10-23-96 v CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
October 23, 1996
The Board held a regular meeting Wednesday, October 23, 1996, at the Adele Grage Community
Center meeting room. Vice-chairman Patricia Goelz called the meeting to order at 7:20PM.
Present were: Patricia Goelz Mark Beckenbach
Ed Waters Mary McGee
Barbara Hopson Scott Debuty
Mayor Lyman Fletcher
Timmy Johnson, Staff Liaison
Suzanne Shaughnessy, Commission Liaison
The Board reviewed and approved minutes from the last regular meeting as written.
Patricia discussed the proposed plans for the Tresca property. There are three plans and the
difference in the three were the parking and location of the canoe launch. Within the plans there
were a canoe launch, bird watching center, picnic areas, five scenes area, decked trails and trails
with shells, look out dock. Play area can be east of the Intracoatal. The Commission estimate
cost at $400,000. Begonia Street will be closed. After gathering information from the
Commission and the public the group from Dames and Moore will give another presentation at
the November 25 Commission meeting.
Mayor Lyman Fletcher discussed several things that he would like for the board to do to get the
park system to a level in which the Board has never addressed. Things that are important to him
at this time are: Tresca Property, Dutton Island, Bull Park,Howell Park and the property behind
the public work building.
Mayor Fletcher discussed the proposed Johansen and Howell Park projects. Both projects are
similar in that they play an important role in the drainage of the city. Engineers from England,
Timms and Miller suggest putting in a lake, dredging the creek in Howell, putting in pipe in
Johansen that will make the banks steeper. The work for Howell Park is on the back burner.
As for Johansen Park the Commission will address the alternatives at Monday's meeting. They
estimate the cost for putting the pipe in at $98,000, they estimate they estimate the cost for the
lake at $98,000 and the cost for dredging at $15,000. The Board needs to take a stand and
protect our Parks as we address these issues.
Patricia suggests taking native plant classes.
Patricia mentioned that the State of Florida Rails to Trails program is holding a conference in
Gainesville Thursday,November 7 thru Saturday,November 9. At this conference they will
discuss the following: Florida's Statewide Greenways Plan
. •
Managing Trails and Greenways
Building Partnerships
Funding for Trails and Greenways
Legislative Issues
Trail Design and Development
Ecosystem Management and Greenways
Barbara would like for it to be a part of the minutes that she is against using cypress mulch in
Howell Park.
The Tree Lighting will take place in Donner Park beginning at 6:PM and will follow the same
format as last year. Patricia suggests asking people to bring something for the needy.
Scott discussed, the difficulty would have with using the field at Donner Park. The field is not in
playing condition, split fields make it difficult to manage. We should look at purchasing the
adjacent property so we can offer adult softball or teenage softball/baseball.
Copies of the contracts for different organizations using the city's facilities will be made available
at the City Clerk's office.
A motion was made by Barbara that whatever solution is used to solve the drainage problem it
must include beautification and trails to make useable park. Mark seconded and the motion
carried.