Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Advisory Board Regular Meeting

APPROVED MINUTES

Of the Regular Meeting of the Parks, Recreation, & Environmental Protection (PREP) Advisory Board

February 19, 2026, at 4:00pm, City of Sarasota, City Hall Commission Chambers

Board Members Present: Board Members Absent: City Staff Present:

Leo Fitzgerald, Chair Jimmy Glover, Vice Chair Mark Hamilton, Gen. Mgr., PRD

Carl Shoffstall Christopher Naese Juliet Linzmayer, Admin. Spec. II, PRD

Ron Watts

Rachel Brodsky

David Plotkin

1. Call to Order: Chair Fitzgerald called the regular monthly meeting of the Parks, Recreation, & Environmental

Protection (PREP) Advisory Board to order at 4:00pm.

2. Pledge of Allegiance: All members rose for the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Reading of the Pledge of Conduct: Chair Fitzgerald read the Pledge of Conduct.

4. Roll Call: 5 members were present. There was a quorum.

5. Approval of the Minutes from January 22, 2026: On a motion by member Watts and a second by Member Brodsky, the

minutes were approved. The Motion passed unanimously.

6. Action Items-Vote to Approve Board Chair and Vice Chair:

a. Board Chair: Chair Fitzgerald has completed his term as Advisory Board Chair and said he would entertain

nominations for the position. Member Watts nominated Member Carl Shoffstall for Board Chair and the motion

was seconded by member Brodsky. Chair Fitzgerald asked if there were any other nominations. There were none.

The motion passed unanimously. Chair Fitzgerald congratulated Member Shoffstall.

b. Vice Chair: Chair Fitzgerald asked if there were any nominations for Vice Chair. Member Watts nominated Leo

Fitzgerald and the motion was seconded by Member Shoffstall. Chair Fitzgerald asked if there were any other

nominations. There were none. The motion passed unanimously.

Chair Fitzgerald declared his position as Chair had concluded and he handed the gavel to new Chair Shoffstall. Chair

Shoffstall thanked the members for their support and said it was going to be a very important year for the PREP Board.

7. Citizens’ Input Concerning City Topics Session 1: None.

8. New Business: Chair Shoffstall asked if someone would be reviewing parks in Member Glover’s absence. General

Manager Hamilton said he would present Parks Review I. He began by reading the amenity suggestions received via

email from park visitors in response to a survey posted in the parks listed in the February Monthly Park Reviews.

a. Monthly Park Review I: Mark Hamilton, General Manager of Parks & Recreation Department, presented a “Parks

Review” in lieu of Member Glover who was absent. Hamilton discussed the distinctive features and recent

upgrades, renovations, and installations of 4 city parks: David Cohen, Robert L. Taylor Community Complex,

North Water Tower, and Sapphire Shores. His presentation included a slide show of photographs.

b. Monthly Park Review II: Leo Fitzgerald, PREP Advisory Board Member, presented a “February Parks Review”

highlighting the special characteristics, new installations, and improvements of Avion, Tuttle Walkway, Bobby

Jones Golf Club, Circus Trail Nature Park, Sarasota Lawn Bowling, the Nature Park at Bobby Jones, and Eastwood

city parks. His discussion also included a power point presentation of photographs.

9. Board Agenda Reports:

a. Parks: Member Watts said Payne Park Tennis Center recently hosted a senior men’s tennis tournament and that

Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Advisory Board Regular Meeting

PARKS, RECREATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING

03:30 p.m. February 19, 2026

Notice to the Public

Notice

For citizens who cannot be in attendance, please email Mark Hamilton 48 hours in advance to mark.hamilton@sarasotafl.gov to obtain a phone number to call into the meeting.

Notice of Meeting

Notice of Meeting

1)

Call Meeting to Order - Chair Fitzgerald

2)

Pledge of Allegiance - Members

3)

Reading of the Pledge of Conduct - Chair Fitzgerald We may disagree, but we will be respectful of one another. We will direct all comments to issues. We will not engage in personal attacks.

4)

Roll Call

5)

Approval of Minutes from January 22, 2026

DRAFT Minutes January 22, 2026

6)

Action Items - Vote to Approve Board Chair and Vice Chair

a.

2026 Board Chair

b.

2026 Board Vice Chair

7)

CITIZENS' INPUT CONCERNING CITY TOPICS SESSION 1: (Limited to 30 minutes) Note to the Public: At this time, citizens may address the PREP Board on topics concerning the City. (3 minutes per person time limit) Citizens' Input is to allow citizens the opportunity to present their view on matters concerning City topics but not on items scheduled elsewhere on the Agenda. Questions and answers shall not be permitted; however, matters presented to the PREP Board may be referred the Chair, with consensus of the PREP Board, to the Administration for action and possible follow-up at a future PREP Board meeting.

8)

New Business (Limited to 15 minutes each item)

a.

Monthly Park Review I - Vice Chair Glover and PREP Board Members a. David Cohen Park, Robert L Taylor Community Complex, North Water Tower Park, and Sapphire Shores Park

b.

Monthly Park Review II - Chair Fitzgerald and PREP Board Members a. Avion Park, Tuttle Walkway Park, Booby Jones Golf Club, Circus Trail Nature Park, Sarasota Lawn Bowling, The Nature Park at Bobby Jones, and Eastwood Park

9)

Board Agenda Reports

a.

Parks

b.

Recreation

c.

to this regular meetings parks, recreation, Environmental Protection Board on February 19, 2026. Like to with the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join me. I pledge allegiance to United States of America. stands one nation. I'd like to every one 2 things. First when you're speaking, please speak into the microphone. So all can be heard. And second, our pledge of conduct, we may disagree, but we will be respectful of one another. We will direct all comments to issues. We will not engage personal attacks. And I have a roll call run once Rachel Brodsky Carl show. David PLA can normally a Thank you. I read the minutes of the January. 22 meeting the hear from motion to approve. In favor. Aye. Board as to 2 years to terms. And that is my limit. I could have more, but would require approval of commissioners, which I'm not That leaves the position of chairman vacant. there any nominations for that position? >> To nominate Carl? >> And the other nominations. Second for nomination. >> And all in favor say Aye. Aye. >> And MS. Acclamation. Shop. So congratulations. Former vice chair. Are there any nominations? >> The move to nominate live. I'll second that. And for the nominations. Okay. All in favor. Aye. OK? My also. My work here is this over to shots Here we are again. Thank you for everybody for Haven't supported me. I think just. Just a quick comment I've been at action here for a little bit. But I've been talking to some of the commissioners and >> I think it's going to be a very, very important here. This prep board, if we're going to be as I always said, any relevancy there's several things that I really think that we need to get done or tried it. Get the city commissioners to agree with this, but that we were having elections this year. And we also have a new city manager command and I'm anxious to meet him up and Bob Jones or see here, Taylor, I'm sorry see if we can get that person, whoever it is. I'm on agreement with us that we push for this park district and a few other things that as this year goes on is going to be very important. 2. The city as a whole from the parks department. Look at things. So look forward to working with everybody as Mark knows me for a long time. I listen to everybody. And if anybody's got any ideas on his border, anything please, please come to us and let's discuss it and see what we can get done. But again, thank you for your support. I so. Doesn't look like we have anybody to talk today. small and okay. The monthly part for you. I don't know somebody's going to do that with Jimmy. Not here Okay, Mark, I wasn't around through a parade. Won't do as good a job Jenny will a. >> I think real quick. For The and put the Eves of from Park continue to go and help set up the signs. states story. Appreciate for keeping activate There are 2 and puts for this quite a few for the really is a round. So. >> This is in reference so for sure is part for both of these, which I is also known in some circles park or to the local. >> John and Lou, nothing negative all positive. The biggest thing we want is just more park benches to serve and to enjoy it. The park with and the next one is from Seoul to do so that probably done. He is requesting Public art art between the segrest clumps. mark for navigational safety. I guess help with mitigation as well as enhance a waterfront view. The park has some history from the 1920's John Ringling and friends parking their yachts. A supposed read up top of the park or so. so you you were very, you >> I remember him talking about Haha. >> But to there are they like to see some art sculptures down there to continue the Everything we have for the area, Sarasota and water That reviewer the input, if you will, from the park visitors on site. I just pull up some canned answers Parks. this is Jimmy governor of them. He did some for sure with us when Stacey was just you, your marketing coordinator has been doing a wonderful job. >> Get this off the ground as Robert Taylor community complex, David Cohen Park. >> Which is connected to the Robert North Water Tower Park and Safar Shores that we were just talking about. this from But so we're doing now. >> If you through this is the this is us. I'm sure guys are. Are you someone >> These are the the as lawn signs that are out and each park. We've got a lot of great feedback and by the way, are taking few back and when you to landscape for the most part and creates the Clinton work. So a lot of these things have turned directly into work Some of them are ideas will keep for when we do the master plan and park. a good chunk of years of just simply turned into work orders taking care of. We're Of reserve. impart this Parker's is located at the Robert Taylor community complexes. Separately Notated. Overseen by landscape. The Reverend certainly do walkthroughs and help assistance part of a landscape overseas and its landscape. So they do all the playground inspections and things. So this is certainly. So it's just so small. Little area with a really nice walking track. And of separated by age groups out there for the older kids and younger kids. The walking Trail has a workout that's on the list to be replaced. As we go along, the the equipment I believe would be more than 12 years old. And so it's certainly coming to the time where. Replacement is there. You can see the bridge over drainage ditch grills out there for people to part of tech neck and hang out. That's our marketing sign that way. You'll see that we designed the is out there at the end of the park. A lot of information are shared on there. And it's a lot of views from each to that has an probably 10 to 12 slides are lots of information. There's a nice intersection or read. were people have to sit for 2 minutes? So we we have a captured audience are quite a As you can see. It's it's pretty nice. Onto the road to are complex, as you guys know. it's. When it was brand new One, a bunch of architectural awards. Very beautiful and put walk-up. The poll has a couple of left plans early uses. A well-planned poll, however, is more of a family poll. >> Slide the many slide, a little The pool currently is up and are in summer camp and mostly just the summer just the families to come through. It's packed in the summertime. from back there. >> The first sitting there years ago it's really, really took off. one of the first include lacrosse lawns permanently go wall of for the now. A lot of other places of put down permanent across arms or access to make it easier no, we're not taking credit for the boom of the cross. Blue Cross is doing very well around here and think through this. We don't have as much across there and we're the kind of spread about as these other locations of made it accessible and easier to play lacrosse but were packed with soccer football use for adults. It's it's a ton of fun out there. We're we're we're busy out there. It's going use. accomplishment there to vote for granted to him and it's been beautiful. some ceding. There's a concessions to. That's our outdoor basketball John credits earned his team landscape. Just have this And it's beautiful. All of the plexi The this is kind of becoming our staple as a person per month to upgrade. If you stop pioneer Park, those are first trial of these back boards. it's it's huge people of them. So as we replace and upgrade basketball courts in the system. We're going to be sticking with back boards and is going to be kind of like our stable. If you go to a basketball court. And you know, and you see those and you know, city. So those are exciting. The breakaway rooms. Interior it's a full weight room. And we really is such a the pricing of $10 a month. The difference between ours and other locations. No contractors annual fee. If you're here for 3 months, you pay $10 a month. And when you lose your you, you're good to go. When you come back and visit, you just sign up again. It's very carefree. As far as a membership just strictly $10 a month. And gymnasium. The Vols, sparkling everywhere. And we've taken so that we put down the permanent lines. Basically took the are Monday through Friday in the mornings. And then Friday evenings. And then the rest of it is a basketball. Though, the Taco Bell School for kids. And then there's a league play. The ones in league for adults is one of the area. I know because I had to retire from playing their first win. A move to the old currently player. They also have a women's league which is very successful as well. Really proud of that to you both of those leagues are doing very well. Turf in It should last you replace it in phases. The the carpet service 10 years. We're about a year, Mark. We we have got annual. >> Worked on. And so it's doing very well. So longer than 10 years. When you do replaces the current once and then the next time around 10 yes ago and redo the subsurface of the summer, Parrott on there, which is the concussion. was So. >> Roughly 20 free up the floor replace it. we're going to do a little bit more life out of Looks like it's been holding up very well. Yeah, absolutely. North Water Park. >> This And so that's one of our largest parks and cruise was the landscape team to start of fall come to a point where the palms and everything kind of worked on the ground and they were supposed to. Break down and kind of doing to nature wasn't working very well. And the hurricanes came through so just kind overwhelming. So they did a full out there. And now, if you haven't been through since the take a >> It's just one of them before you kind of feel you're stuck in there. can see through now you can kind of see through the majority, the park as you take a walk. And it's really good for this Know. There's a lot of last disco there. So. >> office huge up there. it's a it's a professional grade course. That mural was painted to. I guess it was about 3 weeks ago things Coleman and pulled the love the way getting this mural gone to the back. restaurant facility claim that a really nice super cool. >> How long you keep open? >> That's fake ID sunup to sundown. But I have to I have to triple check if their clothes in them. diss golf group out there in a part of what's so? Yeah, the normal job out there they help us keep the roads in and make sure that runs, right? You know, because we're not. Disc golf experts come and make and set up read of the Some of the suspects and they gave us and there are a great partner out there. regularly. It's going to Beau need some love. This is part of the master plan. It's not. No, it's ultimate perk is next. And then after that will be in North port, our work. So they did a cleanup prior to the master plan. me for the meetings you're going to see, you know, administration doing out there a dog park. Some more clean additions to the playground and think that is the buzz going to read of keep of the paths and some lightning, some safety for waiting and things. So as we get to that, it's been really nice to her. You can see that it certainly is a nature And you have this year than before. And afters of the. Cleanup post-hurricane. So starting to kind of see on the ground level full of shrubbery and palm fronds and sticks announced this unopened. We've got 4 or 5 sliders. really awesome before and afters. When state doing a great job. There. shores was another part. It took some some damage from the storms. It's a waterfront. It's it's pretty small as one of our pocket parks. It's a little when your partner, that's beautiful use are incredible. So there is look at the open water fish of intention so I didn't do that. marshals. This is where they're asking for more seating. put which makes I believe there is the bees, some sitting right to So I every but they're working on sea wall on the back to life. Little playground picnic table. Some cool spots. We're rolling right into and Federer is now. So what I can answer any questions, possibly You know, so many questions not Well, taking over for him for a further word. surely a. I think any mistakes. This car good These are parts that are near and dear to my >> mostly around where I live you some of them are doing quite well. can start the on Park. This is the signs were at the parks that we looked at. previously. When I first one out there to see what was going Passed it about 3 times before. I think, you know, wasn't just a vacant lot. You know. And then abandoned. needed some love. the good news is that it got quite a bit of love. This is a real less success story. And appears that there's great local participation there. several meetings with the locals. And, you know, did a list of what they wanted. this park is a combination you know, that's what seemed like a list that was never ending. they managed to take quite and quite a few. Their requests. They have. The Shane Jim area for younger children. They've got the, you know, the place quiet places, a different Some in the shade, something this some of son. You know, older folks who want to enjoy They have the basketball out in the it's a, you know, they as I said, they she wore in quite a few. Of the locals request in to us what is really small park, almost a park, park pocket park. as I say, this was a this is a real success story. And I think it achieved everything that the Barth reported a nest. Listening to make it. Good neighborhood Park. The tunnel walk would park a linear you know, is actually for for I like it because it's an alternative. If you're on your bicycle going down fruitville, were you still take your life in your hands? times? This is according nice quiet area. It's safe. You know, the made a bunch of improvements here, including a upgrading of seating benches shelters. There is throne eternal is nice. The sidewalks or even you know, you don't don't have to worry about that. As I say, it's. It's it's just a nice, peaceful area to walk through. you know, especially during spring training, it can get to be pretty crowded back there Boreal games. So it's it's practical. And also serves all the purposes that a public park shooting. I know Bobby Jones 20 now. Donald Ross. Design was to resign architect. it's it's done. It's John, again, another real success story. I just got the finances, the financials for the end of the fiscal year, which ended September 30th. I still have a question or 2. I'm going to put off my report on that till next meeting. There was 1.4 million dollar payment charge against. Yes, the golf my as I recall, it was supposed to be 1.1 million. 1.4. Right now, the my first blush look through. Looks like it had a deficit of 300,000, but again, we're just that 1.1 to 1.4. It's it's done really well. I mean, considering that. There was only a few of us that ever thought we'd come even close to making a bond payment leave alone, you know, have a few shekels left over. You know, that's a and that has just gone. Gun really well. And, you know, it still has a great upside potential. glass be parked the car for 3. Something to the what used to be called executive course know just double course that still need some tweaking. and then we have to do a little bit on that. We have a centennial coming up and there's a debate, you know, is the centennial the day of the year that it was opened or the year the next year that Bobby actually played it. My answer is, well, it's both years. You know, let's have to Centennial says, keep this party going, you know, so also to share it with 2 different looks and everything. And been some talk the driving range improvements to the drive driving range. Which I Holder great potential. So all still in the works and a little love it. You know, we're still kind negotiating, I the prospects for Bobby Jones is there. doing great now and I think it has a great do more to come. And one last thing I'd like to say about you know, is especially with the all the attention dredging of Philippi Creek that, you know, back when Milton came through, there's a picture of Bobby Jones the next day where the entire golf course is under water with the exception of all 18 greens, they never went under water. But all of that water was held back. And, you know, the the whole idea was to hold back water for 2 days from a hurricane. 48 hours and of course, did that. And I know the people in you down in pine graft in certain you know, they along fully be may be small comfort to them. But without Bobby Jones, they're doing that. The environmental work that damage would have been a whole lot more substantial. So. You know, it's worked on all levels. It's great for our golfers. These great for our environment. You know, it's and it's as I say, it's just got a whole lot more to go. Working out of a double wide. So I'm going to give my editorial, you know, as as you know, we we voted to approve the one story thing this body did. The initial vote. 41, the commissioners accepted our recommendation during second reading. It was 3 to 2, which is a little disappointing. Was focus on the cost differential between a one story in a 2 story saying that, well, by the time we get done building one story is going to cost with. The 2 story was From my own $0.2. I think that misses the point that the real point is not what it cost to build. The real point is what it's going to cost to operate. A nice to to story facility needs to the have conditioned there has landed there as nice to have, you know. Carpeting and and this idea about doing weddings and all that You know, to me, I I really feel strongly that we need to be back to all. One story. Clubhouse. And that's that's how they're proceeding now. And I hope we get moving on that. You know, for the editorials taken. Circus Trail Nature Park is a great, great It's much more than this than a pocket park. It's a good chunk of the turn to arias. Things go. It's only problem is there is absolutely no parking and in order to get there, it's at the corner Fruitville and beneath up. One of our busiest and most dangerous intersections. And, you know, it's not the kind of intersection just going to tell you to know, going over and go to the park. You know, you take your life in your hands some days. I go through that intersection quite often. And it's an adventure every time. So you know, they they need to do something parking. There's parking for bicycles. Which is always available. You know. And and as I say, there's lots of trees, lots of shade. You know, it's there's no benches. There are no shelters. There is this bike path which goes along the creek. You can with the park on the right. And the fire Academy on the left. I'm now, of course, that fire academies going away. That's being relocated by the county and leave that properties owned by library. Anyway. It's not ours. Whatever happens. But that where hopefully we can get which the Barth plan calls for news from this path over too. Over to the park. And 2, it would be a a the big improvement has an obvious tie and to the legacy trail, which is coming through there quickly, there. As you may Legacy Trail is doing that were coming down. But vote from where it crosses a where the trail crosses that any vote all the way down the fruit And then from there on as I say this, should be it should be an obvious time. Sarasota lawn bowling is there courtesy of the they're having some issues issue number one, which I wasn't going to talk about. But they wrote some letters, some of the input from that was reflecting on the grass, which you know, I'm not an agronomist, but I. I played one in the past and that grass a you know, which they realize they. Have said that they brought some experts it's it's gone. They wanted a who does the maintenance of Bobby Jones to take over? Well, they they're not going to touch that with a 10 foot that's that's just not in the cards. So I don't You know. Be completely honest. I never liked being there. And you know, now that it's there. You know, where they get to do with it. It has to storage units that, you know, you can the night you can see right from the street. Now as port-a-potties. The city kicked in some. 2 tables. And then. And who's going to clean the party? Taylor, who does know they have some issues to address and the sooner we do it, I'm sure the better it'll be for all this. Our nature park Bobby Jones is a work in If you been out there lately, part portions of it are or a closed-off there doing planning is open. Most of it is open for walkers and bicycles. It is, of course, a collaboration between the city and the quarterly interest previously known as conservation. Foundation. They're doing a fundraising and we have great hopes for Right now. It is. truly natural. Go out there and it's it's still nice. You know, there are portions were you know, cart paths are still there. You know, most of it now is turned over to show, but it's still very easy to bike. It's easy to walk. Bring your own water bring, you know. It's it could get warm out there. it's open you access it. the Bobby Jones Golf course. you know, it's it's it's going to be great when it's done. It's just going to and it takes some time. And then Eastwood Park a smaller that is just off of off of the legacy trail. It's it's gotten a lot of attention in the past several years. And now has a, you know, it's little small of a soccer field. It seems a little bit tailored to the younger set. with different, you know, recreational things for them. As I say, there and also that have soccer field have regular goals and smaller So gets good participation. you know, was it's it's always in good You know, it's it gets fair share of community activity. you know, I think it's it should be just a little tie into the legacy Some of us were hoping that instead of the legacy going down the it would go through that city right of way, which is right. Goes right through that park. That didn't happen. hopefully maybe they can get a look from Legacy trail and into this part could be a nice little addition to have. That is. I have happy take any questions. We're waiting. Any bricks being thrown at Thank you very much. Mark of a about I know Ted Wilson when he was here when the first first moved out there with lawn, bowling. >> What what kind? You're in Jerry's take on things here. What we're looking at with. They're moving forward and looking for this help. from what I read in that e-mail, it's a significant amount their looking for. In my opinion. >> I will speak for jury but no the to part of the specifically states that there to care for frame. And we the golf course you have separate from our agreement. So, you know, we can. And on 2 or 3 ago in the commission of to adjust for that some and they're just not interests of this time. You know, it's kind of there and they're in a rough spot out there with that right >> I was out there the other day looking We've got one cigarette. Yeah. Maybe with a park district. be able to do something with them, but That's there's a lot of work to do in that out there for sure. >> All You have here. On seem anybody have a >> And they would like to talk about something on. I I think part Kostas a tennis tournament. Just 2 weeks ago at this point Carling Nichols staff and ran it in an excellent job. It's lows. 60 players to Mid 90's this year. One of 3 in the area for senior and I had the most participation of all 3 really Klein. Well, in that short time, good cooperation that court the staff the park staff. They had some sponsors. We're they're out there for a day or 2. Couldn't control. The weather was freezing. Finish with some very positive feedback from the players and the suspect continue to grow into in the city's top tennis tournament here. So that was true. Well done by all. All Board agenda Anybody have anything, parks, recreation environmental thing. I will mention that the beach renourishment out of going. >> Very They're moving right along. I think they will be done by the time turtle season gets around. So. Haven't heard anybody saying a