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PARAB Minutes 06/24/1998 PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD June 24, 1998 Minutes East Naples Community Park 3500 Thomasson Drive,Naples,Florida PRESENT: Joseph Zaks, Chairperson Daphnie Bercher,Vice Chairperson Timothy Blackford Gil Mueller John Grice Edward "Ski" Olesky ABSENT: Karin English ALSO PRESENT: Marla Ramsey,Director Murdo Smith, Recreation Manager Gary Franco,Parks Manager John Dunnuck, Operations Coordinator Jacquie Hart, Secretary II Don Wirth, City of Naples Community Leisure,Director Rebecca Wakefield,Naples Daily News 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 Jacquie Hart Iv. INTRODUCTION: V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: May 27, 1998 meeting. m 21 Motion by John Grice to approve Ate , 1998 minutes. Seconded by Edward "Ski" Olesky. Passed 6/0. VI. AWARD PRESENTATION - Chairman Zaks presented Rosa Maria Alcantar with the attitude award. VII. NEW BUSINESS/PRESENTATIONS a. Items added to the Agenda: The following items were added under new business: City of Naples Funding for the Edge Skate Park and Tigertail Park Beach Tragedy. Everglades City Indoor Skate Park was taken off the agenda because no representative was present. 0 b. City of Naples Edge Skate Park Funding: Mr. Don Wirth was present to make this presentation as City Councilman Nocera was unable to attend. Councilman Nocera was directed by the Board of County Commission to present a proposal to PARAB for funding consideration and recommendation. The Edge Skate Park is operated by the City at Fleischmann Park. The proposal presented by City staff is as follows: A. The implementation of the redesigned layout will be a 3 phased project in order of priority. 1. Purchase of (1) corner ramp/elbow and (2) spines; and four existing components will be modified to proper size all utilizing current footprint. Cost: $27,000. 2. Expand the western most skate park fencing 30' and purchase a mini-ramp component. Cost$25,000. 3. Expand the easternmost portion of the skate park to form an "L" shape to the south for an additional 50' and purchase a half pipe component. Grading, underlayment and site improvements will be included. Cost$30,000. Project will be designed to meet specific needs, pre-cut off-site, components will be shipped to the site and assembled over a course of 1 to 2 days as a community-build project. The on-site company designer costs is included in the above prices. The City of Naples proposed funding Phase I ($27,000) through combination of local sponsorship and membership assessment. Funding for Phase II and III will come from additional sponsorships, fundraising and funding consideration by Collier County. The City of Naples is requesting Collier County participation due to the large percentage of skaters that use the facility that are County residents. The request is consistent with previous County Board and Advisory Board direction that any future requests for joint funding need to demonstrate significant use by County Residents. 2 Ms. Ramsey did some research through Linda Rice who runs the County owned Sanctuary Skate Park. The research indicated that 233 City residents are members of the Sanctuary Park.. Motion by Tim Blackford that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board oppose recommending funding for the Edge Skate Park project to the Board of County Commissioners. Seconded by Gil Mueller. Passed 6/0. c. Tigertail Beach Tragedy - Chairman Zaks visited Tigertail Beach before the meeting and stated that as you approach the beach the warning signs are not visible. Ms. Bercher also stated that she had visited the beach before the meeting and the signs were not visible. Chairman Zaks stated that he had heard that there was a near drowning at Tigertail Beach which occurred today. Mr. Mueller stated that the incident which occurred today, knowing the circumstances and the people involved, he does not believe that there was a near drowning. Mr. Mueller 's facts are based on people he talked to that were there during the incident. Chairman Zaks stated that on his way to Tigertail he noticed that at Sugden Regional Park there are three (3) lifeguards on duty. Which he finds ironic because Sugden Regional Park was designed for safety. The question was raised as to why there was money in the budget for 3 lifeguards who are approximately fifty (50 ft) apart at Sugden and no money to hire lifeguards for Tigertail Beach where there has been three tragedies already. Mr. Blackford inquired whether the pass has changed dramatically over the last several months because he walked across the channel and did not experience any problem. Ms. Ramsey stated that she could not say that there is more of an under tow now than there might have been a year or two ago. She does know that the pass changes depending on the weather because it also has shifting sands. The pass today could look as though its a hundred feet wide and other times it could like its only fifteen feet wide. Another factor is whether it is low tide or high tide. 3 0 Mr. Mueller stated that as a member of the Marco City Beach Committee the group receives aerial photographs periodically of Tigertail Beach. The Marco City Beach Committee received aerial photographs about 3 weeks ago and Mr. Mueller stated there are dramatic changes in the current. Mr. Mueller commented that Mr. Blackford has not had any bad experiences when visiting the pass because he uses good judgment on when to go out there. Mr. Mueller also went on to say that everyone of those deaths could have been avoided with good judgment but he could be wrong . Mr. Mueller stated that its not wise to take a 3 year old child where water is rushing through,that's just poor judgment. Mr. Mueller continued to maintain that in most cases good judgment is not used. Mr. Blackford inquired about the language on the signs. Ms. Ramsey stated that there are 15 signs on County owned Tigertail Beach and 4 signs on the pass which is not owned by the County. The signs that are on the beach currently say "CAUTION SOME CURRENT MAY BE PRESENT, NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK." Those signs are placed at the end of the boardwalk. The signs are white background with red lettering and the size is about 2 foot by 3 foot. At the end of each boardwalk as you come off the boardwalk, there is a small sign stating "WARNING NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY." When you come into the park itself there is a sign that states "NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY." The signs that are on the pass are similar and two are in Spanish. At the boundary of the beach there are signs that say "WELCOME TO TIGERTAIL BEACH CAUTION CURRENTS MAY BE DANGEROUS." Nine signs were installed in November or the end of October. Mr. Blackford stated that on his way to the meeting he heard on the radio that some of the citizens are protesting. Chairman Zaks stated that he looked for the signs when he visited the park and his observation was that the signs were all behind the swimming areas. The signs are behind cabanas, behind the concession and maybe the importance and the urgency of those signs are forgotten. Chairman Zaks suggested that Parks and Recreation put a buoy type sign in the water and the buoy will be facing both side and the people. Ms. Ramsey stated that she was out there this morning with staff and she discussed installing a line of buoys floating in the water with triple signs 4 Nrisr# *NO on it. Ms. Ramsey will change the signs that say no lifeguard on duty and will make them bigger. A '4 x 8' sign will be installed out near the pass on Sand Dollar Island the sign will say "DO NOT CROSS." The Friends of Tigertail Beach are in the process of putting together a Rip Tide brochure that will be handed out to people as they come in the gate. The brochures will also be provided to hotels. Mr. Olesky inquired whether there was anything that could be put in the water which will show were the rip tide is. Ms. Ramsey stated that she spoke to Ann Lazar who is with the State. Ms. Ramsey inquired if there was some kind of gauge that could monitor rip tide. Ms Ramsey indicated that Ms. Lazar said that those gauges are placed where there is no shifting sand. Ms. Ramsey stated that Ms. Lazar gave an update in July regarding some other gauge. Ms. Ramsey also requested funding from the State for the signs. Ms. Bercher inquired if there was anything else that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board could do. Ms. Ramsey stated that the two drownings occurred while crossing the pass to Sand Dollar Island. They were found in the Lagoon but they were not crossing the Lagoon. The German tourist had a heart attack in knee deep water which was a medical condition. The last drowning was on Tigertail Beach. Ms. Ramsey stated that she doesn't think that lifeguards would prevent the tragedies. Ms. Ramsey stated that additional signs will be up before the 4th of July weekend. Mr. Blackford inquired what is the distance of the beach. Ms. Ramsey stated that the Parks and Recreation Department does not encompass the whole Lagoon. There is 2500 linear feet of beach at Tigertail. Chairman Zaks inquired what is a lifeguard's salary. Ms. Ramsey stated that research was done on how much it would cost to man 300 linear feet. It would cost approximately two hundred thousand ($200,000) dollars. The annual salary for lifeguards would cost $168,000. 5 0 This would be similar to Sugden Regional Park. Lifeguards could take 150 foot span in there view. Ms. Ramsey stated that there is not a problem where the beach would be guarded as it is under 5 feet of water. The problem is when people try to cross the Lagoon on the Island and they get into a situation that they cannot handle. When they swim over it may have been chest high and by the time they go back over it becomes head high and if the person is not a good swimmer, then they are in trouble and panic. Ms. Bercher inquired why is it that the Parks Department could not put a lifeguard where there is a problem. Ms. Ramsey stated that the department does not want to put a lifeguard at the most dangerous area because that would encourage people to cross. The Parks and Recreation Department would section off part of the safest beach area to ensure public safety. Ms. Ramsey stated another consideration could be someone in a kayak in the Lagoon talking to people as they are crossing. This maybe helpful. Mr. Smith stated when hiring lifeguards you have to hire a least four so they can be rotated. The rotation will help with sick time, breaks, vacation, and if its real busy. So we need more than one lifeguard. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board continued to discuss lifeguards. The final analysis is to lifeguard the safe area and not where the danger area is located because this would invite someone to swim in this location. Mr. Grice stated that lifeguards guard areas that are safe and not the dangerous areas. Motion by Chairman Zaks to urged Board of County Commissioners to authorize funding to staff Tigertail Beach with lifeguards at an approximate cost of$168,000. Seconded by Gil Mueller. 2 for and 4 against. The motion did not pass. Motion by Chairman Zaks that staff investigate an alternative active means of providing safety measures at Tigertail Beach including kayak, patrolling, and a Park Ranger. Seconded by Tim Blackford. Passed 6/0. 6 Mr. Grice applauded staff for handling the situation at Tigertail Beach and for finding a solution to the problem. Mr. Mueller request was that the Parks and Recreation Department mail a copy of the memo sent to the Board of County Commissioners to PARAB members d. Everglades City Indoor Skate Rink-No representative . e. Corkscrew Elementary - A map was presented showing the elementary school. The school and County would work together to construct a park in this location. The county would light the athletic fields. f. Sugden Regional Parks Grand Opening- Sugden Regional Park is officially open to the public. The Jaycees will host Fireworks on 4th of July, all board members are invited. The event is free. The Parks and Recreation is cosponsoring the event. VIP parking will be at East Naples Community Park. g. North Naples Regional Park Status - Ms. Ramsey stated that the department has been experiencing a hard time locating land. The department went through 6 locations and all of them had some options to purchase. The park staff is researching land and needs approximately 200 acres for the park. The budget for the North Naples Regional Park is 14.7 million dollars for land purchase and development of the regional park. h. Summer Camp Status - Mr. Peffers, Recreation Supervisor reported that there are 12 camp sites; 6 park sites, and 6 school sites. The summer Camp program has not lost any participation. The Parks and Recreation Department has over 900 children registered throughout the county. The Summer Camp program will bring in approximately $300,000 in revenue. Mr. Peffers also commented on how well the Summer Camp Food program was and how it progressed this year. i. Aaron Lutz Park - Ms. Elliot who is a Program Leader II at the Golden Gate Community Center is holding a drop in camp at Aaron Lutz Neighborhood Park which was funded through a grant. Ms. Elliot has been doing a fantastic job for the children in the neighborhood and she also worked on the grant to fund the programs. Thanks Janice Elliot. IX. Old Business j. Impact Fee Study - The Impact Fee Study research will be presented before the Board of County Commissioners sometime in September or October. k. Immokalee Community Park- The Parks Department is still trying to coordinate with the Sheriff's Department regarding vandalism at the parks. No major vandalism occurred in the last couple of weeks. The kids are climbing over the fence and throwing life guard's chairs into the pool. Staff will look into the matter. X. Monthly Report 1. June & July Monthly Report - Mr. Grice stated that Vineyards Community Park and Veterans Community Park users figures may have been swapped around. Mr. Grice stated that there is a significant difference in the revenue. Ms. Ramsey stated that its really difficult to compare revenue with users because they don't really match. Generally everyone that uses the park are not revenue generators. m. BCC Recap - Parks and Recreation Advisory Board asked what these terms meant: TECH means (Teaching Educational for Handicapped). The FCT (Florida Community Trust) is a grant for Sugden Regional Park. n. Golden Gate Fitness Center Improvement - Contract is out for bid. o. Adopt-A-Park Report: Ms. English is responsible for the report however, Ms. English was admitted in the hospital and was unable to attend the meeting. p. PARAB Meeting Schedule- The July meeting is canceled The next meeting is scheduled at Golden Gate Community Center, 2:00 p.m. August 19, 1998 VIII.ADJOURNMENT Motion by Tim Blackford to adjourn. Seconded by Chairman Zaks. Passed 6/0. Meeting adjourned at 4:40 P.M.. 8