HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-20-2019 PR MinutesCITY OF SEBASTIAN
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 20, 2019
Call to Omer — Chairperson Webster called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Pledoe of Alleaiance was recited by all.
3. Roll Call
Present:
Ms. Webster
Mr. Renzi (a)
Mr. Danise
Not Present:
Mr. Agudelo — Excused
Ms. White — Excused
Mr. Sims — Excused
Also Present:
Brian Benton, Leisure Services Director
Janet Graham, Technical Writer
4. Meetino Chair Makes Announcements
Ms. Webster announced that Mr. Sims, Ms. White, and Mr. Agudelo are excused from
tonight's meeting.
5. Aaenda Modifications -- None
6. Aooroval of Minutes — June 24, 2019 Meeting Minutes
A motion to approve the June 24, 2019 Minutes as presented was made by Mr. Danise,
seconded by Mr. Renzi, and passed unanimously via voice vote.
7. Unfinished Business
A. Committee Member Discussion on Park Improvements for the Current
Fiscal Year
Mr. Benton reviewed that each year there is a recreational impact fund from which park
improvements are made. There is a fund of $20,000.00 available for unexpected
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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 20, 2019
expenses that come up and can be used for that purpose. There is currently $12,487.74,
which leaves currently $7,512.26. He explained that later in the meeting he will describe
in detail what the funds have been used for. He inquired of the Committee if anyone has
anything they wanted to bring up that should be addressed. Anything that might be
needed must be addressed by September 30th, which is the end of this fiscal year.
Ms. Webster asked what happens to the $7,512.26 if it is not used during this fiscal year.
Mr. Benton stated it remains in the recreational impact fund, but it doesn't get added to
next year's budget specifically for the parks. There were no comments from the
Committee as to anything else that might be needed this fiscal year.
8. Public Input -- None
9. New Business
A. Football Scoreboard Replacement
Mr. Benton reviewed that there has been an issue with the football scoreboard at Barber
Street. Months were spent in trying to get the old scoreboard in good working order. After
trying to obtain replacement parts that were not always usable, it was decided to purchase
a new football scoreboard. That decision was made sometime around the end of July.
In discussion with the league personnel, he was informed that they had already set aside
some funds to help with the replacement of the scoreboard. After getting several quotes,
the quote that was decided on by the City was in the amount of $9,660.83. The football
scoreboard is much larger than the baseball scoreboards and has many more
components; thus the difference in the prices. The Sharks program agreed to reimburse
the City $4,000.00 towards the cost of the scoreboard. That $4,000.00 will be repaid over
a period of two years. There is a formal agreement in place between the City and the
Sharks as to the repayment terms.
Mr. Benton expects the scoreboard to be delivered next week or the week after. It will
take another four or so weeks to have it installed. Regular season tackle football begins
August 24th, and the Sharks requested to play away games for the first two games of the
season. So they're not home until September 7th. If there are issues which create the
scoreboard installation being delayed, the City will get a portable game clock from the
company they are purchasing the new one from, and it will be free of charge.
Mr. Benton asked for questions/comments from the Committee members
Mr. Renzi
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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 20, 2019
• Asked what the ages are of the players of tackle football. Mr. Benton replied that
flag football and maybe some tackle as well begins at about the age of five years
and goes up until the middle school age.
• Asked if the teams are members of the Pop Warner program. Mr. Benton said no,
not per se, but they are members of the local youth athletic association and play
other teams from Vero Beach and Brevard County.
Ms. Webster
• Added that there are four scoreboards for baseball and only one for football, so
they will closely equal each other as far as cost. Mr. Benton said there is only one
more baseball scoreboard to replace, and that is budgeted for the next fiscal year.
When that is installed, the City will have all new scoreboards at its ballfields.
10. Staff Matters
A. Current Project(s) Update
Mr. Benton provided an update on the projects that are being worked on within the City.
Pickleball Courts — Land clearing began on August 611h. Due to the large amount
of rain that we've had, there have been some delays. He was out to the site today,
and the work is now moving along. He estimates the project is still about three
months out from being close to completion.
Park Signage -- He left some sample images of the approved signage that staff
plans to begin installing within the parks. Those samples are on the dais for the
Committee members to look at. He added that the samples show grey poles. If
the signage is within the CRA district, it will have a grey pole. The parks that are
not within the CRA district will have black poles. City Council has approved the
design and color scheme for the signage. He estimates that the project will go out
for bids sometime in the next month or so. Once the signage is received, the parks
that don't presently have signage will get it first, then the parks with signs that need
to be replaced and so on.
Mr. Danise mentioned the sign at George Street has its visibility blocked by shrubs, and
it is hard to see until you're past it. Mr. Benton said he will see that the trees and bushes
around that signed get trimmed in the next day or so. He also stated the plan for signage
from now going forward is to put the signs up perpendicular to the streets/roads, so the
signs will be easier to see from both directions.
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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 20, 2019
Mr. Renzi asked aboutwhat material will be used. Mr. Benton stated they are still studying
whether to go with wood and foam or metal. That information will all be supplied by the
consultant on this project.
• Riverview Park — The consultant is going to deliver their conceptual plan to the
City this week for staff to review and provide feedback. He has asked some of the
people who are involved in the events in the park, as they are familiar with the
needs for those events. He will present the conceptual plan to the Committee at
its next meeting.
• Friendship Park — All of the lights there will have new lenses installed within the
next week.
• The Yacht Club — The seawall restoration at the north corner of the property is
nearing completion. The new sidewalk cement will be poured in the next day or
SO.
• Athletic Fields — Some of the sod was replaced at three of the softball/baseball
fields where it was wom. He intends to attend a little league coaches' meeting to
give them some information on how the turf can better be maintained. He will also
ask for input from the coaches as the City moves forward in improving the fields.
The football fields are also on the schedule to be improved.
He asked for questions or comments from the Committee.
Ms. Webster stated she is very pleased with the attention that is being paid to the baseball
and the football fields.
Mr. Danise said Mr. Benton and his staff are to be complimented on the work they are
performing in order to have the parks in the City in good order.
B. Board Opening
Mr. Benton announced that there is one Board opening that is an alternate position
available.
11. Board or Committee Member Matters
A. Committee Members Update on Their Parks
Mr. Danise is very pleased with his parks. Mr. Renzi also stated his parks are looking
very good.
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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 20, 2019
Ms. Webster asked about the condition of the batting cages. Mr. Benton stated he gave
the league permission to install a softer turf surface where the balls didn't take such hard
bounces and the balls wouldn't be damaged. The material was donated, but it has not
been anchored, and it is more of an indoor material. He stated the league personnel are
looking to purchase a material that is more of a turf surface that will withstand the
elements, and it can be glued down.
Mr. Danise inquired about the skateboard park. Mr. Benton stated that, effective
September 29th, there will not be City staff at the skate park on a daily basis. There will
be no charge to use the park, and perhaps that will create more interest in using the park.
12. Items for the Next Aaenda and Date: September 23. 2019
Mr. Benton asked, if any of the Committee members has anything they want to be put on
the agenda, to please let him know.
13. Adiourn
There being no further business, Chairperson Webster asked for a motion to adjourn the
meeting. A motion was made by Mr. Renzi and seconded by Mr. Denise to adjourn the
meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 6:27 p.m.
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