HIGHLIGHTS
Recreation District
Meeting Highlights
from June 11, 2021

General Manager’s
Report

UPCOMING
MEETING
SCHEDULE
June 29, 2021, 10 AM
Continued Board Meeting
& Workshop
The Varsity Club

July 9, 2021, 1 PM
Board Meeting
The Varsity Club

DISTRICT
CONTACTS
Vivian Carvalho
District Manager

Venessa Ripoll
Assistant District Manager

John Fetsick
District Accounting

BOARD MEMBERS
Jim Case
Sally Dickson
Bill DiPaolo
Steve Ludmerer
Karen Pagano

UNIVERSITY PARK RECREATION DISTRICT MEETING HIGHLIGHTSJune 11,2021

At the RD Board of Supervisors meeting on June 11, 2021, the Board and those who attended the meeting were presented with a detailed analysis and presentation by the Pickleball Advisory Group of possible locations for the Club’s future pickleball courts. The evaluation criteria used included the following: the Pickleball experience (including amenities, water, power, parking, toilets), impact on the Club campus, environmental stewardship, the cost, timing & impacts of implementation, the ease of operation, safety, and acceptable noise levels. Using these criteria, the group was asked to complete 3 major tasks:

1. Review existing member/resident surveys and other club documents that might provide useful information on the interest and importance of having a pickleball program at University Park (UP).
2. Prepare a competitive analysis of clubs with pickleball programs to help understand what UP needs to do to offer competitive programs.
3. Evaluate all possible locations in UP to site up to 8 high-quality pickleballcourts that are consistent with the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of the UPRD.

Based on their evaluation and analysis, the top 2 possible locations for the pickleball courts are site “B,” which is the site of the existing croquet area, and site “X,” which is currently tennis courts 5 and 6 in the tennis complex.

Site BSite X

 

 

 

 

 

To assist in the sound evaluation portion of the report, Keane Acoustics, a company that specializes in noise studies, including studies conducted specifically for pickleball, was hired to evaluate the noise impacts from all of the potential pickleball sites on key receptors. Keane then reviewed the receptor sites, visited UP, and gathered detailed information on the receptor sites’ ambient noise. According to the Pickleball Advisory Group, “Using expansive data collected by Keane over the years of noise analysis, and factoring in the ambient noise measured at each site, the distance from the sites to the receptors, buildings, and other things that would influence the noise heard, and other factors, analyzed the potential incremental noise that could be expected at each receptor site from each pickleball site due to pickleball play with both 4 and 8 courses with and without ambient sound abatement.” In Keane’s final report, site “X” is recommended as the preferred site, based on onsite ambient noise measurements and noise mitigation options. Please see Attachment 4 of the Pickleball Advisory Group’s report for full details.

The Advisory Team also conducted a cost analysis which included the cost to install the complex (including sound mitigation), construction complexity, disruption impact on the Club during construction, rebuilding of a croquet complex, rebuilding of two tennis courts, and estimated tree removal and replacement cost as required by Manatee County. It was noted that “Parcel L,” which many in the community favored, would add a significant cost to the project based on the Manatee County Tree Removal policy, which dictates rules for the removal and mandatory replanting of trees (Attachment 2 in the report). Depending on the size of the trees removed, up to 3 trees must be replanted for every 1 removed. Based on the footprint of Parcel L and a sampling of the site, it is estimated 100 trees would have to be removed. Attachment 3 in the report summarizes the tree count within the footprint.

Upon review of these materials and cost estimates, the Board has requested Management obtain cost estimates for the initial construction of 4 courts with the possible expansion to 8 courts on Site B. The Board did not take any action on this item, and it will come back for approval at the scheduled continued Board Meeting on June 29, 2021.

The full Pickleball advisory committee report, presentation, and Keane’s full acoustic report have been added to the RD website at www.universityparkrd.com.

Additional Highlights from the June 11, 2021 Board meeting include:

  • The Board approved Club Design Group as the interior design, planning and implementation vendor for the Phase 1 Master Improvement Plan Project. It authorized the General Manager to negotiate a contract with the company and to bring it back for review and approval at the scheduled continued meeting on June 29, 2021.
  • The Board decided to table the discussion of the Charter Amendments to the scheduled continued meeting on June 29, 2021.
  • Mr. Barnebey reviewed the 2nd Amendment to the water agreement with UPCAI. He reported that UPCAI counsel and Board agree with the changes and requested the Board to approve the document for execution.
  • Mr. Fetsick reported anticipating a DRAFT of the FY 2020 Audit Report by Monday, June 14, 2021. He will review and circulate to the Board during that week. The Board will review in final form at the scheduled continued meeting on June 29, 2021.
  • Mr. Barnebey reported the last outstanding assessment had been successfully paid off. He also reported that the legislative session is happening now, and he will report at the July meeting if there is any impact as it pertains to Special Taxing District like the RD.
  • The development of the website for UPCAI and the shared RD and Club landing page is currently in draft form with the vendor and should be ready for review at the scheduled continued meeting on June 29, 2021.

UPCOMING MEETINGS / WORKSHOPS

  • June 29, 2021, Continued Board of Supervisors Meeting at 10:00 AM at the Varsity Club and via Zoom.
  • June 29, 2021, Regular Workshop Meeting (following the adjournment of the continued Board of Supervisors Meeting at 10:00 AM at the Varsity Club and via Zoom).
  • July 9, 2021 Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting at 1:00 PM at the Varsity Club and via Zoom.

Links to attend the meetings and workshops via Zoom will be made available on the RD website at www.universityparkrd.com.

GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT

Click below for the most recent General Manager’s report.

Management Report


Visit the UPRD website to stay up-to-date with any new information and for the meeting information due to COVID-19 restrictions.

UPRD Website