Okaloosa County BOCC — August 6, 2015 — Parks

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA SERVICE AREA: CULTURE/RECREATION DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM: PARKS PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Parks Division provides Construction Technicians and Groundskeepers for services at 59 developed parks throughout Okaloosa County. These include beach parks, baseball/athletic fields, neighborhood parks and assigned non-park areas such as Highway 98 and Santa Rosa Boulevard medians on Okaloosa Island. Groundskeepers provide services to the public by maintaining approximately 467 acres of grass, installing and maintaining landscaping and 55 irrigation systems, cleaning 21 restrooms and providing trash pickup/removal and beach cleaning services for Destin and Okaloosa Island. All Groundskeepers have acquired a Limited Lawn and Ornamental Spray License; in addition, some have acquired a Right of Way Spray License. Construction Technicians conducts maintenance, repair and new construction at all county parks. This includes construction of ball fields, boardwalks, play structures, safety surfacing, restroom facilities, pavilions, fencing and sidewalks. To maintain high safety standards, playgrounds are constructed and inspected in accordance with National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) guide lines. Inspections are performed by staff members who have acquired a Certified Playground Safety Inspector license. REVENUE: All Parks are funded through a combination of Tourist Development, General Fund and Unincorporated County Parks Municipal Service Taxing Unit funds. Supporting revenue from the Tourist Development Department are Bed Tax Funds. The Tourist Development monies are used for repair and maintenance of Tourist District Parks and beach cleaning services located within the Tourist Development District. Supporting revenue from the General Fund are ad valorem taxes, state shared revenue, licenses, permits, charges for services, interest, other miscellaneous revenue and transfers from other funds. Supporting revenue of the Unincorporated County Parks Municipal Service Taxing Unit are unincorporated assessed non ad valorem taxes, intergovernmental revenue and miscellaneous revenue. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAST YEAR: Ø Beach Access Way #1 on Okaloosa Island – Remolded the walk way to be ADA compliant for wheelchair access to the beach. Ø Baker Area Recreation Association Park (Hwy 2) – Inmate crew replaced the roof on the announcer’s stand in the large horse arena. Ø Seminole Community Center –In process of acquiring the Seminole Community Center through a donation of its Board. The Seminole Community Center is a not for profit corporation whose Board wishes to donate the facility and its assets to the Parks Division for use of a neighborhood park. Ø Old Landfill in Laurel Hill – Surveyed, fenced, and signed the approximate 20 acre old landfill property. Ø Shalimar / Port Dixie – Removed and stored all net and fence poles used during baseball season, reinstalled after soccer season. Hauled and spread clay on the infields of 5 baseball fields. Continue to provide weekly cleaning of the restrooms and grounds maintenance. Each year prepare baseball fields for use during baseball, and football season Ø Okaloosa Island – Removed all irrigation pumps and motors, replaced seals and gaskets, cleaned and made necessary repairs to all 42 pumps and motors. Re-installed all pumps and motor and made them operational. This is a yearly function; it has been proven to reduce breakdowns during heavy use periods. Ø Facilities – Spread fertilizer, ant control, pre and post emergent weed control. Ø Performed regular routine grounds maintenance in 59 parks. Ø Performed regular routing grounds maintenance in non-park areas. 2 ½ miles of medians and 2 ½ miles of right-of-way on Santa Rosa Boulevard and approximately ½ mile of Highway 98 medians on Okaloosa Island. Ø Baker Ball Park – Continue weekly cleaning of 3 restr