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Minutes 06-26-00MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD MEETING HELD IN WEST WING, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2000 AT 7:00 P.M. PRESENT Betty Thomas, Chairperson Mike Fitzpatrick (arrived at 7:20 p.m.) Ed Harris (arrived at 7:10 p.m.) James R. McMahon, Vice Chair Bali Ramnarace Tom Williams Dan Winters Wally Majors, Acting Recreation Director ABSENT Charles Jackson, Alternate I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Thomas called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. I1. ATTENDANCE Chairperson Thomas called the tell and a quorum was declared present. II1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 22, 2000 MEETING Chairperson Thomas asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of the May 22, 2000 meeting? Hearing none, Chairperson Thomas stated that the minutes stand approved as distributed. IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Hester Center Breezeway Enclosure Mr. Majors reported that at the City Commission meeting on July 5, 2000 the Commission would be requested to authorize Mayor Broening to execute the agreement between the City and Palm Beach County authorizing the City to receive the $200,000. The City will be matching this with an additional $134,000 for the project, which involves enclosing the breezeway at Hester Center and other renovations. The ramp will be moved and two to three offices will be built. Meeting Minutes Recreation & Parks Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2000 The ramp will be placed further north. Also a computer lab will be added and the open storage room will be enclosed. Mr. Majors said that the computer lab should be able to hold approximately 10 computers. Staff is working with Stephanie Mingo-McCoy, who runs a program that involves computers and is a long-time volunteer at the Hester Center. Ms. Mingo-McCoy will be one of the main instructors. Staff is very excited about providing this service to the community. Mr. Majors stated that the computer lab would be available to all ages. It is anticipated that the project would be completed in February of next year. Mr. Majors also informed the Board that staff is working closely with the City's ITS Department. Peter Wallace, the ITS Director, has shown a great deal of interest in the project. Mr. Wallace has also been very helpful with the Senior Center and the Lifeguard operations, which are satellite units of the City. Chairperson Thomas inquired if the programs would be free and Mr. Majors stated it is their goal to make the programs affordable and they intend to offer many free classes. Also, when the breezeway is enclosed, it will eliminate a lot of bicycle traffic and the area will look much more professional, as well as becoming safer. Mr. Majors also pointed out that there will be a receptionist on duty and Chairperson Thomas asked if the receptionist would be paid or a volunteer. The receptionist in the beginning would be mostly through volunteers in order to see how this works out. Vice Chair McMahon noted that over 18,000 people used the Hester Center and Mr. Majors stated a great deal of the use of the Center is attributable to the summer camps. Mr. Williams stated that attendance would increase once the football season begins. Mr. Majors noted that there have been no problems with garbage or graffiti. Mr. Williams acknowledged that the Park's crew has been doing a very good job. B, Senior Center Mr. Majors reported that the Senior Center is doing well and recently held a fashion show on Friday, which was very successful. One hundred seventy-two people attended and Old Navy sponsored the fashion show. Attendance at the Center remains strong. Mr. Winters inquired when the Center would be completed? Mr. Majors stated that they did not receive the additional grant funding. Mr. Winters felt that the money should be taken from the City's account to pay for completing the remainder of the Center. Mr. Majors said that their Department's grant writer would be focusing on grants for the Senior Center. Mr. Winters feels that the City is in need of a lobbyist to assist in situations such as this. 2 Meeting Minutes Recreation & Parks Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2000 Mr. Majors noted that the Department of Elder Affairs is eager to provide funding for programs, not capital projects. Mr. Winters inquired if the City would be open to consider naming the building after a product, if the product would pay to complete the building? Mr. Winters said this is an area that should be looked at for funding. Mr. Majors said that approximately $400,000/$500,000 is necessary to complete the building. Mr. Majors said that he has been looking at funding through the Internet to determine what grant funds are available. Chairperson Thomas requested that the minutes reflect that Mr. Fitzpatrick and Mr. Ed Harris had arrived. C. Boat Club/Intracoastal Parks Mr. Wildner was not present to make his report. D. Tennis Center (North American Corporate Games, October 26-29) The project to make maior improvements and renovations to the Tennis Center has been approved. Not only will the facility be a great facility for the corporate event, it will become a great facility for the residents. The games will be taking place during the third week of October. The Center will be painted and new lights will be added. Also, some major irrigation and landscaping will be added. The major problem with the Tennis Center when it was built in 1982 is that the well only had to service eight courts. Now, there are 17 courts. Therefore, the existing well was insufficient. The new well will now meet the needs of the facility. It is expected that over 300 players would be participating in the games and hopefully there will be an additional 1,000 people accompanying the players. One of the goals is to hope that some of the people who come here like it so much that they would come back to vacation or even relocate here. Chairperson Thomas noted that at a recent City Commission meeting two representatives of the Corporate Games spoke and they were very effective. Mr. Williams inquired if there is adequate parking available and Mr. Majors said there is. Discussion has been taking place about holding one special event for the weekend for everyone. Mr. Williams inquired if there would be concession stands at the event and requested that the Bulldogs be allowed to operate a concession stand in order to raise money for the teams. Vice Chair McMahon inquired if the new Public Relations person for the City would be involved in the event? Mr. Majors said that his department has been working closely with Mr. Segal who is doing a wonderful job for the City. 3 Meeting Minutes ' Recreation & Parks Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2000 E. Special Events (July 4th, TNT Concerts, Holiday events, GALA) Mr. Majors announced that the schedule for the July 4th festivities. · The activities will begin at 3:30 p.m. · Radio Disney will be present to participate in the intera · The band Kaw-z6 will begin playing around 6:00 p.m. · Color guards will be present. · Fireworks will start at 9:00 p.m. Mr. Fitzpatrick requested that the music be turned don display, which members agreed was too loud last year. Mr. Majors announced that the TNT Concerts are doing, now an issue because the attendance has risen. Mem the concerts at various facilities throughout the City and n~ Planning is now underway for holiday events and a n planned along with the Holiday Parade. Staff is unable the plans for Ocean Avenue are determined. The dates for GALA have been set for March 16, location for GALA needs to be determined and areas impacted by the event would receive a monthly ne' informed on what is taking place. Also, staff is looking al focus on a carnival/festival atmosphere, or fine art show, really don't mix well. F. Greenways Network (Mike Fitzpatrick) Mr. Fitzpatrick reported that on a recent City Co~ Commission was being requested on first reading to appr( the 13 acres where Old Dixie meets Federal Highway (th Mr. Fitzpatrick requested that the Commission table the would give a concession for 200' of land running al( amounts to about 5 acres. The developer is requesting :tive family games. during the fireworks /ery well and parking is 3ers discussed holding )t just Oceanfront Park. ;al snow day is being to formulize plans until 17 and 18. Also, the vithin the City that are ~/sletter keeping them whether to continue to ~s in the past. The two 3mission agenda, the )vea zoning change for e Villa Del Sol project). tern until the developer ng the railroad, which :o put in 300 units, and there is a regulation in place that developers must give L~p a certain percentage of land. However, Mr. Rumpf, the Planning and Zonin(j Director said that this was not the forum to do this. However, the CommisSioners did instruct the representative of the developer that this may be coming ~Jp at a future time. Mr. Fitzpatrick will be following through on this and will report back to the Board. / Mr. Winters inquired if a developer has the choice between giving up some land or paying a fee to the City. Mr. Fitzpatrick was under the impression that it must 4 Meeting Minutes Recreation & Parks Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2000 be land, but the City is allowed to let the developer pay a fee in place of land, but that would be up to the City. Mr. Fitzpatrick informed members that he had previously appeared before the Planning and Development Board when the Villa Del Sol item was on the agenda and presented the same request for the land. Mr. Fitzpatrick also noted that his son attends camp at Congress Middle School and there are two Burrowing Owl nests in the football field on the south side of Congress Avenue. This could be dangerous if anyone steps in any of these holes. Mr. Fitzpatrick expressed concern about children stepping in these holes and hurting themselves. Mr. Williams suggested putting cones around the nests so that no one could step in them. However Mr. Winters pointed out if these areas were blocked off, the children wouldn't be able to play football on the football field. Mr. Williams also suggested obtaining permission to move the Owls after the nesting season. G. Monthly Report Members complimented staff on the fine job they have been doing in preparing the monthly report. Some members inquired when their terms on the Board were up and the Recording Secretary informed all members of their term expiration dates. Currently only one vacancy for an alternate member exists. Mr. Winters inquired if excused absences were allowed and was informed that there are no excused absences for any of the City Boards. However, if a member is removed due to absences that member could immediately apply for reappointment. Establishment of a Parks, Recreation and Greenways Taxing District Mr. Majors distributed a letter to members that Chairperson Thomas signed and sent to City Manager Kurt Bressner regarding the Board's support for the establishment of a Parks, Recreation and Greenways Taxing District. V. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Williams asked if the budget has been reviewed? Mr. Majors stated that his Department's budget was reviewed on Thursday. Mr. Williams inquired if the Department budget had been cut and if Park Rangers were included in the budget? Mr. Majors replied that one Park Ranger was budgeted. Mr. Majors replied that his department would probably be asked to cut at least 2%. Mr. 5 Meeting Minutes Recreation & Parks Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 26, 2000 Majors informed members that the department requested 14% more than last year, due to the fact that recreation is now running the City Hall in the Mall operations. Also, special events are now the responsibility of Recreation, which used to be budgeted under the City Manager. Mr. Williams inquired if the purchase of the buses was approved? Mr. Majors stated that the buses should be purchased before October. The purchase of one bus should be approved at the July 5th Commission meeting and hopefully, Chief Gage will be agreeable to purchasing the other bus. The first bus is a 65- passenger bus that is being purchased from the School Board at a cost of $8,500. It is anticipated that to get the bus painted and insured would cost upwards of $16,000/17,000 and an additional cost for the driver and yearly operational costs would be approximately $14,000. Mr. Williams suggested that Mr. Majors speak with Officer Tome regarding fundraising by the Bulldogs to assist with the buses and other items that they want. Mr. Majors noted that the City assisted PAL in putting on a dance, which was a great success and there was absolutely no trouble whatsoever. Over 200 children attended and more than $1,000 was raised for PAL. Mr. Williams noted that a festival that took place recently at Sara Sims was a big success. Mr. Majors said he is requesting that Mr. De Carlo, the Neighborhood Specialist who planned the event, keep them abreast of any activities so that the Departments could work together. Mr. Williams stated that the Park looked really good and wanted to compliment Mr. Wildner on a fine job. Mr. Williams said that Commissioner Black offered to assist in getting two large pavilions with tables for the Park. The Park could then be rented out for family and other events. Vice Chair McMahon suggested that the Board invite City Manager Bressner to attend one of the Board meetings and members felt this was a very good idea. Chairperson Thomas will follow through with this. VI. NEXT MEETING Chairperson Thomas announced that the next Board Meting is scheduled for July 24, 2OOO. VII. ADJOURNMENT 6 Meeting Minutes Recreation & Parks Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2000 There being no further business, the meeting properly adjOurned at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (one tape) 7