Parks & Recreation Board - Regular Meeting

Okay. We'll go ahead and call the meeting September 18 meeting to order at 05:30.

John Ellis So

to? Charles Hickman.

Present.

Dan Alden is the one with us.

Here. Here.

Derek Griblin. So he would be out today. Peter.

Present.

Amanda Fox? Here. Here. Peter? Here. The blank? Here. Alright. You have a quarry. Great.

Do we have anybody signed up for this? Yes, sir. So we'll go to item one, which is our minutes. If you could read the caption, please.

Consider approval by motion of the 08/21/2025 regular meeting minutes.

We have a motion. Motion. Motion. Do we have a second? Second. Okay. By Ben and Jordan. And any discussion on the minutes? If not, could you call me?

Yes. Benjamin Heck? Here. Amanda Fox? Yeah. John Tomides?

Yes.

Peter Shearford? Aye. Dan Alden? Jordan Lane?

Aye.

Charles Hickman?

Aye.

Dan Alden?

Aye. Sorry about that.

Motion passed.

So our item two, please.

Sure. Receive a staff update and whole discussion regarding the current Riverfront Park's preliminary design and East Side Regional Parks park design plan concepts. This evening, I am oh, Erin, did you know that you it says Andrea Villalobos on your thing? Oh. I think you

So it does.

That's why

I was like,

Drew is here.

Okay. Tend to notice that.

Erin, this is Erin Cooper with Hapf and Associates. So Erin has been our project manager on these two projects, working with me since February. So today I'm just gonna go through a very brief presentation. If I can actually share the screen, that would probably be a deal. Do you happen to pass these Jamie here?

Do you want me to pass these to you? Yeah. Board members that are online, I did email you the concept so that you'll have them to reference as well. You can click share, please. Are you kind of able to see that?

Yes. Okey dokey. So the purpose for today is we're just gonna go we'll do an overview of the purpose, the process, and the next steps, and we're going to be reviewing the plans as they are in concept today following the process. So the apparently, it's skipped a couple. Here we go.

Okay. So the riverfront design plan was identified as an objective in the 2019 parks open space parks recreation open space master plan. And Plaza Park, you will notice, is not included in the plan. It was requested by city management to remove it from this plan because it is included in the city hall Hopkins city center study, looking at specifically where this building is as serving as a gateway into the park system. So not saying that it's not going to have any improvements in the future.

It will. It's just not included in this specific plan. The East Side Regional Park design plan, the purpose was we purchased the previous Well Creek Country Club And Golf Course in October 2022 with the assistance of Hays County Parks and Open Space Bond Funds, ARPA Funds, Parks Park Park BLU funds, city general funds to acquire the property. It is a 176 and a half acres, and so the purpose is to start planning so we can build it out in the future. The vision plans will be a visionary framework to guide the future development of the parks, including programming facilities, features, general layout, funding requirements, and potential implementation strategy.

The goals assess community preferences and identify desired characteristics and factors that will shape the parks, evaluate opportunities and constraints based on analysis of the project sites, complement goals associated with the 2019 San Marcos Parks Recreation and Open Space Master Plan, create a defined action plan for moving forward with park development, and then build consensus and commitment amongst elected and appointed officials, city staff, and the community. The process, we did start in February 2025. Phase one, we hosted seven public, open houses and also did an online, community feedback survey. It was available should someone need it in Spanish or in printout to be able to take it physically and bring it back to us. Once we completed that process, HAP and Associates developed the draft conceptual designs, concept a, concept b, for both projects.

We then did phase two where we hosted three open houses and also did an additional community feedback survey. That process was from May until July. The half team, city staff have continued conversations. We've looped in our engineering team and planning team as well to provide additional feedback to ensure that there's no conflicts with transportation master plan or any other plans. Looking at Atlas fourteen blood analysis to ensure no rise, specifically for for Quilt Creek, for example.

So we've we've been doing a lot of a lot of work, and Aaron's been exceptionally patient with me and constantly say, Hey, Aaron. I need this changed. So they've been really great to work with. So without further ado, I'm going to so the first one that I want to review is the riverfront design plan. We actually just met again with engineering and planning.

We do have some additional things that specifically that we were talking about today by way of bicycle infrastructure and ensuring that there wasn't a conflict with our transportation master plan. So we have changed configurations with parking multiple times. So Aaron, I don't know if you have anything that you would like to add at this point. Put it up to the board.

Yeah. I can't think of anything in particular. Happy to ask answer any questions that y'all might have. Yeah. It's been a fun process. People are are very much in love with, Riverfront parks, of course. So we've been getting a lot of community feedback on that, and, excited to see how Coil Creek can kinda help, support the overall park system in lieu of some of the items in in

Riverfront.

So we have, obviously, the time that we closed the community surveys, I mentioned that we've had, you know, beyond just the public open house, ICE did sit with the, an equity cabinet that reviewed our most recent transit plan. They're actually funded through Texas State. They're stakeholders here in the community, so sat down, got some feedback from them. That was where we really sat there and kind of learned more about the the love of the ball fields being there specifically and what that means to the community, especially the ones that are in the East Guadalupe neighborhood and Rio Vista neighborhood. So

So So who was that with?

They called themselves the Equity Cabinet. It was through Doctor. Rosalie Ray. She received a grant. And they originally the purpose of the Equity Cabinet was to weigh in on the transit study that was completed by our public works department. By extension, went ahead and took advantage of them still being in session and said, hey, would you like to weigh in on our plans as well? Is there anything that we need to take into consideration? And so it was held at Centro and had a very casual conversation, just kind of round tables. They provided us some information.

You're saying that their focus was on keeping the Balduccio ball fields there. For what reason?

There were a couple so the primary reason that they told well, there was a few people that actually used to live in the Rio Vista neighborhood, and they said that the primary reason that they really thought that the ball field should stay is because whenever the city went through urban renewal in the 1970s, that seeing the single family neighborhood go away, but seeing kids being able to play baseball broth and salutes. So that was the primary driver there.

And the new the last jump ahead, but the Quail Creek Park has ball fields as well. Correct. Yes. Is there a need for nine ball fields?

Yes, sir.

As we continue to grow, we we need to add additional fields, so that's why you're seeing them at Quail as well.

So it's pretty much a done deal that those ball fields are gonna stay there?

I don't think that it's a done deal. It is where the current state of the concept is. If this body feels that you wanna make a recommendation or include in your recommendation to city council that those not be there, then that's perfectly up to you.

Is there any other discussion or concept for what could go there if the fields work? If all fields work?

Yes. There's been so many

And you're talking to a big baseball fan.

I I know. Yeah. There's been multiple iterations of the plan. We've talked about having where it could be where the Lions Club or anyone else with a shuttle service can drop off, kind of make that the designated shuttle loop coming off of Centimeters Allen and or any drop off zones. We've had where the multi use fields or I'm sorry, the multi use purpose ports were on that side of Cheatham Street as well, leaving more, you know, just open space there.

So we've gone through several iterations of it. So, obviously, I mean, we're we're here to, you know, get your thoughts and feedback. And and Just one other question. Keep working.

On the Quail Creek Park, is there I I know that this has gone through a lot of public input and a cup. You said this is second draft?

Oh, this is definitely not the second draft. This is the yeah. We we have I I've probably been the most focused on on this one to because we've received much community feedback this one specifically due from the homeowners there along Bogie Lane. You know, and that's where I brought in engineering. And so you'll see where we have a regional floodplain storage area here that is at the request of our engineering department.

We relocated everything off of gas line easement. Initially, if you saw the initial concepts, this here was up here. So relocating that amenity off of gas easement and ensuring that that is free and clear, relocating the ball fields away from the homes, and then, like I said, also ensuring that we still are able to provide river accessibility up here, trails as well. We don't have any multipurpose fields just where someone can go and play football or soccer just because they want to that are dedicated specifically for that purpose. So

So will those just

be kinda open for anybody who shows up to you? Yes, sir. Yeah. It's not like the ball field scene.

What did I do? Okay. I don't know. It just moved out pretty funny.

But, like, I got it.

Like the ball field too?

Them, like, so you play ballgame there.

I mean, we're so far away from being able to tell you operationally how we'll be able to how we will truly manage them. I can't really answer that you need. Yeah. So could it be the use is so high we have to go to reservations? Probably. Eventually, that could be. Could be that it's just open play between a designated time. And if someone wants to reserve it, they can. If there's, like, a flag football league or something, you know, there's all kinds of opportunity here.

So I'll just add in. I guess it was my hope that we, you know, we have the

softball conference. Right across the street.

Right across the street from Yes. And how many fields are there?

There is four adult. Mhmm. Four.

I I guess it was just my thought that the Ramon Lucio would all be out here. So you'd have softball on side baseball, little league baseball, and everything on the other. And and in large part because of the parking issues. Service. One corner up by the highway, which looks like, I guess, is in the plan. Is that what that is, parking all around?

Yes, sir. And Peter has his hand up. Y'all are unable to see it. Peter?

Yeah. I I think I was noticing the parking situation too. It there's a lot of new parking. I guess I'm curious how much each of those parking spots costs, and I'm also okay. I should step back and say I like a lot of the things in this plan. So, like, congratulations for that. I think it's I could point to a couple of things that I really, really like. But I'm I'm concerned about how much the parking costs, and I'm also concerned about the amount of impervious cover that's gonna add to the parks that are currently, you know, grass or, you know, fields or forested areas. So I guess cost per parking spot is question number one. Question number two is if there's any way to make sure that this is permeable surfaces.

We have a few of these kind of lots around town. So that's

Yes, sir. Yeah. They're they're tagged as being permeable. Okay. Specifically because of it being in the San Marcos River Corridor, we will not be able to add a lot of impervious cover.

The earlier renditions of the plan had a lot more parking. So I did get with with Aaron and said, hey. How can we utilize the on street parking better. So, know, we again, we got with engineering and planning and discussed having, you know, kind of moving the bicycle infrastructure away from the parking where it'll be, you know, kind of that two way, and Erin will probably be able to speak to this a little bit better than me. But having a kind of a two way bicycle track there.

And then we're proposing head in, but we're discussing back end parking as well there along Centimeters Allen.

Yeah.

But, again, this is we're totally open to y'all's comments now.

Well, as you know, I used Tulane. I was I'm thrilled to see cycle tracks in here, but I will say it's gonna be complicated having a cycle track in front of people's houses like that. And I would almost suggest moving the the cycle lane on the inside of the parking lot the on street parking. So you have the cycle lane, and then you have the the the pedestrian walkway and the the parking on the outside of that. I don't know how that would play with the right of way. But

Yeah. That's totally doable. We did discuss that as well because we own that right of way. So it it all we could all we would have to do is just push the curb back. So it it could be achievable.

I feel like cyclists feel safer and set up too.

Yeah. And and we did discuss that today as well. So that that is a model that we can achieve.

While we're on the topic of parking spots, that's, like, the big the biggest concern I've heard from people in the neighborhood is just there's a whole lot of new parking being added here, which wonder how does that compare to what's available today.

It is increased from what is available today. Sure. I do not have that specific number right off the top of my head. I don't know if you recall off the top of your head what, Mr. Straumann, what the on street parking was. I have it in a file that I can't access it right now. I'm sorry. You're fine. I don't wanna give you an eight

credit number.

But I do know based on from what we do have today to what is shown in this plan, it it is increasing, but I'll I can get y'all exactly what that what that number is.

And it's mostly increasing around

the ball fields.

What do like?

It is increasing around the ball fields, but also utilizing what we currently call Rio Vista Drive, where we show adding parking here. The majority of the parking and I don't know. My cursor is not showing up there.

Or along

the road. Right.

Yeah. Well yes, sir. Yeah. So right here along the railroad tracks, but primarily along opposite side of the railroad tracks, all of this would have to be majority would have to be ADA because we're getting rid of the Reynolds Street lot over here, which we do utilize for ADA parking during the holiday season, particularly those busy weekends. So we would, you know, kind of restrict that to ADA staff and first responders only in that particular area. And then it is highly increased to your children's park. Yeah. That was a lot of feedback. Oh, parking. Parking by children.

That's true. There's not anything. Yeah. Yeah.

Just curious. I know a while back, we had issues with the ballpark the ball fields. And, I mean, I know that we've, fixed them, but did we actually find out what the issue was with the soil?

We Drought. Drought.

Water. Are we going I I guess, are we going to see that problem again in the future?

We shouldn't. We actually have reclaimed water.

Okay.

Irrigating those fields now.

Okay.

So before, we were restricted by our drought restrictions because we were using water, now those are all irrigated with. So we should never have that issue, like I said.

At at Montrose Hill?

Yes, sir. Yes.

Is the new Quail Creek tended to use

In the future, yes. Right now, we do not have reclaimed water extended quite that far. There's, yeah, there's discussions about extending it that direction. So once it becomes available, we will absolutely be looking to capitalize on utilizing ReClaim at any park location that we can. Seen a lot

of benefit from it.

Is there any conversation in Oil Creek for water catchment or water reusing station there and all that?

We haven't had those specific conversations.

Yeah.

But, I mean, having rain collection and those kinds of things, I can definitely envision around the nature's, you know, area there for sure because we have or, you know, we have the demonstration garden and community garden there.

I it'd be wonderful to have those systems in play. You know, the the more the merrier, but even the smallest amount would would you know, watering the surrounding area.

I have a question in regards to so there was some direction from admin or city regarding this part to leave that out. Was there any direction?

No, sir. No. And

I and I understand, you know, it's got good plumbing, and it's accessible. I get that. It just seems to me that to have it all together would be more efficient to use that beautiful green as a gateway to the river park system, which is what I was always hoping for because it's not exactly the most curb appeal item you have right there into the neighborhood and into and I can imagine, you know, a lot of functions and things like that, a lot of community events, whatever, you know, temporary stuff.

Not to mention the scheduling from a team. If you're playing at this field, then you have to cross over and play at this other field. And then there's a lot there's a lot

there's a lot of driving and parking and backing in. You have softball on one side of the street and

literally across

the street again.

So I think that I think the league the I know that the league is very excited about this stick.

And what I see happening

is that?

The SMYBSA. The that's who runs our program.

They are you said they are.

Yes. They are very excited.

Yes. One, to have more fields because we could do more. But I think and, you know,

as a parent of kids who play softball and baseball, that I think what this will also provide us the opportunity to do is not have kids' practices go so late during the week. It'll provide more fields to be able to

Well, I'm not saying delete the number of fields. I think there ought to be what is there? Five there and four. There ought to be nine.

You're saying you you would rather see all nine here?

What I the thing that I'm putting out to the board that I'd like us to actually discuss, and I not being different than I said at the last second, but I do feel like it was the public's input time first to get to this point. And it's it's not a it's not a drop dead issue for me. But I did think because this is not the first time we've talked about having baseball fields relocated to a larger complex where it could be more effective. I do think there's less of a parking issue out here because you're along the Blanco, and you're setting aside numerous acres for flood water management storm water management in this Quail Creek proposal where you don't have that here, and you have to add a lot of new impervious cover right by the San Martin tree. It would be permeable.

Couldn't do Couldn't do perfect. Okay. And so I would just like to hear what the board has to say if there's any interest in I know that's not probably not a good idea to chain you know, recommend it with a change, but at least recommend it that it be considered.

We're you know, we are in this process where we're receiving your feedback and your direction. So if the board says, hey. This is how we feel, then that's perfectly fine.

And I may be the only one. I I just wanna look at that.

I mean, I would I would love to see a version of the Quail Creek with

with all the baseball fields over there.

I think it might make everybody's life a little easier. Maybe, maybe not. I'm not sure. But just seeing all of them together and then seeing this space on the riverfront parks be a green green space would be with no parking or with less parking, I think, would be would be interesting news.

Obviously, the the challenge with that is if we add more ball fields, then something else here goes away.

Sure.

And, yes, it is a 176 and a half acres, but, you know, a lot a lot of this is stuff that we did here was a priority for for the community. You know, we we desperately need an additional dog park, so we did that. The multipurpose fields. It it was I guess, you know, we've had the the gentleman come to Park Sport and request that there be disc golf here before. Hence, why there is a disc golf course shown here.

So that would basically, you know, probably have to go away. Or I don't know, Erin, if would it be feasible to move the disc golf course? I can see the rest of everybody, but

I'm not even sharing my screen.

So Tiskov is May not. Fortunately, really flexible, but, you know, you don't really need you don't need a space that that big, actually. And as long as you have lots of long linear pieces, you can do that. Now it is laid out the way that it is just because it would be more of a, like, kind of signature disc golf course. Sure.

And

it's not my intention to have the whole plan changed. I don't even know if it's feasible to do it, but it doesn't sound like sad. Well, it certainly hasn't had that conversation on our end. So it's just a thought. I can we hear from everybody else?

Can I have your thoughts on it? Also as it's the end of this one.

I'm sorry. Dan, are you ready? Are you there?

I'm sorry

about that. Can you hear

Yes, sir. Did you get your dinner, Dan? That's what's most important. Did you have your hand up, Dan?

I did have my hand up. John, I I agree with what you're saying as far as the ball fields, and I think Consolidated Park would be great. I was a little bit coached, and there's sometimes nothing more challenging than running all over Central Texas trying to find a ballpark. But I I wanna go back to a question you had on or or a comment that was made on parking, that they're looking into to back end parking. Is that correct, Jamie?

Yes, sir. We yeah. That that conversation has been held.

I just I just wanna express disapproval in general, and I think I remember the city council did as well because I if I'm correct, I think it was LBJ that they had back end parking, and they changed it. They said, never again. It will change all the other ones. I just I think back end parking is just a nightmare in general and would not recommend it from my point.

Got it, Dan. Thank you.

Yep.

So what you were saying, we want we won nine ball fields. Right? But that's including baseball, softball, and that's

And softball's all across

the street. Softball's across the street. Because what I'm because what I'm looking at is what's designed here. They're they're they look to be more multiuse softball or baseball is what it looks like to me.

I have to name it Side item.

Correct side of the house.

Are they the same size,

the fields? Like, a little league baseball field and a softball same size. The fencing's a little different, but your field on the like, your infield is the same. Because that's what I'm looking at.

So

You can you can adjust the the field size can be adjusted by the height of the fences Mhmm.

In the outfield

Yeah.

And the distance to those fences. Yeah. You know, if you don't have as much distance, you can raise the fence in the outfield. Right. It makes it equal to a larger outfield. Mhmm. So, I mean, there's there's all kinds of ways you can play with it on on the size of

the I didn't know that. So

So and I think because when when I was thinking of it that way was if we're talking about softball and baseball, right, then you have this can be used as softball or baseball. Right across the street could Right across the street could still be used as softball.

Yeah.

Right? Because putting nine fields I mean, not nine fields in a single park. I don't I haven't seen many Little League parks that have nine located in one. Right? I'm from San Antonio, so I've seen one. I forget the name of the park, but they have oh, it's McAllister Park down in San Antonio. They have they have two. They're split. So one's on one side. It's this big big park McCallister Park. There's one's up the hill, then one's further down. So they have four up top, and then I think it's five down below or one of the ways. Seeing them split that way, I don't think is as big of a deal. I like seeing the little league field there. I think it's more accessible for a lot of people being closer to downtown, being closer to the, you know, closer to the population.

Being on Quail Creek is a little further out for some people.

Especially at 05:00.

Especially right. Especially at 05:00. And then as it goes for, like, during the summer when it's out of the league for, you know, travel ball that rents out the field, that's, you know, that's some income from the city. Having it closer to the highway, I think, is more accessible for a lot of people because sometimes those tournaments, it's more it's less of a I'm driving across town, it's like, oh, I'm driving down to 35 one day, and then I'm driving even further the next. So, you know, I think, having it split, having that versatility in the two is nice. And then still having all the additional recreational and athletic space, at Bow Creek, I think, works in our advantage. And keeping it split isn't really isn't a deal breaker to me.

It was not a deal breaker for me either. I'm thinking along the lines of different uses Yeah. In at that gateway Mhmm. As well as the the I hate to say it, but the profitability of a complex. Uh-huh. Like, with our softball complex. Yeah. That's pretty well. And that's got how many haters in you say?

It has eight.

Eight. And having that all in one place out there Sure. And they were moved, weren't they? Or were they just never

It used to it used to be where the.

Yeah.

Okay.

The because where the softball fields are now

because there wasn't a a girl's fast pitch. That's that was softball. Right. Mhmm. Right.

Yeah. Anyway, I just you know, I've sat through a million meetings where they said, gee, it would be great if we had a big complex. You know, you could hold these big tournaments because that's a that's a real value to the the renting Yeah. And and helping defer some of costs. Anyway, Charlie. Yeah. I see.

I guess advantages both ways. So, you know, I can I say living in Rio Vista, I definitely had visions of just walking, you know, 100 yards and watching my kid play baseball right there? But Yeah. You know, I do wonder if you put all of it together in one facility, is there even something that could be done to enhance it and make it more attractive with all that there and just make it more focused on baseball. I could see it working out for the place.

Amanda, do you have any comments or Peter?

I was just thinking I mean, I don't mind it split up, the baseball fields. I'm looking at both, and I like how like where the disc golf is laid out. I like where the community garden is. How many other, like, soccer football fields do we have in San Marcos?

We have 10 soccer fields at 5 Mile Complex, but those are for use by the league or reservation. That that doesn't always pan out that way, but that's the the purpose of them. So that's the difference here with these is they would be more accessible to the general public.

Currently, we only have one multiuse field over at Dunbar. That's

Dunbar is kind of our empty open field that we direct people to go. Yeah.

We use it a lot at Dunbar Yeah. For homeschool events and stuff. So I definitely I I understand the need for the fields. I was just wondering, you know, just brainstorming.

Well I'm sorry.

When it did the public see it split up like this, or did they see some sort of mock up? What was I was just curious.

Let me bring up the the website that shows the concept.

I'm just curious to to get sort of an idea of people that are doing this, like taking kids to play baseball. My I don't have a I don't have a child that plays baseball, so I'm I'm not familiar with how this works. I'm just wondering I'm trying to understand, Was the general consensus that this is a positive thing? Like or was it, like, oh, no. We're gonna

be running were a low priority on the survey, but it's the latest survey. But we know from an operation standpoint that as we grow per capita, we're going to need to be able to meet that need.

Sure.

So planning for the future and the growth here is is gonna be important. Obviously, there's not a whole lot of, you know, space in kinda like this that's gonna be available for us to

I I totally understand that. I'm just under I wanna understand the idea of the people who are dealing with this right now, their input on whether it would be beneficial to have all more baseball fields in and all in one location or having them split up. Does that does that work to their

advantage? I'm just

curious. K. So

so let me share my screen so that y'all guys online are able to see what what I'm showing them.

Well and I I will say that the the board of the league was a champion for both.

For both? Yes.

Were they presented with the option of putting it more

in That they

they participated, and I just had separate conversations.

Who's the board of eight?

Scott Yarborough is the president. And Danny Arredondo's on the board, has been for years and years, not as involved anymore. And, you know, usually, they're

Ernie. Is it Ernie? Like, the has the upper body shop.

Okay. So this is the Come on. They

and they are a fan of them.

They were. Okay. Ask him.

Okay. So this is the initial Riverfront Park one showing a champion baseball field. So just leaving one field here. Then concept b showed the field's gone with the drive through that I mentioned earlier, moving some of the multipurpose ports and such over here. So this these are the two concepts for the riverfront that we requested input on, And then this is concept a of Well Creek.

Seeing the field located here brought all of the Bogey Lane people out. They were exceptionally upset. Hence why we moved them to the location that we did.

Is Bogey Lane in the city?

It is not.

Yeah. I'll say the biggest thing I heard there, I don't hear as much as you do, but it was all about I think I brought it at the last meeting. It was all about access and getting a road instrument in there and not having traffic on.

Right. And there is a tech stop project that's going to be or work with they're just now receiving comments for. So our engineering team has already provided them the feedback regarding the develop the future development of this park. So we will we've already asked them to plan for because I think having a kind of a bridge that goes over the railroad tracks there. So ensuring that kind of like what we've done at Wonderworld and over here at Aqua Reno, we're still able to have traffic go under that to be able to access our our fields.

Having the traffic kind of go up and over does also allow for some additional pedestrian safety that's not currently there. But those are future, you know, things that still have to be worked out. So this was the secondary concept b for coil where you see the ball fields were relocated on the opposite side. We had a dirt pump track, which is like

a cycle mountain bike track.

That was removed as it was a high priority. We added a dirt trail instead to make that that amenity available.

Peter, you have something to say?

Yeah. I don't think I have an opinion on the location of the ball fields. I I do think it's kinda interesting because I feel like if we had proposed adding five ball fields to the riverfront parks with 300 parking spots, people would be like, don't bring all that traffic to my neighborhood. So I think that this is sort of a you know, if they wanna keep things the way they are, I don't know that I have a reason to disagree. I also wonder if it's possible to sweeten the pot with some of the people who live in these neighborhoods around Quail Creek, giving them access. I mean, surely, is gonna help their property values in a great way. And, you know, if if they're upset about the ball fields being too close, you know, give them an access point for their backyards. That that's that's my dream, but, you know, everyone everyone's different.

Well and before before that rumor starts getting too crazy because we've had this happen before when a park was developed near a residential neighborhood. You know, Hayes Caldwell appraisal's office is not the ones that set those prices. It's what the values are set by whatever someone's willing to pay for it. So it could increase somebody's property values, or it may not. It's totally market driven. So just wanna put that out there for the viewing public at some later time.

Because, god forbid, we approve our city. Yeah. Absolutely. The mandate, you were saying wanted to say?

So we wouldn't have to lose anything. Just an idea we could to add more baseball fields in that area down by the multipurpose fields. We could maybe just have two multipurpose fields and make that 18 hole disc golf course a nine goal nine hole course. And then in time over to the left by the river, have a really cool nine hole nine hole disc golf course, like, over by the river and split that up. That's just so we wouldn't have to actually lose any of the things that are there except for maybe two of the fields.

Let me share that. Let me share that screen. Great.

I I appreciate your that comment. To me, disc golf is probably a little less impactful to River Park system and a little less obvious. You know? And let's face it. It's not the most attractive thing to drive by to to see right by your river park system.

But

it doesn't seem like we have, like, a real consensus here, but it does seem like we have a consensus to have for for the next steps, not us, but the next people that have to look at this, whoever that may be, to look a little deeper into it So he maybe discuss it a little further.

You do get another look at this because I do I I would prefer to have a recommendation from the body when we go to counsel. So, obviously, this is this is the first time that you all are seeing this. I recognize that. So if it is helpful to send me all of your comments, suggestions, it is possible that we can work through and massage these to show you some different options where it's That would be good. Option one, option two, option three based on what we've heard today. And if you can, you know, have comments to me, say, by next Thursday.

Well, let let me ask you this, Jamie.

Mhmm.

Obviously, there's a lot of strong opinions on plan because you guys have

been working on it a long time.

We I think we all understand that. And there's been a lot of public. So I kinda feel not bad, but weird about making possible recommending possible changes to something that has so much buy in from so many people, but that's our role. Right?

Absolutely.

So here we are. And I guess my question to the board would be, should do we wanna ask the team, the staff team to take a second look at this and provide us with if there is, there may not be. But if there is an option that might be incorporated to our final recommendation, which isn't going to be today. Right? It'll be at a subsequent meeting? Yes. Is it the next meeting?

That's what I was hoping for. But but if we have to push it, then we have to

Is there I guess so. I hate to be vague about it, but it is kind of a vague question. Is there interest in that, in asking staff to provide some alternatives prior to our final recommendation?

Amanda?

Yes. I would definitely be interested in that. I've seen how crazy the baseball fields are here in San Marcos, so it would be a concern about, like, the noise level for the neighborhoods and stuff. But, I mean, if we could keep all of the amenities and the things that the public had wanted in the plan, I I don't have a problem with it. If we have to get rid of stuff that the public voted on and, you know, weed out things that keep the natural areas green and, like, the community garden area.

I feel like that's something our, like, sand markets needs another one of. I mean, I would be against it. But as long as we could keep everything, then I'm totally okay with it. Just shifting stuff around and maybe getting rid of two fields and and lessening the, you know, the disc golf course or whatever and then maybe building one a second one closer to the river. That's all the input I have.

So I'm gonna if it's alright with you, I'm gonna say that that was, yes, we'd like to see some options.

Jordan? I I think I like what's here. I'm not as hung up, but the one thing that I was looking at is at the Ramon Lucio baseball Fields is the addition of a second larger field since we are adding five new little league sized fields. The possibility of adding one more full size field for the kids, you know, the 14 plus kids is the only thing that I would say I would wanna see maybe a mock up of that, but seeing concepts of that is the only thing I would ask for.

But you're but you're not interested in seeing options for them being ticketed? I don't think I need to see them either. Okay. Yes. Options? Yes.

I'd support it too. It's only gonna be these Riverside Parks forever, so I'd love to make sure we vet everything we can.

Peter Peter? Options? Or Options are fine. With lesbian?

Yeah. I think options are good. I I don't think there's a perfect solution. I just think there are a lot of good solutions.

So let's see. I think the direction,

if I'm hearing correctly,

is just take a

Bring bring back some additional options.

Yeah.

I don't think that Erin, I don't think we're gonna have to totally recreate the wheel here. I think that, you know, we've we've gone back and forth on a lot of options over the last few months. So I I think I think that I probably have a couple versions. Right.

We understand. I think by the time we get back, it's it's pretty far down the road ready to go to city council for approval, and they could change it.

Yeah. Yeah. They can. They they can, but I think, you you know, and and I'm here. Sorry about that. You're always married. You'll you'll recall, you know, there were times where sometimes we had planning and zoning recommendations that came to city council where it was, this is the staff recommendation. This is the planning and zoning recommendation. So obviously, preferably, I'm not really gonna go against what you guys do unless I feel really strongly on the operational level that I'll be like but I will tell you that as we work continue to work through this. If I'm you know, if there's a very strong feeling where we know down the road, hey.

We're going to need some additional amenities. Because if you do look at our parks master plan, there's matrix in there, and it scores where we're sufficient, deficient, meeting needs. And so like dog park, I brought that up. We're deficient in dog parks. So, you know, we're right now, I think we're deficient in ball fields. So just wanting to kinda go through that. And I can provide you all that information too, but we utilize that information in our master plan to kinda help guide decisions as well.

Okay. Alright. Well, I think we're done on that part. Is there any other comments on the front or Well Creek or Seating? We will see it all back again and have another discussion. Yes. I try. Yeah.

You know, going back to the parking issue, I know the the public presented plan seemed to have the parking more focused closer to Centimeters Allen. This new plan pushes it kinda back towards the river in a lot of places. Just wondering what what discussion or thought process wanted to have

it Yeah. Yeah. We pulled a lot away from the river and then utilized public safety input specifically with the little kind of circle drive that you see that already exists right now in Rio Vista off of Rio Vista Drive. And so being able to have public safety, being able to actually have a wide enough loop to do, you know, kind of a mover there to get in and out was something that they requested to have there too. Mainly thinking ambulances, fire trucks.

Yeah. Like, one part of the question is, you know, it's now not just being used for the public safety. It's, like, parking spots stacked all the way around the loop, and the parking spots are actually pushed up right against the river trail, like, the North Side of Children's Park. I think some options where they were south of the park. You're

Kind of in the South.

Let's not talk. We can pull those out. It's not wrong. I'm not married to you.

I'm just wondering what is there a reason y'all are recommending it this way? Or

No. It's just basically for reaction. So, you know, I I we have you know, I've had Aaron remove a lot already. So trust me. It hurts me. It doesn't hurt my feelings. We can pull them pull them out. And I think

I think in another plan, it was closer on the other side, closer to to CML on the parking. Right. But I don't know that I think we figured out that it was not the landscape wasn't gonna work. Right? Is that right, Amy?

You remember?

Do. Can you hear Oh,

you're muted.

So can you see me looking around? Like, where'd the window go? Sorry. Yeah. There is the I I wanna say it's Slaughter Creek. It's not Slaughter Creek. Purgatory Creek. Purgatory Creek Spillway that's gonna be going through there. So we did need to pull some of the parking back.

Yeah.

It was it was also kind of the public comment was like, just way too much parking. Yeah. Okay. We we can schedule some back and put it out on the street. Yeah.

This is just more about where it is because, you know, when you push these things right up on these river trails, these are all the spots where people then just pull up with their flashing lights and spend time unloading giant things. And I I did think there was advantage in having the parking closer to Centimeters Allen where the public really couldn't drive straight up to these river trails and have the ability to do those types of things.

Yeah. This is where it stops. So are you talking about this right here? Is that of the area you're speaking in?

And this too. Like, you know, previously on these like, one of the plants at the park. Why we wanna have them on on that side?

Yeah. There's sort of existing parking here too.

And that's where I'd say I see some of the most problematic things there.

Yeah. We we on that roundabout too. I mean, the busier parking lot around a kids park is a little concerning to me. Like, making more more accessible parking. That means more traffic. That means right next to a kids park.

So it's a little

Big problem that we have with Children's Park. One of the problems that we have is that schools bring six buses at a time for the kids to the park, and there's no places for the buses to unload or get in and out of the park. Mhmm. The other thing that we have is on a on a busy week, you can have you can have all those, like, school districts go there, and they do field trips. And so you'll have all those parents parking on the road with their kids and then walking down the road.

Yeah. They they actually walk up they'll they'll walk up the

Kammal Street.

In the street, and that's what they were doing. We saw multiple buses stopping on Centimeters Allen, letting kids out. They're walk walking with their teachers up here because there's no possible way for the bus to get in and turn around.

Maybe a hiking trail from Centimeters Allen, like, crosses that creek and connects with that, you know, trail.

Yeah. This is a this particular I think is that a

drop off?

Kinda drop off. The drop off is down this way. Yeah. It

just I guess the the my question was more about, you know, you've got all of this is basically clear plan along here, and you could see everything's visible from CN Allen, which to me is better for public safety and having all these spots where everybody's in the open. Could see, and all this is really not tree or you know, there's nothing to really save there. This is already just open, bare land for the most part, so it seemed valuable to be just not saying to leave these parking spots, but just have them over here where, you know, you don't have people that are, like, pulling in and getting stuck here by the river.

Eric, let me let me share my screen so that Aaron is able to see what where you were pointing. Standby. Okay. Are y'all able to see that? Yes. Okay. Cool. Alright. So I am here. Charlie, you wanna give your narrative? So concerned about the parking here. Correct? Parking here.

Is that parking, or is that just a Permeable parking.

This is yes. Uh-huh. It says it's a 100 permeable spots here. But it's currently not.

There's Oh, no.

Well, there's Now there's, like, 10 parking spots.

Yeah. It's it's definitely 20.

Yeah. 20? Okay.

Right. If that.

So this guy shows around that 100?

Yeah. Yeah. Because we do have to get school buses in and out.

It's about 60 parking stalls that are around that large circle. The the smaller lots that's where there's current parking is 40 stalls.

I don't see I don't see a bus getting in and out of there any easier with a 100 cars parked around it.

Yeah. Y'all had a new concept where there was, you know, a loop parking right here where people could come in and out, but then you could make it to where public's not able to drive up at this portion

Mhmm.

Which I thought was beneficial.

I don't I don't disagree with you. I I do think that maybe first off, I don't is that part it's not big enough for six. That's too many people at one time, and that six school buses.

I I have no control

over it.

I know you don't. Yeah.

Just show up.

Yeah. But make reservation.

I agree with having that. It'll be used by people who are not using children's park a lot. Mhmm. And it seems to me to be too big. Maybe maybe a few more around the children's park so that parents, you know, can get in and then get out. I don't think we should be building it for buses. I think we should be building it for families.

I agree. And if you put this here, you know, it's as John was pointing out, it's gonna fill up with river traffic, and people are gonna be fighting to get this all the time right by the children's park that they're gonna back in here, flashing lights, unload coolers. I mean, it was just I liked the concept of keeping that closer to the street. I think that limits the amount of gear people care.

So you're saying putting it all the way up by by CML?

Yeah. Or or in this area where the previous one showed it.

That's a that is where it used to be, and that is blood prone area.

Yeah. By coat, we're not gonna be able to put the carpet there.

That's why they put the butter sticks there because it used to be all in the grass.

It's the same.

You had all those materials.

And it's watershed. Watershed.

Yeah. Yeah. Because you because you're right, Charlie. It was on here somewhere. Yeah. We had it.

Yeah. See, that's what it showed.

Well, this is Briovisia. Okay. Yeah. That's parking. I guess

turn our parks at

the park. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

There it

is. This is the one that you're talking about, Charlie. Yeah.

Oh. It's like

it's almost on

top the On the top of the

Yes. Yes.

Who came up back?

I told you it came. Oh, it's come a long way. It had to come a long way. I

so it seems to me that maybe having another discussion in your feedback to us at the next meeting on the number of spaces around that roundabout Mhmm. Might be. I mean, I does anybody else have any opposition to hearing more about that? I'm pretty sure, Peter, you're okay.

Not just thinking about that bike lane. Yes,

sir. I have that in. Amanda. Amanda.

We'll go ahead. Topic of

Children's Park is horrible for parking at right now. We definitely need more spaces there. People the buses do come, but they usually leave the parking lot after they do a drop off a lot of times. But there are always, like, a lot a lot of kids there, and there's hardly ever anywhere to park. We were parking at Rio Vista a lot and walking over up the trail, which wasn't a huge deal for us.

So, I mean, there is still that option to park over there, but we definitely need more spaces. And it sucks that the whole front part down by Centimeters Allen is like the wasteland area because that would be perfect. But the only option is to have it closer to Children's Park for parking. You know? And we definitely, definitely need at least, I mean, at least 40 spaces, I would say, for parking.

This this one and this proposal, we're

looking at about a 140. Right. A 100. Yeah. I think, Aaron, you said that it's 60 here?

Correct. Yeah. I that's Yeah.

Here, 40 here.

Yeah. I don't disagree with you, Amanda. I think we need more parking spaces there. Maybe it's just a matter

Maybe if we remove these?

Removing the ones around the ring and using that as the easier, you know, access for buses and things like that and fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. But but adding parking as well, I I agree with you there. Just maybe not

I almost recommend keeping it around the rain and getting rid of the other piece.

Right here?

Right. Oh, that could be an option too.

I think making the ring count there

is 18

is Where you gonna You know,

people trying to park and

buses and

It just sounds like a disaster.

Yeah. Yeah.

I think that yeah. We we did remove there previously was parking spots around this, and public safety had them remove that. They repair it. So it could be that maybe we keep, like, this section here, or maybe we remove this on this side.

Yeah. Because if there are front end spaces along that ring and you have buses or other people driving in a hurry and they're backing into the driving lane.

Well, would there be opposition to

Back in? No. No. Back

in to

do to eliminating them in the rain and then doing another designated drop off zone just as we've done over

on c and out.

I think that's something we should So

maybe it's a bus drop off. Bus drop off designated. Yeah. Love pizza.

Guess I'm surprised too. Isn't all of this floodplain?

Oh, yeah. All of it's flood. Some of it's worse than others.

Then why can't the parking be here but not here Because of flip.

Well, so yeah. I don't have a actual response for you. This one, it can't be down here specifically because of Purgatory Creek. Because that is Right. What yeah. Water quality.

North Side Of Purgatory Creek in between Park.

But Yeah. No. I mean, we can play around with it. I could talk to engineering and see what

yeah. But it is kinda and and I do think the I mean, I don't know. The obviously, we manage the storm. Those are all gonna be permeable, you said?

Yes, sir.

Yeah. I mean, parking right by the river is never ideal. It has to go somewhere.

Right. No. Like, we have to have filtration and

And I personally would not rather see I'd rather see a green park system and the parking hit. I just think that we're we're trying to balance the beauty, the the natural asset that it is. We're not like New Braunfels where we're monetizing it as much, but, you know, they do a pretty good job of keeping things, just appearance wise, pretty nice. And and it's clean, and it's and it's maintained. So there's trade offs there.

So I I get what you're saying.

Oh, and what

about I just hate to see Ribbon Park system. That's one of the reasons I'm opposed to the Lucille Fields there. It's it's it it doesn't fit. It maybe was the only spot we had fifty years ago.

And that's accurate.

And that building looks like it's 50 years old. They just painted it.

Go look

at it. I'm just saying it in

the building. It's the I'm just saying. It's it's just a we can do better.

I tend to agree with you that it would be nice to keep this more focused on the green asset, which is the roof. I tend to agree with you. And I guess that leads me to the next question about parking. Just in a higher level, what thought process went into this number of parking spots?

It is actually vastly, so the primary driver, community feedback. People want more parking. That is the primary driver. We've heard in the Parks Master Plan, we heard it in the first round of engagement whenever we started this plan back in 'twenty two, and then paused it when we purchased Quail Creek to run them kind of concurrently, kind of with the objective of if people want the ball fields relocated, Quail Creek is the option to Right. To put put them. But that is something that from a staff level community feedback we've heard is

So

that I guess that doesn't answer my question. Is this number of spots picked? The goal just maximize how many we can fit in the space? Or

Aaron, do you wanna answer that? I

bet you that's

Yes. So specifically around the baseball fields, we need 300 for 300 parking stalls for five fields. That's that's kind of your general, number for the appropriate amount of overturn between games and stuff. For in Rio Vista Park, we wanted to increase the available number of parking stalls, which which you saw those initial plans. We we put in a ton. The feedback that we got was, okay. We want more, but that's too much. So we try to stick with the already disturbed area where the existing parking is, but maximize it. Yeah. You know, strike the stalls.

And then the parking at Children's Park, we wanted to increase, parking not only for Children's Park itself, but also for access to the river system as well as access to that nature trail. It's kind of you know, it's between the the river and Purgatory Creek.

Yes. Real quick. I

I can never justify taking green space away for parking, just my 2¢. But maybe this is a time for a conversation to utilize more a different form of transportation, more bike racks, you know, give them more options to get to our park, enjoy our park without parking. You know, I understand that the feedback is we do need more parking, but I I can't sit here and justify taking green space for just a while.

I think that's what he's saying is that they they utilized existing parking areas and just I don't I don't know that it's It

just makes sense.

Whole lot more green space that is being taken away here. Right? I mean, Aaron, don't you I mean, there's some obviously.

Definitely taking some away from over by the baseball fields because there's inadequate parking absolutely over there. We are, you know, I would say, next to Children's Park, taking away a little bit more green space for paved surfacing. We could easily explore how to reduce that. I I think a lot of that, you know, you're taking up with a loop. And and loops are inefficient because you're only parking on one side.

So you've got all this pavement that's only serving one row of parking instead of two rows on either side. So we can look at just doing a t intersection there, which would be appropriate for, you know, large fire trucks to three point turn out of there. It it would be largely similar to the existing condition there, where you drive down to the river and then it tees out and you have parking on either side.

Andrew, did we Andrew, did you

Yeah. Yes.

Aaron, sorry. For some reason, it says Andrea. Oh, I

How's that? I was sitting. Sorry.

All good. I'm

sure

there's a version at some point. Have we tried to utilize CML into its full potential sitting there and trying to just really

That's yeah. That's that was one of the things that Erin and I worked on, you know, within the last especially within the last month and a half. I I said, hey, Erin. We're still showing parallel parking here. Yeah. How much more capacity on the street front would we get if we did angled parking? Yeah. He was like, yeah. We you'd get a lot more spaces if you did angled. Yeah. So so we did Same

park if they were back.

Yeah. So we did do that.

Well, where my brain is at too with these parking lots is they're set up great for eight parking lots.

Yeah. Can hold that.

I'm just thinking even like that's even at kids park

My brain is it now.

Even at kids park, we could have it strike in a green with a green zone that would encourage people to ride their bicycles in there with some, you know, some some bike racks and park your bike instead of, you know, having to drive it. You'd wanna take your kids down there with your bicycles, and there's there's a a whole row of bike racks. Well, sorry.

Let me jump in here. This is sort of what I was getting at with the Quail Creek property. I because the only way you can access the Quail Creek Park right now according to that map is with a car.

Yeah.

There are no there are no neighborhood connections.

Oh. But yet it's part of the ongoing plan.

Yeah. So that that I'm gonna I just wanted to jump in with Ben because I agree. Like, we need to give people alternative ways to get here other than just cars.

Yeah. Yeah. Alright. Think that, we've had

May I ask one more time? I know you want to

I know you I know you have. And you can. Let me just finish my K. We we've had a pretty good discussion, and and I think there's pretty clear feedback that we've given to staff to bring back to us for some review options. So if it's alright, if you have a quick topic you'd like to cover, and then we'll move on to our final agenda item and take this back up at our next meeting. Go. Thank you.

I what I really like about this plan, I wanna make sure I understood right. I saw in some of the previous versions, there were some things that were really undefined going on, like extending boardwalks or man made features out into the river. It looks like we've just taken that out.

Yes, sir. We we spoke with Mark Enders, habitat conservation plan manager, received his feedback. So, yes, you do notice that those are Great. I think that's a

very positive change. Just the river as it is. Thanks. Yes, sir.

Okay. If it's alright with everybody, then we'll go on to item three.

Thank you, Aaron. Appreciate you.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Thank you.

Item three, receive a staff update. Whole discussion regarding pay parking implementation in city Park. It's going well. We're making money. We're starting to actually enforce. So we're we're going to be starting actually issuing citations. We're not currently issuing citations. I think as of Jessica and Charles Campbell, the parking manager, recently did an audit of percentage of violations. Did you wanna provide a kind of on that?

Yeah. So we've looked at a couple of different days, and Charles went through an entire day. And I think

we were only at 25% compliance.

What's that mean?

That means that 75% of people drove out without paying.

Still making money, but We're still making money. But we

keep making a lot more. And so, you know, we up to this point, we we haven't sent those enforcement letters. Our cameras are working. All the systems are talking, and we're ready to start doing that. So I don't know if people just aren't taking things seriously. We've ordered some additional signage that is coming, red letters that says, notice, you know, if you don't pay, you're gonna get a ticket.

And we ran it through the municipal court as well to ensure that yeah. And legal to ensure that they were that the language is compliant with the you know, her side of the house with having to enforce it once someone issues a citation as far as if because she's one that she can either waive it or make them pay 50. If they if they don't pay it. So if they can test the citation, it gets her some additional tools to to lean on to make her decision easier to make them pay versus waiving the citation.

Doc, on Monday alone, we had 62 people that didn't pay. 62 that just drove out. So definitely people not taking it seriously. And I think once we start sending those letters, that

it will be taken seriously. So that's I don't know if you guys have any questions for us. That's the extent of our amount right now. Okay.

It's going good, though. Good. And we'll hear about it again,

I'm sure.

Yes. You see this here. Yes. Yeah. We provided you the numbers and stuff as we Not making people

use some cash, mostly credit cards at the kiosks.

And maybe at our next update, the discussion about the university university student residence. I know y'all are working on that. We're Mhmm.

Just don't know how we're gonna enforce it.

Item four.

Sure. Receive a staff update and hold a discussion regarding current parks and recreation projects. We did provide you with our updated project list. If you haven't gone over to City Park, you will see an active construction area. All of that equipment oh, no. It's our HDMI

cord. Okay.

It's It's still recording, which is good. Yeah. And they can still see us, so that's awesome. Okay. Anyway, city park construction has has begun. I guess, be done by November time frame. Yep. So that's good, off and running. We did the toilet paper tearing this morning for Dunbar Restroom. So that's that's open to the public to use. Any other major things within the was this our last meetings?

We have the resurfacing that's been happening.

Oh, River Ridge.

Bless you.

Yeah. We're gonna do some resurfacing out of River Ridge for roller skate track. Also, the San Marcos River rollers also utilize it for their oh my gosh. Roller derby. Thank you. Like, help. Last word. Similar roller derby bouts. And so they have a big one coming up in November, and so we said, yes. We'll we'll help you out. So we did that.

Where's roller derby?

Out at River River Ridge Park. Fire Station 5. Okay. Yeah. They all pooped out without there. So, yeah, so giving them a little something for now until we can do a a bigger plan later for what do we want that part to look like.

I first moved here, I was told there were tennis courts.

There's basketball courts there.

Oh, there was. The most

are Oh, there were tennis courts there. Yeah.

Thirty three years ago when I

was there. They were

not usable tests.

Really? Well, I guess, yeah, I don't get

But they were listed on the chamber of commerce.

Alright. I mean, well, thank

you for that update, and I'll move us on to item four, which is question and answer for press in public. And seeing no press, no public, I will ask for a motion to adjourn. A motion? So moved. Anybody? Okay. Second? Okay. We have a motion and a second, and I'll declare us adjourned at 06:50.

Alright.

Okay.

Awesome. Thank you all.

Thank you all

very much. See you all soon.