[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER THE 10TH, 2023, IN SESSION. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? OH, HOLD ON. EXCUSE ME, PLEASE.
. NOW, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? NUMBER FOUR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES THE PAST AUGUST 23, REGULAR MEETING MINUTES.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.I'LL SECOND IT. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? . ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
IS THERE ANYBODY THAT HAS ANY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY SUBJECT THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA? PUBLIC COMMENTS CLOSED DISCUSSION ITEMS SIX ONE PECK FIELD USAGE.
[6.1 Peck Field Usage]
GOOD EVENING. CATHERINE VORRASI PARKS RECREATION DIRECTOR.SO THIS ITEM IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT JUST TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
SCOTT AND I HAVE MET WITH THE YOUTH SPORT ORGANIZATIONS.
THERE'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT OF SPACE FOR THEM TO PRACTICE.
WE'VE TALKED TO FOOTBALL, LACROSSE, SOCCER, BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL.
IT'S ALREADY BEING UTILIZED NOW, AND I SHOULD SAY IT'S CHARLES EUGENE FIELD.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST PLACE TO ACCOMMODATE SOME MORE KIDS.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HERE PROBABLY GOING TO SPEAK MAYBE FOR OR AGAINST THE IDEA OF A FENCE.
THAT'S FINE. IT'S REALLY WHATEVER THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
SO WE HAVE YOUTH SPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED A FIELD OR NEED MORE SPACE.
BUT LACROSSE, THEY WOULD NEED THAT SOCCER.
THEY WOULD NEED THAT. IT'S JUST SAFER TO HAVE A FENCE AROUND THE STREET.
BUT IF WE DON'T WANT THAT, THEN THAT'S FINE.
SO MY JOB, PARKS AND RECREATION'S JOB IS TO BRING FORTH ISSUES.
SO WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT WANT THE FENCE, WANT A BETTER OR WANT TO UTILIZE THE FIELD MORE.
AND I WOULD EXPECT THERE'S SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY NOT WANT THE FENCE.
THAT'S FINE. SO I JUST WANT TO HAVE MAKE SURE YOU LISTEN TO EVERYONE THAT'S HERE, HOPEFULLY EVERYONE IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU WANT TO SPEAK AGAINST OR FOR ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, MAKE SURE YOU FILL OUT THE THE SHEET FOR KATIE.
AND THEN I JUST NEED TO KNOW FROM YOU ALL WHAT YOU DECIDE AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
BUT WE DO NOT PARKS AND RECREATION.
I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR PARKS AND RECREATION DOES NOT HAVE A WE THINK WE SHOULD DO THIS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR THAT.
WE WANT TO DO WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
SO IF THEY WANT A FENCE AND HAVE MORE YOUTH, USE THE FIELD AND ADULTS, GREAT.
IF THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT A FENCE, WE'LL LOOK AT OTHER STUFF.
AND IF YOU WANT, ASK ME QUESTIONS AT THE END.
NEXT QUESTION. DO YOU WANT TO.
I'M NOT I'M NOT CLEAR ON WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
LET'S FIND OUT. I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND FROM OUR DEPARTMENT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
ARE WE TRYING TO PUT IN A FENCE UP? WE'RE TRYING TO ADVANCE.
IF YOU CAN SPEAK UP. WE CAN'T USE IT FOR.
[00:05:02]
SORRY, I'M JUST TRYING.I'M NOT CLEAR CATHERINE ON WHAT THE.
I HEAR YOU SAY. ARE WE GOING TO PUT A FENCE OR ARE WE TRYING TO PUT A FENCE THERE? WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE PRACTICES THERE, I GUESS.
RIGHT. OKAY. SO WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE A I'D LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO DISCUSS THE IDEA OF BETTER UTILIZING THE FIELD OUT THERE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ITS PARKS AND RECREATIONS IT IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRACTICE FIELD USED FOR MULTIPLE SPORTS, YOU REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER A FENCE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT CHILDREN RUNNING IN THE STREET GOING AFTER A BALL.
THERE ARE PRACTICES BEING HELD OUT THERE NOW.
THERE WOULD BE BETTER UTILIZATION OF THE FIELD IF THERE WERE A FENCE.
SO IT'S PARKS AND RECREATION HAS WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT COULD BETTER UTILIZE THAT AREA FOR PRACTICES.
AND THEN BUT THE COMMUNITY MIGHT NOT WANT THE FENCE.
SO WE'RE BRINGING IT ALL TO YOU.
WELL, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A FENCE LIKE AT HICKORY PARK, WHAT IS THAT, LIKE A 3 OR 4 FOOT FENCE THERE? BUT AT WHERE THE BASEBALL FIELDS ARE, THOSE ARE OBVIOUSLY HIGHER FENCE.
SO WHEN YOU SAY WE WANT TO PUT IN A FENCE, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE PERIMETER OF THE PARK OR ARE YOU TALKING A FOUR FOOT FENCE, A TALL FENCE, BACKSTOPS? WHAT DO YOU SO TYPICALLY FOR PLAYING FIELDS, IT'S A SIX FOOT FENCE.
IT COULD BE A FOUR FOOT FENCE.
IT COULD BE SIMILAR TO THE FENCES WE'RE PUTTING UP AROUND THE CITY.
THERE'S NICER ONES THAT YOU COULD WE COULD LOOK AT AN ALUMINUM PICKET STYLE FENCE.
BUT HONESTLY, IF THAT GETS HIT WITH A LACROSSE BALL, IT'S GONE.
THERE ARE BLACK VINYL FENCES THAT ARE BETTER MADE NOW.
SO I GUESS SO I'M HEARING THAT THE NEED IS THAT WE NEED PRACTICE SPACES OBVIOUSLY,THERE'S MORE SPORTS AND THINGS GOING ON THAN WE HAVE SPACE FOR. SO YOU'RE TRYING TO UTILIZE THAT BETTER.
NO. HOW DID PEOPLE KNOW TO COME? IT'S ON THE AGENDA.
YEAH. SO THERE'S WE'RE NOT WE HAVE PARKS AND RECREATION HAS NO PLANS TO PUT UP A FENCE.
IF THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T WANT THE FENCE AT ALL AND THE LEAGUES COULD USE IT, WELL, THIS IS WHERE WE THIS IS WHY WE NEED THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BECAUSE YOU HEAR BOTH SIDES.
WE DON'T HAVE A LAYOUT, WE DON'T HAVE A SURVEY, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
IT'S DOES THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT THIS CONCEPT? AND WHEN I SAY COMMUNITY, I MEAN NOT ONLY THE RESIDENTS THERE THAT LIVE THERE, BUT ALSO THE LEAGUES.
BECAUSE THE LEAGUES USE OUR FIELDS AT YBOR, AT BABE RUTH, THE BUCCANEER FIELD AT CENTRAL PARK.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE CALLING OUR OFFICE SAYING WE NEED A PLACE TO PRACTICE.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH PLACES FOR EVERYONE TO PRACTICE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR RESOURCES.
AND BUT IF THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T WANT IT TO BE USED FOR THAT, THEN WE WON'T USE IT FOR THAT.
I MEAN, THE DECISION IS NOT MINE.
THE DECISION IS NOT THE DEPARTMENT'S.
THIS IS GOING TO BE WE NEED COMMUNITY INPUT.
AND THIS IS JUST THE VERY FIRST DISCUSSION.
IF WE WERE GOING FORWARD AND LET'S SAY EVERYONE'S LIKE, WELL, WE WANT THE FENCE, OKAY, WELL, NOW WE'RE THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING ABOUT WHAT DO WE WANT THE FENCE TO LOOK LIKE? WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT GOING DOWN.
DOWN THIS PATH. IF WE GO TOWARDS THE PATH OF PUTTING A FENCE AT THAT PROPERTY.
SO THIS IS JUST I NEED YOU ALL TO HELP US.
YOU ADVISE THE COMMISSION NOT SAYING THIS IS GOING TO COMMISSION.
YOU MAY SAY THERE'S ZERO SUPPORT OR I DON'T KNOW.
THIS IS JUST THE FIRST DISCUSSION.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE BUY IN FROM THE COMMUNITY IS.
WE DO HAVE LEADS. WE KNOW THEIR NEEDS AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.
DOES THAT HELP KIND OF CLARIFY WHERE WE'RE GOING?
[00:10:01]
OKAY. I JUST WASN'T SURE IF I HAD MISSED SOMETHING AND I WAS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.YEAH, NO, THIS IS A PLACE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, TOO.
SO THAT'S WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE THEM THEIR TIME.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT, IF THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
IF, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HEAR FROM THE MEMBERS HERE.
I'M CURIOUS WHAT IT IS BEING USED FOR NOW.
YEAH. WELL, I KNOW IT'S BEING USED FOR I MEAN, A HUGE EVENT.
JUNETEENTH. JUNETEENTH IS THERE EVERY YEAR AND THAT IS VERY WELL ATTENDED.
SO I WOULDN'T SEE A FENCE MAKING THAT ANY DIFFERENT.
IT'S NOT THE FENCE IS GOING TO PREVENT BALLS FROM GOING IN THE STREET.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LOCKED AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LOCKED.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.
IT'S FOR IT'S TO HELP KIDS NOT GO IN THE STREET.
SO WALKING OPENINGS AND THAT KIND OF THING, THAT'S HOW WE ENVISION IT, IF IT WERE TO GO THAT ROUTE.
BUT THERE ARE GROUPS THAT USE IT.
I KNOW IT'S USED ON THE WEEKENDS.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY USE THAT FIELD.
SO THE BALLS DON'T GO IN STRAIGHT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SO. YES, SIR, I DO, APOLOGIZE.
ARE WE AT A MAXIMUM WHEN IT COMES TO AVAILABILITY FOR OUR PLACES? YES. IS THAT.
ABSOLUTELY. AND THESE LEAGUES ARE GROWING.
THESE KIDS ARE STAYING ACTIVE, WHICH IS WONDERFUL.
BUT THE ISLAND ONLY HAS SO MUCH SPACE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
YOU WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES.
IF YOU'RE STILL IN YOUR STATEMENT, I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW MORE MINUTES TO FINISH YOUR STATEMENT.
BUT THE TIME WILL BE GUARDED BY A THREE MINUTE MAXIMUM.
AND I LIKE TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND HOW WE CAN BETTER OURSELVES WITH THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT IT IS A COMBINED EFFORT OF ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION.
SO I AM TOTALLY READY TO START INTO THIS LITTLE AGENDA.
THE FIRST PERSON I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IS ROBERT BLUE SENIOR.
WOULD YOU PLEASE LIVE AT 1116 GUMM STREET? AND I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC, I JUST HEARD ABOUT THE FENCE.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY A FENCE? YOU KNOW, HAD THE FIRE RESCUE BEEN CALLED ABOUT A CHILD BEING HIT BY A CAR TRUCK? HAS POLICE BEEN CALLED ABOUT CARS SPEEDING UP AND DOWN THE STREETS IN THE AREA ARE CARS, TRUCKS RIDING ACROSS THE FIELD.
OUR RESIDENTS CALLING THE POLICE ABOUT THE BALL CONSTANTLY LANDING IN THEIR YARD.
I WENT TO PICK OUT THE FIELD WAS A PLAYGROUND.
BUT WHAT ABOUT PARKING, IF YOU TALK ABOUT ALL THESE ACTIVITIES COMING IN? I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH YOU USING THE FIELD, BUT IS THE FENCE REALLY NECESSARY? THERE IS A FENCE IN THE AREA ON ATLANTIC AVENUE WHERE THE SCHOOL BOARD RIGHT ACROSS FROM ATLANTIC ELEMENTARY USED TO BE.
IT'S ALREADY FENCED IN, THE FERNANDINA BEACH BAND USED TO PRACTICE OUT THERE.
IT'S A NICE PLACE. I'M QUITE SURE YOU COULD WORK SOMETHING OUT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO USE THAT.
AND IT WAS AND IT IS ALSO A BIG AREA AND THEN I JUST HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION. WHEN YOU WANT TO FENCE THIS AREA IN BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT BIG A AREA FOR ALL THIS, ALL THESE ACTIVITIES THAT YOU'RE SAYING TO BE ABLE TO PUT ALL THESE SPORTS ACTIVITIES IN. AND I HAVE TO ASK, IS THIS A LONG RANGE PLAN TO DISCOURAGE US FROM USING THE FIELD FOR JUNETEENTH? I JUST HAVE TO ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I'M JUST AN I'M AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, SO I WANTED TO ASK THAT QUESTION.
SO MY GRANDSON I'VE GOING OVER THERE AND PLAYED WITH HIM.
WE'VE HAD NO SAFETY PROBLEMS. HIS FRIENDS GO OVER THERE AND PLAY ON THE FIELD, NO SAFETY PROBLEMS. SO I DON'T SEE WHY A FENCE IS REALLY NEEDED.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE FENCE.
THANK YOU, SIR. REVEREND THOMPSON, PLEASE.
[00:15:09]
I'M REVEREND BERNARD THOMPSON, 1311 BEACH STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK AGAINST THE FENCE.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO TELL A STORY TONIGHT USING SOME NUMBERS.
THE 2000 CENSUS OF FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, 10,549 RESIDENTS, 79.9% BLACK, I MEAN WHITE, 16.9%. BLACK, 2.33% HISPANIC.
HISPANICS 2023 1356, 13566 RESIDENTS.
82% WHITE, 11.7% BLACK, 11.9% HISPANIC.
IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, THE BLACK POPULATION HAS DECREASED BY 25%.
NOW WE ARE BECOMING ENDANGERED SPECIES.
WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE UNDER SIEGE.
THE MARTIN LUTHER KING'S SON WAS SYSTEMATICALLY TAKEN AWAY FROM US.
THE PECK JIM WAS SYSTEMATICALLY TAKEN AWAY FROM US.
AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE PECK FIELD WANTS TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM US.
I THOUGHT I TURNED MY PHONE OFF AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TURN IT OFF.
WE AS BLACK FOLK FEEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN PUSHED TO THE SIDE.
WE HAVE BEEN PUSHED TO THE BACK.
WE HAVE BEEN PUSHED IN THE CORNER.
BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
THAT BLACK FOLK HELPED MAKE THIS TOWN WHAT IT IS.
THE MEDIAN PRICE OF A HOME, ACCORDING TO ROCKET HOMES RIGHT NOW IS $586,000, AND THAT'S UP $77,000 SINCE JUNE OF LAST YEAR. THIS IS NOT THE DEMOGRAPHICS FOR THAT.
IT IS NOT, WE THESE INSTITUTIONS, PECK AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, THE ELM STREET RECORDS.
THESE ARE INSTITUTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MOST CITIES OF ANY SIZE HAVE A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK RECREATION CENTER.
ELM STREET WAS A PRODUCT OF THE SEPARATE BUT EQUAL ERA.
I MET MY WIFE RIGHT THERE AT THE REC CENTER.
WELL, YEAH, YOU SHOULD BE A TENNIS COURT AT THE REC.
THEY TORE IT DOWN BECAUSE SOMEBODY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING.
BUT THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED HOW TO PLAY TENNIS.
DEBORAH WHITTINGTON AND WOUND UP BEING A PRETTY GOOD TENNIS PLAYER.
CONTINUE. LET ME JUST MAKE ONE MORE STATEMENT.
ANY EVER LIVED IN THE EVOLUTION OF FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, AND I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 70 YEARS.
HELLO. YOU KNOW, YOU GET PUSHED ASIDE AND PUSHED BY PEOPLE THAT JUST COME HERE.
SO IT COMES A TIME WHEN YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE A STAND ON SOMETHING.
AND WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO MAKE A STAND.
WE CELEBRATE OUR LEGACY EVERY DAY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE PLAYED BALL ON THAT FIELD FOR MANY YEARS.
WE NEVER WANTED A FENCE THERE.
WE NEVER NEEDED A FENCE BECAUSE WE PRODUCE GREAT ATHLETES.
MY SON PLAYED PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PRACTICING ON THAT SAME FIELD.
SO WE DON'T WANT A FENCE A LOT, I CAN SAY.
AND CATHERINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AND WHEN YOU PUT A FENCE UP, IT'S NOT ALWAYS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN.
[00:20:06]
NEIGHBORHOOD, SAY THAT AND WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING.BUT IT'S IRONIC NOTHING IS IN THAT PERTAINS TO THE FIELD.
SO WE JUST WANT TO BE INCLUDED BECAUSE WE CAN HELP YOU ALL.
WE CAN HELP YOU ALL. WE WANT TO HELP YOU ALL.
WE WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN ALL OF THE DECISION MAKING.
IT IS VERY STRANGE THAT THE RECREATION COMMITTEE WHO'S GOING TO SUGGEST OR GOING TO PASS ALONG INFORMATION, IT DON'T REPRESENT US.
1999, NOBODY ELSE LOOKED LIKE ME.
SAT UP THERE. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS, LET US REMEMBER THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, ALL RIGHT? BECAUSE ALL OF US FEEL IMPORTANT TO ONE ANOTHER, AND WE DON'T WANT TO FEEL SLIGHTED.
WE DON'T WANT TO FEEL LESS THAN SO MAKE US FEEL PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE.
IN 1960, PECK HIGH SCHOOL, WE CELEBRATE OUR LEGACY.
PLEASE DON'T TRY TO INTERFERE WITH OUR LEGACY BECAUSE THAT'S NOT FAIR AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT EQUAL.
THANK YOU. CHERYL ALBERT, PLEASE.
GET THE PHONE IN HERE. LET'S PUT THE PHONE OVER HERE.
YOU KNOW HOW TO TURN IT OFF? THANK YOU.
I LIVE AT 612 SOUTH 11TH STREET.
I AM THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE CHARLES ALBERT.
I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS IN SPEAKING, AND I'M HEARING HIS VOICE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND HOW HE ALWAYS WANTED IT TO BE DIVERSE.
HE MENTIONED BEFORE YEARS AGO THAT WE DON'T WANT A FENCE BECAUSE IT MAKES US FEEL INSTITUTIONALIZED.
THAT WAS HIS VISION, AND HE FOUGHT VERY HARD FOR IT.
WE HAVE HAD TWO BASEBALL FIELDS ON THAT FIELD WHERE THEY PUT THE FENCES UP TO THE BACK, THE BACK DROP FENCES, AND THEY DID THAT.
AND THEN THEY CAME AND TOOK IT DOWN.
NOW THEY BROUGHT OUT AN 18 WHEELER OF GRASS REPLANTED GRASS JUST LAST WEEK.
THE COVER UP, THE LITTLE PRACTICE FIELD.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY AS TAXPAYERS TO DO THAT, WHY NOT MAKE IT WHERE IT'S NOT FENCED IN, MAKE THESE PARENTS COME OUT AND BE THE BALL RUNNERS? THAT'S WHAT WE HAD BACK IN THE DAY.
WE HAD PARENTS THAT WERE OUT THERE OR WE HAD A RUNNER TO GO GET THE BALL.
SO I'M STANDING IN HONOR OF MY FATHER TO SAY WE PLEASE DON'T FENCE IT IN.
LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S NOT ROOM ENOUGH.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH SPACE TO DO THAT.
LET'S COME TOGETHER BECAUSE WE DO NOW HAVE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY WHERE IT'S MEXICANS.
IT'S ALL TOGETHER. BUT WE STILL DON'T HAVE THAT CONNECTION.
HE SEEN THAT THEN FOR THE FUTURE OF FERNANDINA AND FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND PECK, IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM, PECK WOULDN'T LOOK LIKE IT DID NOW, IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM AND WHAT HE DID TO GET THE STATE TO MAKE THAT SCHOOL BECAUSE IT WAS AN ABANDONED BUILDING THAT THE CITY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY NEEDED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT.
SO WHEN I STAND HERE, I STAND HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
[00:25:02]
BACK WHAT WE NEED TO BACK AND MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER WITHIN THAT CIRCLE.THAT'S ALL WE HAVE IS A BLOCK.
AND WE LIKE TO KEEP IT A BLOCK AND NOT FEEL INSTITUTIONALIZED.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO ME.
HERMAN RAZOR, REALLY MY NAME JOHN HERMAN RAZOR.
I KNEW HOW THIS TOWN WAS THEN, AND I KNEW HOW IT IS NOW.
WHEN I CAME BACK FROM VIETNAM, I WENT TO BOTH MILLS.
THEY TOLD ME NO, WE HIRED COLLEGE STUDENTS.
I GOT THE JOB, NOR DID I FENCE OUT THERE ON MY SIDE OF TOWN.
I LIVE AT 317 NORTH EIGHTH STREET.
TWO BLOCKS FROM THE MILL IS NO PLACE ON MY SIDE OF TOWN FOR MY GRANDSON TO PLAY.
I BRING HIM ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAD TO DO WHEN WE WAS CHILDREN.
HE GOT A ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE, A BIG OLD CAR.
AND FOR THIS LADY TO BE SAYING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IF I THINK I HEARD HER SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE CALL TO SAY IF YOU CAN HAVE AN ACTIVITY TO GO INTO THERE, I GOT TO CALL FOR MY GRANDSON TO GO IN THERE.
YOU DON'T NEED NO FENCE IN THERE.
JUST LIKE THEY WERE SAYING, WE PARENTS, WE LOOKED AFTER ONE ANOTHER.
HOW DO YOU THINK WE MADE IT TODAY? PARENTS LOOKED AFTER ONE ANOTHER.
THAT'S WHO WE RAISED. CHILDREN IT TAKE A VILLAGE AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WE'D LIKE TO SPEAK THAT WOULD LIKE TO PUT ANY MORE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? THERE'S ONE MORE. THERE IS ONE MORE.
JANICE GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JANICE MOTE.
I LIVE AT 1110 HICKORY STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.
AS FAR AS THE ITEM BEING ON THE AGENDA FOR US TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A MEETING TONIGHT, WE SEE WHAT YOU SEE PECK FIELD USAGE THAT TELLS US ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
WORD IN THE STREET NOT BY CATHERINE SCOTT, KATIE OR ANYBODY FROM THE CITY GOING OUT INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TELLING US OR QUESTIONING US ABOUT THE USAGE OF THE FIELD.
THEY HAVE NOT TOLD US ANYTHING.
SHE STARTED HAVING MEETINGS AROUND THE CITY.
ONE OF MY QUESTIONS TO HER WAS, AFTER YOU HAVE THIS MEETING AND YOU GET TOGETHER AND DECIDE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DISSEMINATE THE INFORMATION BACK TO US? TO THIS DAY, WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR ANOTHER MEETING OR TO HEAR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOBODY TAKES THE TIME TO COME TO SEE WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON IN THAT FIELD.
NOBODY'S GOING TO RUN OVER ANYBODY'S CHILD.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CHILDREN KNOW WHEN THE CAR COMES STOP.
THEY DON'T EVEN COME AFTER THE BALL.
THEY STOP TO SEE WHAT THE CAR IS GOING TO DO.
SO JUST LIKE I WAS SAYING EARLIER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HIT ANYBODY.
THE POLICE HAVEN'T BEEN THERE ALL MY 65 YEARS.
FOR ANY CHILD BEING HURT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WALKED TO SCHOOL TO PICK ONE BLOCK FROM THE SCHOOL.
WE ASK WHEN SHE WAS HAVING MEETINGS? I ASKED BECAUSE THERE WAS A STUDY DONE ABOUT A WALKING PATH IN THE FIELD.
THE FIELD, THE FENCE WOULD AFFECT JUNETEENTH IN OBJECTION TO WHAT SHE SAID.
BECAUSE IF YOU COME TO JUNETEENTH, YOU'LL KNOW THAT TENTS ARE ALONG THE FIELD WHERE FENCES WOULD GO
[00:30:06]
UP. THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THE VENDORS PUTTING THEIR TENTS UP.AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO INSIDE THE FENCE FOR THE ACTIVITIES.
CHANCES ARE IF THEY PUT A FENCE UP, THEY'RE GOING TO PUT SCREENS UP ON THOSE FENCES LIKE THE OTHER PARKS THAT WILL BLOCK YOUR VIEW INTO GOING INTO THE FIELD. WE DON'T WANT THAT.
BUT IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE MEETINGS THAT WE CAN GET RESULTS.
ON IF SHE REALLY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, SHE WOULD ASK US.
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE MY PERSONAL FEELINGS THAT SHE REALLY DOESN'T CARE.
WE WANT YOU ALL TO CARE BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU. IF THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA ABOUT PUTTING A DID YOU GO UP TO THE.
AND TO ME, IT'S JUST LUDICROUS.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU, REVEREND.
AMEN. AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE ACTUALLY SEVERAL POINTS.
THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I KNEW MR. ALBERT, AND HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING HUMAN BEING.
SO THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME OF HIM TODAY.
UM, I ALSO APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE PARTICIPATION IN JUNETEENTH THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I'VE BEEN OUT THERE MYSELF AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EVENT.
I LIVE OVER BY HICKORY PARK, SO NOT TOO FAR FROM YOU GUYS.
AND ACTUALLY MY BACK FENCE IS SHARED WITH HICKORY PARK AND I SEE WHAT GOES ON OUT THERE.
I HOPE THAT THERE ARE SOME PLANS.
I THINK PARKS AND REC HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB AT LOOKING AT FORWARD FOR SOME USAGE OVER THERE TO INCREASE THAT OR MAKE IT MORE PRODUCTIVE, I GUESS EASY FOR BATHROOMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON OVER THERE.
AND I LOVE SEEING WE HAVE A LARGE LATINO POPULATION THAT COME ON USUALLY.
I THINK THEY'RE USUALLY MOSTLY OUT THERE.
SUNDAY EVENINGS THEY'LL BE OUT IN THE RAIN, ALMOST IN THE DARK.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAN SEE.
I LOVE SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE OUT ENJOYING THE PARKS.
I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY THERE.
I ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WANTED TO BE ON THIS BOARD WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THERE WAS ALWAYS ENOUGH COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
EVEN TODAY, I FELT A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT WE WERE EVEN TALKING ABOUT.
AND IF YOU'VE TAKEN YOUR TUESDAY NIGHT TO COME OUT HERE TO SIT.
I DON'T I REALLY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE CITY WANTS TO IMPEDE EVENTS LIKE JUNETEENTH. I HOPE THAT WE ARE ON A PATH FORWARD TO MAKE IT A LARGER EVENT.
I HOPE WE OUTGROW PECK FOR JUNETEENTH.
THAT WOULD BE MY HOPE FOR US AS A CITY.
AND I THINK IF, YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE AN INTEREST AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THAT PARK, BESIDES THOSE OF US WHO ALSO LIKE TO ENJOY IT, I WOULD FIND THAT TO BE PRETTY PROFOUND.
AND I'M NOT SURE AT THIS POINT I WOULD SUPPORT ANYTHING WITHOUT A VERY SPECIFIC DIRECTED PLAN ON IN THIS PARK.
AND THAT'S ALL ANYBODY ELSE WITH.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF TRYING TO GET WITH THE CITY TO SEE WHAT YOU WOULD DO.
[00:35:05]
SUCH AS THE EGAN'S CREEK PARK.I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT THING.
IF SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO MEET WITH CATHERINE AND HOPEFULLY LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND COME UP WITH A PLAN TO DO SOMETHING, WHAT YOU GUYS WANT TO DO, NOT ANYBODY ELSE.
I JUST BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF THE STUFF I HEARD TODAY WAS ALARMING AND OPENING MY EYES. AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
HEARING THE WORD INSTITUTIONALIZE HERE IN CHARLES ALBERT'S DAUGHTER, ALL THIS STUFF CAN DO SOMETHING TO PEOPLE AND CAN MAKE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MINDS.
SO I DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY SPEAKING TODAY, MR. HARMON. I AGREE WITH YOU.
AND I JUST THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE WORDS SOMEBODY SAID, HELP BUILD UP THE AREA.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1916.
AND THE REVEREND BRINGING UP A REALLY GOOD, POSITIVE THING FOR ME IS THAT I SEE MORE HISPANICS.
SO THE WORDS YOU SAY MEAN A LOT.
AND I THINK ANOTHER THING YOU BROUGHT UP WAS THE ESTHETICS.
IF YOU ASK ME, THEN BALLS GO AND THEY'RE HEAVY BALLS AND THEY GO REALLY FAST AND HARD.
UM, THAT'S THE ONLY THING I THINK IT WOULD BE PREVENTING IS FOR LACROSSE, ANY OTHER SPORT.
AND I THINK THEY COULD PLAY LACROSSE AT THE BEAUTIFUL GOLF FIELD.
THAT IS A 26 GOLF HOLE GOLF COURSE.
WE CAN MAYBE LOOK INTO THAT AREA FOR SOMETHING.
OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN? IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT'S IN FAVOR OF THE FENCE? SAY WHAT? SOME.
SOMEBODY. YOU SAID THERE'S ANYBODY HERE? NO, NOT THERE. NOT.
BUT CHARLES ALBERT, I'M THE YOUNGEST OF ALL OF THEM.
FROST SAID, "WHAT AM I WALKING IN OR WALKING OUT?" WE DON'T NEED A FENCE.
COULD YOU GO UP TO THE MIC PLEASE? OH, SPENCE ALBERT, I REALLY LIVE IN TAMPA, BUT I LIVE AT THE PONDEROSA IN NASSAUVILLE.
I LIVE AT AN ADDRESS ON CREEK VIEW.
I'M FROM FERNANDINA SINCE 1947.
ALL RIGHT. I'M ACCUSTOMED TO TURNING THAT CORNER IN THAT OPEN SPACE THERE.
I THINK WE NAMED IT AFTER JEAN, AND IT HAS A KENDRICK WITH MY SISTER IN LAW WHO WAS THERE AT 91 YEARS OLD.
COME OUT ON HER PORCH AND THERE SHE STILL TRIES TO BE THE LIBRARIAN ACROSS THE STREET.
SO IT IS TOTALLY, ABSOLUTELY, TO ME UNNECESSARY.
SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? I'M LISTENING. OKAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT TODAY AND SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE PECK PROJECT.
[00:40:09]
I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE GOT.PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAYING NO IS GOOD FOR A LOT OF REASONS.
WHY? IT WASN'T ANYBODY COMING UP HERE BEING BELLIGERENT, BEING UNTHOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE MOST.
I TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY SAID TONIGHT.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND WORK A PROJECT TOGETHER, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IS WORKING TOGETHER.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO LEAD THE DISCUSSION AS UNDER REVIEW AND WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU AFTER FOR A CONCLUSION.
DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE? CAN WE TABLE THIS MOTION OR WE JUST NEED CONSENSUS FROM THE BOARD? OKAY. SO IT DOES NEED TO GO TO A VOTE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S BEEN SPOKEN ABOUT.
MAKE A MOTION. NO, THERE'S NO MOTION.
BASICALLY, I MEAN, NOT EVERYONE HAS SPOKEN.
BUT IS THE CONSENSUS THAT THE USAGE OF THE FIELD SHOULD JUST STAY THE SAME? THAT WOULD BE MY POSITION.
SO CONSENSUS IS KEEP USAGE THE SAME.
DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING. DON'T TALK ABOUT INCREASING USAGE.
DON'T TALK ABOUT OFFENSE OF ANY SORT.
THEN YOU HAVE CONSENSUS. YOU'RE GOOD.
THANK YOU. REVEREND THOMPSON, SHOULD YOU HANG OUT? COULD YOU WAIT HERE? COULD YOU WAIT HERE FOR THE MEETING? I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE MORE.
EXCUSE ME. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE'VE MADE OUR DECISION AS A CONSENSUS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE] COMMITTEE.
AND I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO EXPLAIN FOR FUTURE REFERENCE WHAT YOU ALL DO, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS GROUP AT ALL UNTIL TONIGHT. SO COULD SOMEONE EXPLAIN WHAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS, PLEASE? YOU GUYS READY? YEAH. WE SUPPORT THE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND THEIR ABILITY TO PUT FORTH TO US PROJECTS THAT THEY FEEL WOULD HELP BETTER.
THEY ALSO GIVE US PROJECTS TO LOOK AT, SUCH AS THE PECK PROJECT, TO GIVE AN EVALUATION OF HOW WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD IN OUR CITY ON ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH RECREATION.
AND THAT IS THE WAY THAT I WOULD EXPRESS HOW DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION WORKS WITH US IN ESTABLISHING WHAT WE SHOULD BRING IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION AS A PROPOSAL BASED ON HOW WE VOTE UP HERE TODAY OR ANYTIME ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO IT.
CATHERINE, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE I DON'T KNOW.
SO IF ANYBODY WOULD EVER LIKE TO JOIN, YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY.
AND I THINK AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, THEY CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THERE MIGHT BE SOME OPENINGS.
SO IF ANYBODY WHO'S A RESIDENT WOULD LIKE TO BE ON IT, YOU CAN ALWAYS CHECK THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO PARTICIPATE, IT'S OPEN TO ANYBODY WHO LIVES IN THE CITY.
HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT JOINING? YES. YES.
HOW WILL YOU GO ABOUT JOINING WHEN THERE'S AN OPENING? THERE'S AN APPLICATION POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
IS THAT CORRECT? CATHERINE YES.
VACANCIES ARE ON THE WEBSITE, YES.
YEAH. AND THAT WAY WHEN THEY ARE ITEMS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED ABOUT AREAS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE A SAY.
[00:45:05]
YOU CAN LISTEN AND YOU CAN MAKE A DECISION.A LOT OF US DON'T AGREE WITH EACH OTHER SOMETIMES WHEN WE MAKE VOTES, BUT SOMETIMES WE DO.
I SEE SOME AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT WELL FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO JUST LIKE MISS BOATWRIGHT SAID, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE AND APPLY, MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
[6.2 Meeting Frequency]
SO A LOT OF THE BOARDS IN THE CITY ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE MEETING FREQUENCY.SO THIS IS WHY YOU'RE SEEING THAT.
BASICALLY, I'D LIKE THE BOARD TO DISCUSS YOUR MEETING FREQUENCY.
DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE MEETING MONTH TO MONTH? DO YOU WANT TO MEET QUARTERLY? DO YOU WANT TO MEET EVERY OTHER MONTH? DO YOU LIKE IT HOW IT IS? DO YOU WANT TO MAKE NO CHANGE? IT'S UP TO YOU. SO THIS IS REALLY A DISCUSSION.
AND THEN IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT HAS, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE ITEM.
SO I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PRESENT.
IT'S JUST TALK ABOUT HOW OFTEN YOU WANT TO MEET.
ONCE ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH FOR ME.
YES, I HAD A CALL FROM A CONSTITUENT TODAY AND CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND CONSIDERING THAT SOME BOARDS ONLY MEET QUARTERLY AND THE LACK OF EFFECTIVENESS THAT SOMETIMES CAN COME FROM THAT OR BEING ABLE TO REACT.
I THINK THOUGH ONCE A MONTH FREQUENCY IS PROBABLY A MORE REASONABLE CADENCE HOW WE OPERATE IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS I BELONG TO, I WOULD LIKE I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE ENGAGEMENT FROM PARKS AND REC LEADERSHIP ABOUT ITEMS THAT ARE COMING UP, YOU KNOW, LIKE TELLING US THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS, MAYBE TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING TO KIND OF KNOW SOME THINGS THAT MIGHT BE COMING UP OR THINGS THAT ARE ON YOUR RADAR OR JUST SOME SORT OF UPDATE TO BE PREPARED WHEN WE COME HERE TO ASK YOU GUYS QUESTIONS OR TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT TOGETHER, SINCE WE CAN'T REALLY DO THAT OUTSIDE OF THIS SPACE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CADENCE STAY THE SAME AND THEN MAYBE HAVE MORE FREQUENT COMMUNICATION WITH THE PARKS AND REC LEADERSHIP IF POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU. I AGREE WITH KEEPING IT ONCE A MONTH.
BUT THAT WAY WE STILL KIND OF HAVE THIS STANDING MONTHLY TIME SLOT.
THAT WOULD BE MY OPINION. TOM THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENTS.
TOM, ANYBODY ELSE? I THINK WE SHOULD DO THE SAME.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW FREQUENT ITEMS ARE COMING UP OR PROJECTS THAT ARE HAVING.
I DON'T KNOW. SO US MAKING DECISIONS ON A MONTHLY BASIS IS GOING TO BE BETTER.
I'D LIKE TO SEE IT MORE, BUT WE'RE JUST ON A MONTHLY BASIS IS FINE WITH ME.
GOOD. ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. I HAVE TWO PEOPLE.
YEAH, I HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO TALK ON THIS SUBJECT.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS? YES, I KNOW. MARIAN PHILLIPS, I LIVE AT 724 SOUTH SIXTH STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, AND I'M ON THE MARINE ADVISORY BOARD COUNCIL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE UNANIMOUS THAT YOU ALL MEET ONCE A MONTH.
[00:50:03]
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THERE ARE ISSUES THAT COME UP AND SOMETHING CAME UP LAST WEEK.AND I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
AND WHENEVER I FEEL LIKE I AM NOT GETTING HEARD, THEN I'M GOING TO BE VERY FORCEFUL.
I DON'T LIKE TO BE LIKE THAT, BUT I CAN BE.
SO I FEEL LIKE THAT THERE ARE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE BROUGHT UP, AND IF YOU CANNOT TALK TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AND YOU CANNOT GET A MEETING BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE A QUORUM, THAT'S A PROBLEM. AND I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE FOR THE MEETINGS TO BE ONCE A MONTH FOR ALL OF THE BOARDS SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS THINGS AS A GROUP. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN DO AWAY WITH THIS QUORUM STUFF FOR THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT ARE OCCURRING, THAT IF THEY CONTINUE TO GET PASSED, THEN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THINK, OH, WELL, IT'S JUST GOING TO GO AWAY.
WELL, IN ONE OF MY EMAILS I SENT, I'M LIKE A DOG ON A BONE.
I WILL NOT GIVE UP IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE IN.
AND THE MAIN THINGS THAT I HAVE CONCERN ABOUT IN THIS CITY AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT IS THE BEACH, THE TREES, THE HISTORY, THE PEOPLE AND THAT MARINA DOWN THERE, THAT'S A WORKING WATERFRONT. SO THAT'S WHY I'M SERVING AND I'M A SERVANT.
AND NONE OF Y'ALL ARE GETTING PAID ON THIS COMMITTEE.
SO WE DO SO AS SERVANTS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND TO BE VOCAL BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE NEED TO STEP UP AND SERVE AND THEY NEED TO BE VOCAL TO STOP SOME OF THE STUFF THAT'S OCCURRING IN THIS CITY.
MIKE MEADOWS, 2601 VIA DEL REY, CITY RESIDENT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU ALL MEET ONCE A MONTH TOO.
YOU'RE HERE TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THESE FACILITIES.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE MEETING TOMORROW ABOUT THIS AT THE CITY GOLF CLUB ADVISORY BOARD.
SO I THINK TONIGHT THE AUDIENCE HERE ON THE CENTER FIELD IS REALLY JUST ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF A NEW THING.
I DON'T THINK IT'S KIND OF A FLASH ITEM THAT POPPED UP.
AND THEY'RE HERE TO TELL YOU HOW THEY FEEL.
THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHY ALL OF THESE BOARDS NEED TO MEET ONCE A MONTH.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE APPOINTED TO DO.
AND I'D ASK YOU TO CONTINUE DOING IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MEADOWS. MR. CAMERA, CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING? BECAUSE I CAME IN LATE.
DO YOU MIND REAL QUICK AND WE'LL TAKE IT A SECOND.
WOULD YOU INDULGE ME? THANK YOU.
SO I AM IN SUPPORT OF THAT FENCE, NOT GOING UP AROUND PECK.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S TOO MANY FENCES RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S LIKE A BARRIER FOR PEOPLE.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THEM AT THE SCHOOLS.
I DON'T LIKE CLOSED DOORS EITHER.
OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ISSUE.
I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO KEEP THE CADENCE THE SAME.
I'LL SECOND THAT. WELL, I HAVE A SECOND.
OKAY. CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE VOTE? . THAT PASSES. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.
IT IS. I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY.
WE CAN HAVE A MEETING ANY TIME THAT THERE'S AN EMERGENCY.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY EVERYBODY PICKED.
[00:55:01]
YES. SUPPORTING THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE COME TO MEETINGS, WE HAVE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS AND NOT JUST GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF HAVING A MEETING.HAVING A MEETING IS ONE THING, BUT HAVING A MEETING THAT MEANS SOMETHING THAT HAS AN AGENDA TO IT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THEY CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND GOING TO THE CITY.
THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY PUTTING THEIR INPUT INTO IT.
I KNOW SCOTT AND CATHERINE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON, A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO MOVE OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD AND YOUR TEAM IS DOING A LOT OF WORK.
I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THOSE WHEN WE COME TO THESE MEETINGS, SO MAYBE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF STUFF TO TAKE ACTION ON ON OUR PART, BUT WHERE YOU GUYS CAN TELL US ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND SOMETIMES WE STUMBLE UPON GIVING FEEDBACK OR NEW DIRECTIONS TO MOVE.
I THINK THAT MIGHT BE POSITIVE AND HELPFUL FOR YOU GUYS TOO.
[7. STAFF REPORT]
ALL RIGHT. SO BEFORE I START THE STAFF REPORT WITH ALL THOSE, I DO WANT TO PUBLICLY WELCOME MEMBER GOLDMAN MEMBER PEARLSTEIN.THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND BEING A PART OF THE PARKS AND REC ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SO THANK YOU. PROJECT UPDATES.
SO MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN ALL NEW FENCING GOING IN, REPLACING DAMAGED FENCE AROUND SKATE PARKS, DONE.
THE BALL FIELDS AT CENTRAL PARK ARE DONE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY PUTTING UP THE FENCE AT THE CEMETERY.
THE FENCE AT SUNRISE WAS WAS REPLACED.
WE ARE THERE ARE PLANS FOR MLK CENTER FOR THE SOFTBALL FIELDS.
SO THAT'S WHY THE FENCE IS THERE WEREN'T TOUCHED.
ALSO, BEACH ACCESS 24 AND 29 WERE REDECKED AND NEW HANDRAILS WERE PUT ON.
THOSE RECENTLY WERE COMPLETED.
AND AFTER TURTLE SEASON, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BEACH ACCESS 40 IS GOING TO BE PUT IN BEACH ACCESS 16 AND THEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ACTUALLY IN A PARTNERSHIP TO DO SEASIDE NEW BOARDWALK AT SEASIDE, WHICH IS VERY MUCH NEEDED.
THERE IS GRAFFITI ON THE BOARDWALK AT SEASIDE.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO MITIGATE IT.
YOU MIGHT STILL SEE IT, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO WE HAVE REPLACED THE BOARDS, YET WE HAVE REPLACED A FEW.
WE REPLACED A FEW OF THE BOARDS.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A COUPLE NEW BOARDS AT SEASIDE.
THAT'S A TEMPORARY FIX BECAUSE WE JUST NEED TO REMOVE THE GRAFFITI OUT THERE.
BUT THEY'RE GOING TO REDO THE WHOLE BOARDWALK.
THAT'S THE PROJECT UPDATES THE FEES.
JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE, THE COMMISSION DID APPROVE THE FEES.
THERE WERE NO REAL CHANGES TO THE FEES, JUST THE STRUCTURE.
IF YOU REMEMBER SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, YOU YOU DID APPROVE THOSE.
THE BIGGEST CHANGE WAS THIS WAS THE LIKE FOR THE FITNESS ROOM, FOR THE WEIGHT ROOM FOR THE POOL.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT WITH THE FEES AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION WHO ALSO SUPPORTED THAT.
BIG NEWS SINCE THE COMMISSION DID APPROVE THE BUDGET, WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO GET THREE NEW POSITIONS, TWO TRADES WORKERS TO HELP PARKS. WE SEE THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH CRAFTSMAN SKILLS HELPING US WITH BOARDWALKS THAT MIGHT NOT NEED TO GO OUT TO BID.
BUT, YOU KNOW, HANDRAILS ARE MISSING OR NAILS ARE COMING UP OR, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS WITH THE PAVILIONS OUT AT THE PARKS, THE PICNIC TABLES, IT'S MADE OUT OF WOOD. WE WANT TO FIX IT.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION NOW THAT'S GOING TO GET POSTED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND THEN THE THIRD POSITION IS A DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST.
WE DID GET APPROVED TO HIRE THAT INDIVIDUAL.
WE'RE WORKING ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THAT AS WELL.
THAT'S GOING TO HELP US BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE A QUARTERLY PROGRAM GUIDE.
I THINK I'VE TALKED TO YOU ALL ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
WE DID HAVE A SUMMER PROGRAM GUIDE THAT MARY HAMBURG HELPED WITH AND KATIE HELPED A LOT WITH.
[01:00:07]
AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.THAT'S GOING TO HELP US GET THE WORD OUT BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE THESE MAILED OUT TO EVERY CITY RESIDENT AND SHOW ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE. PROJECTS COMING UP, IT'S GOING TO HAVE CITY INFORMATION IN IT, HELPFUL NUMBERS, IMPORTANT NUMBERS.
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE NUMBER TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU GET AHOLD OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT? SO IT'S GOING TO KIND OF ENCOMPASS THE WHOLE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP WITH THE COMMUNICATION PIECE, THAT QUARTERLY PROGRAM GUIDE.
SO ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE THAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY COOL, THAT DIGITAL CREATION, I WONDER, IS THAT PERSON OR IS THE PLAN FOR THAT ROLE TO DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY PLANS TO MOVE TOWARDS AN APP FOR PARKS AND REC? I MEAN, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE MAILING THINGS ARE GOOD TOO, BUT AS MUCH AS YOU GUYS HAVE THINGS CHANGING AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT MAYBE THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE.
THEY HAVE AN APP THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF INTERACTIVE WAYS, AND IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS COULD MOVE TOWARDS SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING THEY COULD JUST HAVE ON THEIR PHONE IF THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON OR WHATEVER KIND OF IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT KIND OF SPACE NOW FOR HOW TO COMMUNICATE AN APP MIGHT BE A GREAT WAY TO.
GREAT IDEA. YEAH. I MEAN, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WE'RE WRITING THE JOB DESCRIPTION NOW, SO LOOKING AT THEIR SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB, THAT KIND OF THING, WE ARE TRYING TO GO. PEOPLE CAN REGISTER ONLINE FOR THINGS.
SO WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND APP IS EVEN FURTHER WELL ABOVE THAT.
YOU MIGHT NEED TO JUST INSTEAD OF LIKE WALKING, JUST RUN.
YES. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, ABOUT THAT POSITION.
BUT WE'RE STILL DEVELOPING THE JOB DESCRIPTION.
WE'LL LOOK AT THAT. I HAVE A QUESTION, SO I DON'T WANT TO BE ON ALL OF THEM.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION? I CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AFTER THE MEETING.
IT'S NOT REALLY PAST 7.2 TALKING ABOUT FEES.
YEAH. SO I MEAN, I'M REPORTING STAFF COMMENT TO YOU.
I MEAN, I'D BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU, MA'AM.
THE FEES WERE PRESENTED TO US FOR THE BUDGET, FOR PLANNING PURPOSES AND EVERYTHING. SO THOSE WERE PUT IN AS TO BE GIVEN TO THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE VOTE AND THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET. THOSE ARE HOW THE FEES WERE ESTABLISHED.
AND WE LOOKED AT THEM AS A BOARD AND WE APPROVED THE FEES THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE PLACED IN THE BUDGET AND EVENTUALLY PASSED BY THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE 2324 BUDGET.
MAY I MAKE AN OBSERVATION? I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S PAST.
AND MAY I JUST MAKE A COMMENT? MAY I MAKE A COMMENT? YES, PLEASE.
YEAH, GO AHEAD. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, FOR STAFF COMMENTS? I DO A NEW POSITION'S.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME? DO ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MY STAFF COMMENTS THAT I JUST MADE? OKAY. THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE AN OBSERVATION.
EXCUSE ME. ON THE RENTAL FEES.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU BUYING THE FACILITY.
BUT THE RENTAL FEES TO RENT, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MLK CENTER, IT'S $700 FOR TWO DAYS, $700.
AND THAT JUST SEEMED JUST OUT OF SIGHT WHEN WE HAD THE RECREATION CENTER FOR A WEEKEND FOR $35.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WE ARE NEIGHBORS HERE, WE ARE TAXPAYERS HERE.
AND WE CERTAINLY ARE NOT TRYING TO BUY THE CENTERS.
WE JUST WANT TO HAVE AN EVENT.
FAMILY REUNION IS NOT A COMMERCIAL EVENT.
THAT'S THE TIME FAMILY GET TOGETHER, LOVE ON ONE ANOTHER, SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN A LOOK AT.
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU ALL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, YOU NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
NUMBER EIGHT, BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
[8. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
ANY QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD. CATHERINE.[01:05:09]
HAD STUFF LIKE EVERY DAY? DID YOU GUYS DO THAT? THAT WAS THE DEPARTMENT.IT WAS GREAT. SO, WELL, THEN THAT WAS KATIE.
A LOT OF YOU HAD A LOT OF THANK YOU.
OTHER PARENT MOMS WITH KIDS WHO KNOW I'M ON THE BOARD SAY THAT IT WAS GREAT.
I WAS LIKE, I THINK THAT WAS CATHERINE AND THE DEPARTMENT.
AND IF WE COULD GET ANOTHER ONE EVERY MONTH THAT SAYS WHAT'S GOING ON, I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL.
I WILL BE WORKING ON ONE FOR EVERY MONTH.
WE HAD OUR ART IN THE PARK TODAY AND WE HAD ABOUT 40 FAMILIES COME, WHICH WAS CRAZY AND SO EXCITING.
I PLAN TO GET TO SOME OF THE EVENTS GETTING.
THANK YOU. YEAH. AT THIS TIME, ANY BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS.
PLEASE. I THINK OUT OF ALL THIS THING I'VE HEARD TODAY IS THAT FOR SURE, ISSUES DON'T HAVE HOLIDAYS.
AND SO IF AN ISSUE COMES UP WITH PARKS AND RECREATION, I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HONOR AND TRY TO GET SOMETHING DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THIS CITY.
UM, AND I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT TODAY AND GIVING US THEIR OPINION.
THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
LIKE I SAID, THE PARTICIPATION IS KEY.
THIS SATURDAY WE'LL BE OUT THERE ALL DAY.
SO WE'LL LOOK FOR WE'LL LOOK TO SEE SOME OF YOU OUT THERE AT THAT EVENT, TOO.
THIRD STREET. WE'RE CLOSING DOWN THE WHOLE STREET.
OKAY. HISPANIC HERITAGE FOOD FESTIVAL.
NOT JUST A FESTIVAL FROM 1 TO 9 P.M.
COME JOIN US. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR MEMBERS.
AND THANK YOU, GUYS. I LIKE TO COME IN FOR GIVING YOUR FEEDBACK.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME OUT AND ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
SECOND OF ALL, I LIKE TO FORMALLY WELCOME OUR TWO NEW MEMBERS.
OKAY. THIRD, I LIKE TO THANK THE CITY PARK DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND THEIR MAINTENANCE CREW, FOR OVER THE PAST 12 WEEKS, THEY HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT AFTER THE STORMS, THINGS WERE CLEANED UP ON A VERY QUICKLY AND EFFICIENT WAY OF TAKING CARE OF THE PARKS, THE BEACHES AND THE CEMETERY.
WE HAD SOME DOWNED TREES THAT WERE PICKED UP IMMEDIATELY WITHIN 48 TO 72 HOURS.
AS FAR AS THE RECREATIONAL PART OF THE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE OVER 2100 KIDS PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS IN THIS CITY AT SOME POINT DURING THE YEAR.
BUT IT'S NOT A COMPLETE NUMBER.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY ORGANIZATION HAS PUT IN THEIR BYLAWS THAT ANYBODY THAT CANNOT AFFORD A PROGRAM, PLEASE ASK FOR THE PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT OF THAT ORGANIZATION TO LET THEM.
NEXT, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE.
[01:10:02]
AND WITH THAT I AM WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING.