MY NAME IS BRIAN WORRALL, DISTRICT FOUR CITY COUNCILOR AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOSSIER CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. TODAY IS MAY 28, 2024. THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAM AIMED AT BOSTON.COM OF BACKSLASH CITY DASH'S COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON EXTREMITY CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FIVE CHANNEL 964. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS WILL ENCOMPASS A SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT BEGAN IN APRIL AND WILL RUN THROUGH JUNE WITH STRONG STRONGLY ENCOURAGED RESIDENTS TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS BY GIVING TESTIMONY FOR THE RECORD. YOU CAN DO THIS IN SEVERAL WAYS ONE IN ONE OF OUR HEARINGS AND GET PUBLIC TESTIMONY.  WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT THE END OF EACH DEPARTMENT OF A HEARING AND ALSO AT OUR NEXT HEARING DEDICATED TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY WHICH WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MAY 28 AT 6 P.M.. THE FULL HEARING SCHEDULE IS ON OUR WEBSITE AT BOSTON.COM.  BACKSIDES COUNCIL DAS BUDGET YOU CAN GIVE TESTIMONY IN PERSON HERE IN THE CHAMBER OR VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM.  FOR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY PLEASE COME TO THE CHAMBER AND SIGN UP ON THE CHEAT SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE. FOR VIRTUAL TESTIMONY YOU CAN SIGN UP USING OUR ONLINE FORM ON OUR COUNCIL BUDGET REVIEW WEBSITE OR BY EMAILING THE COMMITTEE AT W.M. OUR BOSTON DARKER. WE ARE CALLED TO TESTIFY. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION OR RESIDENCE AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO A FEW MINUTES TO ENSURE THAT ALL COMMENTS AND CONCERNS CAN BE HEARD TO EMAIL YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO YOU TO THE COMMITTEE AT CC W.M. AT BOSTON.COM OR THREE SUBMITTED TWO MINUTE VIDEO OF YOUR TESTIMONY THROUGH THE FORUM ON OUR WEBSITE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET PROCESS AND HOW TO TESTIFY, PLEASE VISIT THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WEBSITE AT BOSTON DOT GOV. COUNCIL DAS DAS BUDGET TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 067020672 OR IF THE FY 25 OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDED ANNUAL APPROPRIATION FOR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS BUT SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. DOCKET NUMBER 067330675. WHAT IS THE CAPITAL FUND TRANSFER APPROPRIATIONS DOCKET NUMBER 067630678 ORDER FOR CAPITAL BUDGET INCLUDING LOAN ORDERS AND LEASE PURCHASING AGREEMENTS. THESE MATTERS WERE SPONSORED BY MAN MICHELLE WU AND REFER TO THE COMMITTEE ON APRIL TEN, 2020 FOR THE FOCUS OF THIS HEARING WILL BE DISCUSSED AT FY 25 BUDGET FOR PARKS AND REC AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.  TODAY I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR PEPEN WHO IS ALSO VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR BREADON AND CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. WE HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR WEBER AND ALSO HAVE BEEN KNOWN THAT COUNCILOR FINANCIAL INNOCENT ALSO REACHED OUT AND SAID THAT SHE WILL NOT BE IN ATTENDANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE TODAY'S PANELISTS TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION INTERIM CHIEF OF ENVIRONMENT AND OF ENERGY AND OPEN SPACE CHIEF OSGOOD COMMISSIONER PARKS DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER WORKS DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL PLAN OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR VICKY ECLIPSE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AMP ACADEMY FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY DIRECTOR OF HUMAN HUMAN RESOURCES AND PAYROLL AT THE PARK APARTMENT DIRECTOR BUFORD AND GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT MAINTENANCE OPERATION AND TURF CARE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT OUTDOOR.  THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS.  THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR THANK YOU SO MUCH. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL . I THANK SO MUCH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR BEING HERE. I'M CHRIS OSGOOD. I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR OF SERVING AS THE INTERIM CHIEF OF ENERGY ENVIRONMENT OPEN SPACE. THIS CABINET HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF BEING LED BY REVEREND MARIAMA WHITE HAMMOND AND SHE WRAPPED UP HER SERVICE LAST MONTH AND NEXT MONTH WE HAVE THE GREAT FORTUNE OF HAVING BRIAN SWEAT COME INTO THE CABINET IN THE INTERIM. I'M HAVING GREAT PRIVILEGE AND PLEASURE OF BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS TEAM A TEAM THAT IS FOCUSED ON REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL, WELL-MAINTAINED AND OPEN SPACE BOTH ACTIVE AND NATURAL THAT REALLY HELPS SUPPORT OUR LIVABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE JUSTICE GOALS OF OUR CITY.  JOINING ME FROM FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WE HAVE TRACIE LEE, OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE PROCUREMENT, JOSH ALTIDORE, OUTDOOR DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE RYAN WOODS, OUR PARKS COMMISSIONER CATHY BAKER ECLIPSE WHO LEADS OUR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM AND DARLENE BUFFER WHO OVERSEES OUR WORK IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR THE MAYOR. AS YOU KNOW, THE FOCUS OF THIS BUDGET IS REALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PEOPLE THE PROGRAMS AND THE PLACES THAT MAKE BOSTON A HOME FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON.  THE WORK TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES IS ABSOLUTELY FUNDAMENTALLY CRITICAL TO THAT. THIS IS A TEAM THAT IS EVERY SINGLE DAY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE 2300 ACRES OF BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED PARK SPACE. A TEAM THAT IS REDESIGNING, REBUILDING AND CREATING NEW PARKS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT'S A TEAM THAT CARES FOR OUR URBAN FOR SERVICE SINGLE DAY. THAT'S CRITICAL WORK IN OUR CEMETERY DIVISION AND OUR ANIMAL CONTROL UNIT AND DOES THE NECESSARY WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HIRING, SUPPORTING AND MANAGING A TERRIFIC STAFF AND A SET OF CONTRACTOR SKILLS TO DO ALL THAT WORK. THIS BUDGET AND CHRISTOPHER WOODS WILL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ON THIS IS A ROUGHLY $34 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET IN ADDITION TO THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN AND MAKES A NUMBER OF SIGNATURE INVESTMENTS REALLY WITH THAT FOCUS OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR PARKS REALLY ARE THESE FUNDAMENTAL ANCHORS FOR OUR CITY THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY ARE AND CAN BE EVEN EVEN MORE SO. A NUMBER OF THOSE INVESTMENTS INCLUDE THINGS LIKE A $735,000 INVESTMENT IN STAFF AND EQUIPMENT TO REALLY REINFORCE FRANKLIN PARK AS THIS HUB AND GYM FOR OUR CITY. A $200,000 INCREASE IN THE TEAM THAT IS TAKING CARE OF OUR URBAN FOREST AND URBAN FOREST THAT NOT ONLY MAKE SURE THAT OUR OUR STREETS ARE ACTUALLY BEAUTIFULLY BEAUTIFUL THE TREE LINED BUT ALSO THAT THERE PROVIDING A CRITICAL ROLE AGAINST SOME OF THE CLIMATE THREATS WE ARE FACING IN THE YEARS AHEAD AND AN INVESTMENT IN A WHOLE SERIES OF PARKS FROM PLACES LIKE CLIFFORD PARK TO RYAN PLAYGROUND THAT ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO ENHANCE THOSE AS NEIGHBORHOOD DESTINATIONS BUT IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CLIMATE CLIMATE THREATS BEFORE US. SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER WOODS WHO WILL GET MORE OF THE DETAILS AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND THE TESTIMONY FROM THE PUBLIC.  GOOD MORNING COUNCILOR . AS I SAID, MY NAME IS RYAN WOODS AND I PROUDLY SERVE AS THE PARKS COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON. MY COLLEAGUES ON THE PANELS NAMES ARE UP ON THE BOARD.  I THINK THEY'VE BEEN INTRODUCED A COUPLE OF TIMES SO I DON'T KNOW. I WOULD.  ALSO JOINING US IN THE CHAMBER IN CASE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE'RE JOINED BY OUR DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL ALEXIS BRZEZINSKI. WE HAVE A DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND MARKETING LIZ SULLIVAN. OUR DEPUTY COMMISSIONER STEVE BECHARD IN. AND OUR DIRECTOR OF URBAN FORESTRY TODD MR HALL. ALSO JOINING US TODAY, THE CHAMBER. OUR DEPARTMENT FOCUSES ON FOUR MAIN AREAS ACCESS EQUITY EXCELLENCE AND ADAPTABILITY. ACCESS WITH BOSTON PARKS WE'VE ENSURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON ARE WITHIN A TEN MINUTE WALK TO THE NEAREST PARK. NOW WE FOCUS ON TAKING THE ADDITIONAL STEPS TO NOT ONLY BE ADA COMPLIANT BUT STRIVE FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY WHENEVER POSSIBLE. EQUITY IN OUR INVESTMENTS, OUR MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND RENOVATION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THAT IS A MAIN LENS THAT WE'RE CONSISTENTLY LOOKING THROUGH.  EXCELLENCE AS WE STRIVE TO NOT ONLY HAVE THE BEST PARK SYSTEM BUT ONE THAT LEADS IN DESIGN AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION GOALS AND ADAPTABILITY. WE HAVE TO ADAPT TO THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS AND EACH COMMUNITY ADAPT TO OUR EVER CHANGING CLIMATE IN AN ENSURE WE ARE READY FOR WHATEVER STORMS AND SEA LEVEL RISE THROUGH OUR WAY.  I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE HARDWORKING TEAM AT THE BOSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WHO WORK TO ENSURE OUR PARKS ARE CLEAN, SAFE AND WELCOMING. I ESPECIALLY LIKE TO CALL OUT OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF WHO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN OUR PARKS.  OUR ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN RESPONDING TO ANIMAL EMERGENCIES AND OPERATE THE ANIMAL SHELTER DAILY ARE PARK RANGERS THAT ENSURE PARK RULES ARE BEING ADHERED TO, SERVE AS AMBASSADORS AND OFFER PROGRAMS AND OUR CEMETERY STAFF WHO ASSIST WITH FINAL PREPARATIONS AND ASSIST GRIEVING FAMILIES.  I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR PARK ADVOCATES AND FRIENDS GROUPS THAT CONTINUE TO BE OUR ALLIES THAT ADVOCATE FOR THE RESOURCES FOR OUR PARKS. SIMPLY PUT, OUR PARKS ARE BETTER PLACES BECAUSE OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.  JUST AS MAYOR WHOSE MISSION IS TO HAVE BOSTON FEEL LIKE HOME,  WE AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WANT OUR PARKS TO BE A HOME A HOME IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, COMFORTABLE AND SAFE. THEIR ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE TO TAKE PART IN NUMEROUS PLACES TO ROAM AND DISCOVER PLACES TO EAT AND RELAX AND PLENTY OF YARD SPACE TO RECREATE. OUR 331 PROPERTIES ARE PLACES WE WANT BOSTON'S RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO FEEL AT HOME.  IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WE'RE PROPOSING AN INCREASE OF 3.2% JUST OVER $10 MILLION IN THE OPERATING BUDGET TO GROW TO JUST NORTH OF 35.5 MILLION. THIS INCLUDES NINE NEW FTAS EIGHT SPECIFICALLY FOR FRANKLIN PARK AND ONE NEW ANIMAL CONTROL POSITION AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER . IT ALSO INCLUDES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR CITYWIDE TREE PRUNING AND MAINTENANCE AS WE CAN USE TO RESPOND TO TREE CASES IN DECREASE CONSTITUENT WAIT TIME. THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 25 TO 29 CAPITAL BUDGET IS RECOMMENDING 98 PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE FISCAL YEARS AS WE CONTINUE TO BRING PLAYGROUNDS UP TO CODE AND TRAILER PARKS ARE SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR ALL BOSTON'S RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. I'D LIKE TO SHARE A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS PAST YEAR. WE'RE ABLE TO FULLY STAFF OUR URBAN FORESTRY DIVISION. AS YOU MAY RECALL WE WERE DOWN TO ABOUT THREE PEOPLE AND NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 13 TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE FUNDED IN THAT DIVISION. WE PARTNERED WITH THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT AND POWERCOR TO PURSUE AND RECEIVE AN $11 MILLION GRANT FROM THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE TO IMPROVE TREE CARE, EXPAND THE TREES CANOPY AND SUPPORT GREEN JOB DEVELOPMENT.  WE HAD NEW RENOVATED PARK OPENINGS THIS YEAR AT GENERAL GORDON AND THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VETERANS PARK CHEAP JONES PARK ,MALCOLM X PARK, MILLENNIUM PARK, THE MUDDY RIVER WALNUT STREET PLAYGROUND PAULA TITUS WHICH WILL BE OPENING UP NEXT WEEK AND FENELON COURTS. WE HOSTED 1051 YOUTH AT FIVE FREE SPORTS CENTER CAMPS IN ROXBURY, MATTAPAN, EAST BOSTON AND DORCHESTER. WE IMPLEMENTED A TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE FOR TREES ON CITY OWNED LAND AND WE HOSTED OVER 170 EVENTS AND PROGRAMS CITYWIDE FROM HIKE BOSTON TO MOVIE NIGHTS TO THE TEACHER POINTED LATIN MUSIC SERIES TO HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTINGS ENGAGING APPROXIMATELY 44,000 RESIDENTS TO DATE.  NEXT SLIDE WE'RE GOING TO BY THE NUMBERS I THINK IT'S JUST GIVE US A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF THE WORK THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES THIS YEAR WE HAD 5505 PERMITS ISSUED. THAT'S 518 MORE THAN LAST FISCAL YEAR. WE PERFORM 346 BURIALS AT MOUNT HOPE, FAIRVIEW AND EVERGREEN CEMETERIES.  WE AWARDED 70 CONTRACTS. WE WELCOME SEVEN NEW PARK RANGERS AND TWO NEW HORSES HENRY AND HIM TO THE TEAM AND THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS OFFERED 46 INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS. OUR OUR DIVISION IS ALWAYS BUSY BUT ONBOARDED 43 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES THIS YEAR AND 113 SEASONAL WORKERS TO HELP US GET THROUGH THE BUSY SPRING SUMMER AND FALL SEASONS AND WE BROKE OUR RECORD AND ARE NOW JUST OVER 98,100 ROUNDS OF GOLF PLAYED AT BOTH FRANKLIN PARK AND GEORGE. RIGHT 171 ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED WITH 43,954 PARTICIPANTS AND JUST OVER 22,000 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN A RECREATION DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY THIS PAST YEAR IN OUR TREE DIVISION.  WE'RE ON TRACK TO PLANT 1765 NEW TREES IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. WE HAVE COMPLETED THE PRUNING OF 3780 TREES AND THIS IS A 50% INCREASE OVER WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR. WE TRIED TO BE AT 2500 AND WE'RE CURRENTLY NEARING 4000 TREE PRUNE TREES THAT WERE PRUNED. WE INJECTED 1165 MATURE ASH TREES TO PROTECT AGAINST EMERALD ASH BORER AND RESPONDED TO AND CLOSE 7642 URBAN FORESTRY CASES.  SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH OUR NEW STAFF IN THE URBAN FOREST DIVISION THAT ARE OUT THERE DOING WARRANTY CHECKS AND RESPONDING TO THINGS IN A MUCH FASTER MANNER IN OUR ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DIVISION.  THEY ISSUED OVER 10,300 LICENSES FOR PETS, RESPONDED TO 6667 CALLS AND ISSUED JUST NORTH OF 1500 CITATIONS HOSTED TEN LOW COST RABIES OR FREE DEPENDING ON WHERE IT WAS CLINICS FOR CATS AND DOGS. 552 VACCINES WERE GIVING OUT DURING THOSE CLINICS AND WE PROVIDED CARE FOR 852 CATS AND DOGS AND WERE ABLE TO ADOPT OUT 80 PETS. IT'S A VERY BUSY YEAR WITH ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL AS WE LOOK INTO OUR GOALS AS WE'RE HEADING TO FISCAL YEAR 25 WE ARE AIMING TO FULLY STAFF POSITIONS IN OUR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DIVISION, CREATE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS AT FRANKLIN PARK MAINTENANCE CREW INCLUDING MAINTENANCE STAFF, GARDENERS AND A DEDICATED PARK ADMINISTRATOR BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION ON THE FRANKLIN PARK ACTION PLAN IN THE BOSTON COMMON MASTER PLAN. BREAK GROUND ON WATERFRONT RESILIENCY PROJECTS AT IMMOKALEE PARK IN SOUTH BOSTON AND RYAN PLAYGROUND IN CHARLESTOWN. CREATION OF A SHADOW STUDY ON PARKLAND THAT WILL COMMUNICATE AND RESPOND TO THE IMPACTS OF SHADOW ON PARK QUALITY AND PARK USE. AS ALWAYS, INCREASED PROGRAMING ,PARTNERSHIPS AND ACTIVATIONS IN OUR PARKS. AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING PUBLIC SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS OR SLEIGHS ON PARK MAINTENANCE TASKS TO BETTER TRACK TRACK OUR EFFICIENCIES AND WHERE OUR OBSTACLES ARE. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ALWAYS STRIVES TO DO BETTER ADAPT TO THE TIMES AND ENSURE A PUBLIC SPACES ARE SAFE AND WELCOMING TO ALL. WE WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE HOME . JUST GOING THROUGH A COUPLE SLIDES ON WHERE WE WERE ON CAPITAL PROJECTS WHEN WE CHOSE THE GORDON ONE RIGHT? YEAH. GENERAL GORDON PARK AND GENERAL GORDON AFRICAN-AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK IN ROXBURY.  WE OPENED THIS PAST YEAR THAT WAS A MEMORIAL TO HONOR GENERAL GORDON AND THE VETERANS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.  ARTWORK WAS DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE THERE AND IT WAS FUNDED WITH THE HELP OF THE BROWN FUND.  NEXT WEEK WILL BE OPENING OF A NEW PARK PAULA TITUS PARK IN ROXBURY BY HIGHLAND PARK UP ON FORT HILL. THIS IS A BRAND NEW COMMUNITY SPACE AND DESIGN WAS FUNDED THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT A ROSLINDALE WETLANDS.  WE RESTORED THE DEGRADED DEGRADED WETLAND OVER TO DIFFERENT PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION MALCOLM X PARK IN ROXBURY HAD COMPREHENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK INCLUDING NEW PLAY AREA SPLASH PAD FIELD RENOVATIONS, COURT RENOVATIONS AND A HILLSIDE AND THE LONG AWAITED MUDDY RIVER RESTORATION AND THE FENWAY WHERE WE RESTORED FLOOD CAPACITY TO THE MIGHTY RIVER IN THE BACK BAY FENCE AND RIVERWAY AND KEEPING WITH OLMSTED'S VISION. NEXT SIDE IN PROGRESS PROJECTS COPLEY SQUARE IN THE BACK BAY UPDATES THE FOUNTAIN LAWN AREA ARRAY'S SEATING AREA TO PROTECT THE EXISTING TREES, REFURBISH MEMORIALS AND ART AND PLAZA SPACE AND WE ANTICIPATE AN OPENING AT THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR IN DECEMBER OF 24. TITUS SPARROW PARK IN THE SOUTH END HAS A RENOVATION OF THE PLAY AREA BASKETBALL AND TENNIS COURTS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED THIS FALL.  HARAMBEE PARK, ALSO KNOWN TO SOME AS FRANKLIN FIELDS.  THE WORK BEING DONE ON THE CRICKET FIELDS THAT'S A COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION OF BOTH OR ADDING A SECOND 1 TO 1 OF TWO CRICKET FIELDS WITH LIGHTING AND OTHER AMENITIES. CRAWFORD STREET PLAY AREA IN ROXBURY.  COMPLETE RENOVATION WITH A NEW PLAY AREA SPLASH PAD FIELD IMPROVEMENTS AND PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING WHICH WILL BE OPENING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE SCHOOL GETS OUT WHICH WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT. CLARENDON STREET PLAYER IN THE BACK BAY IS A RENOVATION AND IS THE OLDEST PLAYER IN THE CITY THAT HAD NOT BEEN RENOVATED AND WE WERE ABLE TO PRESERVE THE FLOWERING TREES THAT WERE THERE AND WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH THE COMMUNITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO AN OPENING LATER THIS SUMMER IN 2024. CLIFFORD PLAYGROUND IN ROXBURY WE ARE EXCITED TO START ON THE DESIGN WHICH IS A STATE OF THE ART MULTI-SPORT FACILITY EXPAND BASKETBALL AND TENNIS COURTS,  ADD SPLASH PAD FOR COOLING AND INTRODUCE A DOG PARK SO THAT PARK IS DESIGNED HAVING ITS LAST DESIGN MEETING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEN WE LOOK TO START A CONSTRUCTION LATE SUMMER EARLY FALL. THE FRANKLIN PARK OVERLOOK ROMANCE PROGRAMING AND SCHEMATIC SCENE TOGETHER WITH THE FRANKLIN PARK COALITION WE DEVELOPED A SCHEMATIC DESIGN FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE RUINS AS THE FUTURE OF THE ELMA LEWIS PLAYHOUSE MUCH BELOVED ON TUESDAY NIGHTS DURING THE SUMMER AND THEN OF COURSE TREE PLANTING. WE CONTINUE OUR STREET PLANTING CITYWIDE FOCUSING ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREAS,  HEAT ZONE AREAS AND FOLLOWING THINGS THAT WERE CALLED FOR IN THE URBAN FOREST PLAN. WE'RE ALMOST THERE.  RYAN PLAYGROUND IN DORCHESTER IS GETTING READY FOR CONSTRUCTION IN FISCAL YEAR 25. THAT'S CREATING A CLIMATE RESILIENT PARK WITH FIELDS PLAY AREA SPLASH PAD STREET HOCKEY COURT AND PICKLEBALL COURTS.  WALSH PLAYGROUND IN DORCHESTER IS HAVING PARK Y IMPROVEMENTS WITH A NEW PLAYER AND SPLASH PAD BASKETBALL AND TENNIS COURTS AND ENTRY WORK ON THOSE FIELDS. THE BIRDS WE'RE DOING SOME SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS A REALLY COOL SPACE FROM THE OLD 1920 BIRDS IN FRANKLIN PARK CARBON SQUARE PARK IN DORCHESTER A RENOVATION OF THE PARK TO BE ABLE TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS SUCH AS THE FARMERS PARK AT NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS PROVIDING MISTERS FOR COOLING THROUGHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CLIMATE READY STREETS INCREASED STORMWATER RESILIENCY THROUGHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME NEW BENCHES AND A NICE FENCE AROUND CODMAN SQUARE PARK,  RINGER PARK AND ALSTON PATHWAY AND ENTRY IMPROVEMENTS ADDING A DOG PARK AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ATHLETIC FIELD. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO GET TO AUSTIN TO GET WORK GOING ON THAT AND THEN I BELIEVE THE LAST SLIDE HERE IS FRANKLIN PARK CIRCUIT DRIVE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.  WE ARE IMPLEMENTING KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FRANKLIN PARK ACTION PLAN TO MAKE OUR CONNECTIONS AND CLARIFY MOVEMENT STUDY TO SLOW ON TRAFFIC AND I NOT DO THAT ONE WAY AT THIS ONE. OH OKAY. SORRY . SLIDES OUT OF ORDER MOSTLY PARK PHASE ONE CONTINUE DESIGN WORK TO CONSTRUCT THE PHASE ONE OF THE BERM BARRIER TO PROTECT THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS PARK ON THE NORTH END BEGIN DESIGNED TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY TOWN FIELD ALSO KNOWN AS DIRTY GIBSON PLAYGROUND DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WILL GUIDE FUTURE PARK DEVELOPMENT IN MCKINNEY PLAYGROUND IN BRIGHTON. DEVELOP BID DOCUMENTS FOR FIELD IMPROVEMENTS PATHWAYS AND LIGHTING AND THERE STARTED MENTIONING THE FRANKLIN PARK CIRCUIT DRIVE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.  THAT WAS A KEY ELEMENT LIKE I SAID IN THE ACTION PLAN WE'RE GOING TO STUDY HOW TO SLOW THE TRAFFIC AND ALLOW PARKGOERS TO MOVE ACROSS INTO THE PARK SAFELY AND INCORPORATE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. AS YOU KNOW REMEMBER WE HAVE INUNDATED WITH STORM WATERS AND RAIN IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PASS THROUGH CIRCUIT DRIVE SO WE ARE WORKING TO REDUCE THE STORMWATER FLOODING THAT TAKES PLACE THERE. BOSTON COMMON MAYORS WALK WE'RE ADVANCING EARLY ITEMS ON THAT BOSTON COMMON MASTER PLAN AND THEN IN DOROTHY PARK WE ARE DOING SOME ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS AROUND THE QUARRY POOL.  SO WITH THAT THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BETWEEN GOLF COURSES, CEMETERIES, ANIMAL CONTROL, THE PARK RANGERS, OUR URBAN WILDS PROGRAM, OUR MAINTENANCE, OUR PERMITTING WE'RE ALWAYS THERE AND AGAIN WE WANT TO MAKE OUR PARKS FEEL LIKE A HOME AND PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.  EVERYBODY ON YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE AND COLLABORATIVE WITH MY OFFICE AND THE COMMUNITY AND I APPRECIATE GETTING TO THE FENCE AND THE BENCHES AT COMMON SQUARE PARK MADE SURE THAT WAS IN THE PLAN.  I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH COMMUNITY SINCE WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAD SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY JUST READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR TESTIMONY . WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME IS CALLED PLEASE COME DOWN TO ONE OF THE TWO PODIUMS AND STATE YOUR NAME, NEIGHBORHOOD AND OR AFFILIATE AFFILIATION.  PLEASE SPEAK IT TO THE MICROPHONE AND PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO 2 MINUTES. MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY CAT CATARINA.  GOOD MORNING.  MICHAEL BIANCHI, PRESIDENT OF FRIENDS OF MCKINNEY PARK NONPROFIT THAT WE JUST STARTED. AUSTIN RESIDENT I'M HERE JUST TO SUPPORT AND TRY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE THE BUILDING OF MCKINNEY PARK. IT'S BEEN NEGLECTED FOR SOME TIME. IT'S DEFINITELY IN NEED OF SOME RENOVATION.  WE'RE REALLY HOPEFUL FOR A SPLASH PAD AND SOME COOLING FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT VISIT MCKINNEY PARK AS MANY KNOW, MCKINNEY PARK ABUTS VALUABLE GARDENS A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY. IT'S ALSO A VERY DIVERSE AREA FOR OUR DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS GROUPS, DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES. IT'S REALLY A MELTING POT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND I THINK WE REALLY DESERVE THIS AND WANT TO SEE THE SUPPORT GO OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO TO YOUTH SPORTS TO BE ABLE TO COOL DOWN, HAVE A GREEN SPACE WITH WITH THE UPCOMING PROJECT HAPPENING OVER AT FENWAY GARDENS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE RENOVATING THE FUNERAL GARDENS. A LOT OF THOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE RELYING ON THIS GREEN SPACE AND REALLY NEEDING THIS GREEN SPACE AS AN ESCAPE FROM THE UPHEAVAL THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE FACING IN THE UPCOMING YEARS AND NOT FORGET ABOUT BOSTON'S FORGOTTEN DISTRICT. YOU KNOW, DISTRICT NINE OFTEN GETS OVERLOOKED WHEN IT COMES TO A LOT OF PROJECTS AND AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO TO SECURE THAT FUNDING WE HAVE A LOT OF PART I HEARD RING A PARK GET MENTIONED THAT THAT NEEDS A LOT OF HELP AND ATTENTION AS WELL AND THAT'S AN AWESOME GREEN SPACE AT ABOUT THE WEST END BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. A LOT OF KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT TO THAT PLAYGROUND AND I THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND HAD ALL MY COUNSELORS THAT I KNOW AND I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  CATARINA FOLLOWED BY DANIEL.  HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS KATRINA SCOTT AMALIA, MY DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT. I'M ALSO HERE ON BEHALF OF THE FOREST HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.  I'M JOINING A PETITION OF 137 FAMILIES ASKING TO KEEP CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS LIGHT ON YEAR ROUND WHEN AFTERNOON IN LATE NOVEMBER, MY FAMILY HEADED OUT TO A LOCAL PLAYGROUND IN JAMAICA PLAYING WITH OTHER YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THE SUN SET AT 4 P.M. AND THE CHILDREN WERE LEFT TO PLAY IN THE DARK AT THE END OF NOVEMBER . CITY PLAYGROUND LIGHTS GO OFF MOST OF THEM UNTIL LATE MARCH WHEN THE SUN SET EXTENDS PAST 6 P.M.. YOUNG CHILDREN CAN'T PLAY IN OUR PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS IN THE LATE AFTERNOONS AND YET CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN COOPED UP ALL DAY IN DAYCARES AND SCHOOLS AND TODDLERS WAKING UP FROM THEIR AFTERNOON NAP HAVE A REAL NEED TO LET ENERGY OUT THROUGH SAFE, UNSTRUCTURED PLAY AND EXERCISE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS KNOW THAT CHILDREN CAN PLAY OUTSIDE IN ALL WEATHER BUT THEY CAN'T BRING LIGHT TO THE LOCAL PLAYGROUNDS WITH CLIMATE CHANGE WINTERS ARE MILDER.  THE AVERAGE DAYTIME TEMPERATURE THIS PAST DECEMBER WAS 46 DEGREES BUT IN DECEMBER THE SUN SET AT 4 P.M. MOST PLAYGROUNDS IN BOSTON NOT ALL ALREADY HAVE PEDESTRIAN ADDED LIGHTS AT ALREADY SUFFICIENTLY BRIGHT TO LET CHILDREN PLAY SAFELY FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE DINNERTIME IN THE DARK WINTER AFTERNOONS AND IF LIGHTS WERE TO BE TURNED OFF IN THE SUMMER NIGHTS AFTER MIDNIGHT FOR EXAMPLE THEY COULD BE THEN KEPT ON IN THE WINTER AFTERNOONS WITHOUT A BUDGET INCREASE AND EVEN REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL LIGHT POLLUTION.  EXPANDING CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS LIGHTING THROUGHOUT THE WINTER IS IN THE SPIRIT OF THE PARK'S MISSION TO PROVIDE CLEAN, GREEN, SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AND OF MAYORS WHOSE PROMISE TO MAKE BOSTON THE BEST CITY IN AMERICA TO RAISE A FAMILY. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO SUPPORTING THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACES THAT WE ENJOY EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU DANIEL FOLLOWED BY SARAH.  GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS DAN MOON. I'M THE PRESIDENT.  WELL, I'M LEADING AN ORGANIZATION IN JAMAICA PLAIN AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT ORGANIZATION CALLED JAMAICA POND CITIZENS, WHICH IS A NEW GROUP AIM TO PROTECT,  PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL AND HISTORIC BEAUTY OF THE JAMAICA POND FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ALL OF BOSTON'S NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER SPENDING 25 YEARS AS THE PRESIDENT AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS COUNCIL AND KNOWING LAND, I HAVE NOW THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS MY ENERGIES ON PROJECTS IN MY BACKYARD INCLUDING THE JAMAICA POND AND THE NEARBY NECKLACE CONSERVANCY.  THE JAMAICA POND IS A GEM LOVED BY THOUSANDS OF BOSTONIANS WHO VISIT THE POND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IT WAS INTERESTING I HEARD THIS MORNING SOMEBODY TOLD ME THEY LOVE THE POND. I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME. PEOPLE LOVE THE POND AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT THAT. BY THE WAY, I'M VERY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT BRIAN SWEAT IS JOINING THE ORGANIZATION. I KNOW BRIAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I THINK IT'S EXCITING. HE'LL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE TEAM.  WE'VE WALKED AROUND THE POND WITH COMMISSIONER WOOD AND AND OTHER MEMBERS OF STAFF INCLUDING JOSH AND THE NEW COMMISH KANSAS CITY COUNCILOR BEN WEBER WITH THE INTENTION OF LEARNING ABOUT THE CITY HOW THE CITY CARES FOR THE POND AND HOW WE AS CITIZENS GROUP MAY HELP PRESERVE AND IMPROVE THE POND. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS WORKING HARD FOCUSING ON MAINTAINING OUR PARKS, WORKING OFF A VERY TIGHT BUDGET THAT'S A COMPLEX JOB. I CAN'T BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS.  FIVE YEARS AGO THE CITY UNDERTOOK A $5 MILLION JOB RENOVATING THE PATHWAY IMPROVING THIS GREEN SPACES AROUND THE POND.  FIVE YEARS LATER THE WALKING PATH REMAINS IN FAIRLY GOOD CONDITION THOUGH THERE ARE A FEW ISSUES BUT IN OTHER RESPECTS DETERIORATION OF THE POND IS SIGNIFICANT. THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ADEQUATE MAINTAIN THE GREEN SPACES AROUND THE POND AND IT'S NOT DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE LONG TERM APPROACH TO MAINTAINING TO MANAGING AND MAINTAINING THE AREA AT LEAST NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF SOME OF THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WE SEE INCLUDE WITH INCREASING RAINSTORMS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, SOIL EROSION IN THE AREAS BETWEEN THE PATHWAY AND THE POND IS PUTTING TOGETHER THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM INSTALLED FIVE YEARS AGO AT RISK THE LONGER THIS EROSION IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THE GREATER THE DAMAGE TO THE EMBANKMENT AND TO THE WATER QUALITY BECAUSE A LOT OF SOILS ARE GOING INTO THE POND.  NOT A GOOD IDEA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DAN, THERE'S THAT FINISH. YEAH. IF YOU COULD JUST WRAP IT UP. WRAP IT UP. OKAY.  AS BEST I CAN UNDERSTAND IN THE 25 TO 25 CAPITAL BUDGET THERE ARE ZERO FUNDS DESIGNATED TO THE JAMAICA POND.  SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO ALLOCATE FY 25 FUNDS NECESSARY TO BRING THE POND BACK TO THE SAME CONDITION THAT EXISTED WHEN THE POND WAS UPGRADED FIVE YEARS AGO. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SARAH FOLLOWED BY PACE.  GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'M SARAH FREEMAN, JP RESIDENT. MANY GROUP AFFILIATIONS WHICH I DON'T WANT TO USE MY 2 MINUTES TO LIST AND I'M NOT OFFICIALLY SPEAKING FOR THEM. I'M A BIG FAN OF THE PARKS.  THEY PLAY A VITAL ROLE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.  BUT IT'S EASY TO TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED WITH SO MANY COMPETING BUDGET PRIORITIES.  SO I SENT AN EMAIL TO SOME OF YOU I CAN FORWARD TO THE WHOLE GROUP. ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON YEARS AGO PROVIDED A NICE DOCUMENT SIX REASONS WHY PERKS MATTER FOR HEALTH AND THERE'S A LOT OF LITERATURE UP THERE TOO. SO A FEW SPECIFIC REQUEST. YEARS AGO THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN 1% FOR PERKS AND IT ALMOST MADE IT. AND THEN THE ECONOMY COLLAPSED . AND I'D LIKE TO I AND MANY OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT BACK IN THE GOAL.  I THINK WE'RE AT 0.7 OR SOMETHING. THE LAST I KNEW LET'S SEE AND IN A RANKINGS LIKE WHEN TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS BOSTON IS SLIPPING. WE USED TO BE LIKE TOP THREE.  ONE TIME I THINK AND NOW WE'RE NO LONGER IN THE TOP TEN. AND NOT TO MAKE IT A COMPETITION I WANT EVERY CITY TO HAVE GREAT PERKS.  ONE PET PEEVE OF MINE IS CRUMBLING HISTORIC STONE WALLS THROUGHOUT THIS CITY. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S WHAT THE RIGHT SOLUTION IS BUT I'VE TAKEN PHOTOS OF A FEW THAT I'M AWARE OF NEAR JAMAICA POND WHIPPS AND ALONG MORTON STREET REAL FAST TO OTHER ITEMS THAT I HOPE THERE CAN BE FUNDING FOR CONTINUING THE TREE ORDINANCE HOW TO IMPLEMENT ALONG WITH THE UPCOMING PORTION ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AS WELL AND THE PARK RANGERS WILL LOVE THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PACE FOLLOWED BY JOHN.  GOOD MORNING COUNCILOR AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY BEFORE YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS PACE MCCONKEY JUNIOR AND I'M THE POLICY MANAGER AT THE LOWEST BROWN PEACE INSTITUTE. THE PEACE INSTITUTE IS A BOSTON BASED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY MURDER, TRAUMA, GRIEF AND LOSS ALL ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH RIGHT ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON AND WE'VE EXPRESSED IN PREVIOUS WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE HEARINGS OUR BUDGET REQUESTS FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET. THE PEACE INSTITUTE WRITTEN REQUEST THAT $1,000,000 INVESTMENT SPREAD ACROSS THREE DIFFERENT CITIES DEPARTMENTS AND FOR THE PURPOSES OF TODAY I'LL DISCUSS THE $150,000 THAT WE REQUEST FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT BEGINNING IN 2017 THIS COUNCIL WORKED WITH MAYOR MARTY WALSH TO ESTABLISH THE FIRST BURIAL FUND DESIGNATED TO SUPPORTING ANY BOSTON FAMILY WHO HAS LOST A LOVED ONE UNEXPECTEDLY TO HOMICIDE SUPPORT WITH BURIAL SERVICES IN OVER 30 YEARS OF SERVICES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT 95% OF FAMILIES IMPACTED BY HOMICIDE REQUIRE THAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT A BURIAL THE BUDGET THE THE BURIAL FUND WAS AT THAT TIME FUNDED AT $50,000 AND CONTINUES TO BE FUNDED AT $50,000 TO THIS DAY. JUST LAST YEAR THE PEACE INSTITUTE SPENT JUST UNDER $300,000 SUPPORTING BOSTON WITH BURIAL SERVICES WHICH THEN TASKS THE PEACE INSTITUTE TO FUND THE ROUGHLY $250,000 THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS TO PROVIDE THAT ESSENTIAL SERVICE TO THE CITY OF BOSTON.  IT'S NOTABLE THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON FUNDS ONLY ABOUT 8% OF WHAT IT COST THE PEACE INSTITUTE TO SERVE FAMILIES HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON INCLUDING BURIAL SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES THAT FAMILIES REQUIRE IN THE AFTERMATH OF A HOMICIDE.  THE MAYOR MAYOR WU HAS PUBLICLY STATED THAT THE PEACE INSTITUTE IS PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON AND WE REQUEST FUNDING THAT REFLECTS THAT AND HELPS US MEET THE NEEDS OF HELPING FAMILIES BURY THEIR LOVED ONES IN THE AFTERMATH OF TRAUMATIC LOSS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOHN.  HELLO. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. COUNSELORS AND PARK RECREATION STAFF AND JOSH AND MAINTENANCE CREW FOR THE CONTINUOUS WORK YOU DO FOR THE BOSTON OPEN SPACE. IT'S REALLY NOT AN EASY TASK. MY NAME IS JIM AND I'M FROM THE EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCY AND THE EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCY, A NONPROFIT THAT HELPS STEWARD AND RESTORE AND IMPROVING 1100 ACRES OF THE EMERALD NECKLACE FOR ALL.  AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET THIS YEAR BUT I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY COMMENT ON FRANKLIN PARK AS I BELIEVE YOU KNOW IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE CROWN JEWEL FOR THE FREDERICK LAW HOMESTEAD AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE A LOT OF FUNDING AND RESOURCES GOING TO FRANKLIN PARK. HOWEVER, IS IT POSSIBLE TO HOLD OFF ON NEW PROJECTS AT THE MOMENT? AS YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LOT DIFFERENT PROJECTS GOING ON IN FRANKLIN PARK AND AROUND IT AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING OVERWHELMED WITH EVENING MEETINGS, MORNING MEETINGS AND IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT THEY SHOULD BE ADVOCATING FOR AND WHEN THEY CAN ADVOCATE FOR. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE OVERLOOK RUIN STUDY THAT'S HAPPENING CIRCUIT DRIVE A LOT OF OTHER MAINTENANCE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO ADDITIONALLY MENTION THAT THE FRANKLIN PARK ACTION PLAN IS REFERENCED A LOT AND I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC PAGE WHICH I CAN GET YOU BUT THERE IS A PAGE THAT SUGGEST HIGHLY SUGGESTS THAT THE STRATEGIC WORKING GROUP IS CREATED TO HELP IMPLEMENT THIS ACTION PLAN AND THE TWO GROUPS IN THIS WORKING GROUP INCLUDES THE FRANKLIN PARK COALITION AND IT'S NOT OR IT'S AN THE EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCY. AND SO I WONDER IF WHEN THAT STRATEGIC WORKING GROUP WILL BE FORMED TO HELP SUPPORT REALLY IMPLEMENT THE ACTION PLAN BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A VERY THICK PLAN BUT IF WE ARE ABLE TO WORK IN COLLABORATION AND CREATE THIS STRUCTURED STRATEGIC WORKING GROUP, I BELIEVE WE'LL BE ABLE TO REALLY COVER EVERYTHING TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.  THANK YOU, CHRISTINE.  THANK YOU SO MUCH.  THIS AIN'T WAY TOO TALL FOR THIS. MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN PUFF AND I'M WITH THE FRANKLIN PARK COALITION AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.  I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS. FIRST, I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THEIR VIEW AND ALL OF THE CITY COUNCILORS FOR SUPPORTING FRANKLIN PARK OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, IT WAS ANNOUNCED AT THE MAYOR'S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS THAT FRANKLIN PARK WAS GOING TO HAVE A DOUBLING OF MAINTENANCE STAFF WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD ADVOCATED FOR FOR YEARS.  AND SO INSTEAD OF THREE HEFTY MAINTENANCE STAFF, THERE'S GOING TO BE AT LEAST SIX FULL TIME FOR MY UNDERSTANDING AND AS YOU MAY KNOW, FRANKLIN PARK IS 500 SOME ACRES. AND SO WHAT HAS WHAT HAS EXISTED FOR DECADES HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. IN ADDITION, THE MAYOR IS ADDING TO THE OPERATING BUDGET AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS HEAVILY SUPPORTED A MANAGER FOR WOODLAND'S RESTORATION TO OVER 200 ACRES OF THE PARK OUR WOODS. AND WE KNOW WITH CLIMATE RESILIENCE HOW IMPORTANT THE THIS HISTORIC FOREST IS AND IT'S COVERED WITH INVASIVES AND THE PATHS NETWORK AND THE TRAILS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE YOU KNOW TO TAKE WALKS THERE AND AND BE IN THE WOODS AND THE LESS BUT BUT REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT FRANKLIN PARK WILL GET A FRANKLIN PARK ADMINISTRATOR WHICH IS SOMEONE TO COORDINATE ALL OF THE MANY MANY STAKEHOLDERS AND ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS THAT DO MENTION AND OTHERS IN THE PARK WHICH IS JUST REALLY EXCITING AND WE HAVE LEARNED IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE FRANKLIN PARK COALITION HAS ASKED FOR FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE WE LEARNED FROM THE UNSAID SOCIETY AND OTHER OLMSTED LARGE PARKS ACROSS THE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE REALLY SUCCESSFUL. ALSO PARK HAS THAT CENTRAL ADMINISTRATOR.  SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. THAT'S REALLY WHY I'M HERE AND . THE OTHER PIECE IS REALLY A MUCH BECAUSE FRANKLIN PARK IS BENEFITING FROM A LOT OF INVESTMENT AND PRETTY EXCITING PROJECTS FROM THE OVERLOOK AND THE VERY CAGES TO WHITE STADIUM AND THE INVESTMENT WHEN WE THINK THAT WHITE STADIUM WILL BRING TO THE TO THE PARK AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. BUT BUT STILL THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS OPERATING WITH LESS THAN 1% OF THE CITY BUDGET AND I THINK THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN COUNCILORS FOR A WHILE HAVE HEARD THIS AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NEW, I HOPE YOU'LL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AND THAT POINT I HAVEN'T DONE ALL THE MATH THIS YEAR BUT I'VE DONE IT EVERY YEAR FOR 20 YEARS AND THE PARKS PROGRAM BUDGET HAS NEVER REALLY GONE ABOVE .85 OF 1% OF THE CITY BUDGET AND FOR A CITY THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING GREEN ON THINKING ABOUT CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND BEING A REAL LEADER IN THAT REALM, WE JUST NEED TO GET THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BUDGET UP A LITTLE.  WE NEED MORE MAINTENANCE ACROSS THE CITY AND LIKE THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY.  NOW WE'LL GO TO OUR VIRTUAL TESTIMONIES AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCILOR SANTANA AND COUNCILOR WEBER AND ALSO COUNCILOR DURKAN HAS JOINED US MARTHA.  GOOD MORNING. MORNING. GREAT. AND MARTHA EMERSON I'M A RESIDENT OF JAMAICA PLAIN. I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY PARTLY AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE JAMAICA PLAIN AND PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY A HIGH AND INTENSE USER OF THE SOUTH STREET COURTS. AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS TO START BY ASKING YOU TO IMAGINE YOURSELF AT THE END OF A TOUGH DAY. YOUR SHOULDERS ARE TIGHT. YOUR BRAIN IS SO TIRED. YOU'RE ON THE VERGE OF SNAPPING AT YOUR FAMILY.  YOU NEED TO UNWIND. AND MAYBE GOOD FOR YOU.  YOU HAVE FOUND A HEALTHY WAY TO DO IT. YOU GO FOR A RUN, YOU MAYBE JUST TAKE SOME TIME OUT TO DO A PUZZLE. MAYBE YOU HAVE A GLASS OF WINE, WHATEVER IT IS. IMAGINE RIGHT NOW THAT I HAVE YANKED IT AWAY FROM YOU AND I'VE DONE THAT IN DECEMBER WHEN BUDGETS ARE TIGHT AND EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH. I'VE DONE IT IN JANUARY AND IN FEBRUARY WHEN IT FEELS AS IF THERE'S NOTHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO NOT EVEN IN MARCH. THIS IS HOW PARKS AND SPACE USERS WHO WORK AND STUDY IN THE DAYTIME FEEL WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND STAY OFF. THE PEOPLE WHO NEED AN OUTLET THE MOST BECAUSE THEY AREN'T RETIRED AND DON'T HAVE A FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE WHERE THEY CAN GET TO THEIR OUTDOOR TIME DURING THE 9 TO 5 DAYTIME HOURS THEY HAVE THEIR ACCESS TO SANITY SAVING PHYSICALLY HEALTHY RECREATION YANKED AWAY . SO I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF PICKLEBALL PLAYERS IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHO USE THE SOUTH STREET COURTS AND JP.  BUT WE COME FROM NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY HYDE PARK, WEST ROXBURY, ROSLINDALE, DORCHESTER YOU KNOW THEM SOUTH END ALLSTON BRIGHTON. PEOPLE COME TO THIS HOTSPOT AND REQUEST THAT THE CITY FUND LIGHTING FOR PARKS AND REC SPACES AT LEAST THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER AND THEN STARTING AGAIN IN MARCH. AND MAYBE WE CAN PHASE IN A PHASED IN APPROACH WHERE IT'S NOT EVERY NIGHT IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE UNTIL 10 P.M. THE WAY IT IS IN THE SUMMER. BUT WE'RE ASKING FOR LIGHTING FROM THE COURTS FROM 5 P.M. TO EIGHT OR 830 THROUGH DECEMBER AND BEGINNING AGAIN IN MARCH.  AND REALLY THE COURTS ARE THERE . NO ONE EXPECTS THE CITY TO SHOVEL THEM.  IT'S NOT A SWIMMING POOL THAT REQUIRES A GUARD. WE HAVE THE RESOURCE WE JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTING. I'D SAY IT'S TIME TO MOVE AWAY FROM A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SYSTEM BASED ON HISTORIC PRECEDENT.  I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE TAKING ACCOUNT SAFETY IN CERTAIN SPACES WHERE THERE'S LIGHTING SO THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR THAT.  WE CAN LOOK AT USE PATTERNS WE CAN IMPLEMENT NEW TECHNOLOGY LIKE USER ACTIVATED TIMERS. WE COULD AGAIN PHASE IN ADDITIONAL HOURS DAYS WITH LIGHT.  I THINK NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD JOIN DISCUSSIONS WITH PARKS AND REC STAFF ABOUT REASONABLE APPROACHES THAT WE COULD PILOT CITY SPACE.  WE COULD STICKY PROBLEMS, HOUSING SHORTAGES, TRAFFIC AIR QUALITY.  MOST OF THESE CAN'T BE SOLVED WITH A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS BUT WITH A REASONABLE SMALL BUDGET ALLOCATION THE FUNDING THAT PARKS AND REC GETS CAN ALIGN WITH CITY PRIORITIES FOR A VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE BOLSTERING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND STRENGTHENING THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME IN YOUR WORK. MOLLY.  OH YOU'RE ON MUTE, MOLLY. SORRY . HI. I'M MOLLY PHELPS. I'M A RESIDENT OF WHAT YOU CITY STREET AND JAMAICA PLAIN.  I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY TO OFFER MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR INCLUDING MONEY IN THE 25 PARKS BUDGET TO KEEP THE PLAYGROUND LIGHTS ON AT ALL PLAYGROUNDS AFTER 4 P.M. IN THE WINTER UNTIL AT LEAST 7 P.M.. OUR PLAYGROUNDS ARE REALLY TREASURED RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY'RE NOT ONLY SAFE PLACES FOR OUR KIDS TO STAY ACTIVE,  HEALTHY AND HAPPY IN THE WINTER MONTHS BUT ALSO PLACES WHERE OUR COMMUNITY GATHERS AND BUILDS CONNECTIONS ALL YEAR ROUND. KEEPING THE PLAYGROUND LIGHTS ON IN THE WINTER EVENINGS WOULD BE A REALLY RELATIVELY SMALL CHANGE BUT HOPEFULLY WOULD MAKE A REALLY BIG IMPACT ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF BOSTON FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO.  THANK YOU, LIZ.  ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LIZ VISA AND I AM PRESIDENT OF FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN. SINCE 1970 THE FRENCH HAVE BEEN AN ESSENTIAL PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO CARE FOR AND ADVOCATE FOR THE BOSTON COMMON PUBLIC GARDEN AND COMMONWEALTH AVENUE MALL. OUR PARKS THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS FOR OVER 60,000 RESIDENTS FROM BEACON HILL, BACK BAY, DOWNTOWN CHINATOWN, GREEN BAY VILLAGE AND KENMORE SQUARE. BUT THEY ARE SO MUCH MORE. THEY BELONG TO THE ENTIRE CITY BOSTON COMMON PARTICULAR IS THE CITY'S MOST INTENSIVELY USED GREENSPACE FOR 7 MILLION PEOPLE COME EVERY YEAR TO PLAY RELAX, PROTEST AND CELEBRATE THE FRIENDS INVEST OVER $2 MILLION A YEAR IN PARKS CARE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMING THE THREE DOWNTOWN PARKS NOT ONLY PROVIDING IMPORTANT SERVICES TO THESE GREENSPACE BUT ALSO FREEING UP MORE OF THE CITY'S FUNDS FOR PARKS AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I WANT TO CELEBRATE THE WORK THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES. IT DOES A HEROIC JOB OF MAKING OUR THREE GREEN SPACES BUT ALL THE GREEN SPACES THROUGHOUT BOSTON CLEAN, SAFE AND WELCOMING TO ALL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I'M ALSO HERE ADVOCATING FOR NOT ONLY OUR THREE HISTORIC PARKS DOWNTOWN BUT THE HEALTH OF BOSTON'S GREENSPACE CITYWIDE AS PART OF BOSTON PARK ADVOCATES. WE REPRESENT A BROAD COALITION OF OVER 100 COMMUNITY PARTNERS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE INDIVIDUAL PARKS HAVE NEEDS THAT WE MUST SERVE OUR GREEN SPACES AN ECOSYSTEM WITH NO BOUNDARIES AND EVERY ACRE NEEDS ADEQUATE SUPPORT TO THRIVE AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. WHILE WE APPLAUD INCREASES IN INVESTMENT FOR PARKS, THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET IS STILL STUCK BELOW 1% OF THE CITY'S PROPOSED TOTAL BUDGET AND YOU'VE HEARD FROM CHRISTINE AS WELL AS SARA ABOUT THAT IS NOW 0.76 AND AS A MAJOR URBAN CENTER AND URBAN CITY WE HAVE TO BE DOING BETTER. WE ARE LIMITED IN THE AMOUNT OF OPEN SPACE WE CAN ADD TO THE SYSTEM BUT WE NEED TO INCREASE THE BUDGET OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO 1% OF THE TOTAL. THIS YEAR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 11 MILLION MORE DOLLARS IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR FOR OUR IRREPLACEABLE GREEN SPACES. ANOTHER CRITICAL NEED IS FOR PARKS ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE DOWNTOWN PARKS THAT SEE INTENSIVE USE INCLUDING MANY PERMANENT EVENTS.  THESE INCLUDE THE COMMON GARDEN AND MALL AS WELL AS COPLEY SQUARE IN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS PARK. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT STILL DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH EYES AND EARS TO OVERSEE EVENT MANAGEMENT FOR THESE PARKS MAKING SURE THAT PERMIT HOLDERS ARE HOLDING OR HONORING THE TERMS OF THEIR PERMIT AND MINIMIZING DAMAGE TO THE PARK. WE APPLAUD THE MAYOR'S CREATION OF SUCH A POSITION FOR FRANKLIN PARK. OUR HEAVILY USED DOWNTOWN PARKS ARE IN URGENT NEED OF THIS POSITION AS WELL. WE'RE PLEASED TO SEE REPAIRS THE PUBLIC GARDEN LAGOON BRIDGE INCLUDED AS A CONTINUATION OF THE ANNUAL LINE ITEM FOR THAT GREENSPACE. WE REALIZE THE CITY IS REQUIRING THE PARKS DEPARTMENT UTILIZE WINTHROP SQUARE FUNDS FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE BOSTON COMMON AND THAT THE NEXT TWO HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED UNDER THAT FUNDING. RENOVATIONS TO PARK BANDSTAND AND THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MAYOR'S WALK WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT WORK COMING. WE HAVE ADVOCATED IN THE PAST THAT THIS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING GO TOWARDS REALIZING TRANSFORMATIONAL TOURISM IN THE PARK NOT WORK THAT SHOULD BE DONE AS PART OF THE NORMAL ENHANCEMENTS AND REPAIR WHICH IS WHAT THESE PROJECTS ARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH EDWARD YOU DIDN'T LET ME FINISH.  HI. GOOD MORNING.  MORNING.  EXCUSE ME . I'M STARTING MY VIDEO. HI. I'M A RESIDENT OF FANEUIL STREET AND BRIGHTON AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF MCKINNEY PARK AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ESSENTIALLY WHAT MICHAEL HAS SAID EARLIER IN HIS TESTIMONY. WE APPRECIATE THE IMPROVEMENTS DESIGNED FOR THE MCKINNEY PLAYGROUND. WE ARE ALSO EXCITED TO THINK OF THE MCKINNEY PARK AS A GREENSPACE TO HELP MITIGATE THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT THAT'S OCCURRING IN THE CITY. THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD REGARDING THE MCKINNEY PLAYGROUND HAVE BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE AND RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS HAVE GOTTEN TO VOICE THEIR THEIR ADVOCACY FOR MAINTAINING THIS TYPE OF GREENSPACE ESPECIALLY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FANEUIL GARDENS GOING ON ACROSS THE STREET.  THE NEED FOR SUCH A SPACE IS JUST INTENSIVE THINK ALONG WITH THE SPACE FOR THE SPLASH PAD THAT'S PLANNED AND NEW DESIGN OF THE FIELD. I JUST WANT TO ALSO TAKE THE TIME TO ADVOCATE THAT THIS IS A PLAYGROUND FOR YOUTH SPORTS FOR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES TO HAVE EVENTS AND FOR CHILDREN JUST TO SOCIALIZE.  SOME OF THE PLAN HAS ADDRESSED THAT THE FIELD COULD BE USED FOR WITH STADIUM LIGHTING AND ADULT SIZED SOCCER FIELDS.  ESSENTIALLY THOSE PLANS WOULD I FEEL WOULD TAKE THE PARK OUT OF THE COMMUNITY HANDS AND LEASE IT TO OTHER COMMUNITIES FOR THEIR ENJOYMENT INSTEAD OF FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY ENJOYMENT. I ADVOCATE STRONGLY THAT THE PARK BE DESIGNED WITH LIGHTING AND FIELDS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR YOUTH SPORTS AS WE TRY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUTH SPORTS IN THE ALLSTON BRIGHTON AREA WITH OUR PAL SOCCER LEAGUE AND OUR AWESOME GREAT LITTLE LEAGUE ALSO WITH THE PROPOSAL FOR ADULT LEAGUES WE THE PARKING CONCERNS AND THE TRAFFIC CONCERNS WE LIVE IN A VERY DANGEROUS STREET IN FANEUIL STREET THERE IS TOO MANY CLOSE CALLS TOO TO COUNT HERE AND THE PARKING WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT GOING ON MARKET NEIGHBORING MARKET STREET AND AROUND THE BRIGHTON AREA IN GENERAL THE TRAFFIC IS A GREAT CONCERN. SO I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR HELPING US RECLAIM THE MCKINNEY PLAYGROUND AS A LONG NEGLECTED PARK WITH IMPROVING IT AND MAKING IT A PLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORS CAN ENJOY AND RELAX. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE BOSS MAYORS THAT CAME TO TESTIFY.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCILOR FLYNN HAS ALSO JOINED US. NOW TURN IT OVER TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE FOR QUESTIONS STARTING WITH COUNCILOR MURPHY. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU TO THE PANEL AND ALSO TO THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY. THANK YOU, MICHAEL AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO CAME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF IN ADVOCATING FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. IT'S GREAT TO SEE I ALWAYS LOVE WHEN DISTRICT COUNCILORS AND NEIGHBORS COME TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PARKS AND KNOW THE NEEDS THEY HAVE IN THEIR DIRECT NEIGHBORHOODS.  BUT ALSO ALL OF YOU MENTIONED AND UPLIFTED THE BENEFITS THAT OUR OPEN SPACES IN OUR PARKS GIVE OUR COMMUNITIES SOMETHING THAT I KNOW I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING SINCE I GOT HERE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE MENTAL HEALTH AND THE GREEN SPACES ALLOWING FOR SPORTS, ATHLETICS AND ALL GENERATIONS BEING IN OUR PARKS SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO WANTED TO START JUST BY SHOUTING OUT ALL OF THE YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENTS, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WITH MAINTENANCE PARK RANGERS, ANIMAL CONTROL CEMETERY STAFF, ALL OF THE WORK YOU DO TO KEEP OUR PARKS AND OUR OPEN SPACES CLEAN AND ACCESSIBLE TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT'S IMPORTANT. A FEW QUESTIONS I'LL KIND OF GO THROUGH AND SEE IF WE CAN ANSWER SOME THEM ONE. IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THE RAIN AND THE SPORTS SCHEDULING YOU KNOW WE GET CALLS FROM EITHER COACHES OR PARENTS WHO SHOW UP TO PARKS AND I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON PEOPLE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE CONTINUED MAINTENANCE NEEDS THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THOSE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, SPACES TO PLAY?  ALSO HOW MANY POSITIONS ARE STILL OPEN? I KNOW LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ARBORISTS AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS US AND THE OTHER POSITIONS IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT. I DO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET ON THE RECORD THAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR A STREET HOCKEY FIELD IN HIGH PARK NOT HIGH PARK REVILL NOT NOT JUST HIGH PARK. I KNOW THE CURRENT PARK DOES INCLUDE BUT THAT'S HYDE PARK.  BUT THE RIDGEVILLE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR ONE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING WE COULD DO. YOU MENTIONED WHEN YOU FIRST HAD RYAN PLAYGROUND I WAS THINKING YOU WENT TO ONE ON DOT OUT BUT YOU SAID CHARLESTOWN. BUT IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO BECAUSE I KNOW THE CARDY POOL WHICH IS A $35 MILLION INVESTMENT IS COMING FROM FACILITY AND BCU BUT IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO WHAT UPGRADES TO THE YOU KNOW THE SPACE AROUND IT THAT YOU SAID ARE HAPPENING BEFORE THE RIBBON CUTTING THIS SUMMER AND SOMETHING I THINK A LOT OF US GET CALLS ON BUT ARE WE ABLE TO FULFILL AND DO WE HAVE THE FUNDING TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT SOME RESIDENTS AND SOME USES OF OUR OPEN SPACES PRIVATELY FUND LIKE PORTA POTTIES?  I GOT A LOT OF CALLS FROM JP SOCCER OR WHEN ALISON AND OTHERS IN SOUTH BOSTON ARE WANTING LIGHTS AT THE FIELD TO KEEP THE BASKETBALL GAMES BEING ABLE TO PLAY MORE. SO IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO YOU KNOW, THE FISCAL RESTRAINTS AND ALSO THE STAFFING RESTRAINTS AND MANY OF THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY ALREADY UPLIFTED WANTING LIGHTS IN OUR PARKS BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY COMES WITH MORE USE AND SOME OF THE OTHER MAINTENANCE CONCERNS ARE, YOU KNOW, TRASH BARRELS CLEAN UP AND THEN ALSO STAFFING IF WE'RE OPEN LONGER WE HAVE TO STAFF MORE AND DO IF WE DO HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT DOGS SHARING SPACE I'M A DOG LOVER. YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS WHERE THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE AND JUST YOU KNOW, THAT BALANCE BETWEEN THE DOG OWNERS USING PARKS THAT AREN'T SPECIFIC LEAVE YOU KNOW, ZONE. DO YOU KNOW THE CONCERN IF YOU COULD TOUCH ON THAT TOO THAT'D BE GREAT.  SURE. SO I'LL START WITH THE BALL FIELDS.  I THINK IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND EXCEPT FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND THAT IT RAINS ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE A LITTLE LEAGUES AND SOFTBALL LEAGUES.  SO OUR ASK IS JUST THAT PEOPLE BE PATIENT AND TRY TO LET THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TEAM GET TO SCARIFYING THE FIELDS. I KNOW SOMETIMES IT TAKES TIME BUT SOME WELL-INTENTIONED INDIVIDUALS SOMETIMES DO MORE DAMAGE TO THE FIELDS AND THEY INTEND TO. SO WE TRY OUR BEST TO GET AROUND BUT JUST KNOW THAT SOMETIMES IT TAKES A DAY OR TWO AFTER RAIN TO GET TO ALL OF THE BALL FIELDS THROUGHOUT TO MAKE THEM PLAYABLE. FOR THAT WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY ON STREET AND HYDE PARK SPECIFICALLY REIDSVILLE. AND I KNOW KATHY TOOK A NOTE ON FOR OUR FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS. SO THE RYAN PLAYGROUND THAT WAS MENTIONED IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE STRAUSS BUILDING. SO THAT IS A CLIMATE RESILIENT PORTION.  I THINK THE PART THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NEXT TO THE POOL IS DARTY PLAYGROUND AT THE TOP. THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME IMPROVEMENTS DONE THERE ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FRONT THAT'S ALSO THE ENTRY WAY TO THE POOL. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENTRY THROUGH THE PARK AFTER THIS 30 PLUS MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION OF THE POOL DONE BY BCA FROM PFG IS DONE AS WELL AND THEN THEY USE THE PARK AS LAY DOWN AREAS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION.  SO WE HAVE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AREA THAT WOULD DISTURB DURING THE CONSTRUCTION AND WE WORKED ON THE SPRINKLER THERE THAT HAD A FAULTY PIPE SO THE WATER FEATURE WILL BE UP AND RUNNING AT DOROTHY PLAYGROUND IN CHARLESTOWN THIS YEAR PORTA POTTIES. IT IS CORRECT THAT THE LEAKS TEND TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN PORTA POTTIES. THEY'RE NOT PAID FOR DIRECTLY BY PARKS DEPARTMENT. THEY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS WORKING ON AN INITIATIVE UNDER GIDEON EMANUEL FOR IMPROVING SPORTS LEAGUES AND PART OF THAT IS TALKING TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SOCCER, BASEBALL, FOOTBALL YOU NAME THE SPORT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE NEEDS AND I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S GRANT SUPPORT THAT CAN HELP WITH THESE FACILITIES BRINGING THEM BUT YOU'RE THERE TO PLAY IT'S NOT JUST A HALF OUR PEOPLE ARE IN THE PARK FOR HOURS AND THEY NEED THAT PUBLIC FACILITY SO THERE'S WORK GOING ON ON THAT DOGS I'LL TELL YOU QUICKLY BEFORE LIGHT SO DOG SPACE SHARING WE HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT OFF LEASH DOG SPACES IN BOSTON PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY NOT ENOUGH CERTAINLY MOST OTHER PARKS OUR DOGS ARE ALLOWED WELL LEASHED SO JUST TRYING TO BALANCE AND KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THESE ATHLETIC FIELDS SOMETIMES THE DOGS MAY BE DIGGING IN THE OUTFIELD AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND PICKING UP AFTER PET SO WE TRY TO WORK TOGETHER BUT THAT OFF LEASH, YOU KNOW, IT CAN CAUSE CERTAIN HARMS AND CERTAIN DANGERS IN PARK. SO WE ASK THAT IF YOU'RE NOT IN A DESIGNATED DOG RECREATION SPACE THAT YOU ARE HAVING YOUR DOGS ON LEASH WHILE IN BOSTON PARKS AND ALWAYS CLEANING UP AFTER YOUR DOGS FOR THE FUTURE PARK USERS.  LIGHTS CURRENTLY OUR LIGHTS ARE THANKS TO MAYOR WU WE EXTENDED THEM. THEY USED TO GO OFF AT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME AT THE END OF OCTOBER SO AROUND HALLOWEEN THEY NOW GO TILL DECEMBER 1ST AND DECEMBER FIRST THROUGH APRIL 1ST WE GO ON LIKE A VACATION MODE IF YOU WILL WITH EVERSOURCE.  SO WE GET A 1500 DOLLAR SURCHARGE EVERY TIME WE TURN ON LIGHTS BECAUSE WE CUT POWER TO OUR LIGHTS ACROSS THE CITY FOR THE WINTER MONTHS. IT IS STAFFING. WE DON'T HAVE OUR SEASONAL WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE EMPTYING THE TRASH PILES AS OFTEN. OUR PLAYGROUNDS ARE ALSO CURRENTLY DAWN TO DUSK SO THEY ARE ENFORCED AND PEOPLE ARE THERE AFTER THAT. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT IS PUSH BUTTON LIGHT SENSORS SO WHILE SOMEBODY IS USING A PARK YOU COULD PUSH THAT BUTTON AND IT WOULD GIVE YOU A HALF HOUR OR 45 MINUTES OF LIGHT AND THAT WAY IT'S ONLY BEING USED WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO USE THE PARK. BUT IF YOU HAVE THOSE COLD DAYS OR THE SNOW ON THE GROUND OR YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MONSOON, WE'RE NOT YOU KNOW, USING LIGHT POLLUTION, HAVING THOSE LIGHTS ON FOR NO PURPOSE. SO I THINK OUR WAY FORWARD IS WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOKING AT INSTALLATIONS ON A PUSH BUTTON SO IT CAN BE DESIGNATED FOR THOSE DURING THOSE TIMES.  WOW. YOU DID A GOOD JOB. THANK YOU.  YEAH. YOU TELL YOUR FATHER OF YOUNG CHILDREN YOU TALK QUICK. YEAH. SO YOU KNOW IT'S WONDERFUL YOU ANSWERED EVERYTHING AND I DO LIKE THAT IDEA ABOUT THE THINKING ABOUT THE LIGHTS SO THAT IF NEEDED USE IT BUT NOT HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY ALL THE TIME AND JUST IN MY LAST 30 SECONDS THE CRUMBLING STONE WALLS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. I KNOW TO VENTURA PARK. I THINK IT'S TECHNICALLY A STATE BECAUSE BRANDI FLUKER WAS WORKING ON IT BUT DEFINITELY THESE OLD STONE WALLS MAKING SURE WE'RE INVESTING AND KEEPING THEM MAINTAINED. IT'S IMPORTANT TO RESIDENTS,  MYSELF INCLUDED. BUT HEAR ABOUT THAT AT THE LOWER MILOSEVIC NOT THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION BUT OTHER AREAS AROUND THE CITY WHERE THEY TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T JUST GET RID OF THEM THAT WE INVEST IN REPAIRING THEM. DARLING, I THINK WE DIDN'T ANSWER THE LINE AT ALL ON VACANCIES. DO YOU HAVE THAT? YEAH. FOR JOBS. YEAH. YEAH. BUT WE HAVE WE CURRENTLY HAVE 39 VACANCIES. SOME OF THEM ARE DUE TO RECENT PROMOTIONS.  WE DO HAVE A LOT OF SPECIALIZED ROLES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SOURCE TO FIND TALENT SO A LOT OF THE POSITIONS ARE ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S WEBSITE AND WE WE'RE CURRENTLY INTERVIEWING AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME CANDIDATES GOOD LUCK.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE-CHAIR PEPE IN THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE TODAY. VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT IT WAS PARK SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU COMMISSIONER WATTS.  LAST FRIDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER IN ROSLINDALE AND HAPPY TO JUST PROUD THAT IT IS IN MY DISTRICT AND IT'S THE ONLY ONE I BELIEVE IN THE ENTIRE CITY. SO SHOUT OUT TO ALEXIS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE SITE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR FOR THE TOUR AND JUST FOR SHOWING ME THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. SO I APPRECIATE THAT.  I DID BRING UP QUESTIONS JUST LOOKING AT THE FACILITY THAT'S AN OLDER FACILITY. ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR A FUTURE SITE? ANYTHING IN THE IN THE CAPITAL PLANS FOR FOR AN ANIMAL SHELTER IN THE CITY OF BOSTON? THERE ARE DESIGNS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE THAT WOULD BRING A NEW ANIMAL CONTROL SHELTER TO FRANKLIN PARK.  THE CONSTRUCTIONS RIGHT NOW ON HOLD THE FUNDING BUT DESIGNS AND SCHEMATICS HAVE BEEN DONE FOR IT AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT ALEXIS AND HER TEAM THAT DO SO MUCH WORK TO KEEP THAT BUILDING GOING. THEY GET THOSE SENSORS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IF THE HEAT GOES DOWN AND EVERYTHING AND HAVE TO TRANSPORT DOGS AND ANIMALS IF THEY HAVE TO SO THEY DO SO MUCH WORK AND WE CONSTANTLY WORK WITH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT IN CASE WE NEED TO DO INTERIM IMPROVEMENTS, LITTLE BAND AID IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE CURRENT BUILDING.  OKAY. SO SO THE PLANS ARE ON HOLD FOR THE CAPITAL PLANS BUT THERE ARE THEY ARE THE OFFICIALLY PART OF THE CAPITAL PLANS.  YEAH THERE'S A LINE ITEM THERE IS A LINE ITEM FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET.  YEAH. OKAY. FRANKLIN PARK AT FRANKLIN PARK SUITE. OKAY. WHICH LEADS ME TO OUR NEXT QUESTION IF THAT WHEN THAT DOES HAPPEN, DOES THE CURRENT SITE REMAIN THERE OR WHERE THE CITY MAKE IT TO SOMETHING ELSE?  YEAH, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OWNS THE PROPERTY SO I THINK THEY'D GO THROUGH YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE PROCESS IS TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW ELSE THAT WOULD BE USED IF THAT WOULD BE SOLD OR NOT OR IF THERE'S ANOTHER YOU KNOW WE'VE HEARD THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MORE AMBULANCE BAYS MAYBE IT TURNS INTO ANOTHER REPURPOSE INTO ANOTHER CITY. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ANOTHER THING THAT I NOTICED WAS THAT THERE'S AND LIKE EVERY DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE CITY A SHORTAGE OF STAFF AND I KNOW THAT YOU SAID THERE'S 39 OPENINGS IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THAT FOR THAT SPECIFIC FOR THOSE SPECIFIC POSITIONS AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S LIVING WITH IT LIKE AN ANIMAL THAT REQUIRES 24/7 SERVICE. ARE WE DOING ANY PROACTIVE APPROACHES COMPARED TO OTHER POSITIONS? YEAH, I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS RECRUITING.  ALEXIS HAS BEEN IN THE FIELD FOR A LONG TIME, SO HAS A LOT OF CONNECTIONS TO IN THE WORLD OF ANIMALS AND WORKING WITH THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE AND EMS,  PCA AND OTHER TYPES OUT THERE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A VETERINARIAN THAT LIVES IN BOSTON WHICH IS GREAT THAT'S WORKING THERE. I KNOW THERE'S A VET TECH POSITION.  IT'S SOMETIMES THOSE HARD CERTIFIED POSITIONS THAT YOU NEED SOMEBODY THAT HAS CITY RESIDENCY AS WELL AS HAS THE RIGHT CERTIFICATION TO WORK THERE.  BUT I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS RECRUITING WHETHER IT BE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS OR ANIMAL CARE ATTENDANTS TO HELP BECAUSE IT IS A TEAM EFFORT OVER THERE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING OVER ON THEIR LUNCH AND HELPING JUST TO WALK THE DOGS. YEAH, THAT THAT'S WHAT I HEARD IS THAT PEOPLE ARE STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND HELPING OUT ANY WAYS THAT THEY CAN. SO AGAIN I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT THE WORKERS OVER THERE BUT ALSO JUST WANT TO ADVOCATE TO HELP THEM FIND MORE EMPLOYEES AND HELP THEM WITH THEIR SERVICES. UM, IN MY DISTRICT I HAVE ALMONT PARK SO I, I HAVE TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO EARL PEARL FOR HE'S ALWAYS DOING SUCH GREAT ADVOCACY OUT THERE AND HE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT YOU KNOW THE FENCE BY THE COACH HAS BEEN THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED THERE HAS TO BE MORE TRASH CANS THERE AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND THEY ARE IN NEED OF MORE PORTA POTTIES DURING THE SUMMERTIME. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF LEAGUES THAT PLAY OUT THERE. I DO WANT TO THANK THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING THE MATTAPAN PATRIOTS WITH THEIR BID AND MOVE IN THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR FOR HELPING THEM. BUT I DO KNOW THAT JUST BEING THERE DURING THE SUMMERTIME LAST YEAR THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF OF JUST BATHROOM AVAILABILITIES.  THERE'S THERE'S LIKE FOUR DIFFERENT SPORTING EVENTS HAPPENING AT ONCE SO I WILL JUST LOVE TO SEE I KNOW THAT COUNCILOR MURPHY BROUGHT UP THAT POINT BUT IF THERE'S ANY SITE ANYWHERE WE COULD GET FUNDING FOR THAT THAT WOULD BE BE VERY NECESSARY AND A SMALLER ONE IS THEY WILL LOVE TO SEE A WELCOME TO ORMOND PARK SIGN NEAR THE CLOSER TO THE CORNER WHERE THE FOOTBALL FIELD IS.  THERE'S NOTHING TO TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE WALKING INTO THE FIELD FROM ORMOND STREET AND I GOT A LOT OF ADVOCACY FROM THAT. OH WE DID.  THE COFFEE WOULD HAVE CALLED LAST WEEK AND THIS IS A QUESTION THAT I LOVE TO ASK YOU COMMISSIONER, BUT ALSO CHRIS, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS AS WELL.  SO RECENTLY IN MY DISTRICT I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT TREES THAT ARE BREAKING THE CITY SIDEWALKS AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A TREE ORDINANCE PROTECTING PUBLIC ARMS.  PUBLIC ON TREES, HOWEVER, HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE SOME SITUATIONS ARE LEADING TO RESIDENTS TRIPPING, FALLING,  NOT ABLE TO PASS BY WITH A WHEELCHAIR AND NOT ABLE TO PASS BY WITH A STROLLER IN ONE OCCASION IT HAS ACTUALLY CRACKED INTO THE FOUNDATION OF A HOUSE THAT ABUTS THE TREE . WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE PROACTIVE TO TO STOP THESE SITUATIONS? BECAUSE IF AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION HAPPENS WHERE SOMEONE TRIPS AND INJURES THEMSELVES I MEAN THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SUE THE CITY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING? I KNOW THIS IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL BUT I KNOW THE TREES ARE THE MAIN CULPRIT HERE AND THE THAT OUR TREES ARE PROTECTED BY MASS GENERAL LAW. CHAPTER 87 SO THEY ARE THERE. SO IF THE TREE IS IN GOOD HEALTH AND NOT DECLARED TO BE DEAD DISEASE AND HAZARDOUS THE TREE HAS TO GO THROUGH A PUBLIC TREE HEARING FOR REMOVAL.  I THINK THERE'S VALID POINTS WHEN A SEWERAGE PIPE IS ENGULFED IN THE ROOTS OF THE TREE OR TO YOUR POINT THE FOUNDATION ON THE WALL. THEY CAN BRING THAT INFORMATION TOWARDS THE TREE HEARING TO GO FORWARD WITH IT AND IN THE MEANTIME PUBLIC WORKS MAKE SAFE SO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS THE HEALTH OF THE TREE PUBLIC WORKS OWNS THE SIDEWALK OF THE TREE SO OBVIOUSLY WHEN THE ROOTS THEY DO SOME TAR PATCHING AND STUFF TO FIX THAT UNTIL IT'S IN A A NEW CYCLE FOR THAT STRETCH OF SIDEWALK TO BE REPAVED OR RE CEMENTED I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN THE OTHER THING I WOULD ADD IS OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT WE SORT OF THE DUAL GOALS OF ACCESSIBLE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS AND TREE LINED BEAUTIFUL PLACES THAT ALL OF US SORT OF LIVE OR WORK ON. SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE STREETS TEAM ABOUT THEIR SIDEWALK BUDGET, WALK THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH TO RYAN'S POINT OF HOW WE ACTUALLY DEAL WITH MAKE SAFE REQUESTS THAT COME IN AND HOW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE TYPE OF SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION THAT WE'RE DOING AS WELL AS THE TREE PERMITS WE'RE CREATING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LESSENING ANY OF THAT SORT OF STRUCTURAL CONFLICT THAT MAY EXIST BETWEEN THE TREES THAT WE WANT FROM THE SIDEWALKS THAT WE ALSO NEED AND WANT. YEAH, THAT THAT CONVERSATION IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE NOT THAT I'M NOWHERE NEAR IN FAVOR OF CUTTING DOWN TREES IT'S ACTUALLY THE OPPOSITE THAT I WANT BUT IF WE CAN LOOK INTO JUST USING DIFFERENT MAYBE DIFFERENT MATERIALS FOR FOR THAT SPECIFIC FOR THE SIDEWALKS WHERE THERE ARE TREE PITS I THINK THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER GOOD SOLUTION. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL AS WE ARE WORKING IT IN MY OFFICE PROPERTY.  AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION REALLY QUICKLY IS MEGAN PLAYGROUND DO WE HAVE THE EXACT TIME WHEN IT WILL BE OPEN?  I THINK THE I THINK THE FENCES ARE GOING TO COME DOWN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE SCHEDULING A RIBBON CUTTING FOR LATER LATER THIS SUMMER SOME PARENTS IN THAT AREA ARE VERY EXCITED AND I PROBABLY GET AN EMAIL FROM IT EVERY EVERY DAY SO I APPRECIATE THAT. LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING AT THAT RIBBON CUTTING. BUT AGAIN I'M VERY THANKFUL TO THE WORK YOU ALL DO AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL.  FIRST LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU FROM DISTRICT THREE THE PARKS IN DISTRICT THREE HAVE BEEN SHOWN A LOT OF LOVE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WHETHER IT'S THOSE RECENTLY INVESTED IN COMPLETED SUCH AS GAVI,  HEMMINGWAY, RYAN PLAYGROUND AND EVEN THE ONES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN DESIGN TOWN FIELD BURN PLAYGROUND RONAN CLIFFORD SO IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT ALL OF THEM ARE PROGRESSING AND HAVE JUST RECENTLY BEEN INVESTED IN OR HAVE PLANS TO BE INVESTED IN. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT AND I KNOW THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT THREE THANK YOU AS WELL. SO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THE TIMELINE OF SOME OF THESE. SEE THE TIMELINE FOR RONIN PARK . THERE'S MONEY IN THE BUDGET BUT I'M NOT SURE OF WHAT THE PHASES ARE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A RETAINING WALL AT ONE PART WE'RE DOING THE COURTS, THERE'S THE DRAINAGE, THERE'S ACCESSIBILITY FROM ADAMS STREET SO THERE'S OTHER AND IT'S A BIG, BIG AREA. SO I JUST DON'T KNOW IS THERE A PARTICULAR PHASE THAT WE SEE THAT IN AND WHEN THAT MIGHT START OR WHICH ONES FIRST, CORRECT. YEAH. SO WE'VE BEEN STUDYING THE WALL ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE MONITORING THAT THERE ARE SOME LARGE CRACKS. THERE'S WE'VE BEEN MONITORING IT AND IT'S BECOME APPARENT THAT THAT WALL IS ACTIVELY MOVING. SO WE WANT TO TRY TO SHORE UP THAT WALL AND KEEP THAT INTACT BECAUSE IT'S SUPPORTING THE THE BALL FIELD AND EVERYTHING BEHIND IT SO THAT WE PLAN ON ON GETTING JUMPING ON THAT PRETTY EARLY IN 25 AND FISCAL 25 AND HOPEFULLY PUTTING IT OUT TO BID AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO TRY TO SHORE ABOUT UP THERE IS A LARGER DESIGN PROJECT TO TAKE A LOOK AT RENOVATING THE PLAYGROUND, IMPROVING THE SPLASH PAD AND LOOKING AT THE COURTS THERE AS WELL.  THOSE ARE ALL KIND OF STATE OF GOOD REPAIR THE PLAYGROUND IS IS ONE OF THE OLDER ONES THE SPLASH PAD HAS A LOT OF OF PROBLEMS MAKING SURE THAT IT'S RELIABLE EVERY YEAR IT'S KIND OF COBBLED TOGETHER RIGHT NOW SO TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT REALLY PUT IN SOMETHING A WHOLE NEW SYSTEM THERE AND I'M LOOKING AT THE COURTS AS WELL. SO THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE A LONGER LONGER TERM PROJECT BUT REALLY SHORING UP THAT WALL ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE, THIS IS AN IMMEDIATE I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION TOO THAT I KNOW THERE'S A DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING TO OCCUR ALONG CLOSER TO THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE WALL AND THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT ACCESS FROM FIELDS CORNER TO THE PARK AS WELL TO OPEN IT UP A BIT MORE BECAUSE I KNOW THE ACCESSIBILITY ON THE ADAMS STREET SIDE IS A BIT DIFFICULT AND SO THINKING ABOUT WORKING WITH THAT DEVELOPER AND TALKING ABOUT WHERE AND WHEN AND HOW WE CAN OPEN IT UP SO THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY WHEN YOU'RE IN THE HEART OF FIELDS CORNER YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS TO ROAD AND MIGHT ACTUALLY GET SOME FOOT TRAFFIC THERE AS WELL. JUST A SUGGESTION I GUESS WOULD CLIFFORD PARK I KNOW WE DOUBLED THE BUDGET AND THANK YOU FOR THAT THE TIMELINE FOR CLIFFORD PARK IS JUST ONE SO WE HAVE OUR I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE JUNE 10TH BUT IS OUR FINAL COMMUNITY MEETING COMING UP AND THEN THE PLANS ARE GOING INTO CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS SO WE CAN PUT IT OUT TO BID SO WE EXPECT I HATE TO SAY EVEN LATE SUMMER BUT PROBABLY EARLY FALL CONSTRUCTION TO START ON CLIFFORD ANYWHERE BETWEEN A YEAR AND 18 MONTHS OF CONSTRUCTION ON THAT. SO WE SHOULD HAVE A RENOVATED AND FULLY RENOVATED RIBBON CUTTING ON CALENDAR YEAR 25 SO FALL OF 2025 GREAT THANK YOU.  I GUESS DOWNTOWN FIELD AS WELL TOWN FIELD SO IN CURRENT DESIGN PHASE CORRECT NO TIMELINE ON THAT SORT OF BALLPARK IS WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THERE'S STILL MORE DESIGN WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO. OKAY WE HAD A GROUP OF A SERIES OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS SO IDENTIFY THE PROGRAM FOR THE SITE. SO THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO DEVELOP BID BID DOCUMENTS AND THERE'S NO CONSTRUCTION FUNDING FOR THAT IN THE BUDGET AT THIS POINT. OKAY.  AND LASTLY I KNOW WE WERE TRYING TO GET THE WE DIDN'T GET IT OPEN FOR THE BEGINNING ITSELF IN BASEBALL BUT IN PETER'S PARK, THE INFIELD IN THE BACKSTOP LAST TIME I DROVE BY I DIDN'T SEE IS DO WE KNOW I KNOW IT SHOULD BE SOON IT WAS ONLY A COUPLE MORE WEEKS. I THINK BUT THAT WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. YEAH. SO LAST WEEK WE GOT THE FINAL SIGN OFF ON FROM BOSTON WATER AND SEWER AND NOW IT'S JUST THE SITE ESTABLISHMENT SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT SO AT LEAST THREE WEEKS OR SO TO HOLD BEFORE KIDS GO ON IT. WE JUST HATE EVERYONE SO EXCITED FOR THE FIELD AND WE JUST HATE FOR THE INVESTMENT TO GO WITH THE SOD BEING RIPPED UP. NO I DID THAT MY BOOTS THE HARDEST THING WAS KEEPING THE KIDS OFF IN THE BACKYARD ONCE YOU PUT SADIE I GET OFF PLEASE. THERE WAS A LOT OF MONEY RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT'S FOR THE PARKS. BUT IN THE SOME QUESTIONS THE CRITERIA FOR THE STREET TREES TO BE PLANTED ON SIDEWALKS KIND OF FUNNY THE THE OPPOSITE OF COUNCILOR PEPEN ALTHOUGH I DO AGREE WITH HIM THAT THAT'S AN ISSUE WE DO HEAR A LOT. I'M ALWAYS LOOKING TO GET MORE TREES PLANTED I ALWAYS THINK ALONG DOT AND EVEN SIDE STREETS RIGHT YOU COULD PUT TWO PICTURES UP OF THE SAME STREET AND PUT ONE WITH A TREE LINED STREET AND ASK PEOPLE WHICH ONE LOOKS LIKE THE NICER NEIGHBORHOOD AND I THINK THEY WILL ALWAYS PICK THE ONE WITH THE TREES. RIGHT. AND SO KNOWING THAT WHAT IS THE CRITERIA THAT LIKE SO IF I'M TO TALK TO PEOPLE I SAY THIS IS WHAT A SIDEWALK NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE AND HAVE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO HAVE A TREE AND WHAT IS THAT PROCESS?  SURE. SO WE ALSO HAVE IT ON OUR CITY WEBSITE IF ANY RESIDENTS ARE LISTENING WANT TO CHECK IT BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ADA CLEARANCE AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE UTILITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE HYDRANT STOP SIGNS THINGS LIKE THAT WITHIN SO MANY FEET OF THE TREE PIT WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR MORE LOCATIONS FOR OUR FALL TREE PLANTING SEASON SO WE ASK PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE A SPOT THAT'S IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME TO PLEASE THREE ON ONE IT AND PUT THAT IN SO THAT WAY THE IRS CAN GO OUT ASSESS TO MAKE SURE IF THERE'S ANY UTILITIES OR ANY REASON WHY IT COULDN'T BE PLANTED THERE WITH UTILITIES ETC. AND THEN YOU KNOW WE TRY TO GET IN SOMETIMES A CURB CUT HAS TO BE CUT IF ONE DOESN'T ALREADY EXIST.  WE JUST ASK THAT THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT COME IN FROM THE HOMEOWNER BECAUSE YOU'D HATE TO DO THE INVESTMENT OF ABOUT 1400 DOLLARS PER TREE IN THAT HOMEOWNER DID NOT WANT THE TREE IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE AND THEN SOMEHOW THE TREE GETS DAMAGED OR DIES OR THE INVESTMENT IS GONE. SO WE TRY TO GET BUY IN FROM THE HOMEOWNERS BECAUSE WE ALSO RELY ON THEM IN THAT TIME OF DROUGHT TO HELP 20 TO 40 GALLONS OF WATER TO THE TREES TO HELP IT THRIVE. SO REALLY DO HAVE THE BUY IN. SO IF YOU HAVE STREETS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE PRIME FOR PLANTINGS WE ASK PEOPLE TO PUT IT IN SO THE IRS CAN GO OUT AND DO THE DUE DILIGENCE AND IF SO WE MOVE FORWARD. WE DID START A NEW LITTLE MARKETING CAMPAIGN UNDER TODD'S LEADERSHIP WHERE WE CAN PUT MARKERS ON THE GROUND TO SAY A FUTURE HOME OF A STREET TREE SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT ONE IS COMING IF IT IS ONE THAT CAN BE THERE. SO IT'S GREAT. YEAH IT IS DEALING WITH OF A SIDEWALK IS THERE A MINIMUM SIDEWALK OR ANYTHING FOR PEOPLE? IS IT 36 TIMES YOU KNOW THE WELL IT IS FIVE FEET OF ACCESSIBILITY AND I KNOW IT'S A NARROW SIDEWALK AND SLIGHTLY LESS ACCESSIBILITY TO ALLOW FOR AN OKAY GOTCHA BUT IT IS JUST FOR THE THANK YOU JUST A QUICK THOUGHT A LOT OF ESPECIALLY AROUND URBAN FORWARD SHE TALKED I THINK ABOUT THE MORRISSEY BOULEVARD COMMISSION AND REDOING OF MORRISSEY BOULEVARD ALONG WITH THE OAKLEY PARK PHASE ONE THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND BAY CITY AND THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THERE FOR SURE AND I'D LOVE TO BE AT THE END OF THIS THE ESTHETIC PURPOSE OF OF AND ALSO PROTECTING FROM YOU KNOW POLLUTION FROM SEVEN HAIL AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE CARS AND THE TRAFFIC THAT GOES DOWN THERE. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS ARE SORT OF THINKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THE MOBERLY PARK PHASE ONE COULD AFFECT BECAUSE YOU SKEW CIRCLE WHICH WILL AFFECT MORRISSEY BOULEVARD AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE LINKED TOGETHER AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE NOT ONLY TRAFFIC IS MOVING SMOOTHLY BUT THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE PROTECTED FROM THE POLLUTION AS WELL AND SO THERE COULD BE SOME FORESTRY AND BUSHES THAT THAT THAT PLAY THAT ROLE. THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT COUNCILOR MURPHY ASKED ABOUT DOG FECES ON PARKLAND WE GET THAT A LOT THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH WE CAN DO OTHER THAN IF YOU SEE IT SAY SOMETHING RIGHT . THERE'S NOT A LOT OF WAYS TO POLICE THE FOLKS THAT YEAH, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT DOGS I'LL SAY ANIMAL CARE CONTROL DOES THEIR BEST AND THEY TRY TO GET OUT THERE AND EDUCATE. SO SOMETIMES IF YOU KNOW THE DOG USERS ARE OUT THERE AT A CERTAIN TIME OF DAY THEY CAN GO OUT AND TRY TO TALK TO THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE EDUCATED AND KNOW THE POLICIES AROUND IT. YEAH. AND FINALLY JUST A COMMENT I KNOW IT'S IT'S NOT MY DISTRICT BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT THAT USE THE GEORGE WRIGHT GOLF COURSE. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A AN RFP AWARDED TO THE NEW VENDOR AND THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEW VENDOR OF THE FOOD AND BEVERAGES THERE. SO IF YOU IF YOU HEAR THAT I DON'T THINK THEY'RE THE SAME AS THE LONGTIME PERSON THAT WAS THERE THAT HAD IT DOWN TO A TEA. SO MAYBE IT MIGHT BE GROWING PAINS BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK INTO THE NEW VENDOR HERE, CHARGE SOME COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  COUNCILOR BREADON, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. I THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY FAVORITE PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL HEARINGS, I'M REALLY I WANT TO DO A DIG A DIG INTO THE CAPITAL PLAN FOR PARKS AND ALSO BRIAN, I THINK YOU ANTICIPATE THIS COMING WE HAVE WE HAVE THE MCKINNEY, THE MCKINNEY PARK AND MICHAEL'S COME IN AND WE HAD ANOTHER CONSTITUENT COME IN AND ADVOCATE FOR PROGRESS ON THE MCKINNEY PARK PLAYGROUND AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS NOW FOR TEN YEARS. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS A NEW PROJECT IN FINANCIAL YEAR 2016. UM IS THAT TEN YEARS CLOSE IT STILL IT'S A LONG TIME AND AS YOU KNOW IT'S SORT OF ACROSS THE STREET FROM FOUNTAIN GARDENS WHERE THERE ARE 350 KIDS LITERALLY ACROSS THE STREET AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE REDEVELOPING THAT PROJECT NOT A DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEXT YEAR AND THEY'RE GOING TO START PROBABLY GOING TO START CONSTRUCTION IN A YOU KNOW, 18 MONTHS OR SO. SO IS COMING REALLY FAST AND WE HAD REALLY HOPED THAT THE THAT THE PLAYGROUND WOULD BE IN A FURTHER FURTHER ALONG. I YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN A BUMPY ROAD AND WE'VE HAD COLVIN WE'VE HAD YOU KNOW BUT IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING I THINK THE TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS AND RESEARCH IS ABOUT $75,000 SO FAR JUST ON SCOPING AND PARTIAL MASTER PLANNING AND WHATEVER.  UM IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY LIKE IT'S IN DESIGN AS IT WERE CAN WE IS THERE ANY TIMELINE LIKE WHEN WILL THAT ACTUALLY GET GOING? AND THE OTHER THING YOU KNOW WITH WAS THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE YOUNG KIDS AND NOT JUST NOT JUST ON A AN ANNUAL BUT ACROSS IN THE GENERAL AREA THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNG CHILDREN NOW AND THERE'S MORE OF A NEED FOR LIKE PLAYGROUND AND SPLASH PADS AND CAN WE EVEN IF IT'S A DELAY LIKE CAN WE GET SOMETHING DONE BECAUSE IT'S REALLY, REALLY BAD AT THIS POINT AND PEOPLE ARE LOSING PATIENCE.  AND I'LL ALSO YOU THE OTHER PART THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOSING PATIENCE IS A RINGER PARK IT'S IT'S ONLY IT'S ONLY AT A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS AND IT WAS A NEW PROJECT AND IN FINANCIAL YEAR 2019 WHICH WAS THAT WAS 2013 AND AGAIN IT IS BUYING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN URBAN HEAT ISLAND. IT'S VERY, VERY DENSELY POPULATED. IT'S AN OLMSTEAD PARK THAT HASN'T HAD ANY ACCORDING TO FOLKS WHO USED TO WORK IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY'RE SAY THE LAST SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT WAS IN THE WHITE ADMINISTRATION. SO WE'RE GOING BACK A LONG TIME. YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY ARE WE NOT MOVING PROJECTS FAST BUT WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY INVESTING LIKE I KNOW WE'VE HAD WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY AND WE GET AND WE BEAT THE BUSHES AND GET A LOT OF MONEY FOR ANYBODY, ANY DEVELOPER, ANYBODY WE CAN GET MONEY FROM.  WE WILL TRY AND GET MONEY FOR OUR PARKS AND ALSO IN BRIGHTON AND IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING. SO CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME HOPE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO MOVE FORWARD IN THESE THINGS AND WE ALSO KNOW LIKE THE PARKS THAT NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION THE ONE OPENED FOR DALLAS AT THE BACK AGAIN COMMONWEALTH HOUSING HUNDREDS OF KIDS AND THEIR PARK IS IN MISERABLE STATE SO AND THEN PENNIMAN THERE'S ANOTHER PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS AGAIN ANOTHER PROJECT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A HUGE AMOUNT OF DEVELOPMENT AROUND IT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME MONEY TOWARDS RENOVATING THE PENNIMAN AND AGAIN IT'S NEXT DOOR TO A LOW INCOME HOUSING ON HERE NORTH STREET AND THE HOLLAND APARTMENTS. SO THE PLACES WHERE WE HAVE KIDS AND WE NEED THE PARKS TO BE STEPPED UP WE'RE REALLY STRUGGLING SO AND I KNOW I'M I'M YOU KNOW A LOT OF THE ISSUES IT JUST I KNOW THE CHALLENGES BUT PLEASE HELP ME ANY ANY HOPE FOR AUSTIN BRIGHTON IN TERMS OF PARKS THANK YOU COUNCILOR YEAH WE'VE ALSO WE'VE MADE A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT DESIGN PROGRESS ON BOTH MCKINNEY AND RINGER IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND WE'RE WE'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO TRY TO TO MAXIMIZE THE CAPITAL BUDGET. HOW FAR THE CAPITAL BUDGET CAN GO FOR BOTH OF THOSE SITES. SO FINGERS CROSSED FOR BOTH OF THOSE BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS WE DO WANT TO GET THOSE OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT AT AS SOON AS THE KIND OF THE MONEY FIRM'S UP GETTING THOSE OUT OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THEN FIRM UP ON THE MONEY WE WERE TOLD IS IN JUNE. SO WE'LL KNOW THE RESULTS IF WE GOT THOSE EXTRA DOLLARS SO WE'LL KNOW BY THE NEXT MONTH EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO MOVE MCKINNEY AND BRING OUR PHASE ONE FORWARD AND HAVE OTHER PARKS CHANDLER POND WORK OBVIOUSLY GOING ON FIDELIS WAYS AND DESIGNER SELECTION HARMAN'S IN ITS COMMUNITY PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD AND IN PENNIMAN WE'RE STILL REVIEWING REVIEWING SURVEYOR STUFF SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AND WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR IT NEEDS TO MOVE FASTER. IT'S A BIT LIKE THE DUCK ON THE WATER. THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING BELOW THE SURFACE EXACTLY BUT YOU KNOW THE FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE LOOKING AT WHAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON. YOU KNOW AND I ALSO YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND NO THE WHOLE CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS LIKE START BEGIN YOU KNOW, PLAN DO FINISH SORT OF THING AND HOW THINGS PROCEED THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IF A PROJECT IS IT SHOULDN'T REALLY BE IN THE WORKS FOR TEN YEARS WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION YEAH SO WITH MCKINNEY AND RINGER WE DID A MASTER PLAN TO KIND OF GUIDE THE WHOLE OVERALL PICTURE, THE OVERALL PLANNING, HOW WE WANT TO APPROACH THE SITE, WHAT'S THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE WE'VE PUT THOSE PHASE ONE PLANS INTO ACTION AS QUICKLY AS WE SHOULD HAVE.  SO THAT'S IF WE HAD LOOKED AT A COMPREHENSIVE RENOVATION, I THINK WE COULD HAVE WE HOPE WE WOULD MIGHT BE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.  BUT BUT WE'RE TRYING TO TO WE'RE BOTH TRYING TO MAXIMIZE THE CAPITAL DOLLARS AND DELIVER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO THAT'S THAT'S YOU KNOW AND IT'S I KNOW WE'VE HAD A HARD TIME BUT I REALLY DO APPLAUD YOU LIKE YOUR TREE WORK EVERYTHING YOU KNOW THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD AND I'M VERY ENCOURAGED ON A LOT OF A LOT OF THINGS. BUT WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO BRASS TACKS AND COMES TO PLAN, CAPITAL PLANNING IS AN EXECUTION IS REALLY AND I ALSO LIKE TO ECHO MY SUPPORT FOR TRYING TO EXPEDITE WORK ON THE ANIMAL SHELTER. I KNOW THAT WAS SOMETHING CHIEF MARIAMA WIGHTMAN WAS WAS FOCUSED ON BUT YOU KNOW I THINK THERE THERE'S FACILITIES OVER THERE ARE VERY, VERY WANTING AND WE NEED TO SORT OF GIVE THEM SOME SORT OF PRIORITY.  THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETING DEMANDS FOR FOR MONEY ESPECIALLY AS AN AREA CHALLENGES WITH REGARD TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND STORMWATER CONTROL AND ALL THE REST OF IT LIKE MOSTLY PARK ALL OF IT WE'VE GOING TO HAVE SOME BIG CHALLENGES BUT THEY ALSO WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE SORT OF NOT SUCH MEGA-PROJECTS BUT WE CAN EVEN DO OTHER THINGS BEHIND AND IT WAS TOUGH CHOICES. ALSO A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT STREET TREES WHAT'S THE PROCESS AND TIMELINE FOR REMOVAL OF A DEAD TREE AND THEN REPLACING IT WITH A NEW TREE BECAUSE I HEAR IT TAKES YEARS BUT WE DON'T WANT IT TO TAKE YEARS. IT DOESN'T TAKE YEARS ANYMORE NOW THAT WE'RE MORE STAFFED UP WE DO HAVE A REMOVAL CONTRACT SO WHEN SOMEBODY PUTS IN A TREE TO BE REMOVED WE HAVE THE ARBORISTS GO OUT AND ASSESS IT BECAUSE AGAIN IF IT'S NOT DEAD DISEASE OR HAZARDOUS IT'S SUBJECT TO MASS GENERAL OR CHAPTER 87. SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THE REMOVAL OF THAT TREE. BUT IF IT IS DEAD DISEASE OR HAZARDOUS IT IS ABLE TO GET ON A REMOVAL LIST ONCE THE CONTRACTOR IS ABLE TO REMOVE THE TREE IT AUTOMATICALLY GOES ON A REPLANTING LIST. SO FOR THE FOLLOWING SEASON. SO IF SOMETHING GOT REMOVED NOW IT PROBABLY FOR NEXT SPRING TO GO ON THERE. SO ONCE IT GETS CUT YOU KNOW YOU'RE WITHIN A YEAR FOR REPLANTING. YEAH. SO DO YOU REPORT IT TO 311 REPORT IT 2311 YEP. AND THEN THE ARBORIST GO OUT AND DO THE ASSESSMENT.  VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. MY TIME'S UP. I'LL PROBABLY COME BACK FOR SOME MORE QUESTIONS.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MEJIA THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  GOOD MORNING, CHAIR. AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE I HAVE SEVEN QUESTIONS BECAUSE I HAVE 7 MINUTES. THAT MEANS A MINUTE.  OKAY, SO I HAVE EIGHT AND THEN A BONUS ROUND SURPRISE, Y'ALL. OKAY, SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE STORM WATER YOU HAD MENTIONED IT.  I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL CALLS FROM SMALL BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR STATING THAT THEY HAVE RECENTLY GOTTEN A PROPERTY TAX OR SOME SORT OF TAX THAT IS BEING CHARGED TO THEM FOR STORMWATER. BUT I JUST NEED SOME FLAHERTY AROUND THAT.  I WOULD ASK ALL MY QUESTIONS AND I CAN GO THROUGH IT. I AM CURIOUS ABOUT SOME OF THE PERMITS FOR BASEBALL PLAYERS IN PARTICULAR. I'D LOVE TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SORT OF THE TYPE OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO USE A PARK. YOU KNOW WHAT'S THE NOISE VIOLATION BECAUSE YOU AND I COMMISSIONER, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TOGETHER WHERE WE GO TO THESE PARKS AND WE TRY TO EDUCATE EVERYONE. SO I'M CURIOUS WHAT IF ANYTHING WE COULD BE DOING TO GET AHEAD SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND CAN'T DO IN THESE PARKS?  I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT WITHIN THAT SAME CONVERSATION THAT THERE'S SOME PERMITS THAT THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF DISCREPANCIES THAT THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO SHOW UP TO SOME OF THESE PARKS WITH LOUD MUSIC AND THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PLAYING LOUD MUSIC OR PLAYING THE MUSIC ON THE STREET NOT ON THE PARK. BUT THEN THE BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE BEING ACCUSED OF BEING THE REASON WHY IN THEIR PERMITS ARE AT RISK. SO I JUST LOVE SOME FLAHERTY AROUND THAT.  I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE LOUIS BROWN PEACE INSTITUTE IN PARTICULAR. I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT.  SO I'M CURIOUS WHAT COULD THAT LOOK LIKE IN THIS BUDGET IN REGARDS TO CLIFFORD PARK? I'M CURIOUS IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO START THE DESIGN AFTER THE BASEBALL SEASON. I KNOW I'VE GOTTEN SOME CALLS FROM FOLKS WHO USE THE PARK AND WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN HOLD OFF UNTIL THEIR SEASON ENDS OR WITHOUT DISPLACING SOME OF THEM. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.  I AM CURIOUS ABOUT TREE MAINTENANCE.  THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONSTITUENTS SPECIFICALLY AROUND WASHINGTON STREET IN ROSLINDALE IN PARTICULAR WHERE THEY HAVE AND WE'VE CALLED IN 311 YOU KNOW WHERE SOME OF THE TREES THAT ARE ON THE SIDEWALKS ARE COMING UP AND IT'S MAKING IT REALLY HARD FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES TO, YOU KNOW, GET THROUGH THAT SPACE AND IT'S IN FRONT OF SOMEONE'S HOUSE. SO THE OWNER IS A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR AS TO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. SO JUST IF YOU HAVE ANY GUIDANCE AROUND THAT WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IT.  I'M CURIOUS AROUND SOME OF YOUR SPANISH SPEAKING OUTREACH IF YOU YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF YOUR STAFFING, IF YOU HAVE SOME FOLKS ON STAFF THAT ARE SPANISH SPEAKING BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF THE PARK USERS TEND TO BE YOU KNOW, FOLKS A LOT OF THE BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE THE ONES THAT USUALLY ARE BLOWING UP OUR PHONES ASKING FOR SUPPORT. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THERE'S A LINE AROUND THAT PICKLEBALL. CRAZY BUT I'VE GOT LOTS OF EMAILS AROUND PICKLEBALL I'M CURIOUS HOW MANY PICKLEBALL PARKS WE HAVE THAT WILL WAIT FOR US TO INCREASE BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE AN EMERGING YOU KNOW NEED AND I JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD AND SUPPORTIVE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE COMES A READ IN AND THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE ON BEHALF OF MCKINNEY PARK TO SAY THAT IT IS DUE TIME THAT ALISON AND BRIAN GETS THEIR FAIR SHARE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND I THINK THAT THIS IS ONE WAY TO REPAIR THE HARM THAT WE HAVE CAUSED THAT DISTRICT. SO JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD IN SUPPORT OF THAT. SO THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS TRYING TO THE STORMWATER COUNCIL THAT'S A QUICK STORMWATER PIECE I IMAGINE THAT IS THE STORMWATER FEE WHICH IS BEING CHARGED BY THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION WITH THE INTENT OF THAT INVESTMENT BEING PUT BACK INTO INFRASTRUCTURE THAT REDUCES THE IMPACT THAT SEVERE RAINSTORMS ARE GOING TO HAVE. I'M HAPPY TO BOTH CONNECT THE WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION WITH YOU AND HAPPY TO MAKE SURE CONNECT WITH ANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND GET ANY ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO BETTER COMMUNICATE THAT OUT FOR THE WATER SEWER COMMITTEE. YEAH, BECAUSE I THINK IT CAME AS A SURPRISE TO SOME OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEN I'M CURIOUS IF THERE'S ANY WAY FOR US TO LOOP IN TV TO AROUND THIS CONVERSATION IN SUPPORTING THESE SMALL BUSINESSES. RIGHT. THANK YOU. NOW LET'S GO ON TO PERMITS FOR BASED JUST THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND EDUCATION I GOT YOU HERE SO PERMITS WITH EDUCATION SO WE DID BACK IN LIKE 2016 OR 17 WENT TO AN ONLINE PERMITTING SOFTWARE SYSTEM THAT PEOPLE CAN GO ON WHEN THEY PULL THEIR PERMITS THEY HAVE WHAT ARE YOU KNOW, PARK RULES, THINGS OF THAT. YOU CAN NOW GO ON THE CALENDAR AND SEE WHERE THERE ARE CERTAIN HOLES TO SEE WHEN FIELDS ARE AVAILABLE. SO THAT'S MADE IT EASIER. IT'S MORE PUBLIC FACING NOW SO PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR BLOCK IN SHAREPOINT.  I THINK IT IS JUST THE INFORMATION THAT IS ON THE ACTUAL PERMIT THAT'S THERE. SO SOMETIMES THERE'S A LOT OF CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND STUFF THAT PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF THAT MAY BE CONTRADICTORY TO PARK RULES SO WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB AT THAT POINT OF EDUCATION THINKING SPECIFICALLY OF THE LOUD MUSIC THE ONLY ENFORCEMENT POWERS THE BOSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS IS TO THE PERMIT HOLDER.  SO IT'S USUALLY WHATEVER ACTIVITY COMES DURING THEIR PERMITTED TIME. BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN A CERTAIN PARK IS THAT AFTER THE SOFTBALL GAME OR BASEBALL GAME TAKES PLACE THERE IS LOUD MUSIC IN THE STREETS. SO WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH CAPTAIN HUSSEIN AND THE BOSTON POLICE TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LOUD MUSIC DOESN'T GO BECAUSE THE LIGHTS AREN'T ON AFTER 8:00 AND THIS NOISE ARE GOING ON TWO OR THREE IN THE MORNING. BUT THERE'S THERE'S A VERY SPECIFIC THAT SITUATION THAT I JUST NEED SOME FLAHERTY SO IF SOMEONE IS PARKED ON PUBLIC YOU KNOW, ON THE STREET IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PARK. HOW IS THE YOU KNOW, THE TEAM HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SOMEONE ELSE PLAYING MUSIC?  I THINK IF IT'S AFTER THEIR SOFTBALL GAME IT'S NOT. BUT I THINK A LOT OF TIMES THE MUSIC IS COMING BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE SPECTATORS OF THE ACTUAL SPORT SO THEY'RE COMING TO WATCH IT. SO BUT IF IT'S AFTER COMPLETELY THEY SHOULD NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT FLAHERTY BECAUSE YEAH, THERE'S A LITTLE CONFUSION THERE IN REGARDS TO THE LUCY BROWN BUDGET AND BURIAL.  VERY WELL. ARE YOU SURE TRACEY IS GOING TO GIVE US THE NUMBER ON THAT?  SORRY . OKAY SO WE GOT ABOUT $53,250 EVERY FISCAL YEAR.  IT'S A GRANT THAT IS ADMINISTERED BETWEEN US AND LEWISTON BROWN SO WE GET REQUESTS I THINK FROM CITY COUNCILORS I'M NOT SURE TO PAY THEM SO WE GET ABOUT $53,250 THREE FISCAL YEAR. SO THAT MONEY GOES TO THE LEWIS DE BROWN FOUNDATION TO HELP PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW, OR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. SO INSTEAD OF COMING TO THE CITY EVERY SINGLE TIME ASKING FOR LIKE A BURIAL WAIVER IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE, TINA CHAIRING THE TEAM HAVE SOME DOLLARS TO HELP THOSE FAMILIES IN NEED. I JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD IN TERMS OF INCREASING IT BECAUSE I KNOW OUR OFFICE GETS A LOT OF CALLS FROM FAMILIES AND OFTENTIMES WE HAVE TO TAP INTO OUR OWN PERSONAL NETWORK,  YOU KNOW, DO DONATIONS TO GO FUND ME . SO I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW ,THERE'S A WAY TO JUST INCREASE IT. THAT WOULD BE GREAT.  SO CLIPPER PARK IN TERMS OF THE REDESIGN, YES OR NO WE CAN DO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO BECAUSE MY TIME IS ONLY TAKING ITS FALL CONSTRUCTION SO LATE FALL AFTER THE SEASON IS OVER. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEIR SEASON ENDS BUT BY THE TIME WE GET TO TRUCKS AND DRAWINGS OUT TO BID WE WOULD NOT BE STARTING UNTIL THE PERFECT GREAT.  AND CAN YOU JUST TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TREE MAINTENANCE ON WASHINGTON STREET SPECIFICALLY IN ROSLINDALE? WELL, JUST ANYWHERE AROUND THE CITY ACTUALLY. SO I THINK IT'S SIMILAR TO THE MOBILITY QUESTIONS JUST THAT YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS IN PUBLIC WORKS JUST TO MAKE SURE THOSE MAKE SAFE PATCHES ARE IN SO WE DON'T HAVE THOSE HAZARDS AS WE CAN DO UNTIL A FULL RESTORATION CAN BE DONE ON THE SIDEWALK. QUICKLY, CAN YOU JUST TALK TO ME JUST QUICKLY SPANISH SPEAKING NUMBERS QUICKLY. YES. WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE NOW IN OUR OFFICE WHICH IS GREAT WHICH WE USED TO ONLY BE AT MAINTENANCE BEFORE BUT NOW WE HAVE PEOPLE AT 1010 TO HELP A PERMANENT JOB COMMISSIONER AND THEN PICKLEBALL ON MY LORD,  PICKLEBALL VERY POPULAR. I THINK WE'VE LEARNED THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MORE DESIGNATED PICKLEBALL COURTS. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE TENNIS COURTS MULTI-PLAYER SO YOU CAN FIT BOTH BUT WE'VE LEARNED SOMETIMES IT'S CONFLICTS THAT WE'RE NOW AS WE DESIGN PARKS WE'RE LOOKING AT DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS. YEAH AND OKAY GREAT. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD THAT I ALSO AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF EXTENDING THE TIME OF HOURS FOR THE LIGHTS IN OUR PARKS. I THINK THAT THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WORTH CONSIDERING AND I'LL WAIT FOR THE SECOND ROUND FOR THE REST OF MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  AND QUICK QUESTION ON PERMITTING AND SCHEDULING OF THE PARKS DO YOU GUYS PRIORITIZE LIKE YES, OKAY, SURE . THERE'S A PRIORITY SYSTEM FOR US TO AT LEAST WITH ATHLETICS IT'S BPP'S STUDENTS FIRST, THEN IT'S YOUTH NONPROFITS, THEN IT GOES TO ADULT RESIDENTS AND FINALLY ADULT NON RESIDENTS SO THAT IS THE PRIORITY SYSTEM OF HOW THEY GET GIVEN OUT AND THEN IF IT'S AN ANNUAL EVENT IT'S USUALLY WHATEVER EVENT WAS THERE. SO LIKE FOR EXAMPLE THE MARATHON HAS COPLEY SQUARE EVERY YEAR FOR US TO WRITE A REFUSAL FOR THAT WEEKEND SIMILAR FOR THE DIFFERENT FESTIVALS AND STUFF THAT COMES IN. SO AS SPOTS OPEN UP WE HAVE NEW EVENTS THAT COME IN. THANK YOU COUNSELOR SANTANA THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  THANK YOU MR CHAIR. I THINK FOR THE ADMINISTRATION FOR BEING HERE.  I'LL START OFF WITH A NOTE. MY COLLEAGUE COUNSELOR BRAYTON TALKED ABOUT CAPITAL PLAN AND ITS PROCESS. CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT WHEN WE ALLOCATE MONEY AND PUT SOMETHING ON THE ON THE CAPITAL PLAN? I KNOW YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY SAY HOW LONG THESE PROCESS WILL TAKE BECAUSE IT MAY VARY BUT CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE DIFFERENT STEPS UNTIL WE GO INTO A RIBBON CUTTING STUFF LIKE ALLOCATING MONEY TO LIKE MAYBE CUTTING? SURE. SO IT STARTS OUT ONCE MONEY GETS PUT INTO THE BUDGET WE START OUT WITH DESIGN AND IN OUR DESIGN PROCESS WE TYPICALLY HAVE THREE SERIES OF MEETINGS.  MEETING A IS WHERE YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE IS OF THE PROPERTY AND WHAT THE SCOPE OF WORK IS AND WE TAKE FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS MEETING B WE USUALLY GO WITH THREE DIFFERENT RENDERINGS AND WE HEAR WE LIKE THIS AND NUMBER ONE THIS AND NUMBER TWO AND THIS AND NUMBER THREE AND THAT THIRD COMMUNITY MEETING IT'S DID WE HEAR YOU ARE THE ELEMENTS THAT YOU'RE ASKING WE WANT OUR PARKS TO BE WELL LOVED AND WELL PROGRAM THEM AND MORE PEOPLE ARE USING THEM. WE HAVE LESS NEGATIVE ACTIVITY IN THEM SO WE WANT TO PUT FEATURES IN THERE THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS SO THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THAT PORTION OF THE PARK AFTER THE THAT'S DONE WE GO INTO CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS THAT THEN GO OUT TO BID.  SO THERE IS THAT PROCESS OF GETTING THE LEGAL SIGN OFF THE BIDDING, THE DOCUMENTS ETC. AND THEN WE GO INTO A CONSTRUCTION CYCLE IF IT'S FUNDED, YOU KNOW, GO INTO CONSTRUCTION. CONSTRUCTION IS USUALLY 12 MONTHS TO 18 MONTHS ON EACH PROJECT AND THEN FOLLOWING WITH THE RIBBON CUTTING. SO ALL IN ALL IF ALL THE FUNDING IS IN PLACE IT'S USUALLY A TWO YEAR TWO AND A HALF YEAR PROCESS FROM DESIGN START TO RIBBON CUTTING. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.  REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.  COMMISSIONER, CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT JUST LIKE IN GENERAL ACQUISITION OF LAND TO MAKE FOR OPEN SPACES AND GREEN SPACES AND THEN CAN YOU GIVE ME EXAMPLES OF IF THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF THE CITY DOING THAT ACQUIRING SPACE AND COMING UP ARE THERE ANY FUTURE OR CURRENT FUTURE PLANS TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW? SURE. SO WE'VE GONE TO THE CPA FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS FOR A BOSTON OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION FUND WHERE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE MORE LAND ON AND THEN ONCE IT'S IN OUR PORTFOLIO WOULD BE ARTICLE 97 PROTECTED. WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DONE THAT WITH SPRAGUE POND IN HIGH PARK AREA. THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE. WE HAVE THREE NOW I BELIEVE IN THE WORKS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE LEGAL PROCESS, THE PE AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF TO TRY TO ACQUIRE THOSE AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO TO THE OPEN SPACE FUND AS NEED BE THROUGH CPA. WE ALSO A FEW YEARS AGO DID A PARCEL PRIORITY PLAN WHERE WE ASKED RESIDENTS TO LET US KNOW OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OWNED PARCELS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PRIORITIZE TO MAYBE BE ACQUIRED IN THE FUTURE BY THE CITY. SO WE ALSO HAVE THAT A RUNNING LIST THAT'S AN ALWAYS WORKING LIST THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACQUIRE . LOOK AT THOSE LANDS FOR ACQUISITION. GREAT. THANK YOU.  IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR PARKS, YOU KNOW I KNOW WE HAVE VPD AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO DO TAKE CARE OF THAT. CAN YOU JUST TALK TO ME ABOUT PARKS DEPARTMENT'S APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT THE DESIGN PROCESS OF CREATING A NEW PARK OR RENOVATING A NEW PARK, ARE THERE ANYTHING NEW THAT WE'VE LEARNED IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES THAT WE CAN INCLUDE IN THE DESIGN PROJECT PROCESS TO BECOME MORE INNOVATIVE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARKS ARE THE SAFER THAT THE SAFEST THAT THEY CAN BE SURE.  SO I THINK DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS WE HEAR A LOT FROM THE COMMUNITY THEY HAVE THE EYES EARS MORE THAN WE DO SO THEY KNOW WHERE THE HOTSPOTS ARE IN CERTAIN PARKS OR IF THIS CORNER ISN'T WELL-LIT ENOUGH OR YOU NEED TO PROGRAM THIS CORNER BETTER BECAUSE NEGATIVE ACTIVITY HAPPENS THERE, WE'RE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THOSE STRATEGIES INSIDE. I THINK IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT WE DO HAVE THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS THAT PATROL THE EMERALD NECKLACE BUT THERE ARE ENFORCEMENT POWERS SINCE THE POLICE REFORM ACT A VERY LIMITED SO THEY'RE MORE GOODWILL AMBASSADORS AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ADHERING TO PARK RULES BUT ENFORCEMENT DOES ULTIMATELY STICK WITH THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ALL OF OUR 331 PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT. SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE MAIN WAY OF ENFORCEMENT. BUT THERE ARE TOOLS THAT WE'VE LEARNED. KATHY, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OTHERS COME TO MIND WITH DESIGN . YEAH, I THINK A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT ABOUT SIGHTLINES MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS CLEAR SIGHTLINES INTO PARKS BOTH FROM FROM PEOPLE YOU KNOW A POLICE CRUISER PATROLLING ON THE STREETS MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN SEE CLEARLY INTO THE PARK, MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO HIDING AREAS.  SO WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO THINK ABOUT WHERE ARE HOW CAN WE LIMIT THOSE SPACES, HOW CAN WE MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE ? LIGHTING HELPS CLEAR SIGHTLINES HELP SO ALL THOSE THINGS ARE PART OF OUR DESIGN PROCESS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. GREAT. THANK YOU DIRECTOR. AND I KNOW EARLIER YOU SPOKE ABOUT DIFFERENT FUNDING SO WE HAVE YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC FUNDING IN AND THEN YOU SAID IT DID NOT AND BRIAN, YOU WERE LOOKING AT OTHER FUNDING TOOLS TO COMPLETE A PROJECT OR PART CAN YOU SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THAT? WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER FUNDING ENTITIES, PRIVATE FUNDING THAT YOU CAN GET FROM COMMUNITY OR IS IT GRANTS THAT WE APPLIED FOR OR IS THE ONE IN ALLSTON? BRIGHTON IS A THERE IS A INSTITUTIONAL THE OUTCOME OF AN INSTITUTIONAL MASTER PLAN THAT PROVIDES PUBLIC FUNDING SORRY PUBLIC REALM FUNDING.  SO A LOT OF THE PARKS FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY SO THAT'S A REALLY GREAT WAY THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE THE CAPITAL FUNDING AND THIS PRIVATE FUNDING.  THERE ARE ALSO STATE GRANTS THAT WE GO AFTER THERE'S THE PARKLAND ACQUISITION AND RENOVATIONS FOR COMMUNITIES AROUND THE PARK GRANT THAT'S AN ANNUAL PROGRAM THAT WE WE APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE OFTEN YEARLY IS IS AND THERE'S ALSO A LAND WATER CONSERVATION FUND WHICH IS A FEDERAL GRANT THAT IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE STATE THAT THAT WE APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE FUNDING QUITE OFTEN FOR . SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REGULAR SOURCES OF FUNDING IN ADDITION TO THE CAPITAL FUNDING. GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION ON LIGHTS, YOU KNOW WE HEARD PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON DIFFERENT PARKS.  I THINK ALSO JUST FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT IT MAKES SENSE TO EXTEND PAST WHAT'S THE PROCESS TO TO GET MORE LIGHTING, TO EXTEND THE HOURS OF LIGHTING AND IN THAT I'M SURE THAT EVERY PARK HAS MAYBE DIFFERENT PARAMETERS ON THAT AND THEN WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR THAT AND RIGHT NOW WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS? SO THEY I MEAN IT DOESN'T IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE PEOPLE COMING TO TESTIFY TO GET MORE LIGHTING. IS THERE A QUICKER PROCESS FOR THAT LIKE FOR THE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN? SO WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ABOUT GETTING MORE LIGHTING IN OUR PARKS?  SURE. SORT OF OUR COURTS IN OUR ATHLETIC FIELDS ARE WHAT'S NORMALLY LIT. OUR PLAYGROUNDS ARE NOT NORMALLY LIT. THEY ARE DAWN TO DUSK.  THERE IS A PLAYGROUND AND WHAT USE A THREE CAR PARK AND PLAYGROUND THAT HAS PLAYGROUND LIGHTING IN IT. THERE MAY BE OTHER PLAYGROUNDS IN OUR NETWORK THAT HAVE LIGHTS LIKE FOR EXAMPLE MOZART HAS PUBLIC SAFETY LIGHTS BUT THEY'RE NOT PLAYGROUND LIGHTS SO THEY'RE NOT WELL-LIT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT ALL ADA ACCESSIBLE ETC. THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET SOME EXTRA LIGHT FROM.  SO I THINK IN THAT CERTAIN PETITION WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT INSTALLING LIGHTS AND PLAYGROUNDS THROUGHOUT OUR 229 PLAYGROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO PUT THEM ON THERE AND MAYBE IT IS THE PUSH BUTTON METHOD BUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS OUR ATHLETIC LIGHTS SINCE THE PICKLEBALL PERSON THAT TESTIFIED AS WELL AS DIFFERENT FIELD USERS ARE SAYING THERE'S MANY WARM DAYS IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY STILL THAT WE WANT TO GET ON AND USE THEM AND A LOT OF OUR LIGHTS ARE STILL ON A TIMER FOR THE WHOLE SEASON SO IF THEY STAY ON IN DECEMBER THEY'RE ON AND ALL KINDS OF WEATHER THEY'RE NOT TURNED OUT TURNED OFF ON DEMAND. SO LOOKING AT UPGRADING, YOU KNOW, OLD INFRASTRUCTURE SO THERE'S WAYS WE COULD PUT TIMERS ON THEM OR TURN THEM ON AND TURN THEM OFF IN CERTAIN TIMES BUT YEAH, SO THEY DON'T EXIST IN PLAYGROUNDS RIGHT NOW TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO TO PROPERLY LIGHT A PLAYGROUND VERY QUICKLY. WHY IS THAT? I MEAN WHY DON'T WE DESIGN PLAYGROUNDS WITH LIGHTS?  WELL I THINK IT'S DAWN TO DUSK SO THAT'S PART OF THE ENFORCEMENT METHOD THAT WHERE PARKS ARE OPEN AND WE ALSO DON'T HAVE THE SAME STAFF IN THE WINTER MONTHS AS WE DO IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. SO WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO THE TRASH BARRELS AS QUICK MAYBE ONCE A WEEK IF THAT THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO WE ALSO AREN'T WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE DURING THE BUSY YEAR AND THE END OF THE YEAR. WELL THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FOR BEING HERE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, YOU MENTIONED THE PUSH BUTTON. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOW THAT NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT NOW WE HAVE IT IN TWO WAYS. IT'S ONLY IN A FEW IT'S ONLY IN A FEW PARKS RIGHT NOW BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT ROLLING THAT OUT BECAUSE IT DOES SAVE SOME ELECTRICITY BEING ABLE TO HAVE IT JUST ON DEMAND. ALL RIGHT.  SO AND HOW HOW QUICKLY IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH ON THE PLAYGROUND NOT THE PLAYGROUND BUT THE PARK WE'VE BEEN INSTALLING DURING CAPITOL RENOVATION SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THEM ONE OFF. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING IF WE DECIDE TO DO THAT THROUGH OUR PARKS WE MAYBE NEED TO GET A FUTURE LINE ITEM JUST ON LIGHTING YOU KNOW, THROUGH OUR PARKS TO DO THAT. BUT AS WE'VE BEEN DOING CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WE'VE BEEN INCLUDING THAT AS A POTENTIAL IN WHAT'S COST OF ONE OF THOSE PUSH. BUT ALL RIGHT, YOU GET BACK WE'LL GET IT FOR YOU.  YEAH. AND I JUST WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE LIGHTING WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY LIGHTS OR JUST ADDITIONAL LIGHTING THAT AREA ARLINGTON PARK. YEAH.  CONSIDER AGAIN THE CLOSURES THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR PARKS COMMISSIONER AND ALL THE STAFF THAT ARE HERE ON PANEL.  I THINK YOU CAN TELL FROM THE DISTRICT EIGHT CAPITAL PLAN 51.5% OF THE MONEY IS GOING TO PARKS AND AS SOMEONE WHO REALLY ADVOCATED FOR OUR PARKS IS A REGULAR CONSTITUENT AND NOW NOW AS A CITY COUNCILOR I REALLY AM GRATEFUL TO ALL OF THE INVESTMENTS THIS YEAR IN OUR PARK SYSTEM. I DID FILE TODAY IN LINE WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN'S PUBLIC COMMENTS A HEARING ORDER TO DISCUSS THE CREATION OF A DOWNTOWN PARKS ADMINISTRATOR FOR OUR FIVE PARKS I WAS GRATEFUL TO HEAR FROM THE FRANKLIN PARK COALITION CHRISTINE POFF WHO WHO DOES A GREAT JOB ADVOCATING FOR FRANKLIN PARK AND OBVIOUSLY OUR DOWNTOWN PARKS HAVE MILLIONS OF VISITORS AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD REALLY CONTEMPLATE AND THE BOSTON COMMON MASTER PLAN IT ACTUALLY CALLS FOR A DOWNTOWN PARKS ADMINISTRATOR SO LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR ON WEDNESDAY IN REGARDS TO THAT AND I THINK COUNCIL COUNCILOR ROSIE LOUIJEUNE FOR CO-SPONSORING THAT WITH ME AM EXCITED.  THERE'S SO MANY GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN PART OF A PUBLIC GARDEN TOOL HOUSE PROJECT AND ACTUALLY TOOK A LOT OF MY CAMPAIGN PHOTOS OUTSIDE OF THE TOOL HOUSE.  IT WAS THE PERFECT GREEN BACKGROUND AND SO I HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR THE TOOL HOUSE.  I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE BACK BAY FRIENDS PATHWAYS. I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE WAS A TIMELINE UPDATE ON THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.  I THINK WE HAVE TO WE'RE GOING THROUGH PERMITTING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHICH BECAUSE IT'S IN AND ALONG THE MURRAY RIVER IS THERE'S A CONSERVATION COMMISSION AND ALSO LANDMARKS COMMISSION SO THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF PERMITTING THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH. SO HOPEFULLY BY THE FALL I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT A BREAKING GROUND. THANK YOU. AND OBVIOUSLY BASED ON THE GEOGRAPHY OF MY DISTRICT I HAVE TO BE THE PARKS COUNSELOR BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF VARIOUS THINGS THAT WERE IN AND DEVELOPMENTS THAT SHADOW SOME PARKLAND.  SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE'S ANY UPDATES ON WHAT WE'RE DOING TO PREPARE, YOU KNOW, RAPIDLY FOR DENSE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOODS THAT REPRESENT FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ALL YOU KNOW, ALL WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM A SHADOW STRATEGY.  I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAD A POSITION ON THAT. SURE. SO FROM A RECENT PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT THE LONGWOOD AREA PART OF THE MITIGATION WAS $1,000,000 FOR A SHADOW STUDY. SO WE HAVE NOW GOTTEN A DESIGN FIRM ON BOARD TO LEAD THAT STUDY WITH US AND WE'RE FORMING AN IAG TO TO WORK WITH US TO MAKE SURE WE CAN NOT ONLY USE THIS DOWNTOWN BUT ALSO USE AS A MODEL THROUGHOUT ALL OUR PARKS. SO WE LOOK FORWARD YOU KNOW, WITHIN THIS YEAR HAVING YOU KNOW OR A YEAR HAVING THE SHADOW POLICY IN PLACE. THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE ADVOCACY OF A LOT OF ADVOCATES BUT THE KENMORE BLOCK OF THE COMMONWEALTH MALL IS NOW REALLY BEING INCLUDED AND RESTORED AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT A LOT OF CHANGES MAY BE COMING TO THE KENMORE AREA. SO I'VE JUST YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE KENMORE BLOCK IS, YOU KNOW, JUST AS HISTORIC AS ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH MALL. I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE ITS INCLUSION AND ITS IT BEING PRIORITIZED, YOU KNOW AND ALSO I JUST WANTED TO GET MORE OF A TIMELINE TO ON MCGLOTHLIN PLAYGROUND AND MISSION HILL CURIOUS I KNOW THERE ARE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE END THIS IS A NEW PROJECT THAT WAS ADDED TO THE CAPITAL PLAN AND I JUST WAS REMISS AND I DIDN'T ASK ABOUT IT IN THE CAPITAL THE CAPITAL HEARING SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS ANY UPDATES ON THAT? SO THAT IS A NEW PROJECT AND WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO TO START DESIGN OF THAT TO REALLY, REALLY FOCUS ON THE PLAY AREA BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST PLAY AREAS THAT WE HAVE NOW. SO TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT BUT ALSO LOOKING AT HOW IT FITS WITH THE COURTS. SO THAT'S THAT'S REALLY THE FOCUS OF THAT.  THE SCOPE OF THAT PROJECT IS THE COURTS AND THE AND THE PLAYGROUND.  THANK YOU AND MISSION HILL NEIGHBORS ARE DEALING WITH SOME QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES JUST HAVING PEOPLE USE THAT OUTSIDE OF THE TO DUSK SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM BEING THE DIRECT ABUTTERS TO THAT PARK BEING INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ADDING TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY'VE BEEN SEEING, SEEING AND IMPRESSION HOW AND I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED FOR ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THE BOSTON COMMON AND THE BOSTON PUBLIC GARDEN THAT ARE COMING. I HAVE NOT BEEN SHY ABOUT I ACTUALLY MOVED TO BEACON HILL WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THE PUBLIC GARDEN WAS THERE AND I REMEMBER WALKING IF YOU LOOK AT MY CAMPAIGN LOGO I HAVE THE FOOTPRINT OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN IN IT AND IT WAS BECAUSE I WALKED ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND I JUST LOOKED UP AND THOUGHT OF LIKE HOW I CHOSE THE RIGHT PLACE TO LIVE. AND SO OUR PARKS HAVE SUCH A HAVE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT OUR PARKS THAT GIVE PEOPLE A SENSE OF PLACE AND BELONGING. AND SO I'M JUST REALLY FOR ALL OF YOUR ADVOCACY AND EVERYTHING YOU DO, YOU KNOW I WILL CONSISTENTLY BE THE PERSON ADVOCATING FOR FOR PARKS FUNDING AND PLEASE COUNT ME AS AS AN ALLY I THINK I THINK ABOUT OUR BIGGEST PARKS, YOU KNOW LIKE THE BOSTON COMMON AND I THINK ABOUT OUR SMALLEST PARK IN THE FENWAY LIKE RAMBLER PARK AND THEY ALL HAVE THE JUST THE SENSE OF BEAUTY AND A SENSE OF PLACE AND REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR ADVOCACY FOR THOSE FOR FOR OUR PARKS FROM BIG TO SMALL AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE PHILLIP STREET PLAYGROUND WHICH WAS A PLACE OF RESPECT FOR ME DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC LIVING IN A SMALL APARTMENT IN BEACON HILL. IT WAS REALLY THE PLACE WHERE I ,YOU KNOW, FELT LIKE I COULD BE SAFE AND AND REALLY ENJOY,  YOU KNOW, JUST A BLOCK AWAY FROM WHERE I LIVE THERE ARE SOME NEIGHBORS THAT ARE LOOKING TO PLANT PLANTS THERE. SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE ARE ANY BEAUTIFICATION GRANTS THAT ARE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET OR ANY WAYS THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS TO BE ABLE TO BEAUTIFY SOME OF OUR SMALLER PARKS? YEAH, I'M HAPPY ENOUGH LYNN IF I COULD CONNECT WITH THEM I CAN TALK TO THE HORTICULTURE DIVISION AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN THE GREEN HOUSE USUALLY END OF THE SEASON IF THINGS CAN BE PLANTED YOU KNOW THEY CAN LOOK INTO THAT TO HELP WITH THAT AND THEN WE'RE HAPPY TO LOOK AT WHERE THEY WANT TO PLANT IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S AN OKAY PLACE TO PLANT IT TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE THE RIGHT APPROVALS AND STUFF. SO HAPPY TO CONNECT WITH THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER AND I, I WANTED TO ALSO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DARK HOUSE. I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN ON SOME CALLS AND JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT THAT PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE. YOU KNOW, THE FOUNDRY CORNERS PROJECT WAS APPROVED RIGHT BEFORE I BECAME A CITY COUNCILOR IN JULY OF LAST YEAR AND AS PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY BENEFITS THEY'VE TALKED THE RESTORATION OF THE DUCK HOUSE. SO JUST CURIOUS WHAT THE PUBLIC PROCESS OR TIMELINE MIGHT LOOK LIKE FOR THOSE CONVERSATIONS.  I WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON THE TIMELINE BUT IT WOULD BE A ROBUST COMMUNITY CONVERSATION TO MAKE SURE WE DETERMINE WHAT THE RIGHT PURPOSE IS FOR THAT DUCK HOUSE AND IS IT YOU KNOW, IS IT SOMEWHERE WHERE PEOPLE RENT BIKES? IS IT A FOOD AND BEVERAGE? IS IT RESTROOMS? IS IT YOU KNOW, JUST TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEED IS IN THE COMMUNITY AND GO THROUGH THAT AND THEN FROM THAT WORK TO DESIGN WHAT WOULD BE THERE. BUT I'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON A TIMELINE AND YOU JUST LED TO A QUESTION THAT I REALLY WANTED TO ASK AND I KNOW THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT THIS BUT THE FRIENDS OF PUBLIC GARDEN HAS PILOTED A VERY SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC BATHROOM THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. JUST CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR EXPANDED PUBLIC AMENITIES IN OUR PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND PUBLIC RESTROOMS ARE PART OF THAT PART OF YOU KNOW, PART OF WHAT WE CAN OFFER TO RESIDENTS.  WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT AND EVERY SINGLE DESIGN WE'VE LEARNED WITH THE BATHROOMS ESPECIALLY WITH THE ONES THE FRIENDS OF PUBLIC GARDEN HAVE PROVIDED ABOUT THE NEED FOR A CONSTANT CLEAN AIR AND SECURITY PRESENCE AT THEM. SO AS WE LOOK AT DIFFERENT SPOTS AND SEE WHERE PLUMBING EXISTS, YOU KNOW, IN CERTAIN PARKS TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT WORK BUT IT'S CONSTANTLY TOPIC OF CONVERSATION DURING COMMUNITY PROCESSES. I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS SO I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO ROUND TWO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER THE FORTUNATE THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO THE PANELISTS AS REPRESENTED OF OF JAMAICA PLAIN IN WEST ROXBURY. I THINK YOU'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND YOU KNOW VIRTUALLY SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I ARE GOING TO HAVE FOR YOU YOU KNOW, ONE IS THE THE AGAIN THE THE YOU KNOW, NEAR THE POND ON PRINCE STREET ,YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DETERIORATING STONE WALLS.  I THINK YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. I DO.  WE HAVE DO YOU HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THAT AND ARE YOU DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO LOOK AT THEM FIX THEM UP? I THINK WE'RE HAPPY TO GO FOR A WALK OUT THERE AND SEE THAT WAY WE CAN DETERMINE IF IT IS YOU KNOW, CITY IT COULD BE CITY PROPERTY BUT NOT PARKS PROPERTY FOR EXAMPLE. SO MAKE SURE WE SEE WHO THE OWNER IS OF IT AND THEN SEE WHAT FIXES IT MAY NEED. SO I'M HAPPY TO GO WITH SARA OR WHOEVER ELSE IS THE ONE. OKAY WELL AND THEN RIGHT NEXT DOOR AT JAMAICA POND YOU KNOW I THINK YOU'VE ALSO HEARD FROM SOME OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF MINE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PARKS PUT A LOT OF MONEY 4.9, 4.7 MILLION YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS AGO INTO THE POND. IT'S WONDERFUL YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF RENOVATION OF THE FOOTPATHS AND A SORT OF RUNNING PATH BUT THERE IS DETERIORATED OCEAN NOW AND YOU YOU SEE THINGS GROWING YOU KNOW BETWEEN CURBS AND THERE'S SOME DRAINS THAT HABITUALLY GET CLOGGED.  HAVE YOU LOOKED AT AND I SUPPORT PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME ABOUT GETTING FULL TIME POSITION TO BE YOU KNOW ONE PERSON TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE POND. SO I GUESS WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?  SO THERE'S A SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE AREA THAT'S IN CHARGE OF THE MAINTENANCE SPECIFICALLY I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S LOOKING LIKE AN ADMINISTRATOR LIKE WAS DIFFERENT OF THE MASTER PLANS I MEAN THAT'S MORE SOMEBODY LIKE RAISING MONEY ALSO PROTECTING WOODLANDS AND DOING OTHER FEATURES. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD NECESSARILY FIT AT JP POND BUT THERE IS A SUPERINTENDENT THAT'S THERE YOU KNOW, THAT'S HAPPY TO MEET AND WALK. I KNOW I'VE WALKED WITH A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS OUT THERE. WE FIGURED THE ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT JAMAICA POND IS SINCE IT'S SLOPED WE GET A LOT OF RUNOFF FROM ACROSS THE STREET AND FROM NEIGHBORS AND THE WATER COMING DOWN AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME CAPITAL CONCERNS THAT DAN WAS ABLE TO POINT OUT FOR US KIND OF WALK WHERE WE NEED TO ADD MORE INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE IT DOESN'T EXIST JUST FOR DRAINAGE. SO IT'S NOT IT'S NOT QUICK FIX IT. IT'S MORE CAPITAL ALLOCATIONS TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.  BUT YOU KNOW, WE DO THE BEST THAT WE'RE OUT THERE. WE ALWAYS NEED EXTRA HELP WITH FRIENDS GROUPS AND STUFF AND WE'RE GLAD I'M GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE JAMAICA POND CITIZENS GROUP AND MAYBE THEY COULD DEFINITELY ASSIST IN SOME OF OUR EFFORTS AND OF COURSE THE ISLAND CONSERVANCY HELPS OVER THE YEARS AT DIFFERENT PROJECTS THERE SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO GET AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHERE THESE ISSUES ARE AND HOW WE PINPOINT THEM. SO THE SUPERINTENDENT WHAT AREA IS THE SUPER RESPONSIBLE FOR SOLVING THIS JAMAICA PLAIN OAK AREA SO I MEAN THE SOME AREAS OF FRANKLIN PARK TOO BUT HE HAS THE JAMAICA PLAIN PARKS. JOSE HERNANDEZ OKAY. AND SO YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS NOT NOT TO HAVE SOMEONE FOR THE POND OR HAVE YOU TALK TO JOSE ABOUT THAT? WELL I THINK IF WE HEAR MORE OF THE NEED SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT IF IT'S MAINTENANCE NEEDS OR IF IT'S YOU KNOW, IS IT FUNDRAISING NEEDS OR WHAT THE ACTUAL NEED IS FOR THAT OTHER PERSON. AND I WILL SAY TOO WE ALSO HAVE COURAGEOUS SAILING ON BOARD FROM MAY THROUGH OCTOBER THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BATHROOMS OF JAMAICA POND AND OPENING AND CLOSING THEM AND CLEANING THEM AND OPERATING ON THAT AREA THERE TOO. SO THERE IS STAFF STATION THERE THROUGH THE RFP THE COURAGEOUS SAILING ONE OF THEIR CONSTANT PRESENCE TO WORK FOR US AND IF YOU I KNOW RUNNING AROUND THE POND THERE'S A THERE'S A DRAIN IT'S ON THE SOUTH SIDE THAT CREATES A LAKE EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND I KNOW IF THAT'S A IF IT'S JUST SOMETHING'S CLOGGED OR THERE'S A STRUCTURAL ISSUE I SEE YOU NODDING YOUR HEAD AND OF COURSE WITH THE YEAH, I DON'T KNOW HAVE YOU HAVE ANYONE LOOKED AT THAT IF IT'S THE SAME AREA WE WALKED UP TO AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE SAME AREA BUT WE HAVE IT'S A CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BECAUSE THE DRAINAGE IS OLD AND YOU KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. IT'S NOT A QUICK DRAINAGE BLOCK FIX OKAY AND IN TERMS OF STAFFING, DID I HEAR CORRECTLY THAT YOU HAVE 39 OPENINGS? SO I SAW I SAW THAT AND I BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE I THINK YOU YOU HAVE AN OVERTIME BUDGET AND I SPENT 1.1 MILLION OVER THE OVERTIME BUDGET AND SO THAT THAT'S CONCERNING TO ME . I FEEL LIKE YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE WORK AND I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE YOU KNOW THOSE STAFF POSITIONS GETTING FILLED YOU KNOW I THINK WERE WE SHOULD WE WOULD BE SPENDING THOSE THAT MONEY ON JUST OTHER STAFF OR FULL TIME STAFFERS RATHER THAN ON OVERTIME BUT SO WHAT IS YOUR MEAN IS IT HARD TO FILL THOSE SPOTS AND WHAT WHAT'S THE OBSTACLE AND WHAT HAVE YOU WHAT WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO SURMOUNT THAT I GUESS SURE. SO OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I KNOW SEVEN OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE HEAVY MOTOR EQUIPMENT OPERATORS THAT NEED CDL LICENSES SO FINDING A CDL DRIVER THAT HAS CITY RESIDENCY . SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC WORKS IS WE'RE ABLE TO CREATE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO TO ALMOST A DRIVER'S ED TRAINING TO GET THEIR CDL AND THEN THEY'D HAVE TO GO ON THEIR OWN TO THE R&B AND ACTUALLY TAKE THE TEST. BUT ONCE THEY PASS THAT IT'S A PRETTY BIG PAID PAY BUMP. BUT IF YOU GO TO ANY TOWN ACROSS THE STATE EVERYONE'S LOOKING FOR CDL DRIVERS WITH 10,000 $20,000 SIGN ON BONUSES ESPECIALLY DURING THOSE ARE THE PLOW OPERATORS THE TRASH TRUCK DRIVERS THAT GO AROUND SAME THING WHEN YOU HAVE ARBORISTS HAVING AGRICULTURE CERTIFICATION OR A VETERINARIAN CERTIFICATION.  SO A LOT OF THE VACANCIES THAT WE HAVE WE ARE A CIVIL SERVICE SO OUR A LOT OF OUR LABORERS AND LOWER LEVEL WORKERS THAT ARE IN THE FIELD ALL COME FROM THE STATE FROM A LIST SO WE CAN ABLE TO GET IN THOSE WORKERS AS WE GET THE UPDATED LIST TO HIRE THEM. BUT IT'S MORE CREATING THESE PATHWAYS. WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THROUGH POWERCOR TO GET TREE EQUIPMENT OPERATORS AND CREATE OTHER PATHWAYS.  I KNOW WE HAVE NOW THREE PEOPLE IN OUR OFFICE IN ADDITION TO THE TREE EQUIPMENT OPERATORS.  IT ALL CAME FROM POWERCOR SO IT IS ANOTHER WAY TO CREATE PATHWAYS TO THESE GREEN JOBS AND GIVE PEOPLE THE WAY TO GET THE CERTIFICATION.  BUT I THINK IT'S YOU KNOW, HAVING THE CITY RESIDENCY AND YOU THE SALARIES THAT YOU KNOW, OUR UNION AGREED UPON, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO HIRE FOR POSITIONS WHETHER IT'S A CERTIFICATION OR THE SALARY IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE.  OKAY. AND WHO WE WE TALKED TO YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MOTOR PARK.  IS THERE A I THE LAST TIME WE TALKED I THINK YOU WERE WAITING TO GET A PROJECT MANAGER DESIGN MANAGER SOME MANAGER SOMEBODY TO MEET WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. DO YOU KNOW WHERE WHERE WE ARE ON THAT? I MET WITH WITH THE HIGH SCORING TASK FORCE PEOPLE.  LET'S TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT MOZART A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND MOZART IS A PROJECT THAT'S IN THE IN THAT FOR 25 BUT IT AS A NEW PROJECT SO THAT WOULD BE ASSIGNED AS STAFFING OF IS AVAILABLE. OKAY YEAH SO I MEAN IT'S IN THE BUDGET THE DESIGN PART IT'S THE WHATEVER 10% OR BUT I'M JUST I SO I THOUGHT THE NEXT PART WAS APPOINTING SOMEBODY WHO WOULD THEN DO THE THE START THERE IS LIKE YOU JUST SAID AS SOON AS THE PROJECT MAN IS AVAILABLE SHE WILL ASSIGN SOMEONE TO IT AND THEY WOULD LEAD THE COMMUNITY PROCESS AND FROM THE COMMUNITY PROCESS WE THEN PUT THE PROJECT OUT TO BID.  OKAY SO IN THE END JUST BECAUSE I'M NEW TO THIS PROJECT SO WHEN THE MONEY BECOMES AVAILABLE IN JULY THEN YOU CAN HIRE SOMEONE TO DO IT. IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? WE WOULD ASSIGN AN IN-HOUSE PROJECT MANAGER TO TO PROCURE THE DESIGN SERVICES FOR IT SO WE WOULD WE GO OUT AND WE HIRE A DESIGN TEAM TO HELP US DESIGN THE DESIGN WHAT WHAT WE HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY. SO WE HAVE A PROJECT MANAGER IN-HOUSE AND THEN DESIGN SERVICES. OKAY JUST SKETCH FOR MY. SO SO YOU HAVEN'T APPOINTED SOMEONE TO TAKE TO DO THIS YOU KNOW AT IN YOUR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE YEAH AND SO AROUND JULY AUGUST WE'LL WE'LL HAVE A NAME AND THEN WE CAN START THE PROJECT. WE HAVE SEVEN NEW PLAYGROUNDS OPENING THIS SUMMER SO I THINK ONCE THOSE ARE OFF, YOU KNOW HAND IT OFF THOSE PROJECTS ARE DONE. THAT PROJECT MANAGER WOULD THEN HAVE AVAILABILITY AND CATHY WOULD ASSIGN THEM TO TAKE ON THAT PROJECT. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. YEP. YEAH.  THANK YOU. AND SHOUT OUT TO POWER CORP'S DAVO THAT WHOLE TEAM THEY'RE DOING AMAZING WORK.  I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK. YEAH LAST WEEK WE DID HAVE A HEARING WHERE A A YOUNG PEOPLE OR STUDENTS STUDENTS CAME AND ADVOCATED FOR YEAR ROUND JOBS MORE SUMMER JOBS. CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN WHY ARE YOU ON GETTING THEM EITHER TO POWER CO-OPS OR TO YOU KNOW MORE EXPOSURE TO SOME OF THE JOBS THAT ARE OFFERED THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT?  SURE. I THINK WE ARE IF NOT THE TOP THE SECOND FOR SUMMER JOBS WITH THROUGH SUCCESS LINCOLN WHITE IS ALSO BRINGING PEOPLE IN AND GIVING THEM A TASTE OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.  AND THEN THE EXCITING THING ABOUT POWER CORPS IS WHEN THEY'RE THROUGH THESE SIX AND TEN MONTH TRAINING SESSIONS THEY ARE BEING COMPENSATED.  SO THAT'S A GREAT RECRUITMENT TOOL THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY WELL THEY'RE BEING TRAINED, THEY'RE ABLE TO BE PAID AND THEN THEY REALLY SEE DO THEY WANT TO GO ON A PARK RANGER TRACK?  ARE THEY INTERESTED IN CHAINSAWS AND WANT TO GO THROUGH WITH, YOU KNOW, TREE CARE AND HAVE A FUTURE IN THAT OR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SO REALLY GIVING THE BASE AND THAT'S WHAT DAVID AND HIS TEAM WOULD DO A GREAT JOB TO GIVE THAT TASTE IF YOU WILL. AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE WILLING WE TRY TO HIRE DIRECTLY FROM POWER FOUR BECAUSE THEY TRAINED INTERNALLY OUR STAFF WHETHER IT'S OUR TREE DIVISION OR MARKETING ENGLAND AT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE GOING OUT, DOING WORKSHOPS, REALLY GETTING EXCITED AND SAYING WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP A YOUNG ADULTS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THE FIELD AND WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GO OUT TO POWER CORPS WHETHER IT'S DURING GRADUATIONS WE DO RESUME WORKSHOPS WITH THEM JUST TO LET THEM KNOW OF THE TYPE OF WORK AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IF THEY'RE INTERESTED TO TRY TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS DURING THOSE PROCESSES. GOT IT. SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, IS POWER CORP LIKE DO THEY HAVE SUMMER INTERNS AS WELL OR JUST THE PARKS DEPARTMENT? I DON'T KNOW IF POWER CORPS HAS THEIR OWN SUMMER INTERNS AND WE HAVE OUR OWN SUMMER INTERNS.  I DON'T KNOW IF DEBO HAS HIS OWN OKAY, I'LL PAY HIM.  YEAH. COUNCILOR FLYNN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  THANK YOU. MR WOODS AND THE TEAM.  COMMISSIONER WAS A PROJECT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR MAYBE FIVE YEARS WITH MY ASSISTANT SOPHIA WANG IN IN THE SOUTH END. GREAT PARK.  WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT? SURE. SO CRAIG PARK IS A PUBLIC WORK SITE SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND ASSIST SINCE THEIR SPECIALTY IS MORE ON ROADWAYS AND SIDEWALKS. SO WE ARE PUTTING A CONTRACT IN PLACE WITH WESTERN AND SAMPSON OF PUBLIC WORKS IS PUTTING CONTRACTS IN PLACE WITH WESTERN SAMPSON THAT'S GOING TO OVERSEE THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF THIS GREAT PARK AND THEN ONCE IT IS COMPLETED IT THE HOPE IS THAT IT WILL BE TRANSFERRED AND ACCEPTED BY THE PARKS COMMISSION SO IT BECOMES PERMANENTLY PROTECTED IN IN OUR PORTFOLIO AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.  THANK YOU. ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CHERYL FOR HER WONDERFUL WORK AS WELL. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND I ALSO SHARE PETER'S PARK. HE HE FOCUSED ON THAT. WE HAD A CONVERSATION AND A WHILE BACK NOT A WHILE BUT RECENTLY COMMISSIONER IMMOKALEE LOCALLY PARKS I WANT TO ASK ABOUT MOBERLY PARK ST MARY SISTER MARY VERONICA PARK IN SOUTH BOSTON. WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT COMMISSIONER SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THREE PARKS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING TO ACQUIRE A PURCHASE AND SALES AND AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LEGAL TEAM OF THE CITY OF BOSTON THE ARCHDIOCESE YOU KNOW THEY'VE AGREED TO THE AMOUNT THEY'RE JUST WORKING OUT THE LEGAL DETAILS WE'RE GETTING THERE. YES, MUCH PROGRESS IS BEING MADE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ALWAYS FRUSTRATING TO ME TO TONGUE VILLAGE PARK, THE SMALLEST PARK IN THE CITY PRACTICALLY LIMITED PARKS IN CHINATOWN AND WE'VE TALKED TO THIS TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST OBVIOUSLY NOT BLAMING ANYBODY IT'S JUST IT'S THE DENSE NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF CHINATOWN IN TERMS OF ADDING MORE OPEN SPACE, OPEN SPACE TREES, ETC. TREES ADDRESSING THE HIGH ASTHMA RATE THAT WE HAVE IN THE IN CHINATOWN ALSO I KNOW WE ARE CONNECTING CHINATOWN WITH THE SOUTH AND THE SOUTH AND HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN AN ASIAN COMMUNITY SO I KNOW THAT BRIDGE FROM FEDERAL FUNDING WILL HELP BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING SO WE ARE WE'VE BEEN OUT THERE, OUR TREE TEAM HAS BEEN OUT THERE. I THINK IT'S VERY TOUGH WITH ADA ACCESSIBILITY WITH THE SIZE OF THE SIDEWALKS AND UTILITIES SO FINDING THE RIGHT PLACES IF ANY MORE TREES CAN BE ADDED THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT. WE ARE ALSO, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH BPA ON ANY EXTRA SPACES PARKS DEPARTMENT THE SAME THING WE WANT TO ADD MORE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SO AS SPOTS BECOME AVAILABLE WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM ON THAT. I KNOW WHENEVER WE GET A CALL ABOUT REGGIE WONG WE TRY EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT OURS WE TRY TO GO OUT AND HELP WORK ON WHETHER IT'S FIXING THE VOLLEYBALL NETS AND THINGS OF THAT. KATHI DO YOU HAVE OTHER STUFF YOU WANT TO I JUST I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS IN THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY ABOUT PHILLIPS SQUARE THAT'S A PUBLIC WORKS OWNED SITE AND TRYING TO SUPPORT THEIR CREATIVE USE OF OF TRYING TO GET PLANTERS AND TREES AND SOME OTHER PLACEMAKING IDEAS IN THE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY TO REALLY MAKE THAT MORE OF A SHADY SPOT AS WELL. THANK YOU. I HAVE WORKED WITH CHRIS OSGOOD AND CHRIS COOK AS WELL ON AND IN COMMISSION WITH YOU AS WELL ON REGGIE WONG CERTAINLY IT'S STATE PROPERTY BUT THERE'S A ROLE FOR CITY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO PLAY. THEY WERE ACTUALLY HAVING AN EVENT THERE THIS SATURDAY THAT GOT POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN. BUT IS IT POSSIBLE IF THE CITY AND STATE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE STATUS OF REGGIE WONG PARK TO SEE WHERE WHERE WE'RE AT? I REALLY NEED TO ENSURE THAT CHINATOWN HAS A PLACE FOR RESIDENTS TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL TO TO HAVE SOME OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.  IT'S A WONDERFUL ADDITION. IT'S ALSO USED BY THE OTHER DISTRICT RESIDENTS AS WELL. WOULD YOU FALL CAN WE FOLLOW UP WITH THE STATE OFFICIALS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S A WONDERFUL PARK EVENTUALLY YES, WE'LL DO OKAY.  I ALSO REPRESENT THE AREA ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BOSTON COMMON.  I SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS WORKING ON THE BOSTON COMMON WAS ON TREMONT STREET MEETING WITH RESIDENTS LAST WEEK. PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES ONE 138 142 FROM ONE STREET AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM BOSTON COMMON PUBLIC SAFETY WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE THE PARK IS SAFE FOR RESIDENTS, FOR TOURIST, FOR PEOPLE GOING TO WORK, ENJOYING THE PARK AND ALSO WE HAVE A LOT OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN AND AROUND THAT AREA. PUBLIC SAFETY HAS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.  YES. AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO TRY TO ACTIVATE THOSE EDGES OF THE PARK AS BEST WE CAN. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO THE FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN WHO HAVE ACTIVATED BREWER PLAZA AREA TO TRY AND MAKE POSITIVE ACTIVITY HAPPEN THERE. WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS ON THE CORNER OF TREMONT AND BOYLSTON WITH OUR PARTNERS EMERSON ON THE NEW BEER GARDEN ACTIVATION. THAT AREA USED TO HAVE A LOT OF NEGATIVE ACTIVITY SIT ON THOSE BENCHES DOWN THERE AND NOW THAT'S A WHOLE REJUVENATED CORNER OF THE PARK WITH POSITIVE ACTIVITY.  OUR OUR PARTNERS AT MIT BOSTON TO ACTIVATE THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER IN HAND IN HAND WITH THE AND EMBRACE BOSTON TO REALLY TRY TO ACTIVATE THAT EDGE TO MAKE IT THRIVE WITH POSITIVE ACTIVITY IT'S ALSO THE START OF THE FREEDOM TRAIL WHERE EVERYBODY STARTS SO THAT'S SOMETIMES THE FIRST LOOK THAT A LOT OF THE TOURISTS COME IN WHEN THEY SEE THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE PARKS EDGES ACTIVATED WITH POSITIVE ACTIVITY. IN ADDITION, THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS ARE OUT THERE DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS AND WE PARTNER WITH A LOCAL CAPTAIN FROM A-1 FOR YOU KNOW, ANY NEGATIVE ACTIVITY HAPPENING IN THE PARK. RYAN ACROSS THE STREET FROM 140 TREMONT STREET RIGHT WHERE THE CATHEDRAL IS ACROSS THE STREET THE RENOVATION OF THE OF THE PLAZA THEY ARE THE FOUNTAIN AREA BUT THEY HAVE SOME THEY HAVE SOME MATERIAL THAT GOES AROUND AND KIND OF BLOCKS THE VIEW FOR PEOPLE CONDUCTING ILLEGAL ACTIVITY RIGHT ACROSS AND 140 TREMONT STREET I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THANK YOU. IT'S A CONCERN. THANK YOU.  WHAT ARE WE DOING ON ON ENSURING WELL, LET ME LET ME GO TO ONE OF THE ONE WE HAD 14 OR 16 TREES CUT DOWN IN SOUTH BOSTON ON FIRST STREET. THEY WERE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY BUT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF RESIDENTS DOWN IN FIRST STREET AND NOW STREET AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW. WHAT ARE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT SITUATION AND HELPING REPLANT NEW TREES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY. SO WE'RE TRYING TO EVERY TIME WE DO A CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM PROJECT HAVE A NET GAIN OF TREES ON OUR PROJECTS. THEY KNOW FOR EXAMPLE WHEN MEDAL OF HONOR WENT IN ITSELF A FEW YEARS AGO, 74 NEW TREES WERE PLANTED AT THAT SITE.  SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR SHARE AS WELL AS ANY AVAILABLE OPEN TREE PITS. IN 2014 THERE WAS A LIGHT OUR STUDY THAT SHOWED THAT WE'RE AT 27% CANOPY AND THEN THE SAME STUDY WAS DONE IN 2019 THAT SHOWED WE WERE AT 27% CANOPY AND MANY PEOPLE SAID THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH GROWTH AND WHAT WE SAW WAS QUITE THE OPPOSITE THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF TREES BEING CUT DOWN ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND IT WAS THE PUBLIC PARTNERS THAT WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE BASELINE AND KEEP IT AT 27%. SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO PLANT AS MANY TREES AS WE CAN AND FIND OPEN LOCATIONS SO CAPITAL PROJECTS TO DO OUR PART TO TRY AND SORT OF PLANT MORE TREES FINALLY OFF LEASH DOG PARKS I DON'T SUPPORT THOSE COMMISSIONER AS AS YOU KNOW PARKS ARE ABOUT OUR OUR KIDS AND ATHLETICS AND LETTING KIDS RUNNING AROUND AND PLAYING SPORTS.  WE HAVE HAD DOGS THAT HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BITTEN LITTLE KIDS WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT IF A DOG DOES BITE A CHILD ON CITY PROPERTY IN TERMS OF LEGAL LEGAL LEGAL ISSUES,  I'M HAPPY TO CONNECT WITH ALEXIS TO GET THE EXACT LEGAL ISSUES.  BUT I MEAN WHEN PEOPLE ARE OFF LEASH IN OUR PROPERTIES THEY DO GET SANCTIONED FOR THAT EDUCATION FIRST AND THEN SANCTIONING FOR THAT.  LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, BREAKING THAT LAW. BUT I'LL BE ABLE TO GET THE EXACT ANSWER FROM ALEXIS FOR YOU. NOT ONLY THAT BUT WHEN WHEN THEY'RE OFF LEASH AND THEY'RE THE OWNER IS NOT PICKING UP AFTER THEM, THEN KIDS ARE PLAYING BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL AND AND SOCCER LET'S LET'S PROVIDE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS TO PLAY SPORTS IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT LAWFULLY OFF LEASH DOG PARKS THEY DON'T WORK.  I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE PARKS TEAM. THEY'VE BEEN VERY PROFESSIONAL, HAVE DEALT WITH THEM FOR SEVEN YEARS. THEY'RE EXCELLENT. THEY'RE HARDWORKING AND THEY CARE ABOUT THE CITY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AND THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN AND THE COUNCIL THE GOLF COURSE. DO WE DO WE KNOW THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM FROM THE GOLF COURSES I CAN PROVIDE IT FOR YOU. WE DO FROM YEAH EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TRACKING OF THAT THE REVENUE THAT COMES IN GOES BACK INTO OUR GOLF COURSES SO THAT'S HOW WE PAY ALL THE STAFF FOR EXAMPLE THAT WORK ON THE GOLF COURSES. SO ALL THE INCOME THAT COMES IN FROM GEORGE WRIGHT AND FRANKLIN PARK GOES BACK DIRECTLY INTO THOSE BUT YES THERE ARE RESERVES THAT IT YEAH I WOULD JUST LOVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BALANCE SHEET SEE IF WE'RE MAKING A PROFIT WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE SURE STICK IT ON FRANKLIN PARK. I KNOW THERE'S A MAINTENANCE FUND. WHAT WAS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THAT FRANKLIN PARK MAINTENANCE FUND?  SO THE FRANKLIN PARK MAINTENANCE FUND IS FROM A $5 MILLION ENDOWMENT AND WE GOT THE 20 MILLION FROM WINTHROP SQUARE. SO WHATEVER THE INTEREST RATE IS THAT'S OFF FOR 5 MILLION. SO THIS YEAR WE WERE AT LIKE $287,000 THAT CAME OFF IN FRANKLIN PARK SPECIFICALLY 30% OF THAT HAS TO GO TO THE FRANKLIN PARK COALITION FOR PROGRAMING IN THE PARK AND THE OTHER 70% GOES FOR MAINTENANCE. THE SAME AGREEMENTS IN PLACE FOR BOSTON COMMON BUT THE FULL 100% IS JUST MAINTENANCE WITH NO PROGRAMING DOLLARS GOT IT. AND THEN THE MAINTENANCE IS THAT KIKI'S ELABORATE ON WHAT WHAT DOES MAINTENANCE MEAN? DOES THAT MEAN THE GOLF COURSE DOES THAT MEAN YEAH WHITE STADIUM LIKE WICK IN THE MONEY GO TO SO THERE'S A THE TRUST HAS THREE BOARD MEMBERS SO IT'S THE LOCAL DISTRICT COUNCILOR OR THE CFO FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRANKLIN PARK COALITION IN THE CASE OF FRANKLIN PARK THAT DECIDE EVERY YEAR ON WHAT THE PROJECTS SHOULD BE THAT ARE DONE ON THAT IT'S BEEN MOSTLY IMPROVEMENTS ON WALKWAYS, REPAVING STAIR WORK FROM THE RUINS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN AT ALL TO THE GOLF COURSE AND WON'T BE FOR THE GOLF COURSE AND IT HAS NOT BEEN A PART OF WHITE STADIUM. OKAY. AND THEN YOUR DEPARTMENT PUTS ALSO HAS RECREATION IN IT. CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE RECREATION SIDE? I LIKE THE PROGRAMING AND HOW YOU GUYS COLLABORATE WITH DCF.  SURE. SO WE HAVE SIX RECREATION PROGRAM MANAGERS THAT PUT ON DIFFERENT SPORTS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN NOTICED OVER THE DECADES THAT IF YOU PLAY YOU KNOW IN JP IN DORCHESTER YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET TO PLAY AGAINST EACH OTHER. SO THEY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH MAYORS, COPS THROUGH THE NBL.  THE BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD BASKETBALL LEAGUE HAS KEPT SOFTBALL FOR ALL THESE TEAMS TO YOU KNOW, INTERACT AND PLAY TOGETHER SINCE THEY ALL LIVE IN THE CITY. ALSO INTRODUCING NEW SPORTS SO DOING GOLF LESSONS AND TEACHING AND IN THE WINTER MONTHS WE'RE ABLE TO USE BCCI CENTERS SINCE PARKS DOES NOT HAVE BUILDINGS WE PARTNER WITH THEM, WE PARTNER WITH BCCI FOR THE NBL. WE'VE JUST STARTED TEACHING ARCHERY SO THREE OF OUR PROGRAM MANAGERS HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED IN ARCHERY SO THEY CAN NOW TEACH THAT PROGRAM. SO I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO INTRODUCE NEW RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE SUPPORT OF BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD. WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER 33 FREE FITNESS CLASSES EVERY SINGLE WEEK CITYWIDE FOR ALL AGES OF RESIDENTS FROM CHAIR YOGA TO TAI CHI TO ZUMBA WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE PART AND IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD GYM MEMBERSHIPS AND STUFF JUST THE WAY THE CITY IS OFFERING WITH OUR PARTNERS FREE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS. AWESOME. AND THEN WHEN WE'RE DESIGNING NEW PARKS I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR I BELIEVE WE HAVE ALL OF OUR PARKS WITHIN DISTRICT FOUR THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN DESIGN UNDER CONSTRUCTION SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT BUT WE'RE DESIGNING NEW PARKS. YOU KNOW SOMETIMES WE HEAR A LOT OF ADVOCACY BUT DO WE KNOW IF THAT ADVOCACY IS ACTUALLY MEETING LIKE THEIR USAGE LIKE BASED ON PERMITTING?  SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING BASEBALL FIELDS AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE USING THE BASEBALL FIELD. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY DATA AROUND THAT OR DO YOU GUYS TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU'RE DESIGNING THESE FIELDS? YEAH. DO I START? YEAH.  SO WE DO WORK CLOSELY WITH SOME OF OUR SITE ANALYSIS IS BASED ON WHAT THE EXISTING PERMITS ARE, HOW OFTEN THEY ARE, HOW OFTEN THEY'RE USED WHAT WHETHER WE'RE MEETING EXISTING DEMAND, WHETHER THERE'S ACCESS DEMAND YOU KNOW SO THAT'S PART OF OUR OUR SITE ANALYSIS IS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF USES AND THEN GOING OUT AND TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT LIKE FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE IS THAT MEETING THE DEMAND SO THAT'S THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT A FIELD RENOVATION AND I THINK THE ADVOCACY COMES IN ALL FORMS. IT COMES IN YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS A LITTLE PET PROJECT SO SOMETIMES IT'S YOU KNOW, I WANT MORE BEAUTIFICATION, SOMETIMES I WANT MORE FIELD USE, SOMETIMES I WANT MORE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SHADE.  SO TRYING TO COVER ALL OF THOSE ISSUES WHEN WE'RE GOING OUT AND TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY AWESOME. AND THEN I KNEW THAT'S HOW OUR BID I THINK IT'S A PRETTY COOL IDEA AND CONCEPT FOR BEER GARDENS.  HOW IS THAT GOING? WAS THERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO APPLIED TO JUST ELABORATE ON THAT? SURE. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN IT. ROUNDHEAD BREWERY IN HIGH PARK IS THE ONE THAT WON THE BID THIS YEAR MORE OR LESS A TWO WEEK TRIAL FOR SEVEN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. SO WE START MID-JUNE AND WE'LL GO THROUGH MID SEPTEMBER. SO TWO WEEKS IT'S GOING TO BE IN FRANKLIN PARK, TWO WEEKS IT'S GOING TO BE AT PINE BANK AND BY JAMAICA POND TWO WEEKS IT'S GOING TO BE NEXT TO THE MFA SO WE'RE JUST TRYING THESE THINGS. IT'S ONLY FOR 14 DAYS AND THEN IT MOVES ON.  BUT IT'S A LOCALLY OWNED BREWERY TO BE A FAMILY FUN ACTIVITY WITH POSITIVE ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE AND IT'S A PILOT TO SEE IF IT WORKS, IF IT SHOULD GROW OR IF IT DOESN'T WORK IN CERTAIN PLACES. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING THAT THIS SUMMER. AWESOME. AND THEN YOU CAN JUST RENAME THE PARKS THAT I CAN GET YOU THE LIST OF SEVEN LOCATIONS BUT I KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IT'S FRANKLIN PARK. IT'S A STREET PARK IN SOUTH BOSTON IT IS BRIGHTON COMMON IT IS. WHICH ARE THOSE THREE PINE BANK THAT I WAS DOING SO I'M UP TO FIVE. I'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE OTHER TWO ARE BUT I'LL MAKE SURE I SEND YOU A LIST. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.  WE HAVE 35,000 TREES IN THE DISTRICT. WHAT IS PARKS INTERACTION WITH EACH TREE IN A YEAR AND HOW OFTEN IS IT CHECKED ON DURING THE YEAR AND WHAT IS THE AVERAGE KID OF A TREE LOOK LIKE ? SO WITH THE HELP OF THE URBAN FOREST PLAN WE NOW KNOW THAT WE'RE UP TO JUST OVER 40,000 TREES TO OUR ORIGINAL 35 WAS INCORRECT AND WE NOW KNOW WHAT EACH TREE IS IN A GENERAL CONDITION YOU KNOW IF IT'S YOU KNOW, GOOD YOU KNOW, THRIVING OR YOU KNOW, DEAD DISEASE OR HAZARDOUS. SO BECAUSE OF THAT STUDY AND HAVING THAT WE NOW HAVE THAT ON A ONLINE DATABASE AND WE'RE ALWAYS ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THAT. I THINK WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THREE ON ONE CUZ SO WE RIGHT NOW ARE PRIORITIZING STREET TREES CONTINUALLY AS YOU KNOW DIFFERENT ISSUES COME IN THE ONE THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO A BETTER JOB AND GET MORE INVOLVED IN IS OUR TREES INSIDE PARKS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW TREES INSIDE PARKS ARE PLANTED DURING A CAPITAL CYCLE AND THEN IF YOU KNOW A TREE GOES DOWN IT'S REMOVED BUT A NEW TREE USUALLY DOESN'T GET PLANTED UNTIL ONE ANOTHER CAPITAL CYCLE THERE. SO DOING MORE WITH OUR PARK TREES BUT OUR STREET TREES WE ASSESS YOU KNOW THE THREE I FORGET HOW MANY IT WAS BUT THAT WE PLANTED THIS YEAR 1700 TREES GET PLANTED THEY HAVE A TWO YEAR WARRANTY SO WE CONSTANTLY WATCH SO 1700 TREES FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO SEE YOU KNOW ,DID THIS SURVIVE? DID IT THRIVE IF NOT AS A NEW ONE NEED TO BE PLANTED AND GET A NEW WARRANTY IN PLACE? SO ON THAT BUT MOST OF THE TREE CASES THAT COME IN ARE YOU KNOW, REACTIONARY TO WHAT COMES IN 33114 YOU KNOW PRUNING CYCLES OF IT'S NEAR UTILITY WIRES IF IT'S SCRATCHING SOMEONE'S HOME TRIP HAZARDS ETC. AND THEN I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR COLUMBIA ROAD MEDIAN TO BE BEAUTIFIED MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT FALLS UNDER PARKS WHY LIKE WHAT IS WHAT IS IT PLANNED? I KNOW WE HAVE A DESIGN FOR COLUMBIA ROAD THAT'S TAKING SHAPE NOW. ARE WE JUST WAITING OR ARE THERE ANY PLANS IN THE NEAR FUTURE JUST TO BEAUTIFY THAT MEDIAN?  WELL, JOSHUA HAS TO DO A GREAT JOB TRYING TO BEAUTIFY ON THEIR OWN WITH WHATEVER THEY THEY POSSIBLY CAN. BUT I MEAN THAT WAS THE EXTENSION OF THE ARIEL NECKLACE . YEAH. YEAH. SO THE THE ORIGINAL EMERALD NECKLACE OLMSTED'S PLAN CONNECTED FRANKLIN PARK DOWN COLUMBIA ROAD ALL THE WAY TO THROUGH MOAKLEY PARK IN CASE CIRCLE SO TRYING TO MAKE THAT A GREEN LINK AGAIN IS ONE OF THE GOALS OF THAT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AND I THINK THE BEAUTIFICATION THE MEDIAN I THINK IS LARGELY ABOUT ABOUT HOW CAN WE MAKE THAT SPACE AS GREEN AS POSSIBLE ALL RIGHT. AND MY LAST QUESTION IS BTD IS DOING A LOT OF STREET STREET IMPROVEMENT AND I'M HOPING THAT IT'S NOT JUST ALL CONCRETE. I'M HOPING THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THERE, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU GUYS READY TO TAKE ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY IN TERMS OF LIKE STAFF AND LIKE DO YOU GUYS HAVE ENOUGH STAFF AND CAPACITY TO TAKE ON IF THEY WERE TO PUT MORE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STREET IMPROVEMENT? I KNOW THEY HAVE ONE COME THIS HIGHWAY WITH A NEW ROUNDABOUT WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING DOWN BLUE ALIVE RAIN HOPEFULLY AND THEN AND THEN ON COLUMBIA ROAD. JUST WANTED TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.  YEAH, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THE PROCESS AND SEE WHAT THE IDEAS ARE AND THEN WE CAN COMMENT. YOU KNOW SOMETIMES GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS ARE GREAT BECAUSE THEY NEED A LOT LESS MAINTENANCE WHETHER IT'S RAIN GARDENS AND BIO SWALES OR IF IT'S CONTRACTUAL WORK THAT SOMETIMES HAS TO BE BROUGHT IN FOR MORE SPECIALTY. BUT I THINK WE'D HAVE TO LOOK BLOCK BY BLOCK ON WHAT YOU KNOW THE GREEN NEEDS ARE WHAT THE PLAN IS SO WE CAN ASSESS WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE ON AND IT'S A HARD LIKE YES OR NO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT ON. ALL RIGHT NOW GO BACK TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR A SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS IF YOU'RE HERE I'M JUST GOING TO CALL ON YOU BY CHAIR. PEP IN THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, CHAIR.  AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND ANSWERING ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD SO FAR. MY I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ANIMAL SHELTERS AND CONTROL THERE MY TIME THERE JUST HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH THE DIRECTOR AND SOME OTHER FOLKS AND THE IDEA OF CREATING A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE OFFICE OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT CAME UP WITH HOW WE CAN CREATE A PATHWAY FOR OUR YOUTH AND SPECIFICALLY IN A BIPOC COMMUNITY JUST EXPOSING KIDS TO THIS FIELD OF WORK. IT IS NOT A RELATION THAT USUALLY HAPPENS AND FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE FIELD OF ANIMAL CONTROL OR JUST ANIMAL CARE IN GENERAL YOU HAVE TO COME IN WITH SOME EXPERIENCE I'VE LEARNED I'VE LEARNED SO IT'D BE COOL TO CREATE SOME SORT OF AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT GIVES THE KIDS THIS OPPORTUNITY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. SO I WOULD LOVE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.  THE PART OF CONNECTIVITY WITH THE WITH DIRECTOR PEDRO CRUZ TO SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT RELATIONSHIP HAPPEN SO LESS OF A QUESTION, MORE OF A MORE OF A CONSIDERATION AND OBSERVATION THAT I THAT I MADE THERE IN REGARDS TO ANIMALS RESIDENTS IN MY IN MY DISTRICTS SPECIFICALLY THE BRAZILIAN HIGH PARK COMMUNITY ARE ASKING FOR A DOG PARK.  THERE'S A LOT OF DOGS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN MY DISTRICT AND THEY PROPOSED SEVERAL IDEAS LIKE BLOCKING OFF A SECTION OF FALLON FIELD BLOCKING OFF A SECTION OF HEALEY FIELD SO NOT NECESSARILY RECREATE CREATING A NEW PARK BUT MAYBE TAKING ONE OF THE BIGGER PARKS AND BLOCKING OFF A SECTION FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW THE PROCESS GOES BUT WE'D LOVE TO HEAR IF THERE IS ANY PLANS FOR A FUTURE DOG PARK IN MY DISTRICT.  SO IT'S I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO CREATING A DOG PARK. THERE ARE ABOUT $350,000 TO PUT IN DOG PARK SO IT'S MORE THAN JUST PUTTING UP A FENCE. YOU KNOW YOU GOT TO HAVE THE PROPER PISTONE OR STONE DUST AND STUFF JUST FOR EVEN THE HEALTH OF THE ANIMALS THAT ARE IN THERE. SO IT'S MORE THAN JUST CARVING OUT AND THEN YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE TO FEEL LIKE FALLON THE FOUL AREN'T GOING TO FLY INTO THE DOG AREAS AND THINGS OF THAT. SO MAKING SURE YOU HAVE AT LEAST ABOUT 10,000 SQUARE FOOT OF SPACE THAT'S NEEDED FOR, YOU KNOW, A DOG RUN, YOU KNOW, AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE THAT'S NOT EVEN ENOUGH SPACE BUT TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT AMENITIES THERE BUT EVERY TIME WE DO A CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WE TRY TO LOOK AT IS THERE FEASIBILITY AND ESPECIALLY IF THE COMMUNITY ASKS FOR IT AND THE BUDGET OFFICE HAS A LINE ITEM FOR DOG PARKS BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS WE WERE SAYING THAT WAS NEVER IN THE SCOPE BUT NOW SINCE THAT MONEY IS THERE IF THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR IT WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE A HOLD OFF THAT IT WASN'T IN THE SCOPE THAT WE COULDN'T DO IT. SO NOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE IN THE ROOM AS THEY ARE TO TO BUILD A DOG PARK WE CAN TAP INTO THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO TRY TO ADD IT TO A PROJECT. OKAY. SO I KNOW IN YOUR DISTRICT THERE'S A LOT OF DCR PARKS SO THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE TRY TO COMMITTED TO FIND A DOG RECREATION SPACE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.  THE QUESTION IS THIS ON CITY OWNED LAND, STATE OWNED LAND WHERE IS IT? BUT WE WANT TO TRY TO HAVE A DOG RECREATIONAL SPACE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  GOTCHA. I APPRECIATE THAT AND I JUST ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER.  WHEN A DEVELOPER OF ANY BUILDING IN THE CITY DECIDES TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO GIVE COMMUNITY BENEFITS TO A CITY PARK, WHAT IS THE PROCESS THEN? WHAT'S THAT AGREEMENT IS MADE TO GIVE THOSE FUNDS TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OR WHEREVER THE THE THAT POCKET OF MONEY IS WHAT THEN HAPPENS? WHAT DO YOU GUYS DECIDE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT MONEY OR DOES THE DEVELOPER SAY THIS IS WHAT I WANT THE MONEY TO GO INTO?  SURE. SO USUALLY THROUGH THE ARTICLE 80 PROCESS WITH BPA THEY MAKE SOME AGREEMENTS AND THERE'S SOMETHING AT THE BPA THAT TRACKS THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S A ONE TIME PAYMENT AND SOMETIMES IT'S $10,000 A YEAR FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS. SO THEY MAKE SURE A COMPLIANCE OFFICER MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALWAYS ON TIME WITH THEIR PAYMENTS AND ONCE THAT GOES TO BPA THEY THEN TRANSFERRED OVER TO US WHERE IT'S IN OUR NONPROFIT FUND AND IT'S EARMARKED. SO IT COULD BE DURING THE MITIGATION IT'S EARMARKED FOR CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS LIKE HIGH PARK PARKS IN GENERAL OR AS SPECIFIC AS IT'S FOR A TOUCHY PLAYGROUND. SO THEN WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN TRACEE CODES THAT IT'S EITHER CODED SPECIFICALLY FOR A SPECIFIC PLAYGROUND OR A SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENS IF IT'S CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE ON A WALL, THINGS OF THAT NATURE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIMES IT'S $10,000 WHICH YOU KNOW IT'S $1,000,000 ISH NOW TO DO A PARK RENOVATION SO IT'S MORE USED ON DOING, YOU KNOW, MAJOR MINOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED IN THAT CERTAIN CASE OR MAINTENANCE THAT'S NEEDED FOR A CERTAIN PARK. OKAY. OKAY. AND IS THERE EVER A SITUATION WHERE THE RESIDENTS OF THE PARK GET TO HAVE A SAY IN WHAT THAT MONEY IS USED FOR?  YEAH. YES. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES WHERE THE REASON WE GET THE MITIGATION IS BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND IT'S PRETTY SPECIFIC DURING THAT ADVOCACY WHAT THEY WANT IT TO GO TO. SO THEN WE'RE ABLE TO AIR MARKET FOR THAT BUT SOMETIMES WE'LL HAVE A FRIENDS GROUP AT A PARK COME TO US AND SAY YOU KNOW THIS WALL HAS BEEN CRUMBLING. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND WE SAY THERE'S $56,000 IN THIS ACCOUNT. LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO MAKE THOSE REPAIRS. SO YEAH, IT'S BASED ON THE FEEDBACK EITHER THROUGH THE ARTICLE 80 PROCESS OR DOWN THE LINE FROM NOW. I APPRECIATE THAT. COMMISSIONER BEVERLY IS IT FOUR QUESTIONS FOR ME ? I DO WANT TO SAY A QUICK THANK YOU TO TWO OF YOUR STAFF, LUCY ONKAR AND PAUL MCCAFFREY.  JUST WANT TO THANK THEM BECAUSE THERE'S THE SUMMERTIME IS NOW KICKING OFF.  THERE'S A LOT OF FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS SO THEY'RE HELPING OUT WITH A LOT OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS BEHIND THAT. SO THANK YOU TO THEM AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.  I'LL DO THE REST OF MY TIME. THANK YOU COUNCILOR BREADON IN THE FLOOR. JULIUS THANK YOU.  DO WE KNOW IN TERMS OF THE NEEDS THE INTERESTS IN TERMS OF THE BALANCE BETWEEN BASEBALL AND SOCCER?  I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND THEIR PREFERRED SPORT WOULD BE SOCCER BUT I THINK WE HAVE A SURPLUS OF BASEBALL FIELDS AT THE MOMENT AND OXFORD BRIGHTON AND WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF INTEREST IN SOCCER AND THERE'S A WAITING LIST FOR FIELDS AND SOCCER A LOT OF INTEREST IN ARTIFICIAL TURF FOR SOCCER THAT A LOT OF THE TEAMS THOSE ARE WHERE THEY'RE WAITING TO PLAY ON BUT YES, WHEN WE DO A PROJECT OVER WHEN WE HAVE A COMMUNITY PROCESS WE SOMETIMES LEARN LIKE YOU KNOW, A LITTLE LEAGUE THAT USED TO ONCE BE VERY POPULAR AND HAVE THREE OR FOUR FIELDS MAY ONLY BE USING ONE OR TWO NOW. SO HOW DO WE REPURPOSE THOSE AND MAKE IT A MORE MULTI-SPORT APPROACH BECAUSE USUALLY THE DIMENSIONS FOR A SOCCER FIELD ARE SIMILAR TO THAT OF LACROSSE AND RUGBY AND SOCCER SO TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE SPACE BUT I THINK YES, AS CERTAIN SPORTS PHASE OUT IF WE HEAR DURING THE COMMUNITY PROCESS THEY WANT THAT CHANGED OVER WE WE DO AS THEY ASK ME GOOD AND I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT YOU MENTIONED FREE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS.  I'M JUST CURIOUS DO WE HAVE ANY A LIST OF PREREQUISITE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ALSO IN BRIGHTON YES AND I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT TO YOU. AND YOU KNOW, OVER THE SUMMER WE'D LIKE TO PROMOTE THOSE BECAUSE PARENTS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THINGS. I KNOW THERE WAS A PROGRAM LAST SUMMER IT WAS ART IN THE PARK AND IT WAS A RINGER RINGER'S PROBABLY NOT THE BEST LOCATION FOR ART IN THE PARK FOR KIDS.  I THINK PUTTING IT IN MCKINNEY WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER CHOICE BUT YOU KNOW, GO WHERE THE KIDS ARE MAYBE IMPORTANT THE RING RINGER PARK THE STORMWATER RUNOFF IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH EROSION AND THAT LIKE I KNOW IT'S A THIS IS A LONG TIME CONVERSATION GOING ON AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK FLOODING IS ONE ISSUE BUT THEN THE RUNOFF OVER THERE IS PRETTY INTENSE AND THE EROSION THAT'S HAPPENING WE ADDRESSING THAT WITH SORT OF INPUT FROM KIDS ENGLAND AND FOLKS LIKE THAT BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BRING HER SPECIFICALLY WITH KATE BUT I THINK WE IT'S CERTAINLY PART OF OF WHAT WE EVERY PROJECT THAT WE DO WE HAVE TO INFILTRATE THE FIRST ONE INCH OF STORMWATER AND RIGHT NEAR STORMWATER WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE THAT WHERE WE CAN INCH AND A QUARTER INCH AND A HALF. SO THAT'S PART OF OUR STANDARD PROCESS BUT ALSO TRYING TO CONTROL EROSION, TRYING TO DIRECT RAINWATER TO SPECIFIC PLACES SO IT CAN BE INFILTRATED. SO THAT'S PART OF EVERY PROJECT AND THAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE PART OF THE WRINGER. THAT'S ONE TO BE THINKING MORE ABOUT RAIN GARDENS AND BIO SWALES AND THINGS ABOUT SOME OF THAT AND THEN YOU COMMISSIONER YOU MENTIONED A BEER AND BEER GARDEN AND BRIGHTON COMMON AND WINDSOR PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS BUT I'LL GET THE DATE SO IT'S THERE ARE TWO WEEK RUNS FROM JUNE 16TH TILL MID SEPTEMBER SO I'LL FIND OUT WHICH TWO WEEK PERIOD IT'S IT'S THERE FOR AND WE'VE YOU KNOW TALKED WITH THE FARMER'S MARKET FOLKS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO YOU KNOW INCORPORATE IT WHILE IT'S OUT THERE BUT IT'S A FAMILY FRIENDLY LOCAL OWNED BUSINESS AND IT'D BE SOMETHING WHERE THEY'RE OUT THERE LIKE 1 TO 9 P.M. IT'D BE A HARD STOP AND AGAIN IT'S WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT A BUD LIGHT PARTY DECK IT'S MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY YOU KNOW WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS OUT THERE AND JUST AS A PILOT TO SEE IF IT WORKS IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS SO WE CAN PLAY FRISBEE AND HAVE BEAN BAGS AND HAVE SOME ADIRONDACK CHAIR YEAH ,YEAH VERY GOOD. WE HAVE THERE ARE THE CHAIRS ARE ALL READY TO GO. OKAY. YOU READY? YEAH. THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAM.  MOST PEOPLE THINK OF CIVIL SERVICE AS LIKE SORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.  CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU MIGHT FIND OUT ABOUT THE CIVIL SERVICE APPLICATION PROCESS AND THE EXAM AND YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF THE BEST KEPT SECRET THAT YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS CIVIL SERVICE ENTRY REQUIREMENT AND HOW IF YOU'RE NOT GOING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY JOBS, I JUST HOW DO YOU GET INTO THAT? SURE. SO DARLEEN MIGHT KNOW MORE SO I'LL DEFLECT AFTERWARDS BUT THANKFULLY THIS ONE IS NOT A TEST. YOU LITERALLY JUST HAVE TO GET YOUR NAME ON A LIST UP WITH THE STATE AND THEN THE LIST REGURGITATES EVERY MONTH. SO A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL REACH OUT THE HUMAN RESOURCES IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OR TO THE CITY OF BOSTON AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL TELL THEM STEP ONE IS MAKE SURE YOU'RE ON A CIVIL SERVICE LIST. I KNOW OPENING DAY OF POWER CORPS WHEN THEY START WITH THOSE NEW RECRUITS EVERY YEAR WE TELL THEM TO GET ON TO A CIVIL SERVICE LIST BECAUSE ONCE THEY GO THROUGH THEIR TRAINING THEIR NUMBER MAY BE UP TO BE CALLED AND WE'RE LIMITED THAT WE CAN ONLY CALL FOR EXAMPLE THE FIRST THREE BEFORE WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT THREE. SO IT'S IN ORDER SO IT'S NOT A TEST. THEY MIGHT JUST HAVE TO GET THEMSELVES ON A STATE LIST AND IN TERMS OF A QUALIFYING CRITERIA OR QUALIFICATION CRITERIA YOU KNOW DO YOU HAVE TO BE A CITIZEN OR YOU CAN BE A PERMANENT RESIDENT LIKE ARE THERE ANY IMMIGRATION RESTRICTIONS ON IMMIGRANT STATUS AND THOSE SORT OF JOBS? YEAH, YOU JUST BASICALLY HAVE TO BE AUTHORIZED TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  YES, YOU COULD HAVE A WORK PERMIT. YOU CAN HAVE A GREEN CARD, YOU CAN BE JUST AUTHORIZED TO WORK. IT'S OKAY.  RIGHT. I THINK THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FREE PROGRAM SHOULD BE FABULOUS AND THANK YOU AND WE'LL TRY TO WORK ON FINDING MORE LOCATIONS. I THINK WE WENT TO RINGER LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE AREA HOW WE'RE IN THE CAMPS TO TRY TO HOPE THAT KIDS WOULD COME OUT FROM THE CAMPS TO USE THE PARK.  BUT TO YOUR POINT WE'LL TRY TO MAKE SURE WHEN LOCATIONS THAT ARE MORE POPULATED WITH CHILDREN.  VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  THANK YOU. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE LOUIJEUNE HAS JOINED US COUNCILOR DURKIN, THE FLOOR COUNCILOR MEJIA SORRY THE CLOSURES.  THANK YOU, CHAIR WHAT WAS DONE AND I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU ANSWERED ALL OF THEM.  I JUST HAVE A FEW JUST MORE FLAHERTY.  I'M CURIOUS COMMISSIONER AND BEFORE I START GOING IN I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW LIKE MY TEAM IS SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO YOU. I MEAN YOUR STAFF YOU GUYS ALWAYS RESPOND TO ALL OF OUR EMAILS ESPECIALLY WHEN WE A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH AND SO THEY WRITE TO US IN SPANISH AND YOU GUYS HAVE JUST BEEN SO INCREDIBLY RECEPTIVE.  SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE OFTENTIMES YOU ONLY HEAR THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT WORKING AND SO TO UPLIFT HOW MUCH WE VALUE YOUR WORK AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR OFFICE ON ALL THE THINGS THAT WE GET. THANK YOU. SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT ROSS PARK. IT'S IN WEST ROXBURY OR HYDE PARK OR IN THE HYDE PARK RIGHT . CAN YOU JUST TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WHEN WHEN PEOPLE ASK FOR PERMITS TO UTILIZE DIFFERENT PARKS TO PLAY DIFFERENT SPORTS, HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE PEOPLE GET PUT SO IT'S BASED ON WHAT FACILITIES ARE THERE FOR EXAMPLE? SO SOME SPORTS BE SOFTBALL SPECIFIC OR BASEBALL SPECIFIC SO IT'S WHERE THE FACILITIES EXIST AND THEN IT'S BASED OFF THAT PRIORITY SYSTEM THAT GETS FIRST REFUSAL AND THEN YOUTH NONPROFIT RESIDENTS AND THEN ADULT RESIDENTS AND ADULT NON RESIDENTS. SO IT'S REALLY JUST GOING THROUGH THAT LITTLE ORDER OF YOU KNOW, SEEING WHERE THE FACILITY EXISTS IS THAT BEING USED BY BP OR YOUTH SPORTS? NO, THAT'S OPEN.  SO THEN IT GOES TO ADULT RESIDENTS NEXT BECAUSE I HAVE A SUGGESTION THAT SOMEONE HAD RECENTLY PLANTED FOR ME BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENING AT CLIFFORD PARK AND SOME FOLKS HAVE RECOMMENDED MAYBE UTILIZING ROSS PARK TOO JUST BECAUSE THE PARKING AROUND THERE MAKES IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, SHOW UP. AND SO I'M CURIOUS IN TERMS OF IF SOMEONE WANTED TO UTILIZE THAT SPECIFIC PARK FOR BASEBALL, IS THAT PARK AVAILABLE FOR THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY?  YES, IT'S AVAILABLE FOR THAT ACTIVITY. I WILL SAY ROSS IS ALSO RECEIVING THE SAME MUSIC COMPLAINTS THAT CLIFFORD'S RECEIVING FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT NIGHT LIKE BARBARA HAMILTON IN THE THE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LOUD MUSIC BUT THERE ARE LIGHTS AT ROSS SO IT GOES LATER SO THE GAMES GO TILL TEN OR 11:00 AND THEN THE ACTIVITY CONTINUES AFTER THAT. SO IT'S A SIMILAR THING BUT THERE ARE FACILITIES THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THEM TO PLAY THERE. OKAY. SO I'M CURIOUS ARE THERE ANY PARKS THAT MAKE IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO PARK AROUND BECAUSE LOOK, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IN A WAY THAT IS EVERYBODY WINS, RIGHT? AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE CAN DETER BAD BEHAVIOR THAT WE SHOULD.  AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IN YOUR PORTFOLIO WHICH PARKS COULD LEND THEMSELVES TO BEING MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY. ARE THERE ANY PARKS IN OUR PORTFOLIO?  SURE. SO THERE'S A HANDFUL THAT HAVE PARKING LOTS SUCH AS LIKE FRANKLIN PARK AND MILLENNIUM THAT HAS PARKING LOTS BUT MOST OF OUR PARKS ARE ALL ON STREET PARKING SO DEPENDING ON HOW DENSE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS SURROUNDING IT, YOU KNOW SOME SOME OF THEM ARE TOUGHER TO FIND PARKING SPOTS AROUND. BUT AGAIN, HAPPY TO WORK ON A CASE BY CASE AS PART OF THE PERMIT HOLDER TO FIND A SPOT. YEAH, BECAUSE I'M JUST REALLY TRYING TO REDUCE THE CHAOS AND I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS.  I NOTICE THAT IN CERTAIN PARKS SOME FOLKS ARE RIDING MOPEDS AND DIRT BIKES AND, THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND THEY ARE LITERALLY YOU KNOW, DAMAGING OUR PARKS. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT KIND OF WHAT REINFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN SHARED WITH THOSE FOLKS.  SURE. SO WE DON'T ALLOW MOTORIZED VEHICLES IN OUR PARKS UNLESS THEY'RE AUTHORIZED FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE TRASH TRUCKS COMING THROUGH TO TO ALL BRING IN A LAWNMOWER AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO ALL ENFORCEMENT IS WITH THE BOSTON POLICE BECAUSE THE PAKISTAN DOESN'T HAVE ENFORCEMENT POWERS TO ENFORCE IT. BUT FOR EXAMPLE COMING UP AT JAMAICA POND SO IT'S TALKED ABOUT AGAIN CAN WE GET THE NO MOTORIZED YOU KNOW, SCOOTER OR BIKES ON CERTAIN LEVELS JUST TO TRY TO START SOME SIGNAGE. SO SIGNAGE CAMPAIGNS ARE CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN DO AS A WAY TO EDUCATE AND THEN WE'D CALL ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS TO HELP WITH ENFORCEMENT.  OKAY, GREAT. AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE BUDGET AND KIND OF IN I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THE ADVOCACY IN TERMS OF INCREASING IT BEYOND THE YOU KNOW, THE 1%. AND THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED IN ONE OF OUR HEARINGS THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD ONE AND I'M CURIOUS IF THE FAIRY GODMOTHER CAME DOWN ON THE LIKE WE CAN INCREASE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE. WELL, WHAT WOULD WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU WOULD MAKE WITH AN INCREASE IN YOUR BUDGET?  SO THE ASK TO GET TO THE 1% IS FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET SO IT WOULDN'T BE AS MUCH CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE TO ADD STAFFING AND ADD CAPACITY TO OUR PARKS OR IMPROVE MAINTENANCE SO FOR EXAMPLE CERTAIN THINGS WE'RE ON A 14 DAY MOWING CYCLE RIGHT NOW TO BE ABLE TO MOW OUR FIELDS QUICKER THAN EVERY 14 DAYS TO EMPTY TRASH RECEPTACLES,  QUICKER THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I THINK WE'RE $11 MILLION SHY OF A 1% BUDGET SO IT WOULD BE,  YOU KNOW, A LARGE LIST BUT BRINGING YOU KNOW WITH MORE MONEY COMES IN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ADD MORE POSITIONS WHICH WOULD INCREASE MAINTENANCE AND BETTER SERVICE OUR PARKS. YEAH THANK YOU AND THAT WAS ANOTHER I STILL HAVE 2 MINUTES. YEAH, I'M GOOD. GOOD. OKAY.  THANK YOU, SIR. I HAVE TWO MORE MINUTES AND I'M NOT GOING TO USE ALL OF IT SO BE THANKFUL BUT I'M CURIOUS IF YOU COULD JUST TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THERE WAS ANOTHER REALLY GREAT QUESTION AND I FORGET WHICH OF MY COLLEAGUES ASKED WAS REALLY ABOUT THE CAPACITY BECAUSE OFTENTIMES TIMES WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE BUT DO WE HAVE THE CAPACITY WHAT DO THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE A CAPACITY TO REALLY FULFILL IF WE WERE TO SAY YEAH, YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN EXTRA YOU KNOW, $11 MILLION ,HOW READILY ARE YOU YOU KNOW ,ABLE TO ABSORB THAT 11 MILLION AND EXECUTE IT WITHIN YOU KNOW, THIS FISCAL YEAR?  YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO WE CAN ALWAYS USE MORE BODIES BUT WITH ANY OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ADDITIONAL VEHICLES SOMETIMES THAT YOU HAVE TO WAIT MONTHS ON IN ORDER TO GET ADDITIONAL CREWS AROUND TO THE PARKS.  SO IT WOULD BE A BALANCE THAT WE'D HAVE TO ADD SOME INFRASTRUCTURE TO TAKE ON A LOT MORE STAFFING. BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF HAVING MORE PEOPLE DO TRASH TRUCK RUNS AND TO MOW LAWNS ALSO WE'RE ON MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY OPERATION 7 TO 3 SO YOU KNOW ADDING MORE PEOPLE ON SECOND SHIFTS SOMETIMES HARD TO RECRUIT DUE TO SECOND JOBS AND WEEKEND RESPONSIBILITIES TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK A WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE MOSTLY STAFFED ON MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SO THERE WOULD BE YOU KNOW AFTER 3 P.M. MORE RESOURCES THAT ARE BEING USED THAT A SECOND SHIFT COULD TAKE ON TO TRY TO DO AND I THINK ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WAS TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND I THINK THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THERE TO EMPLOYEE YOUNG PEOPLE NIGHTS WELL NOT TOO LATE BUT YOU KNOW NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS AT THE VERY LEAST AND I THINK THAT THERE IS MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR YOUTH JOBS AND I THINK THAT IT COULD BE A REALLY GREAT ENTRY POINT. SO I'M CURIOUS WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION OR ALREADY HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF YOUR YOUR DEPARTMENT.  I THINK IT'S MOSTLY BEEN THROUGH LIKE GOING THROUGH THE POWER CORPS PROGRAM AND THE STUFF THAT WE DO THROUGH YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES. BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT MORE ROOM FOR COLLABORATION AND I THINK ESPECIALLY WITH THE THE CLEANING UP THE PARKS I THINK THAT IT'S I WASN'T A RED SHIRT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER THAT PART A MUCH OLDER THAN EVERYBODY HERE BUT I WAS I WORKED WITH THE I WAS INSIDE ONE OF THE HOUSES. I WASN'T OUT IN THE STREETS. RIGHT. SO BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOR BUILDING THAT PATHWAY. THANK YOU, SIR.  THANK YOU COUNSELOR DEREK AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR AND YOU KNOW, I JUST WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE GREAT WORK OF AND THE INCREASED INVESTMENT AND TREE CARE THAT THE CITY IS REALLY INVESTING IN . SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON ON SOME OF THOSE INCREASED INVESTMENTS BUT ALSO JUST HIGHLIGHT ONE OF MY FAVORITE WILLOW TREES IN THE PUBLIC GARDEN I'VE SUFFERED AS THE RESULT OF A STORM.  I'VE BEEN TOLD POTENTIALLY THAT IT COULD SPROUT SO JUST CURIOUS THAT THERE IS AN UPDATE ON THAT SPECIFIC TREE AND JUST CURIOUS HOW DO WE APPROACH PLANTINGS IN HISTORIC PARKS, TREE PLANTING ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE ACTUALLY ADEQUATELY EDUCATE THE PUBLIC SO THAT YOUNG TREES HAVE A CHANCE OF SURVIVAL? I HAVE OFTEN BEEN WATERING THE TREES OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE AND I ACTUALLY REQUESTED ONE TOOK TWO YEARS FOR IT TO COME.  NOW IT'S ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD SO THAT'S HOW LONG I'VE BEEN AN FOR TREES ON MY BLOCK AND OFTENTIMES HAVE BEEN YOU KNOW, GOING OUT WITH A NALGENE BOTTLE DURING REALLY HOT DAYS AND WATERING IT. BUT JUST CURIOUS HOW CAN WE BE AND ALSO HOW CAN WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL GROUPS LIKE YOU KNOW, GARDEN CLUB OF THE BACK BAY AND THE BEACON HILL GARDEN CLUB WHICH I KNOW ARE GREAT PARTNERS IN THE WORK BUT HOW CAN WE PARTNER WITH THEM?  AND ALSO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR HELP. I KNOW KEVIN FITZGERALD PARK IS NOW AN OFFICIAL ARBORETUM LEVEL ONE AND WORK CITED. THANK YOU FOR THE ADVOCACY THERE THOSE ARE ALL MY TREE QUESTIONS SO I'LL LET YOU RESPOND TO THOSE.  SURE. SO I'LL TRY TO GET AN UPDATE ON THE WILLOW FOR YOU. I KNOW THE TREE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS SPROUTING BACK YET BUT WITH NORM HAILEY AND THE GROWING TREE WHO'S ON STAFF FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN AS WELL AS TODD MAX AND OUR TEAM,  WE'LL MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU ON THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE KEEPING TABS ON ALL OF THAT.  I THINK ONE EXCITING THING IS EVERY TIME A NEW STREET TREES PLANTED YOU SEE A LITTLE TAG ON IT NOW THAT SAYS LIKE HEY, I'M YOUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M YOUR NEW NEIGHBOR. I'M WELCOME AND WELCOME ME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU KNOW,  IN TIMES OF HEAT THIS IS WHAT I NEED. SO EDUCATING YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE 20 GALLONS OF WATER DURING ITS FIRST TWO YEARS IN TIMES OF DROUGHT, SOMETIMES 40 GALLONS OF WATER TO HELP EDUCATE THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE AROUND THAT TREE. JUST THAT HEY, THERE ARE NEW TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY NEED SOME HELP.  SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT EDUCATION CAMPAIGN I MENTIONED AS WELL. TODD A SIDEWALK MARKING PROGRAM WITH A LARGE STICKER TO SAY A NEW STREET TREES COMING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD JUST THERE'S A QR CODE ON IT THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO GET INFORMATION ON THAT.  SO JUST WAYS WE'RE TRYING TO BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AND SHOW THE EFFORTS THAT ARE HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES TO GET NEW TREES PLANTED IN THERE. BUT I THINK HAVING THOSE NAMETAGS TAGS ON THERE, THAT'S OUR FIRST STEP AND AGAIN WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE'RE AT 635 TREE AND TREES AT BOSTON.COM AND IF YOU EITHER CALL THAT NUMBER OR EMAIL THAT ADDRESS IT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE TREE DIVISION SO YOU'RE CONNECTED RIGHT TO THE ARBORISTS IN THEIR TEAM SO THEY'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR CONNECT ON SPECIFICS. AND IN TERMS OF THE INCREASED INVESTMENT IN OUR TREE CANOPY BUT ALSO STAFF JUST CURIOUS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE ARBORISTS ON THAN WE USED TO. IS THERE ANY WAY TO QUANTIFY THAT?  SO WE THIS YEAR WE'RE ON TRACK TO PLANT 1765 TREES. LAST YEAR WE PLANTED AROUND 1300 SO WE'RE ALREADY SEEING ABOUT 400 NEW TREES STREET TREES THAT WERE PLANTED AND THEN PRUNING OF TREES. WE'RE USUALLY AT 2500 RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 3780 SO WE HAVE A 50% INCREASE OF TREES BEING PRUNED SO THAT'S DECREASING THE WAIT TIMES FOR ONCE THE RESIDENTS PUT IT IN ALSO NOW HAVING OUR RISK LOW WE WERE ABLE TO SPOT CHECK WARRANTY CHECKS BEFORE I JUST GO TO A COUPLE STREETS AND SEE HOW THE TREES ARE DOING NOW LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO ALL OF THE STREET TREES THAT WERE PLANTED WITHIN THE LAST 2 TO 3 YEARS TO DO WARRANTY CHECKS ON THEIR HEALTH WHICH AGAIN WE WERE JUST PICKING CERTAIN STREETS AND DOING SPOT CHECKING BEFORE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.  SO THE HEALTH OF OUR TREE CANOPY IS, YOU KNOW, GROWN TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE ADDITION OF THE NEW STAFFING IN THE URBAN FORESTRY DIVISION AND YOU KNOW REPRESENTING THE FENWAY AND I HAD ACTUALLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON BROOKLYN HAVE ON MY CAMPAIGN THERE'S CLEARLY A HEAT ISLAND EFFECT ON THAT STREET AND BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT BEING PROPOSED. HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE MOST OUT OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS CONVERSATION INS AND YOU KNOW, IS PARKS REALLY AT THE TABLE AND HOW CAN WE CREATE NEEDS ASSESSMENTS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE NEEDS ARE BEING MET AND BECAUSE OFTENTIMES TREES ARE BEING PLACED THERE AND THEY'RE NOT SURVIVING GIVEN THE HEAT AND JUST KNOWING HOW LONG IT'S TAKEN ME TO REPLACE A TACTILE PAD ON THAT STREET, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO GET A COUPLE OF NEW TREES SO JUST CURIOUS HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR, YOU KNOW, TREE CANOPY AND WITH HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.  YEAH, I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW PLACES, NEW OPPORTUNITIES SOMETIMES SEEING WHERE TREES HAVE FAILED BEFORE TO SEE IS THAT THE RIGHT PLACE TO PLANT ANOTHER TREE OR WHAT OTHER METHODS WE CAN DO TO TRY TO GREEN THAT AREA. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW TODD'S GREAT THEY'LL ALWAYS WALK THE CORRIDOR AND SEE OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK OUT THERE SO I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY FORWARD. I'LL SAY THAT WE DO HAVE A SEAT AT PIK SO ANYTHING THAT GOES THROUGH A PEER REVIEW WE'RE ABLE TO CHIME IN ON TREE PLACEMENTS AND ANYTHING WITHIN 100 FEET OF A PARK GOES TO A PARKS COMMISSION REVIEW WHERE WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO WEIGH IN AND LIZA MEYER, OUR CHIEF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, ONE OF HER CONSTANT QUESTIONS IS HOW CAN WE ADD MORE TREE FRONTAGE TO YOUR BUILDING? SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IF SOMETHING GOES TO REVIEW OR IF IT GOES WITHIN 100 FEET OF A PARK THAT IS A CONSTANT COMMENT FROM US. BUT AGAIN TO YOUR POINT IT'S HARD FOR US TO KNOW ON ALL DEVELOPMENTS SO IT'S HELPFUL WHEN WE HAVE THE ADVOCACY FROM OUR PARKS GROUPS AND FROM THE CITY COUNCIL EVEN TO STEER US IN THE DIRECTION SAYING THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO PLANT MORE TREES HERE. HOW CAN YOU ENGAGE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.  AND JUST WANTED TO ADD I'M ALSO REALLY I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR MONEY TO LIGHT THE STATUES ON THE COMMONWEALTH MALL SO SPECIFICALLY I LOVE THE WOMAN STATUE TO BE LIT. I THINK I WOULD JUST ADD AND THIS HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE FOR MARGARET POKORNY SHE'S BEEN INCREDIBLE ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH MALL SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS WILL GO SOMEWHERE BUT YOU KNOW GRATEFUL FOR I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEEDS AND THINGS WE'D LIKE TO HAVE. SO AS MUCH AS WE CAN GET PRIVATE MONEY TO TO TO FILL SOME OF THOSE BEAUTIFICATION NEEDS, THAT WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND MAKE SOME OF OUR PARKS MORE ENJOYABLE AND GRATEFUL. I JUST WANTED TO THROW IN A PLUG GRATEFUL THAT THE LIGHTS FOR CHRISTMAS TIME AND THE HOLIDAYS EXTENDED TO THE CAN WERE THIS YEAR. HOPEFULLY THAT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR GOT SO MUCH GREAT FEEDBACK FROM KENMORE NEIGHBORS SPECIFICALLY THOSE RESIDENTS OF THE KENMORE TOWERS AND THE BRAEMAR BUILDING.  THEY THEY'RE ALL REALLY GRATEFUL FOR FOR THAT. SO THANK FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE. AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN BECAUSE THEY TAKE THE LEAD ON TRYING TO RAISE THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO LIGHT THAT BLOCK.  SO WE ARE BIG SUPPORTERS BUT I HAVE TO GIVE THEM THEIR CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE. THEY WERE THE ONES TO RAISE THE FUNDS TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL BLOCK THANK YOU.  AND YES, THEY'RE SUCH GREAT PARTNERS AND AND I'M OUT OF TIME SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO AND AND JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE SIGNIFICANT PARTNERSHIP THAT WE CAN HAVE WITH WITH ALL THE PARKS THAT ARE IN MY DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU.  THANK YOU COUNCILOR MEMBER THE FOURTH FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU.  CHAIR A COUPLE OF FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.  YOU MENTIONED A BEER GARDEN IS IT AT THE POND AND JP PAYNE BANK THAT'S IS THAT THAT'S ON THE SCHEDULE? YES. OKAY. BUT NOT BILLINGS FIELD IN WEST ROXBURY IS THAT MY CORRECT AND YEAH BUT YOU HAVEN'T MADE THE SCHEDULE YET ON THE SCHEDULE. I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN PUT OUT THERE YET BUT IT'S BEEN MADE SO I'M HAPPY TO SHARE IT WITH YOU. OKAY. AND IT WILL BE A TWO WEEK STRETCH. YEP. 14 DAYS AND THEN IT'S ON TO THE NEXT LOCATION. OKAY. AND THERE IS SOMETHING THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE JP BOATHOUSE MAYBE NOT IMMEDIATELY BUT IT'S A STUDY OR SOMETHING. CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE PLAN IS?  YEAH. SO THE THERE ARE SOME STRUCTURAL ISSUES WITH THE JP BOATHOUSE THAT WE'VE BEEN STUDYING OVER TIME. SO IT'S IT'S A CONTINUATION OF THAT STUDY AND I THINK THERE'S ALSO SOME REPURPOSE SOME REPROGRAMING POTENTIAL IN THERE. SO IT'S LARGELY ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE BOATHOUSE AND MAINTAINING THAT. AND IS IT BECAUSE THERE'S A BOATHOUSE AND THEN THERE'S A THE BANDSTAND BANDSTAND IS THAT INCLUDED IN THAT?  THE STRUCTURAL CONCERNS ARE MOSTLY AT THE BOATHOUSE ON THE ON THE WATER SIDE. I WILL SAY I WAS RUNNING BY THERE RECENTLY AND THERE WAS THERE WERE LIGHTS ON AND THE BANDS BELOW THE BANDSTAND IN THE YOU KNOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS A TAXIDERMY EXHIBITION CENTER WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT SPACE IS SHOULD BE WELL YOU KNOW IS OPEN AND TO BE USED BUT I, I THINK IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE YOU KNOW THE BOATHOUSE THE BANDSTAND AND YOU KNOW WHATEVER YOU KNOW YOU NEED IF YOU NEED MY SUPPORT WHICH DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU NEED IT BUT IF YOU DO, I'M HAPPY TO HELP. YOU MENTIONED A PUSH BUTTON. SO WHAT YOU SIT IS IN MY DISTRICT THE PLAYGROUND THERE'S THERE'S LIGHTS.  COULD YOU JUST INSTALL THE PUSH BUTTON THERE TO OR DO YOU NEED TO PUT IT ON ALL NEW LIGHTS TO HAVE THAT AS AN AS AN OPTION? ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IS NOT MY FORTE SO I DON'T SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S POSSIBLE TO RETROFIT A BUTTON THERE TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE OR NOT BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN INVESTIGATE. OKAY.  YEAH WE'VE ONLY TRIED IT SO FAR AND NEW AS WE'RE DOING A CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND PUT A NEW LIGHTING POLES IN SO IT COMES WITH THAT INFRASTRUCTURE SO WE JUST HAVE TO SEE IF IT COULD BE RETROFITTED.  OKAY. AND I THERE WAS A PRESENTATION ON MURPHY FIELD IN JP AND IT ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SHOWED WAS HOW THE NEW LIGHTS ARE GOING TO REDUCE LIGHT POLLUTION FOR THE NEIGHBORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I, I RECOGNIZE NEW LIGHTS THERE MIGHT BE BENEFITS THERE BUT IT'S A MURPHY FIELD. WHAT'S THE SCHEDULE FOR THAT?  SO WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOME OF THE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE'S WE THE SITE IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO WE WOULD NEED THEIR PERMISSION TO ADD THE WATER FOUNTAIN THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING TO DO. SO THERE'S A LOT OF COORDINATION BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THAT AND WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE WALLS ON THE PERIMETER. SO WE'RE TAKING A DEEPER DIVE INTO WHAT'S NEEDED THERE. SO THAT'S IMPACTED THE SCHEDULE A LITTLE BIT BUT WE WANT TO GET IT OUT OF IT AS SOON AS WE CAN AFTER THAT. YOU MEAN THE WALLS ON THE HOUSE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE PART THAT KIND OF HOLDING IT UP? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. I'M I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SITE AND HAVE MY KIDS BOTH GOING TO SCHOOL THERE.  WE DID GET ALL THE LIGHTING THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE REPAIRED SO I WORKED WITH BRAD IN THE TEAM. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS FROM SOCCER OR IF IT WAS FROM YOUTH BASEBALL.  BRAD IS ON BOTH. OKAY SO THERE WAS TWO WEEKS AGO A CONTRACTOR OUT THERE THAT REPLACED ALL THE BULBS AND STUFF THAT WERE OUT. SO I GOT SOME POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM BRAD AND THE TEAM THAT THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT THOSE LIGHTS ARE NOW BETTER FUNCTIONING UNTIL AN IMPROVEMENT GOES IN. OH OKAY, GREAT. YEAH I THINK I KNOW BRAD FROM THE BOARD OF PEW SOCCER WHICH I'M ON BUT OKAY AND SO I THINK COUNCILOR DURKIN MENTIONED ARBORISTS YOU'VE ADDED FIVE ARBORISTS I THINK OR MAYBE ADDS AROUND THERE'S FIVE TOTAL ON STAFF I THINK THERE ARE SIX TOTAL NOW ON STAFF SO SIX INCLUDING TODD. SO WE WENT FROM HAVING, YOU KNOW, TWO ARBORISTS TO NOW HAVING SIX STAFF AND I MEAN I GUESS THAT'S FOR THE ENTIRE CITY WHAT'S WHAT WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL NUMBER? YEAH, THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE WITHIN OUR CERTIFICATION THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO IF AGAIN IF WE COULD CONTINUE YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD TO GET WAIVERS FROM THE RESIDENCY BOARD BEFORE BUT IT DEPENDS IF WE'RE TAKING ON PRIVATE TREES OR YOU KNOW, IT COULD EXPAND BUT RIGHT NOW THAT IS SERVING US JUST WITH STREET TREES AND WE'RE REALLY JUST KEEPING OUR TOE INTO PARK TREES. WE'RE NOT REALLY INTO OUR 331 PROPERTIES OF OUR TREES YET SO YOU KNOW, THAT NUMBER COULD GROW TREMENDOUSLY AND SO JP WEST ROXBURY HAVE ARE WELL AHEAD OF THE REST OF THE CITY IN TERMS OF TREE CANOPY. BUT THEY'VE LOST TREES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.  YOU KNOW WHAT'S THE PLAN TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE KEEPING TREES WHERE WE HAVE THEM?  SURE. SO I MEAN WE CAN'T DO MUCH RIGHT NOW WITH TREES LOST ON PRIVATE PROPERTY BUT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ADD MORE TREE PITS AND ADD PLANTINGS OF THERE'S AN ONLINE ON THE BOSTON DARK OF BACKSIDE TREES WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN SEE EVERY VACANT TREE PIT THAT EXISTS IN THE CITY AND WHEN IT'S FILLED OR WHEN IT WAS REMOVED FROM 21, 22, 23 AND 24. SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY IF WE'RE ABLE TO ADD IT TO AN EXISTING TREE PIT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. IF A NEW TREE HAS TO BE ADDED WE DO THAT AND EVERY TIME WE DO A CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OVER SO WHEN BILLINGS GOES UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO NET NEW TREES TO ADD THEM INTO THE PARKS WHENEVER WE CAN AND.  SO YOU'RE YEAH, YOU BROUGHT THIS ON YOURSELF SO TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC LAND SO IF WE HAD A PRIVATE TREE ORDINANCE, YOU KNOW WHAT ROLE COULD THE CITY PLAY OR WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK YOUR YOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD PLAY IN THAT.  I THINK WE'D HAVE TO SEE THERE'S DIFFERENT CITIES AND TOWNS AND IT'S JUST LIKE WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD SIT UNDER THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.  IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD SIT UNDER ESD OR A PLANNING AGENCY?  YOU KNOW THEY'D HAVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN CREW OF ARBORISTS AND INSPECTORS TO GO OUT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING ON SOMEONE'S DEEDED LAND TO SAY YOU CAN'T CUT THIS TREE DOWN OR YOU CAN'T DO YOUR ADDITIONS ON YOUR HOUSE. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, WORKING RIGHT NOW ON ALL THE STREET TREES AND TRYING TO GET INTO THE PARK TREES ON ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES SO I THINK YEAH, WE'D HAVE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ON WHAT THAT WOULD TAKE AND WHICH AGENCY WOULD OVERSEE. I DON'T KNOW CHRIS IF THERE'S ANYTHING MORE ON THAT BUT AS AS YOU COULDN'T JUST TAKE THAT ON YOU DIDN'T NEED YOU NEED ANOTHER YEAH WE NEED MORE CAPACITY OKAY THAT AND IN TERMS OF FILLING CAPACITY I JUST I'LL JUST SAY MY WIFE WORKS IN REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AND YOU KNOW SHE WAS LIKE WE'VE GOT LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD LOVE TO WORK FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. I KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD ANY OUTREACH IN IN THE IN THE MIGRANT COMMUNITY I MEAN THERE'S PEOPLE HERE ARE LOOKING FOR GET NEWLY WORK WORK WERE AUTHORIZED WHO ARE LIVING HERE I DON'T KNOW AND DARLENE'S ACTUALLY DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THAT RECENTLY SO I DON'T WANT TO STEAL YOUR THUNDER TAKE YOUR CREDIT.  OKAY. SO, UM, PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS PARTNERED WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF UM BUT I FIGURED, YOU KNOW, NOT RETURN TO NOT RETURN TO CITIZENS. WE'RE GOING TO BE AN IMMIGRANT AND IMMIGRANT SORRY AND WE WE STARTED A PILOT PROGRAM WHERE WE STARTED HIRING SOME MIGRANT WORKERS AS SEASONAL LABORERS. SO IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM WHERE WE HIRE THEM FOR FIVE MONTHS AND THROUGHOUT THAT FIVE MONTHS WE YOU KNOW, TRAIN THEM AND DEVELOP THEM INTO APPLYING FOR PROVISIONAL POSITIONS.  SO UM, JUST RECENTLY MYSELF AND JOSUE JUST UM JUST BROUGHT ON FIVE MIGRANT LABORERS AND ALSO AND TWO FROM RETURNING CITIZEN SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO UM, BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH DIFFERENT MIGRANTS THAT'S GOING TO JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT JUST HOPEFULLY THAT THE BUILDINGS REDESIGN INCLUDES THE STREET HOCKEY RINK I THINK I THINK I'VE BEEN TOLD SEVERAL TIMES IT'S IN THERE AND I'M GLAD HEAR IT AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.  YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY IN MY DISTRICT IT'S IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TO MY CONSTITUENTS WHO CAME OUT IN NUMBERS TODAY.  SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU. COME TOMORROW AND APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY. TODAY IS WORLD B DAY AND MY OFFICE WORKED ON LEGISLATION TO LEGALIZE BEEKEEPING IN BOSTON. WE'RE AT THE BOSTON NATURE CENTER TALKING ABOUT ENVIRONMENT THERE IMPORTANT POLLINATORS FOR OUR ECOSYSTEM AND SO BUT I JUST WANT TO UPLIFT AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, COMMISSIONER, ESPECIALLY YOU KNOW WE'VE HAD CONSTITUENT ISSUES AND IT'S ALWAYS GREAT WHEN I CAN WORK WITH THE ADMIN TO HELP SOLVE CONSTITUENT ISSUES. SO THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR BEING FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE ALWAYS AND SO MANY OF YOU AND CHIEF OSGOOD'S SUPERINTENDENT ALTIDORE SO MANY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.  IF YOU ENJOY THESE QUESTIONS YOU COULD JUST SAY AND ANSWER AND THEN I'LL MAKE SURE THAT I REVIEW THE TAPE AND I CAN I DID YOU TALK THE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS IN CLIFFORD PARK? WE DID THE?  WE DID. THE HOPE IS RIGHT NOW THAT IT'LL START CONSTRUCTION IN THE FALL. WE HAVE OUR LAST COMMUNITY MEETING PLANNED FOR THE BEGINNING OF JUNE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT GETTING STARTED ABOUT A YEAR CONSTRUCTION. OKAY. IT WAS IN BEGINNING IN THE IN THE FALL. THIS FALL. OKAY, GREAT. CHINATOWN.  THERE'S INVESTMENT MADE I THINK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE ISSUES OF , YOU KNOW, BEING ONE OF THE LEAST, UH, HAVING THE LEAST GREENSPACE IN THE CITY AS A RESULT OF THE THE HIGHWAY MOVEMENT AND WHAT IT DID TO CHINATOWN. AND YOU KNOW, THERE WAS MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT IN OVERLAND PARK. DO YOU VIEW JUST THAT AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THE STATUS UPDATE IN THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN THAT RESPECT. YEAH, THAT WAS FUNDING FOR FROM THE RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM AND THE LAST COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE PLANNING TEAM, THE STREETS TEAM AND THE ENERGY SPACE. I CAN GET YOU AN UPDATE ON SORT OF WHERE WHERE THE PLANNING IS AT THIS POINT. I DON'T KNOW. I THOUGHT MY HAD BUT THE PLAN IS FOR AN OVERPASS LAST GUARDED AN OVERPASS SORT OF OPEN GREEN SPACE OPEN SPACE.  I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S GOTTEN TO THAT LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY BUT CERTAINLY EXACTLY IN THAT SPACE SORT OF BETWEEN THE SOUTH END AND CHINATOWN, THE MASS PIKE IS PROBABLY GOING THROUGH TO DESIGN SOMETHING WHICH REALLY RECONNECTS THAT SPACE. THAT'S YEAH, THAT'S INCREDIBLE AND I CAN I CAN GET YOU SOME MORE DETAILS ON WHERE THAT STANDS. THANK YOU. AND I LOVE ACTUALLY TO SEE IF OR TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER THAT'S A MODEL OBVIOUSLY IN AREAS WHERE IT'S A DEEP EQUITY ISSUE AND BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES YOU KNOW PLACES LIKE CHINATOWN WHERE THEY REALLY WERE HURT BY THE HIGHWAY MOVEMENT BUT I WONDER AND EVEN IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE SOUTH AND THE THE MASS AV CORRIDOR, I KNOW THAT CAROL BLAIR HAS REALLY ADVOCATED FOR, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF LOOKING LIKE WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO HAVE A CONNECTING FOOTBRIDGE IN THE COMMUNITY AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY YOUR DEPARTMENT BUT THINKING ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE FOR ALSO ADDITIONAL GREENSPACE. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THAT THOSE SORT OF OVERPASSES ARE PROBABLY VERY COSTLY BUT I THINK THAT THEY'RE WORTH HAVING AN EXPLORATION AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THE HIGH LINE IN NEW YORK CITY HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT IS THERE EVER BEEN A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT AN OVERPASS PARK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE AND THAT IS ACTUALLY ENDS UP BECOMING A TOURIST ATTRACTION. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT AS MUCH AS WE TOUR THESE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORING CITIES TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THEY'RE PUTTING IN PLACE PLACES USING THAT MODEL TO SEE IF THAT CAN BE ADDED IN DIFFERENT PLACES. AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE FIRST ONE WAS LOOKING AT THAT OVERPASS HERE IN CHINATOWN.  BUT I THINK ANOTHER ONE IS PIER FIVE. I THINK IT IS IN IN CHARLESTOWN. YEAH, I'M LOOKING FOR THAT AS ANOTHER OPEN SPACE OPPORTUNITY . THANK YOU. ANY UPDATES FOR OTHER ALMA PARK AND I THINK CATHERINE HERE TALKED ABOUT IT BUT NOT IN THIS RESPECT ROSS PLAYGROUND. SO ALMA WE TALKED ABOUT ADDING NEW TRASH BARRIERS AND THERE WAS AN ASK FROM EARL TO TRY TO GET A WELCOME TO ALMONT PARK SIGN PUT IN THERE. THERE'S NO OTHER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS RIGHT NOW PLANNED FOR ALMONT PARK BUT YOU KNOW I THINK WE'RE GONNA TO LOOK INTO THOSE TWO THINGS. ROSS DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON ROSS?  IT'S IT'S NOT IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET RIGHT NOW BUT I THINK WE'RE IT IT NEEDS SOME IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS I THINK COUNCILOR MEJIA WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE THE PERMITTING LARGELY BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME SOME FIELD IMPROVEMENTS AND SOME IMPORTANT COMMITMENTS WE CAN MAKE AND THE LIGHTING I THINK ALSO ADDRESSED SO I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO ROSS PLAYGROUND REALLY IN TERMS OF WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY. MY FATHER WALKS AT ROSS PLAYGROUND EVERY MORNING THAT'S OUR THAT'S MY PARENTS CLOSEST GREENSPACE AND SO I IT DOES NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE LIFE AND A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION AND I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK AS TO WHAT EXACTLY THAT SHOULD LOOK LIKE BUT I THINK THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE AREA I COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO IT A LOT MORE SO I'D BE I'D LIKE TO UPLIFT A REQUEST TO HAVE ROSS ROSS AS PART OF OUR CAPITAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CAPITAL INVESTMENT HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT YEAR AND COULD HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ALONG WITH DISTRICT COUNCILOR BUT THEN AND WITH COMMUNITY GREAT AND THEN OH I JUST WANT TO UPLIFT I VOWED ALONG WITH COUNCILOR DURKAN TODAY OR FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE CREATION OF A PARKS ADMINISTRATOR. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO THE FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC GUARDIAN FOR ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY DO. OBVIOUSLY AND I ALSO BEING THE EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO HAVE A WELL-RESOURCED FRIENDS GROUP AND TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY OUT THERE SUPPORTING THEIR THEIR THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND TO UPLIFT THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY ARE THERE UNDERINVESTMENT IN PARKS, THERE'S ALSO INEQUITIES IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING PARK ISSUES AND THEY REALIZE THEMSELVES THAT THEMSELVES AS AN INSTITUTION AND ARE WORKING TO REALLY SUPPORT FRIENDS GROUPS AROUND THE CITY WHICH I REALLY THINK IS JUST INCREDIBLE WORK.  I WANT TO JUST WE'LL HAVE A HEARING ON IT BUT WE'D LOVE TO SORT OF YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHERE YOU THINK WE ARE SHORT OF THE NEED FOR A DOWNTOWN PARKS ADMINISTRATOR.  YEAH, I THINK IT'S CALLED FOR IN THE BOSTON COMMON ACTION PLAN.  SO THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST LOOKING AT BOSTON COMMON AND THEN WE SAID WELL FRANKLIN PARKS 520 ACRES THE 58 ACRES OR SO OF BOSTON COMMON MAYBE WE SHOULD EXPAND THAT TO DOWNTOWN. SO IT INCLUDES LIKE COPLEY, THE MALL, THE PUBLIC GARDEN, THE COMMON AND THEN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS PARK, THE ONES THAT ARE HEAVILY PERMEATED WITH SPECIAL EVENTS AND TO TRY TO TO GET THAT MOVING. SO I THINK THIS YEAR WE'RE STARTING WITH THE FRANKLIN PARK ACTION PLAN AND GETTING THAT ADMINISTRATOR ON BOARD AND USING THAT AS A MODEL TO TO MAYBE BRING THAT TO DOWNTOWN PARKS AWESOME. THANK YOU. AND DIRECTOR BLUFORD, YOU MENTIONED THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOYA TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO WORK AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT ALONGSIDE SUPERINTENDENT ALTIDORE, I HAVE A QUESTION WITH RESPECT TO YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS TRADITIONALLY HAD SOME OF OUR LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES. I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE WE ARE A MODEL FOR OTHER CORPORATIONS THE POSITION OF THE CITY IN THAT WE'RE PAYING OUR WORKERS JUSTLY WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO INCREASE THE PAY OF OUR LOWEST PAID WORKERS IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.  WE ARE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE NEXT ONES UP I THINK WITH A CLASS IN COMPENSATION STUDY TO SEE WHERE THAT IS. I THINK WE'RE TIED TO A LOT OF THE UNION AGREEMENTS BECAUSE ALL THESE EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, ARE PART OF THE ME UNION.  SO AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE SET ON CERTAIN SALARIES FOR NOW BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEW THEM BECAUSE ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS SOMETIMES WE TRAIN THEM AND SOMEBODY ELSE TAKES THEM SO THE SKILLS WE WANT THEM TO STAY IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND NOT YOU KNOW, OBTAIN THAT CDL LICENSE AND THEN SAY OH I COULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO DO IT.  YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PATHWAYS TO KEEP THEIR CAREER WITHIN THE BOSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT. SO THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO STRIVE. BUT WE'RE ANXIOUSLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A CLASS AND CONVERSATION STUDY. ARE ALL OF YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE ALL OF THE LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES PART OF A UNION? YES. SO WHERE EVERYBODY'S UNIONIZED AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT EXCEPT FOR NINE OF US. SO IT'S IT'S PRETTY MUCH A LOT OF THE PEOPLE UP HERE. BUT BETTER THAN NONUNION BUT EVERYBODY ELSE YOU KNOW, THERE'S EVERYBODY LOWER LEVELS OF UNIONIZED. DOES THAT INCLUDE SEASONAL EMPLOYEES SEASONALS OR NOT SO THERE FIVE MONTHS RIGHT BEFORE THE SIX MONTH CUTOFF TO BE A UNIONIZED EMPLOYEE. OKAY.  SO ALL RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU. THAT'S MY TIME. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR, FOR INDULGING MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.  UNFORTUNATELY.  THANK YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY BUT I JUST WANT TO AGAIN JUST THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND SUPERINTENDENT OUT TO DO IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO ALL THE PARKS NOT JUST ACROSS THE CITY BUT IN DISTRICT DISTRICT FOUR.  I GUESS MY MY MY OTHER QUESTION IS IS IT THE SAME TEAM THAT MANAGES THE PARKS THAT DOES LIKE THE PEABODY SQUARE KNOW THOSE LITTLE ONE OFF SITES THAT ARE NOT PARKS BUT ARE OPEN? WELL, LANDSCAPING BECAUSE I WOULDN'T EVEN CALL PEABODY SQUARE LIKE OPEN SPACE BUT IS IT THE SAME TEAM?  THANK YOU COUNCILOR . I THINK IF YOU'RE TALKING TO YOUR PEOPLE WATCH OUR REGION. WE HAVE ONE TEAM FOR OUR REGION IT'S LIKE FOUR GUYS. OKAY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE OBVIOUSLY IN DIFFERENT PARKS IN THAT REGION SO BUT WE CAN BOUNCE PEOPLE FROM TIME YOU KNOW FROM WHATEVER REGION IF WE NEED TO DEPEND ON THE REQUEST THAT WE HAVE GOT SO THE SAME PEOPLE THAT DO IN PARKS ARE DOING THE MEDIANS AND THE GUYS WITH THE THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS THE HORTICULTURE DIVISION OF HER PLANTING FLOWERS AND THERE THOSE ARE THE GARDENERS THAT ARE PLANTING SOME OF THOSE PLANTINGS IN PEABODY SQUARE. THEY'VE BEEN DONE BY THE HORTICULTURAL DIVISION BUT THE MAINTENANCE ITSELF OF THE MOWING THE WEED WHACKING THAT THE DAY CARES THE SAME CREW OKAY AND IT'S HOW MANY VACANCIES DO WE HAVE FOR THAT CREW JUST CITYWIDE AND THAT'S NO MAINTENANCE OR MAINTENANCE.  WE KEEP ALL THE 39 MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE POSITIONS SPECIALIZE THE CDOS AND HOISTING. SO I WOULD SAY OUT OF THE 39 PROBABLY 25 IS MAINTENANCE. OH YEAH. OKAY.  ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NOW GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY WHERE YOUR NAME IS CALLED. PLEASE COME DOWN TO ONE OF THE TWO PODIUMS. STATE YOUR NAME NEIGHBORHOOD IN OR ORGANIZATION AFFILIATION.  PLEASE SPEAK IT TO THE MICROPHONE. PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO 2 MINUTES. ALEX, ARE YOU ARE YOU ON ZOOM?  ALEX, THE FLOOR IS YOURS OKAY.  UH OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME AND SEE ME ? YES.  OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.  MY NAME IS ALEX LEVENTHAL AND I'M THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS MOUNTED UNIT AS AN ORGANIZATION OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS CONTINUE TO ENHANCE OUR CITY PARKS AS WELCOMING GUIDES TO ALL VISITORS. THE RANGERS PERFORM CRITICAL WAYFINDING AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONS. THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS HAVE A LONG HISTORY DATING BACK TO 1982 AND HAVE GROWN INTO A RECOGNIZED AND RESPECTED PUBLIC AGENCY BEYOND THE IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY ROLE IN THE BOSTON PARK, BEYOND THE IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY ROLE, THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS PLAY THEY ALSO HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CITY YOUTH TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT WORK.  THE FRIENDS OF THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS MATTHEW WAS FORMED IN 2009 AT A TIME OF ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND MUNICIPAL BUDGET CUTS PUT THE ENTIRE MOUNTAIN UNIT AT RISK OF ELIMINATION AS AN ORGANIZATION OUR MANDATE IS TO RAISE FUNDS AND MARSHAL PUBLIC SUPPORT SO THAT THE PARK RANGERS CAN CONTINUE TO PATROL ALL NINE PARTS OF THE EMERALD NECKLACE. THE FUNDS AND SUPPORT OF VARIOUS COSTS OF RUNNING THE MOUNTED UNIT SUCH AS VETERINARY CARE FOR HORSES, STABLE IMPROVEMENTS AND HORSE TRAILERS . HOWEVER, TODAY THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS RELY MOSTLY ON CITY FUNDING IN SUPPORT IN ORDER TO SAFELY WELCOME VISITORS TO OUR PARKS.  AS YOU PREPARE TO CONSIDER THE CITY'S 2025 BUDGET, WE'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF OUR PRIORITIES AND SPECIFIC FUNDING REQUESTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS TO CONTINUE TO EFFECTIVELY CARRY OUT THEIR MISSION WITH AGING INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS BARNS. WE REQUEST SUPPORT TO HELP WITH THE SAFETY OF OUR RANGERS AND HORSES CURRENTLY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT RECEIVES LESS THAN 1% OF THE OVERALL CITY BUDGET AND THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS RECEIVING A VERY SMALL PORTION WHILE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE LARGELY DUE TO THE EFFORTS BY PARK ADVOCATES LEADERSHIP FROM THE CITY COUNCIL , THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS REMAIN UNDERFUNDED UNDERFUNDED I'M SORRY . TO THIS END WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN MAINTAINING EXISTING CITY SUPPORT LEVELS AND FUNDING THE FOLLOWING BUDGET NEEDS MAINTAINING FUNDING FOR THE 20 FULL TIME RANGER POSITIONS MAINTAIN EXISTING ANNUAL EQUINE CARE BUDGET OF 90,000 AND MAINTAIN THE EXISTING FUNDING OF A $5,000 EMERGENCY VETERINARY SERVICE. BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE COUNTLESS DEMANDS AND NEEDS THROUGH NET MUNICIPAL FUNDS BUT WE BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE CITY TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO THE BOSTON PARK RANGERS TO CONTINUE THEIR IMPORTANT MISSION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AS WELL AS ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL COMMISSIONER WOODS AND DEPUTY COMMISSIONER REBECCA FERGUSON FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. THANK TO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME TO GIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY.  I SEE TWO COLLEAGUES STILL TURN AROUND AND QUESTIONS. COUNCILOR MEJIA THE FLOOR IS YOURS. I WON'T NEED 8 MINUTES. THIS IS PROBABLY JUST FOR MY OWN UNDERSTANDING IN REGARDS TO SOME OF OUR BURIAL GROUNDS.  DO WE HAVE ANY JURISDICTION OVER ANY OF THEM AND PARTICULAR ONES? YES. SO WE HAVE A 19 JURORS 19 BURIAL GROUNDS, SIX OF THEM A HISTORIC THAT YOU SOMETIMES SEE ON THE FREEDOM TRAIL AND THREE ARE PLACES WHERE WE DO ACTIVE BURIALS.  ONE IS MOUNT HOPE RIGHT OFF OF AMERICAN LEGION BEHIND THE WENDY'S.  THE OTHER ONE IS EVERGREEN BY BOSTON COLLEGE AND THEN FAIRVIEW AND HIGH PARK. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GLAD THAT I ASKED BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF ADVOCACY THE PEOPLE WHO CALL ME COMING FOR ALL TYPES OF THINGS I JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO GET WHEN I PICK UP MY PHONE AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM SOME CONSTITUENTS IS THAT THE UPKEEP IN CERTAIN EVEN WHEN YOU DIE RIGHT IF YOU ARE LOW INCOME THAT EVEN IN YOUR RESTING PLACE YOU USUALLY GET THE UPKEEP IN CERTAIN SPACES AND PLACES ARE NOT AS EQUITABLE AS OTHERS. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT MOUNT HOLYOKE. MY HOPE MY HOPE IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO DRIVE BY THERE OFTEN AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT DOES THE BUDGET LOOK LIKE FOR MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP?  AND THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS SINCE BUT THERE WAS SOME DEFACING OF SOME OF THE HEADSTONES AND ONE OF THEM WAS HAPPENED TO BE SOMEONE WHO WAS CLOSE TO A FAMILY MEMBER OF MINE AND SO CURIOUS ABOUT HOW YOU KNOW HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THINGS LIKE THAT. SURE.  I'LL HAVE TO GET YOU THE THE BUDGET NUMBERS FOR OUT THERE BUT THERE'S THEIR OWN CREW OF 6 TO 8 PEOPLE AT EACH CEMETERY SO THAT DO THEIR OWN BURIALS AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THE BURIALS THEY DO THE LAWN MOWING AND THE WEED WHACKING BECAUSE IT'S SPECIALIZED BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT NEXT TO THE TOMBSTONE. SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, HARD TO GET IN EVERY SINGLE CREVICE THERE. BUT THEY'RE SMALL BUT MIGHTY.  THEY TRY TO GET OUT THERE AND MOW AS OFTEN AS THEY CAN TO DO THOSE AREAS WITH DEFACING IF ANYONE BRINGS THAT UP, THE DIRECTOR TOM SULLIVAN, THEY'RE USUALLY ON THAT RIGHT AWAY AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T GET OUT EITHER WITH HANDWASHING OR LIGHT POWER WASHING WE'VE USED DAEDALUS BEFORE SO THERE'S BEEN SOME STATUES IN MY MONUMENTS A FEW YEARS AGO THAT WERE ALL DEFACED THERE AND WE HAD TO BRING IN THE STONE CONSERVATORS TO HELP US. SO THAT'S A ROUTINE SERVICE THAT WE DO WHEN SOMEBODY FACES THE GRAVES.  THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN THE LAST THING IN REGARDS TO I JUST WANT TO STAY WITH THE EQUITABLE MAINTENANCE EVEN BEYOND JUST IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF ADVOCACY IN THE BUDGET TO INCREASE THE MAINTENANCE IN THAT PARTICULAR CEMETERY?  WE'LL NEVER SAY NO TO ADVOCACY COUNCIL . YEAH, NO AND I AND I KNOW FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THE FOLKS WHO YOU KNOW FOR THE LUCY BROWN PEACE INSTITUTE A LOT OF THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN BURIAL SITES AND I JUST THINK THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF CONNECTION THERE IN TERMS OF JUST KIND OF LIKE YOU GET WHAT YOU GET AND YOU DON'T GET UPSET AND I JUST THINK THAT EVEN DIE SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF DIGNITY AND I THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THAT LINE ITEM FOR THAT SPECIFIC SPACE AND HOW THAT IS TIED INTO THE SUPPORT SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. THE LUCY BROTHERS TOO I JUST WANT TO THIS HAS BEEN HEAVY ON MY MIND AND I WANTED TO JUST NAME IT HERE AND JUST KIND OF LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT. KATHY'S REMINDING ME TOO THAT WE DO HAVE SOME PAVING OR IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPITAL FOR YOU KNOW ONCE YOU GO IN WITH ALL THE POTHOLES AND STUFF AND SOME OF THE CEMETERIES AND EXTENSIVE FENCING WORK. SO YOU HAVE IMPROVED FENCING REPLACING ALL THE PICKETS AND SOME REPAINTING WORK SPECIFICALLY AT MT. HOPE. SO THERE'LL BE THOSE EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS HAPPENING AS WELL IN ADDITION TO THE MAINTENANCE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO INSIDE AND I KNOW MY CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE LISTENING IN BECAUSE THEY DO WATCH THESE ARE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU COUNCILOR ME AND I KNOW THE COUNCIL PASSED THAT A GRANT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO FOR MAINTENANCE FOR I BELIEVE IT WAS TO TWO OF ACTIVE CEMETERIES FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON AND SPEAK SPEAKING TO THE BURIAL IS THERE ANY STATE AID OR ASSISTANCE THAT GOES TO FAMILIES FOR BURIAL THERE LIKE THE LOUIS T BROWN PEACE INSTITUTE ISAAC DIABLO AND THEIR TEAM ALSO HAVE STUFF WITH VIOLENCE THAT THEY'RE SOMETIMES ABLE TO ASSIST WITH.  I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY ASSISTANCE THAT I KNOW THAT HAPPENS UNLESS THERE'S OTHER NONPROFIT ASSISTANCE THAT'S GIVEN WE'RE SO LIMITED BECAUSE THERE'S THE EXPENSE TO OPEN UP A GRAVE BUT A LOT OF THE FAMILIES EXPENSES WHETHER IT'S FOR CREMATION OR PREPARING THE BODY OF A FUNERAL HALLMARK AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S OUT OF OUR PURVIEW. WE ONLY ON THE GRAVE ITSELF AND THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE GRAVE. SO BUT I KNOW ISAAC HAS A CERTAIN FUND WHERE THINGS DUE TO GANG VIOLENCE OR CERTAIN CRIME THERE ARE THERE IS ASSISTANCE TO GO THROUGH THEM GOT IT.  THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WHOLE TEAM.  YOU GUYS DO DO AMAZING WORK ALWAYS RESPONSIVE.  I KNOW I'M ALWAYS REACHING OUT TO SUPERINTENDENT OUT THE DOOR AND HE'S ALWAYS SHOWING UP. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THIS AREA AND I GUESS NUMBER 067030678 IS ADJOURNED