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PR03-04-2025Min LONGWOOD PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Longwood City Commission Chambers 175 West Warren Avenue Longwood, Florida MINUTES March 4, 2025 6:30 PM Present: Larissa Morgan, Chair Amanda Sackett, Vice-Chair David Putz, Member Judi Coad, Member William "Bill" Overbeek, Member Ardel Cheffer, Member Abdallah "Albert" Ghazzawieh Chris Capizzi, Leisure Services Director Ryan Rinaldo, Recreation Manager Donna Alt-Bowes, Recording Secretary Michelle Longo, City Clerk Benjamin Schafer, City Attorney 1. CALL TO ORDER. Chair Morgan called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. PUBLIC INPUT A. Presentation on Florida Sunshine Law by the City Clerk and City Attorney. Ms. Longo and Mr. Schafer presented a city board review which included Longwood facts, form of government, city charter and code, board duties, Florida Sunshine Law, public records, and ethics. B. Public Participation. Matt Morgan, 1678 Grange Circle, Longwood, Florida 32750. Mr. Morgan thanked Mr. Putz for his time, service, and dedication to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for eighteen (18) years. 3. ACTION ITEMS A. Approve Minutes from the February 4, 2025, Meeting. Vice-Chair Sackett moved to approve the February 4, 2025 minutes as presented. Seconded by Member Putz and carried by a unanimous voice vote. B. Chili Cook-Off 3/4/2025 / 1 Mr. Rinaldo reported that the Chili Cook-Off was a successful event. There were ten (10) teams registered which was equal to last year, and 290 tickets were sold. The cap for tickets was 300 based on the amount of chili that was made. He said the evening went smooth, they had the same sponsorship as last year of$800, total revenue with the team registration, ticket sales, and water was $3,276. There was about $629 in expenses which includes the prize money, spoons, trophies, and water, with a net profit of$2,646. The net profit was about $40 less than last year and he commented that less water was sold this year. Discussion ensued about suggestions received from the public or participants, things that can be done differently for the Chili Cook-Off, the Car Show, the teams that were in attendance, and it was mentioned there are no recycle bins available at the events. C. Review Reiter Park PA/Sound System Quotes Mr. Capizzi reported on the situation with the PA system at Reiter Park and went over the quotes for the upgraded PA/sound system. He mentioned this upgrade to the Blue Tooth PA System that is currently in place and this would allow it to be heard all around the park. Discussion ensued about the upgrade to be done, the need for the system, the use of the discretionary fund of$10,000 the Board has to use. Member Coad made a motion to approve the use of$6,904.66 out of the $10,000 fund to upgrade the PA system in Reiter Park. Seconded by Member Cheffer. Member Putz asked about the maintenance that was included with the quote. Mr. Capizzi replied the maintenance that was included in the quote was a one-time fee to review and repair at the time of their work, and any future maintenance issues would be handled out of the repairs and maintenance account in his budget. Motion carried by a unanimous voice vote. 4. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Member Putz shared a picture of the first time he ever thought about being on the Parks and Recreation Board. He said he was pleased to be a part of Celebrate the Season and the Chili Cook- Off. The only disappointment he had was the valor banners. He was not sure if it was the cost of the banners that caused the banners to not go over well. He shared he was in Wal-Mart and they have a Wall of Honor with framed 5 x 7 photos honoring those in the military. Discussion ensued about the wall of honor and how something like it may be incorporated in Longwood. It was confirmed there are four (4) banners that are still up. Member Putz expressed his appreciation for being a part of this Board. Member Coad reported she was waiting for the inventory from Celebrate the Season. She told Member Putz she would miss him and thanked him for all of his help on the Board. She missed the 3/4/2025 /2 Strawberry Festival because of illness but she heard it was fantastic. She commented on her time with Member Putz on the Board. Member Ghazzawieh introduced himself and asked about the $10,000 the Board has for the PA system. He inquired about using the remaining money left after spending the $6,900 on the PA system for a warranty for the system. Mr. Capizzi responded he would check on what the warranty includes and stated usually a lot of these have a one-year warranty. The company that is being used is contracted with the city and he will find out what the specifics are for the warranty and if it is something that needs to be researched further. Vice-Chair Sackett reported there was a good turnout at the Chili Cook-Off but that she prefers it to be a little cooler outside. She said the participants seemed to be happy. She mentioned for next year to contact the culinary schools in the area to get involved in the event and have more cookers. She said she did not attend the Strawberry Festival. She noticed at Candyland Sports Complex during tournaments that there are water jug holders on the dugout fences on the side where people can walk into them. She asked if this could be looked into and have them moved to the other side of the door to avoid someone walking into them. Mr. Capizzi responded that he would look into it. Chair Morgan reported she saw on social media there was a competing chili cook-off that same day at one of the high schools in Seminole County. She said maybe some of the teams that may have come to Longwood went there. She missed the cook off, but she was in Hawaii. She did get to the Strawberry Festival but she got there a little late and missed the strawberries; however, she did get to see Commissioner Morgan in the Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest. The kid zone was great and it was well attended. She said the autism committee and staff had their second meeting for the Autism Awareness and Inclusion Walk. Discussion ensued with regard to vendors, sponsors, the hours of the event, the shirts, headphones, animals, and the play area for the Autism Awareness and Inclusion Walk. Chair Morgan said the Luau is the following weekend and these events are back-to-back. She asked staff if there was anything she needed to do for the Luau. Mr. Capizzi responded they are good to go. He said Rachel from Horsepower Ranch is participating and they have talked to Lou, the bounce house guy, about the water slides for that event. Discussion ensued about vendors for the Luau and it was noted that Rachel from Horsepower Ranch is handling the vendors. Member Putz commented that people came into his store and told him about strawberries or the lack of them at the end of the festival. Mr. Capizzi responded there were six (6) to eight (8) pallets of strawberries stacked five feet high on each pallet. He said this was the first year they had this event and could not be sure how many pallets to order. They have a better idea what they need for next year. 3/4/2025 / 3 Discussion ensued regarding the future Strawberry Festivals and the selling of the strawberries throughout the day. Member Overbeek reported that this would be his last meeting. He said he was grateful for the experience and enjoyed working with everyone. Member Cheffer reported that at the Chili Cook-Off there were unattended dogs and asked if anything could be done about that. She said there needs to be some way to enforce that situation. Discussion ensued about dogs at the Chili Cook-Off. Chair Morgan said she noticed at the Strawberry Festival there were dogs. Mr. Capizzi responded that he spoke with Deputy Mayor Sackett along with others and said they would be purchasing additional signs to be placed around Reiter Park stating no dogs allowed. Discussion ensued regarding dogs at the Strawberry Festival and what can be done to prevent this from happening at future events. Member Cheffer shared another idea she had for a Senior Prom. Mrs. Alt-Bowes advised that there was a Senior Prom held last year in November at the Longwood Community Building, organized by Officer Dawn Ortiz, of the Longwood Police Department. She also stated that Senior Bingo would be taking place quarterly at the Longwood Community Building. Member Ghazzawieh said he had a friend in Lakeland, who asked him about doing events in Longwood and asked if there was a way for him to join our team here to do events. Mr. Capizzi responded that his friend could contact him and he would review options with him and if there was the possibility of a partnership. 5. STAFF REPORT A. Staff Report for March 4, 2025. Mr. Capizzi reported Leisure Services hosted the Strawberry Festival this past weekend and partnered with Martz Entertainment who brought in the vendors. He said it worked out well and was shocked by the number of people. It was about the third largest event next to the Arts and Crafts Festival and the 4th of July. He thought they will be able to plan this event in the future and use the information received this year. Discussion ensued regarding the success of the Strawberry Festival. Mr. Capizzi reported on events for the end of March and April. He said the Senior Matinee is March 19, and will feature La Dolce Villa. Commissioner Boni has been involved and has brought quite a few seniors to the event. He said starting April 5, there will be the Longwood Volkswagen/Audi Cruise-In which will be a casual event. He went over the rest of the events 3/4/2025/4 scheduled for April and May, and advised that they will be doing the Smash Beer Festival on May 31. He reported on the maintenance projects getting done. He said they received the Notice of Commencement for two (2) of their grants. One is for Sandalwood Park and the other for Candyland Sports Complex. The one for Sandalwood Park would redo the basketball court as well as some of the existing playground similar to what was done for the Shadow Hill Park. The new shade structure they have at Sandalwood Park is courtesy of last year's hurricane and it was recently installed. Member Coad asked about the 131 Fund line item and to have the Pirate Seafood Festival removed from the list and add either Strawberry Festival or Spring Festival. Mr. Capizzi replied he would address this request. Member Coad asked if there were any other issues or needs that are not in the budget for any of the parks or the Longwood Community Building. Mr. Capizzi responded right now at Reiter Park it would probably be electrical issues. Discussion ensued with regard to the electrical outlets at Reiter Park, impact fees, what staff has planned for those fees, the condition of the playground equipment at Reiter Park, and adding more sun shades to the park. Member Coad asked how the Farmer's Market was doing. Mr. Capizzi replied the Market was doing terrific. He said they worked with Florentino who is over the produce at the market to bring in all of the flats of strawberries. He said without the flats they could not have had a strawberry themed event. He thought Florentino realized it was worth his while. Member Coad said she did not just mean the festival but overall. Mr. Capizzi said overall they are doing very well. Mr. Rinaldo said there are consistently twenty (20) plus vendors and many are new vendors. Discussion ensued with regard to the hours of the Farmer's Market for the summer. Member Putz asked if he saw Mr. Capizzi weeding the wildflower garden by the Building Department. Mr. Capizzi replied yes, and explained about the work being done in that area at Community Development in the coming weeks. Member Coad asked how the butterfly garden was doing. Mr. Capizzi responded it was doing great and that they added more plants to the butterfly garden and cleaned up the mulch. He also provided an update and likely they will have a Haunted House at Reiter Park in October, Thursday through Sunday for nearly the entire month. 3/4/2025 / 5 Discussion ensued with regard to the Haunted House and what was involved to get it started. Member Coad asked what the split was for the Strawberry Festival. Mr. Capizzi replied he would not have that until next month. Vice-Chair Sackett asked if there was a dance, and if there could be a combination ticket with the Haunted House. Mr. Capizzi replied he would look into the suggestion. Discussion continued with regard to building the Haunted House at Reiter Park. Member Ghazzawieh asked about the money from the impact fees for the machine to excavate the ground at Candyland Sports Complex. Mr. Capizzi replied he has not purchased the machine yet but was planning to do. Discussion ensued regarding what the machine would be used for. Member Ghazzawieh asked if staff was looking in the future to make a Cherry Festival. Mr. Capizzi responded he has not but would take ideas. Chair Morgan thanked Member Overbeek for his time on the Board, his help with National Night Out, and said that he will be missed. She told Member Putz he also will be missed, and thanked him for his many years of service to the Board. 6. ADJOURN Member Coad moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Member Putz and motion carried by a unanimous voice vote. Chair Morgan adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m. Minutes approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: 04-01-2025 Larissa Morgan, Chair ATTEST: Donna Alt-Bowes, Recording Secretary 3/4/2025 /6