Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

401 West Venice Avenue City of Venice Venice, FL 34285 www.venicegov.com Meeting Minutes Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Monday, March 17, 2014 3:00 PM Council Chambers I. Call To Order A Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was held this date in Council Chambers at City Hall. Chair Linda Kenfield called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. II. Roll Call Present: 6- Chair Linda Kenfield, Joan Piper, Verna Silk, Vice Chair Charles Alfano, Jim Woods and Cindy Hicks Absent: 1- Steve Byington Also Present Ex-Officio Vice Mayor Emilio Carlesimo, Public Works Director John Veneziano, City Engineer Kathleen Weeden, Sarasota County Sports Director and Athletic Manager Pat Calhoon, and Recording Secretary Susan Murray. III. Approval of Minutes 1. 14-0468 February 10, 2014 Regular Meeting Minutes Ms. Kenfield noted a minor change to the minutes on page five. A motion was made by Vice Chair Alfano, seconded by Ms. Silk, that the Minutes of the February 10, 2014 Regular Meeting be approved as written. The motion carried by voice vote unanimously. IV. Audience Participation Ms. Kenfield reordered the agenda to hear Audience Participation before New Business. Hugh Laubis,1507 Waterford Drive, expressed his concern with the missing sign at Pinebrook Park, asked the the board if the park will be perserved as the residents want it, and questioned the location of Challenger Baseball and the proposed city police and fire facility. Mr. Carlesimo referenced an email regarding the sign for Pinebrook Park, stated staff is working with the county on the installation of the sign, Challenger Baseball and the combined facility for police and fire is City of Venice Page 1 of 6 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes March 17, 2014 Board included in the long range planning goal, and that the city is working on the parks master plan. Julia Hyman, 613 Menedez Street, presented her idea to erect a bridge over a swale between the Venice Art Center and the Venice Public Library at no cost to the city, and asked the board for their support. She stated she would fund the project, hire a good architect, noted people have to move their car to go from the art center to the library, the bridge would provide a short cut, and would be a beautiful addition to the cultrual campus. Discussion followed on having staff look at the project before a recommendation is made to council, the board liking the functionality of the project, the bridge being funded by Ms. Hyman, and the county doing the maintenance on the cultural campus. Ms. Weeden stated the city owns the property and leases to the library and art center, staff would vet the project before it is heard by council, and that a conceptual plan and more information is needed before staff can move forward. Discussion took place on Ms. Hyman doing a sketch on the location of the bridge, council accepting the donation, the need for a bridge over the swale, the location of the bridge, meeting ADA compliance, and the library being slated to be torn down in its present location and being rebuilt in a slightly different location it being expected that the Venice Library will be repaired or possibly moved in the future. It is not in the county budget at this time. V. New Business 1. 14-0469 Gulf Coast Environmental Conservation and Exploration - Ecotourism Paula Biltmore, President and CEO, and Kathy Lehner, Vice President and COO of Gulf Coast Environmental Conservation and Exploration (GCECE) introduced themselves to the board. Ms. Biltmore referred to the link included in the agenda packet on Mr. Beever's presentation on the gulf coast ecosystems, reviewed the progression from eco-tourists to environmentalists and conservationists, talked about the economic benefit of the ecosystems on the gulf coast, explained how GCECE will protect the ecological treasures in Venice, and the partnerships in place to promote this area as an eco-tourism treasure. She stated GCECE would like to create a place for eco-tourism by piloting the program in Venice, the goal is to provide a hub for people to City of Venice Page 2 of 6 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes March 17, 2014 Board socialize and learn, it would look and feel like a local coffee shop, explained if people were educated on how they can enjoy the natural Venice environment they will want to preserve it, GCECE is looking at an eco cafe on city or county land, the beginning stage would be to gather community input, and GCECE wants to have an interactive kiosk with wifi where people could interact. She reported they made a presentation to the environmental board with a favorable recommendation and requested a recommendation to support their efforts. Ms. Biltmore answered questions on program funding, anticipated location, having focus groups to determine the best location for the cafe, whether they could adapt a large vehicle like a bus to go where people are, and who will manage the cafe. She stated GCECE would use volunteers to staff the cafe, it would be free for people to come into the cafe, they will be coordinating activities already in existence such as bike rentals, tablets will be available for use in the cafe, and they will not have brochures. Discussion took place on the parameters of what is provided to visitors, the businesses partnering in the program, whether Charlotte Harbor and Englewood would be included, providing information on fishing guides, program funding, serving coffee and ice cream as a fund raiser, having a 2,000 square foot structure for a cafe, there being no office space in the cafe, the cafe being similar to a Starbucks Cafe, and narrowing down the right location for the cafe. Ms Biltmore commented she and Ms. Lehner talked to some council members and were asked to come before the Environmental, Parks, and Economic boards for a recommendation. Discussion continued on building a cafe on park land, having mobile access being easier to accomplish, whether the cafe could start small and expand, and the mobile unit changing the spectrum of the program. A motion was made by Mr. Woods, seconded by Ms. Hicks, that the board supports GCECE in their efforts to promote eco-tourism in the city and recommend the program to City Council for approval. The motion carried by voice vote unanimously. 2. 14-0470 STAR Student Ms. Kenfield noted there is a student interested in becoming a Students Taking an Active Role (STAR) student and serving on the parks board. Ms. Silk stated Ms. Mogford came forth after the student government day with the city, Ms. Mogford will be attending the STAR leadership program, and hopes to be available in the fall. City of Venice Page 3 of 6 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes March 17, 2014 Board 3. 14-0471 2013 Board Activity Ms. Kenfield referenced the report on board activity and queried board members on any comments. There were none. VI. Unfinished Business 1. 14-0472 " Let's Dance" Floor Location Research Ms. Kenfield reviewed discussion at the last meeting regarding the portable dance floor and asked Mr. Veneziano and Executive Director of Venice MainStreet (VMS) Kat Quast to come forward. Ms. Quast stated afternoon concerts cannot be moved to Blalock Park because there is a city resolution restricting the frequency of events at Blalock. Mr. Veneziano reported he researched portable dance floors, stated storage under the gazebo would be a problem, and that the city would need an inside place to store the portable floor. Discussion followed on installing and storing the floor, possibly using the kiosk, and whether Ms. Cushing would be willing to fund a portable dance floor. Ms. Kenfield reported she contacted the musicians performing on Tuesday and Wednesday who stated there is no need for a dance floor , and noted potential users have not come forward to support the dance floor. Discussion followed on the petition submitted, the funding of the dance floor, the neighbors surrounding Blalock Park not wanting the frequency of events, whether Maxine Barritt Park could be used, the issue with parking, and the change in concert times. Ms. Kenfield queried board members on a motion. A motion was made by Ms. Piper, seconded by Ms. Hicks, to withdraw the board's support for the concrete dance pad at Centennial Park. The motion carried by voice vote unanimously. VII. Updates 1. 14-0473 Sarasota County Update Mr. Calhoon stated leagues are underway, reported there will be a AAA youth baseball tournament at Chuck Reiter and ByPass Parks, the county will build portable mounds, and noted Venice Little League will benefit from the concessions. He talked about improvements to the City of Venice Page 4 of 6 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes March 17, 2014 Board fields to attract different tournaments, cultural practices being done, plant material that is starting to thrive, turf treatments, and stated city and county staff met with Challenger Baseball on the Wellfield site . He commented on the opening ceremonies on field one, reported the county will install a wide gate for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, reported on the soccer fields, and reviewed tile improvements to the Venice Community Center. Discussion followed on portable dance floors used at the stadiums, the status of a consultant for the parks master plan, the cities of Sarasota and Longboat Key working on their parks master plan, and the large picnic shelter at the community park in Nokomis. 2. 14-0474 City of Venice Update Ms. Weeden addressed the invasive plant removal at Legacy Park , stated they hope to start construction in June, the funding for the Hatchett Creek project was received, consultants are working on the permit to clean up Hatchett Creek that will tie in to the kayak and canoe launch for Legacy Park, reported the future band shell will have a concrete floor, and there is no funding for the bandshell or for the elaborate playground. Mr. Veneziano noted they are putting together the five year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), Ms. Weeden handles the new projects, and he does the maintenance projects. Ms. Weeden explained the process to include items in the budget . Mr. Veneziano reported the county has no objection to the fish measuring sign but does not want fish hanging from a wire, staff is in the process of combining the two bus stops at the beach, and noted the cooperation between the city and county. He stated he attended a meeting on America in Bloom and his staff developed a plan to be ready for the judging of the America in Bloom contest, the phone application is working to record problems in parks from a smart phone, reviewed Heritage Park improvements for ADA compliance, major work is needed on the trail, and talked about work done on the fountain at Fountain Park. Discussion followed on the donation of the original fountain, the palm trees on Tarpon Center Drive that are being run over by motorists , possibly replacing the trees, the bench on a picnic table in Gulf Gate Park with splinters, palm trees along the Venice Avenue Bridge that need trimming, the large planter downtown installed by VABI, the electrical upgrades to West Blalock Park, whether there is a plan to fertilize the palms downtown, the progress of Snake Island, whether City of Venice Page 5 of 6 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes March 17, 2014 Board there is wifi capability at Venice Beach, location of surveillance cameras, the irrigation system at Michael Biehl Park in need of repairs, and whether the city will keep the trash compacters downtown. Mr. Veneziano stated the annual report will be due next month, answered questions on cleaning up cigarette butts along the beach, and that he will contact Mr. Ballinger regarding timeframe to install the fish sign at Marina Park. 3. 14-0475 Miscellaneous Updates Ms. Silk reported on the items discussed at the last county parks meeting regarding the opening of the Nokomis beach, the Legacy Park bandshell, Patriots Park, and possible changes to the land acquisition policy. Discussion took place on being proactive in conservation land acquisitions, maintenance of the property on Bayshore Road, the property being owned by WCIND, other properties owned and maintained by WCIND, a possible parks bus tour, and the date and length of the tour. Mr. Carlesimo reported on the items brought before council, stated council recommended bike trails be under the purview of the board, explained the difference between a liaison and an ex-officio on city boards, and that all councilmembers titles will be changed to a liaison. Discussion followed on whether the board meets during the summer, and the typical meeting schedule. VIII. Adjournment There being no further business to come before this Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:07 p.m. ________________________________ Chair ________________________________ Recording Secretary City of Venice Page 6 of 6