Okaloosa County BOCC — 2013 meeting #1141 (date undetermined) — Action Item Printout — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: July 16, 2013 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: John Hofstad SUBJECT: Use of County Park Property in Laurel Hill for Airsoft Facility DEPARTMENT: Public Works BCC DISTRICT: 1 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: A request has been received from a group named Warrior Base Airsoft, to use county park property in Laurel Hill (Old Laurel Hill Landfill) for an Airsoft field. BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS: Warrior Base Airsoft is requesting the use of approximately 20 acres of county park property to utilize to hold Airsoft games, to unite the Airsoft community and intoduce the public to Airsoft. Airsoft is a much safer alternative to Paint Ball, it uses small BB size balls that are shot from a weapon at human targets, they are bio- degradable and not as harmful as Paint Balls. Warrior Base had been using fields provided by the City of Fort Walton. This field was used until the City of Ft Walton closed the property for renovation. They were hopeful to find an alternate location that they could develop to meet their needs. The Old Laurel Hill Landfill site will meet the needs. They request to enter into a Facility Maintenance Agreement with the County. Warrior Base would build some portable buildings that could be easily removed, provide grounds maintenance, and clear a small area for a parking area. In return for the use of the property, the site when not in by Warrior Base, will be open for anyone to use and Warrior Base would utilize any fees collected from the use of the property for upgrades and continued property management. Warrior Base has been involved with the Law Enforcement Academy at Northwest Florida State College in assisting with training with recruits for building entry and arrest techniques and plan on continuing to assist them with their training. The property at the Old Laurel Hill Landfill was retained by the Parks Division in accordance with the Parks Master Plan. It was Land Banked for future use as development occurs. It is isolated at the end of Robbins Road and is surrounded by vacant wooded land tracts. This type of activity will provide a recreational need in the county. Staff believes this to be a worthwhile program and would benefit the Parks with maintenance costs and groundskeeping staff time. OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Facility Maintenance Agreement between Okaloosa County and Warrior Base Airsoft and allow Chairman to sign agreement. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator