PR01-07-2025Min PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
LONGWOOD CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
175 WEST WARREN AVENUE
LONGWOOD, FLORIDA
MINUTES
January 7, 2025
6:30 P.M.
Present: Larissa Morgan, Chair
Judi Coad, Vice-Chair
David Putz, Member
Amanda Sackett, Member
William "Bill" Overbeek, Member
Ardel Cheffer, Member
Chris Capizzi, Leisure Services Director
Ryan Rinaldo, Recreation Manager
Donna Alt-Bowes, Recording Secretary
Absent: Erin Keefe, Member
1. CALL TO ORDER. Chair Morgan called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
A. Chair.
Vice-Chair Coad nominated Larissa Morgan. Seconded by Member Putz.
Nomination carried by a unanimous voice vote with Member Keefe absent.
B. Vice-Chair.
Vice-Chair Coad nominated Amanda Sackett. Seconded by Member Cheffer.
Nomination carried by a unanimous voice vote with Member Keefe absent.
3. PUBLIC INPUT. None.
4. ACTION ITEMS
A. Approve Minutes from December 3, 2024 Meeting
Member Putz asked for the following addition to the minutes under his Board Report
"The street was completely deserted at 10:30 p.m."
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Member Cheffer moved to approve the December 3, 2024, minutes as with the
change. Seconded by Vice-Chair Sackett and motion carried by a unanimous
voice vote with Member Keefe absent.
B. Chili Cook-off
Member Coad asked who was chairing the Chili Cook-Off.
Mr. Capizzi replied that Member Coad and Member Cheffer are co-chairing the event.
He explained as long as they go through staff this was allowed and will not violate the
Sunshine Law.
Mr. Rinaldo reported that all previous cookers have been contacted and currently four
(4) signed up. He said tickets will go live this week and he has provided Member Cheffer
with all the information for cookers and the rules. Member Cheffer was going to assist
with contacting the previous cookers.
Discussion ensued regarding securing sponsors, cookers, and the judges for the Chili
Cook-Off.
5. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
Member Putz provided a history on the Chili Cook-Off and how it started. He showed the
shirts and the necklaces they had when it first started.
Member Coad thanked Mr. Capizzi, Mr. Rinaldo, and all of the Board Members for
participating in all of the Christmas events. Breakfast with Santa went well and she
mentioned one (1)flaw being that they ran out of gifts from Santa for the children. She
went over the synopsis for Breakfast with Santa. She said the concert and the lighting of
tree went well, and she liked the band. She would like to see the band for another concert
in the future. She said Celebrate the Season also went well and the synopsis was provided
to the board members.
Discussion ensued on both events along with ticket sales for all the rides at Celebrate the
Season, the Laser Light Show, the synopsis for Celebrate the Season, and changes that may
be needed for events this year.
Member Cheffer suggested doing a tree walk to bring people to the park.
Member Coad asked about having power at the corners by the Clock Tower Park when they
do the reconfiguration of that area.
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Discussion ensued about power at the intersection of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Church
Avenue to allow for the installation of Christmas decorations during the holidays.
Member Putz asked how the shutdown/teardown of the hospital will affect the parking for
Celebrate the Season next year.
Mr. Capizzi replied that the parking lot would still be there so they will not have a problem
but will monitor when the new construction starts.
Discussion ensued about the hospital parking lot.
Vice-Chair Sackett reported she enjoyed Celebrate the Season and the letter writing went
well. She said at the Tree Lighting Ceremony she thought it was strange that it was
announced on the stage, but you could not see it from the stage.
Discussion ensued regarding the Tree Lighting Ceremony and things that could be changed
for this year, and the vendors at Celebrate the Season.
Vice-Chair Sackett suggested reaching out to AC Cowboys and Horsepower Ranch for the
Chili Cook-Off.
Chair Morgan stated Celebrate the Season was a great event. Her favorite was the cows,
she was impressed with the kids in the costumes, and all of the rides and vendors. She was
involved with the kids from the Longwood Historic Society for the costumes. She was the
Elf for the Longwood Historic Society 7' Santa Event. She said the Christmas Parade was
awesome but sorry to hear that Member Keefe was not there. She attended the Carols
with Cocoa event. She reported that the Autism Walk was coming up and she will start
contacting people by email and work on sponsorships again. She does not think anything
needs to be changed except for ordering XXL and Large shirts. She said she would contact
Horsepower Ranch as well.
Member Overbeek said that Celebrate the Season was successful and that he was
impressed with the attendance, and that the letters to Santa was popular. He said several
people asked about where the AC Cowboy cows were and suggested maybe have signage if
they were going to have them back again.
Chair Morgan said she would like to see about having the cows at the Autism Walk.
Discussion ensued about having the cows at the Autism Walk.
Member Cheffer asked about the Strawberry Festival.
Mr. Capizzi explained that the Strawberry Festival was taking the place of the Pirate Festival
and will be a one (1) day event. He explained the event and what would be provided.
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Member Coad asked about the Mustang Roundup.
Mr. Capizzi advised that the Mustang Roundup would not be held this year as they have
been asked to do the National Show and the City was not capable of handling it since it was
a three (3) to four(4) day event. He noted they assured them they would be back next
year.
Vice-Chair Sackett asked about the Smash Beer Festival.
Mr. Capizzi replied that Hour Glass Brewery informed them that they would not be able to
do the festival this year, but that it could return in the future.
Mr. Capizzi went over the Special Event List and any new events that have been added.
Discussion ensued about future car shows.
Member Putz asked about the Great American Campout because it was not on the list.
Mr. Capizzi responded that they would select a date and put it back on the calendar.
Discussion ensued about the Great American Campout.
Member Coad asked about having a PA system connected to the speakers at Reiter Park.
Mr. Capizzi said he does not know how complicated that would be or how much it would
cost until he contacts an audio company to assess the system to provide a quote.
6. STAFF REPORT
Mr. Capizzi provided an update on the work being done at the Community Building and the
upcoming improvements to the air conditioning. He reported on the replacements of the
toilets at Candyland Sports Complex, the work being done on the fields, and new foul ball
netting. He said he and Mr. Rinaldo met with someone about doing a Haunted House at
Reiter Park in October and would keep the Board informed on the progress.
Discussion ensued regarding the Haunted House at Reiter Park.
Member Coad asked about the room being open for the performers at Celebrate the
Season. She advised staff they were changing clothes in the bathroom.
Mr. Capizzi replied that the room was open but maybe they were not aware they could
change clothes in there.
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Member Coad asked about moving Breakfast with Santa a week earlier this year so kids
could write letters to Santa and they would be able to get a response.
Mr. Capizzi said he would look into the possibility of moving the date.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Member Coad moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Vice-Chair Sackett
and motion carried by a unanimous voice vote with Member Keefe absent.
Chair Morgan adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m.
Minutes approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: 02-04-2025
Larissa Morgan, Chair
ATTEST:
Donna Alt-Bowes, Recording Secretary
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