P&R06-07-11Min MINUTES
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISOR' BOARD
175 WEST WARREN AVENUE
LONGWOOD, FLORIDA
June 7, 2011
COMMISSION CHAMBERS 7:00 PM
Present: Lori Rice, Chair
Abigail Shoemaker, Vice Chair
Anna Rivera- Laguer, Member
Nicole Bright, Member
Shawn Anastasia, Member
Dave Putz, Member
Fran Meli, Leisure Services Director
Sarah M. Mirus, Recording Secretary
Absent: Alex Trauger, Member
1. Call to Order. Chair Rice called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m,
2. Approval of Minutes — May 3, 2011 Regular Meeting.
Member Putz moved to approve the Minutes as submitted. Seconded by
Member Anastasia and carried by a unanimous voice vote with Member
Trauger absent.
3. Public Participation. None.
4. Old Business.
A. Director of Leisure Service's Report.
Ms. Meli announced that Summer Camp began this week and it was going
well. She said they primarily had returning Counselors, which makes it
easier. She noted they have a new Camp Director, but he had been a
Counselor for a few years and noted it was working out very well. She
stated this week begins Family Movie Night and said she handed out a
flyer that included all the, upcoming events. She stated next week was the
Father /Daughter Dance and noted it was one of their favorite activities.
She said they were looking at a Mother /Son activity for next May. She
stated National Night Out was scheduled for August 2 °d . She said plans
were underway for the event and were working with the Police
Department. She outlined the food that would be provided! at the event.
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She said there would be the annual softball game between the Police
Department and Fire Department. She noted there would also be safety
exhibits on display. She outlined the three (3) movies to be shown at
Family Movie Night. She stated they did not know anything about Reiter
Park and were still waiting. She said regardless of whether or not they get
the money, the next step would be the design of the entire Park and noted
she was asking for additional monies in next year's budget. She stated
they were working on their budget right now and the revenue projections
were coming in lower than this year. She said hopefully the City would be
seeing property values start going up. She said at Candyland Park they just
finished a weekend tournament of twenty five (25) teams, and said that
was the largest tournament they held for Babe Ruth. She continued to
discuss upcoming tournaments that would be held in the summer at
Candyland Park. She then reviewed the dates for upcoming Parks and
Recreation Advisory Board meetings.
Vice Chair Shoemaker asked Ms. Meli to send by electronic mail her wish
list for the upcoming budget.
Ms. Meli said she would be asking for the same activities as they do every
year. She noted if she was going to add something, she would have to
remove something, and there was no guarantee to her having everything
she had this year. She said she would be glad to send via electronic mail
what she was requesting. Ms. Meli inquired if there were any events they
would like to see.
Vice Chair Shoemaker asked that Ms. Meli send the actual costs from past
events versus budgeted items.
Ms. Meli said they try to get donations and they were hard to come by
right now.
Discussion ensued regarding the next Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board meeting.
Discussion was held regarding the design of Reiter Park and possible
sponsorship for Reiter Park.
Ms. Meli stated her priority was Reiter Park and said she would send via
electronic mail to the Board Members when she heard about the grant for
Reiter Park. She said they applied and received a grant through the
Department of Energy to put two (2) car charging stations to be installed
at Reiter Park and Candyland Park within the next month and a half. She
then outlined the charges the City would be responsible for regarding the
car changing stations.
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Discussion ensued regarding the charges the City would be; responsible for
with the car changing stations.
Discussion continued regarding the next Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board meeting.
Vice Chair Shoemaker moved to not meet until October 4 and
have Ms. Meli update them via electronic mail and telephone, and
to have Ms. Meli call a Special Meeting if necessary. Seconded by
Member Rivera - Laguer and carried by a unanimous voice vote
with Member Trauger absent.
Ms. Meli outlined the schedule for the budget.
Member Rivera - Laguer expressed concern about the parking for events
held at Reiter Park.
Ms. Meli said Reiter Park had a parking area and said it was not for a lot
of cars. She said for overflow you could. go to the Hospital, and Church.
She said there was not much they could do about the parking.
Chair Rice noted it was helpful when the police were present at events.
Ms. Meli said the parking was going to be a problem. She said they were
in the process of completing a Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan. She noted
they were looking at other ways of encouraging foot traffic'.
Member Anastasia expressed concern about the number of Conceptual
Plans for Reiter Park and noted it costs money for those Conceptual Plans.
He said the sooner they can have a concrete plan, then they will know
what it was going to cost the City. He noted that he will not be able to
attend National Night Out due to being at work.
Member Bright discussed an article she saw in the Orlando Sentinel
regarding private partnerships for sponsorships of parks.
Ms. Meli said they were looking at completing the Skate Park. at
Candyland Park. She stated they have the equipment, and outlined who
she had contacted regarding private sponsorship for the Skate Park.
Chair Rice inquired about the status of Raven Park.
Ms. Meli said the equipment at Raven Park was removed and scrapped
with the exception of the bicycle rack and a bench. She said they were
going to put in a picnic table and some trash cans. She said they were
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going to make it as usable for other things, and it would be included in
next year's budget.
Chair Rice inquired about an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
being located in the parks.
Ms. Meli said it would be in the concession stand at Candyland Park. She
noted it would only be available to Babe Ruth. She said the police did not
want it on the exterior portion of the Park due to vandalism.
Discussion continued on the Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Chair Rice inquired about the status of becoming a Dedication Tree
Program.
Ms. Meli provided an update and said it was on hold due to Reiter Park.
Discussion was held regarding the City becoming a Tree City and the
requirements to becoming a Tree City.
Member Anastasia outlined in detail his suggestion of having a table
available at National Night Out to answer any questions from the
residents. He said this would be a way of creating a database to be able to
communicate to the residents.
Discussion was held in regards to putting a survey together for the
residents to complete and the information to be distributed by the Board
Members at National Night Out.
Vice Chair Shoemaker suggested rounding up the utility bill and the
money would'go towards Parks and Recreation.
Member Anastasia suggested displaying the Conceptual Plan for Reiter
Park at National Night Out.
Ms. Meli said she would like to promote the City's website where the
information of upcoming events was located. She noted that she would
need volunteers to pull the information together.
Discussion continued regarding the information to be distributed by the
Board Members at National Night Out.
Member Bright noted she would have her husband take pictures of the
Parks to display.
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Discussion was held regarding the City having shirts made and available
to sell.
It was a consensus of the Board. to distribute the 2008 Street Map and
Resource Guide at National Night Out with business cards attached.
Ms. Meli said she received other city's Social Media Policies and said she
was working on utilizing Social Media as a way of communication.
5. New Business. None.
6. Adjournment. Chair Rice adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m.
Lori Rice, Chair
Z TTEST.
Sarah M. Mirus, MMC, MBA, Recording Secretary
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