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[1. Call to Order.]
GOOD EVENING, AFTERNOON.WE WANNA START OUR FOUR O'CLOCK PARK REC ADVISORY BOARD OUT DAY SO THAT EVERYONE CAN GET OUT, ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER WHILE WE CAN.
[2. Update and discussion from Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Members on 2023 goals and initiatives. ]
GONNA START US OFF, PLEASE.WELL APPRECIATE, UH, YOU ALL BEING HERE TODAY AND ALLOWING OUR, UH, PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD TO COME AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON SOME THINGS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.
UH, JUST SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS.
UH, I, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THIS GROUP LAST SPRING AND THEY WANTED TO START WORKING ON SOME STRATEGIC PLANNING.
AND SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF THE OUTGROWTH OF THAT.
I KNOW THEY HAD A COMMITTEE THAT, UH, HAS DONE SOME WORK ON THAT.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY AS A WHOLE, SO WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD HERE TODAY.
UH, BUT TWO SPECIFICALLY WILL BE PRESENTING TO YOU, UH, MR. GARY BARTLEY AND MS. THERE.
AND SO THEY'RE GONNA PRESENT AND, UH, THEY WANT TO JUST KIND OF TELL YOU THINGS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ON IN CONCERT WITH OUR NEW DIRECTOR WHO WILL START HERE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND I BELIEVE THEY WANT TO GET, UH, ANY QUESTIONS AND JUST HAVE A DIALOGUE.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO GARY AND WE CAN GET STARTED.
I'VE BEEN A ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER FOR WORKING ON MY THIRD YEAR NOW AND I'VE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT, BUT WE'VE ALSO BEEN, HAD A PRETTY STEEP LEARNING PROCESS AT TIMES.
SO, UH, WE WENT TOGETHER AND DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
ALSO, WANT TO INTRODUCE SANDRA NAY, WHO YOU MAY NEED KNOW ALREADY.
WE GET TO TAG TEAM CUZ WE THINK IT'S ALL OUT TO JUMP UP AND DOWN BETWEEN.
SO, AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A DIALOGUE.
I MEAN, THIS IS A PRESENT, WE'VE GOT SOME TALKING POINTS, BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET'S ANSWER 'EM AS WE GO THROUGH.
CUZ I'D RATHER ADDRESS 'EM AND SEE IF WE CAN ANSWER HIM.
IF NOT, WE'LL CERTAINLY GET THE ANSWERS FOR YOU AS WE GO THROUGH 'EM.
SO WHY ARE WE HERE? BUT DURING THE LAST 18 MONTHS OR SO, THE BOARD HAS REALLY TALKED ABOUT WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES? WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING? WHY ARE WE TALKING AND DOING THINGS IN THE PAST INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE? SO WE HAD QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT DURING SOME OF THE, UM, STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSIONS THAT CASEY HELPED, UH, FACILITATE FOR IT STARTED RAISING THESE QUESTIONS AND BROUGHT 'EM TO THE TOP THAT WE HAVE BEEN REALLY REACTIVE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.
AND WE WANTED TO EVOLVE TO BE MORE PROACTIVE, TAKING MORE OF A STANCE OF PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, STRATEGICALLY LOOKING AT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND TRYING TO GET THE RIGHT RESOURCES IN PLACE.
UH, IT WAS, IT WAS FRUSTRATING THE WAY WE WERE DOING BUSINESS AND IT, IT CAME TO THE POINT WHERE LET'S, LET'S JUST TAKE OUR INITIATIVE AND LET'S DO IT.
WE DO NOT WANT TO RUN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
I'LL PUT THAT ON THE FRONT END OF THIS.
WE WANT TO BE BE AT RESOURCES.
WE WANT TO BE, HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS ON PROJECTS SO THAT A LOT OF THAT IS CLEARED OUTTA THE WAY BEFORE THESE PROJECTS GET ULTIMATELY TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT OUR PROCESS, WHICH WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALREADY, AND CAME FORWARD WITH, UM, REALLY LOOKING AT HOW DO WE INTEGRATE WITH OTHER CITY INITIATIVES, WHAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER ADVISORY BOARDS, OTHER SUBCOMMITTEES HAVE THAT, THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE IN TOUCH WITH AND BE MORE COMMUNICATIVE WITH.
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTATIVES OF ADMIN CITIZENS AND WE GET PHONE CALLS, WE'VE ARE THERE VOICES.
SO WE WANT TO BE ALSO THAT PART OF THE PROCESS THAT GETS US TO WHERE WE THINK WE CAN, UH, BE MORE HELPFUL.
NO, I WAS GONNA SAY, WE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS JUMP IN PART, BUT WE EACH SOMETIMES HAVE A LITTLE BIT IN OUR HEAD.
ONE THING WE WANNA THANK CASEY FOR HELPING US WITH THIS PROCESS BECAUSE WE THINK IT HELPS US BE A, A CIRCLE FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING DECISIONS AND, UH, WE DO BELIEVE ALSO IT HELPED REINFORM ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
SO PART OF OUR PROCESS, PROCESS IN WORKING THROUGH AN IDEA TO BE PROACTIVE WAS ALSO TO BE SUPER INFORMATIVE AND BE REORGANIZED AND WITH A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND WE WANNA, WE SAW SOME EXAMPLES THROUGH THE TOURISM BOARD, HOW, HOW THEY STARTED, UH, TAKING OWNER SOME TYPES OF THINGS TO TAKE STEPS FOR OWNERSHIP AND THAT, UH, APPEALED TO US ALSO.
AND SO WE WANTED TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HELPED US GET WHERE WE ARE.
AND THEN WE DID TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION OUR ENTIRE BOARD AND ALSO, UH, SUBCOMMITTEES, WE HAVE A FEW THINGS WHERE WE BROKE DOWN AND I DO WANT TO SAY WE HAVE TWO GREAT BOARD MEMBERS ALSO HERE.
OUR PRESIDENT IS HERE TO TONIGHT.
SO WE ARE IN SYNC AS A BOARD TO BE
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ABLE TO, UM, LET YOU KNOW HOW EXCITED WE ARE TO, TO MOVE FORWARD IN IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND WAITING FOR THE NEW, OUR NEW DIRECTOR.AS A QUICK RECAP, THE CITY THIS COUNCIL EVERY YEAR DOES THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT.
THESE ARE SOME OF THESE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FROM, FROM THE FIRST ONE, INCLUDING, UM, PURSUING A DEVELOPMENT OF INDOOR SPORTS COMPLEX, LOOKING AT LAKE ARCADIA AND DOING THE BEST THING WE CAN WITH WHAT RESOURCE THAT IS IMPLEMENTING ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS TO THE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY ON THE SIGNAGE.
AND WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN SOME RESULTS.
THE SIGNS, WE HAVE NEW SIGNS GOING UP AT MITCH PARK.
WE HAVE IT IN FRONT OF THE NEW TENNIS COMPLEX.
UH, THEY'RE AT THE ENTRANCES OF THE CITY COMING AND GOING ON THE MAIN STREETS.
THAT IS CRITICAL FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT RESOURCES ED AETNA OFFERS AND WHAT'S WHERE, WHERE CAN THEY GO AND HOW DO THEY FIND THEM.
ADDITIONALLY, ON THE UNDER INITIATIVE TWO, UH, KICKING BOARD GOLF IT GOLF COURSE IS LOOKING GREAT.
THE BUILDING'S ALMOST FINISHED.
IT'S GONNA BE OPENING HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
WE HOPE THE CAPLINGER BALLPARK, THE ROUTE 66 TRAIL CONNECT TO THE SERVICE PLATE SOCCER COMPLEX, THE CARDIO LAKE MASTER PLANNING.
ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND COME OUT OF SOME DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD ALSO.
SO WE ARE IN SYNC WITH WHERE THE CITY IS GOING.
WE WANT TO BE AVAILABLE TO MAKE THEM GO EFFECTIVELY, COSTY, HOPEFULLY WITHIN BUDGET AND, UH, TO BE, BE PART OF THE PROCESS TO MAKE THE WHOLE INITIATIVE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION BE COHESIVE.
I THINK THIS ONE IS IN THIS, RIGHT? OKAY, SO PUSH DOWN, PUSH DAN.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME OF COURSE THINGS THAT, UH, WE ARE ALL WORKING ON IN GENERAL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN, UH, THE, IN INPUT FROM THE, THE ENTIRE TOWN.
WE LOOKED AT ALL THESE PROJECTS AND WE'VE DIVIDED SOME OF OUR PRIORITIES AND OUR, UH, FIRST REALLY OUR FIRST PRIORITY THAT WE WERE WORKING ON AS A, AS WE CAME UP THROUGH OUR PROCESS IS THIS FAIRLY IMMEDIATE SCENARIO.
AND COMBINING A NATURE CENTER.
WE HAVE HAD A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AT THE PARKS BOARD TO LOOK AT A WAY TO HAVE, UH, UH, A WAY TO USE AS AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE, OUR HABITAT LAND.
SO THE PARKS BOARD HAS HAD MANY, UM, MEETINGS OVER GOING TO ALL THE DIFFERENT PARKS THAT MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY OR EVEN CONSIDERING IS THERE UN IS THERE LAND THAT MIGHT BE DONATED, UH, WHEN IN FACT THE, WE'VE HAD A SIMILAR VISION AS WHAT WE'VE SEEN.
THE CITIZENS THAT, UH, VOTED TO PROVIDE $4 MILLION IN, IN, UH, ASKED FOR $4 MILLION IN INVESTMENT TO PARTNER WITH THE EDMUND LAND CONSERVANCY TO ESTABLISH THE 22 ACRES.
SO WHAT WE'RE HOPING THAT WE, AND BY WORKING, WE HAVE A, A WORKING BOARD MEMBER ON THE COMMITTEE THAT IS WORKING ON THAT.
WE LOVE THE IDEA OF NATURE FIRST, PEOPLE SECOND, BUT WE ARE USING, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING THREE YEARS TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN PROVIDE AN AIR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCE TO SHARE THE IMPORTANCE AND THE ENJOYMENT OF NATURAL HABITAT.
THIS SEEMS LIKE THE, THE PERFECT MATCH.
UH, EVEN IN 2021, THE CITIZEN SURVEY SHOWED THAT PARKS AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES HAD THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
THEY'RE THE ONLY THING THAT GOT LIKE OVER 85% OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY.
SO THE TOP TWO WERE BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN AND TRAILS, AND THE NATURE PARK RECEIVED THE HIGHEST RATINGS.
SO THIS IS SUCH A WAY THAT WE'VE COME, WE'VE COME TO WHERE WE SHOULD BE IN FULL.
I, I BELIEVE IN, UH, FULL ACCEPTANCE, BUT ALSO A FULL WAY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT MAKES PEOPLE BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS TOO.
SO OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS TO WORK TO TRY TO COMBINE WITH THE, UH, LAN SERVICEY, THE CITY COUNCIL AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE 22 ACRE SITE IN THE HAYFORD PARK.
SO I THINK I MIGHT BE NEXT TOO.
YOU HAVE, I THINK YOU'RE NEXT.
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I HAD THAT BACKWARDS.SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE SEEN WHEN WE'VE SEEN THE FULL PICTURE, AND I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD PROBABLY THREE YEARS, MAYBE IN THAT RANGE, BUT WE FELT LIKE IN LOOKING AT AS MUCH OF THESE WE'VE LEARNED, AND WE ALSO EXPERIENCE IN OUR BOARD MEETINGS, THAT THE MASTER PLAN PROCESS IS TRULY IMPORTANT.
AND WE ALSO VALUE ALL OF OUR PARKS IN EDMOND.
SO WE HAVE SOME MAJOR, REALLY CHERISHED PARKS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE MASTER PLANNING WITHIN THE ENTIRE CONTEXT.
SO WE KNOW WE'RE, WE'RE ON PROGRESS, AS YOU CAN SEE OF OUR MAIN POINTS, ARCADIA, MITCH PARK, SOCCER FIELDS, WE'RE ALL WORKING WITHIN THAT.
WE HAVE SEEN HOW STEVENSON PARK IS AN EXAMPLE OF TRUE PLANNING, BUT ALSO IT'S BEEN FAIRLY LENGTHY AND OV MAYBE, UH, NOT IN A NEGATIVE WAY AT ALL, BUT IT'S BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR THE IDEA AND THE PROCESS HAS BEEN, UH, A LONG TERM DELAYED.
SO WE ARE SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT.
BUT WE ALSO FEEL LIKE THAT SHOWS WHAT A NEED THAT WE NEED TO BE ON TOP OF AND PROMOTING THE IDEA FOR OUR MAJOR PARKS AND LAND TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS AND PARKS.
SO I'M BEING BOLD IN SAYING THE PARKS BOARD REALLY IS PROPOSING A HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR STANDOUT PARKS AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN A REALLY OUTSTANDING RECOGNIZED PARK SYSTEM THAT IT ALL MATCHES TOGETHER.
AND I THINK PART OF THE PROCESS THAT LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING STRATEGIC ABOUT IS WHERE ARE THE NEXT PARKS? WHO IS IN CHARGE OF BUYING THE LAND AND FINDING THOSE AREAS.
WE KNOW THAT EAST OF I 35, THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH AND HAVE WE GOT PLANS TO ACQUIRE LAND? WE HAVE SOME PROPERTY ALREADY OUT THERE, UH, AROUND THE ROUTE 66 SOFTBALL PARK AND AROUND THE FORMER SOFTBALL PARK.
AND WE'VE GOT TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO OVER THERE.
WEST EDMONDS, THE SAME WAY GROWTH CONTINUES ON BOTH SIDES.
AND IF WE DON'T LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED, WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IN THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS, IT'S GONNA BE TOO LATE TO ACQUIRE LAND OR TO PLAN FOR RECREATIONAL AREAS THAT MAY BE ALREADY FILLED UP WITH RESIDENTIAL AREA.
THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WHEN CONCENTRATING AND FOCUSING ON THE EXISTING SOCCER TEAM, SOCCER FIELDS, AND BASEBALL FIELDS AND SO ON.
UM, BUT WE HAVE A TREMENDOUSLY GOOD ORGANIZED SPORTS IN EDMOND.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZ ORGANIZATIONS THAT, UH, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH TO TAKE CARE OF THE PRO TAKE CARE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE, PAY FOR PARTNER BASEBALL FIELDS, GOOD EXAMPLES, SOCCER FIELDS, ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE, TENNIS CENTER, ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE.
AND THE OTHER THING, PART OF THAT IS EVERYTHING WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN, WE HAVE TO KEEP UP.
AND SO WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THOSE LONG-TERM ISSUES AS WELL AS TRYING TO LOOK AT NEW PROJECTS THAT COME ON THE COMMERCIAL SPORTS COMPLEX.
I WAS ON EDMOND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 12 YEARS AGO, AND THAT CONCEPT OF HAVING A COMMERCIAL SPORTS COMPLEX, ATED, BOVELL AND I 35 WAS DEVELOPED DURING THAT TIME AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
WE KNOW THINGS TAKE A LONG TIME, WE KNOW THINGS GET BACKED UP, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT EDMOND AS A REGIONAL SPORTS CENTER, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STATE.
IF WE COULD PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEAMS TO COME HERE TO PLAY BASEBALL, LACROSSE AND SOCCER AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT BRING IN FAMILIES THAT BRING IN SALES TAX, BRING IN TOURIST DOLLARS, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THAT AS A PARTNERSHIP AND, AND SEEING HOW THAT CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO NOT ONLY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, BUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
THE IMPACT ON THIS PARKS OF RECREATION UNFORTUNATELY, WAS MAINTENANCE.
WE'VE GOTTA BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THESE, UH, FACILITIES AS WE BUILD THEM.
AND THAT'S A BUDGET ISSUE, WHICH WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT JUST A MINUTE, BUT THERE, THERE IS AN IMPACT ON US.
SO HOW DO WE MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE NOW? IT'S A BIG INVESTMENT.
UH, WE, WE RECOGNIZED, WE DON'T HAVE ANSWERS TODAY ON THIS ONE, BY THE WAY,
SO WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR STANDARDS TO BE COMPETITIVE.
AND IF WE WANT TO GROW AS A REGIONAL SPORTS CENTER, WE'VE GOTTA HAVE SOME INVESTMENTS
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IN THIS.THAT'S WHERE IT COMES BACK TO LOOKING AT, NOT ONLY CAN THE ORGANIZED SPORTS BRING IN DOLLARS, BUT WE'VE ALSO GOTTA SPEND DOLLARS IN ORDER TO KEEP FACILITIES UP AND MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE.
THIS WAS KIND OF BOTH OF US, SO WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT EACH IS GOING TO SAY.
YOU NEVER KNOW THOSE, THOSE BEFORE YOU SAY THAT THE LAST FIVE POINTS ARE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, THOSE ARE WHAT WE'VE ADOPTED FOR THIS YEAR AND FOR MAYBE, MAYBE EVEN NEXT YEAR.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TALKED ABOUT, NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON.
WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE BOARD, AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT SOME SUBCOMMITTEES TO KIND OF DRILL DOWN AND START WORKING ON SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
IS WHAT, WELL, THIS IS ALWAYS THE, THE HARDEST QUESTION AND HARDEST ANSWER IS, OKAY, HOW DO WE HAVE RESOURCES WITHIN THIS? THE IDEA OF, UH, MOVING FORWARD IN AN AREA THAT YOU FEEL, AND I FEEL PARTICULARLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IN THE CITIZENS FIELD, BUT WE DO KNOW OUR, THE CONSTRAINTS.
SO WE WANT TO BE, UH, OPEN TO AND PROMOTING AND HELPING, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PARTNERS THAT MAY HELP YOU MOVE IN THE POSSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR EDMOND PARK SYSTEM.
SO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, UH, THE SYSTEMS KNOW THIS IS THEIR PRIORITY, BUT WE ARE, LOOK, IF YOU WILL LOOK AT THESE THINGS, WE ARE LOOKING ALSO AT HOW, WHAT, WHAT IS THERE? AND MAYBE IT'S THE VOICES THAT CAN SAY WE'RE READY TO ASK CITIZENS TO COME FORWARD.
SOME IN SOME WAYS, THE EDMUND PARKS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN EXISTENCE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
I'VE BEEN ON THAT BOARD AND IT'S FAIRLY DORMANT RIGHT NOW, BUT IT STILL HAS IRS DESIGNATION AND IT IS A, UH, NONPROFIT 5 0 1
SO CLEARLY IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT VEHICLES THAT WOULD ENHANCE THE CITIZENS THINKING, I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE A GIFT OR I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT IT IS A TYPE OF PROPER GIFT WHEN IT GOES INTO A FOUNDATION THAT IT CAN HELP WITH WHAT THE CITY, UH, IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH FOR CITIZENS IN THE WAY OF PARKS IN, IN THE WAY OF RECREATION.
AND, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE POINTS, IT, IT COULD BE AS IT STARTED OUT, HONESTLY, HONESTLY, THE EDMOND WOMEN'S CLUB DONATED DRINKING FOUNTAINS IN A PARK IN 40 YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A DRINKING FOUNTAIN IN TWO OF THE PARKS.
SO THIS HAS EVOLVED IN A WAY AND IT COULD BE, UH, RECONSTITUTED, UH, WITH UH, GREAT SUPPORT FROM CITIZENS, WHICH I THINK EN ENHANCES OUR, UH, ABILITY TO PARTNER AND BE A VOICE, WHAT PEOPLE THINK THEY WANNA BE A PART OF THE VOICE.
THE OTHER PART OF IT IS WE JUST GOT FINISHED, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT RAISING WOLF, ALMOST $5 MILLION FOR THE 22 ACRES.
PAT THE PEOPLE HAD A PASSION FOR A PARTICULAR PROJECT.
THEY SPOKE HIGHLY AND THEY SUPPORTED IT.
IF WE RUN ACROSS OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALSO NEED TO DISCUSS FOR FUTURE ARE IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE CITIZENS ARE WILLING TO STAND FORWARD FOR A TEMPORARY, UH, ADDITIONAL TAX, ALL OF WHAT IT IS, UM, IN ORDER TO SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN ALL ENJOY.
AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES AND EARS OPEN AND BE CREATIVE AS WE GO FORWARD.
WE HAVE THE SALES TAX NOW, UH, I THINK IT'S AN EIGHTH OF A CENT.
UH, MAYBE THAT'S TIME TO RE REEXAMINE THAT WHEN IN THE FUTURE ALSO GRANTS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF GRANT MONEY OUT THERE THAT WE HAVE NOT ASKED FOR, TAKEN LOOK AT.
AND I THINK WITH GETTING THE NEW, OUR NEW DIRECTOR ON BOARD, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN AT LEAST LOOK AT GRANT WRITING AS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS GOING FORWARD.
WE, UH, ARE HERE TO SAY THE PARKS BOARD REALLY, I THINK, UH, IS A GREAT PARTNER IN GOING TO CITIZENS AND BEING A CHEERFUL ASK FOR THINGS TO, UH, HELP OUR CITY EVEN BE BETTER.
THE PARTNERSHIPS ARE, ARE IMPORTANT, IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY HAS RISEN TO THE TOP OF THE LIST, UH, RECENTLY AND DISCUSSING PARTICULARLY WITH TOURISM, PARTICULARLY WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WHAT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE IN BOARDS? WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT OUR, UM, CHARTER,
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OUR BYLAWS FOR OUR PARTICULAR THING.UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S SOME, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED AT SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND THE LAST TIME IT WAS REALLY UPDATED IN ONE PARTICULAR ASPECT WAS 1975.
IT'S NOT EVEN CALLED PARKS AND RECREATION IN THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT WE HAVE.
SO THERE'S THINGS WE HAVE TO DO TO GET UP TO SPEED AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN, HOW CAN WE DO OUR JOB BETTER? AND I THINK PARTNERING WITH OTHER ADVISORY BOARDS OR WITH A SPECIFIC PROJECT COMES UP THAT MAY BE HELPFUL TO EVERYBODY, SUCH AS THE WAYFINDING SIGNAGE.
WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT? AND WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO DO THAT.
SO WE ARE, UM, HELPING GET BETTER OURSELVES SO THAT WE CAN BE A TRUE ASSET.
BUT IT ALSO HELPS US RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO BE, WE WANT TO BE AND HOPE TO BE A PART, TO BE ABLE TO SET OUR PATH, TO BE ABLE TO DEFINE A PARKS LEGACY.
IT NOT ONLY WHERE WE FEEL SUCH BUY-IN THAT, THAT THE ENTIRE CITY FEELS BUY-IN TOO.
OUR PARK BOARD MEMBERS ARE, THEY TAKE PRIDE AND DEDICATION TO BECOMING MORE, UM, EFFICIENT, MORE EFFECTIVE, BE BETTER STEWARDS FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE HOW EXCEPTIONAL WE CAN BE AND HOW EXCEPTIONAL THE CITY IS SO THAT WE ARE, UH, A PRIDE JUST, AND PEOPLE WANNA BE ON OUR, THEY WANT TO BE ON THE BOARD.
I KNOW, BUT I THINK OUR BOARD IS REFOCUSED, RE ENTHUSIASTIC.
WE'RE PASSIONATE, WE'RE IN SYNC.
WE'RE, UH, WANTING TO UM, BE A, NOT A, NOT EXACTLY A FORCE, BUT WE WANNA BE PART OF YOUR TEAM.
WE DEFINITELY WANNA CONVEY MORE PROMINENTLY THE POWERFUL IMPACT THAT OUR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS HAVE HAD ON OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE HAVEN'T SET OUT TO PROVE WHAT AN IMPACT WE HAVE ON OUR HEALTH WELFARE AND THE SUCCESS OF THE CITY OF EDMOND.
SO LET'S, UM, LET'S BE SO EXCI.
I HOPE EVERYBODY NOW YOU'RE NOT, COME LOOK HOW EXCITED I GET ALL THAT.
THIS IS SUCH A NUDE PAT FOR US.
WE HOPE YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE US, BE WITH US CUZ WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO MORE AND, AND BE BETTER OURSELVES, RIGHT? I CAP ENCAPSULATED THIS IN FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS.
BE PROGRESSIVE, BE RESPONSIVE, BE STRATEGIC, AND LET'S PLAN FOR THE FUTURE ON IT.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW DIRECTOR COMING IN.
WE THINK HE'S GOT A LOT OF TALENT AND IT'S GONNA HAVE BE ABLE TO, UH, HELP US REDIRECT AND, AND RE-ENERGIZE.
UH, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUSLY GOOD PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF.
WE CANNOT TAKE THAT AWAY FROM 'EM.
THEY'RE OUT THERE HAUL, LEAVES OFF PAINTING THINGS AND WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP THE FACILITIES MOVING.
SO, UH, WE WANT TO BE HELPFUL TO THEM.
THAT'S OUR JOB, I THINK TO ADVISE AND DIRECT AND LISTEN WHEN WE NEED TO, TO BE SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS.
SO NOBODY'S ASKING QUESTIONS YET.
WELL WE, WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME TO THINK OF THIS.
WE HAD PARK BOARD MEMBERS TOURISM, UH, RYAN, BOTH, BOTH OF STAFF HAS JUST BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE IN, IN SAYING WE CAN DO THIS SO WE CAN
APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING HERE.
I HAD, I DID HAVE AN INITIAL QUESTION.
WHEN YOU ALL RECEIVE A NEW MEMBER PARK BOARD MEMBER, WHAT KIND OF ONBOARDING DO THEY RECEIVE? UH, I REMEMBER, WOW, 25 6 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS FIRST COMING ON.
UH, I STILL THINK I HAVE A YELLOW PIECE OF PAPER FOR MR. MURDOCH ABOUT WHAT I CAN CANNOT DO.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT KIND OF ONBOARDING THIS ARE YOU ALL CURRENTLY HAVE OR THINKING ABOUT WHAT THIS NEW ENERGY THAT'S EXUDING THIS EVENING? WELL, I'LL ANSWER THAT BY SAYING WHAT DO WE HAVE RIGHT NOW? NOT MUCH, QUITE HONESTLY.
I CAME ON BOARD TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
I DID MEET WITH THE CURRENT DIRECTOR AT THAT TIME.
WE DID GO THROUGH, UH, IT'S BEEN ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE PROCESSES THAT WE HAD, WHY REVIEWING THESE THINGS.
BUT JUST AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE CURRENT BYLAWS ARE SO FAR OUT OF DATE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REVAMPED.
I THINK ONBOARDING SHOULD BE A ONE-ON-ONE, UM, UH, PROCESS WITH THE NEW BOARD MEMBER AND THE CURRENT DIRECTOR TO TALK THROUGH WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, WHAT THE LIMITATIONS ARE, WHAT THEIR SHOULD BE, WHAT WE SHOULD BE
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DOING, HOW WE SHOULD CONDUCT OURSELVES, AND THEN TOUCH ON THE CURRENT PROJECTS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.AND THEN IF WE HAVE SOME STRATEGIC PLANS IN PLACE, WHERE ARE WE LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE? IT NEEDS TO BE REVAMPED AND HOPEFULLY WITH A NEW DIRECTOR WE CAN RE STEP UP THAT ON PROCESS.
WE HAVE STARTED, WE'VE HAD IN OUR LAST, AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING AND THIS CURRENT ONE WE'RE DOING WITHIN THE BOARD MEETING A SHORT PRESENTATION ON AND WITH HANDS, UH, AND A HANDOUT ON WHAT SHOULD WE BE ABLE TO TAKE ON TO CHANGE WHERE IT'S CHANGING THE PROCESS.
IT PROBABLY WILL BE A WHOLE SUBCOMMITTEE NOW.
IN OUR FIRST, WHEN WE FIRST HAD THE PLANNING SCENARIOS WITHIN, UM, THE, WHEN THE ENTIRE BOARD WAS THERE FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING, WE ALSO, THAT WAS A AREA WE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME ON ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE, UH, A GOOD TIGHT NUT.
NOT LIKE A HUGE NOTEBOOK, BUT THINGS THAT HAD THE PROPERTIES THAT HAD THE MAPS SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE AREAS FIRSTHAND AND UH, LOOK AT THEM TO HAVE A TRUE UNDERSTANDING.
WE, WE GET THE ETHICS PART BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I CLEARLY KNOW MR. MURDOCH IS VERY GOOD AT THAT PART TOO.
AND HE ALWAYS SENT ME PLENTY OF THINGS ON
BUT WE WANT TO BE IN ADDITION, THE ONBOARDING IS STARTING WHETHER WE'VE DONE A LOT OF IT NOW WE JUST HAVE NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND THAT'S WHY IT'S CRUCIAL RIGHT NOW TO START THAT PROCESS.
WE'RE PUTTING IT WITHIN THE AGENDA AND IT LOOKS TO BE ONE OF, OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEES SO THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE PEER UH, SOME PEERS TO UH, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE CAN'T ALL MEET, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE PEERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO ASSURE THAT OUR BOARD IS BECOMING BETTER.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE ONBOARDING, IT WILL MATTER BEING ABLE TO START FRESH AND ENTHUSIASTIC FROM DAY ONE OF A TERM.
OTHER QUESTIONS? I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE JUST, YOU TALKED ABOUT PARTNERSHIP, YOU TALKED ABOUT COMMUNICATION AND I THINK MAYBE IN THE LAST HOWEVER MANY YEARS THAT HASN'T BEEN AS STRONG AS MAYBE IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.
AND I HEAR YOU ALL SAYING YOU WANNA REINITIATE THAT AND THAT'S EXCITING.
UM, CUZ SOME OF THE THINGS I THINK, I THINK THERE'S THINGS HAPPENING ON SOME OF THE FRONTS, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE PARKS BOARD THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE.
AND, UM, SO I THINK YOU'RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR HERE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND WHAT IT PROVIDES TO OUR, OUR CITIZENS.
SO THERE'S NO NEED TO CONVINCE US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.
UM, AND, AND I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED FOR A NEW DIRECTOR TO COME IN AND FOR THE NEW EX, THE EXCITEMENT OF THE BOARD.
AND IT IS A REALLY, REALLY STRONG BOARD WITH SOME REALLY BRIGHT PEOPLE WITH A LOT TO OFFER.
AND SO, UM, YEAH, I MEAN I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMMUNICATION, IMPROVING THE PARTNERSHIPS, IMPROVING COLLABORATION, UM, NOT FEELING LIKE YOU ALL ARE WORKING IN A SILO AND THE CITY'S DOING THIS OR THE COUNCIL'S OVER HERE, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY ALL COLLABORATING AND COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY.
UM, WITH OUR NEW DIRECTOR COMING IN IN A COUPLE MONTHS TOO, THAT WAS A PERFECT STORM.
RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT, GOT OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'VE GOT THE TIME AND WE'VE GOT THE PERSONNEL AND THE STAFF TO DO IT.
HE'S ALSO OF THE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LANE CONSERVANCY COMMITTEE AND OUR PRESENT IS SAM ANDERSON AND SHE'S HERE AND SHE LEADS US.
UH, SHE, SHE'S A GOOD, UH, SHE CAN RUN A MEETING.
I CAN SEE IT, IT MAKES IT GREAT.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION OF THE COUNCIL? IF YOU DON'T MIND, COME ON.
I'M SAM ANDERSON, CURRENT CHAIR OF THE BOARD.
SO MY QUESTION, ESPECIALLY MR. MEER, UM, ARE YOU FAMILIAR, DO YOU REMEMBER THE EDMUND PARKS FOUNDATION? UM, I WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN SANDRA DID THE RESEARCH AND BROUGHT IT TO A BOARD MEETING, SAID THAT THIS WAS STILL ALIVE AND STILL USABLE.
AND SO I, I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY EXCITING IDEA TO PROMOTE THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS WANNA WRITE A CHECK TO LEAVE ANY KIND OF A LEGACY OR ANY TYPE OF CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF EDMOND GRONK.
WHERE'S THAT GONNA GO? SEWERS, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT TO HAVE A FOUNDATION SPECIFIED FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PARKS MM-HMM.
AND TO PUT THAT FORWARD IN IT AT MAYBE A FUTURE PSA.
DO YOU GUYS, ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK? BUT DO YOU RECALL THE FOUNDATION? I WAS, YES, I DO.
[00:30:01]
OVER TIME.THE OTHER THING I GUESS TO KEEP IN MIND, I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION FOR THOSE DONATION DOLLARS OUT THERE, EVEN IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE THE VETERANS MEMORIAL AND UNCOMMON GROUND WHO BOTH NEED LOTS AND LOTS OF DOLLARS TO GET THAT GOING AS WELL.
UM, JUST KIND OF KEEPING THAT IN MIND.
BUT I MEAN, I THINK IT'S ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR FOLKS LIKE, LIKE YOU SAID, IF THEY WANNA RECOGNIZE OR DO SOMETHING IN MEMORY OF SOMEONE MM-HMM.
AND GETTING WELL, THEY WON'T, WON'T DONATE.
AND, BUT CERTAINLY I DON'T THINK WE WOULD WANT TO PUT IT FORWARD TO STEP ON ANY OF THOSE TOES, BUT TO BE, UM, A VERY VALID ALTERNATIVE.
UM, I'M, I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ON PARKS BOARD BECAUSE, UM, IT HAS, THERE HAS, THERE'S BEEN A DISCONNECT THAT I'M GETTING CLOSE TO FOUR YEARS ON CITY COUNCIL AND, AND PROJECTS WE WERE PUSHING FOR FOUR YEARS AGO WERE NOT DISCUSSED ALONG WITH PARKS.
UH, AND, AND WE KNEW WE NEEDED THINGS, BASEBALL IMPROVEMENTS, SOCCER IMPROVEMENTS, UM, MORE FIELDS, MORE, UH, A LOT OF, FOR ME, JUST BECAUSE IT'S A PHASE THAT I'M IN AND, AND, AND A LOT THAT I HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY IS, IS ESPORTS, BUT THEN ALSO JUST UPDATED MAINTENANCE ON OUR EXISTING PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE HAVE, UH, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, WE, THE REASON WHY SO MUCH OF THAT IS ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN NOW, NOW BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND, UM, I, I WOULD WANT NOTHING MORE THAN, THAN THE, THAN THE ROLES TO SWITCH TO THE PARK BOARD BEING A EVEN AHEAD OF CITY COUNCIL ON THAT.
AND, AND, AND YOU'VE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT THE FORWARD THINKING AND THE MASTER PLANNING AND, AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ABOUT A FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT.
UM, AND, AND WE, FOR TWO YEARS WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR LAND EAST OF I 35 TO BUY FOR PARKS.
AND YOU NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT, UM, AND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
AND SO, UH, I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED THAN, THAN YOU GUYS HERE AND SAYING, WE'RE, WE'RE READY TO DO THIS.
UH, AND I AM A, A NEW DIRECTOR, WOULD A, A SMART NEW DIRECTOR WOULD HAVE A PARKS FOUNDATION ON THE SIDE MM-HMM.
FOR THINGS THAT AREN'T IN THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET TO SAY, THIS IS A WONDERFUL FOUNDATION PROJECT.
AND THEY WOULD USE THAT ALONG THE WAY.
I HOPE THAT BUILDS A A, A GOOD PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR WOULD ENGAGE THEIR BOARD INTO EXCITING PROJECTS AND EXCITING SUBCOMMITTEES.
UM, AND DO THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE, UM, THAT, THAT YOU'RE VALUABLE TO TO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND TO US AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND WOULD I I THINK, UM, I THINK RIGHT NOW, UH, WHEN I LOOK AT THE PARKS AND PARKS BOARD MEMBERS, I LOVE THE DIVERSITY OF IT WHERE WE HAVE DIFFERENT AGES AND DIFFERENT SEASONS OF LIFE.
AND, AND I HOPE THAT CONTINUES, UH, ON PURPOSE.
UH, BECAUSE THEY ARE, THEY'LL, YOU'LL HAVE A BOARD MEMBER THAT THEY'RE, THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO EVERY MEETING CUZ THEY'RE WITH THEIR KIDS AT, AT THESE SPORTS FACILITIES AND TALKING TO FAMILIES AND GETTING INPUT AND DOING RESEARCH TO, TO BRING TO Y'ALL, UM, EVERY SATURDAY MORNING THEY'RE AT FACILITIES, THEY'RE TRAVELING, THEY HAVE INPUT TO SHARE WITH, UH, EVEN VISIT EDMOND ON, ON TOURISM THINGS AND SPORTS TOURISM THINGS, BUT ALSO, UM, THE DIVERSITY OF, OF SOMEBODY THAT IS USING THE PLAYGROUNDS.
UH, SOMEBODY THAT WANTS AN, THAT IS READY JUST FOR A NATURE PARK AND, AND THAT'S PARKS TO THEM OR TO ARCADIA LAKE BOATING, FISHING, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
SO I THINK THAT THE BOARD COMPLETELY CALLS FOR A, A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
UH, AND I HOPE THAT CONTINUES NOW THE LIST THAT, THAT WE HAVE ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND Y'ALL MATCH UP WITH AS WELL, AND, AND ALSO ASKING FOR A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, WHICH I THINK ARE FANTASTIC, DO REQUIRE MONEY.
AND, AND THIS IS OUR CHALLENGE EVERY YEAR, UH, AND WHEN WE SIT DOWN FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND WE, WE RATE THE PROJECTS AND WE, WE GULP AND, AND AND WONDER IF WE CAN FIT A NEW ONE IN, INTO THE LIST AND, AND LOOK AT STAFF SIZE.
[00:35:01]
SHARE THIS OPENLY.UM, I I'VE SEEN IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE, UH, UNTIL SOMETHING IS CHANGED IN THIS MANNER.
UH, C I P IS IF, IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE PROBABLY BOTH FAMILIAR WITH C I P AND, AND YOU SEE MOST OF THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE FUNDED FROM C I P, THAT'S THE INTENT OF THE 2000 TAX AND THE 2017 RENEWAL FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, QUALITY OF LIFE INFRASTRUCTURE, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
IT'S APPARENT TO ME, UH, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, WE HAVE REACHED A THRESHOLD, UH, THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER, NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND THEY ARE AT THE COST THAT THEY ARE, UM, THAT SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE ALMOST.
WE'VE GOT THE LIST OF INTERSECTION AND ROAD PROJECTS, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, UH, THAT AREN'T QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND SO, UH, IT'S ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN RIGHT NOW TO INVESTIGATE OTHER FUNDING, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR TRANSPORTATION AND ROAD PROJECTS.
AND SO TO ME IT'S ONE OR THE OTHER.
DO WE, DO WE DO SOMETHING ON ITS OWN TO FUND PARK PROJECTS AND QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS? I'M ALL FOR THAT.
DO WE DO SOMETHING TO FUND THE, THE ROAD PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS? AND IF WE DO THAT, YEAH, I WOULD BE ALL FOR THAT AS WELL.
IF IT'S SET UP WELL AND MESSAGED WELL AND MAKES SENSE, UH, AND THEY'RE GOOD PROJECTS.
BUT IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, IF THAT WERE TO BE SPLIT OUT, GUESS WHAT'S LEFT? AND GUESS WHAT C I P IS THEN FOR, FOR PARKS AND MORE MAINTENANCE AND MORE, MORE AND NEW PROJECTS AND, AND TO DO THE LIST THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO.
SO I'M, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE'VE DECIDED, OR I'VE DECIDED ON ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT I COULDN'T AGREE MORE THAT IN ORDER TO DO, UH, WE'RE A CITY, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BECOME A BIGGER CITY.
UM, AND YOU REACH A POINT WHERE YOU ONLY HAVE A BUCKET BIG ENOUGH FOR ALL OF THE PROJECTS.
AND I THINK PARKS AND REC SHOULD BE AT THAT TABLE, WHICHEVER WAY IT GOES FOR FUNDING OR MORE FUNDING BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT, WHICH WHETHER IT'S EX, WHETHER IT'S DEDICATED FUNDING FOR YOU OR DEDICATED FUNDING FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
EITHER WAY IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT YOU, UH, AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN THE, IN THE FUTURE.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ON THAT.
I DO HAVE A CHALLENGE FOR YOU ALL.
UM, SOMETHING YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR LAND AND WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THAT? THE CHALLENGE I HAVE FOR IS FOR THE FUTURE PART BOARDS IN THE CURRENT TO PASS DOWN THE HISTORY OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON ON THAT PART BOARD.
THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE AT ONE TIME THERE WAS A STUDY FOR EAST OF EDMOND LOOKED, THEY LOOKED AT EVERY PIECE OF LAND OVER THERE AND TO LOOK FOR ONE PIECE OF LAND, THE SIZE OF MITCH PARK, AND AT THAT TIME, HOWEVER MANY YEARS AGO, THERE ISN'T THERE.
SO THE CHALLENGE IS HOW DO WE CONTINUE AS WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AND KEEP THIS ENERGY GOING THAT IT IS PASSED ON TO THE NEXT BOARD AND THE NEXT BOARD SO THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU ALL ARE STARTING FROM SCRATCH.
TAYLOR'S GONNA WRITE A HISTORY BOOK JUST RIGHT THERE BECAUSE YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.
IT WOULD BE A BENEFIT FOR EVERYBODY TO NOT JUST ON ONBOARDING MM-HMM.
ALSO TO HAVE Y'ALL BE MORE ADVISORY TO US.
AND JOSH MENTIONED IT TOO, INSTEAD OF US COMING TO YOU AND SAYING, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
COME TELL US, TELL US WHAT YOU WANT AND WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU SEE.
UM, THAT MAKES OUR JOB SO MUCH EASIER AND MORE THINGS CAN GET ACCOMPLISHED INSTEAD OF JUST GUESSING WHO NEEDS WHAT.
WELL, I THINK GOES BACK TO THE MASTER PLANNING.
WE HAVE REALLY LOOKED AT HARD AND FAST.
WHY AREN'T WE DOING MORE MASTER PLANNING PAID PARK? WHO NEEDS OTHER PROJECTS THAT, THAT IF WE HAVE AN IDEA WHERE IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE IN THE FUTURE, THEN WE JUST STARTED WORKING TOWARDS, WE GET THINGS ROLLING.
WE DO HAVE AN ARCADIA LAKE MASTER PLAN.
WELL WE KNOW THAT WE WERE JUST TALKING THROUGH YES.
I HAD SOMETHING AND I BET IT WAS NOT THAT IMPORTANT.
I THINK THAT THIS IS OUR FIRST, YOU KNOW, WHEN'S THE LAST TIME, I DON'T KNOW OF A TIME THAT PARKS BOARD HAS EVER HAD A WORKSHOP.
I WOULD NEED TO, IF I HAD A HISTORY, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAY.
[00:40:01]
STEP TO SAY WE'RE TRYING MM-HMM.WE'RE TRYING TO BRING YOU IDEAS, THOUGHTS, NEEDS, INTERESTS.
AND SO WE FEEL WHILE WE WERE PRETTY, WE'RE REALLY HONORED THAT YOU, UH, SAID YES.
COME ON, LET'S HAVE A WORKSHOP.
SO NOT JUST NEEDS AND INTEREST BUT SOLUTIONS.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, UH, ANY OTHER YEP.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANTED TO THANK GARY.
HE SERVED ON OUR, UM, SELECTION PROCESS FOR OUR NEW PARKS BOARD, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
AND IT WAS KEY TO HAVE INSIGHT FROM OUR EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS AND BE PART OF THE PROCESS.
SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR GARY FOR GOING WITH THAT.
SECOND IS, WE'RE EXCITED BECAUSE, UM, GARY CHOSE AND OUR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS CHOSE.
UM, OUR UPCOMING DIRECTOR BRINGS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH PARKS.
UH, BUT WITH GRANT WRITING MM-HMM.
AND PARTNERSHIPS AND OUTREACH.
SO HE IS GONNA BE INVOLVED
UM, BUT I THINK THE OTHER PART, AND, AND HOPEFULLY I SHARED THIS WITH PARKS BOARD WHEN I WAS THERE A FEW MONTHS BACK AND I'VE TALKED TO STAFF IS TALK ABOUT ADVISORY ROLE.
WE'RE GONNA BE SEEKING, UH, DIRECTING STAFF TO SAY, DID THAT GO TO PARKS BOARD? MM-HMM.
SO THAT'S NOT JUST PARKS BOARD, BUT IT'S OUR OTHER BOARDS THAT ARE, ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT AS THINGS MOVE TO THE PROCESS, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE'LL SAY IS, DID THAT GO TO THAT BOARD? WHAT'S THEIR INPUT ON THAT? AND THEN TO ACTUALLY ASK THEM EITHER TO TAKE THE VOTE, WHETHER THEY WANT TO COME OR NOT, WE MAY ASK THEM TO, TO COME AND PERHAPS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.
CAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO IS THEIR ADVISORY GOALS.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY, I'LL CUT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL ABOUT WHAT WAS THE ISSUES, WHAT WAS THE THOUGHT PROCESS.
AND TONIGHT YOU'RE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY AT COUNCILMAN MOORE.
THERE IS AN ITEM ON TONIGHT WITH THE, UH, SPORTS FACILITIES EVALUATION.
THIS GROUP WILL BE KEY ON, ON WORKING WITH THAT CONSULTANT AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ON HOW TO PROCEED.
AND WE DID GET THAT, UH MM-HMM.
I THINK AS LAURA, I'M SPEAKING FOR THE BOARD, BUT I THINK WE COULD BE GLAD TO BECOME PERTH PRESENT OUR PARTICULAR ASPECTS AND OUR INSIGHTS ON PROJECTS AS WE RECOMMEND THEM TO YOU.
WELL THAT'S OUR UPDATE AND DISCUSSION FROM THE PARK AND REC CREATION ADVISORY BOARD ON THE 2023 GOES IN INITIATIVES.