4970 CITY HALL BLVD  
NORTH PORT, FL 34286  
City of North Port  
Meeting Minutes  
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board  
Thursday, February 17, 2022  
6:30 PM  
City Hall Room 244  
1. Call to Order  
Chair Scheidel called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  
2. Roll Call  
6 -  
Present  
Chair Scheidel, Board Member Hersh, Vice Chair Everett, Board Member Beaver,  
Board Member Murphy and Board Member Stevens  
1 - Board Member Parsotan  
Absent  
Also Present  
Assistant Parks and Recreation Director and Staff Liaison Tricia Wisner, Aquatic  
Supervisor Devon Poulos, and Recording Secretary Amanda Baker  
3. Pledge of Allegiance  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Board.  
4. Public Comment  
There was no public comment.  
Ms. Wisner introduced Mr. Poulos, who provided an overview of his background and  
experience.  
Discussion took place regarding improving the customer flow at the concession stand  
windows.  
5. Approval of Minutes  
22-2275  
Approval of Minutes for the January 20, 2022 Parks and Recreation  
Advisory Board Meeting  
A motion was made by Board Member Hersh, seconded by Board Member Everett,  
to approve the Minutes as presented. The motion carried on the following vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Chair Scheidel, Board Member Hersh, Vice Chair Everett, Board Member Beaver,  
Board Member Murphy and Board Member Stevens  
1 - Board Member Parsotan  
Absent:  
6. New Business  
22-2088  
Discussion and Possible Action to Elect a Chair for 2022  
Chair Scheidel announced the item and requested nominations for Chair.  
Board Member Beaver nominated Chair Scheidel to continue as Chair. Board Member  
Stevens seconded the nomination.  
The nomination of Chair Scheidel to continue as Chair carried on the following  
vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Chair Scheidel, Board Member Hersh, Vice Chair Everett, Board Member Beaver,  
Board Member Murphy and Board Member Stevens  
1 - Board Member Parsotan  
Absent:  
22-2089  
Discussion and Possible Action to Elect a Vice-Chair for 2022  
Chair Scheidel announced the item and requested nominations for Vice Chair.  
Chair Scheidel nominated Board Member Everett as Vice Chair. Board Member Hersh  
seconded the nomination.  
Board Member Everett nominated Board Member Beaver as Vice Chair. Board Member  
Murphy seconded the nomination.  
Discussion took place regarding the nomination process, Board Member Hersh being  
nominated, policy regarding attending meetings virtually, and the role of the Vice Chair  
position.  
The nomination of Board Member Everett as Vice Chair carried on the following  
vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Chair Scheidel, Board Member Hersh, Vice Chair Everett, Board Member Beaver,  
Board Member Murphy and Board Member Stevens  
1 - Board Member Parsotan  
Absent:  
22-2090  
Discussion and Possible Action to Nominate a Representative to Serve as  
the North Port Representative on the Parks and Recreation Council.  
Chair Scheidel announced the item and requested nominations for Representative.  
Discussion took place regarding the council's purpose, meeting times and locations,  
current representative, and the process of being on the council.  
There was consensus to nominate Board Member Hersh to continue as  
Representative.  
21-1950  
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Apps to Promote Park  
Information  
Chair Scheidel announced the item.  
Ms. Wisner spoke to the "North RePort" app and the park finder section of the app.  
Discussion took place regarding ease of finding parks on the app, possible avenues to  
review to assist with implementing a parks app, using community-submitted pictures for  
campaigning purposes, pictures and reviews in Google Maps, and conducting a Google  
Maps search to locate City parks.  
22-2086  
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Updates to the Existing Canine  
Club as per Capital Improvement Project  
Chair Scheidel announced the item.  
Discussion took place regarding the recent meeting with the Jockey Club, utilizing the  
available funds for park improvements, Commission ability to suppress Jockey Club's  
vote, plans for use of City-owned parcels adjacent to the park, and obtaining community  
feedback with examples of potential ground-covering materials.  
22-2216  
Discussion Regarding Recent Items at the City Commission Meetings.  
Chair Scheidel announced the item.  
Ms. Wisner spoke to Phase 1A of the Warm Mineral Springs project, grant funding for  
swimming lessons at the Aquatic Center, Commission decisions regarding Veterans  
Park name and design plan, Surtax IV and community feedback regarding use, Dallas  
White Park Public-Private Partnership development ideas, East Italy Avenue parcel ideas  
including a small dog park and master plan rental community, and an agreement between  
the City and Hampton Inn to offer discounted admission to Warm Mineral Springs and the  
Aquatic Center for overnight guests.  
22-2217  
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Annual Advisory Board Goals.  
Chair Scheidel announced the item.  
Ms. Wisner provided a presentation packet including list of last year's goals, updating the  
Board Member picture, projects and initiatives, Ordinances, current projects, successful  
Board-involved projects, and spoke to changes to the goals for FY 22-23, deadline for  
submitting goals, when the goals are submitted to Commission, and Board participation  
at the March 22, 2022 Commission meeting.  
Discussion took place regarding adding goals including promoting drowning prevention  
programs.  
Mr. Poulos spoke to drowning statistics, Float for Life program, swimming lessons held  
at the Aquatic Center, staff education regarding water safety, and community outreach.  
Discussion continued regarding local drowning statistics and lethal and non-lethal  
drownings, City-sponsored May Day anti-drowning expo, May being drowning prevention  
month, actionable steps behind goals, methods for promoting public anti-drowning  
education, promoting community involvement to visit Wellen Park area, streets within  
Wellen Park being West Villages Improvement District-owned, identifying opportunities to  
promote unity between North Port and Wellen Park, adding walking paths similar to the  
walking paths along U.S. 41 by North Port Boulevard and Pan American Boulevard, and  
fundraising standards and options.  
There was consensus to leave the goals as is and add the drowning prevention  
program.  
22-2218  
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Annual Report to Commission.  
Chair Scheidel announced the item.  
Ms. Wisner spoke to the report being brought to the March 22 Commission meeting.  
22-2244  
Discussion Regarding Nomination of  
a
Member of the Parks and  
Recreation Advisory Board to Act as a Liaison Member on the Veteran’s  
Park Advisory Committee.  
Chair Scheidel announced the item.  
Discussion took place regarding the Veterans Park Advisory Committee meeting time  
and location, how long the meetings last, and the role of the liaison member.  
Board Member Hersh nominated Chair Scheidel to serve as liaison member on the  
Veterans Park Advisory Committee. Board Member Everett seconded the nomination.  
The nomination of Chair Scheidel to serve as the liaison member on the Veterans  
Park Advisory Committee carried on the following vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Chair Scheidel, Board Member Hersh, Vice Chair Everett, Board Member Beaver,  
Board Member Murphy and Board Member Stevens  
1 - Board Member Parsotan  
Absent:  
22-2270  
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Art Advisory Board's Skate  
Park Proposal  
Chair Scheidel announced the item.  
Ms. Wisner spoke to the current state of the skate park and the Art Advisory Board's  
plans for improvements.  
Discussion took place regarding funding for improvements, manageable upkeep and  
maintenance, current issues with graffiti and vandalism, current concession building,  
tabling the artwork until the concession building becomes staffed, skate park promotional  
events, types of bikes and skates allowed, the Art Board's vision to be submitted to  
Commission, and vending machines being installed at the fire and police departments  
across from the skate park.  
7. Updates  
21-1946  
Tricia Wisner: Update Regarding Upcoming Events  
Ms. Wisner spoke to updates including the Welcome Back Braves bash, Movie on the  
Green, Kids Day Out, Citywide Yard Sale, and CPR class.  
Discussion took place regarding Woofstock participation, vendors, and adoptions, and  
changing the venue to Dallas White Park for next year's Woofstock.  
22-2087  
Board Member Hersh: Update Regarding the January 2022 Parks and  
Recreation Council (PARC) Meeting  
Chair Scheidel announced the item.  
Board Member Hersh provided an update regarding the Legacy Trail construction.  
Discussion took place regarding Board ideas to submit to the Council, the Legacy Trail  
construction plan, and Snook Haven improvements.  
22-2214  
22-2215  
Tricia Wisner: Review of Parks & Recreation's Social Media Metrics for  
January 2022.  
No discussion took place.  
Tricia Wisner: Review of Parks & Recreation's Monthly Report for January  
2022.  
Ms. Wisner provided updates regarding increased Aquatic Center and Warm Mineral  
Springs Park participation.  
8. Future Agenda Items  
Future agenda items include Warm Mineral Springs Park plan and phases, and a recap  
of the annual goals presentation.  
9. Public Comment  
10. Adjournment  
There was no public comment.  
Chair Scheidel adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m.  
By: ___________________________________________  
James Scheidel, Chair  
These minutes were approved on the ____ day of _______________, 20___.