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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-23-2024 PR Minutes w/AttachmentI1T/ V PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 Call to Order -- Chairperson Drumheller called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Pledae of Alleaiance was recited by all. Roll Call Present Mr. Mauro Ms. Drumheller Mr. Renzi Not Present Mr. Abrahao (Alternate) Also Present Mr. Halleran (Alternate) Ms. White Ms. Webster Jennifer Cockcroft, City Attorney Richard Blankenship, Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Perez, AV Technical Assistant Janet Graham, Technical Writer Announcements and Aaenda Modifications -- None Approval of Minutes -- August 26, 2024 Ms. Drumheller stated that there is one change in the Roll Call. The alternate, Mr. Abrahao, was unexcused at the last meeting. There were no other changes to the Minutes of August 26, 2024. All having indicated they had had a chance to read the Minutes, a motion approving the Minutes of August 26, 2024 as amended, was made by Ms. Webster, seconded by Mr. Mauro, and approved unanimously via voice vote. VI. Public Input Ardich Hale, 756 New Hall Terrace, Sebastian asked about the pool, which is managed by the County. She inquired if this Committee has any knowledge of any recreational developments scheduled for any of the undeveloped land in Sebastian. She said there are three City lots across the street from her property, and right now they are undeveloped. Mr. Blankenship stated that at the present time there are no plans for any type of amenities in that area. He does not know about Stormwater, but for Parks there is no plan. Ms. White suggested how Ms. Hale can keep track any new developments by PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 2 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 checking the agendas and the City's website. Ms. Hale also recalled that several years ago there was discussion regarding a new community center for Sebastian. She asked if anything has been done regarding that subject. Ms. Drumheller said there is nothing currently being discussed about a new community center. Paul Halleran, Sebastian. He stated that at last month's meeting he asked about a time capsule —if the Committee knew about a time capsule. He contacted the Centennial Committee, and they said that there are two time capsules: one with Vero Beach placed in 1976 and will be opened in 100 years, 2076. The other one is in Riverview Park with no mention of when it will be opened. This one was placed in 2004. He will ask where it is located, and he should have that information at this Committee's next meeting. Ms. White said it would be interesting to know why it was placed in 2004. VII. Unfinished Business Ms. Drumheller called for comments/questions relating to Unfinished Business. Mr. Mauro stated he is still waiting on how much is actually charged for the impact fees. Mr. Blankenship said he will get that information and mail it to the Committee members. Ms. Drumheller said that when she emailed Mr. Blankenship about that before this meeting, he sent out the budget again with the impact fee information. She thinks what the Committee members want to know is, they see all this building, but they are not seeing a lot of money going into our funds. On top of what the fee is, she would actually like to know when it gets paid. She opined that it looks like it should be more. Mr. Blankenship said he will email the Committee members all that information so that we are not speculating on it. Mr. Renzi asked Mr. Blankenship what is being considered for Riverview Park planning. Mr. Blankenship said it is still in conceptual design, and he estimated staff will be bringing that concept to this Committee probably in early November. Ms. Drumheller asked if that will go before a Public Input meeting before it comes to this Committee. Mr. Blankenship said it will go to a public meeting for input. Ms. Drumheller asked if that happens before it comes to this Committee. Mr. Blankenship said it will be very close to that time. Ms. Drumheller said it seems that between meetings she wants to make sure that all the Committee members have some notice before that meeting, as she thinks that most of the Committee members would like to be there A. Current Project(s) Update Riverview Park PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 3 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 Mr. Blankenship said Riverview Park planning continues. Staff should be coming to this Committee shortly with some conceptual plans. Bryant Court Playground replacement planning Mr. Blankenship reviewed that at the last meeting staff brought a grant opportunity to this Committee for Bryant Court Playground. However, the situation there has changed as far as funding goes. Tonight, later on per the agenda, is approval of a FRDAP application for Friendship Park Playground. Bryant Court is still getting a playground; it is just going to be funded differently. III. Backstops at Barber Street replacement RFP Mr. Blankenship announced that staff has finally gotten the designs for the backstops. They are being reviewed now, and they will go out on the street shortly. There is a very tight window to get this done because staff wants to get it done before spring ball, but they are in the middle of fall ball now. So, there is part of November, some of December and some of January when this can be done. iv. Special Event Policy Discussion This discussion went to City Council at their last meeting, and what was decided was to just increase the fees for for -profit events — up the fees and then add some more responsibilities since it is being applied to for -profit events for overtime staffing for Waste Management. That all will be codified shortly and become part of the City's policy. Ms. Drumheller asked regarding when that item is put together, can the Committee members get a copy of the policy. She added that there has been a lot of discussion about fees and how the new fee schedule is going to impact Parks and Recreation. Mr. Blankenship asked the Committee members to keep in mind that there will be two readings because it is an ordinance amendment. He will email it to the Committee members once it is drafted. Born Learning Trail October 26, 2024 from 8 a.m. to noon. Mr. Blankenship thinks FPL and/or Publix are providing the bulk of the volunteers, but it is open to the public. He will send this Committee more information. He added that the trail will be constructed and opened the same day B. Committee Member Park Updates PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 4 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 Mr. Renzi -- His parks are good. Regarding Riverview Park, he really would like to see the bushes trimmed where the parking spaces are along the river. He suggested trimming them down to about six feet so that people have a view of the river. Mr. Blankenship said the City is very limited on what can be done there. Mr. Renzi said he thought they could be trimmed down to six feet. Mr. Blankenship said that is not his understanding. He will go back to the previous Minutes where this matter was discussed. Ms. White agrees that she would like to see the bushes/trees trimmed to six feet. Ms. White -- Easy Street Park -- She has been walking that a lot, especially at night when it is cooler. She has seen a lot of grass cuttings in the water. Mr. Blankenship said that was just treated approximately two weeks ago, and it does take a little bit of time for the grass/algae to be eliminated. She said there are lots of baby ducks, and they sit in the road and help to slow the traffic down. Mr. Mauro — His parks are all good except the pickleball courts. One of the wind screens is down on the parking lot side, and the wind screen on the west end is missing completely. Mr. Halleran -- He visited the George Street Park recently and did some personal maintenance such as pruning and weeding. There are also some curb bumpers that had gotten low in the grass. He was able to pry those up, and they look a little bit more presentable right now. He has not been over to Bryant, but that will be the next park he visits. Ms. Drumheller -- Periwinkle Park is getting more use. She goes to the Garden Club Park early in the morning, and there are a lot of folks who go there and sit down and watch the water. She is happy to see that these parks are getting more use. She has not found anything that needs attention in either of those parks. Mr. Abrahao will have to figure out what he is doing with his parks at another time. C. Upcoming Events at Riverview Park i. Coastal Cleanup September 21, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. ii. Gold Star Families Memorial Unveiling September 29, 2024 11:00 a.m. iii. Hunt for Hope Scavenger Hunt September 28, 2024 9:00 a.m. iv. Craft Club Event October 12, 2024 9:00 a.m. V. Community Night Out October 17, 2024 5:00 p.m. vi. Halloween Costume Contest and Movie Night October 18, 2024 5:00 p.m. vii. Living Shoreline Volunteer Days with ORCA October 18 to October 20, 20 PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 5 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 viii. Junior Blue Water Open October 26, 2024 8:00 a.m. ix. Day of Caring Veterans Memorial 8:00 a.m. Mr. Blankenship said that, unless the Committee members want him to, he will not go through each one of these individually. Ms. Drumheller asked if anyone has any questions on the upcoming events at Riverview Park. Ms. Webster asked regarding the Halloween Costume Contest. Mr. Blankenship asked if anyone wants to volunteer to judge, there will be the standard categories. And we will also have the Pioneer Days category. Whoever wins that will be featured at the December 8"' Centennial event. Ms. Webster, Mr. Halleran, Ms. White, and Mr. Renzi volunteered. Mr. Blankenship also addressed the Living Shoreline Volunteer Days with ORCA. That weekend they will be placing several hundred oyster pots right there off of Riverview Park at the kayak launch area. There will be three volunteer days. He will send the flyer for volunteers to the Committee members if they want to participate. Mr. Renzi asked what Community Night entails. Mr. Blankenship said the Police Department sponsors Community Night. He is not sure what all it entails. It is like a national night out event where they highlight the things that the Police Department is involved in. VIII. New Business A. Sunshine Law Training Mr. Blankenship introduced Jennifer Cockcroft, City Attorney, who will be guiding the Committee members through this refresher. Ms. Cockcroft introduced herself and described what the Advisory Committee does and that they get their jurisdiction through the City Council. She then described what the mission of this Committee is. There were slides on the projector on which she spoke about in depth, describing the rules and procedures for the Committee and the rules and procedures for conducting the meetings. She also described the changes regarding alternate members of the Committee and what their duties are. She also reviewed the rules regarding discussions between or among Committee members outside of the Committee meetings PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 PAGE 6 Mr. Renzi asked why this has not been done in the past. Ms. Cockcroft explained that there have recently been some changes, and it was thought by staff that it would be good to have the Committees and Boards given a refresher on these matters. B. Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program Grant -- Friendship Park Playground -- $50,000.00 Mr. Blankenship explained that this item is seeking approval of the Advisory Committee to apply for a Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program Grant to replace the playground at Friendship Park. At the last meeting, staff came to you with two similar requests, but again, Bryant Park is going to be funded a different way, and he did not want to waste the grant opportunity. Thus, he is asking tonight for the Committee's approval to proceed with this grant for Friendship Park. There being no public input on this matter, Ms. Drumheller called for a motion. A motion recommending applying for the FRDAPG for Friendship Park was made by Ms. Webster, seconded by Mr. Renzi, and approved unanimously via voice vote. C. Items for the Next Acenda and Date: November 18, 2024 Ms. Drumheller stated that the October meeting is cancelled because of early voting. Mr. Blankenship said the date for the next meeting will be November 18, 2024. IX. Adjourn There being no further business, Chairperson Drumheller adjourned the meeting at 6:59 p.m. By: Date: Vicki Drumheller, Chairperson 19