Something Fishy Goin' On Over The Estates Future Park!
February 11th, 2011
I must say, lately my work has been cut out for me on the
latest news I have posted in my past two blogs about the future of Big
Corkscrew Island Regional Park out here in the Estates.
All the email exchanges, the phone calls, the no-return phone calls, and best of all, doing this while really there is no money to do is, really seems crazy.
BUT, it's not crazy I keep telling myself, we need this park and it needs to be fully documented that this park gets built first! So that's where my problem and really all Estates problem lies. There is something fishy goin' on and I don't like it, so I shall share it with you today.
I have recently been contacted by my secret adviser whose name I cannot share with you because they want to remain anonymous. It is about a situation that places our Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park in jeopardy.
This past February 2nd, the new Parks and Rec. master plan was unveiled. I was told by this person at that very same meeting, a Commissioner showed up, whether invited or not, I don't know, and requested to nullify the plan that very same day!
Yes, I said nullify! Declare invalid, void it, deprive us of our park, whichever you want to call it. I call it downright rotten!
Now I will admit, I was just emailed earlier today and was told by a Mr.Phil Brougham that this Commissioner was not the one who placed these recommendations on the table, but I don't believe it. Sorry, it's all just a bit too coincidental. I have yet to hear a response from that Commissioner who I feel placed these recommendations. I have an email exchange going on right now and am waiting for a reply to that.
Now here are the three points of recommendations that have been placed on the table at this meeting. I will put in parenthesis what my thoughts are to each recommendation.
1. That recommendations are not prioritizing according to importance.
(Oh really, isn't the whole point of a master plan to decide the needs of our communities? We spent time holding focus groups, spending taxpayers money to conduct studies to show which park is needed most and where? And you want to change that now when this plan clearly indicates our Estates park is top priority?)
2. Future capitol expenditures should be first directed towards completion of planned amenities within the existing park inventory before investing in a new park construction.
(This one is the one that takes the cake. This clearly states that Eagle Lakes Park community center must be built "before" our park can even get off the ground. As you remember, there was a small feud between Commissioner Fiala and myself about this early last year. It is completely unfair for us to consistently be placed on the back-burner getting burned while she has 7 parks under her belt, as we have 1, 10-20 miles away for many residents.)
3. Consideration of the recommendations being consistent and compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.
(What is this supposed to mean? We are able to exist together without conflict in a consistent way? Really doesn't make sense. I don't get it.)
Okay, so by now after reading those three recommendations, you know which Commissioner that is. I am trying my darnedest here to not call out any names but it does come to the point that it just kills me not too! But since I do have much respect for this person, I will let you figure it out. Nothing like a little drama!
So with this little input of mine, it just sums up that from the parks and rec. 174 page master plan, where you can find online, clearly states we are in need of our park as top priority. Though a Mr.Phil Brougham who is on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that held this meeting disagrees that in no way this master plan states that Big Corkscrew Island construction is the first priority. Though it does state this:
"When removing beach land acquisition from consideration, due to it being funded by a separate dedicated funding source, Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park was the top priority for three out of the four break‐out groups. These three groups cited a need for a regional park in northern Golden Gate Estates to serve both the existing and projected population in this area. The focus group participants confirm the findings of the Demographic and Needs Analyses, which indicate that a regional park is needed to serve Golden Gate Estates."
If you have time, read through the "Need Analysis" on pages 10-15 on the master plan as it clearly shows we are number one priority. It's a no brainer. So I disagree with Mr. Brougham. Really the whole plan clearly goes in our direction, something no one can deny.
You can find the plan here:
http://www.colliergov.net/Index.aspx?page=1661, click on master plan minutes.
So that's about it in a nutshell, now I will need help from our community to go to the Commissioners meeting probably being held February 22nd. I plan on bringing signs and hopefully get these recommendations OFF the table!
Please call if you would like to join me, I could use all the help I can get on this. It certainly would not favor us if I do this alone.
Thank you!
All the email exchanges, the phone calls, the no-return phone calls, and best of all, doing this while really there is no money to do is, really seems crazy.
BUT, it's not crazy I keep telling myself, we need this park and it needs to be fully documented that this park gets built first! So that's where my problem and really all Estates problem lies. There is something fishy goin' on and I don't like it, so I shall share it with you today.
I have recently been contacted by my secret adviser whose name I cannot share with you because they want to remain anonymous. It is about a situation that places our Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park in jeopardy.
This past February 2nd, the new Parks and Rec. master plan was unveiled. I was told by this person at that very same meeting, a Commissioner showed up, whether invited or not, I don't know, and requested to nullify the plan that very same day!
Yes, I said nullify! Declare invalid, void it, deprive us of our park, whichever you want to call it. I call it downright rotten!
Now I will admit, I was just emailed earlier today and was told by a Mr.Phil Brougham that this Commissioner was not the one who placed these recommendations on the table, but I don't believe it. Sorry, it's all just a bit too coincidental. I have yet to hear a response from that Commissioner who I feel placed these recommendations. I have an email exchange going on right now and am waiting for a reply to that.
Now here are the three points of recommendations that have been placed on the table at this meeting. I will put in parenthesis what my thoughts are to each recommendation.
1. That recommendations are not prioritizing according to importance.
(Oh really, isn't the whole point of a master plan to decide the needs of our communities? We spent time holding focus groups, spending taxpayers money to conduct studies to show which park is needed most and where? And you want to change that now when this plan clearly indicates our Estates park is top priority?)
2. Future capitol expenditures should be first directed towards completion of planned amenities within the existing park inventory before investing in a new park construction.
(This one is the one that takes the cake. This clearly states that Eagle Lakes Park community center must be built "before" our park can even get off the ground. As you remember, there was a small feud between Commissioner Fiala and myself about this early last year. It is completely unfair for us to consistently be placed on the back-burner getting burned while she has 7 parks under her belt, as we have 1, 10-20 miles away for many residents.)
3. Consideration of the recommendations being consistent and compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.
(What is this supposed to mean? We are able to exist together without conflict in a consistent way? Really doesn't make sense. I don't get it.)
Okay, so by now after reading those three recommendations, you know which Commissioner that is. I am trying my darnedest here to not call out any names but it does come to the point that it just kills me not too! But since I do have much respect for this person, I will let you figure it out. Nothing like a little drama!
So with this little input of mine, it just sums up that from the parks and rec. 174 page master plan, where you can find online, clearly states we are in need of our park as top priority. Though a Mr.Phil Brougham who is on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that held this meeting disagrees that in no way this master plan states that Big Corkscrew Island construction is the first priority. Though it does state this:
"When removing beach land acquisition from consideration, due to it being funded by a separate dedicated funding source, Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park was the top priority for three out of the four break‐out groups. These three groups cited a need for a regional park in northern Golden Gate Estates to serve both the existing and projected population in this area. The focus group participants confirm the findings of the Demographic and Needs Analyses, which indicate that a regional park is needed to serve Golden Gate Estates."
If you have time, read through the "Need Analysis" on pages 10-15 on the master plan as it clearly shows we are number one priority. It's a no brainer. So I disagree with Mr. Brougham. Really the whole plan clearly goes in our direction, something no one can deny.
You can find the plan here:
http://www.colliergov.net/Index.aspx?page=1661, click on master plan minutes.
So that's about it in a nutshell, now I will need help from our community to go to the Commissioners meeting probably being held February 22nd. I plan on bringing signs and hopefully get these recommendations OFF the table!
Please call if you would like to join me, I could use all the help I can get on this. It certainly would not favor us if I do this alone.
Thank you!
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