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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-20 Parks Recreation and Community Affairs Advisory Board Minutes CITY OF DANIA BEACH PARKS, RECREATION, & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD - MINUTES SW COMMUNITY CENTER 230 S.W. 12th AVENUE, DANIA BEACH, FL 33004 20th, FEBRUARY 2024 – 6:00 P.M. Board Members: A. Ivie Cure – Present Deborah Bell – Present Richard “Rich” Aube – Absent Gunnar Sage Magliocca – Present (Late) Keith Roberts – Present City Staff: Rafael Acosta – Parks & Recreation, Frost Park & IT Parker Center Programs Manager – Present Karla Mercado – Parks & Recreation, C.W. Thomas Park Programs Manager - Present I. Roll Call was taken & meeting was called to Order at 6:02 p.m. II. Minutes: Approval of Minutes (January 16, 2024) – Motion to Approve Keith Roberts, 2nd Approval Ivie Cure. III. Citizen Comments – None IV. Old Business I. No Parking Signs at Mildred Jones I. Rafael stated that a gravel lot was added next to the park for people to park at when visiting the park. I. Board Member Ivie Cure stated that the space allotted was to small for people to come to the park and that 1 or 2 cars would fit in that space and is unacceptable for that park. II. Board Member Deborah Bell advised that with Ms. Ivie representing that community, that a proposal should be created for that park so the community can advise on what they want for that area opposed to the actions that were taken by the city and the matter closed. Wants to know how to have a conversation on these matters such as parking signs at parks and how they keep getting overlooked or turned a different way. An example of was used about Veterans not getting a discount on Fitness Room memberships never came to fruition, board, or sitting members. Wants to know how this board can take actions on items they’ve brought up. III. Board Member Keith Roberts has an understanding on how things get overlooked. Mr. Roberts complimented him on how accurate the minutes are from prior meetings, but the actions taken speak louder than words. Mr. Roberts asked Ms. Cure what a satisfactory resolution for the parking situation. IV. Board Member Ivie Cure answer to Mr. Roberts was to open up the entire area for parking with removal of the signs. Ms. Cure stated that the park isn’t that busy, but that those who like to fish off the pier and play dominos every day have nowhere to park. Also stated that the older population can’t walk to those areas from where the gravel parking is. As someone who has a handicap and likes fishing, she cannot walk over with buckets from where the gravel parking is located. Ms. Cure feels that the fishing pier is only for those community members who live on that street only. MS. Cure suggested that parking signs can say “no parking from dusk until dawn,” to keep cars away from there in the evening to deter people from being at the park late, but also said that mischievous activity does not happen at that park. V. Board Member Deborah Bell agreed with Board Member Cure about having signs that say, “no parking from dusk until dawn,” but wants to know what the conversations are being had about recommendations made by the board. Feels that it’s been disrespectful to Ms. Cure about the lack of communication from her request about parking and that conversations were not had with her. VI. Manager Rafael stated that when it was brought up to the director, the director contacted code enforcement was notified and that code had to set these standards for that area of the park. Rafael suggested that it can be brought up again to our director. VII. Board Member Deborah Bell wants to understand how Code Enforcement came up with that decision. Is it based upon the space, or road, location of the park. VIII. Manager Rafael will ask the Director to see if she can get the official verbiage of why there is no parking allowed along Mildred Jones Park. V. New Business I. Manager Karla opened up new business with updates from CW Thomas and PJ Meli Park I. Swim lessons at PJ Meli Park starting March 2, 2024, with 8 sessions. Cost of $65 for kids ages 5 - 12 II. City basketball league starting with outside cities participating in the league. All games will be hosted at Olsen Middle School and for children ages 8 – 12. I. Board Member Ivie Cure wanted to know about what happened with free swim lessons or less expensive lessons. II. Manager Karla mentioned that the cost of the program is very reasonable and is the average cost of most swim lesson programs. Karla asked if Ms. Cure was confusing it with the Swim Central program. I. Board Member Ivie Cure wasn’t sure but always thought swim lessons were free but was explained that swim central taught swim safety. III. Manager Rafael updated that Frost Park was hosting its 2nd Junior Flea Market on February 24th. The first thirty (39) spaces have sold out and the Fronton Blvd side of the street is now open to vendors to buy spaces to sell their items. The event is for kids ages 5 – 17. The annual March flea market will take place on March 16 and Kreation Station will begin on April 1st. IT Parker Center update was given with the demolition of the interior and that at the moment no issues have been found. I. Board Member Deborah Bell asked about the cost of the Kreation Station class which was stated by Manager Rafael to be at $50 for an 8-week session. IV. Board Member Deborah Bell wanted to know the status of CW Thomas Park repair. I. Manager Rafael stated that the goal is to start sometime in April but no definite date. II. Board member Deborah Bell asked if the delay on CW Thomas had to do with funds I. Manager Rafael stated that permitting was still being processed V. Manager Rafael updated that the soccer program has begun at Frost Park and registration is open for participants. Program runs every Monday and Wednesday from 6 – 8:30. Fees for the program are $150 which includes uniforms. VI. Manager Rafael updated the board about the next Dania After Dark being held at City Hall on March 9 which is its Wine and Seafood event. Also stated the success of the February 10th, Dinner at the Hall event for Dania After Dark VI. Discussion/Action I. Board Member Keith Roberts would like for Director Cassandra Waren to attend the next board meeting to introduce herself as the new director of Parks and Recreation as well as new Deputy Director Franky Lazo. II. Board Member Keith Roberts discussed how successful the motorcycle show was at Frost Park and how many people came to the event. I. Mr. Roberts stated how diverse the crowd was and the fact that there were no issues. Also, how beneficial this event is for the community II. Board Member Gunnar Magliocca stated that this is the best event the city has. III. Boadr Member would like to reintroduce the idea of board member shirts. When it was requested prior, it wasn’t done due to budget but with new fiscal year wants to again request board shirts but feels that it has fallen by the waist side. IV. Board Member Gunnar Magliocca spoke about missing the last meeting regarding the parking situation at Mildred V. Jones Park but feels that “like always” it got brushed off to the side as the same as shirts. Mr. Magliocca stated that he has offered his services many times for free and feels like Linear Park is filthy prior to the renaming ceremony planned. Also mentioned that he put in to donate services to the Nyberg Swanson house that was “brushed under the rug.” In the past Mr. Magliocca has asked about budgets, proposals, designs, layouts of all the parks but never got an answer on. Has asked about the property adjacent to Olsen Middle and what the plans were for that area. I. Manager Rafael stated that a community meeting about that project occurred earlier that day at City Hall. V. Board Member Gunnar Magliocca continued and feels that the board is “all for nothing,” and should be shown more details on the future of parks in regard to equipment, budgets, proposals, designs, time frames, and items missing. Feels the board is not touching on things that are not important and is wasting everyone’s time. Mr. Magliocca feels that the process of the board can be fixed but if it’s not in the Director or Code Enforcement “Radar” nothing gets done. Mr. Magliocca just wants to have input before these items go up for commission. Also wants more sustenance for these board meetings. I. Board Member Ivie Cure stated about her longevity on board and how she felt that prior administration really us to listen to the board doesn’t know what happened. II. Board Member Magliocca stated that the only board that matters is the planning and zoning board and that the only time Code Enforcement will look at an item is when developers are looking to do something. VI. Board Member Magliocca feels that the Parks and Recreation Department has a very large budget but was not given an opportunity to look at it and to see how it’s being used. VII. Board Member Keith Roberts spoke about the bylaws of having a chair and that this board does not have a chair. The managers are acting as chairs. Wants to know what other boards are there that doesn’t have a chair or vice chair. This would be a plus for this board. Mr. Roberts reiterated how well the minutes and taken but suggested that the words “I propose” are not said during the meetings. I. Board Member Magliocca stated that the board is not being presented with important material or coming to the board, just straight to the commission without board knowledge. VIII. Board Member Magliocca spoke about his relationship with the mayor and has known him since the age of 6 and was asked by the mayor about the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Mr. Magliocca said to the mayor that nothing of importance is spoken about at the board meetings. Mr. Magliocca stated that he couldn’t tell the mayor anything on designs, budgets, Olsen and Frost Park budget and felt embarrassed reporting this to the Mayor of Dania Beach. IX. Board Member Keith Roberts stated that he feels all commissioners have the same mind set when being appointed to a board and when he was approached about the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and after accepting and seeing how the board operated in the last 6 months, he understands Mr. Magliocca frustrations and wonders if the board is not being formal enough or being documented enough. X. Board Member Deborah Bell reiterated that being recorded is beneficial but not taken seriously enough. With the new leadership and not being strong armed by the past leadership in the department things might change. Feels that the climate of past leadership and lack of respect led to things not being addressed. Also felt that the input of the minutes was not being taken seriously by the past leadership. Also strongly feel that important items that were brought up at these meetings were ever shared with the commission. XI. Board Member Gunnar Magliocca spoke about how items will not be on “the radar” unless it’s important to them. Mr. Magliocca brought up a conversation he had with Vice Mayor Lewellyn about her coming to the January board meeting. Mr. Magliocca felt as if she needed something since, she hadn’t attended past meetings. The meeting was in reference to the renaming of Linear Park, in which he stated that he was a friend of Bill Harris as would gladly approve the renaming of the park, but used this example of how if its important to city then they will act or if it will make the city money and that the board would just have to “live with it." XII. All Board members spoke at the same time hoping that the new Director and Deputy Director will listen to the recording and work on the board’s concerns. XIII. Board Member Keith Roberts spoke about when first appointed he wanted a meeting with then Director Eric Brown. The meeting was awarded and spoke about Director Brown being candid and told Mr. Roberts about how the relationship of the Board and the department ought to be. Mr. Roberts told him that he is new to this board and that he wanted to be of service to the community and be a board member to the department and how can the board help Director Brown. He didn’t share details of the conversation but mentioned that there was friction between the two. Mr. Roberts hopes to never have that kind of relationship again with a Director and Deputy Director again. I. Board Member Deborah Bell agreed with Mr. Roberts and said that with the new Director and Deputy Director, they can air out their frustrations. II. Board Member Magliocca also agreed and start a new relationship with the director and deputy director. This new relationship could help with the people at the Mildred Jones Park community to get a few more parking spots so the community can enjoy the park. Wants the leadership to work with the board not against them. III. Board Member Keith Roberts reiterated on working with new director and deputy director and not getting the relationship started on the “wrong foot” by telling them what to do because this is what the board is not charted to do. Reiterated that they are charted to make recommendations, observations, discussions like the current meeting and add to the good work being done. Mr. Roberts sees a lot of good work being done due the amount of money budgeted but wants certain things in a more customized way in assisting those communities and areas that are going to get new parks with accommodations that make the community happy which makes them feel heard. IV. Board Member Magliocca stated that it would save the commission a lot of time if the board got to review the budget and pick the designs for approval so when it gets to the commission, they can see the recommendations from the board and that the commission just can’t do what they want or see just due to those board recommendations. V. All board members spoke about how they just want to help the commission and department. VI. Motion to adjourn by Gunnar Magliocca and 2nd by Ivie Cure. Respectfully Submitted, Rafael Acosta Frost Park & IT Parker Center Programs Manager