Parks and Recreation Board

222 West Main Street City of Pensacola Pensacola, FL 32502 Meeting Minutes 3 - Final Parks and Recreation Board Thursday, January 20, 2022 8:00 AM Hagler-Mason Conference Room Members of the public may attend the meeting in person. City Council encourages those not fully vaccinated to wear face coverings that cover their nose and mouth. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL Present 5- Chairperson Rand Hicks, Renee Borden, Antonio Bruni, Alejandra Escobar-Ryan, and David Del Gallo Absent 4- Vice Chair Maranda Sword, Leah Harrison, Michael O'Donovan, and Michael Wolf APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. MINUTES OF DECEMBER 16, 2021 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING Attachments: 21-12-16 Minutes Unapproved A motion was made by Del Gallo, seconded by Borden, that this Minutes be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Chairperson Hicks, Bruni, Del Gallo, Escobar-Ryan, and Borden Absent: 4- Vice Chair Sword, Harrison, Wolf, and O'Donovan DIRECTOR'S REPORT Director Cooper brought the following updates: * Kiwanis Dog Park project wrapping up perimeter fencing; will meet to discuss where to place dog features. * Roger Scott Tennis Center was rejected as proposed by council; it was re-designed to eliminate the parking area and moved stormwater from where the concern of trees were reducing the number of trees that were to be removed; will re-bid and will be on March's agenda. * Bayview Park Playground Council Moore is requesting additional funding for Play and Pour at council meeting. * Hitzman Park received quotes to install nets behind each soccer fields; these will go in prior to soccer season. * McGee Field is almost complete; electricity to be turned back on to check system. * Cecil T Hunter pool project anticipating the approval of award to bid at City of Pensacola Page 1 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final January 20, 2022 tonight's council meeting. * Skate Park should have the final bid plans within 7 to 10 days. * Long Hollow and Mallory Heights 2 playground equipment ready to install and Sanders Beach playground equipment ordered. * Dunwoody Park will be moved to #10 as in poor condition on the playground condition list. * Malcolm Yonge Gym lease with Lighthouse Christian Academy will be on tonight's agenda; the lease will allow both academy and city to run athletic programs. Lighthouse Academy will make capital improvements to the building up to $25,000 annually. * Blueway Trail a planning grant acceptance will be on tonight's agenda; a trail that will start at Sanders Beach and have points all along the entire bay and bayou up to 12th avenue bridge Baars Park is the proposed end of trail. Planning phase will involve a lot of public input to determine best location for that terminus on that end of trail or a turn around point. Discussion followed in reference to leases; how often it's re-negotiated, and how is it determined who purchases equipment and makes improvements. STAFF REPORTS 2. Athletics Presentation - Cheryl Fox Attachments: Athletics Presentation Athletic Coordinator Alex Odee brought a presentation with a brief overview that encompassed various youth and adult sports programs. Both he and Superintendent Cheryl Fox oversees all sports programs. The staff is separated into three categories-Administration, Ball Field Maintenance, and Vickrey Center. One change from last year's staff is Mike Desorbo who has retired from staff but is very active at the Exchange Park. * Youth Basketball and Youth Volleyball programs are ran in-house and the Soccer, T-Ball/Baseball, and Football/Cheer are ran by outside organizations. Youth tournaments for baseball, softball, and kickball are held at the Exchange Park. * Youth tournaments for Volley Ball and Karate are held at the Vickrey Center. Various Youth Summer Camps are overseen by staff - Chip Boes Basketball Camp is held at the Malcolm Yonge Gym, PSC's Girl's Volleyball Camp that has been exploding in numbers in the past years, British Soccer Camp, UWF Soccer Camp and the Panhandle Extreme College Fast Pitch Softball Camp. * Adult Programs for the Men's Softball, Co-Ed Softball, and Co-Ed Kickball, that run year round, are held at the Exchange Park and for the Men's Volleyball, Women's Volleyball, and Co-Ed Volleyball are held at the Vickrey Center typically run from summer to November with great success in finishing it's first year. City of Pensacola Page 2 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final January 20, 2022 * Adult Tournaments for Softball, Baseball, and Kickball are held at the Exchange Park. SPA the governing body for slow pitch softball also holds the tournaments at the Exchange Park which brings in a lot of people from around the county. * Senior Programs which includes the Senior Games is held every September for two weeks always a massive success brings in people from around the state and other states to play. Senior Softball is held at Exchange Park and Lions Park. Senior Volleyball and Pickleball are held weekly at the Vickrey Center and Malcolm Yonge Gym. Member Borden ask who runs the pools. Athletic Coordinator Odee explained the city owns pools and the city contracts the YMCA to operate them each year. Member Borden ask how the swim meets at the pools are organized. Athletic Coordinator Odee explained the swim meets are handled as a rental to the school district. Member Escobar-Ryan asked is it possible that the summer camps be expanded the registration for the programs. Athletic Coordinator Odee explained that for the summer camp registration starts as early as possible in the new year should be up already. Some outside organization are listed on the City's website with a link to register. NEW BUSINESS 3. Park Amenity Dedication Request - Massacred Creek Indian Women and Children Attachments: Park Amentiy Dedication Proposal Form - Massacred Creek Indian Women and Children Memorandum Proposed Battle at Bayou Texar, First Seminole War, April 1818 Letter of Support The Florida House of Representatives, Representative Michelle Salzman, District 1 Proposed Location of Marker Chief Dan Sky Horse Helms spoke in his native language "Hello, How are you? in the Muscogee language I am Chief Sky Horse, that is my name" and then translated into English. Chief Helms brought presentation to request a park amenity at Bayview Park. Chief Helms introduced follow members of Santa Rosa Creek Indian Tribe council: Chairman Larry Holt, Mary Engstrom, Tracy Gibbs, and John David Ellis. Chief Helms brought before the board the presentation to request a park amenity at Bayview Park for the Massacred Creek Indian Women and Children. He began his presentation by telling of the Creek cosmology of the oak tree and two dogs. In the Creek Indian cosmology, the oak tree is City of Pensacola Page 3 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final January 20, 2022 considered a sacred tree. Looking back two hundred years ago, one thing that was done underneath the oak tree was that Creek Indian women would sit and sew underneath the oaks trees. This is where the women would see a pattern to be sewn onto their clothing received from the creator. The women would see this pattern as they sat and watched the sun filter down the moving oak leaves onto the ground. This unique pattern would then be sewn onto her clothing for the rest of their lives and incorporated into the clothing for her children. One day in the Spring of 1818 as the women were sewing getting ready for the Green Harvest Festival underneath the oak trees the children playing on a day when the men where away and the camp was being taken care of by the women and children, their dreams were shuttered. On this day, they were surrounded by American soldiers and were brutality slaughtered. We do not like to speak of things like this. We prefer to talk about the contributions our people have made. In the beginning of Pensacola, the Panton-Leslie Trading Post was successful because of the Creek Indians and the founders of Pensacola who are of Creek Indian descendants. Chief Dan Helms spoke in his native language. "We are still here." We are making a request today an in memoriam to those women and children who lost their lives that day. Now the story of the dogs. In the Creek cosmology, when the soul travels the red road to return to the creator at the final part of the road is a bridge and on each side of the bridge is a dog and any Creek Indian who mistreated a dog in their lifetime while on earth is not allowed to finish crossing the bridge they are banished to wonder among the stars. The area we have requested to have the in memoriam be located is right next to an oak tree which is fitting and right next to a dog park which is also fitting. If the city is gracious enough to grant the request, at the dedication of the in memoriam our people will dance our traditional stomp dance for the young women who never got that opportunity. We respectfully and humbly request that you allow this in memoriam to be placed in Bayview Park. Director Cooper stated Historic Preservation Planner, Gregg Harding had researched and validated the history of the request. Also, the City had received a letter of support from Florida House of Representatives, Representative Michelle Salzman, District 1. Director Cooper stated also that Mayor, Grover Robinson, IV is very much in support of request. Chairman Hicks asked Historic Preservation Planner, Harding to come forward to give a summary statement. Historic Preservation Planner Harding confirmed that the history details were accurate and that he had spoken with History Professor, Brian Rucker at Pensacola State College who had also confirmed the details of the history associated with the request. He is very much in support for the Native American Indians as they were a big part of Pensacola's history. City of Pensacola Page 4 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final January 20, 2022 Historic Preservation Planner Harding offered to questions from the board and handed out a packet of aerial photographs of the location and information of the marker. Member Borden asked if this would tie in with the University of West Florida Historic Village in downtown Pensacola as a trail that would reference this marker. Historic Preservation Planner, Harding responded that the state marker program is a state sponsor program and those will be available to be seen on the following website Florida Division of Historical Resources once it had been updated with the information. Member Escobar-Ryan thanked Chief Helms for sharing the beautiful story of the cosmology of the tree and the gift to inspire the history of the past by placing the marker at Bayview Park. A motion was made by Escobar-Ryan, seconded by Del Gallo, that this Action Item be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Chairperson Hicks, Bruni, Del Gallo, Escobar-Ryan, and Borden Absent: 4- Vice Chair Sword, Harrison, Wolf, and O'Donovan 4. Roger Scott Athletic Complex Tree Protection Plan Ordinance Attachments: No. 21-01096 Roger Scott Athletic Complex Tree Protection Plan Ordinance 36-20 Chairman Hicks invited comments to the proposed Roger Scott Athletic Complex Tree Protection Plan. Discussion followed. A motion was made to move forward with a concept that protects trees and with possible future development when necessary. A motion was made by Del Gallo, seconded by Borden, that this Discussion Item be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Chairperson Hicks, Borden, Bruni, Escobar-Ryan, and Del Gallo OLD BUSINESS 5. Proposed Amendment to City Code Section 6-3-8. Injuring Trees, Buildings and Other Property Attachments: No. 21-01093 Proposed Amendment 6-3-8 Injuring Trees, Buildings and Other Property Proposed Amendment 6-3-8 6. Parks and Recreation Request for a Master Plan Discussion followed in reference to the Request for a Master Plan. Motions were delayed to have the presence of Director Cooper and/or Deputy City Administrator Forte present and will add to next agenda. City of Pensacola Page 5 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 3 - Final January 20, 2022 OPEN FORUM Hayne Haigler thanked the board for their support and all the great work they do. Mr. Haigler said he enjoyed the presentation by Chief Helms for the memoriam. Mr. Haigler asked the board to please think about the future when making decisions the decisions that are made now will be there in 15 years. 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