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DRAFT 2021-05-24 Minutes MAY 24, 2021, FPDRAC DRAFT MINUTES, PAGE 1 OF 3 CITY OF OKEECHOBEE FLAGLER PARK DESIGN REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE MAY 24, 2021 DRAFT MEETING MINUTES 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 rd Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida. ATTENDANCE Deputy City Clerk Jenkins called the roll. Chair 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 Alternate Bob Burdge were present. Members absent with consent were Susanne Clemons, Denise Whitehead, and Alternate Greg Maynard. Alternate Member Burdge was assigned to serve in a voting position (for Clemons). AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS A. Motion by Member Scott, seconded by Member Hamrick to approve the agenda as presented. Motion Carried Unanimously. B. One comment card was submitted by Mrs. Courtney Moyett, with the QuitDoc Foundation, and Okeechobee County Tobacco-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 review 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 Design, 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 DRAFT MINUTES, PAGE 2 OF 3 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 Disabilities 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 Plan. 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 on November 27, 2018, for this project and has been diligently raising funds and receiving donation s]. 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 presentation 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 to maintain a design cohesion with the rest of the parks. MAY 24, 2021, FPDRAC DRAFT MINUTES, PAGE 3 OF 3 V. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED A. Continued. He provided an update on the City Parks Master Plan stating, in his 20 years of experience 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 bumps or other traffic calming devices which would create a safe environment for pedestrians. 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 3:30 P.M. Chair Chartier requested a Committee Comments section be added to the end of future agendas. There being no further items for discussion, Chair Chartier adjourned the meeting at 5:16 P.M. Submitted by: _________, Deputy Clerk Approved on: _______________ 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. 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