Loading...
PARAB Minutes 10/18/1994 R Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PARAB ) Minutes October i8 , i994 PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES October 18, 1994 Special Meeting to Discuss Strategic Planning and Growth Management Golden Gate Community Park 3300 Santa Barbara Boulevard Naples, FL 33999 PRESENT: Joseph Zaks, Chairman Darlene Koontz, Vice Chairperson Timothy Blackford Max A. Hasse, Jr. Gil Mueller ALSO PRESENT: Steve Brinkman, Parks and Recreation Director Murdo Smith, Parks and Recreation Operations Manager Jacquie Minnis, Secretary ABSENT: Stephen Klee Bruce Pray I. CALL TO ORDER at 2:05 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG III. GROWTH MANAGEMENT A. Continued discussion of Growth Management Plan. Director Brinkman stated that we should consider locating public libraries adjacent to community centers at future parks. Recreation centers, pools, and aiming for a larger regional district concept in those parks and facilities, was briefly discussed. Parks and Recreation and Growth Management standards are standards that are looked at every year on a 5 year basis. It was suggested that we eventually develop some standards that actually look at 20-25 years and examine the build-out period to see what we would like and where we would like to be at that time in addition to developing some short term standards of 1-5 years which are the Growth Management standards. We will also start looking at some longer term Parks and Recreation master plan standards that try to look at 20-25 years and see which way we should go. -1- We can start working on a long range plan perhaps next year. What we may do is have a meeting periodically during the balance of the year or, perhaps, one out of every three meetings be reserved to discuss long range planning. The Potential Philosophical Changes mentiosn some changes. 1. We may generalize the community park definition so that it would include the neighborhood and community parks or have one definition for growth management that includes the neighborhood community and district regional parks. We would basically put every thing under one umbrella and have a list of facilities underneath that heading. That would authorize us to develop either a neighborhood, depending on the situation, community, district or regional park and work from an overall heading rather than having to limit ourselves. Instead of trying to define what "neighborhood" , "community" , "district" , and "regional" are, one general heading would encompass all. For example, there are areas in Immokalee where neighborhood parks are needed in the future and should have small service areas. The Naples Manor area is also an area that could use a neighborhood park. In certain areas a neighborhood park can be something which will service and provide something for the entire family. 2. The old Growth Management Plan did away with our ability to build neighborhood parks. The old Growth Management Plan focused on community parks and did not concentrate on neighborhood parks. What we would like to do when we make these changes is not limit ourselves to just community parks and not worry about neighborhood, district or regional parks. The County needs these different parks, depending on the particular area and the needs of that area. To limit ourselves into one classification would not make it possible to develop some neighborhood parks that might be necessary. Mr. Mueller asked if Mr. Brinkman could be a little more explicit as far as the criteria or the standards as refers to its conditions. Is it based primarily on the geographical area? Mr. Brinkman responded that it is on geographic and what existing parks service that area. For example, in the Naples Manor area there is not another park that services the area. The East Naples Community Park is a great distance from that area. There is really not much of anything that services Naples Manor but the Gulf Coast Little League site which is very small and limited. It would be nice to develop a park for Naples Manor. -2- 3. Mr. Mueller asked if it makes any sense to develop so-called little folks' neighborhood parks adjacent to schools. Mr. Brinkman responded that if we can build any kind of park next to a school facility it would make sense. It would be the most efficient way and a way of benefiting the residents. Mrs. Koontz inquired whether the monies the parks collected from impact fees are used for specific categories for district parks. Mr. Brinkman responded by saying there are certain things that can be funded with regional park dollars and certain things funded with community park dollars. The easiest thing to do, if we can get management to agree, is create one impact fee which will cover the four different classifications of parks. Mrs. Bowles, from the Growth Management Department, and Stanley Litsinger, Growth Management Director, are the staff Parks and Recreation works with. Mrs. Bowles attended a recent PARAB meeting when Growth Management was discussed. Mr. Mueller asked if the Commissioners make the final decision. Mr. Brinkman responded that it goes to the local department who in turn presents it to Growth Management, they to the Board of County Commissioners, and then the State Department reviews. Mr. Brinkman also stated that the State Department has dictated that any time the Department has a development issue they would like an approval from a different group. Mr. Mueller suggested that the neighborhood parks should have a tot lot and swings for youngsters to enjoy. At the November meeting Mr. Brinkman would like to produce a report that would include the standards for neighborhood parks and/or a list of standards for each district. This report would show some numbers and the changes discussed. He also suggested, that we can put all the information together, the changes that can be made, whether we should leave it the same, or try to merge the neighborhood and community together as well as district and regional together. 4. Mr. Hasse asked why we would wish to merge the neighborhood and community parks as well as district and regional. -3- Mr. Brinkman answered that it would give the department flexibility. We may get a certain focus for development and, if we have all classification with the park under one and just have one impact fee coming in for everything, it would be easier. Chairman Zaks indicated that PARAB will continue to discuss Growth Management at the next meeting. He wants the discussion to be complete by December and not to continue into January. If the plan is approved by the Commission and the State fees are required to be given to us. These fees would come from the building permits and deposited in separate accounts. The community park impact fees are more than the regional park fees. Mr. Blackford would like to know when they originally designed the separate impact fees for community neighborhood park versus regional. Mr. Smith responded that the first draft was done in 1989, the referendum was in 1982 for the community parks and the first park was opened in 1986. 1989 was when the impact fees were passed. Mr. Brinkman would like PARAB members to make a decision at the next meeting regarding the changes to the impact fees. It was suggested that when Boca Raton comes to make their presentation that PARAB discuss their county Parks and Recreation Department standard. 5. Lake Avalon can be considered a regional park as it is 150-160 acres. Regional parks are known to be a few hundred acres or up to and including 1000-2000 acres. 6. Number 6 of the Potential Philosophical Changes indicates what it costs to operate a facility. Of course, larger facilities have more capabilities to generate more funds. 7. Number 7 asks when we wish to change emphasis of building community parks. We have two existing in the Strategic Plan. It's showing two facilities that may potentially be community parks as well as when they are projected to be built. One is the community center planned for the Golden Gate Estates Community Park. Another community center was to be built in conjunction with the purchase of the South Naples Community Park. -4- 8. Mr. Brinkman eliminated item 8 until further notice. Mr. Blackford would like to withhold his vote which he seconded on the motion made by Mrs. Koontz regarding Lake Avalon on September 28, 1994. Mr. Brinkman will check with Real Property regarding a list that was requested by PARAB showing all properties owned by Parks and Recreation Department. Mr. Mueller would like a report of the BCC October 11, 1994, meeting when Chairman Zaks made a presentation. Aaron Lutz Park has been vandalized and a group of residents are organizing a Crime Watch Neighborhood. November 3, 1994, is the opening day for Pelican Bay Community Park. All PARAB members are invited. IV. Adjournment Mr. Hasse made motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Blackford seconded. The motion was passed 5/0. Adjourned at 4:45 p.m. -5-