[00:00:01] >> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. CITY OF ANGLETON SPECIAL CALLED MEETING TUESDAY, [DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER] JUNE THE 22ND AT 5:00 PM WE ARE JUST A FEW MINUTES BEHIND. I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE, [INAUDIBLE] GOSH, I KNOW HAVE BEEN DRINKING TODAY. I WILL DECLARE A QUORUM AND I CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:03. [NOISE] WE HAVE ONE REGULAR AGENDA ITEM PRESENTATION ON FREEDOM PARK MASTER PLAN CONCEPTS [1. Presentation on Freedom Park Master Plan concepts by Burditt Consulting, with Parks and Recreation Board and Angleton Better Living Corporation.] BY BARDIC CONSULTING WITH PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AND THE AVLC. MS MEGHAN? YES. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING THIS EVENING. WE DO HAVE SOME PARKS BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL, SOME AVLC MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE. TONIGHT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING TWO PRESENTATIONS OF FREEDOM PARK CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN, AS WELL AS THE UPDATES BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD ANGLETON AND BETTER LET INCORPORATION AND CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 25TH, AS WELL AS THE MEETINGS WITH CONCOURSE DEVELOPMENT REGARDING DETENTION CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO CLAUDIA WALKER, THE SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER. GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE YOU GUYS TODAY? USUALLY, I HAVE TO BRING THIS DOWN A LITTLE BIT. JUST WANTED TO RECAP A FEW OF THE ITEMS THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED ON OTHER PRESENTATIONS. JUST TO BRING YOU BACK TO WHY IN HOW WE'RE DEVELOPING SOME OF THESE AREAS SPECIFICALLY ON THE POND SITE. JUST TO SEE THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT I GOT THIS RIGHT. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THE EXISTING FORESTED AREA, AND WE HAD OUR GUYS GO IN, DELINEATE ALL THE DIFFERENT COVER TYPES CANOPIES AND WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF TALLOW FLATS, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE CENTER, IT'S ABOUT 15 PERCENT OR SO OF THAT SITE IS TALLOW FLAT AREAS. THE DARK GREEN IS HARDWOOD, WHICH HAS ANOTHER 15 PERCENT OR SO OF HARDWOOD AND THOSE HAVE PARCELED AREAS OF LARGE TREES. THERE'S SOME SIGNIFICANT TREES IN THERE, BUT MOST OF THE REST OF THE SITE IS UNDER STORY AS WELL, INTERLACED WITH THE HARDWOOD TREES. IN THE REST OF THE SITE, NOT INCLUDING THE POND IS A BRUSH. IT'S HEAVY BRUSH AND BRIER IN THE STUFF THAT'LL HURT YOU WHEN [LAUGHTER] YOU TRY TO GET IN THERE. I JUST WANTED TO SHOW THIS ONE AREAS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE AN IDEA OF WHY WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE WAY WE ARE AS BUM. LET'S SEE THIS SITE HERE. I THINK YOU CAN SEE THE TEXT VERY WELL, BUT IT'S AN OVERLAY WHAT WE ARE CONSIDERING AS THE IMPACTED POND AREA IS IN THE BLUE LINE. THIS IS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LOWLANDS EXISTING POND, EXISTING OPEN SPACE AND OF COURSE, THE TALLOW FLOOD AND SOME OF THE BRUSH AREAS TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THE TREE REMOVALS OR ANY OF THAT SORT. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF RECAP ON THE DETENTION IS THE GOAL HAS BEEN 98 ACRE FEET, AND PARTIALLY IT'S 52.3, I BELIEVE WAS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT. THE REST OF THAT WAS TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE FLOODING CONCERNS ON THE HERITAGE PARK SUBDIVISION, I BELIEVE IS THE NAME OF THAT ONE. UNDERSTAND THERE'S ALREADY SOME ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED ON THE BRUSHY. FOR THE RANCHO DITCH, THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THE CULVERTS AND THAT WILL ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE REQUIRED DETENTION ON THIS END BECAUSE OF JUST THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WILL BE FLOWING THROUGH THERE. JUST TO REITERATE ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS, WE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE THOSE WITH CASTELOS CIVIL ENGINEER, AND THE BALANCE OF THE TREE, CANOPY OF COVER THE DETENTION REQUIREMENTS [00:05:01] AND JUST THE OVERALL GOALS OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IN AVLC AND CITY COUNCIL AS WELL. SO TO REITERATE SOME OF OUR PLANNING GOALS HERE IS TO INTENTIONALLY DESIGN THE DETENTION SYSTEM THAT USES THE EXISTING TOPOGRAPHY, THE LOWLAND AREAS AND PRESERVE THE TREES, TO CREATE A COMBINATION OF WET AND DRY DETENTION TO REDUCE THE FOOTPRINT OF THE WET POND, WHICH WAS A CONCERN AS WELL. BALANCED THE SLOPES AND THE SLOPES THAT ARE, WE WILL NEED SOME DEEPER STEEPER SLOPES IN, BUT THERE'S ALSO A DESIRE TO CREATE SOME GENTLER SLOPES FOR USE WITH FISHING OR JUST DIRECT ACCESS. THE OTHER ONE, THE LAST ONE WOULD BE TO ENHANCE THE FOREST POND EDGES, REFORESTATION TYPE, OR WETLAND ENHANCEMENTS JUST TO CLEAN UP THE EDGES AND CREATE A MORE FRIENDLIER VISUAL ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS FOR HABITAT. EXCUSE ME. TAKES ME A SECOND TO GET THROUGH IT, AND THEN IT GOES BACK. [NOISE] HAVE A LAG. SO I HAVE TWO CONCEPTS BASED ON EVERYBODY COMMENTS FROM LAST MEETING. WE HAD THREE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS LAST TIME, AND WE CREATED TWO BASED OFF OF THAT. THE OVERALL INTENT ON THESE WERE TO CREATE A SMALLER FOOTPRINTS DETENTION, BUT STILL ALLOW FOR THE ENTIRE AS MUCH AS WE COULD FOR THE 98 ACRE FEET. THE IMPROVEMENTS OR THE SOUTHERN AREA WITH 300-FOOT FIELDS. AMPHITHEATER WAS A DESIRE ADDITIONAL TRAILS AND AN ENHANCED PLAY AREA WHICH HAD VOLLEYBALL, AND WE'LL HAVE OUR WASHES STATIONS IN PICNIC AREAS IN ADA PLAYER IN AS WELL. I JUST WANT TO ZOOM INTO THIS CERTAIN AREAS AND SEE IF YOU CAN SEE THIS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. THIS HAS BEACH ENTRY SPACES WITH THE MAIN LOOP TRAIL, WHICH WOULD BE MORE OF AN ACCESSIBLE TRAIL FOR ALL USES. THE EXTERIOR TRAIL IT COULD BE THE MULCH TRAILS OR JUST A MORE NATURE ORIENTED TRAILS THAT CAN BE USED EITHER BY BIKE OR BY PEDESTRIANS AS WELL. IF YOU CAN SEE ON THERE WHERE WE HAVE THE DRY DETENTION AREAS. THAT'S THE IDEA IS TO STILL CREATE DETENTION, BUT ENHANCE THOSE WITH REFORESTED AREAS, POSSIBLY SOME MEADOW WILDFLOWER AREAS AS WELL, DON'T ANTICIPATE THIS BEING WET VERY OFTEN, BUT WHENEVER WE GET INTO THAT HIGH WATER DRAINAGE, THEN WE CAN HAVE SOME PLANTS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO GET WET. THE SOUTHERN AREA HAS THE ENHANCED FOURPEX, WHICH WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL CANOPY. WE CAN CONTINUE LEAVING THE BIG PROMENADE AT THAT LEFT SIDE AND GOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PARK WITH CONNECTIONS TO THE FEATURE AMPHITHEATER, FEATURE 300 FOOT FIELD, AND PLAZA SPACE, AND IN THE SOUTHERN, AT THE ENHANCE PLAY AREA. THE AREA HAS BEEN ALLOWED FOR ADA ACCESSIBILITY. FORESTED ZONES, THE DARK GREEN AREAS WOULD BE MORE OF A REFORESTATION AREA SO THAT YOU HAVE A BUFFER BETWEEN THE PARKING LOT AND FIELDS AND PLAY SPACES AS WELL. THERE'S PICNIC SPACES IN THE CENTER THAT WOULD BE YOUR CANOPY STRUCTURES. THE MAIN FOCUS ON THIS ONE, IS ACTUALLY RIGHT AT THE CENTER OF THE PROMENADE, IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING A PARTY PAVILION. JUST A RENTABLE SPACE THAT COULD BE ENCLOSED AND AIR CONDITIONED IF THAT'S A BIG DESIRE FOR A RENTABLE SPACE, [00:10:02] OR IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS A PAVILION WITH A KITCHEN AREA, OUTDOOR KITCHEN STUFF SO THAT THEY CAN BE RENTED FOR PARTIES. IT'S NEAR THE PLAY FEATURES. IT'S ALSO RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AMPHITHEATER SPACE AND IT COULD HAVE MULTI-USE. THE [NOISE] AMPHITHEATER ITSELF ACTUALLY HAS THE CAPABILITY OF ALLOWING A FUTURE 200 FOOT FIELD WITHIN IT, WITHIN THAT TRIANGULAR SPACE. IT WOULD NEED A LITTLE BIT OF REFINEMENT FOR THAT TO REMAIN IN THERE, BUT THE IDEA IS TO ALLOW FOR FUTURE USE IF FIELDS ARE NEEDED TO EXPAND. I KNOW THAT WAS A REQUEST ON THE LAST MEETING TO ALLOW FOR EXPANSION OF BASEBALL FIELDS. THAT'S ONE THOUGHT ON THAT AMPHITHEATER. ON THE OTHER CONCEPT, SIMILAR ON THE NORTH END, IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT SCENARIO ON THE POND ITSELF, IT HAS MORE ENHANCED EDGES AND THE MEANDERING TRAILS ARE STILL VERY SIMILAR. THEN ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE, THE 300 FOOT FIELD ALLOWS FOR A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE MAIN AREA. THIS CONCEPT ALSO HAS MORE OF OPEN SPACE ON THE SOUTHEASTERN SPACE, WITH POSSIBLY SOME WILDFLOWER MEADOW SPACES, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE VISIBILITY BETWEEN THE TRAILS AND THE REST OF THE SITE. ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS IS VERY HEAVILY BRUSHED, ESPECIALLY ON THOSE ZONES, IN CLEANING SOME OF THE UNDER-STORY, IN ALLOWING FOR MORE PARK-LIKE FEEL WITH JUST THE TREES AND GRASSES AND UNDERNEATH, IT WOULD WOULD ALLOW FOR VISIBILITY. THE SOUTHERN PORTION HAS SIMILAR APPROACHES, THE PREVIOUS ONE WITH A PARTY PAVILION IN THE MIDDLE. [NOISE] THE BASEBALL FIELD IS ROTATED IN CREATING A DIRECT ACCESS FROM THE PARKING LOT, AS WELL AS A PLAYGROUND AREA ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SECURED SPACE FOR YOUNGER KIDS. THE AMPHITHEATER IS IN A SIMILAR LOCATION WITH A SAME APPROACH, ALLOWING FOR A FUTURE 200 FOOT FIELD OR SO, TO FIT IN THAT SPACE. THE BERM THAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AMPHITHEATER WOULD NEED TO BE REDUCED IF A NEW FIELD WAS PLACED IN THERE, BUT OTHERWISE IT WOULD FIT PRETTY WELL IN THERE. THIS IS JUST A WHOLE BUNCH OF SCENARIOS THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED BACK AND FORTH, AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS A GLIMPSE OF WHAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE WE WENT INTO THE LARGE ONES. [NOISE] BUT I REALLY OVERALL WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN IDEA OF WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE FOR THE DETENTION. I DID GET COMMENTS BACK ON THE CALCULATIONS FROM ENGINEERING, AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT THIS POND DESIGN, BECAUSE OF THE MEANDERING, BECAUSE OF THE GENTLE SLOPES, AND PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF THE DRY DETENTION, IT WOULD REQUIRE MORE ACREAGE. SO THIS ONE IS GETTING CLOSE TO 15 ACRES OF IMPACTED AREA, AND WITH A DESIGN SIMILAR TO THIS, IT WOULD REQUIRE ABOUT 20 ACRES OF IMPACTED AREA. SO WE'RE STILL GOING BACK AND FORTH TO [BACKGROUND] WHAT THAT IMPACT CAN TRULY BE AND WHAT WILL THE CITY ACCEPT. WILL IT REALLY BE THE 98 ACRE FEET THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY OR IS [00:15:05] IT GOING TO BE A REDUCED NUMBER? SO WE WANTED TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON ALL OF THESE OPTIONS AS WELL. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE HOPEFULLY LEFT ENOUGH TIME FOR COMMENTS. TRY TO GET THROUGH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR USE. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. [INAUDIBLE] OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL AND THEN THE TWO COMMISSIONS BOARDS THAT ARE HERE. >> WELL, I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE SAID BEFORE. I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK FIRST OF ALL, AND LOOKS [NOISE] AT VARIOUS CONCEPTS. MINE IS JUST A GENERAL IDEA. JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE, DAGGERS MAY BE SHOT AT ME, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST PLACE FOR AN AMPHITHEATER IN CITY [INAUDIBLE]. I'D LIKE FOR US TO EXPLORE VETERANS PARK, THE AREA THAT WAS USED JUST RECENTLY TO HOST AN EVENT, IF YOU WILL, CONCERT. I THINK THAT AREA COULD BE UTILIZED AS SOME SORT OF STAGE, THAT THE SPACE CAN BE RE-IMAGINED OVER THERE AND UTILIZED BEST. I DON'T THINK HAVING A AMPHITHEATER, WHERE I WOULD ANTICIPATE REQUIRING PEOPLE TO ROLL THERE, SAY ICE CHESS, WHETHER IT'S FOR WHATEVER BEVERAGE YOU WANT TO KEEP, HAVING VENDORS PUT OUT THERE, IT'S JUST NOT A VERY CONVENIENT LOCATION, AND EVEN ADDING A SECOND PARKING LOT, WHICH I DO THINK IS A GOOD IDEA. AS THIS PARK GROWS, IT STILL MEAN YOU ARE GOING TO WALK PAST THE BASEBALL FIELDS OR WALK DOWN THE TRAILS, WHICH WOULD IDEALLY BE USED FOR JOGGING TO GET TO THIS KIND OF LOCATION OR WHERE THIS AMPHITHEATER IS IN. ANYWAY, THAT'S MY IDEAS. I WOULDN'T CONSIDER STRONGLY RE-IMAGINING VETERANS PARK TO INCLUDE SOME MORAL TYPE AT VETERANS PARK, BUT ALSO A STAGE THAT COULD SERVE, I KNOW WE USED TO USE THE GAZEBO AS KIND OF AN AMPHITHEATER OR AN AREA STAGE EVENTS, SAME THING, SAME CONCEPT. THERE'S PARKING RIGHT THERE. THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED FRESH NEW PARKING, WHICH MAKES A NICE PLACE FOR A SETUP AND EASY ACCESS TO GET TO A CONCERT. >> SO FAR AGAIN, WE ARE CONSIDERING VETERANS PARK FOR OUR RESIGN FOR OUR AMPHITHEATER CONCEPT. PERMANENT AMPHITHEATER OFF TO THE SIDE VICE WITH THE PAVILION WAS IN THE MIDDLE AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. THAT'LL COME FORWARD TO PARKS BOARD AND THE ABLC AND THE COUNCIL AT SOME POINT. >> IT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY OF ANGLETON NEEDS TWO OF THEM BUT THAT'S JUST MY IDEA. [NOISE] [BACKGROUND] >> I'M BONNIE MCDANIEL. I'M A MEMBER OF THE PARKS BOARD. I PAUSE TWO ITEMS. ONE, I NEED TO DOUBLE-CHECK WITH MEGAN. AT OUR LAST PARKS BOARD MEETING WHEN THE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION MADE THEIR PRESENTATION, ARE THEY NOT REALLY NEEDING A BIGGER FIELD THAN THE 300 FOOT? IN MY MIND, THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT A 350 FOOT. EVIDENTLY THE OLDER [BACKGROUND] KIDS DO NOT HAVE A PLACE TO PLAY. THEY'RE HAVING TO GO TO OTHER CITIES AT THIS POINT. MY CONCERN IS IF WE'RE GOING TO BE DESIGNING MORE FIELDS, LET'S THINK IN LONGER, BIGGER TERMS. THAT'S ITEM 1. >> YES, THEY DID MENTION LARGER THAN 300 FEET. >> THE OTHER WAS, WHAT USE WILL WE HAVE FOR THE DRY DETENTION WHEN IT'S NOT ACTUALLY WET DETENTION? [LAUGHTER] IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE UTILIZED FOR NATURE THING OR IS THAT GOING TO HAVE TO BE KEPT MODE? >> YES. CURRENTLY THE IDEA FOR THE DRY DETENTION IS FOR IT TO BE MORE OF A NATURE SPACE. THERE'S DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR DRY DETENTION, OF COURSE, BUT I KNOW SINCE THE THE BIGGEST CONCERN ON THIS SITE WAS THE PRESERVATION OF EXISTING, THEN THAT'S HOW WE WENT THROUGH THE SCENARIO OF RECREATING SOME OF THESE SPACES BUT WET. [00:20:03] >> THANK YOU, MS. BONNIE. >> IF YOU GUYS WILL, JUST COME UP TO THE MIC IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS SO THAT WE CAN [NOISE] ON RECORD. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] >> HISTORICALLY, THE REASON THAT AMPHITHEATER WAS DISCUSSED IS THAT WHEN FREEDOM PARK YEARS AGO WAS INAUGURATED, WE LOOKED AT THAT ONLY BECAUSE THERE'S ALL THIS LAND AVAILABLE, IF YOU SLOPE IT OR IF YOU'RE MOVING THE DIRT, YOU'VE CREATED THE AMPHITHEATER, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE CONCRETE THAT MAKES IT HOT AND MAKES IT HARD. THE AMPHITHEATER HAS BEEN ATTACHED TO THIS FOR THAT HISTORICAL REASON. I GUESS CONCEPTUALLY, THE REASON HOPPED ON TO THAT LAST TIME WAS, WOW, IF THERE WAS A WAY TO PUT THE POND BEHIND IT, WHAT A NICE VIEW. BUT YOU GOT TO GET OVER THE DITCH TO GET THERE AND THAT JUST MAY NOT BE FEASIBLE WITHIN THIS PERIOD OF DESIGN. I'VE LIKED THE AMPHITHEATER HERE BECAUSE I'M VERY ABLE. I DON'T MIND WALKING 200 YARDS. I DON'T CARRY MY ICE CHEST EVERYWHERE I GO. BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE A FOOD TRUCK OR YOU CAN HAVE OTHER THINGS COME. NOT THAT WE CAN'T HAVE MULTIPLE THINGS AROUND. I AGREE THAT TWO AMPHITHEATERS WITHIN FIVE MILES OF EACH OTHER MAY BE TOO MUCH, BUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HAVING ONE FOR 15 YEARS, CHRIS, HOWEVER LONG IT'S BEEN, AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE ONE. WE HAVE SPACE HERE. I LOVE THE IDEA OF THIS BEING DIMENSION SO THAT IF ALL OF A SUDDEN WE NEEDED ANOTHER BASEBALL FIELD, WE COULD HAVE IT THERE IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANT HERE. I LIKE THE DESIGN OF PUTTING THE STAGE BACK THERE. THERE'S A BARRIER OF SOUND SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE THAT THAT'S GOING ON AND STILL HAVE BASEBALL FIELDS AND SUCH GOING ON. MY ONE THING IS THAT IT'S A LITTLE FAR FROM THE BATHROOMS BUT MOST OF THE TIME, THESE WOULD BE ADULTS HERE AND YOU CAN EASILY GET UP AND FIND YOUR WAY TO THE BATHROOM. MY BOYS ARE NO LONGER BOYS. THEY ARE YOUNG ADULT MEN, BUT I'VE NEVER HEARD US EVER TALKING ABOUT AN OVER 300-FOOT FIELD [NOISE] FOR BASEBALL UNTIL RIGHT NOW. MAYBE IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE MINUTES LAST TIME BUT I WAS THE ONE WHO SAID LET'S GIVE THEM THE BIG FIELD THEY WANT. MAYBE THAT INFORMATION WAS JUST SLOW TO COME. IT'S COOL TO HIT A HOME RUN. IF WE MAKE IT SO BIG THAT NOBODY EVER HITS A HOME RUN THEN IT'S NO LONGER COOL FOR BOYS. BOYS WANT TO SEE IT GOING OVER THE FENCE. ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE ADULT BOYS. I LIKE BOTH OF THEM. I LIKE THE CREATIVITY. WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE SPLASH PAD, BUT I THINK THAT'S NEAT THAT WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING OVER THERE THAT WILL ENTERTAIN THE YOUNGER CHILDREN THAT ARE THERE TO WATCH BASEBALL, LIKE THAT WE'VE INCORPORATED AN EXTRA SHADE STRUCTURE HERE. DO YOU PREFER A LITTLE BIT THE SECOND ONE BECAUSE IT MOVES THAT PLAYGROUND A LITTLE FURTHER IN SO THAT KIDS DON'T GET CLOSER TO WHERE THE OTHER PARKING LOT IS. I THINK YOU HAVE DONE A FABULOUS JOB OF INCORPORATING A LOT OF CONVERSATION. IF WE DECIDE WE DON'T WANT THE AMPHITHEATER THERE, THAT'S OKAY. BUT THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE BECAUSE IT'S JUST ALWAYS BEEN ATTACHED. >> THANK YOU, CHARLOTTE. GO AHEAD, SIR. >> BILL AHLSTROM FROM THE PARKS BOARD. I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT THE SANDY BEACH. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH THAT. ONCE IT'S PUT IN, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT, MAYBE FROM EXPERIENCE, THE MAINTENANCES, WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP IT LOOKING NICE, AND ACTUALLY HOW MUCH AND HOW IT'S USED. >> THANK YOU. THERE'S DIFFERENT SCENARIOS FOR A SANDY BEACH. I'VE SEEN SOME WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY CONCRETE UNDERNEATH AND THE SAND GETS BROUGHT IN FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND JUST LET GO FOR A WHILE UNTIL [NOISE] IT NEEDS TO BE REPLENISHED AGAIN. IT'LL DEPEND ON THE USE AND IF THE WATER LINE GETS HIGH ENOUGH TO ERODE SOME OF THE SAND AS WELL. THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO DESIGN IT AND IT'LL REALLY DEPEND ON HOW MUCH AND WHAT WILL IT BE USED FOR. [00:25:05] >> I'VE GOT A QUESTION I THINK MORE FOR YOU. WHEN BOTH OF THESE BOARDS WERE WANTING TO PRESERVE AS MUCH OF THE WOODLANDS AS POSSIBLE, AND YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF THAT, BUT WHEN YOU SAID IT MAY BE FIVE ACRES TOO SMALL, CAN YOU ADJUST THE FREE BOARD TO HOLD MORE WATER IN THE LAKE WITHOUT TAKING? WHAT IS A FREE BOARD NOW, THE DISTANCE TO THE BANK, TO THE WATER? >> CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT SIX FEET OF DEPTH AND 35 METERS DEPENDING ON THE AREA FOR A FREE BOARD. YES, WE CAN ADJUST A FREE BOARD AND ONE OF THE AREAS THAT ENGINEERING WAS SHOWING US WAS ACTUALLY ON THE SOUTHWESTERN END OF THE SITE ITSELF, WHICH IS WHERE THE TREES ARE. WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO CREATE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE. >> SUPPOSE YOU TO EXCAVATE A LITTLE MORE UNDERGRAD ATTENTION FOR MORE ACRE FEET OF CAPACITY AS WELL? WHATEVER WE CAN DO JUST LIKE THE HARDWOOD [OVERLAPPING]. >> YES, ABSOLUTELY. >> LOOKING AT THE ADJUSTMENTS. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WITH EXCAVATING THE DRY DETENTION IS THE LIABILITY BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE TOO DEEP. >> OKAY. >> YOU DEFINITELY HAVE A BIG HOLE FOR PEOPLE TO SLIDE INTO WHICH THEY WILL USE I'M SURE. >> OKAY. WELL, YEAH, YOU DID A GOOD JOB. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR IT. IT TURNED OUT GREAT EVERYTHING YOU DID. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CHRIS. ANYBODY ELSE? GO AHEAD, JOHN. >> WHILST LOOKING AT THIS, DOUBLE THINGS JUMPED OUT AT ME. THE FIRST WAS THE 300-FOOT FIELD. I LIKE SOME OF THE CONCEPTS WHERE YOU HAD IT FACING NORTH, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT DOES TO LIMITING THE LAND USE AROUND IT. I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH COUNCILMAN TOWNSEND THAT THE AMPHITHEATER I'M JUST NOT SURE IT'S THE RIGHT SPOT FOR THIS IN THIS PARK. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN JUST MY OPINION, THE 40 BY 40 PARTY PAVILION THAT YOU HAD IN CONCEPT 1 AND CONCEPT 2 IT'S REPLACED WITH A 20 BY 40. I MEAN, I ALWAYS THOUGHT AND CHARLENE AND CHRIS, YOU CAN CORRECT ME, BUT FOR MY DAYS ON THE PARK'S BOARD WHEN WE WERE DESIGNING THIS PARK, THE PAVILION WAS LIKE OUR BIG THING THAT WE REALLY WANTED. WE HAD SHAPED STRUCTURE AND SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW AT MCLAIN WITH THE LITTLE STAGE AND YOU'D HAVE BENEFITS OR WHATEVER ELSE OUT THERE. I THINK THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY WHAT THE USE WILL BE. I DON'T THINK THEY AMPHITHEATER WILL BE USED AS MUCH OUT HERE IN THIS LOCATION, WHICH IN MY OPINION, THE 300-FOOT FIELD SHIFTS DOWN AND FOR FUTURE EXPANSION, I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD WANT THE SMALLER FIELDS TO THE RIGHT CLOSER TO THE PARKING LOT. MY OTHER COMMENT ON THE PARKING LOT IS HOW FAR IN IT COMES? I DON'T KNOW. YOU CAN TELL ME IF I'M WRONG ON DOWNING COMING UP, CAN THE PARKING LOT COME IN A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE ROAD WITH A SMALLER MEDIAN, I GUESS, BETWEEN THEM? SO YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE LAND USED HERE IN THE SIDE. IF YOU MOVE THE 300-FOOT FIELD ACROSS, TAKING OUT THE AMPHITHEATER, OR REALLY REDUCING THE FOOTPRINT OF THE AMPHITHEATER TO WHERE YOU CAN PUSH 300-FOOT FIELD OVER, HAVE ROOM FOR ONE OR TWO MORE 100-FOOT OR SMALLER FIELDS FOR THE SMALLER KIDS PLAYING. BUT SURE IN ONE OF YOUR POINTS WAS THE 300 FOOT FIELD, I JUST GOT A MESSAGE BACK, I WAS MESSAGING THE LITTLE LEAGUE PRESIDENT ASKED ME, AND HE SAID THAT 325 IS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ON THE ON THE FOUL LINES. BUT THEY CAN ADJUST 300 TO MAKE IT HIGHER SO THAT THEY CAN PLAY THE BIG KIDS. THE SENIOR KIDS ARE THE ONES THAT PLAY ON THAT FIELD. SO THAT'S THE ONES THAT NEED IT. IF YOU GO TO SUGGS FIELD IN LAKE JACKSON WHERE THEY'VE BEEN PLAYING, I WENT AND WATCHED THEM THE OTHER DAY AND SOMETHING TO THAT IS ABOUT 300-FOOT FIELD. BUT ONE THING I LIKE AND PLEASE KEEP IT IS THE BERM IN THE OUTFIELD. I THINK THAT'S THE COOLEST THING AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL LOVE WATCHING A BASEBALL GAME ON THE BERM SITTING THERE WITH THEIR KIDS OR WHATEVER, FAMILIES THAT ARE TRYING NOT TO STAY IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY AROUND THEM. I CAN SEE THAT. THEN I LIKE CONCEPT 2 WITH THE SIDEWALKS GOING ALL THE WAY UP, MEETING TO THE BRIDGE, AND THE PROMINENT GOING ACROSS SO THAT PEOPLE THAT COME TO USE THE PARK, EVEN IF THEY PARK ON THE SOUTH PARKING LOT, WILL STILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS EVERYTHING RIGHT UP THROUGH THE MIDDLE. THAT'S SORELY LACKING RIGHT NOW. [00:30:02] THERE'S REALLY NO EASY WAY TO GO NORTH IN THAT PARK, YOU HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE SIDES. TO ME, KEEPING THAT ONE SIDEWALK THAT GOES ALL THE WAY UP, MAKING THE PARTY PAVILION A 40 BY 40, WHICH IS WHAT A BIGGER PAVILION WOULD BRING, EITHER SHRINKING OR ELIMINATING THE AMPHITHEATER DOWN AND THEN MOVING THE 300-FOOT FIELD OVER WITH THE SMALLER OPTION FOR FIELDS LATER ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE. THOSE ARE MY MAIN TAKEAWAYS. ON THE NORTH SIDE, I'M IN AGREEMENT THAT MR. [INAUDIBLE] THE ONE THING I'LL ALWAYS SEE IS I THINK THE BEACH ENTRY IS THE FIRST THING THAT GETS CUT IN THE FUNDING. SO IT WOULD BE NICE, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WHEN IT COMES TO ACRE FEET AND EVERYTHING WE NEED, I'M NOT SURE HOW USEFUL THAT IS. I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF KEEPING THE NORTH SIDE VERY NATURAL, VERY LITTLE GOING ON UP THERE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GO ON HIKES AND GO FOR LONG WALKS OR WHATEVER OUT THERE AND IT'S A MINIMAL COST TO JUST QUIT TRAILS. THOSE ARE MY BIG TAKEAWAYS. >> THANK YOU JOHN. ANYBODY ELSE? ANYONE ON THE LEFT SIDE? I JUST HAD ONE COMMENT I LIKE WHAT AM I SAYING. AS FAR AS THEIR IDEAS AND CONCERNS AND WHERE TO PUT A PLACE WHERE THINGS, I DO LIKE THE AMPHITHEATER THERE AT THE PARK. ONLY BECAUSE SITTING OVER HERE AT VETERANS AND THINKING ABOUT THE REDESIGN TO THAT, CAN WE GET AN AMPHITHEATER IN THAT SPOT OVER THERE? THAT'S THE WHOLE THING IS, WE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, AS MR. ALLAN SAID. BUT IF WE DO LOOK AT VETERANS PARK, PUTTING THE AMPHITHEATER ALONG WITH WHATEVER OTHER AMENITIES THAT WE DO THERE AT THAT PLACE, MAYBE ARE CONSTRAINT. WE HAVE TO REALLY WEIGH THAT VERY HEAVILY WHEN IT COMES TO THE AMPHITHEATER, DOES IT WORK HERE DOWNTOWN? CAN WE MAKE IT WHAT WE WANT? OR IS READER PARK GOING TO BE THE BETTER OPTION? I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WEIGH AND LOOK AT JUST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, JUST BEING OUT THERE THE LAST FEW NIGHTS AND TRYING TO PUT AN AMPHITHEATER WITH A BERM, THAT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT. I DON'T KNOW, THE FOOTPRINT IS NOT AS BIG AS I THOUGHT IT WAS ONCE THE GAZEBO CAME DOWN. NOW I KNOW WE HAVE SOME BACK PARKING THAT WE CAN ABSORB MORE OF THE BACKSIDE. THAT'S FOR THE ENGINEERS AND DESIGNERS TO FIGURE OUT, WOULD IT BE AN ADEQUATE AMPHITHEATER FOR US? THAT WAS MY ONLY CONCERN. THE REST OF IT, LIKE ALL THE COMMENTS THEREBY SAID, PRESERVE THE NORTH END AND TRY TO PRESERVE AS MUCH TREES AS WE CAN. I DO LIKE THE FACT OF THE BALL FIELDS, LET'S GET THERE SO WE CAN MAXIMIZE FOR FUTURE, AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID. THOSE ARE MY FEW COMMENTS. ANYBODY ELSE? >> JUST ONE THING. >> GO AHEAD, SIR. >> THE 300 FIELD OR 325, WHATEVER IT ENDS UP BEING, I WOULD STILL LIKE FOR US TO RESERVE A LOCATION AND IT MAY HAVE TO COME OFF THE AMPHITHEATER LOCATION OR I KNOW ONE LASER LITTLE FLEXIBILITY, BUT I'D LIKE TO HAVE LASER FLEXIBILITY FOR FUTURE GROWTH BECAUSE WE MAY NEED ANOTHER TUTOR. I DON'T KNOW. IT'S I GUESS IT'S NOT GENERALLY, LITERALLY FEEL SOMETHING TO HAVE ACCESS. BECAUSE AGAIN, WHEN TRYING TO LOOK A LITTLE INTO THE FUTURE AND IF WE'RE PROJECTING GROWTH, WE HAVE TO PLAN A LITTLE GROWTH. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> YEAH. >> THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO [INAUDIBLE] WITH. >> THAT'S A GOOD COMMENT, JOHN. THANK YOU, TRAVIS. THAT'S A GREAT COMMENT. ANYBODY ELSE? >> YEAH. I GOT A COUPLE COMMENTS. >> GO AHEAD, SIR. >> FOR THE NORTH SIDE, I THINK A BIG BEACH AREA WOULD BE NICE, BUT YEAH, IT'S USUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST THING THAT'S CUT AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE COST THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PLAN FOR OR BUDGET FOR, JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND. I LIKE HOW YOU DID ONE MAIN MAYBE DECOMPOSE GRANITE, A HARD SURFACE TRAIL, AND LEFT THE REST TO BE MORE NATURAL. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR FOR THIS PART. WITH THE AMPHITHEATER, I LIKE THE IDEA OF AN AMPHITHEATER HERE, HOWEVER, WE ONLY NEED ONE. I THINK THAT'S UP TO PARKS BOARD AND ABLC TO DECIDE WHERE THEY WOULD RATHER WANT IT AND GIVE YOU DIRECTION ON THAT. IF WE DO CHOOSE TO HAVE AN AMPHITHEATER HERE, WE CAN MAKE THAT PROMINENT WIDE ENOUGH TO WHERE YOU CAN GET THROUGH TRUCKS DOWN THERE OFF THE SIDE PARKING LOT AND POSSIBLY GO TO [00:35:05] THAT PAVILION IN SETUP STATION THERE AND THAT WAY, PEOPLE HAVE THEY CAN GO WITH FOOD TRUCKS AND PLACE IT RIGHT THERE. SAY TRIP OR IN THAT PAVILION 40 BY 40, IT'S GOT TO BE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S LACKING OUT THERE. I DON'T THINK THE SIZE OF THE FIELD, 300, 350, 325, WHATEVER IS GOING TO BE AMPHITHEATER. ADJUST YOUR PLANS TOO MUCH. BUT YES, COUNCILMAN TOWNSEND SAID, I LIKE THE PLAN WHERE YOU SIZE THE AMPHITHEATER TO ALSO, IF WE NEED TO REDESIGN AND DO ANOTHER LITERALLY FIELD AS POSSIBLE. YEAH. I THINK THOSE ARE JUST MY COMMENTS. >> ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? SO IS THAT ENOUGH INFORMATION TO GET YOU GUYS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD? >> YES, SIR. >> OKAY. >> NOW WE CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD. >> ALL RIGHT. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THOUGH, ABLC OR PARKS BEFORE WE CLOSE IT UP? OKAY, GREAT. WELL THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THIS MEETING. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATION. WE WILL ADJOURN AT 5:39 AND START OUR NEXT MEETING AT 6 PM. >> JOHN, HOW ARE YOU DOING? * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.