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02-09-1983 Workshop w/Council Q o ~ ~~ CITY OF EDGEWATER City Council/Parks and Recreation Board Workshop February 9, 1983 Minutes Mayor Richard McKillop called the workshop to order in the Community Center at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Richard McKillop Councilman David Ledbetter Councilwoman Gigi Bennington Councilman Neil Asting Councilman Jack Spencer Present Present Excused Present Present City Attorney Jose' Alvarez City Clerk Nancy Blazi Police Chief Earl Baugh Excused Present Excused Members of the Parks and Recreation Board present: Messrs. Tom Wyatt, Chair- man, Bob Wolfe, Vice Chairman, George E. Bidault, and Kirk Jones. Excused: Mr. Ray Richards. Also present, Joan Taylor, Secretary. Mayor McKillop explained that the workshop was called to discuss the athletic program, separation of the Parks and Recreation Department budget into two divisions, and a bike path. Bob Wolfe, President of the Edgewater Athletic Association, and a member of the Parks and Recreation Board, explained the workings of the EAA. He related that this group does the football and baseball programs. Under the Parks and Recreation Department the EAA would still run the program as far as funding monies, buying uniforms, purchasing insurance, paying the umpires, paying the person running the concession stand, and paying scorekeepers for each game. They would like the City to maintain the fields, maintain the concession stands by securing it, funding the lights for evening games, provide police protection and build more fields. They anticipate from 600 to 700 children at the school by next year. They have a contract with the County now for the 35 acres there. As far as improving it, they just need to get the permission to build. The agreement with the County is that the school has the right to use the ballfields during the day as part of the school acti- vities; after school hours it belongs to the City~ The EAA is about $600 in the black from last year's program. Mr. Wolfe explained that the football program is 3-counties wide, and is called the Sunshine Pop Warner League. The main office is in Deland. There are two commissioners out of each city: Deland, Deltona, Orange City, Pearson Taylor, Palm Coast, Daytona, Ormond, South Daytona, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Oak Hill; they expect to take in Titusville this year. Each area is responsible for its own teams. Mr. Wolfe said they need two more ballfields. Mr. Asting asked if the athletic program would be under the Parks and Recrea- tion Department and Mr. Wolfe said that is what they are seeking to do. Councilman Ledbetter said that the splitting of the Parks and Recreation Department into two separate divisions in the budget was a Council matter. Mrs. Blazi agreed that the separation of the departments would provide a better record of where the money is spent. Mr. Wolfe emphasized that the City needs more recreational facilities for people of all ages. It is possible to arrange for the adults to use the ballfields in the evening after the children no longer use them. He said that there are approximately 350 children signed up to play ball. The members explained that the request to incorporate the Parks and Recreation Board has been dropped. Mr. Wolfe recalled that Mr. Walter Gross, present in the audience, and a former member of the Board of Governors, had obtained a commitment for a $10,000 grant from the County to build a ballfield for tbe elder~ and this information was turned over to the former City Manager. He thought it was still available. This was sometime in 1981. The funds never came into. the City. J o o ; ~ ~ Mr. Wolfe urged the City to go for some of the money thru grants which is available for recreational purposes. The Mayor asked how the Parks and Recreation Department reached a deter- mination of what recreational facilities to put in, and was advised that they base it on the number of phone calls they receive and in conversation with the citizens. Councilman Spencer recommended that the Board develop a plan of what they think the City should do over the next five years. Ther~ are many things which should be done but the City doesn't have the money now to do them. There was some discussion about the piece of land Mr. Armstrong deeded to the city for a street, which included land that could be used for a few picnic tables for the use of bike riders. Mr. Jones asked if anyone knew anything about land in Pointer Subdivision. He had found deeds which said some of this land was designated for a park, as he had checked it out at the Court- house. This is near Perdita Street on Palmetto. Mayor McKillop referred to Subchapter 10 of the Comprehensive Plan which deals with recreation and open space and asked if anyone had looked at that to try to get an idea of what had been forecasted by the local planning agency. It would give the Board an idea of what they had in mind when it was put to- gether in 1981. Originally the responsibility of recreation was given to the city planning office and the local planning agency. This is. adopted into the Code of Ordina~ces. He recommended that it be updated to put the responsi- bility of recreation with the Parks and Recreation Department rather than the Planning Department. He thought perhaps the Board could update it, as it is supposed to be updated yearly. It was determined that there is approximately $12,000 coming in to the City from subdivisions for recreation, part of which has not been appropriated to date. The need for bike paths and jogging trails was discussed. Mayor McKillop called attention to the ordinance worked on by the former Planning and Zoning Commissions to require developers to donate 5 percent; that money would be used for land or buildings for recreation. There was some discussion on completing the football field. Mr. Wolfe estimates the cost to be approximately $7500. Mr. Avery said that he has 90 percent of the new football field cleared at the elementary school. It will take appraxiwately $250 to $300 to finish the clearing. Mr. Walter Gross said that he had worked on the former Board of Governors, and had recommended the City consider a bicycle motor cross, as many children in the city were not inclined to play baseball. He discussed the Ormond Beach motor cross, and said it was a wonderful idea for children from 6 to 16 years of age. Councilman Ledbetter called attention to the land west of Mango Tree owned by the County, the State and New Smyrna Beach, and recommended the Board look it over. He also suggested that the City Clerk write letters to the Mayor and Volusia County, and State about this. Mr. Wolfe said there was approximately 25 to 35 acres there, which could possibly be leased. It was agreed that this land could be used for recreation and Mrs. Blazi was asked to get letters off inquiring about it. Mr. Wolfe said that the next program the EAA was bringing to the Parks and Recreation Board is the motor cross bicycle program. He noted that there are five children from this City who are State champions. Some discussion was had regarding the bike path recommended for Park Avenue and Flagler Avenue to the elementary school. Councilman Ledbetter noted that Park Avenue is a County road. Mike Avery said he had gotten with the Coun- ty today and was advised there is a backlog of five years; it involves a lot of money; they need a survey and are worried about drainage. There is also a right of way problem. Chairman Wyatt said that it is a very dangerous situ- ation for the children who have to ride down Park Avenue. Chairman Wyatt said he had talked to Clyde Mann and Mr. Ascherl about the bike path and they believed there would be no problem getting it. Workshop, Council and Parks and Recreation Board, 2/9/83 o o ~ w. Mayor McKillop called attention to the letter of November 1, 1982 sent to Malcolm Smith, County Traffic Engineer, from the City Manager regarding a bike path for Park Avenue. Mr. Avery said that no one in the County had a record of receiving the letter. Mayor McKillop asked if it was not a good idea to bring it before the present Council to get approval to send it. There was also some discussion about the right of way on Riverside Drive. Mrs. Blazi said that they tried to give it to the City a while back, but the City turned it down. She thinks the County believ-s the City owns it. She was asked to check into that. Councilman Spencer thought they should follow up on Mayor McKillop's suggestion at the next Council meeting regarding the letter to Malcolm Smith, and send such a letter. If they can get the county's okay, then we can look into the costs. Councilman Ledbetter said they should first resolve the drainage problems at Wildwood. There was discussion about the children at Wildwood riding the bus, but Mr. Wolfe explained that the elementary school children do not ride the bus to Wildwood, as it is within two miles of the school. Mrs. Blazi explained what had been done in getting a plaque or monument for the Jim Hogan Recreational Park. She gave them the information from Letter Memorial quoting a price of $400 for a granite memorial with the-~etters sandblasted in. Wooden signs were considered, but it was agreed that it would not be a lasting memorial. Everyone agreed that the granite memorial would be appropriate and approved of its purchase. Councilman Spencer asked about the inter-local agreement with the Port Authority and the City on the grant money received for the park and pier. Mrs. Taylor explained that she had a copy of the agreement in the file; it is an agreement whereby the City agrees that the money received wiil be used as outlined in the grant application. The Council members commended Mike Avery for his fine work in preparing the application and obtaining the grant. On Council business, concerning the referendum, the~Mayor said that the City Attorney had gone to Katherine Odham's office after Monday night's- meeting. Straw ballots will be mailed no later than February 15. The motion.by Mr. Spencer was, "I move that the Council do that; request the attorney to prepare such a letter ballot for consideration by the Council." The mayor said they need to have a special meeting. Councilman Ledbetter said he had talked to Mrs. Odham and those dates are not firm, just tentative. It was agreed to schedule the special meeting for Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Chairman Wyatt motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Councilman Asting. Mr. Frank Opal said that on the subject of Katherine Odham, what is being done now is illegal and unconstitutional. The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m. Minutes submitted by Joan Taylor Council/Parks and Recreation Board Workshop February 9, 1983 - 3 -