HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-02-01 Playing Fields Workshop.tifMINUTES
PLAYING FIELDS WORKSHOP
VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2001
COUNCIL CHAMBER
85 WEST MCINTYRE STREET, SECOND FLOOR
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor at 7:00 p.m. Present were Councilmembers Scott
Bass , Martha F. Broucek, Alan H. Fein, Robert Oldakowski, James L. Peters, Vice Mayor Mortimer
Fried and Mayor Joe I. Rasco. Also present were Village Clerk Conchita H. Alvarez and Village
Attorney Joseph H. Serota.
Mayor Rasco led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Mayor welcomed the public to the workshop to discuss the Village's need for Playing Fields.
The Mayor also welcomed City of Miami Manager, Carlos Gimenez and Chief of Staff Chip Iglesias,
Pat Keon, Policy Aide from Commissioner Jimmy Morales'office and Tony Cotarelo representing
School Board Member Manty Sabates-Morse. Councilmember Oldakowski also welcomed Mr. Tory
Jacobs, President, Brickell Area Homeowners Association.
The Mayor introduced Todd Hofferberth, Recreation Director.
Director Hofferberth addressed the Council regarding the efforts to acquire field space for
team sports for the residents. In this effort, the Village has negotiated and entered into
several agreements with both private and public landowners to help satisfy the deficit in field
space. While it seems the shortage of playing fields will be minimized this season, it is
imperative that we continue to seek long-term solutions for this problem.
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Carlos Gimenez, Manager, City of Miami and Chip Iglesias, Chief of Staff addressed the
Council and the public regarding Virginia Key.
The following residents addressed the Council: Dr. Steve Simon, 335 Harbor Lane
addressed the issue of speeding up the availability of the 200 Crandon Boulevard property
for playing fields and the option of playing fields on Virginia Key and the concern of the
quality of the landfill on that property. Dr. Simon also addressed Calusa Park (jurisdictional
wetlands) and Crandon Park suggesting to modify the approach to the following: 1.)
Resolution to keep the existing Crandon Park playing field and 2.) Limit proposal to Miami -
Dade County regarding Calusa Park avoiding wetland issues and limiting the area to the
municipal boundaries; Ed Meyer, 100 Sunrise Drive, suggested the use of the site where the
old Calusa Playhouse used to be, for playing fields and to build a reserve fund for green
space by taking half of the previous year's surplus and placing it into such a fund; Jim
Taintor, 355 Harbor Drive, spoke in favor of the Calusa Park idea for playing fields and the
ability to use the existing fire station as a recreation center; John Festa, 695 Harbor Lane,
suggested that playing fields on Virginia Key would be ideal for older kids and giving up the
tennis courts and the toddler lot at Calusa Park for playing fields; Camille Guething, 260
Seaview Drive, spoke in favor of the use of Calusa Park and Virginia Key for playing fields
and addressed the lease recently executed by the Village of Key Biscayne with Fininvest
regarding the Scharenberg property at 200 Crandon Boulevard suggesting that the Village
look into a lease with a contract to purchase; Ellen Blasi, 240 Crandon Boulevard, Fininvest,
addressed the issue of the lease with the Scharenberg property at 200 Crandon Boulevard for
playing fields on a temporary basis, stating that the property is not for sale; Blanca Mesa, 544
Fernwood Road, read a memorandum from Miami -Dade County Parks Department dated
August 7, which addresses the assessment feasibility study requested by the Village of Key
Biscayne on Calusa Park; Bill Thompson, 300 Ridgewood Road, spoke in favor of pursuing
all options within Village boundaries, Calusa Park which he walked with DERM, regarding
feasibility, Crandon Park and Virginia Key (MAST Academy site absolutely the most
desirable) also talked regarding the importance to separate children by age groups; Larry
Radzville, 77 Crandon Boulevard, spoke in favor of obtaining as much land as possible
between the Community School and the Village Green and the possibility of creating an
environmental enhancement to the Village by developing 10 to 15 acres of shallow area
behind the Presbyterian Church and Villa Harbor (adjacent to the Yacht Club); Lori Davis,
265 Grapetree Drive, spoke in favor of playing fields at Calusa Park; Dr. Steve Simon also
addressed -the idea of purchasing 8 homes surrounding the school, suggesting that this site
would not be very functional for playing fields, but if the Council would consider (long
range) purchasing the 14 homes adjacent to the Community School on West Wood and West
Enid, two regulation size soccer fields could fit in that area, encroaching slightly in the
school property or two baseball diamonds and requested that Council would consider the
possibility of relocating the entrance to the parking of the Recreation Center to Village Green
Way and John Festa suggested relocating the Recreation Center and the toddler lot to the
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October 2, 2001
north side of the Village Green adjacent to the Galieria Shopping Center and also suggested
that by relocating the Recreation Center, Council could reconsider raising the height of the
building 4 feet in order to avoid the expensive underground parking.
The Attorney addressed the Council regarding Calusa Park.
Director of Building, Zoning and Planning, Jud Kurlancheek addressed the Council regarding the
proposed Recreation Center.
Mayor Rasco announced that Miami -Dade County will not oppose the Village's efforts in the
amendment process for Crandon Park.
The Mayor also announced that he has entered into initial negotiations with St. Agnes Church and
the Archdiocesis of Miami to potentially have a lease on the St. Agnes field for playing fields.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
tfully subm
onchita H. Alvarez, CMC
Village Clerk
fde,
Approved this 23rd day of October, 2001:
Joe I. Rasco
Mayor
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FLORID
IF A PERSON DECIDES TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL
WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AT A MEETING OR HEARING, THAT
PERSON WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND, FOR SUCH PURPOSE,
MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS
MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH
THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.
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