this uh April 21st meeting of the parks and recreation advisory committee. Everybody stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. All right, let's do a roll call, please. >> Member Dykins >> here. >> Member Hodes here. >> Member Gordon >> here. >> Chair Weise
>> here. >> We have a quorum. >> All righty. Uh approval of the agenda is the first item. Excuse me. Approval of the uh agenda and the uh motion to approve the the last meeting uh uh minutes. Excuse
me. >> I so move. >> Second. >> So move. All righty. We got a full house this morning. Um let's go ahead and any audience uh comments. Jenny, who do we have? Uh >> I don't have any cards, but if anybody would like to comment, please come
forward. State your name and your address, >> Johnson. Gustiffson. >> Morning. Uh, I'm the current president of the PA AGSC, which is the Passigril Shuffle
Board Club. We've been a club since I think it's January 3rd, 1974. Of course, you all know that our our clubhouse, that old historic building, was torn down earlier in the year.
Uh, we actually I enjoyed calling Josh Roas. He came out and on Channel 9 News. They showed it in fast motion being torn down. That was pretty cool even though it was sad that it was torn down. Um, we
have a couple of questions that we'd like to ask. Um, last year on May 1st, there was a meeting here and we understood that we were going to get lights back on the courts.
Never happened. Uh, now if we want to play in the evening, we go to St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club. They have 100 courts and it's packed every night. Basically,
besides us not being able to use our courts, um, uh, Passig Wheel restaurants are losing their business as well. Um, mind if I interrupt you? >> Yes. >> Uh, were the lights previously switched and turned off from the shuffleboard
clubhouse? >> Yes. Correct. >> Okay. And and there was power taken away from that after the storm, and I doubt it's been restored since it's the building's gone. >> Correct. So, are you asking for interim lighting until the building gets rebuilt?
>> Yeah, just just a timer on the on the light pole. Uh the pole on the north side is just gone. The pole on the south side uh is still there. Unfortunately, one light is pointing at the house on
the other side of Ninth Street and the other one is pointing up in the air. So even if you did put power to it, it's not going to shine on the courts. Um uh secondly,
um 25% of our benches are broken. Uh we held them together with duct tape. Uh just a couple weeks ago, one of our one of our members got her finger caught
between the slats and the seat and I went and got a bunch of zip ties and but it's still that's just a temporary fix. Uh >> are they wooden, John? What are they? >> No, they're aluminum aluminum slats.
There's three slats on the bottom the length of the uh seat and three slats on the back. So, it's just a matter of putting a nut a ball through them and reattaching them again. >> That's all it is. >> Okay. All right.
>> Um, uh, let's see here. Uh, the courts, we were told a few years ago that they would be resurfaced. Uh this year we spent uh we bought eight gallons of wax just
to get them to work. Uh on court eight for example if you pushed a disc from one end to the other it wouldn't make it. The courts were that rough. So again uh myself and other members we uh spent almost $300
just to put wax on the courts so they were playable. Um, I appreciate Mandy you providing a cabinet for us. Uh, unfortunately it has been breached a couple of times already
>> and we won't be using it after the first of May. We don't want our stuff to get stolen that's uh that are in the cabinet. Uh, >> I'm I'm assuming it's locked. There's a break in the lock. >> Yeah, I think um it it does have a lock on it. Correct. Yeah. Yeah.
>> It's a little flimsier, kind of a plastic cabinet kind of thing. So, I mean, it is pretty easy to to be able to get into it. So, it was a temporary fix while we took the building down so that they would have someplace to store their items without having to bring them back and forth from their houses. >> Yeah. We were working out of two pickup
trucks last year. >> Yes. >> Um, and then see what else I wanted to bring up. Oh, I was going to ask Mandy if you or one of your staff could meet one of
us at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club. They have basically a shed there >> that will show you the minimum space we need. We need space to store the these the uh Qsticks, the shuffleboard discs.
We need electricity for our equipment after each use of the shuffleboard discs. They need to be sanded and polished or waxed, I should say. Uh and
uh if somebody could meet us there, we'd be happy to show you. It isn't a large area, but we do need electricity to run the machines. Uh when we lost our when we lost the building, we lost
everything. We lost two dozen folding chairs. We lost multiple tables, big folding tables. Uh we lost uh blowers, refrigerator, the fountain that was inside the two bathrooms when somebody
uh uh broke in to the bathrooms. Uh what was it a month or so ago? Mhm. >> Uh, you know, they also stole a bunch of our equipment that was still inside. Uh, so, you know, I understand it
happened. I was just hoping I could get some information on when something might happen and hopefully you'd understand the needs that we have. >> Yes, we do. So, we did hold the community meeting um down at the Warren
Webster to address some of the concerns. Um and a lot of the shuffle board players were at that meeting and they did address concerns. So, what we did is the public services department now has the preliminary drawing that was kind of done up. It was kind of like an AI generated um drawing for the uh
shuffleboard facility moving forward. Um, and then we have been talking to uh I think Bill Lowry actually had um uh somebody that was able to draw up some kind of uh design temporarily and then
we're going to be moving forward in the process. So, we've just reached out to our public services director to kind of get a status update on that on where we're at with that. Um but we are moving forward in the process and we do plan on uh replacing the facility with something out there that would be um able to
accommodate the shuffle board equipment as well as give a little bit of power so that that they're able to run some of the equipment that they need. So we are still working um through that process. There are other projects that public services have taken on, you know, that uh are prioritized ahead of what the
shuffleboard court is, but it still is on top of mind. >> Yeah. I I uh just I just want to make sure that you understand what's the minimum requirements that we would need to maintain the discs.
>> Yes. >> And stuff like that. >> Yeah. We would be happy to go down and take a look at uh what they have. We can send somebody >> drive down there and back. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Nope. We would be happy to send somebody from either public services or recreation down there to take a look at it. >> We have some more than
>> I'd like to go too. Oh, okay. >> So, so >> I I have some questions of you. Um when I attended the U meeting at Warren Webster where um the shovelboard group was there and I understand that um you
guys are really interested in getting that going. uh be one of the things that um uh I'd like to to see is um in the what can we do for you is what are you interested in uh putting together and
essentially operating because you basically you guys operated that building before and the only thing you lack right now is the building. So >> yeah. >> Now, so u as for temporary, I don't know if u public works has any uh smaller
temporary secure buildings. It would seem like it would be a a small version of a lockable container. I don't know that you could provide power to something like that, even a temporary power, but some type of temporary pole that um uh you see at construction sites
that just something can plug into would uh provide the power that they need. Uh >> we're pretty much done uh in the next couple of weeks. It just gets too hot to play during the day. >> Uhhuh. >> So, we play typically January through the end of April.
>> Okay. Uh, and that's why we like playing at night because cooler temperatures, we're not under the hot sun. We don't need to fry some eggs on the concrete just to demonstrate how hot it gets. >> So, the um if if they're able to provide power to the lights, perhaps there could
be an outlet for your sanding gear to sand your equipment. >> Is that we'd have to be dragging the equipment back and forth >> from where? >> It's about this big and this tall. Actually, we lost it in the hurricane
that went out to sea. So, we've got to buy a new one from uh uh Allen Shuffleboard Courts, Allen Shuffleboard Equipment Supply. Uh right now we have three of us have small ones that instead
of doing two at a time and having the thing that automatically kicks the discs off >> now we individually have to put one on and sand it and >> understand put wax on and stuff like that. So, as for the lighting, that's something that we could probably get to
work on trying to figure out, getting the lighting turned on or have switches or something like that for tennis courts. But, uh, and maybe outlets, but as for the storage thing, uh, I I don't even know if we have pro. This is a city. It takes forever to get something like that done unless we have one
sitting there. >> Yeah, we don't have actually a temporary structure. And the temporary structure that we did put down there was uh, just that, temporary for the three months. our code prohibits us from having anything down there any longer than that. Um, so what we did is we accommodated it during their season. Um,
and then when they're finished at the end of the month, what we'll do is we'll take that unit back. We'll store it at the community center underneath the building so that prevent any kind of uh damage or any kind of theft to it. So we have a we've already put in the work order through public works or public
services and they'll be picking it up at the end of season. >> Okay. Solves that problem. So, um, let's talk about the court surfaces. From what I understand, it costs between three and 8,000 per court to resurface. >> When we were quoted, it was about
$20,000 to do all of the courts that were down there. >> Okay. >> A few years ago, >> how would you like to pay for that? >> I'm kidding. >> Actually, uh, through Allen Shuffle Board, I have I didn't bring it with, but I have the name of a gentleman that will do it for $1,500 per court. and
he's do he does it for uh St. Petersburg shuffleboard courts. They have 100 courts. He knows what he's doing. >> You all get together. So, um it's we don't have a budget. We're just an advisory committee. >> Right. I understand that. >> I don't know. That's is that a capital item on the list?
>> Um I don't think that that would meet the threshold for a capital item, but it would need to be budgeted um probably in the FY27 budget. So, we are working through that right now. Um, and it is something that we can address with our uh public services department to see if they would be able to add a line item
for the court resurfacing in their in their funding >> for next year >> for 27 >> which begins >> October. >> Okay. Best we can do outside of private contributions. >> Cool. >> Is that okay? >> Yeah. >> All right.
>> Yeah. We just like to we just wanted to know basically from Mandy has there been any progress because the uh original >> uh drawings that we saw uh were not going to be large enough to accommodate
what we needed. Plus, of course, we want the cabinet for the outside because every time we play Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, people stop by and say, "How come there isn't any equipment available anymore?" which we s we supplied we supplied disc we supplied uh cues uh
chalk whatever they needed to go out and play on the shuffle boards we still like to do that but >> all right well first of all appreciate everybody uh in your club's fantastic in terms of what you guys take on and do yourselves so appreciate that the city I
think we got a plan for everything Mandy right >> we do yes we do we'll get with our public services department and we'll work out um a plan to add some items into the budget and to remove the storage and try to get the courts resurfaced. So, >> and can we get somebody to go out and put some bolts and some >> Yes, we do already. I believe we already
have put a work order in um through public services for that as well. So, I think yeah, we had had we had gotten a um phone message from John I believe the other day and then we did go ahead and address those items with public services. So, they'll be reaching out. >> Yeah, I don't want to see anybody get
either >> but it's stable now with zip ties that I put on. >> Okay, >> we'll have a more permanent solution for you. >> Very good. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. >> I also have a card from Diane Halverson
if you want to comment. >> Thank you. I'm Diane Halverson and I happen to be the treasurer and former um tournament coordinator for uh the shuffleboard club. Um and as long as
John had mentioned several things about budget and money, we we really do appreciate all the efforts. Um all of us are victims of the hurricane in one way or another and uh are aware of um all of
the needs that and priorities. There are 39 members of our group currently and we generate about $700 in income uh from dues and membership and we spent $56 on maintenance.
um that only leaves us hundred to $200 for trophies. I mean that we're not a big uh income generating uh group, but what we do have goes for the maintenance and upkeep of the courts. Um
as well as throwing in the labor that goes along with that. We're not just talking about services that reach the 39 people who play on a regular basis and our guests who come, but we have community members who
constantly use the services and the equipment. Um, we no longer have a cabinet available or extra equipment available to leave out for public members to come. Um we are stopped regularly while we are in play during
the three mornings a week that we play by people who want to know how to do this and how they can play. And there used to be stuff here and why is it not here anymore? Because it's not here anymore. Uh we would love to be able to
uh encourage the playing of shuffleboard by members who have by community people who become interested and get their opportunity to play. I am very concerned as a health a former health care provider about the conditions of the
courts. Um they are terrible. Uh we frequently find we leave beads on the courts when um because they are left there when you uh when you play when you condition them for play. Uh people come
after we have played so that they can get get use of it while they're still in better condition. Um but we have frequently found bicycle tracks and you know I have no clue. I mean, we people walk across the courts all the time.
They're a um a potential hazard that you as a as the community and we as the the uh users uh I see real real potential there for a
problem without the constant maintenance and upkeep that all of our outdoor facilities require. Um we are thrilled um that you are interested in providing us providing us in the local community
with uh an updated facility that we can use um for both our group and for the broader community. >> Very good. Any suggestions? I mean, I know we we're going to
>> I I think we are here to say we we would love to have input. We would love to say this will work, this won't work. Let us help you. Um, however we can work with you um to help
make progress occur, we are more than happy to do. >> I know you guys are passionate about it, so we appreciate that. You're passionate about it, so we appreciate that, Diane. >> Thank you, >> Diane. Um, I encourage you to get in touch with St. Pete Beach's communications director, Mark Portugal.
He um, administers the um, uh, Facebook page and notices that go out on the website and can publicize what you're doing, what's available, your club itself, >> and I would encourage you to get in touch with him.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Anybody else? >> All right. So, I think I kind of jumped ahead before and we approved the uh the minutes of uh the meetings from last already. So, we're good on that, are we not, Jenny? >> Okay. All right. The next action item is
election of committee officers for the 2026 2027 year. Um Jenny, it would be appropriate to just ask for nominations or what's the recommendation? >> Either or. You can nominate somebody or somebody can volunteer.
>> Yeah, I I like to nominate Kent. He's very passionate himself about all this and seems to do a great job with doing your homework and and uh at least that's my recommendation is Kent for for chair.
>> I would second that for sure. >> Thank you. >> Motion to approve. >> Okay. Um member Dykins to vote. I'm sorry. >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. I'm sorry. >> Member Hodes. >> Yes. >> Member Gordon.
>> I'll vote for myself. >> Chair Wise. >> Motion carries. And then we need a vice chair. >> We need a vice chair. Any recommendations? >> No. >> Anybody in mind for advice? Any recommendations? >> Oh, anybody who wants to
>> Anybody would like to do it? >> Darl, you want to be vice chair? Unfortunately, with my traveling, uh, I wasn't almost going to make this meeting here. >> Would you like to be commissioner? >> Really touch and go for myself. >> I because I was appointed from the last, uh, mayor, we might have to go ahead. I
think maybe it'd be appropriate for Lori to do. >> I'll put my hand in. >> Congratulations. >> So, we just need a motion and a >> We need a motion. >> Motion and a second. >> Second. >> Motion to vote. >> We need a motion to
>> Motion from Daryl, second from Kent. All right. Uh, presentations from Mendy. >> We do have a presentation for you today. So, um, I'd like to introduce Mike Weaver. He is our operations manager um from our public services department. He's going to be here uh today and he's
going to present to you on the parks updates. I'll give you the recreation update and then we can kind of go from there. So, um, if we could bring the presentation up. All right. So, let's start off with an update of where we're at with our fee study. I know we had brought the fee
study to this board um probably six months ago now, and we are still in the process of working through that fee study. So, um the fee study is still in draft form. No decisions have been finalized to this point. We still need to go through the finance and budget board as well as city commission. So, uh
we're building cost recovery models using actual participation data from prior years. It's okay. And the goal the goal is to align fees with service delivery costs while maintaining accessibility. So, um you'll see that uh one of our goals is
going to be in in approximately five years to maybe reach a 100% cost recovery on non-resident uh participation in our programs. Um that's going to be one of our goals that you'll see when we bring forward to commission our budget this year. And
then we're looking to implement the new fees hopefully starting in FY27. So October 1st we'll implement some of the new fees that were discussed at this meeting. The next step is adoption and implementation following the commission direction.
Facility updates so I can give you some exciting facility updates. So construction for on the recreation center is on track to end and be completed by miday. Um, we will have a clear operational plan for summer. The plan is going to be to continue to keep
our summer camp program at the community center upstairs while we move our classes and fitness activities back down to the Warren Webster just to ensure that construction, you know, with timelines and everything. There could be something that comes up. We don't want to risk running into not having a place
for the children. So, our plan is to still move our classes and everything down to the Warren Webster um for the summer. So, we are targeting a grand reopening party date on August 1st. This will be a major community moment. Um, we're looking forward to putting together a big party and a big welcome
back and everybody come in and check out our new and improved recreation center. At our Dawn Vista, we're working towards a shared use model with Suntan. Uh, we'll get into a memorandum of understanding with them like we have in the past. And the fire department will
be utilizing some of that space in that building for a fitness area. Um, as you probably all are aware, they're using those temporary structures outside of the Dawn Vista. Doesn't really offer a lot of amenities for our fire department. So, we are going to reserve a space inside the Dawn Vista for a
small fitness area. The timeline for is dependent on construction progress. The Warren Webster um that's currently serving as a critical operational backup space. Like I mentioned, the fitness classes will be going down there in the summer. We're super excited. So, despite our
construction impact, services are continuing without interruption. Um, and we're looking forward to all of the facilities being up and running and fully functional. >> I'm going to turn it over to Mike now. He's going to go through some of the parks updates.
>> Thank you very much. That's all good. >> Okay. So, uh, as you can see, uh, the park updates, there is going to be one correction to this slide when I get to it. It's the Venadell Park, uh, for the big dog park. But the Egan park uh completion of the installation of the new irrigation systems and the
associated uh sod restoration has been been completed. Uh the sod is establishing well and showing strong and healthy growth. The vinadel park uh big uh dog park uh we did install uh organic
mulch for the dog park. um with the with the installation of that mulch, we got uh numerous um complaints. So that mulch is being uh taken out currently and will be left as dirt until we can find a
suitable replacement for that mulch and we are currently looking at other alternatives as we speak. What was I I'm curious what was the uh >> the complaints they were they were worried about the um uh chips themselves where what kind of species of tree they came from.
>> We were ensured that they were they were native but hearing the complaints of the residents they were very unhappy with that particular mulch. >> So we have taken it out >> and mulch is not mulch. you you go on to the uh websites and the and the uh web and you'll see that uh dog park mulch is
very specific uh and we have used the proper dog bark mulch at McKenna Park and I think previously at uh at Vina and others and for some and from what I understand mulch came inhouse and when it came in househ whoever ordered it
apparently ordered mulch and that was probably whatever the guy put in his truck and we got that and it wasn't appropriate. So that's what I understand happened and so in terms of searching for it, it's out there. Yes, it is >> because we we use it. >> Yeah, we're currently getting bids uh right now to replace the
>> I was just I was just curious. Yes. Didn't know there's a special mulch open every day, right? >> So speaking of McKenna Park, uh let me go back here. Oh, there we go. Um completion of the comprehensive removal
of the dead trees is uh taking place and also the removal of the invasive landscaping at Mckenny Park has also been completed. Uh I'm going to butcher this name because I'm I'm new to the city. The Lazarillo Park, there we go. Thank you. Lazarillo Park completion is
also of the comprehensive landscape cleanup and removal of of the dead uh species and trees and the invasive landscaping has taken place there to improve the overall appearance of the park. So what you're seeing now is our yearly maintenance schedule uh for all the
parks um in the city and our timelines for completion of these projects. Uh developing the the yearly landscape maintenance schedule ensures that all major projects are planned and show clear timelines and improves the overall park appearance and user experience.
Helps promote uh community pride and increase the usage of our park facilities. This also supports efficient allocation of our staff uh equipment and budget resources through advanced planning and scheduling of these projects. It also reduces the volume of
the reactive work orders that come in every day by addressing reoccurring maintenance tasks on a consistent plan basis. And this also provides clear documentation and accountability uh for the completed work especially when plan when paired with a tracking
system that we use internally and before and after reporting. This also helps strengthen the long-term planning efforts identified uh identified trends and reoccurring issues and critical environmental needs that happen in our parks throughout the year. As you can
see, we're coming up on May. So, we are our crews are finishing uh the citywide fertilization of our trees. We are completing any uh outstanding stump grindings that we have from the removal of the trees in the parks. And we're also doing weed control. Weed control is a especially this time of year. We are
starting to get a little bit of uh warm temperatures out there. Once we start getting rain, weeds start popping up. This is an ongoing issue. Um as you can see in June, uh we start our storm preparedness. We're getting into that season. So, citywide tree trimming of all uh will happen. Again, with the weed
control, like I mentioned before, is an ongoing thing. In July, all of our big projects stop because it's peak tourism season. And just the continuation of the uh of our yearly schedule. August is the same with our uh projects. We're just doing
regular maintenance. Same with the September. October is when we start going back into our projects and the Dawn Vista Suntan Arts Center and Mini Side Park replacement of all the landscaping will happen there. November the McKenna Park landscaping upgrade in December Passag Park will get their
landscaping upgrade. >> There we go. Okay. So, what you're seeing here is our Cclick Fix community submitted reports. The uh fancy graphs there. Uh the parks department has adopted adopted a more proactive approach when addressing maintenance needs focusing on resolving issues
before they escalate uh into a formal work order within Cclick Fix. Uh this uh initiative was uh has resulted in improved operational efficiency including response times and quicker completion and closure of the work
orders. Additionally, we have enhanced accountability and documentation by incorporating before and after photographs into each work order, providing clear evidence of completed tasks and overall improvements. Okay. And that completes my part of the
slide. >> I have questions if we can stay on this topic. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. So, um, general questions. Yes. >> From what I understand, and Mandy can help out on this. Mandy used to be parks and wreck. This used to be all yours.
>> And then and now you're wreck >> and Camden is temporary parks. Camden is full-time parks. >> No, Camden is our public services director. Um and then there's operations managers underneath. Then they and Mike right now is overseeing kind of the
operations for the parks and beaches department. >> Is that permanent? Um the it the move to public services parks and beaches move to public services is permanent. Yes. >> Okay. So from what I understand public services facilities and all of that
nobody's truly dedicated to parks in that group. They are all generic workers or do you have certain people who are dedicated to parks? >> We have we have parks workers. Yes. >> Okay. Meaning they're mowing the yard. There is anybody out there driving
around and looking at the parks and seeing you know what does it need or >> a crew chief does. Yes. >> Okay. Planning for capital projects. >> That is a uh combination effort of the operational managers and the crew chiefs
and as well as uh the the directors. Yes. >> Okay. Um I I getting to the parks that you've already mentioned. I wanted to uh mention that Hurley Park is making the rounds in CLIC
fix right now and because it's a dirt and grass dog park and dirt and grass don't work. So there there's all kinds of discussion about the dogs are digging holes. Dogs do that. So, uh, and I went by yesterday, uh, and it's it's
just it's a mess >> and it was dry. So, um, what does it take to add mulch to that park? In fact, all dog parks should have mulch and should it be part make that part of the routine work, you know, routine
maintenance and replacement. >> Well, like I mentioned in the other dog park, we're looking at options for the different uh, mulch like you mentioned earlier, >> right? uh that those parks are also included. We're getting quotes for all the dog parks. >> Excellent. >> That's what's currently happening. We're just waiting on them to come in.
>> Okay. Okay. That's that's good to know. >> So, um because parks include all parks, great and small. >> Yes. >> The uh Blind Pass parks. Uh there are three named parks on Blind Pass. Uh
there's the Sunset Park which is between the Envoy Point condos and um Woodies and it has a lot of damage. Uh there's a uh a small park which has sewer equipment but people also use it for fishing that's on the other side of
Woody's. And then uh on the parking lot between the parking lot of Buoys and Buoys itself is a bulkheaded uh small park. It had a name on it before and it had a fence and they're gone. But uh those three parks are in somewhat
disrepair, somewhat taped off. There's no trespassing signs at sunset. Uh there's discussion on ccliff fix what's going on and it's been since basically a year and a half. So, uh what
uh what I would like to see is uh an update for the citizens e uh either website or or actually maybe even at the site because uh city public works has a sign making department >> and they can make signs all the time.
They probably enjoy doing it, but I would I would like to see an update uh of uh at least, hey, we're working on it. uh or and some work does get done because the uh the little mini bulldozer was out there carving out a hole in the
ground at um uh at Sun uh Sunset Park, right? >> They also destroyed part of the sidewalk and need to go mark that. It's a hazard. >> Yeah, we are we currently have a contractor uh that will be out there this week actually to uh remove and replace that sidewalk.
>> Okay. I recommend either orange paint or um some kind of tape or something because uh that's the only sidewalk and it's dark and so >> Okay. >> Yeah, let's let's be safe. >> Absolutely. >> But uh in terms of the parks, I think we would like to be getting an update of
where are we and I'll ask for that in a minute. But I also think it's something that we should provide to our citizens. And uh it's it's like I said, it's been a year and a half and it's it's uh people are starting to ask what's going on. It's time. Uh so you know I'll let
you uh uh get to that and u maybe give us an update and then let's figure out a way to give updates to our citizens. >> So following on that um you brought up a handful of parks and so as I'm looking at this parks update, there's like
there's four parks on here and then I see many parks mentioned in October. Is that all mini parks or is that the mini park attached to this Dawn Vista Sentan Art Center? >> Those are all the mini parks. >> So many parks are on your agenda on your
schedule moving through but not until next October. >> Well, outside of general maintenance. Yes. >> So, following on to Kent's comment then, um there's a handful of many parks or several many parks in district three
that need attention. Um, I just, Mandy, after you and I chatted, I just went in and created those those records um based upon conversations that had been occurring um with the commissioner for district 3 with district 3 neighbors. Um
the there's one um that has a dock and kayak stand that's completely demolished, roped off with a sign that says don't enter. Um and the it's dirt and weeds.
Um and so as I was on looking at district one many parks, they're in quite nice shape for having also flooded. Um they're they're very wellkept. The grass looks really nice. Um there's so there's too many parks in district 3 that need okay
>> absolute attention um so that they can be usable. And then the dock and the kayak launch are in a state of disrepair. >> Um and then question, there's a a kids play um a corner in Bel Vista with a
play gym and the residents have requested a sale shade to go over the top of that play equipment. Um and so wanted to get that on the list. So again, I just put that into the clickix. That's how we get it on the record so
that it could be tracked. Okay. Um um the next park that I wanted to highlight is Leo. Um it there's an owner of of the um land behind or to the side of the park which
creates access issues. Um and then there's unsightly storage containers in there. So like that area, that private area is a question on whether or not there's a code enforcement issue. But access to Leo Park has now become an issue from the neighbors based upon all
of the I know. So these are things that just have uh have drawn neighborhood complaints. Just throwing them out there so they're on the record and we'll make sure that I guess with clickfix that those things get on the list. Um to Kent's earlier point, one of my questions was going to be how do we
track all of these outstanding items. So, as the audience members presented um updates to or or um requests from things that have occurred in Pasigril that have been on the list, that was exactly my question like how do we or can we create a comprehensive list of
all of the outstanding park related items um so that we all know where they are in the update like have they been budgeted for? Did they need a budget? Like do they need a budget? Have they been budgeted for? Are they not able to be budgeted for? or so to the sale shade.
If there is not money in the budget, what does the city policy look like or city rule look like on donations >> where residents can fund the sale shade? Obviously, permit permits need to be um you know processed to get that sale
shade implemented. But what does that look like if the residents say fine, we'll pay for it. Yeah, I think this is all really good information, too. And what we can do is we can work with our marketing department, which is Mark Portugal. Um, so he's a oneman band. But, um, so, but
what we can do is we can kind of, uh, look to maybe add some of this stuff into our weekly reports that goes out to the commission and to the boards um, maybe with a tracking mechanism and and same thing with, you know, possibly putting something on our website. But let us just look into the logistics and
the feasibility of doing that before I make any solid commitments to you. But, um, I think you're right. You know, as much transparency as we can provide is always a good thing. So, um, I'm definitely we're jotting down your your, uh, locations and your requests and then
we can kind of circle back and and get to some of this stuff. So, I mean, it would be great with these park updates, um, to have all of the parks um, and maybe sort them by district, you know, if there were big parks, small parks, and then the >> Yeah. like something that is comprehensive. Um
and then you know of of course um transparency is >> and I'd like to stay with you on donation for just a second. Um I Mandy's probably going to be our expert on this. The library has a setup
donation system and they get a lot of donations. They rebuilt that building. There were donations involved. Uh, and that would be an excellent model for us for either neighborhoods to focus on their own park, for example, if they
want to put the sale shape up. I don't know what that costs, but if they want it sooner than one year, they're gonna they're going to have to pay for it. So, um, but that's an excellent thing. I I know that we have an existing uh web
page for donating trees. uh or donate two types of trees. And so that's a good thing to have. And I was curious about the secret garden model. Secret garden is um >> it looks like it was fully funded by
private funding and is maintained privately. It looks like we have nothing to do with it yet we own it. It's on our beach, right? >> Yep. That's a volunteer group. So we do have a few options. So to go back to the library, the library has the friends of the library. um that's the group that
goes out and they they're responsible for the donations and collecting the donations and accounting for the donations and everything and they work in conjunction with the city. Uh we did have a friends of recreation group uh years ago that was established but it kind of disbanded. So um we are
different we are looking at different funding sources moving forward um especially for FY27. uh we we've gone through this revenue uh projection exercise in the city and we are trying to find ways that we can kind
of um offset some costs. I know in recreation uh Tyler's been very active uh in trying to get sponsorships and donations for different special events. So if we're going to have an event in the park, maybe we have a sun shade donation. So, I'll introduce Tyler
shortly, but you know, so we're actively kind of kind pursuing these outside the box uh things and not just looking at our budget to offset all the costs. So, um I think it's definitely things that we can look at uh beefing up our volunteer program. Again, that's going
to be an issue uh a task that Tyler is going to be tackling in the upcoming year uh to kind of offset costs for, you know, providing the service. And we have a, you know, a a group already in the Donses neighborhood that is actively
working to kind of uh revitalize some of those little mini parks. They just did Row Park right there off of the Bayway. I think we had a group of volunteers uh public works went out there, dropped the load of shell for them, and then they did all the manual labor to make that park look a little bit better. So, they went in, spread the shell, pulled the
weeds. Um I think they were looking at >> Who did they coordinate with in the city? they coordinated with the recreation department, so with myself and then with public services. So, yeah, we're kind of working towards a more holistic approach to what we're doing and and inviting the community to participate. So, uh
>> if that process can be documented so that neighbors who are complaining about this know that they could take >> right at least with like pulling weeds or trimming bushes or whatever it is they need. I mean, the the one in B Vista with the with the uh broken dock, I
mean, that's just like that's a hazard. >> That's like the cost of not doing it. What is the cost of not doing it if somebody gets hurt or like whatever? >> Well, it it's rope. I went to that park and it's a it has a dock, kayak dock, and a fishing dock. And um it's the size of about a half a lot.
>> Yeah. Uh uh and I heard from somebody in the city that there were they've allocated $100,000 for that pier, which was shocking, but uh but that was six or eight months ago. So allocation and actual action, you
know, I don't know. I I almost question at a price like that, do we even need the park or the pier? That's a lot of money. But if it I don't know what the status is. Is that a FEMA item? Is that a uh is that a capital projects item? And you know that that's the kind of thing that we want to sign there that
says, "Hey, we're gonna this is going to be fixed by projected date and we're replacing or fixing the dock or or something like that." >> And as as we're documenting all of this and creating transparency, I mean, one of the things that was mentioned earlier was prioritization. >> So, how is the prioritization determined
and what priorit what priority are these various parks being given? um would be would be great to know as we're creating transparency across all of them >> and and so uh earlier we we got off on sidetrack but I was um asking about status on those various parks that need
bulkhead and major work on blind pass what's the status of that are we waiting for FEMA money there insurance money is is there are there contracts sunset park we just take that individually got no trespassing signs and ropes all over the place people are very good at climbing
over those uh it's one of I would say as all of our parks go with the exception of Little League, it may be our most used park in the entire city right now in its horrible condition. And so I I think the people deserve to know. We certainly want to know what's going on.
>> Yeah, I think um I going back to your uh comment about putting the signs up with kind of a status update. I think that's great, especially for those heavily utilized parks. So um Sunset Park is definitely a utilized park and Fisherman's Park, same uh that's heavy fishing area. So, I mean, I think that's
good. I think that we could probably we have kind of a direction to take that now and see, you know, what we can do to try to implement some of the items that you've brought up. Yeah. Appreciate it. All right. So, if we could bring the presentation back up.
So, let's just go into the programming and child care and and aquatics update. So, like I mentioned before, we did hire a new employee, Tyler Wagner. He's here in our audience tonight. He is our new programming and events coordinator. Tyler's going to be heading up a lot of
um uh city-led events and uh programming once we reopen all of our facilities. So, he's got a big task ahead of him and we're really excited. He'll be also kind of heading up the volunteer program that we spoke about. So, we've got a lot of good things coming up with with Tyler for our child care program. Our summer
camp is already full with a wait list. Again, our demand continues to exceed our capacity for that program. In our aquatics division, we're strengthening our operations through the American Red Cross audit program. This is a new program that we're going to be
implementing this summer. And what it is is the American Red Cross has kind of like a secret shopper come in on a day not to be announced. And they'll go through and uh do kind of a mock simulation. You know, they may simulate a drowning and see how quickly our staff
reacts to that. and then they'll go through all of our training and our recordkeeping to make sure that we're in compliance. Um, in addition to that, we're going to be doing uh quarterly external audit audits uh through uh Ferris pools. They'll be coming in
identify any deficiencies and we will either correct them immediately or we'll budget appropriately. And then Jay, who is our aquatics coordinator, he will be doing monthly internal audits and he'll be contract uh performing inspections on the controls,
the chemicals, the pumps just to make sure everything is in good working order and again correct any deficiency or budget appropriately for the following year. >> How do we get those results? >> Uh we will have all of those documented. We haven't decided really where we're going to place them. We don't know if
it's going to just be um an internal audit that we keep through like our Z drive, but anything is rec is able to be requested through a records request. I would like to see that come to us without request
>> via >> is there anything what's the word proprietary or decision- making or anything that needs to stay off of because we're not >> not in these not in these inspections in these audits that we're that we're conducting. >> So it can go on the status report saying
like on this on the weekly report. >> No I'm talking these are actual maintenance audits. The pool is a massive facility and undertaking has a massive amount of equipment. >> Uh and so this is um this is an outside and an inside person, you know, giving
us updates on what's going on at the pool. >> But this us posted on a drive somewhere, right? >> Yeah, this is on our drive. Yeah, this is on our drive that we're able to we're able to easily access that any >> send a link that's fine. >> Yeah. So that's easily accessible.
>> So moving forward too. So this is our overall goal is we're moving toward a more professionalized accountable operation across all of our program areas. So that's the goal of this. So let's get into I apologize in advance for the small type on this. This is not
something that I normally like to put out, but this is just this is just a representation to you of how many co-sponsorship application requests that we've received this year. Um in the past I want to say we've received about half of this amount. So this year we've received significantly more
co-sponsorship application requests. With that being said, in us uh trying to be a little bit more conscious too of our budget, I kind of want to go through a process with you all and see where you're at and get your input. So uh we've received multiple requests across a mix of nonprofits, community
organizations, and largecale events. So the requests include a combination of sheriff and EMS support, fee wavers, city services, which would include trash cans, barricade, staffing requests, all of that. So this is where prioritization
becomes critical. So we need to evaluate the community benefit of each of these events, the financial impact to the city, and the operational capacity, especially with uh fire and sheriff uh sheriff concerns. So
basically what I'm asking today is uh should we we should consider whether co-sponsorship focuses on fee waiverss and city provided services while external agencies such as fire and sheriff remain fully cost recovery or are we looking to do what we have done
in the past and when we've uh approved a co-sponsorship in the past we've really included everything the the sheriff cost the EMS cost the staff time that goes into it. So, it ends up being a significant number. This year, we're looking at approxim approximately
$80,000 um in requests. So, if we were to just go with the approval based off of the permit, so we would wave the permit fees, we're waving approximately $12,000
and then leaving the sheriff and the EMS costs to the event uh producer to take care of. So let me get into that a little bit more. So before we make that, so we we're put together this matrix, this kind of co-sponsorship matrix.
So we understand that events and programs provide measurable community benefit. We want to make sure that they align with the city priorities and they enhance the resident experience. So we also want to be responsible uh users of the public resources. So
what we would like to do is we would like to create an evaluation criteria kind of on a 100 point scale and the criteria would be community benefit alignment with city goals financial impact organizational capacity past
performance and the uniqueness of an event. Each one would be weighted. So each one would be allotted a certain number of points. So let's say community benefit your maximum points value would be 25. uniqueness of event could be 10. So we go through and we could go through the
the whole each event individually. You rate them and then we'll go down here to a level of support. So the recommendation that I'm presenting to you today is the level of support being tier one full support. Full support would be the application and permit fee
waivers, staff support, equipment and marketing. That would exclude EMS and sheriff costs. That's a significant chunk of our budget. So the direction I'm really trying to go here is to exclude the EMS and the sheriff costs and really just the full
support would be application permit fee waiverss, staff support, equipment and marketing. Tier two for those falling between 60 and 79 points would be limited fee redu reductions and partial services. So maybe we drop the uh trash
cans and the barricades off, but we don't provide a staff member to be out there at the at the event to assist. um limited fee reductions. Maybe we wave the um the permit fee, but we don't wave the temporary structure fee if it's
first stage. So, that kind of thing. And then tier three would be not recommended. So, no concert, no co-sponsorship support at all. And what we would do is we would kind of have our special events committee internally. So, our our different departments each have a representative that kind of reviews
all of our special events. and we would have them take each event and go through this rating scale and determine the level of support and then bring it back to you for approval. So, if that is something um if that is something that you're you're
interested in seeing instead of doing it, like I said, as we have in the past where we do a full full approval on EMS, sheriff everything for a co-sponsorship, then we would like to go ahead and go through this process this year and bring it back to you.
>> I think that's a great idea. There's got there's got to be some sort of method methodology behind how you're making these decisions to begin with. So, if you can structure that or >> put some put some boxes around it, that's probably a good thing. >> But I'd like to add some comments. >> Sure.
>> Um our very first meeting, >> most of us were new and we showed up and got uh handed a huge list of, hey, we need to give all this money away. And um I asked for data uh data that included
how many people are showing up? Uh is this uh are are businesses making more money because there's a mass of crowds that are showing up in their business and asking us to subsidize their business. That was the case with a uh an
8th Avenue uh event that I went to uh to see what was going on. And I think there were 20 some odd businesses that are permanently located on the street taking advantage of that. Uh and there were booths and it was a massive for-profit
event that we subsidized. Uh even the fire department was out there selling hot dogs. So it was a uh uh it was and Corey Avenue is similar. And I I uh with my apologies to the people I know who uh have Corey Avenue businesses. Uh many of
their events are essentially for-profit. Uh I understand they set up the nonprofit and um that structure is good, but we don't I also ask for information about the nonprofits >> is this uh you know, are they contributing to churches? What's going
on? Uh and I we don't have that information and I would encourage you if you don't have it already to make it a point for the special events committee to have that. I also I also >> I would like to go through so you know to elaborate on that. So in addition to this matrix that we've now put together
that we would like to try out for this year um what we would require at the end of the event uh would be a financial summary data on the attendance the community impact measures such as you know hotel occupancy local business participation and charitable charitable
contributions. um a brief event recap. What went well? What didn't go well? Um and if there was any other reporting elements that you would like to see in that post event report. >> Incidents. >> Incidents.
>> Incidents include um fire, EMS, police or sheriff rather. Uh incidents. Um I I also asked at that time um about the
requirements for various uh EMS, sheriff, whatever. And um didn't I don't think we've gotten a feedback on that and I'd like to see that. Uh we had for example one of the items that we subsidized and these poor people had to
get a permit to have a Halloween party and a Halloween street party in Belle Vista and so and the fees are outrageous. So we subsidize those fees. We wave fees and and subsidize EMS had to be there and think you need an ambulance. Your houses are here. You
know what's going on? And um that's I'd still like to get feedback on that too. Maybe that's something your special events committee can look into and report back to us. But um and I'm not trying to be Scrooge here. I I'm just wondering about if this is a holdover
from a time where hey, this is a great way to get uh you know give overtime to all of our first responders, which it is. It's a huge amount of cash and they get to hang around a party. But uh and that's one of the things that the incidents might tell
us and there may be state and county requirements or insurance requirements. I don't know. But I'd be curious to know all of that because the numbers that you're talking about, $80,000 sounds like real money. >> Oh, it's definitely real money. I mean, and and the thing with the permits, so waving the permits, this is why we're
kind of thinking of going this direction. Waving waving of the permit fees really doesn't impact our operations. We're still going to be providing an awesome event for the community. So, to me, you know, if we can have a great community partner that we can help out by waving those permit
fees, that's great. But I mean, even the city, if I have to if we have to do an event, there's times that um we have to pay additional to have sheriff's deputies at these event, you're still going to have to pay for EMS at these events. I mean, it it's just a cost of doing business. I mean, there are
certain safety factors that we need to consider. We want to make sure that each event is, you know, as safe as possible for the participants, but you know, at the same time, we want to also look at all the fees and everything that we're charging and everything that city's taking on. And can some of that be passed back to the event organizer?
>> Are the event organizers asking for discounts? >> Um, they have. I mean, in the past, it's kind of been the same event organizers who have asked year-over-year. um so they're aware of what they've received in the past, but moving forward, we just need to make sure that we're making the smartest financial decisions, but at the
same time being able to allow for all these great events to continue to happen. So, we're just trying to figure out the good balance of this. So, if you all are in agreement, we're going to try to go forward with this model this year. um see how it works and then bring you back the afteraction items on any co-sponsorship approval
that we go through and then see how we want to move forward with it next year. If it works, great. If it doesn't, we re we re-evaluate for the following year. One last note. Um I also mentioned in that original meeting and in future meetings after that subsequent meetings
that uh the Corey Avenue Market, Sunday Market is essentially run by one woman. I've seen her out there. Um the sheriff sometimes is there, sometimes not. There's no extra EMS. It's no fire with
fire stations a block away. But um uh and I look at that and say, "Okay, well, there's clearly more than 250 people attending this, 250 people in the booths. So what makes that so special that the one person can the organizer
can handle that handle it?" Well, >> the criteria. >> Yeah. >> What's the criteria? >> Yeah. And and why is it Bel Vista needs uh you know, $1,000 worth of uh help for a street party? >> Yeah. and and frankly if if the fire department were to say, "Hey, we're a
block away, we can walk over to any incident, the sheriff is always around." So, uh I ju I just I think that your special events committee when they're comparing and contrasting, I want them to look at that and compare the Sunday Corey Avenue market to almost every
other item they're look they're proposing. So why do we need to spend5 $10,000 whatever the number is on this event when the Sunday a Sunday market does that make sense? >> It should it should be a criteria that is applicable and appropriate to the different types of events. >> Yes.
>> Um and then back to the value that's being provided. If the value is such then paying for the costs associated with permits and and staffing and all of those things that you listed should be applied. Mhm.
>> Um, and if there is a hardship request or whatever those requests look like for waving of fees, then there should be documentation and data that that accompanies that request so that it's an exception and not the norm. I mean, the city is in a still in a
state of emergency with unfunded bills. >> Well, it's how we spend our tax dollars, right? >> What's the priority, >> right? Offering offering discounts before they've been requested is >> right. So that's basically the goal of this is to have this matrix set out so
then we have a clear defensible uh you know reason to approve or deny any kind of event co-sponsorship requests. We do have multiple events that come in and they don't require they don't request any co-sponsorship. They just come in, they know that they're a private organization and that they're not going to be approved. One of our other
guidelines in our co-sponsorship request is that it's a nonprofit. So, we do have a couple that have submitted that are forprofit that already will be taken out of the equation, but I just wanted to make you aware of the different types of events that we do have that come in and and the number of them that you saw up
on the board. >> That's great. >> Awesome. >> I want to see them in a grid, >> right? >> Because I want to see the people who are who are doing this and compare them to the people who say, "Hey, we need money." >> Correct. Yes. So, that's that's the
goal. I mean, is to kind of put everything out there, full transparency of what events are privately funded, what events are co-sponsored, and what the benefit to the community is in, you know, overall events are vitally important to our >> absolutely >> our city. So, I mean, we don't want to
discourage anybody from applying for a co-sponsorship either, but at the same time, you know, we really do need to balance our funding in our our events. So, >> and we're not the last word. We're an advisory committee. We are >> all we get to do is recommend to the commission and we can speak to our
individual commissioners and say hey we're throwing this at you this is what we think and they can do what they like with it and they say parks and dctor are full of it we're giving all this money or vice versa or the opposite >> so um Jamie if we can go back one more time to the presentation and then all
right so we're just going to end on a kind of a high note here so we have some upcoming city events Tyler like I I mentioned before has been actively planning on a July 4th celebration ation. It is America's 250th uh anniversary, birthday, whatever. And so, we are very excited about some new
things for our Fourth of July celebration. In addition to the fireworks that we will be holding down here on the east end of Cory Avenue, we are going to have our grand reopening party in August. Got October concerts coming up, always a hit, a Halloween
event, and we are bringing back the boat parade with a festival of trees and a viewing party. We have a a partner that we're working with on our boat parade in an effort to try to get some boats uh registered and signed up. I say some boats like we're setting the bar a little low this year if we need some
boats to get the uh the parade um you know up and going again. >> One or two though. >> We need we need more than one or two. But I have a strong feeling that we're going to have a pretty solid boat parade event this year. So >> what about sponsorship? Are there any like marine >> boat dealers or something? >> We are. We're going to be going after
some as many >> manufacturers that might sponsor something like this. >> Yeah, we've done um Marine Max has been a a sponsor in the past. Um as well as Passag Girl Marina has been a a sponsor of our boat parade in the past. So, we're going to be looking at all avenues to try to uh beef up this event and make
it as great and as a hometown feel as we possibly can. So, >> and don't forget the golf carts. >> Golf carts. We have golf cart parade in Pasigrow. There's there's multiple golf cart parades in Pasigrow. Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and uh I want to say Halloween maybe. >> It's the future. It's the future of Rhode Island. So, let's embrace it.
>> How is the um the golf cart parade um publicized? >> Um it's right now that's kind of just done through their uh neighborhood association down in Paseril. Uh but they did submit special event applications for all three of them. You know, because they are using the roads. It's not
necessarily a road closure because they just go with the flow of traffic, but to make sure that everything is kind of on the evening keel. So, that's something that we will probably announce and and put into our at least into our weekly reports with commission and the boards as well as on our website when we do a
full list of revamping of our special event area on our website. I failed to mention too with our special event process um that we are moving towards you know right now how we get these special events is they'll either email myself or they put it in through the
website. We're going to put all of our special events to I works so it'll be fully transparent to both the residents and to the other city departments so that we can all have comments and and input onto them. So >> fantastic. >> Be nice to know all the different things that are,
>> like I said, I haven't seen like a >> a comprehensive list of events in a long time >> or anything like what's going on around the city different times. >> So we have that going on to our special event website page. >> And then is there a is there a push to Panelis County so that it gets on the
St. Pete Clearwater or I'm sorry to the chamber to gets on their their events pages as well? They do an enormous amount of marketing. >> They do a ton of marketing. So, we haven't to this point, but that's something that we'll definitely take into consideration and try to move forward with. We're taking kind of our baby step ways of getting there. We want
to get it at least on our website first and then maybe yeah, put push it out to the county. I mean, >> something to think about it just in terms of attendance. So, like as these event organizers may be asking for discounts if we say well in lie of >> we'll work with the chamber and get this marketed and promoted in a much with a a
much bigger amplification. >> It's a great idea. Okay, that concludes our presentation. >> Thank you, Manny. Fantastic as usual. And welcome, Mike and Tyler. >> Appreciate that. All right, the next item is any new items for discussion. There's nothing
>> brought up so far. >> Have we forgotten anything? >> I I got all my questions answered. I'm super happy about that. Yes. Thank you. >> All right. Well, with that, we will adjourn. Thank you very much, everybody.