Travis County Commssioners Court
December 28, 2004
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Item 3
Number 3 is to approve resolution acknowledging the Austin silent flyers as an official adopt-a-park participant at the Travis County northeast metropolitan park.
>> thank you, judge. We have three folks that we would like to invite to join us at the table here. In terms of my left to right we have brown goodwin, the president of the Austin fliers, tony bermudez and lou adams, secretary. I should say silent fliers which is one of the reasons that they are able to make this kind of move into northeast metro park. What we've got here are folks that use the silent gliders and I know when they first came in to talk to me, it's not like the [bzzz] ones, but it's silent. We had a part of the park that was fallow, had not been used, turns out this is a perfect place for them to do their glider planes. In the time that they have been using this area, their membership has grown three fold in four months. So they wanted to apply for don't a park status so they could not only be users of the park, but help us out in terms of performing community service and other types of beautification projects. They are also exploring field demonstration days so that those who don't know what they do can find out what they do and perhaps also get into this sport. I would like to read the resolution that will initiate getting all of this to happen. We want to acknowledge the Austin silent fliers as a Travis County adopt a park participant for the southwest fields at Travis County northeast metropolitan park, whereas Travis County owns and maintains a 428-acre multi-use sport and recreation facility at northeast metro park located east of Pflugerville in Travis County and whereas the park currently provides soccer fields, baseball fields, multi-use fields, tennis, basketball, picnicking, multi-purpose and equestrian trails, whereas non-profit remote control glider flying and do not have motors and create no noise pollution or any negative impact on the park, and whereas these non-motorized gliders require large fields with thermal updrafts that are distant from other radio sources to be controlled and it turns out we have an undeveloped field in the southwest quadrant that is not being used for any recreational purpose and meets all of the criteria needed for remote control flying, whereas we have an adopt a park program for groups and organizations to volunteer to perform community service and improvements in the parks in exchange for public recognition; therefore be it resolved that the county agrees to recognize the Austin silent fliers as an official adopt a park participant at the Travis County northeast metropolitan park. I would move approval.
>> second.
>> welcome.
>> good morning.
>> good morning.
>> thank you. That's a great honor to be a part of the park system. I think we bring a nice asset to the Travis County park system that they haven't had before, so thank you so very much for allowing us to become part of your family. And to dan perry and the group at the Travis County park service and his entire crew out of there who have done so much to help us, bring us into the system and work with us along the way. So thank you for your help.
>> lou, if somebody wanted to swing by and happen upon you all, when would they see you all out there in terms of on a regular basis?
>> I would say most likely on the weekends of course because the majority of the people have time off, that's when they fly. This week we will be flying periodically all week long. So we have a website, you can look us up, all of the information is posted there as to when we fly our activities. You can go to www.austinfliers.net where there's really wonderful forums there and people who are interested in aviation, children maybe pursuing an aeronautical career and it's great.
>> we always welcome groups like this to come into the park system and community projects. Welcome, thank you for joining us.
>> thank you.
>> what size are the planes.
>> they vary in size from as install as two feet wing span to up to 3 meters. Some of them are over 100-inch wing span.
>> is there any -- [indiscernible] could you come on this side?
>> did you come down on this item?
>> yes.
>> [indiscernible]
>> anything that we need to hear?
>> no, nothing.
>> legally everything is all right, do you think?
>> uh-huh.
>> we do have an adopt a park program.
>> yes.
>> and the liability issues have been reviewed and -- in other contracts?
>> yes, as far as I understand, yes.
>> we will -- judge, we also train the groups, give them some safety training. We have basically an agreement of terms on what we expect them to do and what we will do for them. So -- so it is a -- it is an organized program.
>> and we have the wind surfers do the same kind of activity at windy point. We encourage others out there on the adopt a park program.
>> what kind of competition do you have? Is it a competitive nature or do I have you have to learn or --
>> we have a both. A lot of just flying teaching them, also occasional contest that's are based on duration in the air and landing close to a spot and that kind of a thing. And they are open to anybody that -- that has gliders. We are going to announce them all over the state because there are other clubs around that would like to come and fly at this field as well.
>> thank you.
>> great. Glad you're with us.
>> so -- so in the other -- in the other adopt a park agreements, court approval is by resolution? Or by contract?
>> actually, we've had agreements, signed agreements, we expect to have a signed agreement in this instance as well.
>> okay. Just wondering. Any more discussion of the motion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Good luck to you all.
>> thank you.
>> thank you very much.
>> we'll look forward to working with you.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, December 28, 2004 3:19 PM