[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[3.1 REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. RECREATION CENTER- OUTDOOR AMENITIES REDEVELOPMENT]
>> YOU MAY BE SEATED. ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, SO FOR THOSE HERE WATCHING AT HOME OR IN THE AUDIENCE, WE HAVE TWO GREAT DISCUSSION TOPICS.
THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AMENITIES DEVELOPMENT AND PEG LEG PETE AND STAFF HAS OUR PRESENTATION HERE.
MR. GLISSON, WILL THIS BE YOU OR WE'LL HAVE MR. AKRAMOFF START US OFF.
>> GOOD EVENING. PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE CITY.
SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE MLK PARK REHABILITATION, TREASURED ASSET IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'LL TALK, WE'LL HAVE THIS -- TEEING YOU GUYS UP FOR A DISCUSSION AND A POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. OVERSIGHT HISTORY.
TALK ABOUT WHY ACTION IS NEEDED NOW.
GO OVER THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT.
GO OVER THE THREE LARGE, BIG OPTIONS AND THEN WE'LL DO, WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS TO ANSWER.
JUST SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT A LOT IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT. WHAT QUESTIONS WE STILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO GET THERE, THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS.
SO WANTED TO TALK, I'M GOING TO KIND OF GO OVER THIS PICTURE A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THERE TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT.
I'LL START WITH THE PARKING LOT.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S, WHEN YOU DRIVE INTO THE PARKING LOT, THERE'S REALLY ONLY TWO AREAS THAT ARE STRIPED. THERE ARE 22 OFFICIAL PARKING SPOTS IN THE PARKING LOT.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES TO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE THE REC CENTER ITSELF AND THE POOL AREAS.
THAT'S THE ONLY AREA WITHIN THAT FOOTPRINT WE'RE GOT TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
WE HAVE A BASKETBALL COURT AND TO THE LEFT CORNER, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A LITTLE COVERED AREA. THAT IS A EXERCISE AREA MUCH LIKE EDDIE'S CREEK. AND WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, I GO BY INS CREEK REGULARLY AND SEE THAT USED SPORADICALLY. THIS ONE, EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN THERE HAS BEEN USED SO IT'S A HIGHLY USED ASSET. THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PAVILION WHERE THE 1215 IS. THAT IS A HIGHLY UTILIZED ASSET THAT IS AGING. THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER PAVILION UP TO THE NORTH AND THAT IS USED REGULARLY.
WE HAVE THE PLAYGROUND, THE FARTHEST NORTH THERE.
THAT'S A FAIRLY NEW ASSET THERE.
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW THAT WE WOULDN'T DO MUCH WORK ON.
THEN WE HAVE, THERE'S THREE OTHER BUILDINGS THERE. THERE'S RESTROOMS. THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT RESTROOMS AND STORAGE AREAS. THERE IS A, THERE'S THE DUGOUTS AND THEN THERE'S THE MAIN KIND OF VIEW STAND FOR THE ONE FIELD.
AND THEN THERE'S THE ONE FIELD, WHICH IS WHERE ELM PARK IS. THAT'S THE FIELD THAT HAS LIGHTS ON IT. AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S FULLY UTILIZED.
IT'S THE RIGHT SIZE AND ALL THAT.
THEN YOU HAVE THE SECOND FIELD WHICH IS UTILIZED SOME.
IT HAS NO LIGHTING ON IT. IT IS NOT FULLY FORMED AND IT'S NOT LONG ENOUGH FIELD WISE TO BE USED FOR A FULL LITTLE LEAGUE OR SOFTBALL GAME IN GENERAL.
UNLESS IT'S THE PEE WEES. YOU CAN ALSO SEE TO THE FAR RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE TREES THERE, THERE'S A BUILDING THAT USED TO BE THE PARK AND RECREATION SHOPS.
IT'S BEEN USED BY OCEAN RESCUE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THEY HAVE NOW MOVED OUT TO OLD STATION TWO. SO IT'S LARGELY VACANT.
WE HAVE SOME STORAGE STUFF IN THERE.
THERE ARE, AND TO HIGHLIGHT AROUND THE OUTSIDE, YOU'LL SEE ON EACH, ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH, THERE'S SIDEWALKS. THERE ARE VERY LIMITED SIDEWALKS ON EITHER THE EAST OR THE WEST SIDE. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY. I'M GOING TO PUT THESE UP THERE
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FOR YOU TO READ BECAUSE I'VE GOT A FEW OTHER HIGHLIGHTS I WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE. I WANTED TO TALK MORE FROM PROJECT HISTORY AS FAR AS THIS HAS BEEN ON THE CIP LIST FOR PROBABLY 20 YEARS.IT'S GONE THROUGH MANY ITERATIONS AND IDEAS.
FIRST, IT JUST SAT ON A LIST THEN MOVED UP IN PRIORITIES. AS THE COMMISSION HAS TALKED ABOUT ONE OF ITS PRIORITIES IS RENEWS ASSETS THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE A CRITERIA THAT WE USE TO PRIORITIZE ALL OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS AS WE PUT THEM INTO THE BUDGET REQUEST PROCESS.
AND THIS MEETS TWO OF THE MAJOR CATEGORIES. ONE BEING THE -- ONE BEING THE SAFETY AND THEN THE SECOND BEING ASSET PROTECTION.
YOU HAVEN'T CHECKED TO SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES, PLEASE DO SO NOW. SO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AS FAR AS A PROJECT.
THIS IS WHAT A TYPICAL PROJECT WOULD GO THROUGH.
20- YEAR, FIVE-YEAR. GETS TO A TIME TO BUILD THEN WE GO TO THE PROCESS OF GETTING A CONCEPT AND THEN DESIGNING.
SO WHY NOW? WE HAVE THE PARKS COMPLEX IS OUTDATED. IT'S BEEN THERE QUITE MANY YEARS. IT'S IN NEED OF REPAIR. IF YOU GO OUT ON THE SITE, YOU CAN SEE FRAYED, EVERYTHING IS FRAYED. THE SITE LAYOUT, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT TO LOOK AT THAT, BUT IT'S NOT OPTIMAL FOR THE -- FOR THE USERS FOR MOST OF THE USERS. IF NOT ALL.
IT'S AGED. THE FIELDS ARE ALSO PAST THEIR USEFUL LIFE. I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
YES, IT'S GRASS AND DIRT BUT THAT HAS A USEFUL LIFE.
WHERE YOU HAVE TO REDO IT, YOU KNOW, THE NUTRIENTS ARE GONE.
THE SOIL WEARS OUT AND IT JUST DOESN'T NEEDS TO BE REFURBISHED. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON IT'S BEEN BUDGETED IN THIS YEAR'S PROCESS. WE CAN ALSO, AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, MEET SOME OF THE CHANGING NEEDS ACROSS THIS CITY.
SO THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE USED TO THIS POINT.
WE DID SOME PRELIMINARY DESIGN WORK.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU TODAY.
THAT'S HAD MULTIPLE ITERATIONS. WE'VE MET WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND USERS OF THE PARK ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE PARKS DIRECTOR MICHAELSON AND I HAVE BEEN OUT ON SITE AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND HOW THE PARK'S USED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THERE EVERY DAY. WE DID TAKE, TAKE IT TO THE TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL AND WE GOT A CONDITIONAL APPROVAL. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE CONDITION IN A SECOND. PRAK REVIEWED IT AND MADE A RECOMMENDATION HERE RECENTLY.
THE NEXT STEP IS WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO TALK WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK.
THEN THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE A FINAL, PUTTING THE FINAL DESIGN TOGETHER BASED ON WHAT YOU TELL US TONIGHT AND AS WE LOOK AT MORE CONDITIONS AND LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE BID PROCESS AND GO TO CONSTRUCTION.
AND THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE 12 TO 18 MONTHS, DEPENDING ON WHAT IS DECIDED. SO WANTED TO RUN THROUGH THE THREE OPTIONS. THERE IS A, I'LL START WITH A DEFERRED TO A LATER DATEDATE THAT PROS AND CONS FOR SURE. IT WOULD ALLOW US, AND WHAT I MEAN BY FULL PLANNING HERE, IS IT WOULD ALLOW US TO INCLUDE THE WHOLE PROCESS IN THE PARKS RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLANNING THAT PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL UNDERTAKE PRETTY SOON. AS ALWAYS, I DON'T ALWAYS LIST ALL THE PROS AND CONS HERE BECAUSE I -- I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO READ THEM. THE MAIN ONES.
SO THE OTHER -- THAT'S THE MAIN PRO THERE.
THE CON, OF COURSE, IS NOTHING HAPPENS.
AND THAT PARK IS GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE THERE'S SOME OF THE AMENITIES ARE GOING TO BE TO HAVE CONSIDERED FOR SHUTDOWN. IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE THEY ARE SO FRAYED. I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE COST INCREASED DAILY FOR BEING ABLE TO BUILD CAPITAL PROJECTS NO MATTER WHICH ONES YOU DO. I HAVE TRADITIONALLY USED A 7% PER YEAR AND SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A 2 MILLION, A $2 MILLION PROJECT, IT'S ABOUT $350 A DAY. EVERY DAY WE DON'T DO SOMETHING
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AT THIS PROJECT. AND THEN KIND OF ANOTHER CON, THERE IS THE IMPACT FEES. WE'RE PLANNING TO USE IMPACT FEES HERE FOR THIS PROJECT IF WE DEFER IT, THEY MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE BECAUSE WE MAY CHOOSE TO USE THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE.SO THE NEXT ONE IS THE TWO- FIELD CONFIGURATION.
SO THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND NOT ONLY KEEP ALL AND FRESHEN UP ALL THE CURRENT AMENITIES, BUT IT WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND ALL THE USES. AND A TWO- FIELD CONFIGURATION DOES EXPAND THE SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL USE. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEET THETHE BUT IT WILL GIVE US TWO.
SOME OTHER BENEFITS ARE THERE WOULD BE MORE OPEN SPACE AND HANGOUT AREAS AVAILABLE IN THE PARK THAN AT THREE FIELD. SOME CONS WOULD BE FEWER ATHLETIC FIELDS FOR THE YOUTH AND THEN TOURNAMENTS AND BIG EVENTS THAT ARE ATHLETIC- BASED AND FIELD- BASED WOULD BE CHALLENGING TO PULL OFF. JUST ON THIS ONE SITE.
SO THE THREE- FIELD CONFIGURATION.
THE YOUTH, NUMBER OF PROS, THE YOUTH SPORTS ARE FULLY SUPPORTED. THE SITE IS FULLY PLANNED AND UTILIZED SO THERE WILL BE NO -- EVERYTHING WILL HAVE A PURPOSE ONCE WITH THE THREE- FIELD CONFIGURATION.
SO THE CON, NOT ALL USERS WILL FULLY NECESSARILY WILL FULLY BENEFIT AND THEN WHEN FIELDS ARE NOT IN USE, THE PARK COULD BE CONSIDERED UNDERUTILIZED.
BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER OPEN SPACES ON THE SITE.
SO SOME OTHER FACTORS THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT IS PARKS RECREATION IS AN OPEN SPACE PLAN WHICH MENTIONED STARTED TO BEGIN HERE PRETTY SOON.
THAT IS A BIG PUBLIC REACH PORTION TO IT.
AND THAT WILL OBTAIN THE COMMUNITY'S IDEAS AND THEIR WANTS AND NEEDS FOR THE NEXT TEN TO 20 YEARS. SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S PLANNED FOR THE NEAR FUTURE.
THE SPORTS COMPLEX PROJECT, THE, THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR 2027, THAT'S ALL UNDER REVIEW, OF COURSE, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE AND THERE'S STILL SOME ONGOING DATA THAT WE'RE RESEARCHING, BUT TO BE CLEAR, IF WE IMPLEMENTED THAT ORIGINAL PLAN, THE BASEBALL FIELDS THAT ARE THERE WOULD NOT STAY. THEY WOULD BE REPLACED BY THE SOCCER FIELDS. THAT'S THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
SO WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A DECREASING SUPPLY OF BASEBALL FIELDS. AND THEN THE IMPACT FEES.
BASED ON ALL OF OUR DISCUSSIONS, WE BELIEVE IS STILL FULLY ELIGIBLE FOR IMPACT FEES BECAUSE IT IS AN EXPANSION IN ALMOST EVERY AREA OF THE SITE. THE, AND AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT USING IMPACT FEES. WE DON'T HAVE A TON OF THEM AND WE ALWAYS HAVE PRIORITIES IN THAT AREA.
THE TIMELINE IS CRUCIAL IN '27 BECAUSE V BORE ALVAREZ AND USING INTERIM SITES TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THIS PROJECT.
SO WE WANT TO BE MOVING FORWARD QUICKLY AND THEN IT DOES MEET ALL THE, YOU KNOW, IT STILL MEETS ALL THE COMP PLAN REQUIREMENTS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW. SOME QUICK QUESTIONS. CAN WE MITIGATE THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS? THE TRC, IN THEIR -- WHEN WE WENT IN FRONT OF THEM, RECOMMENDED WE GO TO THE BOA FOR A REQUEST OF VARIANCE ON PARKING. WE -- BECAUSE THE PARKING LEVEL IS -- NEEDED PARKING LEVEL IS NEAR 200 AND WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY PARK THAT MUCH IN A SITE LIKE THIS. AND WE'RE GOING FROM 22 IDENTIFIED PARKING PLACES TO TRY TO GET TO NEAR 200.
SO WE HAVE COME UP WITH A PLAN TO GET US TO AROUND 120 OR SO BUT WE NEED TO TAKE THAT TO THE BOA TO BE ABLE TO GET APPROVAL FOR THAT. SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION. CAN WE MITIGATE THAT. CAN WE GET THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT? THIS IS A KEY PIECE. WE'VE MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE TALKED WITH THE, WE HAVE TALKED WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND WE UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THOSE.
PARKING IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM.
LIGHT POLLUTION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ANOTHER
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ONE. AS WE ADD LIGHTS TO THE FIELD, THAT'S A CONCERN OF THEIRS. THE LOCATION OF THE PAVILION, IN THE PLANS, WE MOVED IT AROUND THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THE SITE A NUMBER OF TIMES. BUT IT REMAINS A CONCERN. THE EXISTING HORSESHOE PITS, WE'VE TALKED WITH THEM. THOSE ARE HIGHLY UTILIZED BY THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD THE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE EXPANDED OR AT THE VERY LEAST, KEPT BUT EXPANDED. SOME ADDITIONAL BATHROOM IN THE AREA. THAT IS UTILIZED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE MOST.ARE ALL MAJOR CONCERNS AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NEIGHBORS ABOUT ALL OF THIS. WE ALSO NEED TO DECIDE WHAT COME OPPONENTS BASED ON WHAT CONFIGURATION WE'RE GOING TO USE. WHAT ARE ALL THE COMPONENTS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ARE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL DECISION AND ULTIMATELY THE CONSTRUCTION. AND THEN WHAT IS THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COST. AS WE SAID, PRICE GOES UP ALL THE TIME. WHAT ARE OUR AMENITIES, WHAT'S OUR FINAL DESIGN, WILL DICTATE WHAT OUR COSTS ARE IN THE LONG RUN.
SO THE NEXT STEPS, WE NEED TO DIRECTION, WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BUILD. WE'LL FINALIZE THE FUNDING SOURCES ONCE WE KNOW WHAT THE COST WILL BE. WE'VE GOT TO RESOLVE THE PARKING. WE'VE GOT TO FINISH OUR FINAL DESIGN AND THEN LOOK TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
SO, WANTED TO, I THINK WE CAN SEE THIS. I HAVE A BIGGER VERSION OF THE PLANS ON THE RIGHT. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS KIND OF UNDERSTOOD WHAT'S THERE VERSUS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND THEN WE'RE PREPARED. SCOTT MICHAELSON AND I ARE PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME? COMMISSIONER POYNTER.
>> WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST THAT I'M REALLY SEEING THIS AND I'M STILL NOT QUITE SURE WHERE SOME OF THIS STUFF IS GOING.
SO IF I'M LOOKING AT YOUR MAP AT THE TOP LEFT HAND CORNER, THAT'S, IS THAT THE START OF THE PARKING LOT OR IS THAT THE PAVILION WITH THE BLUE TOP ON YOUR ACTUAL PHOTO?
>> ON THE ACTUAL PHOTO ON THE TOP, YOU'RE
LOOKING AT THE -- >> POINTER THAT WE HAVE HERE, RIGHT? BESIDES ME.
>> SO YOU'RE LOOKING UNDER THE COM. OKAY. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT?
>> THAT'S THE PLAYGROUND AREA.
>> OKAY, SO HOW DOES THAT THEN, WHERE IS THAT OVER THERE?
>> YEAH, BUT HE'S LOOKING AT THE PICTURE.
I DO HAVE A -- THAT HELP OR HURT?
>> I'M JUST TRYING TOTO GET, WHERE'S THE POOL? OVER HERE?
>> OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I COMMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME COMMUNITY INPUT BECAUSE I'VE SPOKEN TO VARIOUS PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY'RE BOTH COMING FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY ONE'S HAPPY, ONE GROUP'S HAPPY WITH IT, ONE GROUP'S NOT HAPPY WITH IT. I'D LIKE TO HEAR BEFORE MORE COMMENT, I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY ABOUT
IT. >> TYPICALLY DO TAKE THE WORK TIME FOR THE COMMISSION TO DISCUSS THEN WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION AT THE END. BUT --
>> I THINK THAT WOULD HELP. IT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN THAT THEY HAVE. BUT IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE
MAYOR. >> I HAVE A HANDFUL OF SPEAKER CARDS HERE. SO PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION TO HEAR THESE FIRST.
>> SURE. COMMISSIONER TUTEN THEN MISHEW.
>> I WAS OUT LAST WEEK TWICE TO TALK TO SOME OF THE SOFTBALL PLAYERS AND TO TALK TO REVEREND THOMPSON.
I HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS. I TALKED TO JEREMIAH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM. MY BIGGEST CONCERN, AND I'M WONDERING ABOUT TRYING TO FIND A HAPPY MEDIUM, IS WITH FIELD NUMBER ONE.
FIELD NUMBER ONE, THAT CORNER DOWN THERE ON THE FIRST BASE LINE SITS JUST 12 FEET FROM FROM THE EDGE OF THAT
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BUILDING AND REALLY EATS UP THAT OPEN SPACE.YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL FIELDS ARE UNIQUE IN THAT THEY'RE NOT EASILY UTILIZED FOR, YOU KNOW, MULTI-USE THE WAY SAY A SOCCER FIELD COULD BE. TWO THINGS WITH FIELD NUMBER ONE. A, COULD IT MOVE A LOT FURTHER EAST? SO, IN OTHER WORDS, THE SPACE BETWEEN FIELD NUMBER ONE AND THREE IS MORE THAN 60 FEET.
BUT THE SPACE BETWEEN TWO AND THREE IS ONLYONLY 22 FEET.
I GET IT. THE BATTING CAGES, THE PITCHER WARM UP SPACE, IT WOULD ALL BE SQUEEZED. BUT I FEEL LIKE WE COULD CAPTURE 20, 30 MORE FEET. THE EXISTING SPACE IS ABOUT 50 FEET. THERE'S ABOUT 50 FEET BETWEEN THE BUILDING AND THE EXISTING FIELD. AND I THINK WE COULD ALMOST GET TO THAT AMOUNT AND MAINTAIN OPEN SPACE AND THEN WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD AND I KNOW THIS WOULD NOT PLEASE SOFTBALL.
WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT FIELD NUMBER ONE HAS A TEMPORARY FENCE? WHICH I KNOW MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR LEAGUE PLAY. ESPECIALLY, OR TOURNAMENT PLAY.
THE UMP AND THE COACHES WOULD HAVE TO SET GROUND RULES AND WHAT NOT. IF IT HAD TEMPORARY FENCING ON FIELD ONE, THEN SUDDENLY THAT OUTFIELD, SEVEN MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR WHEN SOFTBALL'S NOT PLAYING, THAT OUTFIELD CAN BE OPEN SPACE.
>> SO FIRST, KIND OF FOLLOW UP ON THE FIRST.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CAN --
>> THAT'S OKAY. ON FIELD ONE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING IT EAST.
>> CERTAINLY WE COULD EXPLORE THAT IN THE FINAL DESIGN AND THEN AS FAR AS THE TEMPORARY FENCE, THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS TO DO A TEMPORARY FENCE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE NOT HARD FOR LEAGUE PLAY. THERE'S WAYS WE CAN EXPLORE TO DO THAT. IF YOU'RE PICTURING THE ORANGE FENCE, TEMPORARY FENCE THAT YOU CAN USE ELSEWHERE AND I THINK WE USE ID CENTRAL, YOU CAN USE THAT. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GO ABOUT DOING IT. SO THERE'S WAYS WHERE PEOPLE, WE CAN EXPLORE THAT FOR SURE.
>> EVEN THE LINE FENCE DOES NOT, ESPECIALLY AN ISSUE THAT'S SO HEAVY FOUL BALL TERRITORY.
MY OTHER CONCERN OR DO YOU WANT THE FLOOR? MY OTHER CONCERN IS THE TREES CURRENTLY IN THE GROVE BY WHERE OCEAN RESCUE WAS.
I THINK A HUGE NUMBER OF THOSE TREES CAN BE WALKED.
I WALKED OUT THERE TWICE WITH MEASURING STICKS.
I'VE LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENT PLANS.
IT WOULD CAUSE SOME OF THE TREES TO OVERHANG THE FIELD. BUT AT CENTRAL PARK, I WALKED THE OUTFIELD LINE OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE FIELDS AND EVERY SINGLE ONE HAVE OAKS OVERHANGING THEM. LIKE IN THE FIELD OF PLAY.
IT HAS A HERITAGE OAK HANGING IN. I GET THAT'S A HUGE PAIN FOR BASEBALL BECAUSE IT OCCURS IN THE AIR.
SOFTBALL. BUT HOW MANY TIMES OUT OF THE YEAR DOES A BALL ACTUALLY HIT ONE OF THESE TREES AND SOME KIND OF GROUND RULES CAN BE SET WHAT HAPPENS, BUT 365 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR, I THINK THAT GROVE OF TREES, WHICH IS CURRENTLY REALLY NOT UTILIZED BY THE PARK, I THINK THAT WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL ASSET FOR THE FUTURE USE OF THIS PARK. AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED AS MUCH POSSIBLE.
>> I ALSO HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND I'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH YOU AND WITH THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER ABOUT THIS.
BECAUSE I'VE OFTEN RENTED THAT PAVILION AND USED THAT
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OPEN SPACE OVER THERE AND I FEEL LIKE THIS CONFIGURATION BASICALLY DOES AWAY WITH THAT.AND THAT IS ALSO A VALUABLE ASSET OF THIS PARTICULAR COMPLEX. SO I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME WAY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PRESERVE AS MUCH OF THAT OPEN SPACE ALONG FIRST STREET AS WE CAN. IN OUR MEETING, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TEMPORARY FENCING OPTIONS FOR FIELD ONE. I THINK THAT'S VERY REASONABLE AND SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BAKE INTO THE PLAN.
I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THE ABILITY TO MOVE THE FIELD OVER BUT I THINK COMMISSIONER TUTEN MAKES A GOOD IDEA. I'M ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PARKING. AND WHERE -- I MEAN, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PARKING FOR THREE FIELDS, THEN ALL THAT PARKING IS GOING TO GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO THAT IS AN ISSUE WE NEED TO BETTER ADDRESS AND DEAL WITH.
I THINK THE LIGHTING CAN BE MANAGED BECAUSE WE HAVE OPTIONS. THOSE ARE MY BASIC CONCERNS.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DIDN'T MENTION WAS THERE'S A WALKING PATH ALL THE WAY AROUND ALL OF THIS. YOU CAN SEE IT ALONG THE EDGE ON THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE. I ALSO AGREE THAT AND I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THAT IN OUR MEETING. THAT WE CANNOT CLEAR CUT THOSE TREES. WE JUST CANNOT.
AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST MANAGE AROUND THEM. THE OTHER THING THAT I MENTIONED AND I DON'T WANT TO THROW A WRENCH IN ALL OF THIS, BUT IF THIS WERE TO BE A TWO- FIELD OPTION, THEN WHY CAN'T YOU MAKE JOE -- THE THIRD FIELD.
THAT IS A VERY % UNDERUTILIZED FIELD OVER THERE.
IT IS NOT PROPERLY MAINTAIN AND WE COULD MAKE THAT A VERY USABLE FIELD. IT HAS PARKING.
PUT A BATHROOM IN. YOU COULD PUT LIGHTING IN OVER THERE.
PROBABLY LESS COST THAN ADDING A FIELD OVER HERE.
SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER OPTION WE COULD JUST LAY ON THE TABLE. I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANY OF THE SOFTBALL FOCUSES ABOUT IT, BUT I DO THINK IT'S A REASONABLE OPTION FOR US TO THINK ABOUT IF WE MADE THIS A TWO- FIELD OPTION THEN WE COULD HAVE MORE FREE SPACE. WE COULD MAYBE PRESERVE MORE TREES. AND THEN WE COULD PROPERLY UTILIZE JOE -- WE TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW WE DON'T SPREFR THE HISTORIC ASSETS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT NAMED AFTER AND USED BY THE MAN WHO STARTED LITTLE LEAGUE IN THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY IS A VALUABLE ASSET AND NEEDS TO BE PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND IT'S NOT TODAY.
SO THOSE WOULD BE MY COMMENTS ON THIS.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET ALL THE PLAYERS AT THE TABLE ATAT SAME TIME AND BEGIN TO CONTINUE TO WALK THROUGH THESE OPTIONS.
I THINK THIS IS A LOT OF -- I THINK WE'RE CLOSE, BUT I THINK THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MAYBE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX A LITTLE BIT ON.
AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDED FREE SPACE THAT IS TODAY IN THIS COMPLEX.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. WOULD YOU LIKE TO --
>> I WANTED TO RESPOND TO THE JOE VALARDI.
THE REHAB OF THAT FIELD WOULD COST YOU KNOW, NO MORE THAN A THIRD FIELD HERE.
SO THE COST WOULD BE THE SAME. THERE ARE ALREADY A SET OF RESTROOMS THERE FOR THE PLAYGROUNDS.
THAT WOULDN'T BE AN ADDED COST ON THAT SITE.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE NEED TO GO THROUGH WHATEVER PROCESS.
>> AND HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION WITH THE SOFTBALL FOLKS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEED IS THERE. THEY HAVE GOT A WAITING LIST OF GIRLS TO PLAY AND THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ACCOMMODATIONS TO I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
BUT THIS COMPLEX AT MLK IS MORE THAN JUST BALL FIELDS.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT --
>> FOLKS, PLEASE, IF I CAN ASK NOT TO CLAP OR SPEAK FROM THE AUDIENCE.
YOU'LL GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AT THE PODIUM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
VICE MAYOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> FIRST, I WANT TO SAY I'M A HUGE ADVOCATE OF YOUTH SPORTS.
I'VE COACHED POP WARNER. BABE RUTH.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME COACHING KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
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SO I DEFINITELY, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT HELPS THE KIDS OUT, GET OFF THEIR PHONES AND OUTSIDE, I'M ALL FOR.WHEN IT COMES TO ALL OF THESE ISSUES, NOT JUST THIS, YOU KNOW, AS GLENN STATED, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A PLAN.
WE HAD A PLAN THAT YOU KNOW, ALVAREZ WAS GOING TO GET TAKEN OVER, THOSE SOCCER FIELDS WERE GOING TO GO THERE. THAT'S NO LONGER A FINANCIAL VIABLE SOLUTION TO WORK THE WITH THE COUNTY TO PURCHASE THAT LAND AN PUT IT INTO CONSERVATION FOREVER.
THAT'S FINE. LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE OFF OF THAT. BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND SEE THAT WORKED INTO THIS VERSUS JUST SAYING WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE MAYBE ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE.
STILL HAVEN'T SOLVED SOCCER. STILL HAVEN'T SOLVED THE SKATE PARK. STILL HAVEN'T SOLVED A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US AND I'M JUST NOT WILLING TO SAY LET'S JUST GO AND PUT A NEW SHINY COMPLEX IN HERE. SPEND $2 MILLION WHICH IS A GOOD PORTION OF WHAT WE HAVE LEFT IN OUR IMPACT FEE FUNDS AND THEN STAND AROUND AND GO WELL, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR SOCCER AND FOR OUR SKATE PARK. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE ALL THIS GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER MINSHEW. ALL OF THEIR FEEDBACK AND CONCERNS, I DEFINITELY RESPECT THE COMMUNITY RIGHT THERE. THEIR WISHES.
SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME.
GO TRY TO PUT A SHED UP ON SOUTH FOURTH STREET AND THIS PLACE WILL EXPLODE.
YOU KNOW? BUT THEN NOBODY SEEMS TO TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TEARING A HOUSE DOWN ON SOUTH TENTH.
I LOOK AT THIS AS EVERYBODY GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ABOUT WHAT MAKES THAT COMPLEX WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. SO THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO BE CONSCIOUS, WE HAVE ANOTHER WORKSHOP TOPIC WE'D LIKE TO GET TO THIS EVENING AS WELL.
>> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK REDEVELOPMENT OF JOE VALARDI IS A GOOD IDEA.
I WALK BY THERE EVERY DAY AND IT IS UNDERUTILIZED. THAT COULDN'T BE DONE WITH IMPACT FEES THOUGH, CORRECT?
>> BECAUSE IT WOULD JUST BE AN IMPROVEMENT?
>> THE IMPACT FEE QUESTION WILL NEED TO BE LOOKED AT MORE.
>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IT'S A VALID QUESTION.
>> BECAUSE THERE'S NO LIGHTS ON THAT FIELD. IS
THAT CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> REAL QUICK. THIS COMMISSION SEVERAL MEETINGS AGO COMMITTED TO, AND IT'S IN OUR PLAN TO DO A FULL ON RECREATION PLAN FOR THE CITY. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF MOVING PARTS NOW.
I DON'T THINK IT'S VIABLE. THE SOCCER FIELDS AS WAS TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. COST PROHIBITIVE.
THAT ALL WAS GOING TO PLAY INTO ALL OF THIS. AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE PREMATURE. AS MUCH I HATE TO SAY THAT, I THINK IT'S PREMATURE ON THIS BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY MOVING PARTS NOW AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVE TO SOLVE FOR ALL THE RECREATIONAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD. I AGREE THAT WEWE TO KEEP EVERYONE IN THE SAME ROOM BUT I WOULD LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL WE GET THAT COMPANY HERE TO ANALYZE ALL OF OUR NEEDS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU. AND SO AT LEAST THREE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS WOULD SAY THAT, IF I'M INTERPRETING THIS CORRECTLY, WE'RE GOING TO HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON.
WE'RE NOT GIVING STAFF ANY DIRECTION.
THAT THIS WOULD BE A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE A SELECTION AT THIS TIME.
>> ONE ADDITIONAL QUICK QUESTION.
CAN WE FIND OUT IF WE -- IF WE ONLY DID TWO FIELDS HERE, WOULD TWO HERE AND ONE AT JOE, IS THAT ENOUGH FOR BOTH PRACTICES AND GAMES? THAT'S JUST A QUESTION I HAVE OUT
THERE. >> I THINK PART OF THAT ANSWER IS THE GRANT ALLOWANCE WE'RE TRYING TO FULFILL IN PROVIDING THE FIELD, BUT IF YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THAT.
>> I THINK THERE'S -- THERE'S THE TWO QUESTIONS.
WHERE CAN WE BUILD AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO FUND IT ARE THE TWO BIGGEST PIECES THAT WE NEED TO ANSWER. WE HAVE APPLIED. WE DON'T HAVE A TON OF GRANT MONEY PUT TOWARDS THIS PROJECT RIGHT NOW, BUT WE HAVE APPLIED FOR ONE THAT WE STILL HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THAT'S 200,000 AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER 50,000 THAT WE COULD REALLOCATE SOMEWHERE.
SO THERE'S, WE CAN MAKE THAT. THAT WORK.
I THINK AS WE, AS WE WORK TOGETHER, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION TO GO DOWN AND PUT ALL OF THE PLANS TOGETHER, THEN
[00:35:04]
THIS WILL BE ONE IN SOME FORM OR FASHION THAT WILL COME BACK FAIRLY QUICKLY BECAUSE OF THETHE CONDITION. GOING TO REMAIN A TOP PRIORITY.IN THE PARK'S REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
[3.2 PEG LEG PETE]
>> DO I HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMISSION? I KNOW IT'S GOING TO SEEM A LITTLE ANTICLIMACTIC BUT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO PEG LEG PETE AND IF THERE'S ANY SPEAKERS WE CAN ACCOMMODATE IN THE LAST 15 MINUTES, I'LL TAKE THAT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.
THANK YOU. COMING UP, WE HAVE MISS
NICHOLS. >> JUST SWITCH OFF OF OUR -- DOWNTOWN DISTRICT MANAGER. OUR GOAL TONIGHT REALLY WAS TO PROVIDE SOME HISTORY ON THE PROJECT INVOLVING PEG LEG PETE AND THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW VERSION OF THE STATUE.
SO THE ORIGINAL STATUE WAS COMMISSIONED BY A GROUP OF DOWNTOWN BUSINESS MERCHANTS TO ATTRACT VISITORS.
IT STOOD ON THE WATERFRONT FROM 1978 THROUGH 1988 WHEN BRETT'S STARTED TO BE BUILT THEN IT WAS MOVED OVER TO ITS CURRENT LOCATION.
THE STATUE WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY BY THE MERCHANTS BUT IT WAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED BY THE PIRATE'S CLUB.
SO THE LAST REPAIR THAT THE CLUB DID WAS IN 2020 AND AT THAT POINT, DETERMINED THAT THE STATUE WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE REPAIRED.
AND SO THIS LED THE CLUB TO GO OUT AND SEEK THE COMMISSION OF A NEW STATUE. SO THE NEW STATUE WAS COMPLETED IN 2023. IT WAS DONE BY A YOUNG, LOCAL ARTIST, A SCULPTOR. AND THEN THE PAINTING WAS COORDINATED BY A LOCAL ARTIST AND STUDENT ARTIST IN THE COMMUNITY.
THERE WAS THEN AN APPROVAL PROCESS THROUGH THE HDC THAT TOOK PLACE AND AT THIS POINT, THE PIRATE'S CLUB REACHED OUT TO MAIN STREET TO ASSIST WITH THAT PART OF THE PROJECT. WHEN WE FIRST TOOK IT TO THE HDC, THEY HAD CONCERN OVER THE APPEARANCE OF THE NEW STATUE AND ALSO THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO ACCESS IT AND TO HANG ON ITS ARM. THERE'S A SWORD AND ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. SO THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THERE. AT THAT TIME, THE CITY ENGINEER AGREED TO EVALUATE THE OLD STATUE TO SEE IF THE REHABILITATION COULD BE DONE BY CITY STAFF.
SEVERAL MONTHS PASSED AND NOTHING HAD HAPPENED SO MAIN STREET COMMUNICATED WITH THE CITY ENGINEER AND IT WAS DECIDED THAT MAIN STREET WOULD GO OUT AND SEEK AN ESTIMATE ON RESTORATION.
AT THAT TIME, SOUTHEAST CONSERVATION WAS IN TOWN WORKING ON THE NEW ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH RESTORATION.
SO THEY WERE ASKED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE STATUE AND PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE. AND THEY DID, THEY DID TO THAT AT THAT TIME. BUT THE QUOTE THAT THEY PROVIDED WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LITTLE STEEP. AND IT WAS NOT SOMETHING MAIN STREET COULD TAKE ON TO FUND. SO AGAIN, THE PROJECT STALLED.
THE BOTH THE CITY AND MAIN STREET HAD STAFF CHANGES AND SO AGAIN, THINGS DID NOT MOVE FORWARD FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT WE PICKED THEM BACK UP AGAIN IN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR. AND WE RESUMED THE APPROVALAPPROVAL THROUGH THE HDC WITH SUPPORT FROM SOUTHEASTERN CONSERVATION SERVICES. THEY WERE CONSULTED ON THE BASE AND CREATING A MODIFICATION TO THE BASE THAT WOULD MAKE IT LESS ACCESSIBLE SO THAT PEOPLE COULD NOT CLIMB ON IT AND ACCESS THE STATUE. FEELING THAT THAT WOULD MAKE THE NEW STATUE MORE PALATABLE TO THE HDC. THE HAD ALSO SUGGESTED POTENTIALLY CONSERVATION SERVICES AGREE BUT REJECTED IN AUGUST. SO THEN A SECOND ENGINEER
[00:40:03]
EVALUATION TOOK PLACE IN SEPTEMBER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NEITHER A FENCE NEEDED TO BE PUT UP OR THE REVOOUFL OF THE STATUE NEEDED TO HAPPEN.IT WAS JUST TOO DETERIORATED AND TOO RISKY TO HAVE IT STANDING THERE UNGUARDED.
AT THAT POINT, THE AMELIA ISLAND AGREED TO ACCEPT. SO THEN AFTER THE STATUE WAS REMOVED, THERE WERE FOUR QUOTES THAT WERE RECEIVED.
THERE'S A COMPARISON ON THE SCREEN. THE RANGE IS REALLY PROBABLY THE 23,000 TO THE 36,000. THE LOWER ESTIMATE DOES NOT INCLUDE SOME OF THE PLASTER WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. PAINTING, TRANSPORTATION, AND STORAGE WHILE THE RESTORATION WOULD BE TAKING PLACE. YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S INCLUDED IN ONE OF THE OTHERS AND REALLY BESIDES TRANSPORTATION, THEY INCLUDE ALL OF THE ELEMENTS, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMEWHERE IN THE 23 TO $35,000 RANGE.
WE'VE PUT DOWN WHAT WE SEE AS FOUR OPTIONS AND RANKED THEM FROM THE HIGHEST COST ON THE TOP LINE DOWN TO THE LOWEST COST ON THE BOTTOM LINE.
THE RESTORATION OF THE ORIGINAL STATUE IF WE WERE TO DO THAT AND KIND OF AND FORGET ABOUT THE NEW STATUE, THE ESTIMATE IS 23 TO 36,000. THE, SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE THE QUOTES MADE A STATEMENT THAT THEY'RE NOT SURE WHAT THEY REALLY WILL FIND WHEN THEY GET INTO IT, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
IT IS AN OLDER WOODEN PIECE THAT IS ROTTEN.
SO THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL INDEED BE ABLE TO RESTORE IT. AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF HOW LONG THAT RESTORATION WOULD LAST IF THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IT. NONE OF THEM WOULD WARRANTY THAT WORK. THAT IS THE CONSIDERATIONS WITH THAT OPTION. THEN A SECOND OPTION WOULD BE TO DONATE THE ORIGINAL TO THE MUSEUM AND REPLACE IT WITH A YET TO BE DETERMINED NEW STATUE THAT COULD BE EITHER A PREFABRICATED STATUE.
IT COULD BE A COMMISSIONED REPLICA OF PEG LEG PETE OR SOME OTHER NEW STATUE WITH A HIGH LEVEL ESTIMATE OF THAT BEING A 3,000 TO $15,000 COST. THE $15,000 IS ACTUALLY FOR A NEW STATUE THAT WOULD BE CAST FROM RESIN AND DONE YOU KNOW WITH AN ARTIST THAT HAS DONE THIS TYPE OF WORK IN PARKS BEFORE. THAT'S KIND OF THE RANGE WE'RE LOOKING AT THERE. SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS THERE IS THAT A NEW STATUE OR THE REPLICA WOULD NOT BE GUARANTEED TO BE APPROVED BY HDC SO WE WOULD HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE APPROACH THERE AND IT MAY ALSO NOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE COMMUNITY AND WE WOULD HAVE THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING WITH THE ACCEPTANCE RIGHT NOW.
SO THE THIRD OPTION WOULD BE WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO WHICH WAS DONATE THE ORIGINAL AND REPLACE IT WITH THE PIRATE'S CLUB NEW STATUE. SO THIS IS THE PREFERENCE OF THE PIRATE'S CLUB. AND JOE BROWN IS HERE AND HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE PIRATE'S CLUB. HE CAN SPEAK TO THAT. I BELIEVE HE ALSO SENT A LETTER WITH SOME INFORMATION. THEY WOULD LIKE TO INSTALL A NEW STATUE NOW AND WORK THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL ON A NEW NAME FOR THE STATUE.
THE CLUB WOULD AGREE TO MAINTAIN THE STATUE IF THE CITY WANTED THEM TOO VIA WRITTEN AGREEMENT AND BYLAW CHANGE IN THEIR BYLAWS SO THAT FUTURE OFFICERS WOULD KNOW THAT THEY WERE OBLIGATED TO DO THAT. PEG LEG PETE WOULD BE PRESERVED AT THE MUSEUM AND THEN THAT OPENS UP OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE COMMUNITY COULD BE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESERVATION OF THE ORIGINAL IF THERE WAS A DESIRE TO FULLY RESTORE THAT STATUE.
IT COULD BE DONE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
IN SOME COMBINATION OF HOWEVER THAT WOULD WORK.
IN THE TIME IT WOULD TAKE, IF AND WHEN IT WOULD BE READY TO BE DISPLAYED AT A VERY PUBLIC LOCATION BEYOND THE MUSEUM, IT COULD BE THEN MOVED TO SAY THE WATERFRONT LOCATION WHICH WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN WHERE IT IS NOW OR WHERE IT WAS BUT BACK TO WHERE IT CAME FROM ORIGINALLY. SO THAT
[00:45:01]
SOLUTION COULD BE ACHIEVED WITH NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE TAXPAYERS. THE NEW STATUE WAS PAID FOR BY THE PIRATE'S CLUB AND SOUTHEAST CONSERVATION HAD OFFERED PREVIOUSLY TO DO SOME IN KIND REPAIRS TO THE BASE AND EVERYTHING. OTHER THAN SOME TIME, THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.WE DONATE THE STATUE. WE ALSO DONATE THE PLAQUE THAT'S THERE.
AND THE TIME CAPSULE THAT'S WITHIN THE BASE.
WE REMOVED THE BASE ENTIRELY. THAT'S ALSO A VIRTUALLY NO COST OPTION. AND SO THEN WHETHER YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO PURSUE THE NEW STATUE OR REFURBISH AND REPLACE THE EXISTING STATUE, THERE ARE SEVERAL LOCATION OPTIONS TO CONSIDER.
RECENTLY AT A BOARD MEETING, THE FOUNDATION HAD EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN HAVING PEG LEG PETE, WHICHEVER PIRATE STATUE MOVED BACK TO THE WATERFRONT WHERE IT ORIGINALLY WAS.
THE TRAIN DEPOT HAS A STATUE THERE.
DAVID YULI WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HISTORY OF TRAINS IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO IT WOULD BE A LOGICAL AND CONSISTENT PLACE TO HAVE THE PIRATE GO BACK TO THE WATERFRONT. ESPECIALLY WE HAVE A NEW PIRATE SHIP THERE. SO THAT MIGHT BE A MORE APPROPRIATE LOCATION. THE AMELIA ISLAND MUSEUM OF HISTORY IS WILLING TO HOUSE THE STATUE ON THE COVERED PORCH ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
WE DID NOT PLACE IT THERE BECAUSE THE YOU KNOW, THE ULTIMATE LOCATION WAS STILL UP IN THE AIR.
IF THAT THE MUSEUM BECOMES ITSITS HOME, WHETHER IT'S RESTORED OR PRESERVED, IT COULD GO ON THE SIDE OF THE MUSEUM AND THAT PORCH IS NOT ONLY COVERED BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE JAIL CELL SO IT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE AND IT HAS ONE OF THE FORMER PALACE PIRATES ON IT SO HE WOULD HAVE A BUDDY. SO THERE'S THAT.
BESIDES THAT, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS LIKE PUTTING IT SOMEWHERE IN THE DOWN OR AT THE PIRATE PLAYGROUND AT THE ATLANTIC REC CENTER.
WOULDN'T BE AS PUBLIC BUT THOSE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.
I THINK TONIGHT, WE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR YOU TO PROVIDE SOME DIRECTION ON HOW PEG LEG PETE WILL BE PRESERVED AND THEN THE DISPOSITION OF THE NEW STATUE THAT THE PIRATES CLUB HAS HAD MADE AND IS WILLING TO DONATE TO THE CITY.
ANSWER QUESTIONS OR LIKE I SAID, JOE IS HERE AS WELL.
WE CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS BECAUSE HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU. ANYBODY WANT TO START US OFF FROM THE COMMISSION?
>> THANK YOU. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE COMMISSION BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CITY A LOT IS OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND. SO I DIDN'T WANT PEG LEG PETE TO JUST SIT THERE FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO AS HE JUST ROTS AWAY AND WE JUST COMPLETELY FORGET ABOUT IT. I WAS LOOKING AT THIS FROM A STANDPOINT OF GETTING BOARD CONSENSUS, WHERE I AM WITH IT, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S THAT MUCH TO RESTORE HIM AND STICK HIM BACK WHERE IT WAS. NO DIFFERENT, EASY PEASY, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO SAY.
>> I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE E-MAIL THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE PIRATE'S CLUB AND FROM MR. BROWN. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD ALTERNATIVE. AND IS A WAY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD. WHERE IT ACTUALLY IS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DECIDED TONIGHT. I THINK THAT GETTING THE PIRATE CLUB AND THE COMMUNITY MORE INVOLVED AND ENGAGED IN THE RESTORATION IS A REALLY GREAT IDEA. IS WHAT I WOULD WANT TO SEE
PURSUED. >> COMMISSIONER TUTEN.
>> YEAH, I AGREE. I WAS HAPPY TO READ THAT E-MAIL. IT SEEMS PUTTING THE ORIGINAL PEG LEG PETE AT THE MUSEUM THE IF HE'S AT RISK EVEN WITH RESTORATION, AT RISK OF ROTTING IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE AND THIS NEW STATUE I THINK IS FABULOUS. WHERE THE NEW STATUE GOES I THINK IS A QUESTION FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE PIRATE CLUB IN PARTICULAR.
I THINK BACK TO THE WATERFRONT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA.
[00:50:01]
I WOULD, I LOVE THE IDEA OF RESTORING THIS.
I THINK THE COST IS SIGNIFICANT SO I WOULD MAYBE CHALLENGE IF THIS COMMISSION WAS INTERESTED IN INITIATING A FUND-RAISER. PERHAPS THAT WOULD BE A
[4. PUBLIC COMMENT]
PRODUCTIVE WAY OF TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THIS RATHER THAN GOING INTO UNBUDGETED DOLLARS.OTHERWISE WITH NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL ENTERTAIN PUBLIC COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I LIVE AT 320 DIVISION STREET.
I CAME BECAUSE I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE MLK PARK. JUST IN THIS MEETING ALONE, I THOUGHT ABOUT ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. THE FIRST ONE, IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE HAVE A NEED FOR 200 PARKING SPOTS BUT WE CAN BARELY GET TO 120, WHY ARE WE TRYING TO PUT A THIRD FIELD WHERE WE CAN'T HAVE ANY PARKING? SECOND THING. WHY ARE WE TAKING UP A HUGE CHUNK OF THE OPEN SPACE AT THIS FIELD FOR FIVE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR WITH PROPOSED TEMPORARY FENCE WHERE THE COMMUNITY THAT USES IT THE MOST WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
FOR FIVE MONTHS. OUT OF THE YEAR.
I JUST SAT THROUGH A PRESENTATION WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE RESTORATION OF A STATUE THAT COULD COST SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 23 AND $35,000.
TAXPAYER DOLLARS. MY DOLLARS, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF THE MLK PARK.
WHY IS THAT NOT AS IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY AS THE STATUE? I GREW UP HERE. I PLAYED SOFTBALL AT THAT FIELD AND THE MEN AND THE WOMEN WHO MADE THAT PARK WHAT IT WAS RAISED ME INTO THE WOMAN THAT I AM TODAY.
I AM VERY PROUD TO COME FROM THIS COMMUNITY AND STILL BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. I LIVE ABOUT TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM THIS PARK. I ABSOLUTELY 100% DO NOT SUPPORT ADDING A THIRD FIELD TO THIS PARK. IT IS UNNECESSARY. IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE SPACE FOR IT AND WE DON'T WANT IT. WE DON'T WANT THE NOISE.
WE DON'T WANT THE ADDITIONAL PARKING ON OUR STREETS.
WE DON'T WANT THE LIGHTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE DON'T WANT IT. WE DON'T WANT IT FIVE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. WE DON'T WANT IT 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR AND I HOPE THAT THE COMMISSION IS JUST AS INTERESTED IN PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF THE MLK PARK AS THEY ARE ABOUT THIS STATUE.
>> FOLKS, ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM APPLAUSE OR BOOING OR CLAPPING OR ANY OTHER COMMENTARY FROM THE AUDIENCE.
NEXT, WE HAVE REVEREND BERNARD THOMPSON.
>> MAYOR, SORRY, ANTUN. I KNOW I HAVE THREE MINUTES BUT I'M GOING TO ASK FOR ONE MORE MINUTE. I NEED TO REFUTE SOME THINGS THAT WERE SAID EARLIER. THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
I HAVE A PRESENTATION TO MAKE. I CAN'T LET CERTAIN THINGS GO.
AND I NEED ONE EXTRA MINUTE IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME.
>> WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO TAKING A LITTLE EXTRA TIME DURING PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE NEXT MEETING JUST TO ELABORATE SO I CAN ALLOW OTHER SPEAKERS AS WELL?
>> LET ME DO MY PRESENTATION. WE'RE HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO VOICE OUR DISAPPROVAL AND DISPLEASURE OF THIS PLAN TO HAVE THREE SOFTBALL FIELDS AT THE MLK CENTER. THIS PAST JULY, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT MET WITH A COMMITTEE FROM THE ELM STREET SPORTSMAN ASSOCIATION. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WANTED OUR INPUT ON PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE FIELDS AT THE MLK CENTER. THIS WAS REALLY A DISGUISE TO GET OUR AGREEMENT TO THEIR PLAN. WE MET THREE TIMES AND THREE TIMES, IT WAS A NO. THEIR PLAN OF THREE FIELDS WOULD HAVE THE AREA WHERE THE PAVILION IS LOCATED BEING THE OUTFIELD OF ONE OF THE FIELDS. A PERIMETER FENCE WOULD RUN DOWN TO WHERE THE HORSESHOE PITS ARE LOCATED. WE WOULD BE PUSHED INTO A MUCH SMALLER AREA OVER BY THE BASKETBALL COURT.
THE AREA WE WOULD LOSE WOULD BE MUCH LARGER THAN THE AREA WE WOULD BE PUSHED INTO.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. YOU DON'T SOLVE A PROBLEM BY CREATING ANOTHER PROBLEM UNLESS YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE
[00:55:02]
SECOND PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE CREATED.TIME AND TIME AGAIN, PROJECTS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED AND THIS PART OF TOWN, I WISH I HAD TIME, I REALLY DO. AND THE THING THAT THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON THAT NO ONE TALKS TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AFFECTED BY WHAT'S GOING TO GO ON. I HAVE GOTTEN OUT AND DONE THE WORK. I HAVE WALKED AROUND TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. TALKING TO OUR ORGANIZATIONS.
TALKING TO THE PEOPLE WHO USE THE FACILITY.
HAS ANYBODY TALKED TO Y'ALL? I DIDN'T THINK SO.
AND THE PLAN YOU WANT THESE THREE FIELDS, IT'S A NONSTARTER. WITH THREE FIELDS, THERE IS THIS WAY YOU COULD PUT A 30 BY 60 PAVILION, THREE HORSESHOE PITS, BATHROOM AND ROOM AND HAVE ROOM FOR TENTS, GRILLS, BOUNCE HOUSES, AND OTHER AMENITIES THAT PEOPLE WANT.
YOU CAN'T PUT TEN POUNDS INTO A FIVE-POUND BAG.
FURTHER MORE, THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THIS PLAN OVERWHELMINGLY DO NOT LIVE IN THIS AREA. AND IF THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A COMPLEX IN THEIR AREA, THEY÷÷ WOULDN'T HAVE IT. THE SPORTSMAN OFFER TO COMPROMISE TWO FIELD. LITTLE LEAGUE COULD STILL PLAY BALL AND THE TAX PAYING CITIZEN OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD COULD STILL ENJOY THE OPEN AND GREEN SPACE THAT THIS REC CENTER CURRENTLY OFFERS.
WE ARE ASKING THIS COMMISSION TO NOT BE A PART OF THIS TRAVESTY AND NOT ALLOW A HOSTILE TAKEOVER TO BE PERPETRATED UPON THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NEXT, I HAVE MR. STEVE BUCKNER.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, I HAVE MISS SHEILA COFI. ALL RIGHT.
>> BEFORE I START SPEAKING, I AM IN THE PIRATE CLUB BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER BY MS. FINCKE L STEIN.
I WORKED HARD ON THIS AND I DID RESEARCH. TRUE RESEARCH.
WHEN I TELL YOU LIKE THIS, JEREMIAH, TO DO, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF YOU'LL GET TO THE NEXT
SLIDE. >> YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> I'M GOING TO. I GOT THAT, CAROLINE.
SORRY, BUT I DO. I LIVE AT 724 SOUTH SIXTH STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.
IN 1978, GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT ONE.
NUMBER TWO. IN 1987, ARTIST WAYNE IRVING WAS COMMISSIONED BY LOCAL MERCHANT TO CARVE A LARGE PIECE OF OAK. ROBERT LANDON AND BOBBY BROWN SR. WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MR. IRVING CARVING THIS WOOD.
GO TO THREE, PLEASE. THE MERCHANTS OF DOWNTOWN FERNANDINA AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS SLIDE DONATED $875 FOR MR. IRVING TO CARVE THE WOOD INTO A STATUE. NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE.
HERE, WE SEE A COPY OF A FERNANDINA NEWS LEADER ARTICLE FROM SEPTEMBER 4 TH, 1978, SHOWING WAYNE IRVING CARVING THE WOOD. HE SAID THE PIRATE IS ALREADY IN THERE. NUMBER FIVE.
OCTOBER THE 4TH, 1978. THE STATUE IS ANCHORED AT THE FERNANDINA BEACH MARINA. TOWN AGENTS HAD A HAND IN WHAT IT WOULD BE. A FISHERMAN? A SEA CAPTAIN? A PIRATE? PIRATE GOT THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTES BECAUSE IT WAS FELT HE REFLECTS ALL ASPECT OF THIS ISLAND. THIS IS A QUOTE. QUOTE, HE IS REPRESENTATIVE OF A STRONG, UNSWERVING COMMUNITY AS A PIRATE. THE PIRATE NEEDED A NAME SO A CONTEST WAS HELD FOR LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN TO NAME HIM. HIS NAME IS GOING TO BE PEG LEG PETE. HERE IS A PHOTO FROM THE WINNER, AMEILA MAGAZINE WITH MR. IRVING AND BOBBY BROWN SR. STANDING BESIDE PEG LEG PETE AT THE CITY DOCKS.
GO TO NUMBER EIGHT, PLEASE. I WISH I HAD THE CLICKER, I COULD CLICK. NUMBER EIGHT, HERE YOU SEE PEG LEG PETE AT HIS POST ON OUR WORKING WATERFRONT.
THAT'S RIGHT. WORKING WATERFRONT.
NUMBER NINE. TEN YEARS LATER AT THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR CITY, PEG LEG PETE WAS MOVED FROM THE WORKING WATERFRONT TO HIS PERMANENT LOCATION NEXT TO THE TRAIN DEPOT. BOBBY BROWN SR. ASSISTED WITH THE MOVE.
YOU CAN SEE THE TP SHAPE MARINA WELCOME STATION THAT WE SURE WISH WAS BACK.
NUMBER TEN. FAST FORWARD TO 2019, WITH THE HELP OF THE FERNANDINA PIRATE CLUB, BILLY TAYLOR, DON GAY AND OTHERS GOT SOME MUCH
[01:00:01]
NEEDED RESTORATION WORK. WHILE DOING SO, BILLY FOUND A FORMER CLUB MEMBER'S ASHES IN THERE. HIS WISH FOR SOME OF HIS ASHES TO BE PLACED IN PEG LEG PETE. BEFORE THE RESTORATION WAS COMPLETE, BILLY ENCAPSULATED HIS ASHES INSIDE OF A 35 MILLIMETER PLASTIC CANISTER IN ROSIN, SEALED HIM INSIDE PEG LEG PETE.SO PEG LEG PETE SAVED POLLY AND POLLY SAVED PEG LEG.
NUMBER 11. IN 2023, THETHE CARVING -- CARVED A NEW PIRATE. HE DID A GREAT JOB.
ON AUGUST 8TH, 2025, THE HDC -- WILL YOU LET ME FINISH MY LITTLE THING? I'VE GOT TWO MORE COUPLE OF THINGS. I WANT THIS DONE BECAUSE THIS IS HISTORY. THIS IS HISTORY.
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE FUTURE MEETING I'LL ALLOW THAT.
>> SO YOU'RE GOING TO LET ME SPEAK AT THE NEXT WHEN WE GET TO NEXT BECAUSE I WANT TO FINISH THIS PRESENTATION.
>> THREE MORE MINUTES. I WANT TO BE CONSISTENT THAT I'M NOT ALLOWING SOME AND NOT OTHERS.
>> SO YOU'RE GOING TO LET ME GO THROUGH MORE MINUTES AT THE NEXT ONE?
>> BECAUSE REALLY AND TRULY, MR. MAYOR, THIS CITY KNOWS WHAT THE HISTORY IS, NOT MADE UP AND GO I WE WANT TO A LOT OF WORK TO DO THIS.
>> WE HAVE FOUR MR. SPEAKER CARDS THAT I'LL TAKE DURING THE REGULAR SCHEDULE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.