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Minutes 07-12-95 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1995, AT 7:30 P.M. PRESENT Ron Washam, Chairman Wilfred, Hawkins, Assistant Elizabeth Jenkins, Vice Chairperson to the City Manager Joy Currier Lt. Chris Yannuzzi, Police Belky Cruz, Alternate Department Marie Lengert, Alternate ABSENT Fawn Bradley Blanche Girtman Michael Lyons Wayne Patrick Elizabeth Verderosa Dee Zibelli I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Washam called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Mrs. Currier, after which a moment of silent prayer was observed. II. ROLL CALL The recording secretary called the roll. Mrs. Cruz and Ms. Lengert sat at the dais as voting members. III. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS Several members of the Education Advisory Board were present. At Chairman Washam's request, the Chairperson of that board, Anne Centi, introduced herself, Rhona Schneider, Ken Blair, Renee Stern, and Irving Sechter. Ms. Lengert introduced her cousin, Marie Rosen. Mr. John Lee, the new manager at the Boynton Terrace Apartments, introduced himself. Chairman Washam introduced Mr. Hawkins and Lt. Yannuzzi and welcomed all to the meeting. IV. AGENDA APPROVAL Motion Vice Chairperson Jenkins moved to approve the agenda. Mrs. Currier seconded the motion which carried unanimously. V. MINUTES APPROVAL Motion Ms. Lengert moved to approve the minutes of the June 14, 1995 meeting. Mrs. Currier seconded the motion which carried unanimously. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Centennial Celebration Mrs. Currier stated that the Centennial Committee did a terrific job and this 100th birthday celebration of the City will be remembered for a long time. Chairman Washam agreed that the functions were exceptional and the people who put it together deserve to be commended. Mrs. Currier added that the Pineapple Ball was also wonderful. Fun Day (National Crime Prevention Day) Mrs. Currier stated that Fun Day was going very well until it rained at 3:00 p.m. MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 VII. PUBLIC AUDIENCE A. John Lee, Property Manager, Boynton Terrace Apartments Mr. Lee advised that he took over these apartments as part of a new management company on April 1, 1995. He said he came down here at the end of March and drove past the complex and was appalled at what he saw. His first impression of the property was fright. He saw a lot of groups of people congregating on the premises. It was apparent that there were transactions and gambling going on. He said he discussed the history of problems in this area with Police Chief Thomas Dettman, who pulled up the computer records of both sides of the street. Mr. Lee advised that he arrived at the property on April 1st. Within the first 30 days he conducted a visual inspection of every apartment, as well as an exterior inspection, and determined what needed to be done initially. He made himself very present on the property all day long and showed them that he was not intimidated by whatever groups there were; that he was not there to harm them; that he was there to improve their quality of life and their living style. Mr. Lee has noticed that the activities he witnessed when he first arrived have either been taken inside or somewhere else because they are not visible anymore. He assured the community and the City of Boynton Beach that through the refinancing program (the bond issue through HUD), nearly a quarter of a million dollars has been allocated to upgrade the property at Boynton Terrace. Three main projects are currently underway. Bids have been accepted to replace the irrigation system, repair all the woodwork on the outside of the buildings, and repaint all the buildings. Repair of the soffits and fascia has already been started. He estimated that within the next 30 to 45 days, there will be a lot of contractors on the property and there will be a tremendous cosmetic change in Boynton Terrace, which will improve its aesthetics. Mr. Lee said many fine people live in Boynton Terrace. He has met every one of the families who live there. He advised that many of them live in fear in this complex and he stated that this is no way to live. Mr. Lee stated that he has taken a great interest and has accepted a major challenge in Boynton Terrace. He said there is a lot to be done and he is starting to get cooperation 3 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 from the residents. He has a staff of four people, one of whom is strictly doing groundskeeping and picking up trash. Mr. Lee said he has circulated a number of letters to all the residents telling them of what he intends to do for them and asking for their cooperation in return. He stated that for a long time, they had been told things were going to happen, but they never did. However, they are starting to see that he is serious about what he has been telling them. He advised that he is a little behind schedule. He wanted everything under construction within 60 days; however, the bid process has slowed down progress. All the bids are in now and he expected the work to start very soon. Mr. Lee was very pleased on the initial inspection of the interior of the apartments. Better than 75 percent of them were very well maintained. However, he was appalled by the other 25 percent. Once the major construction has been completed, cycle painting will be done. Ongoing repairs are being done right now. The maintenance supervisor is going into every apartment and doing the repairs that have been neglected for many years and are hazardous to the residents. These apartments command a very large rent and most of that is paid by our tax dollars. As a taxpayer, Mr. Lee would like to see those dollars do what they are intended to do. Some of the long range plans he has for Boynton Terrace, aside from what he already mentioned, are to repave the parking lots and extend the parking facilities (increase the parking slots) because many of the residents were parking on what should be grass. At one time, they met a barrier of PVC pipes and chains which did not last very long. He intends to install parking bumpers backed up by some type of larger barrier. He also intends to put in a playground on the east campus for the children, probably within the next four to six months, because the children have no place to play. His long range plan is to put up some type of facility on the west campus. The architects are working on landscaping plans. Fifty percent or more of the property is sand. The rest is weeds. At least 50 percent of the property will be resodded. Many of the trees and shrubs have been trimmed back away from the building because they were attracting insects and catching trash when the wind blows. The Florida Holly and 4 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 some of the pepper plants were pulled out. A lot of the foliage that just grows wild has been removed. Mr. Lee has seen improvement in the property since April 1st. It is not going as quickly as he would like it to, but he felt confident that significant progress is being made. He said he has spoken with a couple of residents in each building and is trying to form a new residents' association. He should be meeting with them before the end of this month. He thanked the members of the board for giving him the opportunity to talk to them this evening about Boynton Terrace. Ms. Lengert thanked him for coming. Ms. Lengert stated that Mr. Lee's work is commendable. However, she felt he cannot do the job alone and needs more help. She also felt there is a need for some security in the area. Mr. Lee said he reviewed the security issue. The property is accessible from five entrances. Each entrance would have to be gated and manned. He pointed out that you have to control the people coming onto the property because once they are on the property, you cannot do anything to remove them unless they break the law. Mrs. Currier stated that the tenants came to this board a few years ago and complained about the goings-on in the laundry room. She asked Mr. Lee if there is some way he can assure the women who are in there doing their laundry that they are not going to be harmed. Mr. Lee advised that a building captain has been assigned to each laundry facility. The building captains have a key to those facilities. Mr. Lee opens them in the morning and the building captains close them in the evening. The building captains watch the laundry rooms until the last load is completed, which is normally between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. Then they lock the laundry facilities. Mr. Lee is trying to get out of the existing laundry room contract because he has to call them out for service and maintenance at least three or four times a month. Once he gets out of that contract, he wants to set up smart card laundry facilities. This will deter a lot of people who do not live at Boynton Terrace from gaining access to the machines, thus having no need to be on the property. He is also looking into the smart card pay telephones which will eliminate a lot of the transactions that are taking place. Mr. Lee advised that for the longest time now, most of the security lights were either shot out or burned out, or rocks have been thrown at them. A week before last, all of the outside lighting fixtures were replaced with brand new lighting fixtures. All the security lights also had been replaced. He called Florida Power and Light and they 5 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 changed the bulbs in the two light fixtures on the west side of the property; however, they were shot out again within a week. He talked to the Florida Power and Light representative and was told that if they were not street access lights, bulletproof lights could not be used. However, Mr. Lee is looking into purchasing bulletproof lights. To his knowledge, these are the only two lights at this point that are not operating at night. These lights would brighten the facility and increase security. Mrs. Currier advised that Delray Beach has mesh fittings over their lights to prevent anyone from throwing rocks at them or shooting them out. She will see if it is possible to get some for Mr. Lee. Mr. Lee expressed his appreciation. At this point in the meeting, Chairman Washam acknowledged the presence of Commissioner Shirley Jaskiewicz and City Manager Carrie Parker. Vice Chairperson Jenkins appreciated the improvements Mr. Lee has effectuated at Boynton Terrace Apartments. She stated that the transactions Mr. Lee referred to have moved on to 1st Street. She said the police have not been patrolling that area. Lately they have been a little more visible, but they seem not to see anything or there is nothing to be seen. In the early morning and evening that street is dark. She said she called Florida Power and Light about the lights on that street and was told that shortly after they are replaced, they are destroyed again. Mr. Lee advised her that these are the same two lights he referred to earlier in the meeting. Vice Chairperson Jenkins advised Mr. Lee that children are throwing bags of garbage and boxes behind the hedges on the south side of 7th Avenue where the two-story buildings are located. She would like Mr. Lee to check into this matter. Mr. Lee advised that these problems have evolved over a period of years and are not going to be fixed over night. He stated that he recently hired a man who knows a lot of the people in Boynton Terrace Apartments. Part of his job is to try to educate the residents to help him. Mr. Lee believes the residents will change once they see that he is actually going to do what he promised. Chairman Washam asked if the residents feel that Mr. Lee is making progress. He felt putting together the residents' association is probably one of the most important things that can be done. Mr. Lee advised that there was a residents association previously; however, he felt the problem was that they were not receiving support from the office. 6 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 Chairman Washam asked how soon the residents' association will be underway. Mr. Lee advised that the first meeting will probably be held before the end of July. He said he has designated two people to select one person and an alternate from each of the buildings. They are support to contact him before June 20th to schedule a meeting in his office. In response to Chairman Washam, Mr. Lee estimated that it would take one year to do everything he discussed this evening. The general cleanup continues on a daily basis. The southeast corner of the property has been cited several times by Code Enforcement. This corner is going to be cleaned up. It is going to be cut completely to the ground. Only the seagrapes will remain by the parking bumpers. The rest of the trash and weeds will be taken out. This area will be maintained monthly. In response to Chairman Washam, Mr. Lee advised that he is at Boynton Terrace Apartments from 8:30 a.m. until at least 5:30 p.m. He also has an answering service and carries a pager. He said he has been paged at 1:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. and have responded to those pages and satisfied the complaints. Also in response to Chairman Washam, Mr. Lee advised that he has not had any communication problems with any of the residents. In response to Ms. Lengert, Mr. Lee indicated that he could use more than one groundskeeper; however, he is on a budget. He said he is doing the very best with what he has. In response to Mrs. Currier, Mr. Lee advised that he hired an individual to pick up the trash all day long, five days a week. At this point in the meeting, Chairman Washam acknowledged the presence of Commissioner Rosen. Mrs. Currier asked if Mr. Lee could update the board monthly or every other month. Mr. Lee said he would be more than happy to attend the meetings monthly to update the board. Chairman Washam did not think it was necessary for Mr. Lee to attend the meetings every month. He felt every other month would be fine. He offered Mr. Lee the board's assistance. 7 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 Chairman Washam referred to a comment that Mr. Lee made earlier in the meeting regarding the transactions not being visible in front of the complex any more and asked him if this means that crime has gone down in that area. Mr. Lee advised that only the visibility of it has gone away. It is not nearly as visible as when he first arrived. Mr. Lee stated that this is a project and a personal challenge to him and he intends to see it through. In response to Ms. Schneider, Mr. Lee advised that Boynton Associates Limited owns the property. One of the partners of this partnership lives in Lake Worth and the other partner lives in Wisconsin. Ms. Schneider referred to Mr. Lee's earlier comment about a great deal of the rent being paid by our tax dollars. She asked if this means that HUD is paying the rent. Mr. Lee answered affirmatively. Ms. Schneider asked why HUD would continue to pay rent on a property that is unsatisfactory. Mr. Lee advised that HUD is responsible for inspecting the apartments at least once a year when the people come up for their annual recertification. At that time, they have to prepare a report on the conditions in the apartment, the conditions of the walls, the conditions of the paint, the exterior, the interior, etc. Mr. Lee felt annual inspections are not enough; however, he advised that HUD is over worked. Ms. Schneider asked why the owners have not sent someone to help previously. Mr. Lee advised that neither of the owners were living in town and the property was under the management of another property management company. Commissioner Jaskiewicz was in possession of correspondence dating back to 1990 which indicated the problems in existence at that time. She wondered if the same problems have recurred or if there are new problems. She stated that the irrigation system was not functioning in 1990 and there were no amenities for the children. She advised that a tenants' association existed at that time. The resodding had taken place, the buildings had been painted, and the property was cleaned up considerably. She expressed concern about the tenants' association becoming inactive. She stated that tenants have to take pride in their environment. She thought once the property was fixed up that they would begin to take more pride in it. She felt the tenants should be responsible and that there should be supervision. At this point in the meeting, Chairman Washam acknowledged the presence of Mayor Taylor. 8 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 Commissioner Jaskiewicz was glad that there is a new management company. She felt the previous one did not do as much as they could have done as far as followup is concerned. She advised that one of the tenants' association meetings was held at the Wilson Center because there was no place to hold a meeting at Boynton Terrace. Sixty to 70 residents attended that meeting. She advised Mr. Lee that he can arrange to use this indoor facility to hold the meetings. Chairman Washam again offered Mr. Lee the board's assistance to help make Boynton Terrace a better place to live. He invited Mr. Lee to the September meeting to update the board. Mr. Lee expressed compassion for the residents of Boynton Terrace and said he had their best interests at heart. Mr. Lee was thanked for his attendance and report. VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Poinciana Mr. Hawkins reported that Poinciana is being prepared for construction. It has been fenced off and the grounds are being prepared for the construction equipment. Construction was supposed to have been under way; however, there were some slight delays because of two occupied dwellings. Hopefully, one of those dwellings will be unoccupied by next week and construction will begin. The School Board intends to finish construction within nine to twelve months. Discussions continue regarding acquisition of property around the school. There is a possibility that more property will be acquired off of N.W. 11th Avenue. There was never any intent to acquire any property along the canal. Consideration is being given to acquiring property to the south and possibly to the west, along N.W. 1st Street, because the logistics of the situation make it easier to move in that direction. In addition, this would provide a better opportunity to put in additional parking. The City is continuing to meet with the School Board on a regular basis to move this project along. In response to Mrs. Currier, Mr. Hawkins advised that the Wilson Center is going to remain. Mrs. Currier asked if Ms. Miller's house is going to be purchased. Mr. Hawkins 9 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 stated that it may be purchased in the future; however, it is not a consideration at this time. B. High School Mr. Hawkins advised that there are still considerable lobbying efforts going on as to which high school gets built first. Some people seem to think that one location is favorable over the other. As far as the School Board is concerned, this is not the case. The plans for the east high school are completed and the school is ready to be constructed. The only thing lacking is money. With regard to the western site, land considerations still need to be closed out and the plans still need to be done. However, Mr. Hawkins pointed out that they could use the same plans already done for the eastern site. Therefore, it is not out of the question for the western site to catch up with the eastern site in the planning stages by the time funding becomes available. The School Board is going to discuss funding sources in the near future. There may be a referendum on another bond issue. Some of the alternatives being discussed are a one cent tax on retail products or gas. These alternatives will require voter approval. Therefore, Mr. Hawkins stated that we need to pay close attention to which alternative gains momentum and to discussions regarding future funding for construction of schools. Chairman Washam stated that more people need to get involved long before the decision is made. They need to make phone calls and send letters to get the support of the people who are going to be making that decision. C. Decision '95 Chairman Washam explained that every spring, the Community Relations Board sponsors Youth in Government Day in Boynton Beach. Middle and high school students pair up with the Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager, and department heads and spend a day with them to learn about municipal government. Decision '95 is being sponsored by the Municipal League and is a state-wide effort. A curriculum is now available for the students to learn about municipal government prior to participating in Youth in Government Day. After Youth in Government Day, the 10 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 students will analyze the problems they had to deal with. Decision '95 would broader the scope of Youth in Government Day, will have a longer lasting affect on the students, and would involve more students. The municipalities that decide to participate in Decision '95 will hold Youth in Government Day during Municipal Week in October. Chairman Washam asked the members of the Community Relations Board if they would like to participate in Decision '95 instead of having our traditional Youth in Government Day in the spring. He also asked for input and assistance from the members of the Education Advisory Board, since they are in touch with the schools. Ms. Centi advised that each member of the Education Advisory Board is a liaison to a particular school and could make an announcement at the SAC meetings. They could also request that this be advertised in the school bulletin. She advised that starting in September, every other month the Education Advisory Board is going to hold its meetings at a different school. Ms. Centi asked if the students who participate receive credit for community service. Chairman Washam advised that the City honors the students who participate by presenting them with certificates. However, it can be recommended that the schools give them credit for community service. Motion Ms. Lengert moved to hold Youth in Government in October instead of in the spring. Vice Chairperson Jenkins seconded the motion which carried 4-1. Mrs. Currier cast the dissenting vote. Ms. Schneider asked if it is possible to have regular internship for the students who want to get involved. Mr. Hawkins advised that the City has volunteer and employment opportunities for students. Ms. Centi stated that the Education Advisory Board would be willing to participate. Chairman Washam invited the members of the Education Advisory Board to the Community Relations Board Workshop Meeting on August 9th, at which time this matter will be further discussed. IX. NEW BUSINESS 11 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 A. Set a date for a workshop to set goals It was the consensus of the members of the board to hold a workshop meeting after their regular meeting on August 9th. B. Update on Wrice Process Lt. Yannuzzi took this opportunity to introduce himself to Mr. Lee and offered him business cards containing the telephone numbers of the drug hotline and the two crime prevention officers to assist him in his endeavors. Lt. Yannuzzi thanked the members of the board for their assistance in getting the media to cover the presentation of a check to Investigator Daniel Griswold, who received the State VFW Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. Lt. Yannuzzi advised that Dr. Herman Wrice will be in Boynton Beach next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to implement the Wrice Process, which is a three phase approach to ridding the area of drugs. The focus on this entire process is community involvement. Without community involvement, this process will not function. Registration will begin on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. A ceremony welcoming Dr. Wrice and his assistant, Andy Garr, will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager, Chief of Police, and other dignitaries will be present. After the ceremony, a video from the 60 Minutes program will be shown, as well as a video titled, "Victory Over Violence" which describes the Wrice Process. Then there will be peer training to identify some myths, myth busting, and other topics. The day will end at 4:00 p.m. On Thursday at 8:00 a.m. training will continue. Each community has different factions that have different sets of priorities. The idea is to identify those issues that faction agrees upon and build on those issues. It has to be determined whether or not we are fighting each other instead of the drug dealers. Lt. Yannuzzi stated that this will not be a gripe session to voice any grievances one might have against the City, any City department, or any individual. A break will be taken at 4:30 p.m. At 7:00 p.m., everyone will meet back at City Hall for a march. 12 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 Lt. Yannuzzi advised that he participated in a march that took place in Pompano Beach last Friday. It was an extremely enlightening experience. Approximately 40 people met outside of a section of their City and marched down the street. Police cars led them and followed them. The people chanted slogans through megaphones and to get others to join them. They tried to get the people to at least come out and stand on the curbside. They talked to them for a while then moved onto the next block. Then they got into vehicles and moved to another section a couple of miles away. This section had loiterers on the corners in front of convenience stores, and residences where drug dealing took place. As the people walked down the street, the loiterers scattered and left the area. The unity and positive aspect of the entire process was amazing. In response to Mrs. Currier, Lt. Yannuzzi advised that all of the training will take place in the Commission Chambers and everyone will gather in front of City Hall on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. for a march. Transportation will be provided for those who want it. On Friday, everyone will meet at 10:00 a.m. to critique the march and discuss Phases 2 and 3 of the Wrice Process. Lt. Yannuzzi stated that Dr. Wrice and his entourage will return to Boynton Beach on occasion to get a feel for what is going on. he advised that the City Manager's Office is going to attempt to contract with Alan Jackson, the project coordinator in Pompano Beach, to keep things going. He advised that Pompano Beach started this process in October, 1994 and have had over 50 marches since then. In response to Mr. Blair, Lt. Yannuzzi advised that the Pompano Beach Police Department will be bringing their mounted unit, bicycle unit, and a large contingent of their community to help get Boynton Beach started. Mr. Hawkins stated that this is a City-wide effort and everyone in the Chambers this evening is invited to participate. He stated that crime which occurs in a particular community not only affects that community, but affects the overall perception of the entire City. He stated the people who live outside of the high crime areas have complained that they cannot get quick police service because the police are always at the high crime areas. Mr. Hawkins pointed out that this is a chance for those people to do something about their complaints. He said the entire community is invited to be part of the training process as well as the march. The marches are very secure and nobody has ever been hurt. He said nothing would be more embarrassing than to have more 13 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 people from Pompano Beach than from our own town participate. He asked everyone to spread the word to their friends and neighbors in the community. In response to Mrs. Currier, Mr. Hawkins advised that this is being advertised in the newspapers. Commissioner Jaskiewicz urged everyone to attend and to encourage as many others as possible to attend. She reiterated that if a problem affects one particular part of the community, it will eventually affect us all. Chairman Washam explained how effective this process could be. He stated that he was part of a group of people who sat in front of a crack house several years ago. This made it impossible for the drug dealers to deal there so they moved on. He encouraged everyone to participate in the Wrice Process. Lt. Yannuzzi said there was a large article on the front page of the local section in today's Sun-Sentinel regarding the Wrice Process. An article regarding the Wrice Process will be printed in the Boynton Times tomorrow. On the front page of the Sunday Sun-Sentinel, there will be a feature article regarding community policing which will include aspects of the Wrice Process. Lt. Yannuzzi has also provided information to the television media and the Post and was sure they will provide coverage. At this point in the meeting, Chairman Washam acknowledged the presence of Scott Blasie of Code Enforcement. C. Update on Complaints Lt. Yannuzzi updated the board with regard to the following complaints: At the last meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Cruz complained about some problems they had in their neighborhood. Lt. Yannuzzi advised that Code Enforcement and Public Works have been instructed to handle this matter. Lt. Yannuzzi reported that a 60 day Task Force was formed on June 6th to deal with drug activity and prostitution. As a result of three stings, about 35 arrests have been made for prostitution. With regard to customers changing oil in the parking lot of the Rose Auto store and 14 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 leaving hazardous waste and litter on the ground, Code Enforcement does not have the manpower to monitor the site on a continuous basis. However, they can enforce the laws when they observe improper disposal of fluids or any other debris. They have provided signs in three languages for the store owner to post. These signs request the patrons not to perform work in the parking lot. Also, the store personnel were requested to patrol that parking lot. With regard to security at one or both of the two residences that have been recent sites of arson, Mr. Blasie found both to be 100 percent secure as of June 16th. The residence at the southeast corner of N.E. 1st Court and Gateway Boulevard was inspected on June 16th and found to be in good condition, with driveway and swale parking only. It was alleged that cars are being repaired and sold at the residence at N.W. 28th Avenue and Seacrest Boulevard. This matter is still being worked on because not enough evidence was gathered at this time to prosecute. With regard to the abandoned house at the southwest corner of Gateway and Seacrest, the City Manager's Office has been working on this matter. With regard to the general area along Gateway Boulevard and I-95, part of that land is associated with the abandoned house that the City Manager's Office is handling. Whatever does not pertain to that house, Carel Fisher of the Public Works Department has been asked to find out if the Department of Transportation or the City is responsible for that area. Mr. Hawkins stated that some of the weeds along the overpass on Gateway Boulevard have have been cut. Mrs. Cruz said she called about that area at Mr. Hawkins' request. However, she did not think they did a great job. Mr. Hawkins advised her that she accomplished a major task to get the state or county to do what they have done. He advised her that the City had also called them. With regard to the house on that corner, Mr. Hawkins reported that the City is in the process of deeding that property to the CDC. The house is going to be renovated and turned into an office. There will be a parking lot and landscaping. An architect has been hired and is getting ready to plan and design the renovations. Hopefully, construction will be started within 60 days. 15 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 12, 1995 Chairman Washam thanked Lt. Yannuzzi and Mr. Hawkins for following up on these matters and keeping the board informed. D. Unity Day Commissioner Jaskiewicz stated that Unity Day was a very unique social affair held at the Catalina Center. It included a dinner, dance, and program. Two hundred and fifty people were invited. She was happy that the board is going to resurrect it. She advised that the purpose of Unity Day was to bring the different communities of the City together, the retirement community, the business community, etc. Every group was represented. Groups were targeted, not individuals. Commissioner Jaskiewicz gave what materials she had on Unity Day to Vice Chairperson Jenkins, along with a list of contributors whose generosity made this affair possible. She said Unity Day did a lot to cement all the groups together. She wished the board success with this project. This project will be further discussed at the workshop. Commissioner Jaskiewicz welcomed Mrs. Cruz to the board and knew she would be an outstanding contribution to the City and to the board. Chairman Washam also welcomed her to the board. X. ADJOURMENT There being no further business to come before the board, Ms. Lengert moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:31 p.m. Mrs. Currier seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Eve Eubanks Recording Secretary (Two Tapes) 16