LIKE TO CALL THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JULY 13TH,
[00:00:10]
2023 IN SESSION.PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
CAN I GET A NUMBER FOUR, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF MAY 23RD REGULAR MEETING?
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.SECOND. CAN YOU ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE CALL YOU.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
[7. STAFF COMMENTS (Part 1 of 2)]
AND THEN I'LL GO INTO THE DISCUSSION OF DISC GOLF.SO CATHERINE VORRASI, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR FOR THE RECORD.
AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SKIP AHEAD.
I JUST WANTED LELAND, IF YOU'LL STAND UP.
LELAND HONAKER IS OUR NEW PARKS SUPERINTENDENT.
HE'S BEEN WITH US FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS AND WANTED TO BRING HIM TO THE BOARD.
SO I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE HIM TO YOU.
WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE HIM.
AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR HIS LEADERSHIP, WE GOT THE THINGS DONE.
[6.1 Disc Golf At Simmons Park]
TO GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT.SO WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT DISC GOLF AGAIN.
YOU ALL HAD ASKED FOR US TO GO BACK, GET SOME COSTS.
KATIE, IF YOU COULD, COULD YOU BRING UP THE PACKET THAT HAS THE COSTS ON THERE? IT'S THE I BELIEVE IT'S THE LAST PAGE SO EVERYONE CAN SEE.
AND THEN SO WE WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.
YOU ALSO HAD ASKED FOR ANY OTHER LOCATIONS.
WE ARE NOT SEEING ANY OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WOULD MAKE MAKE SENSE FOR DISC GOLF.
AND OF COURSE, SIMMONS PARK IS UP FOR DISCUSSION FOR TONIGHT.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND COME ON UP HERE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE HIM KIND OF OVERVIEW WHAT HAPPENED OUT AT THE OUT AT SIMMONS PARK, THE SITE VISIT, AND THEN KIND OF GIVE YOU ANOTHER OVERVIEW AGAIN, FOR EVERYONE THAT'S HERE TONIGHT OF THE PROJECT.
AGAIN, I WANT EVERYONE TO TO PLEASE KNOW THAT TOMMY AND HIS GROUP DID APPROACH THE CITY.
THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO FIGURE OUT IF THE COMMUNITY WANTS IT.
IT'S A DONATION TO THE CITY OF EQUIPMENT AND AND TIME.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR COMING TONIGHT.
AND THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP THIS AFTERNOON AT THE WORKSHOP.
IT WAS I FEEL LIKE IT WAS KIND OF PRODUCTIVE FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS IN ATTENDANCE.
AGAIN, JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE DISCUSSED ON THE PROPERTY THERE.
THERE IS AN EXISTING DITCH DRAINAGE DITCH THAT RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE PROPERTY AND AN ADJACENT.
[00:05:04]
I'VE BEEN INFORMED RECENTLY A MOSQUITO CONTROL TRAIL THAT ALSO IS WHAT RUNS WITH SAID DITCH, WHICH SPLITS AT TWO AT ONE POINT AND FEEDS A POND ON THE GOLF COURSE AND ALSO THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AT THE AIRPORT.THIS DITCH AND PATH SYSTEM WOULD BE OUR MAIN UTILIZATION FOR THE DISC GOLF COURSE, THE PLAN THAT WE WANT TO BASICALLY BRING FORWARD, IT EXISTS NOW.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS CLEARINGS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROPERTY THAT WE'VE EXPLORED THAT WOULD MAKE FOR PERFECT DISC GOLF HOLE AND FAIRWAY AREAS, IF YOU WILL. WE, AS I EXPLAINED ON PROPERTY, THERE IS WE SHOWED HOW THERE IS VERY OTHER THAN PLACING THE BASKETS AND FINDING APPROPRIATE FLAT AREAS FOR THE TEE PADS, THERE'S NO THERE'S REALLY NO WORK TO BE DONE TO TO ACCOMPLISH THIS OTHER THAN TRAVERSING THE PROPERTY.
AND WE ARE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO, TO OFFER AS A CLUB THAT WORK AS WELL AS THE BASKETS AND ANY OTHER MAINTENANCE THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
THAT'S A QUICK OVERVIEW. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? YES. THERE WAS ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WAS AT THE FIRST TEE.
WAS THERE A DESIGNATION FROM THAT HOME TO THAT FIRST TEE ON THE AMOUNT OF FOOTAGE THAT IS, WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN ANY NUMBERS. AGAIN, WE HAVE THIS IS VERY EXPLORATORY AS FAR AS RESEARCH IS BEING DONE.
WE'RE TRYING TO GO WITH A WITH AROUND 150FT AT LEAST FROM THAT OPENING SPACE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FEEL FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WILL BE USING A COURSE LIKE THAT? I MEAN, TEN, 15, A LARGE CROWDS, TOURNAMENTS GOING ON? I MEAN, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT..
A COMPLETE ROUGH ESTIMATE I WOULD I, I THINK I SAID 25 TO 50 IN A DAY WOULD BE A GUESSTIMATE AS FAR AS MAYBE A HIGH NUMBER THAT I WOULD ASSUME AT THIS POINT IN TIME THIS WOULD BE A VERY RUSTIC COURSE.
IT WOULD BE VERY IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET UP HERE.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO NECESSARILY BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM A LOT OF PLACES..
USED DAILY AS WELL AS I'M ASSUMING WEEKENDS WOULD BE A HIGHER VOLUME OF TRAFFIC.
CERTAINLY NIGHT NIGHT DISC GOLF, VERY UNLIKELY AT THIS LOCATION.
BUT THERE IS THERE IS SUCH A THING AS GLOW DISC GOLF.
IT'S MUCH MORE POPULAR WHERE THERE'S NOT AS DENSE OF AN AREA.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANY QUESTIONS? I APPRECIATE. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND THE TOUR TODAY? YES, SIR. TAKING THE TIME AND SHOWING ALL OF US YOUR OUTLOOK OF WHAT THIS SHOULD, WHAT WOULD WE COULD DO WITH IT? PROPERTY. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME. THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR PROBABLY CATHERINE.
I HAVE A STATEMENT I'D LIKE TO READ PRIOR TO US GETTING INTO THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO TALK.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WELCOMES THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, BOTH PRO AND CON, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE INTERESTED PARTIES ARE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THE PROCESS WE FOLLOW.
SECOND, AS THE CHAIRPERSON WILL CALL UPON THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY APPEAR ON THE REQUEST TO SPEAK SIGN IN SHEET. THIRD, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE AT THE FRONT OF THE CHAMBER AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS
[00:10:06]
FOR THE RECORD.IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK.
EACH MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES FOR PRESENTING HIS OR HER REMARKS.
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT INDIVIDUALS IN THE CHAMBER DO NOT SPEAK OUT OF TURN OR WHEN FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IS AT THE PODIUM. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL PROFANITY BE ALLOWED.
ANYONE WHO USES PROFANITY OR IS BEING DISRUPTIVE MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE THIS MEETING.
AND UNDER THAT, I WILL START THE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR DISC GOLF.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
I THOUGHT MY PENMANSHIP WAS GOOD.
JUST DON'T CALL ME DICK. OKAY.
YOU GOT IT. RICHARD DEAN, 4104 DUNWOOD PLACE.
I COME TO YOU TONIGHT TO URGE THIS COMMITTEE TO VOTE NO ON THIS PROPOSAL.
THAT THEIR NUMBER ONE IS EXISTING FACILITY IN THE CITY THAT PEOPLE CAN USE.
NUMBER TWO, THERE ARE OTHER FACILITIES IN THE AREA.
SO IT'S NOT THAT THERE'S LACK OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS ACTIVITY.
I THINK THE TAKE UP RATE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ACTIVITY DOES NOT COME ANYWHERE NEAR APPROACHING THE TAKE UP RATE WE SEE AT THE AQUATIC CENTER, THE GOLF COURSE, THE BIKE PATHS, THE WALKWAYS THAT WE ALL USE.
THIS IS MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL DOLLAR REQUEST ON THE CITY BUDGET, BUT ALL OF US HAVE TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE DEMANDS ON THIS CITY BUDGET FAR EXCEED WHAT IS AVAILABLE.
WE'VE GOT BIG STUFF IN FRONT OF US.
WE'VE GOT MARINA GOLF COURSE, THE CLUBHOUSE AT THE GOLF COURSE, THE REC CENTER.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF FLAVOR, AT THE RECENT CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THERE WAS SOME INDICATION THEY DIDN'T VOTE ON IT, BUT THERE WERE SOME INDICATION THAT THINGS WERE EVEN GOING TO GET TIGHT WITH CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NON PROFITS THAT THE CITY HAS SUPPORTED.
AND THAT IS AN EYE OPENER, I THINK, FOR FOR ALL OF US.
AND I DON'T THINK THIS MAKES THE GRADE.
I DIDN'T HEAR WHERE THIS WAS GOING TO INCLUDE WHAT THIS LAND WAS INITIALLY CLEARED FOR, WHICH WAS A PLAYGROUND FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISTIC NEEDS THAT IT NEVER CAME TO FRUITION.
THE PARK WAS CLEARED, PATHS WERE PUT IN.
THAT'S ALL THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT AT THIS PARK PLACE.
WHAT'S BEING ADDRESSED HERE THIS EVENING, I DON'T SEE ANY BUDGET ITEMS FOR PARKING LOT EXPANSION BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED MORE PARKING. I'M SURE WHAT HAPPENED THIS AFTERNOON WITH PARKING ALL OVER THE STREET IS NOT GOING TO WANT TO BE TAKEN ON AND BE A CONSTANT ISSUE.
THE SAME THING WITH MAINTENANCE FROM YOUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
[00:15:01]
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT AND CLEAR THIS PARK LAND FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO USE.THERE'S GOING TO BE BIRD NESTING TREES, LIMBS FALLING.
I WOULD ASK THE BOARD NOT TO CONSIDER DOING THIS AND CLEARING AND REMOVING MORE TREES THAT DON'T NEED TO BE REMOVED FOR THIS AT THIS TIME FRAME. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SCOTT MUIR 3052 PERSIMMON CIRCLE IN THE CITY.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I URGE THE BOARD TO ALSO VOTE NO.
I'M DEAD SET AGAINST THIS PROJECT.
THE THE LAND THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ONE OF THE FEW NATURAL AREAS THAT REMAIN ON OUR ISLAND, AND WE NEED TO TREASURE THIS, PRESERVE IT, AND NOT DESTROY IT.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS, AND I WOULD HOPE IF THIS MOVES FORWARD, THAT THAT THE CITY WOULD DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY TO LOOK AT THE EFFECTS OF WILDLIFE, LOOK AT THE EFFECTS OF STORMWATER AND STORMWATER RUNOFF IN THE AREA AND ALSO THE WETLANDS IN THE AREA.
MR. GOEDDE MENTIONED WALKING ALONG THE DITCH.
I WENT HOME AND LOOKED AT THE DRAWINGS FROM THE SIMMONS ROAD PARK WHEN IT WAS BEING PROPOSED.
I REMEMBER IT VERY WELL AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF WETLANDS.
IN FACT, PRETTY MUCH THAT WHOLE FIRST HOLE THAT WE WERE SHOWN APPEARS TO BE IN A WETLAND.
IF NOT, IT'S CERTAINLY IN A WETLAND BUFFER.
SO THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
I DID NOT ATTEND, BUT I LISTENED TO THE LAST MEETING AND LEARNED ABOUT THE DISC GOLF COURSE AT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS DROVE BY THERE MANY, MANY TIMES, WEEKDAYS, WEEKENDS, AND I HAVE SEEN A GRAND TOTAL OF ZERO PEOPLE ON THAT FACILITY.
I YESTERDAY I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE PARKS AND REC COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COMMISSIONERS WITH A LIST OF ABOUT A DOZEN QUESTIONS THAT I THINK NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT HERE AND TAKE THE TIME, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT THE COMMITTEE AND THE CITY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE QUESTIONS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP LIKE LIKE PARKING AND BUDGET.
IN CLOSING, I'LL JUST STATE AGAIN, I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CHERYL WITT.
I LIVE AT 4402 TITLEIST DRIVE.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE AMELIA.
WE'RE ADVOCATES FOR MAINTAINING THE TREE CANOPY OF FERNANDINA BEACH AND AMELIA ISLAND.
I HAVE VERY MANY QUESTIONS, BUT THE PRIMARY ONES THAT I HAVE ARE CONCERN THE TREE CANOPY AND OUR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN IT FOR THE HEALTH AND ENJOYMENT OF EVERYBODY IN THE ISLAND.
THERE'S A LOT OF SAW PALMETTOS OUT THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
JUST IMMEDIATELY OFF WHAT WE WERE SHOWN AS A TRAIL.
I'M IMAGINING MY OWN EFFICACY IN THROWING A DISC.
IT'S NOT GOING TO STAY ON THAT TRAIL.
IT'S GOING TO GO OFF THE TRAIL.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE CLIMBING OVER OTHER UNDERSTORY THAT MAYBE HADN'T BEEN REMOVED.
SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THAT NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
[00:20:07]
WHAT DISC GOLF COURSES LOOK LIKE.SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE CAREFULLY CONSIDER THIS.
I'M ADVOCATING THAT YOU VOTE NO ON THIS PROJECT.
WOULD YOU PLEASE LET THE SPEAKER, WHOEVER IS AT THE PODIUM AND PLEASE DO NOT APPLAUD THE SPEAKERS.
AND SO WE CAN MOVE ON AND EVERYBODY GETS A FAIR SHAKE.
HI, I'M PAT FOSTER TURLEY 333 PERSIMMON CIRCLE.
I'VE BEEN DOING THAT EVERY WEEK FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.
AND THAT PROPERTY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I HAVE WALKED IT.
AND ON THAT SIDE OF THE ISLAND, REALLY.
OKAY. THERE'S PROPERTIES ALL AROUND THAT.
BUT ALSO THIS IS THE LAST REMAINING CITY PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT HAS VEGETATION ON IT.
THAT'S NATIVE AND IT'S THE LAST PLACE AROUND THAT PART OF THE ISLAND WHERE THINGS LIKE PAINTED BUNTINGS AND INDIGO BUNTINGS AND HAWKS AND EAGLES AND OWL, NOT EAGLES, BUT OWLS CAN NEST.
I MEAN, I MEAN, I'M JUST LOOKING AROUND.
OKAY, THIS IS YOUR COMMUNITY YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
WE LIKE THOSE OF US THAT ARE OLD.
OKAY? WE'RE NOT RUNNING AROUND WITH DISCS.
WE'RE SITTING IN OUR BACKYARD AND WE'RE WATCHING BIRDS, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO WATCH BIRDS IF THEIR NESTS ARE REMOVED BECAUSE EVERYONE'S CLANGING AROUND WITH THINGS CLIMBING THROUGH THE UNDERBRUSH WHERE THEIR NESTS ARE AND THROWING AROUND THESE DISCS.
IT'S GOING TO DRIVE THE WILDLIFE AWAY.
I WANT THE RECREATION COMMITTEE TO REALIZE THAT BIRDWATCHING IS RECREATION.
WE WANT TO WATCH BIRDS IN OUR YARD.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE BIRDS IN OUR YARD IF THEY'RE CHASED AWAY FROM ONE OF THE LAST NATURAL AREAS.
AND I WOULD SAY THIS MARKS DOOM.
IT JUST IS MAKING US MORE COMMERCIALIZED.
WHY DON'T WE JUST ZONE THAT LAND CONSERVATION? BE DONE WITH IT.
LET'S JUST CALL IT CONSERVATION LAND, GET THE COMMITTEE TO REZONE IT, BE DONE WITH IT, BUT DO NOT PUT IN SOME CLANGING DISC GOLF, PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND CHASING THEIR THINGS THROUGH THE BRUSH WHERE THERE MIGHT BE A BIRD NEST.
WE DON'T HAVE MANY BIRD NESTS ANYMORE.
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH CITY LAND ANYMORE LIKE THIS.
THE ENJOYMENT OF WILDLIFE, I BELIEVE, IS A RECREATIONAL NEED THAT FAR SURPASSES THE NEED FOR SOMEONE TO THROW A DISC AT A METAL CLANGING THING IN THE FOREST AND TRAIPSING AROUND LIKE SOMEONE SAID, WHEN YOU THROW A DISC, YOU GO AROUND THROUGH THE UNDERBRUSH TO GET THAT DISH DISC.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO JUST STAY RIGHT THERE ON THE PATH.
ONE MORE THING. THE PATH THAT WE SAW GOES ALONG THE MOSQUITO DITCH.
I'VE WALKED THAT A LOT OF TIMES.
THE OTHER AREA BEYOND THAT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THAT.
ONE EXAMPLE WE WERE SHOWN, WE'RE TALKING HOW MANY 18 HOLES.
THANK YOU. AND ALL THE ANIMALS THAT ARE THERE THAT WE ENJOY.
THANKS. THANK YOU. OH, MY GOD.
NEXT PERSON WHO CLAPS WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
[00:25:08]
ELISE PEARLSTEIN, 1521 FRANKLIN STREET.I'M A CITY RESIDENT AND THANK YOU FOR THE LEAD IN PAT.
AFTER WALKING THE THE LITTLE PATH TODAY WITH THE FORGOT YOUR NAME, WE WENT BACK IN THE BACK PART OF SIMMONS PARK AND WE HADN'T SPENT A LOT OF TIME THERE.
WE'VE BEEN THERE A FEW TIMES AND I HEARD A WHITE EYED VIREO.
I DID NOT HEAR IT WHILE WE WERE WALKING THE PATH.
BUT WHEN I GOT AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE, I DID.
VIREOS FEED IN THE UNDERBRUSH.
THE DEAD BRANCHES PROVIDE INSECTS, THEY NEST, THEY EAT THE INSECTS.
IT REMINDED ME, THOUGH, OF WHAT I WAS HEARING.
I WASN'T HEARING HUMAN NOISES.
I WASN'T HEARING QUACKS AND STOMPING AND THINGS.
I WAS AWAY FROM THE HUMAN NOISE.
AND I'VE BEEN READING A LOT ABOUT NOISE AND NOISE.
POLLUTION IS ONE OF THE UNNOTICED, UNDOCUMENTED SORT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN OUR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY, WHO ARE ALWAYS PLUGGED IN. THEY GET A LOT OF NOISE AND THEY GET A LOT OF ANXIETY.
BEING ABLE TO GO SOMEWHERE THAT THEY DON'T HEAR THAT NOISE IS A WAY TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, BUT ONE OF THE ORIGINAL INTENTS OF THE PARK WAS FOR OUR CHILDREN WHO MAY NEED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DE-STRESS.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO SEE THE BIRD.
AND I WOULD IMAGINE THIS WAS AT 3:30 THIS AFTERNOON, I HEARD THE WHITE EYED VIREO.
I HEARD AFFILIATED WOODPECKER.
THEY DEPEND ON DOWNED LOGS AND DEAD TREES FOR THEIR FOOD.
SO I WOULD SAY THE UNSEEN PART OF THIS PARK IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THE ABSENCE OF NOISE AND THE ABILITY TO GET AWAY FROM ALL THE HUMAN THINGS THAT SURROUND US.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I LIKE THAT.
MR. NICKOLOFF. CHRIS NICKOLOFF, 553 SPANISH WAY WEST.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THIS PLAN, THE PLAN AT SIMMONS PARK.
MY OPPOSITION IS FOR MANY REASONS.
MANY SPEAKERS HERE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
MY CONCERNS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND I HAVE QUESTIONS THAT I THINK REQUIRE SOME ANSWERS.
FIRST, LET ME SAY THAT I'M NOT ANTI DISC GOLF AT ALL.
THAT COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
I ORIGINATE FROM COLORADO, WHERE RECREATION IS A PART OF OUR CULTURE.
I LEARNED TO SKI WHEN I WAS EIGHT.
I MOUNTAIN BIKED ROAD BIKE TRIATHLONS, HIKED BACKPACK CAMP, FISHED AND ON AND ON AND ON.
I PARTICIPATED IN A LOT OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SO I'M NOT HERE SPEAKING AGAINST DISC GOLF.
BUT THE PROPOSED LOCATION, IT'S A BAD LOCATION.
SO INTERTWINING DISC GOLF COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF INCOME THROUGH GREEN FEES, CART RENTALS, EQUIPMENT SALES, CONCESSIONS, ALL OF THE ABOVE THAT COULD HELP GENERATE REVENUE.
ALSO, THE APPLICANT IS LOOKING TO BUILD A TOURNAMENT SIZED COURSE, 18 HOLES, THAT'S TOURNAMENT SIZE.
WILL THEY BE HOLDING TOURNAMENTS THERE? THE GOLF COURSE HAS THAT TYPE OF ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE.
SO HERE ARE SOME PERTINENT QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE.
PARKING. YOU EXPERIENCED IT TODAY OUT THERE.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PARKING.
IT'S LIMITED. HOW MUCH WILL IT GET USED? GARBAGE? WHO'S GOING TO PICK UP THE GARBAGE?
[00:30:02]
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TRASH CAN FACILITIES OR.RECEPTACLES OUT THERE AT THE HOLES.
MAINTENANCE. HOW LONG WILL THE THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE MAINTENANCE, BUT HOW LONG IS THAT? IS THAT GOING TO BE IN PERPETUITY OR ARE WE GOING TO BE LEFT WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY? AND RIGHT NOW, MOSQUITO CONTROLS SPRAYS AROUND THAT AREA, BUT ARE THEY GOING TO GO DEEP INTO THE WOODS TO SPRAY MORE? AND IF SO, THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL COST.
AND SIMMONS IS A QUIET, PEACEFUL, PASSIVE PARK.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF PARK THAT WE THAT WE GOT AND THAT WE WANT TO HAVE.
DISRUPT THIS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSAL.
I LIVE AT 227 NORTH 11TH STREET IN FERNANDINA, JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY, THE DOWNTOWN.
USED TO LIVE DOWN ON OCEAN RIDGE AND WE'VE KEPT TABS ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PARK.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS.
IT HASN'T GONE ANY FARTHER THAN THE PARK PART OF IT.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE DISC GOLF WOULD BE OF ANY BENEFIT TO THAT PARK.
WE'VE TALKED ALREADY ABOUT HOW THERE'S TWO OTHER COURSES.
ONE, THE HIGH SCHOOL AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THE OTHER ONE IS OUT BY JOURNEY CHURCH.
I DON'T SEE THAT ANY OF THESE ARE OVERFLOWING.
SO I DON'T THINK THE NEED IS THERE FOR A THIRD COURSE, ESPECIALLY NOT A TOURNAMENT COURSE.
I DON'T SEE EVERYBODY HAS PRETTY MUCH SAID WHAT I WANTED TO SAY, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW PEOPLE CAN PLAY THE DISC AND NOT GO INTO THE UNDERBRUSH AND THE OTHER SPOTS.
WE TOOK OUR WALK TODAY AND OUR PERSON WHO LED THE WALK SAID THAT HE HAD DRUGGED SOME LOGS AND SOME BRUSH AND SOME BRANCHES OUT OF THE WAY SO IT WOULD LOOK MORE PRESENTABLE FOR US TO SEE.
DOES THAT MEAN ANYTIME ANY BRANCHES FALL DOWN ALONG THIS COURSE, THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO OUT AND NOT ASK ANYBODY? AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE DIDN'T GET ANY ATTENTION OR HE DIDN'T GET ANY PERMISSION TO DO IT, THAT THEY WILL, AT THEIR DISCRETION, CLEAR THE BRUSH AND THE BRANCHES AS THEY SEE FIT. I PLEASE ASK YOU TO SAY NO TO THIS.
I KNOW THEY HAVE OTHER PLACES TO GO.
HI, MIKE WIFFEN, 227 NORTH 11TH STREET HERE IN FERNANDINA.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS PUTTING ALL THE TIME IN THAT YOU DO.
IT'S MORE MORE INVOLVED THAN MOST FOLKS REALIZE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST DISC GOLF.
I JUST DON'T THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR IT.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE UNDERBRUSH, THE UNDER-STORY THERE.
I THINK THAT'S INEVITABLY GOING TO BE DAMAGED.
BUT WE REALLY HAVEN'T FINISHED THE PARK AS IT WAS PLANNED.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE MONEY AND MAINTENANCE RESOURCES, I THINK THAT'S INEVITABLE THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS FOR A LOT OF THIS. WHY DON'T WE FINISH THE PARK AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED? I HAVE OTHER REASONS, BUT MOST FOLKS HERE HAVE ALREADY STATED THE OTHER CONCERNS THAT I HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MARY LIBBEY, 1782 15TH STREET SOUTH.
I WOULD SAY I AM NOT AGAINST DISC GOLF.
[00:35:01]
I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF FUN.MY SON AND HIS FRIENDS PLAY DISC GOLF.
HOWEVER, THAT BEING SAID, THAT IS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND IT TAKES PLACE IN A PARK WHERE THERE'S TREES AND GRASS AND IT'S A GREAT LOCATION. ALL THOSE LOCATIONS IN MINNEAPOLIS ARE GREAT FOR THEIR DISC GOLF COURSES.
IT WAS ALL WOODS AND IT WAS A LAKE AND ALL AROUND THE LAKE WAS WOODS.
AND THERE WERE OSPREYS AND DUCKS AND LOONS AND WE HAD BIRD FEEDERS AND WE HAD SUCH A VARIETY OF BIRDS AND IT WAS AMAZING. WE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.
LAKESIDE BUILDS THEIR BUILDING, GOES OVER WHAT THEY SAID WAS GOING TO BE THEIR BUFFER AREA, TAKES DOWN THE MAJORITY OF THE TREES AND THE ONES THAT ARE LEFT THERE ARE ONLY LEFT THERE BECAUSE I AND SOME NEIGHBORS WERE OUT THERE THREATENING TO CHAIN OURSELVES TO THOSE TREES.
THEN ALONG COMES THE BIKE PATH, SO EVEN MORE TREES GO.
SO THESE BIRD FEEDERS THAT WE USED TO HAVE WOULD SIT EMPTY.
ONCE IN A WHILE THE MOCKINGBIRDS, THEY ALWAYS COME BACK, BUT NONE OF THE OTHER BIRDS CAME BACK.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY TAKE AWAY MORE OF THESE THIS PROPERTY WHERE THERE IS WILDLIFE APLENTY THERE AND YOU CANNOT PLAY DISC GOLF IN AN AREA THAT'S WOODED LIKE THAT WITHOUT HURTING YOURSELF.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE NO.
THANK YOU. JACK EMBER 1003. OH, HEY, JACK.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, I KNOW NOBODY SAID YES SO FAR TO THIS PROPOSAL.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE FIRST.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I FIND THIS PROPOSAL DISINGENUOUS ON A NUMBER OF LEVELS.
I FIND THE ESTIMATE NOT VERY ACCURATE.
AND I SEE STAFF TIME UP THERE, BUT NO FIGURES FOR STAFF TIME OR EVEN HOURS OF STAFF TIME THAT REQUIRES THIS TO BE PUT IN AND CLEARING LAND, WHICH I'M NOT A FAN OF EITHER.
SO I'M GOING TO SUGGEST YOU VOTE NO AS WELL.
AND I THINK IN FERNANDINA HERE, WE'RE IN A WE'RE IN A RENAISSANCE, A RENAISSANCE.
THE DEFINITION OF IT IS A TIME OF POSITIVE CHANGE.
AND I'M OVER 70 YEARS OLD NOW.
SO WHAT'S MORE, WHAT'S ONE MORE LAWSUIT I SAY.
WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU GOT TO CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T CHOOSE THIS WHOLE WAR THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF FERNANDINA BEACH, LISTENING TO EVERYBODY SAY NO ON STUFF AND THEN GOING AHEAD ANYWAY.
AMELIA BLUFF, TRINGALI PROJECT, IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT A VIOLENT PEOPLE, BUT WE DO DEEP INVESTIGATION.
WE FIND OUT OUR WE DO OUR HOMEWORK AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING AHEAD AND LITIGATE EVERYWHERE WE CAN.
751 BARRINGTON DRIVE, FERNADINA.
I DID SPEND TIME THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS DOING A LOT OF READING, NOT ONLY FROM COMMENTS AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS BEFORE.
[00:40:02]
AND SO MY COMMITMENT TO SAYING NO HAS DEEPENED.AND I THINK THE WORD DISINGENUOUS REALLY DOES STAND OUT DEEP IN MY MIND.
WE WORKED HARD WITH THIS GROUP AND WITH THE CITY AND WITH STAFF TO PROTECT THIS PARK.
AND NO, WE'VE NOT SEEN ALL OF IT COME TO FRUITION.
BUT TO BE BACK HERE IS REALLY DIFFICULT.
AND I THINK YOU CAN HEAR THAT AND YOU COULD SEE THAT IN THE PASSION.
MY HUSBAND AND I USE THE TRAIL.
YOU CAN SIT, AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID, AND LISTEN TO THE BIRDS AND THE QUIET AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
WE ARE A BARRIER ISLAND, AND THIS PARTIAL DOES A WONDERFUL JOB TO BE A TEACHING AND LEARNING PIECE.
WHAT WE SAW IN THE VIDEO AND THE ORIGINAL WAS A CALL IT, I'M NOT A CONSTRUCTION PERSON, BUT A BIG MACHINE COMING IN AND DESTROYING THE UNDERSTORY THAT STOOD OUT IN MY MIND IS NOT A VISION THAT HAS LEFT ME AND I'VE WATCHED OTHER VIDEOS OF OTHER DISC GOLF'S COMING IN.
I'M OPPOSED TO THIS PROPERTY AND YOU HONORING WHAT WE HAD ALREADY LINED UP FOR.
IT IS A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ELOQUENTLY TALKED ABOUT THE BIRDS.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THE NUMBER OF BIRDERS THAT WE HAVE ON THE ISLAND REALLY USE THAT.
I ALSO SPEAK SPOKE BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, WE CAN NO LONGER MAKE DECISIONS IN ISOLATION.
WE NOW WHATEVER DECISIONS WE MAKE, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TOTAL PIECE.
HOW MANY CARS ARE WE BRINGING INTO THE ISLAND? AND YET PROBABLY EVERYBODY IN HERE FILLED OUT THE SURVEYS FOR VISION 2045 THAT TALKED ABOUT WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT TRAFFIC.
ALL OF THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED IN EVERY SINGLE DECISION THAT WE MAKE.
YOU HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT COST.
I IT'S VERY NICE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF WHAT WE HAVE.
WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND AND YOU SEE OTHER PARKS, WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU STRONGLY TO VOTE NO.
HE DOES WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE SAID.
I'M JANICE NICKOLOFF, 553 SPANISH WAY WEST.
I'M A RESIDENT AND I WAS OUT THERE TODAY WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT EVERYTHING EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID.
AND I'VE SENT YOU ALL AN EMAIL.
HOPEFULLY YOU GOT IT WITH MY TOPICS THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, SO I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
MY BIGGEST QUESTION IS WHY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED DISC GOLF PERIOD.
BUT IF WE DO AND PEOPLE REALLY WANT IT, THEN FIND A GREAT PLACE FOR IT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT EXERCISE FOR PEOPLE, BUT NOT IN A PRISTINE PARK LIKE THIS ONE.
AND I USE THIS PARK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I WALK TO THE BEACH FROM MY HOME WITH MY DOG.
I WALK BACK AND I WALK THROUGH THAT PARK EVERY SINGLE DAY AND I LOVE IT.
AND I'M NOT A BIRDER, SO TO SPEAK.
BUT I HAVE RECORDED 24 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BIRDS IN THERE IN THAT PARK IN FOUR MONTHS.
AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE I HAVE THIS COOL APP AND I GOT INTERESTED IN DOING IT.
IF YOU, YOU BOTHER THEM, THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE THE NEST.
THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE THEIR EGGS.
AND I KNOW DISC GOLF IS NOT LOUD.
IT'S NOT THIS HUGE SPORT WHERE IT'S REAL ROWDY, BUT IT CAN BE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IT CAN BE UP TO FIVE PEOPLE GOLFING AT ONE TIME ON A HOLE IF THERE'S 18 HOLES.
THINK ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT IS 90 AT A TIME.
IF THERE'S FIVE OR CARS, IF NOBODY CAR POOLS, HOW MANY CARS THAT WOULD BE.
I MEAN, IT'S A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.
AND I AND YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE THROWING THE DISC AND THEY'RE NOT REGULAR FRISBEES EITHER.
[00:45:05]
THEY'RE SMALLER, A LITTLE SMALLER AND REAL HARD AND THEY GO FAST AND FAR.IF THOSE FLICK OUT, THAT PERSON'S GOT A TRACE OUT AND GET IT.
THAT'S ONE PERSON AND ANOTHER PERSON AND ANOTHER PERSON.
EVERY TIME SOMEBODY PLAYS, THEY THROW IT UNLESS THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY GOOD AND THEY DON'T MISS.
I MEAN, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ROOM.
SO I'M IMPRESSED IF THESE PEOPLE ARE THAT GOOD.
BUT IT'S GOING TO GET TRAMPLED DOWN.
AND I THINK THEY CALL THAT BUSHWHACKING.
I JUST DON'T THINK IT SHOULD GO THERE.
IT SHOULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, LIKE THE AIRPORT.
MARGARET KIRKLAND, 1377, PLANTATION POINT DRIVE.
NO, I'M NOT A RESIDENT OF THE CITY, BUT I HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO REPRESENT CONSERVE NASSAU, WHICH IS A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION. WE WERE ALL IN THE PARK THIS AFTERNOON AND YOU NOTICED THAT THE TREES IN THE PARK ARE REALLY DWARFED, MOST OF THEM, EXCEPT FOR THE PINES.
AND THAT MEANS THAT THEY ARE SUBJECTED TO A FAIR AMOUNT OF SALT.
OKAY. AND THAT SALT IMPACTS THEM IF IT GETS TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THEIR LEAVES.
YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF SMALL TREES THAT WERE DEAD AROUND THERE.
SO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? AS EVERYONE HAS SAID, IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE A BARRIER ISLAND.
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE LIVING WITH SEA LEVEL RISE.
WE ARE LIVING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE ARE LIVING WITH MORE FLOODING.
IF WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE TREES TO MANAGE OUR STORMWATER, THEN WE HAVE TO INSTALL MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF HARDSCAPE, STORMWATER PROCESSING EQUIPMENT AND PIPES AND SO ON.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE WITH THE ORIGINAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS PARK AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE AGREEMENT WAS THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ESSENTIALLY FOR SMALL KIDS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES IS AUTISM, LEARNING DISABILITIES AND SO ON.
THE REASON IT COULD NOT BE OUT IN AN AREA EXPOSED TO TOO MUCH SUN WAS BECAUSE THEY NEEDED THIS PROTECTED SORT OF ENVIRONMENT TO HELP THEM FUNCTION BETTER.
AND SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT AGREEMENT IS BEING VIOLATED.
PART OF THE AGREEMENT WAS IT WOULD ONLY BE A PASSIVE PARK.
AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT IS ALSO BEING VIOLATED HERE IF THIS IS APPROVED.
SO I WOULD VERY MUCH ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS.
HI, GOOD EVENING. I'M MICHAEL REARDON AND I LIVE IN 1905 LAKESIDE DRIVE SOUTH.
THAT TECHNICALLY MAKES ME NOT A CITY RESIDENT, BUT MY LOT IS REPRESENTED ON THE MAP RIGHT THERE.
I'M REAL CLOSE TO WHERE THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE, SO I DO HAVE AN INTEREST IN IT.
I WAS THERE THIS EVENING FOR THE FOR THE TOUR.
THERE WAS ABOUT 100 PEOPLE, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT MY COUNT.
I WAS I WAS SURPRISED THAT THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE THAT MANY PEOPLE.
[00:50:04]
NOT BEING THE RIGHT PLACE.IT'S VERY DENSE WHETHER THERE'S SNAKES THERE OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE A LOT OF WILDLIFE.
I HEARD A CHUCK WILL'S WIDOW THE OTHER NIGHT, WHICH IS A RELATIVELY RARE BIRD IN THIS AREA.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE ENJOY THE QUIET THAT THAT IS HERE.
MY WIFE AND I MOVED DOWN HERE, YOU KNOW, AND PICKED THIS AREA REALLY FOR A LOT OF FOR THOSE REASONS.
I DO QUESTION HOW MUCH THOUGHT AND PLANNING GOES INTO A PROJECT LIKE THIS.
I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE THERE HAS BEEN SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT HAVE JUST SORT OF POPPED UP.
YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS AND, YOU KNOW, THE PICKLEBALL COURTS ON THE GOLF COURSE AND AND THEY SEEM TO COME OUT TO ME AT LEAST THEY SEEM TO COME OUT OF NOWHERE. I JUST I'M I WOULD URGE TO VOTE NO.
I LIVE AT 2184 LAKESIDE DRIVE EAST, FERNANDINA BEACH.
I AM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SIMMONS ROAD PARK.
SO THAT PUTS ME IN THE COUNTY.
AND I THINK THERE'S THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS SAID THIS EVENING.
AND I, LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HERE, ARE NOT AGAINST DISC GOLF.
I'M JUST AGAINST IT IN THIS LOCATION.
I'VE SUPPORTED A LOT OF PARKS AND REC IDEAS.
AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THIS PLAN COULD HAPPEN SOMEWHERE ELSE.
NASSAU COUNTY HAS PUT A LOT OF MONEY AND TIME INTO DEVELOPING PARKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN DEVELOPMENT.
WHY CAN'T WE HAVE THIS ADDED ON TO ONE OF THEIR PLANS AND EXTEND A PARK SPACE THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON? A LOT OF THEIR PARKS, LIKE AT WILLIAM BURGESS IS IN PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT.
HOW CAN THIS COULD GO OVER THERE? ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK ON THIS MAP, WHICH I LOVE TO LOOK AT BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF WHERE I LIVE AND THAT'S NOT IN THE BOUNDARY, BUT THERE'S A PARK RIGHT NEXT TO THE GOLF COURSE IN THE AIRPORT.
THAT'S THE GREEN SPACE THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S THE SPACE THAT WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN 14TH STREET, YOU SEE THE DEER CROSSING ENTERING THAT SPACE, AND THEN THEY ENTER OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR THEY GO INTO THE GOLF COURSE AND THEN THEY COME ALONG THE BACK SIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG THE LAKE AND CROSS SIMMONS AND ENTER THE GREENWAY, WHICH IS THAT PART RIGHT BY FIRST STREET.
I WAS HERE WITH YOU DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SIMMONS ROAD PARK.
I WALKED THE TRAIL WHEN IT WAS BEING CLEARED.
NOW, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET HERE AND WE TALK ABOUT TRYING TO PUT $9,000 INTO BUILDING THIS PARK, THAT THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT THAT EVERYONE AGREED TO GOING IN AS PHASE TWO WAS NEVER, NEVER PUT THERE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PURCHASED FOR THAT PARK, THE CITY PURCHASED IT FOR THAT PARK.
THE COMMISSIONERS VOTED TO PUT THE PLAYGROUND THERE, BUT YET IT WASN'T DONE.
LAST OCTOBER 2022, THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT SIMMONS ROAD PARK.
THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO ABOUT IT? AND THE THE MEMBERS OF THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SOME OF YOU ARE STILL ON IT ALL SAID LEAVE IT ALONE.
SO WHY ARE WE HERE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAMERON MOSS.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CAMERON MOSS.
I LIVE AT 3435 C MARSH ROAD IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE COUNTY.
[00:55:06]
NONSENSE IS WORDS OR LANGUAGE HAVING LITTLE OR NO SENSE OR MEANING, CONDUCT THAT IS SENSELESS, FOOLISH OR ABSURD.THE THESAURUS SAYS BABBLE, BALONEY, CRAZINESS, FOLLY AND FOOLISHNESS.
SO I CHOSE THAT WORD VERY CAREFULLY.
BUT WE'VE SEEN A RACETRACK PROPOSED FOR THE GOLF COURSE AREA.
WE'VE SEEN A SOLAR FARM RECOMMENDED BY CLEAR CUTTING 36 ACRES OF ORIGINAL NATIVE FOREST.
AND I JUST WONDER WHAT'S IN THE WATER THAT BRINGS PEOPLE HERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VERY ELOQUENT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
I THINK I WOULD I'LL TAKE A BUSINESS APPROACH AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE DEMAND FOR DISC GOLF IN NASSAU COUNTY BEFORE I MOVE AN INCH TO APPROVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS? I'D WANT TO SEE THE NUMBERS JUST A QUICK WHILE.
I'M SITTING HERE WAITING TO SPEAK.
I CHECK AND FIND OUT THAT THERE ARE 4 MILLION DISC GOLFERS IN THE WORLD.
THERE ARE 54,000 REGISTERED DISC GOLFERS IN THE COUNTRY.
THERE ARE 25 MILLION REGISTERED GOLFERS IN THE COUNTRY.
500 TIMES MORE PEOPLE PLAY GOLF THAN DISC GOLF.
SO RUN THE NUMBERS IN THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH.
HOW MANY REGISTERED DISC GOLFERS ARE THERE IN THE CITY? I DON'T KNOW. BUT MY GUESS IS IT'S IT MIGHT BE A TWO DIGIT NUMBER, IF WE'RE LUCKY, ON THE HIGH SIDE.
SO I'M ALSO I ALSO WANT TO USE THE WORD DISINGENUOUS.
I THOUGHT THE PRESENTATION WAS DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE MR. GOEDDE SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS MINIMAL WORK TO DEVELOP THIS THING, WHICH IS NOT TRUE.
I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT TO CLEAR A BUNCH OF LAND TO EVEN BE ABLE TO WALK THROUGH IT WHERE THE DISCS GO.
SO THAT'S I THINK THAT WAS DISINGENUOUS.
85% OF THE PEOPLE THAT PLAY ARE WORKING AGE, SO IT DOESN'T BOTHER THEM.
THEY CAN'T PLAY DURING SCHOOL HOURS.
SO I WOULD HAVE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS BECAUSE IT IS INDEED NONSENSICAL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MARGARET.
THANK YOU. MARGARET DAVIS, 2162 FIRST AVENUE.
NOW WE'RE BACK TO CITY RESIDENTS.
SO I DO HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS.
FIRST, LET ME SAY I'M URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS PROPOSAL.
A LOT OF MY CONCERNS, OF COURSE, AS MANY HAVE SPOKEN, ARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS A PASSIVE PARK THAT IS ENJOYABLE FOR ITS WILDLIFE.
TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE CITY RESIDENTS, JUST LIKE EGAN'S GREENWAY IS, AND AS A CITY RESIDENT, I, AS WELL AS OTHER CITY RESIDENTS.
THIS IS OUR LAND, OUR TAX DOLLARS.
AND I ALSO HAVE BEEN TO THE COURSE OUT BY THE JOURNEY CHURCH.
AND ONE THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS DURING THE HOLES THAT THEY HAVE GOING THROUGH THE WOODS, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY CUT DOWN TREES IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS I GUESS YOU CALL IT A FAIRWAY IN CERTAIN PLACES.
AND SO I FAILED TO BELIEVE THAT IN CAUSING 18 HOLES TO BE FORMED IN SIMMONS PARK LAND, THAT THERE WON'T BE TREES CUT.
BUT GETTING BACK TO COST BENEFIT FOR THE RESIDENTS, WE OWN THAT LAND.
WE ENJOY IT AS THE PASSIVE PARK FOR WHICH IT WAS APPROVED.
AND I. DO NOT THINK WHEN I THINK WHO IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS DISC PARK? I MEAN DISC GOLF BEING PLACED IN THE PARK.
I SUSPECT IT IS NOT MOSTLY CITY RESIDENTS.
SO WHY ARE WE USING OUR CHERISHED UNDEVELOPED WILDLIFE, HEAVY, ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LAND TO PROVIDE A RECREATIONAL FACILITY FOR MOSTLY NON RESIDENTS WHO I DO NOT SEE WOULD BE ADDING OTHER VALUE TO THE
[01:00:08]
CITY, WHICH. SO THAT'S JUST ONE MORE TO THINK ISSUE TO THINK ABOUT.YEAH. SORRY ABOUT MY HANDWRITING.
I'M SCOTT SERNAKER, 908 STANLEY DRIVE.
AND THEN WE'RE PAYING LIKE 25% HIGHER TAXES.
SO IF WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH DEVELOPING THAT LAND, HEY, MAKE THE COUNTY PAY FOR SOME OF IT, AT LEAST MAKE THEM PAY FOR SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT'S SERVING THE COUNTY MORE THAN US.
SECOND THING, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL.
WE'RE VOTING TO BUY CONSERVATION LAND, WHICH I THINK WE DID.
AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE DESTROYING THE CONSERVATION LAND WE HAVE.
I MEAN, IT SEEMS KIND OF NONSENSE LIKE, WHY DID WE VOTE FOR THIS IF WE'RE GOING INTO OUR CONSERVATION LAND AND JUST KIND OF RIPPING IT UP? SO JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.
WE FOUGHT HARD FOR THAT WALKING PATH ONLY IN THAT PARK.
AND THEN THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, BUT WE NEED A PARKING LOT FOR THEM AND A LITTLE WALKING PATH.
LIKE HOW MUCH MORE ARE WE GOING TO CUT INTO THIS? LIKE THE NEXT MEETING I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT TENNIS AND MAYBE SOME PICKLEBALL AT THE SAME LOCATION.
SO IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE JUST KIND OF DREW THE LINE.
THE OTHER THING, YOU KNOW, NATURE IS WHY WE'RE HERE.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME ? PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NEXT.
I'D LIKE TO CALL DAVID DEMAY FROM THE GOLF COURSE, PLEASE.
DAVID, WOULD YOU GIVE THE SYNOPSIS FOR THE GOLF COURSE AND HOW IT WAS BROUGHT UP THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE USED AT THE GOLF COURSE AND PLACED AT THE GOLF COURSE? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THE CITY COURSE? YES. DAVID DEMAY, GENERAL MANAGER, FERNADINA BEACH GOLF CLUB.
THANK YOU. SO, YEAH, IT WAS BROUGHT FROM MR. GOAD TO BRING THE DISC GOLF TO THE GOLF CLUB.
RIGHT NOW AT THE CLUB, I'VE BEEN THERE APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS.
WE ARE DOING A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN RENOVATION OF THE CLUBHOUSE, GOLF COURSE CONDITIONS, STAFFING, MANY, MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO IMPROVE IT AND ELEVATE IT.
SO I AM OPEN TO IDEAS OF OTHER REVENUES, OTHER THINGS THAT WOULD HELP THE COMMUNITY.
SO I WAS OPEN TO HEARING WHAT THE DISC GOLF WAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT HIS IDEAS WERE.
I'VE ACTUALLY PLAYED DISC GOLF BEFORE AROUND THE COUNTRY, SO I'M AWARE OF IT.
SO MR. GOAD CAME AND MET WITH CATHERINE AND I AT THE AT THE CLUB.
HE SAID HE HAD A COURSE KIND OF MAPPED OUT AT THE CLUB.
AND SO I SAID, OKAY, SHOW ME WHAT THAT IS.
AND SO BECAUSE I OBVIOUSLY KNOW THE GOLF COURSE, I'VE DRIVEN THE COURSE AND I WAS TRYING TO VISUALIZE WHERE A DISC GOLF COULD BE AT THE GOLF CLUB THAT WAS SAFE. AND THEN I WANTED TO KNOW THE VIABILITY OF THE REVENUE THAT WOULD COME FROM THAT AND HOW WE WOULD THEN, YOU KNOW, PUT IT IN PLACE.
AND IT WAS RIGHT ALONG ONE OF THE FIRST HOLES WHERE BASICALLY WE WERE IN FRONT OF GOLFERS THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, OFF ON THE SIDE BECAUSE ALL THE TREE LINE KIND OF SEPARATE ALL THE FAIRWAYS. SO IT WOULD BE IN THE TREES.
SO AS WE'RE SITTING THERE TALKING, I SAID, WELL, WE COULD POTENTIALLY GET HIT WITH A GOLF BALL HERE.
AND HE SAID, WELL, I THINK THIS IS A SAFE SPOT.
THEY'RE VERY AWARE AND SO FORTH.
WELL, AS WE'RE STANDING THERE, SOMEBODY ACTUALLY HIT A GOLF BALL AND IT ACTUALLY CAME RIGHT BY US.
AND SO SO THAT WAS A BIG CONCERN, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THERE'S YOU KNOW, IT WAS DANGEROUS.
SO FOR ME, IT WAS A NO ON THAT.
[01:05:01]
IT WAS NOT SAFE.WHEN YOU HAVE DISCS THAT COULD BE GOING INTO FAIRWAYS OR GOLF BALLS, THAT COULD BE GOING INTO THE WOODS, EVEN IF YOU TRY TO STAGGER THE TEE TIMES FOR BOTH, IT'S JUST NOT A VIABLE SPOT FOR THAT BASED ON THE LOCATION OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, OUR RATES ARE HIGHER THAN THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL IS TO GROW THE CLUB.
WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THINGS, PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE CLUB TO MAKE IT AGAIN, A NICER CLUB.
SO CLOSING DOWN OR NINE OR DOING DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PEOPLE PROPOSED WOULD NOT FINANCIALLY BE A GOOD THING FOR THE CITY AS WELL TO CLOSE IT FOR DISC GOLF.
SO IT WAS A DEFINITE NO FOR ME.
ON A SIDE NOTE, I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR SIX MONTHS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE GOLF COURSE.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
OH, NOT FOR DAVID. OH, JUST FOR THE.
HOW MANY HOLES ARE AT THE PUBLIC GOLF COURSE? 27 HOLES. 27 HOLES? YES, SIR. AND SO 18 HOLES, UM, WOULD TAKE THE FIRST 18? IS THAT WHAT THE PROPOSAL WAS WHEN THEY TRIED THAT, OR IS IT THE END OF.
SO YOU COULD POTENTIALLY GET I THINK IT WAS 18 HOLES MAYBE PER NINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT YEAH, THE MAIN THING WAS THAT THE TREE LINES ARE ON EITHER SIDE OR THEY SPLIT TWO FAIRWAYS.
SO THERE'S GOLF BALLS COMING FROM BOTH SIDES AND MOST OF THE AREAS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU, DAVID.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO BRING THE STAFF AND GET SOME COMMENTS FROM THEM.
WHO WOULD LIKE MR. CHAPMAN? OH, YEAH.
IT'S MY LIGHT ON. YOUR LIGHT IS ON, SIR.
NUMBER ONE, IF YOU OPEN UP THE PARK AND REC WEBSITE AND READ THROUGH IT, IT SAYS THAT PART OF PARK AND RECS JOB, QUOTE, PRESERVING THE COMMUNITY NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS KEEPING IN LINE WITH THAT.
I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE TOTALLY AGAINST IT.
IT TALKED ABOUT IN THE HANDOUT WE GOT.
IT SAYS COST TO THE CITY STAFF TIME ASSISTING WITH SITE PREPARATION.
NOW, I KNOW WE UNDERPAY OUR STAFF, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WORK FOR FREE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S NOT A DOLLAR AMOUNT THERE.
IF OUR STAFF IS PREPARING THIS SITE, THEY'RE BEING PAID BY THE CITY.
THERE IS NO IDEA HERE OF HOW MANY HOURS WOULD BE SPENT OUT THERE.
AND WE SAT UP HERE AND HEARD MANY, MANY TIMES OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF IN OUR PARKS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF STAFF.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE STAFF AND USE IT TO CLEAR THESE SITES, IS THERE A LIST OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE POSTPONED 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO? I ASKED, SITTING UP HERE TO HAVE THE TRASH CANS AT EGAN'S CREEK PARK POWER WASH.
AS OF TODAY, IT'S STILL NOT DONE.
LAST MONTH I SAT UP HERE AND SAID, WE HAVE A BROKEN SIDEWALK AT EGAN'S CREEK AND THAT AT LEAST THE CONE SHOULD BE PUT THERE TO REDUCE OUR LIABILITY.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO TAKE CITY STAFF TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
THE I HAVE TO ASK, HAVE THEY PURSUED THIS WITH THE COUNTY?
[01:10:01]
AND AS I SAT HERE, ONE THING WAS INCREDIBLY STRIKING.IF THERE IS SUCH A HIGH DEMAND FOR THIS GOLF COURSE, CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME NOT ONE PERSON CAME AND SPOKE IN FAVOR OF IT. NOT ONE DISC GOLFER CAME AND SAID, I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS BECAUSE IT TAKES EFFORT TO STAND UP THERE AND EXPRESS YOUR OPINION.
SO I THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA FOR THIS PARK.
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE RESEARCH DONE THAN JUMPING INTO THIS.
SO THERE IS NO WAY I CAN SUPPORT THIS.
AND I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH OUR WEBSITE COMMENT ABOUT PRESERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, WE ALL HAVE TO VOTE NO FOR THIS.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE BEING INCREDIBLY HYPOCRITICAL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAPMAN. THANK YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO MR. GOAD, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IDEAS TO THE CITY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US ALL TO BE ENGAGED.
AND I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
SO THANK YOU FOR FOR COMING AND DO THAT.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH YOU AND EXPLAINED THAT I DID NOT SUPPORT THE PARK BEING PUT IN AT SIMMONS WHEN IT WAS GOING IN THE FIRST TIME. I WAS VERY VOCAL ABOUT THAT AND DID NOT WANT TO SEE EVEN WHAT IS THERE THERE.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT IS STILL A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
AND I WOULD NOT SUPPORT ANY FURTHER DISTURBANCE IN THAT AREA AT ALL AT ANY POINT.
LET'S JUST START WITH GETTING THERE.
IT'S THE PARKING, IT'S THE TRAFFIC TO GET THERE WITH THE BIKE TRAILS THAT ARE GOING ON.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A SAFETY RISK.
WHEN I WAS JUST THINKING OUT THERE, JUST RISK AND COMPLIANCE.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING, YOU'RE OUT THERE TRAIPSING AROUND.
I'M THINKING YOU COULD BE SITTING ON A BENCH AND BE HIT WITH A DISC GOLF GONE AWRY.
I JUST I SEE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET HURT THERE.
AND THEN SOMETHING THAT I REALLY DO CARE ABOUT IS THE WILDLIFE.
AND I AM I DO CARE ABOUT BIRDS.
I SUGGEST YOU ALL GET THE CORNELL EDUCATION MERLIN APP AND WALK AROUND OUR ISLAND TO PLACES ARE OUR TREES AND HEAR ALL THE DIFFERENT BIRDS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR GREENWAYS AND THE PLACES THAT WE HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF SUCH A SMALL ORGANIZATION, IF WE CAN BE CERTAIN THAT THAT WOULD CONTINUE IN PERPETUITY AND THAT AT SOME POINT WE MAY HAVE TO INCUR SOME MORE COSTS.
AND I'M CONCERNED THEN ABOUT ONGOING MAINTENANCE.
AND AS COMMISSIONER CHAPMAN OR MEMBERS CHAPMAN SAID ABOUT THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALREADY HAVING TO DO ARE IMPORTANT, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE HERE THAT WE ARE ALL WELL, MOST OF US ARE CITY RESIDENTS, BUT WE ARE ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS AND CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO DOLLARS IN DISTRICT ONE FOR PARKS AND RECREATION, AND EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S BEING SPENT IN THE COUNTY IS BEING SPENT WEST OF DISTRICT ONE.
I DO HAVE ONE CONCERN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. GOAD IF HE'S WILLING TO ANSWER, BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SOMEONE WAS ENCOURAGING THE PUSH TO BE AT SIMMONS PARK SPECIFICALLY AND NOT AT THE GOLF COURSE, WHICH IS WHERE YOU HAD IT INITIALLY INTENDED, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM JUST WITH THE INITIAL MEETINGS THAT.
JUST THE MEETINGS THAT MR. DEMAY HAD MENTIONED THROUGH THOSE ENCOUNTERS AND THAT FROM THERE I WAS GIVEN DIRECTION TO PURSUE THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE CITY WAS AVAILABLE TO
[01:15:04]
POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATE RESEARCH.AND I WILL SAY, JUST IN CLOSING, MAYOR BEAN HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY HE GETS TO TALK ABOUT US PROTECTING TREES AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
I THINK ANYTHING AT SIMMONS WOULD BE COUNTER TO THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN SAY ONE THING AND DO ANOTHER SO BLATANTLY.
SO AS I SAID, I SUPPORT DISC GOLF.
I WISH YOU THE BEST IN THAT, BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT THAT AT SIMMONS AT ALL.
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? YES. SO BY WHAT I'VE SEEN HERE, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 18 PEOPLE SAY NO.
OUT OF THOSE 18, 11 OF THEM WEREN'T OPPOSED TO DISC GOLF.
SO A LOT OF THE NO'S STILL DON'T MIND THE GAME.
THEY JUST DON'T WANT IT AT THAT PARTICULAR PLACE.
I SAY WE STRONGLY LOOK AT SEE IF WE CAN FIND ANOTHER LOCATION SO THAT WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN GET US A TOURNAMENT STYLE DISC GOLF AREA.
AND SO THERE IS SOME ENCOURAGING THING THERE FOR YOU MR. GOAD ON TRYING TO PURSUE THIS IN ANOTHER LOCATION AND MAYBE UPDATE THE CURRENT ONES THAT WE HAVE.
GO AHEAD. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING IF IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH DISC GOLF AT ANY LOCATION BASED ON THIS PROPOSAL, FROM THE LAST MEETING, I KIND OF UNDERSTOOD THAT THE DISC GOLF CLUB WAS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE COURSE AND EVERYTHING, BUT THIS JUST SAYS TARGET SIGNAGE AND T MATCH. AND SO ARE THEY GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF THE TRAIL AND ANYTHING LIKE THAT? THAT AND THEN IN TERMS OF PREPARING IT, IT NOW SAYS STAFF TIME ASSISTING WITH SITE PREPARATION, BUT IT ALSO SAYS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PREPARING IT.
SO WHO WHO WOULD COVER LIKE THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ACTUAL TRAIL PART OF IT? SO THE MAINTENANCE PART WAS GOING TO BE THE DISC GOLF CLUB.
SO IF THEY KIND OF STOP, DOES THAT JUST FALL BACK ON THE CITY? RIGHT. SO, AGAIN, THIS IS VERY PRELIMINARY.
OKAY. AND THERE WAS SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE STAFF COSTS.
SO, YEAH, THIS IS VERY PRELIMINARY.
WE DIDN'T WE KNEW THE SENSITIVITY TO THE PROPERTY.
WE ALL KNOW THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT IT TO YOU AND WE WANTED THE COMMUNITY INPUT.
AND SO WE'RE GETTING THE COMMUNITY INPUT AND THIS IS HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.
IF YOU WERE TO WANT MORE INFORMATION AND SAY, LET'S SAY YOU WANT YOU WANT A DISC GOLF COURSE, YOU WANT IT IN THIS AREA, AND WHAT'S THE TIMELINE? WE CAN DO THAT FOR YOU. BUT WE'RE JUST SEEING WHAT WHAT IS PALATABLE AND WE'RE GETTING IT.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES.
OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANY COMMENTS? I JUST HAVE ONE TO MAKE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO I APPRECIATE THE TURNOUT TONIGHT FOR THIS IMPORTANT DECISION THAT THIS DEPARTMENT, THIS REC DEPARTMENT HAS TO MAKE IN REGARDS TO PRESERVING WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
AND IT'S PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT YOU CAME OUT HERE TONIGHT TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT YOU WHAT I THINK WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION BASED ON HOW YOU GUYS ALL PRESENTED YOURSELF TO ENSURE THAT SIMS PARK STAYS SIMS PARK WITHOUT ANY CHANGES.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK THE BOARD TO CONSIDER A MOTION WHICH I WOULD LIKE SOMEBODY TO PUT TOGETHER.
MR. CHAPMAN. CATHERINE OH, THANK YOU.
WE ARE PUTTING IN SIX LITTLE SIGNS ABOUT THIS TALL THAT HAVE A LEAF.
[01:20:02]
IT'S LIKE THE SHAPE OF A LEAF FOR PEOPLE TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE TREES THAT ARE AROUND THEM.THE ROCK LIKE THE PLANTS, THE BEES, THE ANTS, THE INSECTS.
SO ALONG THE TRAIL THAT THOSE THAT THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE THERE, WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN SIX THROUGH DONATION FROM EIGHT FLAGS PLAYSCAPES SIX IN EDUCATIONAL SIGNS ALONG THERE WITH WITH A BENCH THAT MAY GO WITH IT THAT HAS LIKE A LADYBUG ON IT AND A LEAF.
VERY EDUCATIONAL, VERY YOUTH FRIENDLY.
INSTEAD, WE'RE GOING TO PUT LITTLE STUMPS.
AND SO PEOPLE, LITTLE KIDS CAN SIT ON THE STUMPS AND THEY CAN DO SKITS.
VERY NATURAL, NO CONCRETE, NOTHING LIKE THAT.
SO PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THERE THERE ARE SOME THINGS GOING TO HAPPEN AT THAT PROPERTY.
GO AHEAD. AND I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE KEEP THE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE MADE AT SIMMONS PARK LIMITED TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR THE EDUCATIONAL PIECES FOR THE CHILDREN, AND THAT NO FURTHER ACTIVITY CAN BE DONE AT SIMMONS PARK GOING FORWARD.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION.
WE'RE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION.
I UNDERSTAND. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
THANK YOU. THAT PASSED SIX ZERO.
I'M GLAD EVERYBODY GOT THEIR HANDS UP.
ALL RIGHT. ITEM 7.1, STAFFING UPDATE.
[7. STAFF COMMENTS (Part 2 of 2)]
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.THANK YOU FOR COMING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR CITY TOO.
SO, JUST AS STAFFING UPDATE, I KNOW LAST MEETING I WAS MENTIONING THAT WE HAD SOME VACANCIES.
WE DO HAVE FULL TIME AND PART TIME POSITIONS.
WE HAVE OFFICE CLERICAL POSITIONS, STAFF ASSISTANT.
WE HAVE A PART TIME RECREATION AIDE POSITION.
WE HAVE SENIOR LIFEGUARD AND LIFEGUARD POSITIONS.
STILL, THOSE ARE PART TIME, NOT SEASONAL.
SO WE'RE GETTING SOME APPLICANTS, BUT WE REALLY NEED YOU ALL TO HELP US SPREAD THE WORD.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING IT ON IN DEED, WORD OF MOUTH, SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO MAE CONTRACTING IS OUR FENCING CONTRACTOR FOR THE CITY.
AND I JUST RECEIVED THIS MORNING QUOTES ON VARIOUS PROJECTS THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
[01:25:02]
WE ARE LOOKING AT POSSIBLE FENCING AT THE CEMETERY.WE'RE GOING TO GET THE FRIENDS OF THE CEMETERY INVOLVED, AS WELL AS THE RESTORATION FOUNDATION.
THE OTHER FENCING IS CHAIN LINK, OR IT'LL BE THE SAME AS EXISTING.
SO WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE.
BUT I'LL LET YOU KNOW AS AS THOSE PROJECTS GET COMPLETED.
AND WE DID AWARD A PICKLEBALL CONTRACTOR CONTRACT TO MR. STEVEN MORENO AND WE ARE MEETING WITH HIM NEXT WEEK TO GET HIS CONTRACT ALL FIGURED OUT AND ALL OF HIS PROGRAMS IN OUR RECREATION SOFTWARE SO PEOPLE CAN REGISTER FOR PICKLEBALL LESSONS. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT WHERE THESE LESSONS ARE GOING TO BE, BECAUSE, AS MENTIONED, WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE MORE OF A CONGESTION OUT AT CENTRAL PARK.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO WORK WITH HIM.
AND WITH THAT, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT.
WILL THEY ALSO BE DOING TOURNAMENTS OR OR THIS MORENO? WILL HE BE HANDLING THE TOURNAMENTS OR.
YES, WE WE DID PUT ON A TOURNAMENT A COUPLE TOURNAMENTS.
AND YEAH, MR. MORENO IS GOING TO TAKE OVER THE TOURNAMENTS.
I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT ANYBODY.
THE VARIOUS FENCING PROJECTS, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ANY FENCING THAT MIGHT BE DONE AT THE SKATE PARK? OH, MY GOODNESS. YES.
YES, I FORGOT. YES, I HAVE THAT IN MY IN MY EMAIL AS WELL AS A QUOTE.
YES. THANK YOU. YES, WE'RE AWARE OF THAT WHOLE PERIMETER FENCE AND THE INSTALLATION.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOLLOW THE EXISTING INSTALLATION.
HOW IT'S ON THE THE WOOD PANEL OR THE WOOD BOARD.
IF YOU LOOKED AT THE MINUTES OF LAST MONTH'S MEETING, YOU'RE QUOTED AS SAYING THAT A CEMETERY DISCUSSION WILL BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN TONIGHT.
SO I'M WONDERING WHY IT WASN'T THERE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION.
WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FENCING.
I DID MEET WITH THE RESTORATION FOUNDATION, BUT AND BUT THERE WERE JUST ONE OF THE TWO.
BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THIS CITY NEEDS IMPROVE OR EFFORT IN THE CEMETERY A LOT MORE THAN IT NEEDED A DISC GOLF COURSE.
AND THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY.
I MEAN, FOR A LONG TIME, WE'VE BEEN HOPING TO HAVE A COLUMBARIUM.
SO I FIND IT A LITTLE UPSETTING THAT THE CEMETERY GOT PUT BEHIND A DISC GOLF COURSE.
I'M SORRY YOU FEEL THAT WAY. CITY PRIORITIES.
THAT'S NOT. THAT'S. IT'S NOT A LEVEL OF OR IT'S NOT A CASE OF PRIORITY.
WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION.
SO WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE IT YET.
THE BID WAS AWARDED AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING.
AND WHEN WE'RE READY, WE'LL DEFINITELY BRING IT TO YOU.
WE WON'T MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT YOUR WITHOUT YOUR INPUT.
AND SO IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? CAN I JUST ASK ONE QUICK QUESTION? WHEN I BROUGHT UP THE SKATE PARK.
I KNOW WE WERE LOOKING AT ANNEXING THAT LAND OR THAT LITTLE TRIANGLE, THE SLIVER TOWARDS THE.
HAS THAT HAPPENED? SO THE SECOND READING OF THAT IS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE 20TH.
YES. YEAH, WE EXPECT IT TO BE APPROVED.
OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE THE BOARD MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE ANY COMMENTS, PLEASE.
[8. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
OH, HEY, BUDDY.MY COMMENT IS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT PARKS AND REC HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FLOWERS ON CENTER STREET.
I'M HEARING RUMORS THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO TEAR DOWN THOSE BRICK WALLS DOWN CENTER STREET.
[01:30:02]
AND YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD NO.THEY HAVE THE THE TRAINING TO DO IT PROPERLY.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE LANDSCAPE.
AND I HAVE A MEETING WITH MAIN STREET TOMORROW ABOUT IT.
ABOUT WHAT PLANT MATERIAL IS GOING TO GO IN THOSE LANDSCAPE BEDS.
IS HAS BEEN GOING ON ABOUT DESTROYING ANY BRICK WALLS.
OKAY. YOU KNOW, CITIES, RUMORS FLY FAST IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? I WOULD LIKE TO JUST I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME ON TODAY.
I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF IT, IT SEEMS, GOING AROUND.
IT IS IN THE WATER. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BRACKISH OR WHAT IT IS IN THE WATER.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO NOT JUST BE FOCUSED ONLY ON THIS.
HOPEFULLY WE'VE CALMED THAT FOR FOR THE FUTURE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PROPERTIES LIKE THIS.
AND THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY EVERY, EVERY CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
SO PLEASE KEEP PAYING ATTENTION AND BEING ENGAGED AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
ANYONE ELSE? WELL, I HAVE SOME COMMENTS.
AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK CHERYL GRANT ON BEHALF OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CHERYL FOR HER LEADERSHIP AS THE PAST CHAIRPERSON AND FOR HER COMMITMENT TO THE WORK ON THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ALMOST SIX YEARS.
HER TALENT AND EXPERTISE WILL BE SORELY MISSED.
HOWEVER, THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS GROWN UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, AND I PERSONALLY ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SHARED MY TIME WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS ON THE BOARD.
THANK YOU. SECOND OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK PARKS AND REC FOR THEIR DEDICATION THAT WE PUT ON A [INAUDIBLE] TOURNAMENT ON THE DISTRICTS HELD AT AT CENTRAL PARK LAST WEEKEND.
AND BECAUSE OF PARKS AND REC AND THEIR DEDICATION I HAD SIX PARKS AT THAT PARTICULAR EVENT AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, EVERY ONE OF THOSE COACHES, PARENTS AND EVERYBODY SAID THAT THIS WAS THE BEST PARK THAT THEY COULD HAVE PLAYED IN IN THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR. AND THAT IS A TRIBUTE TO OUR PARKS AND REC.
SERIOUSLY, THEY PUT ON A SHOW AND WE AND WE GAVE BACK A SHOW.
TOO BAD WE DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR THE GAMES, BUT WE GAVE A SHOW.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO COMMENT ON THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP FOR AN ISSUE THAT WAS VERY DEAR TO THEIR HEARTS. WE NEED THAT TYPE OF LEADERSHIP FROM OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN MAKE GREAT DECISIONS, NOT JUST GOOD DECISIONS, BUT GREAT DECISIONS.
BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE MAKE A DECISION, IT IMPACTS 13,100 PEOPLE ON THIS ISLAND.
AND WE HAVE THE LEADERSHIP IN OUR DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT ON A DAILY BASIS, ON A WEEKLY BASIS, A MONTHLY BASIS, AND MOST OF ALL ON A FISCAL YEAR BASIS.
AND WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.