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Minutes 04-24-00 MINUTES OF NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT MEETING HELD IN THE LIBRARY PROG~M ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2000 AT 6:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Dan DeCarlo, Neighborhood Project Specialist, called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. and thanked everyone for attending. Tonight's meeting will be an overview of what the Neighborhood Forum has accomplished over the last two to three years. Mr, DeCarlo stated that he and Ms. Sherrod would be presenting a Power Point presentation and the following topics would be addressed: Updating Visions 20/20 Relating to Neighborhood Goals Review of our existing projects and programs · Neighborhood Assistance Program · Capital Improvement Program Council of Neighborhoods DiscUssion Capital Improvement Planning (CIP) Program, which will be presented by Mr. Quintus Greene, the DireCtor of Development/CRA Updating Visions 20/20 Plan and Defining Successful Neighborhoods Mr. DeCarlo pointed out that a successful neighborhood has many issues to deal with such as people issues, crime prevention and growth. Many neighborhoods have received funding for beautification projects. Neighborhood Delineation Neighborhood delineation applies to how your neighborhood relates to other surrounding neighborhoods and assists in determining what should be done citywide. Traffic Calming This will be discussed at the end of the presentation and what other cities have done will be presented. MEETING MINUTES ' ~ NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA April 24, 2000 Developing a Comprehensive Neighborhood Improvement Strategy Mr. DeCarlo stated this is tied in with the new budget processing and the City as a whole is looking at funding for drainage issues and other items that need to be dealt with. REVIEW OF EXISTING PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS- Slide .Presentation A slide presentation on the following topics was presented. Neighborhood Assistance Program Capital Improvements Program Budget Overview of Successful City Projects The first project shown was the Ridgewood Hills where lighting to the circles will be added and the light poles will be repainted. Also, grass and laurel oak has been planted and the neighbors are very pleased with these improvements Seacrest Court before and after slides were presented. Irrigation was added, together with new landscaping. A great deal of time was spent improving the Rolling Green/17th Avenue Neighborhood. Trees were planted in the medians. The right of way next to the Hester Center is being looked at for improvement. Also, the fencing around the Hester Center will be upgraded. Ocean Parkway will be the last project being worked on during the first round of funding. Irrigation is scheduled to be installed beginning next week, and Sable Palms will be planted up and down the Parkway. Because of the new improvements going in on Gateway some of the ficus hedge had to be removed and Village Royale on the Greene wants to enhance their entryway on Gateway. The Hampshire Gardens project was recently completed which included installing a new fence along Federal Highway last year and this year some hedging has been added. Mr. DeCarlo noted that there was a very good working relationship between his department and the Parks Department. Barbara Meacham of the Parks Department has just completed a design for a new garden at Sterling Village. 2 MEETING MINUTES ' NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA April 24, 2000 Also, the City is looking at different areas to create pocket parks and one is preposed for the City-owned preperty located at the entrance to Harbor Hall on Federal Highway. The property will be resodded and flowers will be planted. Design Capabilities The City has a great professional staff in the Parks Department, as well as Planning and Zoning and the Development Department to help neighborhoods with their design work. 10-Acre Parcel It is anticipated that the 10-acre park will become a real anchor to the neighborhood and is an important component to the north end of the City. A great many plans are in the process for Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. A new health center is being planned and a County representative will be present to make a presentation at the next Community Relations Board meeting. Ultimately, a steering committee will be formed to assist with the health center. INCA/HARBOR ESTATES SIGN Slides were shown of new signs that were installed in various neighborhoods. MEADOWS AND NAUTICA SOUND There is a nine-acre site between the Meadows and Nautica Sound that is being considered for a passive park. Trees are being planted in the right of way of Old Boynton Estates. This is a neighborhood that is currently in a transitional stage. Therefore, enhancement of the neighborhood is very important. Mr. DeCarlo asked if anyone in the audience had any comments or questions. A gentleman inquired how his neighborhood, Mariner's Village and Manatee Cove, could apply for an entrance similar to the Coquina Cove entrance. He also asked about the financial arrangements. Mr. DeCarlo replied that the premise of the Neighborhood Assistance Program is not only for the City to supply money, but also sweat equity from the neighborhood. In most cases, these projects would cost between $8,000 and $12,000 and the City would contribute up to $5,000. The neighborhood would pay for the remainder. Ways to improve the program are being looked at. 3 MEETING MINUTES NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA April 24, 2000 A woman in the audience asked how they could put in a request for a project and Mr. DeCarlo stated first the neighborhood assistance program form must be completed and then submitted for consideration. Mr. DeCarlo presented further details on how to apply for assistance with a neighborhood project. The question was asked how the $5,000 is usually spent. Mr. DeCarlo responded that usually the funds are used for beautification projects, such as trees, shrubs, and signage and operates as an enhancement for beautification of neighborhoods. Ms. Dee Zibelli asked how the City planned to deal with cars that are parked all over the swales? Mr. DeCado said that they usually look at projects on a street- by-street basis and on a need basis. He acknowledged there is a problem with people parking on swales and this needs to be addressed. Ms. Jeanne Heavilin inquired how the City could help older neighborhoods that don't have any funds and don't collect dues? Mr. DeCarlo responded that basically there are four different types of neighborhoods in the City: · Neighborhoods where persons residing pay a fee to the homeowner's association and the money is used to maintain the common areas, · Homeowners' associations that collect a very small fee and don't have much money at all. · Homeowners' Associations that are organized and have no funds except for fundraising efforts. · Lastly, there are neighborhoods that are not organized at all. Mr. DeCarlo stated that the City needs to be flexible and looks at each association or neighborhood individually and there are many factors that are considered. Mr. Finkelstein inquired if the funds for these projects come from the $500,000 that was set aside for neighborhood projects that was recommended in the Visions 20/20 Plan? Mr. DeCarlo responded that the City has funded $25,000 per year for the Neighborhood Assistance Program. The $500,000 has been used as funding for some of the larger projects, such as the 17th Avenue Circle and Ocean Parkway. Currently, there is a balance of $225,000 in the fund. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING PROGRAM (CIP) (Quintus Greene) Mr. Greene stated this is not a new concept, but a different approach to CIP Planning is being taken in the City. This year residents will be given an opportunity to have some input in the process. The definition of Capital Improvement is projects, which because of their size or cost, are not funded in the normal course of the City's departmental operating budget. Usually Capital Improvement Projects cost $50,000 or more. This could include street resurfacing, drainage, building expansion, construction and other major items. 4 MEETING MINUTES NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA April 24, 2000 All capital improvement projects will be looked at and ranked. The projects will be ranked in terms of the City's goals and objectives and also in terms of some very specific criteria. Staff has come up with 15 weighted criteria to rank each and every CIP Project. Some of the criteria would include- · whether or not the project is grant funded; · whether or not there is strong public sentiment forthe project; and · whether or not the project would generate ongoing operating costs; Each Commissioner during the month of May will host a public meeting in his district and at the meetings the public will have an opportunity to identify specific projects in their neighborhood that they would like to see included in the CIP Plan. Projects that are submitted by neighborhoods will be weighted with the same criteria as projects submitted by City staff. Therefore, all CIP Projects would include not only City CIP Projects, but neighborhood CIP project, as well. Mr. Greene stated that it must be kept in mind that all CIP projects will not be funded this year and nor next year, because there isn't enough money to do what everybody wants. However, it is important to identify and prioritize the needs, and then the City Commission can decide in which direction it wants to go. Mr. Brian Edwards hoped that when the ClP meetings with the Commissioners take place that the priorities did not get locked in and there would be no changes. Mr. Edwards also suggested that when the meetings are held that there be applications available. Commissioner Fisher inquired if every suggestion would be evaluated provided it meets the dollar criteria? Mr. Greene replied that every project will be evaluated. Flyers on the various ClP meeting dates and places were distributed as follows: Thursday, May 4, 2000 @ 6:30 p.m. United Way Building, Quantum Park - Commissioner Black Thursday, May '11, 2000 @ 6:30 p.m. Congress Middle School Cafeteria Mayor Pro Tem Sherman Monday, May 15, 2000 @ 6:30 p.m. Rolling Green School Cafeteria Commissioner Fisher Wednesday, May 24, 2000 @ 6:30 p.m. Bethesda Hospital Clayton Conference Center Vice Mayor Weiland Wednesday, May 31, 2000 @ 6:30 p.m. Library Program Room Mayor Broening 5 MEETING MINUTES NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA April 24, 2000 Mr. Edwards inquired about the procedures that will take place at these meetings, Mr. Greene stated that staff would be present to take down pertinent information and then the information will be converted to a form. Ms. Brenda Williams inquired how the people would become aware that there is a meeting taking place on Thursday, May 4, which is just a few days away? Mr. Greene stated that the flyers handed out tonight would be distributed everywhere. Also, Commissioner Fisher pointed out that a person could go to any meeting and doesn't have to be limited to the district they live in. TRAFFIC CALMING Staff is looking at various types of traffic calming and Mr. DeCarlo presented slides of variations of traffic calming available - · Center island narrowing, which has plantings and which has been done on 17th Avenue, Ocean Parkway and Federal Highway. · Chicanes, which basically gives a roadway a curved effect, with landscaping in between and changes the line of sight. · Chokers which is another traffic calming mechanism. · Neckdowns, which are successful in neighborhoods with four lanes that merge into two lanes, just before the intersection. · Speed humps that would have more depth. Ms. Zibelli pointed out that traffic calming measures are greatly needed on Seacrest Boulevard and Mr. DeCarlo replied that staff has been looking at Seacrest Boulevard and how to address this problem. Ms. Sarah Williams asked if there was a certain amount of funds available to assist homeowners in installing circular driveways along Seacrest. Mr. DeCarlo noted that Seacrest is a real problem, but he is not familiar with installing circular driveways and staff and the County are looking into other ways to improve the street. COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOODS Consideration is being given to establishing a committee to work with staff to look at the types of projects that need to be funded. Another committee is being considered to deal with public safety issues. Ms. Zibelli inquired since Seacrest is a County read, why isn't the County coming up with funding to make improvements along Seacrest? Mr. DeCarlo said that staff has looked into this and is trying to determine where Seacrest stands on the County's list of items to be done. 6 MEETING MINUTES - NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA April 24, 2000 A woman in the audience asked if anything could be done about the trailers and vehicles parked along Federal Highway near the Boat Club Park. She felt this was a dangerous situation that should be looked into. Mr. DeCarlo introduced Mayor Broening and requested that the Mayor respond to this question. Mayor Broening reported that the City would be receiving $900,000 from the County to provide additional boat trailer and pick-up truck parking at the existing Boat Club Park and this is still in the fact-finding stage and the amount of funding could be increased. The objective is to get all these vehicles off Federal Highway as soon as possible. The question is do we want to put these vehicles on the remaining 10 acres, or does the City want to find another place to park the trailers. Mayor Broening concurred that this is dangerous as well as unsightly and is presently under discussion with the County. This same woman inquired if a fee could be charged to anyone utilizing Boat Club Park that is not a City resident, similar to what is charged to-use the Beach. Mayor Broening pointed out that at least 75% of the people utilizing the Park are not City residents. Mayor Broening stated he did not want to see these trailers parked on the 10 acre Intracoastal Park. The City is also looking into purchasing the 3 ¼ acres next to the 10-acre Park. Mr. DeCarlo noted that he had not introduced the City dignitaries and staff that were present tonight and did so at this time. Introduced were: Mayor Pro Tem Sherman Commissioner Fisher Commissioner Black City Manager, Kurt Bressner Jose Alfaro, Planning & Zoning Mark Law, Utilities Department Fire Chief Bill Bingham Code Administrator, Scott Blasie Community Improvement Manager, Octavia Sherrod Mr. DeCarlo reported that Mr. Scott Blasie has been working closely with himself and Ms. Sherrod compiling a survey of the neighborhoods and requested that Mr. Blasie address the audience. Mr. Blasie said he was looking for volunteers to help with the neighborhood survey, which is focusing on the condition of the properties in the City. Mr. Blasie reviewed the items that the survey was targeting, such as street lighting, abandoned vehicles, etc. Mr. Blasie stated that if anyone present would like to volunteer, to please feel free to speak with him at the conclusion of the meeting. Surveys of areas completed are north of City Hall to the C-16 Canal, on the east side of Seacrest, and the west side to 1-95 should be completed by the end of the week. Also, an area southwest of City Hall has 7 MEETING MINUTES ~' NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA April 24, 2000 been completed. All residential properties east of 1-95 will be surveyed. Also, volunteers are needed to input the information garnered into the City's database. Mr. DeCarlo also introduced Police Chief Marshall Gage and Barbara Meacham of the Parks Department who is helping a great deal with the design work. Ms. Sarah Williams thanked the City for completion of the median and circle on 17th Avenue. She also thanked Police Chief Gage for the work he is doing to make the neighborhoods safe and Mr. Blasie for his fine work as well. Mr. DeCarlo reported that a Church group of 150 volunteers on Saturday helped clean up many of the neighborhoods and a groat job was done. Mr. DeCarlo also thanked Ms. Farace and the Library staff for their assistance in preparation for tonight's meeting. Mr. Brian Edwards inquired if the Committee item would be finalized tonight? Mr. DeCarlo said that anyone who is interested in serving on the committee should sign up tonight. Mr. William Murphy of Seagate Village suggested that the three current committees be dissolved before starting a new committee. Mr. William Murphy moved that the three standing committees be eliminated and a single overlook committee be formed and any subcommittees that may be necessary to work in conjunction with the neighborhood staff. Motion seconded by Brian Edwards and unanimously carried. All associations will be receiving an update and each one will be asked what they feel the new committee should be addressing and will be asked to select someone to participate. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (two tapes) 8