PARKS & RECREATION
PO Box 1110, Tampa, FL 33601-1110
(813) 744-5871






HCFL.GOV

BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Chris Boles
Donna Cameron Cepeda
Harry Cohen
Ken Hagan
Christine Miller
Gwendolyn "Gwen" Myers
Joshua Wostal
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Bonnie M. Wise
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Christine M. Beck
COUNTY INTERNAL AUDITOR
Vacant

ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Dexter L. Barge

Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Wednesday 01-29-2025 12:00 PM
Lesley “Les” Miller, Jr. All People’s Community Park and Life Center



I.
CALL TO ORDER - Chair, Anthony Sanchez, called the meeting to order @ 11:57 AM.
a. A welcome to everyone

II.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - N/A


III.
PRESENTATIONS
a. ELAPP Land Acquisition - Monthly update - The monthly update was provided by Forest Turbiville, Director, Conservation and
Environmental Land Management. *See attached exhibit A
b. Field Use Agreement update- Rick Valdez , Director, Parks & Recreation, indicated the department continues to work with this
agreement survey and close to finalizing it. Greg Brown, Manager, Parks & Recreation, provided input as an average of 95%
complete. They have reached out to local municipalities as well as others in Florida to review their operating processes and also
discovered many others are not as advanced as Hillsborough County.


IV.
NEXT MEETING DATE 2-27-2025 – All members voted in favor of rescheduling this meeting to 03-06-2025.



V.
BOARD ACTION

a. Approve November 11, 2024, Meeting Minutes - Jack Berlin made a motion to approve the November 7th, 2024, meeting
minutes. Scott Levinson seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved by all present.
b. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair- Jack Berlin motioned to nominate Anthony Sanchez as Chair and Scott Levinson 2nd the motion
and all voted in favor of Anthony Sanchez elected as Chair for calendar year 2025. Jack Berlin motioned to nominate Aaron

VI.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS - Anthony Sanchez, Chair suggested the current Parks Advisory Board members reach out to their
commissioner in reference to new member appointees.

VII.
COMMUNICATIONS, ACTIVITIES, OR STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS


a. Recruiting replacement Board Members - Anthony Sanchez, Chair advised current Parks Advisory Board members reach out to
their commissioner in reference to new member appointees. He also recommended they will be voting at the next Board
meeting to update the bylaws specifically relating to appointed members residing in any area of Hillsborough County; not only
required to reside in their commissioners’ district.

b. Quorum - Pending all Board Member appointments. Anthony Sanchez, Chair - A clarification was made confirming a minimum
of 4 members to constitute a quorum, per a legal opinion received from County legal department. After discussion with the
Board, he made a motion that was seconded by Jack Berlin that at our next Board meeting we vote to amend the bylaws by
removing Section 6 of Article V which goes against Rogers Rules of Order. The vote passed unanimously. The chair then also
requested a legal opinion of the County legal department relating to any member appointed could reside in any area of
Hillsborough County and not required to reside in the commissioner’s district.

c. Greg Brown , Manager, Parks & Recreation - Provided a very favorable update of the park concessions sponsorship program
and demonstrated how it has profited the department and youth in various manners, such as Safety equipment and sports
training area fencing, eliminating the need to locate funds in the operating budget. Scott Levinson made an inquiry reference
annual helmet safety check. Mr. Brown responded favorably and discussed some of the challenges encountered.
d. Ross Dickerson, Manager , Conservation and Environmental Land Management,
 Presented an update of annual hiking spree event. It has been a very successful year of over 3000 in attendance so far.
 Requested the Board, and others visit the new nature preserve tram at Lower Green Preserve.
 Provided favorable feedback of the most recent educational Fire Fest event last week.
 Announced The little Manatee River Wild and Scenic review is moving forward, and they have decided on their first
outstanding remarkable value for the potential designation. If selected It will be the 2nd River in Florida with this
remarkable achievement. A website is forthcoming for additional information, education and tourism outreach.

VIII.
ADJOURNMENT - Chair, Anthony Sanchez, adjourned the meeting at 12:45 PM.

Casteel as vice chair and Scott Levinson 2nd the motion and all voted in favor of Aaron Casteel elected as Vice Chair for calendar
year 2025. No objections.



Attachment exhibit A
ELAPP Acquisition Update
Parks, Recreation and Conservation Advisory Board Meeting
January 29, 2025

Board Approved Contracts:
 Tew (Lower Green Swamp Addition) – (935 acres) - At their August 21st regular meeting, the BOCC
approved the acquisition of a conservation easement over the 935-acre Tew property. As part of its
180-day due diligence period, the County ordered a property survey, Phase I ESA, and baseline
documentation report.
 Phase I ESA – completed
 Property survey – 90% complete
 Baseline Documentation Report – first draft completed
 Closing anticipated in March/April 2025; purchase price is $4,900,000
 Mattaniah (Alafia North Prong) – (623 acres) – Purchase contract approved by the BOCC on October
2nd. This is a joint acquisition with SWFWMD, whereby each party will contribute 50% of the
acquisition cost and hold joint title to the property. The County will manage the property and be
reimbursed by SWFWMD for 50% of the County’s annual maintenance costs up to $10,000.
 Phase I ESA – completed
 Property survey – anticipated completion during February 2025
 Closing anticipated in April/May 2025; purchase price is $6,752,500 (County’s share is 50% or
$3,381,250)

 Trails End, Inc. (Triple Creek Ranch) – (26.74 acres) – Purchase contract approved by the BOCC on
December 18th.
 Phase I ESA – under contract
 Property survey – underway
 Closing anticipated in April/May 2025; purchase price is $1,920,000.
 An additional $250,000 is budgeted for habitat restoration, site fencing, trailhead
construction, and structure demolition.
Active Negotiations:

Fee Acquisitions
 Dubendorff (Fish Hawk) – (15 acres) – Owner has verbally agreed to the County’s purchase offer of
$150,000. Staff to draft purchase contract for owner review/signature.
 HSH Trust (Cypress Creek) – (10 acres) – Appraisals completed. Awaiting final response from
bankruptcy counsel regarding status of the 10-acre property in bankruptcy proceedings.


 Boy Scouts of America, Inc. (Boy Scout) – (477 acres) – County has secured appraisals to acquire the
remaining fee interest in the property. The County currently holds a conservation easement over the
entire property, which also serves as a permitted wetland mitigation bank for construction projects
located within the Alafia River Basin that incur wetland impacts.
 Mirabole (Alafia South Prong) – (41 acres) – County has provided the landowner with a purchase
offer. Awaiting final response.
 Hackworth (Fish Hawk) – (17 acres) - County has provided the landowner with a purchase offer.
Awaiting final response.

Conservation Easements

 Parker/Baker/Varnum/Davis (Alafia South Prong) – (Acreage TBD) – Met with property owners’
attorneys on January 13, 2025 to discuss preliminary CE documents. Further discussions will be held
in the coming weeks/months.


Possible Donations

 Giunta (Cypress Creek) – (up to 324 acres) - Ongoing discussions with property owner and County’s
Natural Resources Dept. for possible donation of up to 324 acres.

Other

 Mosaic, Inc. (ULMR Basin) – (4,300 acres) – LOI for donation and fee acquisition of referenced
property has been executed by Mosaic. County staff will meet with individual BOCC members during
February/March 2025 to discuss project details prior to taking the LOI to the BOCC for approval.