Posting Language
Title
Approve the Pease Park Conservancy’s Annual Programming Plan for Kingsbury Commons within Pease District Park.
De
Lead Department
Parks and Recreation Department.
Fiscal Note
This item has no fiscal impact.
Prior Council Action:
March 12, 2020 - Council approved Resolution No. 20200312-041 on Council Member Tovo’s motion, Council Member Pool's second on a 10-0 vote. Council Member Harper-Madison was absent.
May 20, 2021 - Council authorized the negotiation and execution of a park operations and maintenance agreement with Pease Park Conservancy on Council Member Tovo’s motion, Council Member Alter’s second on an 11-0 vote with direction from Council Member Tovo that the annual programming plan come back to Council for review and direction the first two years of the agreement.
For More Information:
Kimberly McNeeley, Director; Christine Chute Canul, Program Manager II, 512-579-1013; Nan Dowling, Records Analyst, 512-974-6719.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
April 27, 2021 - Approval of the Park Operations and Maintenance Agreement by the Parks and Recreation Board on a 9-0 vote with Vice Chair Farasat and Board Member Morgan absent.
November 30, 2021 - Approval of the 2022 Pease Park Conservancy Annal Programming Plan by the Parks and Recreation Board on a Vice-Chair DePalma made a motion to approve; Chair Lewis seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 8-0 vote with Board Members Kimberly Taylor and Nancy Barnard absent and one vacancy.
Additional Backup Information:
The City and Pease Park Conservancy (Conservancy) have agreed that the public benefits at Pease District Park (Park) would be substantially enhanced through the improvements of the Park in accordance with a previously developed Pease District Park Vision Plan approved by City Council on October 16, 2014.
The Conservancy has led fundraising and development in the park consistent with the vision plan and captured in the May 6, 2019, executed Parkland Improvement Donation Agreement.
Council approved Resolution No. 20200312-041 on March 12, 2020, which directed the City Manager to work with nonprofit partners that have established relationships with the Parks and Recreation Department (Department), including but not limited to The Trail Foundation and the Conservancy, to create opportunities for partnership agreements that benefit the community, and to outline roles and responsibilities between those groups and the Department.
On May 20, 2021, Council authorized the negotiation and execution of a park operations and maintenance agreement with the Conservancy for the operation, maintenance, and programming for certain portions of the Park. Council provided direction to return the Annual Programming Plan to City Council for review and direction the first two years of the agreement.
The Conservancy is responsible for the daily maintenance (such as trash pick-up, mowing, and daily servicing of public amenities) of Pease District Park and is actively programming the Park to provide free family and community-oriented activities, nature-based programming for all-ages, and additional recreational opportunities. Low cost/free programming and low cost/free events are the basis of the Annual Programming Plan proposed by the Conservancy. Managing rentals within Kingsbury Commons such as the picnic tables, Historic Tudor Cottage and the Tree House are also the responsibility of the Conservancy. All earned revenue from events and rentals must be deposited into a Pease Park Operations Fund and the Pease Park Conservancy uses these funds to pay park operating expenses.
Access to trails and areas of Kingsbury Commons will remain open to the public during all events. Kingsbury Commons will never have a full closure of the site. In the Park Operations and Maintenance Agreement, the Conservancy is permitted to have five minimally open days per year, which is defined by the Office of Special Events to mean more than 50% of Kingsbury Commons is only available to ticketed patrons. In 2022, the Conservancy is proposing one minimally open ticketed event. Designated City staff will also participate in a joint advisory committee with members of the Conservancy to ensure annual plans and deliverables are being implemented successfully and the agreement deliverables are being met. The Conservancy is required to provide annual reporting requirements related to programming event types, number of events and revenue earned for the operations and maintenance of Kingsbury Commons.
Strategic Outcome(s)
Strategic Outcome(s):
Health and Environment, Culture and Lifelong Learning, Government that Works for All.