Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-22-2024 PR MinutesPARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING JULY 22, 2024 I. Call to Order -- Chairperson Drumheller called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. II. Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all. III. Roll Call Present Mr. Mauro Mr. Renzi Ms. Drumheller Mr. Halleran Not Present Mr. Abrahao -- Excused Ms. White -- Excused Ms. Webster -- Excused IV. Announcements and Agenda Modifications -- None V. Approval of Minutes A. Meeting Minutes from June 24, 2024 All having indicated they had had a chance to read the Minutes, a motion approving the Minutes of June 24, 2024 as presented was made by Mr. Renzi, seconded by Mr. Mauro, and approved unanimously via voice vote. VI. Public Input -- None VII. Unfinished Business A. Current Project(s) Update Riverview Park Planning Mr. Blankenship stated he keeps Riverview Park on the agenda so the Committee can be updated as the City staff moves forward with the planning. He announced that the City staff was notified that they did receive the large Land -and -Water Conservation Grant for $1.5 million for Riverview Park. So that is a good starting point for this redevelopment. As far as the plans go, the consultant is still working on them, and they will be available to the public at some point this fall. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 2 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING ii. Bryant Court Playground replacement planning Mr. Blankenship stated that it is on the CIP schedule to be replaced in 2025. Staff has already started getting proposals from playground companies. Later on, there will be an item on the agenda to review the sketches, etc. Mr. Blankenship also stated that there is an issue with the Friendship Park Playground, and it has been closed. The timeline between Bryant Court and Friendship Parks may have to be changed. Staff are going to go ahead and remove the Friendship Park Playground pending the ability to replace it. However, Bryant Park is still open. iii. Backstops at Barber Street replacement RFP Mr. Blankenship stated that the backstops at Barber Street are in the process of being designed now. iv. Special Event Policy Discussion Mr. Blankenship said staff will go back to City Council in the near future to give them some options to study for amending the City's special event policy as it relates to for -profit events. That is based on the discussion that was had by this Committee a couple of months ago about fees, etc. V. Born Learning Trail Mr. Blankenship said that he uploaded a video that he sent to members of this Committee after the June meeting. It is from the Fellsmere facility. All Committee members indicated that they had seen the video, and it was the consensus that they did not need to review it tonight. Mr. Blankenship stated that the project will be completed in October. FPL is going to be the service organization that does installation and all the other work that has to be done. Ms. Drumheller asked if there will be an opening celebration when that is completed. Mr. Blankenship said it will be a Saturday in October. B. Committee Member Park Updates Park Assignments Ms. Drumheller referred to the list on the last page of the agenda packet. After discussion, the following changes were made: Mr. Mauro will assume Blossom Street Park, as Mr. Denise has resigned from the Committee. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 3 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING JULY 22, 2024 Mr. Halleran will assume the Bryant Street Park and the George Street Park due to the resignations of Mr. Allen and Mr. Danise respectively. Mr. Abrahao will assume the Schumann Drive Park and the Kildaire Park due to the resignations of Mr. Allen and Mr. Danise respectively. None of the Committee members had anything to report on their assigned parks. Ms. Drumheller asked if staff had an opportunity to look at the benches in front of Crabby Bills to see if they could potentially be moved. Mr. Blankenship said he had not looked at the benches, but he is sure they could be moved. He just does not know if there is any reason why they should not be moved. Staff are going to do a walkthrough on Friday morning, and they will look at them. C. Upcoming Events at Riverview Park Mr. Blankenship said there are no upcoming events of significance scheduled for Riverview Park until September. 19IIIIIIIIIIIIIII0"I ffM ILA? A. Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program Grant -- Swing -and -Bench Park, $50,000.00. Mr. Blankenship stated that one of the requirements of FRDAP is that the City has to take the idea to a citizen board for discussion. This is a $50,000.00 nonmatching grant, meaning the City does not have to put any money up in addition to the grant to do the construction for this project. Staff is doing the planning and permitting now. These funds will be to do the actual work. Ms. Drumheller asked how long this grant would be available Mr. Blankenship said it would be budgeted for fiscal year 2025, and then the City would have three years to complete the project. Ms. Drumheller asked if there was any public input on this item. There was none. B. Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program Grant -- Bryant Court Playground $50,000.00, Mr. Blankenship said that this is the same grant amount, but for the Bryant Court Playground and amenities. The City has money budgeted for the playground. That budget was set up several years ago. There will be some additional funds needed for amenities and the playground. That will be for the 2025 budget. I�_1:7:6�_1�1�7:7�7�r[�P►I_R�IF'�i7:�-LK�L�h�Ir�r� ' • •� MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING JULY 22, 2024 Ms. Drumheller asked if there was any public input on this item. There was none. C. Swing -and -Bench Park Shoreline Stabilization Mr. Blankenship said that this item is to advise the Committee that the Swing -and -Bench shoreline stabilization is under design and permitting. Before anything further is done, all of that information will be brought back to the Advisory Committee for review. Ms. Drumheller asked if there was any public input on this item. There was none. D. FY 2025 Preposed Operating Budget and Capital Improvements Budget Mr. Benton reviewed the projected budget and balances for Parks and Recreation up to and including fiscal year 29-30. He discussed in detail the Parks and Recreation funding for fiscal year 2024-2025. Mr. Blankenship also spoke on some projects. Mr. Benton spoke on items that fall within Parks and Recreation out of CRA. He described those items as adding two additional staff members plus all the equipment needed to maintain Riverview Park and north all the way to Jackson Street. That would eliminate the third - party contractor that is currently used. CRA would fund the equipment on a one-time basis, and they are contributing to the staffing as well. He talked about the other projects that fall within the CRA district. He spoke about how the heavy use of Riverview Park takes a toll on the property. He is hoping to get a sustainable product there that can last a while and will be more presentable to the public and all the events that are held there. Ms. Drumheller called for comments/questions on this item. Mr. Mauro asked about new pickleball courts. He asked how this Committee goes about injecting pickleball into future budgets. Mr. Benton explained that there is some aging infrastructure related to the Community Center and other areas such as Riverview Park and other elements in the City that are aging. They have risen to the priority level. The City Council is focused on roads and stormwater. Those areas are major concerns for all of the City's residents. He explained that pickleball is not shown on this budget, but it is a discussion that Mr. Blankenship and Mr. Benton have had. Staff are applying for grants on several of the items on the 2025 budget. He estimated that in the next year or so pickleball will show up in the budget. He added that the airport has a lot of development going on presently. There are discussions about what they are going to do with the front parcel that is next to pickleball. Once we get to the time when the City begins to expand south a bit —possibly the annexation area —that would be a perfect opportunity to expand and add those elements. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 5 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING JULY 22, 2024 Mr. Mauro asked regarding the impact fees for new homes, if there is a dollar amount attached to those fees. Mr. Benton said he will get the answer and will send it out to the Committee members in the next day or two. Ms. Drumheller opined that the impact fees do not seem like they are enough. Mr. Benton stated that a lot was used for the pickleball project. That was mainly funded by recreation impact fees, and last year the creative playground used a lot as well. Mr. Renzi asked whom do citizens contact about the cemetery, if they want to get a plot. Mr. Benton said they can come to the City Clerk's office here at City Hall, of they can go to the cemetery, as there are staff there. They can also go to Mr. Blankenship. IX. Items for the Next Aoenda and Date -- August 26, 2024 There was discussion about the date for the next meeting. It was the consensus that it would be August 26, 2024. Ms. Drumheller called for a motion on this item. A motion setting the date for the next meeting of this Committee as August 26, 2024 was made by Mr. Renzi, seconded by Mr. Mauro, and approved unanimously via voice vote. X. Adiourn There being no further business, Ms. Drumheller adjourned the meeting at 6:44 p.m. By: A Date: � Av- � *ic�irumheller, Chairperson 6 jg