09-14-2000
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RECREATION/CULTURAL SERVICES BOARD
SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 6:30 PM
EDGEW ATER CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM
MINUTES
ROLL CALL/CALL TO ORDER
The September 14, 2000 meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Tom Tipton.
Members present were: Glen Murphey, Tom Tipton, Mike Tanksley, Mike Visconti, Jo
Hagan, Diane Trout and David Turner. Also present was Jack Corder, Director of Parks
and RecreationlMaintenance and Adelaide Carter, liaison from the Economic
Development Board.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Murphey moved to approve the minutes of the August 10, 2000 meeting and Mr.
Tanksley seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 7-0.
OLD BUSINESS
The Chairman asked if there were any old unfinished business, and Mr. Tanksley stated
he would like to have more time to get more information on this FIND project regarding
the canal between New Smyrna and Edgewater. He stated if this project is done, it will
destroy any possible remains of a wharf when the pipe is put into the canal. He said this
project is not going to happen any time soon, and he will come back to the Board with
more information regarding this and what could possibly be done at a later date.
Relocation of Fountain
Mr. Tanksley asked how soon D.O.T. would be widening S.R. 442 and Mr. Corder said it
is scheduled for December of 2001. The Board presented their thoughts on where they
would like to see the fountain relocated to when the present location is made into a turn
lane. Suggestions included moving it back into the next median behind the present spot,
possibly somewhere along Riverside Drive, the new City Hall location, Hawks Park
Recreation Complex and Menard Park. The Board discussed these suggestions at length
and also considered a newer, more modem fountain, similar to Port Orange. After much
discussion Mr. Turner made a motion to relocate the fountain to Menard-May Park,
seconded by Mrs. Trout. Motion CARRIED 6-1, Mr. Visconti voting no.
Kayaks and CanoeslMenard Park
Mr. Corder stated that back in 1997 he had taken a proposal to Council to push eco-
tourism. In that process he had a company that rented kayaks and canoes and conducted
guided tours of the backwaters. It was a daily operation, with no motorized vehicles and
a portion of the money made was to be given to the City. The Council at that time,
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Recreation/Cultural Services Board Minutes/Sept. 14, 2000
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however deemed the project not appropriate and felt the traffic would be a problem. It
was voted down then and Mr. Corder stated he would like to proceed with this project
again and would like the Board's support to take to Council and have this project re-bid,
as the last company is no longer in the area. Mr. Tipton stated he remembered this
proposal and weren't they going to also do overnight camping tours and the such. He
asked if this would be a daily thing or have overnight excursions as well. Mr. Corder
stated it would be just daily operation at this time. Mr. Turner asked where they would
be launching the canoes, and Mr. Corder replied from the beach at Menard, which is why
that park is such a good location for this type of endeavor. The Board discussed this
project and its value to echo-tourism in the area. Mr. Murphey moved to send a memo to
Council to pursue a watersports activity at Menard Park, such as kayaks and canoes to
help promote the area's echo-tourism. Mr. Tanksley seconded the motion and it
CARRIED 7-0.
Adopt-A-Median Program
Mr. Tipton stated he has received a lot of positive comments on the new medians which
were just completed at the intersection of Roberts Road and U.S. 1. Mr. Corder stated his
staff worked really hard and did an excellent job.
Mr. Corder stated in regards to the adopt-a-median program, he would like to see certain
prices set for adopting, like Titusville does. He doesn't feel setting a cost relative to the
size of the median will work, as the last two completed are really huge, and no one would
be able to afford the maintenance cost singularly. He suggested set prices for small
medians and a set price for larger medians. Even with the help of adopt-a-median, it
won't come close to the actual cost of the median maintenance.
Mr. Visconti stated he is a member of the Anti-Litter Campaign, in conjunction with the
Chamber of Commerce and at this point they have an adopt-a-median and an adopt-a-
street. They send a form listing the cost and what is expected maintenance wise to all the
local clubs and if they are interested, they can choose a street or median which is on the
list to be adopted. The forms are then signed by the clubs and that street or median is
their responsibility. He asked if this program would interefere with what the Board is
presently proposing for adopt-a-median in Edgewater. Mr. Corder stated it would be a
conflict, as there is no cost involved to the clubs in the Chamber project and there would
be one with our proposal and also you don't want volunteers out working in the medians,
due to the liability. Mr. Visconti stated he would inform the Chamber of this and come
back with information. Mr. Corder stated he would prefer to stick with the plan to offer
two prices, one for large and one for small, and the cost would be paid to the City for our
staff to maintain these medians.
Mr. Corder stated he would also like to start an adopt-a-park program. He said he would
like to get an outline put together, what the program would entail, and send the
information out to the public in the monthly newsletter. Mr. Tipton said he could also do
a story for the newspaper. The Board recommended that Jo Hagan work on this outline
with Mr. Corder and they return to the Board with their ideas.
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NEW BUSINESS
Beautification Ad Hoc Committee Report
At this time Mr. Visconti showed the Board members a video tape he had taken of the
work just completed on the medians at U.S. 1 and Roberts Road. The video showed the
medians in various stages of progress, the sprinkler system, the tree plantings and the
laying of sod. Mr. Corder noted altogether there are 46 trees in both medians and a total
of 62,000 sq. ft. of sod. Also included in the video were the areas all along U. S. 1 within
the City.
Historical Ad Hoc Committee Report
Mr. Tanksley stated that he and Dot were doing a dig on Riverside Drive in New Smyrna
and they have found the usual things they expected to find, showing evidence of English
occupation. He said they also found their first Spanish and Greek porcelain fragments
which shows the occupation was truly indeed not just Minorcan, but all of the
Mediterranean came over here to settle. He stated that Dot is doing research in St.
Augustine and he goes with her when he can, and anytime she comes across information
about Edgewater, she copies it for him. He said they currently know of 4 wharves that
were in our river, both 18th and 19th century, and he would like to see an underwater
archaeological exploration done to determine the sizes, how far out in the river they went,
etc. and do deep water dredging around the best one and reconstruct it as accurately as
possible, and then tie up the sailboats around that as a deep water marina and it would be
a natural attraction. He stated also that Lynne Plaskett has furnished them with a
complete set of updated maps of the city and his committee is working to earmark each
map in terms of where the old canals might be, colonial house foundations and well sites,
and they are trying to get the 50 top sites so when the archaeological search team comes
in, we will know what to direct them to.
MISCELLANEOUS
Mr. Murphey made a motion that a letter be sent to Council suggesting a certificate of
appreciation to the Parks and Recreation staff who worked on the median project, as it
was a job well done and much appreciated by the public. Mr. Tanksley seconded the
motion and it CARRIED 7-0.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mr. Turner moved to adjourn, seconded by Mrs. Hagan.
Minutes submitted by,
Barb Kowall
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Recreation/Cultural Services Board Minutes/Sept. 14, 2000