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RE: Parkland Protection

Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2018 12:16 pm
by Ann Kitchen
All

As co-sponsors, we are posting a resolution for consideration at our February 15th Council meeting that directs our staff to:

- Remove the city parkland (Butler Shores in Zilker Park, Roy Guerrero Park) as possible locations for a MLS stadium

- Provide more in-depth analysis of the McKalla Lane property (near the Domain)

- Continue with the community engagement portion of the analysis for McKalla Lane and other potential sites

We are taking this action because we believe as our city grows we must protect our parkland. Parks are a legacy for the people of Austin’s future and losing valuable parkland for private, for-profit uses is not appropriate for our city.

It’s time for the City Council to provide clear policy direction for our staff to allow stakeholders and private interests to move forward to determine mutually acceptable options that will work for all.

We look forward to further conversation.

Ann Kitchen
Alison Alter
Jimmy Flannigan
Leslie Pool

Re: RE: Parkland Protection

Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2018 12:25 pm
by Ann Kitchen
Following is a link to the resolution:

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 121927.pdf

Re: RE: Parkland Protection

Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2018 11:10 am
by Genoveva Rodriguez
Collegues,

As a co-sponsor of the original resolution #20171109-046, it was my intent to provide an opportunity for a public discussion regarding the consideration of a ‘very specific’ request from a soccer organization. I shared with the agent that I did not feel the preferred location was appropriate for a variety of reasons. The Exposition Center was suggested and I shared the attributes of that location. They were not interested. Another sports organization is interested in providing a venue for soccer, other event space, mixed use space for restaurants, programming for the community, employment opportunities and other amenities, in an area where they are much needed. I imagine that there could be other organizations who may express interest down the road.

There has been no community conversations about the preferred location or any of the other locations identified by the Parks Department. Don’t get me wrong, I know that there has been conversations, but what has not occurred is community engagement regarding ALL the locations. Again, that was my intent of co-sponsoring the original resolution, to allow the conversation to happen.

My concern is the posting language which states: “Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to remove public parkland as a possible location for a Major League Soccer Stadium and continue the community engagement component of analysis for all other potential sites.”

Is the intent of the resolution to remove very specific public parkland from consideration or is it to remove ‘all’ public parkland from consideration? If it is the latter, the resolution is problematic because it must not place additional restrictions on public parkland in other parts of the City without robust community engagement with constituents in those parts of the City. Constituents of Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park and the Travis County Exposition Center, which is on parkland, do not want any additional restrictions placed on the property without their input.

Please clarify the intent of this resolution.

Peace,
Ora