HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks & Recreation Advisory BdCity of Miami
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
DATE: January 15, 2015
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members af the City Commission
FROM: L. Elijah Stiers, Esq., Chairman
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
RE;
City of Miami 2014 Annual Report -. Parks + Recreation and Open Spaces
Hon, Mayor and Members of the City Commission,
In compliance with City Code Sec. 2-890, and in furtherance of my recent appointment as Chairman of
the City's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB), I provide you with this 2014 annual report,
it has been an honor to serve on the PRAB since 2013 as Commissioner 5arnof's appointee. Since my
appointment, the PRABhas made amazing strides, and I can confidently state that the PRAB currently
consists of a group of dedicated community leaders who share the vision of improving our City's parks
and helping our Parks Department reach its full potential.
The PRAB asks for your continual support in enforcing all City Ordinances to assist with this aim including
Policy PR-5.2.1, whereas the "Board will also review and advise on capital plans and designs based on
the Master Plan and advise the Commission on any proposals to expend more than $50,000 to acquire
new park land, to diminish or convert existing park land, to accept donated land for parks, or to sell City
land that may be suitable for parks."
in 2015, the Board seeks to better the lines of communication with relevant departments, including
Parks, Planning and Capital Improvements, and request that the City Commission continue to provide
their support to assist us in this goal,
Please do not hesitate contacting me at es('aronovitzlaw.corn, or at (305) 484-6244 should you have
questions or comments, On behalf of the PRAB, I look forward to working with you to ensure a
sustainable future for the City's park system.
c: Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager
Amanda D. Fiallo, Parks Liaison
Maggie Fernandez, Vice -Chairman
Whether the board is serving the purpose for which it was created,
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is serving the purpose for which it was intended. In 2014,
appointments helped us achieve a full Board by which, in turn, has led us to positive and productive
monthly meetings where important projects have been presented and discussed. Recommendations
have been made to the City Manager and Parks Director from the Board, and new topics continue to be
reviewed and discussed for improving all parks and the effectiveness of the PRAB.
• Whether the board is serving current community needs,
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is committed to enhancing the quality of life and delivery of
services to the community. Input from residents and community leaders regarding the improvement of
park services and operations has been brought forth and evaluated. When provided, the CIP monthly
reports have been helpful in updating us with the status of current projects. To continue with this
momentum, the Board requests to be provided monthly CIP reports on a consistent basis so we may be
aware of all upcoming projects or those taking place to continue to provide the best services possible to
our community.
The PRAB asks for your support in providing consistent measures .for us to better serve our community.
As done so before, the PRAB will contact Mark Spanioli, Director of CIP, with said concerns so we may
have an efficient 2015 calendar year,
« A list of the board's major accomplishments,
The PRAB was able to review several parks projects and initiatives and provide valuable
recommendations in 2014. Some, but not all, of the PRAB's accomplishments included the following;
1:, Soil Contamination In Miarni Parks
In March of 2014, the PRAB conducted an inquiry into the contaminated soil found in several of the
City's parks. As you know, it was recently discovered that several of the City's parks, including
Blanche Park, Merrie Christmas, Curtis Park, and Douglas Park, among others, were found to have
soil tainted with hazardous chemicals In areas of the park, The PRAB convened the meeting to
identify which parks have been Identified as having contamination, to discuss the cause of the
contamination, and to gain an understanding of the work being done to remove and/or bury the
contaminated soil.
The PRAB learned from Harry James, CIP and Environmental Compliance Specialist, that the cause of
the contamination was incinerator ash which was used to provide infill for parkland. This resulting
in the depositing of heavy metals, which released dioxins and other toxic chemicals into the soil..
The PRAB learned that the City had tested approximately 25 locations, and had developed a plan to
address the problem by covering the contaminated soil with clean soil and geofilm, The PRAB also
discussed the expected budget for the clean-up and the expected timeline for covering the soil and
reopening the parks.
The PRAB requested that it be kept abreast of this project as its work progressed, and received
reports at two later meetings, The PRAB would like to receive an update from the City an the clean-
up efforts, the status of expenditures for the cleanup, and the timeline for reopening the affected
parks in 2015.
2. Alice Wainwright Park Trail Blazers:
In April of 2014, the PRAB held a meeting to discuss Alice Wainwright Park, a 25-acre natural
hardwood hammock near Miami's downtown urban core that has been largely fenced -off since
1997. Among others, the PRAB heard from resident Frankie Ruiz, Director of the Miami Merathon,
as well as from Juan Fernandez, the Parks Naturalist for the City, The undersigned, along with Mr,
Ruiz and Mr, Fernandez, Later met with Commissioner Sarnoff and received permission to begin the
process of removing debris from the Park with plans to re -open portions of the fenced -In area of
Alice Wainwright Park,
In November of 2014, Alice Wainwright Park Trail Blazers was formed by the undersigned as a group
of volunteers committed to meeting regularly to clean the park and build running and biking trails
through some portions of the Park,. There is much work to be clone, as the Park has been long-
neglected, but as the City's urban core expands rapidly in the near future, open spaces like Alice
Wainwright Park will be invaluable. Thus far the response from the public has been overwhelmingly
positive, and this project would not be possible if it were not for the PRAB and the support of the
City Commission and the City's new Parks Director, Kevin Kirw'1n.
3. Discussion Regarding the Elimination of Neonicotinoids from City Parks
in July of 2014, the PRAB took on an investigation of the City's use of neonicvtinoids In its parks by
Board Member Jonathan Burgess. At Mr, Burgess' request, the PRAB learned aboutthe use of
neonicotinoid pesticides and its role in destroying bee populations. More specifically, the drastic
decline in bee populations has already had, and will continue to have, wide -swooping effects on our
food supply. This phenomenon, also called Colony Collapse Disorder, has resulted in the loss of
about half of the US honeybee hives. In terms of numbers, the National Agriculture Statistics
Service reported 2,44 million honey -producing hives were in the United States in February 2008,
down from 4.5 million in 1980,'and 5,9 million in 1947.
The widespread use of neonicotinoids has been identified as a likely cause for this epidemic, and in
response, Europe has banned their use and several cities throughout the United States have also
passed measuresbanning the use of the pesticides. More recently, the city of Eugene, OR adopted a
resolution banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on city property. Mr, Burgess proposed a
resolution that the City of Miami similarly pledge to ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in its
parks. As an alternative, Mr. Burgess invited a vendor who provides non -toxic "green" pesticides to
the City of West Palm Beach for use in some of its parks. The PRAB applauded Mr, Burgess' initiative
and agreed to take up this issue in the future to ascertain to what extent the City of Miami
implements neonicotinoid pesticides in its parks, and depending on our findings, to propose to the
City Commission that said pesticides be discontinued immediately.
4, Selection of New Peeks Director
The• POi.3, was pleased to participate in the Seleetion of ithe neW City of Mira Parks DireOter, as
both the .current Park Diredtor, Mr, KirWin,: and hls predecesser, Stan Motley, were shortlisteCI from
the inteeview process with:the Input of the PR4. The PKAIIE3 wis t$1.0WO that Mr Motley made 0
point to attend every PfAB meeting, and we ate happy to inform yon that Mr. &win has continued
this habit and has not Only 'attended every meeting in his appointment as Director, but has
vothally tommitied to attending future meetings, With e full Board now in pIaca nd with the
atterldnce• of the Pinks Director, the PIAR Is poised to a'chleve itS:goals of Improving mIarni's park5,
and helping Miami's, parks system better serve its constituents;
Whether there Is any other board, either public or private, which wouc1 bottor serve the
function of the hoard,
There is noother board..that relates to park.specIficissues and it would..be detrimental to .the•PtirPose of
why this boat'd was formed if these duties were givon toanother b.oarci, The PRAB iscurrently made
up of dedicated tomrnunity leaders and puhilq,serVantS that bellevein the current .parks System and see
the :potential that. can be achieved: With :the .assistance, end. participation of .community leaders In
coOrdination with theCity'S elected. officials anti Parks Department..
Whether the ordinance treating the board should beemerideti to hotter enable the board to
.servethe piirpoSe for which it.was created.
A mentioned before.this board took great stride' s In a positive direction in 2014, and even better things
-are expected for .201$. We will .contimie our efforts to work with the City's ParkS Department and to
make irecomMendations, to the, City Manager and department heads with resPect to their duties In the
rkS. syste
tAihether the board'I ro,emberthip requirements cshotild be modified.
At this2tirne the Pk does not: re ornmend that meinhership reOulre,irtents be nand
• 'The:cost, both .tiire0,ard ,indirect, of Tiaintairilng the. board.,
The board has minimal cOsts. The board liaison estimates four hours a month onboard related activities
which would totaf to$1,500.0..year,..Suppiles such as paper, office rn ate ria15.0pying. could be capturedat
.$200, So the .pbysical 'cost to have the board function s under $2,000 a .yeart though this does not
consider cost :of using the City Chambers tl.nd the cost of airing the board meeting on the. City Channel.
77,
Thank you for your Consideration or the fore1ng, and we look.forward to better sssijrg yo,u and
making Miarn 4 parks even better in. 2015,.
Very.truly 'yours,
L.,. Elijah ,Stier$ Esq,