City of Groveland Minutes Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2025 The City of Groveland Recreation Advisory Committee (RAC) held a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. in the Lake David Community Center located at 450 S. Lake Avenue, Groveland, FL 34736. Vice-Chair Linda Cowels called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. with the following members present: Chair-Person Joscelyn Campbell, Frederick Wood, Chuck Kenzig, Michael Gris, David Badillo, David Bergstein, and School Board Member Representative LaShawn Irvin. City staff present were Parks & Community Services Director Mike Walker and Recording ecrelalyAdminsiralve Assistant Maritza Calderon. Excused Absence: N/A Unexcused Absence: Committee Member Shana Martin CONSENT AGENDA Consideration of Approval: February 11, 2025 Revised Recreation Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting Minutes Motion: Committee Member David Bergstein moved to approve the Consent Agenda; seconded by School Board Member Representative LaShawn Irvin. Motion passed with all committee members present voting aye. March 11, 2025 Revised Recreation Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting Minutes Motion: Committee Member David Bergstein moved to approve the Consent Agenda; seconded by School Board Member Representative LaShawn Irvin. Motion passed with all committee members present voting aye. PRESENTATIONS 2025 Calendar of Events Mike Walker, Director of Parks and Community Services, presented an overview of the Calendar of Events included in the agenda packet and provided the following update: Upcoming Events The 2nd Friday Block Party scheduled for Friday, May 9th, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM was cancelled due to rain. 1 May 13, 2025 RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES Memorial Day Flag Placement = May 26, 2025, to honor and recognize those who have passed. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Oak Tree Union Colored Cemetery and continue at 11:00 a.m. at Greenwood Cemetery. Mr. Walker extended the invitation to all attendees of the RAC meeting. TOVA, representing the Trilogy Veterans Association, will also be assisting with the event. June 2nd Friday Block Party = Scheduled in conjunction with the Juneteenth celebration on June 13, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Planning efforts are ongoing, including coordination with local pastors on event logistics. Mr. Walker shared that they are working on securing Victory Boyd and a Christian gospel singer to perform. In addition to musical performances, local pastors will be speaking as part of what is expected to be a meaningful and educational community event. The 3rd Annual BBQ Competition will also take place during the event. Mr. Walker noted that judges are still needed and extended an invitation to RAC committee members to participate. Chair-person Joscelyn Campbell expressed her appreciation for the recent events and shared information about "National Challenged Champions and Heroes Day," . a globally recognized observance established by ICHANGE Nations and acknowledged by the U.S. Congress. The day honors individuals with special needs and their caregivers. This year, the organization has chosen to recognize the City of Groveland with an official proclamation. Chairperson Campbell read the proclamation to the RAC committee at the request of Dr. Pipa Rivers, expressing gratitude to the City of Groveland for supporting the event, including it on the city calendar, and warmly welcoming it into the community. City Council Budget Workshop Presentation - Parks Budget 2026 Mr. Walker went over slides presented to the city council last month April 28,2025, the last April RAC meeting unfortunately was cancelled and on the agenda was budget discussions Mr. Walker reiterated that he wanted present the current budget and talk through and educate just a talking session to get feedback from RAC and bring back any recommendations to the council but since unfortunately the RAC meeting last month was cancelled leading into the workshop there was no time to meet Mr. Walker thought it was a great idea to present to the RAC committee his presentation that was presented. Mr. Walker went through the presentation as follows: The Finance Department presented the initial slides, highlighting key points from the City's financial overview relevant to the RAC Committee. The presentation included budget data from fiscal years 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025, reviewed column by column from left to right. Mr. Walker walked the committee through each line item on the Parks Budget Overview slide, noting increases in operating expenses over the years. He also discussed capital outlay figures-$19 million in total, with $16 million allocated to the South Lake Regional Park. The proposed capital outlay for the next fiscal year is $13 million, which includes funds carried over for projects that will not be completed this year. Proposed Capital Improvements - Mr. Walker reviewed the proposals of new mowers and trailers, Jimmy Thomas Memorial Park some or most were part of the Master Plan system 2 May 13, 2025 RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES as the RAC recognized and gave priorities of the parks that need improvements and making changes through out the years. Mr. Walker also mentioned other parks that are also part of the improvement plan such as David Blanks Park - with the construction and surveying documents the conceptual plans have been approved Proposal for $250,000 for next year to get documents in place to hopefully rolling into 2027 to start doing some of those things, Ronald Sefton Gaffney Park - will be up next on the list $1.5 million in the budget this year while there having to do environmental surveys were just completed now moving forward with Geo Tech to finalize the construction documents to start building that Park this year presentation bullets on carryforward FY 2025 of $750.000, Park signage budget also Phase 2 event lawn, basketball and fitness court : Cherry Lake Park- went over the carryforward from FY 2025 Re-budgeting from this year what they will have remaining, Park signage $20,000, fitness court shade structure, Phase four design, permitting, and Construction documents is our recommendation and hopes to have approved by city council to start Phase four splash pad additional parking and any other additional elements that may come through the RAC committee to get that done. South Lake Regional Park - Carryforward numbers of $11,000,000, Park Signage, Phase two and three, trying to figure out what is going to be in that property and to start having those conversations since Phase one will be completed by 2026. Mr. Walker mentioned those were a lot of the big-ticket items that were recommended to the city council. Oak Tree Union Colored Cemetery of Taylorville - Slides showing our first year this year of operating the cemetery compared to next years proposal there was a decrease in the operating expense request as first year we were not sure how it was going to go SO we fined tunned it and saved a little bit of money. Greenwood Cemetery = there was a little decrease there on managing the cemetery most of that was the data base program that was going to be used but we are not ready for that as there is a lot of unknows and not ready to just type in that data Mr. Walker clarified that it is not that there is records missing or that anything is incorrect we just do not have a lot of the information that the database needs sO we are going to collect what we can SO we saved some money there by downgrading the database system. Mr. Walker also mentioned that no new equipment was added, and that the city kept the existing Lawn service that the Church was using to do the lawn at Greenwood Cemetery. Mr. Walker mentioned that some of the maintenance, about $20,000, was outsourced for that. Mowing is down 2 to 4 times a month depending on the weather and season. Mr. Walker reviewed the overview slide focused on staffing, as outlined in the bi-weekly report submitted to the City Manager and City Council. The Parks Department currently has ten employees, with one vacant position in the interview process, for a total of eleven positions. The slide also highlighted the department' S responsibilities, including the maintenance of57 acres of open space- covering all city parks plus an additional ten acres at the South Lake Regional retention areas and Max Hooks. In addition, staff clean and maintain fourteen public restrooms, as well as facilities such as City Hall, the E.L. Puryear Building, Cherry Lake Station 94, the 239 Park Office, and landscaping at the former Police/Fire Complex. The department also manages facility rentals for Lake David Center and E.L. Puryear, which are booked every Saturday and Sunday. Staff are responsible for cleaning these venues after each use to ensure they are ready for the next event --an ongoing and demanding task. Mr. Walker emphasized that this information 3 May 13, 2025 RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES was shared with the City Council not as a complaint but simply to provide a clear understanding of the department's workload. Regarding special events, Franceska and Steven coordinate and manage over thirty events annually, averaging about three per month- -with a small team ofjust three staff. Mr. Walker raised the question ofwhen the Parks Department might begin forming partnerships with community organizations to help support these efforts. The bottom portion of the slide addressed the Community Services Division, which oversees events, programs, and recreational sports such as co-ed volleyball and adult/youth basketball held at the Nathaniel Hope Gymnasium. The division is also responsible for processing special event permit applications for non-city-hosted events. Event coordinators play a key role in ensuring all permits and organization are properly managed. Mr. Walker reviewed the organizational charts for the Parks and Community Services Department, detailing each position. These include the Directors of Parks and Community Services, an Administrative Assistant, Special Events Coordinators, a Recreation Aide, Maintenance Workers (serving both Parks and Cemetery), a Maintenance Lead, and Cemetery staff. He noted that the department is also responsible for cemetery plot sales, with Maritza and the Parks team--consisting of six staff members-maintaining approximately sixty-seven acres of parkland and related areas. Maritza Calderon Went over Greenwood cemetery plot prices for Groveland residents and non-Groveland residents, Mr. Walker added that Greenwood Cemetery fees will be going up by October 1, 2025. Mr. Walker presented a slide nighlighting the Parks signage design that was first adopted by the Recreation Advisory Committee (RAC) and later approved by the City Council. He also discussed short-term priorities identified through the Parks Master Plan process, including signage improvements and potential land acquisition near parks such as Jimmy Thomas Memorial, John Griffin, and David Blanks Parks- -items that remain on the department's radar. Additionally, Mr. Walker provided an overview of parks scheduled for updates next year and shared preliminary ideas about what those improvements may include. Long Range Vision Page from the Master Plan was shown to the RAC From the survey and everyone should be familiar with it, all other slides where existing parks with a Vision map view which Mr. Walker explained what was on those maps. New indoor recreational center which we have Partnership with Hope International church and the Nathaniels Hopes gymnasium, it was mentioned also about looking for future for new community centers weather its at Cherry Lake up in the villa city area just following the Master Plan Working through the planning department to identify where that may be. Palatlakha Trail conservation lands, proposed trails adopting Lake County trails. The next slide shown reviewed pages from the Master plan that shows what is being worked on and what has been done and what is still being done. Items checked in the red box are done. Going through what the Master plan says step by step Mr. Walker gave kudos to the RAC 4 May 13, 2025 RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES committee and to the city council for giving the Parks Department the opportunity to do the mentioned projects. Cherry Lake Park - Looking at what is being worked on the map open field to the left has a charter school that is being built and the pickle ball courts and tennis ball courts, Pavilions and new basketball court, $1.538 million that are in this years budget and the items that will be built with that. Ronald Sefton Gaffney Park final Schematic = Approved by the RAC and city council last year, this year working on the playground from Kompan that the RAC selected approved and will also improve the Gaffney memorial. Everything is moving forward, the sand skink survey came back negative, sO everything is moving forward. David Blanks Parks conceptual plan as mentioned previously to get construction documents and with hopes to start that process in 2027. Still may do something with the old rec center that is still there. South Lake Regional Park April 24, 2025 went to bid 2 weeks into the bid process have received twenty one to twenty two questions approximately from contractors on the documents before sending in there proposal by May 29, 2025 bid will be closed and June 12, 2025 evaluations will be made by city staff and go in front of City council for selection of recommendations to hire and hopefully start construction soon after. Mr. Walker provided an overview of the event programming budget for 2nd Fridays. The total annual budget is $50,000, which averages approximately $5,000 per month. A significant portion of this funding is allocated to the Second Friday Block Parties, monthly events that often align with holidays or cultural observances--such as incorporating Juneteenth into the June event. While the $5,000 monthly budget is modest, staff work creatively to maximize its impact. Mr. Walker explained how the funds are distributed and managed to ensure a variety of engaging and inclusive events throughout the year. The Athletics Program reported that it is currently operating at a preak-even point in terms of expenses and revenue. However, during the City Council meeting, the Mayor raised an important question regarding whether the program is truly sustaining. Specifically, the Mayor asked if the lease cost of $85,000 per year and the 45% share of utilities are being factored into the financial calculations. The concern was whether the program generates enough revenue to cover these significant faciity-related expenses, particularly the cost of leasing the gymnasium. Mr. Walker talked about the breakdown of the programing of Nathaniels Gymnasium. 5 May 13, 2025 RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES Greenwood Cemetery = Buriel numbers are increasing as many cemeteries in the area are full. OLD BUSINESS 1. Capital Improvement Plan (FY24-25) Mr. Walker stated that all elements of the plan were covered in the slides. If there are no questions, we will proceed to the next agenda item. NEW BUSINESS FY 2026 Park Event Recommendations for Budget Consideration Today's goal is not to make recommendations, but to have an open dialogue about the future of our events- -specifically, to assess which events we would like to continue managing in-house and which might be better suited for outsourcing or partnerships. As reflected in the presentation slides, there has already been some community input suggesting opportunities to outsource certain programs. We would like to hear your thoughts on which events are essential to keep under city management, and which could be successfully partnered with or outsourced to community groups or organizations. During the discussion, RAC members raised questions about whether staff had compared our Parks Department with those in other cities. Some noted that Groveland should not necessarily be compared with larger cities due to differences in size and resources. There was also consensus that the Parks Department may currently be understaffed. Members highlighted that some cities partner with local organizations, including community and faith-based groups-to host specific holidays and events, with the city providing partial funding and the organization managing the planning and execution. The suggestion was made that Groveland could consider a similar model, emphasizing that there is no reason partnerships like these cannot work here as well. OEI Events Presentations Introduction of OEI Events - Presentation by Galen Mr. Walker introduced Galen from OEI Events, noting his past involvement with events in Groveland, including a concert and a movie night at Cherry Lake Park (which was canceled due to high winds). Galen has shown continued interest in working with the City of Groveland and previously met with City Manager Mr. Hain and Mr. Walker approximately five or six months ago. The potential for collaboration with OEI Events was later brought up during a City Council meeting, prompting Mr. Walker to invite Galen to the RAC meeting to join in the conversation and share more about what OEI offers. 6 May 13, 2025 RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES OEI Events Presentation = Galen Galen delivered a presentation outlining the wide range of services offered by OEI Events, which include organizing community concerts, outdoor movies, fun runs, and races. He explained that OEI works closely with municipalities, businesses, cultural organizations, shopping centers, and nonprofits such as the March of Dimes. He emphasized OEI's ability to plan and execute large-scale community events by utilizing their robust local and national networks. These resources allow OEI to bring in top-tier talent, expand audience reach, and professionally manage every logistical aspect of an event. Galen also shared city-specific data he compiled, noting that Groveland has experienced a 7.5% population growth over the past five years. This growth reinforces the importance of scalable, consistent, and engaging community events. He highlighted that consistency in event programming is crucial to building strong community participation. OEI offers comprehensive event services, including staff support, talent booking (e.g., bands), social media promotion, vendor outreach, venue layout planning, and sponsor acquisition. Operating on a fee-based model, OEI can take full responsibility for event logistics and execution and can also assist with media outreach to promote events through local news outlets. During the presentation, RAC members asked several questions, which Galen answered in detail. His full presentation is attached to the meeting minutes for reference. Next Steps - Mr. Walker's Remarks To facilitate future planning, Mr. Walker asked RAC members to consider which events should remain city-managed and which could potentially be outsourced to OEI Events. Members suggested a few possibilities, such as the annual Christmas event and the Back-to-School event, as candidates for OEI to manage. Galen noted that, depending on the size and scope of the event, he would typically need 30 to 60 days to plan and execute an event from start to finish. Mr. Walker recommended setting up a meeting between OEI and the City's event coordinators to develop a draft plan. Once finalized, that plan will be presented to RAC members for further discussion. Mr. Walker also informed the RAC that follow-up information regarding OEI's involvement will be shared in the next RAC meeting, within the coming month. REPORTS a. Elese Tomlin Community Center Vice Chair Cowels noted that although a formal report was not included in the meeting packet, she wished to share the following updates: May was National Mental Health Awareness Month. Following the department's recent move into a new building, several individuals completed certification training in mental health support. About six weeks after the training, two certified volunteers- -both licensed mental health counselors with prior experience at the Department of Children and Families- -joined the team. Background checks have been completed, and these counselors will now be available on Thursdays to lead kid-friendly group activities and offer mental health counseling. 7 May 13, 2025 RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES To date, the center has served approximately two hundred clients, In addition, monthly immigration information including thirty-two seniors. scheduled for sessions are now being held. The next session is Thursday, May 15, 2025, and will offer guidance for individuals with documentation seeking U.S. residency. These sessions are available both Zoom. in-person and via Programs continue to operate smoothly. An upcoming community event a free cupcake decorating session-will be open to all. The tutoring program also remains strong, with most participants being elementary school students. Notably, academic performance students has been improving. among these Vice Chair Cowels also emphasized the ongoing need for volunteers. As the continues to grow, additional support is necessary to meet increasing demand. program b. Committee Reports Chair-Person Joscelyn Campbell Congratulations to the RAC members and city of Groveland for being nominated for Autism certified city. Nominated by Dr. Pippa Rivers. Vice Chair Cowels Nothing to report at this time. Committee Member David Badillo Nothing to report at this time. Committee Member Michael Gris Nothing to report at this time. Committee Member David Bergstein: Nothing to report at this time. Committee Member Frederic Wood Nothing to report at this time. Committee Member Chuck Kenzig Easter was very good, it was concerned, there were few at the beginning but thereafter it but everything went well. was full, School Board Representative Irvin Nothing to report at this time. 8 May 13, 2025 RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor's Request for Support = Health, Education, and Community Involvement Mayor Keogh, Keith attended the meeting to request community support in two key areas- healthcare and education- -both of which have been recurring concerns raised by residents during various public meetings. To address these, the Mayor Keogh outlined two specific initiatives: Community Engagement with Local Schools The Mayor, in collaboration with a group of private and charter schools, is seeking greater involvement from Groveland schools in community events. Specifically, the Mayor is requesting the opportunity to present at a future RAC meeting to explore ideas for involving local school principals and their drama clubs in city events. A suggestion was made to allow schools to participate in two Second Friday events and to organize a special performance during Founders' Day. The goal is to increase youth engagement and highlight student talent through drama and the arts. Lake County Student Art Festival The second proposal is to organize an Art Festival that includes not only Groveland students but also talented youth from across Lake County. The festival would feature school performances on stage and offer a platform to highlight student creativity from around the region. This initiative would require City Council support and possible funding, which would need to be assessed as planning moves forward. Superintendent Input During discussions with the Lake County Schools Superintendent, the Mayor asked what the top priority should be to support education. The Superintendent responded with a single word: Transportation. Mayor Keogh clarified that while this issue falls outside RAC's scope, it is being addressed by TJ, who is currently working on solutions related to school transportation. Call for Action The Mayor emphasized the need to start building stronger partnerships between the city and local schools. With one school in Groveland having a capacity for 1,300 students but only eight hundred currently enrolled, Mayor Keogh pointed out that this signals a broader issue that needs attention. He encouraged RAC and Parks & Recreation to help plant the seed for future initiatives that feature student nvolvement-wnetner through events, performances, or educational programs. This is about starting somewhere, Mayor Keogh said. "Our students and schools have SO many ideas, and it is time we start bringing them to life with support from the community. Community and School Engagement = Mr. Walker and Mayor Keogh Mr. Walker shared that he recently met with Mayor Keogh and the new football coach from South Lake High School to discuss the idea of hosting a community pep rally as part of an upcoming city event. Although they were unable to organize it last year, the staff have reached South Lake High School to revisit the opportunity. As of now, no response has been received. 9 May 13, 2025 RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES Mr. Walker also mentioned that the Parks & Recreation team has an ongoing relationship with Gray Middle School, particularly with the art teacher, and efforts are being made to strengthen that collaboration. He emphasized the value ofi involving schools in community events, noting that activities featuring children naturally draw larger crowds--parents, extended family, and community members alike. "We've made attempts to engage the schools,' Mr. Walker said, "and we are committed to continuing that outreach and finding more ways to encourage school involvement in our programs and events." Closing Remarks = Mayor Keogh Mayor Keogh concluded by highlighting demographic changes revealed in recent census data. According to the data, 8.6% of Groveland's population is currently enrolled in school, which is notably higher than the percentage in Clermont-a complete reversal from ten years ago. "This shift reflects a younger, growing population, the Mayor said. "lt underscores the critical need to support and invest in our school system, as it will play a key role in shaping the future of our city. ADJOURNMENT Chair- Person Joscelyn Campbell adjourned the meeting at 7:46 p.m. Groveland ita rek FLORIDA Linda Cowels, Vice-Chairperson City with NaruralChurm Attest: Morws Caldeign Maritza Calderon, Recording Secretary 10