PR02-06-2024Min PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
LONGWOOD CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
175 WEST WARREN AVENUE
LONGWOOD, FLORIDA
MINUTES
February 6, 2024
6:30 P.M.
Present: Larissa Morgan, Chair
Judi Coad, Vice-Chair
David Putz, Member
Lori Rice, Member
William "Bill" Overbeek, Member
Amanda Sackett, Member
Erin Keefe, Member (arrived 6:36 p.m.)
Chris Capizzi, Leisure Services Director
Ryan Rinaldo, Recreation Manager
Donna Alt-Bowes, Recording Secretary
Michelle Longo, City Clerk
1. CALL TO ORDER. Chair Morgan called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
2. PUBLIC INPUT. None.
3. ACTIONS ITEMS
A. Approve Minutes from January 16, 2023 Meeting
Vice-Chair Coad moved to approve the January 16, 2024, minutes. Seconded by Member
Sackett and motion carried by a unanimous voice vote with Member Keefe absent.
B. Chili Cook-off
Mr. Capizzi provided the Board with an update on the Chili Cook-Off and reviewed the
number of cooks, the volunteer positions, ticket sales, and the event's date, time, and
location.
Discussion ensued about the Chili Cook-off event.
Member Keefe arrived, and Ms. Longo, the City Clerk, introduced her to the Board.
4. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
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Member Rice reported that she and twenty (20) others volunteered with the Cuplet Fern
Native Plant Society at Candyland Sports Complex to install the mimosa strigillosa. She
contacted the Finance Director to receive current information about the Pennies for Parks
Program and will discuss that further under the Staff Report for the 131 Fund. She advised
that the Raven Park area now has a safety fence around the Public Works lift station, and
the signage still needs to be replaced. She asked that staff update the Board under their
report on the bike station parts and the family-friendly menu items for Food Trucks.
Member Overbeek no report.
Chair Morgan wanted to encourage Board Members to volunteer, and she loves that the
new members are excited to volunteer and that Member Keefe has already stepped up to
the plate with the Barkfest event. She asked staff how many vendors were confirmed for
the Autism event.
Mr. Rinaldo replied that there are approximately fifteen (15) vendors confirmed.
Chair Morgan advised that she does have ten (10) more vendor forms and was trying to get
the vendors to send them back.
Discussion ensued regarding the Autism event.
Chair Morgan said she was sending vendors to the promoter of the Longwood Luau and
asked if they should be meeting with them.
Mr. Capizzi replied that he wanted to meet with them about a month before the event to go
over logistics for the Longwood Luau.
Discussion ensued about the vendors for the Longwood Luau.
Member Sackett no report.
Member Keefe no report.
Vice-Chair Coad welcomed Member Keefe to the Board. She stated she had given Mr.
Rinaldo information that she had collected from the Fall Festival for the Barkfest event. She
said she was looking forward to volunteering for other events since all of her events are
completed. She said the lower cost of food items was brought up again at the Commission
meeting last night.
Member Putz brought up the banner program for the first responders and military and
asked the Board Members to help him sell banners. He provided all of the Board Members
with the information for the program and advised that Mayor Boni was also helping spread
the information.
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Discussion ensued about the banner program and generating more interest in the program.
5. STAFF REPORT
Mr. Capizzi reported that the Senior Matinee was going to be on February 21, 2024, and will
be Sound of Freedom. He reviewed the upcoming events list and discussed the layout and
vendors for the Pirate Day event on February 24 and 25. The Orlando Prowlers would be
there on February 24 in the evening for their tryouts. He said he spoke with Sandy and
Mark from Cuplet Fern Native Plant Society, and they are interested in doing some work
with staff at Reiter Park. He advised that they are still looking into the center rail for the
stairs at Reiter Park. He said Northland Church would be doing their Reiter Park Service Day
in March and spreading the pine straw throughout the park. He said they have looked into
the tools for the bike station and, unfortunately, will have to replace the whole station if
they want to add new tools.
Mr. Rinaldo reported that he spoke with Kathy from Kat's Food Trucks. She is the food truck
promoter who organizes all the insurance for the trucks and inspections. When she sent
out her mass email to the trucks, he asked her to include that the City was requesting
affordable food options such as $10 items and $5 or below items. He said that moving
forward, that will be considered when they request trucks. At the next Food Truck Battle,
he will do a little survey of the new items for each truck. They will see how well that works
and evaluate from there. He said Kathy was attuned to their request to provide more
affordable food options.
Mr. Capizzi said they have a good contact with the hotdog cart, which does offer snacks,
other items, and hotdogs.
Member Rice asked about having a list of times for performances at events such as the
Longwood Luau and the Pirate Day events.
Discussion ensued about having a program list for the events.
Mr. Capizzi advised that they have been doing maintenance work on the Community
Building and getting the quotes together. He updated Member Keefe on what updates are
taking place at the Community Building.
Discussion ensued about the maintenance taking place at the Community Building.
He said that Member Keefe will be talking with staff regarding the dog-related vendors for
Barkfest.
Discussion ensued regarding new ideas, vendors, and locations for Barkfest.
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Mr. Capizzi reviewed the 131 Fund and the Pennies for Parks/Round Up Program. He
advised that they do not have access to this account line and have to go to the Finance
Department and request a printout of this line item.
Discussion ensued about the Pennies for Parks/Round-Up Program, how it works, and what
the funds can be spent on. Discussion was also held regarding the impact fees from
Community Development, how much money there was in the fund, and how it could be
spent.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Vice-Chair Coad moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Member Sackett
and motion carried by a unanimous voice vote.
Chair Morgan adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m.
Minutes approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: 03-05-2024
Larissa Morgan, Chair
ATTEST:
Donna Alt-Bowes, Recording Secretary
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