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Minutes 01-28-08 MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD AT THE SENIOR CENTER, 6:30 P.M., MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2008, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Betty Pierce-Roe, Chair William Grlove, Vice Chair John Allard David Barie Patti Hammer John McVey Janelle Sloan Frank Lindsay, Alternate (arrived at 6:39 p.m.) Wally Majors, Recreation & Parks Director Jody Rivers, Parks Superintendent ABSENT: Kurt Godfrey, Alternate (arrived after meeting adjourned) I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Pierce-Roe called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. II. ATTENDANCE Chair Pierce-Roe called the roll, and declared a quorum was present. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 26,2007 (December 2007 meeting was cancelled) Mr. Grlove requested "Vice-Chair" Roe be corrected to "Chair" Roe in the third paragraph on page 3 and in the second paragraph on page 4. Motion Ms. Hammer moved approval of the minutes as amended. Mr. Barie seconded the motion that passed unanimously. Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL January 28, 2008 IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Congress Avenue Master Plan Mr. Majors wished to correct a comment he made at the November 2007 meeting wherein he advised lighting would not be provided in the park. There would be some degree of lighting along the walkways and in the playgrounds. This would accommodate the elderly and people with limited abilities who might wish to access the park later in the day or earlier in the evening when it was not as hot or as bright outside. During meetings with staff, organizations for the blind and the Lions Club made it abundantly clear that elderly individuals and individuals with limited abilities could be sensitive to light and heat, especially during the months of March through September. Lights in the park would be turned off at 9:00 p.m. and would not be as bright as those found on tennis courts. Ms. Rivers provided a brief review of the plan. A road would be cut away from the existing entrance to a parking lot to facilitate access into the park, and there would be two entrances to the park area. The first area would be themed around a Florida swamp and would feature play equipment resembling spiders. Critters to be used for play would be embedded at various sites, and a seating area with movable chairs, tables and umbrellas would be provided. Other areas would incorporate a picnic pavilion and restroom, and a themed "fish camp" with a funky house and play set incorporating swings, balance beams and swivel chairs. Simulated waterbeds and riverbeds would provide creative opportunities for children to play while utilizing their imaginations. There would also be a large traditional play area, the "settlement area," which would be four feet higher than the interior of the play area. This would allow individuals with mobility difficulties to access the entire area from a wheelchair or walker. Benches cut from old cypress logs would be placed throughout the park. Eventually, staff would like to put up a boardwalk through the existing wetland, and a pond would be built to create terrain changes. The edges of the ponds would be treated to prevent children from falling into the ponds. The remainder of the elements would be built with donations received from fund raisers. (Mr. Lindsay arrived.) The landscaping would be comprised mostly of native materials. Bamboo would be used in places where thick screening was needed. Wetlands, swamplands and upper pinelands would be created, utilizing a plant palette of pines, cabbage palms, and cypress. The understories would be made of mostly low-maintenance grasses and coco plum. 2 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL January 28, 2008 Additional parking would be provided. The amphitheater could be part of the gifting and would be located in the proximity of the ponds. The playgrounds would be barrier free and would exceed Americans with Disabilities (ADA) standards. Limited interpretive signage would be included in Phase 1, and it was hoped the signage would be included in the gifting as well. The total cost of Phase 1 was $2.9M, $2.5M of which was provided by the City. Staff had applied for a $200,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) grant and a $200,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant. If the grants are approved, Phase 1 could be completed in its entirety. In the alternative, the park would be completed in stages. The results of a feasibility study were expected to be received by the end of the month. A determination would then be made as to the commencement of fundraising activities. It was anticipated the permitting process would commence in May 2008 and would take from three to six months to complete. Thereafter, the application process would begin and would hopefully be completed in one month. It was staffs goal to commence the project in late 2008. Newly-appointed alternate, Frank Lindsay, introduced himself to the board members. The board members in turn introduced themselves and welcomed Mr. Lindsay to the boa rd. B. CIP Update Ms. Rivers noted the Jaycee Park project was approximately 65% completed. The sidewalks would be poured by the end of the week. The paint palette was being selected by Ms. Rivers. The restrooms and picnic shelters were completed, and the bocce ball courts would be completed shortly. The water phase was in the planning stages. It was hoped staff would secure permitting for the dock. The beach project was progressing. Staff had received conceptual designs to replace the boardwalk material. Consideration was being given to selecting the same hardwood material used on the balcony at the Intracoastal Clubhouse and the fishing pier at Boat Club Park. Staff also considered the use of heavy-duty pavers along the main area where the offices and restrooms were located. The boardwalk was set down in the 1990s and was placed on top of the previous boardwalk, which was set down in the early 1980s. The substructure was weak and compromised. It was the intent to obtain material that would endure for future generations. Boat Club Park was also in the design phase. Staff intended to use some type of pre- fabricated structure to replace the public restrooms. While the structures were currently aesthetic and durable, staff could not find suitable replacement materials. Costs for the project would be covered by funds received from the County. 3 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL January 28, 2008 v. NEW BUSINESS A. Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant application for Congress Avenue Community Park Ms. Rivers explained the Land and Water Conservation Fund were funds that came from the Federal Government through the State Government and would be for a maximum grant of $200,000, with a fifty-fifty match of $200,000. The sum of $2.5M had been budgeted by the Department. The Department had applied for a FRDAP grant, and would now apply for the LWCF grant. The grants would apply to different elements in the park, and the applications had to be specific. For example, one grant would benefit the picnic shelter while another would benefit the lakes. Staff should be advised sometime in June whether the LWCF grant would be awarded, and in October or November as to the award of the FRDAP grant. Staff was aware the City was 51st on the list for the FRDAP grant, depending upon whether the State came through with the proper allocations. Staff was hopeful the LWCF grant funds would be awarded. Ms. Rivers noted extra points would be received if the board endorsed the LWCF grant application. Motion Mr. Orlove moved to support the Department's effort to apply for the LWCF Grant. Ms. Hammer seconded the motion that passed unanimously. In response to an inquiry from the board regarding renovations to the beachfront park which were necessary to counter the damages caused by Hurricane Wilma, Ms. Rivers noted the lifeguard tower, lights and landscaping in the parking lot had been replaced, and all the buildings had been painted. With the replacement of the lights, the beach once again closed at 11:00 p.m. Plants were in the process of being replaced. Volunteers had planted ten trees and indicated their willingness to plant an additional ten trees. There were no damages to the dunes. The beach had been voted the best beach in Palm Beach County in 2002. B. Grand Opening of Carolyn Sims Community Center and John Denson Aquatic Facility The grand opening was slated for February 9, 2008 and would begin at 11:00 a.m. The event could accommodate 200 to 300 people. An area would be set up for guests. Parking would be available at the school with overflow parking at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Approximately 100 guests had been invited, including the board, the City Commission, the County Commission, State representatives, and representatives from various Homeowners Associations. Refreshments would be provided. A parachute 4 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL January 28, 2008 jump was scheduled for 11 :45 a.m. and the parachute team would present commemorative keys to the new centers to the Sims and Denson families, followed by the unveiling of the Public Art. Tours of the building would be provided, and the event was expected to conclude at approximately 12:30 p.m. Discussion ensued with respect to the ordinance that established a policy for naming City facilities. Mr. Majors noted he did not provide the correct ordinance at the November 2007 board meeting, which was amended on second reading to provide that a nominee could include a living person. He provided copies of the ordinance as adopted on second reading. It was noted a new committee would be selected whenever a nomination was made. Discussion ensued with respect to the Old High School and whether any decision had been made with respect thereto. Ms. Rivers believed the CRA was going to take the matter under advisement in February 2008. To date, it was believed no solid proposals had been received. Discussed ensued with regard to the location for the board meetings. Mr. Majors noted authorization would be required in order to meet at the Schoolhouse Children's Museum. C. Monthly Report The board inquired as to the development by the Land Stewardship Company of a Master Plan for Bicentennial Park. Ms. River noted the Veterans Advisory Commission had originally wanted their new memorial placed at Veterans Park. Thereafter, they had decided to have the memorial placed at Bicentennial Park. The monies were therefore shifted from Veteran's Park to Bicentennial Park. As there were no plans for Bicentennial Park, the Land Stewardship Company was hired by the City as landscape architects to develop a plan for the park. Normally, the process would be to develop three conceptual plans which would be narrowed down to one master plan. That measure was omitted as the park is very small. Several plans were considered. It was anticipated the Veteran's Memorial would be installed by June 6, 2008, Flag Day, with the remainder of the park to be completed thereafter. Staff discussed the success of Intracoastal Park. The Clubhouse was open daily for programs and registration, and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. for registration only. Staff was attempting to fill the vacant Supervisory position. Designations were being considered for the gifting brochure with regard to Congress Avenue Community Park. Suggestions by the design team included "boundless," "barrier free" or "limitless." 5 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL January 28, 2008 D. Items for the City Manager's Attention None. Mr. Majors noted the City hired a new Assistant City Manager, Lori LaVerriere. VI. NEXT MEETING 6:30 P.M., February 28, 2008, Carolyn Sims Community Center VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 7:24 p.m. J~ f)./ Stephanie D. Kahn Recording Secretary 021108 - ---i 6