PR 4-13-23 Minutes
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES OF THE APRIL 13, 2023, MEETING
VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS/TELEPHONIC
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Members in Attendance: Sean Smith, David Berger, Jonathan Fryd, Carolina Jones, Shannon Koonin,
Joshua Lifshultz, David Nguah, Joelle Gringarten and Joseph Hernandez
Members not Present: Janie Hayes
City Staff: Vianca Peron-Sellan (Assistant Director, Parks & Recreation)
Meeting called to order at 5:30 p.m.
• Approval of the January 19, 2023 Minutes
o The January 19, 2023 minutes were approved.
o The recording did not get who motioned and who seconded.
• Recognition of Parks and Recreation Employee – Melody Perez
o The employee recognized this month is Melody Perez.
o Melody Perez introduced herself, she is the Recreation Program Assistant Manager
for the North. She spoke a little about herself and about her duties.
• G.O. Bond Update
o Sean informed the board that there are quite a few Parks and Recreation projects
that have stalled or off the table completely.
o Carolina gave an update on the G.O. Bond Projects.
o Carolina gave an update on the Arts and Cultural Bond since there are some park
elements in the bond. It is $159 million bond and 2/3 of the total recommended
value was recommended in tranche one.
o Parks has a new item, we got $3.8 million awarded to develop and install artistic
playgrounds. All that $3.8 million is designated for tranche one spending. There is one
park in North Beach that is targeted to receive an “artistic playground” by the end
of the year.
o The board had a lot of discussions pushing these kinds of projects forward in the past
few years. Because of that we have the Maurice Gibb installation which is going to
be musical instruments that are interactive, the elephant on the 5th and Alton park
and there a number of different parks that have sculptural artistic imaginative play.
o An item will be added next meeting to talk about artistic playgrounds and what type
of sculptures are wanted.
o The second item was about $1.5 million of available funding that was passed in the
bond for ideas that the community had and Commission ideas. In the March
meeting, the Miami Music Festival came and gave a presentation. The G.O. Bond
Advisory Board recommended that we spend the whole $1.5 million on Miami Music
Festival.
o Discussion ensued on art installations at Pride Park.
o Discussion ensued on artistic playgrounds.
o We have 8 projects that are completed in Parks. The completed parks include Collins
Park, Crespi Park, Fairway Park, The North Beach Oceanside Beachwalk, Mid Beach
Beachwalk, Polo Park and Stillwater Park.
o We have 12 active Parks that are in the design phase, which means they are getting
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES OF THE APRIL 13, 2023, MEETING
VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS/TELEPHONIC
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funded or they just broke ground, they are actively moving. Some of those projects
are 72nd Street, Flamingo Park, Lummus, Maurice Gibb and they just broke ground on
North Shore Park, Bayshore Park, Scott Rakow, Soundscape. The Bay walk, which is a
big project that falls under parks and the Skate Park.
o Pending Parks is the West Lots. This is another item that Carolina was going to
recommend bringing to the board for discussion.
o Discussion ensued on the West Lots.
o There are 9 future parks, Fisher Park, LaGorce Park, Muss Park, Palm Island, Pinetree
Park, South Pointe, Tatum and Log Cabin.
o As the funding comes in and things get pushed back for whatever reason like 72nd
got pushed back, Bayshore got pushed back, they're constantly moving things
because we have to spend certain amount of money in each tranche for each
group. So as needed we'll move up the design of something if something else gets
pushed back.
o Discussion ensued on the 72nd Street project. This project is in a cone of silence. The
total project is a $100 million project, but the actual cost 70 million because
remember the City has a buffer for all these other fees such as permit fees, the
overhead fees, and the CIP fee.
o Discussion ensued on the 72nd Street time frame and tranches.
o The seawall and the living shoreline at Brittany Bay Park were funded by the GOB it is
complete.
o Discussion ensued on Brittany Bay Park.
o Bayshore Park had a lot of hurdles to overcome, but the last time that I reported to
you guys, we had awarded the project to a firm. The award was contingent on us
getting a $3 million grant from the state, which we got. But it was stopped because
the grant had all these strings attached. Basically, if we had accepted the grant, we
would have had to go back out and rebid the entire project. Commission in March
decided to approve some substitute funding and not move forward with the grant.
They found $3 million so that they wouldn't be forced to rebid the project. The
project is moving forward.
o Discussion ensued Par 3 and adding Pickleball Courts.
o Discussion ensued on Pickleball advocates that are asking for a large area to have
14 courts.
o Discussion ensued on the time frame for the Bayshore Park project. The estimated
end date is 2025.
o Carolina gave an update on the Flamingo Park Master Plan, including a baseball
field, softball field renovations, new pathways through the park, a butterfly garden,
the lodge upgrade, improvements to landscaping, irrigation and drainage. The
intent is to first do the softball field so you're not shutting down both play fields for kids
at the same time, you can use one of the fields. We'll start with the softball field and
then we'll move on to the baseball field. The permitting is currently in process for the
historic lodge and that is expected in June and then the Butterfly Garden will start
after.
o Discussion ensued on the baseball field and high school games and practice for
next year. Discussion ensued on starting after the 2024 season is over. Carolina will
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES OF THE APRIL 13, 2023, MEETING
VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS/TELEPHONIC
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ask CIP at the next meeting to see if she can get an answer. Maybe some
coordination with the high school would be helpful to see if maybe there's anything
we could do to reduce the burden on them for the fields.
o Discussion ensued on Flamingo Park and the completed projects. Discussion ensued
on adding pickleball courts.
o Discussion ensued adding Pickleball courts on the North side of Miami Beach Golf
Course.
o Discussion ensued on youth Pickleball programs.
o Construction for Maurice Gibb started in April and it is a 20-month project,
December 2024.
o Discussion ensued on the Baywalk project. It is a $15 million project. They got a
construction cost estimate supposed to be coming in this month. Carolina updated
the board.
o Discussion ensued on the pedestrian bridge that goes across 5th Street. Completion
date of August 2024.
• Selection of Ex-Officio Member for the G. O. Bond Committee
o Carolina Jones to remain as an Ex-Officio Member of the G.O. Bond Committee.
o Motion [00:00:35]: The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board motions for
Carolina Jones to remain as an Ex-Officio Member of the G.O. Bond Committee.
Motion made by: Jonathan Fryd
Motion seconded by: David Berger
Motion passes: unanimously
Members Present by phone for Motion: Sean Smith, David Berger, Jonathan Fryd,
Carolina Jones, Shannon Koonin, Joshua Lifshultz, David Nguah, Joelle Gringarten
Members Not Present: Janie Hayes and Joseph Hernandez
• Selection of Remainder of 2023 Meeting Dates
o The board selected a May and June date: May 25, 2023 and June 27, 2023
o Soccer and Pickleball will be discussed by the board.
• Information on Miami Beach Hall of Fame
o Vianca updated the board on the Miami Beach Hall of Fame. She will send the flyer
to the board.
o Nominees will be considered based on distinguished achievements in arts,
architecture, design, science, athletic, athletics, business, community, leadership
and family legacy. Accepting applications through May 1st, 5:00 PM there is a
website.
o David Nguah is a member of the Hall of Fame Committee, part of the picking team,
so he cannot recommend anyone.
• Public Input / Open Discussion
o N/A
Attachments Submitted with Agenda:
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES OF THE APRIL 13, 2023, MEETING
VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS/TELEPHONIC
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o Upcoming City Commission Meetings & Committee/Board Meeting Parks and
Recreation Items
o Parks and Recreation Updates and Upcoming Events
o Parks and Recreation Capital Project Updates
Meeting Adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
UPCOMING 2023 MEETING DATES
May 25, 2023
June 27, 2023