PR12-03-2019MinPARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
LONGWOOD CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
175 WEST WARREN AVENUE
LONGWOOD, FLORIDA
MINUTES
December 3, 2019
Present: Lori Rice, Chair
David Putz, Vice Chair
Judi Coad, Member
Teresa Ray, Member
Nicole Bright, Member
Jessica Peters, Member
Jim Vogel, Member
Chris Capizzi, Leisure Services Director
Ryan Rinaldo, Recreation Coordinator
Donna L. Alt -Bowes, Recording Secretary
1. CALL TO ORDER. Chair Rice called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
2. PUBLIC INPUT. None.
Chair Rice took a moment to welcome the new members for District 3, Teresa Ray and
District 1, Jessica Peters.
3. ACTION ITEMS.
A. Approve Minutes from September 10, 2019
Member Coad moved to approve the minutes from November 5, 2019, as
presented. Seconded by Member Putz and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
B. Spring Banners
Mr. Capizzi provided the board with information and options for the Spring banners for
Reiter Park. He brought up the websites and went over the banner options from two (2)
different companies, the types of banners, and the costs for each. He advised the board
there is no additional charge to add our information on banners that have that option.
Discussion ensued with regard to the cost of the banners, banners in surrounding cities,
sponsors for the banners, the installation of the banners, and the Request for Proposal
(RFP) for sponsors.
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Member Coad provided Mr. Capizzi with information on the company that provides the
banners to Altamonte Springs, AGAS Manufacturing Group, Inc. Mr. Capizzi will obtain
additional information from this company, specific pricing for banners, and confirm
there is no additional charge for adding our information on the banners that have that
option.
It was decided to wait until the next board meeting to make a decision on the Spring
banners. Member Bright's husband will draw up a couple of designs for the Board
Members to review at the next meeting.
4. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
Vice -Chair Putz reported and said during the Fall Festival he had some issues at his wife's
place of business with individuals asking people to sign petitions. He said they were
blocking the sidewalk in front of the business. He was advised by the Longwood Police
Department it is their First Amendment right and there was nothing they were able to do
about the situation unless they were blocking the road. He is concerned about having this
issue at Celebrate the Season.
Mr. Capizzi advised the Board that he has spoken with the City Attorney. It is an ongoing
issue and has been for several years. The City Attorney advised him that it is their First
Amendment right and there is nothing we can do about it unless they are blocking the
roadway or it is a ticketed event and they did not purchase a ticket to access the event. He
is not worried about Celebrate the Season because it is a much larger event and more
contained.
Discussion ensued with regard to the petitioners, their rights, and how to deal with them.
Member Coad reported and said she is going to pass around the list of areas in Celebrate
the Season that she still needs volunteers for. She listed the signees that signed up and the
areas that need volunteers. She confirmed with the staff the Board Members should be
here by 2:30 p.m. or as soon as you can. The event starts at 6:00 p.m.
Mr. Capizzi advised Member Coad that Mrs. Alt -Bowes and her husband will not be the train
coordinators. They are going to be Santa and Mrs. Claus for Celebrate the Season and her
husband will be Santa at Breakfast with Santa. He said there will be an abundance of help
this year. There are a lot of organizations that will be helping out.
Discussion ensued on where Member Coad needs help for Celebrate the Season and the
layout for the event.
Member Coad thanked the staff for a great job on the craft show. She said she was at the
Commission Meeting last night and Deputy Mayor Sackett had one (1) complaint from the
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vendors that the garbage got picked up too early. Additionally, they all liked the play area
but they missed the carnival. However, they did understand that we did not have the
carnival because our vendors did not want all the money being spent there.
Chair Rice thanked member Coad for bringing up the Ugly Sweater Contest at the
Commission Meeting. She also thanked the staff for sending the information to Ms. Francis
to get out there. She is excited to see this as an addition to the event this year.
Member Ray reported and said she had a good time in the park and asked the Board what
the ticket booth is all about.
Member Coad explained how the ticket booth works and the reason the date changed for
Celebrate the Season.
Member Bright reported and said she has not had a chance to meet with staff in regard to
the January update on the memorial. She asked if staff had the Chili Cook -Off numbers. She
felt that attendance was down. She said she thinks maybe it is time to do something
different like a carnival or something else.
Chair Rice thanked the Board Members for being here, volunteering, and giving back to the
community. As Board Members, we represent the citizens of Longwood and making a
difference in our community. I acknowledge the time and commitment it takes. This Board
operates under Robert's Rules of Order and follows Florida State Sunshine Laws. All of this
information is presented in the Board Member Handbook and can be obtained from the
Clerk, Michelle Longo. Should you have any questions or concerns, the Clerk is available to
each Board Member to clarify. She reminded the Board that on January 7, 2020, we will be
nominating and selecting a Chair and a Vice -Chair. The only duties of this position are to
run the meeting following Robert's Rules of Order. We also begin a new calendar year and
will start with perfect attendance records. You are allowed to miss no more than two (2)
meetings during the calendar year at which time you receive a notice from the Clerk that
upon missing the third meeting you are no longer eligible to sit on the Board. It does not
mean you are not eligible to be re -appointed. If you are not able to make a meeting please
notify Mrs. Alt -Bowes in advance. This Board requires four (4) Board Members to be in
attendance for a quorum. She said we can discuss the start times of our meetings at the
January meeting. We start our Board Meeting at 7:00 p.m. but we can start at any time
between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The City Clerk provided the updated Board Roster. If
there are any changes or updates to that please let our secretary know and she can inform
the Clerk. She then reported and gave a quick synopsis of National Night Out on October 1.
She followed up on a few things from the October meeting and thanked the Parks staff who
repaired the Little Free Library.
Mr. Capizzi informed Chair Rice that it has since been broken again.
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Chair Rice said she is hoping that can be repaired again. She suggested possibly relocating
the Little Free Library within the park.
Mr. Capizzi said that relocation has been discussed.
Chair Rice asked if the staff was able to take a look at the Arbor Park Dog Park message
board.
Mr. Capizzi said they have not looked at that yet.
Chair Rice inquired about the two (2) open positions in the department and asked if they
were going to be posted on Facebook.
Mr. Capizzi said yes.
Chair Rice asked if the request for a picnic table at Smallworld Park is in process.
Mr. Capizzi said yes, they are looking at tables now.
Chair Rice asked if staff had thought more about his suggestion of a sign for the Arbor deck
at Reiter Park.
Mr. Capizzi said the sign has been purchased and received. It will hopefully be installed this
week.
Chair Rice asked about the programs and if there were any initiatives or thoughts.
Mr. Capizzi said that Community Services is spearheading an Age -Friendly Action Plan
Committee and Mrs. Alt -Bowes is going to be on that committee. In those meetings, there
are going to be suggestions for different programs. It will be the perfect atmosphere for
that kind of thing. He said they have been promoting some of the programs online with
different pictures for karate and Young Rembrandts. He is in discussion with Emotions
Dance to do a program for kids/parents.
Chair Rice thanked the staff and said she looks forward to seeing what is to come. She said
there is someone in the Community Development department that has had an ongoing
program at Reiter Park. She said she is not sure if that is a city -sponsored event or
something she does on her own.
Discussion ensued on the yoga program at Reiter Park.
Chair Rice talked about the Pennies for Parks program and said the line item has been
added to the 131 Fund Report. The Commission Meeting reported there are now 65
participants in the Pennies for Parks program and a total of $229.72 has been donated. She
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continues to encourage everyone to help spread the word and consider signing up to have
your water utility bill rounded up to support the Pennies for Parks program. She suggested
the program be more visible on the city website.
Mr. Capizzi said he would talk to the Clerk about getting it put on the front page of the
website.
Member Peters reported and said that she has enjoyed listening and taking it all in. She
said she is sure she will have more to talk about at the next meeting. She said she does
have a lot of experience in this area as she worked for the City of Lake Mary Parks and
Recreation Department as the Special Events Coordinator, and she is now the Director of
Events for the Seminole County Chamber. She said she is new to living in Longwood.
Member Coad asked for the list of projects available to take on.
Chair Rice said she does have the list but it has not been updated lately since not much has
been added. The only change she will make to the list is to add Member Bright to the Chili
Cook -Off and Memorial projects. She said that a lot of projects have been accomplished on
the list over the years.
Member Coad said we should provide the list so the new members can have the
opportunity to see what we do during the year.
Chair Rice said there may be something that you are very passionate about, something that
you would like to oversee and work with staff on. We do not work independently out there
because we do not speak for staff and we do not want to get ourselves in a predicament.
She said you can always bring ideas forward even if it is an idea that you are not able or
wanting to take on yourself. Someone else may want to jump on it or it may be very easy
for staff to just take it on.
Member Vogel said did not have anything to report. He said he is going through a life
change and is transgender. He is now Kayecee Vogel and was going to resign from the
Board due to having to sell his house. However, Commissioner Paris has asked that member
Vogel stay on the Board until the house is sold and relocation takes place. Member Vogel
may be staying in the city but is unsure at this time. If anyone has any questions she is
more than happy to speak with them later.
5. STAFF REPORT
Mr. Rinaldo said the Longwood Cruise -In Car Show is December 14, 2019, from 5:00 p.m.
until 8:00 p.m. The Food Truck event is on December 12, 2019, at Reiter Pak from 5:30 p.m.
until 8:30 p.m. The Senior Matinee is on December 18, 2019, at the Community Building at
1:30 p.m. and will be showing A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish. He said they are still
waiting to get the complete date back at the Fall Festival. He said the Read with a Hero
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event and the tree lighting is December 6, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. at Reiter Park with
the Seminole County Teacher of the Year, Ms. Sarah Hall. They will be giving out snacks and
free books to the kids. It is in conjunction with the 7' Santa who will also be reading to the
kids. The Longwood Christmas Parade is December 7, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. He expects the
parade to be a great event. The Movie in the Park is scheduled for December 20, 2019, and
the movie is to be determined.
Member Bright said she does not see Santa Visits Longwood on the list.
Mr. Capizzi said Santa Visits Longwood is a two (2) day event on December 14 and 15, 2019
starting at 11:00 a.m. on both days and will run until they finish. On Saturday they will be
hitting the east side of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and on Sunday they will be hitting the west
side of Ronald Reagan Boulevard.
Discussion ensued with regard to the time of the Santa Visits Longwood event.
Member Coad asked who was going to light the Christmas tree on Friday, December 6,
2019.
Mr. Capizzi said we will probably let the Teacher of the Year light the tree and it will be lit at
the beginning of the event.
Mr. Rinaldo gave the synopsis for the Chili Cook -Off. He said the total revenue was
$2,774.00. After expenses, the net profit was $1,959.00.
Discussion ensued with regard to the decrease in attendance at the Chili Cook -Off.
Member Coad asked who Santa was going to be at Breakfast with Santa.
Mr. Capizzi said it will be Bill Bowes.
Member Coad asked who was going to be Santa in the parade.
Mr. Capizzi said Santa is going to be Rob Silva from the CERT team.
Member Coad said that this Board voted to give a gift card to Santa and Mrs. Claus and she
would like the Board to discuss what they would like to do since the situation has changed.
Discussion ensued on the gift cards for Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Chair Rice confirmed that we are going to give the gift cards to Mr. and Mrs. Claus who are
doing the two events.
6. ADJOURNMENT
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Member Coad made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Vice -Chair Putz and
carried by a unanimous voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
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Donna Alt -Bowes, Recording Secretary
Lori A. Rice, Chair
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