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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Recreation_Tab 03_04/02/2003 PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES March 5, 2003 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Village of Tequesta Parks & Recreation Advisory Board held its regularly scheduled meeting in the Tequesta Recreation Center, 399 Seabrook Road, Tequesta, Florida, on Wednesday, March 5, 2003. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. A roll call was taken by Recording Secretary, Betty Laur. Boardmembers present were: John Bonnell, Elizabeth (Betsy) Evans, John Vadala, Vi Laamanen, and Royce Hood, who arrived late at 7:35 p.m. Boardmembers Kevin Pittman, and David Becker were absent from the meeting. Also in attendance was Greg Corbitt, Director of Parks and Recreation. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Upon motion by Betsy Evans, seconded by Vi Laamanen and unanimously carried, the agenda was approved as submitted. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Upon motion by Betsy Evans, seconded by Vi Laamanen, and unanimously carried, the minutes of the February 5, 2003 meeting were approved as submitted. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 2 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, IV. NEW BUSINESS A. Selection of Chair and Vice Chair Mr. Corbitt explained that at the last Council meeting Mayor Genco had basically instructed this Parks and Recreation Board to appoint a Chair and Vice Chair. Mr. Vadala indicated he saw no reason for it and would like to put this off until the next meeting in order to speak to the Mayor to find out her reasons. Vi Laamanen asked what had happened at the council meeting, and was told that it was included in the packets. The Board took a few minutes to read the excerpt from the Village Council meeting minutes. Vi Laamanen suggested that one of the members be a liaison to the Council. Mr. Corbitt indicated that would need to be presented at the next council meeting for approval. Mr. Bonnell asked if Mr. Corbitt attended all of the council meetings and if so he could present the Board's ideas. Mr. Corbitt explained he only attended if he had an item on the agenda. Mr. Vadala commented if this was on the council agenda he would go to the meeting with Mr. Corbitt because he did not see why this board needed to have figure heads and no one had any more say than anybody else. Mrs. Laamanen commented she had said at the last meeting she thought there was no reason to have a chair and vice chair, and she felt a liaison would be adequate. Ms. Evans commented that the Council wanted to hear directly from the committee instead of through Mr. Corbitt. Mr. Corbitt confirmed that the Mayor had said whoever was selected as Chair would bring ideas to the Council. Mrs. Laamanen commented that a liaison would serve the purpose. Mr. Vadala commented that ideas the members brought to the board were things that Mr. Corbitt would be implementing as head of the Parks and Recreation Department. Mr. Corbitt gave an example: Tequesta Idols should have been brought to the Village Council for their approval and it wasn't and some of the Councilmembers really should have been brought up to date; Mayor Genco had just been brought up to date on it at the last meeting and there were some things about it that she was uncomfortable with, and he understood her point that she should know what was going on in the Village and instead of hearing Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 3 ................................... about it from hear say she should have been told by one of the members of the Board. Mr. Corbitt explained that since Royce was the coordinator, he had had him call the Mayor and give her an update on what was going on. Mr. Vadala said he could see Royce being liaison for that and someone else being liaison for the Valentine dance. Mr. Corbitt commented if more programs were added something like that should not go to Council; they were looking for things like big special events or building changes or if a citizen wanted a new tennis court, and those things did not happen all the time. Mr. Vadala asked if the Mayor's approval was needed for an event like Tequesta Idols. Mr. Bonnell commented this event was being put on by the Village of Tequesta and it seemed to him they would want the right to approve it. Mr. Vadala said maybe Royce should have been the liaison on that one. Mr. Corbitt commented maybe he should have advised Royce better. Mr. Vadala commented he would think between January and March someone could have dropped the Mayor a note with an outline for her to look at and ask for her comments but there was nothing she should want to do. Mrs. Laamanen asked if the Mayor was talking about budget item things and commented she was referring to the skate board park so it seemed to her that something like building a second floor on this building should be taken to the Council, and she didn't think the Mayor was talking about every event that was held. Mr. Corbitt advised the Board to put themselves in the Mayor's position and if the Tequesta Idols event backfired and the Village came out looking bad, the Mayor would come out looking bad. Mr. Corbitt commented this event was not like a Valentine dance—it was spread outside the Village and there was money involved and the Parks & Recreation was a major player, but the Council did get minutes of all the meetings so should have known what was being planned, but it was a matter of courtesy to request the Council's approval. Mrs. Laamanen suggested the Mayor appoint a liaison to take back any information to the Village Council. Ms. Evans commented what the Mayor was saying in the excerpt provided was changing her basic concept of how this committee functions. Ms. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 4 ................................... with ideas and feedback from the community which would be funneled through Mr. Corbitt to act upon, but she seemed to be saying that the skateboard park was hung up because the committee had not brought it to the Council, and that the Council would really appreciate the committee's recommendation on the ball fields and other things. Ms. Evans commented this seemed to bypass Mr. Corbitt, so it was totally different from her understanding. Mr. Bonnell commented Greg reported to the Village Council. Mr. Corbitt advised he reported to the Village Manager, and the Council directed the Village Manager then the Village Manager directed him. Mr. Vadala suggested Greg fax Mr. Couzzo and Mrs. Genco the minutes of the meeting the next day. Recording Secretary Betty Laur clarified that the Village Council did not receive the minutes until they were approved by the committee, and at tonight's meeting the committee had approved the February 5 meeting minutes which would go to Village Council at their March 10 meeting. The Village Council would not see tonight's minutes until their April meeting. Ms. Evans asked what the Village Council's original concept was as to how this committee should function. Mrs. Laamanen responded it was to be advisory only. Mr. Bonnell pointed out that someone needed to go to the Council because there would be one or two of them who did not read the minutes. Mr. Vadala suggested a liaison from this meeting to contact Mayor Genco and the Village Manager to let them know what the committee was working on, and asked if Greg could find out what the Mayor wanted. Greg Corbitt commented that if the committee really wanted to know their roles in an advisory board capacity he could have the Village Attorney come speak to the board to explain and he might be able to clarify the laws and the procedures the board should follow. Boardmember Laamanen commented she would need to see the resolution that established this board to see if a chair and vice chair were required; she knew it had been recommended by a Village resident, but she felt the board did very well having Greg as their head. Mrs. Laamanen requested a copy of the resolution. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 5 ................................... MOTION Boardmember Laamanen made a motion that the resolution establishing this Board be submitted to the Board for review as to their responsibilities as to the necessity of establishment of a Chair and Vice Chair. Motion was seconded by Mr. Vadala, and unanimously carried. V. ANY OTHER MATTERS Mr. Corbitt reported the front field at Tequesta Park was ready for play, that the fields were beautiful and every penny spent was well worth it, and that he was so proud of those fields. Mr. Corbitt commented that the front field had been seeded at least two weeks before the back field and the weather had not been favorable for growing in the back field. Ms. Evans asked what the Mayor meant about the committee making a recommendation on the ball fields; Mr. Corbitt responded the fields were finished. Boardmember Royce arrived at this point in the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Mr. Corbitt reported that the skateboard park would go to the Village Council this month. Ms. Evans asked what the Mayor was asking the committee to do regarding the skateboard park; Mr. Corbitt had no ideas, but advised that he would be attending the meeting. Mr. Corbitt asked if everyone still wanted the skateboard park, and everyone responded that they did, that there was a need for it. Mr. Corbitt explained that it would have to be staffed and rules established such as whether to let 16-year olds and 8-year olds skate at the same time, how to assure skaters were wearing pads, hours of operation, etc. Mr. Corbitt reported Jupiter's park had not yet been built and if the Village built one first they would be pulling from other areas since the nearest parks were in Stuart and Palm Beach Gardens. Mr. Corbitt reported the basketball courts had been vandalized while being resurfaced and skateboards had been used on it; that there were 7-8 kids who did it who had no respect for authority; they had cursed Ms. Schumacher and ripped down the barricades and the police had to be called, that he had been very angry and told them it cost $9,000 to have it resurfaced, and a week later during a Village Council Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 6 ................................... meeting two kids, one middle school and one high school age, one from Jupiter and one from Tequesta, vandalized the bocce court carving swatistkas in the clay and were arrested. The kids who were responsible for damaging the basketball court were from this area and they were to do community service. Out of 12 only 8 showed up for community service and some of the parents did not care. Mr. Corbitt expressed his opinion that a skateboard park would be great for Tequesta residents but an attendant would be needed, different hours established for little kids and for older kids, etc., but he was afraid a bad element might be attracted until Jupiter built their park. One idea was to have the skate park approved and built and not open until a solution could be found as to how to supply an attendant. Mrs. Laamanen commented it was becoming more and more that everything had to be policed and she was tired of spending public funds for policing; related her experience, and commented if it had to be policed she was against it. Mr. Bonnell commented they had to get used to vandalism and decide what to do about it, and Ms. Evans asked if the kids responsible knew how much it cost to fix what they did. Mr. Corbitt indicated he had told them he would send a bill for $7,000 to each of their parents and they thought it was a joke. Ms. Evans commented if there was not accountability the kids would not learn. Mr. Vadala favored doing that and making it a lien on their property and make the parents act like parents. Mr. Corbitt commented there were a lot of good kids here that would love a skate area. Mr. Hood suggested using someone who was doing community service to man the park, which Mr. Corbitt explained probably would not work. Mr. Hood suggested a budget was needed for someone to man the park and he kue�u-kids who would do anything to have a place to skate that was safe and would not cause problems; that there would be problems with everything one wanted to do in life and he was sure there �?vas a way to do it. Mr. Bonnell commented he was in favor of the park and it was Mr. Corbitt's problem how to manage it. Mr. Bonnell suggested having kids pay to use it which would pay for an attendant, as was done at the tennis courts. Discussion ensued. Mr. Vadala commented that Mr. Corbitt had brought up a whole different side and one did not like to look at the black side of any issue. Ms. Evans asked what it cost to fix the bocce court; Mr. Corbitt responded he had fixed it himself, and what scared him was the kids were carving swatistkas and one thing leads to Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 7 ................................... another. Mr. Corbitt reported those kids were shaking so he thought they got the message and they showed up for community service and worked hard all day—they had painted the gazebo. There was discussion regarding billing the parents of the kids who damaged the basketball court. Mr. Corbitt reported their language to Ms. Schumacher had been very bad. Mr. Corbitt indicated he hoped the police would support the skate park. Mr. Vadala left the meetin�; at 7:55 p.m. Mr. Bonnell asked about the budget items such as windscreens for the tennis courts and suggested responding to those residents who had sent letters about this. Mr. Corbitt advised he had sent letters and told them it was not budgeted this year and the advisory Board would discuss it and decide if it should be in the new budget. Mr. Bonnell reported at least half of the players were Village residents. Mr. Corbitt indicated that maintenance and security were two issues to be considered. Mr. Bonnell suggested locking gates at night, and commented it was great this was still being pursued. Ms. Evans asked if a decision had been made on the skate park. Mr. Hood suggested finding out how other communities manned their skate parks. Mrs. Laamanen indicated she would attend the Council meeting when the skate park was considered. Mr. Royce reported Tequesta Idol plans were going wonderful with nothing negative, there was nothing but support. Mr. Royce reported the auditions had gone great and in addition he had received a tape from Austin Badger, a 14-year old resident, who was performing arias in Italian. Mr. Hood reported The Buzz 104.1 had been advertising the event for the past week, flyers were out, the bloodmobile would be there as well as the Fire Department, there would be face painting, and a couple of special guests including Austin Badger. Three categories of talent would be presented: adult, instrumental and groups, and youth, and two bands would perform. Mr. Hood reported Wade Griest would be one of the judges; Trans Continental would be the record label and they would come to do a model search. It would be basically a fun day. Mr. Hood reported the lyrics would be family oriented and everyone understood that, and knew if everything went well this might Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 8 ................................... happen again. Some rumors were going around that Brittany Spears would attend and that could bring people. Mr. Hood stated everything on the flyer was all that was happening; gates would open at 12; the national anthem would be sung by his father, and Mr. Hood would probably be the MC. Adults would go on at 12:30 p.m., at about 1:15 the competition for instrumentals and groups, at 2:00 p.m. the youth division, at 2:45 p.m. the model search and vote tally, and at 3 p.m. special guests. Voting would be only by the 4-5 judges. Prizes would be gift certificates for time at Pro Sound Studio and Mr. Hood's studio plus prizes for the audience from sponsors. The main stage would be behind the Rec Center and the gazebo would be used for part of it. The Village would pay for staff and $300 was raised from the auditions. Mr. Corbitt reported there were funds budgeted for recreation programs and this event was covered. Food would be served by Park Avenue Bar-B-Que and there would be snow cones and popcorn. A tent had been obtained for the performers. Mrs. Laamanen commented that starting from nothing the recreation programs had come a long way and this was quite an accomplishment. Mr. Corbitt noted there would come a point where the programs would level off but there would still be a lot of possibilities for special events, and reported the end of school bash had been attended by about 200 and they were very well behaved. VI. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Wade Griest, 494 Dover Road, commented this committee should get together and have rules and regulations written and not have to decide whether to have a Chair and Vice Chair. Mr. Griest advised every other committee had them and without them he felt there was not much control and it was not a committee, just a group meeting. Mr. Griest reported this problem had come up years ago and the Village had sent for Roberts Rules of Order, which had been very helpful. Mr. Griest commented he had brought this up before and talked to the Council about it, and advised the committee should call all of the members, not just Mayor Genco. Mr. Griest Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 9 ................................... commented something had to be done otherwise the committee was placing too much added responsibility on Greg. Mr. Griest commented although this was advertised in the paper, the public did not attend so it appeared the public did not care about what the committee die and he felt it should be organized with a Chair and Vice Chair and have written responsibilities. Members should be on time and be able to stay for the whole meeting—what if there were 40-50 people present--then you would have a real committee meeting. Mr. Griest stated his suggestion was until the committee did this that they just get together in groups. Mr. Griest commented that the committee Chairman should present this to the Village Council, the Village Council runs the town, not the Village Manager. Mr. Griest stated otherwise he thought the committee was wasting its time. Betty Nagy commented her main concern was bathrooms for the park, and there was now more activity in the park. Mrs. Nagy commented the residents were very happy with what had been done, that she brought her granddaughter here, but many people had mentioned the need for bathroom facilities. Mrs. Nagy commented regarding the skate park that when that had been discussed at Village Council the hall was packed with parents wanting that. Mrs. Nagy asked about liability insurance. Mr. Corbitt commented that the Human Resources person was checking with the insurance agent; that Florida Statutes stated any skate park within a park was just like a basketball park or playground and the municipality would not be held liable, but he would discuss this with the Village Attorney to be sure the Village was covered. Mrs. Nagy commented residents had asked for something to be done for years and now finally they had activities. Mr. Corbitt advised bathrooms were in the grant request master plan, that the Village had scored 78% but did not make the list but a lobbyist was working for the Village and possibly the Village could get a grant next year. Mr. Corbitt asked that this Board think about bringing it to the Village Council to put into the budget for next year. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 10 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, VII. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Boardmember Laamanen, seconded by Boardmember Evans, and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m. The next regular meeting will be held Apri12, 2003, at 7 p.m. at the Recreation Center Respectfully submitted, Betty Laur Recording Secretary Date Approved: