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Minutes 08-27-01 MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD MEETING HELD IN THE WEST WING, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2001 AT 7:00 P.M. Present Betty Thomas, Chairperson John Wildner, Parks Director James McMahon, Vice Chair Barbara Meacham, Landscape Planner Ed Harris (/eft at 7:30 p.m.) William Orlove, Alternate Elizabeth Pierce Bali Ramnarace Tom Williams Absent Margaret H. Murphy, Alternate Dan Winters I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Thomas called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. I1. ATTENDANCE Chairperson Thomas called the roll and declared that a quorum was present. Mr. Wildner and Ms. Meacham were also introduced. II1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 23, 200'1 The minutes were accepted as distributed. IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Recreation and Parks Plan (Southeast Quadrant of the City) As previously reported, the City Commission requested that the Recreation and Parks Board consider a master plan for the southeast quadrant of the City. The Commission, at the recent Capital Improvements Plan meeting, revisited this request and consideration is now being given to updating the master plan for the entire City. This would be combined with the needs' assessment that has been assigned to the Recreation and Parks Department. This should be completed sometime after December. Once the results of the assessment are determined, the Recreation and Park's Master Plan would be updated. Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Board Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida August 27, 2001 The needs assessment will encompass the entire City and will include focus groups comprised of residents from various sections of the City. Chairperson Thomas recommended that the Board take a tour to view the parks throughout the City. Mr. Wildner pointed out the City parks and properties maintained by the Parks Department on the plan provided. Mr. Williams inquired if there were any plans for the southwest side of the City. Mr. Wildner stated that expansion of the Congress Avenue Community Park is being considered. There is a lot of land that the City has accumulated over the years, but funding sources for expansion need to be determined. Vice Chair McMahon complimented staff on the great amount of information contained in the FunFare Magazine and noted that staff received an award from the National Association of Special Events. Chairperson Thomas distributed tee shirts to the Board members that were supplied by Commissioner Fisher from his discretionary funds. She requested that the Board prepare a letter to Commissioner Fisher thanking him for his generosity. Mr. Wildner will follow through with this. B. Hester Center Breezeway Enclosure, Pavilion, PAL Pressbox Mr. Wildner reported that the breezeway is nearing completion. The pavilion is open and approval for the PAL Pressbox has been secured. The funds from SPRINT should be forthcoming and staff is proceeding with the plans. C. Senior Center The anticipated grant did not materialize and only a $48,000 grant was received from the Lattner Foundation. These funds will be used for a fitness room and equipment. Staff anticipates reapplying next year. D. Boat Club/Intracoastal Parks The bid for Boat Club Park has been received and is slightly over $900,000. The Iow bidder's references are now being checked. Staff will be making a recommendation to the Commission in the very near future to approve the project. This includes 75 additional boat trailer spaces, improvement of the ramp system and adding holding docks. Permitting on the waterside of the Park is still pending and there are no problems anticipated. Improvements to both sides will be done simultaneously. Mr. Williams questioned if there would be a need for a traffic light. Mr. Wildner did not think that a light would be necessary. Members felt that the new parking arrangements would be an improvement to parking trailers on the street. Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Board Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida August 27, 2001 Ms. Pierce inquired where decals would be sold and Mr. Wildner stated they would be available at the bait shop. It is anticipated that many of the decals would be purchased in advance of the fee, so that people could be waved through without having to stop. Only people paying the daily fee would be required to stop, similar to the process at the beach. If traffic problems arise, this will be addressed. Ms. Pierce inquired about the problem of obtaining the permit for the dredging. Because the City worked with the County and the State on the project, the County's engineering process took longer than anticipated and resulted in delays. However, everything is now coming together. Mr. Wildner received a letter today from Palm Beach County informing him that the bids for the dredging and replacement of the channel markers have been received at a cost of $23,000. This is within the grant amount received from the Inland Navigation District. Dredging should begin in December. It is anticipated that dredging will be performed every three to four years. Decals will also be available for purchase at City Hall in the Mall. Proof of car registration will be required. The decal must be placed on the vehicle that tows the trailer. Members questioned why the decal wouldn't be placed on the boat itself. The purpose of placing the sticker on the towing vehicle is to allow staff the ability to give out parking tickets. With regard to the Intracoastal Park plan, staff continues to work on the revised master plans, which should be before the City Commission for approval in the near future. Chairperson Thomas inquired if a name had been chosen for the Intracoastal Park. No name has been selected, but it is anticipated that the park would be renamed at some point. E. Special Events No report F. Greenways Network Mr. Wildner presented a greenways map. Currently, a consultant is conducting a study. Potential greenways were pointed out and discussed. Some of the properties are City owned and some are targeted for acquisition. The intent of the greenways is to link up certain properties in the City. After the study is received, it is hoped that there will be some recommendations for funding included. It is also anticipated that at some time in the future the City's pathways would be connected to greenways in surrounding communities. 3 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Board Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida August 27, 2001 Ms. Pierce suggested that the City bus stops need to be equipped with trash receptacles to prevent so much litter. Mr. Wildner noted that the bus stop stations are private and possibly when the contract was negotiated, trash receptacles were not included. Chairperson Thomas presented a copy of a letter that Mr. Mike Fitzpatrick sent to Commissioner Ferguson regarding greenway link-ups. Mr. Orlove questioned if the second rail being added to Tri-Rail would have an impact upon the greenway plans. Mr. Wildner replied that this would have some impact because Tri-Rail would utilize rights-of-way that could have been used for greenways. G. Items for the City Manager's Attention Chairperson Thomas read the letter that she sent to each of the City Commissioners in support of naming the Ezell Hester Park Football Field and Pressbox in honor of Board Member Tom Williams, which was recommended by the Board at its July meeting. The Board's recommendation has been forwarded to the City Manager. To date, there has been no response. Chairperson Thomas said she received a recommendation that the City should have a statue or plaque to honor Nathan Boynton. The Library and Woman's Club both have a portrait of Mr. Boynton. It was suggested that the statue could be located on Ocean Avenue in a "Founder's Park". Vice Chair McMahon asked about the status of the charter school that was being recommended to be placed on property intended for a park. Mr. Wildner noted that the residents in the area were against the school and it appears that the operators of the school have not pursued it any further. Mr. Williams would like the Recreation Department to acquire another bus because of the expansion of the summer programs. He did not feel that one bus was sufficient for City needs. He was informed that Mr. Majors is working to acquire a second bus. Chairperson Thomas requested that this be added as an item for the City Manager's attention. Ms. Pierce heard that either Dade or Broward County purchased new school buses and perhaps the old ones might be for sale. H. Monthly Report Chairperson Thomas complimented staff on preparing an excellent report. Mr. Orlove mentioned that a slide at Oceanfront Park is broken. Mr. Wildner said that the slide will be repaired and the part has already been ordered. Mr, 4 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Board Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida August 27, 2001 Williams suggested that whenever a Board member notices anything broken or in need of repair at a playground or park that they report it. Ms. Pierce asked about the status of the Park Ranger. Mr. Wilder reported that a part-time person is being hired to lock the parks in the evening. The position has been included in the budget for the new fiscal year. At some time in the future, it is anticipated that this position could evolve into a Park Ranger position. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Needs Assessment Previously discussed. B. Palmetto Greens Park Expansion A bikeway, small park with playground equipment and restroom are now located on the far east section of the park. It is now being proposed to extend the linear park west of Seacrest Boulevard to 1-95. This will be accomplished through a grant through the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. One of the requirements of obtaining the grant is to make a presentation to the Recreation and Parks Board. A meeting is scheduled for September 5th at Poinciana School to discuss the expansion with the neighbors. Mr. Wildner pointed out this area on the artists' renderings and noted that Wilson Park will be expanded and combined with Palmetto Greens Park to create a larger park facility. In order to accomplish this, it will be necessary to acquire property located at the end of Palmetto Greens Park. When this acquisition is accomplished, it would also form a link to the Barton Memorial Park. A fishing pier would also be built west of Wilson Park and would overlook the canal to allow cane pole fishing. The South Florida Water Management District has agreed to this. It is anticipated that the expansion could cost up to $300,000. Two grants would be necessary because land acquisition is separate from development. C. Wilson Center Land Acquisition Wilson Park is located in the middle of the expansion of Palmetto Greens Park and the Wilson Center is in need of an upgrade. One alternative is to demolish the Wilson Center and to place a picnic area and playground on that spot. The Wilson Center would be relocated further south where the basketball courts are now located. In order to accomplish this, more land acquisition would be required. 5 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Board Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida August 27, 2001 Another idea being looked at is to tear down the locker rooms and to place an aquatic center on the land, which would be combined with the existing Wilson Pool Many municipalities now have successful aquatic parks. Mr. Orlove inquired if there would be a charge for use of the water park. This is something that would be looked at and would be a decision based upon community input and how the park was funded. Consideration is also being given to utilizing the Wilson Center to provide social service programs. Mr. Orlove asked about the timeframe. Mr. Wildner responded that they would be applying for the grant on October 12th. If the grant were approved, the funding would probably be available next spring. After approval, construction drawings would be prepared. Construction of the Wilson Center probably would not begin for two years. Mr. Ramnarace asked Mr. Wildner when the cricket field would be completed at Rolling Green. Mr. Wildner said there was a delay in getting the field ready because the School Department was doing construction at the school. There is also the possibility that if the cost would be more than $10,000, it would have to go out for bid. Mr. Ramnarace would like to hold the South Florida tournament next February at the field. The field has four pitches and meets international standards. This would be a great attraction for the City and could accommodate soccer as well. Mr. Wildner will include the field in the tour. Chairperson Thomas requested that this be added to the Items for the City Manager's Attention since the funding is in place from a prior budget year. VI. NEXT MEETING: September 24 at 7:00 p.m. Ms. Pierce announced that the Holiday Concert will be held at Mangrove Walk at the Marina on December 21st VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Recording Secretary (2 tapes) (September 6, 2001)