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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-27-2023 PR MinutesPARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING MARCH 27, 2023 I. Call to Order -- Chairperson Webster called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 11. Pledoe of Alleoiance was said by all. III. Roll Call Present Ms. White Ms. Webster Mr. Denise Mr. Renzi Ms. Drumheller Mr. Mauro Not Present Mr. Agudelo -- Unexcused Also Present Mr. Brian Benton, Leisure Services Director Mr. Joseph Perez, AV Technical Assistant Ms. Janet Graham, Technical Writer IV. Announcements and Aaenda Modifications -- None V. Aooroval of Minutes — Meeting Minutes from February 27, 2023 Ms. Webster called for a motion. A motion to accept the Minutes as presented was made by Mr. Denise and seconded by Ms. Drumheller. Mr. Mauro had a correction. On Page 3 in the third paragraph where it reads "It is a 9-hole course," he asked that it be corrected to read "It is an 18-hole course." The motion and second previously made were pulled back by Mr. Denise and Ms. Drumheller. A new motion was made by Mr. Denise and seconded by Ms. Drumheller with the change as stated above. The motion was approved unanimously via voice vote. VI. Public Inout — None VII. Unfinished Business A. Current Project(s) Update Mr. Benton reviewed the project updates as follows: Playgrounds at Easy Street and Filbert Street Parks — Mr. Benton stated that at the last City Council meeting the City Council voted to accept the recommendation of this Committee on the playgrounds at Easy Street Park and Filbert Street Park. He received both purchase orders late today, and he will talk with both companies tomorrow and PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 2 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 27, 2023 start the timeline for processing those orders and going forward with both of those playgrounds. He stated he will provide the Committee members with updates via email and at the next meeting as to when it is anticipated that those installations are to be made. He added that at Filbert Street there will be an ADA-accessible parking space and sidewalks using the park improvement funds that are allocated this year. Yacht Club -- Continuing to address the damage to the dock from Hurricane Nicole, Mr. Benton said that he received the FDEP permit exemption in March. That was then forwarded directly to FEMA. At this time, he is just waiting on FEMA to give the go- ahead for this project. He has already gotten quotes for this work, and the City is ready to proceed with the dock work as soon as it is approved by FEMA. Mr. Benton added that the City has not yet gotten permit exemptions in for the other projects along the riverfront to include shoreline stabilization, Twin Piers dock repairs, and repairing that area as well. B. Committee Member Park Updates Mr. Mauro stated that, other than the work needed at the Yacht Club, the other dock areas seem to be in good shape. Regarding pickleball, he slated that the courts are very busy now, and he asked what the process would be to start to look for an area to add more courts. Mr. Benton stated that the procedure would be for this Committee to look into it and come up with some numbers. Then this Committee could make a recommendation to City Council. It would have to come from a majority of this Committee. If that is the direction he is given, then City staff can begin looking into it. Ms. Drumheller staled she did walk Filbert Park. She stated she did not like to walk the walking trail alone, especially in the evening. The Dog Park is fine, and Periwinkle Park is good also. Ms. White stated the Easy Street Park looks good other than the low water levels due to the lack of rain. The ducks are present and active. She said the tables have been pressure washed and look good. A lot of palms have also been trimmed. Mr. Renzi addressed the tree trimming in Riverview Park. He noted the workers did not have any caution tape up in the areas where they were working. The palms were being dropped pretty freely in two different spots. He opined that this might be a dangerous situation. Mr. Benton said the City uses a third -party landscaping company who maintains the Riverfront area, so he will address this issue with them going forward. Mr. Denise said he is proud to live in Sebastian, and staff are doing a fine job in maintaining the parks. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 3 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 27, 2023 Ms. Webster said she was part of the River Days (previously Shrimp Fast) event, and there was so much help from the City, and she said those people worked very hard. She also asked about Mr. Agudelo, since he has not been here in a while. Mr. Benton said that Mr. Agudelo has had quite a few unexcused absences. He does not usually receive notification prior to the meetings that Mr. Agudelo will not be present. Mr. Agudelo's term expires on May 31, 2023. Another option is that this Committee can make a recommendation to City Council to remove him from the Committee. That would have to be instituted at the April meeting if that is the consensus of this Committee. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee members to just let Mr. Agudelo's term expire. C. Upcoming Events at Riverview Park Mr. Benton reviewed the upcoming events as follows: Friday, April 70 is the City's annual Easter Egg Hunt at Riverview Park and the Twin Piers grass lot along the riverfront. Visits with the Easter Bunny will begin at 6:00 p.m., and the egg hunts will start at 7:15 p.m. That will be followed by baskets for the children who get the prize eggs. Then the Police Department movie night will begin at 7:45 p.m. He pointed out that the time schedule is backed up a little bit due to the time change. The movie is not possible to show until close to sunset. There will also be arts and crafts for the kids with some prizes and games and visits with photos taken with the Easter Bunny from 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. He invited the Committee members to come and help. Ms. While also mentioned a senior event, which she has pushed for a few years. Mr. Benton stated that is not planned for this year, but that might be revisited in the next budget year. On Saturday, April 8'", the Sebastian Craft Club will hold their monthly event starting at 10:00 a.m. and going till 3:00 p.m. On Friday, April 14t^ Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce will present their monthly Concert in the Park starting at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, April 22nd, the City will host its annual Earth Day Event at Riverview Park. The annual paper -shredding event will take place in the paved parking lot on the north side of Riverview Park which lasts from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Also, if anyone has any disposable computer goods and white goods, they can be taken to Barber Street Park from 9:00 a.m. to noon to be disposed of. He noted that the Park has been busy every weekend. Ms. White stated that the concerts put on by the Chamber of Commerce are very well attended. Vill. New Business A. Committee member discussion regarding potential disc golf course within the City Parks Mr. Benton stated that this item regarding disc golf has been discussed by this Committee since August of 2022. There has been interest shown in disc golf by the public. It was discussed at this Committee's October meeting. At that meeting, Mr. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 4 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 27, 2023 Todd Clifton attended and spoke on this item. Mr. Benton was given directions by this Committee to go out and meet with Mr. Clifton at the Filbert Street Park. Filbert Street was the only park that may be feasible for disc golf. It was noted that there are quite a few gopher tortoises in the park area. Mr. Benton opined that access to the walking path may have to be limited if disc golf is installed at the park. Mr. Clifton staled that he felt the Filbert Park area was adequate to install disc golf. Mr. Benton added that there are already disc golf courses near the City, one to the south and another to the north of the City, as well as a course at one of the local churches. Mr. Benton asked for commentsJquestions by the Committee members. Mr. Mauro was not in favor of a disc golf course at Filbert Street Park, and he mentioned some of the drawbacks such as no bathroom facilities, no lighting, the number of gopher turtles, etc. He also recognized that residents from that area have come here and spoken their minds as to not having disc golf at Filbert Street Park, and he agrees. He does not see the need to provide disc golf in the City unless there is some other land that becomes available in the future that would be more conducive to having a disc golf course. He also stated that he has not heard anyone from the public speak to this Committee in favor of developing a disc golf course in the City of Sebastian. Ms. Drumheller said she visits Filbert Street Park regularly, and she feels that the park is not conducive to having a disc golf course there. She suggested that Mr. Benton take this item off the agenda for future meetings. She feels that disc golf discussion should wait until there is additional land available in the City that would be conducive to disc golf. Ms. White stated that, if the public wants something, they need to be here and speak on it before this Committee makes decisions about items. Unless there is a large group of people coming to show the Committee that disc golf is something that they want to have, she is agreeable to putting the item on hold. Mr. Danise also suggested that this item be put on hold. Mr. Renzi agreed with the Committee that this item should be put on hold for now. Ms. Webster also agreed with putting this item on hold. She then called for public input on this item. Kathleen Simpson, 120 Landover Drive — She asked for clarification on whether this Committee is saying no to disc golf at Filbert Street Park. Ms. Webster said that the Committee is not moving forward with Filbert Street Park having disc golf. Ms. Simpson thanked the Committee. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 5 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 27, 2023 B. Discussion on location and installation of fencing around the Filbert Street Parking area Mr. Benton stated that with the new playground equipment that will be installed in the near future and some recent reports as well as reports in the past of motorized vehicles accessing the back perimeter of Filbert Street Park, staff has looked Into this over recent months and feels the need to install a fence around the parking area that would not allow motorized vehicles to get past the parking area. There are a lot of gopher tortoises in the park area, and motorized vehicles would disturb them. In addition, there should not be any activities taking place in the back portion of that park, especially at night. He is looking for approval from the Committee members for the City to install a fence that would establish a perimeter on the north side. The proposed fencing would create a large triangle area. There would be pedestrian access points, and there will be an ADA parking space and an accessible sidewalk to get to the playground equipment. There will be a large opening that will be chained off for the maintenance equipment to be able to access the back portion of the park. He also asked if it would be agreeable with the Committee to use the park improvement alloca0on since this is an unbudgeted item that staff has noticed a need for. At the far northern end of the Park where there is an existing fence, that fence needs to be extended up to the tree line so that vehicles cannot access off of Filbert Street. The fence will be a wooden split rail fence. Ms. Drumheller asked for an estimate of the cost from the discretionary fund. Mr. Benton said that the City has a fencing account that was put in this year for $7,000.00 for unexpected fencing repairs and maintenance. Since this is an upgrade to the facility, we can use the impact fees since it is an upgrade to the existing infrastructure at the facility. He anticipates that the need might be a couple thousand dollars, but his estimates may be high. Ms. White asked when the report on impact fees will be available. Mr. Benton said that is typically available in July. He pointed out that a large portion of that is going to be expended for playground replacements. Next year's creative playground is going to be a really big expenditure. There was general discussion regarding the discretionary funds used this year, and Mr. Benton feels comfortable that there are enough funds to cover the ADA sidewalk and parking area as well as the additional fencing. Ms. Webster called for public input on this item. Kathleen Simpson,120 Landover Drive -- She asked whether, if there is an accident in the park, will an ambulance be able to get in. Mr. Benton said yes, they will have access. He added that typically they like to get to the access point and stop because they do not know about the gopher tortoise burrows, etc. However, if they need to get through, they will have access. McKinney, 90 Joy Haven Drive — She thinks this is a fabulous plan and is very much needed. She asked if a sign could be installed staling that no motorized vehicles are permitted in the walking trails in the wooded area. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 27, 2023 PAGE 6 Ms. Webster called for a motion. A motion recommending that fencing be installed around the Filbert Street Park area and, if necessary, that the Committee's discretionary zone funds for any overage to fund that project to its completion was made by Ms. Drumheller, seconded by Mr. Danise, and approved unanimously via voice vote. IX. Items for the Next Agenda and Date: April 24, 2023 X. Adioum There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Webster at 6:40 p.m. By:, Q _� V Date: J/r�