PARAB Minutes 05/15/2019MINUTES OF TFM MEETING OF TFIE PARKS AND RECREATION
ADVISORY BOARD
North Collier Regional Park
Naples, Florida
May 1 5,2019
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Collier County Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on
this date at2:00 P.M. at North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road,
Naples, FL, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Edward "Ski" Olesky
VICE-CHAIRMN: Ms. Mary Bills, Advisory Board Member
Mr. Joshua Fruth, Advisory Board Member
Ms. Rebecca Gibson-Laemel, Advisory Board Member
ALSO PRESENT:
Mr. Barry Williams, Division Director, Parks and Recreation Division
Mr. Rick Garby, Superintendent, Parks and Recreation Division
Mr. Miguel Rojas, Jr., Administrative Assistant, Parks and Recreation Division
Ms. Margaret Bishop, Principal Project Manager, Facilities Management
Ms. Olema Edwards, Regional Manager, Parks and Recreation Division
Mr. James Hanrahan, Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)
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Packet Pg. 976 Attachment: PARAB Meeting Minutes - May 2019 (10694 : Parks and Recreation Advisory Board - October 16, 2019)
I.Call to Order
II. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and a moment of silence observed.
III. Approval of the Agenda
The following changes to the agenda were noted:
+The addition of a presentation by Mr. Fruth to provide an update on the current status of
design ideas/plans for the Sports Complex (Capital Projects).
+The addition of an update by Mr. James Hanrahan, CVB, on a recent trip to Sandusky,
Ohio to review a site operated by SFI (Capital Projects).
Ms. Bills entered a motion to approve the May 15,2019 meeting agenda. Mr. Fruth
seconded the motion, All members were infavor. The motion was catied.
IV. Approval of April 17 ,2019 Minutes
Ms. Bills entered a motion to approve the April 17,2019 meeting minutes. The motion
was seconded by Mr. Fruth. All membels were infavor. The motion was carried.
V. Capital Projects Update - Ms. Bishop/Nlr. Williams
+Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park (BCRP): Phase I design is now 100% complete
and construction bids will be solicited in June, with the contractor award announced in
September 2019. Upfront work by Utilities with the connection of water mains will need
to be completed prior to the coflrmencement of construction in October 2019. The first
phase of construction will be the north phase, which includes the fields, and is slated to
be completed November 2020, with the south phase targeted for completion in May
202t.
Design of phase II remains ongoing, anticipated to be completed in November 2019.
Pending receipt of all permits, construction of Phase II is targeted for July 2020,with
construction completion in October 2021.
*East Naples Community Park (ENCP): The 2019 US Open Pickleball Championship
was recently held at ENCP and was deemed a huge success. Mr. Williams will provide
statistics related to the event at a subsequent meeting. The master planning process for
ENCP remains ongoing. Mr. Williams stated that the current draft of the master plan will
be shared with PARAB at the June 2019 meeting for endorsement, prior to presentation
to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) in summer 2019 for their input and further
direction. The draft will include feedback and suggestions which resulted from a recent
community meeting on this topic. Ms. Bishop stated that electrical upgrades are the first
priority at the park.
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+Tiger Tail Beach: Construction to upgrade the bathrooms closest to the rear parking
area is set to begin in October 2019, with completion of the project targeted for February
2020. Following this, upgrades to the bathrooms in the front area, as well as the Ranger's
office is slated to begin February 2020, with completion in August 2020. Ms. Gibson-
Laemel inquired as to the status of the toll booth project there. Mr. Williams noted
FEMA restrictions related to a permanent structure, so a mobile structure is being
reviewed in order to satisfy permitting requirements.
*Barefoot Beach: Discussions are being had with the Barefoot Beach HOA regarding
traffic backups which have occurred on the road leading to the park; this, a result of park
closure due to capacity during Season. Ideas for resolution include relocation of the park
entrance to the upper portion of Barefoot Beach Boulevard. Options for the location of
the Parks toll booth are being considered, as well as for Parks personnel to staff the HOA
toll booth in order to assist with management of traffrc flow.
+Collier Sports Complex: Mr. Fruth shared a slide presentation of the final design
rendering and schematics of the new Collier Sports Complex, to be located at I-75 and
951/Collier Boulevard. Naming rights for the Sports Complex are actively being
pursued. Phase I construction of the major design elements, which have already been
approved by the BCC, is set to begin on Monday, May 20,2019, at a cost ofjust under
$3lM. This includes all infrastructure and roadway extension. Phase IB will include a
3600-seat stadium, with future extension planned for berm seating, with the potential for
up to 12,000 seats, as well as a Great Lawn, which will include an open field and food
truck park area.
Phase II design for 305 acres of County owned land adjacent to the site has just been
submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Florida Fish & Wildlife
Conservation Commission for environmental review and engineering permitting, with the
entire review process anticipated to take l2 months. Ultimately, l9 artificial turf
multipurpose fields are planned, supporting the opportunity to host multiple events
simultaneously.
The final phase of construction includes a 90,000 square feet Field House, geared
towards indoor events, with consideration also being given for use as a hurricane shelter.
Shade structures are planned throughout the entire site.
A Welcome Center at the front entrance is planned; a two-story, 1 1,000 square feet
structure where teams will enter to receive welcome packages and instructions. The top
floor will be dedicated to administration, with a viewing deck overlooking the Complex.
A Marketplace area is planned, with food venues and sports event related retail shopping,
as well as a 5,000 square feet maintenance building and public restroom facilities.
Multiple team locker rooms, as well as offrciant locker rooms are planned.
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The man-made lake is approximately 90Yo complete, with all fill material being reused
onsite. Lake related activities are planned, to include sand volleyball and standup paddle-
boarding. Further, a lO-feet wide asphalt trail system pathway has been designed, both
for casual use, as well as supporting 5K events.
The Sports Complex will also support non-sports related events, including concerts, art
fairs, private events, etc. Future planning will be done with an eye towards integration of
local community elements with the Sports Complex, including the existing pathway
through City Gate, the Golden Gate Community Golf Course presently under
consideration for purchase by the County, as well as the easement running along the
Golden Gate canal waterway.
+Sports Force,Inc. (SFI): Mr. James Hanrahan of the Collier Convention and Visitor's
Bureau was on hand to provide an update to PARAB of a recent site visit done at the SFI
facility in Sandusky, Ohio. SFI is under consideration by the County to be the third-party
operator for the Sports Complex, and who would also schedule events in coordination
with the Convention and Tourists Bureau (CVB). Objectives of the site visit were to
observe SFI's management of tournament play, the overall condition and care taken of
the facility, as well as discussion of the dynamics of the potential working relationship
with the CVB and Collier County.
The Sandusky site was reported to be much smaller in scope in comparison to the
planned Collier Sports Complex; however, includes several unique elements, such as an
1S-hole putt-putt golf course, a ropes course, as well as a bungee system. The 3-year old
facility, including fields, were noted to be well maintained and in excellent condition,
despite heavy usage, and with plentiful staff on hand. In discussion of management of
the Sports Complex, the desire to make the facility available for local sports team access
was emphasized. SFI expressed an interest in also partnering with the Parks Division to
expand field access for tournament play at North Collier Regional Park, in support of
hosting larger, national events in Collier County. Mr. Hanrahan noted that he has planned
a visit to the newest SFI managed facility in Vicksburg, Mississippi in July 2019 and will
report his findings to Parks Staff.
Based upon the recent site visit in Sandusky, Mr. Haffahan stated that he was generally
in favor of SFI as the potential operator of the Collier Sports Complex, having
emphasized the need for local public use of the facility, primarily Monday through
Thursday, and with weekend access as available.
Ms. Gibson-Laemel stated that she had recently participated in an informational meeting
regarding an international initiative called, "Be Well in Paradise," which focuses on
marketing Collier County as a wellness destination. An online app would be made
available which would detail all wellness related activities in Collier County.
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Ms. Gibson-Laemel noted the potential integration of the Sports Complex with this
wellness initiative. Mr. Fruth stated that the trail system at the Sports Complex is
planned to include 12 to 14 exercise stations, which would dovetail nicely with the Be
Well program. Mr. Williams expressed an interest in inviting the promoters of the "Be
Well in Paradise" program to a future PARAB meeting to provide more information on
this initiative.
\rI. New Business
a. Board Vacancy: Mr. Williams stated that three applications had been received
for consideration of the available Advisory Board position. Two of the applicants
were present at the meeting and were invited to address PARAB to discuss their
interest in Advisory Board membership. The third applicant had submiued an email
discussing his credentials and detailing his interest in Board membership, which
would be read at the meeting by Mr. Williams. Following this, Advisory Board
members were asked to privately vote via written ballot, ranking candidates first
through third, with Mr. Williams announcing the chosen applicant prior to the close
of the meeting.
1 . Mr. Charles Schumacher, a resident of Collier County since 1998, has worked in
Facilities Management and Association Management, as well as restaurant and hotel
management. Mr. Schumacher detailed his experience in working with local
goverlment, as well as his participation on multiple committees and Advisory
Committees in Collier County, including the City of Naples, Lorenzo Walker
Technical College, and St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Mr. Schumacher is
married, with 3 children, and serves as a coach for his son's baseball team, thus
having visited many of the County parks over the past6-7 years.
2. Mr. James Streeter is a 20-year resident of Collier County, currently working with
high risk and delinquent youth as a Deputy with the Collier County Sherifls Office.
Mr. Streeter has served on a variety of advisory committees over the years, including
Golden Gate Estates Master Plan Committee, Immokalee Local Redevelopment
Board, committee member coach for youth activities for Collier County Parks and
Recreation, as well as Youth Haven and Drug Free Collier. Mr. Streeter has eamed a
B.S. in Criminal Justice and a Masters degree in Public Administration. Mr. Streeter
has two children who were active in several Parks programs over the years.
3. Ms. Daphnie Bercher has been a resident of Collier County since I 982, with all five
of her children having been active in Parks programs over the years. Ms. Bercher
served as a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member for several years,
beginning in 1998.
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Ms. Bercher served on PARAB during the dedication of Sugden Regional Park, as
well as participated in the development of Max Hasse, Jr. Community Park. Ms.
Bercher is currently a business owner, working with local government across
Southwest Florida. Ms. Bercher has earned an A.A. in Political Science from Edison
Community College and an A.S. in Paralegal Studies from International College of
Naples. Ms. Bercher noted the ability for integration of Parks facilities into many
facets of life, including children's and adult programming, physical education,
volunteerism, and special events and promotions.
Following candidate presentations, the PARAB vote resulted in the recommendation
of Ms. Bercher for the available Advisory Board member seat. This recommendation
will be presented to the BCC at the June 2019 meeting for their consideration for
approval.
Fitness Proposal: Mr. Wittiams stated a request for participation had been
received regarding an initiative called "The National Fitness Campaign." The
mission of the initiative is to make world class fitness free in communities
nationwide. The "Fitness Court" was initially designed at Stanford University, with
Wells Fargo becoming a national sponsor, resulting in 10,000 courts being built in
over 4,000 communities. The program was modernized for the 21't century in2012
with a 7 movement/7-minute system, allowing a full body workout, with 45 seconds
effort at each station, followed by 15 seconds of rest. The Fitness Court is designed to
accommodate all fitness levels, with a mobile app available to learn fitness routines
and participate in fitness challenges. Local, regional and national events are planned.
NFC provides $30K in grant funding, with a local funding contribution of $90K. NFC
also offers assistance with the exploration of funding support through sponsorship.
Mr. Williams noted that if PARAB expressed an interest in moving forward with
participation in this initiative, the appropriate site for installation of the 1400 square
foot Fitness Court would need to be identified, followed by presentation of the
concept and grant application to the BCC for consideration of participation, which if
approved, would commence in Fall 2020. Mr. Williams noted that the deadline for
grant application would be in July 2019. A suggestion for sponsorship by the Blue
Zones Project was suggested; Mr. Williams stated he would approach the Blue Zones
group to discuss this possibility.
Questions regarding maintenance of the Fitness Court were raised, as well as
discussion of various potential sites which might be suitable, including the new
Sports Complex, and the Naples Airport, with its close proximity to the Greenway.
Mr. Olesky suggested overhead coverage for sun and rain protection, although this
may be an added expense. It is unclear if customization of the Fitness Court is
possible.
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In view of PARAB interest in the project, Mr. Williams stated that more specific
information will be sought fiom NFC.
VII. Old Business
a. CIam Pass Update: Mr. Williams shared a copy of a presentation recently made to
the Pelican Bay Foundation regarding a concept to increase parking at Clam Pass,
focusing on the 3000 linear feet of County owned beachfront property. The Foundation
had requested exploration ofa more holistic approach to a parking solution at Clam Pass,
with a plan for how beachgoers would be distributed along the beach, addressing capacity
concems, as well as environmental concems, most notably the large skimmer population
that nests on the northem portion of Clam Pass. Beach sand was also a stated concem, as
was traffic flow in and out of the park. Mr. Williams noted that each of these concems
has been addressed. Further, an overall water access strategy has been undertaken by the
Parks Division, offering new aquatic facilities at Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park and
Eagle Lakes Community Park. Offsite circulators transport and drop off beachgoers, as
well as the CAT system which transports beachgoers. Altemative sites for a beach access
parking garage are under consideration, such as at Connor Park, and opporhrnities are
being explored at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park to increase parking capacity. Each of
these measures is being taken to address the lack ofpublic access points to the coastline
due to the explosive growth in population and tourism.
The design plan for the parking structure would allow for an increase of the current 198
parking spaces to 396, with special materials used to address a concem for noise from
squealing tires, as well as the strategic placement ofvegetation along the sides and
rooftop ofthe garage for visual appeal. Tumabouts for traffic flow are also proposed. The
overall park improvement plan includes the addition of amenities such as picnic tables,
grills, and restroom facilities to enhance the existing trail system on the south side of the
beach.
The Foundation had questions about the increased number ofbeachgoers following the
addition ofthe parking garage at Clam Pass. The industry standard followed by the Parks
Division is a 2.4 person count per motor vehicle in a parking lot. A study initiated by the
Foundation yielded a 50 square feet per person usage ofbeach, however other land
management plans have shown 250 square feet per person. A beach utilization
comparison was shared, contrasting Vanderbilt Beach, Pelican Bay, and Clam Pass.
Parks Staff has had discussion with the Audubon Society regarding the management of
the skimmer population at Clam Pass.
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Other environmental concerns have been addressed, such as storm water runoff if the
garage were built, as well as a commitment from CoastalZone Management for beach re-
nourishment. Further, a proposal being considered is the addition of roundabouts to help
with safety and ease of traffic flow into the park, raising the "D" rated intersection to an,,4."
A feasibility study being conducted by Q Grady Minor & Associates will ultimately be
presented to the BCC in October 2019 for their review and further direction. Approval of
concepts, construction drawings, and the construction contract must be given by the
Pelican Bay Foundation. Once first level approval of concepts is given, it may then move
forward to presentation to the BCC.
Eagle Lakes Expansion! Mr. Williams shared ideas for expansion at Eagle Lakes
Community Park which were made by the public in attendance at arecent Town Hall
meeting conducted by Commissioner Donna Fiala. The results of a transportation study
done at that site revealed the possibility for fuither expansion. Suggestions included:
+Attaching the two existing buildings
+Enhancing the entrance to the community center
*Directional signage placed at roundabout
+Smaller scaled amphitheater
*Extension of the gym
+Additional classrooms/dance classes
PARAB members were encouraged to advise Staff of any additional suggestions during
this planning process.
311 Report: Use of the County 311 program was discussed, with a favorable
experience in using the program noted by Mr. Olesky and Ms. Bills. Mr. Williams
remarked upon the built-in accountability for timely completion of service requests. A
report of 31 I calls made by PARAB members will be shared at each monthly meeting.
Directors Highlights
+The Immokalee kiddie pool is now open, after initially being approached as a
maintenance project, but which became a much larger structural issue. Staff will
continue working with Facilities Management on aquatics related capital projects, as well
as adding an aquatics manager next year.
+Golden Gate Golf Course - This issue will go before the BCC soon. Discussions are
being had regarding the possibility of utilizing third party management in the event the
golf course is purchased and utilized for golf for a period of time. Funding has been
budgeted for next year for the management of the golf course.
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VIII.
IX.
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x.
+Mr. Williams will provide statistics related to the US Open Pickleball Championship
recently held at ENCP. Over 10,000 people were in attendance at this years' event. The
Master Plan for the park will be shared with PARAB at the June 2019 meeting. Positive
feedback has been received from event promoters, although parking was seen to be an
issue. Ms. Bills relayed comments she had received from food truck vendors who were
not allowed to advertise at the event; however, it was noted that the event promoters have
agreements with onsite concessionaires.
Public/Board Comments
+Ms. Olema Edwards noted that Staff had recently approved an increase in lifeguard
starting pay to $13/hour in an effort to attract certified lifeguards. Ms. Edwards also
noted a recent save conducted at the Golden Gate Community Park pool by lifeguard
personnel, who retrieved an unconscious swimmer from the pool and administered CPR,
saving the individual's life.
+Ms. Bills noted that she would be unable to attend the June 2019 PARAB meeting.
+Mr. Olesky suggested that Mr. Murdo Smith be recognized by the Parks Division in
some way, such as re-naming a facility or program after him. Mr. Williams noted Mr.
Smith's involvement with the Special Needs Sailing program at Sugden Park. As such,
the Adaptive Sailing Center had been proposed to be renamed in Mr. Smith's name;
however, a requirement of 1,000 signatures from County residents is necessary before the
name change may be made. PARAB members volunteered to assist in this effort and Mr.
Williams will provide further information in the near future regarding a plan for the
acquisition of the necessary signatures.
XI. Adjournment
There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjoumed.
These minutes approved by the Board/Committee on
Parks and
Olesky,
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as presented, or as amended.
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