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Minutes 04-28-08 MINUTES OF THE RECREATION & PARKS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD AT 6:30 PM, ON MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2008, AT THE BOYNTON BEACH SENIOR CENTER, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Elizabeth Pierce-Roe, Chair John Allard John McVey Janelle Sloan Kurt Godfrey, Alternate (arrived late) Frank Lindsay, Alternate Wally Majors, Recreation & Parks Director Jody Rivers, Parks Superintendent ABSENT: David Barie Bill Orlove, Vice Chair I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Roe called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. II. ATTENDANCE Chair Roe called the roll. A quorum was present. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM: March 24, 2008 Motion Mr. McVey moved approval of the minutes. Ms. Sloan seconded the motion that unanimously passed. IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. CIP Update Jody Rivers, Parks Superintendent, announced the construction drawings were 90% complete for the Boat Club Park renovation, the boardwalk at Oceanfront Park and the boardwalk at Jaycee Park. She hoped to have those plans through permitting and out to bid by late fall at the latest. Congress Avenue Park would have 100% construction drawings on May 21,2008 and the park would go straight into permitting. 1 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 28, 2008 The Veterans Memorial at Bicentennial Park would be unveiled on June 6, 2008. The remainder of the park will be renovated after that. Bicentennial Park was on Federal Highway just north of CVS Drugstore. v. New Business A. Ribbon Cutting for Pioneer Canal Park Playground 1. May 15th at 9:00 a.m. There would be a ribbon cutting at Pioneer Canal Park. HSBC Bank donated $10K towards the park and they would have a representative there. Ms. Rivers noted the park turned out nicely. B. Schedule Parks Tour Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director, announced at the last meeting the board had discussed a parks tour for the new members. Chair Roe asked if they could have a park drive. They could see Congress Avenue, Jaycee Park, Oceanfront Park, Boat Club Park and Pioneer Canal Park. Ms. Rivers thought they would visit Pioneer, Pence and Hibiscus Parks to see the new playground equipment. The board would meet at the Civic Center and they would take a van. Mr. Godfrey arrived at 6:40 p.m. Chair Roe explained Jaycee Park was outstanding. She praised staff for their work on the park. It was noted at the grand opening, the show with the animals was very educational. Mr. Majors gave kudos to Jody Rivers who handled the event. The board noted it was a good event with good attendance. Jaycee Park was beginning the interpretative/public art project. The concept would be the history of fishing and water around the path. An artist and interpreter were working on the markers and Ms. Rivers commented they were developing incredible ideas. B. Monthly Report The members did not have a copy of the report. Mr. Majors apologized and explained the department was going through a restructuring. The employee from their office who normally handled that task for the board was placed in the Art Center due to a vacancy there. He explained the department was not in a position to fill the vacancy. The monthly report would be sent to the members. 2 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 28, 2008 Ms. Rivers distributed the Spring 2008 City Visions brochure and advised Recreation and Parks was mentioned throughout the publication. There was an art project highlighted showing some of the children from a Recreation and Parks program participating in the public art program. This was a report put together by the Public Affairs office. The City Empowerment Center was also a park center. Chair Roe inquired if the parks had any type of recycling programs. Ms. Rivers explained only at Oceanfront Park. Tom Balfe, the Parks Manager, had chosen a goal of trying to develop a recycling program at all the parks, and was currently working with the Solid Waste Authority and Public Works. Chair Roe noted there used to be a large recycling container at Boat Club Park for people who come in on boats who needed to have a place to put their recyclables. The City has created a Green Team and they were looking at a lot of green initiatives. The Sims Center programs were moving along. Mr. Majors explained it takes about a year to get settled into a new facility and iron out any glitches. They found some challenges during spring break while kids were out of school and there were very large crowds. Accordingly, they looked for additional support from the police. The center opened in February. It was noted with the cutbacks, they have the same staffing level at the center, but the facility was much larger and had two stories. A video monitoring system was ready to be installed, and had been to permitting. Some of the doors would require audible alarms because people prop them open. Those types of issues could be challenging with limited staff. There was a short discussion about whether staff received any calls from the public about any of the parks. Ms. Rivers responded from time to time, there are calls. They received some calls about Oceanfront Park; the park was aged. Conversely, several playgrounds were installed which provide great opportunities to give children something to do. It provided social opportunities for child development which was important as it added value to child development. The parks system has greatly improved. It was noted there were some areas where parks provide recreational activities to residents that would otherwise have very little opportunity for recreation. That was the purpose of the parks. Chair Roe explained a few years back there were sheets listing the parks and each board member would rate or comment on the parks. The comments were what would or could be added to improve the parks or what detracted from them. She thought that might be a useful tool when they inspect the parks. Mr. Majors had the form and noted this is a good time of year to do a parks tour. C. Items for the City Manager's Attention None. 3 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 28, 2008 V. Next Meeting: May 19, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. The members decided to schedule the tour of the parks in June. The members would meet at City Hall. The May meeting will be held at the Senior Center at 6:30 p.m. Mr. McVey announced on July 24th through the 28th, the Little League Organization would be hosting the Florida State Little League Championships at Little League Park. The championship was for youth aged 11 and 12. This will be a very big event with press and other notable VIPs. The members were invited to attend. The opening ceremonies would be held on Thursday night, and there would be games following every night. Chair Roe distributed Certificates of Appreciation issued by the City to the members at the City Board Appreciation Dinner. VI. Adjournmen t There being no further business to discuss, there was consensus to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 6:56 p.m. (!~~cl ~ j () A 1\/ L Catherine Cherry "--'I'-'UV U Recording Secretary 042908 4