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PARAB Minutes 02/26/1997 C PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD February 26, 1997 Minutes Veterans Community Park 1900 Immokalee Road,Naples,Florida PRESENT: Timothy Blackford,Chairman Elaine Wicks,Vice Chair Gayle L.Stan Gil Mueller Joseph Zaks Max A.Hasse,Jr. ABSENT: ALSO PRESENT: Marla Ramsey,Director Skip Camp,Acting Director Murdo Smith,Recreation Manager Gary Franco,Parks Superintendent Jacquie Hart,Secretary II Michael Doweling,Real Property Donald Carnes,Model Aeronautic Club Christopher Lombardo,Esquire Cyndy Hackney,Reporter of Golden Gate Gazette Billie Cheney,of Immokalee I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 2:10 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG III. INVOCATION: by Max A.Hasse,Jr. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 3, 1997&January 22, 1997 meeting. Motion by Gil Mueller to approve January 3, & January 22, 1997, minutes. Seconded by Max A.Hasse. Passed 6/0. V. NEW BUSINESS/PRESENTATIONS a. Introduction of New Parks & Recreation Director - Mr. Camp introduced the new Parks and Recreation Director, Marla Ramsey. Marla Ramsey is a local Naples resident who spent a lot of time with the YMCA organization, and the Parks and Recreation Department is very pleased to have her on board. b. Contribution for Memorial for Daniel P. O'Brien - Mr. Chris Lombardo presented a $5,000 dollar check to the Collier County Parks and Recreation Department for a memorial at Sugden Regional Park. Mr. Lombardo requests that the Parks and Recreation Department inform his office as to how the money will be used and the exact location of the memorial. One suggestion was that the money be used for a flag pole with a marble memorial. Motion by Gil Mueller that the Parks and Recreation Department send a thank you letter to the"O'Brien" family. Seconded by Max Hasse. Passed 6/0. 1 C. Interview for PARAB Position - Ms. Billie Cheney who lives in the Immokalee area, is a School teacher and is pursuing a Masters Degree. Ms. Cheney stated that she is interested in the position because there is no Immokalee representative. Ms. Cheney stated that she will not have any problems with attending the meetings. Motion by Gil Mueller to accept Billie Cheney as an Immokalee representative on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Seconded by Elaine Wicks. Passed 6/0. d. Proposal for Playground in Lee Cypress - Deputy Mary Thomson of the Collier County Sheriffs Office, made a presentation stating that she is a Community Oriented Policing Deputy, and the philosophy of C.O.P.S is that they try to get involved with the community to make it better. Deputy Thomson distributed some pamphlets. Deputy Thomson stated that due to the remote geographical low income area there are no playgrounds or parks nearby for the local children to use. The children are surrounded by empty lots,abandoned broken down trailers, and it is an unsafe area. The area historically has been and continues to be a high profile narcotics activity area. Deputy Thomson stated that the solution to the problem is to construct a playground for the children. The children will be taken away from the streets and the dilapidated trailers. The children can play in a safe and secure location where the parents and guardians will know where they are and not worry about them. There has been a process initiated by the community to get a playground facility in Lee Cypress which they have named"MISSION IMPOSSIBLE". Deputy Thomson stated that many local volunteers and County Government made an agreement regarding the project, however it has been put on the back burner for more than a year. Deputy Thomson stated that the C.O.P.S.'s Deputies have requested that the project be put back in the forefront of the community priority list to get completed. Mr. Franco stated that Murdo Smith and Chief Vince Doerr have been working together trying to acquire a parcel of land in the area. A parcel of land that could be leased from Lee Cypress Water Department is 150 X 200 feet which is approximately.29 acres. Ms. Wicks suggested that the Parks and Recreation Department use recycled playgrounds from other parks for the parcel of land in Lee Cypress area and that will not cost the department as much. Mr. Franco stated that the Parks and Recreation Department can approach this matter in three ways: (1). To submit this project in next years budget. (2). Do an executive summary to BCC; or (3). The residents could request a public petition. Mr. Franco estimated it would cost$60,000-$80,000 to install a playground and a possible half basketball court. Ms. Stan stated these individuals are tax payers and there are homes in the area that cost up to$219,000, and they are making contributions to the County. Mr. Joe Zaks suggested that if Deputy Thomson's organization can raise some of the money, the Parks and Recreation Department could contribute the difference. Ms. Stan suggested that PARAB take a tour of the Lee Cypress area which will help the board understand the need for a play area. Motion by Joseph Zaks that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board show its' support for the idea of creating a neighborhood park in the Lee Cypress area. Seconded by Elaine Wicks. Passed 6/0. 2 4111• 11- e. Model Aeronautic Lease for Manatee Property - Mr. Smith stated that for several years there has been a lease with the Model Aeronautic Club at the Manatee site property which is located behind Manatee Elementary and Middle School. The lease agreement is due for renewal and there are some restrictions in the new lease agreement. There have been some complaints from the neighborhood regarding airplane flying. The restrictions in the lease are the hours of operation(8:00 am to sunset),Tuesday, Thursday, Saturdays, Sunday,restrict the aircraft from flying over the school,residential area,and limiting the engine size. Mr. Donald Carnes of the Aeronautic organization stated that they were not aware of any complaints. However, the organization can resolve some of the problems by reducing the horse power, adding mufflers to control the noise level. The club has 135 members and limiting the days and time will be a problem. The organization maintains the field, installed a road to accommodate the users,and take care of the facility. Mr. Carnes stated that the organization is very appreciative of the fact that the county has made this program available to them for approximately 15 years. Mr. Carnes is requesting that the County extend the same lease without the additional restrictions and the club will monitor all aircraft. Every individual will have their aircraft tested before they can fly and the organization will have a club member there every day to monitor these crafts. No one will be allowed to fly around or over the school and residential area. Motion by Joseph Zaks to recommend to the Board of County Commissioner that the lease agreement between the County and the Model Aeronautic Club Inc., be extended in its present form for 3 months,during that time,the club will develop a noise standard working with the county, which will make acceptable levels of noise to the neighbors. Seconded by Max Hasse. Passed 6/0. Skip Camp Updates 1. Letter was sent to Mr. Arthur Staples regarding crossing Immokalee Road to Veterans Park. 2. Letter was sent to Tigertail Concessionaire regarding not issuing receipts to customers. 3. Letter to Cindy DeAugustino was sent regarding Roller Hockey Rink at Max Hasse Jr., Community Park. 4. Parks and Recreation Brochure is being updated. VI. Updates a. Plaque Presentation - Mr. Camp presented a plaque to Joseph Zaks for serving as the Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. b. Monthly Report (January) - A brief discussion took place regarding the monthly report and a suggestion was made to delete section D13 (Gulf Coast Little League). This information is repeated every month. c. Golden Gate Aquatic - The aquatic facility installed a new slide which is a flume type. d. Collier County Racquet Center-A discussion took place regarding the contractors for the Collier County Racquet Club and an extension is being granted by OCPM. Mr. Mueller stated that it would be nice if OCPM could notify staff before an extension is granted to the contractor. 3 • e. Disciplinary Matrix for the Parks and Recreation Community Parks - Mr. Mueller inquired about the matrix. Mr. Camp stated that the information has been sent to the County Attorney's Office to be modified. f Beach Ordinance #89-11 - The Board of County Commissioners approved the amendment to Ordinance#89-11. g. Chokoloskee Boat Ramp - The Parks and Recreation Department owns a parking lot in the Chokoloskee area. Years ago Totch Brown's wife was involved in an accident and the Transportation Department installed NO PARKING signs in the area There was a town hall meeting about two weeks ago and the residents voted unanimously to take the signs down. The Parks and Recreation Department will be presenting this to the Board of County Commissioners. Motion by Gayle Stan to recommend that staff remove the NO PARKING signs along Chokoloskee in consequence of the citizens. No second to the motion until PARAB visits the Chokoloskee and Lee Cypress on March 8`h, 1997. h. Parks Adoption Report - Max Hasse visited the Golden Gate Community Center and everything is in good condition. Mr. Hasse also stated that the pay phone at the Max Hasse Community Park had been installed and the public is very pleased. Golden Gate Community Park is in good condition except for some damage to landscape by the frost. i. Playground Equipment at Golden Gate Community Park Ball Field - Mr. Smith stated that a group of citizens are requesting the installation of some play ground equipment at Golden Gate Community Park to be located at the little league field. j. Parks and Recreation 25th Anniversary - The Parks and Recreation Department will be celebrating its 25th anniversary on Saturday, March 1St, 1997. The Golden Gate Aquatic Facility and the Immokalee Aquatic Facility will be admitting patrons free of charge in celebration of the 25th Anniversary. The Board of County Commissioners will be reading a proclamation dedicating March as recreation month next Tuesday, March 4th, 1997. Marla Ramsey, Parks and Recreation Director, will be receiving the proclamation on behalf of the department. k. Immokalee Administration Building - The next PARAB meeting will be held at the Immokalee Administration Building. The building is now owned by the Parks and Recreation Department. Employees had a work day and cleaned the building and did some improvements at the site.. 1. Tour of Lee Cypress/Copeland & Chokoloskee - The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will take a tour of Lee Cypress and Chokoloskee area on March 8th, 1997,at 10:00 a.m. m. Motion by Joseph Zaks that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board officially recognize the OUTSTANDING job that Skip Camp did as Acting Director. Seconded by Max Hasse. Passed 6/0. 4 n. Skating Rink at Veterans Community Park - Mr. Zaks stated that it would be a great idea if the Parks and Recreation Department would monitor the leagues that utilize the facility. o. Tour of Wiggins Pass-CANCELED. VII. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 4:30 P.M.. Motion by Max A. Hasse to adjourn. Seconded by Gayle Stan. • • • 5