PR12-03-2024Min PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
LONGWOOD CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
175 WEST WARREN AVENUE
LONGWOOD, FLORIDA
MINUTES
December 3, 2024
6:30 P.M.
Present: Larissa Morgan, Chair
Judi Coad, Vice-Chair
Ardel Cheffer, Member
Erin Keefe, Member
William "Bill" Overbeek, Member
David Putz, Member
Amanda Sackett, Member
Chris Capizzi, Leisure Services Director
Ryan Rinaldo, Recreation Manager
Donna Alt-Bowes, Recording Secretary
1. CALL TO ORDER. Chair Morgan called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. PUBLIC INPUT. None.
3. ACTIONS ITEMS
A. Approve Minutes from September 3, 2024 Meeting
Member Sackett moved to approve the September 3, 2024, minutes as
presented. Seconded by Vice-Chair Coad and motion carried by a unanimous
voice vote.
4. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
Member Keefe reported that she attended the Longwood Arts and Crafts Festival and it was
great. She suggested additional seating in the food court area. She inquired about the
Carnival contact that she had provided for staff.
Discussion ensued about the carnival.
Member Putz reported that he had an issue parking at his house for the Longwood Arts and
Crafts Festival. He said it was 10:30 p.m. and the streets were deserted. He went around
the barricades that were blocking West Warren Avenue and pulled into his house. After
that a police officer pulled in behind the vehicle with his lights on and asked what he was
doing. Member Putz noted that he got off with a warning, but wanted to bring the situation
to staff's attention.
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Mr. Capizzi said he would make sure there was no issue next year.
Member Sackett reported that she was happy to be a vendor again at the Longwood Arts
and Crafts Festival and she was looking forward to the upcoming events and helping out any
way she could.
Chair Morgan reported that she attended the Longwood Arts and Crafts Festival and it was
busy. She also attended the tree lighting for the Longwood Historic Society and was looking
forward to the upcoming events in December.
Member Overbeek did not have a report.
Member Cheffer reported that Member Sackett and herself would be chairing the Chili
Cook-off and she would like to start working on that as soon as possible. She asked if she
should discuss suggestions for future events with staff first or at the meeting.
Mr. Capizzi replied that she should discuss them at the meetings.
Member Cheffer proposed a Lock Out event and explained it was an event where local
youth groups camp out in the winter to understand what homeless people endure in the
winter months.
Discussion ensued about the Lock Out event and what it would entail.
Vice-Chair Coad reported on the upcoming events for December and what was needed and
what had already been acquired.
Discussion ensued regarding Celebrate the Season, what time the Board Members should
arrive at the park, and the meeting to discuss the games and the costumes.
5. STAFF REPORT
Mr. Capizzi discussed upcoming events and was happy with the fall events. He said that
staff was about to undergo some ballfield renovations. There are three (3)truckloads of
COMAND fertilizer compost set to be delivered next week which should help the fields
green up nicely by late winter. The lighting in the men's and women's bathrooms at
Candyland Sports Complex have been repaired. He noted that the exterior of the Longwood
Community Building was set to be painted that week and they will be replacing the two (2)
double doors on the balcony of the second story. Donna Alt-Bowes was acquiring three (3)
quotes to replace the air conditioning units at the Longwood Community Building. He
commented that it would be quite a process due to the large size of the commercial units.
Staff went to Pell's nursery to select a few trees for the police department yesterday. Chief
Dowda selected three (3)Japanese Blueberry Trees for staff to install in the parking lot area.
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6. ADJOURNMENT
Vice-Chair Coad moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Member Sackett
and the motion carried by a unanimous voice vote.
Chair Morgan adjourned the meeting at 7:26 p.m.
Minutes approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: 1-07-2025
Larissa Morgan, Chair
ATTEST:
Donna Alt-Bowes, Recording Secretary
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