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AGENDA
MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 20, 1995
ADELE GRAGE COMMUNITY CENTER, 7:00 pm
1. Call to Order
2. Review/approval of Minutes of last meeting
3. Reports
A. Parks & Recreation Sub-committees progress
4. Old Business
A. Review goals and mission of Recreation Board
B. Discussion relevant to this year's proposed budget
5. New Business
A. Goals for 95/96 and action plan
B. Election officers for the coming year
6. Adjournment
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City of Atlantic Beach
Park and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes
September 20, 1995
The regular meeting was held Wednesday,September 20, 1995 at
Adele Grage Community Center. Present were: Timmy Johnson, Park
and Recreation Director, Julie Richardson, guest, Edward Waters,
Patricia Goelz, Barbara Hopson, Scott DeButy, and Pat Bell .
Patricia Goelz, in the absence of the chairperson, called the
meeting to order at 7:20 p.m. .The minutes of the August 16
meeting were approved as written following a motion by Barbara
Hopson and seconded by Edward Waters. Barbara Hopson was
secretary and took notes to prepare the minutes for this meeting.
Julie Richardson was introduced as a member of the Atlantic
Beach Athletic Association. She explained that she was attending
the meeting as an observer as well as bringing concerns and
requests.
The following are highlights from that discussion:
1 .The fate of the T-Ball field has to be decided. The field
has been built by members of the ABAA, and it is requested
that the field remains in its original position. A fence
needs to be erected. Parking, which was a problem, has been
corrected. Since there are no shade trees for the
benchesarea, trees should be planted to correct the
situation.
2.ABAA has spent its monies on re-wiring the concession stand,
sodding part of A-field, etc. .Therefore, no monies are
available for planting of trees or other beautification
• efforts.
3.Lights should be installed in B-field.
4.The concession stand could not be shared with other groups,
because the equipment belongs to ABAA and not the City
of Atlantic Beach.
5.A major problem exists with the cleaning-up of the bathrooms.
They are not clean at the beginning of game-time. ABAA
will clean them up after each game, but does not feel
responsible for clean-up before each game. It was suggested
that Allen Sowder should be consulted to determine why city
crews are not cleaning the bathrooms. Timmy Johnson will
look into it. Julie Richardson offered that the ABAA would
be willing to contribute to hiring a person to clean-up
the bathrooms , but the city would have to contribute also.
6.Julie Richardson felt, in general, that the city is not
supporting ABAA enough.
Discussion centered around where to put the T-Ball field. Board
members suggested that other parks like Donner Park would
have ample space to accommodate sports events including the
T-Ball field. This would reduce the overcrowding of Russell
Park. Strong opposition was voiced by Julie Richardson.
1 . Parents would not like to see their children split up
between two parks playing games at the same time.
2. There is a lack of manpower and equipment to keep up Donner
fields.
3 . Donner Park is not a safe place as perceived by the public.
4. There are no bathrooms nor concession stand available at
Donner.
5. Russell Park has the ability to handle injury emergencies
quickly.
Edward Waters expressed his disappointment by sharing that as
long as he can remember Russell Park was awarded funds, but
Donner Park was neglected. He felt that Donner Park would be
suitable for all kinds of sport events. He also suggested that
the present bathrooms be converted into a storage shed to house
ABAA equipment.
Patricia Goelz suggested the the T-Ball field issue should be
discussed at the next regular meeting and be placed on thre
agenda. The rest of the board agreed. She also suggested that
board members visit the present T-Ball site. Julie Richardson
was asked to submit a copy of the ABAA budget for board review
at the next regular meeting.
• Sub-committee reports were given next.
Russell Park Committee:
Scott DeButy reported that the committee did a thorough job
in establishing goals for Russell Park. Main points: lights
are needed on playground,clay needed on playground, T-Ball field
needs to be finished.
Linkage Committee:
Pat Bell reported that no meetings have taken place.
Donner Park Committee
Jane Tanner was absent. Report delayed to future meeting.
Howell Park Committee:
Barbara Hopson reported that a report was filed with Timmy
Johnson and Cindy Corey. Some points of that report are:
1 . The park is serving an important function: it is a natural
preserver of native flora that should be expanded. As a
nature park it performs an important role in our community.
2. The park needs repairs to make it safe,i .e.the trails need
to be improved. The committee felt that was a first priority
matter. Other repairs and improvements are incorporated in
the report on Howell Park issued by this committee.
3 . The park could also be utilized for a program called: Project
Adventure. Details are included in the Howell Park report.
Board members suggested the boy scouts under the leadership
of Ron Schiebler could be utilized to help with the cleaning-
up of Howell Park. Edward Waters volunteered to find out if
railroad ties could be donated. They could be utilized for
Tresca as well . Timmy Johnson felt that recycled materials should
be used for the trails so that maintenance costs could be kept
to a minimum.
Jordan Park Committee
No report available.
Program Committee
Patricia Goelz requested that this committee should consist
of members from all the other committees, since they would
know the needs and goals of their respective parks.No action
was taken on her suggestion.
Review of goals and mission of the Park and Recreation Board
came under discussion next. Strong concern and disappointment
were voiced concerning present lack of cooperation and
coordination of efforts between the board and the park and
recreation director, commission, and administration. It was
felt that all efforts ( for example:the work of the the various
dubcommittees would be shelved and ignored) would be worthless .
Frustration exists over the lack of clear guidelines outlining
how the board fits into the decision-making process . The
commission has not addressed this issue even though the board
requested , in a formal letter, clarification some time ago.
The park and recreation director goes in one direction , the
commission and administration go in another. The board members
are clearly frustrated and feel ignored.
Timmy Johnson was asked to comment. He felt that the charette
( not yet scheduled) would summarize the sub-committee reports
and come up with "a big picture, " from which a masterplan could
be developed. He committed himself to working with the boardto
come up with a masterplan that the board and he could support.
He further promised that he would consult with the board on
further budget matters . He felt that we must come up with a
priority list . Not all can be done at once, but shou ld be
detailed in a 5 - 10 year plan.
The board encouraged the utilization of organizations such as
Kiwanis, Rotary Clubs, Greenscape, and garden clubs to help
with park projects.
Budget matters were discussed. Timmy Johnson reported that $5000
-$6000 were left-over in this year ' s budget and is being returned
unspent, because he was waiting for board suggestions how to
spend it. The money could not be spent on the board developed
summer program because of volunteer considerations. The board
again voiced concern over the volunteer issue . Board members
feel that they must have the freedom to volunteer when and if
they want to and not feel obligated to volunteer solely on
the premise: one is a board member,therefore one is a volunteer.
Disappointment was voiced that miscommunication apparently
existed and therefore not all of the money in the budget was
spent on sorely needed park projects. It was hoped that this
would not happen in the future.
Election of board officers for the year 1995-1996 was next.
The following members were nominated for chairperson: Jane Tanner
and Cindy Corey. Since both members were absent, a motion was
made by Barbara Hopson to ammend the by-laws and Pat Bell
seconded. The by-laws are ammended to read: For 1995-1996 only,
the officers for the board will be elected by the majority vote
of the membership on October 18, 1995. The change of the
ammendment was approved unanimously.
Points of interest:
1 . The Haunted House will be a P&R Department project. The
Teen-Council has been asked to be helpful .Timmy Johnson will
call for volunteers .
2. The 4-H program is being developed and is in its beginning
stages awaiting a volunteer to run the program.
3 . A member from ABET should be invited to be present at
the P&R Board meetings.
4. The members of the "new " commission should be invited
to attend the November P&R Board meeting.
5. Agenda items for the October meeting should be:
a. Russell Park T-Ball field
b. Election of board officers
c. Renewal od contracts (Timmy Johnson will supply copies
of existing contracts )
The next meeting of the Park and Recreation Board will be held
Wednesday, October 18, 1995, at 7: 00, at the Adele Grage
Community Center.There was no further business and the meeting
was adjourned by Patricia Goelz at 9 :25 p.m.