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03-12-1986 o (.) M I ~ .I I I I ., CITY OF EDGEWATER PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD March 12, 1986 7:00 p.m. COMMUNITY CENTER MINUTES The Chairman, Mr. Sherida~ called the meeting to order at 7.~00 p.m. in the Community Center. ROLL CALL Members present were Harry Montgomery, Dr. Bazin, Tom Sheridan. Barbara Curry was excused and Kirk Jones was absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Chairman called for approval of minutes. Mr. Jones arrived at 7:02. Mr. Garrett then stated that on page 1, fourth paragraph, it reads ". . money for apier" and should read ". . money for a picnic shelter". Dr. Bazin moved the minutes be approved, seconded by Mr. Montgomery. The motion CARRIED 4-0. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Sheridan stated the Board would now turn to Aqua Park, and that at the last meeting Mr. John Stearns presented the Board with property he was selling for an asking price of $150,000. Mr. Sheridan had asked the Board if they would consider the matter, arrive at some conclusion and make a recommendation to Council. Mr. Sheridan then asked the Board for their views and Dr. Bazin stated he would abandon the entire subject in lieu of problems we have had in the past, viz, trying to secure lifeguards at Menard- May, and would rather have the money going to the open park the Board had toured on Saturday. Mr. Montgomery stated that after the DBCC venture we do have several things pending, plus the Gymnatorium, which he thinks is going to go through. Dr. Bazin said the Gymna- torium is not going to have a pool. Mr. Sheridan stated Aqua Park would require maintenance, repairs and modifications that have to be made. Mr. Jones said he really hasn't had the time to do any research himself, but he would go along with the Board to abandon the idea because of the fact thp. college may be bringing in a pool and that New Smyrna is considering a pool. After further discussion, the Board agreed to send a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Stearns that we do not believe it is feasible at this time to purchase this property. DBCC Joint Venture Mr. Sheridan announced that Mr. Garrett and Mr. Astind had attended a meeting of the DBCC and an article appeared in the newspaper, a copy of which was given to each member. Mr. Sheridan stated we should not alter our plans, that DBCC does not have anything concrete as yet. Mr. Sheridan also said he read in the paper that Edgewater is one of the few Cities that have an impact fee, and that we do have the finances to have one of the best recreation systems in Florida. Dr. Bazin asked what do we have to do if we have the money, and Mr. Garrett asked him to be a little more specific. Dr. Bazin then stated what he can't understand is, here we are with the money willing to hire people to get the work done and yet we can't get it done; what do we have to do? Mr. Garrett asked Dr. Bazin to be more specific, and Dr. Bazin explained we hav~this money coming in from the impact fees; we saw a beautiful piece of property the other day that down the line may be needed some day; so if we have '" \ \ ~ o ~ themoney and know there is an area in the City that neernto be cleared for a ballfield, why can't we hire someone to get it ready for ball parks? Mr. Garrett said yes, you can do that, that just the other day we cut the eastern boundary line, a 1,000 foot strip, down through there at the Roberts Road property. He also stated we will have to have a contractor clear it, and the Board agreed this was a very good start. Dr. Bazin asked if some could be cleared for ball fields by May, and Mr. Janes said he thought it could and that we could use more practice fields. Mr. Sheridan stated the Roberts Road property at the northeast corner is practically clear anyhow and a grader could probably level that in a day and put a couple of playing fields out there. Mr. Garrett stated he would like tennis and racquetball right in that area, but it will take a little more, as there is a lot of brush to be hauled off. Dr. Bazin stated it seems a shame when we have the money to see land lying dormant. Mr. Jones said he would like to see something started on particular projects we have now before we start buying other property. He also added we actually just have one tennis court in the whole town and two racquetball courts. Mr. Garrett said he had contacted the Racquetball Association to get specifics and that the work for four tennis courts would be contracted out. Dr. Bazin asked why four courts, why not two just now, and two later. Mr. Garrett said it might not meet our demands, but four courts would be enough right now, and Mr. Jones stated there is a formula based on popUlatiofr and added sometimes costwise there is a better deal if you put in four courts at one time. Mr. Garrett then read that there should be one court for every 2,000 people. Mr. Sheridan said there are a lot of old people _ who don't play tennis but the Board agreed with Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Garrett that more and more young people are moving into the area. Mr. Garrett also said he hadn't answered too many questions on the DBCC project, but that the YMCA is very interested in coming in and putting in a gymnasium and pool, along with weight rooms and will pay a certain fee for the use of the grounds, and that it would also include saunas and locker rooms. He also added he had read in the newspaper, but wasn't sure he was quoting correctly, that DBCC was putting in two tennis courts, two racquetball courts and fitness trail. Mr. Sheridan noted the pool they are contemplating is approximately 75 x 162~, where the pool at Aqua Park is only 44.x 75, with a corner where the diving boards are about 56" wide~ so this is an olympic size pool. Mr. Garrett said they haven't discussed the funding as to who would take care of all these different courts and baseball fields; they haven't .really gotten into that but are probably figuring on a percentage of Edgewater and New Smyrna people using this and tha~. Mr. Sheridan stated this is well down the road, but what are we going to do about our problems now, and Mr. Garrett said he and Mr. Asting did not count on DBCC to solve Edgewater's problems and Mr. Sheridan said we are going to have to do it ourselves. NEW BUSINESS Authority of the Board to conduct a study and evoke a procedural policy for acquiring, developinq and maintaining recreational areas and 'parks. Mr. Sheridan suggested the Board study this and if agreeable, to ask Council for authority to draw it up and submit it to them for their approval. Mr. Montgomery asked for an example; say, go out and buy a piece of property. Mr. Sheridan said to list in sequence the steps to be taken, guidelines of where to look for this property, who to contact, and after you get the property, guidelines to develop it, according to what you need, whether you need more benches than you need handball courts, or whatever. Mr. Sheridan then suggested Parks and Recreation Board Minutes of March 12, 1986 -2- ~ o o low maintenance parks, and that every piece of playground equipment going in there should be looked at by the insurance company and have them state it is safe. Dr!. Bazin stated this would cut down on lia- bility. Mr. Jones believed, however, you could never get an insurance company who would state it was totally safe, and said Menard- May Park never needed l~feguards,you swam at your own risk but Mr. Sheridan stated it wasn't owned by the City then, that Menard-May would have been liable, now it is the City who would be liable. Mr. Sheridan said Seniors from school could come down in the summer and we would need safety zones. Mr. Jones said they could have a minimum of Emergency Medical Technicians or First Responders, and asked if we are going to have swimming down there, and Mr. Garrett said the City is negotiating with the County right now on this subject. Mr. Sheridan then asked if the Board could get back to the procedural policy suggestion and called upon Dr. Bazin for his opinion. Dr. Bazin stated he believed it was a good place to start, as he thought the Board would already have had this. Mr. Montgomery believes the suggestion asks for too much authority of the Board and that several dissents had been made to him, personally, concerning this suggestion. Mr. Sheridan stated we are not trying to usurp anybody's power, just trying to get authorization to develop the procedural 'policy which is to be presented to Council when it is completed. Quite a lengthy discussion followed, with Dr. Bazin asking if the Council could set up guidelines, and Mr. Montgomery answered no, he doesn't think they could or would. Mr. Jones stated what we are doing here is trying to make a set guide line to go by in purchasing property; that we might be in a better situatuion when we take it to Council, but he believes the Council may just be misinterpreting what we are trying to do, and someone is worried we are brushing up against their power. He also stated we can't deal with that, that we have to deal with what we have here just now and leave that behind us. Mr. Montgomery said he thinks the idea is perfectly good, but stated that again, words had been said about work getting done for the Parks and Recreation Board without enough help to get it done, and that these words, too, had also been misinterpreted. Mr. Garrett asked that no one get discouraged, that the new complex and ballfield is pretty nice; that it was on the drawing board six years ago, that it was just finished last year. Mr. Jones also stated it was just a one room shack and we now have something to be proud of; and also the work at Umbrella Tree Park. The discussion concluded with Dr. Bazin saying someone has got to do this thing, and if we have people who are willing to set down some guidelines, he believes they should let us do it, and Mr. Garrett agreed that if it is a good idea, they cannot ignore it. Mr. Sherida,il. stated this has t() l:e done anyhow; the comprehensive plan will have to have it. Dr. Bazin then moved that this authority be requested of Council to conduct a study and evoke a procedural policy for acquiring, developing and maintaining recreational areas and parks, seconded by Mr. Montgomery. Motion CARRIED 3-0, the Chairman not voting. Parks and Recreational Board Minutes of March 12, 1986 Meeting -3- . . ~ o o Property available adjacent to Wildwood Subdivision, approximately five (5) acres, more or less. Mr. Sheridan called upon each member of the Board to give their opinion as to the purchase of this property. Dr. Bazin stated he thinks it is a good area and if funds are available it is going to be an ideal spot; but it seems we have so much land not being cleared; it seems a waste~ but in the year 1990 that land will be there for our use. Mr. Montgomery believed we should get what we can right now, and Mr. Sheridan stated he heard several others are interested, one being the fire department. Mr. Montgomery also added he is much in favor, especially as he lives up there. He also stated he agrees with what Mr. Sheridan says, that you have to get what you can get right now. Dr. Bazin asked if we had first refusal and Mr. Garrett stated he wasn't sure, but that the library had been looking at it at one time. The secretary announced she had never received the library list of property which Mr. Garrett has requested. Mr. Garrett also stated that if the City buys the land it will eventually be developed, and if they don't buy the land it won't be developed, but if it's there, they will find the money. Mr. Sheridan stated that any land bought and not developed will be con- sidered open space and five or ten years from now you may not be able to find the land. The Board then turned to the bike path question going by the wayside and Dr. Bazin asked what that was all about. Mr. Montgomery explained that they were first going on the south side of the road on Park Avenue from the Wildwood Subdivision down to Flagler. He stated the water department carne in and put a water line on the north side, and Florida Power and Light were going to leave all their poles and everything on the south side. Mr. Montgomery then went on to explain events occurred which resulted in the easements fouling the whole plan. Dr. Bazin then asked if there were any other bike paths in the City and Mr. Montgomery 'said no, they were talking about one corning down from Indian River Boulevard, down around Mango Tree, and Mr. Sheridan said that idea would not help the kids in Wildwood. Mr. Montgomery said no, but it would help the kids in Florida Shores. Mr. Sheridan asked who was setting this up and Mr. Montgomery said he did not know. Mr. Sheridan stated this should corne through the Parks and Recreation Board. Mr. Montgomery stated the kids do need a way of transporting themselves from their home to school and that a lot ride their bikes, not the school bus, which is good in a way but dangerous. Mr. Sheridan then asked if there was any more discussion on the property on Park Avenue and Mr. Jones stated he believes it is a nice piece of property and asked how much money is available and Mr. Garrett said about $160,000. Mr. Jones then asked if anything in the future might take that money out and Mr. Garrett said they will do some work on Umbrella Tree property but does not have an estimate right now. Dr. Bazin expressed the opinion that we could get this property for under $100,000, and not necessarily have to pay for it in one lump sum, perhaps a reasonable down payment; we could then pay for it in a few years and still have the money to develop other property. Mr. Jones asked about the liability with the pond and Mr. Sheridan stated that was not a problem, that it could be graded down so there is no sharp falloff. Mr. Jones moved we look into this further and find out the credentials, the price, what it consists of. After further discussion of this property, Mr. Garrett believes this tract did not include the acre and one half of the Truss plant section. At this point Dr. Bazin suggested we table this matter. Mr. Jones then withdrew his original motion and moved we table this until the next meeting, seconded by Dr. Bazin. Motion CARRIED 3-0, the Chairman not voting. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes of March 12, 1986 -4- . , '" It o o Mr. Jones then suggested we need direction for information to put this back on the table, such as who to talk to, who owns the property. Mr. Sheridan said Mr. Garrett is the chief negotiator and Mr. Montgomery asked him if he had talked with the owners and Mr. Garrett said no, he hadn't but did discover the price was $99,000 but wasn't sure it included the acre and one-half of the Truss Company. Mr. Garrett stated he thought the secretary was going to have copies of all the properties the library had looked at, and that Mr. Sheridan had a copy. The secretary stated she had asked for copies of this property to be distributed to the Board members but as of the day of this meeting had not received the list. The Board continued to discuss the Park Avenue property and the secretary was then asked to send a memo to Council and the Mayor that the Parks and Recreation Board decided to table the recommen- dation for purchase of property on Park Avenue until more information is gathered. Miscellaneous Mr. Jones asked if we are going to have swimming at Menard May before school is out and Mr. Garrett said the County is now negotiating to hire lifeguards. There being no further business, Dr. Bazin moved the meetln~ be adjourned, seconded by Mr. Montgomery. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. v Minutes submitted by Dorothy C. Garrity Parks and Recreation Board Minutes of March 12, 1986 -5-