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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-2024 PR MinutesPARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2024 I. Call to Order -- Chairperson Drumheller called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. II. Pledge of Alleqiance was recited by all. III. Roll Call Present Ms. Webster Ms. White Mr. Halleran (alternate) Mr. Renzi Ms. Drumheller Mr. Mauro Not Present Mr. Abrahao (Alternate) Also Present Richard Blankenship, Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Perez, AV Technical Assistant Janet Graham, Technical Writer IV. Announcements and Agenda Modifications -- None V. Aooroval of Minutes A. Meeting Minutes from September 23, 2024 All having indicated they had reviewed the Minutes of September 23, 2024, a motion to approve the Minutes of September 23, 2024 as presented was made by Ms. Webster, seconded by Mr. Renzi, and approved unanimously via voice vote. VI. Public Input -- None VII. Unfinished Business A. Current Project(s) Update i. Riverview Park Planning Mr. Blankenship stated that Riverview Park planning continues. There is a follow-up meeting with the consultant next week. He stated that staff anticipates coming back to Council and the public maybe in December, but definitely by January. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 2 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2024 Backstops at Barber Street Replacement Update Mr. Blankenship reported that the backstops at Barber Street went out for bids. The bids came back 4X or 5X higher than what had been budgeted. He stated that project will be done in house. The design will be changed slightly, but they will be done in house and be under budget. iii. Born Learning Trail October 26, 2024 follow-up Mr. Blankenship said he left this item on here just to recognize that the October 26 United Way, FPL and Park staff were able to construct the Born Learning Trail at Easy Street Park, and he stated it is getting quite a bit of use. Ms. Drumheller asked if there has been much activity at that park. Ms. White said not yet, but she opined that during the summer when kids are there longer periods of time it will increase. She said she really likes the sidewalk painting. B. Committee Member Park Updates Mr. Renzi stated all his parks are doing well. He inquired as to what is happening with Riverview Park Mr. Blankenship stated that the redesign segment is still in the consultant's hands. Staff will have a meeting next week on this matter. Staff should then be coming back to the public and Council sometime in January. Ms. Drumheller asked if the Riverview Park Planning will first go back to public input. Mr. Blankenship stated it will not go for public input because we have already had that phase. It will be more of an unveiling of the design for Council. It will be a Council/public joint unveiling for comment. He would hope that it will go for approval at that time as well. He said that he believes it will come to this Advisory Committee first. He hopes to have a draft to be presented at the December meeting. Ms. Drumheller stated that, since that is a very large project, when it comes to this Committee, it does not come to us to attempt to go through all that in one meeting. She stated she thinks this committee needs to digest it some, think about it, and then have some discussion. She would like to see if it would be possible to have that as an agenda item for a couple of meetings. There was more general discussion on this matter. Ms. White asked if the grass or whatever is floating on top of the water at Easy Street has been addressed. Mr. Blankenship said it was treated in mid -October, and it takes several treatments. He stated that one of the reasons there is so much algae is because we have had so much rain. It is due for another treatment. Ms. White stated she spoke to the City Manager regarding the apron to the parking lot at Easy Street and the fresh cement installation coincided with Halloween. She said that everyone parked around the park, and there were lots of kids there for trick or treat. She added that she walked out on one of the docks at Riverview Park, and there are two telescopes at the end of the short dock, and one is not working and it is wobbly on the stand. She also stated that she noted that the water pressure on the water fountain is nonexistent. Ms. Webster said her parks are in good shape. Mr. Mauro said the Yacht Club and Main Street Boat Ramp are both okay. He already mentioned to Mr. Blankenship the caps on the gate at Blossom Street. At the pickleball courts there is missing a windscreen on the west side of the courts. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 3 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2024 Ms. Drumheller said Filbert Street Park is fine. She had a friend who donated a couple of trees at Garden Club Park, and they were planted there. This friend also wanted to know if she could purchase through the City an "In -Memory -of..." plaque. Mr. Blankenship said the City is working on a whole new memorial program, so she will be able to do that. That program will be in effect by January. Ms. Drumheller stated that that project is still under scrutiny, and it is going to go to Council to be approved. Mr. Blankenship said the only difference is that the City is going web - based vs. hard copy. Ms. Drumheller said she sees a little bit more activity at Periwinkle Park. Ms. Drumheller mentioned that there are two other parks that were assigned to Mr. Abrahao, but he has not attended any meetings. Those are Schumann Drive Park and Kildare Park. Mr. Blankenship said he is scheduled to have a meeting with Mr. Abrahao this coming Friday, and that will be addressed with him. Ms. Drumheller said that will be put on the next agenda. Mr. Halleran said the city crews did a great job cleaning up after the hurricane. He went by the park yesterday, and there was no litter to speak of. He stated he is hoping to get some native plants. He suggested he will speak to the Natural Resources Board about that. Ms. Webster asked about the Volunteer of the Year program. Mr. Blankenship said he will get with the City Manager to determine what is going to be done on that item. He said there were only two entries. Ms. White said she recommends following through with that program, even though there may be just a few entries at first. But people might be aware of it after it is begun. Ms. Drumheller said there can be more discussion on that when we get to the next item on the agenda. C. Upcoming Events at Riverview Park December 7, 2024 Mr. Blankenship said the first weekend in December will be very busy as follows: a. Pearl Harbor Ceremony Ms. Drumheller asked what time that event is scheduled to start. Mr. Blankenship said he believes it is at 9:00 a.m., but he is not certain about that. He will email the board members with the start time. b. Hullabaloo Craft Beer event c. Christmas Parade Mr. Blankenship said the deadline for entering the Christmas Parade is this coming Friday. The deadline for vendors to sign up for the Centennial Event is this coming Friday. The applications are on the City's website. Ms. White said she has mentioned this several times in the past, but she does not understand why the Sebastian parade and the Vero Beach parade cannot be on different dates. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 4 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2024 December 8, 2024 Centennial Celebration a. Festivities begin with the parade at 10:00 a.m. and conclude with fireworks at 6:00 p.m. Staff will provide a run of show. The Clydesdales will be that whole parade, and the City's elected officials will be on that float. The other festivities start at 10:45 a.m. going all the way to approximately 6:15 p.m. with the fireworks. He described some of the activities. The fireworks will be where they were for July 41. Regarding Centennial merchandise, Ms. White announced that tee shirts, the silver medallions, and the commemorative tree ornaments are still available at City Hall. Mr. Blankenship also mentioned that Light -Up Night is Friday night, December 61h. VIII. New Business A. Bryant Court Playground design and surface selection Mr. Blankenship showed slides on the projector showing the present situation at the park. There were also slides showing the projected design. He stated that what he would like consensus on tonight is what type of surface should we use. We can use mulch, which is engineered mulch, or we can use the artificial surface, which will be an artificial grass surface that is ADA accessible. From a maintenance standpoint, staff would prefer the artificial grass surface because it is easier to maintain. The only maintenance issue there could be with that type of surface is that in the Florida sun the seams tend to need to be resewn every now and then between the rain and the sun, etc. What he is asking for tonight is consensus on either one — mulch or grass — but staff would prefer the artificial turf. The cost difference is $10,000.00. And the cost for both of these surfaces is under budget. The mulch is $64,000.00. The playground with the grass surface is $74,000.00. There was in-depth discussion on this item. After discussion, a motion to approve the artificial turf for the Bryant Court Playground was made by Ms. Webster, seconded by Mr. Renzi, and approved unanimously via voice vote. Mr. Blankenship added as an informational item that in all of the parks the City has been installing the outdoor AED cabinets. In 13 parks, these units will be available outside to the public. The process to accessing the AED is to call 911, and you will be given the code to get into the AED. Ms. White asked about the swing -and -bench park on the waterfront. Mr. Blankenship said the City has applied for several grants, but before that, the erosion has to be addressed. That is in permitting right now. He would guess that for this fiscal year that park will be done, assuming we get funded from the grants. Ms. Drumheller called for public input on these items, and there was no one in chambers or on Zoom. IX. Items for the Next Aoenda and Date: December 16, 2024 PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2024 PAGE 5 A. Ms. White asked for having a discussion on impact fees. Mr. Blankenship said that would be added to the agenda. B. Ms. Drumheller asked if the Committee members could have an update on discretionary spending. Mr. Blankenship said October was the new fiscal year, and a new replenishment was instituted then, which was $20,000.00. C. Ms. Webster asked if we could address putting additions on these playgrounds. Mr. Blankenship said we can discuss it. X. Adiournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Drumheller at 6:39 p.m. By: /1/� Date: Vic D umheller, Chairperson 19