[1. Call to Order ]
[00:00:03]
WELCOME TO OUR PARK AND, PARK AND REC BOARD REGULAR MEETING FOR OCTOBER 14TH, 2026.
I HAVE 1:30, SO I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
SECOND ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A PUBLIC ADDRESS.
CITIZENS WHO DESIRE TO ADDRESS THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD WITH REGARD TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA HAVING TO DO WITH THE CITY'S POLICIES, PROGRAMS OR SERVICES WILL BE RECEIVED AT THIS TIME.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
THE BOARD MAY CHOOSE TO PLACE AN ITEM ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
THANK YOU. SEEING NO PUBLIC, WE'LL MOVE ON. NUMBER THREE.
[3. Approval of Minutes This item is for the Board to discuss and consider the approval of the minutes of the meeting held September 12, 2026.]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES. I HOPE EVERYONE HAS HAD A LITTLE TIME TO LOOK AT IT OR TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO LOOK AT IT. AND IF I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NUMBER FOUR. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES.
[4. Administrative Updates This item provides an opportunity for the Board to discuss administrative updates related to park maintenance. ]
ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK UPDATE.HIS LAST DAY IN THE OFFICE WILL BE NOVEMBER 6TH.
SO IT WOULD BE LEGAL TO DO THAT IF HE. SO IT'S A IT'S A BIG LOSS.
OBVIOUSLY, JAMES HAS MADE A HUGE CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEPARTMENT.
YOU LOOK AROUND AT ALL THE ATHLETIC FIELDS, THE GOLF COURSES.
YOU CAN SEE HIS FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER IT. THOSE ARE GOING TO BE BIG SHOES TO FILL.
AND JUST BEFORE WE REPOST THAT POSITION. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD WAS AWARE OF THAT, THAT CHANGE THAT'S COMING UP IN EARLY NOVEMBER.
THANK YOU JAMES, CANYON WILL BE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO. TURN IT OFF. I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO DO THAT. THERE WE GO. THEN I APPRECIATE Y'ALL AND ALL Y'ALL'S TIME THAT Y'ALL SPENT WILLING TO SERVE SUPPORTING THE PARKS PROVIDING FEEDBACK TO MAKE US BETTER EVERY DAY.
I JUST WANTED TO TELL EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL, THANK YOU. AND THE PARKS ARE STILL IN VERY, VERY GOOD HANDS. TRUST ME. JAMES, YOU'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
I THINK THIS YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T RUN THIS BY THE BOARD HERE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO [LAUGHS].
WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST REALLY AND TRULY AND WELL DESERVED PROMOTION.
SO MICHAEL, YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN NUMBER FIVE NOW?
[5. Present, Discuss, and Consider Action on a Recommendation Regarding the Aquatic Feasibility. This item is for the Board to review and discuss the findings and recommendations of the Aquatic Feasibility, including the identified needs, potential options, and considerations for moving forward.]
YEAH. SO ON NUMBER FIVE WE'RE GOING TO ASK THAT ITEM TO BE PUSHED.WE RECEIVED SOME INFORMATION FROM THE CONSULTANT.
BUT IT'S NOT READY FOR DISCUSSION AT THIS LEVEL YET.
SO WE'RE STILL DOING SOME INTERNAL REVIEWS, HAVING SOME BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CONSULTANT.
SO IT'S NOT READY TO BE DISCUSSED TODAY.
I KNOW THAT GOING BY MCDONALD LAKE OR WALMART LAKE, WHATEVER WE CALL IT, AS OF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, IT'S STILL FLOODED. I MEAN, THE BENCHES ARE MAINLY UNDERWATER.
TRASH CANS ARE UNDERWATER. THAT I THINK THAT PARTICULAR LAKE ON THE CITY'S SIDE INDICATED IT WAS 100% FULL BEFORE WE HAD THE LAST RAINS. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. IS THAT PART OF THE STORMWATER DEVELOPMENT? THEY JUST DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THE WATER.
SO THEY HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY PUMPING. OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE GOT SOME MORE RAIN POTENTIALLY IN THE FORECAST.
OKAY. YEAH. THEY'RE ACTIVELY PUMPING AND TRYING TO GET THAT DONE.
OKAY. BECAUSE IT MAKES THAT PARTICULAR WALK OR PATH UNWALKABLE.
AND THEN IT CAN'T BE GOOD FOR THE PARK BENCHES AND SO FORTH TO BE UNDERWATER.
[00:05:02]
YEAH. WHEN WE GET THOSE HEAVY RAINFALLS, THERE'S A FEW PARKS THAT GENERALLY SEE KIND OF THOSE FLOODING ISSUES.IT IS RIGHT NEXT TO COMANCHE. IT'S GOT THAT PLAYA LAKE RIGHT NEXT TO IT.
THAT WATER WILL BACK UP OVER THE ROAD, SOMETIMES OVER THE PARKING AREA.
SO GENERALLY THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST ONES THAT WE CLOSE WHEN WE HAVE RAIN EVENTS.
AND THEN MCDONALD, LIKE A LOT OF THE OTHER ONES, YOU KNOW.
THOMPSON. THE WATER FLOWS THROUGH MEDIPARK, KIND OF THE SAME THING.
SO GENERALLY WE SEE THOSE ISSUES MORE AT MCDONALD LAKE AND OVER AT SOUTHEAST PARK.
OKAY. THANK YOU. WE CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE RAINS.
NO, WE'LL TAKE THE RAIN. IS THERE ANY THOUGHTS OF DREDGING MCDONALD'S LAKE AND DEEPENING IT? THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE EVALUATED BY THE UTILITIES GROUP BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S UNDER THEIR PURVIEW.
SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S LOCATED IN A PARK, THEY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THOSE DETENTION BASINS.
SO THE SAME THING WOULD APPLY OVER AT MARTIN ROAD WHERE WE'VE GOT THOSE LARGE DETENTION BASINS.
THAT'S TECHNICALLY IT'S IN A PARK SPACE, BUT IT'S UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION.
SO WE WORK WITH THEM, COORDINATE. AND WHAT THEY WOULD SAY IS WHEN IT, WHEN IT STARTS TO DETRACT FROM THE CAPACITY, THAT'S WHEN THEY START DISCUSSING DREDGING OPERATIONS.
SO THERE'S REALLY NOT A DETENTION ISSUE. BUT IF IT BECOMES A DETENTION ISSUE WHERE THEY'RE LOSING CAPACITY, THEN THAT'S WHEN THEY WOULD EVALUATE IT TO SEE IF DREDGING IS REQUIRED.
OKAY. AT THIS POINT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S NECESSARY.
ANYTHING ELSE ON ADMINISTRATIVE? WE KNOW WE'RE GOING PAST AQUATICS.
ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT NUMBER SIX A RECAP OF THE SUMMER.
IS THAT YOU, BECKY? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO, CAN I HOP IN? I'M SO SORRY. GO AHEAD. I JUST WAS THINKING ON THE AQUATIC STUFF.
DID YOU SAY WHEN, WHEN YOU ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BE RECEIVING THAT INFORMATION? NOT AT THIS TIME. SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH IT WITH THE CONSULTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT A GOOD A GOOD PACKET OF INFORMATION.
WE'VE PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION TO THEM AND ASKED SOME QUESTIONS. SO WE'RE JUST WAITING AND WORKING WITH THEM ON THEM, GETTING THAT FINALIZED. OKAY. THANKS. SORRY. SORRY, BECKY. ALL RIGHT.
[6. Present, and Discuss the Aquatics Summer Recap. This item is for the Board to receive a recap of the aquatic summer programs and activities, including participation, and program highlights.]
SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME NUMBERS FROM THE SUMMER SEASON AT THOMPSON POOL.YOU'LL SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, WE HAVE COMPARED 2025 TO 2026.
SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE A COMPARISON OF THE TWO YEARS.
SO TOTAL ATTENDEES DID GO UP FROM 31,000 TO 37.
OUR ADMISSIONS WENT UP ABOUT 24,000. OUR CONCESSIONS WENT UP ABOUT 18,000 POOL PARTY REVENUE INCREASED 7000 AND OUR TOTAL REVENUE INCREASED ALMOST ALMOST $50,000. AS FAR AS POOL PARTIES GO, WE HAD 43 PRIVATE POOL PARTIES, 50 DAYTIME POOL PARTIES. WE OFFER OUR TICKETS, OUR ADMISSIONS ONLINE.
SO OPERATIONALLY, IT WOULD HELP US OUT A LOT.
IF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BUY THEIR TICKETS ONLINE.
SO THAT'S ONE AREA WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH MOVING FORWARD.
ALSO SEASON PASSES ARE STILL REALLY LOW. THEY WERE LOW LAST YEAR.
WE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS. BUT STILL I FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
SO WE, WE HAD EIGHT FAMILY OF FOUR PASSES BOUGHT THIS SEASON IN ONE SINGLE.
SO REALLY ONLY NINE SEASON PASSES FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.
SO TO ME, I THINK IT'S THE PRICING, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING WE MAY EVALUATE IN SOME OF OUR STRATEGIC OR OUTREACH COMMITTEES TO GET SOME FEEDBACK, BECAUSE I DO THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GROW IN, IN, IN OUR SEASON PASS SALES.
PEOPLE MAKE LIFE SIZE BOATS OUT OF CARDBOARD AND DUCT TAPE AND GET TO RACE THEM ACROSS THE POOL.
WE DID A DRIVE IN MOVIE AT NIGHT, AND WE ALSO DO A THEME WEEK WHERE WE DO A DIFFERENT THEME EACH WEEK, SUCH AS SHARK DAY AND PIRATES AND MERMAID DAY.
IT'S JUST A FUN ADDED ELEMENT TO COMING INTO THE POOL THAT WEEK.
AND THEN I LISTED OUR TOP FIVE CONCESSION ITEMS THAT WE HAD.
NACHOS IS OUR NUMBER ONE, HOT CHIPS WITH CHEESE NUMBER TWO.
[00:10:01]
INCREASE REVENUE WITHOUT HAVING TO TOUCH OUR ADMISSION PRICES AT ALL.AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME COMPARISON TO AND KIND OF HIGHLIGHT OTHER POOLS AS WELL.
AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OUR 2025 NUMBERS VERSUS OUR 2026.
AND WE SAW A NOTABLE INCREASE. JUST AGAIN, OBVIOUSLY CLOSING TWO POOLS.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR PLACES TO SWIM. CANYON AQUA PARK OBVIOUSLY AS WELL.
IN 2025, THEY HAD 48,000 ATTENDEES. AND IN 2026 THIS YEAR THEY HAD 53,000.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY NUMBERS ON TOWN CLUB. BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE SAW A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS FROM PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEIR POOLS WERE A LOT MORE CROWDED THIS SUMMER COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. EXPECTEDLY, I THINK BECAUSE OF CLOSING SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST.
SO THAT IS REALLY THE RECAP I HAD FOR THE SUMMER SEASON.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
SO ON THE TOTAL ATTENDEES ON THE LAST SLIDE OR TWO SLIDES AGO, IT SHOWED WE WERE UP FROM 31 TO 37.
THAT 31 NUMBER WAS THAT. OH, IT'S JUST THOMPSON POOL.
IT'S THOMPSON POOL. OKAY. CORRECT. GOTCHA. BECKY, YOU SHOWED THE TOTAL REVENUE ON THOMPSON, BUT WHAT WAS THE TOTAL COST? I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS.
WE CAN BRING THOSE BACK TO YOU NEXT TIME. SO IN OUR.
AQUATIC NEUTRAL BY ANY MEANS, ARE WE? I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AND GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
MY TWO QUESTIONS ARE, WERE YOU ABLE TO FULLY STAFF THE POOL? I MEAN, YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY GAPS. HAD PLENTY OF HELP.
YEAH. WE SO WE WE WERE FULLY STAFFED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON.
WHERE WE STRUGGLE IS MID TO END. AS KIDS START TAKING VACATIONS AND BAND CAMPS, CHURCH CAMPS.
AND THEN AS SPORTS START, WE WERE STRUGGLING TOWARD THE END FOR SURE TO KEEP, TO KEEP STAFF.
ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE HOURS AND HOW YOU'RE DOING IT? YEAH WE ARE. WE'RE HAPPY WITH THE HOURS THAT WE THAT WE KEEP BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR OPEN SWIM TIME AS WELL AS WE HAVE TIME AT THE END FOR PRIVATE PARTIES IN THE EVENINGS FOR GROUPS THAT WANT TO DO PRIVATE PARTIES.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT QUESTION. NOT FOR BECKY. WERE ALL THE SPLASH PADS OPEN? WERE THERE ANY OF THEM DOWN? MAYBE IT IS A QUESTION FOR BECKY.
WERE THEY MOSTLY FUNCTIONING THIS SUMMER? YEAH, FOR THE MOST PART, THEY FUNCTIONED THE ENTIRE SUMMER, EXCEPT WHEN WE WENT INTO THE WATER RESTRICTIONS, WHEN WE CUT OFF ALL THE SPLASH PADS.
YEAH, THERE MIGHT BE. THERE MIGHT BE A, AN AMENITY OR SOMETHING DOWN TIME TO TIME.
AND I KNOW THERE WAS WESTOVER. WE HAD A REPAIR TO A WATER LINE IN WESTOVER.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN OFF A DAY OR TWO, BUT THEY WERE ALL OPEN.
NONE OF THEM WERE SHUT FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.
I WOULD JUST BE INTERESTED IN SEEING ALL OF LIKE 25 NUMBERS VERSUS 26 NUMBERS, LIKE INCLUDING SOUTHEAST SOUTHWEST POOLS. AND THAT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, COST AND REVENUE AND ATTENDEES.
YEAH, WE CAN PUT THAT TOGETHER AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.
I THINK ALL THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AS THE COUNCIL DECIDES HOW WE GO FORWARD, I THINK THE MORE NUMBERS THAT WE PRESENT TO THEM, IT'S GOING TO HELP THEM MAKE A DECISION.
SO I'VE GOT A QUESTION. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 37,000 ATTENDEES IN 2026, BUT THEN YOU COMPARE IT TO CANYON AQUA PARK, WHY IS THERE 20,000 MORE PEOPLE ATTENDING AT THE CANYON AQUA PARK? AND MAYBE IT'S OBVIOUS, AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT ONE.
THEY HAVE QUITE A BIT. I WOULD SAY THEY'RE, THEY'VE GOT MORE FEATURES THAN WE DO.
ALSO THEY PULL, THEY DO PULL A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM SOUTH AMARILLO.
BUT THEN ALL THE WAY TO HAPPY AND SO THEY HAVE A HUGE AREA THAT THEY, THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM TO THEIR FACILITY. ACTUALLY WHEN THE, WHEN THE. SO YOU WILL BE GET TO SEE THAT IT IS INCLUDED IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
SO IS THERE A PRICE STRUCTURE DIFFERENT THAN OURS?
[00:15:01]
I MEAN HIGHER OR LOWER? MUCH DIFFERENT? THEY'RE ABOUT, THEY'RE ABOUT THE SAME AS US.THEY ACTUALLY GO UP A DOLLAR ON THE WEEKEND WHERE WE DON'T.
SO THEY'RE THE SAME AS US DURING THE WEEK. AND THEN THEY INCREASE A DOLLAR ON THE WEEKENDS.
YEAH. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS IT'S PULLING FROM THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF TOWN.
AND I THINK WITH THE CLOSURE OF SOUTHWEST, I THINK THAT MIGRATION NATURALLY HAPPENED TO THE SOUTH.
I THINK WITH SOUTHEAST CLOSING, I THINK THAT PROBABLY NATURALLY MIGRATED MORE TO THE THOMPSON.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THOSE NUMBERS ARE THAT MUCH DIFFERENT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A DEFINITIVE THIS IS WHY.
BUT THEY DO HAVE, THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY HAD NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WE HAVE.
SO WHEN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY. HAVE YOU ALL WOULD YOU IF, IF THE OTHER POOLS ARE CLOSED, WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER MAKING, OR IS THERE EVEN ROOM TO MAKE THE THOMPSON COMPLEX MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE WITH THE, WITH THE CANYON AQUA PARK.
IS THAT EVEN. IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? YEAH, I THINK BECAUSE OF WHERE THE PARK IS LOCATED.
THOMPSON. YOU'VE GOT THAT WHOLE AREA TO THE NORTH, IN THEORY, YOU COULD EXPAND TO.
SO YEAH, I THINK THERE, THERE ARE OPTIONS LIKE THAT WHERE YOU COULD ADD SOME ADDITIONAL AMENITIES. I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING IS WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IF, IF SOUTHEAST IS A DISCUSSION, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH SOUTHEAST POOL? BECAUSE YOU REALLY CAN'T DO MUCH ON THE CURRENT FOOTPRINT OF THAT LOCATION JUST BECAUSE IT'S SO TIGHT.
SO DOES THAT MEAN YOU HAVE TO MOVE IT TO ANOTHER LOCATION? AGAIN, THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WOULD BE PART OF THAT AQUATIC FEASIBILITY STUDY.
BUT TO BECKY'S POINT, THEY DO SHOW WHERE A LOT OF THE VISITORS FOR THE CAP IS COMING FROM.
AND IT'S LIKE BECKY SAID, IT'S HAPPY, IT'S HARTFORD, IT'S A BIG CHUNK OF SOUTHWEST AMARILLO.
SO THERE'S SOME INFORMATION THAT'S GOING TO BE PROVIDED THAT THAT SHOWS THAT AS WELL.
YEAH. YOU JUST KIND OF WONDER IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE THOMPSON MORE ATTRACTIVE THAT YOU MIGHT SEE, YOU MIGHT NOT SEE HAPPY COME ALL THE WAY OR HEREFORD NECESSARILY COME ALL THE WAY.
BUT IF IT WAS A LOT MORE ATTRACTIVE, YOU MIGHT SEE THE REST OF AMARILLO HAD THAT WAY, THOUGH.
JUST A THOUGHT. YOU KNOW ONE THING I'D BE CURIOUS, EDDIE.
YOU MADE ME THINK ABOUT MARKET. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER POOLS CANYON HAS.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE ANY. THERE'S NOT ANYTHING. WELL, LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE.
WELL, THEY'VE GOT WTOKAY. THEY HAVE WT BUT LOOK WHAT I MEAN.
WE HAVE WE HAVE BOTH TOWN CLUBS. WE HAVE OTHER PRIVATE POOLS.
AND I THINK THAT PROBABLY DROVE SOME MORE PEOPLE TO POOLS THAN MAYBE THE AIRPORT BEFORE.
YEAH. SO IT'S THEY DO THE HOT CHEETOS, AND THEN THEY PUT THE NACHO CHEESE ON THE HOT CHEETOS.
THAT'S THE HOT CHIPS WITH CHEESE. YES. I WAS GONNA ASK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR BECKY? YEAH. I JUST WONDER I'M THINKING ABOUT THE.
I WONDER IF RETROACTIVELY, THERE'S A WAY TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE PEOPLE THAT USED TO GO TO THE TWO CLOSED POOLS ENDED UP THIS SUMMER. AND I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER, BUT I WONDER IF IF MAYBE IN WHAT WE GATHER TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL, IF THERE CAN BE SOME SORT OF LIKE THOUGHT, LIKE FINDING THAT AS BEST WE'RE ABLE TO AFTER THE FACT.
YEAH. SO WE WE DID A SURVEY THIS SUMMER. IT WAS REQUESTED THAT WE SEND OUT A SURVEY.
SO WE ACTUALLY HAD, I THINK, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 200 PEOPLE THAT RESPONDED TO IT.
AND WE DID ASK THEM SOME INFORMATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT AMENITIES THEY LIKE, WHAT SPLASH PADS THEY VISIT WHICH POOLS THEY VISITED LAST YEAR.
SO WE DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON THAT THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM? OKAY. NUMBER SEVEN, 2026 BUDGET.
[7. Present, and Discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. This item is for the Board to discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, including year-to-date financial performance, and revenues.]
YES. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE KIND OF A QUICK UPDATE.THE LAST TIME I BELIEVE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, THE BUDGET HADN'T BEEN FINALIZED. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS, SOME CAPITAL ITEMS. SO I WANTED TO GIVE JUST KIND OF A QUICK UPDATE ON SOME OF THOSE,
[00:20:01]
THOSE ITEMS AND ALSO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE KIND OF FINISHING UP THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.SO THE COUNCIL DID APPROVE $30,000 FOR ADDITIONAL SPECIAL EVENT FUNDING.
SO THAT'S TO HELP WITH EITHER THE 4TH OF JULY OR PIRATES IN THE PARK.
THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS. SO THEY PROVIDED 30,000 FOR THAT.
SOMETIMES FLEET WILL BUY OR A FACILITIES WILL BUY A NEW BUILDING.
AND THEN WE ADD THAT TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT.
THERE ARE SOME SUPPLEMENTAL CHANGES TO GOLF THAT WERE OFFSET BY KIND OF THE FEE INCREASES.
THERE WERE TWO PARK TECH ONE POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDED TO PARK MAINTENANCE.
OUR GOAL FOR THOSE POSITIONS IS FOR THEM TO HELP WITH THE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, TO BE OUT THERE MONITORING SITES, CHECKING SITES, MAKING SURE THAT THE CONTRACTORS ARE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
COUNCIL CONTINUED WITH THAT PROGRAM, WHICH WAS 922,000 FOR THIS YEAR.
THEY ALSO APPROVED THE PARKS IRRIGATION PUMP STATION.
SO THAT'S FOR A HANDFUL OF PARKS THAT NEED A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA PRESSURE.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT'S GOING TO HELP THE CITY. NUMBER ONE, IT'S GOING TO SAVE WATER.
I THINK WE HAD 8 OR 9 EMPLOYEES, AND THEY WERE OUT THERE FOR SIX HOURS TRYING TO TURN THEM ALL OFF.
WITH A CENTRALIZED CONTROL SYSTEM, IN THEORY, YOU HIT ONE BUTTON.
IT TURNS THEM ALL OFF. SO FROM A STAFF STANDPOINT, IT'LL HELP WITH EFFICIENCIES.
IT'LL ADD SOME NEW TECHNOLOGIES LIKE RAIN. IT'LL ADD SOME TECHNOLOGIES LIKE RAIN OR FREEZE. SO IN CERTAIN WEATHER EVENTS, IT'LL JUST AUTOMATICALLY CUT OFF THE SYSTEM.
AND THEN ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS IT WILL ALLOW LEARNING ON THOSE CONTROLLERS.
SO IF THE AMOUNT OF GALLONS PER MINUTE FLOWING THROUGH A PIPE CHANGES, IT CAN CUT THOSE ZONES OFF.
SO THAT WILL REQUIRE SOME FLOW METERS AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
BUT AGAIN, IT ALLOWS US TO NUMBER ONE, IDENTIFY BREAKS A LOT FASTER.
IT'LL ALLOW US TO MONITOR OUR WATER CONSUMPTION.
AND AGAIN, FROM A STAFF STANDPOINT, IF WE HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES, WE CAN SEE IT FROM OUR OFFICE.
STAFF WILL GO OUT THERE THINKING THAT THEY'RE ON AND THEY'VE BEEN TURNED OFF. SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET ALERTS FROM OUR OFFICE IF A ZONE IS ON, IF A ZONE IS OFF OR A CONTROLLER IS ON OR OFF.
THAT WAY WE CAN SEND STAFF OUT THERE OR WE CAN TURN IT BACK ON REMOTELY.
AND THEN WE HAVE $200,000 TO ADDRESS SOME PLAYGROUNDS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF A HIGH LEVEL ON OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT COUNCIL HAS FUNDED.
I JUST WANT TO TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THE FISCAL YEAR THAT WE JUST CAME OUT OF.
AGAIN, THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT FINAL. IT TAKES THE CITY A LITTLE WHILE FOR ALL THE INVOICES, ALL OF THOSE RECEIPTS TO COME IN. BUT WE HAVE EXCEEDED.
SO ON GOLF, THE BUDGETED SUBSIDY WAS 193,000.
WE ACTUALLY CAME IN. I DIDN'T WANT.
SO THE BUDGETED SUBSIDY FOR GOLF WAS 193,000.
WE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE TO GET IN THE BLACK, BUT WE WERE VERY CLOSE.
SO AGAIN, THAT NUMBER WAS 1.9 MILLION A FEW YEARS AGO.
AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO 39,000. SAME THING WITH TENNIS.
TENNIS WAS BUDGETED AT 65,000 AND CURRENTLY AT 15,000.
SO AGAIN, A BIG SHIFT ON THE COST RECOVERY PART OF THAT.
AND THEN ON ATHLETICS, WE WERE BUDGETED A SUBSIDY OF 234,000.
AND WE ACTUALLY CAME IN AT 23,000. SO SAVED $210,000.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW WE ESTIMATE THAT WE ARE ABOUT $1.3 MILLION UNDER THAT SUBSIDY.
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SO AGAIN SOME OF THAT IS EITHER THROUGH COST RECOVERY, INCREASED COST RECOVERY, SAVINGS ON BUYING MATERIALS, THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF DIVISIONS THAT WENT OVER BUDGET.THAT REVENUE THAT NORMALLY WE WOULD SEE WE DIDN'T SEE.
AND ALSO WITH THE ZOO. SO THE ZOO, OBVIOUSLY WE WERE SPENDING MONEY IN THE FALL AND WINTER.
AND THAT'S KIND OF YOUR LOW TIME FOR RECEIVING REVENUES.
SO THAT ONE WAS A LITTLE BIT OVER KIND OF WHAT THE ESTIMATED SUBSIDY WOULD BE.
SO BUT AS THE DEPARTMENT, WE CAME IN ABOUT 1.3 UNDER BUDGET IN TERMS OF SUBSIDY.
SO THAT'S JUST A QUICK BUDGET UPDATE. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
SO IT'S TAKEN NINE YEARS TO BRING THAT ALL THE WAY DOWN.
BUT KUDOS FOR GETTING IT DOWN. WELL, WE WERE REALLY HOPEFUL THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET IT UNDER, GET IT INTO THE BLACK, AND WE WERE VERY CLOSE.
SO AGAIN, I THINK WITH SOME OF THOSE FEE ADJUSTMENTS WE MADE THIS YEAR THAT COUNCIL APPROVED, I THINK, AND WEATHER PERMITTING, I THINK WILL BE IN A GOOD SPOT NEXT YEAR.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT FOR NEW MEMBER EACH HOUR YOU BROUGHT IT UP.
YOU REMEMBER NINE YEARS AGO WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET AND HOW MUCH UNDERNEATH WE WERE, AND WE'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THEN. WE HAVE THAT WAS THAT WAS PRETTY STARK TIME AT THAT POINT.
MY COMMENT IS JUST FROM APPEARANCES, THE COUNCIL, IT'S A STRONG RECOMMENDATION AND APPROVAL OF WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS DOING IN GIVING YOU ALL THE THINGS, SOME OF THE THINGS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT YOU ASKED FOR.
SO KUDOS TO EVERYBODY ON YOUR STAFF. IT'S THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
EDDIE HOWARD, EVERYBODY IN THE LAST THIS IS MY EIGHTH YEAR.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT WE, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THIS PARK AND REC DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
SO MY CONGRATULATIONS. AND I THINK THE COUNCIL SEES IT.
THEY. I KNOW THEY SEE IT. SO THANK YOU. WELL THANK YOU.
AND IT'S ONLY BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD TEAM. I MEAN, YOU GOT JAMES, BECKY AND THEIR TEAMS THAT ARE LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS THAT ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.
YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE PROVIDE QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THOSE TAXPAYER DOLLARS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THOSE THOSE AREAS LIKE TENNIS AND GOLF AND ATHLETICS TO TRY TO GET THEM TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE ON A COST RECOVERY STANDPOINT.
AND AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE.
SO WE'VE KIND OF BEEN INCREMENTAL IN THOSE. AND I THINK OUR GOAL AS A DEPARTMENT IS TO CONTINUE TO SLOWLY MOVE THE NEEDLE SO THAT WE STAY IN LINE WITH THE INFLATION AND OTHER THINGS THAT COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES. SO THAT WE STAY ONLINE WITH WHERE WE'RE GOING.
YEAH, I APPRECIATE THE ALL THE BUDGET STUFF, BUT I WILL SAY ALSO IN THE LAST ESPECIALLY, I'D SAY 3 TO 4 YEARS, THE QUALITY OF LIFE EVENTS THAT THE PARK AND RECS HAVE PUT ON FOR OUR CITY HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.
AND I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF BECKY AND IT'S APPRECIATED BY US AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND YOU ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AT THAT AS WELL.
ANY ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON BUDGET? THIS IS SORT OF A SIDE.
6 TO 8IN OF RAIN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR PARKS, DON'T THEY? IT'S AMAZING. YOU CAN WATER ALL SUMMER. WATER WATER WATER.
AND WHAT A LITTLE NITROGEN IN THE RAINWATER DOES.
ANYWAY. NUMBER EIGHT. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. I'D LIKE FOR US TO DISCUSS AT OUR NEXT MEETING
[8. Discuss Items for Future Agendas ]
MEETING LOCATION SITE, SPECIFICALLY BETWEEN HERE AND OUR FORMER MEETING PLACE WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO USE MICROPHONES THAT DIDN'T WORK.[00:30:03]
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS FOR NEXT MEETING OR IF WE CAN DO IT NOW, BUT I'D REQUEST AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE EAST PARK RENAMING APPLICATION.ANY OTHER ITEMS? ARE YOU SUGGESTING WE GO BACK TO MEETING THERE? YES. HAVE YOU ALREADY PUT THE WORD OUT? WHEN I WALKED IN THIS BUILDING, THE LADY ASKED ME, WHERE AM I GOING? I SAID TO THE PARKS BOARD MEETING.
THIRD FLOOR. SHE SAYS THEY MEET ACROSS THE STREET.
RIGHT. WELL, WE'LL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT TIME FOR SURE.
I KNOW THIS WAS A PRETTY. ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANYBODY? FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER. WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE AQUATICS FEASIBILITY NOT BEING READY, SO WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA OR NOT, BUT WE UNDERSTAND.
A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THAT JUST VERY BRIEFLY BEFORE WE CLOSE THAT WAY.
THE BOARD HAS SOME INFORMATION ON THAT. OH, YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ON. SO PIRATES OF THE PARK IS COMING UP ON OCTOBER 24TH.
AND WE DECIDED TO ACTUALLY HAVE A BOOTH AT PIRATES OF THE PARK TO, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE WHO ARE PARK USERS TO, AS A WAY TO KIND OF BRING, GET SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT PARKS.
SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR PARK BOARD MEMBERS TO STAFF ITS 4:30 TO 8 P.M ON OCTOBER 24TH.
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER DURING THAT DAY ON THAT TIME, EVEN IF IT'S JUST FOR AN HOUR OR TWO, WE'D APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT TO WHAT WE, WHAT WE DECIDED WAS TO DO A SURVEY.
SO WE WOULD PRINT A AND PRODUCE A SHORT SURVEY FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT PARKS.
SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, I ASK THAT YOU EMAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW.
BUT EVEN IF YOU CAN'T VOLUNTEER, I HOPE YOU DO COME TO THE EVENT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 30 HOT AIR BALLOONS IN THE PARK THAT NIGHT.
WE WILL DO IN THE MORNING. WE WILL DO A LIFT OFF AND A FIVE K RUN.
AND THEN IN THE EVENING WE'LL DO THE TRICK OR TREATING FROM THE HOT AIR BALLOONS.
BECKY, WHAT TIME DID YOU SAY THAT SURVEY THAT WOULD YOU WOULD WANT US THERE? SO 4:30 P.M. TO 8 P.M. IF YOU'RE ABLE.
ANYTHING ELSE? FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER. SEEING NO SIGN.
CLASS DISMISSED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.