Agenda Item Name:
Title
Cuscowilla Update
End
Presenter:
Gina Peebles, 352-538-8265
Description:
Cuscowilla Update
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Hear update and provide direction to staff
End
Prior Board Motions:
Oct. 27, 2020 - Approval to Restore Western Shoreline Except for Up to 300’ for Public Access in an Area that has been Historically Clear on George’s Pond for Cuscowilla Recreation Opportunities
Sep. 22, 2020 - Commissioner Wheeler advised the Board of need for operating funds for the Cuscowilla facility. She stated the advisory board is looking to hire a site manager for the facility. Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby suggested that the Board adopt the budget as presented this evening and not change the budget to include this funding. He advised that there are two times coming up that adjustments can be made to the budget and he would be happy to work with the group to develop a plan for the funding. Commissioner Cornell stated that he believed the plan was to fund the upgrades needed in the budget now and then fund the manager to come online mid-year.
Aug. 13, 2020 - Mr. Crosby stated that based on the discussion staff will budget $121,500 for Fiscal Year 2021 and $477,000 for Fiscal Year 2022 and possibly coming back midyear if the budget allows.
Jun. 23, 2020 -
1. Approve the amended Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to include Camp McConnell;
2. Approve the budget amendment to move the budget to the required account lines and establish projects in order to track types of expenditures related to the restoration.
Jun. 9, 2020 - the Board approved $2.7 million in repairs and improvements at Camp McConnell. This restoration is to be funded from Parks’ allocation of Wild Spaces Public Places funding.
May 26, 2020 - Approved request to Proceed with Camp McConnell Improvements
Jan. 14, 2020 -
1. County retains ownership of Camp McConnell.
2. Have staff reconcile the spent, funded, and unfunded active recreation projects and return back to the Board by email within 30 days to determine the exact available funds.
3. Convene a community design charrette with staff within 90 days to develop a potential community plan and capital improvement plan. The initial potential camp operating budget would be potentially 2 to 3 million. Florida Wildlife Care should be involved in the charrette. (3:1)
Oct. 8, 2019 - That staff schedule this for a future Regularly Scheduled Evening Board meeting for the Board to discuss. At that time staff is to bring any information/knowledge from interested parties and invite the public to attend.
To reject all proposals and inform anyone who submitted a proposal. Direct staff to reach out to the City of Gainesville to expressly understand their intent per their motion. Is it programming, capital, etc.? (5:0)
Jul. 9, 2019, Commissioner Hutchinson moved that County Attorney and staff draft a conservation easement that lays out the restrictions on the entire property, both the areas for traditional and desired uses and other areas for pure conservation and recreation, and once that is suitable to both parties, upon execution of the easement and the closing, that we then put that property to the register of protected public places.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Depending on Board Direction, a budget amendment and other required documents will be presented on the Feb. 23 Consent Agenda.
End
Background:
At the Sep. 22, 2020 Commission meeting, the Board discussed the early hiring of the Cuscowilla Manager, but asked that this be discussed during mid-year. Staff is now requesting the Board consider hiring the Cuscowilla Manager, and approving necessary operating expenses, to ensure summer day camp is offered at the facility beginning in June 2021.