HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-19 Parks, Recreation, and Community Affairs Advisory Board Minutes
CITY OF DANIA BEACH
PARKS, RECREATION, & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD – Approved
Minutes on April 16, 2024 meeting
SW COMMUNITY CENTER
230 S.W. 12th AVENUE, DANIA BEACH, FL 33004
19th, March 2024 – 6:00 P.M.
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Board Members:
A. Ivie Cure – Present
Deborah Bell – Present
Richard “Rich” Aube – Present (Late)
Gunnar Sage Magliocca – Absent
Keith Roberts – Present
City Staff:
Rafael Acosta – Parks & Recreation, Frost Park & IT Parker Center Programs Manager –
Present
Cassi Waren – Parks & Recreation, Director – Present
Franky Lazo – Parks & Recreation, Deputy Director
I. Roll Call was taken & meeting was called to Order at 6:00 p.m.
II. Minutes: Approval of Minutes (February 20, 2024) – Motion to Approve Keith Robert,
2nd Approval Deborah Bell.
III. Citizen Comments – None
IV. Old Business
a. Board Members wanted the new Director and Deputy Director of the Parks and
Recreation Department to attend a meeting
a. Parks & Recreation Director, Cassi Waren, and Deputy Director, Franky Lazo
attended this meeting
- Director Waren stated they are happy to be here. If the board asks them to be
here, they will be hire.
- Deputy Director Lazo stated he has been here now for less than 30 days and is
staying busy. He is happy to be here.
- Board Chair Roberts stated he saw him out, staying busy. It’s a great
program.
b. Board wants shirts to be made for its board members
- Program Manager Acosta mentioned the board wants shirts for this Board
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- Director Waren stated before we go into new business/old business, she
wanted to take a minute to address the board because she listened and read the
minutes from the last meeting. She knows there were some opinions stated at
the last meeting regarding what the board should be involved with, how the
Board should be recognized, t-shirts for the board, etc… She printed off and
included in this packet, the approved city responsibilities for the Parks,
Recreation, and Community Affairs Advisory Board. She highlighted on the
back page the duties and responsibilities because she thinks it’s important for
the board to remember this is an advisory board. So, all you can do is advise
on what you might want to see or recommend, but the final decision comes
from the city itself. There were opinions from the last board meeting from
Gunner that he feels the board is all for nothing. And that there should be
more showing details on the future parks and regards to equipment, budget
proposal, etc… She knows there was a discussion that took place on the
parking at Mildred V. Jones Park. And you feel there should be more parking
at Mildred V. Jones Park. We take all of these comments and concerns very
seriously. The parking at Mildred V. Jones Park is a very, very controversial
topic. The residents across the street don’t want anybody parking there. So
that’s why “no parking” signs were put up there because those residents were
getting parked cars on their lawn and things like that. There are so many
people that go there to play board games. Code Compliance went back with
what’s the proper way to enforce it and what we should do there. The
recommendation based on all the different opinions was to put that gravel
parking area and that is the solution. A pocket park in a neighborhood is a
pocket park in a neighborhood. They typically do not have any parking.
Mullikin Park does not have parking.
- Board Member Cure asked which park is Mullikin Park.
- Director Waren responded behind Walgreens. Chester Bryd does not have
parking and is one of our larger parks. Melaleuca does not have parking.
Those are considered neighborhood pocket parks. Mildred V. Jones Park is a
neighborhood pocket park. There’s no parking at those parks for reasons they
are considered walkable parks for use. If you go to other cities – Franky
comes from Boynton Beach. He worked with the City of Hollywood and a
number of other municipalities. She worked for the City of Deerfield Beach
for eight (8) years as the assistant director up there. That’s just the typical
way a pocket park works in a neighborhood. So, you don’t want to promote
parking at those parks.
- Board Member Bell stated she thinks the miss-connect is if that was addressed
when this was brought up. Not just this meeting, then there would have been
some understanding way back. This is when it came to this point of
frustration, where she could only speak for herself, but I think it could have
been addressed when it was first brought up.
- Director Waren apologized for that.
- Board Member Bell asked did she understand. If the issue was addressed at
hand. It wasn’t the first time it was brought up. This is sort of systemic with
finding our things a little late. I’ll let Ms. Ivie speak for herself. She knows
there were issues that she brought up, and then it didn’t go into fruition, and
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you don’t know why. So, I guess I can’t speak for Gunner either, but she
thinks that you’re the new director.
- Director Waren stated she was the deputy director before. She moved over
into the director role. Eric typically would handle these meetings, and she is
not pushing anything off onto anybody. She hopes that the board knows that.
Frank and her goal is to make sure that they better provide answers and
solutions, or responses when the board brings up things. If there are questions
about something or things the board would like to see, etc…
- Board Member Roberts asked Director Waren was she privy to all the
suggestions and recommendations and minutes from this board?
- Director Waren stated they always send an email. But the t-shirts she knows
had been a past complaint. Not complaining, but the board wanted shirts. T-
shirts cannot be provided to any boards. Boards do not have a budget. If we
don’t give them to one board, we can’t give them to another board. We have
to keep it consistent across the way. She knows that they said no to t-shirts.
- Board Member Roberts stated that it would have been fine as well if someone
just said that. That’s why…let me back up. If you were the deputy director,
and Eric the director, his question is that you were seeing these comments and
recommendation…
- Director Waren stated they provided feedback. And it was her understanding
that they responded to the t-shirts. Correct, Rafael when they brought it last
time?
- Program Manager Acosta stated yes.
- Director Waren continued with it was commented and she believes the
comment was the same. They cannot provide t-shirts because they don’t do it
across any of the other advisory boards.
- Board Member Bell stated not to that degree, but it was brought up. The way
she took it, maybe everyone can speak for themselves, it that something with
the budget. Because at the time, she thought it was the money and that it
wasn’t fine-tuned. And that’s why it was brought up again.
- Board Member Roberts added that his feeling was that it was ignored as so
many other items have been ignored. First off, it was like a proposal. And by
them not having a chair and not having a co-chair, not having Robert’s rules
in place – when they make mention to an item…
- Director Waren added you can absolutely have a chair and co-chair.
- Board Member Roberts continued with he was thinking that maybe that was
the problem. That they, for whatever reason, weren’t considered a really
considered a valid board. The issue wasn’t addressed in such a way that the
board would not get a concrete answer one way or the other. And trust me, it
was a suggestion.
- Director Waren stated they appreciate it.
- Board Member Roberts stated it didn’t sound as though the way you
responded just now. It sounded as though they were making a demand or
something.
- Director Waren stated if she made it come off that way, she apologizes
because she did not intend for it to come off in that way. Typically, after a
meeting, the staff would send the board’s request to them. Correct? Do we
not?
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- Board Member Roberts responded yes.
- Director Waren continued stating that the provide responses back to staff. She
apologized if their responses weren’t communicated properly during the
meetings; however, moving forward from here on out that the board get
complete, full answers to either a request or recommendation, a comment, a
concern, etc…
- Deputy Director Lazo responded that obviously he is new here. But there’s a
lot of moving parts as you see that we have so many projects and things going
on. We want to be good partners, you’re out in the community. You guys are
out in the community, advocating for parks and things like that. So, whatever
was said in the past, moving forward, we’re here to work with you guys. So,
you know, there are things they can do, there are things they can’t do because
there will be other factors behind it. So, you know, that’s what we’ll do as a
department – if you make an advisory decision to us, at the end of the day, we
still have to follow our safety protocols or chains of command or see how it
affects everybody else. And then make the best-informed decision. So, if that
hasn’t been relayed in the past or if there’s more clarification needed, they’ll
be available for that.
- Director Waren added she wanted to go back to the comment about the board
should know the budgets of proposals on these designs. That gets above and
beyond what this board is responsible for. If you look at what the
responsibilities include on the duties and responsibilities provided via the city
clerk, this is an approved part of our ordinance for the board is that you make
recommendations on issues concerning the operation and management of
Nyberg-Swanson House that currently does not operate as it’s going to be
under construction, encourage and/or arrange a variety of cultural events in
the city, and make recommendations to the city commission on issues
concerning parks, park facilities, and recreation programming. This includes
recommendations pertaining to requests for the use of facilities and fee
waivers. All of our projects that we have, and we can do a better job if that’s
what’s asked. Have a community meeting and go before the city commission
where we present the design of the project and the cost estimate, we did the
community meeting at C.W. Thomas Park for the C.W. Thomas Park project.
We just recently last month held a community meeting at a community
workshop at city hall for Olsen Middle School where the design was presented
before the community to provide their input. We can make sure that when
those meetings take place moving forward, I can’t fix what happened in the
past but moving forward we can send those meeting notices to the board so
that you are aware of them if you would like to attend. But that’s when the
public information is provided on project build’s, estimates of design, and
things like that.
- Board Member Cure stated about the parking, she noticed you have one are
where you can pull in maybe two (2) cars. And then you have maybe three
(3) cars that are not too far on the road/gravel. And you say the residents that
live on that street have been or would complain?
- Director Waren responded they were getting complaints about the number of
cars that park and I don’t know if it’s still in the street or in the area, but that’s
why the “no parking” signs were posted.
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- Board Member Cure stated she lives across the street and there’s never a lot of
cars there. It used to be way back in the day. It was an older lady who was
blind that used to complain – not complain, but you know, that’s been over
five (5) years ago. Now you’ll see maybe about a hand full, not even a hand
full of people there.
- Director Waren asked are you asking for the amount of gravel to be extended
further?
- Board Member Cure said she just wondered why they put fifteen (15) no
parking signs like that, and she noticed the park across the tracks by the
Walgreens has a sign that says parking for the park only. She doesn’t know if
she still has the picture, but she took a picture of the sign she can show. This
area should accommodate five (5) or six (6) parking spaces, that might be
best.
- Director Waren stated all parties involved’ opinions were considered.
- Board Member Cure asked the ones that live by the park, personally if they
had a problem with it. She does know everybody because her family has lived
there for 68 years in the same house.
- Director Waren stated she can reach out to Barbara again and see what the
reasoning is.
- Deputy Director Lazo stated typically in those small neighborhood pocket
parks, there’s really not a lot of parking. It’s really more for the
neighborhood. The community parks are bigger, those are where we try to
focus more on parking because it’s more difficult for people to get there either
walking or otherwise.
- Board Member Cure stated you got to look at it like this, Dania Beach is not
big, it’s small. So even just say if the park wasn't there, people could park on
either side of the road and just say if it wasn't a park, just like you got it made
it a one way at CW Thomas that used to be a two way and he was allowed to
park on both sides of the street. So, you say you guys took the road, but you
made it a one way. So now you really don't want nobody talking on the park
overnight. And they only have this side of the place is just so small name. It's
not like a big town; you just have X amount of space to park. So, where the
cars actually supposed to park? What are you supposed to do with these cars?
You know, saying so it's not like it's a big, big area where you got a lot of
space to park. So, I haven't heard anyone complaining since they made
expired. And it was disrespectful if somebody did disrespect the older lady.
You know, like I said she expired a long time ago.
- Director Waren asked do you need it?
- Board Member Cure stated I don’t need it because I live across the street.
And then I used to fish, but I don’t fish like I used to. So, if I fish, I just drive
my car and get a ticket and whatever. It’s no problem, but I don’t want to go
through that.
- Deputy Director Lazo asked is some type of parking and accommodation
there?
- Board Member Cure responded what I’m saying is, it’s enough room to make
it all parking because you the guys that play dominos. They’re over there like
11 o’clock, and they leave maybe about 2 or 3 o’clock. They don’t cause
trouble. They are older guys. There’s a homeless guy that used to sleep our
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there, she’s not sure if he still out there. There’s no music, you don’t hear
anyone causing trouble. The reason why she’s fighting for it, is because they
bring it to her. The residents asked her to speak on it.
- Director Waren stated that is what the board is for, to bring those comments to
them.
- Board Member Cure stated you did put maybe five (5) or six (6) parking
spaces. But to put up like fifteen (15) “no parking” signs, that is kind of
disrespectful.
- Deputy Director Lazo stated that’s the thing about it is that sometimes it’s not
something that is dictated by them, it just may be ordinances or things in
place. There are other factors that is not just making a suggestion.
- Board Member Cure stated if you put fifteen (15) signs there, put fifteen (15)
signs all over the place. Don’t just put fifteen (15) signs where I live. Do you
understand what I’m saying? That’s rude, I take offense to that because it was
like people can’t read – if you said no parking, you don’t need fifteen (15)
signs. What sense does that make? You need maybe about three (3). She
keeps fighting for it because the guys that play dominos and fish are bringing
it to her.
- Program Manager Acosta added for the record that board member Richard
Aube did show up. He continued to new business on the agenda.
V. New Business
- Update on City of Dania Beach Application for Naming or Renaming Public
Properties or Facilities submitted by Commissioner Marco Salvino – naming of C.W.
Thomas Park inside gymnasium (Tamara James Gymnasium)
- Director Waren stated this item/concept was brought before the city
commission, but the formal process obviously it comes before this board. So,
the application is here before you all for approval. It did, receive consensus to
continue and bring before the board. SO, if approved today, then we will take
the next steps like we did with the Linear Park renaming. And again, this is
not the naming of the actual park, it’ll remain C.W. Thomas Park – it’s just
naming the actual gymnasium inside park building would become the Tamara
James Gymnasium. And there’s significant support, I would say from the
community. Commissioner James has had a significant impact on athletics.
Her foundation that does a number of things here in the city/community. She
has, I believe a street named after her. She played in the WNBA. She played
overseas, she played for the University of Miami. She’s in the Broward
County Hall of Fame for women’s basketball. She hold’s records at the
University of Miami. So, for all of those reasons are why the
recommendation is to name the gymnasium after her.
- Board Member Roberts added he doesn’t think there's very many people who
don't agree that she would be well deserved to have that honor. My only
question was because I hear rumblings in the community as well. Being in the
community, I've been here twenty (20) plus years and with all of the work
being done by the parks and the budgets, I think that's where Gunner was kind
of leading into as well. Wanting a little bit more transparency and trying to
figure out what's really going on and being invited to those meetings is really
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a great start. Incidentally, I'm probably the newest member of the board, and
I've been on several other boards as well as state level boards. And so, I
digress. Specifically with the naming of the gymnasium because she is
currently a seated official in the community, I would absolutely be the first to
say yes, high five. Let's award, give her that honor. But maybe the timing is
not proper and might lend people think of those positions could and may be
self-serving to a degree. She does not deserve people to think that or to think
something like that about her or about any of our commissioners or mayors
and routinely, when someone is bestowed those type honors, they were either
no longer seated in office or unfortunately passed on. So, my thought is just,
this is a discussion. I’m not sure how everybody feels about it, I I'd be the first
to throw in my vote and maybe approve it ahead of time when and if she were
to no longer be office.
- Director Waren stated the gymnasium will not be complete by the time she’s
done in office. She can’t be re-elected; she will have termed out. So, the
gymnasium the naming, the actual building itself will not be completed until
after she is out of office. Our ordinance does allow the naming of park
facilities for current seated or passed on to have facilities named after them,
but she will no longer be in her seat at the time that the gymnasium opens with
her name on it.
- Board Member Roberts stated he’s high fiving it right from jump street. He
asked if the ordinance would allow for a seated official? That’s weird.
- Board Member Bell stated with all due respect, that is where clarity comes in.
Where possibly, not knowing. A person can leave here knowing asking
questions like “what about this” or “what about that”. And this is where a lot
of misunderstandings occur. It’s good to have understanding. This is where
she thinks clarity comes in as she can’t speak for anyone else besides herself.
Moving forward, having clarity and transparency opposed to being curved like
the kids say. Having clarity and transparency makes thing more coherent.
She is all for it, whether or not because just straight forward, she has done a
whole lot for the community. You can’t take that away from her and if
anyone is deserving of it, that building, it’s her. She would hate to see it be
curved and later on it go to someone else. She votes definitely, to lock that in.
- Board Member Roberts stated that let’s us know that way when the rocks are
being thrown, they can articulate why and how and the legality, the
rightfulness of it.
- Board Member Cure added that it is her baby, and she is the one that started
the whole thing. She started the whole thing before other people wanted to
take credit for it. She started the whole thing; even before she became of
service, she would get in the meetings because she wanted this gym. So,
someone said why don’t you run and that’s what she did.
- Director Waren added this is her baby. She showed rough rendering of the
gym to the board as to her name on the floor, her actual signature with her
accolades on the wall.
- Board Member Bell asked what would be on the outside of the building.
- Director Waren stated it would say C.W. Thomas Park.
- Deputy Director Lazo pointed out the area in the gym that would say Tamara
James.
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- Board Member Roberts added he threw it under the bus.
- Board Member Cure said to reel it back.
- Board Member Bell added your concerns were valid.
- Board Member Roberts thanked the members for their understanding as these
were not his concerns alone.
- Director Waren stated you make the motion, and someone can second it.
- Motion to Approve naming interior gymnasium the Tamara James
Gymnasium Deborah Bell Second Keith Roberts.
FINAL VOTE: Unanimous ____
Yes No
Board Member Keith Roberts _X__ ___
Board Member A. Ivie Cure _X__ ____
Board Member Deborah Bell _X__ ____
Board Member Richard Aube _X__ ____
Board Member Gunnar S. Magliocca ____ ____ Absent
PASSED on March 19, 2024.
-
- Director Waren asked all in favor, there was a unanimous consensus to name
the interior gymnasium the Tamara James Gymnasium at the C.W. Thomas
Park.
- Program Manager Acosta stated the renaming passes. The new business
Lion’s Club will be donating two (2) recycled plastic benches to C.W.
Thomas Park and frost Park on April 22, 2024.on Earth Day. We actually
have Richard Aube here on behalf of the Lion’s Club and did this plastic bag
initiative with us through the city.
- Board Member Aube explained how the plastic bag are collected and recycled
to create these benches. They are placed around the city. They are currently
placed at P.J. Meli Park, Hollywood Beach, YMCA in Hollywood, at his gym,
and other places. He wants to make a little event out of it at the park on
04/22/2024, right before the sun goes down and pick a place for the bench to
be placed. He wants to place it at C.W. Thomas Park. He wants to invite the
mayor for him to speak about volunteerism and Commissioners. He thinks it
would be a nice event
- Program Manager Acosta stated the Earth Day beach clean-up event is
happening on the beach from 3pm to 7pm.
- Board Member Aube stated he really likes that day. If ten (10) people could
come and fifty (50) pictures, he would be happy.
- Program Manager Acosta continued with happenings around parks and
recreation. The Wine and Seafood event kicked off at city hall and it was a
huge event.
- Director Waren added 800 tickets were sold.
- Program Manager Acosta added the day of the event, tickets were selling for
$70. People were buying stuff and that was a huge bonus.
- Board Member Aube added he couldn’t tell how it worked? It was a free
event, and then they buy tickets to drink wine?
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- Program Manager Acosta responded the actual event was free, but for the
wine-tasting portion – people had to buy tickets.
- Director Waren added the wine included Spirits, wine, and beer. There were
two (2) cooking stations that handed out samples.
- Program Manager Acosta continued with there Flea Market sold out and that
was with the price increase.
- Board Member Cure stated she noticed there were a lot of people there.
- Board Member Aube added that you go to these, you don’t need anything, but
you always find your friends at these events.
- Program Manager Acosta stated they are trying to get food trucks out there
eventually. March 30th at 10am, the Egg Hunt will take place at the Frost Park
facility. They will have a DJ with music, face painters, bounce houses, and
some food trucks. Also, another baby is Creation Station that will be starting
April 1st. It is an 8-week program that will be held on Monday’s and
Wednesday’s. Commissioner Davis is a huge fan of this program and comes
out to support our youth. Actively seeking out instructors for aerobic
programs.
- Director Waren stated at C.W. Thomas Park there is a Fit Fusion program
going on. Also, the youth basketball program is transitioning to utilize Olsen
Middle School gym as well as P.J Meli’s basketball court because they are
preparing for the construction at C.W. Thomas Park. There’s a youth dance
going on in the evenings on the weekends. The Tiny Tot program meets once
a month on Saturdays where you can bring out your little ones. It’s kind of
like a “mommy and me” or “daddy and me” class. P.J. Meli has a contractual
karate program. They have water polo and swim teams that are out there.
The senior bingo program and then were working on building up some new
programming out of P.J. Meli Park. C.W. Thomas Park is limited with their
outdoor activities due to the construction starting. If the board has ideas for
new programming, let them know. One of the things they are working on is
active adult programming. They have the adult kickball league but not every
adult wants to play kickball. We have the senior programs and adult co-ed
softball coming. April 13th is the Blues and BBQ event happening. All things
Western BBQ.
VI. Discussion/Action
- Board Member Robert expressed wanting to know what is going on because
the number of people that they speak to alone will pack a room. He asked
how many people attended the Olsen Middle School meeting?
- Director Waren stated about thirty (30) people were there.
- Board Member Aube made a Motion to elect Keith Roberts as the chair and
Deborah Bell the co-chair. Motion Richard Aube, 2nd A. Ivie Cure.
- The board were in agreement with electing such. Board Member Roberts
accepted election as board chair and board member Deborah Bell accepted
election as board co-chair.
- There was some discussion amongst the board. There was some discussion
amongst the board about the shirts for the board.
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- Director Waren stated the only way she can substantiate shirts would be if the
board was volunteering. The conversation will be tabled for further
discussion. However, this is not something that is in the budget. She
proceeded with Damien who played for the Baltimore Ravens, and he didn’t
want to market it.
- Board Member Cure stated it was a nice football event. She also asked who is
the manager at P.J. Meli Park?
- Director Waren stated that Karla Mercado is the manager at P.J. Meli Park.
Kala Gardner is at C.W. Thomas Park.
- Program Manager Acosta asked for a Motion to Adjourn the meeting, Motion
A. Ivie Cure, 2nd Richard Aube. Adjourned at 7:09 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Alberlean S.L. Pollard “Abbey”
Parks & Recreation, Administrative Coordinator II and Board Liaison