Recreation Advisory Committee (RAC)

City of Groveland RAC MEETING LAKE DAVID CENTER 450 SOUTH LAKE AVENUE GROVELAND, FLORIDA 34736 (352) 429-2141 Groveland FLORIDA City with Natural Charm' RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING DECEMBER 13, 2022 6:30 P.M. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statute, persons with disabilities needing special accommodation to participate in this meeting should contact Sabina Kahan­ Ali no later than 3 business day prior to the meeting at lcnt,1. ba rger(w.g rm eland-llgo\ or (352) 429-2141, ext. 4004.  PUBLIC NOTICE AND AGENDA OF THE GROVELAND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULED TO CONVENE AT 6:30 P.M. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022. IN THE LAKE DAYID COMMUNITY CENTER LOCATED AT 450 S. LAKE A VENUE, GROVELAND, FLORIDA 34736 CHAIRPERSON JOSCELYN CAMPBELL jo cclvnxa1111 b llru) t.!JO\ elancl-11.g VICE-CHAIRPERSON LINDA COWELS linda.cowels@groveland-tl.gov COMMITTEE MEMBER AMANDA TRAYWICK amanda.travwick@groveland-fl.gov COMMITTEE MEMBER PAULA HALL paula.hall @groveland-fl .gov COMMITTEE MEMBER DAYID BADILLO david. bad ii lo(lu,groveland-tl .gov COMMITTEE MEMBER CHUCK KENZIG charles.kenzig@groveland-tl.gov COMMITTEE MEMBER SHANA MARTIN shana.marti n(a grovcland-fl .gm, COMMITTEE MEMBER MICHAEL GRIS michael.gris@groveland-fl.gov SCHOOL BOARD REP LASHAWN IRVIN lashnwn .irvin((l,gn veland-ll .gO\ PARKS/RECREATION DIRECTOR MIKE WALKER mike. walker(Cl),groveland-fl. gov RECORDING SECRETARY LEOTA BARGER leota.barger@groveland-fl.gov Please note: Most written communication to or from government officials regarding government business are public records available to the public and media upon request. Your e-mail communications may therefore be subject to public disclosure. CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF CONDUCT • \Ve may disagree, but we will be respectful of one another. • We will direct all comments to issues. • We will avoid personal attacks. • Audience members wishing to speak must be recognized by the Chairperson. • Speaking without being recognized will be considered .. Out of Order." OPENING CEREMONIES a. Pledge of Allegiance ROLL CALL CONSENT AGENDA Consideration of Approval: • October 11, 2022 RAC Meeting Minutes PRESENTATIONS 2022/2023 Calendar of Events • October/November/December Post Event Report • Upcoming Event Update OLD BUSINESS 1. Capital Improvement Plan (FY23) 2. Update Cherry Lake Park 3. Update South Lake Regional Park NEW BUSINESS REPORTS a. Elese Tomlin Center b. Committee Member Reports PUBLIC COMMENT ADJOURNMENT Groveland Code of Ordinances Sec. 2-58 (j). Any person desiring to address the Council shall first secure the permission ofthe presiding officer and shall give his name and address for the record. All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a body and not to any member thereof unless permission to do so is first granted by the presiding officer. Unless further time is granted by the presiding officer or the council, member ofthe public shall limit their discussion or address to no more than five minutes. No question shall be asked a council member or city official except through the presiding officer. If your address is exempt from public record, you are not required to state it. In addition, do not give out your Social Security Number, phone number, email address or any other information you do not want others to have access to as the meetings are recorded and those recordings are considered public record. Pursuant to the provisions of Chap. 286, F.S., Sec. 286.0105, if a person decides to appeal any decision made by this body with respect to any matter considered at this meeting, he or she will need a record ofthe proceedings, and that for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record may include the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based and is advised to make such arrangements at his or her own expense. *In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statute, persons with disabilities needing special accommodation to participate in this meeting should contact the City Clerk's Office no later than 5:00 p.m. the day ofthe meeting.  City of Groveland Minutes Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Tuesday,October11,2022 The Groveland Recreation Advisory Committee (RAC) held a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 in the Lake David Community Center located at 450 S. Lake Avenue, Groveland, FL 34736. Chair Joscelyn Campbell called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. with the following Committee Members present: Vice Chair Linda Cowels, David Badillo, Michael Gris, Paula Hall, Chuck Kenzig, Amanda Traywick and School Representative Lashawn Irvin. Also present was City official, Mike Walker, Parks and Community Services Director and Recording Secretary, Dodie Barger. Excused Absence - Committee Member Shana Martin OPENING CEREMONIES Pledge of Allegiance led by Committee Member David Badillo ROLL CALL Recording Secretary Dodie Barger called the roll with all present excluding Committee Member Shana Martin who has an excused absence. CONSENT AGENDA Consideration of Approval: A. July 12, 2022, RAC Meeting Minutes Committee Member Amanda Traywick motioned to not accept this agenda and asked for her comments to be fully recorded to be put on record as follows: "As most of you know I take notes during the meetings along with the agenda, I attach my notes to the agenda and I file them. First of all, I don't believe it says anywhere in the RAC bylaws that volunteers are assigned to job duties or to assist the Park Manager, or anyone else. If we want to volunteer to do so we can but we are not assigned duties unless otherwise agreed upon. It also does not state to eliminate giving monthly reports because a member does not wish to give a report therefore the other members are not to be forced to follow the person or people who do not wish to give a report. We are strictly volunteers which means we chose to do what we do or don't volunteer for. We are not paid employees; we have no benefits other than the joy of participating where we choose. As of late the joy seems be less and less with the direction the RAC is currently taking. Anytime anyone has a correction to the minutes, the correction has always stood as they have been taken, at face value. Never has it been stated you were allowed 30 days for correction and this bothers me because, and I'm taking this strictly in my opinion, no one else, because if you go back into the minutes, we have never challenged anyone else's corrections. I believe committee member Hall gave a correction back in May and nothing was ever said, but yet when I brought up a correction to the agenda, I was challenged by Committee Member Gris. So, if you go back to the minutes, you will see who was present at the meeting during all this discussion that took place. We had three members who spoke in regard to the issue. Last month was the second time the same issues were discussed and now a third time. There were no questions asked when committee 1 OCTOBER 11, 2022, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES member Hall corrected minutes in regard to the May 10th Memorial Day events, yet you are questioning what I discussed and am allowed 30 days. I speak for myself when I say I feel I am being discriminated against and it feels like certain people are trying to push me out of this committee. It is odd that Tim Maslow could be heard when his voice was recorded but yet I recognized bits and pieces of my own voice when I went back and listened again for the second time to recall things that were discussed. May Memorial Day event was discussed twice in regard to the plans, Committee Members Badillo and Hall brought up issues as well as myself discussing the plans. You cannot force volunteers in an assigned meeting. I asked the Park Manager in regard to this, I also asked our Park Manager the liability for volunteers, to date I have had no response as to what that answer is. The discussion on Challenged Champions between Chairperson Campbell and how she talked to Committee Member Martin, I felt was very disgraceful. When she asked her to not select the same people, she was very verbatim, you know, she has had this discussion before, I remember it and I thought she was very harsh on that particular committee member. When committee member Hall explained and this is all in the course of the same meeting, what committee she did want to participate on, both members were met with hostility from Chairperson Campbell. We are an advisory committee to the City Council so when you took offense for some reason when she was trying to explain to you and you wouldn't stop talking for her to respond, she finally got frustrated and just left, I guess, I don't know what the reason was but I'm just making as assumption. When I questioned the difference between last year and this year with volunteers, I was told it this year is this year and last year was last year. Well guess what folks, we are all still the same committee I think with the exception of one person and I didn't see very many of your faces volunteering this past year. So, when you try to force, I'm going to say me, to assign myself to a committee, I'm not going to do that. I'm going to choose what things I want to be on and I have certain events that I want to participate in. Last year when I was the Chairperson, I attended almost every single event and so did Mrs. Hall. There were very few that we ever missed so I know where I was during those times, I know where I've been this year, I know what reasons I have not attended and I know what reasons I have. So, I think it's a shame and a disgrace that I get no respect or appreciation from this committee for all the years of volunteering in the Parks and Rec committee. Now to the agenda at hand, we still have the same discussion, that we cannot force people to volunteer because this is a volunteer committee, we cannot assign them duties, if they wish to volunteer for a particular thing great, if they don't that's up to them. So, I think that, and also one of the other issues was planning events in advance when we know these same holidays come around year after year, and all at the same time. I understand that we have a new Chairperson and I understand that there may be certain directions that she wishes to go with this committee but we also have to abide by what our bylaws say and to keep in mind that we are to report to council and need to make decisions based on what we think are the best decisions. That's where I stand on that issue so I still object that they be corrected." Director Walker asked Committee Member Traywick if she was able to review the email that he sent with attorney and City Clerk's comments on the minute comments. 2 OCTOBER 11, 2022, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES Committee Member Traywick noted she did not receive the email. Director Walker requested permission from Chairperson Campbell to read the email to the committee and noted he answered the question regarding the liability issue in a September 22 nd email. Committee Member Traywick interjected that she had asked the liability question during a committee meeting and had not received a response. Director Walker noted he emailed the entire committee as soon as he found out the answer from the City Attorney. Director Walker noted in regard to the RAC minutes and the discussions, soon after the last board meeting , he asked the City Clerk how we handle the situation because of the poor audio recording and this is the email response to the committee sent out on Monday, September 26th: "Good Afternoon Committee Members, at the September 13th RAC meeting the committee did not approve the July RAC meeting minutes as some of our members felt certain information was left out. It was explained by Dodie and myself, that the recording of these minutes in certain areas was inaudible and some of the RAC members previously were provided a copy of the July RAC meeting recording and agreed it was inaudible in certain areas. However, some of the committee members reiterated at the September 13th RAC meeting what they had discussed at the July RAC meeting and would like to have this information added to the July 2022 minutes. Therefore, the following has been recommended and will be completed. 1. Capture what the members reiterated into the September 13th RAC meeting minutes. 2. Revise the July RAC meeting minutes, adding a notation to the minutes to see the September 13th RAC meeting minutes regarding X, Y, and Z, what those comments were. This can be added as a notation at the end of the July minutes (which has been done). 3. Advise the RAC that the July RAC minutes will be revised to reference the September 13th RAC meeting minutes. 4. Place both minutes on the next agenda for consideration of approval. The recommendation is based on the fact that Dodie did not attend the July RAC meeting and did her best to transcribe the minutes of the meeting to include facts. Please let me know prior to the October meeting if you have any questions on this topic." Director Walker noted the recommendation of the City Attorney, is that we have noted at the bottom of the July minutes in red and suggested the committee members go to the last page of the July minutes and read the comments in red. 3 OCTOBER 11, 2022, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES Committee Member Traywick then questioned if we are going to continue with the poor audio in this room at our meetings. Director Walker pointed out that we have three different devices recording tonight so we continue to improve. Committee Member Gris noted he did not want to make any more out of this issue but since his name was brought up specifically in Amanda's comments, he would like to ask her to reference where he challenged her. Committee Member Traywick noted that she did reference his comment about giving her 30 days to look at the record, to listen to the record again to correct it. Committee Member Gris clarified that his comment was that his intention was to bring back the corrected minutes at the next monthly meeting. Director Walker noted he took it as direction to staff to not kick the can down the road but to get it back to us in 30 days at the next meeting. Committee Member Kenzig asked Committee Member Traywick how she wants to see this resolved and the Chairperson interjected that she had a comment that needed to be addressed. Chairperson Campbell noted that she had in front of her a copy of the City of Groveland Code of Ethics and Conduct which all committee members have signed and she was asked specifically by the City Manager to bring up in this meeting, noting everyone has signed this document. This was asked to be brought up because obviously in these meetings this that we have signed is not being followed, so he has asked me to remind everyone, that one, we have all signed this, and two, that it is supposed to be abided by each and every one of us as volunteers. It is not being abided in this RAC, by each and every one of us, not just me, but by every one of us in this room, we are supposed to abide by this and in these meetings that are being watched, that are being recorded, that are being recorded and watched by many different people, they are noting that this Code of Conduct is not being abided. This Code of Conduct that we have signed is not being abided, people walking out on meetings, people yelling, people doing discriminatory practices, and things like that. Everyone screaming and yelling, that is not what we stand for, so that is one. , Second, as you stated that you wanted your comments on record, I am now putting this on record which I did not want to put on the record, but now since you have stated what you felt about me, now, I have to put this Federal document on the record, which I did not want to do for the City of Groveland, for a volunteer position but you have forced my hand. 4 OCTOBER 11, 2022, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES "I received, as everyone knows already that my husband is in the military, and we have special protected classes. I received back on August 31st, because this is a voluntary position, I am here just to serve the community, that is it, I only came here to serve the community, I have done my time in D.C. I want to make that very clear; I have done my time working for the President, I have done my time in D.C. I just came here to serve the community, I came here to serve special needs, I came here to serve recreation in this capacity and use my experience and expertise but let me make this very clear, we are a protected family. There are certain things my husband does and I do that we are a protected family. So, I do not know when they are checking up on us, I do not know, we are not privy to that information but what I do know is that hear and are listening to different things. Let me make that very clear, we do not know when they are listening to us. I will tell you that our Governor because of his political aspirations has made us be under a microscope, the City of Groveland is under a microscope for very good reasons, one being because of the Groveland Four but also because we are a feel good story, about a city that had a very negative past turning it around and because of that they are not just going to cities like Miami, they are not just going to cities like Tallahassee, they are trying to promote smaller cities, they are going to places like Groveland and Stuckey. For example, in the next three years, for the fiscal years of 2023 and 2025 there is going to be over 30% of security cleared employees that are going to be coming here to Lake County and living here and why? Because after Covid and remote work they do not have to be near Cocoa Beach and all of that, they can do their remote jobs right from home and they don't want to live in the big cities like in Orange County, they want to live right here in a city like this, the city with natural charm and they can do their jobs from home, getting paid nice salaries from the government and living in a beautiful community and they can work from home, so that means 30% from 2023 - 2025 are going to be living in our community, that puts a microscope here in our community. That means the government is watching and listening to us in council meetings and they were doing that before I came here. They've been doing this a long time, they've been doing this in Clermont and so they know everything that is going on long before I came along, they've been watching and listening and because of the storied checkered past of Groveland they want to know as there discrimination going on, for the first time ever in a RAC meeting there are two minority women sitting here, is there yelling at them, is there discriminatory practices, and they don't care if it's a minority, let me make that clear. Is there a director of a recreation department with verbal abuse going on towards him, they don't care who it is. It happens to be that they put his name in here also and noted the verbal abuse going on towards him because they want now, everything to be sparkling clean not only for those who have security clearances that are coming here and already living here because of what's happening in Tallahassee, because someone is coming here soon and whatever his political aspirations and the mid-terms and all those things going on behind the scenes, things have to be put in order. Drive by's are going to be happening here in the next 6 to 12 months, things have to be put in order, we only have two advisory committees so yeah, it matters what happens here. So, what you said about I talked to her harshly, yeah, I talked to her harshly because of the way she spoke to me and what you don't know is that she came up to me afterwards and hugged me 5 OCTOBER 11, 2022, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES and apologized to me. You did not see that because you got up and walked away but everyone else saw it. And yes, I did speak harshly to both of you because it has been a whole year and the year before that of speaking angrily towards me and a lot of discord and if you don't believe me you don't have to but there are recordings of other people, not me, listening to that and hearing it. I have a letter here that I did not ask for because that is not the way I operate. I did not know that they were listening, the whole time but now I've had this letter since August 3pt stating Dr. Ramos Campbell was not privy to us listening in. The Ramos Campbell house is classified as a protective class. She was not privy that we were listening in every single month but because of the harassing nature of these RAC and different meetings that we have been listening to in the City of Groveland we decided that we needed to continue to listen in. There has been a display of verbal abuse towards the head of RAC, Mike Walker, to the employees and the RAC members. I did not know they were listening because they don't call us and tell us. They are just listening in and marking down. This is Federal Government." - Committee Member Traywick interrupted to say she didn't think she had ever spoken harsh to her. Chairperson Campbell noted she was not going to argue with Committee Member Traywick and that as Committee Member Traywick stated her record now she is stating hers. She proceeded to continue reading the letter: "We continue to hear the harassment and hostile work volunteer environment. Though people who are no longer in leadership positions our calculations have shown that 45- 60% of their meetings during this 2022 tenure are spent ineffectually. Due to these issues these meetings can take up to 3-4 hours upon average, however when certain elements were not present, the meetings are punctual, the agendas and items discussed, everyone has a voice and input and provide quality ideas. The meetings on average are only then about 90 minutes to 2 hours. Despite these affronts Chairperson Dr. Ramos Campbell, Vice Chair Cowels, and Mr. Walker have shown tremendous leadership and the members of the RAC have displayed grace under pressure. It is important to note the City of Groveland has an unsavory past of criminal and discriminatory practices toward minorities and abuse of power by those in leadership, however, it is noted in the last few years progress has been greatly made to move forward . The city has made many positive changes and is working to become a more diverse and inclusive community. Though the role of a chairperson is a voluntary position, the harassment and hostility that has been made in public forum is for city function. We are recommending to Dr. Ramos Campbell to file a (redacted) with our offices. At the minimum a public apology is due to Dr. Ramos Campbell and all members of the RAC and an announcement is made that harassment is no longer tolerated within the City of Groveland any longer." Chairperson Campbell again noted she has had this letter since August 31 st and said "you know why I didn't make this public, because this means nothing, why does this mean nothing, because I'm a volunteer, why am I going to do this when I work with the 6 OCTOBER 11, 2022, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES City and I have greater projects that I am doing. This is voluntary, we are all sitting here as volunteers to do this. We need to move forward. When I received this, I said Ok, I'm not going to do anything with this. I've worked with Presidents, I've worked with Governors, we're moving forward, we're doing bigger things, I'm not going to do anything with this and I left it. Only when I wasn't here last month and I heard the attack on my character that this started off saying Mr. Campbell and Dr. Ramos Campbell both have an impeccable record of service for over 20 years, noted accommodations and awards. In their current capacities they continue to work and volunteer with distinction . Only when I heard what was said about me, not in my presence, but in my absence, and then you said it now, then I have to say something, because they are listening right now and because my husband right now is in a DOD meeting in D.C., that is why I have to something now, because my hand was forced. That's all! I have been sitting on this since August 31 st so there is no way, I have done bigger things in D.C., I am still working now with things, that's why I could not read the entire thing because it has been redacted. This is a volunteer position, you said it yourself, we are here as volunteers and I'm giving of my time and my service like you all did . You two have been here before, you are to be thanked for your service because we wouldn't even have this RAC if it wasn 't for your years as volunteers and for Badillo's many years of service. This should not have gotten to this kind of level; we need to move forward. The city needs us, we are now in a time that more than ever that we are literally under a microscope, we have so many different types of people coming here, what they need to see is unity and not division. I don't want to be, you know everyone says be more assertive, I did that in D.C., I don't need to be all, stop, stop, stop, I just want us to work together for the enrichment of the City of Groveland, that's all. If someone else wants to do something, then fine let someone else do it but I just want to work for the enrichment of the City of Groveland. I had to say this on the record because they are hearing it, so I've said it and that's it". Committee Member Hall noted she would like to make just a small response and she stated "we do need to move on but she wanted the Chair to remember who nominated her for the position , because they felt you would be very good at what you would be doing. I believe if we had both spoken up, if you disagree with something, that's part of how its handled sometimes does get hot, everyone of us has gotten and that's why I have asked repeatedly that we have to move on , we have to move on and we have to do better than what we are doing but I also feel we need to be a better group, all of us, to each other. I feel we need to include each other in the same equal opportunities as what we have. I'll speak for myself; if I didn't think you were capable of doing the job, I would have never nominated you for the position". Chairperson Campbell apologized to Committee Member Kenzig for interrupting his comments. Committee Member Kenzig returned to his question asking "how do we handle this, how do we move forward. The minutes aren't going to change, they are what they are, and if somebody wants to make a motion to approve or not approve the minutes then we go 7 OCTOBER 11, 2022, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES forward from there. If you vote against the minutes then you vote against them, I don't know how else to move forward". Committee Member Badillo stated "Everyone here has common ground and that is to do better for the city. We don't have to agree with everybody but we don't have to hate either, just because we may not understand where someone is coming from, we might take it the wrong way and later on realize they didn't mean it that way. I've been here a long time and personally I think this has been one of the best committees that he has been in, everyone speaks their mind and we need to move on". Director Walker asked to clarify what is being asked of us. He asked if everyone had read the September minutes in its entirety because he thinks with the direction that was given by the Clerk's office and the City Attorney, not speaking for anybody in this room, but if the September minutes reflect the conversations that may have been missed from July and now with the July minutes referencing to look at the September minutes, if you feel comfortable the September minutes are capturing what was missing in July, he just wants everyone to understand that is how we are making this work and trying to move forward. Vice Chair Cowels noted she has a correction to the September minutes regarding the report she gave at that meeting on the last page under New Business. She stated it reads "Senior Services Community Based Initiative" and that is not correct. What I said was "The Governor's Faith in Community Based Initiative recognized Anointed Community Services for the services provided at the Elese Tomlin Community Center and was recognized with a certificate of recognition" and then I went on to say "the Veterans and Seniors Meals on Wheels program currently has 22 seniors, with 3 new seniors signed up. The Meals on Wheels program has extended its deliveries from 3 days a week to now 5 days a week and we expect to double in the near future". Vice Chair Cowels noted she would email the corrected verbiage and a copy of the certificate to the Recording Secretary. Director Walker noted if someone wants to make a motion, the motion will need to state correction of the minutes to include the wording specifically on the certificate provided by Vice Chair Cowels. Committee Member Gris noted he had a typo correction to the September 13th minutes on page 6, top line, correct "are" to "our". Committee Member Irvin noted her name is spelled wrong at the bottom of page 8. Chairperson Campbell asked for a motion to approve the July 12th minutes with the added notation and the September 13th minutes with noted corrections. 8  OCTOBER 11, 2022, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES Motion: Committee Member Gris motioned to approve the July minutes with the added notation and the September minutes as corrected and Committee Member Kenzig seconded the motion. Recording Secretary Barger called the Roll and the motion carried unanimously. PRESENTATIONS 2022 Calendar of Events Mike Walker, Parks and Community Services Director Event Coordinator Francesca Spartz reviewed the following upcoming Fall events: Hay bale Competition - she noted the decorated hay bales have been placed around town and hopes everyone will check them out. 10/22/22 Heyday Collegiate Cup - Wake boarder competition on Lake David 10/14/22 2 nd Friday Market - Vendors, kids' zone and DJ Mix on Wheels 10/29/22 Trunk or Treat - at Lake David Park, DJ Blu Bloods, classic cars, vendors, trunk or treating and a movie 11 /01 /22 Dia de los muertes - Celebrating Day of the Dead with a movie 11/11/22 Veteran's Day Celebration - combined with 2 nd Friday Market with vendors, kids' zone, food trucks and a live band. 6:30 pm Ceremony with speaker and color guard, South Lake High School Band and ROTC, VIP tent, t-shirts. Director Walker noted Bike Florida will be holding their 60-mile ride event on Veteran's Day starting at Lake David and ending at Lake David. Looking forward to our Youth Basketball League-Ages 5-13, we currently have 85 children signed up. Practices will begin 10/17 and games will begin on 11/5. Director Walker noted they are actively looking for coaches. OLD BUSINESS Mike Walker, Director Parks and Community Services 1. Capital Improvement Plan Director Walker referred the committee members to the Capital Improvements spreadsheet in their packets. He noted the shade structure for the Splash Pad arrived 9/26 and they will be installed in the next few weeks. The David Blanks restroom is to be delivered in November and installed shortly thereafter. 2. Update - Cherry Lake Park Director Walker noted the Cherry Lake Plan Review is at 90% as mentioned last month and we are still inching towards 100%. We are still working through some budget numbers to get within the 4.3 million allocated by City Council so we should have 100% plans by next meeting. 9  OCTOBER 11, 2022, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES We modified the surfacing of the playground from a rubber surface to a wood fiber which was a cost savings. We are changing some of our lighting due to the City's Dark Sky Compliance codes and looking at some of the parking lots changing from asphalt to shell. He noted he is planning a groundbreaking ceremony with Contractors, City Council, RAC members and everyone involved with the project before November 1st. 3. Update - South Lake Regional Park Director Walker noted they received two bids. The evaluation by the committee put together by our Procurement Manager selected the lowest bid, a Groveland contractor, Malever Construction and it has been awarded and will go before City Council next week for approval. NEW BUSINESS 1. Christmas Holiday Theme Recommendations Director Walker noted historically this has been a RAC starting point for a holiday theme and he would like to get some recommendations to take to City Council for approval so we can start working on our holiday plans. The Tree Lighting will take place on December 9th with the parade on December 10th . There will be a state Yo-Yo contest on the 10th as well. Discussion took place and several ideas were entertained. Winning theme recommendation of "Christmas Cheer Throughout the Years" came from Committee Member Traywick: Motion: Committee Member Hall motioned for the Christmas Theme to be "Christmas Cheer Throughout the Years". Motion was seconded by Committee Member Badillo. Motion carried unanimously. 2. Christmas Parade Grand Marshal Recommendations Director Walker requested recommendations for a Grand Marshal. Discussion took place and the committee unanimously voted for Mary Helen Myers. Motion: Committee Member Kenzig motioned for Mary Helen Myers and her family to be Grand Marshal of the City of Groveland Christmas Parade. Motion was seconded by Committee Member Badillo. Motion carried unanimously. REPORTS a. Elese Tomlin Center Report Vice Chair Cowels reported there are 18 children enrolled in the afterschool program and one of the students is tutored twice a week in math and received recognition for improvement in her assessment scores. They have hired a bilingual assistant who speaks English and Spanish, and they have noted an increase of immigrants from Mexico that actually came across the border illegally who are seeking food and assistance at Elese 10 OCTOBER 11, 2022, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES Tomlin Center almost weekly. She reviewed a new program they are partnering with Strayer University which is a program for graduates or even older adults who are seeking employment as a physician care technician, they can work with the cancer institute in Clermont. The process is they would go through 5 weeks of workforce training, get a professional resume done, interview techniques and prepare to interview for the physician care technician position at the Cancer Institute in Clermont and other jobs, they can also work remotely at home. Once they complete that program and land the job, they have an opportunity to enroll in Strayer University and it is free to them with the employer paying all cost, i.e., tuition, books, and they receive a new laptop. It's an 18-month program with 4 subjects, Business Administration, Accounting, IT and Marketing. They have 5 people enrolled so far. Chairperson Campbell asked if there was a place on the website where the RAC could provide information on these opportunities and resources in both English and Spanish for the benefit of the community. Vice Chair Cowels shared the Mexicans coming illegally across the border cannot apply for food stamps so they are able to deliver food to them even though the meals are $4 because there are scholarships available to them which would make it free for them. She noted they are seeing an increase in medical letters. They have a partnership with the Community Health Center in Groveland and those who can't afford medical care that are clients of the Elese Tomlin Center whether it be the shopping spree, food stamps, etc., are eligible to receive a letter which allows them to go to the clinic and see a doctor for only $25.00. Also, medication discounts are available with the Good RX program but the community is not aware of it. She shared that an older homeless man has been coming to the center and after asking him about his work history she was able to get him signed up for Social Security benefits. The center is a great resource for the community. They are converting all their documents to both English and Spanish. Director Walker reiterated what Vice Chair Cowels stated about people not being aware of the programs available to them and that is why he thought it was important to have her provide a report on the Elese Tomlin Center here at the RAC meeting and he is also submitting her report and the Senior Center as part of the Bi-Weekly Activity Report that goes to the City Manager and City Council. b. Committee Member Reports Committee Member Hall noted she did not have a report but questioned the sound system in the Lake David Center and the difficulty of hearing. Director Walker noted he would reach out to IT to see what can be done. Committee Member Kenzig noted he had the information on grants that he had mentioned at the last meeting and he provided handouts to the other committee members to review for possible future grant opportunities. Chairperson Campbell starting a support group for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis in Groveland that will focusing on education, training for families aside from the normal support component. 11  OCTOBER 11, 2022, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING MINUTES PUBLIC COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Campbell adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m. ~ ~ Groveland FLORIDA City with Natural Cham> Joscelyn Campbell, Chairperson Attest: Dodie Barger, Recording Secretary 12  CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FY 22-23 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS - PARKS & COMMUNITY SERVICES TOTAL % COMPLETE Cherry Lake Park Improvements - Phase II - Architect Designs to be completed in 2022, with construction competion in 2023 $310,000 95% Lake David Park Splash Pad Shade Structures $75,000 95% David Blanks Restroom $75,000 95% TOTAL $460,000 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TOTAL % COMPLETE South Lake Regional Park Phase I A-Construction $4,300,000 Cherry Lake Park Phase 2 - Construction $4,300,000 TOTAL $8,600,000 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TOTAL % COMPLETE Park Signage $75,000 TOTAL $75,000 PARKS MASTER PLANS TOTAL % COMPLETE Ronald Sefton Gaffney Park $50,000 TOTAL $50,000 Still in Progress ---- Completed