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Minutes 01-10-96 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1996, AT 7:30 P.M. PRESENT Ron Washam, Chairman Wilfred Hawkins, Assistant to the Elizabeth Jenkins, Vice Chairperson City Manager Fawn Bradley Lt. Chris Yannuzzi, Police Department Joy Currier Blanche Girtman Michael Lyons Dee Zibelli Belky Cruz, Alternate Marie Lengert, Alternate ABSENT Patti Hammer Wayne Patrick I. OPENING, PLEDGE, PRAYER Chairman Washam called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Ms. Zibelli. A moment of silent prayer was observed. II. ROLL CALL The Recording Secretary called the roll. III. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS Chairman Washam welcomed Norman Aaron, President of the Human Rights Council. IV. AGENDA APPROVAL Ms. Zibelli added Item IX.B (Newspaper article titled, "Boynton Votes to Seek $597,000 for Programs". Motion Ms. Zibella moved to approve the agenda as amended. Mrs. Currier seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 10, 1996 V. MINUTES APPROVAL No additions, deletions, or corrections were made to the minutes of the last meeting. Motion Ms. Lengert moved to accept the minutes of the December 13, 1995 meeting. Ms. Zibelli seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Mrs. Currier thanked the Explorers for the wonderful Christmas party. Chairman Washam said there was an exceptional turnout. He commended all the people who made this possible, especially Lt. Yannuzzi. He felt the City has a wonderful Police Department. He was impressed that the police officers went to the houses and gave bicycles to the children who did not have them. Mr. Lyons apologized for his lack of community involvement, and for missing the annual board dinner and the last board meeting. He explained that his mother has been ill and he has been spending time with her. However, things are looking up now and he intends to become involved again in the community within the next month or so. Chairman Washam was glad that everything is going in a more positive direction. Ms. Girtman announced that the Martin Luther King Banquet will be held on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. at Catalina. Donations are $25.00. Tickets can be purchased from her. There will be a march on Monday, which will start at 6:00 a.m. at the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Railroad Avenue. It will proceed west to the Wilson Center, where breakfast will be served. Mrs. Currier added that volunteers are needed to serve breakfast at 7:00 a.m. at the Wilson Center after the march on Monday. Ms. Lengert advised that Ms. Hammer broke her ankle, and suggested the board send her a get well card. Chairman Washam will send Ms. Hammer a card from the entire board. Chairman Washam invited everyone to the Lantana Kiwanis' Pankcake Breakfast on January 28, 1996, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Royal Palm School. The proceeds from this event will benefit the Royal Palm School. 2 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 10, 1996 VII. PUBLIC AUDIENCE None. New Business was discussed next in order to accommodate Mr. Arcila. IX. NEW BUSINESS A. Fabio Arcila to speak about the migrant farm workers and the building of a new clinic in Western Boynton Beach Mr. Arcila is a native of Columbia, South America and a naturalized U.S. Citzen. He moved to Florida from Fort Wayne, Indiana about 5 1/2 years ago. In Fort Wayne he was very active with the Kiwanis Club and other community projects. Mr. Arcila spoke about the Migrants Association of South Florida, and their clinic located at the intersection of Boynton Beach Boulevard and State Road 7. Doctors and dentists volunteer their time at this clinic to help children and adult migrants. The space for the clinic is very crowded. The Migrants Association of South Florida has recently acquired about 7 acres of land west of the Florida Turnpike on which they want to build a $1,300,000 clinic. A black tie dinner and auction are going to be held on March 15 to raise the funds for this project. Mr. Arcila asked the board to help by making the community aware of this need, and by helping to sell tickets for the dinner and auction. The tickets cost $125 per person. The Kiwanis clubs in the area are also going to help sell tickets. Bricks are also being sold for $50.00 each. The communities in Boynton Beach, Lantana, and Boca Raton are involved in this project, including some very prominent figures. The mayors of the different cities have been invited to the dinner and auction. Mr. Arcila welcomed the board's suggestions. Mr. Arcila can be reached in Boca Raton at 241-6232. Mrs. Cruz asked where this event is going to be held. Mr. Arcila advised that is will be at the Marriott in Boca Raton. Mrs. Bradley advised that this clinic also helps the children in our community. For instance, whenever a student of Rolling Green has a toothache and no one else will 3 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 10, 1996 see them, this clinic will take them. Mr. Arcila added that this clinic is not just for migrants. It takes care of most of the people in the area who cannot afford to pay for these types of services. Mrs. Currier pledged $100.00 for two bricks. Chairman Washam thanked Mr. Arcila for his presentation. Mr. Arcila thanked the members of the board for their time. VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Unity Day Committee Update Chairman Washam spoke to Ms. Hammer this morning and was advised that only he and Ms. Lengert have submitted names for the Steering Committee. He stated that Ms. Hammer is stepping down as Chairperson of the Steering Committee. He asked the members of the board if they want to hold Unity Day. Ms. Zibelli said she found it difficult to find two people to commit to anything during the holidays. Ms. Lengert pointed out that this board has been discussing Unity Day for months and no agreement has been reached. Motion After further brief discussion, Vice Chairperson Jenkins moved to discontinue the effort in pursuing the Unity Day program in November, 1996. Ms. Lengert seconded the motion, which carried 8-1. Mr. Lyons cast the dissenting vote. Chairman Washam stated that perhaps the board can tackle this task again in the future, or perhaps another organization can take over this project, with this board's help. 4 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 10, 1996 IX. NEW BUSINESS A. Fabio Arcila to speak about the migrant farm workers and the building of a new clinic in Western Boynton Beach This item was dispensed with earlier in the meeting. B. Boynton Votes to Seek $597,000 for Programs Ms. Zibelli read the following from a newspaper article: Ezell Hester Community Recreation Center City Officials want to spend $339,000 to build four lighted racquetball courts, two tennis courts, and landscaping. She stated that in 1986, when the Ezell Hester Center was approved, Charles Frederick agreed with her that we would do something for the young children in Rolling Green because Ezell Hester Center is too far away from them. The Recreation Department was supposed to have structured programs, such as T-ball and a choir, in this area. Ms. Zibelli advised that the City could get an instructor from Palm Beach Junior College. The students at the college would get special credits for teaching the children. She would like to get the younger children off the streets before they can be influenced by some of the older children. She felt the northern community was being left out. Mrs. Bradley asked if Ms. Zibelli has spoken with Mr. Frederick about this area. Ms. Zibelli advised that she has talked to him numerous times. She had heard that it is difficult to get Dr. Voss to agree to any type of programs. Mrs. Bradley stated that after talking to Mr. Frederick, she found out that there is a controversy between the School Board and the City regarding who is responsible for keeping the grounds clean. Ms. Zibelli would like Mr. Frederick and Dr. Voss to discuss this. If there is a problem, she was willing to speak about this at a School Board meeting. 5 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 10, 1996 Mrs. Bradley advised that the School Board only recently received the money for some playground equipment that was allocated to them in the 1986 bond issue. Mr. Hawkins said this situation goes back a long time. The improvements to the parking, landscaping, and courts were done predominantly by the City. He understood that access to the school property has always been a problem. There is also the question of who is responsible for the maintenance. Both entities need to decide what can go there, and who will be responsible for paying for it and supervising it. If a group of people make a specific request, or request access to the fields at certain times, maybe that would start discussions between the two entities. Ms. Zibelli will devise something and bring it to Mr. Hawkins or the Commission. Mr. Hawkins will contact Mr. Frederick and review the history of this situation, and find out his perspective. He will also ask Mr. Frederick to express his thoughts and any future plans that he has at one of the Community Relations Board meetings. C. Report from Police Deparment Lt. Yannuzzi advised that the Monday night Wrice Process meetings have commenced again. There will be a march this Friday (January 12), next Saturday (January 20), and Friday, January 26. There will be no Wrice Process meeting this Monday because it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The next Wrice meeting will be held on Monday, January 22, at the Police Department. This Friday, the participants will march in both locations (3rd and 4th Street, as well as Ridgewood and East Palm Drive). They want to drum up interest and do not want anyone to think they have gone away. Also, they were very receptive to making the January 26 march (March No. 25) something special. Mrs. Currier asked if Lt. Yannuzzi got the wheel chair. Lt. Yannuzzi answered affirmatively and thanked her for it. He said he also picked up a walker or two. These items are for people who want to participate in the marches, but cannot walk the distance. Lt. Yannuzzi announced that Dr. Herman Wrice will be in St. Petersburg this week. He will try to contact him to see if he would be able to join us on January 26 for March No. 6 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 10, 1996 25. Chairman Washam advised that he will be out of town this week, but encouraged everyone to participate in the Wrice Process meetings and marches. Lt. Yannuzzi particularly encouraged participation on January 26. Ms. Girtman asked for an update on the selection of the new Police Chief. Mr. Hawkins advised that the City Manager is planning to make a recommendation at the City Commission meeting on Tuesday. Mrs. Currier announced that the Boynton Terrace Apartments are looking better. They have been painted and the screens are now being redone. Also, trash and debris are not lying around everywhere. Chairman Washam stated that in the future, the board meetings will be held in different places. Mrs. Bradley is working on setting up one of the meetings at Rolling Green Elementary School. X. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Eve Eubanks Recording Secretary (One Tape) 7