2021-05-24 Approved Minutes5
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CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
FLAGLEf� PARK DESIGN REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MAY 24, 2021
MEETING MIINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Robbie Chartier called the Flagler Park Design Review Advisory
Committee (FPDRAC) meeting to order on Monday, May 24, 2021, at 3:00 P.M. in the
City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast 3�d Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee,
Florida.
II. ATTENDANCE
Deputy City Clerk Jenkins called the roll. Ch�ir Chartier, Vice-Chair Bert Culbreth
(entered Chambers at 3:13 P.M.), Regular Members Regina Hamrick (exited at 4:50
P.M.), Kathy Scott, Jennifer Tewksbury, and ,4lternate Bob Burdge were present.
Members absent with consent were Susanne Clemons, Denise Whitehead, and
Alternate Greg Maynard.
Alternate Member Burclge was assigned to serve in a voting position (for Clemons).
III. AGENDA AND PUBLI�C COMMENTS
A. Motion by Member Scott, seconded by Member Hamrick to approve the agenda
as presented. Motion Carried Unanimously.
IV.
V.
B. One comment card was submitted by Mrs. Courtney Moyett, with the QuitDoc
Foundation, and Okeechobee County Tof�acco-free Partnership Manager. Mrs.
Moyett made a presentation on the benefits of tobacco-free parks. Materials
distributed included a flyer with reasons to support tobacco free spaces, copies
of laws adopted in surrounding cities, photographs of signage in other
communities as well as providing statistical information on second-hand smoke
and the enforcement of these types of laws. She met with Administrator Montes
De Oca on this subject, and he recommended she make her presentation to this
committee. The consensus of the FPDRAC was to recommend the City
Council consider adopting a tobacco free park policy; and signage go
through revievv of the Flagler Parks Master Plan (when adopted) for
cohesiveness.
MINUTES
A. Motion by Member Tewksbury, seconded by Member Scott to approve the March
29, 2021, minutes as presented. Motion Carried Unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Landscape Architect Tammy Cook-Weedon of Calvin, Giordano & Associates
(CGA) introduced her associate, Mr. Gianno Feoli, Director of Landscape
Urbanism and �esign, who would be making the presentation on the conceptual
plan of the Cattle Drive Sculpture Park, now known as the Cattlemen's Square
[Block L of FLAGLER PARK/Park #5].
MAY 24, 2021, FPDRAC M�rvuTEs, PAGE 1 OF 3
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V. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
A. Continued. Mr. �Feoli's presentation included a slideshow of which a copy has
been incorporated in the minute file for the official record. He conveyed CGA's
professional qualifications, they are a multi-disciplinary full firm, including
landscape architecture and surveying. Three of the entire team assigned and
dedicated to the City's project were present. He outlined their scope of work for
the Cattlemen's Square which included a Visioning Master Plan and Park
Conceptual Design Phase and the detailed Park Site Design and Construction
Plans. He stressed the importance of ensuring all areas are addressed affecting
visitors, businesses, and Americans with Uisabilities Act (ADA) compliance. The
decisions for this specific block will impact designs for the remainder of the entire
project. Surveying the project area is approximately 85 percent complete. Once
these and the computer aided drawing and drafting files are completed, they will
be able to move forward with the Master Flan.
Mr. Feoli referenced photographs and design mock-ups for the Cattleman's
Square, explaining CGA has been working closely with representatives of
Okeechobee Main Street-Arts and Culture Alliance (OKMS-ACA) [as this
organization obtained Council approval o�n November 27, 2018, for this project
and has been diligently raising funds and receiving donations]. This park will
feature ten sculptures with multiple material selections to replicate a cattle drive
scene; and include plaques for donors. The expected delivery of the sculptures
is late 2021, with installation near the end of the year. The goal is to capture the
essence of the scene and to maintain cohesiveness amongst all the parks. The
suggestion was made to create an entrance from West South Park Street using
the donor pavers for them to be easily located and viewed. They are researching
seating and illumination to create different experiences between visiting at day or
night.
Discussion ensued concerning the placement, type of materials, and ADA
requirements in the Cattlemen's Park. Mr. Feoli indicated changes are able to be
made to walkways and materials to suit the vision. Multiple FPDRAC members
questioned loud sound as a potential issue with the parks bordering North Park
Street/State Road 70. He explained this would need to be approached carefully,
as adding elements to reduce sound can also reduce visibility to the parks and
the commercial businesses.
He turned his pr�sentation focus on the blocks bordering Flagler Park which have
wide rights-of-way, underutilized space, no spatial definition, problematic
crosswalks for ADA compliance, parking visibility complications, electrical and
irrigation issues. He explained these issues will be identified, recommendations
will be made to correct the issues and this information will be incorporated into
the Master Plan to prevent problems further along in the process.
The Veterans Memorial Park [Block E of FLAGLER PARK/Park #1], will be one
of the biggest challenges to design due to the variation of components already
there. CGA wants to identify the sensitive nature of what the park represents; and
what has been constructed over the years. There are components requiring to be
replaced due to their condition or moved fio maintain a design cohesion with the
rest of the parks.
MAY 24, 2021, FPDRAC MirvuTEs, PAGE 2 OF 3
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V. NEW BUSINESS COI�TINUED
A. Continued. He provided an update on the City Parks Master Plan stating, in his
20 years of exp�rience in his profession, he has never seen a park sequencing
setup like Okeechobee's. Capitalizing on this is an important element of the
Master Plan. He does not want visitors to stop at one park, but be compelled to
see them all, and for the Cattlemen's Square to become a beacon for cattlemen
design in this area. He believes a pedestrian focus should come first, which may
involve traffic studies to add speed bump� or other traffic calming devices which
would create a safe environment for pede�trians.
Discussion turned to whether to move forward with an open house to invite
members of the public and business owners within the subject area to spur
communication and excitement for the project, as well as when to present
recommendations to the City Council. The consensus of the FPDRAC was not
to schedule an open house at this time, to wait until the completion of the
Master Vision Plan, present recommendations to the Council, and then host
the open house.
B. After a brief discussion concerning scheduling, the consensus of the FPDRAC
was to set the next meeting date for June 21, 2021, and to change the
meeting start time from 3:00 P.M. to 3:�0 P.M.
Chair Chartier requested a Committee Comments section be added to the
end of future ar�endas.
VI. There being no further items for discussion, Chair Chartier adjourned the meeting at
5:16 P.M.
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Submitted by: �'%� ,�I� ��'.._, De ut Clerk
'' pproved on: �l�L�i�S i� lla, �'� �
Please take notice and be advised that when a person decides to appeal any decision made by the FPDRAC with
respect to any matter considered at this meeting, s/he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding
is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. City Clerk
media are for the sole purpose of backup for official records of the Clerk.
MAY 24, 2021, FPDRAC M�NUTEs, PAGE 3 OF 3