CITY OF SARASOTA MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY BOARD November 17, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. in the Sarasota City Commission Chambers Board Members Present: Kathryn Marquis Susan Hagglund Millie Small Elsie Souza Jennifer Tucker Board Members Absent: Thomas Waters City Staff Present: Todd Kucharski Linda Needs Call to Order: Chair Marquis called the regular monthly meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Advisory Board (PREP) to order. Roll Call of Board Members: Chair Marquis requested a verbal roll call of the members present. Five members were present for Roll Call and one was absent. Approval of Minutes from July 14, 2011 Motion: Vice Chair Souza moved the minutes be approved. Seconded by: Member Tucker Vote: Minutes were approved unanimously. Approval of Minutes from September 15, 2011 Motion: Member Hagglund moved the minutes be approved. Seconded by: Member Small Vote: Minutes were approved unanimously. Elections for new Chair and Vice Chair Chair Marquis asked for nominations for a new Chair. Member Susan Hagglund nominated Millie Small as Chair. Board member Small responded she doesn't even know if she will be on the Board next year as her term expires. Chair Marquis thought it might be best if we nominate somebody we know is going to be around for another full year instead of getting their feet wet and then having to transition. Member Small suggested waiting until the January meeting as the Board is going to be reconstructed. Motion: Member Hagglund made a motion that we hold off on electing a new Chair and Vice Chair and keep the current Chair and Vice-Chair until the January 20, 2012 meeting. Seconded by: Vice-Chair Sousa Vote: The motion carried unanimously retaining Kathryn Marquis as Chair and Elsie Souza as Vice- Chair. Citizens Input Shawn Pierson was here to introduce himself to the Board saying it is his intent to apply for a position on this Board. He is aware of the application process through the City Auditor and Clerk's office. Marjorie Sykes, President, Bayou Oaks Neighborhood Association, where the N. Water Tower Park is located is here to re-voice their support for the acquisition and for any questions or clarification you may need to help move the process along. Chair Marquis said Marjorie has been very active in this matter and asked her to remain throughout the discussion of agenda item 6, Unfinished Business. Unfinished Business: (a) Sarasota Parkland Acquisition of N. Water Tower Park additions Discussion ensued as to what parcels are included and if the City would be willing to resubmit their intention. Mr. Kucharski said, typically in the past the City has received a letter from the county requesting them to review applicants with regard to their neighborhood parkland acquisition program. The County has not forwarded anything officially to him as far as these additional parcels and there wasn't any application that he was aware of. The City administration as well as the City Commission has not said anything to him directly or indirectly regarding as to whether or not we will keep this park at its current priority listing. In talking with residents he has found differing opinions regarding the acquisition. He has gathered that there is support if there is at least a partnership between the City and County. There was much discussion from the Board members until a motion was made. Motion: Member Hagglund made a motion that the PREP Board recommend to the City Commission to allow the Parkland Acquisition process for the North Water Tower addition to continue. Seconded by: Member Souza Vote: Motion carried unanimously Staff and Committee Reports (a) COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT Jack Colligan, General Manager of Parks and Recreation, Sarasota County, gave updates on Payne Park Tennis and Arlington Park/Pool. Next, Mr. Colligan stated that as of October 1*, Bayfront Community Center and Lido Pool were the City's responsibility. The City is currently working on the pool equipment and reviewing the needs for updating the gymnasium floor and locker rooms at Arlington Park. As regards to Payne Park Tennis Center, the County has just gone out to bid for management of the facility. The County only received one (1) proposal. A committee, which Mr. Kucharski is a part of, will review that proposal to determine if the proposal meets or doesn't meet the specifications as outlined in the request for proposals. By the direction of the County Administration and Commissioners there will be some changes made to make this facility a sustainable one that will break even and not involve tax payer funds. A Social Mixer will be held on the grounds at the Tennis facility on December 11. The County is working to host the Annual Super Senior Tournament for Feb 13-18, 2012. (b) BOB JONES GOLF COURSE AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES Sue Martin, Public Services, Manager of Golf and Recreation Skate Park Ms. Martin addressed Chair Marquis' question regarding BMX. BMX bikes are going to be allowed in the Skate Park, on a trial basis through January on one (1) operating day a week. They have to put plastic pegs on wheels of the bikes and handle bars as that is what does damage to the concrete. After a 2 % month trial we will re-evaluate the surface to make sure there is no excessive damage. Bikes will be restricted to the street course and skaters on ramps or advance course. October 15 was the 1-year anniversary operation by Dan Giguere of Sk8skool Children's Fountain The Fountain is closed for the season from November 1 = March 31, 2012. Member Tucker asked how this season was as compared to last year. Ms. Martin said we didn't have any closures this year. We did not have many mechanical problems either. Bobby Jones Golf Course Course play is picking up. The British course is closed now for the final over-seeding of the year. Thanksgiving Day will be our 3rd annual Turkey Shoot for $27.50 for an 18 hole shotgun with riding cart including a buffet breakfast. We have 45 people signed up sO far which is an increase from last year and we haven't released it online yet. For Christmas we do a similar event called the Reindeer Games. Christian Martin, our PGA pro, will be running a Junior Golf School for $60 on December 19-21. The age groups are 7-10 and 11-15 and is limited to 6 students per session. The $60 does not include lunch. Basically it comes down to $2 per hour which is a very good rate for instructions by a golf pro. (c) Robert L. Taylor Community Complex Jerry Fogle, Manager of Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, began by introducing a new member of the City, Arthur Larkins, Recreation Supervisor at the Center. He then proceeded to give a report on September, October and November numbers. In September, they reached a total of 900 pass members and that includes everybody and most are families. In October we had over and above 900 and in November we just broke a 1,000. The City's IT Department did a breakdown for us with addresses and zip codes. The results showed approximately 50% within the City and 50% throughout the County with about 20 passes from outside of Sarasota. Right now we are up to 171 average daily participants. Mr. Fogle handed out a list of the Center's Fitness Programs which include Zumba, Zumba Gold, Nia Dance Body & Soul, Yoga, Burn Zone (cardio), Tone Zone (muscles), M26 Boot Camp, and TaiChi. He also handed out the special events calendar for November. The Center just held a Literacy Class for adults yesterday and 150 people showed up. The Health Department is going to have free cooking classes throughout December. The MacArthur's, a married couple, whom just received a community award from the NAACP, will be preparing Thanksgiving dinner on November 22 from 5 = 8 p.m. targeting the homeless and needy but is open to everyone. We have multiple associations we have partnered with or intend on partnering with who will be utilizing the Center. Namely they are the, Chamber of Commerce, Sarasota Redevelopment Office, Newtown Advisory Board, Children First, Department of Health, Girl Scouts, Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and FPL doing home makeovers. The Center is also available for rentals. (d) SUBSTAINABILITY Alison Albee, Environmental Specialist could not attend today. She will be back for our January meeting. Mr. Kucharski spoke on her behalf. FPL's HEMI (Home Energy Makeover Initiatives). Part of the program has starting today to retrofit two (2) homes in District 1 and will continue tomorrow with the other 48. It includes energy-saving upgrades such as weather-stripping, compact fluorescent light bulbs, faucet aerators, showerheads, a/c filters, and duct repairs where needed. An average savings is around $350 a year to participants. More makeovers will occur in 2012. That location will be determined in the future. Sustainability Path at Bayfront Park - Mr. Kucharski presented a conceptually plan. It is the brain child of a sustainability task force subcommittee group of the Landscape and Urban Forestry. With the amount of people that utilize this park we thought this was a great opportunity to showcase low-cost design and its components. The City commission approved a donation from an individual, who will be named later, to help start this project. We are hoping to get donations from various vendors to put in samplings of different types of paving material. Hopefully, this will educate and encourage the public to do environmental improvements on their own properties and still have the nice quality landscape they are looking for. Construction is to start at the beginning of the year. Sarasota Bay Steering Committee for a Watershed Symposium will be held February 15-17, 2012 at New College. The last one hosted by New College was held over 25 years ago and will focus on Palma Sola Bay, Phillippi Creek and Sarasota Bay as a whole. For more information go to www.sarasotwatershed.com (e) CITY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Todd Kucharski, Public Works, General Manager of Parks, Landscape and Environmental Services. He provided an update on the spill located by lift station 16. It was a 20" force main. It was programmed to be replaced this year through the Utilities capital project program. The contractor came in and did a bypass on it sO that system could continue to work. Crews were working day and night to get it cleaned up. In a few weeks they will be going back to do actual repair to the pipe itself to get ready to do the long term fix. Mr. Kucharski commented on Mr. Colligan's comment regarding parks back to the City's responsibility. He stated that besides Lido and Bayfront, the City also received 15 other parks to maintain as well as Robert L. Taylor Community Complex. Staff has been working diligently to maintain those parks. He has met with several residents to try to work through some of their concerns with those parks. Lido Key M.U.R.T. on Ben Franklin Drive City staff is still working on the final details for completion of this project. We have had some challenges with the contractor but from the standpoint of the community, it is done. St. Armand's Circle Landscape Median Enhancement Project Construction has started on the improvements in the medians. The enhancements include new sidewalks, new landscaping and irrigation, brick plaza areas, informal shell paths, site amenities and accent lighting. The project is on target to be completed by the December 16 deadline. Adopt-a-Park Program He met with our City Attorney. They are looking to do is something similar to the City of North Port. The idea is to get people involved and provide them recognition for their efforts. It will be presented to the City Commission next year. Lido Beach Pavilion and Pool The Lido Key Neighborhood Association has created their own task force to review the operations of the Lido Pool and Pavilion. Mr. Kucharski has been involved with this group since its beginning back in April. They will make a presentation to the City commission on what they envision early next year. Mr. Kucharski provided an update on the Pool Maintenance and Lifeguard RFP, the Concession Agreement and participation at the pool. Lastly, Mr. Kucharski mentioned that Ms. Martin, Mr. Fogle and he recently attended the annual NRPA conference in Atlanta. BOARD BUSINESS, COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS Member Souza offered thanks to the City staff who for working long and hard at maintaining our parks without the resources. Member Small provided an update on her involvement with the North Trail. Next meeting is January 19, 2012. Adjourn: Vice Chair Souza moved to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 4:54 p.m. Minutes prepared by Linda Needs, PS/BJGC