PARKS & RECREATION
PO Box 1110, Tampa, FL 33601-1110
(813) 744-5871






HCFL.GOV

BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Donna Cameron Cepeda
Harry Cohen
Ken Hagan
Pat Kemp
Christine Miller
Gwendolyn "Gwen" Myers
Joshua Wostal
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Bonnie M. Wise
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Christine M. Beck
COUNTY INTERNAL AUDITOR
Peggy Caskey

ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Dexter L. Barge
Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Thursday 03 -06 -2025
Lesley “Les” Miller, Jr. All People’s Community Park and Life Center

I.
CALL TO ORDER- Meeting called to order by Chair at 12:00 PM
a. A welcome to everyone
b. A thank you to Friends of the County Parks and Recreation for providing lunch today.

II.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - N/A


III.
PRESENTATIONS
a. ELAPP Land Acquisition - Monthly update - Ross Dickerson, Manager, Conservation Environmental Land
Management, provided a verbal and written ELAPP acquisition report. See Attached exhibit A.
b. Field Use Agreement update - Rick Valdez, Director, Parks & Recreation indicated he has been in
communication with the Clerk’s office, and their internal audit has begun; after being placed on the waitlist
for a longer than average length of time. Chris Kiddy, Athletics Manger, Parks and Recreation, reported the
department field use agreement survey initiated has been extremely successful in gaining valuable
knowledge. Hillsborough County may be setting the standard across the industry based on the input received.
Mr. Kiddy provided a handout capturing an overview of the Athletics team organizational efficiencies.
c. Public Field use - Law, Trespassing and Internal procedures for dealing with citizens. Scott Levinson, Board
member District 7, inquiry. Chris Kiddy, Athletics Manager, Parks & Recreation, reported the citizens
interactions have been favorable and without conflicts. He expressed confidently his team, and staff are
knowledgeable of the recording in public spaces law and compliance. They always attempt to commune
with the public and citizens without agitation or conflict. The department collaborates with law
enforcement as required or appropriate. Scott Levinson, Board Member, District, 7 made an inquiry of
support animal vs service animal use in the parks. Mr. Kiddy reported confidently the athletics team has
training specifically for compliance.





IV.
NEXT MEETING DATE 04-10-2025



V.
BOARD ACTION

a. Approve 01-29-2024 Meeting Minutes - 1st Motion to approve last meeting minutes made by Jack Berlin,
Board Member, District 1, and Scott Levinson, Board Member, District 7, 2nd the motion. Motion Passed; all
in favor without objects.

VI.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS:

Chairman Anthony Sanchez,
Requests a legal opinion for discussion at the next Parks Advisory Board meeting. He announced the Board
will be gaining 2 additional members effective with the next meeting.

Rick Valdez, Director, Parks and Recreation,
Announced Commissioner Hagan has appointed Martin Gramatica as District representative and
Commissioner Cameron-Cepeda has appointed Rachel Larson as District representative. He will follow up
with Commissioner Myers for the status of her District appointee.

Chairman, Anthony Sanchez,
Moved for a vote on amending bylaws to remove section 6 article 5, ensuring compliance of a QUORM. After
entering it into discussion at the last meeting. 1st Motion to approve made by Jack Berlin, Board Member,
District 1 and Scott Levinson, Board Member, District 7, 2nd the motion. Motion Passed; all in favor without
objects.
Requests a legal opinion in reference to Parks Advisory Board member’s living in the district they represent,
and the member term limits. The legal opinion will be discussed at the next meeting if a response is
available.

VII.
COMMUNICATIONS, ACTIVITIES, OR STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS

Rick Valdez, Director, Parks & Recreation, announced the Summer Recreation Program registration has begun and
went smooth. The Department will be submitting for the PARKS & RECREATION GOLD METAL AWARD again this year,
after being selected as Gold Metal Finalist the last 3 years. The department is also preparing for recertification of
CAPRA program next year. Post hurricane Fencing repairs and Score Board repairs have been challenging however all
efforts continue to move forward for completion.


VIII.
ADJOURNMENT - Chair adjourned the meeting at 12:35 PM





ATTACHEMENT – EXHIBIT A – 03-06-2025 ELAPP REPORT
Parks, Recreation and Conservation Advisory Board Meeting
ELAPP Acquisition Update
March 6, 2025
Board Approved Contracts:
 Tew (Lower Green Swamp Addition) – (935 acres) – Sale closed on February 28, 2025.
 Set up first site inspection with landowner
 Mattaniah (Alafia North Prong) – (623 acres) – Purchase contract approved by the BOCC on October
2nd. This is a joint acquisition with SWFWMD, whereby each party will contribute 50% of the
acquisition cost and hold joint title to the property. The County will manage the property and be
reimbursed by SWFWMD for 50% of the County’s annual maintenance costs up to $10,000.
 Phase I ESA – completed
 Property survey – Survey revisions being completed
 Closing anticipated in April/May 2025; purchase price is $6,752,500 (County’s share is 50% or
$3,381,250)
 Trails End, Inc. (Triple Creek Ranch) – (26.74 acres) – Purchase contract approved by the BOCC on
December 18th.
 Phase I ESA – complete
 Property survey – anticipated completion April 2025
 Closing anticipated in May/June 2025; purchase price is $1,920,000.
 An additional $250,000 is budgeted for habitat restoration, site fencing, trailhead
construction, and structure demolition.
 Dubendorff (Fish Hawk) – (15 acres) – Purchase contract approved by the BOCC on March 5, 2024.
 Property survey -
 Phase I ESA
 Closing anticipated in August/September 2025; purchase price is $150,000
 HSH Trust (Cypress Creek) – (10 acres) – Purchase contract approved by the BOCC on March 5, 2024.
 Property survey
 Phase I ESA
 Closing anticipated in August/September 2025; purchase price is $1,525,000
 Hackworth (Fish Hawk) – (17 acres) - Purchase contract approved by the BOCC on March 5,
2024.County has provided the landowner with a purchase offer. Awaiting final response.
 Property survey
 Phase I ESA
 Closing anticipated in August/September 2025; purchase price is $156,000
Active Negotiations:

Fee Acquisitions


 Boy Scouts of America, Inc. (Boy Scout) – (477 acres) – County received one appraisal and expects to
have the second appraisal buy March 7, 2024. Upon receipt, the County will discuss acquisition
options including partnering with Public Works to jointly purchase the property, or have Public Works
maintain the property to receive available wetland credits. The County currently holds a conservation
easement over the entire property, which also serves as a permitted wetland mitigation bank for
construction projects located within the Alafia River Basin that incur wetland impacts.
 Mirabole (Alafia South Prong) – (41 acres) – County has provided the landowner with a purchase
offer. Still awaiting final response.

Conservation Easements

 Parker/Baker/Varnum/Davis (Alafia South Prong) – (Acreage TBD) – Met with property owners’
attorneys on January 13, 2025 to discuss preliminary CE documents. Further discussions will be held
in the coming weeks/months.


Possible Donations

 Giunta (Cypress Creek) – (up to 324 acres) - Ongoing discussions with property owner and County’s
Natural Resources Dept. for possible donation of up to 324 acres.

Other

 Mosaic, Inc. (ULMR Basin) – (4,300 acres) – LOI for donation and fee acquisition of referenced
property has been executed by Mosaic. County staff is meeting Commissioner Miller to tour the site
on March 7, 2024 and review the LOI.