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PR 01-23-90 MinSPPARKSfRECREATIOfV ADVISSRY BOARD "special Meeting with City Administrator" Januar- ;f 2S , ~~~t~ PRESCI~(T: L~ret Segrest, Chairman Gary Parker 14ay Gamb l s` Pat Hockenberry ('Mary VoZ(<ening Bill. Goebel, Parks/Recreation Director ("(ichael Abell, City Administrator !'"t,-. Securest called the :f+eetinr~ too order at ~:~4 i~.(-'t, He explained that this special meeting was requested because the board needed to discuss a few items with i"'!r. Abell, ~faho 4Nas unable to attend the last par-F: meeting. Mr. Segrest comr-nented on changes made in Candyland Park without the board being advised of these changes. Mr. Parker used as an exarnple the decision to use sod in the place as sprigs, which is more expensive. At this time, Mr. Abell e;~presaed his views regarding the Park and Recreation Advisory Board. The board is a general overall advisory board to set the tone and direction of the Parks and Recreation programs within the city and be the advisory board back to the commission, as :Nell as the staff on what direction things are going. Ms. Hor_kenberry asked Mr. Abell his expectations of the Park and Recreation Advisory Board. Mr. Abell explained that he feels the board is a "°olicy type" board. The board needs to promote activities to pull the residents together. Por example, when the toys arrive for the parks, get the community involved. The C:.ty Government is looked on as having a vested interest in a community type project. However the Park Board has not vested interest. The people will respond more if the Park Board members initiate these type of projects. Mr. Hockenberry stated t!-~at she wants to set a five year goal -For each park. (~(s. HocF:enberry's concern is that there is no planning. Mr. Goebel explained that the things that are happening now, have beery planned and worked on for the past two years. Ms. Hoc.kenberry then asked whose responsibil.7.ty is it to make the decisions. Mr. Goebel stated that it is the boards responsibility to car:~e forth !Kith the ideas they want to see done in each of the parks. Take those ideas to h1r . Goebel and i"Ir . Goebel forward this in-Formation to the commission. Mr. Abel.s sr.rggested thinking in a larger volume. Ms. Volkening questioned can the board members meet and discuss possible plans and do "leg work" without breaking the Sunshine Law. Mr. Abell stated that they can meet and do their leg work, just advise (sr. Goebel in case someone questions what the board is doing, I"lr, Goebel a1i11 not be in the dark. PARKSi RECREAT I DN AI~V I SDRY HDARD Page Two i~1r. Segr~est r_ommented on Candyland Park. being all league play. I-fe feared tf7at the park would not be open for the gener-al public. Mr. i7aebel state that he did not understand the board's complaint. He reminded the board that he has disco°~~sed the park=~~ status report at each meeting. i"ir. Parker commented on the use of the fields. He stated that his son does not play in the Babe Ruth league, he plays in the Seminole Pony league. Furthermore ti-iey are a Longwood resident. Nlr. Parker stated they t^.~ould like to use the fields as well as the Babe Ruth league. Mr. Abell questioned if he wanted use of the fields for play o:- practice. fhr. Par°ker advised that the Pony league has fields fcr play, but are in need of fields for- practice. P'lr. Abell gave the board an observation that he made from the city he left to c=ome to Longwood. They did use the =_ame fields for practise and games. The fields were destroyed. There is alot of time and monies going into mal•:ing the fields (and the parks) first class. Practicing on the same fields that play is scheduled ,lust can't happen. Mr. Abets advised I`1r. Parker that Pony league is welcome to use the fields for game play, the same as Babe Ruth. No one, including Babe Rutt°, will be using the fields for practice. Mr. Parker stated that the city maintains the fields and tax dollars go to that maintenance. The Pon}~ league ha:~ no problem paying the same monies that Babe Ruth pays. Mr. Abell expressed his concern witl~ having only five (5) people to maintain the fields under game conditions. He stated that he feels tine city need= a couple of practice fields, with minimum maintain. Mr. Abell also commented that other cities, as an e>:ample Altamonte Springs doesn't allow practice on the game fields. Ms. Nockenberry asked if an nrdiance could be passed to keep this from coming up again and again. Ms. Volkening stated that there is already an ordinance. I`1r. Abell stated the ordinance does not cover practicing on tl-~re fielcls. Mr. Abell feels that this is anot{-rer administrative determination. Ms. Volkening asked what constitutes a private park from a public park. A public park is city owned land or land donated and deedecs over to the c i ty . A general discussion began, over- more parks ~.n the city, preferrably a large park over several small parks. Mr. Abell stressed ti-,e point that the board presenting ideas and desires wi?.l get more attention than if he expressed the same desires, due to the board having no vested interest. Ms. Hacker-rberry questioned having fund raisers. P'ir-. Abell passed around pictures of a fund raiser that took place in Defiance, Qhi^. A community group sold monuments to individuals. The manumerrts were place in ti~~e sidewalks running between two parks. These monuments sold for ~ 10)0.00 to ~4C7Q. ~J(~ each . PARkCSJRECREAT T ON AD'J I SOR'Y BOARD Page Three General. discussion began regarding additior~al personnel for the Parks and Recreation department, i•1-- Segr-est questioned ha~~,•ing a grand opening in Candyland Par:-_:. zr=. Abels stated that t;he board r-reeds to decide exactly what they want to da, ther-r take control. Nlr. Abels did advise the baard to remember to include the City Cammissianers. Bring your ideas to the commission, let them add their ideas. !`'1r-. Goebel advised that there wi1'l. be games playing in the park before the actual opening. The park is scheduled to open mid April. !`Es. Uolkening suggests the grand opening to be July 4th. ~'lr. Segrest questioned if any t!-zing can be done regarding the Safety of Reiter Park. Mr. Goebel stated that a portion of the ball diamond is on -Fire department property. Mr. Goebel and the fire department have disCUSSed turning the field around. I-lowever, nothing will be done until after the baseball season. t°1r. Se ;rest asked if it ~,~as passible to nave a fund raiser just for Parks. Mr Abels suggested to target what the baard wants and dedicate the fund raiser to whatever that target may be. Ms. 1.~o1F:ening asked what should the members stay away from in this regard. t`1s-. Abels suggested caminc~ up :~~ith the idea and then meeting with Ric Halt, the City Finance Director and Richard Taylor, the City Attorney to help set up the protect. The meeting was adjourned at 7:3D P.f`1.