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Minutes 06-13-07 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD REGULAR MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2007, AT 7:00 P.M. HELD IN THE CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Brian Miller, Chair Eddie Mitchell, Vice Chair Belky Cruz Blanche Hearst-Girtman Joyce Mura Victor Norfus Stanley Sorgman Brenda Lee Williams ABSENT: Phyllis Stern I. Call Meeting to Order - Pledge of Allegiance Chair Miller called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Mitchell and followed by a moment of silence in honor of the late Assistant City Manager, Wilfred James Hawkins, Jr. Mr. Hawkins was known by many of the board members and was a dedicated publiC servant in the City of Boynton Beach for 22 years. II. Roll Call Chair Miller called the roll and determined a quorum was present. IV. Approval of Agenda (Taken out of order) Chair Miller requested a report from Ms. Hearst-Girtman on "Youth in Government Day" be added under "New Business". Ms. Hearst-Girtman requested Ms. Stern's report on "Golf Outing for the Youth" be deleted until the next meeting. 1 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 13, 2007 Motion Ms. Hearst-Girtman moved to amend the agenda as requested. Mr. Mitchell seconded the motion that passed unanimously. VIII. New Business (Election portion of this section taken out of order; the balance of the section was continued later in the meeting) . Annual Board Election Chair Miller turned the gavel over to Mr. Mitchell in order for the floor to be opened to nominations for the position of Chair. a} Chair Mr. Mitchell opened the floor for nominations. Ms. Cruz nominated Mr. Miller for the position of Chair. Mr. Sorgman seconded the motion. Mr. Mitchell called for other nominations. There were none. Mr. Mitchell closed the floor for nominations, and Mr. Miller was unanimously elected to serve as Chair. b) Vice Chair Mr. Mitchell announced he did not wish to be nominated for the position of Vice Chair in order to provide an opportunity for others to serve. Chair Miller opened the floor for nominations. Mr. Sorgman nominated Ms. Hearst-Girtman to serve in the position as Vice Chair. Ms. Cruz seconded the nomination. Chair Miller called for other nominations. There were none. Chair Miller closed the floor for nominations and Ms. Hearst-Girtman was unanimously elected to serve as Vice Chair. 2 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 13, 2007 V. Approval of Minutes from March 14, 2007 Chair Miller noted the agenda was incorrect and should have called for approval of the minutes of the April 11, 2007 meeting. Motion Mr. Sorgman moved to approve the minutes of the April 11, 2007 meeting. Vice Chair Mitchell seconded the motion. Mr. Sorgman noted the Fire Department's presentation at the April 11, 2007 meeting pertaining to the Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, and commended everyone associated with the program. As there were no other comments, Chair Miller called for a vote on the motion. Vote The motion passed unanimously. VI. Announcements Chair Miller announced the Boynton Beach Mall Hurricane Expo was going to be held June 23, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the CERT team would provide a display. Chair Miller, Mr. Sorgman and Ms. Mura were certified members of the CERT team and would be participating in the expo. III. Recognition of Visitors ( Taken out of order) Chair Miller recognized visitors in the audience, Carol Miller and Gerry Storch. VII. Old Business a} Pride in Boynton Update - Chairman Miller In continuing efforts to make the City's neighborhoods safer, Chair Miller requested the board approve upgrading of street lighting for certain locations. As in the past, the board would pass on the requests to the Public Works Department and the Public works Department would in turn contact Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) for action to be taken. Chair Miller read a list of the following locations targeted for upgrading. 3 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 13, 2007 711 NW 1st Street, a 150-watt light was needed. There was no light on this street at all. On the corner of NW 6th Avenue and NW 1st Street, the light must be upgraded from 70 watts to 150 watts. Two lights were needed at NW 2nd Street and NW 8th Street, near Mount Zion Baptist Church. Two poles on this street have no lights. Lights on NW 13th Avenue must be upgraded from 100 watts to 150 watts. One light directly opposite the Cherry Hill Mini Mart at NW Fourth Street and NW 1ih Avenue required upgrading from 100 watts to 150 watts. On NW 3rd Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard, the light had been inoperable for several months. Upgrading was required on the corner of North Seacrest Avenue and NW 6th Avenue. Mr. Mitchell contended the citizens residing within these areas should take action and not look solely to the board. He and a neighbor saw the need for improved lighting on their street and approached the Street Maintenance Department. The Street Maintenance Department then forwarded the paperwork to FPL and the problem was resolved. Chair Miller applauded Mr. Mitchell's efforts. He requested board approval of the upgrades, and believed the action on the part of the entire board would reflect the board's concern for public safety and thus, provide greater impact to the City Commission. Mr. Sorgman commented not all neighborhoods were fortunate enough to have residents such as Mr. Mitchell and his neighbor. The board had been working on these projects for many years to assist neighborhoods, and this appeared to finally have taken hold. Mr. Norfus cited another example of a proactive approach. In listening to the crime report provided to the City Commission, he noted 70% of gun violations occurred in District II, from 16th Avenue to 15th Avenue, from Seacrest Avenue to the railroad tracks. He approached the residents, door-to-door, requesting they sign petitions to improve all the lights in the area. He presented the petitions to the Street Maintenance 4 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 13, 2007 Department and they in turn presented the petitions to FPL. He suggested the board attempt to have petitions signed and focus on those locations designated by the Police Department as high-crime, homicide areas. Ms. Williams contended if a letter was going to be sent to the Commission from the board requesting improved lighting for targeted areas, the various homeowners associations, such as Poinciana Heights and Ridgewood Hills, should be informed of the requests. Chair Miller advised the Homeowners Associations were aware of this and would be included in this directive. Board discussion ensued regarding assisting areas to organize neighborhood associations; communicating with the homeowner and neighborhood associations as to anticipated improvements; and ensuring any letter sent to the Commission would be all inclusive as to the homeowners' associations and provision of details. Chair Miller requested a vote be taken. He assured the neighborhood associations were aware of the requested improvements, as was Mount Zion Baptist Church. Copies of the minutes containing this information would also be provided to the City Commission and to the Director of Public Works. Chair Miller would also ensure the board liaison would send an all-inclusive letter as requested by the board members. Motion Ms. Hearst-Girtzman moved for Chair Miller and members of the Community Relations Board to ensure all lighting upgrades requested for the neighborhood areas previously mentioned be included in the letter to the City Commission. Board discussion ensued, and it was recommended the board review the letter prior to it being sent. Motion Ms. Hearst-Girtzman amended her motion to include the Community Relations Board would review the letter before it was sent. Ms. Williams seconded the motion as amended, which passed unanimously. Chair Miller advised of vandalism at the new Wilson Center. Chair Miller and a police officer went to the site and noted the area was very dark. He suggested temporary lights be set up at the center and advised he would contact the Public Works Department to determine what could be done. 5 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 13, 2007 Chair Miller advised of a recent event sponsored by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), held at St. John Missionary Baptist Church to assist people in the Heart of Boynton area with funds to refurbish their property, lawns, roofs, windows, and to purchase hurricane-related items. Approximately 60 people attended. After the event, Chair Miller drove to Cherry Hills/Poinciana Heights. He discussed with Doris Jackson, President of the Poinciana Heights Homeowners Association, a beautification cleanup in the Heart of Boynton Poinciana Heights area on Saturday, June 16, 2007. Chair Miller had flyers made, which would be distributed by Ms. Jackson and the Cherry Hill Mini Market. The clean-up would begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 10:00 a.m. He invited board members to participate. The clean-up would be a joint effort by the CRA, Public Works Department, the Heart of Boynton organizations and the Community Relations Board. The CRA would supply the bags, and the Public Works Department would supply an employee and truck to pick up large items. Free tee shirts and water would be provided. Chair Miller had been communicating with the CRA with regard to the lack of trash receptacles in CRA districts, including the Cherry Hill Mini Market. The board would submit a program to the CRA requesting receptacles be placed in strategic locations, and this would be another step towards upgrading neighborhoods. Chair Miller would be working with Mr. Livergood, Director of Public Works, in this effort. Mr. Mitchell lauded all that was being done in conjunction with the CRA. However, He did not want people to feel the board was the right arm of the CRA and believed the board should be comprised of a cross-section of all citizens. Further, problems addressed by the board should not be restricted to the CRA and Heart of Boynton areas, as the board represented all segments of the population. Chair Miller agreed with Mr. Mitchell, adding the board represented every district in the City. However, if one district had more problems than another district, he believed that district should be given more attention. b) CERT-Joyce Mura and Stanley Sorgman Chair Miller advised several of the board members were participants in this program. Volunteerism was the key to upgrading the City's neighborhoods. " Neighbors Helping Neighbors" was a theme of the City's Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. Residents were encouraged to sign up for the next CERT class being provided through the Fire Department. Ms. Mura commended all participants in the CERT presentation provided at the April 11, 2007 meeting. Subsequent to the meeting, Assistant Chief Ness visited Ms. Mura's condominium association, provided a presentation on the CERT program and was able 6 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 13, 2007 to recruit several new members. Ms. Mura encouraged other homeowners or neighborhood associations to invite Assistant Chief Ness or other members of the CERT program to their association for a presentation. She also encouraged everyone to attend the Hurricane Expo on June 23, 2007. Mr. Sorgman advised he and Ms. Mura would be manning a booth at the Hurricane Expo from 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. Literature would be distributed. They had been working with Assistant Chief Ness, and he had been very helpful. The CERT team would be conducting a drill for members on Saturday, July 14, 2007. c) Golf Outing for the Youth - Phyllis Stern This item was removed from the agenda and would be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. VIII. New Business (continued) · Discuss Youth Court-Victor Norfus Chair Miller advised Police Chief Immler provided information pertaining to the Palm Beach Youth Court Program. The program assisted in preventing Palm Beach County Courtrooms from being overburdened and allowed youths the opportunity to participate in peer mediation and mock trials. The program operated as a partnership between the Department of Juvenile Justice, the State Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office, the 15th Judicial Circuit, local law enforcement and local private attorneys. Mr. Norfus noted the website for the Palm Beach Youth Court, Palmbeach.k12.fl.us/schoolpolice/youthcourt.htm. He discussed alternatives to placing youthful first-time offenders in detention centers. Youth Courts had been established in Delray Beach, Palm Beach and Riviera Beach. Police Departments determined who would be suitable candidates for the Youth Court. The Youth Court focused on education, crime and poverty, as these issues were instrumental in causing first-time offenses. Depending on the offense, rather than sending the first-time offender to a detention center, the community would enter into a contract with the offender, who would agree to make reparation to the community and abstain from committing further offenses. If the offender did not follow through, he would then be processed through the court system. Mr. Norfus inquired whether the City of Boynton Beach ever had a community Youth Court. Chair Miller commented Chief Immler indicated the City participated in the County's system. 7 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 13, 2007 Mr. Norfus inquired whether a Youth Court could be established in Boynton Beach with the citizens serving as volunteers. 6Rief Chair Miller advised he would be meeting with Chief Immler and would get back to Mr. Norfus with the specifics. Mr. Norfus advised of concerns regarding gang activity in his community. He advised he had been distributing pamphlets obtained from the Police Department pertaining to Neighborhood Watch and Neighborhood Awareness. However, the Police Department would not provide additional pamphlets for distribution. Mr. Norfus inquired whether the board had access to other resources that could provide the additional information. Ms. Cruz suggested Chief Immler be invited to the next meeting to answer questions. She also expressed concern for activities occurring in her community. Chair Miller advised the Youth Gang Task Force of the Police Department would be making a presentation at the board's September 2007 meeting. The presentation was to have been made several months ago. However, a conflict in scheduling prevented the earlier presentation. . Summer Break Chair Miller advised in the past the board had recessed for one month. It was up to the board members whether they wished to recess for one month or two months. He added the individual board members could continue working and participating in beautification clean-ups during the recess. It was noted the board did not meet in April 2007 as Commission Chambers was utilized for Youth in Government Day. Board discussion ensued, and it was mentioned many of the board members would be on vacation during the month of August. Chair Miller called for a motion. Motion Mr. Norfus moved the board recess for vacation in August 2007. Ms. Mura seconded the motion that passed unanimously. 8 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 13, 2007 Chair Miller inquired as to who would like to join Mr. Norfus and Chair Miller on a street- lighting subcommittee. No one responded. Chair Miller then appointed Mr. Norfus and himself to the street-lighting subcommittee. . Report on Youth in Government Day Ms. Hearst-Girtman provided a verbal report on Youth in Government Day. The City Manager opened the meeting and introduced the Mayor, City Commission and City personnel. The turnout was impressive. Ms. Hearst-Girtman believed in Youth in Government Day, as it provided the City's youth with an opportunity to observe its municipal government in action. IX. Adjournment Mr. Mitchell moved to adjourn. Ms. Cruz seconded the motion that passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m. i', n ~ i; -, 2::-JJ- J51,,~ . Stephanie D. Kahn Recording Secretary June 13, 2007 9