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Minutes 11-06-95 MINUTES OF THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1995, AT 4:00 P.M. PRESENT Elizabeth Collins, Chairwoman Beth Bailey, Public Information Raymond Eney Officer Geraldine Graham Jacob Rose Edgar Sackett Mary Toth James McMahon, Alternate Marion Moore, Alternate ABSENT Esther Stranahan 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairwoman Collins called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited, followed by a moment of silent prayer. 3. ROLL CALL The Recording Secretary called the roll. 4. AGENDA APPROVAL Motion Mr. Sackett moved to approve the agenda as presented. Ms. Toth seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Collins advised that Mary Toth and Marion Moore were both present at the last meeting. However, the minutes do not reflect that. Motion Ms. Graham moved to approve the minutes of the October 2, 1995 meeting as amended. Mr. Sackett seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. 6. SPEAKER FROM PALM TRAN Ms. Bailey introduced Wayne Speight, Operations Manager from Palm Tran. Mr. Speight gave the board a brief presentation about the proposed expansion of the Palm Tran bus service. Thirty-two new routes will be put into service between December, 1995 and August, 1996. Route 2 will start on December 4. Route 3 will start in February, 1996. Routes 63 and 71 will start in June, 1996. Routes 1, 2, 3, 63, 70, 71, and 72 cover the Boynton Beach area. Mr. Speight distributed literature and reviewed each of these routes. Chairperson Collins advised Mr. Speight that the residents of the Boynton Bay Apartments need bus service. Mr. Speight explained that the new routes were established as a result of several public hearings, and consideration was given to what is best for all the communities. The routes will be tried out for six months before being considered for change. Chairperson Collins asked if these routes will eliminate the need for the buses that Boynton Beach recently received. Mr. Speight stated that Palm Tran has nothing to do with those buses. Mr. Speight advised that 300 locations have been identified for shelters. However, since there are only so much Federal, State and County funds, the number of shelters had to be reduced to between 75 and 85. The money can be spent on shelters or buses and drivers. One shelter costs between $3,000 and $4,000. It was felt that people would rather have 30 minute and hourly service on a lot of streets instead of the shelters. Chairperson Collins asked about the average time of a route. Mr. Speight said Route 1 will be 30 minute service during peak times and one hour service during off peak times. He commented that there will now be bus service on Sundays. Mr. Eney inquired about the fares. Mr. Speight advised that the fare is $1.00, transfers cost .20, and a monthly pass costs $37. If you are over 60 years old or under 19 years old, the fare is half price ($18.50 for a monthly pass, .50 for the fare, .10 for transfers). MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA NOVEMBER 6, 1995 Chairperson Collins referred to Routes 71 and 72. She asked if these routes will connect with the City bus or replace it. Mr. Speight said Palm Tran did not integrate their routes with the Boynton Beach City buses. He talked about time transfers. He said it is very hard to meet up with 14 eastbound routes if you have routes going north/south. He said people may have to wait between 15 and 25 minutes for a connecting bus. Chairperson Collins stated that the Boynton Beach buses are not getting the ridership that we thought they would because there are no bus shelters, and because some seniors have to walk too far to get to the bus stop. In addition, the buses do not go into the shopping centers. Ms. Speight advised that Palm Tran goes into all the major malls, but not the strip malls. If the buses stopped at all the strip malls, service would take longer than 30 minutes or an hour, and it would not be cost effective. Mr. Rose asked about security on the buses. Mr. Speight said there is discussion about installing hidden cameras on the buses. However, currently radios are relied on. Mr. Rose asked at what age children are allowed to ride the bus without being accompanied by adults. Mr. Speight believed 6 to 8 year old children would be allowed to ride the bus without an adult. Mr. Rose asked what kind of first aid or emergency care training is provided to the bus drivers. Mr. Speight advised that the drivers do not render first aid. The drivers are trained only to operate the buses in a professional manner. The radios will be used to summon the paramedics. If passengers have to be moved to protect their lives or prevent further injury, the bus drivers will move them. Anything more would involve liability issues. Mr. Speight advised that Routes 1, 2, and 3 (Federal Highway, Congress Avenue, and Military Trail), are going to be 30 minute service most of the time. That may be changed to hourly service during off peak times. Route 63 is going to be one hour service. Route 70 is going to be a dual service (30 minutes service and one hour service). Routes 71 and 72 are going to be one hour service only. Mr. Speight explained time transfer locations. This is when a bus stops at one location 3 MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA NOVEMBER 6, 1995 so people can get on another bus to reach their final destination. There are 15 or 16 time transfer locations. They were set up to provide service to the areas identified as large County offices, hospitals, malls, and major gathering areas of interest. Mr. Speight said the streets of Palm Beach County were not designed for a grid system, where the buses travel every major street north and south and every cross street, east and west. He stated that we do not have the money nor the street layout for a grid system. Chairperson Collins asked if ridership is anticipated when routes are planned. Mr. Speight answered affirmatively. He said demographics are taken into consideration, as well as issues brought up at the public hearings. Mr. Speight expressed concern about the breezeway at Bethesda Hospital. He explained that sometimes people park their cars there and go into the hospital, making it difficult for the drivers to maneuver the buses through the breezeway. He said he might call upon the board's assistance to contact someone at Bethesda Hospital to make sure the breezeway is kept clear. Mr. Speight advised that each bus stop sign will have a number and a toll free telephone number on it so people can call and find out what time the bus stops at a particular location. Chairperson Collins advised that many seniors have no transportation to Veteran's Hospital in West Palm Beach, and Humana. Mr. Speight advised that there will be connecting routes to the VA Hospital. He stated that people can currently go downtown and transfer to the express bus to the VA Hospital. Also, the VA Hospital operates courtesy vans out of the downtown Tri Rail station. However, he did not think they are all handicap equipped. Chairperson Collins thanked Mr. Speight for his presentation. 7. REPORT OF MEETING WITH CITY MANAGER Chairperson Collins said she and Mr. Eney met with City Manager Carrie Parker and discussed ridership and some problems with the bus service, such as the lack of bus shelters and the buses not going into the shopping centers where food stores are located. 4 MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA NOVEMBER 6, 1995 Chairperson Collins did not think people will use Palm Tran's bus routes, since they are not using our own City buses. She did not want to lose our City buses and suggested encouraging people to use them. Mr. McMahon said has tried to come up with ways to encourage people to use the buses. He rode Routes 75 and 76 and talked to the drivers. He said the drivers are delightful and people friendly, and the buses are clean. He thinks the bus service needs a lot of advertising. He also felt new maps are needed. He had prepared a map of Route 76 and a schedule of the major stops and distributed them to the members of the board. This map helps people visualize the route much better. He will draw one of Route 75. Chairperson Collins advised that she and Mr. Eney also discussed getting a senior center with City Manager Parker. City Manager Parker had pointed out that the Madsen Center is available for seniors. Chairperson Collins said you have to pay dues there, and the card players and shuffleboard players are always there. However, the card players will be leaving, so perhaps the Madsen Center can now be used as a senior center. 8. ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS The next activity for seniors will be held on November 30, 1995 at the Civic Center There will be line dancing and bingo. Ms. Bailey prepared flyers advertising this event and will distribute them around the City. Chairperson Collins will contact Heaven's Gate Church to see if they will put on their Christmas pageant for the seniors in December. 9. OTHER A. Senior Net Computers Chairperson Collins advised that she received a note from Commissioner Sid Rosen regarding senior net computers. She advised that Bethesda Hospital, the Boynton Beach Library, and the Palm Beach County Library already have this. In addition, Mr. McMahon is involved in this. 5 MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA NOVEMBER 6, 1995 Mr. McMahon advised that a class is running now. The next class will start in March. Classes run two hours a day for seven weeks. Two hundred and fifty people have already graduated from this program, and there is a tremendous backlog. The basics of a personal computer are taught, including hardware, software, word processing, database, and telecommunications. There are eight computers, and they are fully occupied five days a week. B. Senior Living in and Around Boynton Beach Newsletter Chairperson Collins was in possession of a copy of the first edition of Senior Living in and Around Boynton Beach newsletter. She said she has a call into the woman who is behind this newsletter. She felt we should put something in this newsletter about our board and what we are trying to do. C. Survey for Seniors Chairperson Collins advised that she has received a few more surveys back. Only a couple of people were not interested in a senior center because they already belong to an organization. When she gets a few more surveys back, she will analyze them and present some figures. D. Health Fair Chairperson Collins reminded the members of the health fair in front of Publix on Congress Avenue on December 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The board will set up a table at this fair. Surveys will be given to the people about a senior center, and the people will be encouraged to use the bus service. Ms. Toth volunteered to be there at 10:00 a.m. to set up the table. 10. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, Ms. Toth moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:10 p.m. Mr. Sackett seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. 6 MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA NOVEMBER 6, 1995 Eve Eubanks Recording Secretary (One Tape) 7