Parks and Recreation Board

222 West Main Street City of Pensacola Pensacola, FL 32502 Meeting Minutes 3 - Final Parks and Recreation Board Thursday, March 18, 2021 8:00 AM Hagler-Mason Conference Room Members of the public may attend the meeting in person; however, there will be limited seating capacity. Consistent with CDC guidelines, attendees will be required to sit at least 6 feet apart and wear face coverings that cover their nose and mouth. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Hicks called the meeting to order at 8:14. He read a statement about how the public could participate. ROLL CALL Chairperson Hicks mentioned that three members are up for re-appointment. He also mentioned that Jarah Jacquay has resigned from the board, and how much he valued his input at the board meetings. Present 5- Chairperson Rand Hicks, Antonio Bruni, David Del Gallo, Leah Harrison, and Michael Wolf Absent 3- Vice Chair Maranda Sword, Alejandra Escobar-Ryan, and Gabriela Garza APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. MINUTES FOR THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 18, 2021 Attachments: February 18, 2021 Minutes - Unapproved A motion was made by Bruni, seconded by Wolf, that this Minutes be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Chairperson Hicks, Bruni, Del Gallo, Harrison, and Wolf Absent: 3- Vice Chair Sword, Escobar-Ryan, and Garza DIRECTOR'S REPORT * Hitzman Park project is due to be completed in early April. * Kiwanis Park is coming along nicely. He and Council member Wiggins met with the neighborhood association. Everyone was polite and cordial, and they received a some good feedback. * The Legion Field splash pad is being installed. Once it is complete, the project will be done. * Superintendent Carmody is beginning work on the Osceola pole barn which will house our heavy equipment that is used to care for the golf City of Pensacola Page 1 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final March 18, 2021 course. * Thanks to Mary Gutierrez, staff, and other volunteers, the Boy Scout building at Miraflores Park has been placed on the National Register of Historical Places. We are doing some repairs to the building such as a new roof, windows, and flooring. * The Roger Scott Tennis renovation project is still in the design phase. * The bids for the Magee Field construction project have arrived on budget. They will go to Council the first meeting in April. * The design concept of the corridor at Hollice T. Williams park is coming along nicely. At some point someone from the consulting firm will come and bring a presentation. * Right before the meeting Board members were emailed a couple of pictures of the design at Hunter Pool. The goal is to raze the pool house and build a new one. * We have engaged an architectural firm to do some renovations at Fricker. The project will include restrooms, floors, and walls. * The tree restoration plan will have trees in seven parks completed by the end of the month. The first trees will be planted in Veterans Memorial and Admiral Mason parks. Some work has already been done at East Pensacola Lions, Hitzman, and Parker Circle parks. The remainder of the parks will be evaluated. * This past Saturday we opened event permitting for outside events. Our community centers are now at 50% occupancy. STAFF REPORTS 2. STAFF PRESENTATION - ROGER SCOTT TENNIS CENTER - BROCK SAKEY Brock Sakey, the Director of Tennis at Roger Scott, brought a presentation. Last April the center closed for about a month, due to the pandemic. By summer the center was back to full-speed, using masks inside and using social distancing when possible. They encouraged players not to shake hands, bring their own water, etc. In September Hurricane Sally came through and did some severe flooding damage to the sidewalks, two clay courts, and a shade canopy. Bids have gone out for that project. Tennis courts can now be reserved online. The courts can be reserved up to 48 hours in advance. There are currently three schools that are using the tennis courts. They are very busy right now with tournaments and Racquet Round Up in May. Spring is the busiest time of year. All 28 courts stay booked. NEW BUSINESS City of Pensacola Page 2 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final March 18, 2021 3. PARK AMENITY DEDICATION - JOHN OLIVER Attachments: Park Amenity Dedication Form John Oliver Dedication Letter James Oliver, one of John's siblings, was called to speak on behalf of the family. The family would like to dedicate a bench and a tree to John. Chairperson Hicks recommended placing both in Bartram Park. The family loved that idea. The family will provide the funding for the bench and tree. A motion was made by Wolf, seconded by Del Gallo, that this Action Item be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Chairperson Hicks, Bruni, Del Gallo, Harrison, and Wolf Absent: 3- Vice Chair Sword, Escobar-Ryan, and Garza 4. PARK AMENITY DEDICATION - BRUCE CATON Attachments: Park Amenity Dedication Form Letter of Request Several board members and staff spoke on this topic. Bruce Caton has been a major staple of the tennis community for more than 30 years. Mr. Caton has held director the position for 10 years. He would like the most warped clay court. Mr. Caton is responsible for the clay courts, and has been playing tennis since the courts were poured. A motion was made by Del Gallo, seconded by Harrison, that this Action Item be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Chairperson Hicks, Bruni, Del Gallo, Harrison, and Wolf Absent: 3- Vice Chair Sword, Escobar-Ryan, and Garza 5. PLACEMENT OF RESTROOM TRAILER IN ADMIRAL MASON PARK Attachments: Letter from Harris to Chairperson Hicks Veterans Memorial Park Map 1 Veterans Memorial Park Map 2 Photo 1 of 5 Photo 2 of 5 Photo 3 of 5 Photo 4 of 5 Photo 5 of 5 Agreement With Veterans Memorial Park Foundation Chairperson Hicks mentioned that this topic came to us recently. Impact City of Pensacola Page 3 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final March 18, 2021 100 Pensacola Bay Area (Impact 100) has agreed to fund a portable restroom trailer for the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola. The site that was cleared for the trailer is actually in neighboring Admiral Mason Park. Director Cooper said that the Admiral Mason Park used to be a baseball field, and most of it is currently a stormwater pond, the other side is Veterans Memorial Park. The Veterans Foundation manages the Memorial Park, and the City manages Admiral Mason, landscaping of both parks is handled by the City. We need to keep the Veterans Park reverent and peaceful. Member Bruni asked if there were any stipulations or contractual obligations on how Admiral Mason Park is to be used? Director Cooper mentioned that we do not have anything in our files. The goal is to make the trailer as aesthetically pleasing as possible with pictures of monuments and greenery. The Parks are in a flood zone, so the restrooms need to be portable in order to be removed when storms threaten, or built at such a high level that they are difficult to enter. Chairperson Hicks mentioned that the problem is that the trailer will be at Admiral Mason while benefitting Veterans Park. Speaker Brian Spencer turned over to Mr. Ed Fleming. Mr. Fleming and Mr. Todd Harris represent "Citizens for the Preservations of Admiral Mason Park", which is setup to preserve Admiral Mason Park. They do not oppose putting restrooms in Veterans Memorial Park, but agreed that they are needed, just not where they are to be going in. Mr. Fleming mentioned that the location did not go before the Parks and Recreation or Planning Boards, and that is the whole reason they wanted to speak. The area where the trailer is to be located has already been cleared. Mr. Fleming turned it over to Mr. Harris. (Mr. Harris had handouts for the Board members which will be attached to the minutes prior to the minutes being finalized on the City's website.) His point was mainly to lay the foundation for their argument, that the restroom facility location is not in the correct park, and it goes against the agreements between the City and Impact 100, that the proper review process by some City boards was not followed, and the aesthetics of the trailer are unwelcome. Mr. Paul Entrekin, President of the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola participated via Teams. Deferred to Mr. Butch Hanson, a founding member of the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation. Everything the Foundation does is reported to the Mayor's Office. There is a need for a restroom facility. The geography of the park does not allow brick and mortar construction, thus the trailer. Current location was selected because City of Pensacola Page 4 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final March 18, 2021 of ease of connecting to utilities. The current location is easily movable. Intent is to wrap the trailer. The trailer will not be open 24/7, but will be locked/unlocked as needed. It was discussed with City staff prior to applying to Impact 100 for the grant. Impact 100 is ok with it. The funds approved by Council as well as the grant have already been dispersed. City Administrator Keith Wilkins mentioned that the approval by the Mayor or City department heads, does not mean that proper approvals should not be sought. Director Cooper went through the process of how the site was chosen. The Mayor wrote a letter supporting the idea, and staff is accountable to the Mayor, and it still needs to go before the proper review authorities. Because the Board is advisory in nature, the item did not need to come before the Parks and Recreation Board. If it were a permanent structure, it would have to go through the Permitting department, but it would not come before the Parks and Recreation Board asking for a recommendation, and it would probably be included in the Director's Report. The floor was opened for public opinion. The following people spoke: Paula Reed, Kevin Stephens, and Nora Bailey. Discussion followed. Who is responsible for moving it, and pays the costs for moving it? The Veterans Foundation is responsible and will pay for it. What is the role of the Board? Chairperson Hicks thinks that the Board should issue a letter to the City Council to review this. Member Bruni brought a motion -- To change the wording which says "an error HAS been made" to be "an error MAY have been made." The motion was seconded by Member Harrison, that this Action Item be Substituted. The motion failed by the following vote: Yes: 1- Bruni No: 4- Chairperson Hicks, Del Gallo, Harrison, and Wolf Absent: 3- Vice Chair Sword, Escobar-Ryan, and Garza The following motion was made by Chairperson Hicks, and seconded by Member Wolf: "I would resolve that we notice the City Council that we find and error has been made in the placement of a restroom trailer next to Romana Street in Admiral Mason Park, and we ask them to review again, including possible funding." The motion was approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4- Chairperson Hicks, Del Gallo, Harrison, and Wolf No: 1- Bruni Absent: 3- Vice Chair Sword, Escobar-Ryan, and Garza City of Pensacola Page 5 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final March 18, 2021 OLD BUSINESS OPEN FORUM A member of the public mentioned that she took her grandson to Bayview Park and the playground is in need of repairs, and was wondering if anything is being done to correct the issue. Director Cooper mentioned that the playground is next on the list to be replaced. ADJOURNMENT The City of Pensacola adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities. Please call 435-1606 (or TDD 435-1666) for further information. Request must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the event in order to allow the City time to provide the requested services. City of Pensacola Page 6