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>>> THIS IS THE FEBRUARY 16TH CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> HERE.
>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER STURGIS.
>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> HERE. >> VICE MAYOR, WOULD YOU LEAD US
IN THE PLEDGE, PLEASE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE ALL PERSONAL DEVICES TURNED OFF, SILENCED, AIRPLANE MODE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. COVID-19 PROTOCOLS, I WATCHED A RECENT COMMITTEE MEETING AND ONE MEMBER WAS LIKE THIS THE ENTIRE MEETING. WE HAVE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS, PLEASE KEEP YOUR MASKS ABOVE YOUR NOSE.
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR TALKING, THEY GET TUCKED DOWN.
BUT WE APPRECIATE HAVING YOUR FACES COVERED.
ALSO SOCIAL DISTANCE WHEN STANDING AND WHEN YOU LEAVE.
OUR DECORUM, WE CONDUCT OURSELVES IN A PROFESSIONAL AND RESPECTFUL MANNER AT ALL TIMES. AND FINALLY THERE ARE AGENDA ERRORS. SO 6 RESOLUTIONS, 7 ORDINANCE, AND 8 PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD NOT BE ON THIS PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA. SO THEY WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED DURING THE WORKSHOP. SO PLEASE IGNORE THOSE.
ALL RIGHT, ITEM 4 WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS.
[5.1 STRATEGIC SUMMARY PRESENTATION ]
SO ACTUALLY 5.1 AREN'T WE? THIS IS THE STRATEGIC SUMMARY?YES, MA'AM, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> OKAY, GREAT.
THANK YOU. MS. CAROLINE, CAN YOU HELP ME
OUT? >> THIS WILL BE NICE AND BRIEF.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME MY NAME IS NAN VOIGHT FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THERE IT IS. OKAY, LET ME GO BACK UP.
>> AND JUST A REMINDER IT'S TEN MINUTES PER PRESENTATION.
ALL RIGHT. AND OF COURSE I NEED TO LOOK AT THIS. IT'S BETTER FOR ME TO LOOK AT THAT. OKAY SO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, WE HAVE 23 BUILDINGS, 11 PARKS.
EIGHT PLAYGROUNDS, FOUR TENNIS COURTS, SIX PICKLE BALL COURTS, FOUR POOLS, 24 PRACTICE AND PLAYING FIELDS.
TWO OUTDOOR BASKETBALL COURTS, A SKATE PARK, DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT INCLUDING THE WATER FRONT, AND AMELIA ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE. SO THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT FALL UNDER THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS OUR EXISTING EMPLOYEE STRUCTURE.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE DIVISION, SO YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES IN EACH DIVISION AND THEN THE PART TIME AND SEASONAL SO WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 81 EMPLOYEES, WELL THE SEASONAL ONES AREN'T HERE RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF -- IT DID IT ON HERE.
>> WHAT DO YOU NEED IT ON, MA'AM?
>> I NEED IT ON CONSERVATION. THANK YOU.
>> A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON OUR CONSERVATION IDEAS.
ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT OF CONSERVATION LAND IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US. SO WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE PLANNING AND CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY, ACQUIRE, AND PERPETUALLY MANNER EXISTING PARCELS TO MANAGE EXISTING WILDLIFE. IDEALLY THEY SHOULD EXIST IN A
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NATURAL STATE. THOSE PARCELS REQUIRING RESTORATION MAY BE CONSIDERED BASED ON ESTIMATED COSTS OF IMPROVEMENTS AND MANAGEMENT. AND THEN THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR CURRENT NATURAL AREA STRUCTURES WHICH WOULD BE YOUR DUNE WALKOVERS AND GREENWAY BRIDGES, WE NEED TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE RESTORATIVE MEASURES TO EXISTING TRAILS, BRIDGES, PAVILIONS AND DUNE WALKOVERS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THERE. LET ME SEE, CAPITAL PROJECTS.SO THIS IS A LIST OF SOME OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
REQUESTED FUNDING, NOTHING IS FUNDED REALLY.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE RESTORATION OF SEASIDE PARK AND I HAVE A PICTURE OF THAT LATER. CURRENTLY BUDGETED WITH A SMALL AMOUNT. AND WHERE IT SAYS 270 THAT'S OVER MULTIPLE YEARS BASED ON THE PROPOSED DESIGN.
RENOVATION OF NORTH BEACH PARK. MLK POOL IMPROVEMENTS WHICH BASICALLY IS THE EXISTING POOL HAS AN EXTREME SLOPE FROM THE SHALLOW END TO THE DEEP END, SO IT'S NOT REALLY CONDUCIVE FOR OUR WATER AEROBICS CLASSES AND SOME OF OUR SWIM CLASSES.
SO THE ULTIMATE IDEA IS TO RAISE THAT LEVEL UP TO WHERE IT DOESN'T GO FROM THREE FEET TO FOUR FEET TO SIX FEET.
SO IT'S JUST TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH THE AMOUNT OF WATER ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE. OF COURSE OUR BUCCANEER FIELD FENCING. I HAVE A LITTLE PICTURE OF THAT TOO. SEASIDE PARK PLAYGROUND, WE HAD ASKED IN THE PAST FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO MAKE IT MORE OF A FOCAL POINT. BUT BASED ON THE WAY OUR BUDGETING IS LOOKING OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THIS 200,000 WOULD PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE SURFACING AND SOME STRUCTURES FOR LIKE THE FIVE AND UNDER CHILDREN THAT WE DON'T HAVE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. THE ATLANTIC AUDITORIUM RENOVATION WOULD BE DETERMINED BASED ON WHAT THE THOUGHTS ARE WHETHER WE EXPAND OR RENOVATE THE EXISTING FACILITY.
SAME WITH THE LOCKER ROOMS AT ATLANTIC, THE ARC AQUATICS FEATURES WHICH IN THE MASTER PLAN CALLS FOR, IT SPECIFIES LIKE A LAZY RIVER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THAT'S STILL IN THE MASTER PLAN.
SO WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT IN HERE.
AND THEN IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WE'LL NEED TO DO THE FENCING AT MLK AND HICKORY STREET. AND THE RETROFITTING OF THE OUTDOOR SPORTS LIGHTING, THESE PRICES ARE FOR, HOW MANY MINUTES DO I HAVE? FOR CHANGING THESE LIGHTS TO LED, AND THEY COME WITH A 25 YEAR WARRANTY.
OKAY. AND THAT'S OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS. SO THE NEXT ONE IS -- SO THIS IS I DON'T KNOW WHY WHEN I TOOK THAT PICTURE IT'S MOVING BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHAT OUR BOARDWALK LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS SEASIDE. IT'S A VERY SMALL SECTION.
AND THEN THIS IS JUST A PORTION OF THE CENTRAL PARK BUCCANEER FIELD FENCING JUST SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
AND THEN AREAS, I MISSED A WHOLE SECTION.
THE EMPLOYEE SECTION. LET ME SEE IF THIS WILL GO BACK.
SO WE'LL DO THIS ONE. IT'S NOT ON HERE BUT IT'S UP THERE. LET ME GET OUT OF YOUR WAY.
SO FUTURE STAFFING REQUESTS FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THE ATLANTIC CENTER FITNESS ROOM, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TWO PART-TIME EMPLOYEES. SINCE WE OPENED BACK UP AFTER COVID, WE TOOK ONE OF OUR RECREATION, BECAUSE WE'RE KEEPING EVERYBODY WORKING. PUT THEM IN THE FITNESS ROOM
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WHERE THEY WERE CLEANING, KEEPING SOCIAL DISTANCING, MAKING SURE PEOPLE WERE WIPING DOWN THEIR EQUIPMENT.AND WE HAD AMAZING FEEDBACK. SO FUTURE REQUESTS, CURRENTLY IN THE CEMETERY, WE HAVE TWO FULL TIME EMPLOYEES THAT DO MAINTENANCE. SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS EVALUATE THE OPTION OF POSSIBLY CONTRACTING OUT THE CEMETERY MAINTENANCE WHICH IS NOW PERFORMED BY TWO FULL-TIME MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN I'S. WE CURRENTLY PAY 141,000 FOR THE MAINTENANCE, JUST THE SALARIES AND THEIR BENEFITS, ET CETERA.
AND THE ESTIMATED COST OF CONTRACTING THE SERVICE OP IS $80,000. NOW WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THE LEVEL OF SERVICES FOR BURIALS, THE SITE PREPARATION MAY DECLINE BECAUSE WE'RE OUT THERE ALL THE TIME AND WE CAN RESPOND QUICKLY. TO CONTRACT IT OUT, YOU PROBABLY WON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE.
LET ME SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THESE ARE OUR CLEANING FOLKS BASICALLY. SO WE HAVE FIVE PART TIME CLEANING FOLKS THAT DO ATLANTIC, MLK, ALL OF YOUR OUT BATHROOMS. I'M SURE OTHER THINGS. BUT WE'RE FINDING IS SINCE 2015, BECAUSE THESE ARE PART TIME EMPLOYEES, 21 EMPLOYEES HIRED FOR THIS POSITION HAVE RESIGNED. SO THAT'S A PRETTY HIGH TURNOVER RATE. AND WE'RE SPENDING QUITE A BIT OF MONEY ON TRAINING, GETTING THEM UNIFORMS, GETTING THEM FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND ONCE THEY GET ALL SET, THEY TEND TO LEAVE FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE PERMANENT.
SO WE'RE REQUESTING TWO FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND THREE PART-TIME POSITIONS. SO IT DOESN'T CHANGE.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN TO IMPROVE EFFECTIVE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
IN 2016 THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD OUR OWN PAGE.
WHICH WAS VERY EFFICIENT FOR US TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC IMMEDIATELY, QUICK RESPONSE. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAS BEEN A GAP IN SHARING INFORMATION WHICH INCLUDES CHANGING OF ACTIVITIES LIKE AT THE LAST MINUTE, WEATHER DELAYS, LOST AND FOUND ITEMS WHICH ARE CONSTANT. AND THESE KIND OF SMALL THINGS CAN BE DISSEMINATED INTO THE COMMUNITY OR OUR MEMBERS OR OUR FOLLOWERS QUICKLY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
OUR CURRENT PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN STATES PARKS AND RECREATION AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. USE FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, AND PINTEREST TO PROMOTE THEIR PROGRAMS AND KEEP RESIDENTS UPDATED. REINSTATING THIS PAGE WOULD PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
OKAY. AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AS A CITY. BUT I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS IS A CONTINUOUS THING.
WORKING TOGETHER WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT ITEMS SUCH AS SIDEWALK REPAIRS, STORMWATER ISSUES, PLUMBING INSTALLATION AND REPAIRS AND CARP TRI WORK ARE ACCOMPLISHED USING EACH DEPARTMENT'S EXPERTISE.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND OUR RECOMMENDATION IS FROM OUR DEPARTMENT, IT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS EXISTING FACILITY DEFICIENCIES PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION OF NEW FACILITIES. AND THAT'S THE END.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE A QUESTION ON YOUR
VERY LAST COMMENT. >> YES, SIR?
>> SO WOULD THAT MEAN YOUR STRATEGY IS INSTEAD OF INVESTING MONEY IN A RENTAL PARK WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR EXISTING
FACILITIES FIRST? >> I HAVE NOT REALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING OF THE WATERFRONT PARK.
SO I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER THAT TO THAT PROJECT MANAGER.
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>> OKAY, THAT'S KIND OF MY ANSWER.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE SOME COMMENTS.
>> SO COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL I THINK THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT IS A GREAT DEPARTMENT. I THINK OUR PARKS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES THIS A LIVABLE CITY, IT MAKES THIS A GREAT CITY AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE COME HERE.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE PARKS SYSTEM.
THAT BEING SAID THE PARKS SYSTEM IS 17.7% OF OUR GENERAL FUND.
LAST YEAR THERE WERE $4 MILLION IN OPERATING EXPENSES, $2.7 MILLION IN CAPITAL EXPENSES, AND THEY BROUGHT IN $900,000. SO THAT'S $5.8 MILLION.
AND SO IN THIS COMING BUDGET THAT'S COMING UP, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH $5.8 MILLION, THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, I WENT THROUGH YOUR REPORT WHICH IS A VERY GOOD REPORT.
AND I WENT THROUGH THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL BUDGET AND I WENT THROUGH EVERY OTHER NUMBER I COULD FIND.
AND IT TURNS OUT THAT TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO AND I'M TALKING ABOUT FIXING ROOMS, BUILDINGS, DOING THINGS JUST TO FIX THINGS IS $4.4 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
FOR THE WISH LIST THAT YOU PUT UP THERE, THAT'S $2.3 MILLION OF NEW THINGS FROM OTHER SOURCES THAT CAME UP WITH $3.2 MILLION.
SO THAT'S $7.6 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
AGAIN WHERE IS IT GOING TO COME FROM? AND WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED ON THAT IS THE $1.4 MILLION FOR A COLUMBARIUM. WALKOVERS, WHICH IS TO BE DETERMINED. AND THE WATERFRONT GREEN SPACE PARK, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT AND LAND PRESERVATION.
NONE OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE CLEAR THERE.
AND FINALLY I WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS, THE ATLANTIC REC CENTER IS IN THE 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
UNDER OUR CURRENT FLOOD RULES YOU CAN ONLY IMPROVE THAT BUILDING BY 30% OF THE COST. SO WE CANNOT AWARD YOU -- SO WE CAN DO SOME RENOVATION ON IT. BUT INCREASING IT, MAKING A NEW GYM, DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS, WE CANNOT DO UNDER THE CURRENT FLOOD ORDINANCE UNLESS WE FLOODPROOF THE ENTIRE BUILDING WHICH IS EXPENSIVE. NUMBER TWO, I NOTICED YOU HAD $600 FOR LIGHTS AT EBOR FIELD AND THE SOCCER FIELDS AND THE BASEBALL FIELDS OUT AT THE AIRPORT ARE ON AIRPORT LAND.
AND WE HAVE NO LEASE WITH THEM, WE HAVE NO GUARANTEE FROM THEM.
IF SOMEBODY COMES ALONG AND WANTS TO TAKE THAT LAND AND USE IT FOR AN AIRPORT USE AND PROVIDE IT, THE AIRPORT HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE IT AWAY. SO I CAN'T SEE UNLESS WE HAVE SOME WAY OF MAINTAINING OWNERSHIP OF THAT LAND, PUTTING ANYMORE MONEY AND ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS INTO THAT.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT $50,000 A YEAR TO MAINTAIN THOSE FIELDS. AND THE SOFTBALL FIELDS OF WHICH YOU WANT TO PUT $600,000 OF LIGHTS INTO OF THE 110 PEOPLE THAT USE IT, 105 OF THEM ARE FROM NOT IN THE CITY.
AD FINALLY I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE PARKS AND REC, THE COUNTY JUST ADOPTED A COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN. AND THAT MASTER PLAN CALLS FOR $140 MILLION OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COUNTY IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS. AND THE AMOUNT OF THAT MONEY THAT'S GOING TO BE SPENT IN THE CITY WAS 0.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S A GREAT DEPARTMENT, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE KEPT. BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FIGURE OUT HOW TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT OUR PARKS AND RECREATION.
>> JUST SO YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER, THE COLUMBARIUM IS IN THESE LITTLE CAPITAL PROJECTS BUT IT'S JUST BROKEN DOWN INTO
>> SO NO BIG DEAL. >> NO BIG DEAL.
I HIGHLY THINK THAT'S NO BIG DEAL.
>> I'M JUST SAYING IF YOU DIDN'T NOTICE THAT.
>> MY ONLY THING WAS I SAW THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU NEED THE TWO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, SO THE FIVE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU NEED THAT ARE PART-TIME NOW FOR CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE,
CORRECT? >> IT WOULD TWO FULL TIME AND
TWO PART TIME. >> RIGHT, SO YOU'RE ADDING 30
MORE HOURS A WEEK. >> TEN MORE HOURS A WEEK PER
SO 20 MORE HOURS A WEEK. AND WE STILL NEED ALL OF THE PART-TIME PEOPLE. THERE'S A NEED THAT WE'RE NOT SATISFYING? THAT'S A QUESTION I'M ASKING.
>> WE'RE SATISFYING THE NEEDS BUT NOT PROVIDING THE BEST QUALITY BECAUSE WE CAN'T KEEP PEOPLE FOR 29 HOURS A WEEK AT THE VERY LOW RATE OF PAY, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PROVIDED
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BENEFITS OR ANY OTHER CITY BENEFITS.>> OKAY. >> SO THAT'S THE REASON, BECAUSE THE 21 PEOPLE -- THERE MUST BE SOMETHING GOING ON.
A 21 PERSON TURNOVER IN FIVE YEARS IS QUITE A LARGE NUMBER.
>> THAT'S A GOOD AMOUNT. >> YEAH.
>> THAT'S A GOOD AMOUNT. >> I DON'T BLAME THEM.
THANK YOU. >> I DO HAVE ONE OTHER COMMENT.
>> COMMISSIONER DEAN. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
I HAVE A COMMENT AND TWO QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO COMMENT ON YOUR LAST LINE OF YOUR COMMENTS WHICH IS THAT I DO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND SEE IF ANY OF THOSE PARKS AND REC DOLLARS FOR THE COUNTY COULD BE SPENT IN THE CITY LIMITS. WE ARE BEING DOUBLE TAXED IF PEOPLE IN THE CITY LIMITS ARE TAXED AND OUR PARKS AND REC DOLLARS ARE NOT SENT IN THE CITY LIMITS AND WE'RE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE OUR OWN PARKS AND REC. IS THERE A WAY, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE YET. COULD WE DO A JOINT MEETING WITH THE COUNTY, NOW THAT WE HAVE A NEW COMMISSION, IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD WORK ON POSSIBLY SETTING UP A JOINT COUNTY CITY. WE HAVE A SCHOOL BOARD COMING UP. BUT COULD WE DO A COUNTY ONE AS WELL? THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS ON MY DISCUSSION. THEN TWO QUESTIONS.
NUMBER ONE IS THE SOCIAL MEDIA POSITION.
WE HAVE A GREAT SOCIAL MEDIA PERSON IN OUR CITY CURRENTLY.
IS THERE A WAY WE CAN ROLL THAT IN THERE? I SEE SOME POSSIBLE SYNERGY THERE.
>> WE DO SEND OUR UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND CERTAIN DIFFERENT MATERIAL LIKE FLYERS ALL OF THAT TO OUR FACEBOOK PERSON WHO IS OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER. HOWEVER WHEN PEOPLE USE FACEBOOK, THE FEEDBACK WE'RE GETTING IS WHEN WE GO TO FACEBOOK WE JUST WANT TO TYPE IN PARKS AND REC AND YOUR PAGE POP UP SO WE CAN SEE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, WHAT'S CHANGING, IS THE POOL OPEN, IS THERE A WEATHER PROBLEM, JUST SOMETHING QUICK AND EASY. IT PROVIDES A HIGHER QUALITY OF SERVICE. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, THAT'S HOW WE FUNCTION NOW. WE SEND FLYERS BASED ON OKAY IF IT'S BASKETBALL SEASON OR WHATEVER.
BUT TO DO IMMEDIATE RESPONSES, WE DON'T HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> WE HAVE ADDITIONAL MIDDLE PERSON WHO DOES A GREAT JOB, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE ONE MORE STEP THAT WE REALLY COULD BE A LITTLE QUICKER.
>> UNDERSTOOD. IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT WE COULD DO IS MAYBE SEPARATE OUT A SEPARATE PARKS AND REC SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT AND THAT ONE PERSON COULD MANAGE MAYBE BOTH ACCOUNTS. AND RATHER THAN TAKING INFORMATION YOU SEND AND PUTTING IT ON THE CITY PAGE, PUTTING ON A SEPARATE AND THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
WE'RE JUST LOOKING -- WE HAVE STAFF THAT CAN MANAGE THE FACEBOOK PAGE. SO AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION DISSEMINATES RIGHT INTO OUR DEPARTMENT TO THAT PERSON QUICKLY AND THEY PUT IT RIGHT OUT WITH OUR ADMINISTRATIVE
>> SO IT'S JUST ONE LESS STEP FOR US AND WE MIGHT GET MORE
INFORMATION OUT MORE QUICKLY. >> OKAY.
>> WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE OF THE ADA RULES AND STUFF AS
ONE LAST QUESTION IS THE POSITION OF THE PERSON IN OUR CITY GYMS AND RECREATION THAT'S WIPING DOWN FOR COVID-RELATED REASONS. IS THE INTENTION POST COVID TO
MAINTAIN THAT POSITION AS A -- >> PART-TIME POSITION.
PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE. AND WE HAVE CAMERAS IN THE ROOMS THAT WE KEEP UP MONITORING. BUT WE'VE HAD ISSUES WHERE SOMETIMES PEOPLE THAT MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BALANCE PROBLEM WHERE THEY HAVE FALLEN AND WE'RE NOT IN THERE TO, SOMEONE COMES OVER AND SAYS THIS GENTLEMAN IS BLEEDING OR WHATEVER AND WE ADDRESS IT THEN. BUT IT WOULD JUST BE --
>> IT WOULD BE NICE. >> MOST OF OUR USERS ARE MATURE.
>> UNDERSTOOD. SO THIS IS NOT A POSITION THAT WE HAD PRE-COVID BUT IT'S ONE THAT WE SEEK TO MAINTAIN POST?
>> WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS I'VE MANIPULATED SOME STAFF AROUND AND WE'RE NOT PROVIDING STAFF IN ANOTHER AREA BECAUSE THIS SEEMS
TO BE A LITTLE MORE IMPORTANT. >> THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION MANAGER TO -- I THINK IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY TO ESTABLISH WHAT LEVELS OF SERVICE WE WANT TO HAVE AND THEN WE FIND A WAY TO FUND IT. I PERSONALLY THINK PARKS ARE IMPORTANT AND IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY AND THEY ARE. THE ISSUE OF WORKING WITH THE
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COUNTY, THE COUNTY IS WILLING TO WORK WITH US.WE DON'T SEEM TO BE REAL ENTHUSED WITH THAT.
IT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO WHERE I READ THE COMMENTS FROM THE COUNTY MANAGER ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER ON PARKS.
TOMORROW THE COUNTY IS GOING TO ANNOUNCE A PROGRAM WITH STANDARDIZATION AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO WORK WITH US WHICH WILL INCLUDE OUR PARKS. WE CAN WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL OFFSET SOME COSTS.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THOSE PICTURES YOU SHOWED.
BUCCANEER FIELD $23,000 NEXT YEAR, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE TEN YEARS AGO. SO WE'VE DEFERRED THAT FOREVER.
WE. $750,000 THIS YEAR FOR A GRANT IN STATE FUNDING, $750,000 NEXT YEAR.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIVE YEARS AGO AND WAS.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENED IS WE HAVE DEFERRED THESE THINGS OUT FROM PARKS, NOT MAINTAINING OUR LEVELS OF SERVICE AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITY, AND I CERTAINLY AGREE I'M WITH UTILIZATION OF THE PARKS BY COUNTY PEOPLE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE AT WAR AND NOT TRUST THE COUNTY, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. THERE'S A MEETING 10:00 TOMORROW MORNING AND THEY'RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE SOME INITIATIVES AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK WITH THEM. AND I DON'T WANT TO GET AHEAD OF MYSELF WITH THE CRANE ALLEN PARK.
BUT THAT WHOLE ISSUE IS ABOUT WORKING WITH THE PARKS AND SETTING UP SOME FORMULA INSTEAD OF GOING AND SAYING WE WANT $500,000 AND THEY SAY FOR WHAT AND WE'RE REALLY NOT SURE.
IT'S WHAT DO WE WANT TO SUBSIDIZE WITH PARKS, HOW MANY OF THEIR PEOPLE ARE USING IT, AND WHAT CAN THEY CONTRIBUTE? AND I THINK WE CAN WORK WITH THEM.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S YOUR JOB TO FIND THE MONEY, IT'S OUR JOB TO FIND THE MONEY TO SUPPORT YOU.
THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO BRING UP ONE LAST THING.
POLICY 6.0104 OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN STATES IMPLEMENT A MASTER PLAN'S NEIGHBORHOOD SERVING PARK CONCEPT WHICH SEEKS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO COMMONLY UTILIZED RECREATION ELEMENTS. IT GOES ON TO SAY, THE CITY SHALL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING FOR RESIDENTS WITHIN A HALF MILE RADIUS, A HALF MILE RADIUS OF THEIR HOME.
SHADED PLAYGROUND, MULTIPLE PURPOSE OPEN SPACE SPORTS PARKS, PAVILIONS, AND RESTROOMS. IT'S MY BELIEF WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT. THIS CITY CANNOT AFFORD THAT.
WE ARE IN MY VIEW DONE BUILDING. WE NOW NEED TO MAINTAIN.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE AT THE WATERFRONT.
BUT EVERYTHING ELSE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PUT IN MORE PARKS AS THIS SUGGESTS AND I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE THE PARK MASTER PLAN AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO REFLECT THAT.
THANK YOU. >> I AGREE AND I THINK --
>> OKAY I'LL JUST WRAP THIS UP. THE VICE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT THE REVENUE SIDE. AND WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION SEVERAL MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE COUNTY USERS PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE. IN OTHER WORDS OUR FACILITIES ARE FUNDED BY OUR TAXPAYERS. COUNTY USERS AREN'T PAYING THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT TO SUBSIDIZE THE MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY.
THEY LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY. THEY DON'T PAY CITY TAXES.
SO ONE OF THE CHARGES I WOULD LAY AT THE CITY MANAGER'S FEET WOULD BE A REVISION OF PARKS AND REC PROGRAMS AND FIGURING OUT THE APPROPRIATE FEES FOR CITY RESIDENTS AND NON-CITY RESIDENTS. THAT HAS TO CHANGE.
IT HAS TO CHANGE AT THE GOLF COURSE.
IF YOU GO WITHIN THE CITY, YOU PAY THE SAME RATE AS A CITY RESIDENT. SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER REVENUE AVENUE THAT NEEDS TO BE PURSUED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. >> SURE.
FOR THE NEW COMMISSIONERS, OUR IT, THE COMP PLAN WHICH DOESN'T
[5.2 OCEAN HIGHWAY AND PORT AUTHORITY (OHPA)]
[5.3 BOSQUE BELLO COLUMBARIUM]
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SAY A LOT ABOUT IT. BUT HERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND GET WHAT'S CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS TO ALLOW THEM TO MOVE FORWARD WITHIN THE BUDGET.THAT'S ALL THAT THEY'RE ASKING TO DO AND I BELIEVE THAT'S GOING TO BE TO THE COMMISSION, BEFORE THE COMMISSION'S APPROVAL ON THE 2ND OF MARCH. THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF QUESTIONS. THERE'S THE ISSUE NO GRAVES ARE GOING TO BE MOVED ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE.
THERE'S NO TREES GOING TO BE CUT DOWN UNNECESSARILY.
THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THE ZONING AND THERE ARE ISSUES WITH ZONE RECREATION, AND ISSUES WITH CODES.
THIS CAN ALL BE FIXED. THEY'RE NOT A RELEVANT ISSUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PLAN. IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE GOT THAT DRAFT AND THERE IS $400,000 A YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THAT'S NOT A GUARANTEED PROCESS AT ALL. THAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WE GOT THAT PROJECTED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT DOESN'T SET PRIORITIES. WE'RE GOING TO SET PRIORITIES.
WHAT THIS DOES WHEN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PLAN IS ALLOW THEM TO DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY CAN DO AND PROCEED WITH GRANTS.
THE PLAN IS BUDGETED. THIS ISN'T GOING TO DEAD ON US.
HERE'S THE PLAN GUYS, DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU CAN DO AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD. LIKE I SAID WHEN WE GET TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, IT'S INTERESTING THIS THIS YEAR WE
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HAVE ABOUT $5.5 MILLION IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.NEXT YEAR WE HAVE IN THE DRAFT 7.5 MILLION, THAT'S $2 MILLION MORE. WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM? SO WHEN WE START PUTTING PRIORITIES, THAT MAY NOT BE ON THE LIST AT ALL, THAT MAY BE TOTALLY UP TO THEM.
BUT TO NOT GO FORWARD WITH A PLAN JUST KILLS IT IN THE WATER.
AND I KNOW THE PARKS AND REC HAD SOME ISSUES.
I JUST THOUGHT MY CASE IS TO MOVE FORWARD AND IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA AND I THINK WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND GET THE PLAN. IT'S AN INEXPENSIVE THING.
THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO DO IT. WE'VE BEEN 20 YEARS IN THE WATERFRONT. LET'S NOT DO 20 YEARS ON THIS IN MY OPINION. THANKS, I'M DONE.
>> I WILL RESERVE MY COMMENTS UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
>> OKAY. SEEING NONE, ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.