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Minutes 07-09-97 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD AT CITY HALL IN THE MALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1997, AT 7:30 P.M. PRESENT Ron Washam, Chairman Wilfred Hawkins, Assistant to the Elizabeth Jenkins, Vice Chairperson City Manager Ronald Bair Belky Cruz Blanche Girtman Dee Zibelli ABSENT Joy Currier Jill Verderosa Brenda Lee Williams Arthur Berman, Alternate Mary Jo McVey, Alternate I. OPENING, PLEDGE, PRAYER Chairman Washam called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Ms. Zibelli, followed by a moment of silent prayer. II. ROLL CALL The Recording Secretary called the roll. III. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS At the request of Chairman Washam, everyone in the audience introduced themselves. Present were Hank Ackermann (Neighborhood Project Specialist), Scott Blasie (Code Compliance Administrator), Kelly Anderson, Lori Wilkinson, Andrea Benjamin, Catherine Legnini, and Shanna St. John (Chairperson of the Advisory Board on Children and Youth). IV. AGENDA APPROVAL No additions, deletions, or corrections were made to the agenda. MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 9, 1997 Motion Ms. Zibelli moved to approve the agenda as presented. Mr. Bair seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. V. MINUTES APPROVAL No additions, deletions, or corrections were made to the minutes of the last meeting. Motion Ms. Girtman moved to approve the minutes of the June 11, 1997 meeting. Ms. Zibelli seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS A. Treasure Chest Early Learning Center Graduation Ms. Girtman invited everyone to the Treasure Chest Early Learning Center’s graduation ceremony for their preschoolers on Sunday, July 13, 1997, at 3:00 p.m. at Ezell Hester Center. B. Community-Related Boards Forum Ms. St. John announced that the Advisory Board on Children and Youth would like the four community-related boards (the Community Relations Board, Education Advisory Board, Senior Advisory Board, and Advisory Board on Children and Youth) to meet four times a year at an open forum to share ideas, develop more communication, and avoid overlapping. All the City boards will be invited and the forum will be open to the public and publicized. The Advisory Board on Children and Youth will sponsor the first forum on Saturday, October 25, 1997 at the Library Program Room from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Each board would take turns hosting the meetings. Chairman Washam stated that the Community Relations Board is looking forward to working with the Advisory Board on Children and Youth on projects. C. Workshop on Organizing Neighborhood Associations Mr. Ackermann advised that a workshop will be held on July 23, 1997 at the Library Program Room from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. for those interested in starting an association or incorporating one. 2 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 9, 1997 C. Neighborhood Summit Meeting Mr. Ackermann announced that a Neighborhood Summit Meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 29, 1997, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Civic Center. Representatives from all City neighborhood and homeowner associations are invited to attend this City sponsored exchange of successes, concerns, proposed projects, and procedures for successful neighborhood and City partnership in building a better Boynton Beach. At this meeting there will also be discussion about how to get a grant to do something in your neighborhood. City staff will attend and make themselves available to answer questions and concerns. The Mayor and City Commissioners will be in attendance. Refreshments will be served. D. Project America Day Mr. Ackermann announced that Saturday, October 18, has been designated as Project America Day throughout the country. It is a big volunteer effort to do some kind of volunteer work that will touch a lot of people in the communities. We are looking to do something along the whole length of Seacrest Boulevard since it transcends many different neighborhoods. We are looking for volunteers and for people to serve on a committee to oversee this project. Chairman Washam, Ms. Jenkins, Mr. Bair, and Ms. Zibelli offered to serve on that committee. VII. PUBLIC AUDIENCE Ms. Legnini advised that her son is getting involved with an undesirable group of children. She stated that there is not a lot for the children to do in her neighborhood. There isn’t even a park. She commended Officer Stephen Hopkins for helping her keep an eye on her son and suggested he be involved in a program to help children. Mr. Bair stated that at the Visions 20/20 Conference, Police Chief Marshall Gage discussed expanding the P.A.L. program to include older children. Mr. Hawkins advised Ms. Legnini of the Juvenile First Offender Program and suggested she contact Officer Andrew Rosenberg who is in charge of that program. Chairman Washam stressed the importance of banning together to lobby the City Commission for parks in this area. 3 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 9, 1997 Ms. Cruz felt the schools should be opened up for programs and activities. She advised that she ran some programs for problem youth through the Police Department in a school in Long Island. She managed to get people in the community to volunteer their time and teach karate, crafts, mini basketball, skating, and other activities. Ms. Legnini felt the schools should be the center of our communities. Chairman Washam offered this board’s assistance and suggested Ms. Legnini also work with the Advisory Board on Children and Youth and Mr. Ackermann. Ms. Benjamin advised that the house at 2864 Seacrest Boulevard has been under unfinished construction for five years, a homeless man lives behind it, and sand is washing out from underneath its foundation. Mr. Blasie advised that Code Compliance cited this property for its appearance. He will have the Development Department check the status of their permits. If their permits have expired, he can send them a notice to remove the structure or complete it. VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. New High School Chairman Washam stressed the importance of keeping this item on the burner and the need for alternative planning, demonstrations, and making our voices heard. Ms. Girtman stated that as long as the Boynton Beach children continue to be used to racially integrate the schools, we will not get a high school. Mr. Hawkins pointed out that a charter school is a viable option. Chairman Washam stated that the citizenry of the City to be accountable and make their voice heard. B. Multi-Cultural Festival Chairman Washam advised that the Multi-Cultural Festival will be held on November th 15, 1997 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The tentative location is Ocean Avenue and 4 Street. All City boards will be offered free space at the festival to promote their boards and explain what they are doing in their communities. Mr. Bair advised that Mr. Ackermann offered to help with the flyers and mention the festival in his newsletter in October. 4 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 9, 1997 The next Multi-Cultural Festival Committee meeting is scheduled for July 23, 1997 at the Library Program Room from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. With regard to entertainment, Ms. St. John offered to supply the names and numbers of the people who she contacted for the Youth Expo. IX. NEW BUSINESS A. Selection of site and preparation for next month’s meeting Mr. Bair will contact the Chamber of Commerce to see if the Community Relations Board could hold their August meeting at their facility. B. Update on Visions 20/20 Phase I Projects Mr. Hawkins advised that the City is working on several community projects, including thththth N.W. 17 Avenue, N.W. 11 Avenue, N.W. 12 Avenue, and N.W. 13 Avenue. Hopefully, we will be able to do something soon in Ms. Zibelli’s community. Ms. Cruz inquired about Gateway Boulevard. Mr. Hawkins advised her that an organization in that area needs to work with the City. Mr. Hawkins advised that the City is concentrating on customer service. Our first City- wide newsletter will be out on August 1, 1997. It will be a quarterly publication dealing with City news and will be mailed to every household. A Citizens Action Center will be started in October. We will publish a telephone number for people to call with their concerns or if they are having difficulty with City processes. We are working with the Chamber of Commerce to design banners for the Boynton Beach Boulevard/Ocean Avenue corridor. The State has started construction on Federal Highway. The bridge project is moving along. Chairman Washam offered the board’s assistance on any of these projects. C. Code Enforcement Changes Over the Past Year Mr. Blasie advised that his division’s name has been changed to Code Compliance. he distributed copies of the new Community Appearance Code. Over the last year and a half, Code Compliance has been enforcing this code door to door and has been trying to help those who need assistance. Octavia Sherrod of the Community Development 5 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 9, 1997 Department has been working hard processing applications to get people sod, do some driveway work, etc. Now that we are an entitled City, we have more tools at our disposal to help people. We are in the process of cross training some City personnel and formalizing a City-wide, multi-departmental team to assist neighborhoods. Mr. Ackermann has helped facilitate the change and attitude. In October we are getting two additional inspectors. We have changed our areas of responsibility to mirror the Police Department. The Police Department and Code Compliance team up on occasion to solve problems and train each other. Ms. Cruz would like something done with the house at Seacrest Boulevard and I-95 rd and the one on 3 Court. Ms. Zibelli advised that people are living in the house that burned down on Ocean Parkway. Ms. Girtman asked how to get a car towed from her property. Mr. Blasie advised that if it does not have a license plate or if the tag is expired, the City will remove it for free. However, if it is legally registered, Ms. Girtman would have to call a tow company and pay for its removal. D. Job Fair for Teenagers Chairman Washam advised that many of the students in the City do not have summer jobs or after school jobs. We need to develop jobs in the community. He suggested we work with several groups to put together a job fair to teach the students interview skills, how to fill out applications, how to dress, etc. He would like this board to spearhead this job fair and start working on it next month. Ms. Girtman stated that the high schools that the Boynton Beach children attend do not gear our children toward work. Ms. Benjamin felt Bethesda Hospital should be lobbied. She pointed out that they do not hire people under the age of 18, and there are a lot of jobs these kids can do that do not put them in harms way of blood and body fluids. X. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Eve Eubanks Recording Secretary (One Tape) 6