[00:00:02]
>> I AM CALLING THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JULY 9TH, 2024 IN THE CITY HALL CHAMBERS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE?
>> JUST A FEW A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CELL PHONES ARE OFF, PLEASE? SECOND, IF ANYBODY WISHES TO SPEAK, MAKE SURE THAT YOU SIGNED A REQUEST TO SPEAK.
YOU CAN HAND THAT IN TO MRS. RIVERO. NUMBER 3.
IF ANYBODY WISHES TO SPEAK ON ANY OTHER ITEM THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE ALSO HAND IN YOUR FORM TO MRS. RIVERO.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR 1 JUNE, 2024 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES.>> ANY COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.
>> WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION?
>> PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA]
[NOISE] LAURIE LAW, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP AND APPROACH.>> HI, GOOD EVENING, PAUL LAURIE, 11 SOUTH, SEVENTH STREET FOR FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BOTH TOPICS ON 6.1.
I'LL WAIT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, BUT THE ONE COMMENT THAT I HAVE THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA IS FOR THE SKATE PARK.
I KNOW I'M HEARING A LOT OF RUMBLINGS ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND MAKING THE SKATE PARK A LOT BETTER, AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER TIME AS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AT EXACTLY WHAT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES CAN DO FOR CHILDREN.
AS WE HAVE A YOUNG LADY MOVING ON UP TO THE OLYMPIC LEVEL.
I THINK THAT SAYS ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR THE SKATE PARK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MEGAN CHISHOLM, PLEASE?
>> [NOISE] MEGAN CHISHOLM 711 GARDEN STREET IN FERNANDINA.
I WILL MIRROR EXACTLY WHAT PAUL SAID. HERE FOR THE SKATE PARK.
MY SON IS AT THE SKATE PARK EVERY DAY, LOOKING FOR UPDATES ON THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION TAKING PLACE, A TIMELINE, BETTER TIMELINE, AND THE EXPANSION.
>> THANK YOU. SCOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE APPROACH AND TALK ABOUT THIS SKATE PARK AND WHERE WE STAND.
>> YES SIR, SCOTT MICHAELSON, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON THAT, AND I WAS GOING TO UPDATE THE COMMITTEE TONIGHT.
I SPOKE TO THE CONTRACTOR WITH THAT.
YES, IT'S TAKING A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN IT SHOULD.
THE EXISTING PIECES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE SKATE PARK, THERE'S THREE PIECES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN.
HE HAS OR IS COMPLETING THEM ACTUALLY TODAY OR TOMORROW.
AT THAT POINT, IT SHOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS, AND THEN WE WILL BE INSTALLING RIGHT AFTER THAT.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH THAT IN OUR TIMELINE IS, WE WANT THAT PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THERE IS A KELLY SKATE COMPETITION IN AUGUST, I BELIEVE IT'S AUGUST 24TH, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THE 9TH ANNUAL TERRY KELLY SKATE.
>> THE 9TH ANNUAL. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THE SKATE PARK IS GOING TO BE OPERATIONAL FOR THAT, RIGHT AFTER THAT EXISTING COMPETITION, WE WILL THEN REMOVE TWO OR THREE MORE PIECES.
I DID SEND AN EMAIL TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT THIS AFTERNOON.
[00:05:05]
ACTUALLY, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO ROLL THAT MONEY OVER BECAUSE THERE IS GOING TO BE A MONTH STANDPOINT WHERE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO WORK, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TWO PIECES NOT AVAILABLE AND INSTALLED.LONG STORY SHORT IS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
IT'S TAKING A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN EXPECTED, BUT I STILL THINK THERE'S A CHANCE THAT WE WILL HAVE IT DONE BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND IF NOT EARLY PART OF OCTOBER.
AT THAT POINT, BASICALLY, ALL THE RAMPS AND ALL THE STRUCTURES WILL BE, FOR THE MOST PART, LIKE BRAND NEW.
>> YES. I'D LIKE TO MIRROR EXACTLY WHAT PAUL AND MISS MEGHAN SAID.
WE HAVE ROYALTY WITH US TODAY.
WE HAVE PO PENSON'S FATHER HERE.
THAT'S MR. KENNY PENSON, RAISE YOUR HAND.
HE WILL BE HEADING OFF TO PARIS TO WATCH HIS DAUGHTER COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
IF WE AS A COMMUNITY CANNOT SEE THAT THIS YOUNG LADY HAS PUT IN THE WORK, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH PARKS KEEPING THAT FACILITY AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.
WE SHOULD BE PROUD. WE SHOULD BE ROLLING OUT THE RED CART BEFORE THIS YOUNG LADY.
MR. KENNY PENSON, WHO BROUGHT HER THERE AT THE YOUNG AGE OF FOUR, WHERE SHE IS NOW 19.
BUT THE MAIN QUESTION, I THINK A LOT OF THESE KIDS WANT TO FIND OUT IS, HOW CAN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH AN EXPANSION OF OUR SKATE PARK.
IN THE END, THAT'S PROBABLY THE QUESTION THAT THEY WANT.
OUR YOUNG LADY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL TO JACKSONVILLE TO HONE HER SKILLS.
WE DON'T ASK THAT OTHER BASEBALL PLAYERS, FOOTBALL PLAYERS, OR ANY OTHER SPORT.
WE BUILD THE FACILITIES FOR THESE YOUNG KIDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL POSSIBLE, YOU CAN BE IN A SPORT.
THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS RIGHT NOW, THESE KIDS ARE USING THAT PARTICULAR AREA THAT IS BEING WORKED ON.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT IT CAN BE SECURED A LITTLE MORE FOR WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE I KNOW YOU PUT YELLOW TAPE UP, AND THESE KIDS JUST GO RIGHT OVER THE YELLOW TAPE.
>> WE HAVE SECURED IT MULTIPLE TIMES.
WE'LL COME UP WITH A BETTER SOLUTION.
>> I THINK IF A PIECE OF WOOD COULD GO RIGHT UNDER THE RAMP, I THINK THEY CAN STILL TRAIN AND WORK OUT IN OUR LITTLE FACILITY.
BUT MY QUESTION WAS ABOUT SEEING IF WE CAN SECURE IT NOW.
WE CAN LOOK INTO THE TWO RAMPS BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY WOBBLING IN WITHOUT THAT INTERSECTION THAT THEY HAVE.
>> I THINK IF WE JUST MOVE THEM TOWARDS THE FENCE AS WELL, AND THEN.
YES, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY, THANKS FOR COMING AND TALKING ABOUT THE SKATE PARK.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT OUR CITY IS THAT WE HAVE SUCH A VAST OFFERING FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES FOR [NOISE] PEOPLE TO DO.
WITH PARKS AND REC BEING, I THINK IT'S OUR THIRD LARGEST DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY THAT WE HAVE MUCH TO OFFER, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, THE PEOPLE WHO VISIT HERE AND BRING ALL OF THAT TOGETHER.
I WILL SAY TO OUR SKATE FAMILY THAT YOU HAVE NO BETTER ADVOCATE THAN WALLY UP HERE TO, HE TALKS ABOUT PO EVERY WEEK, AND I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS.
I THINK IF THERE'S ANYTHING TO BE DONE, WALLY IS WORKING ON THAT.
I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE THAT ADVOCACY.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE WORKED REALLY HARD AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER A PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT SKATE PARK IS THERE.
I PERSONALLY, MY KIDS ENJOY IT, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT EXPAND IN SOME WAY IN THE FUTURE, AND MAYBE YOUR SKATE FAMILY GROUP, YOU CAN COME WITH SOME IDEAS ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND PRESENT THAT TO PARKS AND REC SO WE CAN SEE [INAUDIBLE] ARE COMING.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? I JUST WANT TO JUST SAY ONE SHORT NOTE.
WALLY IS THE BIGGEST SUPPORTER YOU HAVE IN THIS SKATE PARK.
IF ANYBODY HAS ANY DOUBT THAT THIS AGENDA IS NOT JUST ABOUT A SKATE PARK, BUT IT'S THE ADVERSARY FOR CHILDREN GOING INTO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN THE PERSON THAT PLAYS FOOTBALL? PERSON THAT PLAYS BASKETBALL.
[00:10:01]
WE NEED THAT WE NEED THAT ADVERSITY IN THIS CITY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY WANT TO BE PART OF IT.THANK YOU, WALLY, FOR WHAT YOU DO.
>> I BELIEVE THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL DO ITS BEST TO ENSURE THAT WE GET WHAT WE NEED BY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. ITEM NUMBER 61.
[6.1. Petanque (Amelia Island Boules Club)]
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION TONIGHT FOR THE PEDON.GIVING THAT PRESENTATION WILL BE JOHN ABBOTT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE QUICK COMMENT FOR EVERYBODY HERE.
THE PLAN IS, MR. ABBOTT WITH THE AMELIA ISLAND BUOLES CLUB, WILL MAKE HIS PRESENTATION.
JUST LET'S HOLD OUR QUESTIONS.
LET HIM GET THROUGH HIS COMPLETE PRESENTATION.
AFTER THAT, CHAIR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, THEN WE CAN HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THAT POINT.
THEN FOLLOWING THAT, WE WILL HAVE BOARD COMMENT AND BOARD QUESTIONS.
THAT'S HOW I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PRESENTATION.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT MR. ABBOTT.
MY ADDRESS IS 1601 NECTARINE, FERNANDINA BEACH.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMELIA ISLAND BUOLES CLUB, AND I AM HERE REPRESENTING THAT ORGANIZATION THIS EVENING.
OUR PURPOSE HERE TONIGHT IS, AS WE'RE GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU OPTIONS WHEREBY WE MAY BE ABLE TO GAIN BACK OUR 16 COMPETITION COURTS THAT WERE DISPLACED OR WILL BE DISPLACED AT THE TIME OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATERFRONT PARK.
THAT IS THE SOLE PURPOSE OF OUR PRESENTATION THIS EVENING.
WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU SOME OPTIONS OF WHERE THOSE COURTS MIGHT OCCUR IN VARIOUS SCENARIOS.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO START ABOUT SHARING A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR CLUB.
WE ARE PART OF AN UMBRELLA, IF YOU UNDER AN UMBRELLA, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT, OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED FEDERATION PETANQUE USA.
FEDERATION PETANQUE USA GOVERNS 50 CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE ONE OF THOSE CLUBS, AND THEY GO FROM WASHINGTON STATE TO MAINE TO SOUTH FLORIDA TO SAN DIEGO.
OF THOSE CLUBS, WE HAPPEN TO BE THE LARGEST.
WE ARE THE LARGEST OF THOSE 50 CLUBS.
IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE AIBC, COULD YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF THOSE MEMBERS HERE [LAUGHTER] WITH US THIS EVENING.
THAT GOT THE CHAIRMAN'S ATTENTION ALSO.
AS FPUSA IS THE GOVERNING BODY OF OUR SPORT, THEY GIVE US GUIDELINES ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS.
TWO IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE UP FOR DISCUSSION TONIGHT ARE THE ACTUAL COURTS THEMSELVES AND HOW MANY COURTS WE NEED.
WE'RE ASKING FOR 16 BECAUSE THAT IS THE PRESCRIBED NUMBER THAT IS REQUIRED FOR OUR CLUB TO HOST NATIONAL AND WORLD QUALIFYING PETANQUE TOURNAMENTS AT OUR FACILITY.
THEY ALSO PRESCRIBE THE SIZE OF THOSE COMPETITION COURTS.
I WILL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THOSE LATER.
I WANTED TO TAKE JUST ONE LITTLE STEP ASIDE AND LET YOU KNOW THAT TWO OF OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY OUR JUNIOR MEMBERS, THEIR NAMES ARE KEILEBEN ELIJAH.
THEY ARE BROTHERS. THEY ARE 14 AND 17-YEARS-OLD.
NEXT WEEK, THEY WILL TRAVEL TO DENVER, COLORADO, AND THEY WILL COMPETE IN THE WORLD QUALIFYING JUNIOR DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR GREAT THINGS FROM THEM.
THEY'RE SUCH AN ENTHUSIASTIC BROTHERS, THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO TRAVEL WITH THEIR FAMILY.
WE'RE PRAYING FOR A GREAT OUTCOME.
IF THEY HAPPEN TO WIN THAT TOURNAMENT, THEY CAN GO TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN QUEBEC, CANADA. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
WITH REGARD TO THE LOCATIONS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS EVENING, WE HAVE MET OVER THE LAST ACTUALLY 2.5 MONTHS WITH SCOTT MICHAELSON.
HE'S BEEN NICE ENOUGH TO GIVE US OUR TIME AND BEND HIS EAR, AND WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO EACH OTHER.
WE'VE LOOKED AT A LOT OF LOCATIONS.
WE'VE LOOKED AT A LOT OF SCENARIOS.
SOME OF THOSE WILL BE SHARING WITH YOU TONIGHT.
[NOISE] I WANT TO ALSO EMPHASIZE THAT THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH SCOTT AND
[00:15:07]
WE'LL HAVE TONIGHT IS COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT AND NOT RELATED TO ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE AMELIA OPEN, WHICH WE HAVE TYPICALLY IN NOVEMBER.THE AMELIA OPEN IS ANOTHER ANIMAL THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, AND IT'S NOT REALLY PART OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT US ASKING FOR THESE 16 COMPETITION COURTS.
NOW, WHAT IS A COMPETITION COURT? IF I CAME TO YOU AND SAID, WE'D LIKE TO BUILD A BASKETBALL COURT, YOU WOULD HAVE A PRETTY GOOD VISUAL OF WHAT A BASKETBALL COURT LOOKS LIKE.
IF I SAID, WE WANT TO BUILD A SOCCER FIELD, WE WANT TO BUILD A FOOTBALL FIELD, WE WANT TO BUILD A NEW SOFTBALL FIELD.
IN YOUR MIND, YOU PRETTY MUCH AN IMAGE OF WHAT THAT IS.
BUT IF I CAME TO YOU AND SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD 16 PETANQUE COURTS, YOU'D PROBABLY GO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
THE BEST REFERENCE THAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT ON ONE REGULATION A FENCED TENNIS COURT, 60*120, WE COULD PUT NINE COMPETITION PETANQUE COURTS IN THAT SAME AREA.
NOW, IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER, AS WE LOOK AT SOME VISUALS OF OUR PROPOSED LOCATIONS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME BOXES, AND FOR A LOT OF TIMES, THAT BOX REPRESENTS THE SIZE OF A TENNIS COURT IN WHICH WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU PROBABLY EIGHT PETANQUE COURTS.
WHERE WE PLAY RIGHT NOW AT CENTRAL PARK.
WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 12 COURTS THAT WE USE FOR CLUB PLAY, AND THOSE COURTS ARE SMALL.
THEY'RE ABOUT TWO THIRDS THE SIZE OF A COMPETITION COURT.
WE'LL SHOW YOU SOME WAYS THAT WE THINK WE CAN EXPAND THAT.
THAT'S A POSSIBILITY AS WELL IN SOME OF OUR OPTIONS.
THREE OF THOSE OPTIONS ARE IN CENTRAL PARK.
THEY HAVE TO DO WITH I'LL CALL IT THE EXPANSION AND ADDITION OF PÉTANQUE COURTS IN CENTRAL PARK.
THE LAST OPTION IS A LOCATION CALLED JOE VELARDI FIELD, WHICH IS A SOFTBALL FIELD THAT IS BEHIND THE ATLANTIC REC CENTER.
IF YOU GO DOWN JOE VELARDI FIELD, YOU CAN SEE THAT SOFTBALL FIELD ALONG THE ROADWAY THERE.
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WE CALL OPTION A.
THE ONE ON THE BOTTOM REPRESENTS OUR EXISTING COURT TERRAIN.
THE BIG AREA OF THESE COURTS ARE CALLED TERRAINS.
THE BOX ON THE UPPER RIGHT REPRESENTS AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT COURTS THAT WOULD BE PLACED IN A PORTION OF THE GREEN AREA IN CENTRAL PARK.
THERE'S A DIAGRAM THAT FOLLOWS THIS.
THAT'S A ROUGH DIAGRAM OF HOW THE EXISTING COURTS ARE CONVERTED TO EIGHT COURTS.
THE OTHER BOX SIMPLY SHOWS AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT COURTS.
REMEMBER, THAT BOX ON THE UPPER RIGHT IS THE SIZE OF ONE TENNIS COURT.
THAT'S THE SCALE REFERENCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
THAT BOX GOES FROM SOUTH TO NORTH TOWARD ATLANTIC NEXT TO, THERE'S A LITTLE POWER POLE THERE AND SO FORTH, AND THAT'S WHERE THAT TERRAIN SITS.
AS SCOTT SAID, WE'LL COME BACK TO ANY OF THESE AND DISCUSS IN DETAIL.
OPTION B, THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO IDENTIFY TWO POSSIBLE TERRAINS WITHIN THE GREEN SPACE OF CENTRAL PARK.
THE ONE AT THE TOP THERE IS ACTUALLY THE SAME ONE THAT YOU JUST SAW AN A.
BUT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY ALSO THAT THERE COULD BE ANOTHER TERRAIN THAT RUNS EAST AND WEST MORE TOWARD THE PLAYGROUND AREA.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, THOSE TWO BOXES REPRESENT THE SIZE OF TWO TERRAIN COURTS AND 16 COMPETITION COURTS.
THEY WOULD BE SITUATED, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
EACH OF THE TERRAINS IS ABOUT 108 FEET BY 52 FEET.
AGAIN, THOSE DIMENSIONS ARE PRESCRIBED BY FPUSA AS TO HOW BIG THOSE COURTS NEED TO BE.
OPTION C IN CENTRAL PARK, COMBINES A COUPLE OF ELEMENTS THAT YOU'VE JUST SEEN IN OPTIONS A AND B.
[00:20:02]
THE EXISTING COURTS WOULD BE RENOVATED TO ONLY PRODUCE SIX COMPETITION COURTS.THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT WE FULLY RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE THREE MAJOR HERITAGE TREES THAT SURROUND OUR COURT.
I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE TREES IN A MINUTE.
BUT THE IDEA BEHIND THIS SCHEME IS TO ACTUALLY PUSH THE RENOVATED COURTS AWAY FROM THOSE TREES SO THAT WHEN WE GO WE MAY HAVE TO DO SOME LIGHT EXCAVATION AND SO FORTH.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A CONCRETE SLAB UNDERNEATH ONE OF THE COURTS, AN OLD BASKETBALL COURT.
BUT THE IDEA IS TO GET AWAY FROM THOSE TREES SO WE HAVE LESS CHANCE OF HITTING TREE ROOTS AND PROTECTING THOSE TREES.
IF YOU TOOK A POLL OF ALL OF OUR MEMBERS HERE AND ASKED THEM, WHAT IS THE BEST AMENITY OF YOUR PLAYING ENVIRONMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO TELL YOU IT'S BEING UNDER THE SHADE AND HAD THE COOLING EFFECT OF THOSE TREES IN THE SUMMERTIME.
IT IS A CRITICAL FACTOR OF ALLOWING US TO PLAY AT CENTRAL PARK IN THE SUMMERTIME.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THESE TERRAINS HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON.
THAT IS, THEY CAN BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS.
THE TERRAINS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING IN THE GREEN SPACE, THE NEW TERRAINS CAN OBVIOUSLY BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES AS THE SCHEDULE OF THE PARK DICTATES.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU COULD PITCH A TENT ON IT.
YOU COULD PUT A FOOD TRUCK ON IT.
YOU COULD EVEN HAVE AMUSEMENTS AND GAMES ON IT.
IT'S SIMPLY A PERVIOUS GRAVEL AREA SURROUNDED BY TIMBERS, AND WHEN WE'RE NOT PLAYING PETANQUE ON IT, IT CAN BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS FOR SURE.
THOSE ARE THE THREE OPTIONS THAT ARE IN CENTRAL PARK.
IT HAS TO DO WITH RENOVATING OUR EXISTING COURTS, AND THEN ACQUIRING, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD, ADDITIONAL LAND, ADDITIONAL SPACE, THE SIZE OF A TENNIS COURT, TO BUILD EIGHT MORE COURTS TO GET TO GET TO THAT MAGIC NUMBER OF 16.
THE LAST OPTION IS A JOE VELARDI FIELD.
THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF ACTUALLY THE SOFTBALL DIAMOND AREA.
THAT BOX THAT YOU SEE REPRESENTS 16 COMPETITION COURTS.
IT'S ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF TWO TENNIS COURTS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT MOST OF THE GROUND AREA THAT WE WOULD BE OVER IS ACTUALLY THE CLAY OF THE SOFTBALL DIAMOND, IT IS NOT EVEN OUT IN THE GRASS AREA OF THE OUTFIELD ITSELF.
NOW, THIS IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY GOOD OPTION FOR US.
IT HAS A LOT OF THINGS GOING FOR IT.
THERE'S PLENTY OF PARKING THERE.
THERE'S EVEN A SMALL BATHROOM THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE PIRATES PLAYGROUND.
THE BIGGEST DOWNSIDE OF THIS ENVIRONMENT, ABSOLUTELY ZERO SHADE.
WE MIGHT AS WELL BE OUT ON THE AIRPORT TARMAC.
[LAUGHTER] IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS IDEA OR THIS OPTION, AND THERE ARE THE TWO TERRAINS TOGETHER.
I'VE BEEN IN DIALOGUE WITH A COMPANY CALLED SHADE STRUCTURES INCORPORATED.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY SHADE SYSTEMS, I'M SORRY.
I HAVE ACTUALLY PROVIDED YOU SOME OF YOUR SHELTERS IN THE PAST.
THEY DO MAKE A PRODUCT THAT'S CALLED MEGA SPAM, AND IT CAN COVER A LOT MORE AREA THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.
IT'S CRITICAL TO US THAT WE EVENTUALLY, HAVE A SHADE STRUCTURE OR A SHADE ELEMENT OF THIS NATURE THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY SHADE BETWEEN SIX AND EIGHT OF THOSE COURTS TO REPLICATE THE SHADY AREA THAT WE WOULD EVENTUALLY LOSE AT CENTRAL PARK.
THAT'S OVER 6,000 SQUARE FEET OF SHADED AREA.
THAT'S REALLY A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT THAT COMES WITH THE OPTION OF JOE VELARDI FIELD, AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED.
JUST A COUPLE OF MORE POINTS ON ALL OF THESE OPTIONS.
[00:25:01]
THE AMELIA ISLAND BOULES CLUB MAINTAINS OUR OWN COURTS.WE RUN OUR OWN TOURNAMENTS ON THOSE COURTS.
IF WE NEED EXTRA PORTA POTTIES, WE RENT THOSE ESPECIALLY FOR TOURNAMENTS.
WE ARE GOOD STEWARDS AND HAVE BEEN GOOD STEWARDS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME OF TAKING CARE OF OUR FACILITIES AND PROVIDING THOSE AMENITIES TO OUR MEMBERS AND TO OUR GUESTS AND TO OUR VISITORS THAT COME AND PLAY WITH US.
ALSO, I WANT TO MENTION THAT CURRENTLY AT THE MARINA, THE INTENTION WOULD BE TO RECYCLE ALL OF THE TIMBERS THAT PRESENTLY SURROUND THOSE TWO MARINA COURTS, 600 LINEAR FEET AND APPLY THOSE TO WHATEVER OPTION MIGHT BE, CHOSEN.
WE'RE VERY COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT WE CAN RECYCLE THOSE TIMBERS FOR USE IN OUR NEW FACILITY, THE NEW COURTS.
AT THIS POINT? I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU GUYS FOR QUESTIONS.
>> WHAT I LIKE TO DO RIGHT NOW IS I HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO TALK, MR. ABBOTT.
I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THEM UP TO THE PODIUM NOW AND THEN IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE.
>> I SIGNED THE CASE I WOULD BE MEANING TO TALK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
I'M REALLY INTERESTED MORE IN YOUR REACTION BEFORE OFFERING ANY COMMENTS BECAUSE THAT WAS THE MOST PREDOMINANT [INAUDIBLE] WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
>> YOU ARE HOPING I WAS GOING TO LET YOU OFF THE FRED PUGH 1552 RUSKIN LANE.
JOHN'S PRESENTATION WAS THOROUGH. I THINK IT COVERED IT.
THE ONLY ONE POINT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS, WE HAVE 16 COURTS AT THE MARINA.
WE'RE TRYING TO REPLACE THE 16 COURTS.
IF WE GO TO A PLACE THAT'S ALL SUN AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO PLAY IN THE SUMMER IN CENTRAL PARK ON THE CURRENT COURTS WITHOUT RENOVATION, THEN THAT'S A VIABLE SOLUTION.
BUT IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE CENTRAL PARK COURTS IMMEDIATELY, THEN WE'RE GOING TO NEED A SHADE STRUCTURE.
BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS REPLACE 16 SONNY COURTS WITH 16 SONNY COURTS THAT MEET THE FEDERATION REQUIREMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PUGH. PAUL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP?
>> HI. GOOD EVENING, PAUL 11 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.
I ALWAYS LIKE LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION AND THEN HEARING WHAT CERTAIN PEOPLE SAY.
I KNOW BOARD MEMBER, MICHELA HAD A REALLY GOOD POINT WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT DIVERSITY IN THIS COMMUNITY, AS FAR AS SPORTS IS CONCERNED.
IT'S TREMENDOUS ON HOW THAT VALUE IS SO ENRICHED HERE IN FERNANDINA.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY, THE SKATEBOARD COMMUNITY, THE SERF COMMUNITY, YOU LOOK ALSO AT THE BETANCOURT COMMUNITY.
FOR FOLKS THAT WANT TO GET INVOLVED, THERE'S SO MANY CHOICES THAT ARE THERE.
HOWEVER, IT NEEDS THE SUPPORT, OF OUR CITY.
I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY, LOOKING AT YOU ALL AT THE BOARD WHEN I'M SITTING BACK THERE, THAT THE VOICE OF JOHN, OUR PRESIDENT WAS HEARD, GREAT PRESENTATION, WELL CAPTURED.
I THINK YOU'LL FIND A WAY OF DEFINITELY SUPPORTING THE BEST OUTCOME.
THE ONLY THING THAT I WANT TO ADD AS FAR AS VALUE TO THE PRESENTATION IS A SIGNIFICANT KEY IN ANY SPORT IS VISIBILITY.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WHEN VISITORS COME, NOT ONLY DO THEY LOOK TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, IT GIVES THEM THE FEEDBACK OF WOW, LOOK AT THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY'VE GOT PICKLEBALL, THEY'VE GOT SURFING, THEY'VE GOT KAYAKING, OUTRIGGER CANOEING, WHATEVER IT MAY BE PÉTANQUE, BUT IT GIVES THEM A SENSE OF ALL THE MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT THERE'S SO MANY AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES.
THE OTHER THING IT DOES WHEN WE PLACE THE COURTS IN A HIGHLY VISIBILITY AREA, TOO, IS JUST LIKE WITH SKATEBOARDING, I'M SURE PAUL HAS UPLIFTED OTHER CHILDREN THAT HAVE HAD THE AVAILABILITY TO WATCH HER.
I KNOW WHEN WE PLAY DOWN AT THE MARINA, AND EVEN WHEN WE PLAY AT CENTRAL PARK,
[00:30:01]
WHEN FAMILIES ARE WALKING BY, THEY SEE, THEY QUESTION, AND THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT IS THIS? IT'S THE AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, THIS IS PÉTANQUE AND THIS IS WHAT PÉTANQUE IS ABOUT.AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO CHAMPION OUR SPORT. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE ANOTHER GENTLEMAN, JAMES WINDSOR.
>> THANK YOU. COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JAMES WINDSOR.
I WAS THE PRESIDENT PRIOR TO JOHN FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS OF THE CLUB, AND ONLY A LITTLE ILLNESS TOOK ME OUT OF COMMISSION.
BUT THIS IS THE ONLY SPORT IN PARKS AND RECREATION AROUND WHETHER IT BE YOUTH OR IT BE ADULT THAT DOESN'T COST ANY MONEY.
WE MAINTAIN EVERYTHING OURSELVES.
WE PUT ON THE INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT THAT BRINGS IN, ACCORDING TO THE TDC, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DOWNTOWN, AND YET WE'RE THE STEP CHILD.
WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU ALL COULD DO TO KEEP US GOING.
YOU MAY QUESTION THE SIZE OF THE CLUB OR BE THE LARGEST CLUB IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE DON'T GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO PROMOTE IT, BECAUSE OUR MEMBERS PRETTY MUCH FILL THE AREA THAT WE HAVE.
YOU HAVE ISSUES IN PICKLEBALL AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS.
PEOPLE ARE WAITING AND THEY GET DISCOURAGED AND EVERYTHING.
WE DON'T DISCOURAGE ANYBODY, BUT WE DON'T GO PUTTING ADS OUT AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
AGAIN, BECAUSE OF OUR VALUE TO THE CITY, TO SENIORS, ESPECIALLY, MOST OF OUR MEMBERS ARE AGED.
[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] HEY SORRY, I'M GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THAT SATURDAY.
BUT REALLY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THOSE WHO CAN'T PLAY PICKLEBALL ANYMORE OR ANYTHING, PÉTANQUE IS THE PERFECT SPORT FOR THEM.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO CONTINUE OUR EXISTENCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WOULD YOU FOR THE RECORD, GIVE YOUR HOME ADDRESS?
9-6-5-7-9 MACARTHUR ESTATES DRIVE, FERNANDINA. THANK YOU ALL.
>> NOW YOU'RE TALKING. [LAUGHTER] I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE ANY AGING PERSON THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME AND ANY YOUTH THAT WOULD LIKE TO TALK AT THIS.
>> I'VE BEEN CALLED MANY THINGS BY MANY PEOPLE.
CHIP ROSS 210 NORTH THIRD STREET.
I HAVE BELONGED TO THIS PÉTANQUE CLUB FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THAT I'VE LIVED HERE.
THE OPTION IS TO LEAVE IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
IT IS THE MOST INEXPENSIVE OPTION.
IS WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED AS PART OF THE WATERFRONT PLAQUE WAS TO LEAVE THE PÉTANQUE COURTS JUST AS THEY ARE.
I MAY BE SPEAKING OUT OF TERM, BUT I THINK THEY WOULD BE HAPPY WITH THAT.
THERE'S NO OTHER MONEY INVOLVED.
BUT THAT IDEA WAS DROWNED OUT BY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD THINK ABOUT THAT OPTION BECAUSE THE SHADE STRUCTURE YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS $200,000.
YOU'RE TALKING A LOT OF MONEY FOR A LOT OF THINGS.
THE MOST PLAYING IN THE WINTERTIME AT CENTRAL PARK AT THE MARINA AND SUMMERTIME AT CENTRAL PARK WORKS WELL.
IT HAS WORKED WELL FOR AT LEAST 10, 12 YEARS TO ME AND SO 17 YEARS HAS WORKED WELL AND IT WORKED WELL.
THIS GROUP DID NOT GET UP AT ALL THOSE MEETINGS AND COMPLAIN.
THEN THEY BEEN PUSHED OUT NOW.
I WOULD THINK THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER LEAVING THINGS AS THEY ARE AND MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION AS A RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU.
[00:35:02]
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL JUMP IN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S GOOD TO SEE.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BRADLEY BEAN 211 HERBERT DOUGLAS DRIVE.
AND I JUST HAVE THREE REAL QUICK POINTS FOR EVERYBODY. THREE REAL QUICK POINTS.
POINT NUMBER ONE IS THAT IF YOU WERE FOLLOWING ANY OF THOSE MEETINGS, YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT I DEFINITELY PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS, ANYTHING WE POSSIBLY COULD DO TO KEEP THOSE COURTS DOWN THERE.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER ROSS AND I DON'T NORMALLY AGREE ON THINGS.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE CAME TOGETHER ON THAT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MUSCLE TO KEEP THOSE THINGS DOWN THERE, BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO DOING 100%.
THAT IS NUMBER 1, COMPLETE MITIGATION OF THESE COURTS.
WE NEED TO FIND 16 NEW LOCATIONS.
MR. ABBOTT HAD SOME EXCELLENT SPOTS TO PUT THEM THAT.
I THINK MR. GLISSON IS GOING TO BE BRINGING FORWARD SOME OPTIONS TO THE COMMISSION SOON, BUT WE HAVE COMPLETE MITIGATION OF THOSE COURTS.
NUMBER 2, YOU HAVE MY FULL COMMITMENT TO KEEPING THE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT AT THE WATERFRONT, WHERE I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE.
WHEN I SAW A PLAN OF HOW THE COURTS COULD BE CONFIGURED, YOU STILL CAN FIT 60 REGULATION COURTS WITHIN THE PARKING LOT AS DESIGNED.
WITH THAT IN MIND, I KNOW IT'S NOT A FULL 72 COURTS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT STILL IS ENOUGH TO HAVE THAT ANNUAL TOURNAMENT DOWN AT THE WATERFRONT, WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE, AND I HOPE WE CAN HAVE THAT THERE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
WITH THOSE TWO THINGS IN MIND, YOU HAVE MY FULL COMMITMENT TO COMPLETE REBUILDING THESE COURTS BETTER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE, HOPEFULLY, AND THEN NUMBER 2, KEEPING THIS TOURNAMENT RIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
THAT'S SOMETHING I BELIEVE IN, BUT AGAIN, I'M ONLY ONE PERSON AS WELL, AS YOU SAW THERE WERE ONLY TWO VOTES TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE COURTS WHERE THEY WERE.
YOU GOT OUR SUPPORT, AND I BELIEVE WE'LL GET THIS THING DONE.
KEEP IN FULL MITIGATION, TOURNAMENT RIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I COMMUNICATE TO YOU GUYS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR PARKS AND REC BOARD ON THIS.
I APPRECIATE ALL GOOD WORK AS ALWAYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GENE P 15 52 RUSKIN LANE, FERNANDINA BEACH.
THE ONLY COMMENT I'M GOING TO MAKE AND I KNOW THOSE OF YOU I'VE WORKED ON THE BOARD WITH BEFORE HAVE HEARD THESE.
I PULLED CENSUS DATA, AND IN THE 2023 JULY 1 UPDATE, 36% OF THE CITY RESIDENTS ARE OVER 65.
IF TAKE A DIVE DEEPER INTO THE DATA, AND YOU BRING IT DOWN TO 60.
WHETHER THAT'S GOOD OR BAD, THAT IS AN INDIVIDUAL DECISION.
MY POINT IS, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON NOT JUST THIS BOARD, BUT THE CITY, MR. MAYOR, TO PROVIDE A FACILITY THAT CATERS TO THIS GROUP.
WE HAVE, AND I AM NOT ANTI YOUTH SPORT.
I WAS A GIRL SCOUT LEADER, I WAS A PLAYGROUND INSTRUCTOR.
I HAVE A LIST OF ALL OUR FACILITIES IN OUR PARKS, AND IT'S JUST LOADED, BASEBALL FIELD, SOCCER FIELD, L LACROSSE FIELD, HOCKEY FIELD, ETC, AND THAT'S GREAT, BECAUSE AS YOU'VE MADE THE POINT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.
WE'RE ABOUT DIVERSITY OF OPTIONS.
BUT THE FACT THAT IT WOULD EVEN BE CONSIDERED NOT TO REPLACE THESE COURTS, I FIND TO BE UNCONSCIONABLE, BECAUSE THIS IS A GROUP THAT YOU'RE TAKING A FACILITY AWAY FROM.
I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER GROUP WOULD TOLERATE THAT.
I DON'T THINK BASEBALL WOULD, I DON'T THINK SKATEBOARD WOULD.
WHY WE ARE HERE ASKING IS REALLY FOR YOU TO HELP FIND A PLACE.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE IT IS SOMETHING TO SAY, PLEASE HELP US GET COURTS, HELP US FIND A PLACE.
THIS COURT I GUESS FROM TALKING.
I'M NEW TO THIS BECAUSE I JUST GOT INTO IT THIS YEAR.
BUT THE CLUB HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS. WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT ADDRESSES AND OVER HALF THE CLUB, OUR CITY RESIDENTS.
YOU ARE SERVING A MAJOR PORT PORTION OF THIS.
AS I SAID, I'M NOT IN ANY WAY ANTI YOUTH, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF HERE FOR THE 11% OF THE POPULATION THAT'S UNDER 18.
AS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION, I THINK WE DESERVE TO HAVE THIS BE CONSIDERED A FAIRLY REQUIRED AND NECESSARY ADDITION.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO IN YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER? THANK YOU. OH, JOHN.
>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY IF THERE ARE ANY INITIAL QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM, OR I CAN POP BACK UP HERE AS NEEDED.
[00:40:02]
>> SCOTT, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL AND YOU WANT TO ADD BEFORE WE ASK FOR QUESTIONS?
>> NO, I THINK BASICALLY WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS AT THIS POINT, WE CAN MOVE ON BECAUSE WE DID PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AS A DISCUSSION ITEM FOR 6.1, I BELIEVE IT IS ON OUR AGENDA OR I'M SORRY, 7.1.
WHY DON'T WE JUST MOVE TO THAT, I'LL MAKE SOME STATEMENTS REGARDING THIS AND THEN AT THAT POINT, IF THERE IS ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT, THEY CAN BE A PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN THEN FOLLOWED BY BOARD MEMBERS.
IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU, CHAIR.
[7.1. Petanque]
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DEFINITELY SUPPORTS PATONG, AND WANTS TO MITIGATE THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE FACILITY FOR THEM.
I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO REALLY AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THIS.
I WANTED TO THANK MR. ABBOTT, AND I WANTED TO THANK MR. PUG. WE DID MEET.
MONTHS LEADING UP TO THIS PRESENTATION.
THEY WERE VERY OPEN, AND WE HAD SOME GREAT DISCUSSIONS, AND WE WERE TRYING TO FIND OR PROVIDE THE BEST OPTIONS TO PRESENT TO YOU AND THEN MOVE FORWARD TO THE COMMISSION THE BEST LOCATIONS OR THE POSSIBILITY OF THE BEST LOCATIONS, SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU TO FOR WORKING WITH ME.
TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION FROM THIS PRESENTATION AND ALSO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I WILL MAKE.
THEN AT THAT POINT, JEREMIAH AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, WE'LL BE TAKING THIS TO THE COMMISSION TO PRESENT TO THEM SOME OF THESE OPTIONS TO MOVE FORWARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT.
BASICALLY, WE SAW THE LOCATIONS IN IN KATIE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF YOU COULD JUST GO TO CENTRAL PARK AND THEN ALSO WE'LL MOVE DOWN TO TO JOE VELARDI.
WITH EVERY LOCATION, THERE COMES CHALLENGES.
ANYTIME WE WANT TO CHANGE SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN HERE, THERE'S ALWAYS ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WORK THROUGH.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THAT.
ONE THING WITH THIS LOCATION, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT TO ACTUALLY CENTRAL PARK AND LOOK AT THIS IS RIGHT HERE, THESE LINES.
THEY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE UNDER THE TREE.
IF YOU IF YOU DON'T MIND GOING TO THE NEXT ONE AND THAT SLIDE, THIS OPTION, ESPECIALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S UNDERNEATH THE TREE.
PART OF IT IS, HOWEVER, THERE'S A IT REALLY DOES PUSH OUT INTO THE OPEN SPACE OF CENTRAL PARK.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT USE CENTRAL PARK.
I JUST WANTED YOU AS A COMMITTEE TO BE AWARE OF THAT IS THE PICTURE DOES LOOK LIKE IT'S UNDERNEATH THE TREE, AND YES, IT IS.
BUT IT DOES PUSH OUT INTO THE GREEN SPACE A DECENT AMOUNT.
>> THAT'S THE TOP RECTANGLE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS ONE REALLY LOOKS LIKE IT'S UNDER THE TREE.
BUT JUST THE WAY IT IS IS IT COMES OUT.
IT ACTUALLY GOES OUT INTO THE GREEN SPACE.
>> FIFTY-FIFTY, HALF OF IT OBVIOUSLY UNDERNEATH AND THEN OUT INTO THE GREEN SPACE.
I JUST I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.
OUR COMMUNITY LOVES OUR GREEN SPACE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, YOU'LL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MAKING A DECISION ON THAT.
AT CENTRAL PARK, AS MR. ABBOTT SAID, THERE WOULDN'T BE A NEED FOR A SHADE STRUCTURE AT JOE VELARDI.
YES, THE SHADE STRUCTURE THAT THEY WERE SHOWING ON THE SLIDE IS ABOUT $200,000.
THERE ARE CONCRETE POLES THAT ARE EXISTING AT JOE VELARDI, WHERE I'M NOT I'M NOT DEFINITE ON THIS, BUT WE COULD LOOK AT PROVIDING SOME OTHER SHADE STRUCTURE AND WORK WITH THE GROUP TO SEE IF WE CAN MEET THOSE NEEDS.
[00:45:03]
THERE'S EXISTING CONCRETE POLES WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY LOOK AT SAIL SHADES.THOSE ARE JUST THEY'RE JUST OPTIONS.
A LOT OF OUR EXISTING SHADE STRUCTURES WE'RE CLOSE TO THE BEACH.
THEY RUST, THEY'RE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.
I BELIEVE THERE'S OPTIONS FOR A A CHEAPER ROUTE.
THEN CENTRAL PARK IS IT'S CENTRAL PARK.
ANYTIME WE THINK ABOUT CHANGING CENTRAL PARK, THERE'S A THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF ISSUES, AND MORE SO IS THERE'S A LOT OF EVENTS THERE.
THERE'S MORE EVENTS THERE THAN WOULD BE AT JOE VELARDI.
ACTUALLY, BOTH LOCATIONS DO BOTH LOCATIONS AFFECT THE USE SPORT ORGANIZATIONS SLIGHTLY.
FOOTBALL PRACTICES AT CENTRAL PARK IN THIS AREA, THERE'S ACTUALLY A LIGHT POLE RIGHT HERE, SO THEY PRACTICE RIGHT THERE AND BASEBALL PRACTICES AT JOE VELARDI.
I DO BELIEVE THAT JOE VELARDI FIELD, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, WOULD AFFECT THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
BUT ALSO, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER WE PUT IN A NEW SOFTBALL FIELD AT PECK FIELD.
WE ALSO ARE WORKING AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING RECREATION CENTER FOR ADJUSTING THOSE EXISTING SOFTBALL FIELDS.
THERE'S ANOTHER SMALL PRACTICE FIELD THAT'S THERE. WE'RE WORKING.
I'M WORKING WITH JEREMIAH AND CHARLIE ON FIXING UP BOTH OF THOSE FIELDS, PROVIDING LIGHTS FOR ADDITIONAL PRACTICES AT THAT LOCATION.
ALSO, BABE RUTH IS ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT USE JOE VELARDI AS THIS PRACTICE FACILITY.
AFTER TALKING TO THEM, I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE THE EXISTING FIELDS THAT THEY WOULD NOT NEED TO USE THIS AS A PRACTICE FIELD.
I BASICALLY THOSE ARE MY FEW POINTS THAT I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF.
I'LL BE HERE TO ASK QUESTIONS, ANSWER QUESTIONS, I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE THEM FOR ME.
I GUESS AT THIS POINT, YOU GUYS CAN IF YOU DON'T MIND, HAVE YOUR BACK AND FORTH CONVERSATION, AND I'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE REST OF THE BOARD HAS TO SAY.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE CENTRAL PARK LOCATION JUST BECAUSE OF VISIBILITY AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DOING STUFF THERE, BUT THAT'S AN INITIAL IMPRESSION.
>> I HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING A RECOMMENDATION ON THE CENTRAL PARK LOCATION BASED ON AFTER HEARING FROM YOU SAYING, IT TAKES UP MORE SPACE THAN IT LOOKS LIKE, BECAUSE PARTICULARLY WITH THESE LITTLE MAPS, YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL EXACTLY WHERE LIKE THE PLAYGROUND IN GAZEBO IS TO SEE.
IDEALLY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND WALK THIS WITH YOU, SCOTT TO SEE EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO SO WE CAN GET AN IDEA OF THAT FOOTPRINT.
AT FIRST, I REALLY LIKED THE IDEA OF CENTRAL PARK, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF THE SPACE THAT'S USED FOR ALL THE EVENTS CAUSE I DO GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WITH THAT.
WITH THE JOE VELARDI, SO THAT WOULD BE WOULD YOU BE TAKING DOWN, LIKE THE BASEBALL FENCE AND THE DUGOUTS AND EVERYTHING?
>> WE WOULD KEEP THE DUGOUTS FOR SHADE.
SOME OF THE FENCING WOULD BE REMOVED.
>> WOULD IT BE A PASS FIELD FOR ANY OF THE OTHER FOR BASEBALL AT ALL ANYMORE?
>> NOW, GRANTED, THEY ARE JUST REMOVING THE, WE WOULD BE TAKING UP THE CLAY THAT IS EXISTING THERE.
WE COULD, FOR THE TIME BEING, IS KEEP THE FENCE THAT RUNS ALONG JEAN LAFITTE, AND THEY COULD USE THE OUTFIELD FOR.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY OTHER I MEAN, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF OTHER SPACE THERE TO DO SOMETHING OR IF IT'S JUST GOING TO BECOME GREEN SPACE NOW OR WHAT THE IDEA WAS WITH THAT.
[00:50:03]
>> I MEAN, IT COULD PROVIDE US THE OPTION TO PLANT MANY TREES THERE AS WELL AND TURN IT INTO SOME PASSIVE PARK, TOO.
>> TO ANSWER ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS THAT YOU, IT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE IT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE PLAYGROUND.
>> IT WILL NOT AFFECT THE PLAYGROUND.
IT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE GAZEBO.
A LARGE PORTION OF THE GREEN SPACE WILL REMAIN THERE.
>> I WALKED IT WHEN I TALK I'LL TELL YOU TO POINTS TO THAT AS WELL.
>> I MEAN, JUST ON THESE MAPS, IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT, BUT IT'S HARD TO SEE WHAT OUT THE REFERENCE TO EVERYTHING OVER THERE.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CLUB FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT WAS VERY NICE.
SECONDLY, IT'S VERY INTERESTING YOU HAVE THREE LOCATIONS OF CENTRAL PARK AND ONE IN VELARDI, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR FAVORED CHOICE.
WHICH LOCATION IS THE FAVORED CHOICE OF THE CLUB? [BACKGROUND] YOU OPEN.
>> WE ANTICIPATED THAT QUESTION.
AT THE RISK OF NOT BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THIS CLUB TOMORROW.
[BACKGROUND] IF JOE VELARDI FIELD TURNS OUT TO BE THE BEST OPTION FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD STANDPOINT, WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT.
BUT WE MUST BE IN AGREEMENT THAT AT SOME POINT, A SIGNIFICANT SHADE ELEMENT CAN BE PROVIDED OVER 6-8 OF THOSE COURTS.
UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THAT SHADE ELEMENT IS ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY IN PLACE, THAT THE COURTS ARE 12 EXISTING COURTS AT CENTRAL PARK UNRENOVATED WOULD REMAIN SO WE CAN USE THEM FOR SUMMER PLAY.
THAT IN OUR NUTSHELL IS THE ANSWER.
>> IN ESSENCE, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.
WE HAVE 16 COURTS IN THE SUN AND OLD COURTS THAT AREN'T REGULATION IN RACH BECAUSE THE SUMMER POPULATION OF THE CLUB DECLINES BECAUSE OF THE HEAT.
IF YOU JUST GIVE US 16 COURTS IN THE SUN, THAT WORKS.
BUT AS EVERYBODY SAID, YOU HEARD UNANIMOUSLY, WE PREFER THE 16 COURTS IN THE SUN WE HAVE TODAY.
>> YES, I DO. MR. JOHN ABBOTT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION.
FRED PUGH, I HEARD YOU REPLACE THE 16.
PAUL LORE HAD SOMETHING GREAT TO SAY WHEN HE SAID ABOUT THE VISIBILITY AND HAVING THE AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK HAVING IT DOWN CLOSE TO CENTRAL PARK TO ME IS WHAT I WOULD GO WITH.
I THINK THE SHADES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE.
I THINK MR. JAMES, WHEN HE SAID THAT THERE'S NO MONEY FOR THIS.
IT'S THE ONLY SPORT THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING AND I REALLY LIKED THAT.
CHIP ROW SAID IT, IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
I LIKE THAT. WE HAVE WORLD CLASS TOURNAMENTS HERE.
I THINK A $200,000 SHADE TO ME AND USING THE JOE VELARDI FIELD WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND.
I LIKE THE CHEAPER ROUTE TO GO THAT ROUTE THAT WAS SAID.
I THINK OPTION A OR B WOULD BE THE SELECTION THAT I WOULD DO ONLY BECAUSE ON OPTION A, YOU'RE STILL IN THE SAME AREA.
I THINK THE THE ISSUE WITH THAT IS CLOSE TO THE TREES, WHICH MAKES SENSE TO ME.
I THINK THAT'S WHY IF I HAD TO CHOOSE, I WOULD CHOOSE OPTION B, IF I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION RIGHT NOW, I THINK GOING TO VELARDI FIELD.
[00:55:01]
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY BEHIND VELARDI FIELD, AND WHEN IT COMES TO BASEBALL, A LOT OF KIDS, A LOT OF ADULTS.THAT'S WHERE THEY STARTED PLAYING.
TO ME, THAT PARTICULAR FIELD WOULD NOT IT'S HOLLOW GROUND TO SOME OF THESE ADULTS WHO PLAYED THERE.
I THINK THE OPTION BY STAYING IN CENTRAL PARK, AND LIKE MR. PAUL SAID, THE VISIBILITY WHEN YOU ARE WALKING BY, YOU HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RECRUIT PEOPLE WHO JUST WHAT ARE THEY DOING OVER THERE? LET'S GO CHECK THAT OUT, AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN DO IT.
THE VISIBILITY AT THE SKATE PARK.
WALKING BY, HEY, LET'S STOP AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK THE VISIBILITY BEING AT CENTRAL PARK, TAKE IT UP JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A SPACE AND THAT WE COULD PUT FOOD TRUCKS ON STILL, THAT'S WHAT I OVERHEARD.
WE COULD STILL PUT FOOD TRUCKS ON THERE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EVENT IN CENTRAL PARK, YOU CAN STILL BE USED.
I QUESTIONED THE SCHEDULING OF WHEN A FOOD TRUCK CAN BE ON THERE.
YOU KNOW HOW YOU GUYS WOULD TRY TO SCHEDULE WITH THE CITY AND SPECIAL EVENTS?
>> YOU'D HAVE TO GET UP TO THE PODIUM.
>> YOU WANT ME TO GIVE MY ADDRESS AGAIN?
>> FRED PUG 15/52 RUSKIN LANE.
IN MY OPINION, I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO SPEAK FOR THE CLUB, AT THIS POINT.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
THE PEOPLE THAT WE PLAY WITH ARE THE MOST ACCOMMODATING PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE.
AGAIN, WE'RE ACCOMMODATING WITH SAYING, OH, YOU CAN PARK ON IT.
I DON'T HEAR ANYBODY SAYING LET'S PARK ON A TENNIS COURT, ON A BALL FIELD, ON A PICKLE BALL COURT.
I THINK WE NEED 16 REGULATION COURTS THAT ARE MAINTAINED INTO PRISTINE FASHION, THE WAY WE TRY TO MAINTAIN OTHER THINGS.
IN MY OPINION, WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE TOO MUCH. COULD IT HAPPEN? YEAH, I CAN HAPPEN, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT SACRIFICE.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A CONFLICT OF IT'S A FOOD TRUCK DAY, AND WE CAN'T PLAY.
>> I HEAR YOU, AND I APPRECIATE THAT RESPONSE.
I AM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT. I REALLY AM.
I JUST HEARD MR. JOHN ABBOTT WAS THE ONE WHO HAD THAT.
HE'S THE ONE THAT YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO WHEN I COME TO THAT.
[BACKGROUND] IF HE'S THE ONE WHO MENTIONED THE FOOD TRUCK, AND I WAS JUST SAYING IF THERE WAS AN EVENT, THEN YOU COULD DO WHAT HE SAID.
THAT'S ALL I WAS DOING. I'M IN ACCORDS WITH YOU.
YOU SHOULD KEEP SOMETHING PRISTINE.
WE WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE A FOOD TRUCK ON A TENNIS COURT OR A SKATE PARK.
THE SCHEDULING OF THAT, HAVING TO MAKE A SCHEDULE OF WHEN EVENTS ARE HAPPENING IN CENTRAL PARK, WILL THERE BE A FENCE AROUND THIS PARTICULAR AREA TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING? SOMEBODY TAKING THAT PRISTINE LOOK AND DAMAGING IT.
IS A FENCE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PUT UP IN THE COST OF OFFENSE?
>> YEAH, CAN YOU HERE THAT BACK THERE.
>> TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS, WALLY, IS THAT AT CENTRAL PARK, NO, THERE WOULD NOT BE A FENCE.
ALSO, AT CENTRAL PARK, BOTH LOCATIONS IS WE DO HAVE EXISTING EVENTS THAT HAPPEN AT CENTRAL PARK WHERE ITEMS WOULD BE PLACED ON IT WOULDN'T BE A REGULAR OCCURRENCE.
BUT I CAN THINK OF ONE EVENT RIGHT NOW A TOP OF MY HEAD AS ISLAND HOP, OR EVENTS THAT HAVE AND MAINLY ON THE WESTERN PARK OF CENTRAL PARK IS WHERE THEY WOULD SET UP A STAGE.
THAT'S WHERE THE STAGE NORMALLY GOES AT CENTRAL PARK.
THE EVENTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE THERE, THE MAJORITY OF THEM WILL HAVE A STAGE RIGHT ON THE WESTERN PART.
YES, THEY'RE ON THE WEEKENDS, AND I DO BELIEVE THE GROUP PLAYS ON SATURDAY MORNINGS AS ONE OF THEIR BIG MORNINGS, AND THEY PLAY EVERY DAY, TOO, SO IT WOULD BE AFFECTED ON THAT.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, IT WOULD BE PATON.
BUT WE WOULD HAVE EVENTS THAT WOULD BE ON THERE.
AS YOU KNOW, WITH ISLAND HOP, IT'S JUST ONE EVENT IS A LOT OF THAT STUFF GETS WHERE DOES EVERYONE WANT TO GO?
[01:00:04]
THEY WANT TO GO INTO THE SHADE.THERE WOULD BE TIMES WHERE ITEMS WOULD BE ON THERE.
I JUST WANTED TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
>> LET ME JUST FINISH UP REAL QUICK.
I KNOW PART OF THE BUDGET THAT WE HAD MENTIONED.
I'M NOT SURE OF THE NUMBER, BUT WAS IT 500,000 IN TREES? IS THAT ONE TIME THEY HAD MENTIONED? IF WE DO HAVE SOMETHING BEING PUT UP THAT WE CAN PUT TREES UP TO AFFORD THESE SHADE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
>> I HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT 500,000 FOR TREES.
>> I FIGURED SOME OF THAT CAN GO TO PUTTING IT CLOSE TO PATON.
FOR THE SHADE, BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT'S PRETTY HUGE.
GENE, I DID HEAR YOU WHEN YOU SAID ABOUT THE 44% OF OUR GROUP.
I SAID OUR GROUP BECAUSE I'M IN THERE WITH YOU GUYS.
WE ARE AGING GROUP HERE, AND 11% THAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE YOUTH SPORTS.
A LOT OF THOSE YOUTH SPORTS ARE DWINDLING BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF KIDS THAT ARE NOT IN OUR ISLAND.
A LOT OF MOVING OUT TO WILDLIFE AND TO LEE AREA.
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THERE IS SO MANY THINGS FOR THE YOUTH, AS WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT MORE YOUTH TO OUR ISLAND.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OLD FOLKS IN THIS ISLAND, AND I'M ONE OF THEM. BUT YES.
I THINK OPTION B OR A IS WHAT I WOULD GO WITH IF I HAD TO VOTE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME ONE SECOND.
I'D LIKE TO BRING UP JEREMIAH, OUR INTERN CITY MANAGER TO YOU GIVE A FEW REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, JEREMY GLISSON, INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THERE IS NO FORM OF GOVERNMENT AFFECTS YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE MORE THAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING QUIET AND THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND BEING SEEN AND BEING HEARD, SO THAT MEANS A LOT.
BE ON THIS SIDE OF GOVERNMENT SECTOR, WE DON'T HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHEN WE NEED TO, AND YOU'RE HERE.
WE HOPE THIS CONTINUES, AND HOPE TO SEE SOME OF YOU AT THE AUGUST 6 COMMISSION MEETING.
THAT'S WHERE WE PLAN TO TAKE THE PROPOSAL FOR WHAT'S DECIDED HERE TONIGHT TO THE COMMISSION, BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO DO SOMETHING QUICKLY.
GOVERNMENT'S NOT VERY NIMBLE, SO I'M TRYING TO MAKE THAT RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE GOAL IS CONSTRUCTION ON THE WATERFRONT PARK IS SCHEDULED TO START SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER.
WE'VE MADE IT CLEAR IN THE PLANS IN THE SCOPE OF WORK, THE AMELIA OPEN EVENT THAT'S COMING AND THAT CONSTRUCTION NEED TO WORK AROUND THAT SO THAT EVENT CAN STILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR.
OUR GOAL IS TO LET'S NOT HAVE A.
LET'S HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE HERE THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THAT'S THE INTENT IS TO GO AHEAD AND GET CONSTRUCTION DONE ON THE NEW COURTS, WHEREVER THEY MIGHT BE.
I WILL SAY MY GUIDANCE TO THE BOARD IS YOUR DECISION, OF COURSE, AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OR TWO, MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS TO TAKE THIS COMMISSION HERE AUGUST 6, THERE'D BE SOME DISAGREEMENT.
LET'S GO BACK TO PRAT. WE DON'T WANT THE BACK AND FORTH, BECAUSE I CAN'T GET ANYTHING DONE.
MAYBE A RECOMMENDATION OR TWO, LIKE A GOOD BETTER BEST TYPE THING.
I WILL SAY HAVING WATCHED ATTEMPTS OVER THE YEARS TO MAKE CHANGES WITHIN CENTRAL PARK, IT'S OUR PREMIER PARK.
I KNOW IT'S A VALUABLE SPACE, BUT IT IS MORE CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY IN THE HERITAGE TREES TO MAKE ANY CHANGE TO THE GREEN SPACE.
NOT SAYING IT CAN'T BE DONE, BUT I FORESEE MORE CHALLENGES THERE, THAT ROUTE THAN VELARDI FIELD.
AS MEMBER BERIRO JUST MENTIONED THE TREE FUND, YEAH, WE GOT MONEY THERE.
TO USE NOT ONLY FOR THE WATERFRONT PARK, BUT TO USE ELSEWHERE OR ADD TREES.
OF COURSE, THAT SHADE IS NOT IMMEDIATE, SO THERE'D HAVE TO BE DONE SOMETHING IN THE INTERIM.
BUT YEAH, PUT TREES THERE AT VELARDI FIELD WOULD DEFINITELY HELP, AND THAT WOULD BE A LONG TERM SOLUTION.
THE GOAL ONCE AGAIN, IS I WANT TO TAKE SOME TO THE COMMISSION AUGUST 6 AND JUST NOT ONLY THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION BASED OFF OF YOUR RECOMMENDATION, BUT ALSO PROPOSALS SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND BUY MATERIAL AND GET SOMETHING IN PLACE THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND AS SOON AS THAT TOURNAMENTS DONE, THEN WE CAN REPURPOSE TIMBERS, AS MR. ABBOTT MENTIONED, AND MOVE THEM OVER THERE, AND WE'LL BE IN PLAY.
I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TURNOUT, AND LET'S TRY TO GET SOMETHING SOONER THAN LATER.
[01:05:01]
>> JUST REAL QUICK. I DO HAVE TO LEAVE SOON.
OPTION A THAT SQUARE IS AN EXISTING TERRAIN, RIGHT?
>> SHAPE RIGHT HERE IS EXISTING WITH OPTION A OR OPTION B.
THEY ACTUALLY WILL BE EXPANDING IT A LITTLE BIT REGARDLESS.
>> THAT WAS BASICALLY MY QUESTION.
I DO HAVE TO LEAVE, BUT I'M HAPPY.
THIS IS A REALLY AMAZING AND THOUGHTFUL BOARD.
I'M HAPPY TO GO WITH WHATEVER THE BOARD DECIDES.
I NEED BE, I'LL MEET WITH SCOTT SEPARATELY.
BUT I'VE GOT FAMILY IN TOWN AND I HAVE TO LEAVE IN ABOUT 3 MINUTES.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY FED A SECOND?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING HERE.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST PEOPLE WE'VE EVER HAD, SO THANK YOU.
SECOND OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I SPENT A GOOD HOUR, MAYBE AN HOUR AND A HALF YESTERDAY WITH MR. ABBOTT OVER AT CENTRAL PARK LOOKING AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
I'VE CORRECTED PEOPLE ON HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT PROPERLY.
EVEN THOUGH I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT MYSELF.
I REALLY HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SO GRACIOUS TO ANSWER WHAT MUST SEEM LIKE A BUNCH OF RIDICULOUS THINGS.
ONE THING I DIDN'T HEAR YOU SAY THAT PEOPLE ON THE BOARD MAY NOT REALIZE IS THAT FOR EVERY EVENT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE, 16 COURTS IS ENOUGH.
BUT FOR THE BIG EVENT THAT HAPPENS IN OCTOBER, YOU NEED 90 COURTS.
OVERALL, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ALL THE TIME, WE NEED 16 COURTS, AND THERE'S JUST ONE TIME THAT WE NEED NOT AN INORDINATE, BUT A LARGE AMOUNT OF SPACE TO COVER YOUR BIG EVENT, WHICH IS A MONEY MAKER, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BRINGS REALLY COOL PEOPLE INTO OUR CITY FOR THE REST OF US TO ENJOY AND ALL OF THE THINGS, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PUBLICLY SAY, I FELT BADLY FOR YOU ALL WHEN THE CONVERSATION WAS AT THE MARINA AND THE WATERFRONT PARK THAT YOU WOULD BE FLEX SPACE.
WHAT I FELT LIKE IT WAS THAT YOU GUYS WOULD BE DISPLACED ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON THERE.
I SAID THEN THAT I WOULD RATHER SEE THE PATON MOVE FROM THE ARENA AND FOR YOU GUYS TO HAVE YOUR OWN SPACE THAT IS DEDICATED AND BUILT OUT TO THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL NEED AND THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT YOU NEED TO HOLD THAT EVENT.
I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL YESTERDAY THAT THE WHOLE THING WITH THE 90 COURTS AND UNDERSTANDING THE 60.
YESTERDAY, JOHN AND I WENT OUT AND HE SHOWED ME HE HAD IT ALL MARKED.
CAN WE LOOK AT WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THE VELARDI FIELD, NOT A FAN, IN ANY STRETCH OF IMAGINATION FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
I THINK A SHADE STRUCTURE OUT THERE OR EVEN TO PLANT TREES, THE LONGEVITY OF THAT, IT JUST DOESN'T DO THAT.
IT DISPLACES A SPORT THAT WE'RE ALREADY HAVE BEEN SHUFFLING AROUND IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
I'M NOT SURE IT DOESN'T SOLVE YOUR BIG PROBLEM TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
MY FAVORITE AFTER WALKING, WE WALKED ALL OF THE AREAS IS OPTION C. LET ME PULL UP ON MY P HERE.
THE SQUARES ARE VERY MISLEADING.
THIS RIGHT HERE, THIS LITTLE AREA HERE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT'S CURRENTLY A DRIVEWAY WHEN YOU GO INTO THE PARK AND THIS SQUARE ACTUALLY EXPANDS OVER TO HERE.
IT MAKES WHAT'S ALREADY THERE BIGGER AND I'M JUST CALLING THE STRIPS.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE PICTURE, EACH TERRAIN IS A LITTLE TOO SMALL NOW FOR WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE, SO THIS EXPANDS A LITTLE BIT.
>> WELL IN THIS SCHEME THAT TOP LINE STAYS WHERE IT IS.
>> YES. I ONLY EXPANDS TOWARD THE PARKING LOT.
>> THIS ONE, ALTHOUGH IT'S UNDER THE TREE, AND I WOULD HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HAVING OUR ARBORS LOOK AT WHAT IT LOOKED TO ME, I'M NOT AN ARBORS, BUT IT LOOKED TO ME FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM
[01:10:02]
THE TREE ROOTS THAT IT WOULDN'T DAMAGE THAT.I WOULD THINK IT'S REALLY ONLY THIS PART RIGHT HERE THAT SEEMS TO BE OUTSIDE, LIKE REALLY IN THE SUN.
THEN BOTH OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY SHADED IN REALLY NICE SPACES.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED ABOUT THE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT WE HAVE IS THAT THAT AREA IS TYPICALLY ALL OF FOOD TRUCKS ARE USUALLY ALONG ATLANTIC, NOT IN THAT AREA AT ALL.
WHAT IT IS IS PEOPLE JUST SITTING TO GET INTO THE SHADE.
I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF ACTIVITY DISRUPTING YOUR FIELDS AND YOUR TERRAIN, SORRY.
>> MESSING THAT UP. IT WOULDN'T BE LIKE IT WOULD BE A LOT OF DISTURBING.
OF COURSE, THE FEW TIMES WE HAVE THOSE EVENTS, YOU GUYS WOULD NEED TO ACQUIESCE, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU'RE AT THOSE EVENTS HAVING A GOOD TIME.
A LOT OF TIMES, I'VE NOTICED PEOPLE DIDN'T GO ON THOSE GRAVEL AREAS.
THEY WERE AROUND THEM BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE OUT PLAYING PATON.
I THINK THAT IT COULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
I EVEN SAID TO MR. ABBOTT, I WAS LIKE, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE A STEPCHILD.
MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT I THINK THAT YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE A DEDICATED SPACE, AND I WOULD EVEN LIKE TO SEE SOME PROGRAMMING POSSIBLY FROM PARKS AND REC ABOUT HOW TO INVOLVE YOUNGER PEOPLE.
MR. ABBOTT SAID THAT THERE ARE KIDS THAT DRIVE FROM JACKSONVILLE TO USE THESE COURTS.
I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING, AND I THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO ENJOY OUR COMMUNITY.
I WOULD SUPPORT CONTINUING TO HAVE IT AT CENTRAL PARK.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN PROBLEMATIC IN THE PAST.
BUT I THINK IF WE DO THIS IN A WAY THAT IS COMMUNICATIVE AND PROTECTING THE TREES BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS WANT, YOU WANT THE SHADE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PICK PLACE TO PLACE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE WEATHER IS TODAY ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO THERE, REALLY MAKE IT YOUR SPACE, AND ENJOY IT THAT WAY.
I SUPPORT OPTION C. I ALSO DON'T LIKE VELARDI BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS ARE MOVING AWAY FROM EVERYTHING.
I THINK EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE MORE OF THE, AND I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DIFFERENT TOURNAMENT NAMES, BUT ALL OF THE OTHER ONES, EXCEPT FOR THE FALL ONE, YOU'RE CLOSE TO SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS AND ABLE TO WALK TO SOME OF THAT, AND IT CONNECTS CENTER STREET BEYOND EIGHTH, SO WE'RE MOVING DOWN ATLANTIC AND INCORPORATING THAT SPACE.
I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR YOU GUYS THERE.
YOU OF COURSE HAVE BATHROOMS. PARKING IS ABUNDANT THERE FOR YOU ALL.
I THINK FROM AN EXPENSE PERSPECTIVE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS BUDGET DOLLARS OR WHAT THIS WOULD TAKE, BUT CERTAINLY HAVING A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL WHERE YOU'RE DOING THE MAINTENANCE AND HELPING OUT WITH THAT THAT OFFSETS AND MAKES THAT MORE AMENABLE AS WELL.
THE OTHER THING THAT I DID WANT TO SAY ABOUT WHEN WE DO HAVE THE TOURNAMENT, I UNDERSTAND THIS YEAR IS THE SAME, SINCE YOU GUYS ARE WORKING AROUND THE WATER PARK ISSUE WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S PARKS AND REC OR ALONG WITH THE CLUB TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO OTHER PLACES ACCOMMODATE THE 90 COURTS.
WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? [BACKGROUND] ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS, IS THERE A TEMPORARY WAY TO BRING THAT IN FOR THAT TOURNAMENT BECAUSE IT IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE CITY? I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM BEYOND PATON.
WHAT IS THE INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY AND WHAT DOES THAT BRING IN? HOW COULD WE ACCOMPLISH THAT IN A TEMPORARY SPACE FOR THAT EVENT SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN STILL HAVE THAT, AND WE CAN BRING THAT HERE.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING IS NOT AS IMMEDIATE.
THAT'S FOR NEXT OCTOBER, NEXT FALL, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING AROUND THE WATERFRONT AND YOUR OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR THIS YEAR.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT, HOW WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT TO KEEP THAT HERE. THAT'S MINE.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
[BACKGROUND] MR. ABBOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM?
>> EXCUSE ME, MR. ABBOTT. MR. ROSS.
[01:15:04]
>> FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE NO GOOD OPTIONS, TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT.
I THINK AS I STARTED OUT THAT THE BEST OPTION IS IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT, TO LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS.
BUT IF THE CITY COMMISSION PURSUES THAT, DOESN'T ALLOW THAT, THE PROBLEM WITH CENTRAL PARK AND WHAT HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT IS THAT, LET ME GO BACK.
I'VE SPENT A BIT OF TIME ON THIS.
I'VE WALKED THIS WITH MR. ABBOTT, WITH JEREMIAH, WITH CHARLIE GLEESON, I'VE SPENT A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME ON THIS, AND THE PROBLEM WITH PUTTING IT HERE, I'VE SEEN IT WHEN IT WAS STAKED OUT AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH ON THIS, BUT IT TAKES UP A SIGNIFICANT PART OF CENTRAL PARK.
PART OF IT IS UNDER THESE TREES.
THE CITY JUST WENT THROUGH THE TREE ISSUE OUT AT, WHERE IS THAT? ON ATLANTIC AVENUE, AND WHEN YOU START MESSING AROUND WITH THESE TREE ROOTS OF THESE TREES, IT'LL TAKE FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO DECREASE THE LIFE OF THESE TREES BY DOING ANYTHING OVER THESE ROOTS.
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR THERE. BUT WHENEVER YOU START MESSING AROUND WITH ALL THESE TREE ROOTS, YOU'RE GOING TO DECREASE THE LIFE OF THESE TREES.
NOW, IN THIS ROOM, IS IT GOING TO AFFECT MOST OF YOU? PROBABLY NOT, BUT IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO AFFECT ME, BUT IT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE GENERATIONS TO COME. THAT'S NUMBER 1.
NUMBER 2, I THINK MY BRETHREN ARE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME APPROVING THIS ON CENTRAL PARK.
THAT'S JUST WHAT I THINK. HOW WILL I VOTE? I'M UNDECIDED RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M LEANING TOWARDS VELARDI.
WELL, THE FIRST THING I'M GOING TO ADVOCATE IS I HAVE ADVOCATED ALL ALONG IS THAT WE KEEP IT THE WAY IT IS.
BUT THE SECOND THING IS IT'S PROBABLY THE LEAST DISRUPTIVE TO THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
WHEN YOU GO OUT THERE, AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS YOU HAVE THESE MEASURED OUT AND STAKED, YOU'LL SEE THAT IT'S A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF GROUND.
IT'S GOING TO SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE THE WAY CENTRAL PARK LOOKS.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
I AM JUST ONE VOTE ON WHAT THIS IS. ANY QUESTIONS?
I NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.
>> THE INFORMATION I NEED IS, IS YOUR SPORT 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR?
NUMBER 2, IF YOU WERE TO ESTIMATE HOW MANY PEOPLE PLAY AND WHEN THEY PLAY, WOULD BE A VERY GOOD NUMBER FOR US TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER WE HAVE ENOUGH PARKING.
BECAUSE THE INCREASED USAGE OF CENTRAL PARK WITH BETWEEN FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL HAVING DOUBLE SEASONS THERE WOULD TAKE UP ABOUT 10 OUT OF THE 12 MONTHS OF USAGE OF THOSE PARKS, AT LEAST 5-6 DAYS A WEEK.
IS PARKING GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR YOU GUYS?
>> AT CENTRAL PARK, PARKING HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM FOR US.
WE RECOGNIZE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S A SATURDAY AND THEY HAVE THE PEWEE FOOTBALL NEXT DOOR, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE PARKING LOTS ARE FULL.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT PLAY.
OUR CLUB PLAY-DAY IS SATURDAY FROM ABOUT 9:00-12:00.
I'VE BEEN MONITORING THE LAST MONTH OR SO AND ON ANY GIVEN SATURDAY, WE WILL HAVE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 32 AND 48 PLAYERS ON THOSE COURTS AT CENTRAL PARK FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
THAT'S AT FULL CAPACITY, ACTUALLY.
DURING THE WEEK, OF COURSE, IF YOU GO OUT THERE AT ANY TIME DURING A WEEKDAY, SOMETIMES IN THE MORNING, YOU'LL SEE A HALF A DOZEN OR A DOZEN PLAYERS PLAYING ON THOSE COURTS.
WHEN WE HOST A TOURNAMENT, THE CAPACITY GETS A LITTLE BIT MORE FULL.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED THESE 16 COURTS.
WE'LL HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 32, 64 PLAYERS, THAT'S DEPENDING ON THE FORMAT.
THOSE USUALLY LAST ABOUT TWO DAYS.
IT'LL BE LIKE A SATURDAY AND A SUNDAY.
I WILL SAY WE'RE VERY AWARE THAT WE ARE IN A CITY PARK,
[01:20:04]
AND WE DO SHARE THOSE FACILITIES.WHEN WE KNOW THERE'S A PARADE, AND THERE'S A FESTIVAL, AND THERE'S A MAJOR EVENT IN THOSE PARKS, WE WILL SEND OUT AN EMAIL TO OUR MEMBERS.
BE AWARE, THERE MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH PARKING TODAY, SATURDAY TO PLAY, AND SOME PEOPLE WILL COME, AND SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT.
A GREAT EXAMPLE IS THE SHRIMP FESTIVAL.
WE DON'T GO ANYWHERE NEAR THAT PLACE AT THE SHRIMP FESTIVAL.
BY AND LARGE, PARKING IS NOT A PROBLEM.
>> HEY. JOHN. WE ONLY ARE THERE IN THE SUMMER AND WE DON'T HAVE 16 COURTS, JUST FOR CLARITY.
WHEN YOU SAY ABOUT PARKING, WE HAVE 12 COURTS THERE, WE ONLY PLAY IN THE SUMMER AT THAT LOCATION.
YOU ADD 16 COURTS AND YOU'RE PLAYING ALL WINTER LONG IN THAT LOCATION.
I CAN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, BUT THE PARKING SITUATION WILL CHANGE BECAUSE THERE'S MORE PLAYERS FOR PLAYER [INAUDIBLE].
>> ABSOLUTELY. WITH MORE COURTS, YOU'LL GET MORE PLAYERS.
>> I'M GOING TO BRING THIS UP AS MY THOUGHT PROCESS.
I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ROSS, THAT WE SHOULD BRING IT OUT TO VELARDI.
I AM TALKING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT BASEBALL HAS TO OFFER.
WE CAN ACCOMMODATE EVERYTHING AT CENTRAL PARK.
I THINK YOU SHOULD NOT BE A STEP-CHILD TO ANYTHING.
YOU GUYS NEED YOUR SPACE, YOU NEED IT CONSTANTLY, AND YOU NEED IT WITH THE IDEA THAT WHEN YOU GO THERE, IT'S YOUR SPACE.
YOU DESERVE TO HAVE IT ON SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ANY TIME THAT YOU WANT TO PLAY IT, JUST LIKE BASEBALL, JUST LIKE FOOTBALL, JUST LIKE THE SKATE PARK.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO WORK OUT THE SHADE ISSUE IF WE PUT IT THERE AT VELARDI.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE SHADE ISSUE CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT $200,000.
I'M GOING TO THROW SOMETHING OUT.
I HAVEN'T DONE ANY RESEARCH, BUT PUTTING ONE OF THESE METAL SHEDS WIDE COVERING THE WHOLE THING WOULD NOT IMPACT YOUR GAME AT ALL AND PROBABLY GIVE YOU ENOUGH SHADE FOR ALL 16 COURTS SO THAT YOU COULD PLAY 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IF IT'S TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, AND IT'S 110 DEGREES OUTSIDE.
I DOUBT IF YOU WANT TO PLAY, [LAUGHTER] BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
BUT I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT WHATEVER DECISION THAT THIS BOARD MAKES, I WILL BE IN THE POSITION TO SAY TO YOU, I DO NOT WANT YOU TO NOT HAVE WHAT YOU DESERVE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS.
IT IS YOUR GAME, IT'S YOUR RELAXATION, IT'S YOUR RECREATION, AND YOU DESERVE THOSE THINGS ON A STEADY BASIS, ON A DAILY BASIS, AND ON A YEARLY BASIS.
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.
>> NUMBER 2. IF WE HAD JOE VELARDI, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE TOURNAMENTS?
>> IF IT WAS A YEAR-ROUND FACILITY, ABSOLUTELY.
>> TYPICALLY, WE HOST ONE FPUSA TOURNAMENT EVERY YEAR.
IT'S TYPICALLY IN MARCH WHEN THE WEATHER IS VERY MUCH IN OUR FAVOR.
WE GET PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE SOUTHEAST REGION TO COME PLAY.
IF WE HAD A FACILITY THAT HAD SUBSTANTIAL SHADE, 16 COURTS, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HOST POSSIBLY ONE OR TWO MORE TOURNAMENTS.
THIS IS NOT THE BIG TOURNAMENT.
DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE TWO CLUB TOURNAMENTS OURSELVES, SO, YES. THE ANSWER'S YES.
>> I THINK MY OVERALL PICTURE OF FERNANDINA OF 13,150 PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE IS THAT IT DOES GIVE US VISIBILITY, NUMBER 1, IT GIVES THE CITY MORE MONEY THAT WHEN IT COMES IN TO PLAY TOURNAMENTS.
I THINK I WAS ASKED NOT TO GO TO A CERTAIN RESTAURANT BECAUSE THE PLACE WAS COMPLETELY PACKED AFTER YOUR LAST TOURNAMENT WITH VISITORS AND IT SHOWS THAT THE PEOPLE
[01:25:06]
SUPPORT THIS TOURNAMENT BUT ALSO SUPPORT OUR CITY AND THE FINANCES THAT GO WITH GOING WITH IT.SAYING ALL THAT, I WILL SUPPORT HAVING JOE VELARDI, I WILL SUPPORT HAVING THE IDEA THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF NEEDING THE COVER THAT IS NECESSARY THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF YOUR SPORT NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT THERE, AND YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR OWN SPACE, PERIOD.
YOU CANNOT GROW AT CENTRAL PARK.
>> EXCUSE ME FOR ONE SECOND. MS. PUG.
>> NO. JUST TO ASK A QUESTION.
CAN I ASK IF THERE'S IMPACT FEE MONEY THAT CAN BE USED SINCE THIS WOULD BE A NEW FACILITY?
>> I WILL LET THAT BE PART OF THE PRESENTATION GIVEN BY THE INTERN MANAGER, AND HE CAN ADDRESS THOSE.
I AM NOT GOING TO BE THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR THE CITY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] IN TERMS OF COST.
>> I'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION. I DON'T MIND.
>> I DON'T MIND. IMPACT FEE MONEY.
IMPACT IS $4.2 MILLION IN PARKS AND REC [INAUDIBLE].
MOST OF THAT IS GOING TO BE TAKEN UP BY THE CITY PARK.
BY TAKING THE FIELDS AT YBOR ALVAREZ, SOCCER FIELDS, MOVING THEM ON TO WHERE THE SOFTBALL FIELDS ARE AND PUTTING A NEW BATHROOM AT [INAUDIBLE] STREET SO KIDS DON'T HAVE TO PEE IN THE WOODS.
>> WHY CAN'T THEY BUILD A NEW SKATE PARK?
>> WHY CAN'T THEY BUILD A NEW SKATE PARK BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
THIS IS A QUESTION ABOUT TAXES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THAT'S ABOUT WHAT DO YOU WANT TO PAY FOR, 25% OF OUR BUDGET GOES TO THE PARK POLICE, 25% GO TO THE FIRE AND RESCUE, 18.5% OF YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS GOES TO THE PARKS AND REC.
YOU WANT TO PAY MORE MONEY, YOU CAN DO MORE THINGS, BUT THIS IS ALL QUESTION OF MONEY.
I ALWAYS ASK, WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM? IMPACT FEES ARE PROBABLY NOT AVAILABLE TO THIS, YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND.
I WOULD SHOW UP AT THE BUDGET MEETING WHEN THEY COME BECAUSE NOBODY EVER SHOWS UP FOR THOSE AND ALL YOU SHOW UP AND SAY WE WANT WHAT WE WANT, THESE THINGS, AND WE CAN'T GO TO THE ROLLBACK RATE.
IS A ROLLBACK RATE THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS IN A BUDGET.
THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA SO EVERYBODY HAS NEEDS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, AND THIS IS SOME OF THE RATIONALE BRINGING IT OUT TO JO VALARY PARKING BATHROOMS. IT'S ALL THERE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
THE ONLY THING WE DON'T HAVE ARE THE PORTS.
I AM NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE FINANCES OF HOW WE CAN DO IT, BUT I THINK AN OVERALL APPEARANCE FOR YOUR SPORT SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN SPACE.
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO CHIME IN?
>> I THINK THE VALARY FIELD WHEN YOU SCAPE WHAT YOU DID.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THAT SPACE THAT YOU HAVE COULD IT BE SHIFTED ALL THE WAY TO THE OUTFIELD AND STILL KEEP THE INTEGRITY OF THE [OVERLAPPING]
[LAUGHTER] WELL, I WILL SAY, AS WE WERE LOOKING AT THE DETAILS OF JO VALARY FIELD.
WE DID REALIZE THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY, I THINK SOMEBODY MENTIONED THIS BEFORE.
THE WOMEN'S CLUB PROPERTY LINE RUNS THROUGH RIGHT FIELD.
INITIALLY, WE THOUGHT WE HAD A MUCH BIGGER OPPORTUNITY FOR A PARK THERE.
OUR INITIAL PLAN WAS TO MAKE ANOTHER PARK WHERE YOU COULD PLAY PETANQUE, LIKE THEY DO IN PARIS.
WELL, THAT WAS A BIG PICTURE IDEA.
THEN THE THING GOT A LITTLE BIT SMALLER WHEN WE REALIZED WE HAD TO STICK WITHIN A PROPERTY LINE.
BUT YES, THIS BOX CAN MOVE AROUND TO SOME EXTENT AND STILL GIVE US 16 COURTS.
AS THE CHAIRMAN POINTED OUT, THIS IS THE ONLY OPTION ON THE TABLE THAT WOULD ALLOW US IN THE FUTURE TO EXPAND.
THE SOLUTIONS AT CENTRAL PARK ARE FINITE.
ONCE WE DO WHATEVER WE DO THERE, WE'RE DONE.
IF THIS WERE AN ALL GRAVEL FIELD, AND I'M NOT PROPOSING THAT IT COULD ACTUALLY HOST THE OPEN.
>> I THOUGHT YOU SAID YESTERDAY THAT IT WOULDN'T HOLD THE 90.
[01:30:02]
>> WELL, WE GET UP TO ABOUT 65 AND 70.
THIS IS WHY I SAID THAT THE DISCUSSION HERE IS SOMEWHAT INDEPENDENT OF THE OPEN QUESTION, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD WHERE THE OPEN MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE? THAT'S A MUCH BIGGER QUESTION THAT I'M NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER.
IS IT 90 CORDS? IS IT 80 CORDS? IS IT 75? IF IT GETS TO 50, ARE WE IN TROUBLE? DO WE HAVE TO RAISE THE FEE? IT GOES ON AND ON. WE'RE STUDYING THAT RIGHT NOW.
BUT IT'S THE ONLY LOCATION WHERE THERE'S A POSSIBLE EXPANSION OPPORTUNITY, WHETHER WE JUST BUILD MORE COURTS OR WHETHER WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE.
>> I THINK ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THIS FIELD, IN MY OPINION IS THEN YOU'RE TUCKED BEHIND THE REC CENTER.
CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR, THE REC CENTER IS VERY BUSY WITH PARKING, AND LITTLER KIDS ON THE SATURDAY, BUT NOBODY IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT WAS THERE.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR VISIBILITY TO INCREASE YOUR MEMBERSHIP, NOBODY WOULD KNOW YOU'RE THERE.
>> WELL, THAT'S A MARKETING PROBLEM FOR US. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M JUST SAYING YOU'RE TUCKED AWAY FROM THE EXPOSURE OF ALL AGAIN, MY POSITION IS CLEAR ABOUT THAT I DO NOT LIKE THIS OPTION AT ALL, AND I WOULD NOT SUPPORT IT.
BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I DO SUPPORT PETANQUE AND WANT TO FIND A SOLUTION AND WILL SUPPORT WHAT THE COMMISSION DECIDES TO DO IN FINALITY.
>> AGAIN, EVERY SPORT WANTS TO GROW.
WE HAVE NO OPTIONS IF WE GO TO CENTRAL PARK.
WHAT YOU GET IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE.
THERE IS NO OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE YOUR ABILITY TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS THAT YOU HAVE, THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE TO PLAY, AND ALSO THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T STEAL FROM PICKLEBALL, WE NEED TO ADD MORE PICKLEBALL.
WE NEED TO ADD MORE TENNIS COURTS.
WE NEED TO ADD A LOT OF THINGS.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A SIMPLE IDEA THAT WILL GIVE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS CLUB TO HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, NOT JUST FOR TODAY, BUT FOR THE FUTURE.
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING, PLEASE SIGN THE PAPER.
COME UP FIRST AND THEN SIGN THE PAPER OR SIGN THE PAPER AND COME UP, I DON'T CARE.
>> HELLO. I'M DOUG BOES 631 KING GEORGE LANE FOR NEW BEACH.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY IN THE LAST YEAR, I'VE FOR WORK, BEEN TRAVELING THE COUNTRY A LOT.
I'VE PLAYED PETANQUE WITH MANY MANY CLUBS, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN, ZANESVILLE, OHIO, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, MORGANTON, WEST VIRGINIA, SOUTH FLORIDA, ORLANDO, TAMPA, SARASOTA.
I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF THE CLUBS IN THE COUNTRY IN THE LAST YEAR.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS UNIVERSAL WAS EVERY SINGLE PERSON I PLAYED WITH KNEW ABOUT FERNANDINA BEACH, MEI ISLAND, AND THE CLUB HERE.
NOW, A LOT OF THAT IS ABOUT THE BIG TOURNAMENT THAT'S HELD, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I PLAYED WITH THAT COME VACATION HERE BECAUSE OF THEY KNOW ABOUT PETANQUE.
THEY KNOW IT'S A PLACE TO VISIT, AND THEY'VE HEARD FROM THEIR FRIENDS WHO'VE COME AND PLAYED IN THE TOURNAMENT THAT IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO VISIT.
THEY JUST COME VACATION HERE AND MIGHT NOT EVEN PLAY PETANQUE FOLDER HERE.
THEY MIGHT JUST COME VACATION HERE. THAT'S ONE.
TWO IS I'M ONE OF THE YOUNGER PEOPLE IN THE CLUB [LAUGHTER] AT 43-YEARS-OLD.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT I PLAYED IN A TOURNAMENT BACK IN I THINK MARCH WHERE I WAS WITH A COUPLE REALLY GOOD PLAYERS THAT WERE AROUND MY AGE, AND WE GOT OUR BUTTS KICKED BY A BUNCH OF 95-YEAR-OLDS.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S A REALLY COOL SPORT IN THAT IT'S ONE THAT I CAN PLAY WITH MY DAD.
HE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CLUB.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE 20-YEARS-OLD TO BE COMPETITIVE.
YOU CAN BE 95-YEARS-OLD AND STILL BE REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
[01:35:05]
I'VE MET SOME WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE THROUGH THIS SPORT.LASTLY, I GUESS, A BIG CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS WHEN I WAS IN ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN, THEIR CLUB, FIVE YEARS AGO, HAD, I THINK THEY SAID SOMETHING LIKE 70 OR 80 MEMBERS.
THE HIGHWAY DECIDED TO USE THEIR COURTS TO STORE THE MATERIALS TO RESURFACE THE HIGHWAYS THERE, AND THEY LOST THEIR COURTS FOR TWO YEARS, AND IT DECIMATED THEIR CLUB.
THERE'S 4-8 PEOPLE THAT PLAY NOW.
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER IS THAT, YES, THE TOURNAMENT IS A BIG FACTOR ECONOMICALLY FOR THE CITY, BUT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CORE, WHICH IS THE CLUB, STAYS INTACT AND STAYS VISIBLE AND DOESN'T, [NOISE] I GUESS IT'S MY TIME.
ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> YOU'VE VERY LONG, WOULD YOU PLEASE SIGN THE BDF PAPER.
>> PAUL LA, 11 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET FOR BEACH, FLORIDA.
JUST REAL QUICKLY, AND I GET SOMETIMES CONFUSED WHEN I COME TO THESE BECAUSE YOU START HEARING THE SHUFFLING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I'VE JUST SEEN IT YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME, AND WHETHER IT BE IN STATE GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THIS IS WHERE IT GETS MESSY.
JUST SITTING HERE LISTENING TO EVERYBODY, AND I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO NOT SPEAK.
I'M UP HERE AS JUST A CITIZEN RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T WANT TO OVER SPEAK THE PRESIDENT OF THIS CLUB BECAUSE THIS CLUB IS EXACTLY WHAT HE HAS SAID, AND MANY MEMBERS HAVE SAID.
TO BE SELF SUSTAINING IS PROBABLY THE MOST EMPOWERMENT OF THIS CLUB.
THIS CLUB, WHEN THEY PUT OUT AN EMAIL, PEOPLE COME AND THEY TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS WITH MINIMAL COSTS.
I GET WORRIED WHEN I START HEARING BUILDING FACILITIES, BECAUSE I'VE WATCHED ON THIS ISLAND HERE WHERE WE BUILD FACILITIES, AND THEN WE DON'T MAINTAIN THE FACILITIES.
THEN WE'RE BACK UP HERE, AGAIN, TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN IT, AND THEN WE GOT TO LISTEN TO THE OLD COMMISSIONERS, WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM, ARGUMENT.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS THAT VICIOUS CIRCLE.
I THINK WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, IN SHORT, IS THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE CLUB TO BE SELF SUSTAINING TO TACTICALLY MANEUVER AROUND WITHOUT A LOT OF COST TO THE CITY IS CRITICAL.
I THINK WHEN YOU'RE MAKING YOUR DECISION AND YOU'RE CHEWING ON IT, AND YOU'RE GIVING THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION, BE CAREFUL OF BUILDING BIG GRANDIOSE PLANS THAT END UP FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, NOT BEING WHAT WE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO BE HERE TODAY.
IF I HEAR THE MAYOR SAYING THAT THERE'S FULL SUPPORT WITH A TOURNAMENT FOREVER DOWN AT THE MARINA AND THEN THERE'S SUSTAINABLE COURTS THAT ARE JUST WONDERFUL AND VISIBLE FOR BRETON FOR THE FUTURE.
I JUST DON'T KNOW IF BUILDING A GRANDIOSE PLAN WILL END UP NOT MAKING US AS FLUID AND VIABLE AS WE ARE.
I WOULD BE CAUTIOUS ON THE BIG PLANTS AND SOME TIMES JUST BE MORE MOBILE AND MORE TACTICAL. THANKS AGAIN.
>> SORRY. I'LL BE QUICK. MY NAME IS TIBER BEAR, AND BEING QUICK IS NOT REALLY FRENCH, SO I'M FRENCH.
>> WOULD YOU PLEASE [OVERLAPPING]
>> TIBER BEAR 95-252 BERMUDA DRIVE, FERNANDINA AS WELL.
HERE'S SOMETHING. I CAME HERE JUST BEFORE COVID FOR THE COMPETITION.
I WAS FROM THE DALLAS PETANQUE CLUB.
I'VE GOT TO SAY THAT WE MOVED HERE.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT'S BECAUSE ONLY OF THE PETANQUE CLUB BUT WE MOVED HERE BECAUSE WE LOVE THIS AREA, AND THE PETANQUE AND THE WELCOMING NATURE OF THE CITY AND ITS MEMBERS WAS INFLUENTIAL TO THAT DECISION.
ALSO, ONE THING I'D LIKE TO REALLY SHARE IS THE VISIBILITY OF THE CLUB.
[01:40:01]
I OFTEN COME IN THE CITY AND ALWAYS HAVE MY BOOZE IN THE CAR.THE MERE FACT THAT I CAN GO BY THE PARK AND SEE PEOPLE.
AT THE PARK PLAYING MAYBE SIX, SEVEN PEOPLE AND JUST STOP AND SAY, I'M GOING TO JOIN IN AND PLAY AND MEET THE PEOPLE AND BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE MET SO MANY PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT KIND OF STATUS IN THE CITY, PREFERENCES, DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEWS.
THE PEOPLE I SEE OVER HERE I PLAY WITH.
FROM ANOTHER CITY, COMING IN TO THIS CITY, TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE STRENGTH OF THAT COMMUNITY AND THE VISIBILITY IT HAS.
THIS IS WHAT WORRIES ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CLUB BEING REMOVED AWAY.
BECAUSE I FEEL BEING FRENCH, PETANQUE IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
PETANQUE IS SOMETHING THAT WE SIT DOWN, USUALLY AT A CAFE, AND WE DECIDE TO PLAY, OR WE SEE SOMEBODY PLAYING, WE JOIN IN.
IF YOU KNOW PLASTOPIN IN PARIS, IT'S ONE OF THOSE GREAT THINGS YOU CAN DO.
YOU CAN HAVE A CAFE AND JUST GRAB YOUR BALLS AND EVERYBODY WILL WELCOME YOU.
THIS IS REALLY THE SPIRIT OF THE SPORT.
AS A FRENCH PERSON, BEING IN THIS CITY, I SEE THE FIRST FLAG BEING IN FRANCE, WHICH TOUCHES ME.
[LAUGHTER] HONESTLY, MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THIS COMMUNITY.
I'VE LEARNED HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PEOPLE HERE, HOW TO EXCHANGE, EVEN BUILD A BUSINESS THAT ELEVATES THE FRENCH HERITAGE IN THE CITY.
I'M REALLY THRILLED AND I'M SAYING, DON'T CONSIDER JUST AS ONE CLUB, AND WHAT WAS JUST SAID WAS EXACTLY RIGHT.
THIS IS REALLY A PEOPLE SPORT AND A COMMUNITY SPORT AND SOMETHING THAT IS ORGANIC.
TO TRY TO STRUCTURE IT TOO MUCH, TO TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING BIGGER THAN WHAT IT IS DEFEATS A LITTLE BIT THE SPIRIT OF IT.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HELP, BUT I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE IS FANTASTIC.
MY WIFE HAS BENEFITED FROM IT AS WELL BECAUSE I GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND HAVE FUN.
THAT'S ABOUT IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> THANKS, EVERYONE FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I DO WANT TO PUT A LITTLE PRESSURE ON THE BOARD TONIGHT.
JUST BEING HONEST, IS THE PLAN IS FOR US TO PRESENT TO THE COMMISSION IN AUGUST.
FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM INDIVIDUALS HERE AND NOT EVERYONE HAS MADE A BUNCH OF COMMENTS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE FOR JO VALARY.
THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE FOR CENTRAL PARK.
IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION AT THIS TIME? I REALLY DO WANT A RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT.
ONCE AGAIN, IT IS A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION.
PEOPLE HAVE DISCUSSED BOTH OPTIONS AND THE CHALLENGES WITH BOTH OPTIONS.
>> CAN I JUST MAKE THE COMMENT TO SAY, I SAW THIS PLACE ON OUR AGENDA, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SENSE OF URGENCY ABOUT WHY WE'RE MOVING SO QUICKLY.
I SAID TO JOHN, I HAD LOOKED AT THIS PACKET AND WHEN OUR CONVERSATION AND WALKING AROUND AND I UNDERSTOOD IT VERY MUCH DIFFERENT THAN JUST SEEING THIS PACKET.
I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN SOMETHING THAT SHOWS OTHER AREAS AND OTHER PLACES, THE GENTLEMAN WHO SAYS HE'S BEEN AROUND AND SEEN OTHER WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO HAVE SOME EXAMPLE.
HONESTLY, HAD I NOT GONE OUT YESTERDAY, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS NEEDED.
I FELT COMFORTABLE YESTERDAY WHEN I WALKED AWAY THINKING THAT THE NEED WAS 16 COURTS AS A STANDARD BECAUSE THAT FULFILLS THE NEED FOR TOURNAMENTS.
EVEN IF WE HAD A TOURNAMENT EVERY WEEKEND, THAT THAT WAS ENOUGH.
OUTSIDE SEEING THE BIG TOURNAMENT AS A SEPARATE FUNCTION, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS NEED FOR EXPANSION.
THAT'S THROWN ME FOR A LOOP AS WE'RE TALKING THROUGH THIS A LITTLE BIT.
>> TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION IS IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE LARGE TOURNAMENT IN THE FALL COULDN'T TAKE PLACE AT THE MARINA, THEN THE OPTION OF JO VALARY INTO THE FUTURE,
[01:45:03]
THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR POSSIBLE EXPANSION.>> BUT THE WATER FRONT PARK, AS I UNDERSTAND, TELL ME IF I'M SPEAKING OUT OF SCHOOL, BUT THERE'S NOT WHEN THAT PARK GETS BUILT, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE TOURNAMENT DOWN THERE.
>> WELL, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS I BELIEVE THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH ROOM FOR 90 COURTS OR THAT THE LARGE AMOUNT THAT WAS EXISTING THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT THEY'VE HAD THE TOURNAMENT.
THE TOURNAMENT COULD BE HELD, BUT IT WOULD BE HELD AT A SMALLER CAPACITY.
>> I GUESS THAT'S WHERE I'M GETTING A LITTLE BIT STUCK BECAUSE IT KEEPS FLUCTUATING.
WELL, IT COULD BE A HYBRID OF THIS.
I WALKED AWAY YESTERDAY FEELING THAT WAS A CLEAR THING.
HERE'S WHAT WE NEED ON THE REGULAR, AND THEN HERE'S WHAT WE NEED FOR THE SPECIAL EVENT, AND I WOULD CONSIDER THAT A SPECIAL EVENT.
IT'S MOST OF FOUR DAYS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I THINK THE MAIN CONCERN FOR THE GROUP, THE MAIN CONCERN IS THE 16 COURTS.
LIKE JOHN HAD SPOKEN, THE LARGER TOURNAMENT IS SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
THE IDEA OF JOE VELARDI GIVES US THE OPTION TO EXPAND POSSIBLY IF THAT TOURNAMENT COULDN'T BE PUT ON DOWNTOWN.
THERE WOULD BE THE OPTION OF EXPANSION THERE, WHERE THEY COULD RUN THE TOURNAMENT AT THAT POINT.
THE REASON YOU HAD MENTIONED PRIOR TO A LOCATION, OUR OPEN AREA IS MAINLY GRASS, SO YOU CAN'T JUST GO IN AND RIP THE GRASS OUT.
THE REASON WHY THE WATERFRONT AREA WORKS IS IT'S JUST BECAUSE IT'S A BIG GRAVEL PARKING LOT, SO STAFF CAN GO IN THERE, ADJUST IT QUICK FOR A WEEKEND, AND THEN WHEN IT'S OVER, WE CAN GO IN AND GET IT OUT.
THERE'S NO OTHER LOCATION OR PARKING LOT THAT WE HAVE THAT WE COULD DO THAT.
>> I JUST FEEL LIKE AT VELARDI, IT'S AN ENTIRELY NEW PROJECT.
>> REGARDLESS OF OF WHERE THIS GOES, IS WE'RE GOING TO PRETTY MUCH BE DOING THE SAME THING.
STAFF WILL BE EXCAVATING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE.
WE FEEL THAT WE CAN DO THIS IN-HOUSE WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET.
WE WOULD EXCAVATE THAT AREA, AND WE WOULD GO IN WITH THE EXISTING MATERIAL THAT IS NEEDED.
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR PEOPLE IS TO BE ABLE TO BE OUT OF THE SUN AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SHADED AREA.
LONG-TERM PLANTING OF TREE, PLANT EVERY TREE YOU WANT TO.
I FULLY SUPPORT THAT, BUT THAT TAKES TIME.
I AM NOT FOR THE REASONS THAT WERE ALREADY DISCUSSED.
I FEEL LIKE WE KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ALL THE TIME, WE PUT TOGETHER PROJECTS WE CAN'T PAY FOR OR PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR, AND WE CHASE THAT DOWN THE ROAD.
A $200,000 SHADE STRUCTURE, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK VISUALLY, I HATE THE WAY THOSE LOOK.
I THINK, AESTHETICALLY, THEY ARE NOT ATTRACTIVE AT ALL.
OBVIOUSLY, FUNCTION IS THE IMPORTANT PART OF THAT, BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN.
WE'VE JUST HAD TO REPLACE A BUNCH OF SHADE STRUCTURES AT SOME OF THE OTHER PARKS THAT WE HAVE; IT'S EXPENSIVE.
I THINK THAT PART OF THE APPEAL WHEN WE INITIALLY STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS WAS THAT THE SPORT ITSELF, THE TERRAINS ARE MINIMALLY EXPENSIVE, AND NOW WE'VE TURNED THIS INTO SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE, WE CAN MAKE THIS AND WE CAN DO IT IN A NICE WAY, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS FINANCIALLY REPULSIVE TO PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY, AND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT A SPACE.
I EVEN COMMENTED, I LOVE THE WAY THAT THE COURTS ARE SITUATED WITH BENCHES AROUND SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SIT AND WATCH AND BE A PART OF IT.
>> WE WILL SPEND THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY ON MATERIAL AND EXCAVATION AT BOTH LOCATIONS.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN PRICING WOULD BE PROVIDING SHADE AT JOE VELARDI.
[01:50:05]
I DO BELIEVE THAT STAFF CAN COME UP WITH IDEAS WORKING WITH THE CLUB TO PROVIDE SHADE AT A CHEAPER COST THAN $200,000.>> BUT THERE'S ALSO NO SEATING OVER THERE.
THERE'S NOTHING THERE THAT WE ALREADY BENEFIT FROM THE THINGS THAT EXIST IN CENTRAL PARK.
>> WE DO HAVE AN EXISTING BENCH PROGRAM AND WE'RE GOING TO INTEGRATE A PICNIC TABLE PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE SEATING AND ITEMS LIKE THAT THROUGH DONATIONS AND THROUGH OUR BUDGET.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GIVE EVERYONE THE WHOLE PICTURE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE PETANQUE AND THE COURTS AND ALL THAT.
I AM MORE IN SUPPORT OF DOING IT AT THE JOE VELARDI FIELDS, RATHER THAN I DO HAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE PUSHBACK THAT I FEEL LIKE MIGHT COME AT CENTRAL PARK.
IF WE MADE A RECOMMENDATION FOR CENTRAL PARK AND IT GETS SHUT DOWN AT THE COMMISSION MEETING, DO WE HAVE TO DO ALL THIS AGAIN AND TRY TO RECOMMEND IT FOR JOE VELARDI? BECAUSE AS COMMISSIONER ROSS WAS SAYING, HE DOESN'T SEE THAT BEING SUPPORTED, AND I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A BIT OF PUSHBACK BEFORE ON CHANGES TO CENTRAL PARK.
IF WE WERE TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION, AND THEN IT'S NOT SUPPORTED, THEN WHAT HAPPENS? BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE NO PLAN.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK AND FORTH. THAT'S OUR MAIN THING.
JEREMIAH HAD STATED THAT A LITTLE BIT BEFORE IS, I THINK TONIGHT IF WE CAN GET A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE GROUP, BUT ALSO WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION, YOU ARE OPEN, POSSIBLY ARE NOT AGAINST JOE VELARDI.
IF THE RECOMMENDATION WERE TO BE CENTRAL PARK, YOU COULD THEN TIE THE IDEA OF, YES, WE LIKE AN OPTION AT CENTRAL PARK, BUT WE'RE NOT AGAINST JOE VELARDI OR VICE VERSA.
THEN ULTIMATELY, I BELIEVE, THEY MAKE THE DECISION AT THAT TIME INSTEAD OF GOING BACK AND FORTH.
>> YEAH. I REALLY ENJOY THE DISCUSSION THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT THIS.
YOU WANT US NOW TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.
I'M NOT SO SURE IF I WANT TO MAKE A DECISION WHERE THE CLUB OUGHT TO BE.
I THINK THEY SHOULD COME TO US AND SAY, HEY, HERE'S WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
>> I THINK THEY PRESENTED OPTIONS.
STAFF IS MOVING FORWARD THAT THE 16 COURTS ARE GOING AWAY AT CENTRAL PARK, AND WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS.
I HAD HEARD MR. ABBOTT SAY, IF THEY WERE AT JOE VELARDI, THEN THEY WANT SHADE THERE.
WE WOULD KEEP THE EXISTING COURTS AT CENTRAL PARK THERE UNTIL THE CITY CAN PROVIDE SHADE TO THOSE EXISTING, UNTIL STAFF CAN COME UP WITH A ECONOMICAL WAY TO PROVIDE THEM SHADE.
IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH, FROM LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE SPEAK, IS THEY WANT 16 COURTS.
>> CENTRAL PARK IS THE MOST ECONOMICAL.
>> CENTRAL PARK, WE DO NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE A SHADE STRUCTURE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
>> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, SIR? YOU CAN STEP UP RIGHT UP THERE AND GIVE YOUR ADDRESS AND FILL OUT A SHEET OF PAPER.
>> THANK YOU. MR. PATRICK COVEN, I LIVE AT 85310 CREWS ROAD, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.
MY QUESTION WOULD BE, I'M WITH CHIP ROSS, THE BEST THING WOULD BE TO LEAVE IT ALONE.
THE WHOLE CONVERSATION CAME UP ABOUT THE MARINA DUE TO PARKING DOWNTOWN.
PUTTING ANY KIND OF WATERFRONT, ANYTHING THERE, YOU'RE DELETING PARKING FROM THE BUSINESSES DOWN THERE ANYWAY., SO YOU'RE HURTING YOUR OWN COMMUNITY.
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME WHY WE'RE CHANGING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BROKEN.
YOU SHOULD JUST LEAVE IT GOOD AND WELL ALONE.
I'VE PLAYED IN TOURNAMENT FROM SONOMA, CALIFORNIA TO BAR HARBOR, MAINE,
[01:55:04]
ALL THE WAY TO ORLANDO, SAN DIEGO, LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA.I'VE BEEN ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY PLAYING.
YET TO GO OVERSEAS, BUT THIS OPEN THAT WE HAVE HERE IS UNIQUE.
THE NEXT BIGGEST THING YOU FIND IS 64 TEAMS, IS NOTHING LIKE THIS.
IN 2019, WE HAD TEAMS FROM 27 STATES AND 12 COUNTRIES HERE.
I BELIEVE WE BROUGHT IN $2.2 MILLION INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT WEEKEND.
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT PARKING LOT THAT'S EVER GOING TO TOUCH THAT? MAKES NO SENSE WHILE YOU'RE DELETING A MONEY-MAKER.
FOR THE PAST 14, 15 YEARS, AS A CLUB, WE HAVE FOOTED THE EXPENSE TO RE-NOURISH THAT PARKING LOT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM US? DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE TO US.
>> MR. WEINSTEIN HAS ONE COMMENT, AND THEN I THINK WE NEED TO, AT THAT POINT, MOVE FORWARD. MR. WEINSTEIN.
>> THANK YOU, SCOTT. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND OUR CLUB.
WE STARTED IN 2010 WITH 23 ORIGINAL MEMBERS.
IN THE FOURTH YEAR, WE WERE THE LARGEST CLUB IN THE UNITED STATES WITH 125.
GETTING BACK TO THE 16 COURTS THAT ARE NEEDED, WE HAVE ROUGHLY 150 MEMBERS, 155 OR SOMETHING.
EVERY YEAR WE LOSE ABOUT 20 AND GAIN ABOUT 20-25, SO THE CLUB HAS BEEN AROUND 150 MEMBERS FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, AND AGAIN, STILL THE LARGEST CLUB IN THE UNITED STATES.
ONE YEAR THE TOURNAMENT THAT WE HAD IN NOVEMBER HAD 187 TEAMS, WHICH IS 90 SOME ODD COURTS.
WE HAD 100 COURTS AVAILABLE THAT YEAR.
THE LARGEST TOURNAMENTS IN THE COUNTRY, LARGEST OTHER TOURNAMENTS THAT ARE SIMILAR IN NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA, HAVE A TOTAL OF 60 TEAMS, PATRICK SAID 64, BUT ROUGHLY 60 TEAMS. THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF THE LARGEST CLUB IS OUR NOVEMBER TOURNAMENT.
IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO GET RID OF THE TOURNAMENT.
SIXTEEN COURTS IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE FOR OUR BASIC CONTINUATION OF CLUB SIZE.
JOE VELARDI, IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE THE NOVEMBER TOURNAMENT, IF WE LOSE THE MARINA COURTS, THAT'S A POSSIBILITY, BUT I THINK YOU REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER THE BASIC 16 COURTS AS OUR NEED AND GO FROM THERE.
AGAIN, THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE A SEPARATE ENTITY.
AGAIN, I WAS THE PRESIDENT FOR 14 YEARS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M PROBABLY THE MOST, OTHER THAN FILIP [PHONETIC] WHO'S IN BELGIUM, HAVE THE MOST EXPERIENCE ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER ALL THESE YEARS.
JOHN'S RELATIVELY NEW, AND HE'S BEEN HELPING CERTAINLY HANDS-ON, SLEEVES ROLLED UP FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR NOVEMBER TOURNAMENTS AND SUCH, BUT WE REALLY LIKE TO RESOLVE THE 16 COURTS THAT WE'RE LOSING AT THE MARINA ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
THANK YOU AGAIN. SORRY, SCOTT.
>> THERE WAS ONE MORE. THANK YOU.
>> THERE WAS ONE MORE COMMENT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE..
>> TOM KAINE, 365 SOUTH FLETCHER AVENUE, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.
WELL, FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF PETANQUE.
I MOVED MY FAMILY HERE, SO WE'RE PAYING TAXES HERE AND WE LIVE HERE SOLELY FOR PETANQUE.
IT'S A VERY UNIQUE SPORT, AND I'VE MET ALL THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO HAVE COME OUT TO SUPPORT THIS SPORT IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'M ALSO WONDERING, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING TO WILDLIFE TO PLAY PETANQUE.
BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE DID HAVE A SOLUTION.
WE WERE IN THE MARINA, AS CHIP SAID, IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
I SAW A LOT OF THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I SEE A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR MOVING THE PETANQUE COURTS OUT OF THE MARINA, WHICH WERE ABSOLUTELY FALSE.
I'VE GONE DOWN, I'VE DRIVEN DOWN ASH STREET WITH MY CAMERA IN HAND AND I HAD THE VIDEO TO PROVE, AND I'M HAPPY TO SHOW EVERYONE, LOOKING AT THE PARKING SPOTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE,
[02:00:01]
SHOWING THE FACT THAT THERE IS NOBODY IN THE MARINA, EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY IN THIS ROOM.WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR OR WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, AND I DON'T MEAN TO SPEAK FOR THE GROUP, BESIDES THESE 16 COURTS IS SOMEWHERE TO GO AND TO COMMUNE WITH MY FRIENDS IN THIS ROOM EVERY DAY.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE JUST KEEP GETTING MOVED AND WE'RE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE STREET.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT JOE VELARDI FIELD. I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE BEEN THERE. I KNOW THAT CENTRAL PARK IS A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION.
I KNOW THAT WE HAD A GREAT PLACE IN THE MARINA.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE BEING TREATED LIKE STEPCHILDREN, LIKE YOU GUYS SAID.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE SOLVE THAT ISSUE OTHER THAN PEOPLE START TO RESPECT US, AND WE GET A LITTLE MORE VOCAL BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY ACCOMMODATING.
WE'VE HEARD TALK ABOUT, WELL, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMETHING GOES ON IN CENTRAL PARK? WHEN SOMETHING GOES ON IN CENTRAL PARK, I GET AN EMAIL, SAYS, SOMETHING'S GOING ON IN CENTRAL PARK.
DON'T SHOW UP TO PLAY PETANQUE.
WE'RE VERY ACCOMMODATING. ANYWAY, WE MOVED HERE FOR PETANQUE.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO MOVED HERE FOR PETANQUE, PRETTY HARD TO BELIEVE BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN PRONOUNCE IT, BUT WE'RE HERE FOR THAT REASON.
I'M A LITTLE AFRAID THAT IF WE KEEP MOVING US, AND I START TO THINK ABOUT THE SOCIAL MUNICIPAL COMPACT THAT WE HAVE, IF YOU TALK ABOUT THE SKATE PARK, WHICH I SUPPORT FULLY.
THAT'S TAKEN UP SOME PRETTY HEALTHY REAL ESTATE THERE AT MAINE BEACH.
HOW MANY PEOPLE USE THAT SKATE PARK COMPARED TO HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE IN THE COUNTRY, AND I THINK IN THE AMERICA'S LARGEST PETANQUE CLUB? IF YOU START TO THINK ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE PLAY BASEBALL.
I'M A PICKLE BALL PLAYER. I'M A BOATER.
I CAN'T GET MY BOAT INTO THE MARINA, BY THE WAY. IT'S IN JACKSONVILLE.
I'VE TRIED, SO I RESPECT THE NEED FOR PARKING FOR THE BOATERS DOWN THERE.
IT'S NOT THAT WE ONLY DO ONE THING.
WE'RE MULTIFACETED PEOPLE, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT THE SKATE PARK, WHY DON'T WE SUPPORT PETANQUE IN THE SAME METHOD AND MANNER AND ALL THESE OTHER SPORTS? I'M A PICKLE BALL PLAYER.
I SEE THE NEED FOR MORE PICKLE BALL COURTS, BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU.
>> HERE'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST QUICK REMINDER.
THIS IS ABOUT STAFF TRYING TO COME TO A SOLUTION AND ASKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION.
STAFF, WE FEEL LIKE THEY WILL BE LOSING 16 COURTS, AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE 16 OTHER COURTS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WITH THE OPTIONS, COULD I GET A YE OR NAY TO THIS? I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND THAT WITH THE EXISTING OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN TONIGHT, DOES THE COMMITTEE SUPPORT ONE OF THESE OPTIONS? MEANING ANY FOUR OF THESE OPTIONS.
YOU COULD SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND THAT YOU COULD SUPPORT ANY ONE OF THESE FOUR OPTIONS?
>> I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO SUPPORT OPTION C AT CENTRAL PARK.
>> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
IS THERE BOARD COMMENTS REGARDING THAT?
>> ANY DISCUSSION? I THINK WE'VE HAD ENOUGH.
>> KATIE, WILL YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE?
>> MEMBER PROSIN. HE'S NOT HERE.
>> AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION THAT THAT YOU WOULD BE OPEN TO JOE VELARDI?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO SUPPORT JOE VELARDI FIELD FOR THIS COURTS.
>> THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE.
>> YEAH. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY THOUGHTS TO WHAT THAT MEANS? BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING AN EXAMPLE OF A SHADE STRUCTURE.
[02:05:03]
WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT HOW TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.I'M CONCERNED FINANCIALLY HOW THAT MIGHT EVEN BE FEASIBLE.
ARE WE JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE THAT THAT'S THE OPTION AND THEN RUN FROM THERE? I DON'T KNOW.
>> I THINK AT THIS POINT IS WE COULD CALL THE VOTE.
THEN I THINK WITH THAT, WE CAN SHOW THE COMMISSION THAT THERE WAS A MOTION IN A SECOND.
THEN THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR JOE VELARDI, AND HERE WAS THE VOTE.
IT'S LETTING THE COMMISSION KNOW HOW PRAC IS FEELING.
>> WHY ISN'T THE OTHER OPTION B OR C? YOU'RE JUST SAYING D AS A SECOND OPTION.
>> I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH. I REALLY AM NOT.
>> IT DID SOUND LIKE THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT PUTTING WORDS IN ANYONE'S MOUTH.
>> I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU WERE PUTTING WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT YOUR POSITION IS FOR JOE VELARDI, THAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED IT ALREADY THREE TIMES.
THAT THAT'S WHERE YOU GUYS WANT US TO GO AS A SECOND OPTION.
>> I WANT TO SAY PUBLICLY, PARKS AND RECS SUPPORTS.
I'M ASKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE SITTING HERE SAYING THAT I SUPPORT THIS OR THAT.
PARKS AND RECREATION SUPPORTS PROVIDING A PLACE FOR PETANQUE TO TO PLAY.
>> I UNDERSTAND, AND I DID NOT MEAN TO IN ANY WAY INCUR THAT THAT IS, IT'S JUST THAT'S HOW I FELT FROM THE WAY YOU SPEAK ABOUT.
>> THAT'S FINE. I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE.
NO PROBLEM. THERE WAS A MOTION IN A SECOND.
AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION OR ANY OTHER COMMENT?
>> AFTER THIS VOTE, THERE COULD BE A MOTION. LET'S MAKE THIS VOTE.
>> THERE WAS A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR JOE VELARDI AND WE CAN DO THE VOTE?
>> MEMBER PROSIN'S NOT HERE. CHAIR KOKI.
>> FROM WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE GROUP IS WE WILL GO TO THE COMMISSION AND YOU SUPPORT ONE OF THESE OPTIONS, AND HERE'S WHERE THE VOTE WAS FOR CENTRAL PARK, HERE'S WHERE THE VOTE WAS FOR JOE VELARDI.
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR B AS ONE OF THE OPTIONS.
OPTION 3, IF THEY DON'T LIKE EITHER THE TWO, AND THEY WANT TO GO FOR ONE OTHER OPTION, I SAY OPTION B.
>> IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT?
>> USING THAT TOP SQUARE, IT IS REALLY IN THE SUNSHINE.
THEN THERE'S SOME ELECTRICAL STUFF IN THE WAY TO EVEN TRY TO GET INTO THE SHADE.
I'M SURE WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T MOVE THAT OR I DON'T KNOW HOW EASY SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS, BUT IT IS REALLY EXPOSED TO THE SUN.
TO ME, THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THEM BEING IN THE SHADE AND BEING COVERED YEAR ROUND SO THAT THEY CAN USE THE AREA THAT THEY'RE USING YEAR ROUND.
>> I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE A THIRD ALTERNATIVE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IF WE PROVIDE ONE AT CENTRAL PARK, IF THAT GET SHOT DOWN, IT'S MOST LIKELY THAT MOST OF THE PARK IS GOING TO GET SHOT DOWN.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THE CITY TWO OPTIONS.
WE'LL LET THE PRESENTATION BE MADE TO THESE COMMISSIONERS BASED ON THOSE TWO OPTIONS AND LET THE COMMISSION DECIDE AND WHAT OPTION THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO FORTH WITH.
THEY HAVE THE BACKING OF THIS BOARD, EITHER ONE OF THOSE TWO IS ACCEPTABLE FROM PRAC.
[02:10:03]
>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ONCE I CONFIRM AND EXACTLY THE DATE OF THE COMMISSION MEETING, I WILL LET MR. ABBOTT AND MR. PUE [PHONETIC] KNOW SO THEY CAN LET THE GROUP KNOW.
>> I STILL HAVE A MEETING GOING ON.
>> EXCUSE ME. DISCUSSIONS OUT, WE STILL GOT A MEETING.
>> COULD YOU TAKE IT OUTSIDE, PLEASE?
>> MY HUSBAND'S MINE THURSDAY.
>> WHAT TIME IS BREAKFAST? I WAS LIKE, YOU SHOULD GO AHEAD AND FEED THE BABY.
[8. STAFF COMMENTS]
>> JUST PROJECT AND PROGRAM UPDATES.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUT HERE THIS WEEK.
HE SAID NO LATER THAN THURSDAY TO START THE RESURFACING PART.
THAT SHOULD TAKE ABOUT A WEEK TO RESURFACE THOSE EXISTING TENNIS COURTS.
I'VE UPDATED YOU ON THE SKATE PARK REPAIR; WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
ALSO, WE'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD WITH THE TRACK AT PECK FIELD AND THE YBOR ALVAREZ COMPLEX.
THE EGANS CREEK FITNESS EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN ORDERED.
WE WILL BE RECEIVING THAT, I BELIEVE IT'S BEING SHIPPED THE WEEK OF AUGUST 21ST.
WE HELD A PRE-BID MEETING FOR THE RESURFACING, OUR [INAUDIBLE] SITING OF THE MLK POOL.
THIS WAS ON THERE LAST TIME ABOUT THE BEACH ACCESSES.
WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE BEACH ACCESS SIGNS ALONG SOUTH FLETCHER.
ALL OF THOSE BEACH ACCESS SIGNS WILL BE REPLACED AND MOVED BACK TO THE CORRECT AREA, HOPEFULLY, BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS MONTH OR THE END OF THIS MONTH.
THE CENTRAL PARK GAZEBO RIGHT THERE ON ATLANTIC AVENUE, WE'RE REPAINTING IT.
THERE'S SOME BROKEN PIECES OF WOOD IN THERE AS WELL THAT WE WILL BE REPLACING.
WE'RE REALLY GOOD ON STAFFING.
WE HAVE ONE POSITION THAT IS AVAILABLE THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING FOR.
THEN ALSO, UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS, AS I'D LIKE TO STATE ON HERE, IS JULY 26TH AND 27TH IS THE FISHING RODEO.
JULY 27TH IS THE QUARTERBACK CLUB, AND THAT'S AT THE ATLANTIC REC CENTER.
SOUNDS ON CENTER IS THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST.
THEN AUGUST 10TH AND 11TH IS THE OFFICIAL STRONGMAN GAMES AT THE MAINE BEACH AND THE MARINA.
JUST A REMINDER THAT ALL THOSE SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATIONS COME THROUGH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND THEN WE HOLD MEETINGS WITH GROUPS FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS: POLICE, FIRE, CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THAT'S WHY I LIKE TO ADD THOSE, BUT ALL THOSE SPECIAL EVENTS COME THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT.
THEN OUR NEXT MEETING IS AUGUST 13TH.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME AT THIS TIME?
>> YES. THE UP AND COMING SPECIAL EVENTS, IS THAT THROUGH THE MONTH OF AUGUST? THERE IS A TERRY KELLY NINTH ANNUAL SKATE-
>> WE ONLY HAVE GOING UP TO YOUR NEXT MEETING AND THEN YOUR NEXT MEETING WILL HAVE THE EVENTS ON THEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LET ME KNOW THAT.
>> THANK YOU, KATIE FOR HELPING.
YES. WE WILL ALWAYS LIST THOSE THROUGH THE NEXT MEETING.
>> WHO'S THE QUARTERBACK CLUB?
>> THE QUARTERBACK CLUB IS AN ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY RAISE MONEY TO HELP THE FOOTBALL ORGANIZATION AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY RENT OUT THE FACILITY AT THE ATLANTIC AUDITORIUM.
>> THANKS, SCOTT. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. PLEASE.
[9. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
[02:15:09]
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY GOOD LUCK TO PO [PHONETIC].
SHE'LL BE IN THE OLYMPIC BEFORE WE MEET AGAIN.
>> WE'LL BE DOING A LITTLE [INAUDIBLE] I'M SURE YOU'LL TALK ABOUT [INAUDIBLE].
JULY 28TH, THIS MONTH, ON NBC, NOONTIME, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE OUR LOCAL US SKATEBOARDING TEAM REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE OLYMPICS.
YOU DON'T BECOME AN OLYMPIAN, WHICH I DIDN'T FIND OUT UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY COMPETE, SO WE CAN'T CALL HER AN OLYMPIAN UNTIL SHE COMPETES ON THAT DAY.
THERE IS A WATCH PARTY, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HELD.
HOPEFULLY, IT'S A CITYWIDE WATCH PARTY, BUT THERE WILL BE ONE AT FIRST LOW BREWERY.
ALL THE TVS WILL BE ON THAT PARTICULAR STATION.
IT WILL BE STREAMING LIVE, NBC AT NOON.
IT IS A ONE-DAY EVENT FOR THE WOMEN'S STREET SKATEBOARDING AND WOMEN'S PARK SKATEBOARDING.
NOON AND 5:00 PM WILL BE THE FINALITY.
>> NBC, JULY 28TH AT NOON, WHICH IS A SUNDAY.
TUNE IN YOUR TVS TO WATCH OUR LOCAL PRO.
I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US FOR BEING VERY TRUTHFUL AND VERY HONEST ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS CITY.
AS A GROUP, WE WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER, AND LET'S CONTINUE TO DO THAT ON ANY SUBJECT.
WE ALL DON'T HAVE TO AGREE, BUT WE DO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE, AS A COMMUNITY, HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE TODAY, TOMORROW, AND INTO THE FUTURE.
THAT'S OUR JOB. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING TODAY HAVE IMPACT FOR THE FUTURE SO WE CAN SAVE MONEY AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR DECISIONS ARE GOOD.
I THINK WE'RE GIVING THE COMMISSION EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED TO HERE.
WE GAVE THEM THE TWO BEST DECISIONS OUT OF THE FOUR.
THEY CAN'T COME BACK TO US AND SAY TO US, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? THIS IS IT. THIS IS WHAT WE GIVE YOU.
AGAIN, THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY TO YOU IN A VERY GREAT WAY, THIS DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION IS MOVING FORWARD.
IT IS NOT SITTING BACK AND LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
THEY ARE CONVINCING US THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PROGRAMS THAT THEY WANT TO PUT IN PLACE.
THEY HAVE THE RIGHT SUPPORT LEVEL FOR EITHER THE SKATE PART, THE, THE BASEBALL FIELDS, THE FOOTBALL FIELDS, ALL THE THINGS.
WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE SOME KIND OF A DEGREE OF OWNERSHIP TOWARDS THOSE FUNCTIONS EVERY DAY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE PEC FOR THE TRACK AND GETTING THAT ESTABLISHED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A TRACK.
WE NEED SOMETHING IN THE PUBLIC RECREATION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE DO AT PEC, IT'S THE BEST WE CAN POSSIBLY GIVE THEM NOT FOR JUST A SHORT TIME, BUT FOR A LONGEVITY.
LET US COME TOGETHER AND SAY TO OURSELVES, WE DID THE BEST JOB TODAY WE POSSIBLY COULD, AND WE GAVE THE CITY EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEEDED TO HEAR.
I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR WHAT AND HOW YOU STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE UNITY THAT WE SHOW TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE THIS DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION SO MUCH BETTER.
WITH THAT, [NOISE].
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.