HCFLGOV.NET







PARKS, RECREATION AND CONSERVATION
PO Box 1110, Tampa, FL 33601-1110
(813) 744-5871
BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Donna Cameron Cepeda
Harry Cohen
Ken Hagan
Pat Kemp
Gwendolyn "Gwen" Myers
Michael Owen
Joshua Wostal
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Bonnie M. Wise
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Christine M. Beck
COUNTY INTERNAL AUDITOR
Peggy Caskey

ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Dexter L. Barge




Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Advisory Board Agenda
Thursday, May 16, 12:00 PM
Lesley “Les” Miller, Jr. All People’s Community Park and Life Center





I.
CALL TO ORDER- Chairman, Anthony Sanchez, called the meeting to order at 12:03 PM
a. A welcome to everyone.
b. A thank you to Friends of the County Parks and Recreation for providing lunch today.

II.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - N/A


III.
PRESENTATIONS
a. ELAPP Land Acquisition - Monthly Update by Forest Turbiville, handout G:\5. All Access
Folder\Parks Advisory Board\Agendas, Minutes, Sign In Sheets NEW\2024\05-16-24\ELAPP
Acquisition Update Handout - 5-16-2024.docx
b. CELM Dept - Environmental Programming – Update by Ashley Martin. Provided a summary of the
Gopher Tortoises project, Earth Day event, National Volunteer week involvement, and the annual Hiking
Spree. Ms. Martin provided a statistical data handout detailing various components of the Hiking Spree
and its participants. This data is valuable for providing future enhancements to the Hiking Spree
program.
c. Field Use Agreement – Update – Rick Valdez, Director Parks and Recreation Department
The feedback received indicates meetings are a successful means of communication between the
department and the sports organizations. A report/survey is being finalized and will be presented to
the Parks Advisory Board at a later date. Mr. Valdez has a meeting scheduled with Procurement to
discuss the Procurement Process for the RFP and how other municipalities handle it.


IV.
NEXT MEETING DATE - June 27, 2024




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V.
BOARD ACTION
a. Approve 04-04-2024 meeting minutes.
Jack Berlin, Board Member, District 1, made the motion to approve,
Scott Levinson, Board Member, District 7, made the second motion.
All in favor and no objections.



VI.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

Bill Barrett, Vice Chairman, District 5, made a recommendation of scheduling vital sports organization
meetings sooner than later, allowing the organizations adequate time for planning as this year the organizations
were delayed and possibly interrupted with the seasonal start up. He expressed his personal commitment to the
Parks Advisory Board as a representative for his Countywide district appointment, both Departments and the
citizens. He indicated he was disturbed by the comment made by a Parks Department staff member at the last
Board meeting of 04-04-2024, alleging a conflict of interest of another serving Board member.
Scott Levinson, Board Member, District 7, expressed his discontentment regarding the comment made by a
Parks Department staff member at the last Parks Advisory Board meeting of 04-04-2024, alleging a conflict of
interest of his appointment to the Parks Advisory Board. He expressed his personal commitment of serving on
this Board, to the district and the citizens. He indicated he has already discussed the circumstances of this issue
with the Parks Department Director, Rick Valdez.
Rick Valdez, Parks and Recreation Department, Director, reported that he isn’t aware of a new member
appointment for the vacant District 2 representative seat.

VII.
COMMUNICATIONS, ACTIVITIES, OR STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS – Rick Valdez, Director, Parks, and
Recreation Department announced the Department is a 2024 GOLD MEDAL award finalist again this year. He
gave accolades to all Parks Department staff and CELM staff as well. Forest Turbiville added there is a meeting
scheduled with the County Attorney’s office to discuss and amend the Friends of the County Parks agreement.

VIII.
ADJOURNMENT- Chairman, Anthony Sanchez, adjourned the meeting at 1:01 PM.