME TYPE OF NONPROFIT OR REALLY FOCUS ON TRYING TO GET, KEEP YOUTH OUTTA TROUBLE.
WE GOTTA BE OPEN TO LET US FOCUS ON THE THINGS WE KNOW WE DO GOOD.
WE SAID NO, WE CAN'T MANAGE ALL OF FAIR PARK AND DO EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE GOOD AT MAKING SURE WE MAINTAIN THE GROUNDS, WE'RE GOOD AT MAKING SURE WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE BUILDINGS AND WE GOOD AT PROBABLY MANAGING THE CONTRACTS, BUT WE'RE NOT GOOD AT ALL THE OTHER STUFF.
SO I JUST WANT US TO BE OPEN TO ALLOWING US TO FOUND SOME NONPROFITS.
THEY CAN PROBABLY DO A BETTER JOB THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING IN SOME OF THESE FACILITIES.
UM, SO I, I AGREE WITH A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TAKEN OUT IS NUMBER 12.
I, I'VE ALWAYS, UM, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTED THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE WORKING FOR US.
WE JUST CELEBRATED 27 YEARS, 32 YEARS.
UM, IF WE DO HAVE TO DO THAT, I DON'T SEE HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO 16 FROM PARK MAINTENANCE IF WE DO HAVE TO DO THIS.
I THINK IT, IT JUST START FROM THE TOP DOWN.
YOU KNOW, I, UM, YOU'RE GOING 16 FROM ONE FROM PARK MAINTENANCE.
I THINK TOP DOWN, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE THERE AT ALL, BUT IF WE DO, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE FAIR.
YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED, I WAS A PARK EMPLOYEE AND I ALMOST GOT RIPPED, I GOT SAVED, THANK Y'ALL
BUT I KNOW THERE'S WAYS THAT WE COULD DO THIS AND WE COME OUT OF IT.
BUT, UH, I I THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO, TO STICK UP FOR THE FOLKS THAT, OH, THEY MIGHT JUST CUT THE GRASS OR THEY MIGHT JUST DO THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT IF WE'RE REALLY GONNA DO THAT, WE NEED TO START FROM TOP DOWN.
I JUST WANNA SAY FOR THE RECORD, I DID START FROM THE TOP DOWN.
I, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ELIMINATING MY POSITION, UH, I ELIMINATED, UH, ONE OF MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR POSITIONS I KNOW WAS IN IT.
I'M SAYING THIS IS A FIELD POSITION.
I HOPE WE NEVER GET TO THAT BECAUSE, AND, AND PEOPLE WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS.
I ASSURE YOU WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE GET TO THAT, AS YOU KNOW, AS YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THE REAL PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WE DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE AND WE DO PLACE EVERYONE EVEN IT JUST MEAN THEY MAY MOVE OUTTA THAT POSITION GOING TO ANOTHER ONE.
BUT I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH ALL THE STAFF AND I MET WITH THE MAINTENANCE STAFF AS WELL WITH, WITH ALL OUR 1600 EMPLOYEES IS I INFORMED THEM THIS IS REAL.
THIS IS, WE UN HAD ABOUT 12 YEARS AND I GOT EMPLOYEES WHO AIN'T NEVER EXPERIENCED A, A REDUCTION IN FORCE.
BUT I'M EXPLAINING TO THEM, I DON'T WANNA GET
[01:35:01]
TO THE POINT WHERE I GOTTA LAY OFF OF POSITIONS.BUT THEY GOTTA KNOW WHAT WE USED TO DO BACK IN THE DAY.
ALL THOSE VACANT POSITIONS, WE DON'T FILL 'EM.
AND I'VE TOLD THE EMPLOYEES, GUESS WHAT NOW THEY USED TO BE TWO POSITIONS GONNA BE ONE.
WE HAVE TO STEP UP UNTIL WE GET BACK IN BETTER TIMES.
AND IF, YOU KNOW, WE GOT UNDERPERFORMING EMPLOYEES, WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THEM.
'CAUSE I DON'T NEED THE UNDERPERFORMING EMPLOYEES TO SEND OUT MY GOOD EMPLOYEES WHEN WE HAVE TO REDU HAVE A REDUCTION IN FORCE.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T MAXIMIZED THOSE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES, 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT OFFERING PROGRAMS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS WILLING TO PAY FOR, WHILE WE STILL ABLE TO OFFER THE FREE PROGRAMS TO THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT.
I GOTTA DEAL WITH THOSE EMPLOYEES AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE STEPPING IT UP AND USED TO BE A REC CENTER MANAGER AND YOU WAS A GOOD ONE.
AND, BUT WE GOTTA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S DOING THEIR PART SO WE, SO THE GOOD FOLKS DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT THE DOOR AND WE CAN SAVE JOBS.
UM, THIS IS A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION AND WE ARE ALL IN IT TOGETHER, BUT THIS IS ALSO ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHO WE REPRESENT AND THAT'S OUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS AS WELL.
AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE CLOSURE OF FOUR FACILITIES AND SAY, HEY, WE HAVE TWO FACILITIES IN DISTRICT FIVE, PLEASANT OAKS AND FRIST AND FRIST IS GONNA GO, OH, AND BY THE WAY, WE'RE ALSO CLOSING THE COMMUNITY POOL.
OH, AND BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, IT, IT BECOMES DISPROPORTIONATE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN UNDERSERVED FOR A VERY LONG TIME, TELLING THEM WE'RE CLOSING FOUR OUT OF 42 AND ONE OF THOSE IS HERE.
I JUST, THAT, THAT REALLY STINKS TO ME.
UM, WHAT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE DO WELL AND WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
I'M GONNA MAKE THE SAME POINT THAT I MADE LAST WEEK AND I'M GONNA KEEP MAKING IT.
UM, HOW MUCH DO WE SPEND TOTAL ON OUR DPD EXPENSES OR PARK SECURITY OR MARSHAL EXPENSES OR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS? REMEMBER THAT WHEN IT CAME TO JUST TOTAL FOR SECURITY, I THOUGHT THAT NUMBER WAS THE MIC.
HUH? WAS THAT NUMBER? ARE YOU COMING UP PATRICK? LINE SPEED FOR THE, SO WE SPENT ABOUT 1.21 MORE TOO.
MY TOTAL SECURITY IS WHAT, ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MILLION? YES, SIR.
WITH THE MARSHALS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IS WHAT WE'RE, IS WHAT WE'RE SPENDING ON SECURITY FOR THE PARKS SPECIFICALLY.
THE PARKS ARE A PART OF DALLAS.
IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST HARD FOR ME TO, TO LOOK AT THAT UNDERWRITING OF DEPARTMENTAL ANOTHER DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET WITH THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF, OF PARK MONEY TO SECURE OUR PARKS.
AND I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE BEING SECURED AS THE CORE COMPETENCY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I WOULD IMPLORE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE A PARTNER IN THIS AND LOOK AT HOW CAN WE REDUCE THAT COST AND THE SUPPORTING OF THEIR BUDGET WITHOUT THESE DRAMATIC IMPACTS TO OURS.
AND NO ONE'S ASKING THE POLICE TO CUT THEIR BUDGET.
I THINK IT'S THE OPPOSITE, AT LEAST FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.
UM, SO I I I, I, I, AGAIN, I LOOK AT WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE OUR CORE COMPETENCIES? WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BETTER THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO THE COMMUNITIES? WHAT, WHAT, UH, EVENTS CAN WE PUT ON IN OUR REC CENTERS, IN OUR PARKS TO CREATE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE NPOS, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT THEY TRY TO DO THAT ARE ACTUALLY, WE ARE BETTER AT AND TO BE THE HONEST BROKER, THE INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN THOSE COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENTS THAT THEY, UM, TO DO AND LOOK AT SOME KIND OF TRADE FOR CORE COMPETENCY OF SERVICE.
LET US HELP YOU MAKE BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR FACILITIES, BUT CAN WE REDUCE THE AMOUNT THAT WE ARE GIVING YOU TO SECURE OUR PARKS? AND, AND WE NEED, I THINK, CAN PICK OUT THREE OR FOUR OF THESE THINGS.
AND BY THE TIME IT'S ALL DONE, WE DON'T WANNA LOSE ANY OF THEM AND WE GOTTA LOOK IN DIRECTIONS LIKE THAT TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING.
JUST TO ASK YOU A QUESTION ON FOREST, I DO RECALL, I WANNA SAY IT WAS THREE YEARS OR FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN THERE WAS A SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT, AS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE DO SOMETHING WELL.
UH, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WAS, UH, I WANNA SAY IT WAS THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, THE BUDGET DISCUSSION WAS SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT, WELL SINCE PARKS YOU DO A LOT OF OUTREACH, BUT MAYBE DPD Y'ALL COULD TAKE OVER THEIR PAL PROGRAM SOMEHOW.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WELL, 'CAUSE WE HAD A BOXING GYM AND THERE SOME OTHER THINGS ARE, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT, THAT THEY, WE COULD PROVIDE MORE OF THAT OUTREACH THAT THEY COULD HELP FUND FOR US OR SECURITY CAMERAS OR, OR LIGHTING OUR PARKS OR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
[01:40:01]
CAN DEFINITELY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM.UH, IS THERE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY MAYBE CAN PROVIDE US SECURITY GRANTS? I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE CAN HAVE THE CONVERSATION.
AND YOU KNOW, MY LAST COMMENT IS, UM, WHEN, WHEN WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HAVING A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR A CENTER LIKE FRIS, FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD WANT TO SEE A TRANSITION FROM ONE TO THE OTHER THAT WE'RE RUNNING IT UNTIL SOMEONE ELSE IS RUNNING IT.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE A CLOSURE IN BETWEEN.
WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT ON THE BACK END IF WE GO THAT DIRECTION BECAUSE WE, WE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUES, AND I LOVE EVERYONE HERE, BUT, UH, THERE ARE DISTRICTS WITH FOUR OR FIVE FACILITIES IN THEM.
AND WHEN I'M LOOKING AT HAVING TWO AND THEN LOSING ONE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A SMOOTH TRANSITION SO THAT THAT ISN'T CLOSED.
SO LOOKING AT THE, THE IMPACT THAT PARKS MAKES AND REC CENTERS MAKE ON KIDS AND, UM, THE LONG-TERM, UH, SUCCESS OF FAMILIES, UM, REDUCING HOURS IN ZIP CODES THAT ARE HISTORICALLY SOME OF THE HIGHEST INCARCERATION, JUST BEING HOW DO WE KEEP THESE KIDS STILL ENGAGED WHEN WE'RE CLOSING, UM, SOME OF THE CENTERS OR REDUCING THE HOURS, UM, IN DISTRICT SEVEN, DISTRICT FIVE WHEN WE'RE PART OF THE ZIP CODES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST INCARCERATION RATES AND WE'RE NOT OFFERING THOSE SERVICES THERE ANYMORE.
WE DO INCREDIBLE WORK WITH THEM.
SO WE'VE GOTTA LOOK AT SOME KIND OF GRANT, SOME KIND OF SOMETHING, UM, THAT WE'RE NOT REDUCING THOSE THINGS.
AGAIN, I AGREE EVERYBODY, NOBODY WANTS TO LOSE ANYTHING BUT OUR IMPACT WITH KIDS, UM, AND SAVING THOSE KIDS THAT ARE CHALLENGED WITH NEEDING, UM, THE GUIDING LIGHT THAT OUR INCREDIBLE PARK SYSTEM DOES FOR THEM, UM, IS IMPORTANT.
SO, UM, I I, THOSE ARE GONNA BE HARD PILLS TO SWALLOW TO SEE THE TEEN TECH CENTER THAT WAS THE GUIDING LIGHT OR SINGING HILLS RECORDING STUDIO AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE TEEN TECH CENTER BROUGHT TO US.
UM, AND NOW IT'S ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK AND WE'VE GOT THOSE PROGRAMS IN OTHER AREAS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SEE THAT GO.
SO I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FUNDING WILL END, BUT MAYBE THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE OUR NEW GRANTS PERSON THAT WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON FINDING A NEW, UM, SPONSOR FOR THAT.
UM, JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.
FIRST, THE EFFICIENCY SECTION, GOLF PRIVATIZATION.
DO WE HAVE ANY GOLF COURSES THAT ARE PRIVATIZED RIGHT NOW? AND IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED PROPOSALS ON PRIVATIZATION? SORRY TO STEAL YOUR MIC.
UH, WE WILL BE BRIEFING, UH, THE RFP PROCESS TO THE GOLF AD HOC COMMITTEE VERY, VERY SOON, WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO TO GET THAT PROCESS UNDERWAY.
WE ALREADY HAVE, WE, WE PUT OUT AN RFP BEFORE AND, AND THE BOARD DID A, UH, SO THERE WAS AN RFP THAT HAD THE FOR FOR-PROFIT AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT.
UH, THE, THE, UH, UH, THE BOARD WANTED US TO PUT 'EM BACK OUT FOR BID AGAIN BECAUSE IT, IT DIDN'T MEET THE EXPECTATION.
AND SO THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW PUTTING THAT RFP BACK OUT THE DOOR AND, AND JUST TO LEVEL SET.
SO THE WAY THAT WE, UH, MANAGE OUR GOLF ASSETS, UH, THE CITY PROVIDES MAINTENANCE OF THE GOLF COURSES WHILE WE HAVE A, A CONTRACT WITH THE PRO THAT DOES THE PRO SHOP OPERATIONS COLLECTS THE GREEN FEES POINT OF SALE, F AND B MERCHANDISE, THAT SORT OF THING.
MY MY SECOND QUESTION WAS JUST ON LINE 10, UM, BELOW THE LINE LITTER PICKUP, DOES THIS INCLUDE ACTUALLY EMPTY TRASH CANS AT EACH PARK? AND IS THIS GOING TO BE ADJUSTED BASED ON THE HOW ACTIVE EACH PARK IS? FOR EXAMPLE, FLAGPOLE HILL PARK IS VERY HEAVILY USED PARK, ITS TRASH CANS ARE OVERFLOWING EVERY WEEKEND.
AND IF WE CUT BACK ON THAT, I WOULD WONDER WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE IF WE'VE GOT TRASH.
SO THE WAY IT WORKS, UH, TRUST ME,
[01:45:01]
I, I'VE BEEN PART OF HAVING TO REDUCE THE MAINTENANCE IN MY PREVIOUS POSITIONS DOING SOME BUDGET CUTS.AND SO NORMALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS, YOU KNOW, AT ONE TIME OUR LIT PICKUP, LITERALLY, I MEAN OUT OF THE NINETIES, UH, WAS TWO DAYS A WEEK LIT, PICK UP OUR ENTIRE PARKS FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.
LET ME TELL YOU, ALL WE RECEIVED WAS COMPLAINTS EVERY SINGLE DAY, HOW BAD HEARTS LOOKED AND MOWING
AND THEN FINALLY WHEN WE GOT IN THE GOOD YEARS, WE WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK UP TO, UH, THREE DAYS A WEEK.
THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE, BUT IT, IT DIDN'T GET US WHERE IT STOPPED THE COMPLAINTS.
THEN WE GOT TO THREE AND A HALF AND THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A SWEET SPOT.
BUT THEN WHEN WE GOT IT UP TO AN AVERAGE OF FOUR DAYS A WEEK, ALL COMPLAINTS WENT DOWN.
I DIDN'T HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ANYMORE.
I DIDN'T HEAR FROM BOARD MEMBERS, I DIDN'T HEAR FROM CITIZENS.
SO SOME SPOTS, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE AROUND LIKE AQUATICS FACILITY, I MEAN A SPRAY GROUND, BECAUSE THEY OPERATE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, WE HAVE TO PICK UP SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
UH, KNOWING IF THEY'RE AROUND A REC CENTER, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE PICKING UP ABOUT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
BUT SOME OF THE, SOME PARKS, BECAUSE BASED ON USAGE, TO YOUR POINT, SOME PARKS TODAY ONLY GET LIKE TWO AND A HALF.
SOME PARKS CAN GO ALL THE WAY UP TO SEVEN DAYS.
SO WE WOULD MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT DEPENDING ON IF WE HAVE TO START REDUCING LITTER PICKUPS.
UM, MADAM SECRETARY, BEFORE YOU START MY TIME, UH, I WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CENA JUST WALKED IN.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
UM, OKAY, NOW YOU CAN START MY TIME.
YEAH,
UH, FIRST OF ALL, UH, THIS CATEGORY IS, IS NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT SITS IN ONE PARTNER MANAGEMENT FEE, THE DALLAS ZOO AT $14.9 MILLION.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS LINE ITEM AND IT MENTIONS PARTNER MANAGEMENT FEES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CATEGORY WHERE THE SCALE IS HEAVILY CONCENTRATED INTO ONE PARTNER.
SECOND, WE HAVE PARTNERS LIKE THE ARBORETUM, THE DALLAS ARBORETUM, THAT OPERATE WITH MINIMAL MANAGEMENT FEES, BUT ALSO GENERATE SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY INVESTMENT.
THERE'S ACTUALLY AN ARGUMENT I CAN MAKE WITH DATA THAT SUGGESTS WE NEED TO GIVE THE ARBORETUM MORE.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR A DECISION TO BE MADE TODAY ON THE MANAGEMENT FEES, AND I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO END UP AS LION OR TIGER FOOD BEFORE I LEAVE TODAY.
UM, BUT WHAT I AM ASKING FOR VERY CLEARLY IS I AM GOING TO ASK FOR A CLOSER EXAMINATION, UM, OF THESE FEES IN THE FACE OF THESE IMMEDIATE BUDGET CRISIS THAT WE, THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, I WILL SAY A NEGOTIATED REDUCTION OF EVEN $3 MILLION FROM THE ZOO'S MANAGEMENT FEE FRAMED AS A ONE YEAR SHARED SACRIFICE IS FAR MORE DEFENSIBLE THAN THE MASSIVE REDUCTIONS IN CORE SERVICES.
WE SAW EARLIER THE ZOO'S RELIANCE ON OUR MANAGEMENT FEE SHOULD BE DECLINING AS THEIR REVENUE GROWS.
AND I WANT THAT TO BE ON THE RECORD.
UM, THERE ARE CREATIVE WAYS TO DO THIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR DEPARTMENT TO BE A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
JUST ADD, JUST, UH, WHEN WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ZOO AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS, UH, AND I, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT AS IT RELATES.
UH, THE REASON WHY WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A HUGE CUT THIS YEAR, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TWO REASONS WE GAVE THEM CONSIDERATION BECAUSE ONE, THEY VOLUNTEERED, VOLUNTEERED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, ONCE, THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, THEY GAVE UP THE CPI AND THEN LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO, UH, THEY TOOK A BUDGET CUT.
AND SO WE WANTED TO GIVE 'EM CONSIDERATION.
HOWEVER, TO YOUR POINT, UH, BECAUSE THE COUNCIL HAS EXPRESSED IT, THE, THE, UH, BOARD HAS, HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE, BUT WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH ZOO AND WE WILL BE HAVING DISCUSSION BETWEEN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PURSUE AT THE ZOO THAT CAN HELP GET THAT MANAGEMENT FEE DOWN AS WELL AS SOME SYSTEMATIC WAY, UH, TO GET THE MANAGEMENT FEE DOWN, UH, GRADUALLY OVER TIME.
BUT WITH A DEFINE TO YOUR POINT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO I'M GONNA TAKE MY FIRST ROUND 'CAUSE IT'S A GOOD SEGUE INTO MY,
[01:50:01]
UM, PREPARED STATEMENT THAT I HAVE BEFORE I ADDRESS THE BUDGET.I JUST PERSONALLY WANT TO KNOW THAT I THINK IT'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT THE BOARD MEETING IS BEING HELD A PUBLIC MEETING AT THE ZOO TODAY.
UM, WE'RE DISCUSSING A 13 TO $14 MILLION BUDGET CUT TO THE DALLAS PARK SERVICES WHILE SITTING INSIDE THE FACILITY OF ONE OF OUR HIGHEST COMPENSATED PARTNERS.
THIS CONVERSATION BELONGS AT CITY HALL IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC.
COUNCILMAN RICK AND I HAD TO DRIVE HERE TODAY.
SURE, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, NOT AS GUESTS OF ONE OF THE ENTITIES WERE A WERE BEING ASKED TO SCRUTINIZE.
I'D ASK THAT FUTURE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS OF THIS NATURE BE HELD AT CITY HALL.
UM, MR. KAMI HAS ASKED, UH, HIS WALKTHROUGH A PROPOSED 3% PARTNER STIPEND REDUCTION OF $468,659 IN TOTAL SAVINGS.
I WANNA GO DEEPER INTO THAT NUMBER, UH, OF WHAT THAT NUMBER ACTUALLY REPRESENTS, AND WHETHER A UNIFORM 3% REDUCTION IS THE RIGHT APPROACH GIVEN WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT OUR PARTNERS.
THE PARTNERS STIPEND LINE ITEM IS DOMINATED BY A SINGLE PARTNER, THE ZOO, WHICH RECEIVES A $14.9 MILLION ANNUAL MANAGEMENT SERVICE FEE FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS.
BY COMPARISON, THE DALLAS ARBORETUM, OUR OTHER MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL PARTNER, RECEIVES $411,000 FROM THE CITY PLUS $419,000 IN UTILITY SUPPORT FOR A TOTAL OF $830,000.
BOTH ARE WORLD CLASS INSTITUTIONS OPERATING ON A CITY OWNED LAND, BOTH DELIVER SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY VALUE.
HOWEVER, THE FINANCES ARE VA VASTLY DIFFERENT.
I WANNA ASK STAFF, STAFF A SPECIFIC QUESTION.
UM, CAN YOU CONFIRM THE ZOO'S 14 POINT $0.9 MILLION MANAGEMENT FEE IS FIXED AND DOES IT ADJUST ANNUALLY BASED ON THE ZOO'S OPERATIONAL REVENUES? UH, MR. CHAIR IS FIXED, UH, BECAUSE OF WHAT DIRECTOR JENKINS JUST MENTIONED.
THE CPI WAS REMOVED A FEW YEARS AGO.
UH, HERE'S WHY THAT NUMBER MATTERS.
UM, SINCE 2009, THE DALLAS ZOO'S OPERATIONAL REVENUES HAVE GROWN FROM 16.3 MILLION TO 41.9 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 157% OVER THAT SAME PERIOD.
THE MANAGEMENT FEE HAS GROWN FROM 10.8 MILLION TO 14.9 MILLION.
THE ZOO IS DRAMATICALLY MORE COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL THAN IT WAS, UH, WHEN THIS CONTRACT WAS SIGNED.
WE SAW THAT IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY, UM, FROM LISA NEW.
YET THE CITY'S PAYMENT HAS CONTINUED TO GROW IN ABSOLUTE DOLLARS.
I ANTICIPATE THE RESPONSE THE LARGER CITIES.
I I ANTICIPATE THE RESPONSE THAT LARGER CITIES LIKE HOUSTON SUPPORT THEIR ZOOS AT HIGHER DOLLAR AMOUNTS.
AND I WANNA ADDRESS THAT DIRECTLY BEFORE IT'S RAISED.
WHEN WE MEASURE THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION AS A PERCENTAGE FOR OPERATING REVENUES, WHICH ELIMINATES POPULATION SIZE AS VARIABLE, WE PAINT AN INTERESTING PICTURE.
HOUSTON ZOO GENERATES $72 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUES AND RECEIVES 12.5 MILLION FROM THE CITY, WHICH IS 17% OF OPERATION FORT WORTH AT 50 MILLION AND RECEIVES 13000027%.
DALLAS ZOO GENERATES 41 MILLION, RECEIVES 14.9 MILLION.
IF DALLAS'S MANAGEMENT FEE WAS BENCHMARKED TO HOUSTON'S 17% RATIO, THE CITY'S ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $7.1 MILLION, SAVING NEARLY, NEARLY $7.8 MILLION ANNUALLY.
AND EVEN IF IT WAS 27% RATIO, THE CONTRIBUTION WOULD BE 11.3 MILLION, SAVING OVER $3.6 MILLION A YEAR.
UM, LET ME CONTRAST THIS REAL QUICK WITH THE ARBORETUM.
DALLAS ARBORETUM RECEIVES $411,000 IN CITY CASH, ROUGHLY TWO TO 3% OF ITS BUDGET.
MY QUESTION TO STAFF IS STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IF WE APPLY A UNIFORM, 3% REDUCTION ACROSS ALL PARTNER STIPENDS, WE'RE CUTTING THE ARBORETUM BY THE SAME PERCENTAGE, WE'RE CUTTING THE ZOO, WHICH RECEIVES 36 TIMES MORE IN CITY SUPPORT AND HAS A FIXED CONTRACT THAT DOES NOT ADJUST AS ITS REVENUE GROWS.
WITH THAT, IN CONCRETE TERMS, THE THREE PROPOSED 3% CUT TO ALL PARTNER STIPEND SAVES THE DEPARTMENT $468,000.
THAT'S THE NUMBER STAFF PRESENTED AS A MEANINGFUL PROGRESS TOWARDS $14 MILLION.
AND I WANNA ASK STAFF DIRECTLY, HAS AN ANALYSIS BEEN DONE ON WHAT A PERFORMANCE LINKED REDUCTION TO THE ZOO'S MANAGEMENT FEE WOULD YIELD AND WHY WAS A UNIFORM 3% APPLIED TO ALL PARTNERS RATHER THAN A TIERED APPROACH THAT REFLECTS EACH PARTNER'S FINANCIAL CAPACITY AND THE CITY'S PROPORTIONAL CONTRIBUTION? YEAH, I ASKED THE LAST PART FIRST.
FIRST THE UNIFORM APPROACH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD HAS ACCEPTED IN THE PAST FOR THE LAST, UH, ANY TIME WE HAD ANY TYPE OF BUDGET REDUCTIONS.
BUT IF THIS BOARD FROM A POLICY LEVEL WANNA SAY, DO NOT APPLY UNI, UH, A, A UNIVERSAL APPROACH, THEN WE WILL FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD.
SO I'M ASKING THE STAFF TO BRING BACK TO THE BOARD BEFORE THE NEXT BUDGET WORKSHOP, A DETAILED TIERED PARTNER ANALYSIS, BREAKING OUT EACH PARTNER BY DOLLARS RECEIVED FROM THE CITY SERVICES DELIVERED IN RETURN, AND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE PARTNERS OPERATIONAL REVENUES THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION REPRESENTS.
UH, WE CANNOT MAKE A SOUND BUDGET
[01:55:01]
DECISION WITHOUT, WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION.I'LL WAIT FOR MY NEXT ONE, MR. WAHA.
THERE'S NO CUTS FOR ANY OF OUR PARTNERS, THE ZOO ARBORETUM.
I GOTTA, I GOT A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.
SO GOING BACK TO PAGE FOUR, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK ON IT, BUT EVERYBODY HAS THEIR BOOK, THE, THE GOLF, UH, FOR CEDAR CREST.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
OUR REC CENTERS, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, I THINK A YEAR AND A HALF WHERE WE, WE, WE STARTED THE CON THE CONTRACT BIDDING AND, AND IT WENT BACK AND FORTH AND BACK.
AND NOW IT IS ALMOST TWO YEARS, IF I'M CORRECT ON TIMELINE.
UH, I MEAN, YEAH, IT'S PROCESS.
YEAH, IT'S, IT'S, TO YOUR POINT, IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M AFRAID IS GONNA HAPPEN IN THE OUR FACILITIES IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SAY, WE'RE GONNA GO THIS ROUTE AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO YEARS AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO KEEP 'EM OPEN OR NOT OPEN, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA FALL INTO THAT CIRCLE WHERE IT'S, HE'S COMING BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT MANAGEMENT PARTNER.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THAT, THAT PROVED MY POINT ON CEDAR CREST WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT CAN GET LOST.
THE OTHER ONE IS THIS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR FOR THESE CUTS.
SO THINKING ABOUT THAT, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT OUR WINTER CAMPS AT, AT BRE CENTERS, OUR SPRING CAMPS AND OUR SUMMER CAMPS.
IF WE DO A REDUCTION OF HOURS AND THAT, AND WE GO TO 40 HOURS THROUGH A WHOLE YEAR, THAT'S 6.5 ROUGHLY HOURS PER DAY, MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
AND IF WE DO OUR SUMMER CAMPS, WE'RE ONLY GONNA HAVE OUR SUMMER CAMPS FOR SIX HOURS, OR NOW WE'RE GONNA OPEN 'EM UP DURING THOSE WEEKS AND EXPAND OUR HOURS IF WE DO SUMMER CAMPS AT, 'CAUSE THE SUMMER CAMPS START DROP OFFICE AT SEVEN 30 AND PICK UP IS AT FIVE 30.
I MIGHT BE WRONG ON THE FIVE 30, BUT I THINK SEVEN 30 TO FIVE OR FIVE 30 IS OUR PICKUPS.
SO THAT'S ALREADY, THAT'S ALREADY 10, 10 HOURS A DAY.
PLUS IF WE STAY OPEN TILL EIGHT O'CLOCK, THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL 12.5.
SO WE'RE GOING FROM 40 HOURS TO 80 HOURS ROUGHLY DURING THAT WEEK.
SO I THINK BY REDUCING HOURS WE'RE ACTUALLY COST OURSELVES.
ARE WE NOT GONNA HAVE THOSE PROGRAMMINGS OR ARE WE GONNA OPEN UP DURING THOSE TIMES? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
I I CAN JUST TELL YOU, TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE, 'CAUSE IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED FOR A BUDGET REDUCTION SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN MY 33 YEARS, IT WON'T BE THE LAST TIME.
UH, THE REALITY IS THAT THIS DEPARTMENT HAS HAD TO, IN, IN, IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UH, DOWNTURNS, WE HAD TO CONTRACT.
AND THAT'S THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER.
WHEN WE GET IN GOOD YEARS, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR SERVICES.
AND THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AS LONG AS YOU HAVE CITY GOVERNMENT.
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PROPOSE IS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP GOING THROUGH THAT WAVE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO, TO WEAN OURSELF AS MUCH AS WE CAN OFF THIS GENERAL FUND SO THAT WE DON'T KEEP GETTING INTO THESE CYCLES AND WE START CONTROLLING OUR OWN DESTINY.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, I WANNA REASSURE THE PUBLIC NOT REASSURE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOWS THIS BOARD KNOWS, COUNCIL KNOWS THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN OVER TIME.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THIS TIME IS WE'RE NOT IN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.
WE GOT A STRUCTURAL ISSUE OF CHANGE.
NOW YOU HAVE, SO THE STRUCTURE ISSUE IS NOT GONNA CHANGE ANYTIME SOON BECAUSE NOW YOU'VE BEEN CAPPED AT 3.5% WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ABLE TO CAPTURE ANY NEW PROPERTY TAX REVENUES, YOU'RE CAPPED.
IT'S NOT LIKE IN THE PAST WHERE YOU COULD HAVE WENT TO FIVE, YOU COULD HAVE WENT TO SEVEN, YOU COULD HAVE CAPTURED THAT.
AND WHEN THE CITY, UH, EXPANDS, YOU HAVE THOSE NEW REVENUES THAT GO TOWARDS THAT EXPANSION OF SERVICES, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE.
YOUR OTHER ISSUE YOU GOT NOW IS, I'M JUST TELLING YOU, FOR SOMEONE WHO BEEN AROUND FOR 30 SOMETHING YEARS AND WATCHED THESE CYCLES, WHY THIS IS A STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND NOT A DOWN TO ECONOMIC CHANGE.
THE OTHER ISSUE GOT IS, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS DECIDED.
AND AND RIGHTFULLY SO, 50% OF YOUR REVENUES IS GOING TOWARDS, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO, THAT'S WHY OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN TRYING TO POSITION US TO SAY, WE GOTTA GET RID OF CORE SERVICE.
I MEAN, WE GOTTA KEEP CORE SERVICES, BUT WE'RE GOT TO GET RID OF ALL THIS OTHER STUFF THAT'S NOT A CORE SERVICE BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT ALL ANYMORE.
BUT IF YOU WANNA DO IT ALL, THEN WE BETTER COME UP WITH SOME NEW REVENUE SOURCES THAT ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO STILL GROW KNOWING THAT THIS IS A STRUCTURAL CHANGE.
WE'RE NOT IN THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.
[02:00:01]
REVENUES CATCH UP WITH GROWTH, WHICH YOU ARE THREE TO PROBABLY FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS OUT TO GROW YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS, I'M JUST TELLING YOU FROM EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE THIS IS A STRUCTURAL CHANGE.THERE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE SOME HARD DECISIONS ON WHAT CORE SERVICES WILL NO LONGER EXIST.
I MEAN, NOT CORE SERVICES, NON-CORE SERVICES.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO LOOK INTERNALLY FIRST AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO LOOK INTERNALLY FIRST.
WHAT OTHER NON-CORE SERVICES WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET OUTTA THE BUSINESS OF DOING IN THIS PARK SYSTEM UNTIL OUR REVENUE, OUR REVENUE GROWTH CATCHES UP.
UM, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE ZOO IS ACTUALLY A MANDATED CHARTER, UM, AMENITY FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE CITY CHARTER.
AND THE, THE COST TO US AT THAT 14.1 MILLION IS COMPARATIVE TO WHAT IT OPERATED WHEN WE WERE OPERATING IT OUR OURSELF.
HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO WHAT THE COST BE? IF WE WERE OPERATING THIS, DO OURSELVES RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD THE COST BE TO THE TAXPAYERS AS THAT MANDATED, UM, AMENITY FOR THE CITY? WHAT WOULD THAT COST US? I MEAN, THE BUDGET IS, UH, IF YOU, IF IF YOU WANT TO OFFER THE SAME HIGH LEVEL QUALITY SERVICE THAT THEY OFFER, I THINK THEIR BUDGET IS $41 MILLION.
THAT'S THE NUMBER WE WOULD NEED.
ARE WE GONNA GET $41 MILLION? THE ANSWER IS NO.
ARE WE GONNA BE ABLE TO CONVINCE NONPROFITS, THE PHILANTHROPISTS COMMUNITY LIKE THEY'RE ABLE TO DO AND LEVERAGE RESOURCES? THE ANSWER IS NO.
AND SO IT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT'S THE RIGHT NUMBER THAT IT SHOULD BE FROM CITY SUPPORT.
SO I DON'T WANT US TO LOSE FOCUS ON THAT.
THE REAL QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU DO IT IN A STRATEGIC WAY THAT DOESN'T PUT THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE IT COMPROMISES THE QUALITY THEY'RE PROVIDING TODAY? AND CAN WE DO THAT IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY WORKING WITH THE ZOO THAT BENEFITS EVERYONE? AND BY NO MEANS DO I THINK THAT THE ZOO SHOULD NOT TAKE PART OF THE, THEIR, OUR BURDEN OF OUR BUDGET CRUNCHES.
AND AND I THINK THAT ALL OF OUR PARTNERS WILL TAKE THAT.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE HAVE INCR AND WE HAVE WORLD CLASS DESTINATIONS WITH THE ARBORETUM AND THE ZOO.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE BUILT THESE THINGS UP AND WE ARE PROUD OF THEM IN OUR CITY AND WE CAN'T LET THEM FAIL.
SO WE HAVE TO GET CREATIVE, WE HAVE TO GET, UM, BUT AS A CITY MANDATED, I THINK THIS IS THE ONLY CHARTER MANDATED, UM, ENTITY IN THE CITY.
SO AS MUCH AS I LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER, UM, INSTITUTIONS IN OUR PARTNERS, THIS ONE IS AN OBLIGATED BY THE TAXPAYERS OR THE PEOPLE.
UM, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, PART OF THAT.
BUT BY NO MEANS DO I SAY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO SHARE IN THE, THE BURDEN OF THE BUDGET.
UM, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, GETTING TO A TIGER KING, UM, ROADSIDE, UM, PARK, UM, AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE.
YEAH, I, UH, I'M GONNA TAKE MY ROUND TWO.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT PROPOSING, WE PROBABLY, WE, WE TAKE THE ZOO BACK OVER, WE HAVE A 15% CUT.
WE SAW ON SLIDE ONE OF THE LAST SLIDES THE PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET OF OUR STIPENDS AS IT RELATES TO OUR TOTAL BUDGET.
AND I THINK IT WAS THE SECOND LARGEST LINE ITEM ON THAT, ON THAT, THAT SHEET, WHICH THE MAJORITY OF THAT MONEY GOES TO ZOO.
UM, AND SO IF WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE CUTS OR WE'RE GONNA CLOSE REC CENTERS, OR EXCUSE ME, FACILITIES, AND WE'RE GONNA REDUCE MOWING AND LITTER PICKUP, THAT BECOME A HEALTH PROBLEM.
THE PROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE GIVE TO THE ZOO COMPARED TO OUR OTHER LOCATIONS IS NOT, IS NOT THE SAME.
SO, UH, ANOTHER ITEM I WANNA RAISE THE QUESTION OF SPECIALTY ITEMS. I KNOW GOLF COURSES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP, UM, AND I'M JUST USING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE.
SO IF ANYBODY IS A FAN OF THIS GOLF COURSE, I'M JUST USING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE, UM, LOOKING AT LUNA VISTA GOLF COURSE, THE CITY OWNS FIVE GOLF COURSES ACROSS SIX LOCATIONS.
NOT ONE OF THEM IS LOCATED NORTH OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
THE ARGUMENT THAT THESE COURSES SERVE THE ENTIRE CITY IS NOT SUPPORTED GEOGRAPHICALLY OR FINANCIALLY.
[02:05:01]
COURSES GENERATE GREENS, FEES, REVENUES, BUT DOES, DOES THAT REVENUE COVER, MAINTENANCE, STAFFING, ADMINISTRATION AND CAPITAL COSTS WHEN FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR RYAN OR RACHEL, CAN YOU CONFIRM THE CURRENT ANNUAL NET SUBSIDY THE GENERAL FUND PROVIDES AT THE GOLF ENTERPRISE FUND? AFTER ALL REVENUES AND EXPENSES ARE ACCOUNTED FOR, BASICALLY IS THE GOLF, BECAUSE WHEN I DID MY RESEARCH, IT SAID WE WERE LOSING MONEY ON GOLF FOR LIKE THE LAST 21 YEARS.UM, AND I I, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, BECAUSE I WAS PULLING DATA FROM LIKE 2018.
I COULDN'T FIND ANY, ANY CURRENT DATA.
SO GOLF, SO GOLF RIGHT NOW, AND YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT SOME OF THE GOLF REVENUES, UM, ARE NOT NECESSARILY ALL SITTING AND OPERATING.
THEY'RE SITTING IN MULTI-YEAR FUNDS.
SO RIGHT NOW WE DO RECEIVE ALL OF THE GREEN FEES, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE SITTING AT ABOUT, UM, 85% COST RECOVERY.
SO THERE IS A, A SMALL PERCENTAGE THERE THAT WE, THE CITY IS, UM, FUNDING FOR US.
AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THEIR BUDGET.
WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE COST OF THE GOLF COURSE? I GET IT THAT, YOU KNOW MM-HMM
BUT 2.3 MILLION, IS THAT ON THE GENERAL FUND, WHETHER IT'S THE ACTUAL AMOUNT THAT'S ON THE GENERAL FUND, IS IT 1.8? I THINK IT'S CLOSER TO THREE BECAUSE SOME OF THEY AVERAGE AROUND, UM, 850,000 TO OPERATE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
WE GET YOU THE NUMBER, BUT I DO THINK IT, WE GET YOU THAT NUMBER.
BUT TO RAISE YOUR POINT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHY THE GOLF COURSES STAY RELEVANT, BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO HOLD BACK 55% OF THE REVENUES THAT GOES BACK INTO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
GO BACK INTO KEEPING THE GOLF COURSES RELEVANT, UPDATED, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD HAD MENTIONED.
AND THEN THE, THAT'S BEEN THE PRACTICE.
UH, AND THAT'S WHY OUR GOLF COURSES HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST ROUNDS FOR A MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE IN THE ENTIRE STATE.
I MEAN, OUR ROUNDS ARE AVERAGING FOR, FOR ALL SIX COURSES.
IT'S LIKE 230,000 ROUNDS A YEAR, WHICH IS HUGE.
UM, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE, BUT I'M JUST GONNA PROPOSE IT BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING.
UM, LUNA VISTA IS THE MOST LOGICAL CANDIDATE FOR OUTRIGHT SALE.
IT'S GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED FROM THE OTHER COURSES.
IT'S IN AN AREA WITH PRIVATE SECTOR INTERESTS.
MOVING FROM THE CITY'S MAINTENANCE OBLIGATIONS WOULD, WOULD PRODUCE BOTH IMMEDIATE PROCEEDS AND ONGOING SAVINGS.
I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF WE LOOKED AT SELLING ONE OF THE GOLF COURSES.
AND LUNA VISTA IS THE ONE I COULD PICK OUT THAT WOULD BE LEAST IMPACTFUL.
UM, UH, THE MAY 21 PRESENTATION ASKED US TO TODAY'S PRESENTATION TO CLOSE FOUR COMMUNITY SERVER CENTERS, REDUCE REC CENTER HOURS, CUT MOWING, REDUCE LITTER PICKUP.
BEFORE WE DO ANY OF THAT, THE BOARD SHOULD EXHAUST EVERY ASSET MONETIZATION OPTION AVAILABLE TO US CLOSING ARCADIA MARCUS AND THE OTHERS AFFECTS REAL DALLAS RESIDENTS IN WAYS THAT ARE IMMEDIATE AND VISIBLE, UH, RATIONALIZING GOLF.
UM, AND KEEPING THAT AS IT IS WHILE WE'RE REDUCING THE OTHERS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
MR. OH, I'M GONNA STILL AROUND TWO OR AROUND ONE.
SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH SENTIMENT THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS.
UM, HAVE WE DONE A PRICE COMPARISON OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE CLOSING THESE FOUR FACILITIES VERSUS REDUCING THEIR HOURS TO MAYBE SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR DAYS THAT THEY ATTEND? NO, WE HAVE NOT.
IT BE POSSIBLE TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS? YES, WE COULD.
UM, AND THEN AS IT RELATES TO MARCUS ANNEX, THAT'S A SENIOR CENTER.
I WAS TRYING TO LOOK ONLINE AND COULDN'T FIND IT.
DO WE KNOW HOW MANY SENIOR CENTERS WE HAVE WITHIN DALLAS PARKS AND REC? THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT YET.
IT'S THE ONLY, THAT'S THE ONLY ONE.
THAT'S THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE CLOSING THE ONLY, AND THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE PRETTY ACTIVE ON FACEBOOK.
LIKE THEY'RE, THEY HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES.
SO WE'RE CLOSING OUR ONLY SE OUR PROPOSALS TO COOSE THE ONLY SENIOR, BUT THAT'S A, THAT'S A STANDALONE.
WE HAVE SENIOR CENTERS WITHIN THE RECREATION OKAY.
BUT THIS IS A STANDALONE SENIOR CENTER.
THEY'RE STILL PROGRAMMING FOR SENIORS IN MARCUS REC CENTER.
AND THAT'S A PRETTY NEW FACILITY.
SO IT'S 20, MARCUS ANNEX 2020.
I MEAN, YOU WERE SAYING SOME OF 'EM WERE LIKE 1960S, BUT YEAH.
UM, AND THEN FOR THE DISD PROGRAMMING, THAT'S
[02:10:01]
BEING CUT FROM THE FOUR DAYS OR PROPOSAL TO BE CUT FROM FOUR DAYS TO TWO DAYS.DO WE KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE BEING AFFECTED? I WOULD HAVE TO.
WE'D HAVE TO GET THAT BACK TO YOU.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, AND THEN COULD WE GET A BREAKOUT OF HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE IN ASK MS. RANDALL HEAD OF BALLPARK AND SO THE STUDENTS, THE, THE, THE THE DISD PROGRAM? YEAH.
SO THAT'S AN AQUATICS PROGRAM.
AND SO RIGHT NOW THERE ARE ABOUT 50, 50 TO A HUNDRED PARTICIPANTS THAT USE THAT, THAT PROGRAM.
SO THE PROGRAM ON HERE, THAT'S THE REDUCE THE DIC DAYTIME PROGRAMMING.
AND SO WE'D BE AFFECTING 150 TO A HUNDRED STUDENTS.
UM, AND ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE BEING, THAT ARE OFFERED IN THOSE AREAS FOR THOSE KIDS TO TRANSITION TO? SO CURRENTLY THAT IS OUR YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM.
SO FOR US, THERE'S NOT ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING I CAN RESEARCH, BUT IF YOU GUYS KNOW, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT A LOT OF THIS SENIORS WE'RE ACTUALLY AT MARCUS AT, AT BOTH CENTERS.
UM, HAVE WE GONE TO DO LIKE A SITE VISIT TO SEE IF ALL OF THE, IF IT IS IN FACT SHUT DOWN, IF ALL OF THOSE ACTIVITIES CAN OCCUR AT THE REC CENTER, THOSE CAN HAVE STEVE WHO USED THE, YOU KNOW, STEVE BAKER WHO USED ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OVER RECREATION, BUT NOW HE'S OVER MAINTENANCE, BUT HE, HE CAN PROVIDE MORE TEACHERS.
SO THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 THAT ARE ATTENDING THE RECREATION CENTER, UH, SENIOR PROGRAMMING AND APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 THAT ARE ATTENDING, UH, MARKET SANEX.
BUT YEAH, WE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE THE SPACES AVAILABLE TO ACCOMMODATE MULTIPLE PROGRAMMINGS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.
'CAUSE IN THE PAST, TO YOUR POINT, ALL THE SENIORS WERE IN THE MECHANICS.
UH, BUT WHEN YOU SAY PROBABLY BEEN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS WHERE THEY HAVE NOW, SOME OF 'EM HAVE MIGRATED TO THE YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WE'VE DEFINITELY MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THAT REGARD IN DRAWING FOLKS IN FROM THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, IT'S BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT, THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DRAW EVERYBODY OVER TO THE CENTER.
CAN I ASK ONE FINAL THING? CAN WE GET A BUDGET BREAKOUT OF WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS $42,000 THAT'S BEING CUT? LIKE WHAT IS IT? BECAUSE IF IT'S 42,000 FOR A HUNDRED STUDENTS, JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT'S BEING RIGHT.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TODAY, BUT JUST AS A FOLLOW UP BY THAT.
I'LL TAKE MY ROUND THREE TODAY.
UM, I WANNA TALK ABOUT PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES.
SO MR. O'CONNOR, DON'T GO FAR.
UM, THESE ARE FEES DALLAS DEVELOPERS PAY INTO, UM, WHAT GOES INTO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR DALLAS PARKS 2023.
TEXAS HOUSE BILL 1526 ALLOWED THE CITY OF DALLAS TO INCREASE THESE FEES.
WHILE SOME OF US ADVOCATED HEAVILY TO GET THE MAXIMUM FEES.
UNFORTUNATELY, A MAJORITY OF OUR CITY COUNCIL ULTIMATELY SIDED WITH DEVELOPER PROFITS OVER OUR QUALITY OF LIFE THAT NEEDS TO BE CALLED OUT FOREVER.
AND, UH, WE COULD BE TAKING MORE MONEY.
RIGHT NOW, THERE IS ABOUT 11 TO $13 MILLION IN THAT ACCOUNT.
IN A BUDGET CRISIS LIKE THIS, CAN WE MOVE DOLLARS FROM APEX TO OPEX? UH, THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS THE, UM, NEW ORDINANCE THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE, UH, BY THE CITY COUNCIL DOES ALLOW FOR MAINTENANCE EXPENDITURES TO BE MADE FROM THAT FUND.
AND WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY CONSIDER THAT I THINK IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS.
DO WE KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT OF THESE, HAVE WE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND HAVE WE HAD THOSE, UM, PARTNER COMMENTS AND, UM, HOW WILL THE, UH, IMPACTS IMPACT THE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE $3 MILLION FOR THE ZOO? HOW WILL THAT IMPACT THE ZOO? UM, DO WE HAVE ANY INSIGHT ON THAT? WE HAVEN'T HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ZOO YET, BUT, UH, A FIGURE LIKE THAT WOULD HAVE A, A MEANINGFUL IMPACT.
DO WE, DO WE HAVE REPRESENTATIONS FROM OUR PARTNERS HERE THAT COULD ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS? COULD THE ZOO, UM, TELL US HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT US? SURE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
AS WE, LIKE, WE, IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, WE SHOULD HAVE THE ARBORETUM, THE, THE WHO, WHO ELSE? TRINITY AUDUBON.
[02:15:01]
AUDUBON.LIKE, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, MR. CHAIR.
UM, SINCE WE WERE BROUGHT, IT WAS BROUGHT UP.
IF YOU ALL WOULD NOT, WE HAVE OUR CFO HERE.
IF YOU'D RATHER US NOT SPEAK, THAT'S FINE.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS, IS AT THE NEXT MEETING, IF Y'ALL WANT ALL THE PARTNERS, I THINK WE ALL THE PARTNERS COME AND SPEAK.
I MEAN, I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THE PARTNERS, BUT IT'S, IT, IT'S GERMANE TO THE CONVERSATION.
WE PUT 'EM ON BLAST THAT WE'RE, THEY'RE THE PROBLEM OR THEY'RE THE HIGHEST CUT.
I, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE THE PROBLEM NECESSARILY, BUT I MEAN, THEIR, THEIR BUDGET IS THE HIGHEST.
SO HOW IS IT GONNA IMPACT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR OUR ZOO THAT IS A CITY CHARTERED, UM, AMENITY FOR THE CITY, FOR THE VOTERS? SO I THINK IT'S VERY, UM, APPROPRIATE TO ASK AND IT, WE'VE GOT REPRESENTATION HERE.
I THINK THAT, THAT, AND I APOLOGIZE, I JUST STOOD UP, BUT BOBBY ABTAHI, I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF THE DALLAS ZOO STANDING IN FOR OUR CHAIR.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'D AGREE TO BE THE VICE CHAIR IF I KNEW
THE NEXT MEETING, I THINK WE SHOULD BRING THIS NEXT MEETING IN.
NOBODY, NOBODY'S TALKING TO CUT THE BUDGET.
LIKE THIS IS PART OF OUR STIPEND THAT WE GIVE.
NOBODY'S SAYING WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THE CHARTER.
THIS IS A FIXED AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE GIVE THE ZOO.
UNDERSTAND THAT THE RE THERE'S, WE, THIS ISN'T, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING IT.
SO I'M TRYING TO ASK THE QUESTION, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT OUR PARTNERS CUTTING ARBORETUM AND OTHERS? I'VE ASKED HOW IT AFFECTS ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.
THAT WAS MY QUESTION TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
MR. MR. CHAIR, MR. CHAIR, I, I, WE STAND READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THE CHAIR SO ELECTS.
UM, WE ENJOY OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.
WE'RE HERE TO HAVE ANY TYPE OF DISCUSSIONS YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE WITH US.
SO CAN WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND CAN WE ASK OUR PARTNERS TO COME AND PRESENT DURING, UH, THE NEXT UPDATE AS DIRECTOR JENKINS JUST SAID? YEAH.
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO SCHEDULE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, SO WHEN WE ARE TAKING DISD KIDS AND WE'RE NOT PROVIDING THEM THE PROGRAMS, UM, IN OUR FACILITIES, ARE WE, CAN WE TALK WITH DISD ABOUT HELPING SUPPLEMENT, UM, THE, LIKE OFFSET THE MONEY? UM, IF THERE'S ANY BUDGETS LIKE WINDOWS IN THEIR, LIKE LINE ITEMS OF WHERE THEY CAN THEN PROVIDE THAT? I THINK IF THAT, WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO IT'D BE REALLY GOOD BECAUSE IT'S GONNA AFFECT THEIR KIDS AND IT'S GONNA, AND WHERE ARE THE PLACES WHERE THEIR KIDS USE SO WE CAN ABSOLUTELY HAVE THAT OUTREACH.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
ANYBODY ELSE? ALRIGHT TO ROUND US OUT? UM, NONE OF US ENJOYS THESE CONVERSATIONS.
CUTTING THE BUDGET MEANS THAT WE'RE, THERE'S GONNA BE CONSEQUENCES LIKE TO CHALLENGE THE BOARD CHALLENGE, UH, TO DEMAND A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE.
BEFORE WE ACCEPT ANY CUTS TO SERVICES, ASK HARDER QUESTIONS OF OUR PARTNERS.
LOOK CLOSELY AT UNDERPERFORMING ASSETS.
EXHAUST EVERY REVENUE OPTION, UM, BEFORE THE BOARD ACCEPTS CUTS TO MOWING, LITTER PICKUP, COMMUNITY CENTER HOURS REDUCTIONS AT OUR HEAVILY USED FACILITY.
WE OWE IT TO THE DALLAS RESIDENTS TO EXHAUST EVERY OTHER OPTION.
PEOPLE WHO RELY ON OUR CENTERS EVERY DAY SHOULD NOT BE THE FIRST TO ABSORB A BUDGET CRISIS.
UH, NEXT UP ON OUR LIST IS, UM, WE HAVE A 2026 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE.
MR. CHAIR, WE DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU TODAY ON THAT.
DO WE HAVE ANY FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET UPDATES? NO SIR.
UH, LIAISON BOARDS, STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS.
UM, OUR NEXT PARK BOARD MEETING WILL BE AT THURSDAY, JUNE 4TH, 2026 AT 10:00 AM UH, ANY OTHER ITEMS TO DISCUSS HEARING NO OTHER BUSINESS? WE NOW ADJOURN THE PARK BOARD MEETING AT 12:21 PM YEAH.