Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

City of Coral Gables 405 Biltmore Way Coral Gables, FL 33134 www.coralgables.com Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 14, 2023 8:00 AM https://coralgables.zoom.us/j/89943974263 Youth Center - Conference Room Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes September 14, 2023 Board CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL a. Roll Call and Excusal of Absences Present: 5 - Board member Carlos (Charlie) Rua, Board member Erik Rodriguez, Board member Yamilet Rodirguez, Board member Carlos Hernandez and Board member Maite Haley Absent: 1 - Board member Ellen Chasens APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES a. Informational April meeting minutes A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APRIL INFORMATIONAL MEETING MINUTES WAS MADE BY CARLOS HERNANDEZ AND SECOND BY MAITE HALEY. ALL IN FAVOR; PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. DIRECTORS REPORT City of Coral Gables Page 1 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes September 14, 2023 Board a. General Updates Director Couceyro began his report by introducing the administration division at community recreation. He then went on to give the board members additional information about the Community Recreation Department's divisions which include Tennis, Venetian Pool, Country Club, Youth Center, Adult Activity Center, Special Events, Parks, and Golf. Board member Carlos Hernandez mentioned that the group has grown significantly in the past few years. Board member Carlos requested that a facility organization chart be provided at the next meeting. They'd want to become familiar with the employment directory. Director Couceyro assured them that the organizational chart will be sent to them via email. Board member Carlos (Charlie) Rua inquired about the country club's status. Director Couceyro responded with information we acquired from past contractors: the number of members they previously had. When they left, they had 17,000 members. This was not quite right. We learned that many of their memberships were buy one, get one free, and that they had at least 5,800 paying members. Following that, Director Couceyro provided an update on the club's permit and inspection challenges, as well as the fact that the club currently has 1,300 paid members. Our initial objective was to reach 2,000 members. He also discussed future plans regarding the café, tennis, and the Granada Golf shop. Board member Maite Haley wondered if being a member of the country club or tennis was required to play tennis. Tennis membership is no longer membership, according to Deputy Director Carolina Vester, therefore the firm that is there is a local company, and the present instructor mostly handles programming. Two courts are now available to our members. To safeguard our members' access to the courts. They must reserve them ahead of time before using them. However, no separate tennis membership is now available since severance membership would conflict with her programming. Director Couceyro further stated that when the tennis membership expands, we will incorporate and provide those members’ access. b. Special Events Director Couceyro quickly went over some of our upcoming events, which include, Cycle Day - Tour of Parks - Sunday, September 17th at 9:00 am - 1:00 p.m., AAC Western Roundup 2023 - Friday, September 22nd at 2:00 pm - 4:00 p.m., Parks Pollinator Palooza - Saturday, September 23rd at 9:30 am -11:30 a.m., An afternoon at the Cinema for “Cool Hand Luke”, sponsored by Commissioner Menendez on September 23rd at 12p.m., Paws in the Pool at the Venetian Pool on Sunday, October 1st, at 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., and Nightmare at 405 at the War Memorial Youth Center - Tuesday, October 31st at 6:30 p.m. c. CIP Updates City of Coral Gables Page 2 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes September 14, 2023 Board Director Couceyro mentioned that the Salvadore Dog Run ribbon cutting took place on September 2nd. The dog park is now operational. He indicated that board members would be able to see drawings of park projects for Phillips Park, Blue Road, Toledo and Alava at the next meeting. Granada Pro Shop is also nearing completion, and we are now working on Burger Bob's. Board member Maite Haley wanted to know whether the Publix garage was referenced during the commission meeting. According to Director Couceyro, there was a brief debate, but no funds were provided. He then informed the board members that the fourth-floor garage across from the Publix garage is flat. Our team is exploring a temporary installation. There is a lower cost pickleball facility there. You can drive all the way up for low high and accessible access. Board member Maite informed the members that this is a project she is working on with Director Couceyro as a low-cost solution to avoid taking either basketball or tennis courts NEW BUSINESS City of Coral Gables Page 3 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes September 14, 2023 Board a. Selection of Chair A MOTION TO ELECT CARLOS HERNANDEZ AS THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE CORAL GABLES PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD WAS MADE BY CARLOS (CHARLIE) RUA AND WAS SECONDED BY MAITE HALEY. ALL IN FAVOR; PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. b. Selection of Vice-Chair A MOTION TO ELECT CARLOS (CHARLIE) RUA AS THE VICE-CHAIRPERSON OF THE CORAL GABLES PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD WAS MADE BY CARLOS (CHARLIE) RUA AND WAS SECONDED BY ERIK RODRIGUEZ. ALL IN FAVOR; PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. c. Selection of Board Member at Large Director Couceyro mentioned that the board must select a new Board-as-a-whole member and that they must submit a résumé or a paragraph explaining why they want to serve on the board. Director Couceyro suggested that potential nominees submit their resumes before the next meeting, after which we will disseminate resumes to the whole board, who will then analyze and choose their eighth member. According to Deputy Director Carolina, the City Clerk's office advised applying online and sending applications through the portal, which we would then distribute to the board. Deputy Director Carolina encouraged the board members to share the Boards and Committees link with the possible nominees. Administrative Operations Supervisor Sarah Espino pointed out that Commissioner Castro's position is currently vacant, and that former board member Jennifer Marques is still interested in serving on the board. OLD BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS Director Couceyro reminded board members that if they had a discussion item that they would want to put on the next agenda, they should notify Susan. Then we'll put it on the agenda and review it. Deputy Director Carolina went on to announce that the 2023 Biennial Boards and Committees Ethics Training will take place on September 29, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Public Safety Building, 2151 Salzedo Street CMR A&B Coral Gables, FL 33134. All Board and Committee members must attend this meeting. ITEMS FROM THE SECRETARY Next meeting date October 12, 2023 at 8 a.m. City of Coral Gables Page 4 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes September 14, 2023 Board ADJOURNMENT 9:10 a.m. NOTE City of Coral Gables Page 5