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Minutes 09-27-99 MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD MEETING HELD IN CONFERENCE ROOM C, WEST WING, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1999 AT 7:00 P.M. PRESENT James R. McMahon, Vice Chair John Wildner, Parks Superintendent Ed Harris Bali Ramnarace Tom Williams ABSENT Charles Jackson, Alternate Betty Thomas, Chairperson Mike Fitzpatrick Dan Winters I. CALL TO ORDER In the absence of Chairperson Thomas, Vice Chair McMahon called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. II. ATTENDANCE Vice Chair McMahon called the roll and a quorum was declared present. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF August 23, 1999 MEETING Vice Chair McMahon asked if there were any changes to the minutes of the August 23, 1999 meeting. There were none. Motion Mr. Ed Harris moved to approve the minutes of the August 23, 1999 meeting. Motion seconded by Mr. Ramnarace and unanimously carried. Mr. Ramnarace informed members that he completed planting the grass at Rolling Green and it looks very good. Mr. Williams noted there was a very good article on the field in the local newspaper. Mr. Ramnarace said that the field is now world-class and conforms to international standards for playing cricket. Mr. Ramnarace presented a copy of the newspaper article to the members to review. MEETING MINUTES RECREATION & PARKS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA September 27, 1999 IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (a) Senior Center (Melody Green) Ms. Green was not present this evening, but Mr. Wildner announced that the Senior th Center grand opening is scheduled for Tuesday, October 5. Mr. Wildner said that invitations were being sent out. He reported that the City is completing some of the remaining landscape and the interior work. The grand opening should go off as scheduled. Mr. Williams inquired if the City would continue to run the Senior Center. Mr. Wildner said that this is the direction the City is going in and will continue to run the Center. He did indicate that there is sentiment that the Senior Center be run by the seniors of the City. Mr. Williams said that the City should run the Senior Center and that the Senior Advisory Board should continue their current role. Mr. Wildner reported that the Senior Advisory Board has been fully involved in the Senior Center and has been of great assistance. The Senior Advisory Board will continue to meet monthly and their suggestions will be carefully considered as has been done in the past. Vice Chair McMahon inquired about the parking and Mr. Wildner said there is parking on the north and west sides of the building. It is expected that there would be a steady level use of the parking throughout the day, as opposed to the former restaurant, which had peak hours for parking. It is expected that the parking would be adequate. (b) Boat Club/Intracoastal Parks (John Wildner) Mr. Wildner reported that there has been no change in the status of the Boat Club/Intracoastal Parks. Several weeks ago the CRA voted that the Intracoastal Park site would be used for residential/commercial. However, this will need to be approved by the City Commission. Mr. Wildner said that there are a few steps that remain which include zoning changes. With regard to Boat Club Park, Mr. Wildner was not certain of the status of that Park, but is optimistic that the Park would continue to operate under the County grant system. However, this would require an amendment to the grant. Vice Chair McMahon inquired about the two additional persons who will be added to the CRA. Mr. Wilder said that at the last City Commission meeting this was put on hold for now. However, at some time in the future two new members will probably be added to the CRA. Concerns were expressed that the appointed members to the CRA would 2 MEETING MINUTES RECREATION & PARKS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA September 27, 1999 have terms beyond the elected City officials’ terms. The terms of CRA appointed members are dictated by the State and cannot be changed at the local level. Discussion took place about the presentations that had been made before the CRA for development of the Intracoastal Park. Vice Chair McMahon wondered why the park was no longer being considered and felt there are a great many residents who still want a park. Mr. Williams felt that a hotel and meeting center would bring a lot of jobs and money into the City. Mr. Williams felt that parks were needed west of the City. Mr. Wildner pointed out that this is County property and the City has no control over this area. Mr. Wildner reported that the County is planning to build a park on Jog Road. There is a future high school site next to the City’s Municipal Golf Course and Boynton Beach will eventually have two high schools. A 20-acre park is being planned on land adjacent to this school land. It is anticipated that a recreation center will also be built. Mr. Williams asked if a movie complex was still being planned for Quantum Park. Mr. Wildner said he has not heard anything further on this, but did state that an indoor, ice hockey rink is being planned. It would be located on Quantum Boulevard, just west of I- 95, next to the Tri-Rail Station. Mr. Williams felt the City is in need of hotels and there are not enough hotels in the City. Mr. Wildner thought that the hotel was no longer going to be considered for the Intracoastal Park site and that the City was looking more at residential/commercial. Mr. Ramnarace stated that this same scenario took place several years ago when a hotel was going to be built at the marina site. Mr. Williams would like to see an amphitheater on the Intracoastal Park site. Vice Chair McMahon asked if this Board has any input with the Commissioners and Mr. Wildner stated that they read the Board’s minutes. He felt if the City did pursue the residential/commercial at the Intracoastal Park site, it should at least go out to bid. Mr. Williams felt the priority of the City should be to get a City Manager in order to move on. Mr. Wildner reported that the Commissioners would be holding a workshop in the near future, which would be facilitated by professionals from FAU in order to come to a consensus on a great many issues. (c) Greenways Network (Mike Fitzpatrick) Tabled due to the absence of Mr. Fitzpatrick. V. NEW BUSINESS 3 MEETING MINUTES RECREATION & PARKS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA September 27, 1999 Mr. Williams commended Mr. Wildner and his department for the wonderful job that was done on the park at Hester Center for the opening football game. Mr. Wildner thought that the event had to have been attended by at least 5,000 people. Mr. Williams stated that by the time the game was over, the place had been cleaned up. Mr. Wildner would like to see flag football also played at the park, which would increase the revenue for the concessions. Mr. Williams was under the impression that Wally Majors was going to institute some type of flag football program. Vice Chair McMahon asked who was in charge of the program and was informed it was Bill Tome of the City’s Police Department. PAL Programs have to be run under the auspices of the police departments and the programs are funded from confiscated funds. At the national level, the National PAL Organization funds the children’s attendance at the national tournaments. Mr. Williams informed the members that he would like to write a letter to the City Manager and the Commissioners regarding the $10,000 that was eliminated from the budget that was intended to resurface the floor at the Hester Center gymnasium. If the gymnasium floor is not properly cared for, you might as well close the doors. Mr. Harris noted that the County does their gym floors once every year. If a floor goes too long without resurfacing, a new floor would be required and that could cost about $250,000. He cannot understand why the City would not spend $10,000 to resurface the floor, rather than end up spending money to put in a new floor. Mr. Williams said he determined this deletion when speaking with Mr. DeBeck who informed him that the funds had been removed from Facilities’ budget. Mr. Williams said he has a meeting with Interim City Manager Hawkins to discuss this issue. Mr. Williams said it is not feasible to wait every three to four years to resurface the floor. Mr. Williams felt that some of the funds that were intended for the employee-training program that was eliminated could be used for the gymnasium floor. Mr. Wildner explained to the members how Department heads have to set their priorities for budget items, since there is only so much money available. Sometimes the priority system works and sometimes it doesn’t. Mr. Harris was of the opinion that once an item was eliminated from the budget, it never comes back. Mr. Williams noted that the Hester Center costs $3.5 million and it still looks good. It would be a shame not to keep up the gymnasium floor, because that’s where the money is. Whenever, a high school is in need of a gym, they know that Boynton Beach has a first-class gym for rent. He was of the opinion that the floor hasn’t been resurfaced in over five years. Mr. Harris suggested when the new high school comes on board, it would be nice if they played a game once in a while at the Hester gym to keep the community ties intact. 4 MEETING MINUTES RECREATION & PARKS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA September 27, 1999 If the floor were not resurfaced this year for $10,000, the cost would probably go up the next year or two when it is done and could cost around $30,000. Mr. Williams pointed out that the floor needs to be sanded and two coats of shellac will be needed. Mr. Wildner said that the sand volleyball and racket ball courts are being underutilized and hopes that the use of these courts would increase. Mr. Williams inquired why the clump of shrubbery behind the racquetball courts at Hester Center hasn’t been removed. Mr. Wildner replied that some of the area has been cleared out, but there was no intention of putting more playground equipment in that space. However, he is trying to get a swing set put in. Mr. Williams said that residents have complained that there is nothing for the young children to play on. (d) Monthly Report (addressed out of order) Vice Chair McMahon noted that the monthly report had been skipped over and reminded members that it was included in their agenda packets for review. He asked if anyone had any questions on the monthly report and there were none. Mr. Ramnarace said that as soon as the Rolling Green field has been completed, he would like to begin coaching children on how to play cricket. Mr. Ramnarace said he intends to go to the School Board and ask their permission to hold a raffle to raise money for the cricket lessons. He would like to have a coach go to every school and coach the children in the game. Mr. Ramnarace also said he plans to solicit money from local businesses and that perhaps a sign could be placed on the fence acknowledging their financial assistance. Mr. Williams inquired if a fence could be placed around the football field for the purpose of advertising to make money for the City? Mr. Wildner said this had been discussed for Little League Park and a couple of banners had been displayed. The issue of tackiness always arose when a banner was displayed, but he did state that the banners that were placed around the fence this year looked good. Mr. Ramnarace explained he only intended to display the signs during the games and when there were no games, the signs would be taken down. Mr. Wildner said he expects that there will be more signs at the Little League Park this year and if that works out, he did not see any reason why this couldn’t be extended to the football field. Mr. Ramnarace said this is a good way to advertise. Mr. Williams asked when the gate would be installed at the Hester Center. Mr. Wildner did not think that the gate would be put back because it has been vandalized so many times. Mr. Williams felt the gate should be put back up because if a person is found on the property they could be charged with trespassing. 5 MEETING MINUTES RECREATION & PARKS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA September 27, 1999 Mr. Ramnarace felt that there needs to be more citizen volunteers to patrol the neighborhoods as a deterrent to vandalism. Mr. Ramnarace recounted an incident that happened to him over Labor Day week-end when he was working at the Rolling Green field and a car drove into the parking lot and hit the handicap sign and the gate and broke it. Mr. Williams suggested that the City should have Park Rangers to patrol the parks. It seems that each year money is put aside for Park Rangers and then it is used for something else. Mr. Williams said that Ft. Lauderdale employs Park Rangers. Mr. Harris requested that the minutes reflect this Board’s appreciation to Mr. Ramnarace for all the work he put into the Rolling Green Field. VI. NEXT MEETING: October 25, 1999 VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ______________________________ Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (one tape) 6