Parks and Recreation Board

222 West Main Street City of Pensacola Pensacola, FL 32502 Meeting Minutes 3 - Final Parks and Recreation Board Thursday, May 20, 2021 8:00 AM Hagler-Mason Conference Room Members of the public may attend 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 to wear face coverings that cover the nose and mouth. 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 8:04 am. Chairperson Hicks read a statement about how the public could participate in the meeting. 2. ROLL CALL Present 7- Chairperson Rand Hicks, Renee Borden, Antonio Bruni, David Del Gallo, Alejandra Escobar-Ryan, Leah Harrison, and Michael Wolf Absent 2- Vice Chair Maranda Sword, and Gabriela Garza BRUCE BEACH PROJECT UPDATE Attachments: Bruce Beach Master Plan APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3. MINUTES OF THE APRIL 15, 2021 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING Attachments: Unapproved Minutes of 04/15/21 Meeting Member Borden mentioned that she is not listed as being in attendance when she was. Will be sure this is corrected prior to publishing to the website. A motion was made by Wolf, seconded by Harrison, that this Minutes be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Chairperson Hicks, Borden, Bruni, Escobar-Ryan, Harrison, and Wolf Absent: 3- Vice Chair Sword, Del Gallo, and Garza 6. PARK AMENITY DEDICATION - BRYAN PARK Attachments: Park Amenity Dedication Form - Ann Davis City of Pensacola Page 1 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final May 20, 2021 Betsy Werre, a member of the League of Women Voters, spoke on behalf of Ann Davis. They would like to place a plaque by a tree that was planted in Bryan Park. Ms. Davis treated the world with dignity and respect. She served as Co-Chair and President of the League of Women Voters. Bryan Park was selected because the League holds its meetings at the Tryon Public Library. The League donated a live oak, which has been planted, but the plaque has not been placed, pending approval by the Parks and Recreation Board, and City Council. A motion was made by Harrison, seconded by Del Gallo, that this Action Item be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Chairperson Hicks, Borden, Bruni, Del Gallo, Escobar-Ryan, Harrison, and Wolf Absent: 2- Vice Chair Sword, and Garza 4. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Director Cooper recognized Officer Bell. He had no new updates, and the Board did not have any questions for him. There was a structure fire this morning at the concession building at Exchange Park, it started as an electrical fire and spread. He discussed waterfront damage that happened as a result of Hurricane Sally. When FEMA gets involved, it will take at least a year to resolve. The project worksheets have been submitted to FEMA and most were approved. Several of the key projects will be going out for bid in June with construction to be started in July. Plaza de Luna splash pad will not reopen this year, but Legion Field will be open shortly. David Forte, Interim Public Works Director, mentioned that we are working on a link with all of the projects and time frame for repairs. It should be available soon. 5. STAFF REPORTS Interim Director Forte spoke on the Bruce Beach project. On June 22 and 23 there will be a couple of public workshops (both virtually and in person) to get public input on this project. Allen Benson with HDR went through a handout that was passed out to the Board members. He went through the lifecycle of the project. The object is to keep some of the heritage trees and cabbage palms, incorporate some of the history of the site, provide stormwater treatment, and allow water access. The Audubon Society has already begun planting in the area. The original plan will still happen, but some things have been furloughed until more money can be found to pay for the projects. Both Interim Director Forte and Mr. Benson asked that the Board members encourage the public City of Pensacola Page 2 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final May 20, 2021 to attend the public input sessions so that the citizens voices can be heard. Bruce Beach has been closed since Hurricane Sally because the walking path is unsafe. NEW BUSINESS 7. WAYS OF IMPROVING ADVICE TO CITY COUNCIL Attachments: City Code -- Parks and Recreation Board Duties A Council member has asked that the Parks and Recreation Board give them a better definition of duties. In past years the Board used to have more authority than they do now, but due to changes in government and society, the role has been changed. Chairperson Hicks was asked to provide a Council member with his list of responsibilities, which he provided them as list and in no way is a representation of the rest of the board. Prior to sharing his list with the board, he opened up the floor for discussion. What kind of policies could the board create? Director Cooper gave an example that the board would create, city staff would adopt, and other staff would enforce. He said that the board members speak to him directly, and he takes their comments and reports them to the Mayor, and thus the board advises the Mayor. They could advise council individually or as a team on various topics. Director Cooper mentioned that he could not recommend getting rid of parks, but based on the UWF plan, we cannot support 93 different parks. The board could recommend that a park be sold so that it could generate tax revenue, whereas he or a Council member could not recommend that. Chairperson Hicks mentioned his list. The main point that they review the information they are given and advise not only council, but staff, and the Mayor. His keywords were review, report, and engage as well as advise. More discussion followed. A motion was made by Borden, seconded by Harrison, that this Action Item be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Chairperson Hicks, Borden, Bruni, Escobar-Ryan, Harrison, and Wolf Absent: 3- Vice Chair Sword, Del Gallo, and Garza 8. OLD BUSINESS 9. OPEN FORUM City of Pensacola Page 3 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final May 20, 2021 Ciclovia would like to organize some walks that would incorporate walking, visiting small businesses, and history lessons about different parts of the City. Bayview Park playground equipment has been band-aided until it can be replaced. Hitzman Park retention pond has a problem that would need addressing. Dottie Dubisson, a well-spoken citizen, has passed. 10. 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 4