MINUTES
PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
Meeting of June 2, 2010
7:30 A.M. — Anne Kolb Nature Center – Hollywood
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Patrick Brochu
Terry Danger
Stephen Lawson
Sharon Kent
Marc Kiar
Quentin Morgan
Jack Mathison
Stephanie Munson
Guy Roper
Sheila Rose
Jack Talabisco
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Bruce Edwards
Marsha Oster-Levy
Howard Nelson
Milette Thurston
OTHERS PRESENT:
Dan West, Parks & Rec.
Gayle Preston, Parks & Rec.
Sarah Perkins, Parks & Rec.
Bobby Miller, Parks & Rec.
Lou Metz, Parks & Rec.
Laura Frank, Parks & Rec.
Leon Younger, Pros
Consulting
Pamela Adams, Pros
Consulting
The meeting was called to order by Jack Mathison, Chair at 7:30 a.m., after which all present
recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Mr. Mathison asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of May 5, 2010. Sharon
Kent made the motion, which was seconded by Jack Talabisco and passed unanimously.
Bobby Miller was congratulated as Employee of the Month (EOM) for June. He was applauded
for his accomplishments and work ethics. Mr. Miller was awarded a framed certificate of
appreciation and a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
Park Manager’s Report
Joanne Howes, Parks Naturalist II, welcomed the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PAB).
Ms. Howes provided the board members with information, improvements and accomplishments
of the park and nature center. At Hollywood North Beach, the Carpenter House is coming along
nicely, Anne Kolb Nature Center will begin the Sea Turtles and their Babies program in mid July
in conjunction with Nova Southeastern University, West Lake Park South is undergoing a
mitigation program.
Parks and Recreation Division (Parks) Update
Dan West advised that he will be meeting with the County Administrator to go over the budget
proposal. She may have additional questions on how we are going to meeting the budget
reductions requested. Mr. West said he would save further comment on that for Leon Younger
of Pros Consulting to go over.
Parks Advisory Board Minutes
June 2, 2010
Page 2
Bond Construction Update
The update was waived at this meeting in order to give Pros Consulting the floor for their
presentation.
Old Business
Secret Shopper forms are due. Please get your forms in if you have not already done so. Jack
Mathison advised that the PAB is low on gift certificates for the Employee of the Month program.
Several members have offered to donate and will get them to Parks Admin office. Laura Frank
advised that Bruce Edwards had contacted her and he has a couple cards from PAB member
donations. He advised that he would be resigning; however he would mail the cards to Laura.
Mr. Mathison reminded the PAB that there are no meetings scheduled for July and August. Ms.
Frank brought up the PAB needs to review their strategic performance goals for 2011 and may
want to form a committee again. Sharon Kent, Jack Mathison, Sheila Rose and Pat Brochu will
be on the committee. They should meet prior to the next PAB meeting in September. Sheila
Rose asked to bring up the PAB meeting days (Wednesdays), it is offensive that park
employees must open the park just for PAB meetings. Terry Danger concurred, the PAB should
set an example and they are operating in a manner in which the public cannot. Dan West
advised that they wait until the budget is finalized and revisit if it is still an issue.
New Business
Dan West introduced the guest speaker, Leon Younger with Pros Consulting (Pros) and Pamela
Adams. Their efficiency study should be completed on time and will be used as part of the
budget process. Mr. Younger gave the PAB a presentation of their scope of work, their
preliminary findings and expects to have a draft report available sometime next week.
Questions and answers from the PAB:
Quentin Morgan: When will the reports be out? A. The target is for the first of July and a draft
will be available by June 15. That way the County Administrator can make a decision as to
whether Pros will make a presentation to the County Commission.
Jack Talabisco: What is this board’s role and input on this? A. Pros asks that you take into
account the recommendations and then determine what role the PAB can take to move some of
the recommendations along. For example, some of the policy issues that need to be addressed
really should come from this board and be brought forward to the County Commissioners.
Some of the operating issues are Dan’s responsibility, so we need to separate these issues out.
What is Dan’s responsibility, what’s your responsibility, what do you want to take to the
Commissioners. One major element would be for the Parks to keep their own money. This
alone would assist tremendously to move towards a sustainable system. Secondly, get the
parks open seven days per week. There is so little savings associated that Parks is missing
many opportunities to generate revenue.
Terry Danger: Plus, there is major damage done by closing institutions. When you are not there
and people don’t remember you. A. Between the PAB and Dan, you pick which battles you
want to go into and which issues you want to support and advocate. Then encourage the
Commissioners to consider them. Typically advisory boards are advocates. They listen and
provide advice for the staff and then advocate for elements that might make the system better.
Parks Advisory Board Minutes
June 2, 2010
Page 3
Dan West: Leon mentioned two important things, revenue and getting the parks reopened.
Regarding the operational efficiencies, we will continue to update the PAB and let you know
where we are at. It is the administrative functions that we need your help with. Unless there is
support from various sources, there is no way it will change. They won’t just give Parks the
revenue because they have other uses for it. It is hard to have entrepreneurial spirit and inject
that in staff if they don’t get to keep a little bit of the revenue they created and are able to put
that back into the facilities. It is a simple self contractor perspective. That will be the big
challenge.
Quentin Morgan: Did you interview anyone from the PAB? A. Pros did not, but if any of the
PAB would like to stay after this meeting or have a phone interview we would appreciate further
input.
Sheila Rose: The timing of this report is critical and I think it is critical that the County
Commissioners see this overview so that don’t’ miss the substance of what they are making
decisions on. It would be a disservice if all this information was analyzed and it wasn’t
presented to the Commissioners because they could be missing points that they need to hear.
Hearing the benchmarking data firsthand will help them with those decisions. This board ought
to weigh in that this should be brought to the County Commission as part of the budget process.
Quentin Morgan: Did the County Administrator say the Commissioners may or may not see this
overview? A . Pros was told they want to see what is in the report first and decide whether to
present it to the Commission. They want to make sure it is congruent enough for the
Commission to understand it simply and quickly.
Jack Talabisco: The problem is this board can make a recommendation for the Commission to
see this but it may or may not happen. I think as individuals, we need to contact the
Commissioners that appointed us and make recommendations based on talking points provided
from staff.
Guy Roper: Politicians do not vote on things that will take money out of their budget. Maybe we
need to bring outside resources in to convince the County to listen.
Jack Talabisco: There are a number of things in here that could save and generate money.
Jack Mathison: There are also a number of things that do not cost a penny. Dan and Leon
should provide the PAB with the most succinct points that need to get across. I suggest that
staff give those four or five points to the PAB and we could then recommend and convey these
issues to the Commissioners.
Sheila Rose: We need to support the County Administrator and keep this in a positive
approach.
Patrick Brochu: You mentioned marketing and untapped potential – we need to utilize that and
get information out about the parks. When I first down here, we were continuously looking for
things to do and it was difficult to find what we were looking for. There is a great deal of
untapped marketing.
Parks Advisory Board Minutes
June 2, 2010
Page 4
Terry Danger: I want the Commissioners to see the items we discussed. My fear is that the
County Administrator might not put this out to the Commissioners. I have several meetings
scheduled with my Commissioner and will do my part.
Stephanie Munson: This will get to them in one form or another. A. Yes. We will present this to
the County Administrator and she in turn will take it to the Commissioners. We have time to get
this to them.
Jack Talabisco: My concern is that if they just get the document, they will just skim through it. If
staff gets us the points, we can do our part to support it.
Jack Mathison: Do you need anything from us at this point? A. If you want to provide your
comments to Leon, please let us know.
Stephanie Munson: Will we get a copy of the report? A. Yes, in written and pdf form. A draft
report will be available on June 15.
Guy Roper: PAB should make a motion to show solidarity of the issue.
Sheila Rose: Motion to strongly encourage the Board of County Commissioners to fully consider
the data and analysis presented in this report. Jack Talabisco seconded. All were in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m.
Next Meeting
The next meeting is at Brian Piccolo Park, September 1, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.