[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE RED MEETING JANUARY 14, 2025 AT 5:00 P.M.
>> NUMBER 3, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? SHOULD PLEASE LEAD.
>> BEFORE WE GET TO ITEM NUMBER 4, I WOULD LIKE TO READ OFF THE 25 MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR GOALS ARE FOR 25 AND HOW THE BUDGET WAS PUT TOGETHER UNDER THIS STATEMENT.
THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO ENRICHING THE LIVES OF OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS BY PROVIDING A VARIETY OF FUN AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, WHILE PRESERVING OUR COMMUNITY'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CITIZENS TO ENJOY AND RESPECT.
IF THAT'S THE GOAL OF THE PARKS AND REC, IT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL, TOO WHEN WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS, SO REMEMBER I SAID THAT.
NUMBER 4, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
I HAVE ONE SMALL CHANGE THAT I SAW IN THE MINUTES.THE MINUTES SHOULD REFLECT THAT IT'S THE NOVEMBER MINUTES.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS ALL RIGHT, AND I WOULD ASK TO APPROVE WITH THE CHANGE MADE FOR THE NOVEMBER.
>> IT SAYS SEPTEMBER IN THE MINUTES, BUT IT SHOULD READ NOVEMBER. UNDER FOUR?
> WOULD YOU GET THAT FOR CHRISTMAS?
>> I TOLD HIM YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GET INVOLVED, HOW DID YOU GET? DOES ANYBODY HAVE? CAN I GET A MOTION.
>> ASK A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE AMENDMENT OF 4.1?
>> ANY DISCUSSION? CALL THE ROLE, PLEASE.
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITMES NOT ON THE AGENDA]
PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.I HAVE ONE PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, AND ALLOW ME TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE YMCA AND A POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.
>> CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS?
>> CESAR GONZALEZ, THE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MCCARTHUR FAMILY YMCA. IS THAT GOOD?
>> THE YMCA IS VERY PASSIONATE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
THE YMCA IS OPEN TO ALL, AND IT IS A COMMUNITY BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT'S BEEN HERE OVER 30 YEARS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE SERVICE ALL PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS AND LIKES, AND WE TRY TO OPEN OUR FACILITY AND NOT TURN ANYONE AWAY BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO PAY OR PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE AN ANNUAL CAMPAIGN WHERE WE RAISE
[00:05:01]
FUNDS TO SCHOLARSHIP KIDS AND FAMILIES THAT CAN AFFORD PROGRAMS. IF SOMEBODY WALKS INTO THE YMCA AND ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUTH BASKETBALL, FOR EXAMPLE, THEN WE ALLOW THEM TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP, AND WE APPROVE THE SCHOLARSHIP, AND WE SCHOLARSHIP, EITHER THE FULL AMOUNT OR IF THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY A PORTION OF THE AMOUNT.WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE BY PAYING A PORTION, SO THEY HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME, SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND PARTICIPATE.
WE DO THIS PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE, SPORTS THROUGH VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE HELPED US BASICALLY PUT FORTH A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS, AND WE RELY HEAVILY ON VOLUNTEER.
WE ARE A VOLUNTEER BASED ORGANIZATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT WE WANT TO ESTABLISH AND DO A PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY HOSTED BY THE YMCA.
WE'RE ASKING TO SEE IF WE CAN USE THE COURTS ON CENTRAL PARK TO HOST THIS TOURNAMENT, AND IF WE HAVE PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT, WE WOULD LIKE THE PROCEEDS TO GO TO OUR ANNUAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE YMCA, SO WE DON'T TURN ANY KIDS AWAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AT THE YMCA IS WE DO OFFER MANY PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE CITIZENS IN OUR YMCA THAT ARE CITIZENS OF FERNANDINA BEACH.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY BASED YMCA, AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP IS FROM FERNANDINA BEACH, SO 85% OF OUR MEMBERS COME WITHIN THE CITY OF FERNANDINA, AND WE HAVE ABOUT MAYBE 10, 15% THAT GO BEYOND THE CITY, THAT COME FROM ULE OR OTHER PARTS OF NORTHERN FLORIDA.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP IS FERNANDINA BEACH.
WE HOPE TO HOST THIS PROGRAM AND RUN IT SOMETIME IN THE SPRING, HOPEFULLY THE END OF APRIL OR SOMETIME IN MAY, WHATEVER IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY.
WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH WHATEVER'S OPEN.
WE HOPE TO HAVE THIS TOURNAMENT ON A WEEKEND, POSSIBLY SATURDAY, SUNDAY TYPE OF TOURNAMENT, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE 35 TEAMS, FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE DONE THIS, SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TEAMS WE MIGHT GET.
BUT WE'RE ESTIMATING WE COULD GET POSSIBLY 35 TEAMS IS WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR.
MOST TEAMS CONSIST OF FOUR PLAYERS MINIMUM, SO WE'RE HOPING TO OBVIOUSLY COME UP WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE TOURNAMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN THE COMMUNITY IS 3,764 MEMBERS BELONG TO THE YMCA.
IS MY TIME UP? OVER 170,000 PEOPLE VISIT OUR YMCA EVERY YEAR.
WE TURN NO ONE AWAY, AND WE'RE HOPING WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE CITY.
WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE THE SAME MISSION IN MIND, IS TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE FUN ACTIVITIES, WHICH IS PART OF YOUR MISSION.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF THAT MISSION, AND WE WERE ASKING THAT WE COULD PARTICIPATE AND HOST A TOURNAMENT AT CENTRAL PARK.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING MY REQUEST?
>> WOULD NON MEMBERS BE ABLE TO SIGN UP FOR THE TOURNAMENT?
>> YES. IT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> IS IT YOUTH AND ADULTS OR JUST ADULTS?
>> THIS FIRST TIME AROUND, IT'LL BE ADULTS.
>> WE DO PLAN TO ASK FOR SPONSORSHIP TO HELP COVER THE AWARDS AND THE T SHIRTS FOR THE TOURNAMENT, SO WE'LL BE DOING SOME OF THAT SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION AS WELL.
>> I WAS CONTACTED BY A FRIEND AND FELLOW Y MEMBER AND CONNECTED ME WITH MR. GONZALEZ TO COME HERE TO ASK FOR THIS.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENTS THAT GO ON.
I THINK ONE IS A CITY SPONSORED PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENTS.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE FOR Y'ALL TO GET STARTED.
IS THAT JUST REACHING OUT TO PARKS AND REC TO SEE IF THERE'S AVAILABILITY OR IS IT A SPECIAL PERMIT? WHAT'S THAT PROCESS? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, SCOTT MICHAELS AND PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
THERE WOULD BE A FEW THINGS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT IS, DOES THIS FALL UNDERNEATH OUR SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION PROCESS? ARE THERE FOOD TRUCKS? THAT'S MAYBE WHERE THE MAIN FOCUS ARE HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'RE LOOKING AT WHERE THEY WOULD POSSIBLY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
WITH THAT IS PARKS AND RECREATION WANTS TO WORK WITH EVERYONE.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT EVENT.
ONE OF MY CONCERNS, I THINK, WITH ANYBODY THAT ASKS TO RESERVE OUR PICKLEBALL COURTS IS, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE THOSE PICKLEBALL COURTS RESERVED EVERY WEEKEND.
WHEN WE DO SO, THEN THE INDIVIDUALS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO PLAY ON THE WEEKENDS ARE THE WORKING.
BUT NOW WE JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF HOW MANY WEEKENDS ARE WE TAKING AWAY EVERY YEAR BASED FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN PLAY ON THE WEEKENDS.
AS YOU KNOW, COURTS AT OUR PICKLEBALL COURTS ARE AT A PREMIUM.
[00:10:01]
THAT WOULD JUST BE ONE OF MY CONCERNS.>> MAYBE THE Y COULD OPEN UP THEIR GYM LIKE THEY DO FOR PICKLEBALL PLAY INDOORS DURING THAT TIME.
>> WE COULD GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, AND THEN I WILL SAY THAT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE ONE ORGANIZATION THAT DOES THAT, IT'S ST. MICHAEL'S, AND WE DO AN 80, 20 SPLIT WITH THEM FOR THE PRICE OF RESERVING THE COURTS, SO THAT KIND IS THEIR FEE TO RESERVE THE COURTS.
I THINK AND WE CAN SPEAK TO MR. GONZALEZ, BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO RESERVING OUR, I THINK WE COULD POSSIBLY BE OPENING UP TO WHO ARE WE RESERVING IT TO? ARE WE GOING TO BE, DO WE WANT TO RESERVE IT? RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE OPEN PLAY FOR PICKLEBALL, AND THEN THERE ARE TIMES DURING WHAT WE WOULD CALL GROUP PLAY WHERE INDIVIDUALS COME FOR DESIGNATED LEVELS OF PLAY.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE OF THAT SITUATION.
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH MR. GONZALEZ.
>> YEAH, THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE SOMETHING THAT COMES THROUGH US TO APPROVE? IT WOULD BE MORE OF THE SPECIAL EVENTS AND LIKE BOOKING AND RESERVING LIKE THEY WOULD, IF IT'S A GAZEBO OR A BALLPARK OR WHATEVER.
>> YEAH. THIS COULD OPEN UP CAUSE WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A PRICE TO RESERVE IT, AND WHO ARE WE RESERVING OUR PICKLEBALL COURTS? TWO.
>> IS THERE SOMETHING WHERE YOU COME UP WITH AN AMOUNT OF TIMES YOU ALLOW IT TO BE RESERVED A YEAR? ONCE YOU KNOW EACH YEAR, WE ONLY ALLOW EIGHT EVENTS.
ONCE THOSE ARE DONE, THEY'RE DONE.
THAT WAY, IT'S NOT HAPPENING EVERY WEEKEND, [OVERLAPPING].
>> OR QUARTERLY YEAR OR SOMETHING?
>> YEAH. BUT YOU ONLY ALLOW SO MANY.
THAT WAY, YOU CAN SAY TO PEOPLE, WE'RE ONLY ALLOWING THEM TO BE RENTED A MAXIMUM OF THIS MANY TIMES A YEAR.
OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S NOT GOING THAT WAY LIKE YOU SAID, IT COULD HAPPEN EVERY WEEKEND.
WHO DO YOU START TURNING DOWN? WE HAD SO MANY, THEY JUST APPLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, AND IF YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE TO DO IT.
>> IS IT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OR IS IT SOMEONE COMING IN THAT IS, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE, WE DON'T REALLY CARE WHO'S BOOKING AND PRESERVING THE SPOT IF IT'S BOOKED AND RESERVED. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
>> RIGHT. I THINK THOUGH WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT IT IS COMING UP WITH DIFFERENT FEES.
IF WE HAVE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT LIVES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, SHOULD THAT FEE BE DIFFERENT BASED ON A COMMERCIAL ENTITY COMING IN AND WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING? THOSE ARE THINGS I THINK THAT WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT WITHIN OUR FEE SCHEDULE.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH MR. GONZALEZ TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, WE ONLY WANT TO HAVE ONE TOURNAMENT A YEAR, AND THEN WE HAVE MR. GONZALEZ, IF YOU.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, WE'RE ASKING JUST FOR ONE TOURNAMENT A YEAR IS MAXIMUM, AND WE DO HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE THAT WE SUPPLY AND NAME THE CITY AS INSURED.
>> I LIKE THE IDEA TOO OF OPENING IS THEIR GYM OR ANOTHER GYM OR SOMEWHERE THAT MAYBE PEOPLE COULD PLAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE OTHER IF ANY OF THE GYMS IN THE CITY COULD BE USED OR ANYTHING, BUT TO OPEN SOMETHING UP DURING IT, SO PEOPLE COULD PLAY INDOORS OR SOMETHING.
I THINK WITH ENOUGH NOTICE IF SOMETHING'S BEING NOTICED, YOU HAVE NOTICES UP ON THE PICKLEBALL COURTS FOR A MONTH OR UP ON THE WEBSITE OR ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A TWO DAY EVENT, OR IS IT JUST A ONE DAY?
>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE SIGN UP, BUT WE THINK IT'LL BE ONE DAY EVENT?
>> THEN IN THE SUMMER, YOU CAN PLAY THE EVENINGS.
>> IF IT'S DURING THE WEEK, WE CAN DO IT A COUPLE OF NIGHTS, MAYBE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TOO.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD ADD TO THE WHOLE THING IS THAT I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
I THINK WHAT WE LIKE WAS SUGGESTED BY MR. SCOTT THAT YOU TAKE THIS TO HIM AND LET YOU TWO WORK IT OUT.
BUT AS FAR AS THIS BOARD IS CONCERNED, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ASK SCOTT TO LOOK INTO IT, AND REPORT BACK TO MR. GONZALEZ?
>> I THINK THAT THIS AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT LATER BECAUSE I HAVE SOME ISSUES TO BRING UP ABOUT THE SPECIAL EVENTS FEES, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD FALL INTO THAT PACKET YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON? IF IT'S LIKE LIMITING? I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THAT SPECIFIC, YOU WANT TO LIMIT CERTAIN THINGS OR THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE,
[00:15:02]
AND ARE YOU NOT ALLOWED TO ADD NEW FEES OUTSIDE OF THE FEE SCHEDULE THAT THE COMMISSION APPROVES? WOULD YOU HAVE TO TAKE A SPECIFIC ASK LIKE THAT TO THE COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL OR HOW DOES THAT WORK?>> I WOULD REVIEW REVIEW OUR EXISTING FEE SCHEDULE AND SEE IF THERE IS AN ITEM THAT FITS IN HERE.
I THINK THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS THE 80, 20 SPLIT, WHICH WE DO WITH ST. MICHAEL'S.
THAT'S ALREADY IN OUR FEE SCHEDULE, SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO RETAKE IT TO THE COMMISSION.
BUT AS WE GO THROUGH EVEN INTO OUR NEXT FISCAL YEAR, I THINK ULTIMATELY, WE'VE HAD A FEW OF THESE REQUESTS.
WE HAVE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS RECENTLY, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A STRONGER LOOK AT AND ADD THAT TO OUR EXISTING FEE SCHEDULE.
BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE IS AN ITEM IN OUR FEE SCHEDULE THAT THIS WOULD FALL UNDER.
THAT WE COULD WORK INTO IT. THAT'S TRUE.
>> DO PEOPLE RENT THE TENNIS COURTS?
>> NO. THE ONLY PERSON SO WE DO NOT RENT RESERVE.
THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL THAT WOULD WE HAVE THE COURTS RESERVED FOR IS OUR TENNIS PRO, WHICH WE DO IN 80.
>> NOBODY TOURNAMENTS OR ANYTHING THERE?
>> NO. THEY THERE'S NOBODY THAT DOES TOURNAMENTS THERE, AND IT'S THE SAME THING WITH OUR PICKLEBALL.
THERE'S LIKE ST. MICHAEL'S RESERVES IT FOR THERE.
THEY HAVE A FUNDRAISER VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT MR. GONZALEZ IS TALKING ABOUT.
THEN THERE'S OPEN PLAY AND THEN GROUP PLAY, WHICH HAS RUN THROUGH THE FERNANDINA OR THE PICKLEBALL PIRATE GROUP.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR CESAR, DO 100% OF THE PROCEEDS GO TOWARDS THE SCHOLARSHIP? OR DOES SOME GO TOWARDS THE GENERAL FUND OR THE Y?
>> NO, 100% GOES TO OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND, AND IT STAYS HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH.
EVERYTHING THAT WE SCHOLARSHIP, ESPECIALLY IN OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS LIKE WHEN WE DO FREE SWIM LESSONS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS THAT COME IN TO SWIM OR AT CAMP KIDS, IT'S ALL SCHOLARSHIP FROM FUNDS THAT WE HAVE RAISED HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING IF IT BENEFITS THE YOUTH MORE THAN JUST THE OVERALL PUBLIC, DO WE ARGUE IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, AND MAYBE ALLOW THEM TO RESERVE A COURT BECAUSE IT DOES BENEFIT 85% OF.
>> ABOUT 90% OF OUR FUNDS GO FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS.
>> WELL, I THINK JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION BEING NEW TO THE BOARD AND STUFF, THE CITY DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB AT OFFERING NONPROFITS, DISCOUNTED RATES TO CERTAIN THINGS, AND THEY ALWAYS TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S HELPING THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
I THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB THERE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU GUYS DO.
>> THANK YOU, Y'ALL. YOU'RE WELCOME.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> THERE MAY BE SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO TALK.
>> SHE WANTED TO SPEAK [INAUDIBLE].
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS REGINA ALBERT.
I LIVE AT 612 SOUTH 11TH STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.
I'M JUST COMING IN WITH A FEW CONCERNS ABOUT PARKS AND RECREATIONS ABOUT THE JANE RICH FEEL AND THE TRACK THAT THE WALKING TRACK THAT'S BEEN PUT ON AROUND IT.
WHEN WE CAME IN BEFORE WITH THE FENCE, THEY WERE WE WERE TRYING TO PUT A FENCE UP OR SOMETHING.
BUT ANYWAY, MOVING FORWARD, AFTER THAT MEETING, THEY CAME BACK AND DUG THE FIELD BACK UP, BUT THE BASEBALL FIELD BACK.
THEY DUG IT UP, OR PUT GRASS ON IT.
THEY DUG IT BACK UP, NOW IT'S A BASEBALL FIELD AGAIN.
CONCERNS ARE SO UNEVEN, IT'S JUST UNEVEN.
IT'S NOT PLEASANT LIKE ATLANTIC.
THE WALK TRACK AND THE LITTLE WEIGHTS AND EVEN A PLAYGROUND FOR THE CHILDREN, AND AS WELL AS A BATHROOM.
THE PECK CENTER IS NOT OPEN WHEN SAY, IF YOU WANT ANYBODY ELSE TO COME AND WALK THE TRACK.
IF THERE ARE NO BENCHES OTHER THAN THAT GAZEBO, AND THERE'S NO BATHROOMS. JUST CONCERNED.
LIKE, WHAT IS THE PROJECT MOVING FORWARD? ALSO ONE OTHER CONCERN THE PARKING.
[00:20:02]
IF WE PARK IN THAT LOT WHERE PECK SCHOOL IS, IF YOU WANT TO PARK ALONG THE STREETS, THEY PUT INDENTIONS, ALMOST LIKE A DITCH TO WHERE IF YOU PARKED THERE, YOU CAN GET STUCK.WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT'S GOTTEN STUCK IN THAT BUG DOWN IN THAT IN THAT LITTLE, I GUESS, I CAN CALL IT EASE WAY OFF OF THE MAIN STREET, BUT IT DIPS LIKE THIS AND THEN COMES UP TO THE SIDEWALK.
>>ON THE PERIMETER OF THE PARK IS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> IT IS A SIDEWALK GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN LEVEN STREET, BUT THE WALKING IS SPACED, BUT IT GOES AROUND, AND THEY'RE STILL TINKERING WITH IT, PLANTING TREES, DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT IN THE COMMUNITY, MY CONCERN IS, WHAT IS THE PROJECT MOVING FORWARD? WHAT IS THE FINISHED PROJECT OF THIS FIELD? WHAT ARE YOU ALL LOOKING TO DO OR ARE YOU ALL OPEN FOR SOME SUGGESTIONS?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD THINK THAT I WILL ASK SCOTT TO GIVE US AN UPDATE OF THAT.
PECK IS IT COMPLETED, AND HAVE WE TURNED IT OVER TO THE PUBLIC.
>>ONE OTHER THING, THE DOG WALKING, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT, AS LONG AS THEY PICK UP THEIR DOGS.
>> LIKE TOTALLY I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT ONE.
>> BUT IT'S NOWHERE TO PUT IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE HAVE THE GARB, THE BAG.
IT'S JUST IT'S NOT SET UP, FEASIBLE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO ENJOY IT.
LIKE, WE HAVE ENJOYED ATLANTIC AVENUE, AND THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW.
>> I HAVE SOME CONCERN ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I'M AN AVID WALKER.
I JUST THINK IT NEEDS SOME UPGRADE.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST SUBTRACT IT DIPS.
IT'S JUST LIKE SHE SAID, WITH YOUR CAR, BECAUSE I HAD THE EXPERIENCE WITH MY CAR, I PARKED ON THE SIDE AND THEN, IT JUST NEEDS SOME MORE FIXING UP.
I THINK IF WE FIX IT UP MORE, IT'LL BE MORE IT'LL ATTRACT MORE PET THERE IS NOT A BATHROOM.
>> IT IS CHILDREN [INAUDIBLE] RIDING BIKE, IT'S NOT A WATER STATION.
A LOT OF KIDS PLAY SOCCER ON THE FIELD, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE INSIGHT IS ON THAT.
>>I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR SCOTT, BUT I WILL SAY, I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE FENCE AND ALL OF THAT STUFF, AND SPECIFICALLY NOT DOING THAT BECAUSE THE FENCE WAS NOT WELCOMED.
I THINK THAT MESSAGE WAS HEARD AND RECEIVED, WHICH IS WHY THAT FIELD GOT SWITCHED OUT BACK AND FORTH, IS THAT, MAYBE HOW THAT HAPPENED.
BUT I TOO WAS UNDER I LEFT OUR TALKS WITH THAT THERE WAS NOT AN INTEREST IN HAVING A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT AT THAT FIELD TO REALLY LEAVE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND THEN WE GOT THAT GRANT FOR THE WALKING TRACK.
I HAVE NOT ACTUALLY WALKED IT AND IT SHOWS.
I NEED TO BE OVER THERE WALKING ON THAT TRACK, BUT I HAVEN'T WALKED TO SEE IF THERE NEEDS TO BE SO I'LL ASK GOODEN ABOUT THAT.
BUT I DID NOTICE THE DITCHES, BUT ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WOULD BE, I WOULD GUESS BECAUSE THE TRACK WAS BUILT UP A LITTLE BIT IN ORDER TO HAVE THE WATER TO DRAIN PROPERLY, SO IT MOVES AWAY FROM THE FIELD THAT MAYBE THAT'S WHY THOSE DITCHES WERE PUT THERE.
BUT I'VE PARKED THERE DURING THE ELECTION AND I DON'T REMEMBER.
I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM, SO I NEED TO GO AND LOOK OVER AND SEE IT TO MAYBE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> FURTHER DOWN IN FRONT OF THE GAZEBO.
IT'S LIKE A LITTLE GAZEBO THERE.
YOU GET PAST THE GAZEBO IS WHERE IT'S MORE SOFTER GROUND ON BOTH SIDES ABOUT THAT POINT ALL THE WAY TO 11TH AND GUM ON TO THAT END TOWARDS THE GENE RICHEL SIGN.
>> MY OTHER THINKING WOULD BE, YES, PEOPLE SHOULD BE PICKING UP AFTER THEIR DOGS, AND I KNOW THAT WE DO AROUND THE CITY AT VARIOUS PLACES HAVE TRASH RECEPTACLES AND BAG PLACES.
MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD GET THERE TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO PICK IT UP.
THEN BATHROOMS, I KNOW, WE'RE GETTING BATHROOMS AT HICKORY FIELDS TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME SITUATION OVER THERE.
I'M WONDERING, I DON'T KNOW IF THE PECK BATHROOMS. DOES SOMEBODY CLOSE THAT UP AT NIGHT AFTER CLEANING, OR ARE THOSE OPEN LIKE EVERY DAY OR JUST DURING BUSINESS HOURS? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT SITUATION IS, BUT I WOULD THINK IF THAT'S A CITY OWNED BUILDING
[00:25:02]
AND WE HAVE ACCESS TO OPEN IT OR CLOSE IT.HOWEVER, I WOULDN'T THINK THAT IT WOULD WARRANT THE COST OF INSTALLING SEPARATE BATHROOMS AT THE PARK, IF WE HAVE FACILITIES CLOSE BY.
IN MY MIND, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL BATHROOMS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE ALL OPEN TO.
>> WE HAVE PRACTICED BASEBALL THERE QUITE A FEW TIMES, AND I HAVE NOTICED THE DIP.
WE PARKED AND OUR GOLF CART WAS LIKE ALMOST ON.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. YOU'RE JUST DOWN.
>> I MEAN, YOU ARE IN A DITCH, SO IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS THERE FOR THE RUNOFF, YES, BUT IT IS A BIT SIDEWAYS.
BUT I DO THINK WE JUST TOOK ALL THE LITTLE BOYS LIKE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ANY BATHROOMS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO HAVE THAT BECAUSE WE PRACTICED BASEBALL THERE MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR, AND MOST OF THE TIMES THERE WAS TWO TEAMS, ONE ON THE ACTUAL FIELD AND ONE OVER BY THE GIB JUST SORT OF LIKE MAKE SHIFT PLAYING.
BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE THAT FIELD WAS BETTER DURING SOME OF THE RAIN WHEN WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PRACTICE AT OTHER FIELDS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO HAVE THE BATHROOMS AT THAT BUILDING OPEN, AND MAYBE, LIKE, A LITTLE SIGN THAT SAYS, REST ROOM IS AVAILABLE IN THE BUILDING.
>> SEVEN O'CLOCK. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE REST ROOMS ARE IN THAT BUILDING FOR IF THAT'S SCOTT MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL US IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE.
BUT I THINK WE WOULD DEFINITELY BE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS.
I TOOK THE SAME MESSAGE AS SHEILA THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO DO A LOT, BUT I THINK IF THERE'S THINGS THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THEM AND A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED DON'T SEEM LIKE THEY WOULD BE HUGE, TRASH CANS, MAYBE SOME MORE LANDSCAPING.
IF THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME DIRT FILLED IN, THAT SEEMS REASONABLE.
BUT I DEFINITELY THINK SOME SUGGESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE GREAT.
>> I DO KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE CARS TO DRIVE TO ATLANTIC TO ENJOY THAT, FOR THAT FOR THEM TO WALK, A BLOCK TWO BLOCKS AWAY, IT WILL MAKE IT BETTER.
IT WOULD GIVE US A LITTLE MORE INCENTIVE TO EXERCISE TO WALK AND ENJOY THE BEAUTIFICATION.
I KNOW WE USE A FIELD FOR JUNETEENTH A LOT, BUT ON THE OUTSKIRTS, LIKE YOU HAVE IT AT ATLANTIC WITH JUST SOMETHING A LITTLE PLAYGROUND OR SOMETHING FOR MY GRANDSON THAT'S TWO-YEARS-OLD CAN GO AND ACTUALLY PLAY ON THERE IF WE ARE WALKING.
JUST WONDERING HOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITH.
>> I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WAS A TRACK AT ATLANTA GRAGSON.
>>THERE'S LIKE THE PARK IN THE BATHROOM, SO A SIMILAR PARK FIELD.
>> THAT'S ACTUAL CONCRETE, I THINK.
IT'S A DIFFERENT MATERIAL THAT'S USED.
>> IT'S LIKE ASPHALT ON THAT ON THAT TRACK.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR SCOTT.
WAS THERE A REASON WHY THAT PARTICULAR MATERIAL WAS USED FOR THAT PROJECT, IS THERE A WAY THAT IT COULD BE GRADED TO BE I MEAN, I WOULD THINK IT SHOULD BE LEVEL.
MAYBE THERE'S SOME SETTLING OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON.
I DON'T KNOW. THE BATHROOMS ARE AT THE FRONT OF THAT BUILDING, SO YOU THOSE FRONT STAIRS.
>>JUST CRASH THE FIELD, THE PARKING LOT, AND THEY'RE RIGHT THERE IN THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
>> I'M THINKING LIKE, I'VE BEEN AT EVENTS THERE AT NIGHT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY CLOSES IT UP AT A CERTAIN TIME, THERE'S BATHROOMS. THERE'S OFFICES IN THE PECK CENTER, SO PEOPLE ARE IN AND OUT.
>>CAN YOU ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE.
>> A COUPLE OF THINGS IS, I BELIEVE, AND I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH ANDRE, WHO'S THE UTILITIES DIRECTOR.
I BELIEVE THE DIPS THAT ARE BEING SPOKEN OF IS THEY'RE RIGHT ALONG THE ROAD.
YOU HAVE, LIKE, ESPECIALLY ON, I BELIEVE IT'S THE 11TH STREET WHERE THE SIDEWALK IS.
OUTSIDE OF THE SIDEWALK, THERE'S A DIP, AND I BELIEVE WHAT THAT IS, THERE'S SWALES FOR THE STORMWATER, THE WATER COMING OFF THE STREET TO COLLECT THAT.
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR.
THERE IS DIPS THERE AND THE SAME THING AROUND EACH SIDE OF THEM.
>> I THINK I REMEMBER NOW. IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU HAVE TO WALK UP TO THE SIDEWALK.
>> IT COMES OFF THE ROAD, AND THEN IT GOES BACK UP.
WHEN IT RAINS, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S CATCHING, AND THAT'S THE SWALE FOR TO HOLD THE WATER SO THEN THE WATER GOES IN.
[00:30:02]
I BELIEVE THAT TO BE THE CASE.THEN SECONDLY, I'M OBVIOUSLY OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS, AND I THINK BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING AT THAT FIELD, I THINK WE GOT TO GET THE OUR COMMUNITY AT WHOLE TO GET BEHIND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, ANYTHING AT LEAST LARGE SCALE.
THE BATHROOM SITUATION IS, YES, PARK IS OPEN, BUT IT'S NOT OPEN AT ALL TIMES.
>>WELL, IT VARIES A LITTLE BIT BASED ON THE WORKING DAY IS 8:00 YO 5:00, BUT THAT BUILDING WILL STAY OPEN A LITTLE BIT LATER.
SOMETIMES IF IF A WORKER OR A TENANT IS IN THE BUILDING OR THERE'S A RENTAL, SO IT VARIES.
IS MY POINT. SAME THING ON THE WEEKENDS.
IF THERE IS A RENTAL, THE DOOR WILL BE OPEN.
NOW, I CAN TELL YOU MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, FROM 8:OO TO 5:00, IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, IN THE WINTER TIME, THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE IT'S GETTING DARK.
AS THE DAYS GET LONGER AND LONGER, THEN THERE'S THE TIME FRAME OF OUTSIDE WORK WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE USING THAT TRACK AND WHERE THE PECK CENTER MIGHT BE CLOSED, NO FOR BATHROOM USE.
I HAVE A FEW CONCERNS MYSELF, AND I THINK WHAT I'LL DO IS I NEED TO GET WITH THE STREETS DEPARTMENT AND GO THROUGH THOSE CONCERNS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS SOME GRASS THAT IS COMING UP THROUGH THE ASPHALT.
WE HAVE HAD THAT ISSUE IN SOME OTHER PLACES, SO I WILL ADDRESS THOSE TWO CONCERNS.
THEN, AS FAR AS, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ADD, I THINK, IT WAS MY IMPRESSION THAT AT THIS POINT, THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE PLANS TO CHANGE OR ADD TO IT.
DO WE WANT TO ADD BENCHES? DO WE WANT TO ADD WORKOUT EQUIPMENT? WE DID PUT SOME WORKOUT EQUIPMENT AT THE MLK CENTER, SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.
ANYTIME WE PUT OR HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE MAYBE WANT TO FILL AN OPEN SPACE WITH, THERE'S ALWAYS CONCERNS BECAUSE IT IS AN OPEN AREA.
KIDS DO USE IT FOR PRACTICE FOR SOCCER, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
>> NO. WELL, OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE HEARD THERE'S NO PLANS FOR FENCING.
BUT I THINK IF WE WERE TO FILL OPEN GREEN SPACE, THAT IS ALWAYS A CONCERN OF PEOPLE WITH SOMETHING.
>> BUT I MEAN, THE WORKOUT EQUIPMENT THAT WAS AT MLK, WE GOT THAT WITH A GRANT.
>> I MEAN, I WOULD THINK THAT IF THERE ARE REALLY SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO SEE AT THAT PARK, IS REALLY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE LAURA AND MS. JACOBS CAN ALWAYS APPLY FOR GRANTS, AND THERE'S ALL MONEY OUT THERE WHERE WE COULD GET FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT.
I DO INTERIOR DESIGN, SO WHEN I'M LOOKING AT A PROJECT, EVEN IF I'M ONLY DOING ONE SMALL THING, I LIKE TO FILL OUT THE WHOLE THING IN MY MIND SO THAT IF I'M DOING IT IN PHASES, I'M NOT DOING SOMETHING THAT DOWN THE ROAD, I'M LIKE, OH, I WISH I DIDN'T DO THAT.
I THINK THAT AGAIN, I'VE HEARD THE MESSAGE AS LESS IS MORE OVER THERE, AND IT'S A GREAT PARK OVER THERE, AND IF WE NEED TO ADD THINGS TO IT FOR PEOPLE TO USE.
I'M ALL ABOUT THAT. ANYTHING THAT'S HEALTH RELATED, AS FAR AS THAT EQUIPMENT I THINK HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED EVERYWHERE YOU GUYS HAVE DONE IT.
>> MS. FALDING, I'M WILLING TO MEET YOU OR ANYBODY OVER THERE, AND IF YOU WANT TO GO OVER SOME STUFF, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT.
>> ARE THERE ANY TRASH RECEPTACLES THERE NOW? >. YEAH. BUT THERE'S A GAZEBO OVER THERE ON 11TH STREET.
NOW, I CANNOT TELL YOU FOR SURE IF THERE IS A DOG WASTE.
>> CAN WE GET A DOG WASTE RIGHT NOW?
>> MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THAT IS THAT WHEN YOU PUT IT THERE, IT OPENS UP.
WELL, IT'S A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD.
PEOPLE SHOULD PICK UP THEIR DOG WASTE.
HOWEVER, NOW WE'RE OPENING INVITING ANIMALS THERE.
[00:35:04]
IT'S OKAY TO BE THERE.I NEED TO REVIEW THE PROCESS OF SHOULD WE EVEN ALLOW ANIMALS TO BE THERE? IF WE AREN'T ALLOWING ANIMALS TO BE THERE, I SHOULD PUT UP SIGNAGE.
SECONDLY, IS IF WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO BE THERE, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE A DOG WASTE STATION.
>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU, AND WE FACED THAT AT CENTRAL PARK TOO.
BUT WE HAVE SIGNS AND SOME OF THOSE SIGNS ARE RED AND THE DOG KEEPS COMING.
>> I DO CONSIDER PECK FIELD A SPORTS FIELD AS WELL AS JUST LIKE I WOULD CONSIDER CENTRAL PARK BUCCANEER FIELD SPORTS FIELDS.
ON OUR SPORTS FIELDS DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THERE.
>> EXACTLY. THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE.
IF WE'RE CONSIDERING THAT A SPORTS FIELD, THEN THE SIGNS HAVE TO GO UP.
I WILL SAY TO YOU WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT THE OWNER OF THE DOG IS RESPONSIBLE.
BUT GUESS WHAT? NOT ALL OF THEM DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
I KNOW MEMBERS OF OUR BAY BROTH AND FOOTBALL PROGRAMS GO AROUND AND PICK UP STUFF BEFORE PRACTICES TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO DOG OR FECES ON THE FIELD.
I AM ALL FOR PUTTING THE SIGNS UP, BUT AGAIN, IT HAS TO BE MONITORED BY THE COMMUNITY AND GET BACK TO US OR GET BACK TO SCOTT AS TO YOUR FINDINGS.
WHAT OTHER STEPS CAN WE TAKE? THANK YOU, SCOTT.
>> DO I HAVE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY MORE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? COULD YOU FILL OUT THE FORM FOR US? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[6.1 Croquet Court (Mr. Stan Jackson, Interest In Installation Of Croquet Court)]
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE US YOUR PRESENTATION THAT SCOTT WILL BE INTRODUCING YOU?>> I WAS GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU.
>> BEFORE MY INTRODUCTION, I FIRST WANTED TO WELCOME MR. JACK GUNN AND ALSO MISS KENDALL CURRY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND APPLYING TO BE ON THE BOARD.
WE APPRECIATE IT, WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN SITTING ON THE BOARD.
>> TONIGHT, ITEM 6.1 IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION TONIGHT, AND MR. STAN JACKSON IS HERE TO DO THIS PRESENTATION.
WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO GIVE HIM THE TIME TO DO THE PRESENTATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. JACKSON AFTER THE PRESENTATION OR YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AFTER THE PRESENTATION, WE'D BE MORE THAN WELCOME TO ANSWER.
WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A DECISION TONIGHT, THIS IS A PRESENTATION, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU HAVE SEEN THIS.
BUT WE DO NEED TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
HE CAN DO HIS PRESENTATION AND THEN IF I HAVE ANY FOLLOW-UP ITEMS THAT I THINK THE BOARD NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF, I WILL LET YOU KNOW AS WELL AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
>> I'D BE DELIGHTED TO DO SO. THANK YOU, SCOTT.
MEMBERS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE, I'M SO PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE.
MY RESIDENT ADDRESS IS 2811 ATLANTIC AVENUE, CONDO 201.
IF I CAN GO BACK TO THE CHAIRMAN'S OPENING REMARKS, I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP IMPROVE THE ACTIVITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ON FERNANDINA BEACH IN THEIR PARKS AND RECREATION.
WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, AND I JUST BOUGHT THE CONDO ON OVERLOOKING MAINE BEACH, I WALKED OUT THE BACK DOOR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD THIS.
[NOISE] I SAID, WELL, WHAT'S GOING ON? I WALKED OVER AND THERE WAS A GUY NAMED DAVE CULTUS, AND THEY WERE PLAYING PICKLEBALL.
THEY HAD SET UP COURTS, AND EVERYBODY WAS PLAYING.
I SAID, WHAT IS THIS? MR. CULTUS SAID, THIS IS PICKLEBALL.
[00:40:04]
I SAID, WELL, HOW DO YOU PLAY IT? SURE ENOUGH, I GOT TO WHERE I WAS PLAYING IT, RIGHT NOW I'M NOT, I GOT A NEW KNEE.ALL OF A SUDDEN, THAT IS GROWING, IT'S THE FASTEST GROWING RECREATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
NOW, SOME OF US ARE AGING UP, BUT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES NOW ARE PLAYING PICKLEBALL.
THE PICKLEBALL PIRATES ARE HAVING TOURNAMENTS HERE, BRINGING PEOPLE IN FROM ALL OVER.
WE HEAR THAT THE YMCA WANTS TO DO LIKEWISE.
I HAVE BEEN SO PRIVILEGED TO ENJOY THIS ISLAND AND ITS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
ACTUALLY, I WAS IN EGAN'S CREEK EARLIER TODAY, ACTUALLY RIGHT BEFORE THIS MEETING AND I WAS SO PLEASED TO BE WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE THERE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW I WAS LOOKING, I WAS SAYING, WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO THAT WOULD FURTHER THE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON THIS ISLAND THAT IS SO PRECIOUS BUT IT'S STILL NOT HERE? IT WAS CROQUET.
IT SO HAPPENS THAT I WAS INTRODUCED TO CROQUET IN ANOTHER CITY, AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA.
IN AIKEN, I WAS INTRODUCED TO IT AT A CLUB CALLED THE GREEN BOUNDARY CLUB, AND THEY HAD TWO COURTS.
FROM YOUNG TO OLD, AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU ALL HAVE PLAYED IN THE BACK YARDS OF YOUR HOMES.
IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND FRIENDS IN A SOCIAL MOMENT.
NOW, CROQUET IS LIKE PICKLEBALL.
A NEW VERSION OF IT HAS COME ABOUT CALLED GOLF CROQUET.
THE GOLF CROQUET IS DIFFERENT THAN YOUR BACKYARD LAWN CROQUET.
IT WAS A TAKEOFF ON WHAT'S KNOWN AS SIX WICKET CROQUET.
NOW, SIX WICKET CROQUET, EVERYBODY HAS TO GO THROUGH EACH HOOP OR WICKET IN ORDER TO WIN THE MATCH.
WHAT THIS VARIATION CAME ABOUT? IT'S SO WELCOMING, SO INCLUSIVE.
THE THING IS THAT YOU PLAY PARTNERS, AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF CROQUET PARTNERSHIPS AND GOLF AND ALSO POOL.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT GOLF CROQUET AND SIX WICKET CROQUET IS WHAT REAL PROFESSIONALS PLAY.
IF YOU GET SOMEONE WHO'S REALLY GOOD, THEY WILL HIT YOUR BALL AND PASS THE WICKET, THEY GET AN EXTRA SHOT.
THEN THEY GO THROUGH THE WICKET, AND THEY CAN BE LIKE MINNESOTA FATS POOL TABLE, AND THEN RUN THE WHOLE COURSE AND YOU SAY, OH, THAT WAS FUN TO WATCH.
WELL, GOLF CROQUET TOOK THAT GAME OF SIX WICKET, WHICH HAS PLAYED IN LOTS OF TOURNAMENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND MADE A VARIATION WITH IT, BUT ON THE SAME COURSE.
THAT VARIATION IS THAT YOU PLAY TEAMS OR YOU CAN PLAY SINGLES.
THE TEAMS SCORE IT LIKE YOU WOULD SCORE MATCH PLAY AND GOLF, I'M NOT MUCH OF A GOLFER BECAUSE I HAD A LITTLE INJURY.
BUT WHERE YOU SCORE EACH WICKET LIKE YOUR FIRST HOLE IN GOLF.
WHOEVER GETS THE MOST WICKETS, A LOT OF TIMES WILL PLAY TO SEVEN, WHICH MEANS WHOEVER GETS FOUR WINS THE MATCH FIRST.
BUT IT BECOMES VERY MUCH OF A STRATEGY GAME, A VERY MUCH OF A [INAUDIBLE] BALL GAME, JUST LIKE GOLF IS.
NOW, YOU DON'T GET QUITE THE EXERCISE, BUT YOU SURE GET THE SOCIAL.
WHEN SAY, I WAS PLAYING AGAINST SCOTT AND HIS BUDDY, AND IF SCOTT HIT IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE WICKET, AND I'M AGAINST ANY ONE OF MY TEAM, MY JOB IS TO KNOCK HIM OUT OF THE WAY SO THAT HE CAN'T GO THROUGH THE WICKET AND MY PARTNER CAN.
BUT WHOEVER GETS THAT FIRST WICKET, THEN EVERYBODY GOES TO THE SECOND WICKET AND SEE WHO SCORES IT.
THEN WE HAVE A MATTER OF ALMOST
[00:45:02]
LIKE PLAYING POOL WHERE YOU RICOCHET OFF OF A BALL AND YOU GO THROUGH THE WICKET.OR SOME REALLY GOOD PLAYERS CAN ACTUALLY JUMP OVER THE OTHER BALLS AND SCORE THE WICKET AND STEAL IT AWAY.
MATTER OF FACT, SCOTT, DO YOU HAVE THAT VIDEO? THE WICKET PLAY? NOW, I'M NOT THIS GOOD, BUT I CAN OCCASIONALLY MAKE IT JUMP.
HE'S GOOD. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S ABOUT THE BEST I CAN DO.
>> THAT'S IT ON THE VIDEO, BUT THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE VARIATIONS OF THE GAME AND HOW INTERESTING IT CAN BE FROM A SOCIAL STANDPOINT AND A STRATEGY STANDPOINT.
I AM POSING AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT YOU CONSIDER BUILDING A CROQUET COURT, EITHER A PRACTICE OR ONE THAT'S COMPETITION-SIZE.
BUT THEY COME IN, YOU CAN DO THEM IN ANY SIZE.
LIKE I SAID, THE GREEN BOUNDARY CLUB HAD ONE THAT WAS A PRACTICE ONE AND THEN HAD A REGULATION ONE, WHICH IS A BIT LARGER.
BUT IT'S A GAME THAT CAN BE PLAYED BY ALL AGES, AND THE STUFF THAT WE PRESENTED, I THINK WAS SENT TO YOU, IS A GROWING SPORT.
IT'S A SPORT THAT'S VERY INTERESTED TO ALL AGES.
A MATTER OF FACT, I HAVE A DEAR FRIEND WHO JUST TURNED 90, AND HE'S PLAYING.
I USED TO PLAY RACKET BALL WITH HIM, AND HE'S A LITTLE OLDER THAN I AM, I THINK.
I HOPE TO MAKE IT ONE OF THESE DAYS.
BUT HE IS SO ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT THAT IF THERE'S EVER AN OPPORTUNITY, HE SHOWS UP, AND THEN MY NEPHEW AND MY GRAND CHILDREN ENJOY IT ALMOST EQUALLY AS WELL.
CONSISTENTLY WITH YOUR MISSION, I PROPOSE THAT YOU CONSIDER BUILDING A CROQUET COURT.
IT HAPPENS WE BUILT ONE VERY RECENTLY IN AIKEN AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS I BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE MATERIAL COSTS AND ALSO ONE OF MY FRIENDS ACTUALLY WAS IN THE SENIOR'S TOURNAMENT.
I SAID, CAN YOU PLAY AND HAVE THIS ARTIFICIAL TURF WORK? HE SAYS, YEAH, THEY'RE TOURNAMENTS WITH ARTIFICIAL TURF IN VARIOUS PLACES.
FROM A STANDPOINT OF MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP, I WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU ARTIFICIAL TURF.
THE ARTIFICIAL TURF DOES NEED TO GO DOWN ON A FAIRLY LEVEL SURFACE AND OVER A BET OF CONCRETE.
BUT BASICALLY, THESE ROLLS COME IN 105-FOOT LENGTHS AND YOU SEW THEM TOGETHER AS TO HOWEVER LONG YOU WANT THEM AND WHATEVER SPACE YOU'RE ABLE TO ALLOCATE TO THEM.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THERE ARE THREE PLACES ALL WITHIN BICYCLING AND WALKING DISTANCE OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW JUST ABOUT EGAN'S CREEK, MAINE BEACH, AND CENTRAL PARK.
ALL THREE OF THOSE COULD ACCOMMODATE A CROQUET COURT.
IF YOU SET IT UP AS A SIX WICKET, IT COULD BE EITHER FOR THE PROFESSIONALS THAT WANT NO GRACE, [LAUGHTER] NOTHING FORGIVING, BUT I WANT SOMETHING FORGIVING, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE ME LIKE IT THAT WAY.
YOU CAN USE IT BOTH AS A COMPETITION COURT OR AS A LEARNING COURT OR JUST A SOCIAL COURT.
[00:50:03]
THERE ARE THREE LOCATIONS THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO BE LOOKED AT.I'M PARTIAL TO THE ONE RIGHT NEXT TO THE VOLLEYBALL COURT ON MAINE BEACH.
OF COURSE, THE DOWNSIDE THERE IS SAND.
BUT THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS ALREADY BLOWING SAND BACK WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF WIND OR THAT BLOWS SAND OVER, AT LEAST OFF THE STREETWAY THERE.
OR THEN IF IT TAKES OFF LIKE PICKLEBALL ON MAINE BEACH, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXPAND TO OTHER AREAS IF YOU NEED MORE COURTS.
THERE'S ALSO ROOM ON EGAN'S CREEK TO PUT ALMOST A COMPETITION SIZE, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY HAVE ONE THAT'S A GOOD PRACTICE COURT.
THEN ON CENTRAL PARK, YOU ALSO HAVE ROOM TO PLACE ONE.
I WOULD RECOMMEND ALL THREE OF THOSE PLACES WILL HAVE POTENTIAL.
ONE OF THEM HAS THE ABILITY OF EXPANSION WITHOUT GOING AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE USING THE PARK FOR WHATEVER ELSE.
THAT BASICALLY IS MY PRESENTATION.
BUT I WANT TO ASSURE YOU HOW APPRECIATIVE I AM, AND I'M SURE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE, FOR THE WONDERFUL PARKS AND RECREATION THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS.
THANK YOU AND I CAN TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS I'M ABLE TO DO SO.
>> I ACTUALLY HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
>> ARE THE WICKETS THAT ARE IN THE GROUND, ARE THEY PERMANENT FIXTURES?
>> THEY CAN BE MOVED BUT GENERALLY, THEY ARE WITH ARTIFICIAL TURF.
WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF THEM THAT ARE LIKE AT THE JEKYLL ISLAND.
THEY HAVE A COURSE RIGHT THERE BY THE HOTEL.
THEY WILL MOVE THE WICKETS FROM ONE SPOT TO ANOTHER OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE THEY WILL GET A LITTLE DIP IN THE GROUND.
WITH A PERMANENT COURT YOU DON'T, BUT YOU CAN PUT IN PLACES AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DO IS PUT IN A LITTLE PIPE.
IF YOU WANT TO SET IT UP FOR AN ALTERNATE SETUP, YOU CAN DO SO.
FOR EXAMPLE, LAWN TENNIS, WHICH HAS THE STAKE AND THE TWO AND JUST HAVE A PIECE OF THE ARTIFICIAL TURF THAT CAN BE REMOVED OR REPLACED LIKE A VELCRO THING.
>> FIRST OF ALL, LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS OF THE COSTS FOR TURF.
OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A CONCRETE FOUNDATION THAT'S PRICEY, THE TURF ITSELF MAYBE LOWER MAINTENANCE IN THE LONG RUN, BUT I GUESS JUST LOOKING AT THE VISUAL IS THAT TO SCALE, SCOTT, ABOUT HOW MUCH SPACE WOULD BE NEEDED AND HOW MUCH OF THAT GREEN SPACE WOULD BE UP AT EGAN'S?
>> LET ME GET AT THE POINTER HERE.
THE ACTUAL SPACE IF IT WAS A FULL COMPETITION.
>> TURN THE BACK SIDE OF THIS.
>> THERE WE GO. I DIDN'T DO THIS, I THINK SCOTT DID THIS PART AND HE CAN TELL YOU THE MEASUREMENTS.
THERE IS NO REGULATION FOR THE SIZE EXCEPT FOR A COMPETITION COURT.
IF WE'RE DOING A COMPETITION COURT, THAT PROBABLY IS PRETTY CLOSE.
NOW, DO WE HAVE THE OTHER PICTURES OTHER THAN THAT?
>> I THINK THEY JUST SHOW THE LOCATION.
>> HERE IT ALMOST FITS PERFECTLY IN THAT SPACE.
IT COULD GO ALONG HERE AT A MORE NARROW COURT AND OVER THE CENTRAL PARK IT COULDN'T GO.
>> BUT WICKET IS LIKE I HAVE PLAYED LONG CROQUET ALSO IN AIKEN SOUTH CAROLINA AT THE STEEPLECHASE'S
>> THEN YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
>> BUT OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT SET UP IN A PERMANENT COURT AND I WOULD WONDER IF THERE ARE DIFFERENT VARIATIONS IN THE GAME AND WHERE THE WICKETS WOULD BE.
THAT IF WE HAD THINGS THAT WERE PERMANENT,
[00:55:01]
WE WOULD BE JUST LIMITED TO ONE TYPE OF COURSE.I MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT PEOPLE.
IF I WAS INTERESTED IN PLAYING, I HAVE NO EQUIPMENT.
NOT SURE THAT I WOULD WANT TO INVEST IN A MALLET AND THE APPROPRIATE BALLS TO PLAY.
LET ME JUST PREFACE THIS BY SAYING, I SAID IT EARLIER, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY IS WE HAVE SO MANY OFFERINGS TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO NEW SPORTS, TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN WAYS THAT ARE FUN AND HEALTHY, WHICH I LOVE THAT SO MUCH.
I COULD ALMOST SEE THIS, IF THERE WAS JUST A PLACE DESIGNATED FOR IT AT CENTRAL PARK WHERE SOMEBODY COULD COME OVER TO THE REC CENTER AND CHECK OUT THE MALLETS AND BALLS TO TAKE AND BRING BACK.
BUT WHERE THEY COULD SET UP THEIR OWN COURSE TO PLAY THE GAME IF THEY'RE SO INTERESTED IN THAT WE COULD PROMOTE THAT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW, ESPECIALLY BASED ON THE COSTS.
WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH PLAY TO WARRANT PERMANENT FIXTURES AND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET THAT SET UP.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
>> WELL, SCOTT AND I HAD A LITTLE DISCUSSION ALONG THOSE LINES AND I WAS SUGGESTING A CABINET THAT, LIKE THE PICKLEBALL PIRATES HAVE AT THE PICKLEBALL COURTS IN ORDER TO STORE LONGER MALLETS AND ALSO MALLETS THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY BRING THEM BACK AND FORTH.
NOW, SOME MALLETS ARE VERY INEXPENSIVE AND THEN SOME ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AS YOU'VE PROBABLY HAVE FOUND OUT.
I HAD A LITTLE NECK INJURY A FEW YEARS BACK AND SO MINE'S ESPECIALLY DONE MALLET THAT'S LONGER, AND IT ALLOWS ME TO PLAY.
THERE AGAIN, PEOPLE GENERALLY THAT ARE REAL PLAYERS BRING THEIR OWN MALLETS.
JUST LIKE THE REAL PLAYERS AT PICKLEBALL BRING THEIR OWN PADDLES.
BUT THEN IT'S NICE TO HAVE A CABINET FOR LONERS SO ANYBODY CAN USE THEM OR PLAY THEM AND SEEMS TO WORK WELL FOR PICKLEBALL.
IT WOULD BE A CABINET ABOUT LIKE THIS AND THIS HIGH THAT'D BE SUFFICIENT.
I THINK THAT'S THE EASY SOLUTION TO THAT QUESTION.
>> THEN ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT SCOTT AND I HAD, SO IS THIS COMING FROM A DONATION OF THESE FUNDS? WAS THERE OR IS THIS A PROJECT THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE CITY TO FUND?
I WAS LOOKING TO HELP THIS CITY IN ITS ENDEAVORS.
LAST YEAR FROM MY RETIREMENT ACCOUNT, WHICH REQUIRES ME TO MAKE AN ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION ONCE YOU GET TO A CERTAIN AGE.
I CONTRIBUTED $8,000 TOWARDS A PROJECT AND IF THE CITY CHOSE TO GO FORWARD, I HAD PROMISED TO DO A TOTAL OF $16,000.
IN OTHER WORDS, ANOTHER 8,000 FROM THIS YEAR TO OFFSET THE COST OF INSTALLATION.
NOW, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHERS BUT I'M STILL WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE ANOTHER $8,000 TOWARDS THIS PROJECT, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT A TOTAL OF $16,000, WHICH JUST ABOUT COVERS THE MATERIAL AND GETS IT STARTED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST WOULD BE FOR THE CONCRETE PAD.
>> BUT THAT'S ONLY NEEDED IF YOU USE TURF, CORRECT?
>> YOU ONLY NEED THE CONCRETE PAD IF YOU'RE USING TURF?
>> THAT'S RIGHT. YOU CAN ALSO USE GRASS BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT MOWED, AERATED LIKE A PUDDING GREEN.
>> WELL, WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT AT MOST OF THOSE PLACES.
I THINK IT WOULD BE AMENABLE TO ME IF WE WERE USING EXISTING GRASS.
I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF A PROJECT LIKE THAT.
>> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
>> I CONSIDER LOOKING INTO IT.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR IDEA ON NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THIS IN THE COMMUNITY?
[01:00:01]
IS THERE A CRICKET CLUB OR A GROUP? I KNOW LIKE WHEN PA TONG CAME THEY HAD HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE PLAYING BECAUSE I WOULD JUST BE CURIOUS IS THERE A GROUP THAT CURRENTLY PLAYS AND ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE AND HOW FREQUENTLY THEY PLAY? IF YOU DID HAVE A COURT, I GUESS, IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED? IS IT FENCED OFF, STAKED OFF? DOES IT NEED TO HAVE BOUNDARIES AROUND IT? HOW DOES THAT?>> IT DOES NOT NEED BOUNDARIES.
MOST COURTS DO NOT HAVE A BOUNDARY BUT SOME DO.
BUT YOU NEED THE BOUNDARY TO BE SET FAR ENOUGH BACK WITHIN THE LINES, YOU HAVE PLENTY OF BACK SWING AREA, USUALLY BE ABOUT FIVE FEET.
BUT SOME COURTS ARE BOUNDED AND SOME ARE NOT AND THE BALLS ARE ALL THE SAME SIZE.
>> OKAY. DO I HAVE ANY NUMBERS ABOUT WHO WOULD PLAY? NO, I DON'T.
>> OKAY. I DO KNOW THAT EVERYTHING I HAVE READ AND INFORMATION I HAVE GOTTEN OFF INTERNET AND TALKING TO OTHERS IS IT'S A GROWING GAME, 10,000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE PLAYING IT NOW AND THE TOURNAMENTS ALL OVER FLORIDA NOW, AND THERE IS I THINK IT'S LIKE PICKLEBALL WAS 10 YEARS AGO.
CAN I SAY WOULD IT BE LIKE PICKLEBALL TODAY? I CANNOT TELL YOU THAT, BUT I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
>> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS?
>> I DO. STAN, HOW LONG IS A TYPICAL MATCH?
>> WELL, IF YOU PLAY TO SEVEN GENERALLY AND YOU'RE PLAYING TEAMS, TWO ON A TEAM, THAT USUALLY IS ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW GOOD EVERYBODY IS.
IF YOU GOT SOME REALLY GOOD DEFENSIVE PEOPLE IT COULD BE AN HOUR.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME, A GAME TO SEVEN IS ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND WHEN WE PLAY, IT'S NORMALLY, WE GET TWO OR THREE GAMES IN AN HOUR.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE TWO OR THREE GAMES, SO IT'S BREAKS IT UP.
NOW, SOME OF THE MATERIALS THAT WE DISSEMINATED, OBVIOUSLY, OTHER PEOPLE LIKE LONGER GAMES AND THE TOURNAMENTS ARE A LITTLE LONGER.
>> IT'S TYPICALLY TWO VERSUS TWO.
>> YEAH. USUALLY IT'S TWO ON TWO.
IT CAN BE UP TO A WHOLE ANOTHER SET OF BALLS SO THAT YOU HAVE A TEAM OF FOUR PLAYING AND THEY'RE ALL PLAYING AGAINST EACH OTHER.
THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S VARIATIONS WHEN YOU HAVE AN ODD PERSON IN OR OUT, SOMEBODY EITHER PLAYS TWO BALLS AGAINST THE OTHER TWO PLAYERS OR THEY HAVE A REAL ADVANTAGE.
BUT THAT'S NEITHER HERE OR THERE IT'S JUST STILL FUN.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE SETTING UP WICKETS EVERY TIME IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
>> WITH THE WICKETS ARE REMOVABLE OR REPLACEABLE.
GENERALLY, YOU LEAVE THE WICKETS IN THE GROUND.
>> MS. SHEILA WAS ASKING, IF YOU HAVE A TURF YOU HAMMER THEM IN WITH A BIG SLEDGE HAMMER.
IF YOU HAVE ARTIFICIAL TURF, YOU HAVE A PIPE THAT YOU PUT THEM IN.
BUT THEY ARE REMOVABLE UNDER EITHER CASE AND WITH THE GRASS COURTS, THE EXPENSE THERE IS AERATING THEM, WATERING THEM AND MOWING THEM AND THAT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE ARTIFICIAL TURF.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? I APPRECIATE IT.
>> REAL QUICK. THESE ARE ALL PRECIOUS OPEN SPACES THAT IF YOU WALK AROUND IN CREEK PARK, YOU SEE THE KIDS RUNNING AND THEY SET UP AND THEY PLAY TEAMS. IF THERE IS A WAY TO KEEP IT ACCESSIBLE TO KIDS TO RUN ON IT, AND TO HAVE THAT OPEN SPACE, I THINK I CAN SEE WHY IT WOULD BE GOOD.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OPEN SPACE AND IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE UNCONSTRUCTED PLAY AND LET THE KIDS RUN AND YOU SEE LITTLE KIDS AND THEIR DADS AND THEIR MOMS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT STAY IN ALL THREE OF THE AREAS.
[01:05:04]
>> YEAH. AT EGAN'S, YOU HAVE A LOT MORE FOOTBALL KIDS PLAYING AND THEY'RE RUNNING UP AND DOWN.
THAT WAS MY MAJOR CONCERN ABOUT EGAN'S.
WHEREAS EVERYBODY WHO'S RUNNING OR DOING IT ON THE MAIN BEACH PARK.
THE AREA BY THE SKATEBOARD OR BY THE EXISTING VOLLEYBALL DOESN'T HAVE MANY PEOPLE "RUNNING AND PLAYING".
I'D BE CONCERNED AS FAR AS EGAN'S CREEK MYSELF ABOUT KIDS MAYBE TRIPPING ON ON THE WICKETS AND THAT WOULD BE MY MAJOR CONCERN.
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE NOT AND THE PROBLEM I SEE WITH CENTRAL PARK, BECAUSE I THINK YOU ALL WANT TO KNOW ALL THE PROBLEMS IS THAT WOULD RESTRICT YOUR EVENTS TERRITORY.
I THINK MAIN BEACH IS ALMOST IDEALLY, AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST COURT AND THEN IT'S ALSO EXPANDABLE.
>> SCOTT, IF SAND IS AN ISSUE HOW WOULD THAT BE DEALT WITH AND IS THAT A FAIRLY BIG TIME SUCK? CAN I SAY THAT?
>> YEAH. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS JUST A PRESENTATION TONIGHT FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
AS WE KNOW AND AS WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY ANYTIME THAT WE LOOK AT ANY OPEN SPACE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IF WE ARE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE COMMUNITY, IT BETTER BE VETTED.
IT BETTER BE VETTED FULLY AND THIS WOULD BE THE PROCESS THAT WE WOULD GO THROUGH THAT.
I THINK ANY OPEN SPACE THAT WE LOOK AT, THERE WILL BE CONCERNS.
I THINK ANY OPEN SPACE THAT WE PUT ANYTHING, IT'S GOT TO BE VETTED AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS MADE AWARE OF IT, SO EVERYONE CAN VOICE THEIR OPINIONS ON IT SO WE CAN COME TO THE RIGHT CONCLUSION.
A COUPLE OF THESE SPOTS JUST AS WATCHING THIS.
WE JUST HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT PA TONG. THIS RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE COMING FORWARD TO YOU IS THE WHOLE BEACH HARMONIZATION PLAN WITH THE COUNTY.
I DON'T HAVE DATES ON ALL OF THAT STUFF, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, I BELIEVE, ANYTHING THAT WE DO AT THE BEACH, WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THEN EGAN'S CREEK PARK IS OBVIOUSLY OPEN GREEN SPACE AND OUR KIDS DO PLAY THERE.
THESE ARE OPEN LOCATIONS BUT ONCE AGAIN IS ANY LOCATION I THINK THAT WE LOOK AT WE HAVE TO VET IT.
EACH LOCATION HAS ITS PROS, EACH LOCATION HAS ITS CONS.
I THINK WE COULD TAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
IF YOU WANT WE COULD HAVE CONVERSATIONS, GET MORE INFORMATION.
TONIGHT WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A VOTE, THIS IS A PRESENTATION.
MY PLAN WOULD BE TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WISH FOR ME TO DO AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
>> FIRST OF ALL, MR. JACKSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTRIBUTING TO OUR PARKS AND REC.
THE MONEY THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE AND ANY FUTURE MONEY YOU MAY BE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE BECAUSE I KNOW IT BENEFITS A LOT OF PEOPLE SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> BUT BASED ON THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CONSIDER, BECAUSE MY THINKING OF IT ALTOGETHER IS THAT, IT'S GREAT.
EVEN WITH DONATIONS, WHAT GETS SOMETHING STARTED, BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE ONGOING MAINTENANCE, AND THEN WHAT'S THE IMPACT DOWN THE ROAD? THEN DOES IT GET UTILIZED AND THEN HOW MUCH RESOURCES TO JUST KEEP SOMETHING GOING INDEFINITELY? IF IT'S NOT SUPPORTED BY PEOPLE USING IT.
I WOULD BE INCLINED ON THAT CURRENT SMALL SWATH ON MAIN BEACH BETWEEN THE VOLLEYBALL COURTS.
WHAT IF WE DID, LIKE YOU SAID, HAD A BOX WHERE YOU COULD ACCESS THE EQUIPMENT?
[01:10:01]
IT'S LOCKED UP WHEN ALL THE OTHER STUFF IS LOCKED UP AT MAIN BEACH AND PUT AWAY EVERY NIGHT.BUT TO USE THAT, WHERE PEOPLE ARE PUTTING THE WICKETS, SETTING UP THEIR OWN COURSE DURING THE PLAY, SO IT'S NOT A PERMANENT FIXTURE.
THAT WAY IT DOESN'T CREATE SOMETHING NEW FOR US TO MAINTAIN.
IT PUTS THE TOOLS OUT THERE, AND THEN MAYBE IN THE SHORT-TERM, IF IT CATCHES ON AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE, HEY, THAT'S REALLY COOL.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S SMALLER, BUT IT'S ALSO A LOT OF EXPOSURE RIGHT THERE AT THE VOLLEYBALL COURTS, THE PLAYGROUND, THE SKATE PARK.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT SEE THAT AND MAYBE POTENTIALLY BE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT IT.
I WOULD BE INCLINED, OF COURSE, WITH YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS, IF WE WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT FUNDING THAT WOULD COST AND THEN BE ABLE TO USE THE ADDITIONAL MONIES THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE TO HAVE ONGOING MAINTENANCE FOR SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO ADD SOMETHING WITHOUT DISRUPTING SOMETHING ELSE WOULD BE.
>> MY FIRST THOUGHT WHEN YOU SAID, PUTTING THAT OUT THERE AT THE BEACH IS I GIVE IT ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE TOURISTS, TEENAGERS, BOYS, LITTLE KIDS, KNOCK EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE BALLS STRAIGHT INTO THE OCEAN.
[LAUGHTER] SOMEONE'S GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND BE HITTING HIM IN THE WAVES, THE WICKED THINGS.
UNLESS THERE'S SOMEBODY STANDING THERE MANNING THE CABINET AND SAYING, YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM OFF THE GRASSY SPACE RIGHT HERE.
I THINK THAT THE BALLS AND, SORRY WHAT IS THAT MAYBE KNOCKER THING CALLS?
>> WE HAVE THE SKATE CHILD, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. BUT I THINK UNLESS SOMEBODY IS ACTUALLY STANDING THERE IN THE GRASSY AREA SAYING, THIS DOES NOT GO IN THE SAND.
I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY, BUT I JUST THINK I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT, IF I WENT OUT THERE TO THAT, MY SON'S GOING TO TAKE THAT BALL DOWN TO THE BEACH AND CHECK IT, AND IT'S GOING TO ROLL RIGHT IN THE WATER, AND UNLESS SOMEONE GOES IN CATCHES IT, IT'S GONE.
I THINK IF YOU GET TOURIST HERE WHO DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT, AND THEY ALL JUST ROLL DOWN THERE, AND THEN WE KNOW HOW FAST THE WATER TAKES IT ALL AWAY.
I JUST THINK I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT WOULD LAST A WEEK BEFORE UNLESS SOMEBODY'S SAYING, IT CANNOT GO ON THE BEACH.
I DON'T THINK THE SIGN WOULD STOP PEOPLE, UNFORTUNATELY.
>> I THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT WE COULD DO THAT FOR A TEMPORARY BASIS IS TO HAVE A BOX DOWN THERE THAT'S LOCKED AND MAYBE HAVE A TIME FRAME.
I KNOW THAT LIMITS YOU TO CERTAIN TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
BUT IT GOES LIKE, WHAT YOU'RE JUST SAYING IS THEY PROBABLY WOULD DISAPPEAR IF THEY WERE NOT LOCKED UP.
TO SEE IF WE COULD DRAW INTEREST TO THIS IS WE COULD HAVE THAT BOX DOWN THERE.
WHAT THEY DID WITH PICKLEBALL IS THEY HAD GROUP PLAYTIME.
THAT'S WHERE PICKLEBALL GREW IS THEY HAD GROUP PLAY TIME, AND THEN IN TURN, OUTSIDE OF THAT GROUP PLAY TIME, IT DISPERSED.
ULTIMATELY, THEN YOU MEET FRIENDS, YOU COME TO THE COURTS WITH YOUR PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH SO THAT'S WHERE IT COULD WORK, I BELIEVE.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. I DON'T BELIEVE WE COULD JUST HAVE THE ITEMS SITTING THERE BECAUSE THEY WOULD MAYBE GET THROWN INTO THE OCEAN.
>> [LAUGHTER] I PICTURE ALL OF IT JUST GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE WATER.
MOSTLY BECAUSE WE TAKE OUR TODDLERS THERE A LOT, AND ALL THE BOYS JUST LIKE I'M CONSTANTLY CHASING STUFF OUT OF THE WATER AT THAT BEACH AND PARK, AND I'M LIKE, YOU OPEN THAT UP THERE, AND I'M GOING TO BE THE ONE CHASING ALL OF THEM OFF THE BEACH, TRYING TO KEEP EVERYBODY UP THERE AND NOT HAVE IT JUST ALL THROWN OUT THE OCEAN, ACCIDENTALLY.
>> I'M JUST THINKING OF SOMETHING LESS PERMANENT UNTIL WE GET SOME DATA TO SHOW, HEY, THERE'S SOME REAL INTEREST IN THIS.
THEN I THINK IT'S REALLY EASY TO MAKE THE CASE OF, LET'S INVEST IN [OVERLAPPING]
>> OR HAVE A PERSON THERE TO MONITOR IT.
>> BUT WE CAN ALSO HAVE A DROP SHEET FOR THOSE BALLS, SO THAT WHEN YOU LEAVE, IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT THE KEY FROM THE REC CENTER LIKE YOU DO WITH TENNIS COURTS AND SUCH, THAT YOU DROP THE BALLS IN AND PEOPLE CAN BRING THEIR OWN BALLS, WHICH MANY WILL DO.
>> I THINK IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEM MORE.
>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF EASY SOLUTIONS TO THESE, THE MAJOR CONCERN IS DO WE WANT TO GIVE IT A TRY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS?
>> I PROPOSE AND I THINK WE TABLE IT, AND WE BRING IT BACK WHEN WE HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GATHER AS BEST WE POSSIBLY CAN TO FIND OUT NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN THE INTEREST OF THE CITY AND FIND A WAY OF TRYING TO ASK THE CITY FOR EITHER A SURVEY OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
[01:15:03]
BUT LET'S TABLE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO PUTTING IT BACK ON THE AGENDA TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT AS FAR AS MORE INFORMATION THAT IT CAN BE GIVEN TO US.IS THAT WITH EVERYBODY? MR. JACKSON.
>> YES SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
FOR THE TIME AND ENERGY THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS PROJECT, I TRULY APPRECIATE IT.
WE WILL GET BACK AT YOU AS SOON AS WE GET SOME FURTHER INFORMATION.
I THINK THE PRESENTATION WAS OUTSTANDING, AND I GAVE US A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.
>> WELL, MAY I REQUEST THAT MAYBE SCOTT OR SOMEBODY WHO HAS MORE CONTACT WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] IF THERE'S SOME WAY TO DO A SURVEY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
>> WITHOUT A DOUBT. I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL INVEST WITH PARKS AND REC TO DO OUR SURVEY FOR US GOING FORWARD.
[7.1 Election Of President And Vice President]
>> NOW WE COME TO ITEM NUMBER 71, ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.
EVERY YEAR IN JANUARY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT A NEW PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT, OR WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.
I WILL ASK SCOTT TO CONDUCT THE ELECTION.
>> ARE WE CHANGING IT TO PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OR IS IT CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR?
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT IT SHOULD HAVE SAID CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
>> AS WE ALWAYS DO THIS MEETING IS WE ELECTED A NEW CHAIR AND A VICE CHAIR.
THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD RUN IS WE WOULD DO NOMINATIONS.
DOES ANYONE WANT TO NOMINATE ANYBODY TO BE THE CHAIR? IF WE HAVE A NOMINATION FROM A BOARD MEMBER, THEY WOULD NOMINATE AN INDIVIDUAL.
IF THAT INDIVIDUAL THEN WOULD LIKE TO ACCEPT THE NOMINATION, WE COULD THEN MAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND THEN VOTE.
IF WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE NOMINATION, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS AND TWO PEOPLE WANT TO ACCEPT THOSE NOMINATIONS, WE HAVE COME UP WITH A VOTING THAT WE WOULD DO THAT.
KATIE, I BELIEVE, IS READY AND PREPARED TO HAND OUT TO YOU WHERE YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR VOTE ON WHO YOU WANTED TO BE CHAIR IF THERE'S MORE THAN ONE.
THEN OBVIOUSLY, THE ONE THAT RECEIVES THE MOST WOULD BE THE CHAIR.
THEN WE WOULD ASK THE INDIVIDUAL THAT IF THERE'S TWO PEOPLE, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD ASK THE PERSON THAT CAME IN WITH THE LOWER TALLY, IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN BEING VICE CHAIR.
IF THEY ACCEPT THAT, THEN WE WOULD JUST MAKE ANOTHER MOTION AND A SECOND AND THEN DO A VOTE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO EVERYBODY?
>> I WILL LET YOU RUN WITH IT FROM THIS, YES, MA'AM.
>> IF THERE WAS MULTIPLE PEOPLE NOMINATED FOR CHAIR AND THE PERSON WHO LOST, WOULD THERE BE AN OPTION FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO BE NOMINATED FOR VICE CHAIR TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> GOOD QUESTION. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS, LET'S SAY THERE'S THREE NOMINATIONS.
IF THERE'S THREE NOMINATIONS FOR A CHAIR, WE WOULD THEN VOTE.
WE WOULD SEE THOSE TALLIES, AND THEN WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS WOULD THE INDIVIDUALS THAT DID NOT BECOME CHAIR ARE THEY WILLING TO ACCEPT THE NOMINATION FOR VICE CHAIR? THEN I THINK AT THAT POINT WE WILL REVOTE.
[LAUGHTER] ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS WITH THAT? I THINK IT'S THE FAIREST WAY TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE WANTS TO BE CHAIR.
>> DOES ANYONE WANT TO BE CHAIR?
>> I'LL GO BACK AT IT ONE MORE YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, AND I WILL GLADLY ACCEPT.
>> WELL, SO DO YOU ACCEPT THE NOMINATION?
>> THERE IS A NOMINATION AND THAT NOMINATION HAS BEEN ACCEPTED.
IS THERE ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE SOMEBODY ELSE,
[01:20:05]
AND WOULD THEY ACCEPT THAT NOMINATION? NO. WITH THAT BEING CALLED, I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE A MOTION TO [OVERLAPPING]>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT CURRENT CHAIR CAMERA TO THE OUR NEW CHAIR.
>> KATIE, WHEN YOU GET THAT TAKEN, WILL YOU PLEASE TAKE THE VOTE?
>> CHAIR CAMERA. MEMBER MOUNTJOY?
>> THEN WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME WITH THE VICE CHAIR.
IS THERE A NOMINATION AT THIS POINT FOR THE VICE CHAIR? CURRENTLY, VICE CHAIR COCCHI IS OUR VICE CHAIR.
ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS, RIGHT AT THIS POINT?
>> I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MEMBER MOUNTJOY.
>> I'LL ACCEPT THE NOMINATION.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS?
>> I'LL NOMINATE SHEILA COCCHI.
>> WOULD YOU ACCEPT THAT NOMINATION?
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO, BUT I WOULD ALSO BE HAPPY FOR MEMBER MOUNTJOY TO TAKE THAT POSITION INSTEAD.
>> WITH THAT ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS AT THIS POINT? IF THERE ARE NONE, THEN, I BELIEVE WE COULD MAKE A MOTION TO NOMINATE MEMBER MOUNTJOY AS THE VICE CHAIR WITH A SECOND.
>> I MAKE COMMISSION TO APPOINT MEMBER MOUNTJOY AS VICE CHAIR.
>> I'LL SECOND IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? IS THERE ANYBODY HAVING ONE DISCUSSION? PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
>> YES [LAUGHTER] MEMBER GUNN.
>> AS THE VICE CHAIR, ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS IS OBVIOUSLY, IF OUR CHAIR CAMERA IS OUT, YOU WOULD BE THE ONE RUNNING THE MEETINGS.
>> I HAVE ONE THING I'D LIKE TO SAY BEFORE YOU MOVE ON.
>> THANK YOU. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN HERE.
AS MANY MORE POSITIVE WAYS OF LOOKING AT THINGS FOR US, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I REALLY THINK THAT I AM SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH TALENT ON THIS BOARD AND THAT TALENT COMES THROUGH EVERY DAY, EVERY MONTH THAT WE MEET.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
THANK YOU. MY TURN AGAIN, 72, SHEILA.
[7.2 MLK Sprinkler Mitigation And Opportunities From EOC (Requested By Vice Chair Cocchi)]
>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
THE REASON WHY IT'S HERE IS, I THINK YOU GUYS PROBABLY ARE AWARE THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN GENEROUS ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS TO USE THE MLK CENTER ON COLD NIGHTS.
THERE HAD BEEN SOME SITUATIONS THAT PREVENTED THAT FROM HAPPENING, THERE'S SOME NEW STATE LEGISLATION THAT MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR PEOPLE TO SLEEP OUTSIDE, WHICH MAKES AN ALREADY DIFFICULT SITUATION HARDER.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE RECENTLY, I ASKED PERSONALLY AT ONE OF THE COMMISSION MEETINGS WAS THAT THE CITY CONSIDER WITH THIS AGREEMENT TO ALLOW FOR COLD NIGHTS, WHICH I THINK IS TRIGGERED GENERALLY BY 40 DEGREE TEMPERATURES, WHICH WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THAT WE HAVE ALSO THIS SUMMER,
[01:25:02]
WE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF RAIN AND FLOODING THAT WOULD IMPACT PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTDOORS.ALSO THERE ARE SOME DAYS AND NIGHTS IN THE SUMMER WHERE IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WEATHER.
THE CITY HAS BEEN GENEROUS ENOUGH TO AGREE TO REWORD THAT CONTRACT TO BE EXTREME WEATHER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CREATED A PROBLEM FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE SHELTER DURING SOME CERTAIN PERIODS IS BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ADEQUATE SPRINKLERS IN THAT BUILDING.
>> FIRE SPRINKLERS. KATIE NEWTON, WHO IS OUR PARALEGAL, SHE SERVES ON A COMMITTEE WITH THE NASSAU COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, THE EOC, IS WHAT THEY CALL IT.
THEY ARE PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR 10 YEAR PLAN ABOUT HOW WE RESPOND TO WEATHER EVENTS, HURRICANES, AND WHATNOT, FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
SHE SERVES AS THE LIAISON FOR THE CITY WITH THAT GROUP.
LAST MONTH AT A MEETING, HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS, THEY MADE HER AWARE OF SOME GRANTS AND THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
>> THROUGH THE EOC AND THE FUNDING THAT THEY GET FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS, WHERE WE COULD PUT THE APPROPRIATE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS IN THE MLK.
I WOULD LIKE PERMISSION FROM THIS BOARD TO ASK PARKS AND REC TO WORK WITH KATIE AND THE EOC IN WHATEVER CAPACITY THAT MIGHT BE TO WORK TOWARDS GETTING THAT FUNDING.
MY PERSONAL GOAL IN THIS COMMUNITY IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE A SHELTER WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, BUT CERTAINLY FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS THE CITY HAS OFFERED THE MLK CENTER FOR THE EXTREME WEATHER, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFE AND MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.
THAT WOULD BE MY ASK FOR YOU ALL IF ANYBODY HAS ANY APPETITE FOR THAT.
>> QUESTION. THEY'RE CURRENTLY USING IT AS A COLD SHELTER.
>> THEY ARE, BUT THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT THERE HAVE TO BE, I BELIEVE, TWO PEOPLE THERE AWAKE FOR THE ENTIRE TIME.
IT'S HARD BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE NOBODY AWAKE WHEN THERE COULD BE A FIRE.
IT MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET VOLUNTEERS 2:00, 03:00, 6:00 IN THE MORNING.
I THINK ANY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE CAN GET FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE THERE JUST WHEN IT'S NOT A SHELTER.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE WELCOMED.
I MENTIONED IT TO THE INTERIM FIRE CHIEF.
I'VE MENTIONED IT TO YOU, SCOTT, AND CERTAINLY KATIE'S LOOKING AT THIS.
>> THERE WOULD BE A GRANT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SPRINKLERS.
ARE THERE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS OR THINGS THAT WE COULD ALSO THINK ABOUT OR WOULD THAT BE COMPLETELY.
I KNOW IT RAN OUT OF CUTS AT ONE POINT.
>> THAT'S UP TO THE COALITION AND HOW MUCH SPACE THAT WOULD BE.
AT LEAST IN THE CONVERSATIONS OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'M HAVING WITH THE COALITION IS THAT WE NEED A LONGER TERM SOLUTION, AND THAT THE CITY AGAIN HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY GENEROUS TO OFFER THIS AS A STOP GAP.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A THREE YEAR CONTRACT, I WOULD LOVE IT IF WE DIDN'T NEED THE WHOLE THREE YEARS.
I SEE IT AS AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR SAFETY REASONS THAT WE COULD GET IT DONE, AND THEN IT'S THERE FOR THE MLK CENTER ONGOING.
TO ME, IT'S A WIN WIN, BUT I CLEARLY NEED THE SUPPORT OF YOU GUYS TO GET THAT GOING.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THIS AND LET YOU PROCEED TO LEGAL SO WE CAN LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF GRANTS FOR THIS PROJECT.
I THINK IT'S A WORTHWHILE PROJECT.
THE FIRST TIME THAT THE COMMISSION HEARD ABOUT IT, THEY WERE OVERWHELMED 5-0.
GOING FORWARD, I THINK THIS PROJECT WITHOUT A DOUBT COULD SET THIS THING IN MOTION.
SO WE CAN COVER ALL SEASONS INSTEAD OF JUST WHEN IT'S HOT OR JUST WHEN IT'S COLD.
WE ARE PREPARED TO HAVE THAT BUILDING READY FOR ANY KIND OF DISASTER.
I HATE TO USE THE WORD DISASTER, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION.
>> I MOVE TO WE SEND IT TO LEGAL, IS THAT WHAT NEXT STEP IS?
>> I'M NOT SURE IT'S QUITE LEGAL JUST TO BE CLEAR.
KATIE HAPPENS TO BE THE PERSON WHO IS RUNNING THAT TO GROUND,
[01:30:03]
BUT SHE COULD GET THE FALL.YOU ALL COULD WORK TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT'S NEEDED AND THEN GET [INAUDIBLE].
>> I THINK A CONSENSUS IS FINE, AND I THINK FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM THE BOARD IS THAT WE WOULD WORK WITH THEM, AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS IS IN THE FUTURE, MOVING FORWARD IS HAVING A SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT THERE NOT ONLY FOR THIS ITEM, BUT ALSO AS WE PROGRAM OUT THE MLK CENTER MORE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES AND AFTER SCHOOLS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS, PART OF THAT DCF CERTIFICATIONS ARE HAVING SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. THAT WILL BE ALSO A BENEFIT TO US MOVING FORWARD.
>> I THINK HEARING FROM THE BOARD TONIGHT WITH A CONSENSUS, OUR TEAM WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO REACH OUT TO KATIE AND WORK THROUGH THAT GRANT PROCESS.
>> APPRECIATE IT. NUMBER 8, STAFF UPDATES.
[8. STAFF COMMENTS]
JUST A COUPLE FOLLOW UP ITEMS FROM TONIGHT THAT I WILL BE WORKING ON, AS WE DISCUSSED, IS LOOKING AND WORKING WITH MEMBER SPAULDING AND MEETING UP WITH MEMBER SPAULDING AND GOING THROUGH THE PECK FIELD AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS AND ALSO REGARDING DOG SIGNS AND WAIT STATIONS, AND IS THERE A PLAN MOVING FORWARD WITH PECK FIELD.
I WILL BE WORKING ON THAT FOLLOWING UP WITH MR. CESAR GONZALEZ REGARDING THE PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT.
>> YES, AND MR. JACKSON WITH CROQUET AND ALSO THE GRANTS REGARDING AND WORKING WITH KATIE NEWTON REGARDING THE MLK CENTER AND EOC.
A COUPLE ITEMS OF NOTE THAT I ALWAYS LIKE TO DO TO KEEP YOU GUYS ABREAST OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
AS I'LL GO OFF OF HERE IS RESURFACING, WE RESURFACED THE MLK POOL AND THAT IS COMPLETE.
WE WILL CHECK THAT OFF OF OUR LIST.
WE DID REFURBISH THE PETANQUE COURTS AT CENTRAL PARK.
AND MR. ABBOTT AND THE PETANQUE GROUP THANKED THE PARKS DIVISION FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DID.
I LET OUR PARK SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF KNOW THAT THE PETANQUE GROUP WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THAT.
I THINK THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB.
THE EGAN'S CREEK FITNESS EQUIPMENT IS IN, AND THAT IS COMPLETE.
ALSO, THE SECOND PHASE OF THE SKATE PARK REHABILITATION.
THIS WAS MONEY THAT WAS BUDGETED IN OUR LAST BUDGET AND HAD BEEN ROLLED OVER TO THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COMPLETE.
THE ITEMS ARE GALVANIZED, AND HE IS GOING TO FIX TWO MORE OF THE RAMPS THAT HE HAS TAKEN, AND HE IS GOING TO THEN TAKE THE LAST TWO RAMPS AT THAT POINT.
I HAVE WORKED WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE SKATE PARK, AND THEY ARE OKAY WITH THIS TIME-FRAME.
WE WILL BE WORKING THROUGH THAT.
AS THESE COMMISSION MEETINGS COME UP, I DO SEND YOU OUT E-MAILS.
I HOPE YOU ARE RECEIVING THEM REGARDING ITEMS THAT ARE COMING TOWARDS THE COMMISSION, JUST IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS TO OUR STAFF.
BUT ON JANUARY 21ST, THE SECOND PHASE OF THE SECOND PHASE OF THE ATLANTIC RECREATION CENTER WINDOW REPLACEMENT PROJECT IS GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION.
ALSO, ON JANUARY 7TH, AN ITEM THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION IS JUST LIKE THE PECK CENTER, WE ARE REPOINTING THE FACADE OF THE BRICK.
SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT ON A PHASED APPROACH.
THE COMMISSION DID APPROVE BATHROOMS FOR THE HICKORY STREET BATHROOMS. WE DID MOVE FORWARD.
ALSO WORKING WITH THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT, OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED WATER AND WASTEWATER THERE, AS WELL AS FLORIDA POWER, FPU FOR THE UTILITIES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT AN APRIL TIME-FRAME FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THOSE BATHROOMS.
[01:35:08]
MYSELF, AS WELL AS FRIENDS OF SKATE PARK, AS YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSION DID APPROVE $30,000 FOR A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF AN EXPANSION OF THE SKATE PARK.WE HAVE MET WITH THE CONTRACTOR, THE COMPANY TWICE.
THEY ARE PUTTING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW THEIR FIRST TAKE AT A CONCEPTUAL DRAWING.
AT THAT POINT, WE'LL BE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY AS WE WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS, IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO PRAC BEFORE IT GOES ANYWHERE.
ONCE THAT IS COMPLETE, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS HEARD, BUT WE DID HAVE A FIRE AT BEACH ACCESS 5N.
WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM REPAIRING 30 TO BEACH ACCESS 5N TO MAKE SOME MINOR REPAIRS.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO RESURFACING.
>> WHEN I SAID MINOR, THE ENCLOSURES ARE EXPENSIVE.
I THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED.
>> SO THE ENCLOSURES OF WHERE THE GARBAGE CANS GO IN.
>> IT'S LIKE THE MELAMINE OR WHATEVER THEY'RE MADE OUT OF THIS GRAY BOXES.
THAT WAS DESTROYED AT 5N AND BOTH OF THOSE WERE DESTROYED.
6N HAS SOME DISCOLORATION ON THE WOOD, BUT IT'S FINE.
5N, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK AND REPAIR THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT LOOKED LIKE THE TREADS WERE BURNT AND DAMAGED, STRUCTURALLY A PROBLEM.
>> THE NORTH SIDE OF THAT WALKOVER IS THE TREADS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED.
I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED THE JOISTS.
>> I THINK IT'S CALLED THE RUNNER STREET YARD THAT THEY SIT ON.
>> WE HAVE TO REPAIR AN OUTSIDE ONE.
ACTUALLY IT'S DOUBLE JOISTED, SO IT'S THE OUTSIDE ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
I DO NOT HAVE A PRICE ON THAT YET, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE REPAIRING THAT.
>> BUT EVERYTHING ON THE BOARDWALK WAS FINE AT 6N BESIDES SOME DISCOLORATION.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE NEW BOARDWALK THAT WAS RECENTLY PUT IN.
>> YEAH, I SAW BOTH OF THEM YESTERDAY.
>> I WOULD BE A FAN OF THAT NOT HAPPENING ON THE BEACH, FIREWORKS DONE ON THE BEACH ESPECIALLY AFTER THAT KIND OF SITUATION.
THE RESOURCES ALONE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUTTING IT OUT, WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO REBUILD THOSE.
>> WE WILL BE OPENING THE BIDS ON JANUARY 16TH FOR THE BATTING CAGE AT CENTRAL PARK.
THAT'S A $50,000 DONATION FROM THE COUNTY, SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY, AND THEN THE REMAINDER OF THAT MONEY IS BEING PAID FOR BY [INAUDIBLE].
THAT IS NOT COMING OUT OF OUR POCKETS.
A COUPLE OF THINGS JUST MOVING FORWARD THAT I MADE NOTE OF THAT WAS AFTER THIS WAS PUBLISHED.
JUST IN CASE YOU HEAR OF ANYTHING, SO WE ARE WORKING TO PUT THE SUN SHADES UP.
IF YOU REMEMBER, AT THE SECOND HURRICANE, WE PULLED THOSE DOWN.
OBVIOUSLY, DURING THE WINTER, THE GRASS CUTTING IT SLOWS DOWN.
SO WE ARE PUTTING THOSE BACK UP.
ALSO, WE HAVE RECEIVED A COUPLE OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE SANDSPURS AT HICKORY STREET PARK.
IF YOU HEAR THAT OR SEE ANYTHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY ARE THERE.
IT'S THIS TIME OF YEAR AND WE ARE ADDRESSING IT.
>> THAT'S THE THING LIKE YOU CAN PREVENT SANDSPURS FROM?
>> NO, I'M ASKING BECAUSE I HAVE KIDS WITH FLAT TIRES EVERY DAY BECAUSE THERE'S SANDSPURS IN THE TIRES.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW THEY GOT THROUGH TIRES.
>> NO, NOT IN THE CARS, IN BIKES.
>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
FIRST OF ALL, IS WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A CHEMICAL APPLICATION PROCESS WITH PRE-EMERGENCE AND FERTILIZATION AND WEED CONTROL.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING, BUT THEY DON'T JUST DISAPPEAR. IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME.
[01:40:01]
SECONDLY, IS ON THURSDAY, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING OUT THERE WITH A BIG SWEEPER THAT SWEEPS UP A LOT OF THE GRASS, WHATEVER IS THERE THAT'S LAYING THERE, AND WE WILL TAKE THAT AND DUMP THAT OBVIOUSLY OFF SITE SOMEWHERE.MOST AT THIS TIME, MOST OF THE SANDSPURS ARE BROWN, THEY HAVE DIED, THEY'RE GOING BACK INTO THE GRASS, SO WE NEED TO GET THEM UP BEFORE THEY RE-GERMINATE, OR GERMINATE.
BUT IF YOU HEAR ANYTHING, WE ARE HITTING THAT.
>> YEAH, THEY ARE WEAK, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU CAN'T TRY TO KILL THEM.
>> I NEVER NOTICED THEM UNTIL THEY'RE ON MY SHOE LACES OR STUCK TO MY LEG OR WHATEVER.
>>>YOU'RE RIGHT. EXACTLY. ALSO, THE CITY WENT INTO A CONTRACT WITH NEW AEDS.
OUR DEPARTMENT PROBABLY HAS THE MOST FORWARD-FACING AEDS THAN ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING THESE OUT IN SPECIFIC PARKS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL PARK, MLK PARK, DOWNTOWN WE HAVE A FEW OF THESE.
ONCE THEY GET INSTALLED, WHICH THEY SHOULD BE INSTALLED HERE SHORTLY, I WILL LET YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE'LL ALSO DO A SOCIAL MEDIA POST JUST TO MAKE PEOPLE MORE AWARE OF IT.
>> IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THAT VIDEO TELLS PEOPLE HOW TO USE IT.
>> YEAH. I'LL ALSO WORK WITH MARY HAMBURG ON THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN HAVE A VIDEO THAT WOULD ACCOMPANY THAT WHERE PEOPLE COULD CLICK ON IT TO.
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS.
[INAUDIBLE] LIKE, MAYBE TAKE A LOOK AT THE AED, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO USE IT.
>> I THINK THE AEDS ACTUALLY CAME WITH A VIDEO, SO WE CAN GET THAT TO MARY TO POSE WITH OUR POST.
>> THAT'S A GREAT THING WE OFFER.
>> CAN YOU DO A QR CODE OR IS THERE A QR CODE? IF SOMEBODY'S THERE WITH THEIR CELL PHONE, THEY COULD CLICK ON IT AND WATCH THE VIDEO.
>> WE CAN LOOK INTO GETTING [INAUDIBLE].
>> I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S MOBILE FRIENDLY.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF IF SOMEBODY'S HAVING A HEART ATTACK CLICK ON THE UR CODE AND WATCH THE VIDEO.
WELL, YEAH, AND ALSO USING USING AN AED CAN SCARE PEOPLE, JUST LIKE DOING CPR WILL SCARE PEOPLE, BUT THE AED USING IT, IT WALKS YOU THROUGH IT.
IT LITERALLY TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO.
BUT I DO LIKE YOUR IDEA, AND WE WILL LOOK INTO THAT.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW THE LOCATIONS THAT WE'RE DOING THIS.
IT'S THROUGHOUT OUR PARK SYSTEM AND ALSO NEAR A LOT OF OUR YOUTH SPORT ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS PICKLEBALL AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE WILL HAVE THEM THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT.
>> MAYBE BRING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN JUST ON A QUICK VIDEO LIKE THAT MARY COULD PRODUCE.
SO HAVE IT LIKE, HEY, HERE'S WHAT YOU USING THE AED CAN HELP US WITH WHILE WE'RE GETTING THERE, BRING THEM INTO IT TO YOU BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WITH THE AEDS, WHAT HAPPENS IN THOSE FIRST MINUTES IS USUALLY WHAT SAVES SOMEBODY IN THE LONG TERM BECAUSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN'T EVEN GET THERE THAT PAST.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A CASE AT CENTRAL PARK WITH AN INDIVIDUAL PLAYING PICKLEBALL, AND WE HAVE AN AED RIGHT THERE AT THE BATHROOMS AT CENTRAL PARK.
WE'RE PUTTING THE ONE OF THE NEW ONES BACK THERE, AND WHAT THEY SAY IS IT PROBABLY SAVED THE GENTLEMAN'S LIFE.
>> THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THAT.
>> KATIE, CAN YOU PLEASE PUT UP THE WATERFRONT PART PICTURE, PLEASE? THIS ITEM IS NOT ON YOUR NOTES, AND THEN I'LL GO BACK TO YOUR NOTES.
>> YEAH, THAT'S IT. SO THIS IS GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
THERE'S TECHNICALLY 2-3 AREAS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT.
TWO TO THREE AREAS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT, AND THIS WOULD BE FOR POSSIBLE ARTWORK.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN SEE THESE AREAS.
SO THERE'S ONE AREA HERE, ONE AREA HERE IN ONE AREA HERE.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP IS THIS IS GOING TO BE COMING BACK TO YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING OF POSSIBLE PIECES OF ARTWORK THAT COULD GO THERE.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OPTIONS, AND NOW THIS ISN'T WHAT IS THIS IS NOT EXACTLY WHAT THE PLAN IS, BUT WE'RE POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE I'M JUST THROWING THIS OUT THERE,
[01:45:01]
THE ANCHOR THAT IS CURRENTLY OUT BY BRETZ.THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER PIECES OF ART THAT COULD POSSIBLY GO IN THESE LOCATIONS? WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.
SO THOSE WOULD BE THE THREE EXISTING AREAS.
>> SCOTT, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BRING IT UP AT THE NEXT MEETING?
>> YES. BECAUSE THEY'RE STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, SO THEY WANT TO HAVE SOME THINGS LINED UP.
WOULD IT BE PRUDENT AT THIS POINT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, BUT GO AHEAD AND SCHEDULE A WORKSHOP FOR AFTER THAT BECAUSE WHATEVER WE DISCUSSED AT THE FIRST MEETING, WE'LL ALMOST CERTAINLY NEED TO HAVE FURTHER TIME AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE THE MOST HELPFUL THING FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE A WORKSHOP SCHEDULED.
>> A WORKSHOP SCHEDULED AFTER OUR NEXT MEETING? [OVERLAPPING] I'M FINE TALK [OVERLAPPING].
>> ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE JEREMIAH WAS LIKE, WE NEED TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS PRETTY QUICK BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO NEED THAT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARK.
>> BUT WE ALSO HAVE ANY SAY IN WHAT THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IS THAT'S GOING DOWN THERE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
>> JUST THE ROUND WEIRD SPHERE THING.
IT SEEMED LIKE THAT WAS NOT REALLY WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE A FAN WHEN ONE OF THE INITIAL DRAWINGS.
>> THE LAST DISCUSSION WAS THAT MAYBE NOTHING.
MAYBE NO PLATE STRUCTURE GOES THERE.
>> THAT'S STILL UP FOR DISCUSSION.
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE OPTIONS.
>> ARE WE ABLE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, OR ARE WE GOING TO BE ASKED ANY OF THAT, DO YOU KNOW OR?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
>> WOULD THAT BE SOMEWHERE TO GO TO THE COMMISSION AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT AT THE COMMISSION MEETING AND LET THEM KNOW.
>> I CAN SAY AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING THAT THAT IS UP FOR DISCUSSION OF WHAT THE PLAYGROUND PIECE IF AND WHAT THAT WOULD BE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE COMMISSION WOULD PUMP THAT BACK TO PARKS AND RECREATION FOR A FOR DISCUSSION. I DON'T KNOW.
>> WELL, I JUST I FIGURED IF THEY WERE PUTTING IT THERE, THEY MIGHT ASK, LIKE, WHAT IF WE HAD SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT IT IS.
>> THE ONLY THING I'D LIKE TO ASK IS, IF WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, OKAY, FINE, LET'S GO WITH THE PARK WAY IT IS DESIGNED RIGHT NOW, AND THEN POSSIBLY ASK THAT WE FREEZE THE MONEY TO SEE WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT WE WANT THERE.
THE SPACE HAS ALREADY BEEN BEEN DESIGNATED.
SO WE ASKED THE COMMISSION TO HOLD OFF, LET THEM BUILD A PARK AND LET US TALK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT WE REALLY WANT THERE OR WHAT YOU THINK IS FEASIBLE TO PUT THERE.
>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THERE.
THERE'S NOT ANYTHING IN THE ENTIRE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR ANY KIDS.
>> WE'LL ASK THE COMMISSION TO FREEZE. IS THAT POSSIBLE?
>> SO WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL KEEP THIS BOARD ABREAST OF THE SITUATION AS THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE BEING HAD AT OF THE WATERFRONT PARK.
>> YOU AS A BOARD MEMBER ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO REACH OUT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE THERE ON THE 21ST.
BE THERE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE WATERFRONT.
IF YOU GUYS GIVE ME PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO ASK TO BE FROZEN UNTIL WE DECIDE WHAT WE'D LIKE TO PUT THERE AND BRING IT BACK TO IT.
>> BEFORE WE DO THAT, I THINK WE WOULD NEED DIRECTION FROM THE COMMISSION IS NOT AT THIS POINT ASKING US FOR [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY'RE NOT ASKING US FOR DIRECTION AT THIS POINT.
>> SCOTT, I APOLOGIZE. I'M NERVOUS [OVERLAPPING].
SO AND THEN THE LAST THING IS GOING BACK TO YOUR, TO YOUR PACKET, I DID PUT IN THE COMMUNITY CONNECTION.
THAT IS SOMETHING NOW THAT WE'RE SENDING BACK TO THE NEWSLEADER.
IT'S A FORM THAT THEY WOULD PROMOTE US THROUGHOUT THE NEWSLEADER.
HOPEFULLY YOU WERE ABLE TO GET A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THAT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING IT,
[01:50:01]
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AFTER THE MEETING OR WHATEVER, IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY-.I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR YOU GUYS TO SEE THAT AND SEE EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON.
ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO OFF OF THAT.
FINALLY, UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS.
JANUARY 18TH, FERANDNINA BEACH WOMEN'S MARCH.
THAT IS THE PARADE ROUTE, AS WELL AS CENTRAL PARK.
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY PARADE, JANUARY 20TH.
THIS BEGINS AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING RECREATION CENTER.
>> I APOLOGIZE. THE PECK CENTER.
THE LINE OF. [INAUDIBLE] AT 11:00.
THEN THE MONTESSORI CHILI COOK OFF, FEBRUARY 8TH IS DOWNTOWN THEN OUR NEXT PRAC MEETING IS GOING TO BE FEBRUARY 11.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME AT THIS POINT?
>> THANKS, SCOTT. SCOTT, WOULD YOU ALSO PUT ON THERE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING INTO THE PECK CENTER ON THE TRACK AND POSSIBLE BATHROOMS?
>> YES. I PUT THAT IN MY NOTES.
>> RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON YOU. THANK YOU.
>> YES. I HAVE SOME, ACTUALLY.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE NEW PEOPLE.
CONGRATULATIONS, TOM AND JENNY FOR YOUR NEW POSITIONS.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I GOT AN EMAIL FROM A CONSTITUENT.
AT ONE OF THE LAST MEETINGS WE TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING THE YOUTH PROGRAMS AT MLK.
THEIR CONCERN WAS THE ATLANTIC REC CENTER PLAYGROUND IS CLOSED DURING THE YOUTH PROGRAM HOURS.
IF WE EXPAND THE PROGRAMMING AT MLK, IN THE SUMMER AND AFTER SCHOOL, WILL THAT CLOSE THE MLK PARKS AS WELL? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR YOU GUYS.
IS IT DCS OR ECF OR WHATEVER IT IS?
>> IF WE CERTIFY THAT FACILITY AS A DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA FAMILY SERVICES, DCF BUILDING, WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE ON THE PLAYGROUND, WE WILL HAVE TO CLOSE IT.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT'LL BE CLOSED ALL THE TIME.
WE CAN CLOSE IT ONLY WHEN OUR KIDS ARE ON IT.
THIS SUMMER IT WOULD CLOSE WHEN OUR KIDS ARE ON IT, BUT SUMMER CAMP ISN'T UNDER ECF.
>> SO IT WOULD BE MINIMAL IF AT ALL?
>> WELL, IF WE HAVE A DCF PROGRAM ACTIVE AND THE KIDS ARE ON THE PLAYGROUND, IT WILL BE CLOSED.
WE CAN'T HAVE THE PUBLIC [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK THEY HAVE IT POSTED NOW, BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT POSTING THE HOURS OF WHEN THEY'RE OPEN.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR AT ATLANTIC, SO MAYBE THEY CAN WORK ON IT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO-.
>> I WOULD SAY NOT LIKE CROP LIKE IF ONE'S OPENED THE OTHER AND POST AT PLACES.
WE HAD THE SAME CONVERSATION LAST SUMMER WITH THE SPLASH PADS, AND WHEN THEY WERE OPEN AND CLOSED AND THEY'D BE OPEN AT ONE POINT AND WE'D GO AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD LET US ON THEM, WHEN THE DC-.
>> THAT'S THE SWIM PART OF THE BUILDINGS ARE DIFFERENT.
WHEN WE'RE HAVING SWIM LESSONS, WE JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE DISTRACTION OF OTHER KIDS THERE, BUT THAT'S THE ONLY.
>> YEAH, BUT SOMETIMES WHEN THE PROGRAMS WERE IN THE PLAY AREA, SOMETIMES THE LIFEGUARDS WOULD STILL LET YOU IN THERE.
I DON'T THINK THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO AND SOMETIMES.
>> WELL, THEY ALSO WOULD GO TO THE ONE AT MLK.
>> MLK IS ALLOWED AT ATLANTIC WHEN THE KIDS [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT WAS SET DOWN. BUT I TALKED ABOUT THAT.
MAKING SURE THAT WAS POSTED AND CLEAR BECAUSE WHEN ALL THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR SUMMER, IT'S HARD TO KNOW AND KEEP TRACK OF WHERE YOU CAN GO. [OVERLAPPING].
>> UNLESS IT'S LIKE A QUESTION.
ABSOLUTELY. THE OTHER THING IS, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THE SPECIAL EVENTS PACKET, AND WE HAD WHEN MEMBER BORRERO WAS HERE.
HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POLL BANNERS.
THERE'S TWO THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP ABOUT THE PACKET.
LAST SUMMER, THERE WAS AN EVENT THAT WAS ASKING TO HAVE HAVE A PARADE, THEIR OWN LIKE PRIVATE PARADE ON A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
[01:55:05]
I HAD MENTIONED IT. I THINK MAYBE YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT IT OR I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO TALKED ABOUT IT.BUT I WAS SUGGESTING AND IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT.
I WAS SUGGESTING THAT THERE PROBABLY SHOULD BE SOME DAYS LIKE 4TH OF JULY.
THAT IF THERE IS A PARADE, I THINK THE POLICE SAID NO, BECAUSE OF ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT WERE GOING ON ON 4TH OF JULY, BUT THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN DAYS THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED TO NOT BE OPEN TO ANYONE LIKE 4TH JULY.
MEMORIAL DAY SHOULD BE FOR A MEMORIAL DAY, THOSE ARE FEDERALLY, I THINK, PROTECTED HOLIDAYS.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE PACKET OR IF THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED.
THE OTHER ISSUE ABOUT THE POLL BANNERS, I KNOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IT WAS A RESOURCE ISSUE ABOUT THE TIME THAT IT TAKES.
WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OPTIONS ABOUT HOW WE COULD DO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT REVENUE NEGATIVE.
BUT ONE OF THE ISSUES AROUND THIS, I PULLED SOME PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME OTHER COMMENTS THAT WERE SENT FROM ONE COMMISSIONER TO THE CITY MANAGER.
SO I PULLED SOME PUBLIC RECORDS.
THERE WAS A COMPLAINT BY A CITIZEN.
THERE WERE TWO COMPLAINTS BY CITIZENS ABOUT SOME POLL BANNERS THAT WERE POSTED.
I PULLED A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, AND THIS IS AN EMAIL FROM MAYOR BEAN TO THAT CONSTITUENT THAT SAYS, THANKS FOR YOUR EMAIL.
I TALKING TO CITY STAFF, WE HAVE REALIZED THAT THE FLAG POLES ARE BASICALLY AVAILABLE TO RENT.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I AGREE WITH AND HAVE ASKED THEM TO CHANGE THE POLICY.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE OFFENSE THAT THIS HAS CAUSED.
AND I'M JUST BRINGING THIS UP HERE TO BE PART OF THE RECORD BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT WE STOP DOING THE POLL BANNERS.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE PAY FOR THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THEM IN THE PAST HAVE ALREADY SPENT THE MONEY TO BUY THE POLL BANNERS IF THEY'RE WILLING TO SIGN UP FOR IT.
I KNOW I'VE BEEN DOWNTOWN MANY TIMES AND HAVE ENJOYED SEEING THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON.
AND THIS PARTICULAR MATTER, IS IN RESPONSE TO A SITUATION THAT HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL IN MANY WAYS.
IT'S IN RESPONSE TO THE PRIDE EVENT.
THESE WERE ABOUT THE PRIDE BANNERS.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT PRIDE IS OR DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS, OR MAYBE IF YOU DISLIKE IT, THE BANNERS WERE A MULTI COLORED ABSTRACT THING THAT SAID LOVE LIVES HERE.
SO TO HAVE A RESPONSE LIKE THIS IS ONE DISCRIMINATION AND THERE ARE FOUR OTHER INSTANCES OF WHERE THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THIS CITY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
THERE WAS A FLAG FLOWN, A PRIDE FLAG WAS FLOWN BY MAYOR JOHNNY MILLER WHEN HE WAS HERE.
THE RESPONSE AT THE NEXT MEETING WAS THAT WE NEED A FLAG ORDINANCE.
WHEN THE PRIDE PEOPLE WERE HAVING A FESTIVAL THAT THEY'RE PERFECTLY ENTITLED TO HAVE, THEN THERE WERE PEOPLE ASKING THAT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, AND THEN WE'RE LIMITING PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING IN RESPONSE TO THIS.
THERE'S A POINT WHERE THINGS LIKE THAT BECOME A PATTERN.
I PERSONALLY VOICE THAT I DIDN'T THINK THAT WE NEEDED TO CHANGE THIS POLICY IF WE NEED TO TWEAK IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, MAKING IT NOT COST THE CITIZENS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ENACTING THESE PUTTING UP THEIR BANNERS THAT THEY PAY FOR THE COST OF DOING THAT.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DO THAT.
I WOULD CAUTION US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT SUBJECTING THE CITY TO A LITIGATION SUIT FOR DISCRIMINATION.
BECAUSE I MIGHT FILE IT MYSELF IF THAT'S THE THE SITUATION.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BRING THAT TO THE ATTENTION OF EVERYBODY SITTING HERE THAT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S HOW WE SHOULD OPERATE, AND WE SHOULD SERVE ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
SO WITH THAT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU GUYS, AND THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE BOARD, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.
>> THANK YOU. FOR THE COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY NICE TO BE HERE.
[02:00:01]
[9. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
WE HEARD A LOT TONIGHT, AND I THINK THIS IS WHY WE WERE SUCH A GOOD BOARD. WE LISTEN.WE GIVE OUR OPINIONS, AND EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANYTHING THAT THEY WANT.
SO WITH THAT FIRST MEETING OF JANUARY IS IN THE BOOKS.
[NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.